Involvement of the anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-secretory activity of bee venom in its therapeutic effects on acetylsalicylic acid-induced gastric ulceration in rats

Bee-Inspired Healing: Apitherapy in Veterinary Medicine for Maintenance and Improvement Animal Health and Well-Being

This review aims to present current knowledge on the effects of honey bee products on animals based on in vivo studies, focusing on their application in clinical veterinary practice. Honey's best-proven effectiveness is in treating wounds, including those infected with antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, as evidenced in horses, cats, dogs, mice, and rats. Propolis manifested a healing effect in numerous inflammatory and painful conditions in mice, rats, dogs, and pigs and also helped in oncological cases in mice and rats. Bee venom is best known for its effectiveness in treating neuropathy and arthritis, as shown in dogs, mice, and rats. Besides, bee venom improved reproductive performance, immune response, and general health in rabbits, chickens, and pigs. Pollen was effective in stimulating growth and improving intestinal microflora in chickens. Royal jelly might be used in the management of animal reproduction due to its efficiency in improving fertility, as shown in rats, rabbits, and mice. Drone larvae are primarily valued for their androgenic effects and stimulation of reproductive function, as evidenced in sheep, chickens, pigs, and rats. Further research is warranted to determine the dose and method of application of honey bee products in animals.

Zinc supplementation alleviates oxidative stress to inhibit chronic gastritis via the ROS/NF-κB pathway in a mouse model

Zinc (Zn) is an important trace element; it is involved in the regulation and maintenance of many physiological functions in organisms and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Chronic gastritis is closely associated with damage to the gastric mucosa, which is detrimental to the health of humans and animals. There are few studies on the effects of zinc on, for example, gastric mucosal damage, oxidative stress, inflammation and cell death in mice. Therefore, we established in vivo and in vitro models of inflammatory injury and investigated the effects of zinc supplementation in C57BL/6 mice and Ges-1 cells and examined the expression of factors associated with oxidative stress, inflammation and cell death. In this study, the results of in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels increased after sodium salicylate exposure. Malondialdehyde levels increased, the activity of the antioxidant enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase decreased, and the activity of glutathione decreased. The NF-κB signaling pathway was activated, the levels of proinflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) increased, and the expression of cell death-related factors (Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase3, Caspase7, Caspase9, RIP1, RIP3, and MLKL) increased. Zinc supplementation attenuated the level of oxidative stress and reduced the level of inflammation and cell death. Our study indicated that sodium salicylate induced the production of large amounts of reactive oxygen species and activated the NF-κB pathway, leading to inflammatory damage and cell death in the mouse stomach. Zinc supplementation modulated the ROS/NF-κB pathway, reduced the level of oxidative stress, and attenuated inflammation and cell death in the mouse stomach and Ges-1 cells.

Therapeutic Management of Malignant Wounds: An Update

OPINION STATEMENT

Malignant fungating wounds (MFW) are severe skin conditions generating tremendous distress in oncological patients with advanced cancer stages because of pain, malodor, exudation, pruritus, inflammation, edema, and bleeding. The classical therapeutic approaches such as surgery, opioids, antimicrobials, and application of different wound dressings are failing in handling pain, odor, and infection control, thus urgently requiring the development of alternative strategies. The aim of this review was to provide an update on the current therapeutic strategies and the perspectives on developing novel alternatives for better malignant wound management. The last decade screened literature evidenced an increasing interest in developing natural treatment alternatives based on beehive, plant extracts, pure vegetal compounds, and bacteriocins. Promising therapeutics can also be envisaged by involving nanotechnology due to either intrinsic biological activities or drug delivery properties of nanomaterials. Despite recent progress in the field of malignant wound care, the literature is still mainly based on in vitro and in vivo studies on small animal models, while the case reports and clinical trials (less than 10 and only one providing public results) remain scarce. Some innovative treatment approaches are used in clinical practice without prior extensive testing in fungating wound patients. Extensive research is urgently needed to fill this knowledge gap and translate the identified promising therapeutic approaches to more advanced testing stages toward creating multidimensional wound care strategies.

