Modulation of Oxidative Stress: Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Aspects 2018

An Andrographis paniculata Burm. Nees extract standardized for three main Andrographolides prevents house dust mite-induced airway inflammation, remodeling, and hyperreactivity by regulating Th1/Th2 gene expression in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Andrographis paniculata Burm. Nees (AP) is an herb used traditionally in Indian and Chinese traditional medicine for the treatment of various inflammatory and respiratory tract diseases. However, the anti-inflammatory potential of standardized Andrographis paniculata 50% ethanol extract (APEE50) in the murine model of asthma has not been investigated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to evaluate the protective anti-inflammatory potential and better understand the underlying mechanism of action of APEE50 in a clinically-relevant mouse asthma model. Thereafter, develop the ethanolic extract of AP as a supplement for asthma prophylaxis.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

APEE50 was prepared and standardized for AGP, NAG, and DDAG using a high-performance liquid chromatography system. Asthma was induced according to a 14-day house dust mite (HDM) induction protocol. The prophylactic potential of APEE50 (50 mg/kg - 200 mg/kg) was determined by assessing cardinal asthma features, which included BALF leukocyte and differential cell count, BALF cytokine assay, histology, gene expression, and airway hyperreactivity study.

RESULTS

APEE50 significantly inhibited HDM-induced airway eosinophilia and neutrophilia. In addition to decreased levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and eotaxin in bronchoalveolar fluid, APEE50 abrogated HDM-induced airway mucus over-secretion and airway hyper-responsiveness. Administration of APEE50 downregulated HDM-induced upregulation of the oxidative stress enzyme Duox1 (dual oxidase 1) and marginally induced Nfe2l2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) gene expressions. Similarly, Th2-related (Serpinb2, Clca3a1, Il4 and Il13) and Muc5ac gene expression were significantly downregulated.

CONCLUSION

Prophylactic administration of APEE50 prevented the progression of HDM-induced asthmatic responses by down-regulating Th2 cytokine gene expression and oxidative stress level.

Synthesis of 5-[(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2(3H)-thiones and their protective activity against oxidative stress

A small library of 2-[(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl]-5-(alkylthio)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles was prepared, starting from indole-3-acetic acid methyl ester and its 5-methyl-substituted derivative. The synthetic route involved the formation of intermediate hydrazides, their condensation with carbon disulfide, and intramolecular cyclization to corresponding 5-[(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2(3H)-thiones. The latter were then S-alkylated, and in case of ester derivatives, they were further hydrolyzed into corresponding carboxylic acids. All 5-[(1H-indol-3-yl)methyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2(3H)-thiones and their S-alkylated derivatives were then screened for their protective effects in vitro and in vivo. Methyl substitution on the indole ring and propyl, butyl, or benzyl substitution on sulfhydryl group-possessing compounds were revealed to protect Friedreich's ataxia fibroblasts against the effects of glutathione depletion induced by the γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase inhibitor, buthionine sulfoximine. Two of the active compounds also reproducibly increased the survival of Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to juglone-induced oxidative stress.

Neuropathophysiological Mechanisms and Treatment Strategies for Post-traumatic Epilepsy

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death in young adults and a risk factor for acquired epilepsy. Severe TBI, after a period of time, causes numerous neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative problems with varying comorbidities; and brain homeostasis may never be restored. As a consequence of disrupted equilibrium, neuropathological changes such as circuit remodeling, reorganization of neural networks, changes in structural and functional plasticity, predisposition to synchronized activity, and post-translational modification of synaptic proteins may begin to dominate the brain. These pathological changes, over the course of time, contribute to conditions like Alzheimer disease, dementia, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE). PTE is one of the most common, devastating complications of TBI; and of those affected by a severe TBI, more than 50% develop PTE. The etiopathology and mechanisms of PTE are either unknown or poorly understood, which makes treatment challenging. Although anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) are used as preventive strategies to manage TBI, control acute seizures and prevent development of PTE, their efficacy in PTE remains controversial. In this review, we discuss novel mechanisms and risk factors underlying PTE. We also discuss dysfunctions of neurovascular unit, cell-specific neuroinflammatory mediators and immune response factors that are vital for epileptogenesis after TBI. Finally, we describe current and novel treatments and management strategies for preventing PTE.

Knockdown of Dual Oxidase 1 (DUOX1) Promotes Wound Healing by Regulating Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) by Activation of Nuclear Kactor kappa B (NF-κB) Signaling

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential role of dual oxidase 1 (DUOX1) in wound healing.

Material/Methods

Primary fibroblasts were isolated from wound granulation tissue. Fibroblasts cell lines were established using DUOX1 overexpression and interference. Cell proliferation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were measured and compared among the groups.

