Evaluation of in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of crude ginger and rosemary extracts obtained through supercritical CO2 extraction on macrophage and tumor cell line: the influence of vehicle type

Dietary anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial medicinal plants and its compounds in bovine mastitis associated impact on human life

Bovine mastitis (BM) is the most common bacterial mediated inflammatory disease in the dairy cattle that causes huge economic loss to the dairy industry due to decreased milk quality and quantity. Milk is the essential food in the human diet, and rich in crucial nutrients that helps in lowering the risk of diseases like hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. The main causative agents of the disease include various gram negative, and positive bacteria, along with other risk factors such as udder shape, age, genetic, and environmental factors also contributes much for the disease. Currently, antibiotics, immunotherapy, probiotics, dry cow, and lactation therapy are commonly recommended for BM. However, these treatments can only decrease the rise of new cases but can't eliminate the causative agents, and they also exhibit several limitations. Hence, there is an urgent need of a potential source that can generate a typical and ideal treatment to overcome the limitations and eliminate the pathogens. Among the various sources, medicinal plants and its derived products always play a significant role in drug discovery against several diseases. In addition, they are also known for its low toxicity and minimum resistance features. Therefore, plants and its compounds that possess anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties can serve better in bovine mastitis. In addition, the plants that are serving as a food source and possessing pharmacological properties can act even better in bovine mastitis. Hence, in this evidence-based study, we particularly review the dietary medicinal plants and derived products that are proven for anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects. Moreover, the role of each dietary plant and its compounds along with possible role in the management of bovine mastitis are delineated. In this way, this article serves as a standalone source for the researchers working in this area to help in the management of BM.

Models in vivo and in vitro for the study of acute and chronic inflammatory activity: A comprehensive review

Inflammatory conditions are among the principal causes of morbidity worldwide, and their treatment continues to be a challenge, given the restricted availability of effective and safe drugs. Thus, the identification of new compounds with biological activity that can be used for the treatment of inflammatory disorders is an essential field in medical and health research, in order to improve the health and quality of life of patients suffering from these diseases. Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity of drugs requires the implementation of models that accurately depict the biochemical and/or physiological responses that characterize human inflammation; for this reason, several in vitro and in vivo models have been developed, providing a platform for discovering novel or repurposed compounds. For this reason, in the present review we have selected twelve commonly used models for the evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effect, and extensively describes the difference between in vivo and in vitro models of inflammation, highlighting their advantages and limitations. On the other hand, the inflammatory mechanisms involved in them, the methods employed for their establishment, and the different parameters assessed to determine the anti-inflammatory activity of a given compound are extensively discussed. We expect to provide a comprehensive guide for the improved selection of a suitable model for the preclinical evaluation of plausible anti-inflammatory agents.

Therapeutic effects and mechanisms of action of ginger and its bioactive components on inflammatory response, oxidative stress, the immune system, and organ failure in sepsis: a comprehensive systematic review

CONTEXT

Sepsis refers to a usually lethal medical condition that results from an extreme, uncontrolled, and multifaceted immune system response to infection. Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe; Zingiberaceae) is 1 of the most popular spice. It is widely used as a traditional herb and as medicine in the treatment of some inflammatory conditions, such as vomiting, pain, cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, because of its varied medical characteristics, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumor effects.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the potential roles of ginger and its elements in sepsis.

DATA SOURCES

This systematic review article was conducted and reported by following the guideline of the Preferred Reporting for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA). Electronic databases, including Web of Sciences, Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and ProQuest, were searched using related key words up to January 2023.

DATA EXTRACTION

Among 141 found articles, 48 eligible articles were included and reviewed for their details. Data were extracted, including the first author's name, year of publication, name of origin country, study design, number and type of subject, dosage and type of intervention, study duration, assay, and main results.

DATA ANALYSIS

The data from the included articles showed that ginger and its bioactive elements, such as gingerol (1-300 µg/mL or 1-100 mg/kg for 24 hours to 14 days), shogaol (0.2-100 µg/mL or 10-40 mg/kg body weight for 24 hours to 8 days), gingerdione (1-100 µg/mL for 20-48 hours), and zingerone (2-20 µM for 4 hours to 8 days), can be effective in sepsis via suppressing the gene expression and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidant agents, downregulating immune response, and protecting against sepsis-induced organ failures in experimental and animal models.

