In-vitro and in-vivo anti-breast cancer activity of OEO (Oliveria decumbens vent essential oil) through promoting the apoptosis and immunomodulatory effects

Nano-emulsion based on Santolina chamaecyparissus essential oil potentiates the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of Doxorubicin: an in vitro study

AIM

This study was aimed at investigating the cytotoxic effect of a novel combination of doxorubicin (DOX) and nano-formulation of Santolina chamaecyparissus L. essential oil (SCEO-NANO) on hepatic (HepG2) and colon (HT29) cancer cell lines.

METHODS

A nano-emulsion was prepared by high-pressure homogenisation, then analysed by zetasizer and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. HepG2 and HT29 cells were used in in vitro tests for apoptosis detection.

RESULTS

Formulated droplet size increased in DOX@SCEO-NANO/DOX to 11.54 ± 0.02 with uniform distribution (PDI = 0.13 ± 0.01), when compared with SCEO-NANO (size: 8.91 ± 0.02 nm; PDI = 0.1 ± 0.02). In both cells, DOX@SCEO-NANO/DOX led to a considerable reduction in colony formation. Compared to DOX, apoprotein proteins were overexpressed in HepG2 cells, showing increases of 8.66-fold for caspase-3 and 4.24-fold for the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. In HT29 cells, ROS-dependent necrosis and apoptosis were seen. Comparing DOX@SCEO-NANO/DOX versus DOX, greater levels of caspase-3 and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were observed.

CONCLUSION

The DOX@SCEO-NANO/DOX formulation showed potential for targeted eradication of colon adenocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Oliveria decumbens, a Long-Neglected Plant with Promising Phytochemical and Biological Properties

Oliveria decumbens is a folkloric medicinal plant belonging to the Apiaceae family, traditionally utilized to treat various diseases like gastrointestinal disorders, fever, and wounds. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the plant's phytochemical composition and biological properties, with potential implications for various industries and avenues of further research. The data presented here has been compiled through searches utilizing the keyword "Oliveria" across scientific databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and SciFinder. Carvacrol and thymol have been identified as the primary volatile constituents, though the complete profile of the plant extract remains to be fully elucidated. Notably, Oliveria decumbens essential oil exhibits significant antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. Additionally, the plant extract demonstrates promising antiprotozoal, antiviral, hepatoprotective, and immunostimulant effects, although these findings are primarily derived from preliminary studies. While in vitro and in vivo investigations have validated some traditional uses of O. decumbens, further pre-clinical testing is warranted to ascertain both efficacy and safety profiles. Moreover, the identification of specific components within the plant extract is crucial for a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of action underlying its therapeutic properties within the realm of phytomedicine.

Essential oils and their nanoformulations for breast cancer therapy

Breast Cancer (BC) is the most prevalent type of cancer in the world. Current treatments include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy but often are associated with high toxicity to normal tissues, chemoresistance, and relapse. Thus, developing novel therapies which could combat these limitations is essential for effective treatment. In this context, phytochemicals are increasingly getting popular due to their safety profile, ability to efficiently target tumors, and circumvent limitations of existing treatments. Essential Oils (EOs) are mixtures of various phytochemicals which have shown potential anticancer activity in preclinical BC models. However, their clinical translation is limited by factors such as high volatility, low stability, and poor solubility. Nanotechnology has facilitated their encapsulation in a variety of nanostructures and proven to overcome these limitations. In this review, we have efficiently summarized the current knowledge on the anticancer effect of EOs and constituents in both in in vitro and in in vivo BC models. Further, we also provide a descriptive account on the potential of nanotechnology in enhancing the anti-BC activity of EOs and their constituents. The papers discussed in this review were selected using the keywords "antiproliferative Essential Oils in breast cancer," "anticancer activity of Essential Oil in breast cancer," and "cytotoxicity of Essential Oils in breast cancer" performed in PubMed and ScienceDirect databases.