Results

DUOX1 expression was highest in the slow-healing tissues (P<0.05). Knockdown of DUOX1 significantly increased cell proliferation and inhibited ROS production and cell apoptosis (P<0.01). Moreover, expression of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly reduced, while expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression was significantly increased (P<0.01). In addition, DUOX1 silencing significantly upregulated collagen I, collagen III, and NF-κB protein levels in the cytoplasm, and inhibited the protein levels of P21, P16, and NF-κB in the nucleus (P<0.01). Overexpression of DUOX1 caused a reverse reaction mediated by knockdown of DUOX1. When DUOX1-overexpressing cells were treated with the ROS inhibitor N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), the protein levels that were increased by DUOX1 overexpression were reversed.

Conclusions

These results suggest that knockdown of DUOX1 significantly benefits wound healing, likely by the regulation of oxidative stress via NF-κB pathway activation.

Nitric oxide as a therapeutic option for COVID-19 treatment: a concise perspective

Among several possible therapies applicable for treating COVID-19, nitric oxide therapy has also gained considerable interest. This article describes the same with mechanistic details.

Efficacy and safety of milk thistle preventive treatment of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis. It may occur in multiple parts and organs of the patients body, and the lung is the most common. It is a major health threat worldwide. Hepatotoxicity is a common adverse reaction of commonly used clinical anti-tuberculosis drugs, as well as one of the important factors leading to poor prognosis of tuberculosis. Milk thistle is a traditional Chinese medicine extract derived from the mature fruit of Silybum marianum. Clinical practice shows that milk thistle has a good anti-liver injury effect and can be used to prevent anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury. However, there is a lack of evidence-based medicine. The research carried out in this protocol is to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of milk thistle preventive treatment of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury, and to improve the evidence-based basis for clinical application of milk thistle in the preventive treatment of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury.

METHOD

Computer search of English databases (PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science) and Chinese databases (CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, China Biology Medicine disc (CBMdisc)) was performed. From the establishment of database to October 2020, 2 researchers independently extracted and evaluated the data included in the randomized controlled clinical research of milk thistle preventive treatment of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury, and used RevMan5.3 software to conduct a meta-analysis of the included literature.

RESULT

In this research, the efficacy and safety of milk thistle preventive treatment of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury were evaluated by indicators such as the incidence of liver injury, bilirubin levels, and liver enzyme levels.

CONCLUSION

In this research, reliable evidence-based evidence for the clinical application of milk thistle in the preventive treatment of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury was provided.

OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER

DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/VC3RM.

Is oxidative stress involved in vernal keratoconjunctivitis? Results from a pilot study in children

BACKGROUND

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a rare chronic conjunctivitis characterized by a predominantly eosinophil-mediated inflammatory disorder that could develop critical complications such as blindness. Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of several allergic diseases. The role of oxidative stress has been hypothesized in VKC, but no study explored this issue. Furthermore, cyclosporine A (CsA) exerts an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action on the conjunctiva. This study aimed to assess the oxidative stress in VKC patients and controls and to study the effect of CsA on oxidative stress in these subjects.

METHODS

Thirty-six consecutive children, including 12 VKC (nine males, 75%; mean age 10.17; SD ± 2.48) patients without treatment, 12 VKC patients treated with CsA (nine males, 75%; mean age 9.08; SD ± 2.75), and 12 controls (CT) (seven males, 58%; mean age 8.58; SD ± 1.78), were recruited. A cross-sectional study was performed to compare H₂ O₂ in the serum with that in the tears of these children.

RESULTS

Compared with CT and VKC children treated with CsA, VKC untreated children had significantly higher values of hydrogen peroxide (H₂ O₂ ) in the serum and the tears. No significant differences were observed between CT and VKC treated with CsA. A significant correlation was found at the linear regression analysis between serum and tear H₂ O₂ levels.

CONCLUSION

This study provides the first report attesting that patients with VKC have high oxidative stress; furthermore, it suggests that CsA could have an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action that could be useful to prevent the poor VKC outcome.

Antioxidants as a Potential Target against Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Psychostimulants and non-psychostimulants are the medications prescribed for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, several adverse results have been linked with an increased risk of substance use and side effects. The pathophysiology of ADHD is not completely known, although it has been associated with an increase in inflammation and oxidative stress. This review presents an overview of findings following antioxidant treatment for ADHD and describes the potential amelioration of inflammation and oxidative stress using antioxidants that might have a future as multi-target adjuvant therapy in ADHD. The use of antioxidants against inflammation and oxidative conditions is an emerging field in the management of several neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Thus, antioxidants could be promising as an adjuvant ADHD therapy.