Biological Effects of the Herbal Plant-Derived Phytoestrogen Bavachin in Primary Rat Chondrocytes

Bavachin alleviates diabetic nephropathy in db/db mice by inhibition of oxidative stress and improvement of mitochondria function

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major complication of diabetes mellitus. Psoralea corylifolia L. seed (PCS) is a traditional medicine effective against various diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of bavachin, the major active component of PCS, on DN in db/db mice. Bavachin (10 mg/kg/day) was administered orally to 12-week-old male db/db mice for 6 wk. For in vitro experiments, SV40 MES13 cells were treated with bavachin in the presence of 25 mM glucose. Food and water intake and urine mass were significantly increased in db/db mice compared to wild-type CON mice, but bavachin administration significantly reduced these increases. Urinary microalbumin, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine clearance which were significantly increased in db/db mice, were also decreased by bavachin administration. Glomerular area and collagen deposition in the kidney were significantly decreased in db/db mice following bavachin administration. Increased renal levels of fibrotic factors, fibronectin, COL1A1, and α-SMA, were reduced following bavachin administration. Protein expressions of antioxidant enzymes, namely SOD2, catalase, and HO-1, and mitochondrial function-related factors, namely SIRT1, PGC1α, Nrf1, and mtTFA, were reduced in the kidney tissues of db/db mice compared to wild-type CON mice, and bavachin administration upregulated these protein expressions. In vitro studies also showed that bavachin decreases mitochondria ROS production, increases the expression of PGC-1α and SIRT1, and decreases the expression of α-SMA in high glucose-treated SV40 MES13 cells. Based on these results, bavachin improved DN by inhibiting oxidative stress and enhancing mitochondrial function.

The Role of Nutraceuticals in Osteoarthritis Prevention and Treatment: Focus on n-3 PUFAs

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease caused by joint degeneration with massive cartilage loss, and obesity is among the risk factors for its onset, though the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the disease and better therapeutic approach still remain to be assessed. In recent years, several nutraceutical interventions have been investigated in order to define better solutions for preventing and treating OA. Among them, polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) appear to represent potential candidates in counteracting OA and its consequences, due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and chondroinductive effects. PUFAs have been found to counteract the onset and progression of OA by reducing bone and cartilage destruction, inhibiting proinflammatory cytokine release, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and the NF-κB pathway's activation. Moreover, a diet rich in n-3 PUFAs and their derivatives (maresins and resolvins) demonstrates beneficial effects on associated pain reduction. Finally, it has been shown that together with the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids, their antiapoptotic and antiangiogenic effects contribute in reducing OA development. The present review is aimed at assessing evidence suggesting the potential benefit of nutraceutical supplementation with PUFAs in OA management according to their efficacy in targeting relevant pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for inflammation and joint destruction processes, and this may represent a novel and potentially useful approach in OA prevention and treatment. For that purpose, a PubMed literature survey was conducted with a focus on some in vitro and in vivo studies and clinical trials from 2015 to 2020.

Research Progress on the Antiosteoarthritic Mechanism of Action of Natural Products

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a clinical joint degenerative disease, the pathogenic factors of which include age, obesity, and mechanical injury. Its main pathological features include cartilage loss, narrowing of joint space, and osteophyte formation. At present, there are a variety of treatment methods for OA. Natural products, which are gradually being applied in the treatment of OA, are advantageous as they present with low toxicity and low costs and act on multiple targets.

Methods

The terms “natural products,” “osteoarthritis,” and “chondrocytes” were searched in PubMed to screen the related literature in the recent 10 years.

Results

We comprehensively introduced 62 published papers on 48 natural products involving 6, 3, 5, 12, 4, and 5 kinds of terpenoids, polysaccharides, polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, and saponins, respectively (and others).

Conclusion

The mechanisms of their anti-OA action mainly involve reducing the production of inflammatory factors, reducing oxidative stress, regulating the metabolism of chondrocytes, promoting the proliferation of chondrocytes, or inhibiting chondrocyte apoptosis. This article summarizes the anti-OA activity of natural products in the last 10 years and provides candidate monomers for further study for use in OA treatment.

Bavachin suppresses human placental choriocarcinoma cells by targeting electron transport chain complexes and mitochondrial dysfunction

Phytoestrogens are naturally derived estrogen-like therapeutic compounds that have long been studied for their role as anti-cancer agents and supplements during chemotherapy. Bavachin is a therapeutic phytoestrogen used to treat cancer, inflammation, and diabetes mellitus. Though the therapeutic effects of bavachin on various diseases have been explored, its anti-cancer effects and related mechanisms in human placental choriocarcinoma remain unknown. This is the first study to identify the anti-cancer potential of bavachin on human placental choriocarcinoma cell lines JEG3 and JAR. Placental mitochondria support the elevated energy production required for placental development, through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Based on this concept, we hypothesized that mitochondrial targeting by bavachin may contribute to anti-cancer activities in high-OXPHOS subtypes of cancer such as placental choriocarcinoma. Apoptosis and caspase activities were increased by bavachin in placental choriocarcinoma cells. Bavachin altered metabolic phenotypes by regulating electron transport chain complex and OXPHOS to suppress choriocarcinoma cell proliferation. It also led to calcium disruption and endoplasmic reticulum stress accompanied by mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization. It showed synergistic anti-cancer effects with paclitaxel on placental choriocarcinoma cells. Taken together, we suggest that bavachin has therapeutic potential against placental choriocarcinoma and may be used to counter paclitaxel-induced toxicity.

