Cinnamic acid decreases periodontal inflammation and alveolar bone loss in experimental periodontitis

Genetic analysis of impaired healing responses after periodontal therapy in type 2 diabetes: Clinical and in vivo studies

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the mechanisms underlying the impaired healing response by diabetes after periodontal therapy.

BACKGROUND

Outcomes of periodontal therapy in patients with diabetes are impaired compared with those in patients without diabetes. However, the mechanisms underlying impaired healing response to periodontal therapy have not been sufficiently investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) and lean (ZL) rats underwent experimental periodontitis by ligating the mandibular molars for one week. The gingiva at the ligated sites was harvested one day after ligature removal, and gene expression was comprehensively analyzed using RNA-Seq. In patients with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D), the corresponding gene expression was quantified in the gingiva of the shallow sulcus and residual periodontal pocket after non-surgical periodontal therapy.

RESULTS

Ligation-induced bone resorption and its recovery after ligature removal were significantly impaired in the ZDF group than in the ZL group. The RNA-Seq analysis revealed 252 differentially expressed genes. Pathway analysis demonstrated the enrichment of downregulated genes involved in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway. PPARα and PPARγ were decreased in mRNA level and immunohistochemistry in the ZDF group than in the ZL group. In clinical, probing depth reduction was significantly less in the T2D group than control. Significantly downregulated expression of PPARα and PPARγ were detected in the residual periodontal pocket of the T2D group compared with those of the control group, but not in the shallow sulcus between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Downregulated PPAR subtypes expression may involve the impaired healing of periodontal tissues by diabetes.

Effects of the DL76 Antagonist/Inverse Agonist of Histamine H3 Receptors on Experimental Periodontitis in Rats: Morphological Studies

BACKGROUND

Periodontitis preceded by gingivitis is the most common form of periodontal disease and occurs due to the interaction of microorganisms present in the complex bacterial aggregates of dental plaque biofilm and their metabolism products with periodontal tissues. Histamine is a heterocyclic biogenic amine acting via four types of receptors. Histamine H3 receptors act as presynaptic auto/heteroreceptors to regulate the release of histamine and other neurotransmitters.

AIM

Since the nervous system is able to regulate the progression of the inflammatory process and bone metabolism, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of DL76, which acts as an antagonist/inverse agonist of H3 receptors, on the course of experimental periodontitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was conducted in 24 mature male Wistar rats weighing 245-360 g, aged 6-8 weeks. A silk ligature was placed on the second maxillary molar of the right maxilla under general anesthesia. From the day of ligating, DL76 and 0.9% NaCl solutions were administered subcutaneously for 28 days in the experimental and control groups, respectively. After the experiment, histopathological, immunohistochemical and radiological examinations were performed.

RESULTS

Ligation led to the development of the inflammatory process with lymphocytic infiltration, increased epithelial RANKL and OPG expression as well as bone resorption. DL76 evoked a reduction in (1) lymphocytic infiltration, (2) RANKL and OPG expression as well as (3) bone resorption since the medians of the mesial and distal interdental spaces in the molars with induced periodontitis were 3.56-fold and 10-fold lower compared to the corresponding values in saline-treated animals with periodontitis.

CONCLUSION

DL76 is able to inhibit the progression of experimental periodontitis in rats, as demonstrated by a reduction in the inflammatory cell infiltration, a decrease in the RANKL/RANK OPG pathway expression and a reduction in the alveolar bone resorption.

Cinnamic acid mitigates methotrexate-induced lung fibrosis in rats: comparative study with pirfenidone

PURPOSE

Lung fibrosis is a heterogeneous lung condition characterized by excessive accumulation of scarred tissue, leading to lung architecture destruction and restricted ventilation. The current work was conducted to examine the probable shielding influence of cinnamic acid against lung fibrosis induced by methotrexate.

METHODS

Rats were pre-treated with oral administration of cinnamic acid (50 mg/kg/day) for 14 days, whereas methotrexate (14 mg/kg) was orally given on the 5th and 12th days of the experiment. Pirfenidone (50 mg/kg/day) was used as a standard drug. At the end of the experiment, oxidative parameters (malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, nitric oxide, and total glutathione) and inflammatory mediators (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-8), as well as transforming growth factor-β and collagen content, as fibrosis indicators, were measured in lung tissue.

RESULTS

Our results revealed that cinnamic acid, as pirfenidone, effectively prevented the methotrexate-induced overt histopathological damage. This was associated with parallel improvements in oxidative, inflammatory, and fibrotic parameters measured. The outcomes of cinnamic acid administration were more or less the same as those of pirfenidone. In conclusion, pre-treatment with cinnamic acid protects against methotrexate-induced fibrosis, making it a promising prophylactic adjuvant therapy to methotrexate and protecting against its possible induction of lung fibrosis.

