Protective effects of protopine on hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative injury of PC12 cells via Ca(2+) antagonism and antioxidant mechanisms

Exploring allocryptopine as a neuroprotective agent against oxidative stress-induced neural apoptosis via Akt/GSK-3β/tau pathway modulation

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by neuronal loss due to hyperphosphorylated proteins induced by oxidative stress. AD remains a formidable challenge in the medical field, as current treatments focusing on single biomarkers have yielded limited success. Hence, there's a burgeoning interest in investigating novel compounds that can target mechanisms, offering alternative therapeutic approaches. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of allocryptopine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, on mechanisms related to AD in order to develop alternative treatment strategies. In this study, the in vitro AD cell model was obtained by inducing nerve growth factor (NGF)-differentiated PC12 (dPC12) cells to oxidative stress with H2O2, and also the effect mechanism of different allocryptopine concentrations on the in vitro AD cell model was studied. The treatments' antioxidative effects at the ROS level and their regulation of the cell cycle were assessed through flow cytometry, while their anti-apoptotic effects were evaluated using both flow cytometry and qRT-PCR. Additionally, the phosphorylation levels of Akt, GSK-3β, and tau proteins were analyzed via western blot, and the interactions between Akt, GSK-3β, CDK5 proteins, and allocryptopine were demonstrated through molecular docking. Our study's conclusive results revealed that allocryptopine effectively suppressed intracellular ROS levels, while simultaneously enhancing the Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway by increasing p-Akt and p-GSK-3β proteins. This mechanism played a critical role in inhibiting neural cell apoptosis and preventing tau hyperphosphorylation. Moreover, allocryptopine demonstrated its ability to regulate the G1/S cell cycle progression, leading to cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase, and facilitating cellular repair mechanisms, potentially contributing to the suppression of neural apoptosis. The in silico results of allocryptopine were shown to docking with the cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK 5) playing a role in tau phosphorylation Akt and GSK-3β from target proteins. Therefore, the in silico study results supported the in vitro results. The results showed that allocryptopine can protect dPC12 cells from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein by regulating the Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway. Based on these findings, it can be suggested that allocryptopine, with its ability to target biomarkers and its significant effects on AD-associated mechanisms, holds promise as a potential candidate for drug development in the treatment of AD. Further research and clinical trials are recommended in the future.

Exploring the molecular mechanism of ginseng against anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity based on network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation

BACKGROUND

Previous clinical and basic studies have revealed that ginseng might have cardioprotective properties against anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC). However, the underlying mechanism of ginseng action against AIC remains insufficiently understood. The aim of this study was to explore the related targets and pathways of ginseng against AIC using network pharmacology, molecular docking, cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.

RESULTS

Fourteen drug-disease common targets were identified. Enrichment analysis showed that the AGE-RAGE in diabetic complications, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, and TNF signaling pathway were potentially involved in the action of ginseng against AIC. Molecular docking demonstrated that the core components including Kaempferol, beta-Sitosterol, and Fumarine had notable binding activity with the three core targets CCNA2, STAT1, and ICAM1. Furthermore, the stable complex of STAT1 and Kaempferol with favorable affinity was further confirmed by CETSA and MD simulation.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggested that ginseng might exert their protective effects against AIC through the derived effector compounds beta-Sitosterol, Kaempferol and Fumarine by targeting CCNA2, STAT1, and ICAM1, and modulating AGE-RAGE in diabetic complications, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, and TNF signaling pathways.

Folic acid alleviated oxidative stress-induced telomere attrition and inhibited apoptosis of neurocytes in old rats

PURPOSE

Oxidative stress has been reported to cause telomere attrition, which triggers cell apoptosis. Apoptosis of neurocytes may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. This study hypothesized that folic acid (FA) supplementation decreased neurocyte apoptosis by alleviating oxidative stress-induced telomere attrition in 25-month-old Sprague Dawley (SD) rats.

METHODS

Three-month-old male SD rats were randomly divided into four diet groups by different concentrations of folic acid in equal numbers, with intervention for 22 months. Folate, homocysteine (Hcy), reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, antioxidant activities, and telomere length in the brain tissues were tested at 11, 18, and 22 months of intervention, and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels, neurocyte apoptosis and telomere length in the cerebral cortex and hippocampal regions were tested during the 22-month intervention. An automated chemiluminescence system, auto-chemistry analyzer, Q-FISH, qPCR, and TUNEL assay were used in this study.

RESULTS

The rats had lower folate concentrations and higher Hcy, ROS, and 8-OHdG concentrations in brain tissue with aging. However, FA supplementation increased folate concentrations and antioxidant activities while decreasing Hcy, ROS, and 8-OHdG levels in rat brain tissue after 11, 18, and 22 months of intervention. Furthermore, FA supplementation alleviated telomere length shortening and inhibited neurocyte apoptosis during the 22-month intervention.

CONCLUSION

FA supplementation alleviated oxidative stress-induced telomere attrition and inhibited apoptosis of neurocytes in 25-month-old rats.

Protopine Alleviates Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Ulcerative Colitis by Improving Intestinal Barrier Function and Regulating Intestinal Microbiota

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and its pathogenesis is related to intestinal mucosal barrier damage and gut microbiota imbalance. Protopine (PRO), an isoquinoline alkaloid, is one of the main anti-inflammatory ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine Macleaya cordata(Willd.) R. Br. This study investigated the effects of PRO on the intestinal mucosal barrier and gut microbiota in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mice. C57BL/6J mice were treated with 3% DSS in drinking water to induce acute colitis, while PRO was administered orally once daily for 7 days. The results showed that PRO administration significantly alleviated the symptoms of DSS-induced colitis in mice and inhibited the expression of inflammation-related genes. In addition, PRO restored the integrity of the intestinal barrier in colitis mice by restoring colonic mucin secretion and promoting the expression of tight junction proteins. Furthermore, PRO alleviated the DSS-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis by decreasing the abundance of Proteobacteria, Escherichia-Shigella and Enterococcus, as well as enhancing the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Firmicutes and Akkermansia. These findings suggested that PRO effectively alleviated DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by suppressing the expression of inflammation-related genes, maintaining the intestinal mucosal barrier and regulating the intestinal microbiota.