CONCLUSION

Ginger has potential therapeutic effects in sepsis. Human clinical trials are recommended.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registration no. CRD42023373613.

Dietary ginger polysaccharides (Gps) improve symptoms in hyperlipidemia rats via alterations in gut microbiota

The aim of this research is to investigate lipid-lowering influence of dietary ginger (Zingier officinales Rocs) polysaccharides (GP_S) on hyperlipidemia rats. Rat models with hyperlipidemia was established by high-fat food diet (HFD). Comparing to GP-negative model group, GP_S attenuated several effects of HFD feeding, including the levels of blood lipid biochemistry, serum inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor TNF-a, interleukin IL-6), antioxidant capacity (superoxide dismutase SOD, glutathione peroxidase GSH-Px, total antioxidant capacity T-AOC, propylene dialdehyde MDA), uric acid and immune index. 16 S rDNA gene sequencing of fecal samples showed that GP_S increased the growth of Akkermansia muciniphila and decreased the proportion of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes; This changes in microbial community structure can help prevent diet-induced metabolic disease. These results suggest that GPs may act on the gut, changing the structure of the gut microbial community, thereby reducing intestinal and systemic inflammation, thus improved metabolic outcomes.

The efficacy of Zingiber officinale on dyslipidaemia, blood pressure, and inflammation as cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and chronic inflammation contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Zingiber officinale has been suggested to reduce these CVD risk factors; however, the clinical evidence remains unclear. This systematic review aims to analyse the effect of Z. officinale as a sole intervention on these risk factors.

METHODS

In this PRISMA-based systematic review, we included randomised clinical trials from PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (July 2020) analysing triglycerides, low- and high-density lipoprotein (LDL, HDL), total cholesterol, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1, 6, 10, systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure as outcomes. Quality of studies was evaluated by JADAD and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tools.

RESULTS

A total of 24 studies were included, mostly (79.2%) showing low risk of bias. These were based on obesity and cardio-metabolic derangements (33.3%), type 2 diabetes mellitus (37.5%), and miscellaneous conditions (29.2%). While total cholesterol and triglycerides levels mostly improved after Z. officinale, results were inconsistent for other blood lipids markers. Inflammatory markers (CRP, TNF-α) were more consistently reduced by Z. officinale, while only 3 studies reported a non-significant reduction of blood pressure.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there remains a paucity of studies, Z. officinale may be beneficial for improving dyslipidaemia and inflammation.

Investigation on anti-Corona viral potential of Yarrow tea

Achillea millefolium (Yarrow) is a herbaceous plant of Greek origin noted to treat pneumonia, common cold, cough, and other respiratory disorders. The flowers and leaves are the core part used to prepare herbal tea that gains the world's recognition as medicinal tea. Coronavirus disease is spreading across the globe, and numerous approaches are lodged to treat virus-induced lung inflammation. Here, we used the network pharmacology, metabolite analysis, docking and molecular simulation and MM-PBSA analysis to comprehend the biochemical basis of the health-boosting impact of Yarrow tea. Next, we performed the microscopic and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis of yarrow-treated ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 to evaluate the virucidal activity of the Yarrow. The present study investigates the druggability, metabolites and potential interaction of the title tea with genes associated with Covid-19-induced pathogenesis. Towards this, 1022 gene hits were obtained, 30 are mutually shared. Network Pharmacology and microarray gene expression analysis find the connection of PTGS2 in relieving the virus-induced inflammation. Yarrow constituents Luteolin may inhibit or down-regulate the Cyclooxygenase II (PTGS2), a plausible mechanism underlying the Yarrow's anti-inflammatory actions. Further, the Yarrow's virucidal activity was assessed towards Transmission Electron Microscopic (TEM). The Yarrow treated SARS-nCoV-2 cell exhibits the disintegration of the virus membrane. This work provides a scientific basis for further elucidating the mechanism underlying Achillea millefolium's antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.