Gintonin Alleviates HCl/Ethanol- and Indomethacin-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Mice

Gintonin, newly extracted from ginseng, is a glycoprotein that acts as an exogenous lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand. This study aimed to demonstrate the in vivo preventive effects of gintonin on gastric damage. ICR mice were randomly assigned to five groups: a normal group (received saline, 0.1 mL/10 g, p.o.); a control group (administered 0.3 M HCl/ethanol, 0.1 mL/10 g, p.o.) or indomethacin (30 mg/kg, p.o.); gintonin at two different doses (50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg, p.o.) with either 0.3 M HCl/ethanol or indomethacin; and a positive control (Ranitidine, 40 mg/kg, p.o.). After gastric ulcer induction, the gastric tissue was examined to calculate the ulcer index. The expression of gastric damage markers, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), and LPA2 and LPA5 receptors, were measured by Western blotting. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1), Evans blue, and occludin levels in gastric tissues were measured using immunofluorescence analysis. Both HCl/ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers showed increased TNF-α, IL-6, Evans blue permeation, and PECAM-1, and decreased COX-2, PGE2, occludin, and LPA5 receptor expression levels. However, oral administration of gintonin alleviated the gastric ulcer index induced by HCl/ethanol and indomethacin in a dose-dependent manner. Gintonin suppressed TNF-α and IL-6 expression, but increased COX-2 expression and PGE2 levels in mouse gastric tissues. Gintonin intake also increased LPA5 receptor expression in mouse gastric tissues. These results indicate that gintonin can play a role in gastric protection against gastric damage induced by HCl/ethanol or indomethacin.

Bee venom (Apis mellifera L.) rescues zinc oxide nanoparticles induced neurobehavioral and neurotoxic impact via controlling neurofilament and GAP-43 in rat brain

This study investigated the possible beneficial role of the bee venom (BV, Apis mellifera L.) against zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNPs)-induced neurobehavioral and neurotoxic impacts in rats. Fifty male Sprague Dawley rats were alienated into five groups. Three groups were intraperitoneally injected distilled water (C 28D group), ZNPs (100 mg/kg b.wt) (ZNPs group), or ZNPs (100 mg/kg.wt) and BV (1 mg/ kg.bwt) (ZNPs + BV group) for 28 days. One group was intraperitoneally injected with 1 mL of distilled water for 56 days (C 56D group). The last group was intraperitoneally injected with ZNPs for 28 days, then BV for another 28 days at the same earlier doses and duration (ZNPs/BV group). Depression, anxiety, locomotor activity, spatial learning, and memory were evaluated using the forced swimming test, elevated plus maze, open field test, and Morris water maze test, respectively. The brain contents of dopamine, serotonin, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and Zn were estimated. The histopathological changes and immunoexpressions of neurofilament and GAP-43 protein in the brain tissues were followed. The results displayed that BV significantly decreased the ZNPs-induced depression, anxiety, memory impairment, and spatial learning disorders. Moreover, the ZNPs-induced increment in serotonin and dopamine levels and Zn content was significantly suppressed by BV. Besides, BV significantly restored the depleted TAC but minimized the augmented MDA brain content associated with ZNPs exposure. Likewise, the neurodegenerative changes induced by ZNPs were significantly abolished by BV. Also, the increased neurofilament and GAP-43 immunoexpression due to ZNPs exposure were alleviated with BV. Of note, BV achieved better results in the ZNPs + BV group than in the ZNPs/BV group. Conclusively, these results demonstrated that BV could be employed as a biologically effective therapy to mitigate the neurotoxic and neurobehavioral effects of ZNPs, particularly when used during ZNPs exposure.

Therapeutic Use of Bee Venom and Potential Applications in Veterinary Medicine

Apitherapy is a branch of alternative medicine that consists of the treatment of diseases through products collected, processed, and secreted by bees, specifically pollen, propolis, honey, royal jelly, and bee venom. In traditional medicine, the virtues of honey and propolis have been well-known for centuries. The same, however, cannot be said for venom. The use of bee venom is particularly relevant for many therapeutic aspects. In recent decades, scientific studies have confirmed and enabled us to understand its properties. Bee venom has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, central nervous system inhibiting, radioprotective, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, among others. Numerous studies have often been summarised in reviews of the scientific literature that have focused on the results obtained with mouse models and their subsequent transposition to the human patient. In contrast, few reviews of scientific work on the use of bee venom in veterinary medicine exist. This review aims to take stock of the research achievements in this particular discipline, with a view to a recapitulation and stabilisation in the different research fields.

