Protection afforded by methanol extract of Calotropis procera latex in experimental model of colitis is mediated through inhibition of oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory signaling

Imatinib mitigates experimentally-induced ulcerative colitis: Possible contribution of NF-kB/JAK2/STAT3/COX2 signaling pathway

RATIONALE

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic immune-mediated disease characterized by recurrent inflammation, damage, and alteration of the large intestine's mucosal and submucosal surfaces. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the impact of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (imatinib) on experimentally induced UC in rats via acetic acid (AA).

METHODS

Male rats were randomly assigned to four groups: control, AA, AA + imatinib (10 mg/kg), and AA + imatinib (20 mg/kg). Imatinib (10 and 20 mg/kg/day) was orally supplied by oral syringe for one week before induction of UC. On the eighth day, Rats received enemas containing a 4 % solution of acetic acid to induce colitis. One day after inducing colitis, rats were euthanized and their colons were subjected to morphological, biochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical analysis.

RESULTS

Imatinib pretreatment significantly decreased macroscopic and histological damage scores, decreased disease activity index as well as colon mass index. In addition, imatinib successfully lowered the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in colonic tissues and enhanced superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) and glutathione content (GSH). Imatinib also reduced colonic levels of inflammatory interleukins (IL-23, IL-17, IL-6), JAK2 and STAT3. Furthermore, imatinib suppressed nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-kB/p65) level, and COX2 expression in colonic tissues.

SIGNIFICANCE

Imatinib may be a viable therapy option for UC as it halts the interaction network of NF-kB/JAK2/STAT3/COX2 signaling pathway.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of methanol extract of latex of Calotropis procera in rat model of colorectal cancer

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Preparations derived from the plant Calotropis procera, have been used for medicinal purpose though the plant is known for its toxic effects. The aerial parts of the plant contain latex in plenty and have been found effective in treating disorders of gastrointestinal system and cancer.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study evaluated the efficacy of C. procera dried latex extract prepared in methanol (MeDL) against inflammation and oxidative stress in experimental model of colorectal carcinoma (CRC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two subcutaneous injections of chemical carcinogen, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH; 150 mg/kg) were given at an interval of one week to induce CRC in rats. The MeDL (50 and 150 mg/kg) and aspirin (60 mg/kg) were given daily and their effect was evaluated on markers of oxidative stress and inflammation after completion of 8 weeks following second injection of carcinogen. A comparison was made with normal and experimental control groups. The colon tissue levels of glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitrite and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were determined. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to determine the levels of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and immunohistochemical analysis was performed for IL-1β.

RESULTS

Induction of cancerous changes in the colon resulted in altered oxidative homeostasis as evident from a reduction in GSH level and SOD activity and rise in TBARS level when compared with normal rats. Elevated levels of nitrite, MPO, TNF-α, PGE₂ and immunoreactivity of IL-1β were also observed in these rats. The levels of these markers were normalized when the rats were treated with MeDL or anti-inflammatory drug, aspirin.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that suppression of oxidative stress and inflammation contributes to the beneficial effect of MeDL in rat model of colon carcinogenesis.

Unveiling the Antioxidant Therapeutic Functionality of Sustainable Olive Pomace Active Ingredients

Olive pomace (OP) is the main residue that results from olive oil production. OP is rich in bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, so its use in the treatments of diseases related to oxidative stress, such as cancer, could be considered. The present work aimed to study the biological properties of different OP extracts, obtained by ohmic heating-assisted extraction and conventional heating, using water and 50% ethanol, in the treatment and prevention of colorectal cancer through Caco-2 cell models. Additionally, an in-silico analysis was performed to identify the phenolic intestinal absorption and Caco-2 permeability. The extracts were chemically characterized, and it was found that the Ohmic-hydroethanolic (OH-EtOH) extract had the highest antiproliferative effect, probably due to its higher content of phenolic compounds. The OH-EtOH induced potential modifications in the mitochondrial membrane and led to apoptosis by cell cycle arrest in the G1/S phases with activation of p53 and caspase 3 proteins. In addition, this extract protected the intestine against oxidative stress (ROS) caused by H₂O₂. Therefore, the bioactive compounds present in OP and recovered by applying a green technology such as ohmic-heating, show promising potential to be used in food, nutraceutical, and biomedical applications, reducing this waste and facilitating the circular economy.

