Zingerone alleviates the delayed ventricular repolarization and AV conduction in diabetes: Effect on cardiac fibrosis and inflammation

Application of Compounds with Anti-Cardiac Fibrosis Activity: A Review

Coronary heart disease, hypertension, myocarditis, and valvular disease cause myocardial fibrosis, leading to heart enlargement, heart failure, heart rate failure, arrhythmia, and premature ventricular beat, even defibrillation can increase the risk of sudden death. Although cardiac fibrosis is common and widespread, there are still no effective drugs to provide adequate clinical intervention for cardiac fibrosis. In this review article, we classify the compounds for treating cardiac fibrosis into natural products, synthetic compounds, and patent drugs according to their sources. Additionally, the structures, activities and signaling pathways of these compounds are discussed. This review provides insight and could provide a reference for the design of new anti-cardiac fibrosis compounds and the new use of older drugs.

Sustained linagliptin administration: superior glycemic control and less pancreatic injury in diabetic rats

While linagliptin is the most potent dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor, its use is limited due to poor bioavailability and the potential risk of pancreatic injury. Here, we investigated whether the sustained weekly administration of linagliptin could provide better effect compared to frequent daily oral administration. Type 2 diabetes was induced by feeding rats a high fructose/fat/salt diet followed by STZ injection. Compared to the partial glycemic control achieved with daily oral linagliptin, a weekly subcutaneous injection containing about one-fourth of the oral dose produced superior glycemic control, as evidenced by the 4-week postprandial glucose follow-up and oral glucose tolerance test. This was confirmed by the significant increase in serum insulin in the case of the sustained linagliptin administration. Higher levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine adiponectin and lower triglyceride levels were observed after sustained linagliptin administration compared with daily oral linagliptin. In addition, sustained linagliptin displayed a significant increase in β-cells' insulin immunoreactivity when compared with daily linagliptin. More reduction in collagen deposition and caspase-3 immunoreactivity in pancreatic tissue were observed in sustained linagliptin compared with oral linagliptin. In conclusion, sustained linagliptin administration provided superior glycemic control, which seems to be mediated by more reduction in pancreatic injury.

Promising influences of zingerone against natural and chemical toxins: A comprehensive and mechanistic review

Zingerone is a flavor phytochemical present in ginger, a flowering plant belonging to the Zingiberaceae family used as a condiment and herbal remedy. It possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties and also exhibits protective effects against radiation, chemicals, biological toxins, and oxidative stress. The current comprehensive literature review was performed in order to assess the therapeutical and protective properties of zingerone against various chemical and natural toxins by considering the mechanisms of action. Extensive searches were performed on Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases. Zingerone lessens oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative DNA damage by increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX). It prevents alginate production, which increases the cell's susceptibility to macrophages, serum, and antibiotics and dramatically lowers the generation of proinflammatory cytokines brought on by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cytokine production, MAPK, and NF-κB activation are all inhibited dose-dependently by zingerone. Zingerone also reduces 8-OHdG over-expression in the liver tissue and the expression of NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IFN-γ, IL-17, IL-6, COX-2, TNF-α, and iNOS mRNA level), decreases macrophage inflammatory protein cytokines and eliminates free radicals. It also suppresses matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 during tumor progression, showing its anti-angiogenic activity. Strong radioprotective properties of zingerone are demonstrated against radiation-induced toxicity. The authors hope this review gives researchers some insight into conducting novel clinical and preclinical studies on pharmaceutical applications and the efficiency of zingerone in cancer treatment, and drug adverse effects.

Promising Therapeutic Treatments for Cardiac Fibrosis: Herbal Plants and Their Extracts

Cardiac fibrosis is closely associated with multiple heart diseases, which are a prominent health issue in the global world. Neurohormones and cytokines play indispensable roles in cardiac fibrosis. Many signaling pathways participate in cardiac fibrosis as well. Cardiac fibrosis is due to impaired degradation of collagen and impaired fibroblast activation, and collagen accumulation results in increasing heart stiffness and inharmonious activity, leading to structure alterations and finally cardiac function decline. Herbal plants have been applied in traditional medicines for thousands of years. Because of their naturality, they have attracted much attention for use in resisting cardiac fibrosis in recent years. This review sheds light on several extracts from herbal plants, which are promising therapeutics for reversing cardiac fibrosis.