Protopine alleviates lipopolysaccharide-triggered intestinal epithelial cell injury through retarding the NLRP3 and NF-κB signaling pathways to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common chronic intestinal disease. Protopine isolated from different plants has been investigated to understand its special functions on varied diseases. However, the regulatory effects of protopine on the progression of IBD remain unclear. Our study is aimed to explore the effects of protopine on the progression of IBD and its underlying regulatory mechanism of action.

METHODS

The cell viability was assessed through MTT colorimetric assay. The protein expressions of genes were examined by Western blot analysis. The cell apoptosis and reactive oxygen species level were measured using flow cytometry. The levels of inflammation and oxidative stress-related proteins were tested through enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assay. The intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured through immunofluorescence assay.

RESULTS

First, different concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were treated with NCM460 cells to establish IBD cell model, and 5-μg/mL LPS was chosen for followed experiments. In this study, we discovered that protopine relieved the LPS-induced inhibited intestinal epithelial cell viability and enhanced cell apoptosis. Moreover, protopine attenuated LPS-stimulated inflammation activation and oxidative stress. Further experiments illustrated that the increased intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential stimulated by LPS were reversed by protopine treatment. Finally, through Western blot analysis, it was demonstrated that protopine retarded the activated NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways mediated by LPS.

CONCLUSION

Protopine alleviated LPS-triggered intestinal epithelial cell injury by inhibiting NLRP3 and NF-κB signaling pathways to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. This discovery may provide a useful drug for treating IBD.

Effects of Dietary Bopu Powder Supplementation on Serum Antioxidant Capacity, Egg Quality, and Intestinal Microbiota of Laying Hens

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary Bopu powder supplementation on the serum antioxidant capacity, serum biochemical indices, egg quality, and intestinal microbiota. Six hundred and forty-eight 33-week-old Lohmann Brown commercial laying hens were randomly allocated into six groups and fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg Bopu powder for 8 weeks, denoted BP0, BP25, BP50, BP100, BP200, and BP400, respectively. The results showed that dietary Bopu powder supplementation reduced serum cholesterol concentrations (linear, p < 0.01) while increasing serum globulin and albumin concentrations (linear, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the BP50 and BP100 groups had greater serum catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity (p < 0.05). The egg Haugh Units were considerably higher in BP25 and BP50 (p < 0.05), and eggshell thickness was higher in BP25, BP200, and BP400 (p < 0.05) when compared to BP0. Dietary treatment with Bopu powder at doses ranging from 25–100 mg/kg improved glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities while decreasing malondialdehyde concentrations in the yolk (p < 0.05). The addition of Bopu powder increased the diversity of microbiota and the relative abundance of Bacteroidota in the gut. For instance, dietary Bopu powder supplementation of 25–50 mg/kg significantly raised the relative abundance of Enterococcus, Bacteroides, and Fusobacterium in the foregut. Supplementing the diet with 50–100 mg/kg of Bopu powder improved the relative abundance of Lactobacillus in the hindgut. In conclusion, dietary Bopu powder supplementation enhanced the abundance of beneficial bacteria in the foregut of laying hens and improved egg quality and antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, in the laying hen diet, the optimal dosage of Bopu powder additive was 25–50 mg/kg.

Corydalis decumbens Can Exert Analgesic Effects in a Mouse Neuropathic Pain Model by Modulating MAPK Signaling

Objectives

This study is aimed at investigating the analgesic effect of the administration of Corydalis decumbens (CD) in a mouse model of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and at elucidating its mechanism of analgesic action.

Methods

Adult Kunming (KM) mice were randomly divided into control, CD, and vehicle-treated groups. Neuropathic pain was induced with a single intraperitoneal injection of resiniferatoxin (RTX). Thermal hyperalgesia was assessed with a hot/cold plate test, and mechanical allodynia was evaluated using von Frey filaments. The activation states of astrocytes, microglia, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in the spinal cord were determined by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis of Iba-1, GFAP, phospho-p38, and phospho-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK).

Results

RTX diminished thermal sensitivity and gradually increased sensitivity to tactile stimulation. The expression of Iba-1, GFAP, phospho-p38 MAPK, and phospho-JNK was upregulated in the RTX-induced postherpetic neuralgia mouse model. Systemic treatment with CD significantly ameliorated thermal sensitivity and mechanical hyperalgesia and was accompanied by a reduction in the expression of Iba-1 and GFAP and reduced phosphorylation of p38 and JNK.

Conclusions

This study suggests that CD is effective at ameliorating mechanical hyperalgesia in PHN mice and that its mechanism of action may involve modulation of MAPK phosphorylation and glial cell activation. Thus, CD may be a promising alternative therapy for PHN.

Protective effects of curcumin/cyclodextrin polymer inclusion complex against hydrogen peroxide-induced LO2 cells damage

The objective of the present study was to explore the protective effects of the curcumin/cyclodextrin polymer (CUR/CDP) inclusion complex on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced LO2 cells damage. In this study, a H2O2-induced cells oxidative injury model was established to test the protective effects of the CUR/CDP inclusion complex. The cell viability of cells was detected by the thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The extracellular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were detected by assay kits. The cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was detected using the dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCF) fluorescence assay. Western blotting analysis was conducted to assess the changes of phosphorylated-p53 and caspase-3. The results showed that 700 μM H2O2-treated LO2 cells for 3 h resulted in a significant decrease of cell viability to 53.00 ± 1.68%, which established the cell oxidative injury model. Cells treated with H2O2 led to a significant increase of extracellular LDH activity, MDA content, and ROS level, and decreased CAT activity. Treatment with CUR/CDP significantly reversed the changes of the above indicators. Moreover, CUR/CDP treatment at 20 and 40 μg/ml inhibited H2O2-induced increase in phosphorylated-p53 and caspase-3 expression, indicating that CUR/CDP suppressed cell apoptosis to alleviate liver injury. The results of those studies demonstrated that CUR/CDP had a protective effect on the oxidative damage of LO2 cells, and it could be developed as a new type of natural liver protection product to apply in the prevention of liver injury.

