A natural flavonoid and synthetic analogues protect the gastric mucosa from aspirin-induced erosions

Isolation and Identification of Bioactive Compounds from Streptomyces actinomycinicus PJ85 and Their In Vitro Antimicrobial Activities against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Antibiotic-resistant strains are a global health-threatening problem. Drug-resistant microbes have compromised the control of infectious diseases. Therefore, the search for a novel class of antibiotic drugs is necessary. Streptomycetes have been described as the richest source of bioactive compounds, including antibiotics. This study was aimed to characterize the antibacterial compounds of Streptomyces sp. PJ85 isolated from dry dipterocarp forest soil in Northeast Thailand. The 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenetic analysis showed that PJ85 possessed a high similarity to Streptomyces actinomycinicus RCU-197^T of 98.90%. The PJ85 strain was shown to produce antibacterial compounds that were active against Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The active compounds of PJ85 were extracted and purified using silica gel column chromatography. Two active antibacterial compounds, compound 1 and compound PJ85_F39, were purified and characterized with spectroscopy, including liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Compound 1 was identified as actinomycin D, and compound PJ85_F39 was identified as dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the purification and characterization of the antibacterial compounds of S. actinomycinicus.

4'-Methylflavanone Glycosides Obtained Using Biotransformation in the Entomopathogenic Filamentous Fungi Cultures as Potential Anticarcinogenic, Antimicrobial, and Hepatoprotective Agents

Flavonoid compounds exhibit numerous biological activities and significantly impact human health. The presence of methyl or glucosyl moieties attached to the flavonoid core remarkably modifies their physicochemical properties and improves intestinal absorption. Combined chemical and biotechnological methods can be applied to obtain such derivatives. In the presented study, 4'-methylflavanone was synthesized and biotransformed in the cultures of three strains of entomopathogenic filamentous fungi, i.e., Isaria fumosorosea KCH J2, Beauveria bassiana KCH J1.5, and Isaria farinosa KCH J2.1. The microbial transformation products in the culture of I. fumosorosea KCH J2, flavanone 4'-methylene-O-β-D-(4″-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside, 2-phenyl-(4'-hydroxymethyl)-4-hydroxychromane, and flavanone 4'-carboxylic acid were obtained. Biotransformation of 4'-methylflavanone in the culture of B. bassiana KCH J1.5 resulted in the formation of one main product, i.e., flavanone 4'-methylene-O-β-D-(4″-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside. In the case of I. farinosa KCH J2.6 as a biocatalyst, three products, i.e., flavanone 4'-methylene-O-β-D-(4″-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside, flavanone 4'-carboxylic acid, and 4'-hydroxymethylflavanone 4-O-β-D-(4″-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside were obtained. The Swiss-ADME online simulations confirmed the increase in water solubility of 4'-methylflavanone glycosides and analyses performed using the Way2Drug Pass Online prediction tool indicated that flavanone 4'-methylene-O-β-D-(4″-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside and 4'-hydroxymethylflavanone 4-O-β-D-(4″-O-methyl)-glucopyranoside, which had not been previously reported in the literature, are promising anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, and hepatoprotective agents.

An ethnopharmacological review on the therapeutical properties of flavonoids and their mechanisms of actions: A comprehensive review based on up to date knowledge

Flavonoids -a class of low molecular weight secondary metabolites- are ubiquitous and cornucopia throughout the plant kingdom. Structurally, the main structure consists of C6-C3-C6 rings with different substitution patterns so that many sub-classes are obtained, for example: flavonols, flavonolignans, flavonoid glycosides, flavans, anthocyanidins, aurones, anthocyanidins, flavones, neoflavonoids, chalcones, isoflavones, flavones and flavanones. Flavonoids are evaluated to have drug like nature since they possess different therapeutic activities, and can act as cardioprotective, antiviral, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticancer, and also work against Alzheimer's disease and others. However, information on the relationship between their structure and biological activity is scarce. Therefore, the present review tries to summarize all the therapeutic activities of flavonoids, their mechanisms of action and the structure activity relationship.

•

Latest updated ethnopharmacological review of the therapeutic effects of flavonoids.

•

Flavonoids are attracting attention because of their therapeutic properties.

•

Flavonoids are valuable candidates for drug development against many dangerous diseases.

