Anti-inflammatory effects of Myrtol standardized and other essential oils on alveolar macrophages from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

1,8-cineole (eucalyptol): A versatile phytochemical with therapeutic applications across multiple diseases

1,8-cineole (Eucalyptol), a naturally occurring compound derived from botanical sources such as eucalyptus, rosemary, and camphor laurel, has a long history of use in traditional medicine and exhibits an array of biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, bronchodilatory, analgesic, and pro-apoptotic effects. Recent evidence has also indicated its potential role in managing conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, neuropathic pain, and cancer. This review spotlights the health advantages of 1,8-cineole, as demonstrated in clinical trials involving patients with respiratory disorders, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, bronchitis, and rhinosinusitis. In addition, we shed light on potential therapeutic applications of 1,8-cineole in various conditions, such as depression, epilepsy, peptic ulcer disease, diarrhea, cardiac-related heart diseases, and diabetes mellitus. A comprehensive understanding of 1,8-cineole's pharmacodynamics and safety aspects as well as developing effective formulations, might help to leverage its therapeutic value. This thorough review sets the stage for future research on diverse health benefits and potential uses of 1,8-cineole in tackling complex medical conditions.

Pharmacologic effects approach of essential oils and their components on respiratory diseases

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Essential oils (EOs) are concentrated hydrophobic liquids with volatility and a unique aroma. Formed by aromatic plants as secondary metabolites, EOs have been used as traditional medicines to treat various health problems worldwide. Historical records show that herbs rich in EOs have been widely used to treat respiratory diseases in China, Europe, and many other regions.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review summarizes the traditional applications and modern pharmacological mechanisms of EOs derived from aromatic herbs and their active ingredients in respiratory diseases in preclinical and clinical trials through multitarget synergy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Information about EOs and respiratory diseases was collected from electronic databases, such as ScienceDirect, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI).

RESULTS

This review presents the preventive and therapeutic effects of EOs on respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma, acute lung injury, pulmonary infection, and pulmonary fibrosis. The molecular mechanisms of EOs in treating different lung diseases are summarized, including anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, mucolytic, and immune regulatory mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONS

EOs show potential as supplements or substitutes for treating lung diseases.

Artemisia vestita: A Folk Medicine with Hidden Herbal Fortune

Traditional medicines are nature's gift and our native heritage, which play a vital role in maintaining a disease-free life. Artemisia vestita Wall. ex Besser (family: Asteraceae), popularly known as "Kubsha" or "Russian wormwood", is a highly enriched folklore medicine with wound- healing, antiphlogistic, antifebrile, antifeedant, anti-helminthic, antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, and antiproliferative potential attributed to the presence of various volatile and non-volatile secondary metabolites. A systematic and extensive review of the literature on A. vestita was carried out via the Web of Science, PubMed, INMEDPLAN, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and NCBI, as well as from several websites. The highly relevant literature contained in 109 references was selected for further inclusion in this review. A total of 202 bioactive compounds belonging to different chemical classes such as terpenoids, coumarins, flavonoids, alkaloids, acetylenes, tannins, carotenoids, and sterols have been reported in A. vestita, which are responsible for different pharmacological activities. The chemical structures obtained from the PubChem and Chem Spider databases were redrawn using the software Chem Draw^® version 8.0. This review paper summarizes the distribution, botanical description, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and conservation of A. vestita, which will assist scientists for further investigation. Extensive studies on the active constituents, pharmaceutical standardization, mode of action, and sustainable conservation of A. vestita are needed to further explore its wound-healing and allied medicinal properties.

Phytomedicine ELOM-080 in Acute Viral Rhinosinusitis: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Blinded Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

ELOM-080 is a phytomedicine approved for the treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract, sinusitis, and bronchitis in particular. This prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial was conducted to assess efficacy and safety of ELOM-080 in the treatment of acute viral rhinosinusitis (AVRS).

METHODS

Patients with AVRS received oral treatment (4 × 1 capsule per day) with either ELOM-080 or matching placebo. Primary endpoints were the change in major symptom score (MSS) after 7 and 14 days of treatment assessed by the investigator (MSS_INV ). Secondary endpoints were changes in MSS assessed by the patients (MSS_PAT ), olfactory function (12-item Sniffin' Sticks), 20-Item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-20 GAV; German adapted version), influence of treatment on viral load, and safety.

RESULTS

Four hundred and sixty-three patients were randomized. At day 4, subjective burden of disease (MSS) was significantly ameliorated compared to placebo (p = 0.012). During the first treatment week MSS scores improved about 1 day earlier, and 3 days earlier in the second week. Effect with ELOM-080 on mean MSS_INV was statistically significantly superior to placebo at visit 3 (p = 0.016) and visit 4 (p = 0.014). In chemosensory testing identification scores improved comparably in both treatments. The improvement of the SNOT-20 GAV was more pronounced in ELOM-080 patients. Treatment with ELOM-080 indicated a potential for decreasing viral load. Both treatments were well tolerated.

