Flavocoxid, a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase, blunts pro-inflammatory phenotype activation in endotoxin-stimulated macrophages

Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Pteropodine in Rodents

Pteropodine (PT) is a component of some plants with potentially useful pharmacological activities for humans. This compound has biomedical properties related to the modulation of the immune system, nervous system, and inflammatory processes. This study addresses the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacity of pteropodin in a murine model of arthritis and induced edema of the mouse ear. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity, we used the reversed passive Arthus reaction (RPAR), which includes the rat paw edema test, the rat pleurisy test, and a mouse ear edema model. The antioxidant effect of PT was evaluated by determining the myeloperoxidase enzyme activity. PT showed an anti-inflammatory effect in the different specific and non-specific tests. We found a 51, 66 and 70% inhibitory effect of 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg of PT, respectively, in the rat paw edema test. In the pleurisy assay, 40 mg/kg of PT induced a low neutrophil count (up to 36%) when compared to the negative control group, and 20 mg/kg of PT increased the content of lymphocytes by up to 28% and the pleural exudate volume decreased by 52% when compared to the negative control group, respectively. We also found an 81.4% inflammatory inhibition of the edema ear with 0.04 mg/ear of PT, and a significant myeloperoxidase enzyme inhibition by the three doses of PT tested. We conclude that PT exerted a potent anti-inflammatory effect in the acute inflammation model in rodents.

Potential Therapeutic Mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi against Ankylosing Spondylitis Based on a Comprehensive Pharmacological Model

Background

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SBG) has significant anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating activities and is widely used in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. However, the mechanism of SBG in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) remains to be elucidated.

Methods

Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to AS were analyzed based on two GEO gene chips. The DEGs were merged with the data derived from OMIM, GeneCards, and PharmGKB databases to ascertain AS-related targets. Active components of SBG and their targets were acquired from the TCMSP database. After overlapping the targets of AS and SBG, the action targets were acquired. Subsequently, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and core target screening were conducted using the STRING database and Cytoscape software. Moreover, the DAVID platform was used to perform Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of action targets. Finally, the affinity of major active components and core targets was validated with molecular docking.

Results

A total of 36 active components of SBG were acquired from TCMSP database. Among these, the main active components were baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin A. The PPI network and screening showed TNF, IL-6, CXCL8, PTGS2, and VEGFA as core targets associated SBG against AS. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that SBG participated in various biological processes, via regulating IL-17, TNF, and NF-κB signaling pathways. Molecular docking results confirmed a strong binding activity between the main active components and the core targets.

Conclusion

The therapeutic mechanism of SBG associated with AS can be characterized as a multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway mechanism. SBG may be a promising therapeutic candidate for AS.

Natural Inhibitors against Potential Targets of Cyclooxygenase, Lipoxygenase and Leukotrienes

BACKGROUND

Cyclooxygenase (COX) and Lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes catalyze the production of pain mediators like Prostaglandins (PGs) and Leukotrienes (LTs), respectively from arachidonic acid.

INTRODUCTION

The COX and LOX enzyme modulators are responsible for the major PGs and LTs mediated complications like asthma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, neuropathy and Cardiovascular Syndromes (CVS). Many synthetic Nonsteroidal Anti- Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) used in the treatment have serious side effects like nausea, vomiting, hyperacidity, gastrointestinal ulcers, CVS, etc. Methods: The natural inhibitors of pain mediators have great acceptance worldwide due to fewer side effects on long-term uses. The present review is an extensive study of the advantages of plantbased vs synthetic inhibitors.

RESULTS

These natural COX and LOX inhibitors control inflammatory response without causing side-effect-related complicacy.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, the natural COX and LOX inhibitors may be used as alternative medicines for the management of pain and inflammation due to their less toxicity and resistivity.

Ameliorative effect of flavocoxid on cyclophosphamide-induced cardio and neurotoxicity via targeting the GM-CSF/NF-κB signaling pathway

Cyclophosphamide (Cyclo) is a chemotherapeutic agent used as an immunosuppressant and as a treatment for many cancerous diseases. Many previous pieces of literature proved the marked cardio and neurotoxicity of the drug. Thus, this research provides evidence on the alleviative effect of flavocoxid on the cardiac and brain toxicity of cyclophosphamide in mice and determines its underlying mechanisms. Flavocoxid (Flavo) is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent that inhibits the peroxidase activity of cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) enzymes and 5-lipooxygenase (5-LOX). Flavo was administered orally (20 mg/kg) for 2 weeks, followed by Cyclo (100 mg/kg, i.p.) on day 14. Higher heart and brain weight indices, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK-MB), and nitric oxide (NO) were mitigated following Flavo administration. Flavo modulated oxidative stress biomarkers (malonaldehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin (IL)-1β. Additionally, cardiac troponin I (cTn-I), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), brain amyloid precursor protein (APP), and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were decreased by Flavo administration. Moreover, Flavo ameliorated heart and brain histopathological changes and caspase-3 levels. Collectively, Flavo (20 mg/kg) for 14 days showed significant cardio and neuroprotective effects due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic activities via modulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and the GM-CSF/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Flavonoids regulate tumor-associated macrophages - From structure-activity relationship to clinical potential (Review)

In recent years, the strategy for tumor therapy has changed from focusing on the direct killing effect of different types of therapeutic agents on cancer cells to the new mainstream of multi-mode and -pathway combined interventions in the microenvironment of the developing tumor. Flavonoids, with unique tricyclic structures, have diverse and extensive immunomodulatory and anti-cancer activities in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the most abundant immunosuppressive cells in the TME. The regulation of macrophages to fight cancer is a promising immunotherapeutic strategy. This study covers the most comprehensive cognition of flavonoids in regulating TAMs so far. Far more than a simple list of studies, we try to dig out evidence of crosstalk at the molecular level between flavonoids and TAMs from literature, in order to discuss the most relevant chemical structure and its possible relationship with the multimodal pharmacological activity, as well as systematically build a structure-activity relationship between flavonoids and TAMs. Additionally, we point out the advantages of the macro-control of flavonoids in the TME and discuss the potential clinical implications as well as areas for future research of flavonoids in regulating TAMs. These results will provide hopeful directions for the research of antitumor drugs, while providing new ideas for the pharmaceutical industry to develop more effective forms of flavonoids.

