Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of taraxasterol on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats

Trans-Chalcone (1-3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-one) as a Therapeutic Candidate in Joint Inflammation via Reduction of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 in Rodents: An In Vivo Study by RT-PCR and ELISA analysis

Autoimmune disorders include vast and distinct illnesses and are characterized by an immune system-mediated attack on the body's own tissues. Because of their ability to impact any portion of the body, their clinical symptoms are incredibly varied. The variations in symptoms are normally linked with the release and activation of vasoactive, chemotactic substances and cytokines. Cytokines perform a multitude of vital biological tasks, such as immune response control, inflammation, proliferation, and tissue repair. The reversal of inflammatory cytokines and leukocyte infiltration into the inflamed tissue by natural compounds provides an effective remedy for autoimmune diseases. Here, the oral administration of trans-chalcone (TC) for 28 days was tested with gradually increasing doses (30, 60, and 120 mg/kg) in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-provoked joint tissue stiffness in rats. Paw edema, arthritic index, joint stiffness, thermal and flexion pain, C-reactive protein, and rheumatoid factor (RF) levels were determined to check the tested drug effectiveness in a chronic inflammatory model. Molecular docking studies revealed strong binding affinity with inflammatory cytokines and mediators such as TNF-α, IL-17, COX-2, and iNOS; further, they were quantified at the mRNA level by RT-PCR and ELISA analysis. Oral administration of TC significantly ameliorated paw edema, thymus and spleen indices, joint stiffness, thermal and flexion pain, C-reactive protein, RF, mobility, and stance of the treated animals. This therapeutic effectiveness was linked with a reduction in the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17. The findings of the reported research confirmed the effectiveness of TC in ameliorating joint stiffness and flexion pain by prominently lowering the inflammatory cytokines.

Low-Affinity NMDA Receptor Antagonist Hemantane in a Topical Formulation Attenuates Arthritis Induced by Freund's Complete Adjuvant in Rats

Purpose

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors that are expressed by T-cells modulate T-cell proliferation, cytotoxicity and cell migration toward chemokines. Several studies have shown an anti-inflammatory effect of NMDA receptor antagonists. This study compares the effect of the noncompetitive low-affinity NMDA receptor antagonist N-(2-adamantyl)-hexamethyleneimine hydrochloride (hemantane) in a topical formulation (gel) with the cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor diclofenac in a topical formulation (gel) in rats with arthritis induced by Freund's Complete Adjuvant (FCA).

Methods

On day 14 after an FCA injection into the left hind paw, rats with contralateral hind paw edema were selected for further investigation (29/65). They were treated with 5% hemantane gel or 1% diclofenac gel applied locally to hind paws daily for 2 weeks starting 14 days after the FCA injection. Rats with arthritis were examined hind paw edema, hyperalgesia, and motor deficits; their body weight and hematological parameters were recorded. The rats were euthanized on day 28, followed by histological examination of the ankle joint (HE stain).

Results

Rats with arthritis exhibited hind paw inflammation and hyperalgesia, motor deficits, changes of hematological parameters, reduced weight gain and spleen hypertrophy. Histological examination of the ankle joint revealed degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the cartilaginous tissue, proliferative inflammation of the synovium, edema and lymphocytic/macrophage infiltration of periarticular tissues. Hemantane gel reduced hind paw edema, pain, motor deficits and histological signs of inflammation; its effect was comparable to diclofenac gel.

Conclusion

Hemantane gel alleviates FCA-induced arthritis in rats, and its effect is comparable to diclofenac gel.

Taraxacum: A Review of Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activity

Taraxacum refers to the genus Taraxacum, which has a long history of use as a medicinal plant and is widely distributed around the world. There are over 2500 species in the genus Taraxacum recorded as medicinal plants in China, Central Asia, Europe, and the Americas. It has traditionally been used for detoxification, diuresis, liver protection, the treatment of various inflammations, antimicrobial properties, and so on. We used the most typically reported Taraxacum officinale as an example and assembled its chemical makeup, including sesquiterpene, triterpene, steroids, flavone, sugar and its derivatives, phenolic acids, fatty acids, and other compounds, which are also the material basis for its pharmacological effects. Pharmacological investigations have revealed that Taraxacum crude extracts and chemical compounds contain antimicrobial infection, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anti-oxidative, liver protective, and blood sugar and blood lipid management properties. These findings adequately confirm the previously described traditional uses and aid in explaining its therapeutic applications.

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic potential of Oxystelma esculentum (L. f.) Sm. using in vitro, in vivo, and in silico studies

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic potential of Oxystelma esculentum using different animal models. The phytochemical profile was determined by assessing its total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), followed by the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique. The in vitro anti-inflammatory potential of O. esculentum ethanolic extract (OEE) was evaluated by lipoxygenase enzyme inhibition activity and a human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stability assay. The in vivo anti-inflammatory potential of the plant was determined by the carrageenan-induced paw edema test, and the analgesic potential by the hot plate test, tail-flick test, formalin-induced analgesia, acetic acid-induced writhing activities, and yeast-induced elevation of body temperature. The values of total phenolic content (212.6 ± 3.18 µg GAE/g) and total flavonoid content (37.6 ± 1.76 µg QE/g) were observed. The results showed that OEE exhibited significant antioxidant capacity in DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) (266.3 ± 7.35 μmol TE/g), ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (1,066.3 ± 7.53 μmol TE/g), and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) (483.6 ± 3.84 μmol TE/g) assays. The HPLC analysis demonstrated phytocompounds with anti-inflammatory potential, such as chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and coumarin. The plant showed in vitro anti-inflammatory activity through the inhibition of lipoxygenase enzyme with a high percentage (56.66%) and HRBC membrane stability (67.29%). In in vivo studies, OEE exhibited significant (p < 0.05) anti-inflammatory (carrageenan-induced paw edema model), analgesic (hot plate test, tail-flick test, formalin-induced analgesia, and acetic acid-induced writhing), and antipyretic (rectal temperature reduction) responses at different doses (100, 300, and 500 mg/kg). Molecular docking studies showed significant binding affinities of phytocompounds compared to indomethacin and predicted various binding interactions for stable conformations. The results of in vitro, in vivo, and in silico studies supported the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic potential of O. esculentum.

Curative potential of Populus ciliata Wall ex. Royle extract against adjuvant-induced arthritis and peripheral neuropathy in Wistar rats

Populus ciliata (PCCR) is traditionally used to treat muscular swelling, inflammation, pain, and fever. The current study was designed to validate the potential of aqueous ethanolic extract of the plant against inflammation, peripheral neuropathy, and pain in arthritic rats. The PCCR was chemically characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography. In vitro antioxidant, and in vitro anti-inflammatory assays were carried out on PCCR. For anti-arthritic potential, Wistar rats' rear paws were injected with 0.1 ml Complete Freund's Adjuvant using methotrexate (3 mg/kg/week) as standard control. PCCR at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg was given orally to arthritic rats for 21 days. The PCCR exhibited significant inhibition of bovine serum albumin denaturation (IC-50: 202.1 µg/ml), egg albumin denaturation (IC-50:553.5 mg/ml) and RBC membrane stabilization (IC-50: 122.5 µg/ml) and antioxidant (IC-50 = 49.43 µg/ml) activities. The PCCR notably decreased the paw diameter and increased body weight of treated arthritic animals as equated to diseased control. The treatment notably (p < 0.05-0.0001) decreased malondialdehyde, and increased superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, and catalase in the liver and sciatic nerve homogenate in compared to diseased rats. The PCCR treatment remarkably (p < 0.05-0.0001) regulated the levels of nor-adrenaline and serotonin in sciatic nerve in contrast to diseased rats. Treatment with PCCR improved the motor activity, pain, ligament degeneration, and synovial hyperplasia in arthritic rats. Moreover, PCCR significantly (p < 0.01-0.0001) decreased the IL-6 and TNF-α. It is evident from the current study that PCCR had ameliorated polyarthritis and peripheral neuropathy through reduction of inflammatory markers, and improvement of oxidative stress might be due to presence of phenolic acids, flavonoids, phytosterols, and other fatty acids.