Curcumin attenuates gentamicin and sodium salicylate ototoxic effects by modulating the nuclear factor-kappaB and apoptotic pathways in rats

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of curcumin (CCM) against gentamicin (GEN) and sodium salicylates (NaS)-induced ototoxic effects in rats. For 15 consecutive days, seven rat groups were given 1 mL/rat physiological saline orally, 1 mL/rat olive oil orally, 50 mg/kg bwt CCM orally, 120 mg/kg bwt GEN intraperitoneally, 300 mg/kg bwt NaS intraperitoneally, CCM+GEN, or CCM+NaS. The distortion product otoacoustic emission measurements were conducted. The rats' hearing function and balance have been behaviorally assessed using auditory startle response, Preyer reflex, and beam balance scale tests. The serum lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress biomarkers have been measured. Immunohistochemical investigations of the apoptotic marker caspase-3 and the inflammatory indicator nuclear factor kappa (NF-κB) in cochlear tissues were conducted. GEN and NaS exposure resulted in deficit hearing and impaired ability to retain balance. GEN and NaS exposure significantly decreased the reduced glutathione level and catalase activity but increased malondialdehyde content. GEN and NaS exposure evoked pathological alterations in cochlear and vestibular tissues and increased caspase-3 and NF-κB immunoexpression. CCM significantly counteracted the GEN and NaS injurious effects. These outcomes concluded that CCM could be a naturally efficient therapeutic agent against GEN and NaS-associated ototoxic side effects.

Pharmacological effects and mechanisms of bee venom and its main components: Recent progress and perspective

Bee venom (BV), a type of defensive venom, has been confirmed to have favorable activities, such as anti-tumor, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-infectivity effects, etc. This study reviewed the recent progress on the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of BV and its main components against cancer, neurological disorders, inflammatory diseases, pain, microbial diseases, liver, kidney, lung and muscle injury, and other diseases in literature during the years 2018-2021. The related target proteins of BV and its main components against the diseases include Akt, mTOR, JNK, Wnt-5α, HIF-1α, NF-κB, JAK2, Nrf2, BDNF, Smad2/3, AMPK, and so on, which are referring to PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK, Wnt/β-catenin, HIF-1α, NF-κB, JAK/STAT, Nrf2/HO-1, TrkB/CREB/BDNF, TGF-β/Smad2/3, and AMPK signaling pathways, etc. Further, with the reported targets, the potential effects and mechanisms on diseases were bioinformatically predicted via Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway, disease ontology semantic and enrichment (DOSE) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analyses. This review provides new insights into the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of BV and its main components on diseases.

Honey Bee Products: Preclinical and Clinical Studies of Their Anti-inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Properties

Inflammation is a defense process triggered when the body faces assaults from pathogens, toxic substances, microbial infections, or when tissue is damaged. Immune and inflammatory disorders are common pathogenic pathways that lead to the progress of various chronic diseases, such as cancer and diabetes. The overproduction of cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, is an essential parameter in the clinical diagnosis of auto-inflammatory diseases. In this review, the effects of bee products have on inflammatory and autoimmune diseases are discussed with respect to the current literature. The databases of Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Sci-Finder and clinical trials were screened using different combinations of the following terms: “immunomodulatory”, “anti-inflammatory”, “bee products”, “honey”, “propolis”, “royal jelly”, “bee venom”, “bee pollen”, “bee bread”, “preclinical trials”, “clinical trials”, and “safety”. Honey bee products, including propolis, royal jelly, honey, bee venom, and bee pollen, or their bioactive chemical constituents like polyphenols, demonstrate interesting therapeutic potential in the regulation of inflammatory mediator production as per the increase of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, Il-2, and Il-7, and the decrease of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Additionally, improvement in the immune response via activation of B and T lymphocyte cells, both in in vitro, in vivo and in clinical studies was reported. Thus, the biological properties of bee products as anti-inflammatory, immune protective, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and antimicrobial agents have prompted further clinical investigation.