Agarwood-The Fragrant Molecules of a Wounded Tree

Agarwood, popularly known as oudh or gaharu, is a fragrant resinous wood of high commercial value, traded worldwide and primarily used for its distinctive fragrance in incense, perfumes, and medicine. This fragrant wood is created when Aquilaria trees are wounded and infected by fungi, producing resin as a defense mechanism. The depletion of natural agarwood caused by overharvesting amidst increasing demand has caused this fragrant defensive resin of endangered Aquilaria to become a rare and valuable commodity. Given that instances of natural infection are quite low, artificial induction, including biological inoculation, is being conducted to induce agarwood formation. A long-term investigation could unravel insights contributing toward Aquilaria being sustainably cultivated. This review will look at the different methods of induction, including physical, chemical, and biological, and compare the production, yield, and quality of such treatments with naturally formed agarwood. Pharmaceutical properties and medicinal benefits of fragrance-associated compounds such as chromones and terpenoids are also discussed.

Flavocoxid halts both intestinal and extraintestinal alterations in acetic acid-induced colitis in rats

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic chronic inflammatory disorder mainly affecting the colon and rectum. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the potential protective effect of flavocoxid, a dual COX and LOX inhibitor, in colitis model in rats. UC was induced by instillation of 2 ml of 4% acetic acid (AA) into the colon using a pediatric catheter in rats, and flavocoxid (10 and 20 mg·kg^-1) was given once daily for 7 days before induction of colitis. Rats were sacrificed; sera were collected; colons and livers were isolated and then analyzed by biochemical, macroscopic, and histopathological examination. Pretreatment with flavocoxid (10 and 20 mg·kg^-1) significantly reduced serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) (43.7 ± 7 and 76.2 ± 7.3 vs. 288.7 ± 31.4 in AA group) and aspartate transaminase (AST) (179.5 ± 22.2 and 200.5 ± 14 vs. 392.7 ± 35.6 in AA group) (p>0.05). Also, it decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NOx) levels in both colonic and hepatic tissues. Moreover, flavocoxid effectively elevated colonic and hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity when compared to AA group (p>0.05). Additionally, flavocoxid significantly decreased levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (878.2 ± 13.4 and 560.1 ± 2.9 vs. 1378.1 ± 31 in AA group) in colonic tissues and (701 ± 6.9 and 442.5 ± 8.2 vs. 1501 ± 9.4 in AA group) in hepatic tissues, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κBp65) (493.8 ± 6.8 and 368.7 ± 3.1 vs. 659.2 ± 9.4 in AA group) in colonic tissues and (358 ± 5.1 and 163.5 ± 7.8 vs. 732.5 ± 4.5 in AA group) in hepatic tissues, myeloperoxidase (MPO) (15.7 ± 0.3 and 13 ± 0.2 vs. 20.9 ± 0.5 in AA group) in colonic tissues and (20.4 ± 0.3 and 16.3 ± 0.3 vs. 23.9 ± 1.2 in AA group) in hepatic tissues, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) (12.5 ± 0.3 and 10 ± 0.2 vs. 16 ± 0.1 in AA group) in colonic tissues and (14.1 ± 0.04 and 11.5 ± 0.08 vs. 17.8 ± 0.1 in AA group) in hepatic tissues (p>0.05). Furthermore, it down-regulated Bax and caspase-3 expression in colonic and hepatic tissues upon comparison with AA group. Collectively, flavocoxid conferred a protective impact against acetic acid-induced colitis in rats via attenuating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

Reduction of oxidative stress blunts the NLRP3 inflammatory cascade in LPS stimulated human gingival fibroblasts and oral mucosal epithelial cells

The therapeutic armamentarium for the treatment of oral mucositis is very poor. Catechin and baicalin are two natural flavonoids that have been individually reported to have a curative potential. Flavocoxid is a mixed extract containing baicalin and catechin showing antioxidant effects and anti-inflammatory activity mainly due to a dual inhibition of inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and NLRP3 pathway. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of flavocoxid in an "in vitro" model of oral mucositis induced by triggering an inflammatory phenotype in human gingival fibroblasts (GF) and human oral mucosal epithelial cells (EC). GF and EC were challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS 2 μg/ml) alone or in combination with flavocoxid (32 μg/ml). Flavocoxid increased Nrf2, prompted a marked reduction in malondialdehyde levels and reduced the expression of COX-2 and 5-LOX together with PGE₂, and LTB₄ levels. Flavocoxid caused also a great decrease in the expression of NF-κB and turned off NLRP3 inflammasome and its downstream effectors signal, as caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 in both GF and EC cells stimulated with LPS. These results suggest a correlation between oxidative stress and NLRP3 activation and indicate that flavocoxid suppresses the inflammatory storm that accompanies oral mucositis. This preclinical evidence deserves to be confirmed in a clinical setting.

