Antioxidative activity of natural products from plants

Water-Soluble Curcumin Derivatives Including Aza-Crown Ether Macrocycles as Enhancers of Their Cytotoxic Activity

The synthesis of three novel curcumin derivative compounds, featuring aza-crown ether macrocycles of various sizes (aza-12-crown-4, aza-15-crown-5, and aza-18-crown-6), is described. The incorporation of these aza-crown macrocycles significantly enhances their water solubility, positioning them as groundbreaking instances of curcumin derivatives that are fully soluble in aqueous environments. These curcumin ligands (L1, L2, and L3) were then reacted with zinc acetate to afford the coordination metal complexes (L1-Zn, L2-Zn, and L3-Zn). Comprehensive characterization of all compounds was achieved using various analytical techniques, including 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry (ESI+), elemental analysis and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of both, ligands and complexes were evaluated on three human cancer cell lines (U-251, MCF-7, and SK-LU-1). Compared to conventional curcumin, these compounds demonstrated improved antiproliferative potential. Additionally, a wound healing assay was conducted to assess their antimigration properties. The obtained results suggest that these modifications to the curcumin structure represent a promising approach for developing therapeutic agents with enhanced cytotoxic properties.

Untargeted Metabolomics Reveals the Metabolic Characteristics and Biomarkers of Antioxidant Properties of Gardeniae Fructus from Different Geographical Origins in China

Background/Objectives: Gardeniae Fructus (GF) has been widely used as both food and medicinal purposes for thousands of years, but their antioxidant properties and potential metabolite biomarkers remain unclear. Methods: The purposes of this study were to examine antioxidant activities of 21 GF varieties from different geographical origins in China and identify potential biomarkers of antioxidant properties using an untargeted LC-MS-based metabolomics approach. Results: The results demonstrate that metabolomics had the ability to trace the geographical origins of GF. We found that antioxidant activities varied with different varieties of GF, which was dependent on their chemical compositions. The key chemical categories were obtained as the primary contributors of the antioxidant activity, including prenol lipids, flavonoids, coumarins and derivatives, as well as steroids and steroid derivatives. In addition, adouetine Y, coagulin R 3-glucoside and epicatechin 3-glucoside were identified as potential biomarkers for the antioxidant activity of GF. Conclusions: Therefore, our study sheds light on the metabolic characteristics and biomarkers of the antioxidant properties of GF, contributing to the selection and cultivation of a high antioxidant variety.

Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Reveal the Effects of Different Fermentation Times on Antioxidant Activities of Ophiocordyceps sinensis

Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a fungus that is cultured through fermentation from wild Chinese cordyceps. While studies have examined its metabolites, the evaluation of its antioxidant capacity remains to be conducted. The antioxidant results of O. sinensis indicate that the ferric ion-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), antioxidant capacity (2.74 ± 0.12 μmol Trolox/g), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) free radical scavenging rate (60.21 ± 0.51%), and the hydroxyl free radical scavenging rate (91.83 ± 0.68%) reached a maximum on day 30. Using LC-MS/MS to measure the metabolites on D24, D30, and D36, we found that the majority of the differential accumulated metabolites (DAMs) primarily accumulate in lipids, organoheterocyclic compounds, and organic acids and their derivatives. Notably, the DAMs exhibiting high peaks include acetylcarnitine, glutathione, linoleic acid, and L-propionylcarnitine, among others. The transcriptome analysis results indicate that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) exhibiting high expression peaks on D30 primarily included lnaA, af470, and ZEB1; high expression peaks on D24 comprised SPBC29A3.09c and YBT1; high expression peaks on D36 included dtxS1, PA1538, and katG. The combined analysis revealed significant and extremely significant positive and negative correlations between all the DAMs and DEGs. The primary enriched pathways (p < 0.05) included glutathione metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, carbon metabolism, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and phenylalanine metabolism. The metabolic pathway map revealed that the DAMs and DEGs influencing the antioxidant activity of O. sinensis were significantly up-regulated on D30 but down-regulated on D36. The correlation analysis suggests that an increase in the content of DEGs and DAMs promotes an increase in the levels of enzyme and non-enzyme substances, ultimately enhancing the antioxidant capacity of O. sinensis. These findings serve as a reference of how DAMs and DEGs affect the antioxidant activity of O. sinensis. This may contribute to the enhanced development and application of O. sinensis.

POCOP-Ni(II) pincer compounds derived from phloroglucinol. Cytotoxic and antioxidant evaluation

POCOP-Ni(II) pincer compounds have primarily been explored as catalysts, but their potential biological activity has been scarcely studied. To address this gap, we evaluated the anticancer and antioxidant potential of four POCOP-Ni(II) complexes derived from phloroglucinol. A comprehensive supramolecular analysis, based on single-crystal X-ray diffraction (DRX) structures, was conducted using Hirshfeld surfaces and non-covalent interaction analysis. The cytotoxicity of all complexes was systematically assessed against various cancerous cell lines, as well as a non-cancerous cell line (COS-7). The results revealed that complexes 1b and 1c exhibited remarkable antiproliferative activity, with IC50 values ranging from 2.43 to 7.85 μM against cancerous cell lines U251, K562, HCT-15, MCF-7, and SK-LU-1. To further elucidate their mechanism of action, a competitive fluorescence displacement assay with ethidium bromide (EB) suggested that these complexes possess the ability to intercalate with DNA. This multifaceted investigation not only enhances our understanding of the biological potential of POCOP-Ni complexes but also provides valuable insights into their structural features and interactions, paving the way for future exploration in both catalytic and therapeutic domains.

Exploring enzyme inhibition and comprehensive mechanisms of antioxidant/prooxidative activity of natural furanocoumarin derivatives: A comparative kinetic DFT study

This study aimed to explore the antioxidant and prooxidative activity of two natural furanocoumarin derivatives, Bergaptol (4-Hydroxy-7H-furo [3,2-g] [1]benzopyran-7-one, BER) and Xanthotoxol (9-Hydroxy-7H-furo [3,2-g] [1]benzopyran-7-one, XAN). The collected thermodynamic and kinetic data demonstrate that both compounds possess substantial antiradical activity against HO• and CCl3OO• radicals in physiological conditions. BER exhibited better antiradical activity in comparison to XAN, which can be attributed to the enhanced deprotonation caused by the positioning of the -OH group on the psoralen ring. In contrast to highly reactive radical species, newly formed radical species BER• and XAN• exhibited negligible reactivity towards the chosen constitutive elements of macromolecules (fatty acids, amino acids, nucleobases). Furthermore, in the presence of O2•─, the ability to regenerate newly formed radicals BER• and XAN• was observed. Conversely, in physiological conditions in the presence of Cu(II) ions, both compounds exhibit prooxidative activity. Nevertheless, the prooxidative activity of both compounds is less prominent than their antioxidant activity. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that anionic species can engage in the creation of a chelate complex, which restricts the reduction of metal ions when reducing agents are present (O2•─ and Asc─). Moreover, studies have demonstrated that these chelating complexes can be coupled with other radical species, hence enhancing their ability to inactivate radicals. Both compounds exhibited substantial inhibitory effects against enzymes involved in the direct or indirect generation of ROS: Xanthine Oxidase (XOD), Lipoxygenase (LOX), Myeloperoxidase (MPO), NADPH oxidase (NOX).