Chemical, Cytotoxic, and Anti-Inflammatory Assessment of Honey Bee Venom from Apis mellifera intermissa

The venom from Apis mellifera intermissa, the main honey bee prevailing in Morocco, has been scarcely studied, despite its known potential for pharmacological applications. In the present work, we investigated the composition, the anti-inflammatory activity, and the venom’s cytotoxic properties from fifteen honey bee venom (HBV) samples collected in three regions: northeast, central, and southern Morocco. The chemical assessment of honey bee venom was performed using LC-DAD/ESI/MSⁿ, NIR spectroscopy and AAS spectroscopy. The antiproliferative effect was evaluated using human tumor cell lines, including breast adenocarcinoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma, cervical carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and malignant melanoma. Likewise, we assessed the anti-inflammatory activity using the murine macrophage cell line. The study provides information on the honey bee venom subspecies’ main components, such as melittin, apamin, and phospholipase A2, with compositional variation depending on the region of collection. Contents of toxic elements such as cadmium, chromium, and plumb were detected at a concentration below 5 ppm, which can be regarded as safe for pharmaceutical use. The data presented contribute to the first study in HBV from Apis mellifera intermissa and highlight the remarkable antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of HBV, suggesting it to be a candidate natural medicine to explore.

Processing Technologies for Bee Products: An Overview of Recent Developments and Perspectives

Increased demand for a more balanced, healthy, and safe diet has accelerated studies on natural bee products (including honey, bee bread, bee collected pollen royal jelly, propolis, beeswax, and bee venom) over the past decade. Advanced food processing techniques, such as ultrasonication and microwave and infrared (IR) irradiation, either has gained popularity as alternatives or combined with conventional processing techniques for diverse applications in apiculture products at laboratory or industrial scale. The processing techniques used for each bee products have comprehensively summarized in this review, including drying (traditional drying, infrared drying, microwave-assisted traditional drying or vacuum drying, and low temperature high velocity-assisted fluidized bed drying), storage, extraction, isolation, and identification; the assessment methods related to the quality control of bee products are also fully mentioned. The different processing techniques applied in bee products aim to provide more healthy active ingredients largely and effectively. Furthermore, improved the product quality with a shorter processing time and reduced operational cost are achieved using conventional or emerging processing techniques. This review will increase the positive ratings of the combined new processing techniques according to the needs of the bee products. The importance of the models for process optimization on a large scale is also emphasized in the future.

Bee Venom: From Venom to Drug

Insects of the order Hymenoptera have a defensive substance that contains many biologically active compounds. Specifically, venom from honeybees (Apis mellifera) contains many enzymes and peptides that are effective against various diseases. Different research papers stated the possibility of using bee venom (a direct bee sting or in an injectable form) in treating several complications; either in vivo or in vitro. Other reports used the active fractions of bee venom clinically or at labratory scale. Many reports and publications have stated that bee venom and its constituents have multiple biological activities including anti-microbial, anti-protozoan, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-arthritic properties. The present review aims to refer to the use of bee venom itself or its fractions in treating several diseases and counteracting drug toxicities as an alternative protocol of therapy. The updated molecular mechanisms of actions of bee venom and its components are discussed in light of the previous updated publications. The review also summarizes the potential of venom loaded on nanoparticles as a drug delivery vehicle and its molecular mechanisms. Finally, the products of bee venom available in markets are also demonstrated.

Bee venom Apis mellifera lamarckii rescues blood brain barrier damage and neurobehavioral changes induced by methyl mercury via regulating tight junction proteins expression in rat cerebellum