Evaluation of therapeutic potential of ivermectin against complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats: Involvement of inflammatory mediators

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease with genetic manifestations. According to recently published case reports, patients taking corticosteroid medication for the management of rheumatoid arthritis develop strongloidiasis and are at high risk of developing associated infections. This study explored the antiarthritic role of ivermectin, a drug used in the treatment of strongyloides and to compare its results with dexamethasone. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, diseased, dexamethasone, and ivermectin groups. Rheumatoid arthritis in all rats except the control group was induced by using complete Freund's adjuvant. After 7 days of rheumatoid arthritis induction, animals were treated with dexamethasone 5 mg/kg and ivermectin 6 mg/kg. Body weight, visual arthritic score, total leukocyte count, differential leukocyte count, proinflammatory genes, and histopathological findings were used to assess the effects of ivermectin on rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment with ivermectin showed a significant reduction in inflammatory cells levels, body weight, and visual arthritic score, indicating an improvement in the degree of inflammation as compared with the diseased group. Treatment with ivermectin and dexamethasone significantly reduced the augmentation in the mRNA expression levels of IL-17, TLR-2, TNF, and NF-κB as a result of arthritic development. Ivermectin treatment also showed a significant reduction in the severity of inflammation and destruction of joints and showed comparable effects to dexamethasone, a corticosteroid used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Ivermectin has significant antiarthritic properties and can be a novel treatment agent for the management of rheumatoid arthritis patients suffering from strongyloidiasis.

Chemical compositions of Souliea vaginata (Maxim) Franch rhizome and their potential therapeutic effects on collagen-induced arthritis in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL REVEVANCE

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a global prevalent chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease and acceptable safety drugs are lack for its treatment. The rhizomes of Souliea vaginata (Maxim) Franch (SV) possess anti-inflammatory functions and are used as substitution of Coptis chinensis Franch. SV is also traditional Chinese medicine and Tibetan medicine for the treatment of conjunctivitis, enteritis and rheumatic. For searching complementary and alternative anti-RA drugs, it is necessary to characterize the potential anti-arthritic activity of SV and underlying mechanism involved.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study was to test the chemical compositions, evaluate the anti-arthritic effects and underlying mechanisms of SV.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical compositions of SV were analyzed using liquid chromatography-ion trap-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (LCMS-IT-TOF). From day 11 to day 31, SV (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg body weight) and Tripterygium glycosidorum (TG, 10 mg/kg body weight) were administered orally to the CIA model rats once a day. Thickness of paw and body weights were measured once every two days from day 1 to day 31. Histopathological changes were measured using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Effects of SV on the levels of IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 in serum of CIA rats were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells populations were measured using flow cytometric analysis. To evaluate the possible hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea (UREA) and creatinine (CREA) in CIA rats were also tested using blood auto analyzer.

RESULTS

34 compounds were identified from SV based on LCMS-IT-TOF, and triterpenoids are major anti-arthritic compositions. SV significantly relieved CIA rats' paw swelling without obvious influence on the body weight growth. SV decreased the serum levels of IL-2, TNF-α and IFN-γ in CIA rat, and increased the serum levels of IL-4 and IL-10. SV significantly increased and decreased the percentages of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺, with no significant effects on CD3⁺ in lymphocytes of CIA model rats. Moreover, SV simultaneously decreased thymus and spleen indexes and no hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity was observed after short-term treatment.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that SV possesses preventive and therapeutic effect on RA by modulating the inflammatory cytokines, T-lymphocyte, thymus and spleen indexes and shows no hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.

Taraxasterol alleviates aflatoxin B1-induced liver damage in broiler chickens via regulation of oxidative stress, apoptosis and autophagy

Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) is the most dangerous and abundant mycotoxin, which is toxic to almost all animals, and poultry is more sensitive to AFB₁ toxicity. Ingesting AFB₁-contaminated feed can cause significant liver damage and brings serious harm to poultry, which greatly restricts the development of the poultry industry. The present research was implemented to explore the intervention effect and its mechanism of taraxasterol on liver damage induced by AFB₁ in broiler chickens. The liver damage model in broiler chickens was established by feeding 0.5 mg/kg AFB₁ feed, and taraxasterol (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg BW, respectively) was given in the drinking water for 21 days. The growth performance, liver function, oxidative stress, apoptosis and autophagy were evaluated. The results showed that taraxasterol increased BW and reduced feed-to-gain ratio of broiler chickens induced by AFB₁. Taraxasterol improved the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBIL) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and attenuated hepatic histopathological changes induced by AFB₁. Meantime, taraxasterol down-regulated cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzyme system CYP1A1 and CYP2A6 mRNA expression, inhibited the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) and the content of antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) of the liver in broiler chickens induced by AFB₁. Furthermore, taraxasterol up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression of hepatic nuclear factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and down-regulated the expression of hepatic kelch like ECH associated protein 1 (Keap1) induced by AFB₁ in Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway. The ultrastructural observation and RT-qPCR results found that taraxasterol inhibited apoptosis of hepatocytes, up-regulated the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) mRNA and down-regulated the expression of Bax and caspase3 mRNA. Further, taraxasterol restored the autophagy of hepatocytes and down-regulated the mRNA expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase K (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in AFB₁-induced liver of broiler chickens. The above results indicate that taraxasterol alleviates liver damage induced by AFB₁ in broiler chickens through regulation of Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway to exert its antioxidant effect, mitochondrial apoptosis pathway to improve anti-apoptotic ability and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway to restore autophagy.

Cedrol from ginger alleviates rheumatoid arthritis through dynamic regulation of intestinal microenvironment

The imbalance of intestinal flora would induce immune inflammation. Cedrol (CE), found from ginger by our group earlier, has been proven to play an excellent role in ameliorating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) via acting on JAK3, MAPK, and NF-κB. However, there have been no studies on CE ameliorating RA through the regulation of the micro-environment. In this study, the adjuvant arthritis model (AIA) is established to evaluate the weight, arthritis score, paw swelling, bone destruction, immune organ index, inflammatory cell infiltration, cartilage erosion, and metabolic enzymes of kidneys in AIA rats after CE intervention. The results indicated CE could alleviate paw swelling, reduce arthritis score, decrease the secretion of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in serum in a dose-dependent manner, and inhibit the immune organ index of the spleen while having no significant effect on metabolic enzymes of the kidney. In addition, pathological sections of ankle and knee joints suggested CE might significantly prevent inflammatory cell infiltration, synovial hyperplasia, and joint degeneration and protect articular cartilage. Then, for the first time, 16S rRNA gene was applied to analyze the regulatory effect of CE on intestinal flora. CE could effectively improve the uniformity, diversity, and richness of intestinal flora, reduce the number of pathogenic bacteria, and increase the proportion of beneficial bacteria, and it significantly inhibited the abundance of Prevotella in RA rats, which was 12.43 times smaller than that in methotrexate. The distribution and excretion of CE in vivo were detected by GC-MS. It was found that CE would massively accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract after oral administration, which is then mainly excreted through feces. Interestingly, the research suggested that CE, which plays a role in the dynamic regulation of the intestinal micro-environment, could be used as a potential component to prevent RA.

The phytochemical and pharmacological profile of taraxasterol

Taraxasterol is one of the bioactive triterpenoids found in dandelion, a member of the family Asteraceae. In the animal or cellular models of several ailments, including liver damage, gastritis, colitis, arthritis, pneumonia, tumors, and immune system diseases, taraxasterol has been shown to have significant preventive and therapeutic effects. This review aims to evaluate the current state of research and provide an overview of the possible applications of taraxasterol in various diseases. The reported phytochemical properties and pharmacological actions of taraxasterol, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-carcinogenic properties, and its potential molecular mechanisms in developing these diseases are highlighted. Finally, we further explored whether taraxasterol has protective effects on neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, more animal and clinical studies are also required on the metabolism, bioavailability, and safety of taraxasterol to support its applications in pharmaceuticals and medicine.

Investigation of the effects of safranal on the experimentally created rheumatoid arthritis model in rats

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic chronic disease characterized by inflammation and synovitis. More effective treatment methods with less side effects need to be developed. In this context, current study investigated the therapeutic effects of safranal in a model of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced RA. The control group was given 1 ml of saline orally starting from the 8th day, and 0.2 ml of CFA was given to the RA, RA + Safranal and RA + Methotrexate (MTX) groups on the 0th day of the experiment. Starting from the 8th day of the experiment, 1 ml of saline was given to the RA group, safranal was given at 200 mg/kg of body weight to the RA + MTX group, and 3 mg/kg of MTX to the RA + MTX group twice a week. The results showed that weight gain decreased in the RA group compared to the control group while arthritis index score, thymus index, and planter temperature were found to be increased. Additionally, a deterioration in blood parameters, an increase in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, creatinine, C-reactive protein, and malondialdehyde levels, and a decrease in reduced glutathione levels and glutathione peroxidase and catalase (CAT) activities were seen while tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), cyclooxygenase-2, nuclear factor kappa B levels were found to be increased. However, the safranal had a regulatory effect on all the values, except IL-6 and CAT, and blood parameters. Moreover, histopathological examination revealed that safranal reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and edema.