A Comprehensive Review on the Chemical Composition and Pharmacological Activities of Acacia catechu (L.f.) Willd

With the emergence of epidemics, pandemics, and infectious diseases, several research activities have been carried out on natural products to tackle them. As there are structural diversities in natural products, researchers are focused on exploring them for treatment and/or management of various infections and/or diseases. Acacia catechu (L.f.) Willd. belonging to the order Fabales and family Fabaceae shows a wide range of pharmacological functions in the management of diseases in humankind. This review was carried out to gather and provide information about the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of A. catechu through the literature survey of scientific articles. On preliminary assessments, A. catechu is demonstrated as a significant wellspring of bioactive compounds with a wide range of biological and pharmaceutical applications such as antidiabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiarrheal, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, and so on. Although the metabolites from the plant are reported with diverse pharmacological applications, there is little information in regards to toxicity and clinical trials on bioactive compounds of this plant. Further research on diverse bioactive compounds from the plant is required to develop them as a successful potent drug.

Flavocoxid Ameliorates Aortic Calcification Induced by Hypervitaminosis D3 and Nicotine in Rats Via Targeting TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS, and Osteogenic Runx2

PURPOSE

This research was designed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of flavocoxid (FCX) on vascular calcification (VC) in rats.

METHODS

Vitamin D₃ and nicotine were administered to Wistar rats, which then received FCX (VC-FCX group) or its vehicle (VC group) for 4 weeks. Control and FCX groups served as controls. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures, heart rate (HR), and left ventricular weight (LVW)/BW were measured. Serum concentrations of calcium, phosphate, creatinine, uric acid, and alkaline phosphatase were determined. Moreover, aortic calcium content and aortic expression of runt-related transcription factor (Runx2), osteopontin (OPN), Il-1β, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were assessed. Oxidative status in aortic homogenates was investigated.

RESULTS

Compared to untreated VC rats, FCX treatment prevented body weight loss, reduced aortic calcium deposition, restored normal values of SBP, DBP, and HR, and attenuated LV hypertrophy. FCX also improved renal function and ameliorated serum levels of phosphorus, calcium, and ALP in rats with VC. FCX abolished aortic lipid peroxidation in VC rats. Moreover, VC-FCX rats showed marked reductions in aortic levels of Il-1β and osteogenic marker (Runx2) and attenuated aortic expression of TNF-α, iNOS, and MMP-9 proteins compared to untreated VC rats. The expression of the smooth muscle lineage marker α-SMA was greatly enhanced in aortas from VC rats upon FCX treatment.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrate FCX ability to attenuate VDN-induced aortic calcinosis in rats, suggesting its potential for preventing arteiocalcinosis in diabetic patients and those with chronic kidney disease.

Dietary Interventions with Polyphenols in Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review Directed from the Preclinical Data to Randomized Clinical Studies

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and a major cause of limited functionality and thus a decrease in the quality of life of the inflicted. Given the fact that the existing pharmacological treatments lack disease-modifying properties and their use entails significant side effects, nutraceuticals with bioactive compounds constitute an interesting field of research. Polyphenols are plant-derived molecules with established anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that have been extensively evaluated in clinical settings and preclinical models in OA. As more knowledge is gained in the research field, an interesting approach in the management of OA is the additive and/or synergistic effects that polyphenols may have in an optimized supplement. Therefore, the aim of this review was to summarize the recent literature regarding the use of combined polyphenols in the management of OA. For that purpose, a PubMed literature survey was conducted with a focus on some preclinical osteoarthritis models and randomized clinical trials on patients with osteoarthritis from 2018 to 2021 which have evaluated the effect of combinations of polyphenol-rich extracts and purified polyphenol constituents. Data indicate that combined polyphenols may be promising for the treatment of osteoarthritis in the future, but more clinical trials with novel approaches in the identification of the in-between relationship of such constituents are needed.

Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol Alone and in Combination with Standardized Bioflavonoid Composition

Symptom-alleviating therapies for osteoarthritis (OA) management are inadequate. Long-term application of first-line treatments, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, is limited due to associated side effects. We believe that a combination of traditionally used botanical extracts, which have diverse active components that target multiple inflammatory pathways, may provide a safe and efficacious alternative to address the multifactorial nature of OA. Recently, cannabidiol (CBD), the major nonpsychoactive component of the hemp plant, has gained renewed global attention for its pharmacological actions. It has shown promise in reducing pain and inflammation in preclinical models of arthritis. In this study, widely employed inflammatory and noninflammatory animal pain models, such as the hot plate test, visceral pain model (writhing test), and carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model, were utilized to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of CBD alone and in combination with standardized bioflavonoid compositions. CBD was tested at 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg orally and at 5% topically. Administered alone, CBD produced dose-correlated, statistically significant pain inhibition in all the models. Enhanced performance in pain and inflammation reduction was observed when CBD was orally administered in complex with the bioflavonoid compositions. Data from this study show that for clinically meaningful efficacy against OA, CBD may have to be delivered in higher dosage or formulated with other medicinal plants with similar activities.

A Rare Case of Flavocoxid-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic progressive interstitial lung disease characterized by repetitive cycles of epithelial cell injury and dysregulated repair. Although most cases of pulmonary fibrosis are idiopathic, a detailed history that includes medications, comorbidities, tobacco use, environmental exposures, and family history should be taken to rule out secondary etiology. We present a case of flavocoxid-induced pulmonary toxicity which progressed from hypersensitivity pneumonitis to pulmonary fibrosis even after discontinuation of the offending drug.