The objective of the current study is to investigate the protective effect of Egyptian bee venom (BV) against methyl mercury chloride (MMC) induced blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage and neurobehavioral changes. Eighty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly grouped into 1st control (C), 2nd BV (0.5 mg/kg S/C for14 days), 3rd MMC (6.7 mg/kg orally/14 days), and 4th MMC + BV group. MMC exposure significantly altered rat cognitive behavior, auditory startle habituation, and swimming performance, increased the exploratory, grooming, and stereotypic behavior. MMC significantly impaired BBB integrity via induction of inflammation, oxidative stress, and down-regulation of tight junction proteins genes (TJPs) mRNA expression levels: Occludin (OCC), Claudins-5 (CLDN5), Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), while up-regulated the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) mRNA expression levels. MMC revealed a significantly higher percentage of IgG positive area ratio, a higher index ratio of Iba1, Sox10, and ss-DNA, while index ratio of CD31, neurofilament, and pan neuron showed a significant reduction. Administration of BV significantly regulates the MMC altered behavioral responses, TJPs relative mRNA expression, and the immune-expression markers for specific neural cell types. It could be concluded for the first time that BV retains a promising in vivo protection against MMC-induced BBB dysfunction and neurobehavioral toxicity.

Protective Effects of Anwulignan against HCl/Ethanol-Induced Acute Gastric Ulcer in Mice

Gastric ulcer is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases. Anwulignan (AN) is a major active component of Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of AN against the acute gastric ulcer induced by HCl/ethanol in mice. The mice were given HCl/ethanol by gavage to establish an acute gastric ulcer model. Then, the serum and gastric tissue samples were taken for biochemical analyses. The results showed that the pretreatment with AN could significantly reduce the gastric ulcer index (GUI) and increase the ulcer inhibition rate, indicating that AN can protect against gastric ulcers. AN showed its antioxidant roles by decreasing the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and increasing the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and anti-inflammatory roles by decreasing the content of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and increasing the content of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and nitric oxide (NO) in both serum and gastric tissue. Furthermore, AN also activated the NRF2/ARE signaling pathway and inhibited the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. AN improves the acute gastric ulcer induced by HCl/ethanol in mice, which may be mainly through its antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory effect.

Pharmaceutical Prospects of Bee Products: Special Focus on Anticancer, Antibacterial, Antiviral, and Antiparasitic Properties

Bee products have long been used in traditional healing practices to treat many types of disorders, including cancer and microbial-related diseases. Indeed, several chemical compounds found in bee products have been demonstrated to display anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, and antiparasitic properties. With the improvement of research tools and in view of recent advances related to bee products, this review aims to provide broad yet detailed insight into the pharmaceutical prospects of bee products such as honey, propolis, bee pollen, royal jelly, bee bread, beeswax, and bee venom, in the domain of cancer and infectious disease management. Available literature confirms the efficacy of these bee products in the alleviation of cancer progression, inhibition of bacterial and viral proliferation, and mitigation of parasitic-related symptoms. With such potentials, bioactive components isolated from the bee products can be used as an alternative approach in the long-run effort to improve humans’ health at a personal and community level.

El Deib M. Protective Effect of Curcumin against Sodium Salicylate-Induced Oxidative Kidney Damage, Nuclear Factor-Kappa Dysregulation, and Apoptotic Consequences in Rats

This study examined the effect of sodium salicylates (SS), alone and in combination with curcumin (CUR), on kidney function and architecture in rats. Five rat groups were given 1 mL physiological saline/rat orally, 1 mL olive oil/rat orally, 50 mg CUR/kg bwt orally, 300 mg SS/kg bwt intraperitoneally, or CUR+SS for 15 days. The hematological indices, serum protein profile, serum electrolytes balance, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation of kidney tissues were assessed. The histopathological examination and immune expression of Caspase-3 and nuclear factor kappa (NF-κB) were conducted. The findings showed that SS injection induced nephrotoxic activity, including increased serum urea, creatinine, and uric acid levels. It also caused apparent pathological alterations with increased Caspase-3 and NF-κB immuno-expression. In addition, thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis, neutrophilia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia, hypocalcemia, and hypomagnesemia but not hyperkalemia and hyperphosphatemia were evident in SS-injected rats. Moreover, SS exposure increased serum α1 globulin, renal tissue malondialdehyde, and Caspase-3 levels but superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and Bcl-2 levels declined. Meanwhile, CUR significantly counteracted the SS harmful impacts on kidneys but SS+CUR co-administration induced an anemic condition. Overall, CUR has an evident protective role against SS-induced renal damage, but the disturbed hematological alterations should be carefully taken into consideration in their combined use.