Progress of Antimicrobial Mechanisms of Stilbenoids

Antimicrobial drugs have made outstanding contributions to the treatment of pathogenic infections. However, the emergence of drug resistance continues to be a major threat to human health in recent years, and therefore, the search for novel antimicrobial drugs is particularly urgent. With a deeper understanding of microbial habits and drug resistance mechanisms, various creative strategies for the development of novel antibiotics have been proposed. Stilbenoids, characterized by a C6-C2-C6 carbon skeleton, have recently been widely recognized for their flexible antimicrobial roles. Here, we comprehensively summarize the mode of action of stilbenoids from the viewpoint of their direct antimicrobial properties, antibiofilm and antivirulence activities and their role in reversing drug resistance. This review will provide an important reference for the future development and research into the mechanisms of stilbenoids as antimicrobial agents.

From immune checkpoints to therapies: understanding immune checkpoint regulation and the influence of natural products and traditional medicine on immune checkpoint and immunotherapy in lung cancer

Lung cancer is a disease of global concern, and immunotherapy has brought lung cancer therapy to a new era. Besides promising effects in the clinical use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and low response rates are problems unsolved. Natural products and traditional medicine with an immune-modulating nature have the property to influence immune checkpoint expression and can improve immunotherapy's effect with relatively low toxicity. This review summarizes currently approved immunotherapy and the current mechanisms known to regulate immune checkpoint expression in lung cancer. It lists natural products and traditional medicine capable of influencing immune checkpoints or synergizing with immunotherapy in lung cancer, exploring both their effects and underlying mechanisms. Future research on immune checkpoint modulation and immunotherapy combination applying natural products and traditional medicine will be based on a deeper understanding of their mechanisms regulating immune checkpoints. Continued exploration of natural products and traditional medicine holds the potential to enhance the efficacy and reduce the adverse reactions of immunotherapy.

Phenolic Compound, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and In Silico Studies of Extracts from the Aerial Parts of Lactuca saligna L

Medicinal plants are considered a major source for discovering novel effective drugs. To our knowledge, no studies have reported the chemical composition and biological activities of Moroccan Lactuca saligna extracts. In this context, this study aims to characterize the polyphenolic compounds distributed in hydro-methanolic extracts of L. saligna and evaluate their antioxidant and antibacterial activities; in addition, in silico analysis based on molecular docking and ADMET was performed to predict the antibacterial activity of the identified phenolic compounds. Our results showed the identification of 29 among 30 detected phenolic compounds with an abundance of dicaffeoyltartaric acid, luteolin 7-glucoronide, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and 5-caffeoylquinic acid with 472.77, 224.30, 196.79, and 171.74 mg/kg of dried extract, respectively. Additionally, antioxidant activity assessed by DPPH scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, and ferrous ion-chelating (FIC) assay showed interesting antioxidant activity. Moreover, the results showed remarkable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes with minimum inhibitory concentrations between 1.30 ± 0.31 and 10.41 ± 0.23 mg/mL. Furthermore, in silico analysis identified three compounds, including Apigenin 7-O-glucuronide, Quercetin-3-O-glucuronide, and 3-p-Coumaroylquinic acid as potent candidates for developing new antibacterial agents with acceptable pharmacokinetic properties. Hence, L. saligna can be considered a source of phytochemical compounds with remarkable activities, while further in vitro and in vivo studies are required to explore the main biological activities of this plant.

Xanthotoxol relieves itch in mice via suppressing spinal GRP/GRPR signaling

Although pruritus, commonly known as itch, is a common and debilitating symptom associated with various skin conditions, there is a lack of effective therapies available. Xanthotoxol (XAN), a biologically active linear furocoumarin, shows potential in the treatment of various neurological disorders. In this study, we discovered that administering XAN either through intraperitoneal or intrathecal injections effectively reduced scratching behavior induced by compound 48/80 or chloroquine. Importantly, XAN also substantially alleviates chronic itch in dry skin and allergic contact dermatitis mice. Substantial progress has highlighted the crucial role of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP)-gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) signaling in the dorsal spinal cord in transmitting various types of itch. Our behavior tests revealed that XAN significantly alleviated scratching behaviors induced by intrathecal administration of GRP or GRPR agonist bombesin. Furthermore, XAN reduced the activation of neurons in the spinal cord caused by intrathecal administration of GRP in mice. Moreover, XAN attenuates the activation of spinal GRPR-positive neurons in itchy mice. These findings suggest that XAN mitigates itch in mice by suppressing spinal GRP/GRPR signaling, thereby establishing XAN as a promising therapeutic option for treating pruritus.

The Homoleptic Curcumin-Copper Single Crystal (ML2): A Long Awaited Breakthrough in the Field of Curcumin Metal Complexes

The first single crystal structure of the homoleptic copper (II) ML2 complex (M=Cu (II), L = curcumin) was obtained and its structure was elucidated by X-ray diffraction showing a square planar geometry, also confirmed by EPR. The supramolecular arrangement is supported by C-H···O interactions and the solvent (MeOH) plays an important role in stabilizing the crystal packing Crystallinity was additionally assessed by XRD patterns. The log P value of the complex (2.3 ± 0.15) was determined showing the improvement in water solubility. The cytotoxic activity of the complex against six cancer cell lines substantially surpasses that of curcumin itself, and it is particularly selective against leukemia (K562) and human glioblastoma (U251) cell lines, with similar antioxidant activity to BHT. This constitutes the first crystal structure of pristine curcumin complexed with a metal ion.

