Ursolic acid plays a protective role in obesity-induced cardiovascular diseases

Ursolic acid inhibits human dermal fibroblasts hyperproliferation, migration, and collagen deposition induced by TGF-β via regulating the Smad2/3 pathway

Hypertrophic scar (HS) is a skin condition characterized by excessive fibrosis with disordered collagens from skin fibroblasts, which causes abnormal esthetic and even functional symptoms, thereby affecting millions of people. Ursolic acid (UA) is widely used in skincare and exerts anti-fibrotic effects. The present study aimed to delve into the impact of UA on HS and the mechanism. Fibroblasts (FBs) were incubated with TGF-β to investigate physiological characteristics compared with FBs isolated from normal skin (NSFBs) and hyperplastic scars (HSFBs). TGF-β-incubated FBs were subjected to treatment with UA (0-20 μM). The expressions of Vimentin, α-SMA, Collagen I, and Collagen III were examined using immunofluorescence, RT-qPCR, and western blot. Cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and contractility were examined by CCK-8, EdU, Annexin V-FITC/PI, Transwell, and collagen gel contraction assays, respectively. The activation of Smad2/3 signaling was also determined by western blot. The binding sites for UA of TGF-βR1 (ALK5) were predicted by the Autodock tool. Compared with NSFBs, the cell proliferation, migration, and contractility of both HSFBs and TGF-β-incubated FBs were all significantly up-regulated. UA markedly impaired the TGF-β-induced increase in cell proliferation, migration, and contractility, α-SMA, collagen I, and Collagen III expression of FBs. UA significantly inhibited the phosphorylation levels of Smad2/3 in TGF-β-incubated FBs with no influence on TGF-βR1 and TGF-βR2 expressions, which might be because of the binding of UA to the catalytic domain of ALK5 protein. UA attenuated TGF-β1-induced hyperproliferation, migration, and collagen deposition in FBs via regulating the Smad2/3 pathway.

Cardioprotective Effects of Vitex negundo: A Review of Bioactive Extracts and Compounds

There has been accumulating interest in the application of medicinal plants as alternative medicine to treat various diseases and/or to develop modern medicines. Vitex negundo is one of such medicinal plants that has been of interest to many researchers and has been of use in traditional medicine. V. negundo is found in Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Malaysia, India, China, The Philippines and East Africa. Therapeutic properties of V. negundo have previously been reviewed. Different parts, preparations and bioactive components of V. negundo possess potential protective and therapeutic effects against cardiovascular disease and related conditions as demonstrated in previous studies. We review the present state of scientific knowledge on the potential use of V. negundo and some of its bioactive components in protecting against cardiovascular diseases and related pathologies. Previous studies in animal and non-animal experimental models, although limited in number and vary in design, seem to support the cardioprotective effect of V. negundo and some of its active components. However, there is need for further preclinical and clinical studies to validate the use of V. negundo and its active constituents in protection and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, since only a few V. negundo compounds have been evaluated, specific cardioprotective effects or mechanisms and possible side effects of other V. negundo compounds need to be extensively evaluated.

Olive pomace oil can improve blood lipid profile: a randomized, blind, crossover, controlled clinical trial in healthy and at-risk volunteers

PURPOSE

This study aimed to assess the effect of dietary consumption of olive pomace oil (OPO) on blood lipids (primary outcome) and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (blood pressure, inflammation and endothelial function as secondary outcomes).

METHODS

A randomized, controlled, blind, crossover intervention was carried out in healthy and at-risk (hypercholesterolemic) subjects. Participants consumed daily 45 g of OPO or high-oleic acid sunflower oil (HOSO) as control oil during 4 weeks.

RESULTS

OPO significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; P = 0.003) and apolipoprotein B (Apo B; P = 0.022) serum concentrations, and LDL/HDL ratio (P = 0.027) in healthy and at-risk volunteers. These effects were not observed with HOSO. Blood pressure, peripheral artery tonometry (PAT), endothelial function and inflammation biomarkers were not affected.

CONCLUSIONS

Regular consumption of OPO in the diet could have hypolipidemic actions in subjects at cardiovascular risk as well as in healthy consumers, contributing to CVD prevention.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY

NCT04997122, August 8, 2021, retrospectively registered.

Platelet membrane-cloaked selenium/ginsenoside Rb1 nanosystem as biomimetic reactor for atherosclerosis therapy

Cardiovascular disease remains the dominant contributor to human mortality, and the main etiology of which is atherosclerosis (AS). Enhancing the targeted ability of nanosystem and improving plaque stability are critical challenges for the current management of AS. Herein, we leverage the marked role of platelets in AS to construct a biomimetic nanodrug delivery system (PM@Se/Rb1 NPs), which prepared by cloaking platelet membrane (PM) around Selenium (Se) and ginsenoside Rb1 nanoparticles (Se/Rb1 NPs) core. The core endows the delivery system antioxidant, lipid metabolism and anti-inflammatory effects for AS effective treatment. Moreover, PM-coated nanoparticles reserve platelets' inherent biological elements to deliver drugs to plaques. We further explored the potential effect of PM@Se/Rb1 NPs' combination with the clinical anticoagulant drug warfarin (War) to treat AS and elucidated the possible drug interaction mechanism. As a result, the PM@Se/Rb1 NPs are not only capable of improving inflammatory behaviors such as inhibitory adhesion ability and anti-angiogenesis therapeutic effect in vitro, but also administer efficiently localizing to atherosclerotic plaque explaining by aortic samples from established ApoE^-/- mice. Therefore, this study provided a theoretical basis of biomimetic nanodrug in the treatment of AS as well as an effective reference for the combined application of nanodrug and clinical drugs.