Explore the effects of forest travel activities on university students' stress affection

This study aims to explore the effects of forest travel activities on university students' stress affection. Forty volunteer university students participated in this study. All participants were asked to complete physiological (Heart Rate Variability) and psychological (Brief Profile of Mood State and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) tests before and after the travel activities. The results reported that students' heart rates were significantly lower after the forest travel activities than before. All domains of negative mood and anxiety decreased from the pre-test to the post-test. This study found that university students could feel less stressed if they went on forest travel activities.

Oliveria decumbens Vent. (Apiaceae): Biological screening and chemical compositions

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Oliveria decumbens Vent. (Apiaceae), a single aromatic species in Iran, is traditionally used for healing inflammation, gastrointestinal disorders, and infections.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Regarding the importance of O. decumbens in traditional medicine, we aimed to set out the plant's biological screening and analyze the chemical components of the active fractions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Air-dried O. decumbens aerial parts were macerated by ethanol:water (70:30). Using a liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) technique, n-hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol (n-BuOH), and water were successively used to fractionate the crude extract into different portions. Various biological activities were performed on the crude extract, fractions, and some experiments on pure compounds. The bioassays were as follows: antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhi (using microplate alamar blue assay; MABA), antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, Candida albicans, C. glabarate, Fusarium lini, Microspurum canis, and Trichophyton rubrum (using agar tube dilution method), antileishmanial activity against Leishmania major and L. tropica using a 96-well serial dilution protocol, anti-inflammatory activity using the respiratory burst assay, cytotoxicity against HeLa (cervical cancer) and BJ (normal fibroblast) cells using MTT assay, insecticidal activity against Tribolium castaneum, Sitophilus oryzae, and Rhyzopertha dominica (using the contact toxicity method), larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti, anti-DPPH• activity, and cytotoxicity against brine shrimp (Artemia salina) in a lethality assay. Eventually, the phytochemicals from the active fractions were studied by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

RESULTS

Interestingly, the DCM fraction was the most active, followed by the n-hexane fraction in the biological assays, including antibacterial (>80% inhibition), leishmanicidal (IC50 (L.major) = 29.4 μg/mL, and IC50 (L.tropica) = 30.0 μg/mL), anti-inflammatory (IC50 = 15.8 μg/mL), insecticidal (>80% inhibition), and larvicidal (100% inhibition of A. aegypti) assays. Further GC-MS analysis of the DCM and n-hexane fractions resulted in the characterization of 12 and 14 phytoconstituents, respectively, compared with the NIST library. Thymol and carvacrol were abundant in both fractions. To lesser quantities, the presence of monoterpenoids (p-cymen-8-ol, thymoquinone, 3-hydroxy-β-damascone, and 3-hydroxy-7,8-dihydro-β-ionol), phenylpropanoids (methoxyeugenol, elemicin, and 4-[(1E)-3-hydroxy-1-propenyl]-2-methoxyphanol, simple phenolics (salicylic acid and 4-methoxy-2,3,6-trimethyl-phenol), and a coumarin (6,7-dimethoxy-coumarin) were detected in the DCM fraction. On the other hand, besides a coumarin and monoterpenoids, the fatty acids (tetradecanoid acid, n-hexadecanoic acid, and linolenic acid) and a sesquiterpene (spathulenol) were observed in the n-hexane fraction. The EtOAc fraction scavenged the DPPH• radicals better than other fractions (IC50 = 41.4 μg/mL), while in brine shrimp lethality assay, the crude extract was more active than n-hexane and DCM fractions with LD50 = 385.20, 660.28, and 699.74 μg/mL, respectively. Surprisingly, the crude extract and fractions were ineffective against assayed fungal strains and tested cancer and non-cancer cell lines.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings showed that O. decumbens deserves to be a multi-bioactive medicinal plant, besides its ability for cereal protection against pests. To understand the principal mechanism of action, in silico, in vitro, and in vivo experiments may clarify the ambiguities and even figure out the synergistic behavior of the minor secondary metabolites.