Valorization of Onion Waste by Obtaining Extracts Rich in Phenolic Compounds and Feasibility of Its Therapeutic Use on Colon Cancer

In this study, the total phenolic content, the antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of onion waste extracts were characterized. Some phenolic compounds present in the extracts were also identified and quantified by HPLC-DAD. Additionally, an in-silico analysis was performed to identify the phenolic compounds with the highest intestinal absorption and Caco-2 permeability. The onion extract possessed a high amount of phenolic compounds (177 ± 9 mg/g extract) and had an effective antioxidant capacity measured by ABTS, FRAP and DPPH assays. Regarding the antiproliferative activity, the onion extracts produced cell cycle arrest in the S phase with p53 activation, intrinsic apoptosis (mitochondrial membrane potential modification) and caspase 3 activation. Likewise, onion waste increased intracellular ROS with possible NF-kB activation causing a proteasome down regulation. In addition, the extracts protected the intestine against oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂. According to the in-silico analysis, these results could be related to the higher Caco-2 permeability to protocatechuic acid. Therefore, this study provides new insights regarding the potential use of these types of extract as functional ingredients with antioxidant and antiproliferative properties and as medicinal agents in diseases related to oxidative stress, such as cancer. In addition, its valorization would contribute to the circular economy.

Protective effect of methanol extract of latex of Calotropis procera in an experimental model of colorectal cancer

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The plant, Calotropis procera, has been used for treating various gastrointestinal disorders and cancer. Some of these medicinal properties have been attributed to the latex produced by the plant.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the efficacy of methanol extract of air-dried latex (MeDL) of C. procera in the rat model of colorectal cancer (CRC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CRC was induced in the rats by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and the effect of MeDL was evaluated at two doses (50 and 150 mg/kg). MeDL and reference drug aspirin (60 mg/kg) were administered orally starting from 1 h before injecting DMH till 8 weeks after the second dose of DMH. The study also included experimental and normal control groups. Microscopic analysis was carried out to determine the count for aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and histology score whereas enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemical analyses were performed for markers of carcinogenesis and angiogenesis. Other parameters that were evaluated include deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation, laddering, Bcl₂ and Bax immunoreactivity, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) positivity.

RESULTS

Subcutaneous injection of DMH induced pre-neoplastic changes in the colon of rats with the appearance of ACF with multiple crypts (1-3, 4-6 or >6). In the experimental control group, total ACF count was 3.49 ± 0.23/cm of the colon length and the median histology score was 2.0 for architectural abnormalities, 2.0 for dilatation of crypts and 1.5 for hyperplasia/dysplasia against 1.0 for all the characteristics in normal rats. Oral administration of MeDL similar to aspirin, led to a reduction in ACF count and histology score of CRC concomitant with a decrease in the levels of markers of carcinogenesis - β-catenin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA); markers of angiogenesis - matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and an increase in apoptotic DNA fragmentation.

CONCLUSION

MeDL confers protection in the rat model of CRC and the study suggests its therapeutic potential in this condition.

A Novel Role of Dapagliflozin in Mitigation of Acetic Acid-Induced Ulcerative Colitis by Modulation of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein 1 (MCP-1)/Nuclear Factor-Kappa B (NF-κB)/Interleukin-18 (IL-18)

Colon illnesses, particularly ulcerative colitis, are considered a major cause of death in both men and women around the world. The present study investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms for the potential anti-inflammatory effect of Dapagliflozin (DAPA) against ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by intracolonic instillation of 3% v/v acetic acid (AA). DAPA was administered to rats (1 mg/kg, orally) for two weeks during the treatment regimen. Interestingly, compared to the normal group, a marked increase in the index of colon/body weight, colon weight/colon length ratio, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and C-reactive protein (CRP), besides decrease in the serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), were reported in the AA control group (p ˂ 0.05). Elevation in colon monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP1), Interleukin 18 (IL-18), and inflammasome contents were also reported in the AA control group in comparison with the normal group. In addition, colon-specimen immunohistochemical staining revealed increased expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and Caspase-3 with histopathological changes. Moreover, DAPA significantly (p ˂ 0.05) reduced the colon/body weight index, colon weight/colon length ratio, clinical evaluation, and macroscopic scoring of UC, and preserved the histopathological architecture of tissues. The inflammatory biomarkers, including colon MCP1, IL-18, inflammasome, Caspase-3, and NF-κB, were suppressed following DAPA treatment and oxidants/antioxidants hemostasis was also restored. Collectively, the present data demonstrate that DAPA represents an attractive approach to ameliorating ulcerative colitis through inhibiting MCP1/NF-κB/IL-18 pathways, thus preserving colon function. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties of DAPA are implicated in its observed therapeutic benefits.