Boldenone Undecylenate-Mediated Hepatorenal Impairment by Oxidative Damage and Dysregulation of Heat Shock Protein 90 and Androgen Receptors Expressions: Vitamin C Preventive Role

Boldenone Undecylenate (BLD) is a synthetic derivative of testosterone and a widely used anabolic androgenic steroid. The health risk of BLD use as a pharmaceutical or dietary supplement is still underestimated and under-reported. Vitamin C (VC) has been recognized as an antioxidant with prominent hepatorenal protective effects. This study investigated the possible preventive activity of VC against BLD-induced hepatorenal damage. Forty adult male Wistar rats were classified into five groups: control, vehicle control, VC (orally given 120 mg/kg b. wt./day), BLD (intramuscularly injected 5 mg/kg b. wt./week), and BLD + VC-treated groups. The experiment continued for eight weeks. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured. Serum contents of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and very-low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C) were also assayed. Urea, creatinine, and uric acid levels were determined together with sodium and potassium electrolytes measuring. Moreover, oxidative stress indicators including reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and glutathione reductase (GSR) as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in both hepatic and renal tissues. Corresponding histological examination of renal and hepatic tissues was conducted. Besides, immunohistochemical evaluations for androgen receptors protein (AR) and heat shock protein 90 (Hsp 90) expressions were performed. BLD caused significant rises in serum ALT, AST, TP, ALB, TC, TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C, urea, creatinine, uric acid, potassium, and MDA levels. Further, BLD-injected rats showed significant declines in the serum levels of HDL-C, sodium, GSH, GPx, GST, and GSR. Besides, distinct histopathological perturbations were detected in renal and hepatic tissues of BLD-injected rats. AR and Hsp 90 immunoexpression were increased in hepatic and renal tissues. In contrast, VC significantly reversed the BLD-induced hepatorenal damage in co-treated rats but not ameliorated AR protein overexpression. VC could be an efficient preventive supplement for mitigating BLD-induced hepatorenal damage, possibly via controlling oxidative stress events.

Geranium koreanum, a medicinal plant Geranii Herba, ameliorate the gastric mucosal injury in gastritis-induced mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Geranii Herba, the traditional medicinal plants Korean and northeast China, has been used in the healing of a variety of gastrointestinal inflammation disorders. Geranium koreanum is a congeneric origin plant of Geranii Herba that can be used as medicinal plants with Geranium thunbergii, Geranium sibiricum, Geranium carolinianum, Geranium nepalense, and Geranium japonicam. However, research on the biological activity of Geranium koreanum is currently insufficient.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Gastritis is typically characterized by inflammation and irritation, and it is commonly caused by factors such as stress, alcohol consumption, smoking, and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. In particular, excessive ethanol ingestion is an important cause of gastric disease mediated by mucosal damage by inflammatory cells infiltration. In this study, we investigated whether Geranium koreanum, the well-known traditional medicinal plant, could have a protective effect on gastric mucosal damage in an HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis model by analyzing the inflammation response in gastric tissue.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory effects of Geranium koreanum were analyzed by determining cell viability and nitric oxide (NO) production, as well as the levels of nuclear factor (NF)-κB proteins in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cells. Additionally, we measured the damage ratio, conducted histopathological assay by H&E and PAS staining, and determined the levels of pro-inflammation mediator proteins in gastric tissue after induction of gastritis by HCl/EtOH administration in order to analyze the gastro-protective effects of Gerranium koreanum.

RESULTS

The ulcer ratio and inflammatory cell infiltration in gastric mucosa were reduced by treatment with Geranium koreanum. Additionally, the expression of inflammatory mediators in gastric tissue was effectively decreased by extracts administrated at 200 mg/kg, as compared to the gastritis control.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that Geranium koreanum could have ameliorating effects against HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis through the anti-inflammatory response, which indicates the potential use of this plant as a natural preventive medicine for gastritis treatment.

Lactate as a metabolite from probiotic Lactobacilli mitigates ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury: an in vivo study

Background

Pre-administration of probiotic Lactobacilli attenuates ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury (GMI). The underpinning mechanisms remain to be elucidated. We speculated that lactate, the main metabolite of Lactobacillus that can be safely used as a common food additive, mediated the gastroprotective effect. This study aimed to gain experimental evidence to support our hypothesis and to shed lights on its underlying mechanisms.

