Antiartherosclerotic effects of plant flavonoids

The low expression of matrix metalloproteinases: a key to longevity?

Over the past few decades, it has become clear that an excessive activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) can accelerate the progression and fatal outcomes of several serious age-related diseases, including atherosclerotic coronary heart disorders and various types of malignancies. These proteolytic enzymes mediate the degradation and remodeling of the extracellular matrix through cleaving its various components, thereby affecting many critical functions of surrounding cells and intercellular communication. Consequently, the low expression levels of MMPs can be important in the prevention and treatment of such chronic life-threatening pathologies, contributing to the better quality of life and longer life expectancy. In this review article, the pathogenic proteolytic roles of MMPs are examined in more detail, especially in the cases of heart attack and stroke as well as cancer invasion and metastasis, showing that these enzymes can be considered not only as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers but also as important therapeutic targets in the fight against many age- and lifestyle-related serious disorders. The identification and development of suppressing agents with a selective activity towards specific MMPs have, however, still remained a complex and complicated challenge, in which natural plant-derived compounds are increasingly recognized as promising leads for the new-generation inhibitors.

Phytochemical analysis and biological investigation of Cheilanthes tenuifolia (Burm.f.) Swartz

Introduction: Cheilanthes tenuifolia is an evergreen ornamental small fern, belonging to the family Pteridaceae, that grows in warm and rocky regions worldwide. Many species of Cheilanthes genus are evidently endowed with important phytochemicals and bioactivities. This study aimed to perform a preliminary phytochemical analysis of Cheilanthes tenuifolia leaves alongside an evaluation of free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and clot lysis activities of extract fractions. Materials and methods: A preliminary phytochemical analysis was done after fractionation of ethanolic extract (ECT) with n-hexane (HCT) and chloroform (CCT). Then, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, egg albumin and RBC membrane stabilization tests, disc diffusion, and human blood clot lysis assays were performed. Results: Phytochemical investigations suggested that the plant is rich in alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, and flavonoids. All obtained fractions exhibited concentration-dependent radical scavenging, inhibition of egg protein denaturation and RBC membrane lysis capacities. Except for antifungal tests, ECT exhibited better DPPH radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and clot lysis capacities than HCT and CCT fractions. However, all fractions exhibited a mild anti-inflammatory activity. Conclusion: C. tenuifolia might be a good source of antioxidant, anti-microbial, and anti-atherothrombotic agents. Further studies are required to isolate and characterize the active principles liable for each bioactivity, along with possible molecular interactions.

Challenges and opportunities of medicines for treating tendon inflammation and fibrosis: A comprehensive and mechanistic review

BACKGROUND

Tendinopathy refers to conditions characterized by collagen degeneration within tendon tissue, accompanied by the proliferation of capillaries and arteries, resulting in reduced mechanical function, pain, and swelling. While inflammation in tendinopathy can play a role in preventing infection, uncontrolled inflammation can hinder tissue regeneration and lead to fibrosis and impaired movement.

OBJECTIVES

The inability to regulate inflammation poses a significant limitation in tendinopathy treatment. Therefore, an ideal treatment strategy should involve modulation of the inflammatory process while promoting tissue regeneration.

METHODS

The current review article was prepared by searching PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. Several treatment approaches based on biomaterials have been developed.

RESULTS

This review examines various treatment methods utilizing small molecules, biological compounds, herbal medicine-inspired approaches, immunotherapy, gene therapy, cell-based therapy, tissue engineering, nanotechnology, and phototherapy.

CONCLUSION

These treatments work through mechanisms of action involving signaling pathways such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), all of which contribute to the repair of injured tendons.

GC-MS analysis and potential therapeutic efficacy of extracts from Allium humile Kunth in lowering dyslipidemia in wistar rat models

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Small Alpine onion Allium humile (Alliaceae) is a common traditional Indian medicine used for blood purification, anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic, anti-diabetic and seasoning agents. It is also used for the treatment of asthma, jaundice, stomach problems, cardiovascular disorders and anti-cancer agent.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this study, various extracts from the A. humile were taken and their therapeutic activity against dyslipidemia was evaluated in wistar rat models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The extraction was done by Soxhlet extraction and the extracts (hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, ethanol and aqueous) obtained were then tested for nitric oxide radical scavenging activity. The effective extracts i.e., methanol and ethyl acetate were then selected for in vivo studies in wistar rats. Dyslipidemia was induced in rats by feeding them high fat diet, and extracts of varying concentrations were administered to assess their potential for decreasing dyslipidemia. Statin was used as a positive control. After treatment, the blood was drawn and serum was separated for tests such as lipid profile, atherogenic index, lipid peroxidation and histopathological study. GC-MS analysis was carried out to identify the types of compounds present in A. humile extracts and FTIR analysis of extracts was done to determine the types of chemical bonds and functional groups.

RESULTS

The phytochemical screening of A. humile extracts revealed a high concentration of flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, terpenoids, and saponins. Different extracts were evaluated to inhibit the nitric oxide at different concentrations. At the concentration of 700 μg/ml, methanol extract showed maximum inhibition of 78.26%, followed by ethyl acetate, ethanol, aqueous and hexane have shown 62.25%, 54.26%, 47.59% and 36.99% respectively. The GC-MS analysis of methanol and ethyl acetate extracts revealed many compounds. The FTIR analysis showed the presence of many functional groups pertaining to various compounds. The methanolic extract (100 mg/kg) was more active (P < 0.0001) than the ethyl acetate extract in lowering lipid levels, lipid peroxidation, and the decreasing development of the lipoidal layer in aortic wall and rupture of the intima and media confirmed by histopathological study.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that A. humile methanolic extract was more active than the ethyl acetate extract in lowering lipid levels, lipid peroxidation, inhibiting NOS production and the decreasing development of the lipoidal layer in aortic wall and thus could serve potential antihyperlipidemic agent to enhance cardiovascular health.

Endoplasmic Reticulum as a Therapeutic Target in Cancer: Is there a Role for Flavonoids?

Flavonoids are classified into subclasses of polyphenols, a multipurpose category of natural compounds which comprises secondary metabolites extracted from vascular plants and are plentiful in the human diet. Although the details of flavonoid mechanisms are still not realized correctly, they are generally regarded as antimicrobial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative; anti-mutagenic; anti-neoplastic; anti-aging; anti-diabetic, cardio-protective, etc. The anti-cancer properties of flavonoids are evident in functions such as prevention of proliferation, metastasis, invasion, inflammation and activation of cell death. Tumors growth and enlargement expose cells to acidosis, hypoxia, and lack of nutrients which result in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress; it triggers the unfolded protein response (UPR), which reclaims homeostasis or activates autophagy. Steady stimulation of ER stress can switch autophagy to apoptosis. The connection between ER stress and cancer, in association with UPR, has been explained. The signals provided by UPR can activate or inhibit anti-apoptotic or apoptotic pathways depending on the period and grade of ER stress. In this review, we will peruse the link between flavonoids and their impact on the endoplasmic reticulum in association with cancer therapy.

Antimicrobial films fabricated with myricetin nanoparticles and chitosan derivation microgels for killing pathogenic bacteria in drinking water

Pathogenic bacteria in drinking water threaten human health and life. In the work, antimicrobial films composed of myricetin@tannic acid (My@TA) nanoparticles (NPs) and chitosan derivation microgels were developed to kill pathogenic bacteria in drinking water. Hydrophobic My was first made into water soluble My@TA NPs using a solvent exchange method with TA as stabilizer. Polymeric microgels of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS)/hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HACC) were then fabricated with a blending method. CMCS&HACC/My@TA multilayer films were further deposited on the internal surface of PET bottles by using a layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technique. The PET bottles coated with the films could effectively kill pathogenic bacteria in water such as S. aureus, E. coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Listeria monocytogenes and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In addition, CMCS&HACC/My@TA films displayed good antioxidant activity, water resistance, and in vivo biocompatibility with heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney organs. We believe that the container coated with CMCS&HACC/My@TA films can be applied to prevent microbial contamination of drinking water.