Aerobic exercise 3 times per week in adult rats did not influence the progression of periodontal disease

Introduction

Physical exercise has proven efficacy in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, and its anti-inflammatory effect has been evaluated as a potential preventive factor in the progression of periodontal disease, in addition to improving physiological parameters.

Methods

To test this hypothesis regarding its preventive factor, we evaluated the effects of aerobic training on the progression of periodontal disease in 8-month-old Wistar rats (n = 44). The animals underwent a swimming protocol lasting six weeks, with periodontal disease induced by ligature in the fifth week, totaling fourteen days of ligature placement. Anthropometric parameters were measured for subsequent calculations of BMI and Lee's Index. Interleukin-1β testing was performed to measure serum inflammatory parameters, and alveolar bone loss was measured using images to calculate the area of loss.

Results

The trained animals showed no significant differences compared to the non-trained animals in terms of anthropometric measures. Regarding the area of bone loss, although there were significant differences between the groups with and without periodontal disease, exercise did not demonstrate an impact on rats with the disease. IL-1β analysis did not detect any measurable values in the samples in either group.

Discussion

These findings indicate that the applied exercise protocol was not sufficient to attenuate the progression of periodontal disease. This study did not find an effective impact of physical exercise on the analyzed parameters; however, the results are important in highlighting that the experimental animal model for inducing periodontal disease is efficient, which may encourage further investigations to determine factors that can attenuate its progression. Similarly, the application or development of new exercise protocols that can benefit and enrich the discussion on its positive effects in this disease is important, as there is already evidence suggesting an effective relationship between exercise and disease progression.

Comprehensive quality evaluation of processed Scrophulariae Radix from different regions of China using HPLC coupled with chemometrics methods

INTRODUCTION

Scrophulariae Radix (SR) has been extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for thousands of years. However, the processing methods and production areas of Scrophularia ningpoensis have undergone notable historic changes. Thus, their effects on the bioactive constituents of SR still need to be studied further.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to establish an objective and comprehensive method to identify the correlation of bioactive constituents of SR with variety, place of origin and processing method for evaluating their qualities.

METHODOLOGY

An accurate and rapid high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) method for the simultaneous determination of 11 marker components (aucubin, harpagide, 6-O-methyl-catalpol, harpagoside, verbascoside, isoverbascoside, angoroside C, cinnamic acid, l-tyrosine, l-phenylalanine, and l-tryptophan) was established to evaluate the quality of SR for the first time. In addition, the effects of different production areas and processed methods on the target compounds were studied by analysing 66 batches of SR samples with chemometrics methods, including similarity evaluation of chromatographic fingerprints of TCM, principal component analysis (PCA), and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA).

RESULTS

Compared with "sweating", short-term "steaming" and "slice-drying" could largely preserve the bioactive constituents of SR. When using the model established through PLS-DA, five components were identified as the most significant variables for discrimination. Furthermore, the score plots of PCA and the similarity evaluation revealed that variety had a more notable influence on the quality of SR than the place of origin.

CONCLUSION

An objective approach of HPLC fingerprint coupled with chemometrics analysis and quantitative assessment could be applied to discriminate different processed SR and evaluate the qualities of SR rapidly.

Omega-3 Effects on Ligature-Induced Periodontitis in Rats with Fructose-Induced Metabolic Syndrome

Both periodontal disease (PD) and metabolic syndrome (MS) represent disorders of concern worldwide. Current evidence indicates that PD and MS might negatively influence each other, increasing the risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), via mutual inflammatory pathways. A failure of the inflammation resolution mechanisms is crucial for these comorbidities. Fish oil-derived omega-3 has been linked with resolution-driven responses in different pathological conditions during the last years. This study evaluated the impacts of omega-3 supplementation in a rat model combining ligature-induced PD and 10% fructose intake-elicited MS. Our main findings show that 10% fructose ingestion led to an elevation of Lee index and white adipose tissue (WAT) weight, along with hepatic alterations, accompanied by an increase of leptin, and a decrement of adiponectin serum amounts, regardless of PD induction. Noteworthy, the co-induction of PD and MS resulted in higher levels of glycemia and triglycerides, being this latter effect lessened by omega-3 supplementation. In this case, the beneficial effects of omega-3 might be associated with its ability to recover the decline of serum adiponectin levels in rats with PD plus MS. As expected, PD induction led to alveolar bone loss, independent of MS induction. However, the supplementation with omega-3 restored alveolar bone in PD control animals, but not in the rats with PD combined with MS. Our study extends the knowledge about PD and MS as comorbidities, showing novel effects of omega-3 supplementation in this context.