HPLC -DAD analysis, anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic potentials of Coronopus didymus (L.) Sm. extracts: effects on pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, COX-2, I-κβ, NF-κβ and oxidative stress biomarkers

Coronopus didymus (L.) Sm. (CD) has been traditionally used to treat pain, rheumatism, and inflammation. This study was planned to appraise the anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic potentials of CD (whole plant) aqueous ethanolic (CDAEE) and aqueous extracts (CDAE) and chemical characterization by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector. In vivo anti-inflammatory (Carrageenan induced paw edema, and Xylene induced ear edema assays) and anti-arthritic potentials were evaluated in Wistar rats. Both extracts showed significant (p < 0.0001) in vitro free radical scavenging and in vitro anti-arthritic potentials by inhibition of protein denaturation and stabilization of the HRBC membrane and anti-oedematogenic potential, whereas more activity was expressed by CDAEE. In complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritic model, the CDAEE at 200, 400, and 800 mg kg^-1 and methotrexate (1 mg kg^-1) profoundly (p < 0.05) reduced the arthritic score and paw edema, restored body and immune organ weight, and altered blood parameters and oxidative stress biomarkers. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed that CDAEE at 400 mg kg^-1 significantly (p < 0.0001) downregulated TNF-α (2.22 ± 0.16 fold), IL-6 (2.29 ± 0.05 fold), IL-1β (2.10 ± 0.01 fold), COX-2 (2.45 ± 0.02 fold), and NF-ĸβ (2.72 ± 0.06 fold) and considerably upregulated IL-10 (58.84 ± 0.67%), IL-4 (76.16 ± 2.79%) and I-kβ (75.45 ± 0.17%) in arthritic rats in contrast to disease control and methotrexate as evidenced from the joint histology. These findings suggested the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities of C. didymus, which might be due to the presence of quercetin, ferulic acid, dihydromyricetin, apigenin, vitexin, and kaempferol in CDAEE.

Anti-proliferation and anti-inflammation effects of corilagin in rheumatoid arthritis by downregulating NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The dried aboveground part of Geranium Wilfordii Maxim. (G. Wilfordii) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine named lao-guan-cao. It has long been used for dispelling wind-dampness, unblocking meridians, and stopping diarrhea and dysentery. Previous investigations have revealed that 50% ethanolic extract of G. Wilfordii has anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferation activities on TNF-α induced murine fibrosarcoma L929 cells. Corilagin (COR) is a main compound in G. Wilfordii with the content up to 1.69 mg/g. Pharmacology study showed that COR has anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-microorganism, anti-oxidant, and hepatoprotective effects. However, there is no any investigation on its anti-proliferation and anti-inflammation effects in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study aimed to evaluate the potential pharmacological mechanisms of anti-proliferation and anti-inflammation effects of COR in RA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In vitro, MH7A cells model induced by IL-1β was used. The anti-proliferation activity of COR was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and the anti-migration and anti-invasion activity of COR was determined by wound healing assay and transwell assay, respectively. Furthermore, apoptosis assay by flow cytometer was used to measure the pro-apoptotic effect of COR. The mRNA expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, IL-6, IL-8, MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, COX-2, and iNOS were measured by qRT-PCR, and related protein were further verified by ELISA kits or Western blot. Moreover, protein levels associated with NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways of p65, P-p65, IκBα, P-IκBα, ERK1/2, P-ERK1/2, JNK, P-JNK1/2/3, p38, and P-p38 were determined by Western blot. The nuclear translocation of NF-κB-p65 was detected by immunofluorescent staining. In vivo, adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rat model was used, and the body weight, paw swelling, and arthritis score during the entire period were measured. Histopathological analysis of joints of synovial tissues was also determined. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum including IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-17 were measured.

RESULTS

The in vitro results showed that COR could dose-dependently inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of IL-1β-induced MH7A cells, as well as promote its apoptosis. Moreover, it also suppressed the over-expression of Bcl-2, IL-6, IL-8, MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, COX-2, and iNOS while up-regulated the level of Bax. Besides, the ratios of P-p65/p65, P-IκBα/IκBα, P-ERK/ERK, P-JNK/JNK, and P-p38/p38 were decreased, and the nuclear translocation of p65 induced by IL-1β was blocked by COR. In vivo results indicated that COR significantly reduced the paw swelling and arthritis score in AIA rats, and inhibited synovial tissue hyperplasia and erosion, as well as inflammatory cells infiltration. It also decreased the serum pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-17) production.

CONCLUSION

These results revealed that COR exerted anti-rheumatoid arthritis effect, and its underlying mechanisms may be related to inhibiting the proliferation, migration, and invasion of synovial fibroblasts, enhancing cell apoptosis, and suppressing inflammatory responses via downregulating NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Taraxasterol mitigates Con A-induced hepatitis in mice by suppressing interleukin-2 expression and its signaling in T lymphocytes

Discovery of anti-inflammatory drugs that can suppress T lymphocyte activation and proliferation by inhibiting TCR/CD3 and IL-2/IL-2R signaling is still needed in clinic, though rapamycin and other related reagents have made great success. Taraxasterol (TAS) is an active ingredient of dandelion, an anti-inflammatory medicinal herb with low in vivo toxicity that has long been used in China. Yet the action mechanism of TAS on lymphocytes remains elusive. The anti-inflammatory effects of TAS were evaluated in C57BL/6 mouse primary lymphocytes stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A) in vitro and in mouse model of Con A-induced acute hepatitis in vivo. Our results showed that TAS significantly suppressed Con A-induced acute hepatitis in a mouse model, reducing the hepatic necrosis areas, the release of aminotransferases, and the production of IL-2 and other inflammatory cytokines. Supporting this, in vitro study also showed that TAS reduced the production of IL-2 and the expression of IL-2 receptor subunit α (CD25) upon the stimulation of Con A, which was likely mediated by suppressing NF-κB activation. The downstream pathways of IL-2/IL-2R signaling, including the activation of PI3K/PDK1/mTOR, STAT3 and STAT5, were also suppressed by TAS. Consistently, Con A-induced T cell proliferation was also inhibited by TAS in vitro. Our data indicate that TAS can suppress both T lymphocyte activation and cell proliferation by down-regulating IL-2 expression and its signaling pathway thereby ameliorating Con A-induced acute hepatitis, highlighting TAS as a potential drug candidate for treating inflammatory diseases including autoimmune hepatitis.

Majoon Chobchini attenuates arthritis disease severity and RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis

Majoon Chobchini, a polyherbal Unani compound, has been used holistically in India to treat rheumatoid arthritis. However, the potential mechanism underlying the antiarthritic efficacy of Majoon Chobchini has not been elucidated so far. This study was aimed to explore the underlying molecular mechanism and scientifically validate the therapeutic basis of Majoon Chobchini in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The anti-arthritic efficacy of Majoon Chobchini was demonstrated in vivo using complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritic rat model and adjuvant-induced arthritic fibroblast-like synoviocytes (AA-FLS). The expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and enzymes was evaluated in the serum and synovial tissues of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats. In-vitro, AA-FLS, and bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) were co-cultured to evaluate the formation and activity of osteoclasts using TRAP staining analysis and pit formation assay, respectively. RANKL and OPG levels were detected using western blotting and qRT-PCR analysis. Furthermore, the involvement of JAK-STAT-3 signaling in the therapeutic efficacy of Majoon Chobchini was evaluated both in vivo and in vitro. Majoon Chobchini significantly reversed the physical symptoms in AIA rats with reduced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes. Notably, Majoon Chobchini alleviated cartilage degradation and bone erosion in AIA rats via inhibiting the activation of the JAK-STAT-3 signaling pathway in the AIA rats. Consistent with its effect in vivo, Majoon Chobchini decreased osteoclast inducing potential of AA-FLS and thus attenuated osteoclast formation and bone resorption in vitro. Taken together, our findings suggest that the JAK/STAT-3 signaling inhibition may underlie the mechanism through which Majoon Chobchini provides relief against RA symptoms.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02985-4.