Phytomodulatory proteins isolated from Calotropis procera latex promote glycemic control by improving hepatic mitochondrial function in HepG2 cells

The medicinal uses of Calotropis procera are diverse, yet some of them are based on effects that still lack scientific support. Control of diabetes is one of them. Recently, latex proteins from C. procera latex (LP) have been shown to promote in vivo glycemic control by the inhibition of hepatic glucose production via AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Glycemic control has been attributed to an isolated fraction of LP (CpPII), which is composed of cysteine peptidases (95%) and osmotin (5%) isoforms. Those proteins are extensively characterized in terms of chemistry, biochemistry and structural aspects. Furthermore, we evaluated some aspects of the mitochondrial function and cellular mechanisms involved in CpPII activity. The effect of CpPII on glycemic control was evaluated in fasting mice by glycemic curve and glucose and pyruvate tolerance tests. HepG2 cells was treated with CpPII, and cell viability, oxygen consumption, PPAR activity, production of lactate and reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial density and protein and gene expression were analyzed. CpPII reduced fasting glycemia, improved glucose tolerance and inhibited hepatic glucose production in control animals. Additionally, CpPII increased the consumption of ATP-linked oxygen and mitochondrial uncoupling, reduced lactate concentration, increased protein expression of mitochondrial complexes I, III and V, and activity of peroxisome-proliferator-responsive elements (PPRE), reduced the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increased mitochondrial density in HepG2 cells by activation of AMPK/PPAR. Our findings strongly support the medicinal use of the plant and suggest that CpPII is a potential therapy for prevention and/or treatment of type-2 diabetes. A common epitope sequence shared among the proteases and osmotin is possibly the responsible for the beneficial effects of CpPII.

Therapeutic Promises of Medicinal Plants in Bangladesh and Their Bioactive Compounds against Ulcers and Inflammatory Diseases

When functioning properly, the stomach is the center of both physical and mental satisfaction. Gastrointestinal disorders, or malfunctioning of the stomach, due to infections caused by various biological entities and physiochemical abnormalities, are now widespread, with most of the diseases being inflammatory, which, depending on the position and degree of inflammation, have different names such as peptic or gastric ulcers, irritable bowel diseases, ulcerative colitis, and so on. While many synthetic drugs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are now extensively used to treat these diseases, their harmful and long-term side effects cannot be ignored. To treat these diseases safely and successfully, different potent medicinal plants and their active components are considered game-changers. In consideration of this, the present review aimed to reveal a general and comprehensive updated overview of the anti-ulcer and anti-inflammatory activities of medicinal plants. To emphasize the efficacy of the medicinal plants, various bioactive compounds from the plant extract, their experimental animal models, and clinical trials are depicted.

Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand (Apocynaceae) as an anti-cancer agent against canine mammary tumor and osteosarcoma cells

Our goal was to evaluate phytochemical characterization and the antitumor potential of Calotropis procera. The phytochemical constitution of the crude extract (CE) revealed the presence of flavonoids, glycosides and cardenolide. The MTT assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of CE, methanolic (MF) and ethyl acetate fractions (EAF) of C. procera in canine osteosarcoma cells (OST), canine mammary tumor (CMT), and canine skin fibroblasts (non-tumor cell). Doxorubicin was also used as a positive control. Results showed that CE, MF and EAF promoted a decrease in the viability of OST and CMT cells and did not alter the fibroblasts viability. C. procera also decreased the number of cells, corroborating to the decrease in proliferation and the cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase. It was also evaluated the cell morphology by light and fluorescence microscopy, being demonstrated a reduction in cytoplasmic and cell rounding characteristic of programmed cell death. Moreover, flow cytometry data demonstrated that CE treatment promoted increase of caspase-3 and p53, showing that the cell death was activated in OST cells. In addition, there was a decrease in CD31, VEGF, osteopontin and TGF-β after CE treatment, suggesting that CE exerts its antitumor effect by reducing angiogenesis and tumor progression in OST cells. Moreover, CMT cells showed a reduction in PCNA after treatment with MF and CE. Analyzing the data together, C. procera, especially CE, showed an antitumor potential in both OST and CMT cells, encouraging us to continue investigating its use in cancer therapy.