Evaluation of mulberry leaves’ hypoglycemic properties and hypoglycemic mechanisms

The effectiveness of herbal medicine in treating diabetes has grown in recent years, but the precise mechanism by which it does so is still unclear to both medical professionals and diabetics. In traditional Chinese medicine, mulberry leaf is used to treat inflammation, colds, and antiviral illnesses. Mulberry leaves are one of the herbs with many medicinal applications, and as mulberry leaf study grows, there is mounting evidence that these leaves also have potent anti-diabetic properties. The direct role of mulberry leaf as a natural remedy in the treatment of diabetes has been proven in several studies and clinical trials. However, because mulberry leaf is a more potent remedy for diabetes, a deeper understanding of how it works is required. The bioactive compounds flavonoids, alkaloids, polysaccharides, polyphenols, volatile oils, sterols, amino acids, and a variety of inorganic trace elements and vitamins, among others, have been found to be abundant in mulberry leaves. Among these compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, polysaccharides, and polyphenols have a stronger link to diabetes. Of course, trace minerals and vitamins also contribute to blood sugar regulation. Inhibiting alpha glucosidase activity in the intestine, regulating lipid metabolism in the body, protecting pancreatic -cells, lowering insulin resistance, accelerating glucose uptake by target tissues, and improving oxidative stress levels in the body are some of the main therapeutic properties mentioned above. These mechanisms can effectively regulate blood glucose levels. The therapeutic effects of the bioactive compounds found in mulberry leaves on diabetes mellitus and their associated molecular mechanisms are the main topics of this paper’s overview of the state of the art in mulberry leaf research for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Phenolic Compounds from Wild Plant and In Vitro Cultures of Ageratina pichichensis and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant Activity

Ageratina pichichensis, is commonly used in traditional Mexican medicine. In vitro cultures were established from wild plant (WP) seeds, obtaining in vitro plant (IP), callus culture (CC), and cell suspension culture (CSC) with the objective to determine total phenol content (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC), as well as their antioxidant activity by DPPH, ABTS and TBARS assays, added to the compound's identification and quantification by HPLC, from methanol extracts obtained by sonication. CC showed significantly higher TPC and TFC than WP and IP, while CSC produced 2.0-2.7 times more TFC than WP, and IP produced only 14.16% TPC and 38.8% TFC compared with WP. There were identified compounds such as epicatechin (EPI), caffeic acid (CfA), and p-coumaric acid (pCA) in in vitro cultures that were not found in WP. The quantitative analysis shows gallic acid (GA) as the least abundant compound in samples, whereas CSC produced significantly more EPI and CfA than CC. Despite these results, in vitro cultures show lower antioxidant activity than WP, for DPPH and TBARS WP > CSC > CC > IP and ABTS WP > CSC = CC > IP. Overall, A. pichichensis WP and in vitro cultures produce phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity, especially CC and CSC, which are shown to be a biotechnological alternative for obtaining bioactive compounds.

Homoleptic Complexes of Heterocyclic Curcuminoids with Mg(II) and Cu(II): First Conformationally Heteroleptic Case, Crystal Structures, and Biological Properties

We report herein the synthesis and characterization of three heterocyclic curcuminoid ligands and their homoleptic metal complexes with magnesium and copper. Thus, N-methyl-2-pyrrolecarboxaldehyde, Furan-2-carboxaldehyde, and 2-Thiophenecarboxaldehyde were condensed with 2,4-pentanedione-boron trioxide complex. The first N-methyl-2-pyrrole curcuminoid and its Mg(II) complex are reported. All curcuminoid ligands and their corresponding metal complexes were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), liquid state nuclear magnetic resonance (LSNMR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), mass spectrometry (MS) and single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). The ThiopheneCurc-Cu (9) constitutes the first case of a "conformationally-heteroleptic" complex. The unique six-peaks star arrangement for the ThiopheneCurc ligand derived from the supramolecular description is reported. The metal complexes of FuranCurc-Mg (5) and ThiopheneCurc-Cu (9) have a good antioxidant effect (IC₅₀ = 11.26 ± 1.73 and 10.30 ± 0.59 μM), three and two times higher than their free ligands respectively. Additionally, (5) shows remarkable cytotoxicity against colon cancer adenocarcinoma cell line HCT-15, comparable to that of cisplatin, with a negligible toxic effect in vitro towards a healthy monkey kidney cell line (COS-7).

The roles of ERIANIN in tumor and innate immunity and its' perspectives in immunotherapy

Traditional Chinese medicine has been used in China for thousands of years. In 2022, the 14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine was released, aiming to enhance traditional Chinese medicine health services and improve policies and systems for high-quality traditional Chinese medicinal development by 2025. ERIANIN, the main component of the traditional Chinese medicine Dendrobium, plays an important role in anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antitumor, antiangiogenic, and other pharmacological effects. ERIANIN has broad-spectrum antitumor effects, and its tumor-suppressive effects have been confirmed in the study of various diseases, such as precancerous lesions of the stomach, gastric cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, osteosarcoma, colorectal cancer, leukaemia, nasopharyngeal cancer and melanoma through the multiple signaling pathways. Thus, the aim of this review was to systematically summarise the research on ERIANIN with the aim of serving as a reference for future research on this compound and briefly discuss some future perspectives development of ERIANIN in combined immunotherapy.

Fraxetin attenuates disrupted behavioral and central neurochemical activity in a model of chronic unpredictable stress

Purpose: Chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) induces long-term neuronal and synaptic plasticity with a neurohormonal disbalance leading to the development of co-existing anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline. The side effects and delayed onset of current clinically used antidepressants has prompted a quest for antidepressants with minimum drawbacks. Fraxetin is a natural coumarin derivative with documented antioxidant and neuroprotective activity though its effects on stress are unknown. This study therefore aimed to investigate any possible acute effect of fraxetin in behavioral tests including a CUS paradigm in correlation with brain regional neurochemical changes. Methods: Mice were subjected to a series of mild stressors for 14 days to induce CUS. Furthermore, behavioral performance in the open field test, forced swim test (FST), Y-maze and elevated plus-maze were evaluated. Postmortem frontal cortical, hippocampal and striatal tissues were analyzed via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for neurochemical changes. Result: Acute administration of fraxetin (20-60 mg/kg, orally) decreased depression-like behavior in the FST and behavioral anxiety in both the open field test and elevated plus-maze. Memory deficits induced during the CUS paradigm were markedly improved as reflected by enhanced Y maze performance. Concurrent biochemical and neurochemical analyses revealed that only the two higher fraxetin doses decreased elevated serum corticosterone levels while diminished serotonin levels in the frontal cortex, striatum and hippocampus were reversed, though noradrenaline was only raised in the striatum. Concomitantly, dopamine levels were restored by fraxetin at the highest dose exclusively in the frontal cortex. Conclusion: Acute treatment with fraxetin attenuated CUS-induced behavioral deficits, ameliorated the increased corticosterone level and restored altered regional neurotransmitter levels and this may indicate a potential application of fraxetin in the management of anxiety and depression modeled by CUS. However, further studies are warranted regarding the chronic effects of fraxetin behaviorally and neurochemically.

