Anti-oxidative and anti-hyperglycemic properties of Agastache foeniculum essential oil and oily fraction in hyperglycemia-stimulated and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophage cells: In vitro and in silico studies

The potential protective effect of propolis on diabetic nephropathy induced by streptozotocin in adult albino rats

Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder. It is associated with serious life-threatening complications if not properly managed. The current study aimed at investigating the possible protective role of propolis on streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy. A diabetic rat model was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of 55 mg/kg streptozotocin. After 4 days, the diabetic rats received oral propolis (300 mg/kg/day) via gastric gavage for 28 days. Biochemical, histopathological and ultrastructural evaluations were performed. The results showed that: streptozotocin-induced diabetes was associated with a marked decrease in the serum high-density lipoproteins and antioxidant enzymes. However, a significant elevation in the levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins was detected. Furthermore, streptozotocin treatment induced histopathological alterations of the renal cortex; in the form of distorted glomerular capillaries, widened Bowman's space and signs of epithelial tubular degeneration. Ultra-structurally, thickening and irregularity of the glomerular basement membrane and podocytes foot processes effacement were observed. The tubular epithelial cells showed swollen vacuolated mitochondria, scarce basal infoldings and loss of microvilli. Conversely, propolis partially restored the normal lipid profile, antioxidant biomarkers and renal cortical morphology. Propolis exhibited a sort of renoprotection through hypoglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant effects.

Antioxidant, anti-amylase, anti-lipase, and efficiency of Satureja fatty acid on the anti-inflammatory parameters in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophage through Nrf2/NF-kB/NADH oxidase pathway

Satureja is an aromatic plant that is used for flavoring, perfume, and food manufacturing due to its pleasant essential oil. Modern medicine research revealed several biological activities of Satureja essential oil, including antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory. However, the functional properties of Satureja fatty acid have not been explored. This study examined the fatty acid profile, lipid nutritional quality, antioxidant, anti-amylase, and anti-lipase capacities of Satureja. The efficiency of Satureja fatty acid on the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory parameters in LPS-induced macrophage through the Nrf2/NF-kB/NADH oxidase pathway was examined. The whole lipid extract was prepared with chloroform/methanol/water solution. Fatty acids methyl ester from whole lipid extract were prepared with methanol/sulfuric acid reagent. The fatty acid profile was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Total antioxidant was determined by ABTS decolorization. Lipase and amylase activities were determined by monitoring the decomposition of p-nitrophenyl butyrate and starch. The macrophage cell line was grown in DMEM media in the presence of fatty acid. The hydrogen peroxide production in treated cells was monitored using the FOX reagent. NADH oxidase activity was measured by monitoring NADH breakdown. The expression of NOX, NF-kB, and NRF2, were tested in the treated cells by real-time PCR. The main components of the Satureja fatty acid were linolenic acid (24.67-37.32%), palmitic acid (10.65-20.29%), linoleic acid (8.31-13.39%), oleic acid (4.42-14.35%), stearic acid (2.76-8.77%) and palmitoleic acid (1.77-4.95%). Given the nutritional quality, omega-3 PUFA (23.58-37.32%), SFA (21.53-26.70%), omega-6 PUFA (10.86-16.14%), omega-9 MUFA (4.42-14.35%), and omega-7 MUFA (1.77-4.95%) comprise the majority of fatty acids. Satureja fatty acid has a promising unsaturation index (120.77-164.27), PUFA/MUFA (2.07-6.41), hypocholesterolemic index (2.44-3.47), health-promoting index (2.03-2.42), PUFA/SFA (1.37-1.94), nutritive value index (0.53-1.71), MUFA/SFA (0.30-0.80) omega-6/omega-3 (0.34-0.65), atherogenicity index (0.41-0.49), and thrombogenicity index (0.17-0.27). Satureja fatty acid displayed strong antioxidant capacity (with IC50 ranging from 354 to 428 µg/mL), anti-lipase capacity (with IC50 ranging from 354 to 428 µg/mL), and anti-amylase capacity (with IC50 ranging from 370 to 390 µg/mL). LPS induced the expression of NOX, NRF2, and NF-kB and the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide in macrophage cells. In LPS-stimulated macrophages, Satureja fatty acid reduced NOX expression, hydrogen peroxide, and NF-kB expression and increased NRF2 at 0.04 mg/mL. In conclusion, Satureja fatty acids have potent antioxidant, anti-amylase, anti-lipase, and anti-inflammatory activities. The mechanisms in lowering oxidative stress markers depended on down-regulating superoxide-producing enzymes at gene and protein levels. Satureja polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids could be recommended for healthy products combined with dietary therapy to treat obesity, diabetes, and oxidative stress.

Agastache Species (Lamiaceae) as a Valuable Source of Volatile Compounds: GC-MS Profiling and Investigation of In Vitro Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Activities

Nowadays, there is an increasing interest in the study of medicinal and aromatic plants, due to their therapeutic properties that correlate with the presence of different active compounds. Agastache species (sp.) are aromatic plants that belong to the Lamiaceae family, originating from North America and East Asia. The present study aimed to evaluate the composition of essential oils (EOs) obtained from different Romanian cultivated Agastache sp. and to investigate their antibacterial and cytotoxic activities. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) screening revealed that menthone was the dominant constituent of A. foeniculum (31.58%), A. rugosa (39.60%) and A. rugosa 'After Eight' (39.76%) EOs, while estragole was the major constituent of A. foeniculum "Aromat de Buzău" (63.27%) and A. mexicana (41.66%) EOs. The investigation of the antiproliferative effect showed that A. rugosa and A. foeniculum "Aromat de Buzău" EOs had significant cytotoxic activity on MDA-MB-231 and HEPG2 tumour cell lines, with the most promising effect on the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line for A. foeniculum "Aromat de Buzău" EO (IC50 = 203.70 ± 0.24 μg/mL). Regarding the antibacterial activity, A. rugosa EO was most active against E. coli (8.91 ± 3.27 μL/mL) and S. aureus (10.80 ± 0.00 μL/mL). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the cytotoxic effect of Agastache sp. EOs on MDA-MB-231, HCT116 and HEPG2 tumour cell lines. The results of our study provide new and promising information for the subsequent in vivo study of the pharmacological properties of Agastache sp. essential oils.

