Rosmarinic acid as a protective agent against genotoxicity of ethanol in mice

Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of antineoplastic drugs at environmentally relevant concentrations after long-term exposure

Introduction

5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and methotrexate (MTX) are the antineoplastic drugs most commonly used worldwide. Considered cytotoxic, these pharmaceuticals exhibit low specificity, causing damage not only to cancer cells but also to healthy cells in organisms. After being consumed and metabolized, these drugs are excreted through urine and feces, followed by wastewater treatment. However, conventional treatments do not have the capacity to completely remove these substances, risking their introduction into freshwater systems. This could pose a risk to human health even at low concentrations.

Aims

Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, and mutagenicity of 5-FU and MTX at environmentally relevant concentrations after a long-term exposure, using adult male rats as an experimental model.

Methods

Male Wistar rats (70 days old) were distributed into 4 groups (n = 10/group): control, received only vehicle; MTX, received methotrexate at 10ngL-1; 5-FU received 5-fluorouracil at 10ngL-1; and MTX + 5-FU, received a combination of MTX and 5-FU at 10ngL-1 each. The period of exposure was from postnatal day (PND) 70 to PND 160, through drinking water. After that, the animals were euthanized and the samples (liver, testis, femoral bone marrow, and peripheral blood) were obtained.

Results

Increased DNA fragmentation was observed in the peripheral blood, liver, and testis, altering the parameters of the tail moment and tail intensity in the Comet assay. Besides, the change in the ratio between PCE and NCE indicates bone marrow suppression.

Conclusion

These findings warn the adverse effects for the general population worldwide chronically exposed to these drugs at trace concentration unintentionally.

Phytochemical Profile and Evaluation of the Antioxidant, Cyto-Genotoxic, and Antigenotoxic Potential of Salvia verticillata Hydromethanolic Extract

This study comprises the phytochemical characterization, the evaluation of the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (AA), and the investigation of the cyto-genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of hydromethanolic extract derived from Salvia verticillata L. leaves. HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS and HPLC-DAD were used for the characterization of the extract and determination of the major ingredients. Afterwards, the TPC and AA were determined. The cytotoxic and genotoxic effect of the extract on cultured human lymphocytes at concentrations of 10, 25, and 50 μg mL-1 was investigated via the Cytokinesis Block MicroNucleus (CBMN) assay. Moreover, its antigenotoxic potential against the mutagenic agent mitomycin C (MMC) was assessed using the same assay. The hydromethanolic extract comprises numerous metabolites, with rosmarinic acid being the major compound. It had a high value of TPC and exerted significant AA as shown by the results of the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and Radical Scavenging Activity by DPPH• assays. A dose-dependent cytotoxic potential was recorded, with the highest dose (50 μg mL-1) exhibiting statistically significant cytotoxicity. None of the tested concentrations induced significant micronuclei (MN) frequencies, indicating a lack of genotoxicity. All tested concentrations reduced the MMC-mediated genotoxic effects, with the two lowest showing statistically significant antigenotoxic potential.

Protective effect of Hovenia dulcis Thunb. leaf extracts against ethanol-induced DNA damage in SH-SY5Y cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hovenia dulcis Thunb. has been used as a medicinal herb for the treatment of hepatic diseases and alcohol intoxication.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The genotoxic effect and the antigenotoxic potential of ethanolic extract of H. dulcis leaves and its methanolic fraction were evaluated against ethanol-induced damages in SH-SY5Y cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of H. dulcis extracts were also assessed. In addition, a systems biology analysis was performed to investigate the molecular pathway of action of the H. dulcis leaves compounds.

RESULTS

The ethanolic extract and its methanolic fraction presented genotoxicity through comet assay at 0.5 and 0.25 mg/mL. On the other hand, both extracts showed protective action against ethanol at all concentrations. Additionally, an NBT assay was performed and demonstrated an ability of the extracts to reduce superoxide anion formation when SH-SY5Y cells were challenged with ethanol. HPLC analysis indicated the presence of quercitrin, isoquercitrin, and rutin. Further, system biology assays indicated a molecular action pathway, where the compounds from the leaves of H. dulcis, in addition to performing free radical scavenging activity, activate PP2A, and may inhibit the apoptosis pathway activated by ethanol-induced oxidative stress.

CONCLUSIONS

This work is important to indicate potential antigenotoxic and antioxidant properties of H. dulcis leaves, and its use can be investigated against DNA damage induced by ethanol.

The neuroprotective attribution of Ocimum basilicum: a review on the prevention and management of neurodegenerative disorders

Background

Bioactive principles from various natural resources including medicinal herbs have always played a crucial role in healthcare settings and increasingly became key players in drug discovery and development for many biopharmaceutical applications. Additionally, natural products (NPs) have immense arrangement of distinctive chemical structures with diverse functional groups that motivated numerous investigators including synthetic chemists to discover new therapeutic entities. Numerous pre-clinical investigations involving the animal models have evident the usefulness of these NPs against various human diseases including neurodegenerative disorders (NDs).

Main text

Ocimum basilicum Linn (O. basilicum L.), also known as sweet basil, is well practiced in traditional healthcare systems and has been used to treat various human illnesses, which include malaria, skin disease, diarrhea, bronchitis, dysentery, arthritis, eye diseases, and insect bites and emphasize the significance of the ethno-botanical approach as a potential source of novel drug leads With the growing interest in advanced techniques, herbal medicine and medicinal plants explorations are still considered to be a novel resource for new pharmacotherapeutic discovery and development. O. basilicum L and its bioactive principles including apigenin, eugenol, myretenal, β-sitosterol, luteolin, rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, essential oil (EO)-rich phenolic compounds, and others like anthocyanins and flavones could be of therapeutic values in NDs by exhibiting their neuro-protective efficacy on various signaling pathways. The present comprehensive review collected various related information using the following searching engines such as PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, etc. and focused mainly the English written documents. The search period comprised of last two decades until present.

Conclusion

Although these efficacious plant genera of prime importance and has potential medical and socioeconomic importance, yet the pivotal evidence for its neuroprotective potential in novel clinical trials remains lacking. However, with the available wealth of obtainable literature on this medicinal plant, which supports this review and concludes that O. basilicum L may function as a promising therapeutics for the treatment of NDs.

