A rapid HPLC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of luteolin, resveratrol and their metabolites in rat plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic interaction studies

Progress, pharmacokinetics and future perspectives of luteolin modulating signaling pathways to exert anticancer effects: A review

Luteolin (3, 4, 5, 7-tetrahydroxyflavone) are natural flavonoids widely found in vegetables, fruits and herbs, with anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, and also play an anti-cancer effect in various cancers such as lung, breast, prostate, and liver cancer, etc. Specifically, the anti-cancer mechanism includes regulation of various signaling pathways to induce apoptosis of tumor cells, inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and metastasis, anti-angiogenesis, regulation of immune function, synergistic anti-cancer drugs and regulation of reactive oxygen species levels of tumor cells. Specific anti-cancer mechanisms include regulation of various signaling pathways to induce apoptosis, inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and metastasis, anti-angiogenesis, reversal of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, regulation of immune function, synergism with anti-cancer drugs and regulation of reactive oxygen species levels in tumor cells. This paper integrates the latest cutting-edge research on luteolin and combines it with the prospect of future clinical applications, aiming to explore the mechanism of luteolin exerting different anticancer effects through the regulation of different signaling pathways, so as to provide a practical theoretical basis for the use of luteolin in clinical treatment and hopefully provide some reference for the future research direction of luteolin.

Luteolin as a potential therapeutic candidate for lung cancer: Emerging preclinical evidence

Lung cancer is a prevalent malignant tumor and a leading cause of cancer-related fatalities globally. However, current treatments all have limitations. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify a readily available therapeutic agent to counteract lung cancer development and progression. Luteolin is a flavonoid derived from vegetables and herbs that possesses preventive and therapeutic effects on various cancers. With the goal of providing new directions for the treatment of lung cancer, we review here the recent findings on luteolin so as to provide new ideas for the development of new anti-lung cancer drugs. The search focused on studies published between January 1995 and January 2024 that explored the use of luteolin in lung cancer. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the SCOPUS, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science databases using the keywords "luteolin" and "lung cancer." By collecting previous literature, we found that luteolin has multiple mechanisms of therapeutic effects, including promotion of apoptosis in lung cancer cells; inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis; and modulation of immune responses. In addition, it can be used as an adjuvant to radio-chemotherapy and helps to ameliorate cancer complications. This review summarizes the structure, natural sources, physicochemical properties and pharmacokinetics of luteolin, and focuses on the anti-lung cancer mechanism of luteolin, so as to provide new ideas for the development of new anti-lung cancer drugs.

The advances in adjuvant therapy for tuberculosis with immunoregulatory compounds

Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic bacterial disease, as well as a complex immune disease. The occurrence, development, and prognosis of TB are not only related to the pathogenicity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), but also related to the patient's own immune state. The research and development of immunotherapy drugs can effectively regulate the body's anti-TB immune responses, inhibit or eliminate Mtb, alleviate pathological damage, and facilitate rehabilitation. This paper reviews the research progress of immunotherapeutic compounds for TB, including immunoregulatory compounds and repurposing drugs, and points out the existing problems and future research directions, which lays the foundation for studying new agents for host-directed therapies of TB.

Optimization and Validation of Procyanidins Extraction and Phytochemical Profiling of Seven Herbal Matrices of Nutraceutical Interest

Several medicinal herbal plants are extensively used as sources of bioactive compounds with beneficial effects on human health. This study assessed the procyanidin and polyphenol profiles together with the antioxidant potential of seven herbal medical matrices. To achieve this aim, procyanidin extraction from grape pomace was optimized and validated by monitoring monomeric-trimeric procyanidins. The proposed quantification method was applied to the seven medical herbs, and it proved to be a very efficient protocol for procyanidin-rich extracts analysis. In addition, the Paullinia cupana Kunth. seed was identified as a very rich source of procyanidins (about 5 mg/g dry matrix of each dimeric and about 3 mg/g dry matrix trimeric) with high antioxidant properties. The polyphenolic profile was assessed by HPLC-HESI-MS/MS analysis. The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH assay to explore the antioxidant properties of the extracts, which were substantially higher in Peumus boldus Molina leaves extracts (935.23 ± 169 μmol of Trolox equivalent/g of dry weight) concerning the other matrices. Moreover, a high Pearson coefficient value was observed between the total flavonoid content (TFC) and DPPH in comparison with the total polyphenol content (TPC) and DPPH, indicating flavonoids as the principal bioactive with antioxidant activity in the extracts.