•

This overview summarizes the most important therapeutic effect and mechanism of action of flavonoids.

•

General knowledge about the structure activity relationship of flavonoids is summarized.

•

Substitution of chemical groups in the structure of flavonoids can significantly change their biological and chemical properties.

•

The chemical properties of the basic flavonoid structure should be considered in a drug-based structural program.

Effects of ethanolic extracts of Quercus, Cirsium vulgare, and Falcaria vulgaris on gastric ulcer, antioxidant and inflammatory indices, and gene expression in rats

INTRODUCTION

Gastric ulcer is a multifaceted process and is usually caused by mucosal damage. Herbal medicines have received much attention considering the side effects of chemical drugs. Nowadays, the use of herbal medicines has received much attention considering the side effects of chemical drugs. Quercus brantii Lindl, Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten, and Falcaria vulgaris Bernh are plants used as traditional phytomedicine for gastric ulcer diseases.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study was aimed to investigate the protective effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of these herbs on ethanol-induced gastric ulceration, in addition, to investigate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gene expression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty Sprague Dawley rats, (200-250 g), were divided into six groups: Control: intact animals; sham: gavaged with distilled water (14 days); negative control: gavaged with 20 mg/kg of omeprazole (14 days); experimental groups I, II, and III: gavaged with 500 mg/kg of the extract of Falcaria vulgaris, Quercus brantii, and Cirsium vulgare, respectively, (14 days). The number of ulcers and pathological parameters were assessed. The serum superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, albumin, total protein, haptoglobin, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, total globulin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, C-fos, C-myc, and Caspase-9 were measured by ELISA and RT-PCR.

RESULTS

The extracts significantly reduced gastric ulcer (52.33%). The results showed that the Quercus brantii extract was more effective. There were significant differences between the serum levels of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein and those of alpha-2-macroglobulin. Also, there was a significant difference in the serum level of antioxidant parameters. Changes in the expression of the genes also confirmed the results suggested by other parameters. The expression levels of C-fos, C-myc, and caspase-9 were decreased, but the Bcl-2 expression increased.

CONCLUSION

The hydro-alcoholic extracts revealed various protection and noticeable change in the expression of caspase-9, C-myc, C-fos, and Bcl-2 genes in rats.

Traditional Chinese patent medicine Zhixiong Capsule (ZXC) alleviated formed atherosclerotic plaque in rat thoracic artery and the mechanism investigation including blood-dissolved-component-based network pharmacology analysis and biochemical validation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Chinese patent medicine Zhixiong Capsule (ZXC) is the equal mixture of the extract of leech, Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Leonurus japonicus Houtt., and Pueraria lobate (Willd.) Ohwi, which have been long used against inflammation, hyperlipidemia or blood stasis. In our previous study, ZXC showed good efficacy in preventing atherosclerosis (AS) plaque formation in rabbits.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In actual clinic practice, patients are more likely to receive treatments after AS plaque formation. Therefore, the efficacy of ZXC on formed AS plaques and the underlying mechanisms were further investigated in this study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Simvastatin (positive control) and ZXC (420 mg/kg and 840 mg/kg) were administrated to rats which first received long-term high fat diet administration (12 weeks). The blood lipid profiles of rats were monitored during the whole experiment, and the thoracic arteries were collected at the end of experiment for AS assessment (18th week). The blood-dissolved ZXC components were determined using an UPLC-QTOF-MS method, and the attained components were then used for network pharmacology analysis to predict the key ZXC components and targets. At last, the predicted targets were validated by ELISA and western blot methods.

RESULTS

ZXC administration showed good blood lipid-lowering effect by significantly reduced LDL-C and TC levels in rats while significantly increased HDL-C level. Compared with model group, simvastatin, low- and high-dose of ZXC administration decreased the ratio of intimal area and medial area by 81.1%, 71.1% and 71.4%, respectively (p < 0.01), and significantly alleviated collagen deposition and mineralization in rat arteries. It was found by network pharmacology analysis that leech and four components (namely daidzein, 4-methylenemiltirone, isorhamnetin and 2-isopropyl-8-methylphenanthrene-3,4-dione) are vital components for the anti-AS efficacy of ZXC. Combing the results from biochemical validation, IL-4, IL-13, MAPK1, MAPK14, JUN and P53 were confirmed as key targets of ZXC.