Genotoxic and cytotoxic assessment of two endemic Lamiaceae species from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Clinopodium alpinum subsp. orontium (K.Malý) Govaerts and Thymus bracteosus Vis. ex Benth. are endemic Lamiaceae species in Bosnia and Herzegovina with rather limited data about their cytotoxic and genotoxic effects. This study aimed to analyse phenolic compounds composition of C. alpinum subsp. orontium and T. bracteosus aqueous and dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) extracts and their cytotoxic and genotoxic potential in human peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures. Among 33 analytes, 17 were identified and quantified in the examined extracts with the rosmarinic and chlorogenic acids as main constituents. Genotoxic effects of extracts from both species are proven at the highest applied dose. T. bracteosus extracts and DMSO as a solvent exhibited stronger genotoxic potential that should be further investigated in tumour cell lines. Nevertheless, non-endemic species with similar phenolic composition and bioactivity should be the first choice for medicinal purposes.

Antioxidant, Antigenotoxic and Cytotoxic Activity of Essential Oils and Methanol Extracts of Hyssopus officinalis L. Subsp. aristatus (Godr.) Nyman (Lamiaceae)

Hyssopus officinalis L. is a well-known aromatic plant used in traditional medicine and the food and cosmetics industry. The aim of this study is to assess the antioxidant, genotoxic, antigenotoxic and cytotoxic properties of characterized hyssop essential oils and methanol extracts. Chemical composition was analyzed by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography with diode array detection and mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-MS), respectively. Antioxidant activity was examined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) tests; genotoxic and antigenotoxic activity were examined by the comet assay, while cytotoxicity was evaluated by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide dye (MTT) test against tumor cell lines (SW480, MDA-MB 231, HeLa) and non-transformed human lung fibroblast cell lines (MRC-5). The essential oils were rich in monoterpene hydrocarbons (e.g., limonene; 7.99–23.81%), oxygenated monoterpenes (1,8-cineole; 38.19–67.1%) and phenylpropanoids (methyl eugenol; 0.00–28.33%). In methanol extracts, the most abundant phenolics were chlorogenic and rosmarinic acid (23.35–33.46 and 3.53–17.98 mg/g, respectively). Methanol extracts expressed moderate to weak antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀ = 56.04–199.89 µg/mL, FRAP = 0.667–0.959 mmol Fe²⁺/g). Hyssop preparations significantly reduced DNA damage in human whole blood cells, induced by pretreatment with hydrogen peroxide. Methanol extracts exhibited selective and potent dose- and time-dependent activity against the HeLa cell line. Results of the current study demonstrated notable H. officinalis medicinal potential, which calls for further investigation.

An updated review of protective effects of rosemary and its active constituents against natural and chemical toxicities

Natural and chemical toxic agents cause severe adverse effects on people's health in a variety of exposing ways. Herbal medications have taken into consideration as alternative safe treatments for toxicities. Rosmarinus officinalis also known as rosemary belongs to the Lamiaceae family. Rosemary and its constituents including carnosic acid, rosmarinic acid, and carnosol have a lot of benefits such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, anti-bacterial, antiviral, antinociceptive, and neuroprotective activities. In this literate review, we focused on the protective effects of rosemary and its main compounds against natural and chemical toxicities in both in vitro and in vivo studies. The protective effects of rosemary and its components are mostly mediated through different mechanisms such as the inhibition of oxidative stress, reduction of inflammatory mediators including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-17 (IL-17), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and nuclear factor ĸB (NF-ĸB) as well as the modulation of apoptosis and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways.

Boar sperm quality and oxidative status as affected by rosmarinic acid at 17 °C

Peroxidation damage induces sublethal injury to boar sperm during preservation. Rosmarinic acid (RA) has already been verified to efficiently protect cells from oxidant-induced injury and to produce significant effect on cryopreservation of semen. Through our experiments, we aim at investigating whether RA has a positive effect on the preservation of pig semen at room temperature. The semen collected from sexually mature Large White boars were preserved at 17 °C in Beltsville thawing solution (BTS) supplied. The boar sperm were exposed to 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 μM RA in vitro and the sperm functions were examined. The sperm motility, the acrosome and plasma membrane integrity, the catalase activity (CAT), the total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC) activity and the malondialdehyde content (MDA) were examined at 0, 1, 3 and 5 days. The BTS diluent containing RA improved the sperm quality during the process of liquid preservation compared with the control treatment. After 5 days of liquid preservation, the addition of RA at 100 μM produced an optimal effect on the survival time as well as on the maintenance of motility, acrosome and plasma membrane integrity; T-AOC activity; CAT activity; and the MDA content. Besides, our results in the reproductive experiments showed that the addition of RA at 100 μM to the BTS diluent increased the pregnancy rate. These results suggest that the proper concentration of RA in boar semen extenders possibly improves the artificial insemination efficiency by reducing the sperm damage and the subsequent dysfunction during liquid preservation in swine production systems.

Phenolic Acids of Plant Origin-A Review on Their Antioxidant Activity In Vitro (O/W Emulsion Systems) Along with Their in Vivo Health Biochemical Properties

Nature has generously offered a wide range of herbs (e.g., thyme, oregano, rosemary, sage, mint, basil) rich in many polyphenols and other phenolic compounds with strong antioxidant and biochemical properties. This paper focuses on several natural occurring phenolic acids (caffeic, carnosic, ferulic, gallic, p-coumaric, rosmarinic, vanillic) and first gives an overview of their most common natural plant sources. A summary of the recently reported antioxidant activities of the phenolic acids in o/w emulsions is also provided as an in vitro lipid-based model system. Exploring the interfacial activity of phenolic acids could help to further elucidate their potential health properties against oxidative stress conditions of biological membranes (such as lipoproteins). Finally, this review reports on the latest literature evidence concerning specific biochemical properties of the examined phenolic acids.

Rosmarinic acid alleviates ethanol-induced lipid accumulation by repressing fatty acid biosynthesis

Recent studies have demonstrated that rosmarinic acid is a valuable natural product for treatment of alcoholic liver disease. However, the mechanisms whereby rosmarinic acid improves alcoholic liver disease remain unclear. Here we performed experiments using a non-transformed mouse hepatocyte cell line (AML12). Oil-red O staining demonstrated that rosmarinic acid reduced ethanol-induced lipid accumulation. It was shown that rosmarinic acid prevented ethanol-induced elevation of the malondialdehyde level. We also found that rosmarinic acid inhibited ethanol-induced mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin 6. Metabolomics analysis revealed that rosmarinic acid ameliorated ethanol-induced fatty acid biosynthesis in the cytoplasm. In addition, palmitic acid was a candidate biomarker in cells exposed to ethanol or ethanol plus rosmarinic acid. Rosmarinic acid prevented the ethanol-induced increase in sorbitol that is a component of the polyol pathway. Moreover, we confirmed that rosmarinic acid attenuated ethanol-induced mRNA expression of fatty acid synthase, probably by modulating the AMPK/SREBP-1c pathway. Furthermore, rosmarinic acid prevented the ethanol-induced decrease in eight metabolites that are involved in mitochondrial metabolism, including glycine and succinic acid which are the components of carnitine synthesis. These results provide a crucial insight into the molecular mechanism of rosmarinic acid in alleviating ethanol-induced injury.