Safety assessment of MPTA: An oral acute and 90-day sub-chronic toxicity study in Sprague-Dawley rats

MPTA is a novel extract product derived from Macleaya cordata (Willd.) R. Br., which has good anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute oral toxicity and 90-day sub-chronic oral toxicity of MPTA. In the acute toxicity study, 50 SD rats of both sexes were randomly divided into 5 groups and dosed in a gradient from 197.53 mg/kg to 1000.00 mg/kg bw. Toxic effects were observed up to 14 days and LD₅₀ was calculated. In a subchronic toxicity test, male and female SD rats were orally dosed repeatedly with 96.40, 19.28, 3.86 mg/kg bw of MPTA for 90 days. In addition, a control group was set up in the subchronic study. The acute toxicity test showed that the oral LD₅₀ of MPTA was 481.99 mg/kg with a 95% confidence interval of 404.24-574.70 mg/kg. MPTA did not appear to induce toxic effects in the longer term in terms of food and water consumption, weight gain, haematological and clinical biochemical parameters and pathological examination. The first data on the potential toxicity of MPTA was provided to highlight the safety of short-term to longer-term oral administration of MPTA, and the experimental results yield and establish a NOEAL of 96.40 mg/kg/d for MPTA.

Identification and Quantification, Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacological Activities, and Botanical Preparations of Protopine: A Review

Through pharmacological activity research, an increasing number of natural products and their derivatives are being recognized for their therapeutic value. In recent years, studies have been conducted on Corydalis yanhusuo W.T. Wang, a valuable medicinal herb listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Protopine, one of its components, has also become a research hotspot. To illustrate the identification, metabolism, and broad pharmacological activity of protopine and the botanical preparations containing it for further scientific studies and clinical applications, an in-depth and detailed review of protopine is required. We collected data on the identification and quantification, metabolism and pharmacokinetics, pharmacological activities, and botanical preparations of protopine from 1986 to 2021 from the PubMed database using “protopine” as a keyword. It has been shown that protopine as an active ingredient of many botanical preparations can be rapidly screened and quantified by a large number of methods (such as the LC-ESI-MS/MS and the TLC/GC-MS), and the possible metabolic pathways of protopine in vivo have been proposed. In addition, protopine possesses a wide range of pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-cancer, analgesic, vasodilatory, anticholinesterase, anti-addictive, anticonvulsant, antipathogenic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and cytotoxic and anti-proliferative activities. In this paper, the identification and quantification, metabolism and pharmacokinetics, pharmacological activities, and botanical preparations of protopine are reviewed in detail to lay a foundation for further scientific research and clinical applications of protopine.

DNA repair protein DNA-PK protects PC12 cells from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis involving AKT phosphorylation

Background

Emerging evidence suggest that DNA-PK complex plays a role in the cellular response to oxidative stress, in addition to its function of double strand break (DSB) repair. In this study we evaluated whether DNA-PK participates in oxidative stress response and whether this role is independent of its function in DNA repair.

Methods and results

We used a model of H₂O₂-induced DNA damage in PC12 cells (rat pheochromocytoma), a well-known neuronal tumor cell line. We found that H₂O₂ treatment of PC12 cells induces an increase in DNA-PK protein complex levels, along with an elevation of DNA damage, measured both by the formation of γΗ2ΑX foci, detected by immunofluorescence, and γH2AX levels detected by western blot analysis. After 24 h of cell recovery, γΗ2ΑX foci are repaired both in the absence and presence of DNA-PK kinase inhibitor NU7026, while an increase of apoptotic cells is observed when DNA-PK activity is inhibited, as revealed by counting pycnotic nuclei and confirmed by FACS analysis. Our results suggest a role of DNA-PK as an anti-apoptotic factor in proliferating PC12 cells under oxidative stress conditions. The anti-apoptotic role of DNA-PK is associated with AKT phosphorylation in Ser473. On the contrary, in differentiated PC12 cells, were the main pathway to repair DSBs is DNA-PK-mediated, the inhibition of DNA-PK activity causes an accumulation of DNA damage.

Conclusions

Taken together, our results show that DNA-PK can protect cells from oxidative stress induced-apoptosis independently from its function of DSB repair enzyme.

Graphical Abstract

Neuroprotective potential of berberine in modulating Alzheimer's disease via multiple signaling pathways

Berberine is one of the most important quinoline alkaloids, which has shown numerous pharmacological activities. There are pieces of evidence that berberine serves as a promising substance for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, numerous studies on animal models have shown the neuroprotective role of berberine. AD is a complex disease having multiple pathological factors. Berberine restrains the deposition of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Substantial studies have demonstrated that berberine may also exhibit the protective effect against the risk factors associated with AD. This review illustrates the role of berberine in neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and its activity against acetylcholinesterase enzyme. It also focuses on the bioavailability and safety of berberine in AD. However, more investigations are required to explore the bioavailability and safety assessment of berberine and its new perspectives in limiting the AD-related pathogenesis and risk factors. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Current therapeutic measures only provide symptomatic relief against AD by slowing memory loss, resolving thinking problems and behavioral issues. In recent past years, many biological actions and potential therapeutic applications have been observed by berberine particularly in neurological diseases. Berberine has been investigated by various researchers for its activity against AD. This review demonstrates a variety of mechanisms by which berberine imparts its neuroprotective roles and provides the possible mechanism of action of berberine by which it prevents the formation of neurofibrillary tangles and disaggregation of amyloid beta plaques in AD. It also focuses that berberine limits the neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in AD. Pre-clinical aspects of berberine against AD are also discussed. Eventually, a prospect is formulated that berberine might be a therapeutically significant agent for treating and preventing AD.