Rational design and Structure-Activity relationship of coumarin derivatives effective on HIV-1 protease and partially on HIV-1 reverse transcriptase

Since dual inhibitors may yield lower toxicity and reduce the likelihood of drug resistance, as well as inhibitors of HIV-1 PR and RT constitute the core of chemotherapy for AIDS treatment, we herein designed and synthesized new coumarin derivatives characterized by various linkers that exhibited excellent potency against PR and a weak inhibition of RT. Among which, compounds 6f and 7c inhibited PR with IC₅₀ values of 15.5 and 62.1 nM, respectively, and weakly affected also RT with IC₅₀ values of 241.8 and 188.7 μM, respectively, showing the possibility in the future of developing dual HIV-1 PR/RT inhibitors. Creative stimulation for further research of more potent dual HIV-1 inhibitors was got according to the molecular docking studies.

Human health-related properties of chromones: an overview

Natural compounds occurring throughout the world are scientifically and practically valuable because of their unique and beneficial properties to control a wide range of disorders in the human body. Chromones are attracting increasing attention as novel therapeutic agents due to their effective bioactivities for human health. Accordingly, the present overview article was designed to scan the biological and pharmacological performance of chromones, including their anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-microbial activities.

Exploiting Curcumin Synergy With Natural Products Using Quantitative Analysis of Dose-Effect Relationships in an Experimental In Vitro Model of Osteoarthritis

Introduction: Drug combination is widely used to treat chronic inflammatory diseases. A similar strategy might be worth of interest to design plant-derived natural products to treat inflammatory conditions. Curcumin is a natural phenolic compound which shares anti-inflammatory activity with both flavocoxid, a flavonoid mixture of baicalin and catechin, and β-caryophyllene, a bicyclic sesquiterpene. The aim of this study was to investigate the synergy potential of curcumin with both flavocoxid and β-caryophyllene in human articular chondrocytes triggered with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in an experimental in vitro model of osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods: Human articular chondrocytes were stimulated with LPS alone or in combination with different treatments. Total RNA was extracted 4 h after treatment to study interleukin 1β (IL-1β), NF-κB, and STAT3 mRNA expression. A drug combination study was designed choosing 5 doses to demonstrate a synergistic effect of compounds, according to Chou and Talalay method. A median-effect equation was applied and finally, the combination index (CI) was used to clarify the nature of the compounds interaction (synergistic versus additive versus antagonistic inhibitory effects); CI < 1, CI = 1, and CI > 1 indicated synergistic, additive, and antagonistic effects, respectively. Results: LPS prompted IL-1β expression. Curcumin, flavocoxid and β-caryophyllene suppressed IL-1β expression with different IC₅₀. A synergistic action for the reduction of the inflammatory phenotype in human chondrocytes was observed for the combination curcumin-flavocoxid with a percentage from 10% to 90%, and for the combination curcumin-β-caryophyllene from 50% to 90%. IC₅₀ doses of either flavocoxid, β-caryophyllene and curcumin alone or in combination were safe and did not affect cell vitality. Moreover, the same IC₅₀ doses reduced the transcription factors NF-κB and STAT3 mRNA expression and interestingly the effects of the combinations were greater than the natural products alone, thus suggesting that the site where the synergy takes place could be at the signal transduction level. Discussion: The results suggest that curcumin synergizes with either flavocoxid or β-caryophyllene, exerting an anti-inflammatory activity and thus strongly suggesting the potential of a dual combination of these compounds for the management of osteoarthritis and unmasking a new feature of these natural products.

The Biological Efficacy of Natural Products against Acute and Chronic Inflammatory Diseases in the Oral Region

The oral inflammatory diseases are divided into two types: acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. In this review, we summarize the biological efficacy of herbal medicine, natural products, and their active ingredients against acute and chronic inflammatory diseases in the oral region, especially stomatitis and periodontitis. We review the effects of herbal medicines and a biscoclaurin alkaloid preparation, cepharamthin, as a therapy against stomatitis, an acute inflammatory disease. We also summarize the effects of herbal medicines and natural products against periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease, and one of its clinical conditions, alveolar bone resorption. Recent studies show that several herbal medicines such as kakkonto and ninjinto reduce LPS-induced PGE2 production by human gingival fibroblasts. Among herbs constituting these herbal medicines, shokyo (Zingiberis Rhizoma) and kankyo (Zingiberis Processum Rhizoma) strongly reduce PGE2 production. Moreover, anti-osteoclast activity has been observed in some natural products with anti-inflammatory effects used against rheumatoid arthritis such as carotenoids, flavonoids, limonoids, and polyphenols. These herbal medicines and natural products could be useful for treating oral inflammatory diseases.

Baicalin attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 through miR-124-STAT3 axis

Baicalin, a flavonoid isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has shown a wide range of anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiviral, and antitumor properties. However, the molecular mechanism of how baicalin exerts its effects, especially on inflammation regulation, has not been fully investigated. In this article, we report the effects of baicalin on the mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7. Our results demonstrate that baicalin inhibits the production of inflammatory factors interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha upon lipopolysaccharide stimulation of macrophages. We observed that baicalin inhibits STAT3 activation through retarding its expression and phosphorylation. Interestingly, baicalin treatment promotes the elevation of miR-124 in lipopolysaccharide-treated macrophages. Overexpression of the miR-124 mimic in RAW264.7 reduced STAT3 expression and phosphorylation. Furthermore, inhibition of miR-124 attenuated the dysregulation of STAT3 and reduction of inflammatory factors upon baicalin treatment. Our results revealed the molecular mechanism that baicalin attenuates pro-inflammatory cytokine production through miR-124-STAT3 signaling pathway, suggesting that miR-124 is an important modulator in regulating anti-inflammation by baicalin in macrophages.