Protective effect of moringa seed extract on kidney damage in rats fed a high-fat and high-fructose diet

Objective

Moringa is a common plant that contains high levels of antioxidants. In this study, we aimed to analyze the protective effect of moringa seed extract on the kidneys of a rat model maintained on a high-fat and high-fructose (HFHF) diet.

Methods

An experiment with a pretest-posttest control group design was used to measure metabolic parameters and determine kidney function, while a posttest-only method was used for the control group to determine glomerular volume and superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression. Purposive sampling was used on 28 rats divided into four groups: a control (K1) group, and three groups fed a HFHF diet for 53 days (K2, K3, and K4). Subsequently, K3 and K4 were given 150 and 200 mg/kg BW per day moringa seed extract for 28 days. Data were analyzed using IBM® SPSS® Statistics version 22 software.

Results

Analysis showed that the diet increased the risk of metabolic syndrome, as evidenced by weight gain, glucose, and triglycerides. The optimal dose of moringa seed extract significantly improved glomerular volume (p = 0.001). The expression of SOD in kidney tubules and glomeruli was significantly different with each group (p = 0.002 and p = 0.001) respectively.

Conclusion

The administration of moringa seed extract provided a protective effect on the kidney by reducing serum creatinine levels, improving overall structure, and increasing the expression of SOD, a key antioxidant.

Myricetin as a promising inhibitor of platelet fibrinogen receptor in humans

Platelets play a vital role in the formation of dangerous arterial thrombosis. Platelets are activated by adhesive proteins or soluble agonists through their specific receptors. The receptor-mediated signaling pathways lead to common signaling events, which result in shape changes and inside-out signaling, leading fibrinogen binding to glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex (integrin αIIbβ3). This interaction initiates integrin αIIbβ3-mediated outside-in signaling, subsequently culminating in granule secretion and aggregation. Myricetin is a flavonoid that occurs in a variety of plants. Although myricetin has been demonstrated to have several bioactive properties, its role in platelet activation has not been extensively studied. The present study demonstrated the ability of myricetin to inhibit platelet aggregation stimulated by collagen, thrombin, and U46619. Myricetin reduced the ATP-release, cytosolic Ca2+ mobilization, and P-selectin expression and the activation of PLCγ2/PKC, PI3K/Akt/GSK3β, and MAPK. Myricetin exerted a direct inhibitory effect on the activation of integrin αIIbβ3 by disrupting the binding between FITC-PAC-1 and the integrin. Moreover, myricetin suppressed integrin αIIbβ3-mediated outside-in signaling, such as integrin β3, Src, and Syk phosphorylation on immobilized fibrinogen. In animal studies, myricetin significantly prolonged the occlusion time of thrombotic platelet plug formation in mesenteric microvessels without extending bleeding time. This study concludes that myricetin is a natural integrin αIIbβ3 inhibitor and a novel antithrombotic agent.

Effect of Salt Stress on the Phenolic Compounds, Antioxidant Capacity, Microbial Load, and In Vitro Bioaccessibility of Two Microalgae Species (Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Spirulina platensis)

Microalgae have gained attention as alternative food sources due to their nutritional value and biological effects. This study investigated the effect of salt stress on the antioxidant activity, phenolic profile, bioavailability of bioactive compounds, and microbial counts in the blue-green algae Spirulina platensis and diatom species Phaeodactylum tricornutum. These microalgae were cultured in growth mediums with different salt concentrations (15-35‱) We observed the highest antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds in the control groups. S. platensis (20‱) exhibited higher antioxidant activity compared to P. tricornutum (30‱), which decreased with increasing salt stress. Using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS, we identified and quantified 20 and 24 phenolic compounds in the P. tricornutum and S. platensis culture samples, respectively. The bioavailability of these compounds was assessed through in vitro digestion with the highest amounts observed in the intestinal phase. Salt stress negatively affected the synthesis of bioactive substances. Microbial counts ranged from 300 to 2.78 × 104 cfu/g for the total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and from 10 to 1.35 × 104 cfu/g for yeast/mold in P. tricornutum samples while the S. platensis samples had microbial counts from 300 to 1.9 × 104 cfu/g and the total aerobic mesophilic bacteria from 10 to 104 cfu/g, respectively. This study suggests that adding salt at different ratios to the nutrient media during the production of P. tricornutum and S. platensis can impact phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, microbial load evaluation, and in vitro bioaccessibility of the studied microalgae.

Onosma hispidum L. extract reverses hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and associated vascular dysfunction in rats

Onosma hispidum.L (O. hispidum) belongs to the family Boregineacea. A preliminary study and its medicinal use suggested its role in the management of hyperlipidemia. The present study aimed to assess the effect of methanolic root extract of O. hispidum in hyperlipidemia and associated vascular dysfunction. Oral administration of O. hispidum crude extract (Oh. Cr) to tyloxopol and high fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic Sprague-Dawley rats for 10 and 28 days significantly reduced total triglycerides and cholesterol (p < 0.001), compared to hyperlipidemic rats. Oh. Cr 250 mg/kg orally treated rats significantly (p < 0.001) reduced both the total body weight and atherogenic index in tylaxopol and HFD rats. In HMG-CoA assay, the inhibition of the enzyme was significant in Oh.Cr (250 mg/kg) treated group. Histopathological studies indicated that the group treated with Oh.Cr 250 mg/kg/day showed regular morphology of aortic intima, media and adventitia, and improved the endothelial damage. To investigate the vascular dysfunction, isolated rat aorta rings from all groups were pre-contracted with 1 µM phenylephrine (PE), and the effect of acetylcholine (Ach) was monitored. In the aorta isolated from Oh.Cr (50 mg/kg) treated group, Ach completely relaxed the PE-induced contraction with EC₅₀ value of 0.05 µg/mL 0.015 (0.01-0.2) compared to the hyperlipidemic control group (<30% relaxation). In atorvastatin (10 mg/kg) treated rat aorta, Ach showed 50% relaxation. The Oh.Cr extract also reduced (105.92 ± 1.14 to 66.63 ± 0.85 mmHg) mean arterial pressure in hyperlipidemic hypertensive rats. These findings suggest that extract of O. hispidum is an effective remedy for hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia, which acts through inhibition of HMG-CoA and improving vascular dysfunction.

Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, and Anti-Obesity Properties of Apple Pulp Extracts (Malus domestica Bork): A Comparative Study of 15 Local and Commercial Cultivars from Spain

Apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) have a great agricultural and economic impact worldwide; they also present an interesting nutritional value, and their consumption has been associated with beneficial health effects. In this study, 15 apple varieties (three commercial, 12 autochthonous genotypes) were collected from mountainous areas in Spain and were evaluated for their phenolic content, antioxidant, anti-obesity and antidiabetic activities. Quercetin was tested as the reference substance in bioassays due to its role as one of the most common flavonoids in apples and other vegetables. Total Phenolic Content (TPC) of apple pulp extracts was quantified using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The antioxidant activity was determined by using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging and xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X/XO) scavenging assays. Antidiabetic and anti-obesity potential were evaluated by inhibition of alpha-glucosidase (α-GLU), advance glycation end products (AGEs) formation and pancreatic lipase. The results showed in general higher phenol content in autochthonous varieties than in commercial apple pulp extracts. Phenolic-rich extracts showed better antioxidant profiles and significantly inhibited AGEs production and the α-glucosidase enzyme in a dose-dependent manner. None of them showed pancreatic lipase inhibitory effects but in general, the genotype known as "Amarilla de Octubre" was the best in terms of TPC and bioactive properties.