Phosphorylation of polysaccharides: A review on the synthesis and bioactivities

Polysaccharides are macromolecules obtained from a wide range of sources and are known to have diverse biological activities. The biological activities of polysaccharides depend on their structure and physicochemical properties, including water solubility, monosaccharide composition, degree of branching, molecular structure, and molecular weight. Phosphorylation is a commonly used chemical modification method that improves the physicochemical properties of native polysaccharides, thus enhancing their biological activity, or even imparting novel biological activity. Therefore, phosphorylated polysaccharides have attracted increasing attention owing to their antioxidant, antitumor, antiviral, immunomodulatory, and hepatoprotective effects. In this review, we have discussed recent advances in the phosphorylation of polysaccharides, and the methods used for phosphorylation, structural characterization, and determination of biological activities, to provide a theoretical basis for the use of polysaccharides. The structure-activity relationship of phosphorylated polysaccharides and their use in the food and pharmaceutical industries needs to be further studied.

Neuroprotective effects of allocryptopine-rich alkaloid extracts against oxidative stress-induced neuronal damage

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress is a significant feature in the pathomechanism of neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, the search for an effective and safe novel antioxidant agent with neuroprotective properties has increased the interest in medicinal plant products as a bioactive phytochemical source. However, little is known about the potential effects of the medically important Glaucium corniculatum as a natural antioxidant.

OBJECTIVE

In the present study, it was aimed to investigate the anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, and cell cycle regulatory mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of alkaloid extracts (chloroform, methanol, and water) from G. corniculatum, which was profiled for major alkaloid/alkaloids, against H₂O₂-induced neuronal damage in differentiated PC12 cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The profiles of the alkaloid extracts were analyzed by GC-MS. The effects of the alkaloid extracts on intracellular ROS production, level of apoptotic cells, and cell cycle dysregulation were analyzed by flow cytometry; the effects on mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes were also analyzed by qRT-PCR.

RESULTS

The same alkaloid components, allocryptopine, tetrahydropalmatine, and tetrahydroberberine N-oxide were obtained in all three solvents, but the ratios of the components differed according to the solvents. Allocryptopine was determined to be the major alkaloid ingredient in the alkaloid extracts, with the highest amount of allocryptopine (497 μg/mg) being found in the chloroform alkaloid extract (CAE) (*p < 0.05). The best results were obtained from CAE, which has the highest amount of allocryptopine among alkaloid extracts in all studies. CAE suppressed intracellular ROS production (5.7-fold), percentage of apoptotic cells (3.0-fold), and cells in the sub G1 phase (6.8-fold); additionally, it increased cells in the G1 phase (1.5-fold) (**p < 0.01). CAE remarkably reduced the expressions of Bax, Caspase-9/-3 mRNA (2.4-3.5-fold) while increasing the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA (3.0-fold) (*p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrated that alkaloid extracts from G. corniculatum, which contain allocryptopine, tetrahydropalmatine, and tetrahydroberberine N-oxide suppressed oxidative stress-induced neuronal apoptosis, possibly by suppressing the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and regulating the cell cycle. These results are the first report that related alkaloids have played a neuroprotective role by regulating multiple mechanisms. Thus, our study indicated that these alkaloids especially allocryptopine could offer an efficient and novel strategy to explore novel drugs for neuroprotection and cognitive improvement.

Regulation of H2O2-induced cells injury through Nrf2 signaling pathway: An introduction of a novel cysteic acid-modified peptide

A novel peptide (Cya-Phe-Leu-Ala-Pro, SCP) was formulated through non-protein amino acid-cysteic acid (Cya) modification of collagen peptide (Phe-Leu-Ala-Pro, CP) from Acaudina molpadioides. Introduction of this Cya showed remarkable improvement in the scavenging activities of OH·. SCP exhibited stronger effects than CP in preventing H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage due to lower levels of ROS and MDA, and higher activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as SOD, GSH-Px, HO-1, and NQO1. It was speculated that SCP could significantly increase the expression level of Nrf2 compared to CP, thereby activating the expression of downstream ARE genes. The expression levels of p38 in the upstream pathway to regulate Nrf2 content were significantly higher in both the CP and SCP-treated groups, while a higher level of JNK was observed only in the SCP-treated groups. The present study provided insights towards the application of cysteic acid modified peptide in protecting cell from oxidative damage through the JNK/Nrf2 pathway.

Protopine/Gemcitabine Combination Induces Cytotoxic or Cytoprotective Effects in Cell Type-Specific and Dose-Dependent Manner on Human Cancer and Normal Cells

The natural alkaloid protopine (PRO) exhibits pharmacological properties including anticancer activity. We investigated the effects of PRO, alone and in combination with the chemotherapeutic gemcitabine (GEM), on human tumor cell lines and non-tumor human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). We found that treatments with different PRO/GEM combinations were cytotoxic or cytoprotective, depending on concentration and cell type. PRO/GEM decreased viability in pancreatic cancer MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells, while it rescued the GEM-induced viability decline in HDFs and in tumor MCF-7 cells. Moreover, PRO/GEM decreased G1, S and G2/M phases, concomitantly with an increase of subG1 phase in MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells. Differently, PRO/GEM restored the normal progression of the cell cycle, altered by GEM, and decreased cell death in HDFs. PRO alone increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MIA PaCa-2, PANC-1 cells and HDFs, while PRO/GEM increased both intracellular and mitochondrial ROS in the three cell lines. These results indicate that specific combinations of PRO/GEM may be used to induce cytotoxic effects in pancreatic tumor MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells, but have cytoprotective or no effects in HDFs.

