In-vitro antioxidative, antiinflammatory properties of Aurea helianthus leaf extract a Korean traditional medicinal plant

Effects of Pogonatherum paniceum (Lamk) Hack extract on anti-mitochondrial DNA mediated inflammation by attenuating Tlr9 expression in LPS-induced macrophages

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Mitochondrial DNA leakage leads to inflammatory responses via endosome activation. This study aims to evaluate whether the perennial grass water extract (Pogonatherum panicum) ameliorate mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) leakage.

MATERIALS/METHODS

The major bioactive constituents of P. paniceum (PPW) were investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography, after which their antioxidant activities were assessed. In addition, RAW 264.7 macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide, resulting in mitochondrial damage. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to examine the gene expression and cytokines.

RESULTS

Our results showed that PPW extract-treated activated cells significantly decrease reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide levels by reducing the p22phox and iNOS expression and lowering cytokine-encoding genes, including IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, PG-E2 and IFN-γ relative to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages. Furthermore, we observed that LPS enhanced the mtDNA leaked into the cytoplasm, increasing the transcription of Tlr9 and signaling both MyD88/Irf7-dependent interferon and MyD88/NF-κb p65-dependent inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression but which was alleviated in the presence of PPW extract.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show that PPW extract has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities by facilitating mtDNA leakage and lowering the Tlr9 expression and signaling activation.

Therapeutic Potential of Phenolic Compounds in Medicinal Plants-Natural Health Products for Human Health

Phenolic compounds and flavonoids are potential substitutes for bioactive agents in pharmaceutical and medicinal sections to promote human health and prevent and cure different diseases. The most common flavonoids found in nature are anthocyanins, flavones, flavanones, flavonols, flavanonols, isoflavones, and other sub-classes. The impacts of plant flavonoids and other phenolics on human health promoting and diseases curing and preventing are antioxidant effects, antibacterial impacts, cardioprotective effects, anticancer impacts, immune system promoting, anti-inflammatory effects, and skin protective effects from UV radiation. This work aims to provide an overview of phenolic compounds and flavonoids as potential and important sources of pharmaceutical and medical application according to recently published studies, as well as some interesting directions for future research. The keyword searches for flavonoids, phenolics, isoflavones, tannins, coumarins, lignans, quinones, xanthones, curcuminoids, stilbenes, cucurmin, phenylethanoids, and secoiridoids medicinal plant were performed by using Web of Science, Scopus, Google scholar, and PubMed. Phenolic acids contain a carboxylic acid group in addition to the basic phenolic structure and are mainly divided into hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids. Hydroxybenzoic acids are based on a C6-C1 skeleton and are often found bound to small organic acids, glycosyl moieties, or cell structural components. Common hydroxybenzoic acids include gallic, syringic, protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, gentistic, and salicylic acids. Hydroxycinnamic acids are based on a C6-C3 skeleton and are also often bound to other molecules such as quinic acid and glucose. The main hydroxycinnamic acids are caffeic, p-coumaric, ferulic, and sinapic acids.

Fermentation of Abelmoschus manihot Extract with Halophilic Bacillus licheniformis CP6 Results in Enhanced Anti-Inflammatory Activities

Microbial fermentation provides a valorization strategy, through biotransformation, to convert plant-derived raw materials into health-promoting agents. In this study, we have investigated the antioxidative activity of Abelmoschus manihot fermented with various Bacillaceae strains from specific environments and demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effects of Bacillus licheniformis CP6 fermented A. manihot extract (FAME) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Raw264.7 macrophages. Of 1500 bacteria isolated from various specific environments, 47 extracellular protease- and amylase-producing strains with qualified presumption safety status, belonging to the family Bacillaceae, were selected for A. manihot fermentation. Among them, strain CP6, a halophilic bacterium isolated from Tongyeong seawater in Korea and identified as B. licheniformis, showed the highest antioxidant activity. In particular, FAME exerted anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-stimulated Raw264.7 macrophages. Consequently, FAME had a potent inhibitory effect on nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-stimulated macrophages, without cytotoxicity. Moreover, FAME downregulated LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediator and enzyme levels in LPS-induced Raw264.7 cells, including IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS, and COX-2, compared to levels when cells were incubated in A. manihot extract (IAME). Further detailed characterization indicated that FAME suppresses inflammation by blocking NF-κB via IKK phosphorylation inhibition and IκB-α degradation and by downregulating NO production, and inflammatory mediators also decreased NF-κB translocation. Furthermore, FAME inhibited LPS-stimulated activation of MAPKs, including ERK1/2, JNK, and p38, compared to that with either IAME. Therefore, we suggest that FAME could be used for inflammation-related disorders.

Quercitrin restrains the growth and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells by regulating gap junction protein beta 2

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most prevalent subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with high lethality, and quercitrin exhibits anticancer characteristics. Here, we attempted to uncover the anticancer activity of quercitrin in LUAD. In this work, quercitrin prohibited the cell viability and clone-formation of LUAD cells in vitro. Meanwhile, quercitrin treatment reduced the aggressive phenotypes in LUAD cells. Further, Gap Junction Protein Beta 2 (GJB2) expression was aberrantly higher in LUAD when compared within control tissue. The higher expression of GJB2 is associated with an inferior overall survival for patients with LUAD. Finally, the reintroduction of GJB2 offset the inhibiting influence of quercitrin in LUAD cells. Altogether, these findings disclosed that quercitrin suppressed the growth and metastatic-related traits of LUAD cells partly via regulating GJB2 expression.

