Anti-atherosclerotic activity of Betulinic acid loaded polyvinyl alcohol/methylacrylate grafted Lignin polymer in high fat diet induced atherosclerosis model rats

Recent Advances in Anti-Atherosclerosis and Potential Therapeutic Targets for Nanomaterial-Derived Drug Formulations

Atherosclerosis, the leading cause of death worldwide, is responsible for ≈17.6 million deaths globally each year. Most therapeutic drugs for atherosclerosis have low delivery efficiencies and significant side effects, and this has hampered the development of effective treatment strategies. Diversified nanomaterials can improve drug properties and are considered to be key for the development of improved treatment strategies for atherosclerosis. The pathological mechanisms underlying atherosclerosis is summarized, rationally designed nanoparticle-mediated therapeutic strategies, and potential future therapeutic targets for nanodelivery. The content of this study reveals the potential and challenges of nanoparticle use for the treatment of atherosclerosis and highlights new effective design ideas.

Betulinic acid protects against cardiotoxicity of the organophosphorus pesticide chlorpyrifos by suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in rats

The widespread application of organophosphorus (OP) pesticides can affect the environment as well as the animal and human health. Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is a broad-spectrum OP pesticide used in agriculture and can cause several toxic effects in which oxidative stresses and inflammation play a key role. This study aimed to evaluate the protective activity of betulinic acid (BA), an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pentacyclic triterpene, against CPF cardiotoxicity in rats. The rats were divided into four groups. CPF (10 mg/kg) and BA (25 mg/kg) were orally administered for 28 days, and blood and heart samples were collected. CPF-administered rats showed an increase in serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase (CK)-MB, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), accompanied with multiple myocardial tissue alterations. Lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were increased, and antioxidant were decrease in CPF-administered rats. BA ameliorated cardiac function markers and tissue injury, decreased LPO, NO, NF-κB, and proinflammatory cytokines, and increased antioxidants. In addition, BA decreased proapoptosis markers, and increased B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2, IL-10, Nrf2, and HO-1 in the heart of CPF-treated rats. In conclusion, BA protected against cardiotoxicity in CPF-administered rats by mitigating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, and enhanced Nrf2 and antioxidants.

Opuntia ficus indica (L.) fruit extract alleviates oxidative stress through activation of dual oxidases and Keap1/Nrf2 signaling cascades in high-fat-diet associated atherosclerosis rats

Atherosclerosis is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic inflammation associated with progressive thickening and hardening of the large to medium-sized arteries due to plaque formation. The study aims to evaluate the antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and hypolipidemic efficacy of Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) fruit extract against the high-fat-diet associated atherosclerotic rat model. In-vitro qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening of OFI fruit extract revealed the significant presence of total phenolic content and total flavonoid contents. In-vitro antioxidant activity of fruit extract was determined through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and FRAP assays that have shown their protective efficacy against the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. Results revealed that the level of total oxidant stress was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced and down expression levels of dual oxidases (Duox, Duoxa-1, and Duox-2) in all the treatment groups (I, II, III) as compared with positive control were observed. The total antioxidant capacity was significantly (P < 0.05) increased in all treatment groups in comparison with the positive control group and higher expression level of the Nrf-2 signaling pathway (Nfe-212, NFR-1, and Keap-1) was observed in all the treatment groups compared with the positive control group. Histopathological examination of the aorta showed that high-fat diet markedly increased endothelial lining and thickness of tunica media and adventitia, with irregular media segments having wavy laminae, and a significant increase in entropy of fibers disposition was observed. Conclusively, OFI fruit extract has shown promising protective, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory efficacy through the restoration of normal parenchyma in high-fat dieting-associated oxidative stress and endothelial inflammation.

An updated and comprehensive review on the potential health effects of curcumin-encapsulated micro/nanoparticles

Curcumin (CUR) is a natural hydrophobic compound, which is available in turmeric rhizome. It has several bioactivities including antioxidant, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, and other activities. Despite its medical and biological benefits, it is using in limitations because of its hydrophobicity and sensitivity. These unfavorable conditions further reduced the bioavailability (BA) and biological efficacy of CUR. This review summarizes the stability and BA of free- and encapsulated-CUR, as well as comprehensively discusses the potential biological activity of CUR-loaded various micro-/nano-encapsulation systems. The stability and BA of CUR can be improved via loading in different encapsulation systems, including nanoemulsions, liposomes, niosomes, biopolymer-based nanoparticles, nano-hydrogel, and others. Biopolymer-based nanoparticles (especially poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), zein, and chitosan) and nano-gels are the best carriers for encapsulating and delivering CUR. Both delivery systems are suitable because of their excellent functional properties such as high encapsulation efficiency, well-stability against unfavorable conditions, and can be coated using other encapsulation systems. Based on available evidences, encapsulated-CUR exerted greater biological activities especially anticancer (breast cancer), antioxidant, antidiabetic, and neuroprotective effects.

Sinomenine Suppress the Vitamin D3 and High Fat Induced Atherosclerosis in Rats via Suppress of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a cardiovascular disease that arise due to dysfunction of lipid deposition and metabolism. AS is causes the mortality and morbidity worldwide. Sinomenine isolated from the Sinomenium acutum is used extensively against the various cardiac diseases in China. However, the anti-atherosclerosis effect of sinomenine still not explore. In this study, we explore the cardioprotective and anti-atherosclerosis effect of sinomenine against Vitamin D3 and High fat induced atherosclerosis in rats. Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were used in this study. The rats were received the vitamin D (60000) and High fat diet to induce the atherosclerosis and divided into groups and received the oral administration of sinomenine (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg) and simvastatin (5 mg/kg). Body weight, organ weight and biochemical parameters were estimated. The mRNA expression of MyD88, TLR4, NF-κB and IκB were estimated. Sinomenine treated rats significantly (p<0.001) suppressed the body weight and modulated the organ weight (hepatic, renal and heart). Sinomenine significantly (p<0.001) decreased the level of triacylglycerols (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), total cholesterol (TC), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-c) and augmented the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c). Sinomenine treatment also reduced the level of atherogenic index (TC/HDL-c and LDL-c/HDL-c). Sinomenine treatment decrease the ratio of HMG CoA/Mevalonate and level of collagen and total protein. Sinomenine significantly (p<0.001) altered the level of heart parameters, antioxidant parameters and inflammatory cytokines. Sinomenine significantly (p<0.001) reduced the expression of MyD88, TLR4, NF-κB and IκB. Taken together, sinomenine exhibited the protective effect against the atherosclerosis via alteration of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.