Luteolin, a flavone ingredient: Anticancer mechanisms, combined medication strategy, pharmacokinetics, clinical trials, and pharmaceutical researches

Current pharmaceutical research is energetically excavating the pharmacotherapeutic role of herb-derived ingredients in multiple malignancies' targeting. Luteolin is one of the major phytochemical components that exist in various traditional Chinese medicine or medical herbs. Mounting evidence reveals that this phytoconstituent endows prominent therapeutic actions on diverse malignancies, with the underlying mechanisms, combined medication strategy, and pharmacokinetics elusive. Additionally, the clinical trial and pharmaceutical investigation of luteolin remain to be systematically delineated. The present review aimed to comprehensively summarize the updated information with regard to the anticancer mechanism, combined medication strategies, pharmacokinetics, clinical trials, and pharmaceutical researches of luteolin. The survey corroborates that luteolin executes multiple anticancer effects mainly by dampening proliferation and invasion, spurring apoptosis, intercepting cell cycle, regulating autophagy and immune, inhibiting inflammatory response, inducing ferroptosis, and pyroptosis, as well as epigenetic modification, and so on. Luteolin can be applied in combination with numerous clinical anticarcinogens and natural ingredients to synergistically enhance the therapeutic efficacy of malignancies while reducing adverse reactions. For pharmacokinetics, luteolin has an unfavorable oral bioavailability, it mainly persists in plasma as glucuronides and sulfate-conjugates after being metabolized, and is regarded as potent inhibitors of OATP1B1 and OATP2B1, which may be messed with the pharmacokinetic interactions of miscellaneous bioactive substances in vivo. Besides, pharmaceutical innovation of luteolin with leading-edge drug delivery systems such as host-guest complexes, nanoparticles, liposomes, nanoemulsion, microspheres, and hydrogels are beneficial to the exploitation of luteolin-based products. Moreover, some registered clinical trials on luteolin are being carried out, yet clinical research on anticancer effects should be continuously promoted.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of six bioactive components of Shen-Wu-Yi-Shen tablets in normal and chronic renal failure rats based on UPLC-TSQ-MS/MS

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Shen-Wu-Yi-Shen tablets (SWYST), a Chinese patent medicine consisting of 12 herbal medicines, was formulated by a famous TCM nephrologist, Zou Yunxiang. It is clinically used to improve the symptoms of nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, dry mouth and throat, and dry stool in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) accompanied by qi and yin deficiency, dampness, and turbidity. SWYST can reduce urea nitrogen, blood creatinine, and urinary protein loss, and increase the endogenous creatinine clearance rate. However, little is known about its pharmacokinetics.

AIM OF STUDY

To compare the pharmacokinetics of six bioactive components after oral administration of SWYST in normal and adenine-induced CRF rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A method based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a triple-stage quadrupole mass spectrometer (UPLC-TSQ-MS/MS) was developed and validated to determine the six bioactive compounds (albiflorin, paeoniflorin, plantagoguanidinic acid, rhein, aloe-emodin, and emodin) in rat plasma. Rat plasma samples were prepared using protein precipitation. Chromatography was performed on an Agilent Eclipse Plus C18 column (3.0 × 50 mm, 1.8 μm) using gradient elution with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and water containing 0.1% (v/v) formic acid, while detection was achieved by electrospray ionization MS under the multiple selective reaction monitoring modes. After SWYST administration, rat plasma was collected at different time points, and the pharmacokinetic parameters of six analytes were calculated and analyzed based on the measured plasma concentrations.

RESULTS

The UPLC-TSQ-MS/MS method was fully validated for its satisfactory linearity (r ≥ 0.9913), good precisions (RSD <11.5%), and accuracy (RE: -13.4∼13.1%), as well as acceptable limits in the extraction recoveries, matrix effects, and stability (RSD <15%). In normal rats, the six analytes were rapidly absorbed (Tmax ≤ 2 h), and approximately 80% of their total exposure was eliminated within 10 h. Moreover, in normal rats, the AUC0-t and Cmax of albiflorin, plantagoguanidinic acid, and rhein exhibited linear pharmacokinetics within the dose ranges, while that of paeoniflorin is non-linear. However, in CRF rats, the six analytes exhibited reduced elimination and significantly different AUC or Cmax values. These changes may reflect a decreased renal clearance rate or inhibition of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters in the liver and gastrointestinal tract caused by CRF.

CONCLUSIONS

A sensitive UPLC-TSQ-MS/MS method was validated and used to investigate the pharmacokinetics of SWYST in normal and CRF rats. This is the first study to investigate the pharmacokinetics of SWYST, and our findings elucidate the causes of their different pharmacokinetic behaviors in CRF rats. Furthermore, the results provide useful information to guide further research on the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic correlation and clinical application of SWYST.