Perception and demand for healthy snacks/beverages among US consumers vary by product, health benefit, and color

Concerns about the numerous health problems associated with unhealthy snacks prompted recommendations to steer individuals toward healthier eating habits. One such recommendation advises limiting unhealthy snacks and replacing them with more fruits and vegetables with significant health benefits. This study investigates US consumers' perceptions and preferences for healthy (vegetable-based) snacks/beverages. An online survey was designed to estimate consumer perception and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for vegetable-based crackers, spreads, and beverages. A sampling company sent the survey to its national consumer panels in 2020, resulting in a sample of 402 US consumers. Eligible participants were adults, primary grocery shoppers who consumed crackers, spreads, and beverages. Consumer WTP for healthy snacks/beverages, the dependent variable, was elicited using a payment card method. Independent variables include personality traits (Innovativeness and Extraversion) and the important factors affecting healthy snack purchases, health consciousness, and demographic variables. Results show that consumers' preferences for healthy snacking vary by product, even when the products have similar health benefits. Significant positive associations exist between WTP for healthy snacks/beverages and personality traits, health consciousness, and some demographics. This study provides critical insights to policymakers and informs marketing campaigns to promote healthy snacking in the US more effectively.

Comprehensive investigation on flavonoids metabolites of Longjing tea in different cultivars, geographical origins, and storage time

In this study, four kinds of Longjing tea, the famous flat green tea and the protected geographical indication product in China, were used to explore the quality difference of the same green tea due to the cultivar, geographic origin, and storage time under the premise of consistent picking conditions and processing technology using the widely targeted metabolomics. Results showed that 483 flavonoid metabolites with 10 subgroups of flavonoids were screened and 118 differential flavonoid metabolites were identified. The number and subgroups of differential flavonoid metabolites produced by different cultivars of Longjing tea were the largest, followed by storage time, and third by the geographic origin. Glycosidification and methylation or methoxylation were the main structural modifications of differential flavonoid metabolites. This study has enriched the understanding of the effects of the cultivar, the geographic origin, and the storage time on the flavonoid metabolic profiles of Longjing tea, and provided worthy information for the traceability of green tea.

Therapeutic effect of gossypetin against paraquat-induced testicular damage in male rats: a histological and biochemical study

Paraquat (PQ) is an organic compound, which is commonly used as a herbicide in the agriculture sector, and it is also known to stimulate critical damages in the male reproductive system. Gossypetin (GPTN) is one of important members of the flavonoid family, which is an essential compound in flowers and calyx of Hibiscus sabdariffa with potential pharmacological properties. The current investigation was aimed to examine the ameliorative potential of GPTN against PQ-instigated testicular damages. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 48) were distributed into four groups: control, PQ (5 mg/kg), PQ + GPTN (5 mg/kg + 30 mg/kg respectively), and GPTN (30 mg/kg). After 56 days of treatment, biochemical, spermatogenic indices, hormonal, steroidogenic, pro-or-anti-apoptotic, and histopathological parameters were estimated. PQ exposure disturbed the biochemical profile by reducing the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GSR), while it increased the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) level. Furthermore, PQ exposure decreased the sperm motility, viability, number of hypo-osmotic tail swelled spermatozoa, and epididymal sperm count; additionally, it increased sperm morphological (head mid-piece and tail) abnormalities. Moreover, PQ lessened the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and plasma testosterone levels. Besides, PQ-intoxication downregulated the gene expression of steroidogenic enzymes (StAR, 3β-HSD, and 17β-HSD) and anti-apoptotic marker (Bcl-2), whereas upregulated the gene expression of apoptotic markers (Bax and Caspase-3). PQ exposure led to histopathological damages in testicular tissues as well. Nonetheless, GPTN inverted all the illustrated impairments in testes. Taken together, GPTN could potently ameliorate PQ-induced reproductive dysfunctions due to its antioxidant, androgenic, and anti-apoptotic potential.

Supramolecular β-Cyclodextrin-Quercetin Based Metal-Organic Frameworks as an Efficient Antibiofilm and Antifungal Agent

The loading of drugs or medicinally active compounds has recently been performed using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which are thought to be a new type of porous material in which organic ligands and metal ions can self-assemble to form a network structure. The quercetin (QRC) loading and biofilm application on a cyclodextrin-based metal-organic framework via a solvent diffusion approach is successfully accomplished in the current study. The antibacterial plant flavonoid QRC is loaded onto β-CD-K MOFs to create the composite containing inclusion complexes (ICs) and denoted as QRC:β-CD-K MOFs. The shifting in the chemical shift values of QRC in the MOFs may be the reason for the interaction of QRC with the β-CD-K MOFs. The binding energies and relative contents of MOFs are considerably changed after the formation of QRC:β-CD-K MOFs, suggesting that the interactions took place during the loading of QRC. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) showed a reduction in the formation of biofilm. The results of the cell aggregation and hyphal growth are consistent with the antibiofilm activity that is found in the treatment group. Therefore, QRC:β-CD-K MOFs had no effect on the growth of planktonic cells while inhibiting the development of hyphae and biofilm in C. albicans DAY185. This study creates new opportunities for supramolecular β-CD-based MOF development for use in biological research and pharmaceutical production.

Quercetin as a Dietary Supplementary Flavonoid Alleviates the Oxidative Stress Induced by Lead Toxicity in Male Wistar Rats

Quercetin is a naturally existing plant pigment belonging to the flavonoid group; it is contained in a wide range of vegetables and fruits. The accumulated evidence points to the potential uses of quercetin in protection of some disease conditions. Lead is one of the highly toxicant heavy metals that are widely spread in the environment and implicated in a wide spectrum of industries. No previous study has been reported to evaluate the effect of quercetin on lead toxicity. Therefore, the present study was conducted to elucidate some aspects of quercetin bioactivities in regard to its ability to combat the oxidative stress induced by lead toxicity. For this purpose, a total of sixty male Wistar rats were randomly and equally divided into three groups of 20 animals each; untreated control animals (group 1), lead-exposed animals (group 2; exposed to lead daily by oral gavage at the dose of 80 mg/Kg b.w.), and group 3 of animals, which were exposed to lead and daily received quercetin (10 h gap time between lead exposure and the receiving of quercetin) by oral gavage at the dose of 350 mg/Kg b.w. The experiment period was 8 weeks. All the assayed hematological and biochemical parameters of animals exposed to lead were significantly altered compared with the untreated control levels. Animals exposed to lead (group 2) exhibited significant decrements of the erythrocytic and total leucocytic counts, hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume percent, total proteins, albumin and globulin. These animals also disclosed significantly decreased levels of antioxidant markers including total thiols, catalase and glutathione. On the other hand, these animals demonstrated significant increments in the levels of bilirubin, urea, creatinine, BUN, serum enzymes, H₂O₂ and MDA. Animals exposed to lead and given quercetin (group 3) exhibited improvement of these parameters, which were brought back at varying degrees toward the untreated control levels. Basing on the improvements of the assayed hematological and biochemical parameters, it was concluded that quercetin as a dietary supplement can act efficiently as an antioxidant to counteract the oxidative stress induced by lead toxicity and to maintain the oxidant antioxidant balance.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Parijoto Fruit Extract (Medinilla speciosa Blume) on Male Mice Fed with High-Fat Diet

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of parijoto fruit extract (Medinilla speciosa Blume) in improving the condition of fatty liver in male balb/c mice (Mus musculus L.) fed with a high-fat diet. Thirty male balb/c mice weighing 20 to 30 g were randomly divided into six groups, i.e: 1) Standard feed and Carboxymethyl Cellulose Sodium or CMC-Na 0.5% (K1); 2) High-fat diet and CMC-Na 0.5% (K2); 3) High-fat diet and simvastatin 0.026 mg/day (K3); 4) High-fat diet and parijoto fruit extract 5.6 mg/20 g BW (P1); 5) High-fat diet and parijoto fruit extract 8.4 mg/20 g BW (P2); 6) High-fat diet and parijoto fruit extract 11.2 mg/20 g BW (P3). Standard feed, high-fat diet, simvastatin, and parijoto fruit extract were administered for 56 days. On the 57th day, the total of 30 mice were terminated and the livers were then removed for H&E staining histopathological slides. Data on the degree of fatty liver on histopathological slides were collected and analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and followed by the Mann-Whitney test. The histopathological analysis showed Medinilla speciosa Blume extract at a dose of 5.6 mg/20 g BW in group P1 prevent the steatosis degree compared to high-fat feed mice in group K2 (p>0.05). Parijoto fruit extract could act as the potential treatment for fatty liver.