Zingerone reduces sodium arsenite-induced nephrotoxicity by regulating oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis and histopathological changes

Arsenic is widely available in the environment and arsenic toxicity is a public health problem of serious concern worldwide. Zingerone is a promising phytochemical with various pharmacological effects. In this study, the potential protective effect of zingerone against sodium arsenite (NaAsO₂, SA) induced nephrotoxicity was investigated. Thirty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five different groups as control, zingerone, SA, SA + zingerone 25, SA + zingerone 50. SA was administered alone at a dose of 10 mg/kg for 14 days or given 30 min before zingerone (25 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg) treatment. At the end of the experiment, the kidney tissues was examined biochemically, molecularly and microscopically. SA toxicity was associated with increased malondialdehyde level, whereas glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were decreased. Administration of SA caused inflammation in the kidney tissue by upregulation of NF-κB and IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, iNOS, COX-2, MAPK14, MAPK15, JNK. SA administration caused apoptosis in the kidney by upregulating caspase-3 and Bax levels and downregulating Bcl-2, and autophagy by activating beclin-1. Also, SA administration showed a suppressive effect on AKT2 and FOXO1 mRNA transcript levels. All these factors impair kidney function and increase creatinine and urea levels, resulting in pathological changes and a decrease in nephrin. Treatment with zingerone at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg significantly reduced oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis and autophagy in kidney tissue. In addition, it was confirmed by histological evaluation as well as serum urea and creatinine levels that kidney damage due to SA toxicity can be modulated by zingerone administration.

A Nano-Pharmaceutical Formula of Quercetin Protects from Cardiovascular Complications Associated with Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is closely associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases. We recently developed a nano-preparation of the flavonoid quercetin (QU) in a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS). The latter comprised a mixture composed of pumpkin seed oil, D-α-Tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1,000 succinate and polyethylene glycol. The QU SNEDDS preparations exhibited a considerably higher bioavailability compared with the standard quercetin suspension. Here, we investigated whether the quercetin loaded SNEDDS could offer better protection compared with the standard formulation against cardiovascular complications of MetS in rats. MetS was induced by high fructose, high salt and high fat diet for 12 weeks while the nano-preparation or the standard suspension of quercetin was orally administered for the last 6 weeks. Compared to little effect for the standard quercetin suspension (MQ), the treatment of MetS rats with the quercetin loaded SNEDDS (MNQ) virtually abolished the depressant effect of MetS on contractility index (control, 114 ± 4; MetS, 92 ± 3; MQ, 100 ± 2; MNQ, 114 ± 6 1/s) and rate of rise in left ventricular pressure (dP/dtmax) (control, 8,171 ± 274; MetS, 6,664 ± 135; MQ, 6,776 ± 108; MNQ, 7,498 ± 303 mmHg/s). Likewise, the prolongation by MetS of electrocardiographic markers of arrhythmogenesis (QTc, JT, and Tpeak-to-Tend intervals) and concomitant rises in dicrotic notch pressure were preferentially reversed by quercetin nano-preparation. On the other hand, the rises in the isovolumic relaxation constant (Tau, denotes diastolic dysfunction), blood pressure, pulse pressure, and difference between systolic and dicrotic pressure (SDP difference) were equally improved by the two preparations of quercetin. Additionally, no differences were noted in the ability of the two quercetin preparations in abrogating the elevated oxidative (MDA) and inflammatory (TNFα) markers in cardiac tissues of MetS rats. Histopathological, microscopical signs of necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and vascular congestion in MetS hearts were more markedly inhibited by the nano-preparation, compared with the standard preparation of quercetin. In conclusion, the quercetin loaded SNEDDS is evidently more advantageous than the standard preparation of the drug in alleviating functional and histopathological manifestations of cardiac damage incited by MetS.

Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System Loaded with Psiadia punctulata Major Metabolites for Hypertensive Emergencies: Effect on Hemodynamics and Cardiac Conductance

Vasodilators are an important class of antihypertensive agents. However, they have limited clinical use due to the reflex tachycardia associated with their use which masks most of its antihypertensive effect and raises cardiac risk. Chemical investigation of Psiadia punctulata afforded five major methoxylated flavonoids (1–5) three of which (1, 4, and 5) showed vasodilator activity. Linoleic acid-based self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) was utilized to develop intravenous (IV) formulations that contain compounds 1, 4, or 5. The antihypertensive effect of the prepared SNEDDS formulations, loaded with each of the vasodilator compounds, was tested in the angiotensin-induced rat model of hypertension. Rats were subjected to real-time recording of blood hemodynamics and surface Electrocardiogram (ECG) while the pharmaceutical formulations were individually slowly injected in cumulative doses. Among the tested formulations, only that contains umuhengerin (1) and 5,3′-dihydroxy-6,7,4′,5′-tetramethoxyflavone (5) showed potent antihypertensive effects. Low IV doses, from the prepared SNEDDS, containing either compound 1 or 5 showed a marked reduction in the elevated systolic blood pressure by 10 mmHg at 12 μg/kg and by more than 20 mmHg at 36 μg/kg. The developed SNEDDS formulation containing either compound 1 or 5 significantly reduced the elevated diastolic, pulse pressure, dicrotic notch pressure, and the systolic–dicrotic notch pressure difference. Moreover, both formulations decreased the ejection duration and increased the non-ejection duration while they did not affect the time to peak. Both formulations did not affect the AV conduction as appear from the lack of effect on p duration and PR intervals. Similarly, they did not affect the ventricular repolarization as no effect on QTc or JT interval. Both formulations decreased the R wave amplitude but increased the T wave amplitude. In conclusion, the careful selection of linoleic acid for the development of SNEDDS formulation rescues the vasodilating effect of P. punctulata compounds from being masked by the reflex tachycardia that is commonly associated with the decrease in peripheral resistance by most vasodilators. The prepared SNEDDS formulation could be suggested as an effective medication in the treatment of hypertensive emergencies, after clinical evaluation.

Trimetazidine improved adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy by downregulating TNF-α, BAX, and VEGF immunoexpression via an antioxidant mechanism

Few studies have reported a prophylactic effect of the anti-ischemic trimetazidine (TRI) against cardiac toxicity caused by adriamycin (ADR). However, the mechanism of action of TRI remained incomplete. The cardioprotective mechanism(s) of TRI against ADR-induced cardiotoxicity was investigated in this study. Cardiotoxicity was induced in three groups of Wistar rats by injecting a single dose of ADR (10 mg/kg, i.p.). TRI was administered in two doses regimen, low (L) (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and high (H) (10 mg/kg, i.p.). The results of the study showed that both TRI L and H doses improved cardiac enzymes and pathology, while only the TRI H dose improved the electrocardiogram. Both TRI L and H doses decreased malondialdehyde and increased reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase. Only TRI H dose increased glutathione peroxidase and catalase. Both TRI L and H doses decreased interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Both TRI L and H doses downregulated TNF-α, BAX, and vascular endothelial growth factor cardiac protein expression. The data obtained in this study provided evidence that TRI opposed ADR-induced cardiotoxicity. The mechanism could be due to improved antioxidant levels as well as inhibition of inflammation and programmed cell death.

Protective effects of zingerone on high cholesterol diet-induced atherosclerosis through lipid regulatory signaling pathway

AIM

A high cholesterol diet (HCD) is known to cause metabolic dysregulation, oxidative stress, cardiovascular diseases and atherogenesis. Zingerone is a pharmacologically active component of dry ginger. Zingerone has been shown to have a wide range of pharmacological properties, including scavenging free radicals, high antioxidant activity, suppressing lipid peroxidation and anti-inflammatory. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Zingerone on HCD-induced atherosclerosis in rats.

METHODS

Animals were divided into four categories (n = 6). Group I: normal control, Group II: zingerone control (20 mg/kg b.wt.), group III: HCD-induced atherosclerosis, Group IV: HCD + zingerone, respectively, for 8 weeks.