Venlafaxine demonstrated anti-arthritic activity possibly through down regulation of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and COX-2

Venlafaxine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor used to treat depression. Previous studies demonstrated its anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities through the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Present research aimed to explore its anti-arthritic potential. Different in-vitro assays including egg albumin, bovine serum albumin denaturation and human red blood cell (RBC) membrane stabilization assays along with in-vivo models of formaldehyde and complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis were used to study its anti-arthritic effect. Venlafaxine inhibited egg albumin and bovine serum albumin denaturation and preserve the integrity of red blood cells membrane in concentration-dependent manner. In formaldehyde-induced arthritis venlafaxine significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the paw edema on treatment for 10 days. Chronic administration of venlafaxine for 28 days in Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis model decreased the paw volume (p < 0.001), arthritic index (p < 0.01), flexion pain score (p < 0.05), mobility score (p < 0.05), and improved the stance score (p < 0.05). Venlafaxine also significantly declined the rheumatoid factor (p < 0.01) and C-reactive protein (p < 0.05) levels and increased the RBC count (p < 0.01) and Hb value (p < 0.001). Upon PCR analysis venlafaxine remarkably turndown the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and COX-2. Taken together it is inferred from current findings that venlafaxine possesses the significant anti-arthritic activity and could be a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Anti-arthritic activity of Ricinus communis L. and Withania somnifera L. extracts in adjuvant-induced arthritic rats via modulating inflammatory mediators and subsiding oxidative stress

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-arthritic activity of Ricinus communis leaves' and Withania somnifera roots' hydroalcoholic extracts in Complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis in Wistar rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HPLC and FT-IR analysis detected pharmacologically important phytocompounds in both plant extracts. Oral treatments including methotrexate (MTX; 3 mg/kg twice a week) and extracts at 250 and 500 mg/kg/day were initiated after arthritis induction. Changes in paw swelling, arthritic score, body weight, organ indices (thymus and spleen), hematological and biochemical parameters, and pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine expression using qRT-PCR were assessed. Oxidative stress markers in hepatic tissue were determined. Histopathological and radiological examinations were also performed.

RESULTS

RCE (R. communis extract) and WSE (W. somnifera extract) demonstrated a reduction in paw swelling, arthritic score, and restoration of body weight and organ indices. Hematological parameters, serum inflammatory markers such as CRP and RF, and liver function markers of arthritic rats were significantly (P<0.01) ameliorated with RCE and WSE treatment. Both plants persuasively down-regulated IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17a, TNF-α, and RANKL and up-regulated IL-4, INF-γ, and OPG relative expression as well as alleviating hepatic oxidative stress parameters. Histopathological and radiological findings revealed a marked reduction in tissue inflammation and bone erosion in extracts treated groups.

CONCLUSION

The study findings suggest that R. communis leaves and W. somnifera roots have markedly subsided inflammation and improved health through modulating pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine expression and reducing oxidative stress.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Chiral Rhodanine Derivatives Bearing Quinoxalinyl Imidazole Moiety as ALK5 Inhibitors

BACKGROUND

TGF-β signaling pathway inhibition is considered an effective way to prevent the development of several diseases. In the design and synthesis of TGF-β inhibitors, a rhodanine compound containing a quinoxalinyl imidazole moiety was found to have strong antimicrobial activity.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this work was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of other chiral rhodanine TGF-β inhibitors synthesized.

METHODS

Two series of 3-substituted-5-((5-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)-4-(quinoxalinyl-6-yl)- 1H-imidazol-2-yl)methylene)-2-thioxothiazolin-4-ones (12a-h and 13a-e) were synthesized and evaluated for their ALK5 inhibitory and antimicrobial activity. The structures were confirmed by their 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS spectra. All the synthesized compounds were screened against Gram-positive strains, Gram-negative strains, and fungi.

RESULTS

Among the synthesized compounds, compound 12h showed the highest activity (IC50 = 0.416 μM) against ALK5 kinase. Compound 12h exhibited a good selectivity index of > 24 against p38α MAP kinase and was 6.0-fold more selective than the clinical candidate, compound 2 (LY-2157299). Nearly all the compounds displayed high selectivity toward both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. They also showed similar or 2.0-fold greater antifungal activity (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] = 0.5 µg/mL) compared with the positive control compounds Gatifloxacin (MIC = 0.5 µg/mL) and fluconazole (MIC = 1 µg/mL).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that the synthesized rhodanine compounds have good ALK5 inhibitory activity and can be used for further research and development as potential antifungal drugs.

Synthesis and anti-rheumatoid arthritis activities of 3-(4-aminophenyl)-coumarin derivatives

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic disease characterised by an unknown aetiology of inflammatory synovitis. A large number of studies have shown that synoviocytes show tumour-like dysplasia in the pathological process of RA, and the changes in the expression of related cytokines are closely related to the pathogenesis of RA. In this thesis, a series of novel 3-(4-aminophenyl) coumarins containing different substituents were synthesised to find new coumarin anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The results of preliminary activity screening showed that compound 5e had the strongest inhibitory activity on the proliferation of fibroid synovial cells, and it also had inhibitory effect on RA-related cytokines IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α. The preliminary mechanism study showed that compound 5e could inhibit the activation of NF-κB and MAPKs signal pathway. The anti-inflammatory activity of compound 5ein vivo was further determined in the rat joint inflammation model.

Anti-Rheumatoid Arthritic Effects of Paris Saponin VII in Human Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes and Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis in Rats

In the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLS) have tumor-like characteristics, mainly manifested by hyperproliferation and resistance to apoptosis and then it will erode the bone and cartilage, eventually leading to joint destruction. Paris saponin VII (PS VII) is an active compound derived from a traditional herbal medicine named Trillium tschonoskii Maxim, which has anti-tumor, analgesic, and immunomodulatory effects. However, its anti-RA effect has not yet been reported. This study was to investigate the effect of PS VII on two rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes lines (RA-FLS and MH7A) and adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rats. In vitro, the effects of PS VII on the proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis of RA-FLS and MH7A cells were detected by MTT, flow cytometry, and western blot analysis. In vivo, the effect of PS VII on the weight of the rat, paw swelling, ankle joint diameter, arthritis index, serum inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β), histopathological assessment and apoptosis proteins in the synovial tissues were evaluated in AIA rats. The in vitro studies showed that PS VII inhibited the proliferation of RA-FLS and MH7A cells, induced S phase arrest and triggered cell apoptosis mainly through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and the regulation of JNK and p38 MAPK pathways. The in vivo studies revealed that PS VII could improve ameliorate body weight, paw swelling, ankle joint diameter, reduce the spleen and thymus index, suppress the production of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, improve histopathological changes and regulate the expressions of apoptosis proteins in AIA Rats. In conclusion, PS VII could inhibit the proliferation and trigger apoptosis of RA-FLS and MH7A cells by regulating the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and the JNK and p38 MAPK pathways, and alleviate the symptoms of RA, signifying it to be one of the potential anti-RA therapeutics.

Traditional plants from Asteraceae family as potential candidates for functional food industry

Traditional plants have been used in the treatment of disease and pain due to their beneficial properties such as antioxidant, antiinflammation, analgesic, and antibiotic activities. The Asteraceae family is one of the most common groups of plants used in folk medicine. The species Achillea millefolium, Arnica montana, Bellis perennis, Calendula officinalis, Chamaemelum nobile, Eupatorium cannabinum, Helichrysum stoechas, and Taraxacum officinale have been used in different remedies in Northwest Spain. Besides health benefits, some of them like C. nobile and H. stoechas are already employed in cooking and culinary uses, including cocktails, desserts, and savory dishes. This study aimed to review the current information on nutritive and beneficial properties and bioactive compounds of these plants, which are not mainly used as foods but are possible candidates for this purpose. The report highlights their current uses and suitability for the development of new functional food industrial applications. Phenolic compounds, essential oils, and sesquiterpene lactones are some of the most important compounds, being related to different bioactivities. Hence, they could be interesting for the development of new functional foods.