Rosmarinic acid inhibits programmed cell death in Solanum tuberosum L. calli under high salinity

Oxidative stress induced by salinity is a prime cause of cell death when Na+ toxicity becomes unbearable. We explored the effect of rosmarinic acid (RA) on the Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Desiree calli against salt-induced programmed cell death (PCD). We showed that PCD events were triggered in calli under 250 mM NaCl by the loss of plasma membrane integrity as measured by the amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the cytoplasm, the degree of DNA degradation resulting from the cleavage of nuclear DNA into oligonucleosomal fragments in apoptotic cells, the presence of TUNEL-positive nuclei (90 ± 0.005%) damage in genomic DNA, and activation of caspase 3-like protease. Callus Formation Medium (CFM) supplemented with RA led to the suppression of salt-induced cell death and a dramatic decrease in the MDA level and frequency of TUNEL-positive nuclei under salinity to 4 ± and 7.3 ± % in the presence of 50 and 350 μM RA, respectively. The application of RA also resulted in an increase in GSH content and maintenance of a high GSH/GSSG ratio. Interestingly, these reductions in PCD were accompanied by inhibiting caspase 3-like protease activities due to RA under salinity. Molecular docking predicted high binding energies of RA for binding to subtilisin-like protease (StSCTc-3), which has caspase-3 like activity in Solanum tuberosum, near the active site. This finding supports the notion of a role for RA in PCD protection in plants, which is consistent with earlier reports in animal cells.

Safety and efficacy of a dried aqueous ethanol extract of Melissa officinalis L. leaves when used as a sensory additive for all animal species

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a dried aqueous ethanol extract of Melissa officinalis L. leaves when used as a sensory feed additive for all animal species. The aqueous ethanol extract is specified to contain ≥ 10% of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives including ≥ 3% of rosmarinic acid. Considering the contradictory data from the Ames tests and uncertainty about the qualitative and quantitative presence of flavonoids and other compounds in the extract from M. officinalis L. leaves, the FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the genotoxicity of the additive under assessment. Although the identified components of the extract do not raise concerns for the safety of target species, the analysis of the extract is incomplete. In the absence of adequate analytical and safety data, the FEEDAP Panel is unable to conclude on the safety of the additive for the target species. The use of M. officinalis L. leaf dried extract in animal feed at the proposed use level does not raise significantly the exposure levels of the consumer for compounds derived from this plant. However, in the absence of adequate data on genotoxicity, the Panel cannot conclude on the safety for the consumer. In the absence of specific studies, the FEEDAP Panel cannot conclude on the safety of the additive for the user. M. officinalis L. is a native species to Europe and its use in animal nutrition is not expected to pose a risk for the environment. Since M. officinalis L. and its extracts are recognised to flavour food and its function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy is considered necessary for the extract.

Rosmarinic acid improves oxidative stress parameters and mitochondrial respiratory chain activity following 4-aminopyridine and picrotoxin-induced seizure in mice

Studies have indicated that epilepsy, an important neurological disease, can generate oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, among other damages to the brain. In this context, the use of antioxidant compounds could provide neuroprotection and help to reduce the damage caused by epileptic seizures and thereby the use of anticonvulsant drugs. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is an ester of caffeic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylactic acid that prevents cell damage caused by free radicals, acting as an antioxidant. It also presents anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and antiapoptotic properties. In this work, we used two models of acute seizure, 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and picrotoxin (PTX)-induced seizures in mice, to investigate the anticonvulsant, antioxidant, and neuroprotective profile of RA. Diazepam and valproic acid, antiepileptic drugs already used in the treatment of epilepsy, were used as positive controls. Although RA could not prevent seizures in the models used in this study, neither enhance the latency time to first seizure at the tested doses, it exhibited an antioxidant and neuroprotective effect. RA (8 and 16 mg/kg) decreased reactive oxygen species production, superoxide dismutase activity, and DNA damage, measured in hippocampus, after seizures induced by PTX and 4-AP. Catalase activity was decreased by RA only after seizures induced by 4-AP. The activity of the mitochondrial complex II was increased by RA in hippocampus samples after both seizure models. The results obtained in this study suggest that RA is able to reduce cell damage generated by the 4-AP and PTX seizures and therefore could represent a potential candidate in reducing pathophysiological processes involved in epilepsy.

Anti-hyperlipidemic effects of Campomanesia xanthocarpa aqueous extract and its modulation on oxidative stress and genomic instability in Wistar rats

The use of natural products from herbs may be a therapeutic option in dyslipidemia treatment. Campomanesia xanthocarpa (Mart.) O. Berg (Myrtaceae) leaves have been used to decrease cholesterol levels. However, studies to determine activities of this plant on triglycerides metabolism have received little attention. The aim of this study was to examine anti-hyperlipidemic effects of a C. xanthocarpa aqueous leaf extract (CxAE) and assess protective actions against oxidative stress and DNA damage. The tyloxapol-induced hyperlipidemia model was used in Wistar rats. Rats were treated orally with CxAE either 250 or 500 mg/kg/day for 7 days prior to tyloxapol administration. Biochemical parameters, oxidative stress levels, and genomic instability were assessed in several tissues. CxAE decreased cholesterol and triglyceride levels in serum and hepatic and renal DNA damage in tyloxapol-treated rats. There was no marked effect on the micronucleus frequency in bone marrow. The extract increased catalase activity and decreased glutathione S-transferase activity in kidney tissue. CxAE showed anti-hyperlipidemic effects, improved oxidative parameters, and protected DNA against damage induced by tyloxapol-induced hyperlipidemia, suggesting C. xanthocarpa leaves may be useful in preventing dyslipidemias.Abbreviations: ALP: Alkaline phosphatase; ALT: Aspartate aminotransferase; ANOVA: Analysis of variance; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; Ator: Atorvastatin; CAT: Catalase; Chol: Cholesterol; CxAE: Campomanesia xanthocarpa aqueous extract; GST: Glutathione S-transferase; HDL: High density cholesterol; i.p.: Intraperitoneal; NCE: Normochromatic erythrocyte; PBS: Phosphate buffer solution; PCE: Polychromatic erythrocyte; ROS: Reactive oxygen species; SD: Standard deviation; SOD: Superoxide dismutase; T: Tyloxapol; TBARS: Thiobarbituric acid reacting substances; TG: Triglyceride.

