Dracocephalum moldavica L. Extracts Protect H9c2 Cardiomyocytes against H2O2-Induced Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress

Evaluation of the Cytotoxic, Antioxidative and Antimicrobial Effects of Dracocephalum moldavica L. Cultivars

The aim of the present study was to correlate the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities of hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from the aerial parts of three Dracocephalum moldavica L. cultivars with their polyphenolic compositions. The polyphenols were identified and quantified using spectrophotometrical methods and LC-MS analysis. Their antioxidant capacities were assessed using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods. Their in vitro antimicrobial efficacies were assessed using the agar well diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Their cytotoxicity was investigated on normal diploid foreskin fibroblasts (BJ) and on colorectal adenocarcinoma (DLD-1) cell lines. The results pointed out significant amounts of polyphenolic compounds in the compositions of the tested cultivars, with rosmarinic acid as the main compound (amounts ranging between 5.337 ± 0.0411 and 6.320 ± 0.0535 mg/mL). All three cultivars displayed significant antioxidant (IC₅₀ ranging between 35.542 ± 0.043 and 40.901 ± 0.161 µg/mL for the DPPH assay, and for the FRAP assay 293.194 ± 0.213 and 330.165 ± 0.754 µmol Trolox equivalent/mg dry vegetal material) and antimicrobial potential (especially towards the Gram-positive bacteria), as well as a selective toxicity towards the tumoral line. A significant positive correlation was found between antioxidant activity and the total phenolic acids (r² = 0.987) and polyphenols (r² = 0.951). These findings bring further arguments for strongly considering D. moldavica cultivars as promising vegetal products, which warrants further investigation.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activity of Dracocephalum moldavica L. Essential Oil and Hydrolate

Steam distillation was used for the isolation of Dracocephalum moldavica L. (Moldavian dragonhead) essential oil (DMEO). This aromatic herbaceous plant is widespread across the Northern Hemisphere regions and has been utilized in health-improving studies and applications. In addition to the DMEO, the hydrolate (DMH), a byproduct of the distillation process, was also collected. The DMEO and DMH were analyzed and compared in terms of their chemical composition, as well as their in vitro biological activities. The main component in DMEO was geranyl acetate, while geranial was dominant in DMH. The DMEO demonstrated better antioxidant and antimicrobial activities compared with the DMH against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes, which represent sources of food-borne illness at the global level. The DMEO and DMH show promise as antioxidant and antimicrobial additives to various products.

Peroxiredoxin-5 Knockdown Accelerates Pressure Overload-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy in Mice

A recent study showed that peroxiredoxins (Prxs) play an important role in the development of pathological cardiac hypertrophy. However, the involvement of Prx5 in cardiac hypertrophy remains unclear. Therefore, this study is aimed at investigating the role and mechanisms of Prx5 in pathological cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction. Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery was performed to establish a pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy model. In this study, we found that Prx5 expression was upregulated in hypertrophic hearts and cardiomyocytes. In addition, Prx5 knockdown accelerated pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction in mice by activating oxidative stress and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Importantly, heart deterioration caused by Prx5 knockdown was related to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway activation. These findings suggest that Prx5 could be a novel target for treating cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.

iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analysis of the improved effects of total flavones of Dracocephalum Moldavica L. in chronic mountain sickness

To use isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) technology to study the pathogenesis of chronic mountain sickness (CMS), identify biomarkers for CMS, and investigate the effect of total flavones of Dracocephalum moldavica L. (TFDM) on a rat model of CMS. We simulated high altitude hypobaric hypoxia conditions and generated a rat model of CMS. Following the administration of TFDM, we measured the pulmonary artery pressure and serum levels of hemoglobin (Hb), the hematocrit (Hct), and observed the structure of the pulmonary artery in experimental rats. Furthermore, we applied iTRAQ-labeled quantitative proteomics technology to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the serum, performed bioinformatics analysis, and verified the DEPs by immunohistochemistry. Analysis showed that the pulmonary artery pressure, serum levels of Hb, and the Hct, were significantly increased in a rat model of CMS (P < 0.05). Pathological analysis of lung tissue and pulmonary artery tissue showed that the alveolar compartment had obvious hyperplasia and the pulmonary artery degree of muscularization was enhanced. Both pulmonary artery pressure and tissue morphology were improved following the administration of TFDM. We identified 532 DEPs by quantitative proteomics; gene ontology (GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis further revealed that metabolic pathways associated with coagulation and complement play crucial roles in the occurrence of CMS. Immunohistochemistry verified that several DEPs (α-1-acid glycoprotein, collagen, fibulin, haptoglobin, PLTP, and TAGLN2) are important biological markers for CMS. Our analyses demonstrated that TFDM can improve CMS and exert action by influencing the metabolic pathways associated with coagulation and complement. This process relieves pulmonary artery pressure and improves lung function. We also identified that α-1-acid glycoprotein, collagen, fibulin, haptoglobin, PLTP, and TAGLN2 may represent potential biomarkers for CMS.

Dracomolphin A-E, new lignans from Dracocephalum moldavica

Eight new lignans, dracomolphin A-E (1-8), together with eight known lignans (9-16) were isolated from the aerial part of Dracocephalum moldavica. The structures of the isolated compounds were established based on NMR and HRESIMS data. Dracomolphin A (1-4) was elucidated as a lignan possessed a 5-membered ketal ring formed between C-8' and C-3, C-4. The two stereogenic centers rendered dracomolphin A as a mixture of two diastereomeric pairs of enantiomers (1-4). All of the four isomers were separated successfully by using chiral HPLC and their stereochemical features were determined by CD spectra. Bioactivity screening revealed that compounds 1-4, 6, 7, 12, 15 and 16 were potential Nrf2 transcriptional activators. Dracomolphin E (8) reduced cell viability of lung cancer NCI-H292 cells associated with apoptosis.