The Hepatoprotective Effect of Leonurine Hydrochloride Against Alcoholic Liver Disease Based on Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analysis

Excessive alcohol consumption can eventually progress to alcoholic liver disease (ALD). The underlying mechanism of ALD toxicity is primarily associated with oxidative damage. Many alkaloids have been reported to possess potential antioxidative efficacy, while the mechanism of their hepatoprotective activity against ALD is still not clear. In this study, eight alkaloids were selected from a monomer library of Traditional Chinese Medicine and evaluated for their antioxidant activity against ALD by the evaluation of Glutathione (GSH) and Malondialdehyde (MDA). The result suggested that Leonurine hydrochloride (LH) was a potent antioxidant that could reduce alcoholic liver damage. To further investigate the underlying mechanism of LH against ALD, the molecular pathway induced by LH was identified by RNA-seq analyses. Transcriptome data revealed the principal mechanism for the protective effect of LH against ALD might be attributed to the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of PI3K-AKT, AMPK, and HIF-1 signaling pathways involved in the lipid metabolism. Given the hepatoprotective mechanism of LH is involved in lipid metabolism, the lipid metabolism induced by LH was further analyzed by UHPLC-MS/MS. Metabolome analysis indicated that LH significantly regulated glycerophospholipid metabolism including phosphatidylcholine, 1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and 1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine in the liver. Overall, this study revealed that the hepatoprotective mechanism of LH against alcoholic liver damage might be associated with the genes involved in glycerophospholipid metabolism.

Bioactive Compounds and Functional Properties of Herbal Preparations of Cystus creticus L. Collected From Rhodes Island

The members of Cystus genus are perenial shrubs with a well-established use in traditional medicine. Among these, C. creticus is the most popular, herbal preparations obtained from its aerial parts being recognized as antimicrobial, antitumor and anti-inflammatory agents. The present study aimed to evaluate phytochemical profile and bioactive potential of aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of C. creticus aerial parts harvested from two different areas of Rhodes island. LC-DAD-ESI/MSn analysis revealed the presence of myricetin and quercetin glycosides as main compounds, especially in aqueous extracts, being probably responsible for their enhanced antioxidant and antimicrobial potential. On the other side, hydroethanolic preparations exerted a strong anti-inflammatory and anti-biofilm activity. Our findings suggest that the use of solvents with intermediate polarity can assure the best recovery of bioactive compounds from C. creticus, increasing the extraction yield for other non-phenolic compounds which can enhance therapeutic potential of the extract through a synergistic action.

Role of DAMPs and of Leukocytes Infiltration in Ischemic Stroke: Insights from Animal Models and Translation to the Human Disease

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Several mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke (IS). The contributory role of the inflammatory and immunity processes was demonstrated both in vitro and in animal models, and was confirmed in humans. IS evokes an immediate inflammatory response that involves complex cellular and molecular mechanisms. All components of the innate and adaptive immunity systems are involved in several steps of the ischemic cascade. In the early phase, inflammatory and immune mechanisms contribute to the brain tissue damage, whereas, in the late phase, they participate to the tissue repair processes. In particular, damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) appear critical for the promotion of altered blood brain barrier permeability, leukocytes infiltration, tissue edema and brain injury. Conversely, the activation of regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) plays protective effects. The identification of specific cellular/molecular elements belonging to the inflammatory and immune responses, contributing to the brain ischemic injury and tissue remodeling, offers the advantage to design adequate therapeutic strategies. In this article, we will present an overview of the knowledge on inflammatory and immunity processes in IS, with a particular focus on the role of DAMPs and leukocytes infiltration. We will discuss evidence obtained in preclinical models of IS and in humans. The main molecular mechanisms useful for the development of novel therapeutic approaches will be highlighted. The translation of experimental findings to the human disease is still a difficult step to pursue. Further investigations are required to fill up the existing gaps.

Cytotoxicity against Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HepG2) Cells and Anti-Oxidant Activity of Selected Endemic or Medicinal Plants in Sri Lanka

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most fatal cancer globally with limited treatment options. Plants and herbs have been used to treat cancer and other diseases for a long time by traditional practitioners in Sri Lanka. In the present study, leaf and bark extracts of selected plants were investigated for cytotoxic properties on HepG2 cells. Anti-oxidant activity and total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also determined. Plant extracts that exerted cytotoxic effects on the HepG2 cell line with IC₅₀ <100 μg/mL were tested on normal liver epithelial cells (THLE-3). Out of the 56 extracts, 21 exhibited potent cytotoxic effects (IC₅₀ < 100 µg/mL) on HepG2 cells after 48 h exposure, and 12 were less toxic (IC₅₀ > 100 μg/mL) to THLE-3 normal liver cells. Six extracts exhibited potent radical scavenging activity with EC₅₀ < 100 μg/mL against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, while 17 extracts showed potent anti-oxidant activity (Trolox equivalents > 100 mg/g) against ferric reducing anti-oxidant power (FRAP) assay. Out of the 56 extracts, 15 had total phenolic content above 100 mg/g of gallic acid equivalents, and 4 had flavonoid content above 100 mg/g of quercetin equivalents. Among the extracts screened, hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of Allophylus cobbe leaves (IC₅₀ – 9.388, 6.8, 19.95, and 11.3 μg/mL, respectively), Madhuca longiflora bark (IC₅₀ – 14.42 μg/mL), methanol extract of Munronia pinnata bark (IC₅₀ – 52.06 μg/mL), and hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of Adenanthera bicolor (IC₅₀ – 45.86, 27.35, 24.56, and 61.83 μg/mL, respectively) exerted potent cytotoxicity against HepG2 with less toxicity (IC₅₀ > 100 μg/mL) to THLE-3 cells after 48 h of incubation. These findings provide a direction to isolate possible anti-cancer compounds for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Clinical Potential of Fruit in Bladder Cancer Prevention and Treatment

Bladder cancer (BC) is the most common tumor of the urinary system in the world. Moreover, despite using anticancer therapies, BC is also characterized by a high recurrence risk. Among numerous risk factors, cigarette smoking, occupational exposure to certain aromatic compounds, and genetic factors contribute most strongly to BC development. However, the epidemiological data to date suggests that diet quality may influence some carcinogenic factors of BC and, therefore, might have a preventative effect. Adequate consumption of selected fruits with scientifically proven properties, including pomegranates and cranberries, can significantly reduce the risk of developing BC, even in those at risk. Therefore, in this article, we aim to elucidate, using available literature, the role of fruits, including pomegranates, cranberries, citrus fruits, cactus pears, and apples, in BC prevention and treatment. Previous data indicate the role of compounds in the above-mentioned fruits in the modulation of the signaling pathways, including cell proliferation, cell growth, cell survival, and cell death.

