Astaxanthin attenuates cardiovascular dysfunction associated with deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt-induced hypertension in rats

Recent advances in anti-inflammatory active components and action mechanisms of natural medicines

Inflammation is a series of reactions caused by the body's resistance to external biological stimuli. Inflammation affects the occurrence and development of many diseases. Anti-inflammatory drugs have been used widely to treat inflammatory diseases, but long-term use can cause toxic side-effects and affect human functions. As immunomodulators with long-term conditioning effects and no drug residues, natural products are being investigated increasingly for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In this review, we focus on the inflammatory process and cellular mechanisms in the development of diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, and coronavirus disease-2019. Also, we focus on three signaling pathways (Nuclear factor-kappa B, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3) to explain the anti-inflammatory effect of natural products. In addition, we also classified common natural products based on secondary metabolites and explained the association between current bidirectional prediction progress of natural product targets and inflammatory diseases.

Dapagliflozin Protection against Myocardial Ischemia by Modulating Sodium-glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitor, Silent Information Regulator 1, and Fatty Acid Synthase Expressions

BACKGROUND: The emerging role of sodium-glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors drugs as potential therapeutic agents in myocardial ischemic (MI) injury treatment has raised the concern for possible mechanisms of action. AIM: The current experimental study aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of dapagliflozin (DAPA) a SGLT2i, on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced MI in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty Wistar rats were divided randomly and equally into three groups. Group 1 (control group): Received 1.0 mL of normal saline through an orogastric tube for 14 days. Group 2 (ISO group): Received 1.0 mL of normal saline orally through an orogastric tube for 14 days. In the last 2 days (days 13 and 14), ISO (100 mg/kg) was freshly dissolved in normal saline and injected subcutaneously once daily. Group 3 (ISO + DAPA-treated group): Received DAPA 1.0 mg/kg/day orally for 14 days. In the last 2 days (days 13 and 14), ISO (100 mg/kg) was introduced like that described in Group 2. RESULTS: DAPA protects MI development by reversal of blood pressure changes, electrocardiographic alterations, stabilization of cardiac enzymes, inflammation restoration, oxidative stress, and lipid profile. SGLT2 was overexpressed in the ISO-induced MI, which declined in the ISO + DAPA group. Moreover, DAPA induced silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1)/fatty acid synthase (FASN) overexpression in ISO-induced MI. DAPA could have a potential protective role against acute MI. CONCLUSION: DAPA protects against acute MI by modulating SIRT1 and FASN expression in cardiac muscles, suppressing oxidative stress, and downregulating inflammatory mediators.