Cytotoxicity of Ficus Crocata Extract on Cervical Cancer Cells and Protective Effect against Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Stress in HaCaT Non-Tumor Cells

Oxidative stress causes several chronic diseases including cancer. Some chemotherapeutic agents are not selective against tumor cells, causing oxidative stress in non-tumor cells. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of acetone extract of Ficus crocata (Miq.) Mart. ex Miq. (F. crocata) leaves (Ace-EFc) on cervical cancer cells, as well as its protective effect on hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced lipoperoxidation and cytotoxicity in non-tumor HaCaT cells. Antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH and ABTS radicals. Cell viability and lipoperoxidation were determined with MTT and 1-methyl-2-phenylindole assays, respectively. A model of H₂O₂-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative damage in HaCaT cells was established. HaCaT cells were exposed to the extract before or after exposure to H₂O₂, and oxidative damage and cell viability were evaluated. Ace-EFc inhibited the DPPH and ABTS radicals and showed a cytotoxic effect on SiHa and HeLa cells. Furthermore, the extract treatment had a protective effect on hydrogen peroxide-induced lipoperoxidation and cytotoxicity, avoiding the increase in MalonDiAldehyde (MDA) levels and the decrease in cell viability (p < 0.001). These results suggest that the metabolites of F. crocata leaves possess antioxidant and cytoprotective activity against oxidative damage. Thus, they could be useful for protecting cells from conditions that cause oxidative stress.

Optimization of Extraction of Bioactive Peptides from Monkfish (Lophius litulon) and Characterization of Their Role in H2O2-Induced Lesion

Background: Marine fish meat has been widely used for the extraction of bioactive peptides. This study was aimed to optimize the preparation of monkfish muscle peptides (LPs) using response surface methodology (RSM) and explore the antioxidant activities of <1 kDa LPs. Methods: Peptides were prepared from the muscles of monkfish (Lophius litulon), and five proteases were tested to hydrolyze muscle proteins. The hydrolysate that was treated using neutrase showed the highest degree of hydrolysis (DH) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activities. Results: The optimized conditions were as follows: water/material ratio of 5.4:1, a time span of 5 h, pH of 7.0, enzyme concentration of 2000 U/g, and temperature of 45 °C; the maximum DPPH scavenging activity and DH were 92.861% and 19.302%, respectively. LPs exhibited appreciable antioxidant activities, including DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical, 2,2′-azinobis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate (ABTS) radical, and superoxide anion scavenging activities. LPs attenuated H₂O₂-related oxidative injury in RAW264.7 cells, reduced the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) levels. Conclusion: We concluded that LPs could be an ideal source of bioactive peptides from monkfish and also have pharmaceutical potential.

(Z)-7,4'-dimethoxy-6-hydroxy-aurone-4-O--glucopyranoside attenuates lipoteichoic acid-induced damage in rat cardiomyoblast cells

OBJECTIVE

Excessive inflammatory responses in the endocardium are related to progression of infectious endocarditis. This study aimed to investigate whether (Z)-7,4'-dimethoxy-6-hydroxy-aurone-4-O-β-glucopyranoside (DHAG), a compound isolated from the endophytic fungus Penicillium citrinum of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, could attenuate cell damage caused by lipoteichoic acid (LTA) in embryonic rat heart cells (H9c2).

METHODS

LTA-induced cell damage occurred in H9c2 cells and the protective effects of DHAG at different concentrations (1-10  µM) were assessed. Indicators of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in H9c2 cells were measured.

RESULTS

DHAG (1-10  µM) significantly attenuated LTA-induced damage in H9c2 cells, as evidenced by increased cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential, decreased cytochrome c release and DNA fragmentation, inhibition of caspase-3 and -9 activity, and altered expression of apoptosis-related proteins. DHAG also decreased oxidative stress by increasing protein expression of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2). Furthermore, DHAG inhibited inflammatory responses by decreasing protein expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs).

CONCLUSION

DHAG exerted protective effects against LTA-induced cell damage, at least partially by decreasing oxidative stress and inhibiting inflammatory responses. Our results provide a scientific rational for developing DHAG as a therapy against infectious endocarditis.

(Z)-7,4′-Dimethoxy-6-hydroxy-aurone- 4-O-β-glucopyranoside alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats associating with the regulation of JAK1/STAT1 signaling pathway

Inflammatory responses have been demonstrated to contribute to the neuronal death following cerebral ischemia. This study was to investigate the repairing effects and potential mechanisms of (Z)-7,4′-dimethoxy-6-hydroxy-aurone-4-O-β-glucopyranoside (DHAG), a compound with neuroprotective effects, on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Cerebral I/R model was established with middle cerebral artery occlusion method in Sprague Dawley rats and then rats were treated with DHAG (1 and 2 mg/kg) for 7 days. The volume of cerebral infarction was detected by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. The apoptosis in ischemic brain tissues was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Oxidative stress markers and inflammatory factors were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Protein expression was detected by Western blot. DHAG treatment significantly alleviated the cerebral I/R injury and decreased apoptosis in brain tissues. Moreover, DHAG treatment significantly inhibited oxidative stress and reduced inflammatory responses, associating with decreasing the protein expression of phosphorylated Janus kinase 1/phosphorylated signal transducer and transcriptional activator 1. These results demonstrated neuroprotective properties of DHAG and highlighted it as a potential therapeutic agent against injury of cerebral IR.

Berberine: A Plant-derived Alkaloid with Therapeutic Potential to Combat Alzheimer's disease

Berberine (a protoberberine isoquinoline alkaloid) has shown promising pharmacological activities, including analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, cardioprotective, memory enhancement, antidepressant, antioxidant, anti-nociceptive, antimicrobial, anti- HIV and cholesterol-lowering effects. It is used in the treatment of the neurodegenerative disorder. It has strong evidence to serve as a potent phytoconstituent in the treatment of various neurodegenerative disorders such as AD. It limits the extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. It has also lipid-glucose lowering ability, hence can be used as a protective agent in atherosclerosis and AD. However, more detailed investigations along with safety assessment of berberine are warranted to clarify its role in limiting various risk factors and AD-related pathologies. This review highlights the pharmacological basis to control oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and protective effect of berberine in AD, which will benefit to the biological scientists in understanding and exploring the new vistas of berberine in combating Alzheimer's disease.