STUDY OF ELECTROCHEMICAL BETANIDIN OXIDATION PATH USING COMPUTATIONAL METHODS

Betalains can be used in food, drugs, and cosmetic industries and have shown their bioactive potential. For these reasons, unraveling their oxidation mechanism is of high importance and demands a...

An Insight into Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Nutritional Properties of Arbutus unedo L. from Morocco

Arbutus unedo L. (Ericaceae) is an evergreen shrub widely distributed in the Mediterranean region, particularly through the Moroccan forests. It is an important medicinal plant of great scientific interest due to its nutritional, pharmacological, and chemical properties. The objective of this review is to provide insights into traditional medicinal uses and phytochemical and pharmacological properties of A. unedo from Morocco. In Morocco, the plant has been used as a traditional medicine to treat several pathological conditions. Many phytochemical compounds have been reported in the plant, of which vitamins, carotenoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, and their derivatives are the most prevalent. Leaves and fruits of A. unedo contain the most significant number of phytochemicals among the species. Furthermore, researchers have demonstrated that A. unedo exhibited antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, antidiabetic, antiaggregant, and antihypertensive activities due to the presence of many biochemical compounds with health-promoting properties. According to different toxicity tests, the use of A. unedo is devoid of any significant side effects and/or toxicity. Despite its nutraceutical and health-promoting properties, Moroccan A. unedo remains underexploited mainly, and most of its traditional uses have not yet undergone scientific evidence-based research; therefore, improved knowledge about the potential value of the plant would allow understanding of its biological activity based on its phytochemical compounds that may contribute to the species preservation and valorization.

Erianin: A Direct NLRP3 Inhibitor With Remarkable Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Erianin (Eri) is the extract of Dendrobium chrysotoxum Lindl. The NLRP3 inflammasome is a multiprotein complex that plays key roles in a wide variety of chronic inflammation-driven human diseases. Nevertheless, little is known about the protection of Eri against NLRP3 inflammasome-related diseases. In this study, we demonstrated that Eri inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, Eri directly interacted with NLRP3, leading to inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome assembly. Eri associated with the Walker A motif in the NACHT domain and suppressed NLRP3 ATPase activity. In mouse models, Eri had therapeutic effects on peritonitis, gouty arthritis and type 2 diabetes, via NLRP3. More importantly, Eri was active ex vivo for synovial fluid cells and monocytes from patients with IAV infection and gout. Eri may serve as a potential novel therapeutic compound against NLRP3-driven diseases.

Dietary Baicalin Zinc Supplementation Alleviates Oxidative Stress and Enhances Nutrition Absorption in Deoxynivalenol Challenged Pigs

BACKGROUND

Deoxynivalenol contamination is increasing worldwide, presenting great challenges to food security and causing great economic losses in the livestock industry.

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to determine the protective effect of baicalin zinc as a dietary supplement on pigs fed with a deoxynivalenol contaminated diet.

METHODS

A total of 40 weaned pigs (21 d of age; 6.13 ± 0.42 kg average BW) were randomly assigned (10 pigs/group) to 4 dietary treatments: basal diet (Con group), basal diet + 4 mg/kg DON (DON group), basal diet + 5 g/kg BZN (BZN group), and basal diet + 5 g/kg BZN + 4 mg/kg DON (DBZN group) for a 14-d period. Seven randomly-selected pigs from each treatment were killed for blood and tissue sampling.

RESULTS

The results showed that piglets challenged with DON exhibited significantly reduced levels of ADG, ADFI, and F/G (p < 0.05). BZN supplemented diets significantly suppressed the protein expression of p-Nrf2, p-NF-kB, and HO-1 in the jejunum of DON challenged piglets (p < 0.05). In liver, DON markedly increased the mRNA expression of P70S6K and HSP70 in piglets fed the basal diet, but significantly reduced that of HO-1, NQO-1, NF-kB, AMPKα2 and HSP70 in piglets fed the BZN supplemented diet (p < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with BZN markedly increased the T-AOC level of serum in weaned piglets (p < 0.05). In jejunum, dietary supplementation with BZN activated the mRNA expression of ZIP4 in piglets (p < 0.05), BZN supplementation significantly suppressed the activity of sucrose and increased the protein concentration in chyme (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

BZN can play a protective role by reducing oxidative stress and enhancing nutrient absorption in pigs fed DON-contaminated diets.

The effect and mechanism of erianin on the reversal of oxaliplatin resistance in human colon cancer cells

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is the main cause of chemotherapy failure in the treatment of colon cancer and the high expression of drug efflux protein P-gp is one of the main factors of MDR. P-gp expression is regulated by the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. In this study, human colon cancer oxaliplatin-resistant cells were treated with oxaliplatin combined with the natural product erianin. Then, we evaluated the impact of erianin on drug resistance, and explored the relationship between erianin-related oxaliplatin resistance and the Janus kinase 2/STAT3 signaling pathway in vitro. Our research showed that erianin could significantly inhibit the proliferation of human colon cancer oxaliplatin-resistant cells, and suppress the cell cycle of oxaliplatin-resistant cells in the G2/M phase, indicating that erianin could regulate the MDR phenotype of oxaliplatin-resistant cells, and its mechanism might be the inhibition of STAT3 signaling pathway and the significant reduction of P-gp expression. However, this study provides a theoretical basis for the clinical application of erianin in platinum-based chemotherapy for colon cancer.

The complete chloroplast genome of Scutellaria scordifolia (Labiatae)

Scutellaria scordifolia Fisch. ex Schrank Li is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant of genus Scutellaria from the Labiatae family. The complete chloroplast genome of was 152,336 bp in length, which contained 133 complete genes including 87 protein-coding genes (87 PCGs), 8 ribosomal RNA genes (8 rRNAs), and 37 transfer RNA genes (37 tRNAs). The GC content of chloroplast DNA was 38.3%. The corresponding values of the LSC, SSC, and IR regions were 36.3%, 32.5%, and 43.6%, respectively. Phylogenetic tree showed that the species from genus Scutellaria were divided into two monophyletic clades, and the divergence time of S. scordifolia was earlier than that of the other species.