Antigenotoxic and antimutagenic effects of Myrciaria dubia juice in mice submitted to ethanol 28-day treatment

Myrciaria dubia is a native plant from the Amazon region which produces red-purplish fruit rich in antioxidant compounds such as ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and phenolic. M. dubia fruit is used to prepare juices considered to possess high nutritional content providing health benefits. The aim of this study was to examine the ability of M. dubia juice to protect DNA against genomic instability induced by sub-acute ethanol consumption attributed to oxidative stress. Mice were treated for 28 days with juice at 25% and 50% diluted in distilled water or with the diluted combination juice plus ethanol (5 g/kg). The genotoxic/antigenotoxic and mutagenic/antimutagenic effects were assessed using comet assay in blood, liver, and kidney and micronucleus (MN) test with bone marrow. In addition, the mutagenicity was also evaluated using Salmonella/microsome assay. Phytochemical compounds were determined using HPLC/PDA/MS/MS. The juice did not induce genotoxic effects in blood, kidney, and liver cells at both doses. In combination with ethanol, the juice reduced the alcohol-mediated DNA damage in all tissues analyzed. Further, the juice did not produce mutagenic effects and decreased mutagenicity induced by ethanol in the bone marrow. The anthocyanins were major compounds detected by HPLC/PDA/MS/MS, which modulated genotoxic and mutagenic effects initiated by ethanol and at least in part appeared responsible for the observed antigenotoxic and antimutagenic effects of M. dubia juice.

Toxicological aspects of Campomanesia xanthocarpa Berg. associated with its phytochemical profile

Campomanesia xanthocarpa leaves are used as tea to treat diarrhea, inflammation, and hypercholesterolemia. Some pharmacological studies noted its beneficial uses of C. xanthocarpa; however, few investigations examined the toxicological profile of this plant. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition, genotoxic, and mutagenic potential of an aqueous extract of C. xanthocarpa leaves (CxAE), and potential protective effects against oxidative damage. Phytochemical constituents were determined using HPLC, and antioxidant effect in vitro was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical assay. Genotoxic effects and chromosomic mutations were assessed using comet assay and micronucleus (MN) test in Wistar rats treated with CxAE at 250, 500 or 1000 mg/kg for 7 consecutive days. Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities were measured in several tissues. CxAE induced mutations in TA98, TA97a, and TA102 strains. However, in the presence of metabolic activation, data were negative for all strains tested. Lack of mutagenicity was also observed in the MN test. This extract did not induce DNA damage, except when the highest concentration was used. DNA oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) decreased in blood after treatment with CxAE. Lipid peroxidation levels were reduced while superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased in kidneys. The inhibitory concentration of CxAE required to lower DPPH levels to 50% was 38.47 ± 2.06 μg/ml. In conclusion, frameshift and oxidative mutations were observed only in the absence of metabolic activation which may be attributed to the presence of flavonoids such as quercetin. It is of interest that CxAE also showed protective effects against DNA oxidative damage associated with presence of ellagic acid, a phenolic acid with antioxidant activities. CxAE did not induce in vivo mutagenicity, suggesting that this extract poses a low toxic hazard over the short term.

Protective effect of exogenous melatonin in rats and their offspring on the genotoxic response induced by the chronic consumption of alcohol during pregnancy

Maternal alcoholism can induce serious injuries in embryonic and fetal development. The metabolism of alcohol increases the production of free radicals and acetaldehyde, molecules capable of reacting with DNA, impairing organogenesis. Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant that can act as a protective agent against DNA damage caused by genotoxic agents, such as ethanol. This study evaluated the protective effect of exogenous melatonin in rats and their offspring on the genotoxic response induced by chronic alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Twenty-five pregnant rats were divided into the following groups: NC - Negative control; ET - Rats receiving ethanol (3 g/kg/day); ET+10 M - Rats receiving ethanol (3 g/kg/day) and melatonin (10 mg/kg/day); ET+15 M - Rats receiving ethanol (3 g/kg/day) and melatonin (15 mg/kg/day); PC - Positive control (40 mg/kg cyclophosphamide). The dams and 10 pups (five males and five females) from each group were anesthetized to collect blood and liver from the dams and blood, liver and brain of neonates to evaluate the frequency of DNA damage by the comet assay. Blood was also used for the micronucleus test. The results demonstrated a significant increase in DNA damage in the blood and liver cells of dams receiving ethanol and their offspring as well as in the brain of these neonates. Treatments with melatonin (10 and 15 mg/kg/day) significantly reduced the genotoxicity caused by ethanol in the blood of dams and neonates (males and females), liver of dams and male offsprings, and in the brain of female offsprings. It was shown that only the female offspring exposed to maternal alcohol consumption showed a higher frequency of micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes. Consequently, exogenous melatonin may be a promising therapeutic agent against genotoxic damage induced by alcohol; however, further studies are needed to confirm these benefits.

Satureja subspicata and S. horvatii Extracts Induce Overexpression of the BCl-2 Family of Anti-apoptotic Genes and Reduce Micronuclei Frequency in Mice

Satureja subspicata and S. horvatii are endemic species of the Balkan Peninsula and often used in traditional medicine in Bosnia and Herzegovina to treat different health conditions. We aimed to analyze the unevaluated apoptotic, genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of two Satureja species, as well as their content of phenolics that are mainly responsible for the plant's biological activity. Apoptotic and geno/cytotoxic activities of S. subspicata and S. horvatii were investigated in vitro in human lymphocyte culture and in vivo in mice. The content of the main phenolics in plant extracts was determined by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography-MS-MS (UHPLC–MS/MS). Genotoxic and cytotoxic activities of Satureja extracts were evaluated in vitro by applying a cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay in human lymphocyte culture and in vivo applying a mice reticulocytes micronucleus assay. SALSA RT-MLPA R011-C1 apoptosis assay was used for measuring the relative expression of 44 genes associated with the regulation of the apoptotic pathways in human lymphocyte cultures treated with different concentrations of two Satureja extracts. The first analysis of phenolic compounds in S. horvatii and S. subspicata determined by an UHPLC-MS/MS method revealed high levels of rosmarinic and caffeic acids. Minor genotoxic potential was determined in relation to the tested concentrations while no cytostatic and cytotoxic effects were revealed in vitro. However, when applied in concentrations of 200 mg/kg per os, aqueous extracts of two Satureja species significantly decreased frequency of reticulocytes micronuclei in treated mice against controls. Extracts of S. subspicata and S. horvatii in concentrations of 0.2 mg/mL, regardless of solvent used, downregulated pro-apoptotic and upregulated anti-apoptotic genes, showing anti-apoptotic activity. Our results indicate that the registered anti-genotoxic and anti-apoptotic activity is most likely related to the high level of phenolic acids (particularly rosmarinic and caffeic) in the tested extracts.