Methods

Lactate was orally administrated to mice at different doses 30 min prior to the induction of GMI. Gastric tissue samples were collected and underwent histopathological and immunohistochemical assessments, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blot analyses.

Results

Pretreatment with lactate at 1–3 g/kg significantly curtailed the severity of ethanol-induced GMI, as shown by morphological and histopathological examinations of gastric tissue samples. Significantly lower level of cytokines indicative of local inflammation were found in mice receiving lactate treatment prior to ethanol administration. Western-blot, immunohistochemical analysis and qPCR suggested that gastroprotective properties of lactate were mediated by its modulatory effects on the expression of the apoptosis regulator gene Bax, the apoptotic executive protein gene Casp3, and genes critical for gastric mucosal integrity, including those encoding tight junction proteins Occludin, Claudin-1, Claudin-5, and that for lactate receptor GPR81.

Conclusion

Lactate mitigates ethanol-induced GMI by curtailing local gastric inflammatory response, down-regulating the expression of the apoptosis regulator and executor genes Bax and Casp3, and up-regulating the expression of genes encoding tight junction proteins Occludin, Claudin-1, and Claudin-5 and the lactate receptor GPR81.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-020-03198-7.

Curcumin mitigates neurotoxic and neurobehavioral changes of gentamicin and sodium salicylate in rats by adjusting oxidative stress and apoptosis

Currently, antibiotics and salicylates are the most highly consumed medications worldwide. The side effects of these pharmaceuticals on the nervous system have been little investigated. Thus, this study aimed to examine the influence of the gentamicin (GM) and sodium salicylates (SS) on neurobehavioral functions, including locomotors function, memory, and sensorimotor functions together with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitter levels. Also, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and apoptotic indicators of brain tissue were assessed. Additionally, the histopathological architecture of brain tissues was investigated. This study also evaluated the curcumin (CUR) efficacy to counteract the GM or SS induced neurotoxic impacts in rats. For this purpose, seven groups were administered physiological saline (1 ml/rat; orally), olive oil (1 ml/rat; orally), CUR (50 mg/kg bwt; orally), GM (120 mg/kg bwt; intraperitoneally), SS (300 mg /kg bwt; intraperitoneally), CUR + GM, or CUR + SS for consecutive 15 days. The results revealed that GM and SS exposure evoked impaired memory, sensorimotor deficit functions, and depressive-like behavior together with the depletion of GABA. GM and SS exposure elevated malondialdehyde and Caspase-3 levels, but total antioxidant capacity and Bcl-2 levels were reduced. Besides, GM and SS exposure induced distinct pathological perturbations in cerebral cortices and hippocampus tissues. CUR significantly reversed the GM and SS harmful impacts. In conclusion, these findings verified that CUR could be a biologically efficient protective intervention against GM and SS induced neurotoxic impacts and neurobehavioral aberrations.

Bee Venom: An Updating Review of Its Bioactive Molecules and Its Health Applications

Bee venom (BV) is usually associated with pain since, when humans are stung by bees, local inflammation and even an allergic reaction can be produced. BV has been traditionally used in ancient medicine and in acupuncture. It consists of a mixture of substances, principally of proteins and peptides, including enzymes as well as other types of molecules in a very low concentration. Melittin and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) are the most abundant and studied compounds of BV. Literature of the main biological activities exerted by BV shows that most studies focuses on the comprehension and test of anti-inflammatory effects and its mechanisms of action. Other properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, neuroprotective or antitumor effects have also been assessed, both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, human trials are necessary to confirm those clinical applications. However, notwithstanding the therapeutic potential of BV, there are certain problems regarding its safety and the possible appearance of adverse effects. On this perspective, new approaches have been developed to avoid these complications. This manuscript is aimed at reviewing the actual knowledge on BV components and its associated biological activities as well as the latest advances on this subject.