Phytochemistry of Oliveria decumbens Vent. (Apiaceae) and its therapeutic potential: A systematic review

Oliveria decumbens Vent., an annual herb resistant to harsh environmental conditions, is an aromatic medicinal plant of the Apiaceae family. O. decumbens has numerous pharmacological, food and feed, and cosmetic applications. This species is endemic to Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. Published literature, available until 30 November 2022 on the morphology, phytochemistry, and bioactivity of O. decumbens, has been reviewed, and appraised for the potential therapeutic potential of this species, utilizing the databases, Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Dictionary of Natural Products. The search term used was O. decumbens. Some manuscripts were issued on the chemical components of O. decumbens essential oil (EO) and various extracts. The EO of O. decumbens was evaluated for its chemical composition and medicinal potential against various diseases. Thymol and carvacrol constituted the primary oxygenated monoterpenes detected in substantial amounts within the EO. Additionally, diverse metabolites of O. decumbens were examined for their bactericidal, antioxidant, larvicidal, and immunomodulatory effects. This review article discusses morphology, phenology, and geographical distribution of O. decumbens and presents a critical appraisal of its phytochemistry and therapeutic potential as documented in the published literature.

Cytotoxic activity of essential oil from Leaves of Myrcia splendens against A549 Lung Cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Plants of the Myrcia genus have been widely used in folk medicine to treat various diseases, including cancer. Myrcia splendens species has a diverse chemical constitution, but the biological activities of its essential oil have not been well investigated. In this study to out the chemistry characterization of essential oil (EO) from the leaves of the species M. splendens from Brazil and evaluate cytotoxic effect in A549 lung cancer cells.

METHODS

M. splendens EO was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). EO was isolated and evaluated for cellular viability in tumor cell lines by MTT assay. The evaluation of the formation of clones and the migratory capacity of the A549 cells treated with EO was done by the clonogenic assay and the wound healing assay. Morphological changes were observed in A549 cells by fluorescence using Phalloidin/FITC and DAPI.

RESULTS

22 compounds were identified in the chemical analysis of EO, corresponding to 88% of the sample. Major compounds were the sesquiterpenic hydrocarbons bicyclogermacrene (15.4%), germacrene D (8.9%) and E-caryophyllene (10.1%). The biological analysis of the EO showed high cytotoxic activity with an IC₅₀ below 20 µg/ml in the THP-1, A549 and B16-F10 tumor cells. The treatment with EO reduced colony formation and inhibited the migratory capacity of A549 cells. Furthermore, apoptotic morphological changes in the nucleus and cytoplasm of A549 cells was observed after of treatment with EO.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study suggest that the M. splendens EO has cytotoxic compounds for the A549 lung cancer cells. Treatment with the EO decreased the colony formation and reduced the ability of lung cancer cells to migrate. Future studies may be used to isolate compounds from the EO for the study of lung cancer.

Insight into the Biological Roles and Mechanisms of Phytochemicals in Different Types of Cancer: Targeting Cancer Therapeutics

Cancer is a hard-to-treat disease with a high reoccurrence rate that affects health and lives globally. The condition has a high occurrence rate and is the second leading cause of mortality after cardiovascular disorders. Increased research and more profound knowledge of the mechanisms contributing to the disease’s onset and progression have led to drug discovery and development. Various drugs are on the market against cancer; however, the drugs face challenges of chemoresistance. The other major problem is the side effects of these drugs. Therefore, using complementary and additional medicines from natural sources is the best strategy to overcome these issues. The naturally occurring phytochemicals are a vast source of novel drugs against various ailments. The modes of action by which phytochemicals show their anti-cancer effects can be the induction of apoptosis, the onset of cell cycle arrest, kinase inhibition, and the blocking of carcinogens. This review aims to describe different phytochemicals, their classification, the role of phytochemicals as anti-cancer agents, the mode of action of phytochemicals, and their role in various types of cancer.