Eggplant Fruit (Solanum melongena L.) and Bio-Residues as a Source of Nutrients, Bioactive Compounds, and Food Colorants, Using Innovative Food Technologies

Consumers are very concerned with following a healthy diet, along with some precautions that may influence environmental impact. Solanum melongena L. is one of the most consumed vegetables due to its excellent nutritional value and antioxidant action. Associated with its high consumption, considerable amounts of agro-food wastes are produced. This work targets the valorization of this matrix, through the use of its bio-residues to study the obtention of coloring pigments, applying innovative technologies. Its nutritional value, chemical composition, and bioactive potential were evaluated, and the ultrasound-assisted extraction to obtain coloring pigments of high industrial interest was optimized. Considering the results, low contents of fat and carbohydrates and energy value were evident, as well as the presence of compounds of interest (free sugars, organic acids, unsaturated fatty acids, and phenolic acids). In addition, the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential was detected. Response surface methodology was performed to optimize the extraction of natural pigments, showing a concentration of 11.9 mg/g of anthocyanins/g of extract, applying optimal conditions of time, solvent, and solid/liquid ratio of 0.5 min, 68.2% (v/v) and 5 g/L, respectively. S. melongena proved to be a good source of bioactive compounds and natural pigments, which can generate great interest in the food industry.

Overview of Studies on the Use of Natural Antioxidative Materials in Meat Products

Studies conducted in the past decade related to the use of natural antioxidants in meat products revealed the prevalent use of plant-based antioxidative materials added as powders, extracts, or dried or raw materials to meat products. The amount of antioxidative materials varied from 7.8 ppm to 19.8%. Extracts and powders were used in small amounts (ppm to grams) and large amounts (grams to >1%), respectively. Antioxidative materials used in meat products are mainly composed of phenolic compounds and flavonoids, which are able to inhibit lipid peroxidation of meat products, thereby preserving meat quality. However, the main ingredients used in processed meat products are the traditional additives, such as sodium erythorbate, sodium hydrosulfite, and synthetic antioxidants, rather than natural antioxidants. This difference could be attributed to changes in the sensory quality or characteristics of meat products using natural antioxidants. Therefore, novel research paradigms to develop meat products are needed, focusing on the multifunctional aspects of natural antioxidants.

Erianin inhibits the oncogenic properties of hepatocellular carcinoma via inducing DNA damage and aberrant mitosis

Natural compounds have been confirmed as one of the most feasible solutions for hard-to-treat cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Erianin, a natural bibenzyl compound from Dendrobium chrysotoxum, has been recently discovered with anticancer property in cancer cells. However, the roles and the molecular mechanisms of erianin in HCC remain unknown. The present study evaluates the effect of erianin on human HCC cells by inhibiting cell proliferation, inducing apoptotic-related cell death and hampering tumorigenicity. Furthermore, it was found that erianin could cause irreparable DNA damage, induce G2/M arrest and deregulate mitotic regulators. It was also observed that many cells with damaged DNA induced by erianin could overcome G2/M arrest and enter mitosis, leading to abnormal mitosis, and subsequently mitotic catastrophe and apoptotic-related cell death. The present study confirmed that erianin could be a potential antitumor agent for HCC clinical treatment.

Citrus hystrix Extracts Protect Human Neuronal Cells against High Glucose-Induced Senescence

Citrus hystrix (CH) is a beneficial plant utilized in traditional folk medicine to relieve various health ailments. The antisenescent mechanisms of CH extracts were investigated using human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y). Phytochemical contents and antioxidant activities of CH extracts were analyzed using a gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer (GC-MS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) assay and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assay. Effects of CH extracts on high glucose-induced cytotoxicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, cell cycle arrest and cell cycle-associated proteins were assessed using a 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide tetrazolium (MTT) assay, non-fluorescent 2′, 7′-dichloro-dihydrofluorescein diacetate (H₂DCFDA) assay, flow cytometer and Western blot. The extracts protected neuronal senescence by inhibiting ROS generation. CH extracts induced cell cycle progression by releasing senescent cells from the G1 phase arrest. As the Western blot confirmed, the mechanism involved in cell cycle progression was associated with the downregulation of cyclin D1, phospho-cell division cycle 2 (pcdc2) and phospho-Retinoblastoma (pRb) proteins. Furthermore, the Western blot showed that extracts increased Surtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression by increasing the phosphorylation of Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Collectively, CH extracts could protect high glucose-induced human neuronal senescence by inducing cell cycle progression and up-regulation of SIRT1, thus leading to the improvement of the neuronal cell functions.

Dual Targeting of Cell Growth and Phagocytosis by Erianin for Human Colorectal Cancer

Objective

To investigate the effect of erianin on tumor growth and immune response in human colorectal cancer cells (CRC).

Methods

The effect of erianin on tumor growth was determined by CCK8 and colony formation assay. Western blotting was used to evaluate the expression levels of relevant proteins and qRT-PCR was used to evaluate the mRNA level of the relevant gene. The transcriptional activity of β-catenin was determined by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Cellular thermal shift assay was used to quantify drug–target interactions. The cell surface CD47 was assessed by flow cytometry. The enrichment of H3K27 acetyl marks on CD47 promoter was evaluated by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Phagocytosis assay was used to determine the phagocytic activity of macrophage. In vivo role of erianin was studied on xenograft models.

Results

We found that erianin significantly decreased cell survival, colony formation, induced cell cycle arrest, and led to cell apoptosis in SW480 and HCT116 cells. Mechanism analysis demonstrated that erianin inhibited the nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity of β-catenin, which might result from erianin-β-catenin interaction. In addition, the downstream gene expressions, such as c-Myc and cyclin D1, was decreased. More interestingly, erianin decreased the expression of CD47 by regulating H3K27 acetyl marks enrichment on CD47 promoter. Consequently, macrophage-mediated phagocytosis was increased. Our in vivo experiments further confirmed the inhibitory effect of erianin on tumor growth.

Conclusion

In summary, erianin could inhibit CRC cells growth and promoted phagocytosis, which suggested erianin as a potential therapeutic strategy for CRC patients.

Central and Peripheral Metabolic Defects Contribute to the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease: Targeting Mitochondria for Diagnosis and Prevention

Significance: Epidemiological studies indicate that metabolic disorders are associated with an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Metabolic remodeling occurs in the central nervous system (CNS) and periphery, even in the early stages of AD. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been widely accepted as a molecular mechanism underlying metabolic disorders. Therefore, focusing on early metabolic changes, especially from the perspective of mitochondria, could be of interest for early AD diagnosis and intervention. Recent Advances: We and others have identified that the levels of several metabolites are fluctuated in the periphery before their accumulation in the CNS, which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AD. Mitochondrial remodeling is likely one of the earliest signs of AD, linking nutritional imbalance to cognitive deficits. Notably, by improving mitochondrial function, mitochondrial nutrients efficiently rescue cellular metabolic dysfunction in the CNS and periphery in individuals with AD. Critical Issues: Peripheral metabolic disorders should be intensively explored and evaluated for the early diagnosis of AD. The circulating metabolites derived from mitochondrial remodeling represent novel potential diagnostic biomarkers for AD that are more readily detected than CNS-oriented biomarkers. Moreover, mitochondrial nutrients provide a promising approach to preventing and delaying AD progression. Future Directions: Abnormal mitochondrial metabolism in the CNS and periphery is involved in AD pathogenesis. More clinical studies provide evidence for the suitability and reliability of circulating metabolites and cytokines for the early diagnosis of AD. Targeting mitochondria to rewire cellular metabolism is a promising approach to preventing AD and ameliorating AD-related metabolic disorders.