Grape Stem Extracts with Potential Anticancer and Antioxidant Properties

The application of plant extracts for therapeutic purposes has been used in traditional medicine because plants contain bioactive compounds with beneficial properties for health. Currently, the use of these compounds that are rich in polyphenols for the treatment and prevention of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, many of them related to oxidative stress, is gaining certain relevance. Polyphenols have been shown to have antimutagenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, the objective of the present work was to study the potential effect of grape stem extracts (GSE), rich in phenolic compounds, in the treatment of cancer, as well as their role in the prevention of this disease associated with its antioxidant power. For that purpose, three cancer lines (Caco-2, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231) were used, and the results showed that grape stem extracts were capable of showing an antiproliferative effect in these cells through apoptosis cell death associated with a modification of the mitochondrial potential and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Additionally, grape stem extracts showed an antioxidant effect on differentiated intestinal cells that could protect the intestine from diseases related to oxidative stress. Therefore, grape extracts contain bioactive principles with important biological properties and could be used as bio-functional food ingredients to prevent diseases or even to improve certain aspects of human health.

An Overview of the Characteristics and Potential of Calotropis procera From Botanical, Ecological, and Economic Perspectives

Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand. (commonly known as the apple of sodom, calotrope, and giant milkweed) is an evergreen, perennial shrub of the family Apocynaceae, mainly found in arid and semi-arid regions. It is a multipurpose plant, which can be utilized for medicine, fodder, and fuel purposes, timber and fiber production, phytoremediation, and synthesis of nanoparticles. It has been widely used in traditional medicinal systems across North Africa, Middle East Asia, and South-East Asia. At present, it is being extensively explored for its potential pharmacological applications. Several reports also suggest its prospects in the food, textile, and paper industries. Besides, C. procera has also been acknowledged as an ornamental species. High pharmacological potential and socio-economic value have led to the pantropical introduction of the plant. Morpho-physiological adaptations and the ability to tolerate various abiotic stresses enabled its naturalization beyond the introduced areas. Now, it is recognized as an obnoxious environmental weed in several parts of the world. Its unnatural expansion has been witnessed in the regions of South America, the Caribbean Islands, Australia, the Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, Seychelles, and several Pacific Islands. In Australia, nearly 3.7 million hectares of drier areas, including rangelands and Savannahs, have been invaded by the plant. In this review, multiple aspects of C. procera have been discussed including its general characteristics, current and potential uses, and invasive tendencies. The objectives of this review are a) to compile the information available in the literature on C. procera, to make it accessible for future research, b) to enlist together its potential applications being investigated in different fields, and c) to acknowledge C. procera as an emerging invasive species of arid and semi-arid regions.

The interplay of the inhibitory effect of nifuroxazide on NF-κB/STAT3 signaling attenuates acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rats

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a disease of increased worldwide prevalence. UC progression is associated with serious complications that leave the patient with considerable health burdens. Nifuroxazide is an oral nitrofuran antibiotic used as antidiarrheal medication. The current study places an emphasis on investigating the potential therapeutic effectiveness of nifuroxazide (10 mg/kg) and (20 mg/kg) against acetic acid (AA)-induced UC. Intra-rectal AA induced a significant colonic injury and impairment of colonic biochemical and functional incidences. Nifuroxazide in a dose-dependent manner significantly corrected UC associated injury. Macroscopic scoring of UC, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, C-reactive protein (CRP) titer, colon malondialdehyde (MDA) and total nitric oxide (NOx) contents significantly declined. Meanwhile, serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and colon catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione transferase (GST) activities and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration significantly increased in a dose-dependent way. Ultimately, histopathological, immunohistochemical and ultramicroscopic analysis of colon specimen revealed significant improvement. To pinpoint the mechanistic pathway underlying the curative effect of nifuroxazide, colon expression of NF-κB, caspase-3 was evaluated along with STAT-3 activation. Nifuroxazide induced a dose-dependent significant suppression of NF-κB and caspase-3 signaling together with STAT3 signaling. In conclusion; nifuroxazide can be proposed as a therapeutic candidate to attenuate UC and its associated symptoms. The potential underlying mechanism involves suppression of NF-κB/STAT-3/caspase- signaling.

Glutamine relieves oxidative stress through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in DSS-induced ulcerative colitis mice

Objective(s):

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a kind of complex immune disease, and a major cause of destruction of intestinal barrier and oxidative stress in this field. In this paper, glutamine (Gln) was believed to offer protection against oxidative stress injury in colitis mice.