Flavocoxid attenuates airway inflammation in ovalbumin-induced mouse asthma model

Asthma is a common airways inflammatory disease. This study provides evidence on the efficacy of flavocoxid against ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic airways inflammation in a mouse model of asthma. Airway inflammation was induced by intrapеritonеal injection of 10 mg ovalbumin (OVA) on day zero and day 7 followed by OVA challenge starting from 14th day to 16th day. Beclomethasone; a standard anti-inflammatory agent was selected as a drug in asthma. Flavocoxid (20 mg/kg, i. p.) was administered on day zero till 16th day followed by OVA challenge. At the end of the study, lung weight index, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) content of total and differential WBCs, interleukin-13(IL-13), in addition to lung tissue nitrate/nitrite (NO) and oxidative stress biomarkers were measured. Also, histological and immunohistochemical analysis were conducted. Daily i. p. injection of flavocoxid (20 mg/kg) significantly improved airway inflammation. Inflammatory cells in BALF, malondialdehyde (MDA), NO and IL-13 significantly declined with concomitant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Histopathological examination and immunohistochеmical staining of mast cells were correlated with observed biochemical improvements. Collectively, these results demonstrate that flavocoxid mitigates the allergic airway inflammation induced by ovalbumin through attenuation of IL-13, NO expressions and oxidative stress.

Safer anti-inflammatory therapy through dual COX-2/5-LOX inhibitors: A structure-based approach

Inflammatory mediators of the arachidonic acid cascade from cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) pathways are primarily responsible for many diseases in human beings. Chronic inflammation is associated with the pathogenesis and progression of cancer, arthritis, autoimmune, cardiovascular and neurological diseases. Traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (tNSAIDs) inhibit cyclooxygenase pathway non-selectively and produce gastric mucosal damage due to COX-1 inhibition and allergic reactions and bronchospasm resulting from increased leukotriene levels. 'Coxibs' which are selective COX-2 inhibitors cause adverse cardiovascular events. Inhibition of any of these biosynthetic pathways could switch the metabolism to the other, which can lead to fatal side effects. Hence, there is undoubtedly an urgent need for new anti-inflammatory agents having dual mechanism that prevent release of both prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Though several molecules have been synthesized with this objective, their unfavourable toxicity profile prevented them from being used in clinics. Here, this integrative review attempts to identify the promising pharmacophore that serves as dual inhibitors of COX-2/5-LOX enzymes with improved safety profile. A better acquaintance of structural features that balance safety and efficacy of dual inhibitors would be a different approach to the process of understanding and interpreting the designing of novel anti-inflammatory agents.

Solving the puzzle: What is behind our forefathers' anti-inflammatory remedies?

Inflammation is a ubiquitous host response in charge of restoring normal tissue structure and function but is a double-edged sword, as the uncontrolled or excessive process can lead to the injury of host cells, chronic inflammation, chronic diseases, and also neoplastic transformation. Throughout history, a wide range of species has been claimed to have anti-inflammatory effects worldwide. Among them, Angelica sinensis, Tropaeolum majus, Castilleja tenuiflora, Biophytum umbraculum, to name just a few, have attracted the scientific and general public attention in the last years. Efforts have been made to assess their relevance through a scientific method. However, inflammation is a complex interdependent process, and phytomedicines are complex mixtures of compounds with multiple mechanisms of biological actions, which restricts systematic explanation. For this purpose, the omics techniques could prove extremely useful. They provide tools for interpreting and integrating results from both the classical medical tradition and modern science. As a result, the concept of network pharmacology applied to phytomedicines emerged. All of this is a step toward personalized therapy.

Minocycline targets multiple secondary injury mechanisms in traumatic spinal cord injury

Minocycline hydrochloride (MH), a semi-synthetic tetracycline derivative, is a clinically available antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drug that also exhibits potent neuroprotective activities. It has been shown to target multiple secondary injury mechanisms in spinal cord injury, via its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties. The secondary injury mechanisms that MH can potentially target include inflammation, free radicals and oxidative stress, glutamate excitotoxicity, calcium influx, mitochondrial dysfunction, ischemia, hemorrhage, and edema. This review discusses the potential mechanisms of the multifaceted actions of MH. Its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects are partially achieved through conserved mechanisms such as modulation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathways as well as inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Additionally, MH can directly inhibit calcium influx through the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, mitochondrial calcium uptake, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) enzymatic activity, and iron toxicity. It can also directly scavenge free radicals. Because it can target many secondary injury mechanisms, MH treatment holds great promise for reducing tissue damage and promoting functional recovery following spinal cord injury.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Therapy: A Journey Toward Safety

The efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) against inflammation, pain, and fever has been supporting their worldwide use in the treatment of painful conditions and chronic inflammatory diseases until today. However, the long-term therapy with NSAIDs was soon associated with high incidences of adverse events in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, the search for novel drugs with improved safety has begun with COX-2 selective inhibitors (coxibs) being straightaway developed and commercialized. Nevertheless, the excitement has fast turned to disappointment when diverse coxibs were withdrawn from the market due to cardiovascular toxicity. Such events have once again triggered the emergence of different strategies to overcome NSAIDs toxicity. Here, an integrative review is provided to address the breakthroughs of two main approaches: (i) the association of NSAIDs with protective mediators and (ii) the design of novel compounds to target downstream and/or multiple enzymes of the arachidonic acid cascade. To date, just one phosphatidylcholine-associated NSAID has already been approved for commercialization. Nevertheless, the preclinical and clinical data obtained so far indicate that both strategies may improve the safety of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory therapy.