Rosemary and its protective potencies against COVID-19 and other cytokine storm associated infections: A molecular review

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, medicinal plants have attracted great interest in treatment of human diseases. Rosemary is a well-known medicinal plant which has been widely used for different therapeutic purposes. METHODS: This is a narrative review using databases including PubMed, ISI, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Cochrane, and google scholar, the most authoritative articles were searched, screened, and analyzed. RESULTS: Rosemary is a natural antioxidant which removes reactive oxygen species from tissues and increases expression on Nrf2 gene. Rosemary and its metabolites reduce inflammation by inhibiting production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, decreasing expression of NF-κB, inhibiting infiltration of immune cells to inflamed sites, and affecting gut microbiome. Besides, rosmarinic acid in rosemary extract has positive effects on renin-angiotensin-system. Rosemary affects respiratory system by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, muscle spasm, and also through anti-fibrotic properties. Carnosic acid is able to penetrate blood-brain-barrier and act against free radicals, ischemia and neurodegeneration in brain. Cardioprotective effects include correcting lipid profile, controlling blood pressure by inhibition of ACE, prevention of atherosclerosis, and reduction of cardiac muscle hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Accordingly, rosemary supplementation has potential protective effects against COVID-19 and other cytokine storm associated infections, a conclusion that needs more evaluations in the next clinical trials.

Biological and Inflammatory Effects of Antigen 5 from Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) Venom in Mouse Intraperitoneal Macrophages

The social wasp Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) is highly aggressive, being responsible for many medical occurrences. One of the most allergenic components of this venom is Antigen 5 (Poly p 5). The possible modulation of the in vitro immune response induced by antigen 5 from P. paulista venom, expressed recombinantly (rPoly p 5), on BALB/c mice peritoneal macrophages, activated or not with LPS, was assessed. Here, we analyzed cell viability changes, expression of the phosphorylated form of p65 NF-κB subunit, nitric oxide (NO), proinflammatory cytokines production, and co-stimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86). The results suggest that rPoly p 5 does not affect NO production nor the expression of co-stimulatory molecules in mouse peritoneal macrophages. On the other hand, rPoly p 5 induced an increase in IL-1β production in non-activated macrophages and a reduction in the production of TNF-α and MCP-1 cytokines in activated macrophages. rPoly p 5 decreased the in vitro production of the phosphorylated p65 NF-κB subunit in non-activated macrophages. These findings suggest an essential role of this allergen in the polarization of functional M2 macrophage phenotypes, when analyzed in previously activated macrophages. Further investigations, mainly in in vivo studies, should be conducted to elucidate Polybia paulista Ag5 biological role in the macrophage functional profile modulation.

Ameliorative Potential of Hydroethanolic Leaf Extract of Parquetina nigrescens on d-Galactose-Induced Testicular Injury

BACKGROUND

There is an increasing need for botanicals to be used as an alternative and complementary medicine in the management of male infertility. Male infertility has been a major health/social challenge to people all over the world. This study, therefore, investigated the ameliorative potential of hydroethanolic leaf extract of Parquetina nigrescens (HELEPN) against d-galactose-induced testicular injury.

METHODS

Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly allotted into six groups (n = 5). Group I (Normal control), Group II (300 mg/kg b.w. d-galactose), Group III and IV (250 and 500 mg/kg b.w. HELEPN, respectively), Group V and VI (both received 300 mg/kg b.w. of d-galactose with 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w of HELEPN, respectively). d-galactose administration started two weeks prior to HELEPN treatment which lasted for six weeks. All assays were carried out using established protocols.

RESULTS

Administration of HELEPN at 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg concomitantly with d-galactose improved paired and relative testicular weights, levels of gonadotropins (LH and FSH) and testosterone, and poor sperm quality. HELEPN treatment reduced the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers (MDA, 8-OHDG, and AGEs) and inflammatory response (TNF-alpha and NO) to normal, as well as restoring the reduced activities of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase). In addition, HELEPN treatment mitigated testicular DNA fragmentation and down-regulated caspase 3-activities. HELEPN at 500 mg/kg was observed to have the greatest ameliorative effect.

CONCLUSION

HELEPN protects against d-galactose-induced testicular injury through antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic mechanisms.