Colon-Targeted Trans-Cinnamic Acid Ameliorates Rat Colitis by Activating GPR109A

We designed colon-targeted trans-cinnamic acid (tCA) and synthesized its conjugates with glutamic acid (tCA-GA) and aspartic acid (tCA-AA). We evaluated the anti-colitic activity of colon-targeted tCA using a dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced rat colitis model. The conjugates lowered the distribution coefficient and Caco-2 cell permeability of tCA and converted to tCA in the cecum, with higher rates and percentages with tCA-GA than with tCA-AA. Following oral gavage, tCA-GA delivered a higher amount of tCA to the cecum and exhibited better anti-colitic effects than tCA and sulfasalazine (SSZ), which is the current treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. In the cellular assay, tCA acted as a full agonist of GPR109A (EC50: 530 µM). The anti-colitic effects of tCA-GA were significantly compromised by the co-administration of the GPR109A antagonist, mepenzolate. Collectively, colon-targeted tCA potentiated the anti-colitic activity of tCA by effectively activating GPR109A in the inflamed colon, enabling tCA to elicit therapeutic superiority over SSZ.

Divya-Herbal-Peya Decoction Harmonizes the Inflammatory Response in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Zebrafish Model

Background

Divya-Herbal-Peya (DHP) is a plant-based decoction containing fourteen herbs in precise quantities; usually prescribed by the practitioners in Ayurveda to alleviate stress and minimize the exasperating symptoms of recurring infections. Our study aims to provide an experimental validation to the immunomodulatory properties of DHP.

Methods

Physico-chemical analysis of DHP was performed to evaluate the presence of secondary metabolites. The phytochemicals were then identified and quantitated through HPTLC, UHPLC, and GC-MS techniques. To address the scientific rationale behind DHP, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was intraperitoneally injected in adult zebrafish to develop inflammatory response. Following LPS-induction, abnormality in locomotory behaviour was determined by evaluating the relative swim velocity and the rate of turning in experimental zebrafish. Pathophysiological effects were determined through opercular frequency, behavioural fever, and caudal fin damage. LPS-mediated inflammation was measured of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNFα, IL-6, and IL-1β expression in the serum of study animals, by RT-PCR.

Results

Our study phytochemically characterized and ascertained the presence of glycyrrhizin, rosmarinic acid, gingerol, cinnamic acid, protocatechuic acid, gallic acid, ellagic acid, piperine and cinnamaldehyde in DHP decoction. LPS induced aberrant locomotory patterns, behavioural fever and caudal fin damage in zebrafish. A significant increase in gene expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNFα, IL-6, and IL-1β was also determined. However, these locomotory deviations and behavioural fever were negligible in zebrafish groups pre-administered either with DHP in a dose dependent manner or dexamethasone (DEX). The altered opercular rate, caudal fin damage and elevated transcription levels of pro-inflammatory genes upon LPS-induction were averted in groups pre-treated with DHP and DEX.

Conclusion

DHP prophylactically prevented the LPS-induced abnormal behaviour and inflammation-related pathophysiology in zebrafish. Immunomodulatory properties of DHP may not have therapeutic intervention, but do confer nutraceutical health benefits against mild infections.

Vegetal Compounds as Sources of Prophylactic and Therapeutic Agents in Dentistry

Dental pathology remains a global health problem affecting both children and adults. The most important dental diseases are dental caries and periodontal pathologies. The main cause of oral health problems is overpopulation with pathogenic bacteria and for this reason, conventional therapy can often be ineffective due to bacterial resistance or may have unpleasant side effects. For that reason, studies in the field have focused on finding new therapeutic alternatives. Special attention is paid to the plant kingdom, which offers a wide range of plants and active compounds in various pathologies. This review focused on the most used plants in the dental field, especially on active phytocompounds, both in terms of chemical structure and in terms of mechanism of action. It also approached the in vitro study of active compounds and the main types of cell lines used to elucidate the effect and mechanism of action. Thus, medicinal plants and their compounds represent a promising and interesting alternative to conventional therapy.

Licofelone, a potent COX/5-LOX inhibitor and a novel option for treatment of neurological disorders

Neurological disorders result in disability and morbidity. Neuroinflammation is a key factor involved in progression or resolution of a series of neurological disorders like Huntington disease (HD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), and Seizure. Thereby, anti-inflammatory drugs have been developed to improve the neurodegenerative impairments. Licofelone is an approved osteoarthritis drug that inhibits both the COX (cyclooxygenase) and 5-LOX (lipoxygenase) pathways. Licofelone has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects and it was shown to have neuroprotective properties in the central nervous system, which is implicated in its regulatory effect on the COX/5-LOX pathway, inflammatory cytokines, and immune responses. In this study, we briefly review the various features of neurological disorders and the function of COX/LOX in their flare up and current pharmacological products for their management. Moreover, this review attempts to summarize potential therapeutics that target the immune responses within the central nervous system. A better understanding of the interactions between Licofelone and the nervous systems will be crucial to demonstrate the possible efficacy of Licofelone in neurological disorders.