Oliveria decumbens Extract Exhibits Hepatoprotective Effects Against Bile Duct Ligation-Induced Liver Injury in Rats by Reducing Oxidative Stress

Background: Cholestasis is described as a disease in which bile flow from the liver is reduced or stopped, and due to its oxidative effects, irreversible consequences may occur. Due to the remarkable antioxidant properties of Oliveria decumbens (OD) and the contribution of oxidants to the progression of bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced cholestasis, Objectives: This research aimed to examine how the OD ethanolic extract affected liver damage and oxidant-antioxidant balance markers in BDL-induced cholestasis. Methods: Forty male Wistar rats weighing 200 - 250 g were used. Cholestasis was induced using the BDL approach. The rats were categorized into four groups: Group 1, sham control (SC); group 2, cholestatic; group 3, SC + OD; and group 4, cholestatic + OD. A dose of OD ethanolic extract was administered orally (500 mg/kg/day) to rats for seven days. Seven days following surgery, the rats’ blood samples were collected; after sacrifice, a part of the liver tissue was isolated. A histopathological examination was performed, while the rest was stored at -70°C in liquid nitrogen. Heparin-containing tubes were used to gather blood samples. In plasma and hepatic tissue, biochemical tests, histopathological evaluations, and oxidative stress markers staining levels were performed. Results: Our findings showed that OD could effectively reduce liver injury by reducing the activity of liver function enzymes (AST and ALP). At the same time, it did not affect total bilirubin and protein. Bile duct ligation-induced hepatic markers of protein oxidation (PCO) and reactive nitrogen species (NO) were significantly decreased by OD, and it also promoted liver antioxidant capacity by enhancing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. Moreover, OD treatment prevented liver bile duct proliferative changes in histopathologic analysis. Conclusions: Our study confirmed that OD exerts substantial hepatoprotective activities against BDL-induced cholestasis by improving liver damage markers and regulating oxidative stress. It may be a beneficial therapeutic agent for managing cholestasis. Bioassay-guided isolation and identification of bioactive OD secondary metabolites can further direct the discovery of potential natural-based drug candidates.

Therapeutic application of carvacrol: A comprehensive review

Carvacrol is a major natural constituent and is significantly present as an essential oil in aromatic plants and is well known for its numerous biological activities. Therapeutic properties of carvacrol have been demonstrated as anti-oxidant, anticancer, diabetes prevention, cardioprotective, anti-obesity, hepatoprotective and reproductive role, antiaging, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory properties. The carvacrol biosynthesis has been mediated through mevalonate pathway. Carvacrol has the anticancer ability against malignant cells via decreasing the expressions of matrix metalloprotease 2 and 9, inducing apoptosis, enhancing the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins, disrupting mitochondrial membrane, suppressing extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction, and also decreasing the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B. It also decreased the concentrations of alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase as well as also restored liver function, insulin level, and plasma glucose level. Carvacrol also has been found to exert antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Coagulase-negative staphylococcus, Salmonella spp., Enterococcus sp. Shigella, and Escherichia coli. The current review article summarizes the health-promoting perspectives of carvacrol through various pathways.

Analysis of Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of 25 High-THC Cannabis Extracts

Cannabis sativa is one of the oldest cultivated plants. Many of the medicinal properties of cannabis are known, although very few cannabis-based formulations became prescribed drugs. Previous research demonstrated that cannabis varieties are very different in their medicinal properties, likely due to the entourage effect-the synergistic or antagonistic effect of various cannabinoids and terpenes. In this work, we analyzed 25 cannabis extracts containing high levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). We used HCC1806 squamous cell carcinoma and demonstrated various degrees of efficiency of the tested extracts, from 66% to 92% of growth inhibition of cancer cells. Inflammation was tested by induction of inflammation with TNF-α/IFN-γ in WI38 human lung fibroblasts. The efficiency of the extracts was tested by analyzing the expression of COX2 and IL6; while some extracts aggravated inflammation by increasing the expression of COX2/IL6 by 2-fold, other extracts decreased inflammation, reducing expression of cytokines by over 5-fold. We next analyzed the level of THC, CBD, CBG and CBN and twenty major terpenes and performed clustering and association analysis between the chemical composition of the extracts and their efficiency in inhibiting cancer growth and curbing inflammation. A positive correlation was found between the presence of terpinene (pval = 0.002) and anti-cancer property; eucalyptol came second, with pval of 0.094. p-cymene and β-myrcene positively correlated with the inhibition of IL6 expression, while camphor correlated negatively. No significant correlation was found for COX2. We then performed a correlation analysis between cannabinoids and terpenes and found a positive correlation for the following pairs: α-pinene vs. CBD, p-cymene vs. CBGA, terpenolene vs. CBGA and isopulegol vs. CBGA. Our work, thus, showed that most of high-THC extracts demonstrate anti-cancer activity, while only certain selected extracts showed anti-inflammatory activity. Presence of certain terpenes, such as terpinene, eucalyptol, cymene, myrcene and camphor, appear to have modulating effects on the activity of cannabinoids.