CONCLUSION

ELOM-080 improves the burden of AVRS significantly in comparison to placebo, remission of symptoms occurred 3 days earlier. The results confirm the efficacy and safety of ELOM-080 for treatment of AVRS.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

1 Laryngoscope, 2022.

Evidence-based management of acute rhinosinusitis with herbal products

Background

The overuse of antibiotics for unjustified indications such as the management of acute uncomplicated rhinosinusitis has contributed to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria and prompted the need for alternative treatments. This review assesses the quality of evidence for the management of acute rhinosinusitis with herbal products, with the goal of positioning them among other treatments and identifying future research directions. The MEDLINE database was searched for randomized controlled trials with Sinupret®, Pelargonium sidoides extract, Cyclamen europaeum (CE), cineole, and GeloMyrtol®. Searches with N-acetylcysteine and mometasone furoate nasal spray (MFNS) were performed to compare the strength of evidence of herbal products to these conventional products, which are indicated for acute rhinosinusitis.

Main body

Evidence was strongest for Sinupret, followed by Pelargonium sidoides extract. Their use in acute rhinosinusitis is supported by randomized placebo-controlled trials demonstrating both clinical efficacy and safety. Comparative data with conventional treatments such as topical glucocorticosteroids were found only for Sinupret and suggested comparable efficacy in a small study.

For other herbal products, the overall level of evidence was low. The search retrieved two small-scale placebo-controlled randomized studies with CE nasal spray. The two trials were not powered to draw conclusions about the safety and efficacy of CE nasal spray and reported a lack of efficacy with CE on symptom reduction. Only one randomized placebo-controlled trial was identified for GeloMyrtol and cineole. These suggested an improvement in acute rhinosinusitis symptoms with both products, but the results warrant replication in larger trials.

Studies directly comparing herbal products are scarce; one randomized trial has compared cineole with Sinupret, but the results need confirmation in further studies.

Studies with N-acetylcysteine are limited to small-scale clinical trials, while MFNS is supported by a strength of evidence comparable to Sinupret in this indication.

Conclusion

State-of-the-art studies demonstrating the efficacy and safety of herbal products for the management of acute rhinosinusitis are available. Given that the evidence for Sinupret is the strongest and comparable to that of a widely available topical corticosteroid, MFNS, Sinupret may be considered for the management of acute uncomplicated rhinosinusitis.

Eucalyptus oil reduces allergic reactions and suppresses mast cell degranulation by downregulating IgE-FcεRI signalling

Eucalyptus oil has been used since ancient times for its bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and sedative effects. In recent years, the action of Eucalyptus oil has been scientifically proven, and there have been reports that Eucalyptus oil suppresses the production of chemokines, cytokines and lipid mediators in basophils, alveolar macrophages and monocytes. Based on this information, we aimed to verify whether Eucalyptus oil can be used for allergic dermatitis, the incidence of which has been increasing among human skin diseases. This effect was verified using a mouse IgE-mediated local allergic model. In conclusion, topical application of Eucalyptus oil suppressed oedema and vascular permeability enhancement due to IgE-mediated allergic on the skin. In addition, we also verified the degranuration of mast cells, which is a part of its action, and examined whether 1,8-cineole, which is the main component of Eucalyptus oil, suppresses the phosphorylation of PLCγ and p38 directly or indirectly. 1,8-cineole was found to suppress degranulation of mast cells.

Effect of myrtol on chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The key to the management of chronic obstructive (CB) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is to control symptoms of the disease and to prevent deterioration in the health of affected patients. Myrtol has been proved to be effective in treating the symptoms of patients with CB and COPD and preventing the deterioration in their health. However, there has been no systematic review of the efficacy and safety of myrtol in the treatment of CB or COPD. The purpose of this study is going to evaluate the effects of myrtol on the management of CB or COPD based on randomized controlled trials.

METHODS

Electronic literature and other ongoing studies will be searched before November 31, 2019. Randomized controlled trials that report the use of myrtol in the treatment of CB or COPD (in the absence and presence of concurrent treatments) will be selected for inclusion regardless of language. Primary outcomes will include cumulative numbers of exacerbation events and the number of days of disability including days in bed, days off work due to breathing complications, and days on which the participant was unable to undertake normal activities due to breathing complications. Study selection, data extraction, and deviation the derivation risk assessment will be carried out by 2 independent investigators. Meta-analysis will be carried out by the RevMan5.3 software.