Quantification of Arachidonic Acid and Its Metabolites in Rat Tissues by UHPLC-MS/MS: Application for the Identification of Potential Biomarkers of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

To evaluate the potential relationship between benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and the arachidonic acid (AA) metabolome, a UHPLC—MS/MS method has been developed and validated for simultaneous determination of AA and its cyclooxygenase(COX) and lipoxygenase(LOX) pathway metabolites (15-HETE, 12-HETE, TXA₂, 5-HETE, AA, PGI₂, PGF_2α, 8-HETE, PGD₂, PGE₂ and LTB₄) in rat tissues. The analytes were extracted from tissue samples with a protein precipitation procedure and then separated on a Shim-pack XR-ODSC18 column with 0.05% formic acid in water (pH adjusted with dilute ammonia) and methanol:acetonitrile (20:80, v/v). Detection was performed on a UHPLC—MS/MS system with electrospray negative ionization (ESI) and a multiple reaction-monitoring mode. The lower limits of quantification (LLOQ) were 0.25–50 ng/mL for all of the analytes in the prostate, seminal, bladder, liver and kidney tissues. The absolute recoveries of the analytes from all of the tissues were more than 50%. By means of the method developed, the AA metabolites in tissue samples from Sham and BPH group rats were determined. The eleven biomarkers in the BPH group prostate, seminal, bladder, liver and kidney tissues were significantly higher than those of the sham group, indicating that BPH fortified the inducible expression of COX and LOX, as well as increased the production of AA and eicosanoids. The method described here offers a useful tool for the evaluation of complex regulatory eicosanoids responses in vivo.

Chromones: A Promising Ring System for New Anti-inflammatory Drugs

The quest for safer anti-inflammatory drugs is still the focus of several medicinal chemistry programs. Chromones (4H-chromen-4-ones) are a group of naturally occurring compounds ubiquitous in plants, and the chromone core has proven to be a privileged scaffold in medicinal chemistry. Herein we provide an overview of the relevance of chromones as anti-inflammatory agents, specifically as inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (COX), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), interleukin-5 (IL-5), and nitric oxide (^. NO) production. Numerous structure-activity relationships and mechanisms of action are discussed. This review is therefore intended to provide a foundation for the design and synthesis of novel chromone-based compound libraries for further development into safer and more efficient anti-inflammatory agents.

Use of a balanced dual cyclooxygenase-1/2 and 5-lypoxygenase inhibitor in experimental colitis

Cyclooxygenase (COX) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) play an important role in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). We investigated the effects of flavocoxid, a dual COX/LOX inhibitor, in experimental colitis induced with either dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (DNBS) or dextrane sulphate sodium (DSS) In the first model, colitis was induced in rats by a single intra-colonic instillation (25mg in 0.8ml 50% ethanol) of DNBS; after 24h animals were randomized to receive orally twice a day, flavocoxid (10mg/kg), zileuton (50mg/kg), or celecoxib (5mg/kg). Sham animals received 0.8ml of saline by a single intra-colonic instillation. Rats were killed 4 days after induction and samples were collected for analysis. In the second model, colitis was induced in rats by the administration of 8% DSS dissolved in drinking water; after 24h animals were randomized to the same above reported treatments. Sham animals received standard drinking water. Rats were killed 5 days after induction and samples were collected for analysis. Flavocoxid, zileuton and celecoxib improved weight loss, reduced colonic myeloperoxydase activity, macroscopic and microscopic damage, and TNF-α serum levels. Flavocoxid and celecoxib also reduced malondialdheyde, 6-keto PGF1α and PGE-2 levels while flavocoxid and zileuton decreased LTB-4 levels. In addition, flavocoxid treatment improved histological features and apoptosis as compared to zileuton and celecoxib; moreover only flavocoxid reduced TXB2, thus avoiding an imbalance in eicosanoids production. Our results show that flavocoxid has protective effect in IBDs and may represents a future safe treatment for inflammatory bowel diseases.

Nasturtium (Indian cress, Tropaeolum majus nanum) dually blocks the COX and LOX pathway in primary human immune cells

BACKGROUND

Nasturtium (Indian cress, Tropaeolum majus) is known for its pharmacological value in the treatment of bacterial infections of the upper air tract and urinary bladder. However, scientific data on the anti-inflammatory potency in human-derived cells is missing.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of nasturtium to inhibit the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammatory response in primary human cells of the immune system.

STUDY DESIGN

The anti-inflammatory activities of nasturtium and its fractions were evaluated via regulation of arachidonic acid (AA) pathway and MAPK kinase cascade. Fraction H4 which was responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects was further characterized.

METHODS

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were either treated with plant extracts or fractions thereof, stimulated with LPS and/or N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) and analysed for COX and LOX, release of prostaglandin PGE2, leukotriene LTB4, TNF-alpha and ERK signaling pathway activation. The plant extracts were separated into four fractions by HPLC; fraction H4 was subjected to UHPLC-ToF/MS analysis to identify potential bioactive compounds.