Biomimetic nanoparticles: U937 cell membranes based core-shell nanosystems for targeted atherosclerosis therapy

Atherosclerosis (AS), with its intricate pathogenesis, is primarily responsible for the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. Although drug development has made some achievements in AS therapy, limited targeting ability and rapid blood clearance remain great challenges for achieving superior clinical outcomes. Herein, ginsenoside (Re)- and catalase (CAT)-coloaded porous poly(lactic-coglycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared and then surface modified with U937 cell membranes (UCMs) to yield a dual targeted model and multimechanism treatment biomimetic nanosystem (Cat/Re@PLGA@UCM). The nanoparticles consisted of a core-shell spherical morphology with a favorable size of 112.7 ± 0.4 nm. Furthermore, UCM assisted the nanosystem in escaping macrophage phagocytosis and targeting atherosclerotic plaques. Meanwhile, loading with catalase might not only exhibit favorable antioxidant effects but also enable H₂O₂-responsive drug release ability. The Cat/Re@PLGA@UCM NPs also exhibited outstanding ROS scavenging properties, downregulating ICAM-1, TNF-α and IL-1β, while preventing angiogenesis to attenuate the progression of AS. Moreover, the nanodrugs displayed 2.7-fold greater efficiency in reducing the atherosclerotic area in ApoE^-/- mouse models compared to free Re. Our nanoformulation also displayed excellent biosafety in response to long-term administration. Overall, our study demonstrated the superiority of UCM-coated stimuli-responsive nanodrugs for effective and safe AS therapy.

Ursolic acid protects against anoxic injury in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells by regulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and toll-like receptor 4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway

BACKGROUND

Cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) are rapidly damaged after myocardial ischemia or hypoxia. In this study, we intend to explore whether ursolic acid (UA) can protect CMECs against hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury and to detect related molecular mechanism.

METHODS

CMECs were subjected to H/R condition in the absence or presence of UA. Cell behaviors were measured by Cell Counting Kit-8, transwell, ELISA and western blot assays. siRNA was applied to reduce ICAM1 expression, then the effect of co-treatment of UA and si-ICAM1 on CMECs has been detected by biological experiments.

RESULTS

Under H/R stimulation, the proliferation and migration of CMECs were inhibited, as well as the inflammation and oxidative stress were enhanced. UA treatment obviously reversed these H/R-induced injuries and reduced ICAM1 expression. Moreover, knockdown of ICAM1 could alleviate the H/R-induced injuries and strengthen the protective effect of UA on CMECs under H/R condition. Additionally, the protein levels of TLR4, MyD88 and p-P65 NF-κB were obviously increased after H/R stimulation, whereas the addition of UA could alter the phenomena by reducing TLR4, MyD88, and p-P65 NF-κB expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results insinuated that UA could alleviate H/R-induced injuries in CMECs by regulating ICAM1 and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway.

Beneficial Effects of Ursolic Acid and Its Derivatives-Focus on Potential Biochemical Mechanisms in Cardiovascular Conditions

Ursolic acid (UA) is a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid found in a number of plants such as apples, thyme, oregano, hawthorn and others. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have presented its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties. The inhibition of NF-κB-mediated inflammatory pathways and the increased scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in numerous ways seem to be the most beneficial effects of UA. In mice and rats, administration of UA appears to slow down the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), especially atherosclerosis and cardiac fibrosis. Upregulation of endothelial-type nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and cystathionine-λ-lyase (CSE) by UA may suggest its vasorelaxant property. Inhibition of metalloproteinases activity by UA may contribute to better outcomes in aneurysms management. UA influence on lipid and glucose metabolism remains inconsistent, and additional studies are essential to verify its efficacy. Furthermore, UA derivatives appear to have a beneficial impact on the cardiovascular system. This review aims to summarize recent findings on beneficial effects of UA that may make it a promising candidate for clinical trials for the management of CVDs.