Beneficial effects of rosmarinic acid against alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Alcohol is a severe hepatotoxicant that causes a variety of liver disorders. Rosmarinic acid (RA), a natural phenol, shows some biological activities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated the effects of RA (10 mg/kg) against ethanol-induced oxidative damage and hepatotoxicity in rats. Animals received ethanol (4 g/kg, i.g.) and (or) RA (10 mg/kg, i.g.) daily for 4 weeks. At the end of the treatment period, rats were weighed and use for biochemical, molecular, and histopathological examinations. Ethanol increased hepatic lipid peroxidation (P < 0.001) and decreased hepatic levels of reduced glutathione (P < 0.01), catalase (P < 0.05), and superoxide dismutase (P < 0.001) compared with control group. RA prevented the prooxidant and antioxidant imbalance induced by ethanol in liver. Furthermore, RA ameliorated the increased liver mass, serum levels of ALT, AST, LDH, TNF-α, and IL-6 in ethanol group. Necrosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells in liver parenchyma were attenuated by RA treatment. Our findings showed that RA prevents ethanol-induced oxidant/antioxidant imbalance and liver injury in an experimental model of ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity. Therefore, RA may be a good candidate to protect against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity; this deserves consideration and further examination.

Rosmarinic acid reverses the effects of metronidazole-induced infertility in male albino rats

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a natural antioxidant that has many biological activities. In the present study we investigated the potential of RA to reverse the negative effects of the widely used antibiotic and antiprotozoal agent metronidazole (MTZ), which is known to induce reversible male infertility. Two doses of RA (5 and 15mg kg-1) were studied in sexually mature rats with and without MTZ-induced infertility. Rats were intraperitoneally injected with 5mg kg-1 RA or 15mg kg-1 RA (in distilled water) and, 45min later, they were intraperitoneally injected with 40mg kg-1 MTZ (in distilled water). Cauda epididymidal sperm suspensions were used to assess sperm count, motility and morphology. Histological and ultrastructural studies were performed on the testes and cauda epididymidis. In rats in which infertility was not induced, neither dose of RA affected the parameters assessed. However, in sexually mature rats in which infertility was induced by 40mg kg-1 MTZ, RA at both 5 and 15mg kg-1 ameliorated the damaging effects of MTZ on final bodyweight (30 days later), sperm motility and morphology. Only 5mg kg-1 RA, and not 15mg kg-1 RA, improved the harmful effects of MTZ on the sperm count and testis ultrastructure. The findings of the present study have considerable clinical implications and suggest a possible use for RA to reverse the negative effects of MTZ on male fertility, the male reproductive system and spermatogenesis.

Chelating agents in combination with rosmarinic acid for boar sperm freeze-drying

The presence of DNA protective agents in the medium is necessary to maintain sperm functionality after freeze-drying procedure. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of chelating agents, ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and ethylene glycoltetraacetic acid (EGTA), in combination with rosmarinic acid (RA) on DNA integrity of freeze-dried boar sperm. We also examined the effect of these agents on the in vitro developmental ability of porcine oocytes following sperm injection (ICSI). Heterospermic mix, obtained from ejaculated sperm of three boars, was freeze-dried in two different chelating agents' media: 50mM EDTA or 50mM EGTA, and in these media supplemented with 105μM of rosmarinic acid. Frozen-thawed sperm was used as control. After rehydration, samples were subjected to DNA damage detection using Sperm Chromatin Dispersion test. ICSI was performed to verify the ability of freeze-dried sperm to participate in embryonic development. Five replicated trials were carried out for each group. In the presence of rosmarinic acid, the percentage of spermatozoa with DNA damage decreased significantly (p=0.010), without differences between the two chelating agents combination. EDTA solution preserves more efficiently DNA integrity of boar sperm than EGTA solution (p=0.002). There were no significant differences among the studied groups related to the blastocyst formation rate. Results suggested that the addition of rosmarinic acid to the medium improves sperm DNA integrity after freeze-drying, but does not promote fertilization and blastocyst development. We also observed a similar percentage of embryos production with freeze-dried and with frozen-thawed sperm.

50% Ethanol extract of Orthosiphon stamineus modulates genotoxicity and clastogenicity induced by mitomycin C

Herbal products contain a variety of compounds which may be useful in protecting against cellular damage caused by mutagens. Orthosiphon stamineus (O.s) also known as Cat whiskers. The herb has been shown anti-oxidative properties and can modulate key cellular proteins that have cytoprotective effect. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of different doses (250, 500 and 1000 mg kg^-1) of 50% ethanol extract of O.s (Et. O.s) on micro-nucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE), Polychromatic to normachromatic erythrocytes ratio (PCE/NCE), Mitotic index (MI), and Chromosomal aberration (CA) in Bab/c mice. Moreover, these parameters were used to evaluate the anti-genotoxic and clastogenic potencies of (Et. O.s) against mitomycin c (MMC) that interact with biological molecules and induce genotoxic and clastogenic disorders in non-tumor cells. MMC (4 mg kg^-1) was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) to the mice before and after treatment with three different doses of (Et. O.s). The results indicated that the extract at different doses did not show significant (p ≥ 0.05) differences in (MNPCE), (PCE/NCE) ratios, and (CA) values. The higher doses sowed high (MI) values compared with untreated control group. MMC showed significant increase (p ≤ 0.001) in (MNPCE), (CA) and reduce (PCE/NCE) and (MI) values compared with untreated control group. Treatment with (Et. O.s) at different doses before and after MMC injection showed to modulate MNPCE, PCE/NCE ratios, CA and MI values in mice bone marrow cells suggesting genoprotective potential of this plant extract.