Yishen-tongbi decoction inhibits excessive activation of B cells by activating the FcγRIIb/Lyn/SHP-1 pathway and attenuates the inflammatory response in CIA rats

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease. Strong evidence supports that excessive activation of B cells plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of RA. Fc gamma receptor b (FcγRIIb) is the B cell inhibitory receptor and inhibits BCR (B cell receptor) signalling in part by selectively dephosphorylating CD19 which is considered a co-receptor for BCR and is essential for B cell activation. Our previous study demonstrated that a FcγRIIb I232T polymorphism presented a strong genetic link to RA and may lead to the excessive activation of B cells. Therefore, novel therapeutic strategies and drugs that can effectively inhibit the excessive activation of B cells by regulating the FcγRIIb are necessary for the treatment of RA. Therefore, we used Burkitt's lymphoma ST486 human B cells (lacking endogenous FcγRIIb) transfected with the 232Thr loss-of-function mutant to construct a FcγRIIb mutant cell line (ST486), and we demonstrated that YSTB treatment not only reduced proliferation and promoted apoptosis in ST486 cells but also did so in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the intracellular Ca2+ flux of ST486 cells was decreased after treatment with YSTB, inhibiting the excessive activation of ST486 cells, and these effects correlated with the CD19/FcγRIIb-Lyn-SHP-1 pathways. Our data showed that YSTB treatment inhibited the expression of phosphorylated CD19 and upregulated the protein expression of FcγRIIb, Lyn, and SHP-1. Additionally, the CIA model was established to explore the anti-inflammatory and inhibitory effects of YSTB on bone destruction, and we found that YSTB decreased the paw oedema and arthritis index (AI) in CIA rats. It is worth mentioning that YSTB clearly decreased the AI earlier than methotrexate (MTX) (day 10 vs 16). Moreover, synovial hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration and cartilage surface erosion in CIA rats were noticeably reduced after treatment with YSTB as evidenced by histopathological examination. Finally, we found that YSTB treatment suppressed bone erosion and joint space score (JNS) in CIA rats as evidenced by radiographic assessment. In summary, these data suggest that YSTB has great therapeutic potential for RA treatment.

A mechanistic study of Solenostemma argel as anti-rheumatic agent in relation to its metabolite profile using UPLC/HRMS

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Solenostemma argel (Argel) is a traditional perennial edible herb that is commonly used in folkloric medicine for the treatment of rheumatic pain, inflammation, bronchitis, cold, diabetes, gastrointestinal cramps, and urinary tract infections. No previous reports traced the mechanistic activity of this plant for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in relation to its chemical constituents.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study was designed to substantiate the anti-arthritic potential of S. argel and identification of its secondary metabolites responsible for the action using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC/HRMS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The air-dried powder of S. argel was subjected to liquid-liquid fractionation method to yield polar metabolites fraction (PMF) and nonpolar metabolites fraction (NPMF) where the metabolites that represent each fraction were identified using UPLC/HRMS. The in-vitro anti-arthritic effects of both fractions were tested using protein denaturation, membrane stabilization and proteinase inhibition assays, in addition to in-vitro enzyme inhibition assays of COXs, LOX and collagenases. Adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) model was also established to evaluate their anti-arthritic effects in-vivo at two doses (200 and 400 mg/kg) in compared to the standard ibuprofen (5 mg/kg). Physical changes with hind paw edema and body weight gain as well as the assessment of serum rheumatoid biomarkers, inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress markers, and the activity of hyaluronidase and β-glucouronidase enzymes were studied. The histopathological study of ankle and knee joints and immunohistochemistry of caspase-3 and TNF-α in joint synovium were also examined.

RESULTS

The PMF significantly (P < 0.05) reduced paw edema, serum rheumatoid markers, pro-inflammatory mediators, degeneration enzymes of cartilage and bone, and oxidative stress biomarkers. Interestingly, flavonoid glycosides and phenolic acids dominated the polar fraction, which showed the promising anti-arthritic activity of Argel compared to the NPMF which was dominated by pregnane glycosides.

CONCLUSIONS

Since arthritis is a chronic disease and there are imperative needs for a lifelong treatment with desirable pharmacological action and lower cost than the currently approved synthetic drugs having severe side effects, the PMF of Argel could be used as a potent anti-rheumatic agent.

Rosuvastatin Attenuates Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Manifestations via Modulation of the Pro- and Anti-inflammatory Cytokine Network: A Combination of In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

The current investigation employed rosuvastatin for evaluation as an antiarthritic agent by in vitro and in vivo studies. In vitro studies comprised egg albumin and bovine serum albumin protein denaturation assays along with membrane stabilization assays, while in vivo studies comprised formaldehyde and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-provoked arthritis. The antioxidant potential was estimated via DPPH free radical scavenging and ferric reducing assays. Rosuvastatin significantly inhibited heat-provoked protein denaturation of egg albumin and bovine serum in a concentration-dependent way with the highest inhibition of 1225 ± 9.83 and 82.80 ± 4.03 at 6400 μg/mL. The percentage protection of the RBC membrane from hypotonicity-prompted lysis was found to be 80.67 ± 2.7. Rosuvastatin promisingly subdued formaldehyde-provoked arthritis, with maximum reduction (65.47%) of the paw volume being observed at a dose of 40 mg/kg. Rosuvastatin also significantly (p < 0.001) attenuated arthritis induced by CFA injection by reducing the paw volume and arthritic index. The reduction in the body weight due to CFA injection was also preserved by rosuvastatin treatment. Hematological and biochemical changes due to arthritis induction by CFA injection were also maintained near normal values by rosuvastatin. The histopathological and radiographic investigation also revealed the protective effect of rosuvastatin on preventing structural changes. Gene expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 was reduced, while IL-4 and IL-10 levels were elevated by rosuvastatin in comparison to those for the disease control group. Concentration-dependent antioxidant potential was shown by rosuvastatin. Thus, rosuvastatin possesses a notable antiarthritic potential as evidenced via in vitro and in vivo studies.

Anti-arthritic activity of D-carvone against complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats through modulation of inflammatory cytokines

Chronic joint pain due to loss of cartilage function, degradation of subchondral bone, and related conditions are common plights of an arthritis patient. Antioxidant compounds could solve the problems in arthritic condition. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-arthritic activity of D-carvone against complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis in rats. D-carvone was orally administered for 25 days at the doses of 30 and 60 mg/kg against CFA-induced arthritic rats. Changes in body weight, paw swelling, organ index, hematological parameters, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, and histopathology were recorded. Oral treatment of D-carvone significantly improved the body weight, reduced the paw swelling, edema formation, and organ index in arthritic rats. The levels of white blood cells were reduced, red blood cells and hemoglobin levels were improved in D-carvone treated arthritic rats. Lipid peroxidation levels were lowered whereas enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were significantly elevated by D-carvone administration against arthritic rats. D-carvone significantly modulated inflammatory cytokine levels and improved the ankle joint pathology against CFA-induced arthritic inflammation. In conclusion, D-carvone proved significant anti-arthritic activity against CFA-induced arthritis in rats.

In vitro inhibition effects of hepatitis B virus by dandelion and taraxasterol

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes hepatitis, which progresses to fatal liver diseases and remains a global health problem. Current treatments for chronic hepatitis B are unable to cure hepatitis. Thus, new antiviral drugs must be developed. In this study, the viral inhibition effects of dandelion and taraxasterol were assessed in HepG2.2.15 cell line. Taraxacum officinale F.H.Wigg. (compositae) with English name dandelion is used as a traditional herb for liver disorders and as a common antiviral agent. Taraxasterol is one of the active compounds of dandelion. The secretion of HBV DNA and HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBeAg was detected using fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR) and ELISA, respectively. Intracellular HBsAg was detected by immunofluorescence. In order to demonstrate the potential mechanism of anti-viral activity, the expression levels of host factors polypyrimidine tract binding protein 1 (PTBP1) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) were detected with Western blotting and qPCR. Dandelion and taraxasterol effectively reduced the secretion of HBsAg, HBeAg and the HBV DNA in cell supernatants, and significantly reduced the intracellular HBsAg as indicated by immunofluorescence results. Taraxasterol may be one of the main effective components of dandelion. It significantly decreased the protein expression levels of PTBP1 and SIRT1. The present study revealed that dandelion and its component taraxasterol could inhibit HBV and may be a potential anti-HBV drug, whose potential targets were the host factors PTBP1 and SIRT1.

Iridoid glycosides from Morinda officinalis How. exert anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects through inactivating MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways

Background

The root of Morinda officinalis How. (MO, the family of Rubiaceae) has long been used to treat inflammatory diseases in China and other eastern Asian countries, and iridoid glycosides extracted from MO (MOIG) are believed to contribute to this anti-inflammatory effect. However, the mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities of MOIG has not been elucidated. The aim of the present study was to determine how MOIG exerted anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects in vivo and in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Methods

MOIG were enriched by XDA-1 macroporous resin. The maximum feasible dose method was adopted to evaluate its acute toxicity. The analgesic effect of MOIG was evaluated by acetic acid writhing test and the anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by cotton-pellet granuloma test in rats and air pouch granuloma test in mice. The anti-arthritic effect was evaluated by establishing an adjuvant arthritis model induced by Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA). The viability of the cultured RAW 264.7 macrophages was assessed by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by measuring NO, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The protein level of inflammatory responsive genes was evaluated by Western blot analysis.