Abd-Elhakim Y. Saussurea lappa Ethanolic Extract Attenuates Triamcinolone Acetonide-Induced Pulmonary and Splenic Tissue Damage in Rats via Modulation of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis

Background: In this era, worldwide interest has been directed towards using natural antioxidants to guard against drug side effects. Saussurea lappa is a famous medicinal plant with many biologically active compounds. Triamcinolone acetonide (TA) is an extensively used glucocorticoid. Hence, this study explored, for the first time, the possible beneficial effects of S. lappa ethanolic extract on TA-induced oxidative damage in the lung and spleen of rats. Methods: Five experimental groups were used: control group, S. lappa-treated group (600 mg/kg/day, orally), TA-treated group (40 mg/kg/twice/week I/P), S. lappa + TA co-treated group, and S. lappa/TA prophylactic group. Results: TA exposure significantly induced leukocytosis and neutrophilia. In addition, TA significantly reduced the levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin-12, tumor necrosis factor α, and immunoglobulins. Lung Caspase-3 overexpression and splenic CD8⁺ downregulation were also noted in the TA group. TA treatment significantly increased malondialdehyde concentration but reduced superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities. S. lappa counteracted the TA oxidative and apoptotic effects. The best results were recorded in the prophylactic group. Conclusions:S. lappa has a remarkable protective effect via its anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant capacity. Thus, it could be a candidate as a natural antioxidant to face glucocorticoid’s harmful side effects.

Single or combined protective and therapeutic impact of taurine and hesperidin on carbon tetrachloride-induced acute hepatic injury in rat

Currently, hepatic injury due to environmental pollutants extremely threatens human health and elicits great concern. Hence, there is a high global interest to find natural novel formulation products with potent hepatoprotective activity to combat liver disease. Hence, we evaluated the protective or therapeutic effect of hesperidin (HSP) and taurine (TAU), individually and in combination, on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced acute hepatic injury in rats. The pre- or posttreatment by HSP and/or TAU significantly depressed CCl₄-induced elevation of alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, malondialdehyde, globulins (α1, α2, β, and γ), albumin/globulin ratio, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, nitric oxide, and myeloperoxidase levels. Also, the pre- or posttreatment by HSP and/or TAU significantly minimized CCl₄-induced reduction of superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, and albumin concentrations. Furthermore, the protective or therapeutic administration of HSP and/or TAU markedly restored the CCl₄-induced altered hepatic architecture, depleted glycogen, and DNA contents. Notably, alleviating CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity was more prominent in the protective groups than the therapeutic groups. More importantly, most of biochemical and histopathological parameters of HSP+TAU did not significantly differ from those of separate TAU or HSP neither before nor after CCl₄ exposure. Conclusively, HSP or TAU could be candidate protective agents against CCl₄ hepatotoxic impacts but the combination of both bioactive offers only a limited synergistic effect. Graphical abstract.

In vivo acute toxicity and anti-gastric evaluation of a novel dichloro Schiff base: Bax and HSP70 alteration

Chlorine is shown to possess anti-gastric ulcer activity, since it can inactivate Helicobacter pylori, which is regarded as one of the most common risk factors for causing gastric problems. In the current study, the gastroprotective property of a novel dichloro-substituted Schiff base complex, 2, 2'- [-1, 2-cyclohexanediylbis(nitriloethylidyne)] bis(4-chlorophenol) (CNCP), against alcohol-induced gastric lesion in SD rats was assessed. SD rats were divided into four groups, i.e. normal, ulcer control, testing, and reference groups. Ulcer area, gastric wall mucus, and also gastric acidity of the animal stomachs were measured. In addition, antioxidant activity of CNCP was evaluated and its safe dose was identified. Immunohistochemistry staining was also carried to evaluate two important proteins, i.e. Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). Moreover, the activities of super oxide dismutase and catalase, as well as the levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also measured. Antioxidant activity of CNCP was approved via the aforementioned experiments. Histological evaluations showed that the compound possesses stomach epithelial defense activity. Additionally, periodic acid-Schiff staining exhibited over-expression of HSP70 and down-expression of Bax protein in the CNCP-treated rats. Moreover, CNCP caused deceased MDA level and elevated PGE2 level, and at the same time increased the activities of the two enzymes.