Behavioral and genotoxic evaluation of rosmarinic and caffeic acid in acute seizure models induced by pentylenetetrazole and pilocarpine in mice

The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of rosmarinic acid (RA) and caffeic acid (CA) in the acute pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and pilocarpine (PIL) seizure models. We also evaluated the effect of RA and CA on the diazepam (DZP)-induced sleeping time test and its possible neuroprotective effect against the genotoxic damage induced by PTZ and PIL. Mice were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with saline, RA (2 or 4 mg/kg), or CA (4 or 8 mg/kg) alone or associated to low-dose DZP. After, mice received a single dose of PTZ (88 mg/kg) or PIL (250 mg/kg) and were monitored for the percentage of seizures and the latency to first seizure (LFS) >3 s. Vigabatrin and DZP were used as positive controls. In the DZP-induced sleeping time test, mice were treated with RA and CA and 30 min after receiving DZP (25 mg/kg, i.p.). The alkaline comet assay was performed after acute seizure tests to evaluate the antigenotoxic profiles of RA and CA. The doses of RA and CA tested alone did not reduce the occurrence of seizures induced by PTZ or PIL. The association of 4 mg/kg RA + low-dose DZP was shown to increase LFS in the PTZ model, compared to the group that received only the DZP. In the DZP-induced sleeping time test, the latency to sleep was reduced by 4 mg/kg RA and 8 mg/kg CA. The PTZ-induced genotoxic damage was not prevented by RA or CA, but the PIL-induced genotoxic damage was decreased by pretreatment with 4 mg/kg RA (in cortex) and 4 mg/kg CA (in hippocampus). In conclusion, RA and CA presented neuroprotective effect against PIL-induced genotoxic damage and reduced the latency to DZP-induced sleep. Of the rosmarinic acid, 4 mg/kg enhanced the DZP effect in the increase of latency to clonic PTZ-induced seizures.

Rosmarinic Acid and Melissa officinalis Extracts Differently Affect Glioblastoma Cells

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) has many biological effects but especially important is its neuroprotective activity. The aim of the study is to produce different extracts of Melissa officinalis and analyse their chemical composition and biological properties on rat glioblastoma C6 cells. Results revealed that rosmarinic acid (RA) is the predominant compound of lemon balm extracts. RA has cytotoxic effect on glioblastoma cells (LC50 290.5 μM after the incubation of 24 h and LC50 171.3 μM after 48 h). RA at concentration 80-130 μM suppresses the cell proliferation and has an antioxidant effect. 200 μM and higher concentrations of RA have a prooxidant effect and initiate cell death through necrosis. The aqueous extract of lemon balm is also enriched in phenolic compounds: protocatechuic, caftaric, caffeic, ferulic, and cichoric acids and flavonoid luteolin-7-glucoside. This extract at concentrations 50 μM-200 μM RA has cytotoxic activity and initiates cell death through apoptosis. Extracts prepared with 70% ethanol contain the biggest amount of active compounds. These extracts have the highest cytotoxic activity on glioblastoma cells. They initiate generation of intracellular ROS and cell death through apoptosis and necrosis. Our data suggest that differently prepared lemon balm extracts differently affect glioblastoma cells and can be used as neuroprotective agents in several therapeutic strategies.

Does rosmarinic acid treatment have protective role against sepsis-induced oxidative damage in Wistar Albino rats?

Reactive oxygen species are believed to be involved in the development of sepsis. Plant-derived phenolic compounds are thought to be possible therapeutic agents against sepsis because of their antioxidant properties. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a phenolic compound commonly found in various plants, which has many biological activities including antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of RA on sepsis-induced DNA damage in the lymphocytes and liver and kidney cells of Wistar albino rats by alkaline comet assay with and without formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase protein. The oxidative stress parameters such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities and total glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the liver and kidney tissues and an inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) level in plasma were also evaluated. It is found that DNA damage in the lymphocytes, livers, and kidneys of the RA-treated rats was significantly lower than that in the sepsis-induced rats. RA treatment also decreased the MDA levels and increased the GSH levels and SOD and GSH-Px activities in the livers and kidneys of the sepsis-induced rats. Plasma TNF-α level was found to be decreased in the RA-treated rats. It seems that RA might have a role in the attenuation of sepsis-induced oxidative damage not only by decreasing the DNA damage but also by increasing the antioxidant status and DNA repair capacity of the animals.

Melissa officinalis L. - A review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Melissa officinalis L. is a medicinal plant that has long been used in different ethno-medical systems especially in the European Traditional Medicine and the Iranian Traditional Medicine for the treatment of several diseases. It is also widely used as a vegetable and to add flavor to dishes

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review aimed to provide a summary on the botanical characterization, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, pharmacokinetics and toxicity of M. officinalis, and discusses research gaps and future opportunities for investigations on this plant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We extensively reviewed major unpublished old texts, and published and electronic literature on traditional medicines of different regions of the world to find traditional uses of M. officinalis. Electronic databases including Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar and Scopus were searched to find articles (published between 1956 and 2015) on pharmacology and phytochemistry of M. officinalis.

RESULTS

Traditional uses of M. officinalis have been recorded mostly in European countries, Mediterranean region and Middle East countries. Phytochemical investigations revealed that this plant contains volatile compounds, triterpenoids, phenolic acids and flavonoids. Crude extracts and pure compounds isolated from M. officinalis exhibited numerous pharmacological effects, from which only anxiolytic, antiviral and antispasmodic activities of this plant as well as its effects on mood, cognition and memory have been shown in clinical trials. AChE inhibitory activity, stimulation of the acetylcholine and GABAA receptors, as well as inhibition of matrix metallo proteinase-2 are the main mechanisms proposed for the widely discussed neurological effects of this plant.

CONCLUSIONS

Modern pharmacological studies have now validated many traditional uses of M. officinalis. The data reviewed here revealed that M. officinalis is a potential source for the treatment of a wide range of diseases especially anxiety and some other CNS disorders, though confirmatory trials are warranted to substantiate these effects in the clinical setting. Data regarding many aspects of this plant such as mechanisms of actions, pharmacokinetics, adverse effects of the extracts, potential interactions with standard-of-care medications and active compounds is still limited which call for additional studies particularly in humans.

Protective effects of rosmarinic acid against radiation-induced damage to the hematopoietic system in mice

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is an ester of caffeic acid and 3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl lactic acid. It is a potent antioxidant that functions by scavenging free radicals. Here, we used a 30-day survival assay to investigate the radioprotective effects of RA. Mice were treated with RA once per day for 10 consecutive days starting at 3 days before gamma irradiation at 7.5 Gy until 7 days post irradiation. Mice treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight (bw) of RA had 30-day survival rates of 89% and 72%, respectively, compared with 32% in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P = 0.0008 and 0.0421, respectively). Spleen colony-forming units (CFU-S), the number of nucleated cells in the bone marrow (BMNC), bone marrow DNA content, and hematological parameters of the peripheral blood were measured to investigate the radioprotective effect of RA on the hematopoietic system. The treatment groups that received RA at 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg bw and whole-body exposure to 5.5 Gy of (137)Cs γ- radiation had significantly higher CFU-S, BMNC and DNA content than the irradiation-only group. Assessment of hematological parameters in the peripheral blood showed that the treatment groups receiving RA at doses of 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg bw had higher white blood cell counts, hemoglobin and platelets than the radiation-only group. These results suggested that the administration of RA promoted the recovery of peripheral blood cells in irradiated mice.