RESULTS

We found that aqueous extracts of nasturtium did exert strong concentration dependent suppression of LPS-triggered TNF-alpha release and COX pathway signaling, including PGE2 synthesis. Whereas COX-1 protein expression was not impacted, LPS-triggered COX-2 protein expression was concentration dependently blocked by the plant extract but not COX-2 enzyme activity. These findings suggest a mechanism of action for the plant extract which is different from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Moreover, the plant extract blocked leukotriene LTB4 release, the major end product of the 5-LOX pathway from PBMC. Down-regulation of ERK1/2 and c-Jun activation preceded COX-2 suppression upon plant extract treatment in the presence of LPS. Using HPLC separation of the aqueous extract followed by metabolomic analysis we could limit the number of relevant bioactive compounds in the extract to about 50.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a rationale for the anti-inflammatory efficacy of nasturtium observed in man and gives first insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms.

The inhibitory activity of cocoa phenolic extract against pro-inflammatory mediators secretion induced by lipopolysaccharide in RAW 264.7 cells

Cocoa is a rich source of polyphenols that has been traditionally used as the treatment of several types of inflammation related disease. The response to inflammation comprises the consecutive release of mediators and the enlistment of circulating leukocytes, such as macrophages. Currently, Cocoa-derived polyphenolics have shown anti-inflammatory effects in vivo, but the therapeutic benefits in vitro remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, the effect of cocoa polyphenolic extract (CPE) on RAW 264.7 macrophage cells sensitized by lipopolysaccharide as in vitro inflammatory model was investigated. The anti-inflammatory activity of CPE was assessed by measuring its ability to inhibit the pro-inflammatory enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and the pro-inflammatory mediators prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). The results show that CPE significantly inhibits 5-LOX activity (p < 0.01). In addition, CPE dose-dependently suppressed the production of PGE₂, ROS, NO and TNF-α in RAW 264.7 cells. These data suggest that CPE may be used for the treatment of inflammation and it’s related-diseases.

Flavocoxid Protects Against Cadmium-Induced Disruption of the Blood–Testis Barrier and Improves Testicular Damage and Germ Cell Impairment in Mice [corrected]

Cadmium (Cd) causes male infertility. There is the need to identify safe treatments counteracting this toxicity. Flavocoxid is a flavonoid that induces a balanced inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 peroxidase moieties and of 5-lipoxygenase (LOX) and has efficacy in the male genitourinary system. We investigated flavocoxid effects on Cd-induced testicular toxicity in mice. Swiss mice were divided into 4 groups: 2 control groups received 0.9% NaCl (vehicle; 1 ml/kg/day) or flavocoxid (20 mg/kg/day ip); 2 groups were challenged with cadmium chloride (CdCl2; 2 mg/kg/day ip) and administered with vehicle or flavocoxid. The treatment lasted for 1 or 2 weeks. The testes were processed for biochemical and morphological studies. CdCl2 increased phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) 1/2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, COX-2, 5-LOX, malondialdehyde (MDA), B-cell-lymphoma (Bcl)-2-associated X protein (Bax), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), transforming growth factor (TGF) -β3, decreased Bcl-2, testosterone, inhibin-B, occludin, N-Cadherin, induced structural damages in the testis and disrupted the blood-testis barrier. Many TUNEL-positive germ cells and changes in claudin-11, occludin, and N-cadherin localization were present. Flavocoxid administration reduced, in a time-dependent way, p-ERK 1/2, TNF-α, COX-2, 5-LOX, MDA, Bax, FSH, LH, TGF-β3, augmented Bcl-2, testosterone, inhibin B, occludin, N-Cadherin, and improved the structural organization of the testis and the blood-testis barrier. Few TUNEL-positive germ cells were present and a morphological retrieval of the intercellular junctions was observed. In conclusion, flavocoxid has a protective anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic function against Cd-induced toxicity in mice testis. We suggest that flavocoxid may play a relevant positive role against environmental levels of Cd, otherwise deleterious to gametogenesis and tubular integrity.

Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity of Orally Administered Botanical Composition, UP446-Part I: Effects on Embryo-Fetal Development in New Zealand White Rabbits and Sprague Dawley Rats

The pharmacotoxicology impacts of dietary supplements taken at the time of pregnancy have remained alarming since women are the frequent herbal medicine users in many countries as a complement to the conventional pregnancy management. The use of herbal medicines and diet supplements in expectant mothers linked closely to the health of the childbearing mothers and the fetuses where the lack of developmental safety data imposes a challenge to make the right choices. Here, we describe the potential adverse effects of UP446, a standardized bioflavonoid composition from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis and the heartwoods of Acacia catechu, on embryo-fetal development following maternal exposure during the critical period of major organogenesis in rabbits and rats. Pregnant dams were treated orally with UP446 at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg/day during gestation. The number of resorptions, implantations, litter size, body weights, and skeletal development was evaluated. Maternal food intake and body, tissue, and placenta weight were also assessed. There were no statistically significant differences in implantation, congenital malformation, embryo-fetal mortalities, and fetuses sex ratios in all dosing groups of both species. Therefore, the no observed adverse effect level of UP446 was considered to be greater than 1000 mg/kg in both the maternal and fetus in both species.

