Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of essential oil of the leaves of Amburana cearensis (Allemão) A.C. Smith. from the semi-arid region of Northeastern Brazil

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Amburana cearensis (Allemão) A.C. Smith is a medicinal plant with wide distribution in South America, popularly known in Brazil as "cumaru" or "amburana de cheiro". In folk medicine, in the semi-arid region of Northeastern Brazil, infusions, teas and decoctions of leaves of Amburana cearensis have their practical use for treating fever, gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation, and inflammation pain. However, none of the ethnopharmacological properties has been scientifically evaluated using volatile compounds obtained from its leaves (essential oil).

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study investigated the chemical composition, acute oral toxicity, and antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the essential oil from the leaves of A. cearensis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The acute toxicity of the essential oil was investigated in mice. The antinociceptive effect was evaluated using the formalin test and, abdominal writhing induced by acetic acid, being investigated the possible mechanisms of action involved in antinociception. The acute anti-inflammatory effect was investigated through models of carrageenan-induced peritonitis, yeast-induced pyrexia, and carrageenan- and histamine-induced paw inflammation.

RESULTS

No acute toxicity was observed at doses up to 2000 mg/kg; p.o. The antinociceptive effect was statistically equal to morphine. In the formalin assay, the oil showed analgesic activity in the neurogenic and inflammatory phases, having as mechanisms the cholinergic, adenosinergic system, and ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K-ATP). In peritonitis, a reduction in TNF-α and IL-1β levels and leukocyte migration were observed. The antipyretic effect was statistically superior to dipyrone. The reduction in paw edema was statistically superior to the standard in both models.

CONCLUSION

The results obtained not only support the traditional use of the species in inflammatory conditions and pain in folk medicine but also demonstrate that this is a rich source of phytocomponents such as germacrone, which can be used as a natural and sustainable therapeutic agent with industrial applications.

Synthesis of [ 2 H 5 ]baricitinib via [ 2 H 5 ]ethanesulfonyl chloride

Baricitinib, typically applied as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, has recently attracted the attention of clinicians and researchers as a potential treatment for COVID‐19. Naturally, there has been a need for the preparation of the isotope‐labelled analogue of baricitinib to probe the pharmacokinetics of baricitinib in this new role. As such, we have developed a simple synthetic route to deuterated [²H₅]baricitinib, facilitating its formation over four steps and in a 29% overall yield based on starting [²H₅]ethanethiol (19% if we start with [²H₅]bromoethane instead). A critical component of the overall process involves the synthesis of [²H₅]ethanesulfonyl chloride, and we describe in detail the two routes that were explored to optimize this step.

Discovery of dronedarone and its analogues as NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors with potent anti-inflammation activity

Inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation is a prospective therapeutic strategy for uncontrolled inflammatory diseases. It is the first time that dronedarone, a multiply ion channel blocker, was identified as a NLRP3-inflammasome inhibitor with an IC₅₀ value of 6.84 μM against IL-1β release. A series of novel 5-amide benzofuran derivatives were designed and synthesized as NLRP3-inflammasome inhibitors. Compound 8c showed slightly increased activity (IC₅₀ = 3.85 μM) against IL-1β release. Notably, treatment with 8c could significantly inhibit NLRP3-mediated IL-1β release and ameliorate peritoneal inflammation in a mouse model of sepsis. Collectively, 8c is a promising lead compound for further chemical development as a NLRP3 inhibitor with anti-inflammation effects.

1'-methylspiro[indoline-3,4'-piperidine] Derivatives: Design, Synthesis, Molecular Docking and Anti-tumor Activity Studies

Background:

Spirocyclic indoline compounds widely exist in numerous natural products and synthetic molecules with significant biological activities. In recent years, these kinds of compounds have attracted extensive attention as potent anti-tumor agents in the fields of pharmacology and chemistry.

Objective:

In this study, we focused on designing and synthesizing novel 1'-methylspiro[indoline- 3,4'-piperidine] derivatives, which were evaluated by preliminary bioactivity experiment in vitro and molecular docking.

Methods and Materials:

The key intermediate 1'-methylspiro[indoline-3,4'-piperidine] (B4) reacted with benzenesulfonyl chloride with different substituents under alkaline condition to obtain its derivatives (B5-B10). We evaluated their antiproliferative activities against A549, BEL-7402 and HeLa cell lines by MTT assay. We performed the CDOCKER module in Accelrys Discovery Studio 2.5.5 for molecular docking of compound B5, and investigated the binding modes of compound B5 with three different target proteins.