RESULTS

The study will provide summary results for estimating the efficacy and safety of myrtol for future treatments of CB or COPD.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review will determine if myrtol is an effective and a safe intervention on the symptoms and the prevention of exacerbation of CB or COPD.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval will not be required for this study because no identifying patient data will be used. The review will be published as an article or a conference presentation in a peer-reviewed journal.

REGISTRATION

OSF registration number: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/PXRBV.

Gelomyrtol for acute or chronic sinusitis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Sinusitis is a common condition worldwide, significantly affecting the quality of life of patients. Due to the limitations of conventional medicines, such as serious side effects and low efficacies, Gelomyrtol may be a promising treatment for sinusitis. As no related systematic review has been published, the purpose of this study will be to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Gelomyrtol for acute or chronic sinusitis.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, the Web of Science, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, the Wan Fang Database, and the Chongqing VIP Chinese Science, and Technology Periodical Database will be searched from their commencement until July 2020. Randomized controlled trials of Gelomyrtol for acute or chronic sinusitis will be selected in any language. Primary outcomes will include the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) score, quality of life score as measured by SF-36, and the change in computed tomography (CT) score. Study selection, data extraction, and deviation risk assessment will be carried out by 2 investigators independently. RevMan V.5.3 software will be used to analyze the study data.

RESULTS

The study will provide high-quality evidence for estimating the efficacy and safety of Gelomyrtol in the treatment of acute or chronic sinusitis.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review will explore whether Gelomyrtol is an effective and safe intervention in the treatment of acute or chronic sinusitis.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

As no patient data will be used in this study, ethical approval will not be required. The review will be published as an article or a conference presentation in a peer-reviewed journal.

REGISTRATION

OSF registration number: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/MTEU2.

Amelioration of Aflatoxin B1-induced gastrointestinal injuries by Eucalyptus oil in rats

Background Eucalyptus oil (EO), derived from Eucalyptus species, possesses vast remedial and healing properties, although its gut health-promoting properties have not been well investigated. In this study, we investigated the chemical composition of a commercial EO formulation and its potential role in protecting against aflatoxin B1 (AfB1)-induced gastrointestinal damage in rats. Methods Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups with eight rats each. Control rats were administered with the vehicle (1% Tween 80) for 14 days, while another group was exposed to two oral doses of AFB1 on days 12 and 14. Two other groups were pre-treated with oral doses of EO (50 and 100 mg/kg b.w.) for 14 consecutive days, along with two oral doses of AfB1 (5 mg/kg b.w.) on days 12 and 14. The remaining two groups were treated with EO alone at the two doses for 14 days. At the end of the experiment, blood samples, stomach and intestinal tissues were collected for measurement of oxidative stress and antioxidant parameters and light microscopic examination. Results Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed Eucalyptol (1, 8-cineole) as the main constituent (67.48%) of the oil. AfB1 administration induced oxidative and inflammatory disturbances, indicated by significantly (p<0.05) increased serum nitric oxide level and myeloperoxidase activity; increased tissue contents of hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde and protein carbonyls, accompanied with corresponding histological alterations. AfB1 also induced significant (p<0.05) reductions in glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. Treatment with EO produced significant improvements in the biochemical parameters as well as the appearance of the gastric and intestinal mucosa. EO alone, at the two doses tested did not produce any significant changes in the parameters investigated. Conclusion The findings from this study showed that EO demonstrated protective activity against Aflatoxin-induced toxicity in stomach and intestinal tissues and may thus find application in treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.

Gene co-expression networks in liver and muscle transcriptome reveal sex-specific gene expression in lambs fed with a mix of essential oils

BACKGROUND

Essential oil (EO) dietary supplementation is a new strategy to improve animal health. EO compounds have antiparasitic, antimicrobial, antiviral, antimycotic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory proprieties. Nutrigenomics investigations represent innovative approaches in understanding the relation between diet effect and gene expression related to the animal performance. Few nutrigenomics studies have used a high-throughput RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) approach, despite great potential of RNA-Seq data in gene expression quantification and in co-expression network analyses. Our aim is to use the potential of RNA-Sequencing data in order to evaluate the effect of an EO supplementary diet on gene expression in both lamb liver and muscle.

RESULTS

Using a treatment and sex interaction model, 13 and 4 differentially expressed genes were identified in liver and muscle respectively. Sex-specific differentially expressed (DE) genes were identified in both sexes. Using network based analysis, different clusters of co-expressed genes that were highly correlated to the diet were detected in males vs. females, in agreement with DE analysis. A total of five regulatory genes in liver tissue associated to EO diet were identified: DNAJB9, MANF, UFM1, CTNNLA1 and NFX1. Our study reveals a sex-dependent effect of EO diet in both tissues, and an influence on the expression of genes mainly involved in immune, inflammatory and stress pathway.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis suggests a sex-dependent effect of the EO dietary supplementation on the expression profile of both liver and muscle tissues. We hypothesize that the presence of EOs could have beneficial effects on wellness of male lamb and further analyses are needed to understand the biological mechanisms behind the different effect of EO metabolites based on sex. Using lamb as a model for nutrigenomics studies, it could be interesting to investigate the effects of EO diets in other species and in humans.