Fishroesomes as carriers with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactivities

The great diversity of marine habitats and organisms renders them a high-value source to find/develop novel drugs and formulations. Therefore, herein, sardine (Sardina pilchardus) roe was used as a lipidic source to produce liposomes. This fish product presents high nutritional value, being its lipidic content associated with important health benefits. Consequently, it can be advantageously used to produce therapeutically active delivery devices. Roe lipids were extracted using the Matyash method. After lipid film hydration and extrusion, sardine roe-derived large unilamellar liposomes (LUVs), designated as fishroesomes, presented a size of ≈330 nm and a significant negative surface charge (≈-27 mV). Radical scavenging assays demonstrated that fishroesomes efficiently neutralized peroxyl, hydroxyl and nitric oxide radicals. Moreover, fishroesomes significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by LPS-stimulated macrophages at non-toxic concentrations for L929 and THP-1 cells. Consequently, the developed liposomes exhibit unique properties as bioactive drug carriers for inflammatory diseases treatment.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus salivary gland extract as a source of immunomodulatory molecules

Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), popularly known as 'brown dog tick', is the primary vector of pathogens affecting dogs worldwide. To enter the host's organism, these pathogens utilise the anticoagulant, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory actions of compounds present in the tick's saliva; such compounds are released by the ectoparasite in order to attach and feed on dogs. Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the regulatory factors in inflammation, apoptosis and immunomodulation. Here, we evaluated the in vitro activity of salivary gland extract of female dog ticks on the macrophage-derived J774 cell line, with and without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Cultures were evaluated for possible morphological alterations caused by exposure to the extract. There was no apparent in vitro cytotoxicity of the extract. Also, the NO secretory response in the non-LPS-stimulated cells was not inhibited. On the other hand, the extract presented modulatory action in the cultures of LPS-stimulated cells at a concentration of 0.1 μg/mL, possibly through macrophage activation, and induced a significant decrease in NO secretion. These results confirm the modulatory potential of bioactive molecules in the salivary glands of R. sanguineus ticks.

Biological Properties of Yeast-based Mannoprotein for Prospective Biomedical Applications

BACKGROUND

Natural products constitute more than half of all biomolecules lately being used in clinical settings. Mannoprotein derived from the yeast cell wall has found full biotechnological applications.

OBJECTIVE

This study was intended to investigate the antioxidant, anticancer, and toxicological properties of Kluyveromyces marxianus mannoprotein (KM).

METHODS

The KM extract was obtained through a sequence of operations, including centrifugation for cell isolation, precipitation with potassium citrate/sodium metabisulfite, and recovery and purification. Its antioxidant, growth inhibition, macrophage mitogenic, and toxic activities were evaluated for its future use in the biomedical field.

RESULTS

Significant inhibitory effects of KM were obtained on reactive species. It showed antiproliferative activity against HeLa (human cervical adenocarcinoma) and MCF-7 (human breast cancer) cell lines with no toxic effects on HUVECs (human umbilical vein endothelial cells). The in vitro model of CHO-K1 (Chinese hamster ovary) cell lines did not show the cytotoxic and genotoxic of KM. Moreover, it enhanced macrophage activity in terms of nitric oxide (NO) production and viability. No sign of acute toxicity was found in BALB/c mice, and body weight remained unchanged in guinea pigs over three months.

CONCLUSION

Comprehensive biological evaluations in this study are expected to expand the potential of KM as a natural material.

Modeling the Effect of Composition on Formation of Aerosolized Nanoemulsion System Encapsulating Docetaxel and Curcumin Using D-Optimal Mixture Experimental Design

The synergistic anticancer effect of docetaxel (DTX) and curcumin (CCM) has emerged as an attractive therapeutic candidate for lung cancer treatment. However, the lack of optimal bioavailability because of high toxicity, low stability, and poor solubility has limited their clinical success. Given this, an aerosolized nanoemulsion system for pulmonary delivery is recommended to mitigate these drawbacks. In this study, DTX- and CCM-loaded nanoemulsions were optimized using the D-optimal mixture experimental design (MED). The effect of nanoemulsion compositions towards two response variables, namely, particle size and aerosol size, was studied. The optimized formulations for both DTX- and CCM-loaded nanoemulsions were determined, and their physicochemical and aerodynamic properties were evaluated as well. The MED models achieved the optimum formulation for DTX- and CCM-loaded nanoemulsions containing a 6.0 wt% mixture of palm kernel oil ester (PKOE) and safflower seed oils (1:1), 2.5 wt% of lecithin, 2.0 wt% mixture of Tween 85 and Span 85 (9:1), and 2.5 wt% of glycerol in the aqueous phase. The actual values of the optimized formulations were in line with the predicted values obtained from the MED, and they exhibited desirable attributes of physicochemical and aerodynamic properties for inhalation therapy. Thus, the optimized formulations have potential use as a drug delivery system for a pulmonary application.