Effects and Mechanisms of Five Psoralea Prenylflavonoids on Aging-Related Diseases

During the aging process, senescent cells gradually accumulate in the organs; they secrete proinflammatory cytokines and other factors, collectively known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). SASP secretions contribute to “inflammaging,” which is a state of chronic, systemic, sterility, low-grade inflammatory microenvironment and a key risk factor in the development of aging-related diseases. Fructus psoraleae is a traditional Chinese medical herb best known for delaying aging and treating osteoporosis. Prenylflavonoids from fructus psoraleae are the main bioactive compounds responsible for its pharmacological applications, such as beaching, bavachinin, bavachalcone, isobavachalcone, and neobavaisoflavone. In previous decades, there have been some promising studies on the pharmacology of fructus psoraleae. Here, we focus on the anti-inflammatory and antiaging diseases of five psoralea prenylflavonoids, such as cardiovascular protection, diabetes and obesity intervention, neuroprotection, and osteoporosis, and discuss the mechanism of these active ingredients for better understanding the material basis and drug application of fructus psoraleae in Chinese medicine.

Genus Psoralea: A review of the traditional and modern uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The genus Psoralea (Fabaceae) harbours 105 accepted species that are extensively used by local peoples and medicinal practitioners of China, India, and other countries for treatment of tooth decay, psoriasis, leucoderma, leprosy, kidney problems, tuberculosis, indigestion, constipation and impotence. Presently, pharmacological research reports are available on only few species namely Bituminaria bituminosa (Syn: P. bituminosa), P. canescens, P. corylifolia, P. esculenta, P. plicata and P. glandulosa which are valued for their chemical constituents and traditional uses.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review article provides explicit information on traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of selected Psoralea species. The possible trends and perspectives for future research on these plants are also discussed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An extensive and systematic review of the extant literature was carried out, and the data under various sections were identified using a computerized bibliographic search via the PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar, CAB Abstracts, MEDLINE, EMBASE, INMEDPLAN, NATTS as well as several websites.

KEY FINDINGS

A total of 291 bioactive compounds from 06 species of genus Psoralea have been isolated and characterized. However, P. bituminosa alone possess nearly 150 compounds. These bioactive compounds belong to different chemical classes, including flavonoids, coumarins, furanocoumarins, chalcones, quinines, terpenoids and some others due to which these species exhibit significant anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-helmintic, anti-diabetic, diuretic, hepatoprotective, anti-cancer and anti-tumor activities. P. corylifolia L. (Babchi), a Chinese traditional medicinal plant has been used in traditional medicine for many decades for its healing properties against numerous skin diseases such as leprosy, psoriasis and leucoderma.

CONCLUSIONS

The in vitro studies and in vivo models have provided a simple bio-scientific justification for various ethnopharmacological uses of Psoralea species. From the toxicological perspective, the root, leaf, and seed extracts and their preparations have been proven to be safe when consumed in the recommended doses. But, meticulous studies on the pharmaceutical standardization, mode of action of the active constituents, and sustainable conservation of Psoralea species are needed, to meet the growing demands of the pharmaceutical industries, and to fully exploit their preventive and therapeutic potentials.

Coumestrol Counteracts Interleukin-1β-Induced Catabolic Effects by Suppressing Inflammation in Primary Rat Chondrocytes

In the present study, we investigated the anti-catabolic effects of coumestrol, a phytoestrogen derived from herbal plants, against interleukin-1β-induced cartilage degeneration in primary rat chondrocytes and articular cartilage. Coumestrol did not affect the viability of human normal oral keratinocytes and primary rat chondrocytes treated for 24 h and 21 days, respectively. Although coumestrol did not significantly increase the proteoglycan contents in long-term culture, it abolished the interleukin-1β-induced loss of proteoglycans in primary rat chondrocytes and knee articular cartilage. Furthermore, coumestrol suppressed the expression of matrix-degrading enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinase-13, -3, and -1 in primary rat chondrocytes stimulated with interleukin-1β. Moreover, the expression of catabolic factors such as nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, prostaglandin E₂, and inflammatory cytokines in interleukin-1β-stimulated primary rat chondrocytes was suppressed by coumestrol. In summary, these results indicate that coumestrol counteracts the catabolic effects induced by interleukin-1β through the suppression of inflammation. Therefore, based on its biological activity and safety profile, coumestrol could be used as a potential anti-catabolic biomaterial for osteoarthritis.

Effects of naturally occurring flavonoids on ferroportin expression in the spleen in iron deficiency anemia in vivo

Polyphenols with iron supplement exert variable effects on key players of iron homeostasis in iron deficiency anemia.

Biochanin-A antagonizes the interleukin-1β-induced catabolic inflammation through the modulation of NFκB cellular signaling in primary rat chondrocytes

Biochanin-A, a phytoestrogen derived from herbal plants, protected from the IL-1β-induced loss of proteoglycans through the suppression of matrix degrading enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13, MMP-3, MMP-1, and ADAMTS-5 in primary rat chondrocytes and the knee articular cartilage. It also suppressed the expression of IL-1β-induced catabolic factors such as nitric oxide synthase 2, cyclooxygenase-2, prostaglandin E2, and inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, biochanin-A suppressed the IL-1β-induced phosphorylation of NFκB, and inhibited its nuclear translocation in primary rat chondrocytes. These results indicate that biochanin-A antagonizes the IL-1β-induced catabolic effects through its anti-inflammatory activity that involves the modulation of NFκB signaling.