6-Formyl-5-isopropyl-3-hydroxymethyl- 7-methyl-1H-indene mitigates methamphetamine-induced photoreceptor cell toxicity through inhibiting oxidative stress

As an extremely addictive psychostimulant drug and an illicit dopaminergic neurotoxin, methamphetamine (METH) conducts to enhance satisfaction, feelings of alertness through influencing monoamine neurotransmitter systems. Long-lasting exposure to METH causes psychosis and increases the risk of neurodegeneration. 6-Formyl-5-isopropyl-3-hydroxymethyl-7-methyl-1H-indene (FIHMI) is a novel compound with potent antioxidant properties. This study was to investigate whether FIHMI could mitigate METH-induced photoreceptor cell toxicity. METH-caused cell toxicity was established in 661W cells and protective effects of FIHMI at different concentrations (1-10 µM) was examined. FIHMI significantly attenuated the METH-caused cell damage in 661W cells, evidenced by increasing cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential, decreasing cytochrome c release and DNA fragmentation, inhibiting activities of caspase 3/9, and changing expression of apoptosis-related protein. Furthermore, FIHMI treatment decreased mRNA expression of Beclin-1 and LC3B protein expression in METH-induced 661W cells suggesting autophagy is reduced. FIHMI decreased the oxidative stress through increasing protein expression of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2. These data demonstrated FIHMI could inhibit oxidative stress, which may also play an essential role in the regulation of METH-triggered apoptotic response, providing the scientific rational to develop FIHMI as the therapeutic agent to alleviate METH-induced photoreceptor cell toxicity.

Mung Bean Protein Hydrolysates Protect Mouse Liver Cell Line Nctc-1469 Cell from Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Cell Injury

Mung bean is nutritious and rich in protein (19.5%–33.1%). However, there are few studies on mung bean protein active peptides so the mung bean protein hydrolysates (MBPHs) were investigated for evaluating their ability to clear intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and regulating the ability of antioxidant enzymes on NCTC-1469 cells. Results showed that MBPHs, MBPHs-I (molecular weight < 3 kDa), MBPHs-II (molecular weight between 3 and 10 kDa), and MBPHs-III (molecular weight > 10 kDa) could all improve the survival rate of cells compared with the model group. MBPHs, MBPHs-I, and MBPHs-II could significantly decrease the content of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and reduce the generation of malonaldehyde (MDA) at a concentration of 0.4 mg/mL. Regarding the intracellular ROS, the result showed that MBPHs-I significantly reduced the production of ROS (from 58.3% to 26.6%) and had a dose-dependent relationship. In addition, the amino acid analysis showed that MBPHs-I had a balanced amino acid composition. MBPHs-I is rich in lysine but was deficient in cereals. Therefore, the hydrophobic and aromatic amino acids in MBPHs-I were high, which could improve its antioxidant activity. According to the results, MBPHs-I was the best and most potent natural antioxidant and it can contribute to drug development and medical application.

Preparation of Antioxidant Peptide by Microwave- Assisted Hydrolysis of Collagen and Its Protective Effect Against H2O2-Induced Damage of RAW264.7 Cells

Antioxidant peptides have elicited interest for the versatility of their use in the food and pharmaceutical industry. In the current study, antioxidant peptides were prepared by microwave-assisted alkaline protease hydrolysis of collagen from sea cucumber (Acaudina molpadioides). The results showed that microwave irradiation significantly improved the degree of hydrolysis of collagen and the hydroxyl radical (OH⋅) scavenging activity of hydrolysate. The content and OH⋅ scavenging activity of collagen peptides with molecular weight ≤ 1 kDa (CP_S) in the hydrolysate obtained at 250 W increased significantly compared with the non-microwave-assisted control. CP_S could scavenge OH⋅ and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical in a dose-dependent manner. The scavenging activity of OH⋅ and DPPH radical was 93.1% and 41.2%, respectively, at CP_S concentration of 1 mg/mL. CP_S could significantly promote RAW264.7 cell proliferation and reduce the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) level of H₂O₂-induced damage in RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, all CP_S-treated groups exhibited an increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) level compared with the control. These results showed that CP_S could effectively protect RAW264.7 cells from H₂O₂-induced damage, implying the potential utilization of CP_S as a natural antioxidant for food and pharmaceutical applications.

Protective effects of 6,7,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone, a major metabolite of daidzein, on 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neuronal cell death in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells

Daidzein, one of the important isoflavones, is extensively metabolized in the human body following consumption. In particular, 6,7,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone (THIF), a major metabolite of daidzein, has been the focus of recent investigations due to its various health benefits, such as anti-cancer and anti-obesity effects. However, the protective effects of 6,7,4'-THIF have not yet been studied in models of Parkinson's disease (PD). Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the protective activity of 6,7,4'-THIF on 6-hydroxydopamine (OHDA)-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. Pretreatment of SH-SY5Y cells with 6,7,4'-THIF significantly inhibited 6-OHDA-induced neuronal cell death, lactate dehydrogenase release, and reactive oxygen species production. In addition, 6,7,4'-THIF significantly attenuated reductions in 6-OHDA-induced superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione content. Moreover, 6,7,4'-THIF attenuated alterations in Bax and Bcl-2 expression and caspase-3 activity in 6-OHDA-induced SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, 6,7,4'-THIF significantly reduced 6-OHDA-induced phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. Additionally, 6,7,4'-THIF effectively prevented 6-OHDA-induced loss of tyrosine hydroxylase. Taken together, these results suggest that 6,7,4'-THIF, a major metabolite of daidzein, may be an attractive option for treating and/or preventing neurodegenerative disorders such as PD.