Results

MOIG had no significant toxicity at maximum feasible dose of 22.5 g/kg. MO extracts and MOIG (50,100 and 200 mg/kg) all evoked a significantly inhibitory effects on the frequency of twisting induced by acetic acid in mice compared with the model control group. Administration of MO extracts and MOIG markedly decreased the dry and wet weight of cotton pellet granuloma in rats and air pouch granuloma in mice. MOIG significantly attenuated the paw swelling and decreased the arthritic score, weight loss, spleen index, and the serum level of inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-17a in CFA-induced arthritic rats. MOIG inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, and the expressions of iNOS, COX-2 and proteins related to MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Conclusion

MOIG exerted anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities through inactivating MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, and this finding may provide a sound experimental basis for the clinical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with MOIG.

Anti-Arthritic Effect of Garcinol Enriched Fraction Against Adjuvant Induced Arthritis

Background:

Garcinia indica also known as kokum is used in traditional system of medicine for relieving inflammation and rheumatic pain. Garcinol, a benzophenone obtained from its fruit rind is reported to have anti-inflammatory effect via modulating arachidonic acid metabolism, suppressing iNOS expression, NF-κB activation and COX-2 expression. It has also been studied for antioxidant and anti-cancer activity. Apart from these, few patents claim that garcinol also has anti-obesity and hepatoprotec-tive effect and has a potential to be used for the treatment of renal disorders, endometriosis and cardiac dysfunction.

Objective:

Garcinol Enriched Fraction (GEF) from the fruit rind of Garcinia indica should be effective in the treatment of arthritis, one of the chronic inflammatory disorder owing to its anti-inflammatory property as indicated by earlier experiments.

Methods:

GEF was prepared from the fruit rind of Garcinia indica and quantified using LC-MS/MS. It was found to contain 89.4% w/w of garcinol. GEF was evaluated at the dose of 10mg/kg for its efficacy against Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis in Wistar albino rats. Paw volumes of both sides were measured by Plethysmometer and body weight was recorded on 0, 1, 5, 12 and 21^st day. The hyperalgesic response was also measured by motility test and stair climbing test.

Results:

GEF showed a significant reduction in paw swelling (p < 0.0001) and arthritis index (p < 0.0001) exhibiting anti-inflammatory potential. It also improves the motility and stair climbing ability of experimental animals (p < 0.05), thus reducing hyperalgesia.

Conclusion:

Garcinol enriched fraction shows anti-arthritic activity in experimental animals.

UPLC-MS/MS study of the effect of dandelion root extract on the plasma levels of the selected irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitors dasatinib, imatinib and nilotinib in rats: Potential risk of pharmacokinetic interactions

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatments for chronic myeloid leukaemia based on nilotinib (NIL), dasatinib (DAS) and imatinib (IMA) have improved patient quality of life and have turned chronic myeloid leukemia from a fatal disease into a chronic disease. Dandelion is a rich source of phenolic compounds with strong biological properties, and the effects of using this plant in the treatment of different illnesses can be linked to the presence of various polyphenols found in the different parts of the plant. Thus, dandelion can potentially be used as a nutraceutical (dietary antioxidant) to prevent different disorders associated with oxidative stress, i.e. cardiovascular disorders, cancer and inflammatory processes. Mutual interference between a drug and a food constituent may result in altered pharmacokinetics of the drug and undesired or even dangerous clinical situations. In the present study, a bioanalytical ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantification of DAS, IMA and NIL in rat plasma. Sample preparation was carried out using solid-phase extraction with C₁₈ cartridges with a good extraction recovery of ≥94.37% for the three drugs. The method was fully validated as per the US Food and Drug Administration guidelines.

Glycine tabacina ethanol extract ameliorates collagen-induced arthritis in rats via inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The whole plant of Glycine tabacina (Labill.) Benth has been used as a traditional herbal medicine to treat rheumatism, ostealgia and nephritis in China. It is also one of the sources of the renowned native herbal medicine 'I-Tiao-Gung' in Taiwan.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the anti-arthritic effect of ethanol extract of G. tabacina (GTE) in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical profile of GTE was analyzed by HPLC-UV. The CIA was induced in male Wistar rats by intradermal injection of bovine type II collagen at tail root, back and ankle joints. The rats were orally administrated daily with GTE (1.11, 2.22 and 4.44 g dry weight of herb powder per kg body weight) from day 0 and continued for 30 days. Swelling volume and thickness of paw, arthritis index, X-radiographs and histopathological changes were examined to assess the severity of arthritis. Furthermore, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin1β (IL-1β), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity and malonaldehyde (MDA) level were measured to preliminarily explore the possible mechanisms.

RESULTS

Oral administration of GTE significantly ameliorated the arthritic symptoms in CIA rat model, as indicated by the effects on paws swelling and arthritis index. X-radiographic analysis and histopathological examinations demonstrated that GTE effectively protected the bone and cartilage of joints from erosion, lesion and deformation. The efficacy of GTE treatment on CIA was comparable to that of indomethacin (positive drug). Besides, the overproduction of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α was remarkably inhibited in the serum of all GTE treatment groups. The restoration of serum T-SOD activity and MDA level proved that GTE administration alleviated the oxidative stress in CIA rats.

CONCLUSIONS

GTE exhibited strong anti-CIA activity through inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidation in rats, suggesting its potential preventive and therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Moringa rivae leaf extracts attenuate Complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis in Wistar rats via modulation of inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers

Moringa rivae is widely used as a traditional remedy against arthritis. The present research was designed to evaluate the anti-arthritic potential of Moringa rivae extracts. Treatment of rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis with methanolic and aqueous extracts of M. rivae (150, 300 or 600 mg/kg), and piroxicam (10 mg/kg) was started orally at day 8 post-administration of complete Freund's adjuvant and continued till 28th day. The therapeutic effect of the plant extracts was assessed in arthritic rats by arthritic index, body weight, and haematological and biochemical parameters. Furthermore, the modulatory effect on gene expression (I-κB, IL-4 and IL-10, COX-2, IL-1β and IL-6, NF-κB, and TNF-α) in the blood was determined using qRT-PCR, while ELISA assay was used to find PGE2 and TNF-α concentrations in the serum. Oxidative stress parameters in the liver and ankle joint histopathology were also evaluated. Moreover, the most effective methanolic extract was further characterized by GC-MS for the presence of phytochemicals. Treatment with the plant extracts significantly restored arthritic index, change in the body weight and immune organ weight, and the histopathological indices. Both extracts significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the serum concentration of rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein, PGE2, and TNF-α in arthritic rats. The extracts persuasively down-regulated the COX-2, PGE2, IL-1β, IL-6, NF-κB, and TNF-α, and up-regulated the mRNA expression of I-κB, IL-4, and IL-10. Both extracts increased the activities of CAT and SOD while reducing the formation of MDA in a dose- dependent manner in the liver. Histopathological evaluation showed that treatment with the plant extracts significantly (p < 0.05) reduced joint inflammation, pannus formation, and bone erosion in treatment groups in comparison to arthritic control. Phytochemicals detected by GC-MS in the methanolic extract included esters, alcohols, ketones, fatty acids, and vitamin E. These findings provide evidence of the anti-arthritic potential of M. rivae extracts in chronic polyarthritis model.

Terpenes as possible drugs for the mitigation of arthritic symptoms - A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Arthritis is a syndrome associated with exacerbated inflammation, joint destruction and chronic pain and disability. Chronic treatment of arthritis is associated with several side effects and high abandonment. Therefore, there has been an ongoing search for alternative treatments to overcome these problems.

PURPOSE

Natural products, which are already widely used for their biological, cosmetic and pharmacotechnic properties, are a possible source for new drugs. Terpenes, a large class of organic compounds produced mainly by plants and trees, are a promising natural product and have already been shown to be effective in treating chronic pain, particularly of an inflammatory origin.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

This review identifies the main terpenes with anti-arthritic activity reported in the last 10 years. A survey was conducted between December 2017 and June 2018 in the PUBMED, SCOPUS and Science Direct databases using combinations of the descriptors terpenes, arthritis and inflammation.

RESULTS

The results showed that terpenes have promising biological effects in relation to the treatment of arthritis, with the 24 terpenes identified in our survey being effective in the modulation of inflammatory mediators important to the physiopathology of arthritis, such as IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α, NFκB, and COX-2, among others. It is important to note that most of the studies used animal models, which limits, at least in part, the direct translation to humans of the experimental evidence produced by the studies.

CONCLUSION

Together, our finds suggest that terpenes can modulate the immuno-regulatory and destructive tissue events that underlie the clinical presentation and the progression of arthritis and are worthy of further clinical investigation.