Therapeutic Potential of Luteolin on Cancer

Cancer is a global concern, as the rate of incidence is increasing each year. The challenges related to the current chemotherapy drugs, such as the concerns related to toxicity, turn to cancer therapeutic research to discover alternative therapy strategies that are less toxic to normal cells. Among those studies, the use of flavonoids—natural compounds produced by plants as secondary metabolites for cancer therapy—has been a hot topic in cancer treatment. Luteolin, a flavonoid that has been present in many fruits, vegetables, and herbs, has been identified to exhibit numerous biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties. The anticancer property of Luteolin has been extensively researched in many cancer types and has been related to its ability to inhibit tumor growth by targeting cellular processes such as apoptosis, angiogenesis, migration, and cell cycle progression. It achieves this by interacting with various signaling pathways and proteins. In the current review, the molecular targets of Luteolin as it exerts its anticancer properties, the combination therapy that includes Luteolin with other flavonoids or chemotherapeutic drugs, and the nanodelivery strategies for Luteolin are described for several cancer types.

Effects of Maturity and Processing on the Volatile Components, Phytochemical Profiles and Antioxidant Activity of Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) Leaf

In this study, fresh lotus leaves at two maturity stages were processed to tea products by different methods (white-tea process, green-tea process and black-tea process). The volatile compounds, phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activities of lotus-leaf tea were investigated. A total of 81 volatile components were identified with HS-GC-IMS. The mature lotus-leaf tea showed more volatile compounds than the tender lotus-leaf tea. The lotus leaf treated with the white-tea process had more aroma components than other processing methods. In addition, six types of phenolic compounds, including luteolin, catechin, quercetin, orientin, hyperoside and rutin were identified in the lotus-leaf tea. The mature leaves treated with the green-tea process had the highest levels of TPC (49.97 mg gallic acid/g tea) and TFC (73.43 mg rutin/g tea). The aqueous extract of lotus-leaf tea showed positive scavenging capacities of DPPH and ABTS radicals, and ferric ion reducing power, whereas tender lotus leaf treated with the green-tea process exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity. What is more, the antioxidant activities had a significant positive correlation with the levels of TPC and TFC in lotus-leaf tea. Our results provide a theoretical basis for the manufacture of lotus-leaf-tea products with desirable flavor and health benefits.

Polar Phenol Detection in Plasma and Serum: Insights on Sample Pre-Treatment for LC/MS Analysis and Application on the Serum of Corinthian Currant-Fed Rats

Analysis of plasma and serum provides valuable information on the amounts of polar phenols' circulating after ingestion. In the present study, protein precipitation (PPT), liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), solid phase extraction (SPE), enzymatic hydrolysis and their combinations were meticulously evaluated for the extraction of a variety of polar phenolic moieties from plasma and serum. The recovery values of the above methods were compared; satisfactory recoveries (>60%) were attained for most analytes. Polar phenol aglycones undergo degradation with enzymatic hydrolysis; however, their extended phase II metabolism makes enzymatic hydrolysis a mandated process for their analysis in such biofluids. Hence, enzymatic hydrolysis followed by LLE was used for the identification of polar phenols in rats' serum, after the long-term oral consumption of Corinthian Currant. Corinthian Currant is a Greek dried vine product rich in bioactive polar phenolics. Flavonoids and phenolic acids, detected as aglycones, ranged from 0.57 ± 0.08 to 181.66 ± 48.95 and 3.45 ± 1.20 to 897.81 ± 173.96 ng/mL, respectively. The majority of polar phenolics were present as phase II metabolites, representing their fasting state in the blood stream. This is the first study evaluating the presence of polar phenolics in the serum of rats following a long-term diet supplemented with Corinthian Currant as a whole food.

Luteolin, a Potent Anticancer Compound: From Chemistry to Cellular Interactions and Synergetic Perspectives

Increasing rates of cancer incidence and the toxicity concerns of existing chemotherapeutic agents have intensified the research to explore more alternative routes to combat tumor. Luteolin, a flavone found in numerous fruits, vegetables, and herbs, has exhibited a number of biological activities, such as anticancer and anti-inflammatory. Luteolin inhibits tumor growth by targeting cellular processes such as apoptosis, cell-cycle progression, angiogenesis and migration. Mechanistically, luteolin causes cell death by downregulating Akt, PLK-1, cyclin-B1, cyclin-A, CDC-2, CDK-2, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL, while upregulating BAX, caspase-3, and p21. It has also been reported to inhibit STAT3 signaling by the suppression of STAT3 activation and enhanced STAT3 protein degradation in various cancer cells. Therefore, extensive studies on the anticancer properties of luteolin reveal its promising role in chemoprevention. The present review describes all the possible cellular interactions of luteolin in cancer, along with its synergistic mode of action and nanodelivery insight.

