Effects of chlorogenic acid on carbachol-induced contraction of mouse urinary bladder

Antispasmodic Activity of Light-Roasted Coffee Extract and Its Potential Use in Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders

Antispasmodic agents are crucial in managing gastrointestinal motility disorders by modulating muscle contractions and reducing symptoms like cramping and diarrhea. This study investigated the antispasmodic potential of different coffee bean extracts, including light coffee (LC), medium coffee (MC), and dark coffee (DC), on ileum contractions induced by potassium chloride (KCl), and elucidated their mechanisms of action using in vitro isolated tissue techniques. The results demonstrated that all coffee extracts reduced spontaneous contractions of rat ileum tissue in a dose-dependent manner. Among these, LC showed the most significant reduction in ileum contractions, particularly at higher concentrations. The key findings reveal that LC at 5 mg/mL significantly reduced CaCl2-induced contractions in isolated rat ileum tissue, indicating that LC may inhibit calcium influx or interfere with calcium signaling pathways. The presence of nifedipine, propranolol, and N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) have been confirmed in their involvement; they block calcium influx and calcium channels and activate β-adrenergic pathways as part of LC's mechanism of action. The presence of their active compounds, particularly chlorogenic acid and caffeine, likely contributes to the observed antispasmodic effects. These findings suggest that LC exerts its antispasmodic effects by targeting key mechanisms involved in muscle spasms and intestinal motility, providing a potential for managing such conditions.

Rosa centifolia petal extract induces endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasorelaxation in rat aorta and prevents accumulation of inflammatory factors in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

This study aims to investigate the vasorelaxation effects of a Rosa centifolia petal extract (ROSE CRYSTA®-70: ROSE-70) on the isolated aorta and the protective effect of ROSE-70 on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) dysfunction. ROSE-70 inhibited phenylephrine (PE) -induced contraction in an endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent manner; however, this relaxation was lower in the endothelium-denuded aorta. ROSE-70-induced relaxation was attenuated by L-N^G -nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor in the endothelium-intact aorta. Moreover, the relaxation in the endothelium-denuded aorta in response to increases in cAMP was inhibited by SQ22536, an adenylate cyclase inhibitor, and this relaxation was also attenuated by 4-aminopyridine, a voltage-activated K⁺ channel inhibitor. ROSE-70 contains high concentrations of quercetin, rutin, and other compounds. Pure quercetin and rutin also inhibited PE-induced contraction in an endothelium-dependent manner, although rutin-induced relaxation was milder in the endothelium-denuded aorta. ROSE-70 significantly increased the phosphorylation (at Ser1177) of eNOS in HUVECs. Moreover, ROSE-70 potently suppressed high glucose- and H₂ O₂ -induced accumulation of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) were investigated in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In this study, we defined the mechanism of ROSE-70-induced vasorelaxation in rat aorta and demonstrated that ROSE-70 has anti-inflammatory effects in endothelial cells. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Endothelial cells play a role in vascular homeostasis. Endothelial dysfunction is caused by a variety of risk factors such as hypertension, arteriosclerosis, hyperglycemia, and oxidative stress. ROSE-70 is a food ingredient and the powdered form of an extract from the rose petal with >70% of the content corresponding to rose petal polyphenols such as rutin, quercetin, and protocatechuic acid. This study revealed that vasorelaxation effects of ROSE-70 and the protective role of ROSE-70 on the dysfunction of endothelial cells by high glucose and superoxides were investigated for the first time. We showed the mechanisms of ROSE-70- induced endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and the protective effects of endothelial cells from high glucose and superoxide. ROSE-70 has been shown to have antiaging, skin elasticity-enhancing, skin-lightening, anti-allergic, sugar-absorbing, and lipolytic effects (URL: https://www.toyohakko-healthcare. com/en/rose_crysta70/). Therefore, the authors believe that ROSE-70 is an excellent food ingredient that has preventive and antiaging effects on lifestyle-related diseases.

Endothelium-independent vasodilator effects of nobiletin in rat aorta

Nobiletin is a one of the polymethoxyflavones contained in the peel of citrus fruits, such as Citrus depressa. In this study, the effect of nobiletin-induced relaxation on phenylephrine (PE)-induced contraction of endothelium-denuded rat aorta was investigated. Nobiletin inhibited PE- or KCl-induced contractions in a concentration-dependent manner in endothelium-intact and -denuded aortas. However, this relaxation was stronger in PE-induced contractions than in KCl-induced contractions; moreover, the nobiletin-induced relaxation was significantly increased on PE-induced contraction in endothelium-intact aorta. ODQ significantly inhibited the nobiletin-induced relaxation in endothelium-denuded aorta; however, SQ22536 did not affect the relaxation. In addition, IBMX synergistically enhanced the nobiletin-induced relaxation. Nobiletin increased cGMP levels in aorta. Also, IBMX significantly increased cGMP content in aorta, and ODQ significantly reduced cGMP levels. Nobiletin-induced relaxation was significantly inhibited by the Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ (BK) channel inhibitor iberiotoxin (IbTX) and the ATP-sensitive K⁺ (K_ATP) channel inhibitor glybenclamide. Sodium nitroprusside-induced relaxation was suppressed by IbTX, but not by glybenclamide. These results suggest that nobiletin inhibits PE-induced contractions of endothelium-denuded rat aorta by increasing cGMP levels via GC activation. Moreover, the present findings indicate the possibility that nobiletin opened BK channels by a cGMP-related signal, but K_ATP channels were opened by a cGMP-nonrelated signal in rat aorta.

Chlorogenic Acid Improves the Regorafenib Effects in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a polyphenol present in many human dietary foods. Several studies indicated a beneficial role of CGA in the prevention of cancer and an enhancement of chemotherapy when combined with CGA in the treatment of human hepatocarcinoma (HCC). Drug toxicity, resistance and subsequent disease progression represent a problem in HCC management, although treatment with the multikinase inhibitor Regorafenib improved overall survival. This study focused on the evaluation of the effects of combined treatment using both low Regorafenib concentrations and CGA as natural compound in HCC cells. The analysis of cell proliferation by Ki67 staining and cell cycle progression showed that CGA enhanced Regorafenib-mediated cell growth inhibition. Moreover, CGA potentiated the apoptotic effect of Regorafenib by the activation of the pro-apoptotic Annexin V, Bax and Caspase 3/7 and the inhibition of anti-apoptotic Bcl2 and Bcl-xL. Combined treatments were also effective in inhibiting cell motility. The mechanisms underlying the positive effects of combining CGA and Regorafenib were also addressed and an increased inhibition of MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)and PI3K/Akt/mTORC (phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling was observed. Overall, these data demonstrated that co-treatment with Regorafenib and CGA enhanced Regorafenib action, reducing its cytotoxicity in HCC cells. In conclusion, this drug combination could be considered as a safe and more effective approach in HCC therapy.