Natural products as non-covalent and covalent modulators of the KEAP1/NRF2 pathway exerting antioxidant effects

By controlling several antioxidant and detoxifying genes at the transcriptional level, including NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs), UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT), glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic (GCLC) and modifier (GCLM) subunits, glutathione S-transferase (GST), sulfiredoxin1 (SRXN1), and heme-oxygenase-1 (HMOX1), the KEAP1/NRF2 pathway plays a crucial role in the oxidative stress response. Accordingly, the discovery of modulators of this pathway, activating cellular signaling through NRF2, and targeting the antioxidant response element (ARE) genes is pivotal for the development of effective antioxidant agents. In this context, natural products could represent promising drug candidates for supplementation to provide antioxidant capacity to human cells. In recent decades, by coupling in silico and experimental methods, several natural products have been characterized to exert antioxidant effects by targeting the KEAP1/NRF2 pathway. In this review article, we analyze several natural products that were investigated experimentally and in silico for their ability to modulate KEAP1/NRF2 by non-covalent and covalent mechanisms. These latter represent the two main sections of this article. For each class of inhibitors, we reviewed their antioxidant effects and potential therapeutic applications, and where possible, we analyzed the structure-activity relationship (SAR). Moreover, the main computational techniques used for the most promising identified compounds are detailed in this survey, providing an updated view on the development of natural products as antioxidant agents.

Hypoglycemic activities of flowers of Xanthoceras sorbifolia and identification of anti-oxidant components by off-line UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS-free radical scavenging detection

Objective

To identify phytochemical constituents present in the extract of flowers of Xanthoceras sorbifolia and evaluate their anti-oxidant and anti-hyperglycemic capacities.

Methods

The AlCl3 colorimetric method and Prussian Blue assay were used to determine the contents of total flavonoids and total phenolic acids in extraction layers, and the bioactive layers was screened through anti - oxidative activity in vitro. The Waters ACQUITY UPLC system and a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (2.0 mm × 150 mm, 5 μm) were used to identify the ingredients. And anti-oxidative ingredients were screened by off-line UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS-free radical scavenging. The ameliorative role of it was further evaluated in a high-fat, streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rat model and the study was carried out on NADPH oxidase (PDB ID: 2CDU) by molecular docking.

Results

Combined with the results of activity screening in vitro, the anti - oxidative part was identified as the ethyl acetate layer. A total of 24 chemical constituents were identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in the ethyl acetate layer and 13 main anti-oxidative active constituents were preliminarily screened out through off-line UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS-free radical scavenging. In vivo experiments showed that flowers of X. sorbifolia could significantly reduce the blood glucose level of diabetic mice and alleviate liver cell damage. Based on the results of docking analysis related to the identified phytocompounds and oxidase which involved in type 2 diabetes, quercetin 3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside, and isoquercitrin showed a better inhibitory profile.

Conclusion

The ethyl acetate layer was rich in flavonoids and phenolic acids and had significant anti-oxidant activity, which could prevent hyperglycemia. This observed activity profile suggested X. sorbifolia flowers as a promising new source of tea to develop alternative natural anti-diabetic products with a high safety margin.

Agastache Species: A Comprehensive Review on Phytochemical Composition and Therapeutic Properties

The Agastache genus is part of the Lamiaceae family and is native to North America, while one species, Agastache rugosa (A. rugosa), is native to East Asia. A review on the phytochemistry and bioactivity of Agastache genus was last performed in 2014. Since then, a lot of progress has been made on the characterization of the phytochemical and pharmacological profiles of Agastache species. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to present a summary of the findings on the phytochemistry and biological effects of several Agastache species, including both extracts and essential oil characterization. We performed a comprehensive search using PubMed and Scopus databases, following PRISMA criteria regarding the study selection process. The available data is focused mainly on the description of the chemical composition and bioactivity of A. rugosa, with fewer reports referring to Agastache mexicana (A. mexicana) and Agastache foeniculum (A. foeniculum). Agastache species are characterized by the dominance of flavonoids and phenolic acids, as well as volatile compounds, particularly phenylpropanoids and monoterpenes. Moreover, a series of pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, cytotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-atherosclerotic, and cardioprotective properties, have been reported for species from the Agastache genus.

Synthesis and hypoglycemic activity of quinoxaline derivatives

In this study, a new series of quinoxalinone derivatives (5a-5p, 6a-6n) was designed and its hypoglycemic activity was evaluated. The results showed that compounds 5i and 6b exhibited stronger hypoglycemic effects than the lead compounds and were comparable to the positive control Pioglitazone. 5i and 6b may exert hypoglycemic effects by alleviating cellular OS and modulating the interactions among GLUT4, SGLT2, and GLUT1 proteins. The alleviating cellular OS of compound 6b was better than that of 5i, and 6b was found to bind better than 5i for most of the screening targets. In summary, compound 6b is a potential lead compound with hypoglycaemic activity.3.