Compressed fluids and phytochemical profiling tools to obtain and characterize antiviral and anti-inflammatory compounds from natural sources

Many natural compounds, found mainly in plants, are associated with the treatment of various diseases. The search for natural therapeutic agents includes compounds with antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities. Among the many steps involved in bioprospection, extraction is the first and most critical step for obtaining bioactive compounds. One of the main advantages of using compressed fluids extraction is the high quality of the final product obtained due to the use of green solvents, while the selectivity towards target compounds can be tuned by adjusting the process parameters, especially pressure, temperature and solvent characteristics. In this review, a discussion is provided on the power of compressed fluids, such as supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and subcritical water extraction (SWE) to obtain antiviral and anti-inflammatory compounds from natural sources. In addition, an adequate knowledge about the identity and quantity of the compounds present in the extract is essential to correlate biological activity with chemical composition. Phytochemical profiling tools used for identification and quantification of these bioactive natural compound are also discussed. It can be anticipated that after the current SARS-COV-2 pandemic, the search of new natural compounds with antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity will be a hot research topic, so, this review provides an overview on the technologies currently used that could help this research.

Electrospun anti-inflammatory patch loaded with essential oils for wound healing

Wound healing is a complex process that consists of three overlapping phases: inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. A bacterial infection can increase inflammation and delay this process. Microorganisms are closely related to the innate immune system, such as macrophages and neutrophils, as they can start an inflammatory cascade. Essential oils play an important role in the inhibition and prevention of bacterial growth due to their ability to reduce antimicrobial resistance. The possibility to find a strategy that combines antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties is particularly appealing for wound healing. In this work, we showcase a variety of patches based on electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers loaded with natural compounds derived from essential oils, such as thymol (THY) and tyrosol (TYR), to achieve reduced inflammation. In addition, we compared the effect these essential oils have on activated macrophages when incorporated into the PCL patch. Specifically, we demonstrate that PCL-THY resulted in more efficient down-regulation of pro-inflammatory genes related to the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κb) pathway when compared to PCL-TYR and the combination patch containing TYR and THY (i.e., PCL-TYR-THY). Furthermore, PCL-THY displayed low affinity for cell attachment, which may hinder wound adherence and integration. Overall, our results indicate that THY-loaded patches could serve as promising candidates for the fabrication of dressings that incorporate bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties while simultaneously avoiding the limitations of traditional antibiotic-loaded devices.

In Search of Panacea-Review of Recent Studies Concerning Nature-Derived Anticancer Agents

Cancers are one of the leading causes of deaths affecting millions of people around the world, therefore they are currently a major public health problem. The treatment of cancer is based on surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy, much of which is often insufficient and cause serious, burdensome and undesirable side effects. For many years, assorted secondary metabolites derived from plants have been used as antitumor agents. Recently, researchers have discovered a large number of new natural substances which can effectively interfere with cancer cells’ metabolism. The most famous groups of these compounds are topoisomerase and mitotic inhibitors. The aim of the latest research is to characterize natural compounds found in many common foods, especially by means of their abilities to regulate cell cycle, growth and differentiation, as well as epigenetic modulation. In this paper, we focus on a review of recent discoveries regarding nature-derived anticancer agents.

Dimethyl Sulfoxide Decreases Levels of Oxylipin Diols in Mouse Liver

Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) is widely used as a solvent and cryopreservative in laboratories and considered to have many beneficial health effects in humans. Oxylipins are a class of biologically active metabolites of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that have been linked to a number of diseases. In this study, we investigated the effect of DMSO on oxylipin levels in mouse liver. Liver tissue from male mice (C57Bl6/N) that were either untreated or injected with 1% DMSO at 18 weeks of age was analyzed for oxylipin levels using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). A decrease in oxylipin diols from linoleic acid (LA, C18:2n6), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3n3) and docosahexeanoic acid (DHA, C22:6n3) was observed 2 h after injection with DMSO. In contrast, DMSO had no effect on the epoxide precursors or other oxylipins including those derived from arachidonic acid (C20:4n6) or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n3). It also did not significantly affect the diol:epoxide ratio, suggesting a pathway distinct from, and potentially complementary to, soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors (sEHI). Since oxylipins have been associated with a wide array of pathological conditions, from arthritis pain to obesity, our results suggest one potential mechanism underlying the apparent beneficial health effects of DMSO. They also indicate that caution should be used in the interpretation of results using DMSO as a vehicle in animal experiments.