The Role of Ca2+-NFATc1 Signaling and Its Modulation on Osteoclastogenesis

The increasing of intracellular calcium concentration is a fundamental process for mediating osteoclastogenesis, which is involved in osteoclastic bone resorption. Cytosolic calcium binds to calmodulin and subsequently activates calcineurin, leading to NFATc1 activation, a master transcription factor required for osteoclast differentiation. Targeting the various activation processes in osteoclastogenesis provides various therapeutic strategies for bone loss. Diverse compounds that modulate calcium signaling have been applied to regulate osteoclast differentiation and, subsequently, attenuate bone loss. Thus, in this review, we summarized the modulation of the NFATc1 pathway through various compounds that regulate calcium signaling and the calcium influx machinery. Furthermore, we addressed the involvement of transient receptor potential channels in osteoclastogenesis.

Assessment of the antioxidant and anticancer potential of different isolated strains of cyanobacteria and microalgae from soil and agriculture drain water

The potential usage of cyanobacteria and microalgae as a promising and alternative source for new and safe therapeutic compounds is recently caught the attention, due to its versatile properties as antitumor, antioxidant, antifungal, and antiviral agents. Primarily, the cyanobacteria and microalgae from fresh and marine water are previously studied, however those isolated from soil and agriculture drain water were poorly investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to screen and characterize the antioxidant profile, as well as the potential anticancer assessment of 12 species of cyanobacteria and two species of microalgae strains isolated from soil and agriculture drain water. The data showed that total phenol contents were highest in Anabaena oryzae and Aphanizomenon gracile (27.39 and 26.83 mg GAE/g, respectively), followed by Leptolyngbya fragilis (22.96 mg GAE/g). Out of the 14 species identified, the cyanobacterium Dolichospermum flos-aquae HSSASE2 exhibited the most elevated antioxidant activity in terms of NO scavenging activity and anti-lipid peroxidation potential (IC₅₀ = 28.7 ± 0.1 and 11.9 ± 0.2 μg/ml, respectively) and the lowest DPPH radical scavenging activity (467.7 μg/ml). Screening of the anticancer potential of all studied strains against four different human cancer cell lines (Caco-2, MCF-7, PC3, and HepG-2) demonstrated that Dolichospermum crassum HSSASE20 has the highest anticancer effect among all tested species against colon and prostate cancer cell lines (IC₅₀ = 57.9 ± 0.4 and 44.1 ± 0.2 μg/ml, respectively), while Oscillatoria sancta HSSASE19 recorded the most anticancer effect against MCF-7 (breast cancer) cell line (IC₅₀ = 15.1 ± 0.7 μg/ml). Dolichospermum spiroides HSSASE18 obtained the highest anticancer effect HepG-2 (hepatic cancer) cell line (IC₅₀ = 48.8 ± 0.7 μg/ml). Additionally, cytotoxicity against healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells was studied and revealed that Oscillatoria sancta was the safest one among all studied strains. Data obtained from the sensitivity index demonstrated that Dolichospermum crassum was the most sensitive strain against the four cancerous cell lines. Cyanobacteria and microalgae from the soil and drain water sources are efficient free radical scavengers, containing apoptogens capable of stimulating apoptotic cascades and overcoming chemo-resistance in cancer therapy. Thus, these novel secondary metabolites are an excellent alternative, safe, and low-cost antioxidant and anticancer therapeutic compounds.

Evaluation of the Antioxidant Potency of Seseli L. Species (Apiaceae)

OBJECTIVES

In the present study, the antioxidant potency of ethyl acetate (AcOEt) and methanol (MeOH) extracts from the aerial parts of Seseli L. species was investigated for the first time.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seseli species L. such as Seseli andronakii Woronow ex Schischk., S. campestre Besser, S. corymbosum Boiss. & Heldr., S. gummiferum subsp. gummiferum Pall. ex Sm., S. hartvigii Parolly & Nordt, S. libanotis (L.) W.Koch, S. petraeum M.Bieb., S. peucedanoides (M.Bieb.) Koso-Pol., S. resinosum Freyn & Sint., and S. tortuosum L. growing in Turkey were collected and evaluated for their antioxidant capacity by using 1.1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation (LPO) inhibition methods.

RESULTS

The highest activities as a scavenger of DPPH radicals were found in the AcOEt extracts of S. peucedanoides (M.Bieb.) Koso-Pol (IC50=0.49 mg/mL), and S. libanotis (IC50=0.75 mg/mL); α-tocopherol was used as a positive control. On the other hand, in the LPO assay, the highest activities were determined in AcOEt and MeOH extracts (at 5 mg/mL) of S. tortuosum and S. libanotis (84-94%).

CONCLUSION

This report gives important information about the antioxidant capacity of Seseli L. species. This research on antioxidant capacity proves that the use of some species used in Eastern Anatolia (in salads) is correct. With this screening study performed in Seseli L. species growing in Turkey, in the future, it is planned to isolate antioxidant compounds from the most active strains of Seseli L.

Effect of co-administration of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma volatile oil on pharmacokinetic fate of xanthotoxol, oxypeucedanin hydrate, and byakangelicin from Angelicae Dahuricae Radix in rat

A combination of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix and Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma has been widely used as the herb pair in traditional Chinese medicine to treat stroke, migraine, and epilepsy. However, the underlying synergistic mechanism of the herb pair remains unknown. This study was aimed at investigating the effects of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma volatile oil on the pharmacokinetic parameters of xanthotoxol, oxypeucedanin hydrate, and byakangelicin from Angelicae Dahuricae Radix in rat, and in vitro absorption behavior of the three compounds using rat everted gut sac, in situ single-pass intestinal perfusion, and Caco-2 cell monolayer models. The pharmacokinetic study exhibited clear changes in the key pharmacokinetic parameters of the three main coumarins through co-administering with Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma volatile oil (50 mg/kg), the area under curve and the maximum plasma concentration of xanthotoxol increased 1.36 and 1.31 times; the area under curve, the maximum plasma concentration, mean residence time, half-life of elimination, and the time to reach peak concentration of oxypeucedanin hydrate increased by 1.35, 1.18, 1.24, 1.19 and 1.49 times, respectively; the area under curve, mean residence time, half-life of elimination, and time to reach peak concentration of byakangelicin climbed 1.29, 1.27, 1.37, and 1.28 times, respectively. The three coumarin components were absorbed well in the jejunum and ileum in the intestinal perfusion model, when co-administered with Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma volatile oil (100 μg/mL). The in vivo and in vitro experiments showed good relevance and consistency. The results demonstrated that the three coumarin compounds from Angelicae Dahuricae Radix were absorbed through the active transportation, and Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma volatile oil could promote the intestinal absorption and transport of these compounds by inhibiting P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated efflux.