A comparative study of biological potentiality and EAC cell growth inhibition activity of Phyllanthus acidus (L.) fruit pulp and seed in Bangladesh

Medicinal plant-derived bioactive compounds have recently gained more interest in biological research as an important source of novel drug candidates. Phyllanthus acidus (L.) is a widely distributed herbal medicinal plant naturally used in Ayurvedic medicine in Bangladesh. The present study focused on exploring the biological potential as well as the inhibitory effect of EAC cell growth with a comparative analysis between Phyllanthus acidus fruit pulp and seed. Crude methanol extract of P. acidus (MEPA) fruit pulp and seed was assessed as DPPH and NO free radical scavengers. While Brine Shrimp lethality bioassay, the standard protocol of phytochemical screening and hemagglutination assay were performed successively to determine the toxic effect on normal cells, the identification of some crucial phytochemicals, and the existence of lectin protein. EAC (Ehrlich's Ascites Carcinoma) cell growth inhibition was determined by hemocytometer and morphological changes of EAC cells were observed by a fluorescence microscope using Swiss albino mice. The IC50 value of MEPA fruit pulp and seed was obtained as 57.159 µg/ml and 288.743 µg/ml respectively where minimal toxic effects on Brine Shrimp nauplii demonstrates that it is a good source of natural antioxidant compounds. Again, MEPA fruit pulp and seed-mediated effective agglutination of mouse blood erythrocyte strongly support the presence of lectin protein. Furthermore, MEPA fruit pulp and seed extract-treated EAC cells showed 65.71% and 28.57% growth inhibition respectively. The fluorescent microscopic examination of EAC cells treated with MEPA fruit pulp has shown more remarkable structural changes in the nucleus than that of seed. Based on the above findings, the present study reveals that MEPA fruit pulp can be considered as a novel biological candidate for the treatment of fatal diseases shortly.

Protective Effects of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (var. Ginpent) against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation and Motor Alteration in Mice

Gynostemma pentaphyllum (var. Ginpent) (GP) is a variety of Cucurbit with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in patients. In this manuscript, the main components present in the dry extract of GP have been identified using Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS). In addition, the anti-inflammatory action of GP was evaluated in animal models with acute peripheral inflammation and motor alteration induced by lipopolysaccharide. The results showed that GP dry extract is rich in secondary metabolites with potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We found that the treatment with GP induced a recovery of motor function measured with the rotarod test and pole test, and a reduction in inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 measured with the ELISA test. The data collected in this study on the effects of GP in in vivo models may help integrate the therapeutic strategies of inflammatory-based disorders.

Protection and immune modulation of activated human vaginal epithelial cells by Aurea helianthus extract

Aurea helianthus extract is associated with various properties including anti-melanogenesis, anti-oxidation, tumorigenic suppression, and immunoregulation; however, the mechanism by which it executes the immunomodulation of human vaginal epithelial cells (HVECs) remains elusive. We established three immunological functions of the extract. First, it mediated tumorigenic suppression in HVECs. Expression of cytokeratin 8, cancer antigen-125, and vimentin was dramatically downregulated in HVECs exposed to the extract under oxidative and fungal stresses. Second, the extract activated dendritic cells and macrophages. On exposing progenitor dendritic cells to the extract, the number of CD304⁺ cells increased by 40%; further, under oxidative and fungal stresses, this number was approximately 1.8 and 1.3 times lower, respectively, compared to that in the stressed cells. In monocytic differentiation, the number of dendritic cells and macrophages increased 9 and 6 times, respectively, compared to that in the control. Additionally, the extract enhanced and recovered polarisation by approximately 1.5 and 2 times, respectively, than that under stressed conditions. Third, the phagocytic activity of macrophages, against HPV16, 18, and 33 peptides, was enhanced by 12–35 times compared with that under stressed conditions. Thus, A. helianthus extract is a strong stimulator of the immune system and tumorigenic suppression under stress conditions.

Erigeron annuus Protects PC12 Neuronal Cells from Oxidative Stress Induced by ROS-Mediated Apoptosis

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), associated with oxidative stress, are involved in many biological processes such as apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. Oxidative stress might induce neuronal damage via ROS generation, causing neurodegenerative diseases. Erigeron annuus (EA) has antioxidant properties and could protect neurons from oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of the aerial parts (EAA) and flowers (EAF) from EA on ROS-mediated apoptosis in pheochromocytoma 12 cells. We quantified 18 types of phenolic compounds using high-performance liquid chromatography. Pretreatment of the cells with EAA and EAF attenuated ROS generation and induced the expression of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase 2, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. In addition, EAF reduced the expression of apoptotic proteins such as Bax/Bcl-xL, caspase-3, and caspase-8 to a greater extent than that with EAA. These results suggested that the protective effect of EAF against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis might be due to the prevention of ROS generation mediated by oxidative enzymes.