Quercetin ameliorates acute acrylamide induced spleen injury

Acrylamide is used for industrial and laboratory purposes; it also is produced during cooking of carbohydrate-rich food at high temperature. We investigated the therapeutic potential of quercetin for treatment of acute acrylamide induced injury to the spleen. We used female albino rats treated with acrylamide for 10 days followed by oral administration of quercetin in three doses for 5 days. We observed significantly reduced total body weight, spleen weight, red blood cells, total proteins, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phophate dehydrogenase, reduced glutathione, concentration of serum IgG and IgM after acrylamide induced toxicity compared to controls. We also found that white blood cells, triglycerides, cholesterol and lipid oxidation were increased significantly after acrylamide induced toxicity in rats compared to controls. Histoarchitecture of spleen was affected adversely by acrylamide toxicity. Administration of quercetin ameliorated adverse effects of acrylamide in a dose-dependent manner. Quercetin appears to ameliorate acrylamide induced injury to the spleen by increasing endogenous antioxidants and improving histoarchitecture and immune function.

Neuroprotective Effect of Quercetin and Memantine against AlCl3-Induced Neurotoxicity in Albino Wistar Rats

Recent evidences indicate that there is a substantial increase in worldwide cases of dementia. Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia and may contribute to 60-70% of cases. Quercetin is a unique bioflavonoid that has numerous therapeutic benefits such as anti-allergy, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, anti-cancer, immuno-modulatory, anti-infective, antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, neuroprotective effects, etc. In the present study, we evaluated the neuroprotective effect of orally administered quercetin with memantine in albino Wistar rats after inducing neurotoxicity through AlCl₃ (100 mg/kg, p.o.). Chronic administration of AlCl₃ resulted in poor retention of memory and significant oxidative damage. Various behavioral parameters, such as locomotor activity, Morris water maze, elevated plus maze, and passive avoidance test, were assessed on days 21 and 42 of the study. The animals were euthanatized following the completion of the last behavioral assessment. Various oxidative stress parameters were assessed to know the extent of oxidative damage to brain tissue. Quercetin with memantine has shown significant improvement in behavioral studies, inhibition of AChE activity, and reduction in oxidative stress parameters. Histopathological studies assessed for cortex and hippocampus using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and Congo red stain demonstrated a reduction in amyloid-β plaque formation after treatment of quercetin with memantine. Immunohistochemistry showed that quercetin with memantine treatment also improved the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and inhibited amyloid-β plaque formation. The present study results demonstrated protective effects of treatment of quercetin with memantine in the neurotoxicity linked to aluminum chloride in albino Wistar rats.

Myricetin attenuates hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in neonatal rats via NRF2 signaling pathway

Introduction: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a crucial cause of neonatal death and neurological sequelae, but currently there is no effective therapy drug for HIE. Both oxidative stress and apoptosis play critical roles in the pathological development of HIE. Myricetin, a naturally extracted flavonol compound, exerts remarkable effects against oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation. However, the role and underlying molecular mechanism of myricetin on HIE remain unclear. Methods: In this study, we established the neonatal rats hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain damage model in vivo and CoCl₂ induced PC1₂ cell model in vitro to explore the neuroprotective effects of myricetin on HI injury, and illuminate the potential mechanism. Results: Our results showed that myricetin intervention could significantly reduce brain infarction volume, glia activation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress marker levels through activating NRF2 (Nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2) and increase the expressions of NRF2 downstream proteins NQO-1 and HO-1. In addition, the NRF2 inhibitor ML385 could significantly reverse the effects of myricetin. Conclusion: This study found that myricetin might alleviate oxidative stress and apoptosis through NRF2 signaling pathway to exert the protective role for HI injury, which suggested that myricetin might be a promising therapeutic agent for HIE.

Microarray Expression Profile of Myricetin-Treated THP-1 Macrophages Exhibits Alterations in Atherosclerosis-Related Regulator Molecules and LXR/RXR Pathway

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammation characterized by macrophage infiltration, lipid deposition, and arterial wall thickening. Prevention of atherosclerosis by nutraceuticals is gaining attention. Myricetin, a dietary flavonol, is claimed to possess anti-atherosclerosis properties. We studied myricetin's effect on the atherosclerosis-associated molecular mechanism. Cytotoxicity and proliferation testing to check the viability of myricetin-treated THP-1 macrophages and monocyte migration study in the presence and absence of myricetin was performed. The whole transcriptome analysis was conducted using the Affymetrix microarray platform. The Partek genomics suite for detecting differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and ingenuity pathway analysis was used to identify canonical pathways. Cytotoxicity assays exhibited no significant toxicity in THP-1 macrophages treated with different myricetin concentrations (10-200 μM). Genome-wide expression profiling revealed 58 DEGs (53 upregulated and 5 downregulated) in myricetin-treated THP-1 macrophages. Pathway analysis revealed inhibition of LXR/RXR activation and angiogenesis inhibition by thrombospondin-1 and activated phagocytosis in myricetin-treated THP-1 macrophages. The cytotoxicity assay shows myricetin as a safe phytochemical. In vitro and in silico pathway studies on THP-1 macrophages showed that they can inhibit THP-1 monocyte migration and alter the cholesterol efflux mediated via LXR/RXR signaling. Therefore, myricetin could help in the prevention of cell infiltration in atherosclerotic plaque with reduced risk of stroke or brain damage.

Bioinformatical and biochemical analyses on the protective role of traditional Chinese medicine against age-related macular degeneration

PURPOSE

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the commonest cause of permanent vision loss in the elderly. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has long been used to treat AMD, although the underlying functional mechanisms are not understood. This study aims to predict the active ingredients through screening the chemical ingredients of anti-AMD Decoction and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

We collected the prescriptions for effective AMD treatment with traditional Chinese medicine and screened several Chinese medicines that were used most frequently in order to compose "anti-AMD decoction". The pharmacologically active ingredients and corresponding targets in this anti-AMD decoction were mined using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database. Subsequently, the AMD-related targets were identified through the GeneCards database. Network pharmacology was performed to construct the visual network of anti-AMD Decoction-AMD protein-protein interaction (PPI). Further, the Autodock software was adopted for molecular docking on the core active ingredients and core targets. The function of core ingredients against oxidative stress and inflammation in retinal pigment epithelial cells was assessed using biochemical assays.

RESULTS

We screened out 268 active ingredients in anti-AMD Decoction corresponding to 258 ingredient targets, combined with 2160 disease targets in AMD, and obtained 129 drug-disease common targets. The key core proteins were predominantly involved in inflammation. Furthermore, molecular docking showed that four potential active ingredients (Quercetin, luteolin, naringenin and hederagenin) had good affinity with the core proteins, IL6, TNF and MAPK3. Quercetin, luteolin and naringenin demonstrated capacities against oxidative stress and inflammation in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The data suggests that anti-AMD Decoction has multiple functional components and targets in treating AMD, possibly mediated by suppression of oxidative stress and inflammation.