Apple pectin-based Zataria multiflora essential oil (ZEO) nanoemulsion: An approach to enhance ZEO DNA damage induction in breast cancer cells as in vitro and in silico studies reveal

Zataria multiflora essential oil (ZEO) is a natural complex of compounds with a high apoptotic potential against breast cancer cells and minor toxicity toward normal cells; however, similar to many essential oils, ZEO utilization in pharmaceutical industries has limitations due to its labile and sensitive ingredients. Nanoemulsification based on natural polymers is one approach to overcome this issue. In this study, an apple pectin-ZEO nanoemulsion (AP-ZEONE) was prepared and its morphology, FTIR spectra, and physical properties were characterized. Furthermore, it was shown that AP-ZEONE substantially suppresses the viability of MDA-MB-231, T47D, and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. AP-ZEONE significantly induced apoptotic morphological alterations and DNA fragmentation as confirmed by fluorescent staining and TUNEL assay. Moreover, AP-ZEONE induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) associated with the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), G2/M cell cycle arrest, and DNA strand breakage as flow cytometry, DNA oxidation, and comet assay analysis revealed, respectively. Spectroscopic and computational studies also confirmed that AP-ZEONE interacts with genomic DNA in a minor groove/partial intercalation binding mode. This study demonstrated the successful inhibitory effect of AP-ZEONE on metastatic breast cancer cells, which may be beneficial in the therapy process.

Review On Documented Medicinal Plants Used For The Treatment Of Cancer

Background:

Cancer is a frightful disease and it is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Naturally derived compounds are gaining interest of research workers as they have less toxic side effects as compared to currently used treatments such as chemotherapy. Plants are the pool of chemical compounds which provides a promising future for research on cancer.

Objective:

This review paper provides updated information gathered on medicinal plants and isolated phytoconstituents used as anticancer agents and summarises the plant extracts and their isolated chemical constituents exhibiting anticancer potential on clinical trials.

Methods:

An extensive bibliographic investigation was carried out by analysing worldwide established scientific databases like SCOPUS, PUBMED, SCIELO, ScienceDirect, Springerlink, Web of Science, Wiley, SciFinder and Google Scholar etc. In next few decades, herbal medicine may become a new epoch of medical system.

Results:

Many researches are going on medicinal plants for the treatment of cancer but it is a time to increase further experimental studies on plant extracts and their chemical constituents to find out their mechanism of action at molecular level.

Conclusion:

The article may help many researchers to start off further experimentation that might lead to the drugs for the cancer treatment.

Carvacrol Suppresses Human Osteosarcoma Cells via the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

BACKGROUND

Carvacrol is a monoterpenic phenol extracted from traditional Chinese herbs, including oregano and thyme. Currently, carvacrol has been widely studied for its therapeutic role in central nervous system diseases, liver diseases and digestive system cancer.

OBJECTIVE

However, the role of carvacrol in osteosarcoma and its underlying molecular mechanism remain elusive. Here, we aimed to examine the anticancer effects of carvacrol on osteosarcoma.