Occurrence of pneumonitis following radiotherapy of breast cancer - A prospective study

AIM

of this study is to determine the temporal resolution of therapy-induced pneumonitis, and to assess promoting factors in adjuvant treated patients with unilateral mammacarcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 100 post-surgery patients were recruited. The cohort was treated by 2 field radiotherapy (2FRT; breast and chest wall, N = 75), 3 field radiotherapy (3FRT; + supraclavicular lymphatic region, N = 8), or with 4 field radiotherapy (4FRT; + parasternal lymphatic region, N = 17). Ninety-one patients received various systemic treatments prior to irradiation. Following an initial screening visit post-RT, two additional visits after 12 and 25 weeks were conducted including radiographic examination. In addition, general anamnesis and the co-medication were recorded. The endpoint was reached as soon as a pneumonitis was developed or at maximum of six months post-treatment.

RESULTS

A pneumonitis incidence of 13% was determined. Of 91 patients with prior systemic therapy, 11 patients developed pneumonitis. Smoking history and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) appeared to be positive predictors, whereas past pneumonia clearly promoted pneumonitis. Further pneumonitis-promoting predictors are represented by the applied field extensions (2 field radiotherapy [2FRT] < 3 field radiotherapy [3FRT] < 4 field radiotherapy [4FRT]) and the type of combined initial systemic therapies. As a consequence, all of the three patients in the study cohort treated with 4FRT and initial chemotherapy combined with anti-hormone and antibody protocols developed pneumonitis. A combination of the hormone antagonists tamoxifen and goserelin might enhance the risk for pneumonitis. Remarkably, none of the 11 patients co-medicated with statins suffered from pneumonitis.

CONCLUSIONS

The rapidly increasing use of novel systemic therapy schedules combined with radiotherapy (RT) needs more prospective studies with larger cohorts. Our results indicate that contribution to pneumonitis occurrence of various (neo)adjuvant therapy approaches followed by RT is of minor relevance, whereas mean total lung doses of >10 Gy escalate the risk of lung tissue complications. The validity of potential inhibitors of therapy-induced pneumonitis as observed for statin co-medication should further be investigated in future trials.

Myrtol improves post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis by regulation of reactive oxygen species, transforming growth factor β1 and apoptosis in a mouse model

The present study tested whether myrtol improves post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis (PTKO) by regulating the reactive oxygen species (ROS), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and apoptosis in a mouse model. PTKO model mice were administered with 150, 300 or 450 mg/kg myrtol for 8 weeks. ELISA analysis was used to measure tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, reactive oxygen species and TGF-β1 levels. Caspase-3 and Bax protein expressions were analyzed using western blot analysis. In the current study, treatment with myrtol improved the tissue damage and osteoarthritis score, while it also reversed the subchondral bone thickness, subchondral bone density, trabecular bone volume/relative trabecular bone volume ratio and trabecular bone spacing in PTKO mice. The activity of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-6, TGF-β1, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and ROS were effectively inhibited, and the protein expression of caspase-3 and Bax were clearly suppressed by treatment with myrtol in a mouse model of PTKO. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that myrtol treatment improved PTKO through the suppression of inflammation, oxidative stress, ROS, TGF-β1 and Bax/caspase-3 in mice, and myrtol may be a potential agent for clinical therapy.

Antibacterial activity of Artemisia asiatica essential oil against some common respiratory infection causing bacterial strains and its mechanism of action in Haemophilus influenzae

The main objective of the current study was to investigate the chemical composition of the essential oil of Artemisia asiatica together with investigating the antibacterial effects it exerts on several common respiratory infection causing bacteria including Haemophilus influenzae. Its mechanism of action was studied using various state-of-the-art assays like scanning electron microscopy, DNA, RNA and protein leakage assays, growth curve assays etc. The essential oil was extracted from the leaves of A. asiatica by supercritical CO₂ fluid extraction technology. Chemical composition of essential oils was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass-spectrometry (GC-MS). The antibacterial activity was evaluated against 6 bacteria by the paper disc diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericide concentration (MBC) values of the essential oil were estimated by agar dilution method. The antibacterial mechanism was evaluated by growth curve, the integrity of cell membrane and scanning electronmicroscope (SEM). Gas chromatographic analysis of the A. asiatica essential oil led to the identification of 16 chemical constituents accounting for 97.2% of the total oil composition. The major components were found to be Piperitone, (z)-davanone, p-cymene and 1, 8-cineole. The essential oil showed maximum growth inhibition against Haemophilus influenzae with a zone of inhibition of 24.5 mm and MIC/MBC values of 1.9/4.5 mg/mL respectively. Bacteria treated with the essential oil led to a rapid decrease in the number of viable cells. On adding the essential oil of A. asiatica to the bacterial culture, the constituents of the bacterial cell got released into the medium and this cell constituent release increased with increasing doses of the essential oil. SEM showed that the bacterial cells treated with the essential oil showed damaged cell wall, deformed cell morphology and shrunken cells.