CONCLUSION

It could be concluded that ZXC has value as an anti-AS agent in clinical treatment against formed AS plaque at the current application dosage.

Plants against Helicobacter pylori to combat resistance: An ethnopharmacological review

Worldwide, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is regarded as the major etiological agent of peptic ulcer and gastric carcinoma. Claiming about 50 percent of the world population is infected with H. pylori while therapies for its eradication have failed because of many reasons including the acquired resistance against its antibiotics. Hence, the need to find new anti-H.pylori medications has become a hotspot with the urge of searching for alternative, more potent and safer inhibitors. In the recent drug technology scenario, medicinal plants are suggested as repositories for novel synthetic substances. Hitherto, is considered as ecofriendly, simple, more secure, easy, quick, and less toxic traditional treatment technique. This review is to highlight the anti-H. pylori medicinal plants, secondary metabolites and their mode of action with the aim of documenting such plants before they are effected by cultures and traditions that is expected as necessity.

Gastroprotective activity and pharmacological safety evaluation of Eupatorium aschenbornianum

Eupatorium aschenbornianum has been widely used in traditional Mexican and folk medicine for the treatment of wounds, skin lesions, hemorrhages and gastric ulcers in humans. Phytochemical studies have indicated that hexane extracts of E. aschenbornianum have anti-microbial and anti-fungal activities. In the present study, an accurate and reliable approach using a murine model was pursued to evaluate the anti-ulcer activity, lipid peroxidation properties and acute toxicity of powdered dried stem of E. aschenbornianum. The results indicated that administration of E. aschenbornianum exerted an anti-ulcerative effect and decreased lipid peroxidation in gastric ulcers induced by acetylsalicylic acid. An acute toxicity assay indicated normal behavior and no significant variations in the weight and food consumption of animals. In addition, quantitative analysis of biochemical parameters did not indicate any liver or kidney damage. The results indicated that E. aschenbornianum may be a safe therapeutic agent for the prevention of gastric ulcers.

Let's Go Bananas! Gren Bananas and their Health Benefits

Bananas have enormous health benefits as a food for both animals and humans. They have been used as a complimentary medicine to treat pathological conditions since ancient times. Recently, there has been increased interest in the scientific validity of the beneficial effects of bananas in alleviating and treating disease conditions including, ulcers, infections, diabetes, diarrhea, colitis and blood pressure. Herein, we write on the potential therapeutic and functional benefits of certain species of bananas when consumed green as well as considering the properties of extracts from the non-fruit parts of the plant. We conclude that green bananas appear to deliver an array of health and therapeutic benefits.

Aspirin-Induced Gastric Lesions Alters EGFR and PECAM-1 Immunoreactivity in Wistar Rats: Modulatory Action of Flavonoid Fraction of Musa Paradisiaca

AIM

In this study, Epithelial Growth Factor Receptor and Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 were localised to investigate the healing effects of a flavonoid-rich fraction of M. paradisiaca fruit in the gastric corpus of Wistar rats following aspirin-induced gastric lesion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mature, unripe fruits of M. paradisiaca were peeled; air dried, pulverised, extracted with 70% methanol, concentrated and partitioned. Ninety male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 6 groups of 15 rats each. The gastric lesion was induced in groups B, C, D, E and F rats by administration of 400 mg/kg aspirin in distilled water. Group A received distilled water. After 24 hours, flavonoid fraction of M. paradisiaca was administered to groups C, D and E at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively for 21 days. Group F rats received omeprazole at 1.8 mg/kg for 21 days. Five rats from each group were anaesthetized with ketamine on days 14, 21 and 28. Gastric tissues were excised and fixed in Neutral buffered formalin. This was followed by paraffin wax embedding method and sections stained with haematoxylin and eosin and for immunolocalisation of EGFR and PECAM-1. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in the ulcer index in the corpus of control and treated rats throughout the experimental period (p = 0.0001). H&E stained sections showed a gradual restoration of the epithelial lining in the treated groups. Immunohistochemical examination showed that M. paradisiaca significantly increased (p < 0.05) reactivity for both EGFR and CD31 across the treatment groups.