Network Pharmacology Based Research on the Combination Mechanism Between Escin and Low Dose Glucocorticoids in Anti-rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by chronic progressive symmetrical synovitis and destruction of multiple joints. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely used in the treatment of RA. However, their adverse effects can be serious. Escin, which is isolated from Aesculus hippocastanum L., has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated the anti-RA effect of Escin combined with low dose GCs (dexamethasone, Dex) and the underlying mechanism. Adjuvant-induced RA rats and lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-injured RAW264.7 cells were used to investigate the anti-RA effects of Escin combined with low dose Dex in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that Escin combined with low-dose Dex significantly decreased arthritic index, serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels, reduced paw swelling, and ameliorated the joint pathology and immune organ pathology. Gene chip results revealed that Nr3c1 (GR) expression was significantly altered, and that GR was activated by Escin and low dose Dex in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, Escin combined with low dose Dex also significantly increased GR mRNA expression. However, when GR expression was suppressed by its specific inhibitor, the anti-RA effect of Escin combined with low-dose Dex was abolished. The data in this study demonstrated that Escin combined with Dex reduced the dose of Dex, and exerted significant anti-RA effects, which could also reduce the adverse effects of Dex. This combination might result from GR activation. This study might provide a new combination of drugs for the treatment of RA.

Comparative anti-arthritic investigation of iridoid glycosides and crocetin derivatives from Gardenia jasminoides Ellis in Freund's complete adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats

BACKGROUND

Discovering novel compounds with higher activities is a key aim of natural products research. Gardenia jasminoides Ellis is a herb with anti-inflammatory properties. Iridoid glycosides (mainly geniposide) and crocetin derivatives (crocins) are the two major active constituents in this herb and are considered its active ingredients. However, which components are responsible for the anti-inflammatory properties of gardenia have remained to be investigated.

PURPOSE

Here, we prepared total iridoid glycocides (TIG) and total crocins (TC) from G. jasminoides Ellis, determined their main chemical constituents, and performed animal studies to evaluate their anti-adjuvant arthritis activities, thus, proposing a reasonable mechenism to explain the anti-inflammatory activities of the active components in this herbal remedy.

STUDY DESIGN

TIG and TC were prepared by using HPD-100 macroporous resin, and characterized by UHPLC-DAD-MS and UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Then, freund's complete adjuvant-injected rats underwent drug treatments with TIG (160 mg/kg) and TC (160 mg/kg) for 14 days, and their ankle diameters were measured. Moreover, X-ray radiographs of the adjuvant injected hind paws were evaluated. Finally, histopathological examinations of the ankle joints, spleens and thymus were carried out to evaluate inflammatory reactions, and immunohistochemical measurements were conducted to evaluate TNF-α and TGF-β1 expression in the ankle joint of the rats.

RESULTS

The chemical composition determination of the current study showed that TIG was mainly composed of geniposide and TC was a fraction predominantly with crocin-1, crocin-2 and crocin-3. Calculation of results showed that TIG and TC contained 58.2% total iridoid glycosides and 54.7% total crocins, respectively. Our study suggested TIG and TC treatments markedly decreased paw swelling and ankle diameters of AA rats (both p < 0.05). The radiological analysis showed that administration of TIG and TC ameliorated bone destruction, and reduced the radiological bone destruction scores (TIG p < 0.05, TC p>0.05). Moreover, data from histological assessment demonstrated considerable mitigation of inflammation in the joints (both p < 0.01), spleen and thymus of AA rats treated with TIG and TC. TNF-α and TGF-β1 protein expression according to immunohistochemistry staining also supported the anti-arthritis activities of TIG and TC (TNF-α: TIG p < 0.01 and TC p < 0.05, TGF-β1: TIG p < 0.01 and TC p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

In the current study, fractionation of gardenia prior to further in vivo investigation has for the first time provided reasonable explanation for the anti-inflammatory activity of this herbal remedy. Our study showed that both TIG and TC from gardenia have anti-inflammatory properties. Overall, these experimental findings suggest that gardenia could be regarded as a potential therapeutic target for arthritis. However, as geniposide has a higher content than crocins in this herbal drug, TIG (mainly geniposide) seems to be primarily responsible for the anti-inflammatory properties of gardenia. Taken together, this maiden attempt demonstrated that TIG (mainly geniposide) is more important in evaluating the anti-inflammatory activity of G. jasminoides Ellis.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Taraxasterol on LPS-Stimulated Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

In the present study, we used the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanism of taraxasterol on vascular inflammation. HUVECs were pre-treated with taraxasterol 1 h before lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. The concentrations of TNF-α, IL-8, PGE2, and NO were measured. The expression of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, iNOS, COX-2, NF-κB, and LXRα was detected by western blot analysis. The results showed that taraxasterol not only reduced the production of TNF-α, IL-8, PGE2, and NO induced by LPS, but also reduced the expression of iNOS and COX-2. Taraxasterol also suppressed LPS-induced NF-κB activation and VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression. Furthermore, taraxasterol concentration-dependently increased the expression of LXRα. The inhibition of taraxasterol on TNF-α, IL-8, PGE2, and NO production can be reversed by geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP, the LXRα inhibitor). Here, we found that taraxasterol inhibited vascular inflammation through activating LXRα.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel β-pinene-based thiazole derivatives as potential anticancer agents via mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis pathway

A series of novel β-pinene-based thiazole derivatives were synthesized and characterized by HRMS, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR analyses as potential antineoplastic agents. Derivatives were evaluated for their anticancer activities in vitro, and the data manifested that most target compounds showed potent anti-proliferative activities against three human cancer cell lines. Especially, compound 5g displayed excellent cytotoxic activity against Hela, CT-26, and SMMC-7721 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 3.48 ± 0.14, 8.84 ± 0.16, and 6.69 ± 0.15 µM, respectively. To determine the underlying mechanism of compound 5g on cell viability, DAPI staining, Annexin-V/PI staining, JC-1 staining, DCFDA staining, and Western blot analysis were performed. Our data showed that compound 5g inhibited cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of Hela cells at the G0/G1 phase in a dose dependent manner. Further studies revealed that compound 5g enhanced levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), caused a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, increased the release of mitochondrial cytochrome C, and affected the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3 and caspase-9. Thus, our findings indicated that compound 5g induced apoptosis in Hela through ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction signaling pathways.

Anti-rheumatoid arthritis effects in adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats and molecular docking studies of Polygonum orientale L. extracts

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Polygonum orientale L. (family: Polygonaceae), named Hongcao in China, has effects of dispelling wind and dampness, promoting blood circulation, and relieving pain. Our group has already studied and confirmed that POEa and POEe (ethyl acetate and ethyl ether extract of P. orientale, respectively) had anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in early research, which was mainly relevant to the existence of flavonoids. According to the clinical application of P. orientale in traditional Chinese medicine, it has long been used for rheumatic arthralgia and rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, our group further explored whether flavonoids of P. orientale have anti-rheumatoid arthritis effect and how does they play this role.

METHODS

Dried small pieces of the stems and leaves of P. orientale were decocted with water and partitioned successively to obtain POEa and POEe, respectively. The anti-rheumatoid arthritis effect of P. orientale was studied by using a Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA)-induced arthritis (AIA) in a rat model. The levels of PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-1β in serum of AIA rats were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to explore its mechanisms. In addition, we computationally studied the relationships between the 15 chemical components of POEa and POEe, and the currently focused 9 target proteins of rheumatoid arthritis by molecular docking.

RESULTS

Pharmacological experiments showed that POEa and POEe significantly ameliorate symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis via reducing paw swelling volume, arthritis score, and thymus and spleen indices, as well as increasing body weight in AIA rats. Simultaneously, the concentrations of PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-1β were significantly decreased by POEa and POEe. Histopathology revealed noticeable reduction in bone and cartilage, synovial hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration, cartilage surface erosion, and joint degeneration by POEa and POEe treatment. In addition, the molecular docking studies showed that docking scores of 14 chemical compositions (including 12 flavonoids and 2 phenolic acids) of POEa and POEe with anti-rheumatoid arthritis protein targets were better than the complexed ligands of the anti-rheumatoid arthritis protein targets. Among them, six flavonoids in POEa and POEe had more docking protein targets (n ≥ 3). Five anti-rheumatoid arthritis targets including high-temperature requirement A1 protease (HtrA1), janus kinase 1 (JAK1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (i-NOS), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) had better docking score compared with the complexed ligands. Moreover, most of the chemical components in POEa and POEe showed strong interaction with HtrA1.