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Antibacterial activity of Artemisia asiatica essential oil evaluated.

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The antibacterial mechanism evaluated by scanning electron microscope.

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16 chemical constituents were identified in the essential oil.

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Essential oil caused damage to the bacterial cell membrane.

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The essential oil was found to be most potent against Haemophilus influenzae.

Suppression of inflammatory and infection responses in lung macrophages by eucalyptus oil and its constituent 1,8-cineole: Role of pattern recognition receptors TREM-1 and NLRP3, the MAP kinase regulator MKP-1, and NFκB

Eucalyptus oil (EO) used in traditional medicine continues to prove useful for aroma therapy in respiratory ailments; however, there is a paucity of information on its mechanism of action and active components. In this direction, we investigated EO and its dominant constituent 1,8–cineole (eucalyptol) using the murine lung alveolar macrophage (AM) cell line MH-S. In an LPS-induced AM inflammation model, pre-treatment with EO significantly reduced (P ≤0.01or 0.05) the pro-inflammatory mediators TNF-α, IL-1 (α and β), and NO, albeit at a variable rate and extent; 1,8-cineole diminished IL-1 and IL-6. In a mycobacterial-infection AM model, EO pre-treatment or post-treatment significantly enhanced (P ≤0.01) the phagocytic activity and pathogen clearance. 1,8-cineole also significantly enhanced the pathogen clearance though the phagocytic activity was not significantly altered. EO or 1,8-cineole pre-treatment attenuated LPS-induced inflammatory signaling pathways at various levels accompanied by diminished inflammatory response. Among the pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) involved in LPS signaling, the TREM pathway surface receptor (TREM-1) was significantly downregulated. Importantly, the pre-treatments significantly downregulated (P ≤0.01) the intracellular PRR receptor NLRP3 of the inflammasome, which is consistent with the decrease in IL-1β secretion. Of the shared downstream signaling cascade for these PRR pathways, there was significant attenuation of phosphorylation of the transcription factor NF-κB and p38 (but increased phosphorylation of the other two MAP kinases, ERK1/2 and JNK1/2). 1,8-cineole showed a similar general trend except for an opposite effect on NF-κB and JNK1/2. In this context, either pre-treatment caused a significant downregulation of MKP-1 phosphatase, a negative regulator of MAPKs. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the anti-inflammatory activity of EO and 1,8-cineole is modulated via selective downregulation of the PRR pathways, including PRR receptors (TREM-1 and NLRP3) and common downstream signaling cascade partners (NF-κB, MAPKs, MKP-1). To our knowledge, this is the first report on the modulatory role of TREM-1 and NLRP3 inflammasome pathways and the MAPK negative regulator MKP-1 in context of the anti-inflammatory potential of EO and its constituent 1,8-cineole.

The acute airway inflammation induced by PM2.5 exposure and the treatment of essential oils in Balb/c mice

PM2.5 is the main particulate air pollutant whose aerodynamic diameter is less than 2.5 micron. The inflammation of various respiratory diseases are associated with PM2.5 inhalation. Pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β generated from effected cells usually plays a crucial role in many kinds of lung inflammatory reactions. The exacerbation of Th immune responses are identified in some PM2.5 related diseases. To elucidate the underlying mechanism of PM2.5-induced acute lung inflammation, we exposed Balb/c mice to PM2.5 intratracheally and established a mice model. Acute lung inflammation and increased IL-1β expression was observed after PM2.5 instillation. Regulatory factors of IL-1β (TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome) participated in this lung inflammatory response as well. Treatment with compound essential oils (CEOs) substantially attenuated PM2.5-induced acute lung inflammation. The decreased IL-1β and Th immune responses after CEOs treatment were significant. PM2.5 may increase the secretion of IL-1β through TLR4/MyD88 and NLRP3 pathway resulting in murine airway inflammation. CEOs could attenuate the lung inflammation by reducing IL-1β and Th immune responses in this model. This study describes a potentially important mechanism of PM2.5-induced acute lung inflammation and that may bring about novel therapies for the inflammatory diseases associated with PM2.5 inhalation.