Systemic administration with tetrahydrocannabinol causes retinal damage in BALB/c mice

Recent years have seen substantial shifts in cultural attitudes towards cannabis for medical and recreational use. However, legalizing recreational marijuana may have adverse effects on individual and public health. As the most widely used illicit agent, cannabis is commonly reported to disrupt learning and memory. Unfortunately, the molecular mechanisms underlying behavioral impairment by cannabis abuse remain poorly understood. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a major component in cannabis, causes short-term effects on the visual system, but little is known about persisting visual disturbances. This study was to investigate the effects of systemic administration with THC on retina and explore its underlying mechanisms. BALB/c mice were treated with 1 or 2 mg/kg THC intraperitoneally daily for 2 months, mice treated with vehicle as negative control. The retinal function was tested by electroretinography after THC treatment. Morphology and pathology changes of retina were detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay was used to detect the apoptosis in photoreceptor cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to show the inflammatory responses and oxidative stress. mRNA and protein changes were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot to explore the underlying mechanisms. Results indicated that 2-month treatment with THC caused retinal damage, evidenced by its functional loss and increased apoptosis in photoreceptor cells through inducing inflammatory responses and oxidative stress. Our study demonstrated that systemic administration with THC caused toxic effects on retinas of BALB/c mice, suggesting the potential mechanisms for the retina damage caused by cannabis abuse.

7,8,4'-Trihydroxyisoflavone, a Metabolized Product of Daidzein, Attenuates 6-Hydroxydopamine-Induced Neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y Cells

Daidzein isolated from soybean (Glycine max) has been widely studied for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the protective effects of 7,8,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone (THIF), a major metabolite of daidzein, on 6-hydroxydopamine (OHDA)-induced neurotoxicity are not well understood. In the current study, 7,8,4'-THIF significantly inhibited neuronal cell death and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release induced by 6-OHDA in SH-SY5Y cells, which were used as an in vitro model of Parkinson' disease (PD). Moreover, pretreatment with 7,8,4'-THIF significantly increased the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) activity in 6-OHDA-induced SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, 7,8,4'-THIF significantly recovered 6-OHDA-induced cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, cleaved poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), increased Bax, and decreased Bcl-2 levels. Additionally, 7,8,4'-THIF significantly restored the expression levels of phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K)/Akt, and glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) in 6-OHDA-induced SH-SY5Y cells. Further, 7,8,4'-THIF significantly increased the reduced tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) level induced by 6-OHDA in SH-SY5Y cells. Collectively, these results suggest that 7,8,4'-THIF protects against 6-OHDA-induced neuronal cell death in cellular PD models. Also, these effects are mediated partly by inhibiting activation of the MAPK and PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathways.

Protective effect of ethyl vanillin against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells via the reduction of oxidative stress and apoptosis

Increased aggregation of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides induces oxidative stress, which is considered a major contributor in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Prevention of Aβ-induced neurotoxicity is proposed as a possible modality for treatment of AD. The present study aimed to elucidate possible effects of ethyl vanillin (EVA), an analog of vanillin isolated from vanilla beans, on the Aβ_1-42-induced oxidative injury in PC12 cells. EVA restrained the decrease in PC12 cell viability and apoptosis induction caused by treatment with Aβ_1-42. In addition, EVA markedly alleviated intracellular lipid peroxidation as demonstrated by malondialdehyde levels and reactive oxygen species production in Aβ_1-42-treated PC12 cells. In addition, the reduction in the activity levels of the antioxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase was detected in Aβ_1-42-treated PC12 cells. This effect was partially reversed by treatment with EVA. Furthermore, the results indicated that EVA attenuated Aβ_1-42-induced caspase-3 activation and the increase noted in the apoptosis regulator Bcl-2/apoptosis regulator Bax ratio of PC12 cells. These results indicated that EVA could be used as an efficient and novel agent for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases via inhibition of oxidative stress and cell apoptosis.

Bombesin attenuated ischemia-induced spatial cognitive and synaptic plasticity impairment associated with oxidative damage

The dysfunction of spatial cognition is a character to various neurological disorders and therapeutic strategy. However, it is limited to known risk factors clinically so far. Gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) signaling is a neuropeptide system mediating emotional memory events. However, the effects of GRP agonist on spatial cognition and hippocampal synaptic plasticity are rarely investigated, especially in pathologic condition. This study was designed to investigate the long-term effects of GRPR agonist, bombesin, against cognitive impairment induced by chronic cerebral ischemia in rats and its possible mechanisms. Our results revealed that bombesin administration (30 μg/kg/day, for 14 continuous days) significantly protected the cognitive and synaptic plasticity impairments as assessed by the Morris water maze and long-term potentiation tests. The mechanism studies demonstrated that bombesin significantly alleviated the decreased activity of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT) and altered the increased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA). Besides, the decreased expression of synapse plasticity-related proteins, calcium- calmodulin- dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and synaptophysin (SYP) in the hippocampus were increased with drug treatment. In conclusion, bombesin could protect the oxidative stress and expression of proteins, which were important for synaptic plasticity and cognitive function impairment induced by chronic cerebral ischemia. Our study is presented to provide novel insights into the effects of bombesin on spatial learning and memory, which should be further explored as a potential drug in disorders involving deficits in cognitive function.

(3R)-5,6,7-trihydroxy-3-isopropyl-3-methylisochroman-1-one ameliorates retinal degeneration in Pde6brd10 mice

As a severe photoreceptor-degenerative disease, retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is currently incurable and eventually leads to partial or complete blindness. (3R)-5,6,7-trihydroxy-3-isopropyl-3-methylisochroman-1-one (TIM) is a novel antioxidant isolated from the plant of Alpinia katsumadai Hayata, with protective effects on photoreceptor cells against lipoteichoic acid-induced damage through inhibiting oxidative stress. The present study was to further demonstrate whether TIM could ameliorate retinal degeneration of Pde6b^rd10 (rd10) mice, a mouse model of RP. rd10 mice were treated with TIM by intraperitoneal injection daily from postnatal Day 10 (P10) to P26. Retinal function was tested by electroretinography. Histology was evaluated by toluidine blue staining and TUNEL assay. Oxidative stress markers were measured by ELISA. Immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, and western blotting were applied to explore the protective mechanism. Results showed TIM significantly improved the retinal function and decreased photoreceptor cell apoptosis in rd10 mice through reducing oxidative stress. For the first time, this study demonstrated the protective effects of TIM against retinal degeneration in rd10 mice, providing scientific rationale to use TIM treating the RP.