Materials and Methods:

Thirty mice were randomly assigned into control, model, LY294002 (PI3K/Akt inhibitor), Gln, Gln+LY294002 and 5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) groups. The mice in the experimental group drank 4% dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) for 7 consecutive days. The protective effect of Gln on oxidative stress was quantified by keeping colitis mice, involving Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of Rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, with different medications or distilled water through intragastric administration for 10 consecutive days.

Results:

In vivo administration of Gln, LY294002 or 5-ASA was found to ameliorate the symptoms of colitis in mice, such as reduced growth, loose stools and stool bleeding; protected DSS-induced colitis mice from goblet cell loss, lymphocytosis, mucosal erosion, loss of crypts, and neutrophil infiltration; improved the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-XP); decreased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA); and inhibited the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Conclusion:

Administration of Gln to the DSS-induced colitis mice led to a clearly reduction in oxidative stress-induced injury. The Gln is confirmed as inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway activity.

Anti-inflammatory latex proteins of the medicinal plant Calotropis procera: a promising alternative for oral mucositis treatment

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN

Oral mucositis (OM) is an intense inflammatory reaction progressing to tissue damage and ulceration. The medicinal uses of Calotropis procera are supported by anti-inflammatory capacity. PII-IAA, a highly homogenous cocktail of laticifer proteins (LP) prepared from the latex of C. procera, with recognized pharmacological properties was tested to treat OM.

MATERIALS AND SUBJECTS

Male Golden Sirius hamsters were used in all treatments.

TREATMENT

The latex protein samples were injected i.p. (5 mg/Kg) 24 h before mucositis induction (mechanical trauma) and 24 h later.

METHODS

Histology, cytokine measurements [ELISA], and macroscopic evaluation [scores] were performed.

RESULTS

PII-IAA eliminated OM, accompanied by total disappearance of myeloperoxidase activity and release of IL-1b, as well as reduced TNF-a. Oxidative stress was relieved by PII-IAA treatment, as revealed by MDA and GSH measurements. PII-IAA also reduced the expression of adhesion molecules (ICAM-1) and Iba-1, two important markers of inflammation, indicating modulatory effects. Histological analyses of the cheek epithelium revealed greater deposition of type I collagen fibers in animals given PII-IAA compared with the control group. This performance was only reached when LPPII was treated with iodoacetamide (IAA), an irreversible inhibitor of proteolytic activity of cysteine proteases. The endogenous proteolytic activity of LPPII induced adverse effects in animals. Candidate proteins involved in the phytomodulatory activity are proposed.

CONCLUSIONS

Therapy was successful in treating OM with the laticifer protein fraction, containing peptidases and osmotin, from Calotropis procera. The effective candidate from the latex proteins for therapeutic use is PII-IAA.

Protection by pure and genistein fortified extra virgin olive oil, canola oil, and rice bran oil against acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rats

Conjugation of genistein and dietary oils improves the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of genistein on colitis in rats.

Phenolic Composition of Artichoke Waste and its Antioxidant Capacity on Differentiated Caco-2 Cells

Artichoke waste represents a huge amount of discarded material. This study presents the by-products (bracts, exterior leaves, and stalks) of the "Blanca de Tudela" artichoke variety as a potential source of phenolic compounds with promising antioxidant properties. Artichoke residues were subjected to different extraction processes, and the antioxidant capacity and phenolic composition of the extracts were analyzed by spectrophotometric methods and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses, respectively. The most abundant polyphenols in artichoke waste were chlorogenic acid, luteolin-7-O-rutinoside, and luteolin-7-O-glucoside. Minor quantities of cynarin, luteolin, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, apigenin-7-O-rutinoside, and naringenin-7-O-glucoside were also found. The antioxidant activity of the obtained extracts determined by ABTS [2, 2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)], DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-pycrilhydracyl), and FRAP (Ferric Ion Reducing Antioxidant Power) was highly correlated with the total concentration of phenolic compounds. Chlorogenic acid, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, and luteolin-7-O-rutinoside, the most abundant compounds in 60% methanol extracts, are the components most responsible for the antioxidant activity of the artichoke waste extracts. The extract with the best antioxidant capacity was selected to assay its antioxidant potential on a model intestinal barrier. This action of the hydroxycinnamic acids on intestinal cells (Caco-2) was confirmed. In summary, artichoke waste may be considered a very interesting ingredient for food functionalization and for therapeutic purposes.