Standardized myrtol attenuates lipopolysaccharide induced acute lung injury in mice

CONTEXT

Standardized myrtol, an essential oil containing primarily cineole, limonene and α-pinene, has been used for treating nasosinusitis, bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of standardized myrtol in a model of acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male BALB/c mice were treated with standardized myrtol for 1.5 h prior to exposure of atomized LPS. Six hours after LPS challenge, lung injury was determined by the neutrophil recruitment, cytokine levels and total protein concentration in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the lung tissue. Additionally, pathological changes and NF-κB activation in the lung were examined by haematoxylin and eosin staining and western blot, respectively.

RESULTS

In LPS-challenged mice, standardized myrtol at a dose of 1200 mg/kg significantly inhibited the neutrophile counts (from 820.97 ± 142.44 to 280.42 ± 65.45, 10³/mL), protein concentration (from 0.331 ± 0.02 to 0.183 ± 0.01, mg/mL) and inflammatory cytokines level (TNF-α: from 6072.70 ± 748.40 to 2317.70 ± 500.14, ng/mL; IL-6: from 1184.85 ± 143.58 to 509.57 ± 133.03, ng/mL) in BALF. Standardized myrtol also attenuated LPS-induced MPO activity (from 0.82 ± 0.04 to 0.48 ± 0.06, U/g) and pathological changes (lung injury score: from 11.67 ± 0.33 to 7.83 ± 0.79) in the lung. Further study demonstrated that standardized myrtol prevented LPS-induced NF-κB activation in lung tissues.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Together, these data suggest that standardized myrtol has the potential to protect against LPS-induced airway inflammation in a model of ALI.

The Association of VDAC with Cell Viability of PC12 Model of Huntington's Disease

It is becoming increasingly apparent that mitochondria dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Huntington’s disease (HD), but the underlying mechanism is still elusive. Thus, there is a still need for further studies concerning the upstream events in the mitochondria dysfunction that could contribute to cell death observed in HD. Taking into account the fundamental role of the voltage-dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC) in mitochondria functioning, it is reasonable to consider the channel as a crucial element in HD etiology. Therefore, we applied inducible PC12 cell model of HD to determine the relationship between the effect of expression of wild type and mutant huntingtin (Htt and mHtt, respectively) on cell survival and mitochondria functioning in intact cells under conditions of undergoing cell divisions. Because after 48 h of Htt and mHtt expression differences in mitochondria functioning co-occurred with differences in the cell viability, we decided to estimate the effect of Htt and mHtt expression lasted for 48 h on VDAC functioning. Therefore, we isolated VDAC from the cells and tested the preparations by black lipid membrane system. We observed that the expression of mHtt, but not Htt, resulted in changes of the open state conductance and voltage-dependence when compared to control cells cultured in the absence of the expression. Importantly, for all the VDAC preparations, we observed a dominant quantitative content of VDAC1, and the quantitative relationships between VDAC isoforms were not changed by Htt and mHtt expression. Thus, Htt and mHtt-mediated functional changes of VDAC, being predominantly VDAC1, which occur shortly after these protein appearances in cells, may result in differences concerning mitochondria functioning and viability of cells expressing Htt and mHtt. The assumption is important for better understanding of cytotoxicity as well as cytoprotection mechanisms of potential clinical application.

Is it appropriate regarding patient preference to take Myrtol standardized enteric-coated soft capsules after a meal rather than at fasted state? A food-drug pharmacokinetic interaction study in healthy Chinese volunteers

BACKGROUND

According to prescribing information for Myrtol standardized enteric-coated soft capsules, the medicine should be taken on an empty stomach. Some patients may experience stomach discomfort after oral administration in fasted state and would prefer to take the medicine after a meal. However, there is no literature addressing the effect of meal on absorption of this drug; therefore, it is desirable to explore the feasibility of taking the capsule after a meal from pharmacokinetic perspective.

METHODS

A gas chromatography coupled with triple quadruples mass spectrometry assay was established and validated for determining plasma concentrations of eucalyptol, a target component of Myrtol standardized capsules. A self-control clinical study was carried out in healthy male volunteers in fasted and fed states after a single oral dose of 300 mg capsules. Comparison of pharmacokinetic parameters in the two phases and bioequivalence evaluation were performed.