(3R)-5,6,7-trihydroxy-3-isopropyl-3-methylisochroman-1-one reduces lipoteichoic acid-induced damage in rat cardiomyoblast cells

Objective:

Infective endocarditis is usually caused by Streptococcus sanguinis and characterized by inflammatory responses in the endocardium. This study aimed to investigate if the new compound (3R)-5,6,7-trihydroxy-3-isopropyl-3-methylisochroman-1-one (TIM) isolated from Alpinia katsumadai Hayata could provide protection against lipoteichoic acid (LTA)-induced cell damage in embryonic rat heart cells (H9c2).

Methods:

LTA-induced cell damage was established in H9c2, and the protective effects of TIM against the cell damage were examined at different concentrations (0.1–2.5 µM). The inflammatory response and oxidative stress in H9c2 cells were also measured.

Results:

Treatment with TIM (0.1–2.5 µM) significantly decreased LTA-induced toxicity in H9c2 cells, which was indicated by increase in cell viability, elevation in the mitochondrial membrane potential, decrease in the release of cytochrome-c and DNA damage, inhibition of caspase-3/9 activities, and change in apoptosis-related protein expression in LTA-treated H9c2 cells. TIM treatment also significantly attenuated the redox imbalance in H9c2 cells by decreasing malondialdehyde and intracellular reactive oxygen species levels as well as by enhancing superoxide dismutase activities and glutathione levels by increasing nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 protein expression. Moreover, TIM treatment decreased interleukin 1 β, interleukin 12, and tumor necrosis factor α levels by inhibiting nuclear factor kappa B protein expression.

Conclusion:

Our data indicated that TIM protected H9c2 cells against LTA-induced toxicity, at least partially through inhibiting the inflammatory response and oxidative stress, providing scientific rational to develop TIM to treat infective endocarditis.

Flavonoids of Kudzu Root Fermented by Eurtotium cristatum Protected Rat Pheochromocytoma Line 12 (PC12) Cells against H₂O₂-Induced Apoptosis

Novel bioactive components have greatly attracted attention as they demonstrate health benefits. Reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) showed that isoflavonoid compounds of kudzu root (Pueraria lobata) fermented by Eurtotium cristatum and extracted using de-ionized water were higher active compared with non-fermented. A model of H₂O₂-inducd cell damage was built using rat pheochromocytoma line 12 (PC12) cell to observe the protective effect of non-fermented kudzu root (Pueraria lobata) (NFK) and fermented kudzu root (Pueraria lobata) (FK). Cell viability and apoptosis were analyzed through inverted microscopy and flow cytometry. The level of lactate dehydrogenase, catalase activity, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated. Results showed that NFK and FK could significantly protect PC12 cell against damage caused by H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress. The intracellular antioxidant system was increased, protected the cell membrane inhibit H₂O₂-induced apoptosis by scavenging of ROS. Moreover, NFK and FK regulated the cell cycle to prevent cell apoptosis. Isoflavonoid from the kudzu root especially fermented kudzu root with E. cristatum are potentially therapeutic drugs against diseases induced by oxidative damage.

(2R, 3S)-Pinobanksin-3-cinnamate ameliorates photoreceptor degeneration in Pde6rd10 mice

As an inherited disorder caused by initial death of rod photoreceptors, retinitis pigmentosa is currently untreatable and usually leads to partial or complete blindness. (2R, 3S)-Pinobanksin-3-cinnamate (PC) is a new flavonone isolated from the seed of Alpinia galanga Willd, and has been reported to exert neuroprotective effects by upregulating endogenous antioxidant enzymes. In this study, the anti-oxidative and neuroprotective activity of PC against photoreceptor apoptosis in rd10 mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa was explored. PC showed to produce significant improvement in histology and function in rd10 mice through reducing oxidative stress. For the first time, the protective effects of PC were demonstrated against retina degeneration in rd10 mice and our study provides scientific rationale on using PC as the supplementary treatment to the outer retina diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa, in which oxidative stress is thought to contribute to disease progression.

Sanguinaria canadensis: Traditional Medicine, Phytochemical Composition, Biological Activities and Current Uses

Sanguinaria canadensis, also known as bloodroot, is a traditional medicine used by Native Americans to treat a diverse range of clinical conditions. The plants rhizome contains several alkaloids that individually target multiple molecular processes. These bioactive compounds, mechanistically correlate with the plant’s history of ethnobotanical use. Despite their identification over 50 years ago, the alkaloids of S. canadensis have not been developed into successful therapeutic agents. Instead, they have been associated with clinical toxicities ranging from mouthwash induced leukoplakia to cancer salve necrosis and treatment failure. This review explores the historical use of S. canadensis, the molecular actions of the benzophenanthridine and protopin alkaloids it contains, and explores natural alkaloid variation as a possible rationale for the inconsistent efficacy and toxicities encountered by S.canadensis therapies. Current veterinary and medicinal uses of the plant are studied with an assessment of obstacles to the pharmaceutical development of S. canadensis alkaloid based therapeutics.

Caffeoylquinic Acid Derivatives Protect SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells from Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Injury Through Modulating Oxidative Status

Oxidative stress has been confirmed as a contribution to the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of many neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs) are considered to have anti-oxidative stress ability in a previous study, but the structure-activity relationships (SARs) of CQAs in neuroprotective effects are still unclear. In the present study, we primarily expound the SARs of CQAs in counteracting H₂O₂-induced injury in SH-SY5Y cells. We found that CQAs (1-10) represented the protection of SH-SY5Y cells against H₂O₂-induced injury in varying degrees and malonyl groups could obviously increase the anti-oxidative stress ability of CQAs. Intensive studies of 4,5-O-dicaffeoyl-1-O-(malic acid methyl ester)-quinic acid (MDCQA) indicated that the mechanisms could potentially involve activation of endogenous antioxidant enzymes and the regulation of the phosphorylation of MAPKs and AKT. In conclusion, MDCQA could serve as a neuroprotective agent with a potential to attenuate oxidative stress.