Erianin Induces Apoptosis and Autophagy in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It has a very poor prognosis with over a 5-year survival rate of only 50%. Thus, it is important to identify effective therapeutic interventions against oral cancer. Apoptosis and autophagy have reported genetically regulated in physiology and diseases, which close relationship. Many natural compound study objects anticancer effect have been studied between apoptosis and autophagy relationship. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of erianin on human oral cancer cell proliferation. Results of the study revealed that treatment with erianin significantly reduced the viability of different OSCC cell lines. Erianin exerted its cytotoxic effect by inducing cell cycle arrest and caspase-dependent apoptotic pathways. Both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways were found to be involved in erianin-mediated cell death. In addition, treatment with erianin also increased autophagy in OSCC cells. With further analysis, it was found that erianin induced both apoptosis and autophagy by regulating MAPK signaling pathways. Taken together, our study indicates that erianin plays an important role in reducing oral cancer cell viability, and thus, can be considered as a potential anticancer agent.

Chemoprotective and antiobesity effects of tocols from seed oil of Maqui-berry: Their antioxidative and digestive enzyme inhibition potential

Maqui-berry (Aristotelia chilensis) is the emerging Chilean superfruit with high nutraceutical value. Until now, the research on this commodity was focused on the formulations enriched with polyphenols from the pulp. Herein, contents of tocols were compared in the seed oil of Maqui-berry obtained through three different extraction methods followed by determining their antioxidative and enzyme inhibitions in-vitro. Firstly, oilseed was extracted with n-hexane (Soxhlet method), chloroform/methanol/water (Bligh and Dyer method) and pressing (industrial). These samples were used to access their effects against DPPH, HORAC, ORAC, FRAP, Lipid-peroxidation (TBARS), α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase. All the isomers of tocopherol and tocotrienol were identified, and β-sitosterol was the only sterol found in higher amounts than other vegetable oils. The Bligh and Dyer method could lead to the highest antioxidative capacity compared to Soxhlet and press methods likely because the latter have a higher amount of tocopherols. Further, seed oil from Maqui berry and their tocols (α, β, γ, δ-tocopherols, tocotrienols, and β-sitosterol) warrant clinical investigation for their antioxidative and antiobesity potential. Taken together, these findings provide relevant and suitable conditions for the industrial processing of Maqui-berry.

The anti-carcinogenesis properties of erianin in the modulation of oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis and immune response in liver cancer

In this study, erianin was found to reduce the viability of cancer cells, inhibit their proliferation and migration, induce G2/M phase arrest, enhance cancer cell apoptosis, promote an increase in levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species and a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, and regulate the expression levels of anti- and pro-apoptosis-related proteins in HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells. Erianin inhibited tumor growth in HepG2- and SMMC-7721-xenograft tumor nude mouse models, reduced the expression levels of anti-apoptosis proteins and enhanced the expression levels of pro-apoptosis proteins in tumor tissues. Erianin inhibited tumor growth in immunosuppressed BALB/c mice bearing heterotopic tumors. Among 111 types of cytokines detected in proteome profiling of tumor tissues, erianin substantially influenced levels of 38 types of cytokines in HepG2-xenografted tumors and of 15 types of cytokines in SMMC-7721-xenografted tumors, most of which are related to immune functions. Erianin strongly affected the serum levels of cytokines, and regulated the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and the expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream proteins in spleen. The anti-liver cancer properties of erianin were found to be related mostly to its modulation of oxidative stress-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis and immune response.

Chemical constituents, experimental and clinical pharmacology of Rosa damascena: a literature review

CONTEXT

Rosa damascena Mill. is prescribed for the management of chest and abdominal pain, constipation, digestive disorders, menstrual bleeding and liver ailments.

OBJECTIVE

The current review compiles up to date and complete information of whole plant of R. damascena with particular emphasis on its numerous scientifically proved pharmacological effects, traditional and folk medicinal uses.

KEY FINDING

The data on the pharmacological effects of R. damascena were collected from various databases such as PubMed, Wiley Online Library, Elsevier and Web of Science using the keywords like phytoconstituents, pharmacology, medicinal uses and biological activity of R. damascene. Rosa damascena has a wide spectrum of bio-pharmacological activity like antidepressant, hypoglycaemic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant and antimicrobial. The main ingredients of R. damascena essential oil responsible for pharmacological activity are geraniol and citronellol. Its uses have been widely accepted in traditional system of medicines for the management of numerous diseases of human beings in different dosage forms.

SUMMARY

Rosa damascena has a significant place in traditional system of medicine. It is cost-effective and an important plant with curative application in contemporary medicine. Further studies on the characterization of chemical constituents and scientific basis of pharmacological activity of R. damascena should be carried out to evaluate its impact on traditional system of medicines. Large-scale preclinical and clinical trials will be beneficial in investigating the mechanism of the therapeutic potential of R. damascene to explore its uses in pharmaceutical industries.

Effect of Hyperin and Icariin on steroid hormone secretion in rat ovarian granulosa cells

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study was designed to investigate the effect of different concentrations of Hyperin and Icariin (ICA)on proliferation and the secretion of estrogen (E2), and progesterone (P) in granulosa cells, and to explore the effect of Hyperin and Icariin on the expression of CYP17 and CYP19.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rat ovary granulosa cells were cultured in vitro and treated with different concentrations of Hyperin and Icariin. The proliferation of ovarian granulosa cells was measured with the MTT assay. The concentration of estradiol was measured with a magnetic particle-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The CYP17 and CYP19 mRNA expression was detected by quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The CYP17 and CYP19 protein expression was determined with Western blotting.

RESULTS

Hyperin (50 μg/l) and Icariin (10 μg/l) significantly increased proliferation of ovarian granulosa cells and secretion of estrogen and progesterone. Hyperin and Icariin stimulated the mRNA and protein expression of CYP17 and CYP19.

CONCLUSIONS

These results showed that Hyperin and Icariin can promote the secretion of E2 and P through up-regulation of CYP17 and CYP19. Frequently used Chinese herbs like Cuscuta Chinensis Lam and Epimedium Brevicornu maxim, which contain Hyperin and Icariin, could improve the ovarian endocrine function through these effects.