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of Musa paradisiaca in attenuating the damaging effects of aspirin on the gastric mucosa was observed as there was a significantly increased reactivity for EGFR and PECAM-1 in the gastric corpus in a dose-dependent manner.

Semipurified Ethyl Acetate Partition of Methanolic Extract of Melastoma malabathricum Leaves Exerts Gastroprotective Activity Partly via Its Antioxidant-Antisecretory-Anti-Inflammatory Action and Synergistic Action of Several Flavonoid-Based Compounds

Recent study has demonstrated the gastroprotective activity of crude methanolic extract of M. malabathricum leaves. The present study evaluated the gastroprotective potential of semipurified extracts (partitions): petroleum ether, ethyl acetate (EAMM), and aqueous obtained from the methanolic extract followed by the elucidation of the gastroprotective mechanisms of the most effective partition. Using the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer assay, all partitions exerted significant gastroprotection, with EAMM being the most effective partition. EAMM significantly (i) reduced the volume and acidity (free and total) while increasing the pH of gastric juice and enhanced the gastric wall mucus secretion when assessed using the pylorus ligation assay, (ii) increased the enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant activity of the stomach tissue, (iii) lost its gastroprotective activity following pretreatment with N-omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; NO blocker) or carbenoxolone (CBXN; NP-SH blocker), (iv) exerted antioxidant activity against various in vitro oxidation assays, and (v) showed moderate in vitro anti-inflammatory activity via the LOX-modulated pathway. In conclusion, EAMM exerts a remarkable NO/NP-SH-dependent gastroprotective effect that is attributed to its antisecretory and antioxidant activities, ability to stimulate the gastric mucus production and endogenous antioxidant system, and synergistic action of several gastroprotective-induced flavonoids.

Suppression of Type-II Diabetes with Dyslipidemia and Nephropathy by Peels of Musa cavendish Fruit

Musa cavendish, peels has local and traditional use to promote wound healing, hyperglycemia, ulceration etc. The present work investigated the lipid lowering; nephroprotective and glucose lowering properties of ethanolic extract of peels of Musa cavendish (EMC) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The EMC 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day and the vehicle were administered orally to alloxan-induced diabetic rats (n = 6) for 3 weeks. Changes in plasma glucose, lipid profile along with kidney function before and after treatment with EMC were recorded. The ethanolic extract of peels of Musa cavendish reduced blood glucose, serum triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and creatinine levels and improvement in body weight, liver glycogen, serum HDL cholesterol, serum albumin and total protein level when compared with untreated rats. Musa cavendish has lipid lowering, nephroprotective and antidiabetic property by regulating glucose uptake in the liver and muscles by restoring the intracellular energy balance.

Effects of flavone on the contractile activity of the circular smooth muscle of the rabbit middle colon in vitro

The circular smooth muscles of the middle colon of the rabbit generate giant contractions of high amplitude and low frequency. Flavone, at various concentrations, reduces the giant contractions and the tonic contraction induced by 10 µM carbachol and 80 mM KCl. The contractions induced by dequalinium and tetraethylammonium are reduced by flavone (30 µM). At 100 µM, flavone decreases the contraction induced by 100 µM methylene blue and 1mM orthovanadate. These results suggest that flavone inhibit the giant contractions by (1) inhibition of voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels, (2) activation of guanyl cyclase, (3) opening of K(+) channels and (4) inhibition of tyrosines kinases.

Anti-ulcer and ulcer healing potentials of Musa sapientum peel extract in the laboratory rodents

Background:

This study investigated the anti-ulcer and ulcer healing potentials of the methanol extract of Musa sapientum peel in the laboratory rats.

Materials and Methods:

Methanol extract of the peels on Musa sapientum (MEMS) was evaluated for its anti-ulcer using alcohol-induced, aspirin-induced, and pyloric ligation-induced models, and for its ulcer healing employing acetic acid-induced ulcer models in rats.

Results:

The findings from this experiment showed that MEMS (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, b.w.) anti-ulcer and ulcer healing activity (P ≤ 0.05) is dose-dependent. Also, MEMS exhibited healing of the ulcer base in all the treated groups when compared with the control group.

Conclusion:

The outcomes of this experiment revealed that the anti-ulcer effect of MEMS may be due to its anti-secretory and cyto-protective activity. The healing of the ulcer base might not be unconnected with basic fibroblast growth factors responsible for epithelial regeneration.