METHODS

The effects of carvacrol on the osteosarcoma proliferation capacity were revealed by CCK-8 and colony formation assays. Flow cytometry and Hoechst assays were used to determine the effects of carvacrol on osteosarcoma cell apoptosis. The effect of carvacrol on migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells was determined by wound healing and transwell tests. Protein expression was evaluated by WB assays. The suppressive effects of carvacrol on osteosarcoma in vivo were examined by a xenograft animal model, immunohistochemistry and HE staining.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that carvacrol treatment reduced viability and inhibited the colony formation of U2OS and 143B cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Apoptotic cell number increased after exposure to carvacrol. Meanwhile, the expression of Bax increased, and that of Bcl-2 decreased by carvacrol treatment. In addition, the MMP-9 expression and migration and invasion of 143B and U2OS cells were inhibited by carvacrol. We also found that these carvacrol-induced effects on osteosarcoma are associated with the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that carvacrol suppresses proliferation, migration, invasion and promotes apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells, in part by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

In-vitro, in-vivo, and in-silico assessment of radical scavenging and cytotoxic activities of Oliveria decumbens essential oil and its main components

We aimed to explore and compare new insights on the pharmacological potential of Oliveria decumbence essential oil (OEO) and its main components highlighting their antioxidant activity in-vitro, in-vivo, and in-silico and also cytotoxic effects of OEO against A549 lung cancer cells. At first, based on GC-MS analysis, thymol, carvacrol, p-cymene, and γ-terpinene were introduced as basic ingredients of OEO and their in-vitro antioxidant capacity was considered by standard methods. Collectively, OEO exhibited strong antioxidant properties even more than its components. In LPS-stimulated macrophages treated with OEO, the reduction of ROS (Reactive-oxygen-species) and NO (nitric-oxide) and down-regulation of iNOS (inducible nitric-oxide-synthase) and NOX (NADPH-oxidase) mRNA expression was observed and compared with that of OEO components. According to the results, OEO, thymol, and carvacrol exhibited the highest radical scavenging potency compared to p-cymene, and γ-terpinene. In-silico Molecular-Docking and Molecular-Dynamics simulation indicated that thymol and carvacrol but no p-cymene and γ-terpinene may establish coordinative bonds in iNOS active site and thereby inhibit iNOS. However, they did not show any evidence for NOX inhibition. In the following, MTT assay showed that OEO induces cytotoxicity in A549 cancer cells despite having a limited effect on L929 normal cells. Apoptotic death and its dependence on caspase-3 activity and Bax/Bcl2 ratio in OEO-treated cells were established by fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, colorimetric assay, and western blot analysis. Additionally, flow cytometry studies demonstrated increased levels of ROS in OEO-treated cells. Therefore, OEO, despite showing antioxidant properties, induces apoptosis in cancer cells by increasing ROS levels. Collectively, our results provided new insight into the usage of OEO and main components, thymol, and carvacrol, into the development of novel antioxidant and anti-cancer agents.

Indian Medicinal Plants and Formulations and Their Potential Against COVID-19-Preclinical and Clinical Research

The cases of COVID-19 are still increasing day-by-day worldwide, even after a year of its first occurrence in Wuhan city of China. The spreading of SARS-CoV-2 infection is very fast and different from other SARS-CoV infections possibly due to structural differences in S proteins. The patients with severe diseases may die due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by systemic inflammatory reactions due to the excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by the immune effector cells. In India too, it is spreading very rapidly, although the case fatality rate is below 1.50% (https://www.statista.com), which is markedly less than in other countries, despite the dense population and minimal health infrastructure in rural areas. This may be due to the routine use of many immunomodulator medicinal plants and traditional AYUSH formulations by the Indian people. This communication reviews the AYUSH recommended formulations and their ingredients, routinely used medicinal plants and formulations by Indian population as well as other promising Indian medicinal plants, which can be tested against COVID-19. Special emphasis is placed on Indian medicinal plants reported for antiviral, immunomodulatory and anti-allergic/anti-inflammatory activities and they are categorized for prioritization in research on the basis of earlier reports. The traditional AYUSH medicines currently under clinical trials against COVID-19 are also discussed as well as furtherance of pre-clinical and clinical testing of the potential traditional medicines against COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2. The results of the clinical studies on AYUSH drugs will guide the policymakers from the AYUSH systems of medicines to maneuver their policies for public health, provide information to the global scientific community and could form a platform for collaborative studies at national and global levels. It is thereby suggested that promising AYUSH formulations and Indian medicinal plants must be investigated on a priority basis to solve the current crisis.

In vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of essential oils encapsulated in gelatin-pectin particles against sugar, lipid and protein oxidation and amylase and glucosidase activity

The in vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of Oliveria decumbens, Thymus kotschyanus, Trachyspermum ammi, and Zataria multiflora essential oils incorporated into gelatin-pectin composite were investigated. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry characterization revealed that thymol (1.2%-86.4%), carvacrol (3.2%-52.4%), gamma-terpinene (0.0%-12.7%), para-cymene (3.2%-5.2%), geraniol (0.0%-14.5%), and spathulenol (0.0%-13.6%) are the major constituents of the essential oils. Gelatin-pectin composite incorporated with the essential oils exhibited acidic pH (2.40-3.04), low conductivity (265-278 µS/cm), low surface tension (19.0-23.5 mN/m), low Newtonian viscosity (23.7-28.5 mPa.s), negative zeta-potential (14.2-16.9 mV), and nanoscale particle size (313-336 nm). These rheological properties result in the production of globular gelatin-pectin nanoparticles with a size range of 500-700 nm. The FTIR spectra of gelatin-pectin and gelatin-pectin-essential oils to some extent were similar, suggesting the noncovalent interactions between them. Gelatin-pectin composite incorporated with the essential oils displayed antiglucose oxidation (130-150 µg/ml) antilipid peroxidation (120-130 µg/ml), antiprotein oxidation (150-168 µg/ml), and antiprotein glycation (145-170 µg/ml) as well as antiamylase (216-230 µg/ml), and antiglucosidase (212-238 µg/ml) activity. The essential oils strongly improved the antioxidant capacity of the gelatin-pectin composite so strongly which can be recommended as a natural compound for oxidative stress management.

Autophagic Vacuole Secretion Triggered by Chidamide Participates in TRAIL Apoptosis Effect in Breast Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases threatening women's health today. Indepth research on breast cancer (BC) pathogenesis and prevention and treatment methods are gradually receiving attention. Chidamide is a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) that depresses the function of histone deacetylase, consequently affecting the growth of BC cells through epigenetic modification. However, preclinical and clinical studies show that chidamide is ineffective in long-term treatment. We demonstrated in previous experiments that TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis in BC cells and is significantly less non-toxic to normal cells than chidamide. Therefore, in this study, we treated BC cells with chidamide and TRAIL to explore a novel option to reduce the clinical toxicity through augmenting the sensitivity for BC cells.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Results from the MTT and cell viability assays indicated that the combination of chidamide and TRAIL in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells induced BC cell death, while maintaining a reduced concentration of chidamide. Autophagy assay and annexin V analysis showed that the autophagosome microtubuleassociated protein1light chain3-II (LC3-II) was abnormally increased and much more early and late phase of apoptotic cells appeared during chidamide and TRAIL induction. Anti-tumor assays in a BC tumor xenograft model displayed that the mixture of chidamide and TRAIL exhibited stronger effects on inhibiting tumor growth. The data from real-time PCR and western blotting showed that the cytotoxic effect correlated with the expressions of related apoptosis and autophagy factors.

CONCLUSION

Our data are the first to demonstrate the synergistic effects of chidamide and TRAIL in BC cells, specifically, the pharmacological effects on cell death induction. These results lay a solid experimental and theoretical basis to solve the clinical resistance of chidamide.