Clinical Assessment of Rosemary-based Toothpaste (Rosmarinus officinalis Linn.): A Randomized Controlled Double-blind Study

The present study was to investigate the action of a toothpaste made from the extract of Rosmarinus officinalis Linn. (rosemary) in a clinical randomized, controlled, open and double-blind trial. One hundred and ten volunteers fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were randomly separated into two groups according to the toothpastes used: Group A (experimental) and Group B (control). They were assessed at baseline and 30 days after the study using the gingival bleeding index (GBI) and the plaque index (PI). Data analysis was conducted to calculate the effects of the two toothpastes on gingival bleeding and plaque, using measurements such as the excess relative risk (ERR), the Relative Risk Reduction (RRR), the Absolute Risk Reduction (ARR) and the Number Needed for Treatment (NNT). The two toothpastes provided similar results in terms of the reduction in the risk of gingival bleeding (relative and absolute): a reduction of 38% in Group A, ERR=0.38; a reduction of 29.3% in Group B, ERR=0.293; A and B reduced by 18% ARR=0.18). The reductions in bacterial plaque were also similar (22.7% reduction in Group A, RRR=0.227; 28% reduction in Group B, RRR= 0.28). The number needed for treatment values for bleeding and plaque were A and B NNT=5 and A and B NNT=7, respectively. The rosemary-based toothpaste effectively treated gingival bleeding and reduced bacterial plaque, when compared with conventional toothpaste.

Identification of interactions between multiple components in Socheongryong-tang using a plant profiling approach

Traditional herbal medicine consists of multiple components. There are interactions among the components, which affect both potency and toxicity. The preparation of herbal medicines can be a cause of interactions between multicomponents in herbs. To demonstrate the differences in multiherb interactions based on the preparation methods, the changes in the active components in the different preparations of Socheongryong-tang (SCRT) were evaluated using metabolomics profiling. We performed multicomponent profiling of the decoction of SCRT (SCRTD) and individual herb mixture (SCRTM) using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). Active compounds from SCRTD and SCRTM were identified using multivariate analysis, and the activities between the two groups were compared. We also evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of SCRT through investigating the protein expression of iNOS and COX-2 in lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophage RAW 264.7 cells in both groups. From the multivariate analysis, 53 active compounds that have different intensities between SCRTD and SCRTM were identified. The intensities of those components, such as ephedrines, glycyrrhizic acid, 6-gingerol and (2E,4E,8Z,10E)-N-isobutyl-2,4,8,10-dodecatetraenamide, which is newly identified in Asiasarum heterotropoides, were mostly higher in SCRTD than in SCRTM, which was related to the anti-inflammatory effect. From the iNOS inhibition test, it was found that SCRTD had a stronger anti-inflammatory effect than SCRTM. It was demonstrated that multicomponent interactions can be changed by the preparation method, and finally the anti-inflammatory effect in SCRT can be affected.

Immunomodulatory and morphophysiological effects of Rhipicephalus sanguineus s. l. (Acari: Ixodidae) salivary gland extracts

Rhipicephalus sanguineus s. l. is popularly known as the "brown dog tick" since dogs are its preferential hosts, but the species has been reported to parasitize other mammals, including humans, with significant medical-veterinary importance since it transmits several important pathogenic agents during the feeding period. The tick saliva is a complex mixture that has several functions, including the capability to modulate the hemostatic, inflammatory and immunologic systems of the host, allowing pathogens to settle. Despite knowledge about the immunosuppressive action of tick saliva, little is known about the mechanisms involved in this process and the morphophysiological effects caused by exposure to the salivary gland extract, taking into consideration the different periods of the glandular cycle. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze the in vitro effects of salivary gland extracts obtained from R. sanguineus s. l. females fed on host rabbits for two (SGE2 - Salivary Gland Extracts of 2 days) and four days (SGE4 - Salivary Gland Extracts of 4 days) on J774 cells (monocyte macrophage cell line) and verify the occurrence of morphological and immunomodulatory alterations in these cells when exposed to different concentrations of these extracts. The results showed that: (i) SGE2 and SGE4 at the concentration of 4 μg/mL presented cytotoxicity to the J774 cells exposed for 24 and 48 hours; (ii) SGE2 at the concentrations of 2 μg/mL(48-hour exposure) and 1 μg/mL (24-hour exposure) and SGE4 at the concentrations of 2 and 1 μg/mL (48-hour exposure) showed proinflammatory activity, confirmed by the increased secretion of NO and proinflammatory cytokine (IL-2), and the presence of morphological characteristics detected by microscopy; and (iii) SGE2 and SGE4 at the concentrations of 0.5 and 0.1 μg/mL had immunomodulatory activity, demonstrated by decreases in the secretion of NO and proinflammatory cytokines (IL2, IL-6 and TNF-α) and increase in the synthesis of IL-10, confirmed by the morphophysiological analysis. These unprecedented data are extremely relevant for future research to identify the processes involved in the ectoparasite-host relationship, as well to develop more efficient tick control strategies.