Assessment of glycemic potential ofMusa paradisiaca stem juice

The present study reveals the effect of Musa paradisiaca stem juice on blood glucose level (BGL) of normal & diabetic rats. The dose of 500 mg/kg bodyweight produces a significant rise of 28.3% in blood glucose level after 6h of oral administration in normal rats. Whereas, in sub diabetic rats the same dose produces a rise of 16.4% in blood glucose levels within 1h during glucose tolerance test (GTT) and a rise of 16% after 4 h in fasting blood glucose levels of severe diabetic cases. These results were unexpected and important to report as other species of Musa like Musa sapientum has been reported for its hypoglycemic effect.

Indigenous anti-ulcer activity of Musa sapientum on peptic ulcer

BACKGROUND

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD), encompassing gastric and duodenal ulcers is the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorder. The pathophysiology of PUD involves an imbalance between offensive factors like acid, pepsin and defensive factors like nitric oxide and growth factors. The clinical evaluation of antiulcer drugs showed tolerance, incidence of relapses and side-effects that make their efficacy arguable. An indigenous drug like Musa sapientum possessing fewer side-effects is the major thrust area of present day research, aiming at a better and safer approach for the management of PUD.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The unripe plantain bananas (Musa sapientum) were shade-dried, powdered and used for phytochemical analysis and as antiulcer drug. In our present study Group I rats served as control and were treated with saline, Group II was indomethacin-induced ulcerated rats, Group III received aqueous extract of Musa sapientum along with indomethacin and Group IV received esomeprazole along with indomethacin for 21 days. The anti-ulcerogenic activity was investigated by performing hematological, mucosal, antioxidant profile in comparison with the standard drug esomeprazole.

RESULTS

Our findings from High - Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) analysis showed that Musa sapientum has an active compound a monomeric flavonoid (leucocyanidin) with anti-ulcerogenic activity. Results were expressed as mean ± SD. All our results are in congruous with the results of standard drug esomeprazole.

CONCLUSION

It could be clearly concluded that administration of the aqueous extract of Musa sapientum at the dose used in this study tends to ameliorate ulcers. Its use in indigenous medicine should be scientifically scrutinized with further research.

Flavonoids with gastroprotective activity

Peptic ulcers are a common disorder of the entire gastrointestinal tract that occurs mainly in the stomach and the proximal duodenum. This disease is multifactorial and its treatment faces great difficulties due to the limited effectiveness and severe side effects of the currently available drugs. The use of natural products for the prevention and treatment of different pathologies is continuously expanding throughout the world. This is particularly true with regards to flavonoids, which represent a highly diverse class of secondary metabolites with potentially beneficial human health effects that is widely distributed in the plant kingdom and currently consumed in large amounts in the diet. They display several pharmacological properties in the gastroprotective area, acting as anti-secretory, cytoprotective and antioxidant agents. Besides their action as gastroprotectives, flavonoids also act in healing of gastric ulcers and additionally these polyphenolic compounds can be new alternatives for suppression or modulation of peptic ulcers associated with H. pylori. In this review, we have summarized the literature on ninety-five flavonoids with varying degrees of antiulcerogenic activity, confirming that flavonoids have a therapeutic potential for the more effective treatment of peptic ulcers.

The effect of bee propolis on recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a pilot study

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common, painful, and ulcerative disorder of the oral cavity of unknown etiology. No cure exists and medications aim to reduce pain associated with ulcers through topical applications or reduce outbreak frequency with systemic medications, many having serious side effects. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the potential of a product to reduce the number of outbreaks of RAS ulcers. Propolis is a bee product used in some cultures as treatment for mouth ulcers. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, patients were assigned to take 500 mg of propolis or a placebo capsule daily. Subjects reported a baseline ulcer frequency and were contacted biweekly to record recurrences. Data were analyzed to determine if subjects had a decrease of 50% in outbreak frequency. The data indicated a statistically significant reduction of outbreaks in the propolis group (Fisher's exact test, one sided, p = 0.04). Patients in the propolis group also self-reported a significant improvement in their quality of life (p = 0.03). This study has shown propolis to be effective in decreasing the number of recurrences and improve the quality of life in patients who suffer from RAS. Propolis should be evaluated further in a larger sample clinical trial.