RESULTS

The specificity, sensitivity, accuracy, and precision of the assay satisfied the requirements for biopharmaceutical analysis. Pharmacokinetic parameters of eucalyptol (fasted vs fed) were as follows: maximal plasma concentrations (Cmax) (167.60±114.69 vs 518.89±314.47 ng·mL-1), time of maximum concentration (Tmax) (3.7±1.1 vs 4.8±0.7 h), elimination half-life (T1/2) (3.2±1.4 vs 2.6±0.7 h), area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0-t) (584.91±369.90 vs 1,271.61±605.82 ng·h·mL-1), and AUC0-∞ (690.36±467.26 vs 1,458.02±720.21 ng·h·mL-1). There was statistically significant difference in Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0-∞ between the two dosing methods (P<0.05). Pharmacokinetic parameters of eucalyptol given in fasted state in Chinese were comparable to those in Germany population. The 90% confidence intervals for the ratio of Cmax (18.4%~64.7%), AUC0-t (28.9%~68.5%), and AUC0-∞ (31.1%~68.4%) values for the test (fasted) and reference (fed) were beyond the Food and Drug Administration's acceptable range of 80%~125%. In addition, significant difference was obtained in Tmax (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Compared with dosing at fasted state, taking Myrtol standardized capsules after a meal achieves a delayed absorption rate and an increased absorption extent. The two dosing methods were not bioequivalent in this small study and, thus, not interchangeable. Patient preference and pharmacokinetic food-drug interaction issue should be balanced. Further clinical study is necessary to explore the clinical outcome of oral administration of Myrtol standardized capsules after or with meal.

[Use of Myrtol standardized in the treatment of children with acute rhinosinusitis]

The present study included 60 children at the age from 6 to 10 years undergoing a course of out-patient and in-patient treatment of acute rhinosinusitis (ARS). Thirty of these patients were given Myrtol standardised in the dose of 120 mg thrice daily for 7 days, in addition to traditional therapy.With convincing objective data for acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (in accordance with the criteria of EP3OS 2012), antibacterial preparations were prescribed to the children. The remaining patients received either conventional (symptomatic, irrigation) therapy or systemic antimicrobial agents. The analysis of characteristics of the visual-analog scale reflecting the severity of rhinorrhea, basal congestion, and coughing has demonstrated a significant (р<0,05) difference between the two groups of children in terms of manifestations of the clinical symptoms within days 7 and 14 after the onset of the treatment. For basal congestion, the difference was apparent as soon as day 3 after the beginning of therapy. The duration of the treatment with intranasal vasoconstrictive medications used for symptomatic therapy by the patients given Myrtol standardized was 2.2±0.4 days in comparison with 3.6±0.5 days in the control group. None of the patients treated with GeloMyrtol exhibited any adverse reaction attributable to the action of the medication in being studied. The study has demonstrated that using Myrtol standardized for the treatment of the uncomplicated forms of acute rhinosinusitis in children is clinically effective, safe, and convenient method for the management of ARS in children. And it can be recommended for the wide practical application.

Is Myrtol® Standardized a New Alternative toward Antibiotics?

GeloMyrtol^® and GeloMyrtol^® forte, also known as Myrtol^® standardized, is an herbal medical product (phytomedicine) obtained by a multistep distillation procedure from essential oils. The major biological marker of in vivo and ex vivo activity of Myrtol^® standardized is the monoterpenes, d-limonene, 1,8-cineole, and alpha-pinene. Myrtol^® standardized is estimated to have antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial potential while many studies confirmed its secretolytic and bronchospasmolytic effects. As such, the medication is proposed to be initiated in several acute and chronic infections of the upper and lower airway system as acute and chronic rhinosinusitis, acute and chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This review intends to give an insight into several prescription indications of Myrtol^® standardized, all involved mechanisms, and potential advantages toward antibiotic therapy, especially in cases when bacterial infection is uncertain.

Essential oil of Artemisia vestita exhibits potent in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity: Investigation of the effect of oil on biofilm formation, leakage of potassium ions and survival curve measurement

The aim of the present study was to investigate the chemical composition of the essential oil of Artemisia vestita and to determine the antibacterial activity of the essential oil and its two major components, grandisol and 1,8-cineole, against certain respiratory infection-causing bacterial strains, in vitro and in vivo. The chemical composition of the essential oil was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A micro-well dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) values of the essential oil and its major constituents. A model of Streptococcus pyogenes infection in mice was used to determine its in vivo activities. Lung and blood samples were obtained to assess bacterial cell counts. Toxicity evaluation of the essential oil and its components was completed by performing biochemical analysis of the serum, particularly monitoring aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, urea and creatinine. The essential oil exhibited potent antibacterial activity, whereas the two major constituents were less potent. The essential oil exhibited MIC values between 20 and 80 μg/ml, while the values of the two constituents were between 130 and 200 μg/ml. Scanning electron microscopy results demonstrated that the essential oil inhibited biofilm formation and altered its architecture. Survival curves indicated that the essential oil led to a reduction in the viability of different bacteria. The essential oil also induced significant leakage of potassium ions from S. pyogenes. The essential oil (100 μg/mouse) and grandisol (135 μg/mouse) significantly reduced the number of viable bacterial cells in the lungs (P<0.01). However, intake of 100 μg/mouse of essential oil or grandisol 135 μg/mouse once or twice each day for 9 days did not produce any toxic effects in the mice. In conclusion, the in vitro and in vivo results suggested that the essential oil of A. vestita and one of its major constituents, grandisol, can significantly inhibit the growth of different bacterial strains.