Quantification of biomarkers and evaluation of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxicity properties of Dodonaea viscosa grown in Saudi Arabia using HPTLC technique

Dodonaea viscosa (Sapindaceae) was collected from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. For the simultaneous measurement of quercetin and kaempferol, a validated high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) approach was devised in D. viscosa leaf extract. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using diphenyl 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays. Moreover, the cytotoxic effect was tested against three cancer cell lines A549, HepG2, and MDA-MB-231. The potential anti-inflammatory properties of different fractions of D. viscosa were also evaluated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced THP-1 macrophages cells. The test samples include a crude extract of leaves and its solvent-soluble fractions of D. viscosa. The results showed that the crude extract and its fractions exhibited various significant biological activities, the fraction of chloroform demonstrated the highest free radical scavenging activity with IC50 values: 172.2 and 257.7 µg/mL for both DPPH and ABTS tests. Additionally, the chloroform fraction had the greatest cytotoxic activity against MDA-MB-231 (IC50 values: 24.6 ± 0.4 µg/mL). Moreover, the chloroform fraction exhibited the highest downregulation of the LPS-induced expression of TNF-α and IL-6. Quercetin and kaempferol were estimated concurrently in leaves crude extract using a validated technique on an HPTLC plate (10 cm2 × 10 cm2) with a combination of toluene–ethyl acetate–formic acid (5:4:0.2; v/v/v) as the mobile phase and a λ max of 254 nm. The amount of quercetin and kaempferol was found to be 31.8 and 15.01 mg/g of dried leaf extract, respectively. The presence of high levels of quercetin and kaempferol in D. viscosa leaves extract could explain its remarkable antioxidant, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory effects. The devolved HPTLC method can be used for routine analysis and standardization of D. viscosa crude plant material, extracts, and/or finished products using quercetin and kaempferol as appropriate markers.

Genetic Diversity for Quercetin, Myricetin, Cyanidin, and Delphinidin Concentrations in 38 Blackeye Pea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) Genotypes for Potential Use as a Functional Health Vegetable

Blackeye peas (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) are mainly used as a vegetable throughout the world, however they may contain significant concentrations of quercetin, myricetin, cyanidin, and delphinidin for potential use as a functional vegetable. Thirty-eight blackeye pea genotypes were selected from the core collection in the USDA, ARS, Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit's cold storage at 4 °C during 2016. Information regarding concentrations of quercetin, myricetin, cyanidin, delphindin, and correlations among these as well as additional seed traits including seed coat color, seed pattern color, seed pattern, seed texture, and years in storage would add value to the blackeye pea genotypes for use as a functional vegetable. Using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the red seeded accession originating from Mozambique, PI 367927 produced the highest quercetin (469.53 µg/g) and myricetin (212.23 µg/g) concentrations. The black seeded genotype, PI 353236, originating from India, produced the highest cyanidin (1,388.82 µg/g) concentration. However, PI 353236 and the brown seeded genotype, PI 353352 from India produced the highest concentrations of delphinidin (1,343.27 and 1,353.94 µg/g), respectively. Several correlations were observed and interestingly only delphinidin showed a significant negative correlation (r = -0.293*) with years in cold storage indicating that delphinidin declined in the seeds stored the longest (from 4-45 years) at 4 °C. Principal component analysis (PCA) explained how the flavonols, anthocyanidins, and the additional seed traits contributed to the variation of the blackeye pea genotypes. The cluster analysis showed six clusters representing low to high phytochemical concentrations. The genetic parameters including σ2g, σ2p, GCV, PCV, h2h, and GG indicate that improvement in these phytochemical traits is possible through selection. The genotypic and phenotypic correlations showed that improving one phytochemical significantly improved the other except for cyanidin with delphinidin. These results can be used by scientists to develop blackeye pea cultivars with high flavonol and anthocyanidin concentrations.

White Wine—Induced Endothelium-Dependent Vasorelaxation in Sprague-Dawley Rats

The vasodilatory activity and polyphenolic content of commercially available white wine is low compared to red wines. This study assessed the vasodilator potential of white wines produced by four different fermentation processes: (1) white wine produced by the standard procedure; (2) grapes left to macerate completely for 30 days; (3) grapes left to macerate up to half of unfermented sugar; and (4) wine produced by cooling the must. All tested wine samples were analyzed for their phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and ethanol content. Vasodilation was examined in the norepinephrine pre-contracted isolated rat aortas of male Sprague-Dawley rats randomly exposed to cumulative concentrations (0.1‰ to 8‰ final dilutions in organ baths) of each of the tested wine samples with or without quercetin and/or gallic acid supplementation, in the absence/presence of NOS inhibitor L-NAME. Standard procedure and the procedure involving must cooling gives wine with lower phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and lower vasodilator potential, respectively. L-NAME inhibited vasodilation to all wine samples. Quercetin with or without gallic acid supplementation restored vasodilation. Results show that vasodilation to white wine is NO-dependent and suggest the possibility of increasing the antioxidant capacity and vasodilatory potential of white wine using different production procedures, depending on quercetin content.

Biological Potential of Polyphenols in the Context of Metabolic Syndrome: An Analysis of Studies on Animal Models

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a disease that has a complex etiology. It is defined as the co-occurrence of several pathophysiological disorders, including obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. MetS is currently a severe problem in the public health care system. As its prevalence increases every year, it is now considered a global problem among adults and young populations. The treatment of choice comprises lifestyle changes based mainly on diet and physical activity. Therefore, researchers have been attempting to discover new substances that could help reduce or even reverse the symptoms when added to food. These attempts have resulted in numerous studies. Many of them have investigated the bioactive potential of polyphenols as a "possible remedy", stemming from their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects and properties normalizing carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Polyphenols may be supportive in preventing or delaying the onset of MetS or its complications. Additionally, the consumption of food rich in polyphenols should be considered as a supplement for antidiabetic drugs. To ensure the relevance of the studies on polyphenols' properties, mechanisms of action, and potential human health benefits, researchers have used laboratory animals displaying pathophysiological changes specific to MetS. Polyphenols or their plant extracts were chosen according to the most advantageous mitigation of pathological changes in animal models best reflecting the components of MetS. The present paper comprises an overview of animal models of MetS, and promising polyphenolic compounds whose bioactive potential, effect on metabolic pathways, and supplementation-related benefits were analyzed based on in vivo animal models.

Quercetin Beneficial Role in the Homeostatic Variation of Certain Trace Elements in Dyslipidemic Mice

Background

Quercetin's role in the homeostasis of certain trace elements in dyslipidemia induced in mice was assessed.

Methods

Forty BALB/c mice were allocated into 4 groups as follows: control; HFD, received fat diet; HFD + Q group, received HFD +500 mg/L quercetin; and blank control (Q)—normal food + 500 mg/L quercetin in drinking water.

Results

By analyzing the values of total proteins, albumins, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and the levels of several trace elements in blood and organs, we perceived a statistically significant increase (^∗∗, p < 0.01) of TP, ALB, TC, TGE, and LDL-c. A nonsignificant decrease was ascertained to HDL-c value in the HFD and quercetin groups (p > 0.05). In the HFD group, all analyzed elements in the kidney and spleen increased, also Cu, Li, Mg, Mn, Pb, and of B, Ba, Cr, Cd, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the heart increased, but furthermore, Ag, B, Ba, Cd, Cr, Fe, Ni, and Zn in blood, Ag and Zn in the liver, and Cd in the spleen decreased. In the HFD group who received quercetin, elements (except B) were decreased in kidney and liver, also increased Ag, Ba, Cr, Fe, Li, Ni, Zn in blood, but similarly, Ag, B, Ba, Cd, Cu, Mn, and Pb declined in the spleen and heart.