Nutritional Comparison of Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) Residue with Edible Seeds and Nuts in Taiwan: A Chromatographic and Spectroscopic Study

Sacha inchi is a source of quality commercial oil in Taiwan. Oil extraction results in sacha inchi residue have not been utilized and not much investigated. Different edible seeds and nuts have different levels of nutrients. This study aims (a) to determine the oil, moisture, ash, protein, carbohydrate, type of fatty acid, resveratrol, and type of sugar in edible seeds and nuts, including sacha inchi residue, and (b) to determine the model to predict the five macronutrients using NIR spectroscopy. The samples used were candlenut, peanut, sesame, sunflower, sacha inchi residue, and black bean. Determination was conducted using NIR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, LC-MS/MS, and HPLC-ELSD. NIR spectroscopy prediction results show that candlenut is rich in oil, and sacha inchi residue is rich in minerals, protein, and moisture. The correct prediction model for oil and moisture is principal component regression, while partial least squares are for ash, protein, and carbohydrates. NMR spectroscopy results showed that all samples were rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Sacha inchi residue is rich in omega 3. LC-MS/MS results showed that all samples contained resveratrol, and its highest level was found in sesame. HPLC-ELSD results showed eight types of sugars in the samples. High sucrose was found in sacha inchi residue, sunflower, sesame, and candlenut. The results are expected to provide information on nutrient levels in seeds and nuts to consumers and people who deal with nutrition. Also, results are expected to increase the economic value of sacha inchi residue as a source of diversification of food products in Taiwan.

Determination of six core components from Mahuang Xuanfei Zhike syrup in rat plasma and tissues by UPLC-MS/MS: Application to the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution study

Mahuang Xuanfei Zhike (MXZ) syrup, a Chinese patent medicine, has been widely used in clinical treatment of cough. However, there is no reported method for quantitative analysis of the effective components of MXZ syrup in biological samples. In this study, the effective components of MXZ syrup were screened by network pharmacology and molecular docking technology, a sensitive and rapid method of ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was established to test the active components of MXZ syrup in rat plasma and tissue homogenates, including ephedrine, amygdalin, chlorogenic acid, harpagoside, forsythin and forsythoside A. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Waters Acquity UPLC HSS T3 column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.8 μm) and the mass analysis was conducted in a Waters Xevo TQ mass spectrometer using multiple reaction positive and negative ion simultaneous monitoring mode (MRM). The results expounded that the linearity ranged from 0.3 ng/mL to 409.4 ng/mL, The extraction recoveries were all less than 8.33%, and the matrix effects were all less than 8.45, which met the requirements. The pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution results indicated that the main active components of MXZ syrup were absorbed quickly and eliminated slowly in vivo, and there may be a reabsorption process.

Combination of resveratrol and luteolin ameliorates α-naphthylisothiocyanate-induced cholestasis by regulating the bile acid homeostasis and suppressing oxidative stress

Cholestasis is a common liver injury without any effective therapeutic drugs so far. Resveratrol (RES) and luteolin (LUT) are natural polyphenols that exert protective effects on multiple liver injuries. Coadministration of RES and LUT could significantly improve the bioavailability of LUT and increase the systemic exposure to RES, and the combined treatment could also benefit from their multi-component and multi-target characteristics. Our current aim is to study the protective effects of coadministration of RES and LUT on α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced cholestasis. Serum biochemical indices and liver histopathology in rats indicated that coadministration of RES and LUT could improve liver function by suppressing oxidative stress. Dysregulated bile acid (BA) homeostasis is a significant pathological feature of cholestasis, which was determined to explore the potential biomarkers and to clarify the protection mechanism of coadministration of RES and LUT. The levels of cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, taurine conjugates and glycine conjugates, and the ratios of taurine conjugates to their free forms could be used as diagnosis indicators for cholestasis in rats. Furthermore, the coadministration of RES and LUT could restore the BA levels and exert better protective effects than administration alone. This study suggested that the coadministration of RES and LUT could protect against ANIT-induced cholestasis and the mechanism was closely related to regulating BA homeostasis and suppressing oxidative stress.