Myrtol ameliorates cartilage lesions in an osteoarthritis rat model

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of myrtol standardized on cartilage lesions in osteoarthritis (OA) rats.

METHODS

Fifty-six healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (13 rats) and OA model group (43 rats) with interior meniscus excision. Then serum estradiol (E2) and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content in cartilage tissue were measured by radioimmunoassay and toluidine blue staining, respectively. After that, the model rats were randomly divided into low dose myrtol (LDM) group, middle dose myrtol (MDM) group and high dose myrtol (HDM) group (10 rats in each group) with treatment of 450 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg myrtol, respectively. Then, Mankin scores were used to evaluate lesion extent of knee joint cartilage. Expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), interleukin (IL)-6, Bax and Bcl-2 were investigated using PCR gel electrophoresis method.

RESULTS

Mankin cores were lower in sham group and myrtol group than in model group. There were statistically significant differences (P < 0.01) between sham group and model group in expression of TNF-α, TGF-β1, IL-6, Bax and Bcl-2 in the cartilage tissue. Myrtol significantly reduced the expression of TNF-α, IL-6 and Bax, and increased the expression of TGF-β1 and Bcl-2 in myrtol group, comparing with those in model group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Myrtol could down-regulate the expression of TNF-α, IL-6 and Bax, and up-regulate the expression of TGF-β1 and Bcl-2. Myrtol standardized is a promising drug to ameliorate knee cartilage lesions in the OA rat model.

[The place of mucoactuve therapy of rhinosinisitis in the international and Russian guidelines]

The results of clinical studies giving evidence of the therapeutic effectiveness of the mucoactive preparations for the treatment of rhinosinusitis made it possible to introduce the herbal medicinal product Myrtol into the European position paper on rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps (EPOS 2012). It was shown that the intake of Myrtol standardized preparation accelerates the regress of clinical symptoms of the disease, decreases the requirement for antibiotic therapy, and reduces the period of disability as compared with the similar effects of placebo.

Nutrigenomics of Essential Oils and their Potential Domestic Use for Improving Health

The use of essential oils as industrial food additives is notorious, like their medicinal properties. However, their use in household food spicing is for now limited. In this work, we have made a review to reveal the nutrigenomic actions exerted by their bioactive components, to promote awareness of their modulating gene expression ability and the potential that this implies. Also considered is how essential oils can be used as flavoring and seasoning after cooking and before consumption, such as diet components which can improve human health. Genetic mechanisms involved in the medicinal properties of essential oils for food use are identified from literature. These genetic mechanisms reveal nutrigenomic actions. Reviews on the medicinal properties of essential oils have been particularly considered. A wide diversity of nutrigenomic effects from essential oils useful potentially for food spicing is reviewed. General ideas are discussed about essential oils and their properties, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, immunomodulatory, anticancer, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, bone-reparation, anti-depressant and mitigatory for Alzheimer's disease. The essential oils for food use are potentially promoting health agents, and, therefore, worth using as flavoring and condiments. Becoming aware of the modulating gene expression actions from essential oils is important for understanding their potential for use in household dishes as spices to improve health.

Antibacterial activity and mechanism of action of Monarda punctata essential oil and its main components against common bacterial pathogens in respiratory tract

The aim of the current research work was to study the chemical composition of the essential oil of Monarda punctata along with evaluating the essential oil and its major components for their antibacterial effects against some frequently encountered respiratory infection causing pathogens. Gas chromatographic mass spectrometric analysis revealed the presence of 13 chemical constituents with thymol (75.2%), p-cymene (6.7%), limonene (5.4), and carvacrol (3.5%) as the major constituents. The oil composition was dominated by the oxygenated monoterpenes. Antibacterial activity of the essential oil and its major constituents (thymol, p-cymene, limonene) was evaluated against Streptococcus pyogenes, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Escherichia coli. The study revealed that the essential oil and its constituents exhibited a broad spectrum and variable degree of antibacterial activity against different strains. Among the tested strains, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli and Streptococcus pneumoniae were the most susceptible bacterial strain showing lowest MIC and MBC values. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was the most resistant bacterial strain to the essential oil treatment showing relatively higher MIC and MBC values. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the essential oil induced potent and dose-dependent membrane damage in S. pyogenes and MRSA bacterial strains. The reactive oxygen species generated by the Monarda punctata essential oil were identified using 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA).This study indicated that the Monarda punctata essential oil to a great extent and thymol to a lower extent triggered a substantial increase in the ROS levels in S. pyogenes bacterial cultures which ultimately cause membrane damage as revealed by SEM results.