Conclusions

Results proved the quercetin beneficial role.

Enhanced water dispersibility and Caco-2 cell monolayer permeability of quercetin by complexation with casein hydrolysate

Although quercetin (Que) has many beneficial therapeutic effects on the human body, its oral bioavailability is poor because of its low water solubility. Herein, we describe the preparation of casein hydrolysate (Pep_cas ) and its use as a dispersant to enhance the water dispersibility of Que resulting in an improvement of its bioavailability. By complexation with Pep_cas , the apparent solubility of Que in the complex (Que@Pep_cas ) was significantly increased under acidic and neutral conditions. Que@Pep_cas was pre-digested in vitro using a simulated digestive juice, and a Caco-2 cell monolayer permeation assay was performed to evaluate the oral bioavailability of Que. The cumulative amount of Que that permeated the monolayer using Que@Pep_cas after 8, 16, and 24 h was increased compared with a blank sample (Que@Blank), and the apparent permeation coefficient P_app of Que@Pep_cas was approximately 2.6-fold better than that of Que@Blank. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Pep_cas can be used as a high absorption supplement and food additive, and our Pep_cas complexation technique should be widely applicable to not only Que but also to other poorly water-soluble substances.

Myricetin: a Multifunctional Flavonol in Biomedicine

PURPOSE OF REVEIW

The root cause of many diseases like CVD, cancer, and aging is free radicals which exert their effect by interfering with different metabolic pathways. The sources of free radicals can be exogenous, like UV rays from sunlight, and endogenous due to different metabolic by-products.In our body, there are defense mechanisms present, such as antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant molecules to combat these free radicals, but if there is an overload of these free radicals in our body, the defense system may not be sufficient to neutralize these free radicals. In such situations, we are exposed to a chronic low dose of oxidants creating oxidative stress, which is responsible for eliciting different diseases.

RECENT FINDINGS

Pubmed and Google Scholar are the search engines used to sort out relevant papers on myricetin and its role in combating many diseases. Myricetin is present in many fruits and vegetables and is a known antioxidant. It can elevate the antioxidant enzyme levels; reduces the lipid peroxidation; and is known to protect against cancer. In the case of myocardial dysfunction, myricetin has been shown to suppress the inflammatory cytokines and reduced the mortality rate. Myricetin has also been found to reduce platelet aggregation and control the viral infections by interfering in the DNA replication pathways.

SUMMARY

In this paper, we have briefly reviewed about the different type and site of free radicals and the role of myricetin in addressing the ROS and different diseases.

Different Fruit-Specific Promoters Drive AtMYB12 Expression to Improve Phenylpropanoid Accumulation in Tomato

Tomato is an economically crucial vegetable/fruit crop globally. Tomato is rich in nutrition and plays an essential role in a healthy human diet. Phenylpropanoid, a critical compound in tomatoes, reduces common degenerative and chronic diseases risk caused by oxidative stress. As an MYB transcription factor, ATMYB12 can increase phenylpropanoid content by activating phenylpropanoid synthesis related genes, such as PAL, C4H, 4CL, CHS. However, the heterologous expression of AtMYB12 in tomatoes can be altered through transgenic technologies, such as unstable expression vectors and promoters with different efficiency. In the current study, the efficiency of other fruit-specific promoters, namely E8S, 2A12, E4, and PG, were compared and screened, and we determined that the expression efficiency of AtMYB12 was driven by the E8S promoter was the highest. As a result, the expression of phenylpropanoid synthesis related genes was regulated by AtMYB12, and the phenylpropanoid accumulation in transgenic tomato fruits increased 16 times. Additionally, the total antioxidant capacity of fruits was measured through Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay, which was increased by 2.4 times in E8S transgenic lines. TEAC was positively correlated with phenylpropanoid content. Since phenylpropanoid plays a crucial role in the human diet, expressing AtMYB12 with stable and effective fruit-specific promoter E8S could improve tomato’s phenylpropanoid and nutrition content and quality. Our results can provide genetic resources for the subsequent improvement of tomato varieties and quality, which is significant for human health.

Anti-amyloidogenic property of gold nanoparticle decorated quercetin polymer nanorods in pH and temperature induced aggregation of lysozyme

Quercetin is an abundant plant polyphenol effective against several diseases due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Herein, we report novel polymeric quercetin nanorods and the former decorated with gold nanoparticles for the first time. The prepared conjugates quercetin-polyvinylpyrrolidone (Q-PVP) and quercetin-polyvinylpyrrolidone-gold nanoparticles (Q-PVP-Au) were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential measurements. The surface morphology of conjugates was analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy. These conjugates exhibit harmonized rod-like morphology with a narrow size distribution. Furthermore, the quercetin conjugates with nanorod morphology exhibited enhanced and prolonged drug release over a long period. The synthesized conjugates were investigated for lysozyme aggregation kinetics. ThT binding assay, fibril size measurement, and electron microscopy results revealed that conjugates could suppress fibrillogenesis in lysozyme. The highest amyloid aggregation inhibition activity (IC₅₀) was obtained against Q-PVP and Q-PVP-Au at 32 μg mL⁻¹ and 30 μg mL⁻¹ respectively. The amyloid aggregate disintegration activity (DC₅₀) obtained against Q-PVP and Q-PVP-Au was 27 μg mL⁻¹ and 29 μg mL⁻¹ respectively. The present quercetin conjugates exhibit enhanced bioavailability and stability. They were potent inhibitors of lysozyme aggregation that may find applications as a therapeutic agent in neurological diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Q-PVP, and Q-PVP-Au conjugates for inhibition of HEWL aggregation.

Phytochemistry profile of rosella and jambolan extracts and the therapeutic effects on obesity

Hibiscus sabdariffa extract (HSE) and Syzygium cumini extract (SCE) have been used in traditional medicine due to their hypoglycemic, antidiabetic, anti-obesity and antioxidant activities. The aim of this study was...

Hypoglycemic Effects of Plant Flavonoids: A Review

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder with chronic high blood glucose levels, and it is associated with defects in insulin secretion, insulin resistance, or both. It is also a major public issue, affecting the world's population. This disease contributes to long-term health complications such as dysfunction and failure of multiple organs, including nerves, heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and eyes. Flavonoids are phenolic compounds found in nature and usually present as secondary metabolites in plants, vegetables, and fungi. Flavonoids possess many health benefits such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, and naturally occurring flavonoids contribute to antidiabetic effects.Many studies conducted in vivo and in vitro have proven the hypoglycemic effect of plant flavonoids. A large number of studies showed that flavonoids hold positive results in controlling the blood glucose level in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and further prevent the complications of diabetes. The future development of flavonoid-based drugs is believed to provide significant effects on diabetes mellitus and diabetes complication diseases. This review aims at summarizing the various types of flavonoids that function as hyperglycemia regulators such as inhibitors of α-glucosidase and glucose cotransporters in the body. This review article discusses the hypoglycemic effects of selected plant flavonoids namely quercetin, kaempferol, rutin, naringenin, fisetin, and morin. Four search engines, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and SciFinder, are used to collect the data.

Anthelmintic Potential of Medicinal Plants against Ancylostoma caninum

Ancylostoma caninum is one of the most important hookworms in dogs. A study revealed that the prevalence of ancylostomiasis in Indonesia is relatively high. However, cases of persistent ancylostomiasis in dogs were reported, indicating the possibility of anthelmintic resistance. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the anthelmintic potential of plants preclinically against A. caninum based on related research articles. This review retrieved 14 articles from 2001 to 2021 investigating 19 different plants. Momordica charantia, Diospyros anisandra, and Citrus aurantiifolia hold a promising prospect as anthelmintic against A. caninum. This review found aspects of those medicinal plants that need to be investigated deeper to improve our understanding of the matter. In vitro results in this review have not yet been tested in in vivo trials, which are essential in determining the efficacy and safety of the use of these medicinal plants and also to justify its clinical application.