4-methoxybenzalacetone, the cinnamic acid analog as a potential quorum sensing inhibitor against Chromobacterium violaceum and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The continuous increase in the incidence of infectious diseases and the rapid unchecked rise in multidrug-resistance to conventional antibiotics have led to the search for alternative strategies for treatment and clinical management of microbial infections. Since quorum sensing (QS) regulates numerous virulence determinants and pathogenicity in bacteria, inhibition of QS promises to be an attractive target for development of novel therapeutics. In this study, a series of cinnamic acid analogs and benzalacetone analogs were designed and synthesized, and their QS-inhibitory activities explored. We found that, among the test compounds, 4-methoxybenzalacetone (8) exhibited potent anti-quorum sensing property, as evidenced by inhibition of QS-controlled violacein production of Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC12472. The inhibitory activity of such a compound, which was the methyl keto analog of the corresponding cinnamic acid, was not only stronger than the parent cinnamic acid (1), but also superior to that of furanone, the reference drug. Based on our observations, its mechanism of quorum sensing inhibition is likely to be mediated by interference with N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL) synthesis. Moreover, 4-methoxybenzalacetone (8) also suppressed the production of pyocyanin, rhamnolipids and swarming motility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, suggesting a broad spectrum of anti-QS activities of this compound. In terms of structure-activity relationship, the possible chemical substitutions on the scaffold of cinnamic acid required for QS inhibitory activity are also discussed. Since 4-methoxybenzalacetone (8) showed no toxicity to both bacteria and mammalian cells, our findings therefore indicate the anti-QS potential of this compound as a novel effective QS inhibitor.

Cinnamic acid ameliorate gentamicin-induced liver dysfunctions and nephrotoxicity in rats through induction of antioxidant activities

This study was the first to evaluate the possible protective effects of cinnamic acid (CA) against Gentamicin (GM) induced liver and kidney dysfunctions in rats. Adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 4 equal groups (n = 8): Control group (saline, 0.5 ml/day), CA group (CA, 50 mg/kg/day), GM group (GM, 100 mg/kg/day), and GM + CA group (100 & 50 mg/kg/day). Following 12 days of treatments, blood and 24 h urine samples were collected and kidneys were taken out for biochemical, histopathological, and molecular studies. Following CA treatment, renal function markers and transaminases activities including serum urea (59.92%) and creatinine (50.41%), protein excretion rate (43.67%), and serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (54.34%) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (47.26%) significantly reduced in the treated group as compared with the GM group (P < 0.05). Also, CA could significantly ameliorate the levels of triglyceride (29.70%), cholesterol (13.02%), very low-density lipoprotein (29.69%) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (7.28%). CA could also attenuate oxidative stress through a decrease of serum malondialdehyde (MDA) (50.86%) and nitric oxide (NO) (0.85%) and an increase of renal catalase (CAT) (196.14%) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities (45.88%) as well as GPX mRNA expression (44.42-fold) as compared with the GM group (P < 0.05). Moreover, histopathological evaluations revealed attenuated tubular damages and reduced inflammatory cellular infiltration in CA treated animals. Overall, CA alleviates GM-induced nephrotoxicity and alterations in transaminases activities in rats through its antioxidant activities.

Tylophora hirsuta (Wall.) Extracts Ameliorate Diabetes Associated with Inflammation in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats

BACKGROUND

Tylophora hirsuta (Wall) has long been used as traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes. The current study is designed to evaluate the anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory activity of different extracts of aerial parts of Tylophora hirsuta.

METHODS

Sequential maceration was conducted to obtain extracts. Total phenolic contents were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteau method. The anti-oxidant activity was assessed by DPPH free radical scavenging assay. The extracts were tested for its inhibitory activity against α-amylase in-vitro. In-vivo anti-diabetic assay was conducted using alloxan-induced diabetic model and OGTT was conducted on normal rats. ELISA was used to determine the pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6). The polyphenolic composition of the extract was analyzed using an HPLC system.

RESULTS

Aqueous extract exhibited highest total phenolic contents (985.24± 3.82 mg GAE/100 g DW), antioxidant activity (IC50 = 786.70 ± 5.23 μg/mL), and alpha-amylase inhibition (IC50 =352.8 μg/mL). The aqueous extract of Tylophora hirsuta showed remarkable in-vivo anti-diabetic activity. Results were compared with standard drug glibenclamide. Alloxan induced diabetic mediated alterations in liver function enzymes, renal function determinants, and lipid parameters were significantly restored in aqueous extract treated diabetic rats. A significant reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines (p<0.001) was observed when compared to the control group. HPLC analysis confirms the presence of quercetin, gallic acid, cinnamic acid, and p-coumaric acid.

CONCLUSION

These results showed that Tylophora hirsuta possesses strong anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory potentials and justify its folklore use for the management of diabetes.