Antidepressant Effects of Rosemary Extracts Associate With Anti-inflammatory Effect and Rebalance of Gut Microbiota

It is currently believed that inflammation acts as a central part in the pathophysiology of depression. Rosemary extracts (RE), the crucial active constituents extracted from Rosmarinus officinalis Linn, have drawn wide concerns because of their potential for anti-inflammatory effects. However, no study has highlighted the antidepressant effects of RE on chronic restraint stress (CRS) mice, and the inflammatory mechanisms related to gut microbiome have not yet been elucidated. This study showed that depressive-like behaviors, gut microbiota dysbiosis, and activation of inflammatory reactions in the hippocampus and serum of CRS mice, as well as activation of inflammatory reactions in BV-2 microglia cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), could be attenuated by RE. We found that the pretreatment with RE increased the time in the center of open field test (OFT), and decreased immobility duration in tail suspension test (TST) as well as forced swimming test (FST). Furthermore, RE enhanced the sequences proportion of Lactobacillus and Firmicutes, and reduced the sequences proportion of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria in feces. Moreover, RE obviously suppressed protein expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, p-NF-κ B p65 and Iba1 in hippocampus, and elevated BDNF as well as p-AKT/AKT expression. Importantly, pre-incubation with RE protected microglia by alleviating protein expression of IL-1β, TNF-α and p-NF-κ B p65 induced by LPS. Additionally, RE downregulated the level of IL-1β and TNF-α in serum. In conclusion, this study showed the antidepressant effects of RE are mediated by anti-inflammatory effects in hippocampus, serum and BV-2 microglia as well as rebalancing gut microbiota.

Inhibition of LPS-induced inflammatory responses by Satureja hortensis extracts in J774.1 macrophages

Macrophages are among the main cells involved in generation of inflammation. To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Satureja hortensis (summer savory), lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated J774.1 macrophages were treated with various extracts, and the expression and release of various inflammatory molecules by macrophages were examined. We showed that dichloromethane and hexane extracts reduced nitric oxide (NO) production more efficiently than other extracts. Both extracts decreased gene expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) (<0.44 fold of control), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 (<0.29 fold), interleukin (IL)-1β (<0.41 fold), IL-6 (<0.25 fold) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (<0.2 fold). The extracts reduced IL-6 and IL-1β proteins production from macrophages. Surface intensity of expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 decreased to 845 ± 28.1 (dichloromethane) and 715 ± 48.6 (hexane) compared to the control (902 ± 73.1). These findings showed that Satureja hortensis, by influencing macrophages and related mediators, could contribute to reduction of inflammation and might be useful as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Anti-inflammatory activity of nanoemulsions of essential oil from Rosmarinus officinalis L.: in vitro and in zebrafish studies