Cancer Prevention and Health Benefices of Traditionally Consumed Borago officinalis Plants

Nowadays, healthy eating is increasing the demand of functional foods by societies as sources of bioactive products with healthy qualities. For this reason, we tested the safety of the consumption of Borago officinalis L. and its main phenolic components as well as the possibility of its use as a nutraceutical plant to help in cancer prevention. The in vivo Drosophila Somatic Mutation and Recombination Test (SMART) and in vitro HL-60 human cell systems were performed, as well-recognized methods for testing genotoxicity/cytotoxicity of bioactive compounds and plant products. B. officinalis and the tested compounds possess antigenotoxic activity. Moreover, B. officinalis wild type cultivar exerts the most antigenotoxic values. Cytotoxic effect was probed for both cultivars with IC50 values of 0.49 and 0.28 mg · mL(-1) for wild type and cultivated plants respectively, as well as their constituent rosmarinic acid and the assayed phenolic mixture (IC50 = 0.07 and 0.04 mM respectively). B. officinalis exerts DNA protection and anticarcinogenic effects as do its component rosmarinic acid and the mixture of the main phenolics presented in the plant. In conclusion, the results showed that B. officinalis may represent a high value plant for pleiotropic uses and support its consumption as a nutraceutical plant.

Rosmarinic Acid Attenuates Sodium Taurocholate-Induced Acute Pancreatitis in Rats by Inhibiting Nuclear Factor-κB Activation

Rosmarinic Acid (RA), a caffeic acid ester, has been shown to exert anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant and antiallergic effects. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of RA in sodium taurocholate ( NaTC )-induced acute pancreatitis, both in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, RA (50 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally 2 h before sodium taurocholate injection. Rats were sacrificed 12 h, 24 h or 48 h after sodium taurocholate injection. Pretreatment with RA significantly ameliorated pancreas histopathological changes, decreased amylase and lipase activities in serum, lowered myeloperoxidase activity in the pancreas, reduced systematic and pancreatic interleukin-1 β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels, and inhibited NF-κB translocation in pancreas. In vitro, pretreating the fresh rat pancreatic acinar cells with 80 μ mol/L RA 2 h before 3750 nmol/L sodium taurocholate or 10 ng/L TNF-α administration significantly attenuated the reduction of isolated pancreatic acinar cell viability and inhibited the nuclear activation and translocation of NF-κB. Based on our findings, RA appears to attenuate damage in sodium taurocholate-induced acute pancreatitis and reduce the release of inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB. These findings might provide a basis for investigating the therapeutic role of RA in managing acute pancreatits.

Rosmarinic acid exerts an antiosteoporotic effect in the RANKL-induced mouse model of bone loss by promotion of osteoblastic differentiation and inhibition of osteoclastic differentiation

SCOPE

Bone homeostasis is ensured by the balance between bone formation and resorption. Thus, control of the recruitment, proliferation, and differentiation of bone cells is essential to maintain bone mass. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of rosmarinic acid as a potential therapeutic agent on bone metabolism using bone cells and a mouse model.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Rosmarinic acid increased alkaline phosphatase activity and induced mineralization in osteoblasts. Addition of rosmarinic acid to cultures of calvarial osteoblastic cells prepared from T-cell factor/β-catenin TOP-GAL mutant mice strongly induced the expression of LacZ and promoted stabilization of β-catenin in the cytoplasm of ST2 cells, suggesting that rosmarinic acid affects the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Moreover, rosmarinic acid inhibited not only osteoclast formation in cocultures of mouse bone marrow cells and osteoblasts, but also receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastic differentiation in bone marrow-derived macrophages. RANKL-induced p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and the expression of nuclear factor of activated T cell, c-Jun, and c-Fos were inhibited by rosmarinic acid in bone marrow macrophages. Finally, we confirmed that rosmarinic acid improved bone mass in a soluble RANKL-induced bone loss mouse model.

CONCLUSION

Rosmarinic acid has dual regulatory effects on bone metabolism and may control the bone functions by controlling osteoblastic and osteoclastic differentiation.

Antiepileptogenic, antioxidant and genotoxic evaluation of rosmarinic acid and its metabolite caffeic acid in mice

AIMS

Antioxidant compounds have been extensively investigated as a pharmacological alternatives to prevent epileptogenesis. Rosmarinic acid (RA) and caffeic acid (CA) are compounds with antioxidant properties, and RA has been shown to inhibit GABA transaminase activity (in vitro). Our aim was to evaluate the effect of RA and CA on seizures induced by pentylenotetrazole (PTZ) using the kindling model in mice.

MAIN METHODS

Male CF-1 mice were treated once every three days during 16days with RA (1, 2 or 4mg/kg; i.p.), or CA (1, 4 or 8mg/kg; i.p.), or positive controls diazepam (1mg/kg; i.p.) or vigabatrin (600mg/kg; p.o.), 30min before PTZ administration (50mg/kg; s.c.). After the last treatment, animals were sacrificed and the cortex was collected to evaluate free radicals (determined by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate probe), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and genotoxic activity (Alkaline Comet Assay).

KEY FINDINGS

Rosmarinic acid 2mg/kg increased latency and decreased percentage of seizures, only on the 4th day of observation. The other tested doses of RA and CA did not show any effect. Rosmarinic acid 1mg/kg, CA 4mg/kg and CA 8mg/kg decreased free radicals, but no dose altered the levels of enzyme SOD. In the comet assay, RA 4mg/kg and CA 4mg/kg reduced the DNA damage index.

SIGNIFICANCE

Some doses of rosmarinic acid and CA tested showed neuroprotective action against oxidative and DNA damage produced in the kindling epilepsy model, although they did not produce antiepileptogenic effect in vivo.