Bioactivity of Dietary Polyphenols: The Role in LDL-C Lowering

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of the death around the world. An elevation of the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. To achieve optimal plasma LDL-C levels, clinal therapies were investigated which targeted different metabolism pathways. However, some therapies also caused various adverse effects. Thus, there is a need for new treatment options and/or combination therapies to inhibit the LDL-C level. Dietary polyphenols have received much attention in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases due to their potential LDL-C lowering effects. However, the effectiveness and potential mechanisms of polyphenols in lowering LDL-C is not comprehensively summarized. This review focused on dietary polyphenols that could reduce LDL-C and their mechanisms of action. This review also discussed the limitations and suggestions regarding previous studies.

Paeonia lactiflora Root Extract and Its Components Reduce Biomarkers of Early Atherosclerosis via Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects In Vitro and In Vivo

Although various physiological activities of compounds obtained from Paeonia lactiflora have been reported, the effects of P. lactiflora extract (PLE) on early atherosclerosis remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo antiatherosclerosis and in vitro antioxidant effects of PLE and its compounds. PLE suppresses the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced capacity of THP-1 cells to adhere to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 expression, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling in HUVECs. PLE also suppresses TNF-α-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 from cytosol as well as the enhanced TNFA and C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) mRNA expression in HUVECs. We identified and quantified the following PLE compounds using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection: methyl gallate, oxypaeoniflorin, catechin, albiflorin, paeoniflorin, benzoic acid, benzoylpaeoniflorin, and paeonol. Among these, methyl gallate had the strongest inhibitory effect on monocyte adherence to TNF-α-induced HUVECs and the VCAM-1 expression. Reverse transcriptase real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that PLE compounds had a dissimilar inhibition effect on TNF-α-induced mRNA expression levels of CCL2, TNFA, and IL6 in HUVECs. Except for paeonol, the compounds inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced reactive oxygen species production in RAW264.7 cells. In vivo, oral administration of PLE improved TNF-α-induced macrophage infiltration to the vascular endothelium and expression of VCAM-1, as well as IL6 and TNFA gene expression in the main artery of mice. PLE could be useful as a nutraceutical material against early atherosclerosis via the combined effects of its components.

Quercetin and its role in modulating endoplasmic reticulum stress: A review

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the place where proteins and lipids are biosynthesized and where transmembrane proteins are folded. Both pathological and physiological situations may disturb the function of the ER, resulting in ER stress. Under stress conditions, the cells initiate a defensive procedure known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). Cases of severe stress lead to autophagy and/or the induction of cell apoptosis. Many studies implicate ER stress as a major factor contributing to many diseases. Therefore, the modulation of ER stress pathways has become an attractive therapeutic target. Quercetin is a plant-derived metabolite belonging to the flavonoids class which presents a range of beneficial effects including anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, anti-oxidant, anti-obesity, anti-carcinogenic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-diabetic, anti-hypercholesterolemic, and anti-apoptotic activities. Quercetin also has anti-cancer activity, and can be used as an adjuvant to decrease resistance to cancer chemotherapy. Furthermore, the effect of quercetin can be increased with the help of nanotechnology. This review discusses the role of quercetin in the modulation of ER stress (and related diseases) and provides novel evidence for the beneficial use of quercetin in therapy.

Anti-Atherosclerotic Effect of Gossypetin on Abnormal Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Migration

Gossypetin (GTIN), known as 3,5,7,8,3′,4′-hexahydroxyflavone, has been demonstrated to exert anti-atherosclerotic potential against apoptotic injury in oxidized low-density lipoprotein-incubated endothelial cells, and atherosclerotic lesions of cholesterol-fed rabbits. However, the effect and underlying mechanism of GTIN on abnormal vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation and migration, a major event in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, is still unknown. In this study, non-cytotoxic doses of GTIN abolished the VSMCs A7r5 proliferation and cell-cycle S phase distribution. The GTIN-arrested G0/G1 phase might be performed by increasing the expressions of phosphorylated p53 and its downstream molecules that inhibit the activation of cyclin E/cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk)-2, blocking retinoblastoma protein (Rb) phosphorylation and the subsequent dissociation of Rb/transcription factor E2F1 complex. In addition, the results indicated that GTIN inhibited VSMCs wound-healing and migratory abilities through reducing matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity and expression, as well as down-regulating protein kinase B (PKB)/nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling. GTIN also revealed potential in diminishing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. These findings suggested the inhibitory effects of GTIN on VSMCs dysfunction could likely lead to the containment of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular illness.

Network Pharmacology-Based Analysis of Gegenqinlian Decoction Regulating Intestinal Microbial Activity for the Treatment of Diarrhea

Gegenqinlian decoction (GD) has been extensively used for the treatment of diarrhea with intestinal dampness-heat syndrome (IDHS) with a satisfying therapeutic effect. The purpose of this study is to clarify the active ingredients and mechanism of GD in the treatment of diarrhea with IDHS. The TCMSP database was used to screen out the active ingredients of the four Chinese herbal medicines in GD, and the targets of the active ingredients were predicted. We selected the targets related to diarrhea through the DisGeNET database, then used the NCBI database to screen out related targets of lactase and sucrase, and constructed the visual network to search for the active ingredients of GD in the treatment of diarrhea and related mechanisms of the targets. Combined with network pharmacology, we screened out 146 active ingredients in GD corresponding to 252 ingredient targets, combined with 328 disease targets in diarrhea, and obtained 12 lactase targets and 11 sucrase targets. The key active ingredients involved quercetin, formononetin, β-sitosterol kaempferol, and wogonin. Furthermore, molecular docking showed that these five potential active ingredients had good affinities with the core targets PTGS2. The active ingredients in GD (such as quercetin, formononetin, and β-sitosterol) may increase the microbial activity of the intestinal mucosa of mice and reduce the microbial activity of the intestinal contents through multiple targets, thereby achieving the effect of treating diarrhea.

Ethnopharmacological investigation of the cardiovascular effects of the ethanol-soluble fraction of Aloysia polystachya (Griseb.) Moldenke leaves in spontaneously hypertensive rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Aloysia polystachya (Griseb) Moldenke (Verbenaceae), popularly known as "burrito", is a South American species widely prescribed by local Brazilian healers for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, its antihypertensive and cardioprotective effects are still unknown.

AIM

To evaluate the role of the ethanol-soluble fraction of A. polystachya leaves (ESAP) against hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), as well as its safety, morphoanatomical and phytochemical aspects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

First, the leaves and stems of A. polystachya were analyzed by optical and scanning electron microscopy in order to provide anatomical data for quality control. Then, ESAP was obtained and its chemical profile was analyzed by LC-DAD-MS. In addition, the cytotoxic and acute toxicity potential of ESAP were evaluated in six cell lines and in female Wistar rats, respectively. Next, female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) received ESAP (30, 100, 300 mg/kg), hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg/kg), or vehicle once daily for 28 days. Weekly kidney function was monitored by analyzing urinary parameters. At the end of the 28-day treatment, the electrocardiographic profile, blood pressure, and renal and mesenteric vascular reactivity were evaluated. Relative organ (heart, kidney, and liver) weights and biochemical parameters were also evaluated. Finally, the heart, kidneys, and aorta were collected for determination of the tissue redox state, cardiac morphometry, and histopathological analysis.