Ursolic acid disturbs ROS homeostasis and regulates survival-associated gene expression to induce apoptosis in intestinal cancer cells

Ursolic acid is a natural compound possessing several therapeutic properties including anticancer potential. In present study, cytotoxic and antimetastatic properties of ursolic acid were investigated in intestinal cancer cell lines INT-407 and HCT-116. The cells growth and number were decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner in both the cell lines. It also increases reactive oxygen species levels in the cells in order to induce apoptosis. Ursolic acid was found to be a significant inhibitor of cancer cells migration and gene expression of migration markers FN1, CDH2, CTNNB1 and TWIST was also downregulated. Ursolic acid treatment downregulated the gene expression of survival factors BCL-2, SURVIVIN, NFKB and SP1, while upregulated the growth-restricting genes BAX, P21 and P53. These results indicate that ursolic acid has anticancer and antimetastatic properties against intestinal cancer. These properties could be beneficial in cancer treatment and could be used as complementary medicine.

Extraction, isolation, characterization and antimicrobial activities of non-extractable polyphenols from pomegranate peel

Non-extractable polyphenols (NEPPs) in pomegranate peel were released by acid hydrolysis followed by extraction using ethyl acetate (EtOAc). Ten NEPPs were identified in the hydrolysate using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Six compounds were then isolated from the EtOAc extracts whose structures were identified as β-sitosterol-3-O-glycoside (1), β-sitosterol (2), ursolic acid (3), corosolic acid (4), asiatic acid (5) and arjunolic acid (6) using a wide range of spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 4-6 were isolated for the first time from pomegranate peel. Antimicrobial experiments revealed that compound 3 and 5 showed significant antimicrobial activity against a range of pathogens, particularly compound 5 which exhibited selective inhibitive activity towards Staphylococcus aureus with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 16 μg/ml. The present study has provided new insights into the composition of bound chemicals in pomegranate peel and laid a foundation for improving its further processing and utilization.

Atheroprotective effects and molecular targets of bioactive compounds from traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has served the Chinese people since antiquity, and is playing an important role in today's healthcare. However, there has been controversy in the use of these traditional herbs due to unclear components and absence of scientific proof. As China plans to modernize traditional medicine, successful attempts to better understand the molecular mechanisms of TCM have been made by focusing on isolating active ingredients from these remedies. In this review, we critically examined the current evidence on atheroprotective effects of bioactive compounds from TCM using in vitro or in vivo models in the past two decades. A total of 47 active compounds were included in our review, which were introduced in the order of chemical structures, source, model, efficacy and mechanism. Notablely, this review highlighted the cellular and molecular mechanisms of these active compounds in prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. Two compounds were also involved in double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials (RCTs). Besides, we introduced the legislations of the People's Republic of China ensuring quality and safety of products used in TCM. In summary, studies on bioactive compounds from TCM will provide a new approach for better management of atherosclerosis.

Novel Insights in the Metabolic Syndrome-induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammation-mediated Atherosclerosis

Context:

Atherosclerosis is a progressive pathological process and a leading cause of mor-tality worldwide. Clinical research and epidemiological studies state that atherosclerosis is caused by an amalgamation of metabolic and inflammatory deregulation involving three important pathological events including Endothelial Dysfunction (ED), Foam Cell Formation (FCF), and Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMCs) proliferation and migration.

Objectives:

Research in recent years has identified Metabolic Syndrome (MS), which involves factors such as obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and diabetes, to be responsible for the pathophysiol-ogy of atherosclerosis. These factors elevate oxidative stress and inflammation-induced key signalling molecules and various microRNAs (miRs). In present study, we have reviewed recently identified molecular targets in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis.

Methods:

Scientific literature obtained from databases such as university library, PubMed and Google along with evidences from published experimental work in relevant journals has been sum-marized in this review article.

Results:

The molecular events and cell signalling implicated in atherogenic processes of ED, FCF and VSMCs hyperplasia are sequential and progressive, and involve cross talks at many levels. Specific molecules such as transcription factors, inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and miRs have been identified playing crucial role in most of the events leading to atherosclerosis.

Conclusion:

Studies associated with MS induced oxidative stress- and inflammation- mediated sig-nalling pathways along with critical miRs help in better understanding of the pathophysiology of ath-erosclerosis. Several key molecules discussed in this review could be potent target for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.

Ursolic acid suppresses leptin-induced cell proliferation in rat vascular smooth muscle cells

Accumulating lines of evidence indicate that high leptin levels are associated with adverse cardiovascular health in obese individuals. Proatherogenic effects of leptin include endothelial cell activation and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration. Ursolic acid (UA) has been reported to exhibit multiple biological effects including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the effect of UA on leptin-induced biological responses in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). A-10 VSMCs were treated with leptin in the presence or absence of UA. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was probed by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate. The expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, phospho-(ERK)1/2, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 and p50, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) was determined by Western blotting. Immunocytochemistry and confocal laser scanning microscopy were also used for the detection of NF-κB. The secretion of MMP2 was detected by gelatin zymography. UA exhibited antioxidant activities in vitro. In rat VSMCs, UA effectively inhibited cell growth and the activity of MMP2 induced by leptin. These suppressive effects appeared by decreasing the activation of (ERK)1/2, the nuclear expression and translocation of NF-κB, and the production of ROS. UA appeared to inhibit leptin-induced atherosclerosis, which may prevent the development of obesity-induced cardiovascular diseases.