Rosmarinic acid improves function and in vitro fertilising ability of boar sperm after cryopreservation

During cryopreservation, oxidative stress exerts physical and chemical changes on sperm functionality. In the present study we investigated the antioxidant effect of rosmarinic acid (RA) on quality and fertilising ability of frozen-thawed boar spermatozoa. Ejaculates collected from mature boar were cryopreserved in lactose-egg yolk buffer supplemented with different concentrations of RA (0 μM, 26.25 μM, 52.5 μM and 105 μM). Motion parameters, acrosome and plasma membrane integrity, lipoperoxidation levels, DNA oxidative damage (8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine base lesion) and in vitro fertilisation ability were evaluated. Total and progressive motility were significantly higher in experimental extenders with RA than in the control (P<0.05) at 0 and 120 min post-thawing. The plasma and acrosomal membrane integrity were improved by supplementation with 105 μMRA (P<0.05). Negative correlation between RA and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration were determined (P<0.05). After thawing, the percentage of spermatozoa with oxidised DNA did not differ between extenders, however, at 120 and 240 min post-thawing, the samples supplemented with 105 μMRA showed the lowest DNA oxidation rate (P<0.05). The penetration rate was significantly higher on spermatozoa cryopreserved with 105 μMRA (P<0.05). The results suggest that RA provides a protection for boar spermatozoa against oxidative stress during cryopreservation by their antioxidant properties.

Intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of the Serpylli herba extract in experimental models of rodent colitis

INTRODUCTION

Nowadays, there is an increasing interest for alternative options in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) that combine efficacy and an adequate safety profile.

METHODS

The intestinal anti-inflammatory effects of Serpylli herba, the officinal drug in the European Pharmacopeia composed by the aerial parts of wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum), were evaluated in the trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced rat colitis and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced mouse colitis, which are well characterized experimental models with some resemblance to human IBD.

RESULTS

S. herba extract exerted an intestinal anti-inflammatory effect in both experimental models of colitis, as evidenced both histologically, since it facilitated the tissue recovery of the damaged colon, and biochemically as showed by the improvement of the different inflammatory markers evaluated, including myeloperoxidase activity, glutathione content, and leukotriene B4 levels as well as the expression of the inducible proteins iNOS and COX-2. This beneficial effect was associated with the reduction in the expression of different cytokines, like TNFα, IL-1β, IFNγ, IL-6 and IL-17, the chemokine MCP-1, and the adhesion molecule ICAM-1, thus ameliorating the altered immune response associated with the colonic inflammation.

CONCLUSION

S. herba extract displays an anti-inflammatory effect on different models of rodent colitis that could be attributed to its immunomodulatory properties.

Inhibitors of the glyoxylate cycle enzyme ICL1 in Candida albicans for potential use as antifungal agents

Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen that causes candidiasis in humans. In recent years, metabolic pathways in C. albicans have been explored as potential antifungal targets to treat candidiasis. The glyoxylate cycle, which enables C. albicans to survive in nutrient-limited host niches and its. Key enzymes (e.g., isocitrate lyase (ICL1), are particularly attractive antifungal targets for C. albicans. In this study, we used a new screening approach that better reflects the physiological environment that C. albicans cells experience during infection to identify potential inhibitors of ICL. Three compounds (caffeic acid (CAFF), rosmarinic acid (ROS), and apigenin (API)) were found to have antifungal activity against C. albicans when tested under glucose-depleted conditions. We further confirmed the inhibitory potential of these compounds against ICL using the ICL enzyme assay. Lastly, we assessed the bioavailability and toxicity of these compounds using Lipinski's rule-of-five and ADMET analysis.

Evaluation of mutagenic and genotoxic activities of lobeline and its modulation on genomic instability induced by ethanol

AIM

Lobeline is a natural alkaloid derived from Lobelia inflata that has been investigated as a clinical candidate for the treatment of alcoholism. In a pre-clinical trial, lobeline decreased the preference for and consumption of ethanol, due to the modulation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. However, the interaction between lobeline and ethanol is poorly known and thus there are safety concerns. The present study was conducted to evaluate the mutagenic and genotoxic effects of lobeline and assess its modulation of ethanol-induced toxicological effects.

MAIN METHODS

CF-1 male mice were divided into five groups. Groups received an intraperitoneal injection of saline solution, lobeline (5 or 10mg/kg), ethanol (2.5 g/kg), or lobeline plus ethanol, once a day for three consecutive days. Genotoxicity was evaluated in peripheral blood using the alkaline comet assay. The mutagenicity was evaluated using both Salmonella/microsome assay in TA1535, TA97a, TA98, TA100, and TA102 Salmonella typhimurium strains and the micronucleus test in bone marrow. Possible liver and kidney injuries were evaluated using biochemical analysis.

KEY FINDINGS

Lobeline did not show genotoxic or mutagenic effects and did not increase the ethanol-induced genotoxic effects in blood. Lobeline also protected blood cells against oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide. Biochemical parameters were not altered, indicating no liver or kidney injuries or alterations in lipid and carbohydrate metabolisms.

SIGNIFICANCE

These findings suggest that lobeline does not induce gene or chromosomal mutations, and that this lack of genetic toxicity is maintained in the presence of ethanol, providing further evidence of the safety of this drug to treat alcohol dependence.

Combining molecular docking and 3-D pharmacophore generation to enclose the in vivo antigenotoxic activity of naturally occurring aromatic compounds: myricetin, quercetin, rutin, and rosmarinic acid

Considering the controversial results concerning the antimutagenicity of some phenolic compounds recorded in the literature, the antigenotoxic effects of four selected phenolic compounds, myricetin, quercetin, rutin, and rosmarinic acid, against DNA damage induced by alkylation with ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), were evaluated in Drosophila melanogaster males using the sex-linked recessive lethal (SLRL) test. To assess the protective effects against DNA damage, D. melanogaster males were exposed to a monofunctional alkylating agent EMS in concentration of 0.75 ppm, 24 h prior to one of the selected phenolic compounds in the concentration of 100 ppm. The possible differences in mechanisms of protection by selected compounds were determined by molecular docking, after which structure-based 3-D pharmacophore models were generated. EMS induced considerable DNA damage as shown by significant increase in the frequency of germinative mutations. The frequency decreased with high significance (p<0.001***) after post-treatments with all selected phenolic compounds. Further, docking analysis revealed EMS pre-bond conformations against guanine and thymine as a necessary condition for alkylation, after which resulting O⁶-ethylguanine and O⁴-ethylthimine were docked into the active site of O⁶-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase to confirm that particular lesions are going to be repaired. Finally, myricetin and quercetin protected dealkylated nucleotides from further EMS alkylation by forming the strong hydrogen bonds with O⁶-guanine and O⁴-thymine via B ring hydroxyl group (bond lengths lower than 2.5 Å). On the other side, rutin and rosmarinic acid encircled nucleotides and by fulfilling the EMS binding space they made an impermeable barrier for the EMS molecule and prevented further alkylation.