Extract of Dorema aucheri induces PPAR-γ for activating reactive oxygen species metabolism

Chemical composition and cytotoxic activity of the essential oil from the aerial parts of Dorema aucheri

Introduction: Herbal products are beneficial compounds with many applications in human life. In this study the chemical composition and cytotoxic activity of the essential oil of the aerial parts of Dorema aucheri were assessed. Methods: The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation after drying the aerial parts of D. aucheri, collected from the mountains around Yasuj city in the South-West of Iran. The oil composition was determined by GC/MS. To evaluate in vitro cytotoxic activity, the apoptotic effects of the essential oil were investigated against SW48 and SW1116 colorectal cancer cell lines by (3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5 diphenyl tetrazolium) bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry. Results: The essential oil yield was obtained 0.02% (W/W). Twenty-five compounds were identified in the oil, and the main constituents were caryophyllene (E) (31.29%), Phytol (14.92%), gurjunene (β-) (9.84%), 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol (8.7%), and n-hexadecanoic acid (8.09%). The MTT assay showed that the IC50 values of the essential oil for SW48 and SW1116 cell lines were 1.4 and 1.2 mg/mL, respectively. The results of flow cytometry showed that the essential oil significantly increased the apoptosis in SW48 cell line compared with the vincristine (P < 0.05). It also increased the apoptosis in SW1116 cells compared with the vincristine, but this difference is not significant. Conclusion: The essential oil of D. aucheri consisted of high amounts of caryophyllene and showed significant cytotoxic effects against SW48 and SW1116 cancerous cell lines.

Ethnomedicinal Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Dorema Species (Apiaceae): A Review

The application of antique medical instructions, practices, skills and knowledge has been considered as the most affordable treatment in many developing countries. The use of these preparations and prescriptions over generations has made a useful and valuable guide for drug discovery in modern medicine. Medical herbs have been of a high importance for this purpose. The genus Dorema, of Apiaceae family (Umbelliferae) has a wide use in ethnobotany and traditional medicine around the world. It has been used as a treatment for CNS disease, convulsion, upper respiratory tract problems, gastrointestinal disorder and high blood sugar. Furthermore, phytochemical investigations have reported Dorema species to contain a wide range of constituents including terpenes, coumarins and phenolic compounds. The current review summarizes comprehensive information regarding botany, phytochemistry andpharmacological aspects of Dorema spp.

Curcumin-loaded PLA-PEG copolymer nanoparticles for treatment of liver inflammation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

This report focused on loading curcumin (CUR) drug into biodegradable Polylactide-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLA-PEG) copolymer nanoparticles as an effective anti-inflammatory agent in vivo to overcome the limitations resulted from the free CUR. By a simple nano-emulsification technique, hydrophobic CUR was loaded into hydrophobic polymer's segments and stabilized by cationic surfactant. They were then characterized by DLS, TEM, and SEM techniques providing monodispersed and spherical nanoparticles with an average diameter of 117 nm and high surface charge of +35 mV. Thereafter, they were orally administrated into five groups of rats, typically, control (healthy rats), streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, diabetics treated with free CUR, diabetics treated with PLA-PEG NPs, and diabetics treated with CUR-encapsulated PLA-PEG NPs. Next, complete blood analyses were assessed including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-ҡB), reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase (COX-2), Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR-γ) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). The obtained results demonstrated that diabetes initially produced liver inflammation in rats manifested by leveraging the mean levels of serum AST, ALT inducing oxidative stress resulting in a clear increase in the levels of hepatic MDA and NO concomitant with a remarkable decrease in GSH. Moreover, diabetes significantly increased serum NF-ҡB, hepatic COX-2 and TGF-β1, while highly reduced hepatic PPAR-γ. In contrast, both CUR free and CUR-encapsulated NPs ameliorated the negative changes in diabetes but CUR-encapsulated NPs showed more pronounced treated effect than free CUR. In addition, histopathological investigations were performed on the liver tissues of all groups, showing a mitigation in inflammation while treating with CUR-NPs.

Ethyl acetate fraction of Eclipta alba: a potential phytopharmaceutical targeting adipocyte differentiation

Natural products have always fascinated mankind for their miraculous properties. Eclipta alba (E. alba), a medicinal herb has long been used in traditional medicine for curing several pathologies. It has been shown to have anti-diabetic effect as well as hepato-protective activity. Here, in order to address metabolic derangements, the study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of E. alba and its fractions in adipogenesis inhibition and dyslipidemia. Of the crude extract and fractions screened, ethyl acetate fraction of E. alba inhibited adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes and hMSC derived adipocytes. It inhibited mitotic clonal expansion and caused cell cycle arrest in G1 and S phase as suggested by western blot analysis and flow cytometry. It was also shown to have lipolytic effects. Oral administration of ethyl acetate fraction of E. alba to hamsters unveiled its anti-adipogenic as well as anti-dyslipidemic activity in-vivo. Mass spectrometry analysis of ethyl acetate fraction confirmed the presence of several bioactive components, projecting it as an effective phytopharmaceutical agent. In conclusion, ethyl acetate fraction of E. alba possesses potent anti-adipogenic as well as anti-dyslipidemic activity and could be projected as an herbal formulation towards obesity.