The essential oil from Rosmarinus officinalis L. (OERO) has bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potency of nanoemulsions containing essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (NOERO, NECHA, NECULT, and NECOM) in vitro and in vivo. This study was accomplished in a quantitative format through tests with diphenyl picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), cellular antioxidant activity (CCA), determination of nitric oxide production, cellular viability and anti-inflammatory activity in zebrafish. OERO's were submitted to the analysis-coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which highlighted 1,8-cineol and camphor as major compounds. NOEROs were obtained by a low-energy method and presenting the medium size smaller than 200 nm. The efficiency of encapsulation by spectrometry and gas chromatographic analysis was 67.61 and 75.38%, respectively. In the CCA assay, all of the samples presented percentage values of inhibition similar to the quercetin pattern, indicating antioxidant activity. In the test for determination of NO·, all of the samples inhibited the production of NO· when compared to LPS, and NOEROS were more effective than OEROS to 5 µg/mL. In the cell viability assay, the cells remained viable after contact with the samples, demonstrating an absence of cytotoxicity. This study showed that all nanoemulsions (NECHA, NECULT, and NECOM) showed no toxicity to macrophages, besides demonstrating antioxidant activity and potentiation of the essential oil effect in the proliferation of viable fibroblasts. Nanoemulsions has also shown the ability to potentiate the anti-inflammatory action of essential oils by exerting immunomodulatory activity by inhibiting the production of the pro-inflammatory mediator nitric oxide. The results obtained with NECHA in zebrafish confirm the hypothesis that prominent terpenic compounds, alpha-pinene, 1,8-cineole, and camphor, became more available at the target sites, inhibiting the inflammatory process in this animal species.

Selenium nanoparticles with low-level ionizing radiation exposure ameliorate nicotine-induced inflammatory impairment in rat kidney

Occupational exposure to low-level ionizing radiation (<1 Gy) was shown to enhance cell protection via attenuating an established inflammatory process. Nicotine, a major toxic component of cigarette smoke, is responsible for smoking-mediated renal dysfunction. The present study was therefore aimed to investigate the protective impact of ginger Zingiber officinale selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) with whole-body low-dose gamma radiation (γ-R) against nicotine-induced nephrotoxicity in male albino rats. Nicotine intoxication was induced with 0.5 mg/kg BW. Rats received 0.1 mg SeNPs/kg BW by gastric gavage concomitant with 0.5 Gy γ-R over 4 weeks. Characterization studies showed the formation of spherical SeNPs with a size ranged from 10 to 30 nm in diameter with a thin film encapsulating the nanoballs. Our data revealed that nicotine induced renal dysfunction manifested by significant abnormal levels of kidney function markers (creatinine, urea, sodium and potassium) accompanied by increased levels of malondialdehyde along with a reduction in glutathione level, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase activities. It is worthy to note that nicotine toxicity induced significant increments in serum inflammatory markers: tumor necrosis factor-α and vascular cell adhesion protein 1. Western blotting showed marked significant elevation in caspase-3 activities against nicotine. The mRNA gene expression of inducible cyclooxygenase-2 gene was highly increased with nicotine intoxication while that of cyclooxygenase-1 did not show any changes. Interestingly, our data demonstrated that SeNPs in synergistic interaction with γ-R are efficacious control against nicotine-induced nephrotoxicity via anti-oxidant-mediated anti-inflammatory activities. Thus, it is tempting to recommend dietary approaches with ginger SeNPs for smokers at workplaces exposed occupationally and regularly to low-level ionizing radiation.

Downregulation of L-arginine metabolism in dendritic cells induces tolerance to exogenous antigen

Dendritic cells (DC) are potential tools for therapeutic applications and several strategies to generate tolerogenic DCs are under investigation. When activated by cytokines and microbial products, DCs express mediators that modulate immune responses. In this regard, the metabolites generated by the activities of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase in DCs seem to play important roles. Here, we evaluated the effects of adoptive transfer of DCs generated in vitro from bone marrow precursors (BMDC) modulated with L-NAME (Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) and NOHA (NG-Hydroxy-L-arginine), inhibitors of iNOS and arginase, respectively, upon the immune response of the wild type (BALB/c) and OVA-TCR transgenic (DO11.10) mice. The modulation with L-NAME increased CD86 expression in BMDC, whereas treatment with NOHA increased both CD80 and CD86 expression. Adoptive transfer of either L-NAME- or NOHA-modulated BMDCs to BALB/c mice reduced the plasma levels of ovalbumin-specific antibody as well as proliferation and cytokine secretion in cultures of spleen cells in comparison adoptive transfer of non-modulated DCs. Conversely, transfer of both modulated and non-modulated BMDCs had no effect on immune response of DO11.10 mice. Together, these results show that the treatment with iNOS and Arg inhibitors leads to increased expression of co-stimulatory molecules in DCs, and provides evidences that L-arginine metabolism may be an important therapeutic target for modulating immune responses in inflammatory disorders.