Results:

The results indicated that compounds B4-B10 exhibited good antiproliferative activities against the above three types of cell lines, in which compound B5 with chloride atom as electronwithdrawing substituent on a phenyl ring showed the highest potency against BEL-7402 cell lines (IC50=30.03±0.43 μg/mL). The results of molecular docking showed that the binding energies of the prominent bioactive compound B5 with CDK, c-Met, and EGFR protein crystals are -44.3583 kcal/mol, -38.3292 kcal/mol, -33.3653 kcal/mol, respectively.

Conclusion:

1'-methylspiro[indoline-3,4'-piperidine] and its six derivatives were synthesized and evaluated against BEL-7402, A 549, and Hela cell lines. Compound B5 showed significant inhibition on BEL-7402 cell lines. Molecular docking assays revealed that B5 as a ligand showed strong affinity and appropriate binding pose on the amino acid residues in active sites of the tested targets, which encourage us to conduct further evaluation such as the kinase experiment.

Plant-Derived Food Grade Substances (PDFGS) Active Against Respiratory Viruses: A Systematic Review of Non-clinical Studies

Human diet comprises several classes of phytochemicals some of which are potentially active against human pathogenic viruses. This study examined available evidence that identifies existing food plants or constituents of edible foods that have been reported to inhibit viral pathogenesis of the human respiratory tract. SCOPUS and PUBMED databases were searched with keywords designed to retrieve articles that investigated the effect of plant-derived food grade substances (PDFGS) on the activities of human pathogenic viruses. Eligible studies for this review were those done on viruses that infect the human respiratory tract. Forty six (46) studies met the specified inclusion criteria from the initial 5,734 hits. The selected studies investigated the effects of different PDFGS on the infectivity, proliferation and cytotoxicity of different respiratory viruses including influenza A virus (IAV), influenza B virus (IBV), Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human parainfluenza virus (hPIV), Human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63), and rhinovirus (RV) in cell lines and mouse models. This review reveals that PDFGS inhibits different stages of the pathological pathways of respiratory viruses including cell entry, replication, viral release and viral-induced dysregulation of cellular homeostasis and functions. These alterations eventually lead to the reduction of virus titer, viral-induced cellular damages and improved survival of host cells. Major food constituents active against respiratory viruses include flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, lectins, vitamin D, curcumin, and plant glycosides such as glycyrrhizin, acteoside, geniposide, and iridoid glycosides. Herbal teas such as guava tea, green and black tea, adlay tea, cistanche tea, kuding tea, licorice extracts, and edible bird nest extracts were also effective against respiratory viruses in vitro. The authors of this review recommend an increased consumption of foods rich in these PDFGS including legumes, fruits (e.g berries, citrus), tea, fatty fish and curcumin amongst human populations with high prevalence of respiratory viral infections in order to prevent, manage and/or reduce the severity of respiratory virus infections.

The Hepatotoxicity of Alantolactone and Germacrone: Their Influence on Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism in Differentiated HepaRG Cells

The sesquiterpenes alantolactone (ATL) and germacrone (GER) are potential anticancer agents of natural origin. Their toxicity and biological activity have been evaluated using the differentiated HepaRG (dHepaRG) cells, a hepatocyte-like model. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of cell viability after 24-h treatment of dHepaRG cells are approximately 60 µM for ATL and 250 µM for GER. However, both sesquiterpenes induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation in non-toxic concentrations and significantly dysregulate the mRNA expression of several functional markers of mature hepatocytes. They similarly decrease the protein level of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and their transcription target, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). Based on the results of a BATMAN-TCM analysis, the effects of sesquiterpenes on cholesterol and lipid metabolism were studied. Sesquiterpene-mediated dysregulation of both cholesterol and lipid metabolism was observed, during which these compounds influenced the protein expression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP-2), as well as the mRNA expression of HMGCR, CYP19A1, PLIN2, FASN, SCD, ACACB, and GPAM genes. In conclusion, the two sesquiterpenes caused ROS induction at non-toxic concentrations and alterations in cholesterol and lipid metabolism at slightly toxic and toxic concentrations, suggesting a risk of liver damage if administered to humans.