CONCLUSIONS

The flavonoids of P. orientale have anti-rheumatoid arthritis effect. In addition, the molecular docking results indicate that quercetin, catechol, orientin, and other six flavonoids may be closely related to HtrA1, JAK1, COX-2, i-NOS, and PGE2 protein target receptors. It suggests that these chemical compositions form strong protein-ligand complexes with these protein targets, especially HtrA1 to exert anti-rheumatoid arthritis. Further experimental studies show that mechanisms of anti-rheumatoid arthritis effects may also be relevant to inhibit the levels of PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-1β in serum. Therefore, our group can further explore the possible active ingredients and mechanisms of the anti-rheumatoid arthritis effects of flavonoids, and focus on the inhibition of the expression of inflammatory factors and the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway associated with HtrA1 protein target receptors, which can provide a direction and powerful reference for the action mechanism and drug research of anti-rheumatoid arthritis of flavonoids in P. orientale.

Ligustrazine attenuates inflammation and oxidative stress in a rat model of arthritis via the Sirt1/NF-κB and Nrf-2/HO-1 pathways

Inflammation responses and oxidative stress are closely involved in the pathogenesis of arthritis. Ligustrazine (Lig), a natural four methyl which is isolated from Chinese herb ligusticum chuanxiong hort, has been proved significantly anti-inflammation and anti-oxidative stress effects. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Lig on inflammation and oxidative stress in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA)-induced arthritis in rats. The treatment of Lig significantly decreased the hind-paw volume change and alleviated the histopathological changes in sections of rat paws induced by arthritis. Lig also reduced the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-1 beta, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha), increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA). Besides that, the protein expressions of the sirtuin 1 (Sirt1)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like-2 factor (Nrf-2)/heme oxygenase (HO)-1 pathways determined by western bolt further confirmed that Lig effectively inhibited the Sirt1/NF-κB pathway and activated the Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway. Taken together, our results suggest Lig has therapeutic potential for arthritis, which might be via the regulation of Sirt1/NF-κB and Nrf-2/HO-1 pathways.

Ichnocarpus frutescens (L.) R. Br. root derived phyto-steroids defends inflammation and algesia by pulling down the pro-inflammatory and nociceptive pain mediators: An in-vitro and in-vivo appraisal

Ichnocarpus frutescens, a climber plant, is distributed all over India. As its different parts are used as anti-inflammatory agent, so we re-investigated the roots to isolate compounds and evaluate its biological efficacy. Also, in-silico molecular docking was carried out to elucidate the structure activity relationship (SAR) of isolated compounds toward identifies the drug target enzyme with validation, which was further supported by anti-inflammatory in-vitro and in-vivo experimental models. The compounds have been undertaken mainly to investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic efficacy along with molecular docking investigation followed by anti-proteinase, anti-denaturation and cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition studies. Inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-6 were assayed from lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and Concavallin (CON A) stimulated human PBMC derived macrophages by Enyme linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) method. The purity index of the lead compound was determined by HPLC. The compounds were illustrated as 2-hydroxy tricosanoic acid (1), stigmasterol glucoside (2), stigmasterol (3), β-sitosterol (4) and β-sitosterol glucoside (5). The test molecules showed significant anti-denaturation, anti-proteinase and analgesic effect validated with docking study. Compounds exhibited anti-inflammatory and pain killing action due to dexamethasone like phytosterol property. Promising anti-denaturation and anti-proteinase activity offered by the compound 5, may hold its promise to fight against arthritis by rejuvenating the osteoblast cells and destroying the bone-resorpting complex of hydrated protein, bone minerals by secreting the acid and an enzyme collagenase along with pain management. The lead bioactive compound i.e. β-sitosterol glucoside (compound 5) demonstrated considerable anti-inflammatory activity showing more than 90% protection against the inflammatory cytokines at 50 µM dose. The anti-denaturation and COX-2 inhibition shown by the compound 5 was also noteworthy with the significant IC₅₀ (ranging from 0.25 to 2.56 µM) that also supporting its future promise for developing as anti-inflammatory agent. Since the most bio-active compound (5) elicit promising acute anti-inflammatory action and peripheral anti-nociceptive pain killing action with a significant ED₅₀ dose of 3.95 & 2.84 mg/kg i.p. respectively in the in-vivo animal model. It could suggest its potentiality as a good in-vivo bio available agent to be an emerging anti-inflammatory drug regimen scaffold in the future. It also establishes significant in-vitro and in-vivo result co-relation. Therefore, the compound 5 could be believed as a potent lead for designing anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic drug or pain killer without showing any untoward effect.

Insights on the molecular mechanism of anti-inflammatory effect of formula from Islamic traditional medicine: An in-silico study

Background and aim

Traditional medicine is an important source for drug discovery. However, many challenges face the scientific community to develop novel drugs from it. To investigate the rationale behind the medical legacy of centuries of precious knowledge from traditional medicine, we aimed at performing virtual screening to identify potential leads from the middle-age textbook, The Canon of Medicine.

Experimental procedure

A database of chemical constituents of plants mentioned within the book was built and docked against different molecular targets associated with inflammation such as phospholipase A2, p38 alpha mitogen activated protein kinase, cyclooxygenase-2 and leukotriene B4 dehydrogenase, after that literature survey was done to determine the consistency of traditional uses and molecular docking results with the current knowledge obtained from previous studies and reports.

Results and conclusion

The in-silico study revealed the ability of several chemical constituents, in the plants under investigation, to bind effectively to different targets associated with inflammation, which was consistent with previous reports, indicating that Islamic traditional medicine can be considered as a reliable promising source for developing new anti-inflammatory agents with low toxicity and minimal side effects.

Protective Effects of Taraxasterol against Ethanol-Induced Liver Injury by Regulating CYP2E1/Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB Signaling Pathways in Mice

Taraxasterol, a pentacyclic-triterpene compound, is one of the main active components isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Taraxacum. The objective of this study is to evaluate the protective effects of taraxasterol and its possible underlying mechanisms against ethanol-induced liver injury in mice. ICR mice were fed with Lieber-DeCarli diet containing 5% ethanol for 10 d and then challenged with a single dose of 20% ethanol (5 g/kg BW) by intragastric administration. The mice were intragastrically treated daily with taraxasterol (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg). Tiopronin was used as a positive control. The liver index was calculated, and the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride (TG), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in sera were detected. The contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the livers were measured. The histopathological changes of liver tissues were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The protein expression levels of hepatic cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), antioxidant protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway in liver tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot methods. Taraxasterol significantly reduced the ethanol-induced increases of liver index, ALT, AST, and TG levels in sera and TG and MDA contents in the livers and hepatic ROS production and suppressed the ethanol-induced decreases of hepatic GSH level and SOD activity. Taraxasterol also significantly inhibited the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 induced by ethanol. In addition, taraxasterol improved the liver histopathological changes in mice with ethanol-induced liver injury. Further studies revealed that taraxasterol significantly inhibited the ethanol-induced upregulation of CYP2E1, increased the ethanol-induced downregulation of Nrf2 and HO-1, and inhibited the degradation of inhibitory kappa Bα (IκBα) and the expression level of NF-κB p65 in liver tissues of ethanol-induced mice. These findings suggest that taraxasterol possesses the potential protective effects against ethanol-induced liver injury in mice by exerting antioxidative stress and anti-inflammatory response via CYP2E1/Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB signaling pathways.

Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidative, and Hepatoprotective Effects of Trans Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol/Sesame Oil on Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis in Rats

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a painful chronic autoimmune disease affecting the joints. Its first-line therapy, Methotrexate (MTX), although effective in ameliorating the progress of the disease, induces hepatotoxicity over long-term usage. Thus, seeking natural compounds with fewer side effects could be an alternative therapeutic approach. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, and antioxidative effects of synthetic trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) dissolved in sesame oil (Dronabinol) against MTX in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rat model. Daily oral administration of Δ9-THC/sesame oil, over a period of 21 days, was well tolerated in arthritic rats with no particular psychoactive side effects. It markedly attenuated the severity of clinical manifestations, recovered the histopathological changes in tibiotarsal joints, and repressed the splenomegaly in arthritic rats. Δ9-THC/sesame oil therapy showed similar effects to MTX in neutralizing the inflammatory process of AIA, through attenuating erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) scores and proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, to normal values. As opposed to MTX, this natural combination markedly protected the liver of arthritic rats and downregulated the induced oxidative stress by increasing the antioxidant defense system such as activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and levels of glutathione (GSH). These results suggest promising effects for the clinical use of Δ9-THC/sesame oil therapy in alleviating arthritic clinical signs as well as arthritis-induced liver injury.