Anti-Cancer Potential of Cannabinoids, Terpenes, and Flavonoids Present in Cannabis

In recent years, and even more since its legalization in several jurisdictions, cannabis and the endocannabinoid system have received an increasing amount of interest related to their potential exploitation in clinical settings. Cannabinoids have been suggested and shown to be effective in the treatment of various conditions. In cancer, the endocannabinoid system is altered in numerous types of tumours and can relate to cancer prognosis and disease outcome. Additionally, cannabinoids display anticancer effects in several models by suppressing the proliferation, migration and/or invasion of cancer cells, as well as tumour angiogenesis. However, the therapeutic use of cannabinoids is currently limited to the treatment of symptoms and pain associated with chemotherapy, while their potential use as cytotoxic drugs in chemotherapy still requires validation in patients. Along with cannabinoids, cannabis contains several other compounds that have also been shown to exert anti-tumorigenic actions. The potential anti-cancer effects of cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids, present in cannabis, are explored in this literature review.

The Variability of Thymol and Carvacrol Contents Reveals the Level of Antibacterial Activity of the Essential Oils from Different Accessions of Oliveria decumbens

Oliveria decumbens (Apiaceae) is an aromatic herb traditionally employed in the Persian medicine for the treatment of infectious and gastrointestinal disorders. In the present study, we analyzed the chemical composition of essential oils obtained from different Iranian populations and evaluated their efficacy on a panel of human pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli), probiotic (Bacillus subtilis), and phytopathogens (Clavibacter michiganensis, Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens, Xanthomonas citri, and Agrobacterium tumefaciens). The gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry analysis put in evidence four main volatile constituents such as thymol (20.3–36.4%), carvacrol (18.8–33.1%), γ-terpinene (10.6–25.9%), and p-cymene (9.5–17.3%), though with significant variability from an essential oil to another. Notably, the oils from the populations sited in Nourabad Mamasani and Dehdasht showed the highest amount of the phenolic monoterpenes thymol (36.4 and 35.2%, respectively) and carvacrol (33.1 and 30.6%, respectively). The antibacterial activity of O. decumbens essential oils was assessed by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) methods, showing high activity for the samples from Nourabad Mamasani and Dehdasht populations exhibiting high level of the above phenolics. The obtained MIC and MBC values (mg/ml) were in the ranges 0.0625–2 mg/ml and 1–16 mg/ml, respectively. Noteworthy, in some cases, the antibacterial activity of O. decumbens essential oils was higher than that of chloramphenicol used as positive control. The average MBCs displayed by the O. decumbens samples showed that C. flaccumfaciens had the highest sensitivity to the essential oils. Based on these results, our work shed light on selected O. decumbens populations deserving proper breeding and cultivation strategies in order to warrantee production of bioactive essential oils to be used at pharmaceutical and agricultural level to combat several pathogens.

Essential Oil Chemical Variability in Oliveria decumbens (Apiaceae) from Different Regions of Iran and Its Relationship with Environmental Factors

Oliveria decumbens Vent. (Apiaceae) is an annual herb resistant to harsh environmental conditions, which has got numerous pharmacological, food and feed, and cosmetic applications. In the present study, the variation in the essential oil (EO) content and composition of twelve O. decumbens populations growing wild in several habitats of Iran was studied. The EO contents varied from 2.71% (Darab) to 8.52% (Behbahan) on a dry matter basis, where the latter population revealed to be the highest source of essential oil reported so far in this species. Gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that carvacrol (18.8-51.8%), thymol (20.3-38.7%), γ-terpinene (0.9-28.8%), p-cymene (1.6-21.3%) and myristicin (0.8-9.9%) were the major volatile compounds in all the investigated populations. The EO content had a strong and significant positive correlation with temperature (r = 0.62) and sand content (r = 0.73), but a strong and significant negative correlation with altitude (r = -0.61). On the other hand, the rising altitude led to an increase in thymol content. Cluster and principal component analyses placed the samples from different regions into two main groups based on the main EO components, including thymol/carvacrol type and γ-terpinene/thymol/carvacrol/p-cymene type. This study provides valuable information for identifying chemotypes in O. decumbens as well as insight into planning a domestication and cultivation program.