Germacrone protects against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion injury by inhibiting autophagy processes in PC12 cells

BACKGROUND

Germacrone is an anti-inflammatory ingredient in the Chinese medicine zedoary turmeric. The purpose of this study was to explore the protective mechanism of germacrone against PC12 cells injury caused by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R).

METHODS

OGD/R injury model of PC12 cells was established by using OGD/R (2 h/24 h). The cell viability was assessed by MTT assay and LDH release. The ultrastructure of cells was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The expression of autophagy related proteins in cells was determined by Western Blot.

RESULTS

The results of ultrastructural observation showed that PC12 cells damaged by OGD/R showed typical autophagy characteristics. In addition, OGD/R observably up-regulated the expression of autophagy related proteins: the class III type phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K III), light chain 3(LC3), and Beclin-1 in PC12 cells, and inhibited the expression of the class I type phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K I), Protein kinase B (Akt), the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2) proteins. Furthermore, germacrone increased the cell viability of OGD/R-damaged PC12 cells by down-regulating the expression of LC3 protein in cells in a concentration-dependent manner. More importantly, germacrone significantly inhibited the expression of PI3K III, LC3, and Beclin-1 in OGD/R-injured PC12 cells, and up-regulated the expressionof PI3K I, Akt, mTOR, and Bcl-2 proteins in cells, and this inhibited or up-regulated effect was reversed by PI3K I inhibitor (ZSTK474).

CONCLUSION

The above results indicated that germacrone could inhibit the autophagy effect in OGD/R injury model of PC12 cells, the mechanism of inhibition was regulated by PI3K III/Beclin-1/Bcl-2 and PI3K I/Akt/mTOR pathways, thereby improving the cell viability of PC12 cells and playing a neuroprotective role, which provided a new drug for the treatment of OGD/R.

Germacrone exerts anti-cancer effects on gastric cancer through induction of cell cycle arrest and promotion of apoptosis

Background

Germacrone is one of the natural bioactive compounds found in Rhizoma curcuma essential oils. In this study, the potential anti-cancer effect of germacrone in gastric cancer cell line BGC823 was investigated.

Methods

The cell viability and proliferative activity were assessed, and cell cycle analysis was also performed. Hoechst 33258 and Annexin V/PI double staining was used for detection of cell apoptosis. Protein profiles of cell cycle-related and apoptosis-related proteins were assessed.

Results

MTT assay revealed that germacrone had marked cytotoxicity on BGC823 cells. Germacrone induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase via remarkably decreased expression levels of cyclin B1, cdc 2 and cdc 25c. In addition, the treatment with germacrone induced caspase-3 activity and PARP cleavage. These findings demonstrated the effects of germacrone on inhibiting cell proliferation through induction of G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and promotion of cell apoptosis. It also indicated that germacrone functioned through modulations of cell cycle-associated protein expression and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis.

Conclusion

These findings will be valuable as the molecular basis for the germacrone-mediated anti-cancer effect against gastric cancer.

Non-Curcuminoids from Turmeric and Their Potential in Cancer Therapy and Anticancer Drug Delivery Formulations

Over the past decades curcuminoids have been extensively studied for their biological activities such as antiulcer, antifibrotic, antiviral, antibacterial, antiprotozoal, antimutagenic, antifertility, antidiabetic, anticoagulant, antivenom, antioxidant, antihypotensive, antihypocholesteremic, and anticancer activities. With the perception of limited toxicity and cost, these compounds forms an integral part of cancer research and is well established as a potential anticancer agent. However, only few studies have focused on the other bioactive molecules of turmeric, known as non-curcuminoids, which are also equally potent as curcuminoids. This review aims to explore the comprehensive potency including the identification, physicochemical properties, and anticancer mechanism inclusive of molecular docking studies of non-curcuminoids such as turmerones, elemene, furanodiene (FN), bisacurone, germacrone, calebin A (CA), curdione, and cyclocurcumin. An insight into the clinical studies of these curcumin-free compounds are also discussed which provides ample evidence that favors the therapeutic potential of these compounds. Like curcuminoids, limited solubility and bioavailability are the most fragile domain, which circumscribe further applications of these compounds. Thus, this review credits the encapsulation of non-curcuminoid components in diverse drug delivery systems such as co-crystals, solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, microspheres, polar-non-polar sandwich (PNS) technology, which help abolish their shortcomings and flaunt their ostentatious benefits as anticancer activities.