RESULTS

The chemical profile of ESAP was composed by organic acids, a nucleoside, methoxylated flavones and glycosylated compounds including phenolic acids, phenylpropanoids, iridoids and monoterpenes. No signs of toxicity were observed in all cell's lines nor in female Wistar rats submitted to this trial. All SHRs from the negative control group presented a reduction in renal function, alterations in the renal and mesenteric vascular reactivity, and electrocardiographic and morphometric changes typical of ventricular hypertrophy. Oral prolonged ESAP-administration in SHRs was able to reverse renal, electrocardiographic and hemodynamic changes induced by hypertension. Moreover, ESAP-treatment was able to modulate the vascular and renal arterial reactivity and tissue redox state. The aforementioned data were accompanied by reduction of cardiac hypertrophy.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we present important anatomical and phytochemical data that contributed to the correct identification and quality control of A. polystachya. In addition, we have shown that ESAP is safe after acute administration and present significant cardioprotective effects (at 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg doses) in SHRs after prolonged treatment.

Effects of Alcoholic Extracts of Bangladeshi Mangrove Acanthus ilicifolius Linn. (Acanthaceae) Leaf and Stem on Atherogenic Model of Wistar Albino Rats

Acanthus ilicifolius Linn. (Acanthaceae) is a popular mangrove ethnomedicinal plant that cures several ailments, including asthma, diabetes, cancer, and many others. Our experiment was aimed at evaluating the anti-atherogenic effect of A. ilicifolius (leaf and stem) on a high-fat diet-induced atherogenic rat model. Atherosclerosis was developed in 12 weeks. Treatment with the standard drug (3 mg/kg b.w./day, p.o. of Simvastatin), separate doses of methanolic and ethanolic extracts of A. ilicifolius leaf (250 and 500 mg/kg b.w./day, p.o.), and stem (200 and 400 mg/kg b.w./day, p.o.) was subsequently conducted for additional 15 days. The anti-atherogenic effect was evaluated by estimating the change in body weight, systolic blood pressure, and lipid profile. Histopathology of aorta, liver, and kidney of atherogenic models was done for further evaluation. The antioxidant effect of different extracts was performed via DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay using ascorbic acid as standard. The anticoagulant effect was determined after 15 days of treatment with the same doses of the plant extracts and the standard Warfarin (2 mg/kg b.w./day, p.o.). When compared with atherogenic control, treatment with A. ilicifolius significantly reduced (p < 0.01) body weight, systolic blood pressure, and serum lipid levels while it elevated HDL (high-density lipoprotein) level in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, bleeding and clotting time was significantly decreased (p < 0.01) under the treatment of plant extracts. The histopathological data showed considerable improvement in tissue morphology after treatment. Our study evidenced that the alcoholic extracts of A. ilicifolius leaf and stem have anti-atherogenic properties and may be recommended as a potential herbal remedy for preventing cardiovascular diseases.

A review of dietary phytochemicals and their relation to oxidative stress and human diseases

Phytochemicals refer to active substances in plant-based diets. Phytochemicals found in for example fruits, vegetables, grains and seed oils are considered relatively safe for consumption due to mammal-plant co-evolution and adaptation. A number of human diseases are related to oxidative stress caused by for example chemical environmental contaminants in air, water and food; while also lifestyle including smoking and lack of exercise and dietary preferences are important factors for disease development in humans. Here we explore the dietary sources of antioxidant phytochemicals that have beneficial effects on oxidative stress, cardiovascular and neurological diseases as well as cancer. Plant-based diets usually contain phenolic acids, flavonoids and carotenoids, which have strong antioxidant properties, and therefore remove the excess of active oxygen in the body, and protect cells from damage, reducing the risk of cardiovascular and Alzheimer's disease. In most cases, obesity is related to diet and inactivity and plant-based diets change lipid composition and metabolism, which reduce obesity related hazards. Cruciferous and Allium vegetables are rich in organic sulphides that can act on the metabolism of carcinogens and therefore used as anti-cancer and suppressing agents while dietary fibres and plant sterols may improve intestinal health and prevent intestinal diseases. Thus, we recommend a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and grains as its content of phytochemicals may have the potential to prevent or improve a broad sweep of various diseases.

Protective effect of myricetin on nonylphenol-induced testicular toxicity: biochemical, steroidogenic, hormonal, spermatogenic, and histological-based evidences

Nonylphenol (NP) is an environmental contaminant, which induces testicular toxicity through oxidative stress. Myricetin (MYR) is a naturally occurring flavonol having powerful antioxidant activity. The current research was planned to examine the ameliorative role of MYR against NP-induced testicular damage. A total of 24 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 equivalent groups: control (0.1% DMSO), NP group (50 mg kg-1), NP + MYR group (50 mg kg-1; 100 mg kg-1), and MYR-treated group (100 mg kg-1). NP administration significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GSR), and protein content while significantly (p < 0.05) elevating the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Additionally, NP significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the sperm motility, gene expression of testicular steroidogenic enzymes (3β-HSD, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; 17β-HSD, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; StAR, steroidogenic-acute regulatory protein), level of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), plasma testosterone, and daily sperm production (DSP). On the other hand, it raised the testicular cholesterol, dead sperms, and head, midpiece, and tail abnormalities along with abnormal histomorphometry. However, MYR remarkably abrogated NP-induced damages. In conclusion, the outcomes of the study suggest that MYR can effectively alleviate the NP-induced oxidative stress and testicular damages.

An Up-to-Date Review on Citrus Flavonoids: Chemistry and Benefits in Health and Diseases

Flavonoids, the main class of polyphenols, are characterized by the presence of 2-phenyl-benzo-pyrane nucleus. They are found in rich quantities in citrus fruits. Citrus flavonoids are classified into flavanones, flavones, flavonols, polymethoxyflavones and anthocyanins (found only in blood oranges). Flavanones are the most abundant flavonoids in citrus fruits. In many situations, there are structure-function relationships. Due to their especial structures and presence of many hydroxyls, polymethoxies and glycoside moiety, the flavonoids have an array of multiple biological and pharmacological activities. This article provides an updated overview of the differences in chemical structures of the classes and members of citrus flavonoids and their benefits in health and diseases. The review article also sheds light on the mechanisms of actions of citrus flavonoids in the treatment of different diseases, including arthritis, diabetes mellitus, cancer and neurodegenerative disorders as well as liver, kidney and heart diseases. The accumulated and updated knowledge in this review may provide useful information and ideas in the discovery of new strategies for the use of citrus flavonoids in the protection, prevention and therapy of diseases.

Suppressive effects of quercetin on hydrogen peroxide-induced caveolin-1 phosphorylation in endothelial cells

Caveolin-1 is a major protein of the caveolae structure in vascular endothelial cell membrane. Phosphorylation of caveolin-1 is one of the initial events leading to exacerbation of vascular permeability caused by oxidative stress. Although quercetin is known to be an anti-atherosclerosis factor that acts as a dietary antioxidant, little is known about its role in the regulation of caveolin-1 phosphorylation. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of quercetin on hydrogen peroxide-induced caveolin-1 phosphorylation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Quercetin inhibited caveolin-1 phosphorylation in cells pretreated with quercetin for 24 h and then exposed to hydrogen peroxide. However, quercetin 3-O-β-glucuronide, a conjugated metabolite of quercetin, did not exert this inhibitory effect. Exposure to hydrogen peroxide increased vascular permeability and reduced mRNA expression of the intercellular adhesion protein, vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin). By contrast, pretreatment with quercetin suppressed the increase in vascular permeability and decreased VE-cadherin expression. These results indicate that deconjugated quercetin can play a role in the prevention of altered vascular permeability under oxidative stress by suppressing caveolin-1 phosphorylation. Thus, dietary quercetin may be beneficial for the maintenance of endothelial cell function.