Medical Plant Extracts for Treating Knee Osteoarthritis: a Snapshot of Recent Clinical Trials and Their Biological Background

In light of the growing global health problem associated with osteoarthritis, herbal remedies have become an important research focus in the scientific and medical community, and numerous studies have been published to identify their biological effects and mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. This review is a snapshot of the most recent clinical trials on the efficacy of medical plant extracts in knee osteoarthritis patients, and provides relevant background information on the biological mechanisms that may underlie the clinical observations. Therefore, we performed a PubMed literature survey and discussed a selection of clinical trials in the field, with special attention being drawn to the design and outcome measures of the studies. We further spotlighted on issues relating to the efficacy and safety of the plant extracts and discussed major challenges for upcoming studies in the field, which include the need for rigorously designed in vivo and in vitro studies, as well as the elucidation of potential additive effects and structure-modifying activities beyond symptom relief.

Blockade of the JNK signalling as a rational therapeutic approach to modulate the early and late steps of the inflammatory cascade in polymicrobial sepsis

Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) is an experimental polymicrobial sepsis induced systemic inflammation that leads to acute organ failure. Aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of SP600125, a specific c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor, to modulate the early and late steps of the inflammatory cascade in a murine model of CLP-induced sepsis. CB57BL/6J mice were subjected to CLP or sham operation. Animals were randomized to receive either SP600125 (15 mg/kg) or its vehicle intraperitoneally 1 hour after surgery and repeat treatment every 24 hours. To evaluate survival, a group of animals was monitored every 24 hours for 120 hours. Two other animals were sacrificed 4 or 18 hours after surgical procedures; lung and liver samples were collected for biomolecular and histopathologic analysis. The expression of p-JNK, p-ERK, TNF-α, HMGB-1, NF-κB, Ras, Rho, Caspase 3, Bcl-2, and Bax was evaluated in lung and liver samples; SP600125 improved survival, reduced CLP induced activation of JNK, NF-κB, TNF-α, and HMGB-1, inhibited proapoptotic pathway, preserved Bcl-2 expression, and reduced histologic damage in both lung and liver of septic mice. SP600125 protects against CLP induced sepsis by blocking JNK signalling; therefore, it can be considered a therapeutic approach in human sepsis.

Structure-activity relationship of pyrrolyl diketo acid derivatives as dual inhibitors of HIV-1 integrase and reverse transcriptase ribonuclease H domain

The development of HIV-1 dual inhibitors is a highly innovative approach aimed at reducing drug toxic side effects as well as therapeutic costs. HIV-1 integrase (IN) and reverse transcriptase-associated ribonuclease H (RNase H) are both selective targets for HIV-1 chemotherapy, and the identification of dual IN/RNase H inhibitors is an attractive strategy for new drug development. We newly synthesized pyrrolyl derivatives that exhibited good potency against IN and a moderate inhibition of the RNase H function of RT, confirming the possibility of developing dual HIV-1 IN/RNase H inhibitors and obtaining new information for the further development of more effective dual HIV-1 inhibitors.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Polygonum minus (Huds) extract (Lineminus™) in in-vitro enzyme assays and carrageenan induced paw edema

Background

The study was aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Polygonum minus (Huds) using in vitro and in vivo approaches.

Methods

The in vitro tests used to evaluate ethanolic extract are cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), lipooxygenase (5-LOX), secretory phospholipase-A2 (sPLA2) inhibition assay whilst the in-vivo effect was measured by the ability of aqueous extracts to reduce paw edema induced by λ-carrageenan, in rats.

Results

The ethanolic extract inhibited the activities of 5-LOX and COX-1(p < 0.05) whilst the inhibitory effect on COX-2 was only moderate. A marked inhibition of 5-LOX was observed at 30 μg/ ml. The extract did not inhibit the activity of sPLA2. The ability of the ethanolic extracts of Polygonum minus to inhibit both 5-LOX and COX, prompted a study to evaluate the effects of using an aqueous extract of Polygonum minus(Lineminus^TM); as this would be more suitable for future clinical testing. The anti-inhibitory activity of the aqueous extract from this plant was evaluated using a rat model where inflammation was induced in the paws by injection of λ-carrageenan. The aqueous extracts from Polygonum minus administered at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg body weight (b.w.), significantly (p < 0.01) reduced paw edema induced by λ-carrageenan in the experimental model, at 4 h compared to the vehicle control. Furthermore, administration of 100 mg/kg b.w. or 300 mg/kg b.w. completely reduced inflammation of the paw 4 h after injection.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that aqueous extract of Polygonum minus possesses potent anti-inflammatory activities.

Flavocoxid, a nutraceutical approach to blunt inflammatory conditions

Flavonoids, from Scutellaria baicalensis (Chinese skullcap) and Acacia catechu (black catechu), have been shown to exert a variety of therapeutic effects, including anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, and anticancer activities. Flavocoxid is a mixed extract containing baicalin and catechin and it acts as a dual balanced inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and COX-2 peroxidase enzyme activities with a significant inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) enzyme activity in vitro. Flavocoxid downregulates gene or protein expression of several inflammatory markers and exerts also strong antioxidant activity in several experimental models. Controlled clinical trials and a postmarketing study have clearly shown that flavocoxid is as effective as naproxen in managing the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee and it has better upper gastrointestinal, renal, and respiratory safety profile than naproxen. Flavocoxid may therefore provide a potential therapeutic approach to the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions.

Herbs and liver injury: a clinical perspective

Despite a perception that herbal and dietary supplements are safe, devastating liver injury has been reported to result from their use. The difficulty in characterizing liver injury attributable to herbal and dietary supplements stems from the permissive regulatory environment, the complexity of marketed products, and underreporting by the patients who use them. Despite these limitations, researchers, clinicians, and regulators have increasing awareness of the need for study in this area.