RESULTS

The HCD-fed rats resulted in a significant increase in an atherosclerotic lesion, lipid peroxidation, lipid profile, high-density lipoprotein concentration, cardiac markers, body weight, reduced antioxidant status, and displayed atherosclerosis. These findings were conventional by up-regulated expression of lipid regulatory genes like sterol-regulatory-element-binding protein-c (SREBP-c), fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACS), liver X receptor-alpha (LXR-α), and down-regulated expression of acetyl-CoA oxidase (ACO), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-α) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 (CPT-1) in HCD-fed rats. These significant changes were observed in the zingerone-treated rats for the last 4 weeks.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that zingerone reduced atherosclerosis by modulated the atherosclerotic lesion, lipid profile, antioxidant status and lipid regulatory gene expression in HCD-fed rats.

Ginger (Zingiber Officinale Roscoe) Extract Protects the Heart Against Inflammation and Fibrosis in Diabetic Rats

BACKGROUND

Fibrosis and inflammation in the heart of patients with diabetes mellitus alongside increased production of free radicals and collagen are together known as diabetic cardiomyopathy. Ginger rhizome has antidiabetic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, we investigated the effect of ginger extract on diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

METHODS

Animals were divided into 7 groups: control; diabetic; diabetic treated with different doses of ginger extract of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg; metformin (200 mg/kg); and metformin-valsartan (200 and 30 mg/kg, respectively). Serum levels of glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase-muscle/brain were measured. Fibrosis and inflammation were determined by histologic assessment. Gene expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, TGF-β3 and angiotensin II type 1 receptor was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction in heart tissue.

RESULTS

Serum glucose level in all treated groups, except for the ginger extract 100-mg/kg group, was significantly lower than in the diabetic group. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase-muscle/brain were significantly reduced in all treated groups compared with the diabetic group. In the study of fibrosis, collagen amount in the heart tissue of all treated groups, except the ginger extract 100-mg/kg group, was significantly lower than in the diabetic group. Inflammatory cell infiltrates were decreased, and disarrangement was improved in cardiac tissues of all treated groups compared with the diabetic group. Expression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor and TGF-β1 and TGF-β3 genes in all treated groups downregulated compared with the diabetic group.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment by ginger extract reduced myocardial fibrosis and inflammation in the course of diabetic cardiomyopathy, possibly through regulation of the expression of genes involved in the SMAD/TGF-β pathway.

Zingerone ameliorates oxidative stress and inflammation in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis: modulation of the expression of TGF-β1 and iNOS

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an interstitial lung disease with limited treatment options. Zingerone found in ginger (Zingiber officinale L.) has many pharmacological effects, especially antiinflammatory and antioxidant activity. However, the effect of zingerone on pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is not fully known. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of zingerone on bleomycin (BLM)-induced PF and its underlying mechanisms. Wistar-albino rats were given single dose of BLM (5 mg/kg, intratracheal) or vehicle (saline). In treatment groups, zingerone (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered orally for 14 days after BLM administration. Rats and lung tissue were weighed to determine lung index. Antioxidant, antiinflammatory effects, and hydroxyproline content of zingerone were determined by ELISA method. Pulmonary inflammation, collagen deposition, and fibrosis score were determined with Hematoxylin-Eosin (HxE) and Masson's trichrome staining. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expressions were detected immunohistochemically. BLM administration increased lipid peroxidation (MDA) and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. In addition, BLM caused increased levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and accumulation of collagen bundles. Zingerone administration decreased collagen accumulation, TNF-α and IL-1β levels, MDA level, TGF-β1, and iNOS expression and increased SOD and GPx activity. Histopathological findings supported the results. These results show that zingerone (50 and 100 mg/kg) at both doses significantly contributes to healing of PF by improving inflammation, oxidative stress, and histopathological alterations and by affecting TGF-β1 and iNOS signaling pathways.

Zingerone attenuates aortic banding-induced cardiac remodelling via activating the eNOS/Nrf2 pathway

Cardiac remodelling refers to a series of changes in the size, shape, wall thickness and tissue structure of the ventricle because of myocardial injury or increased pressure load. Studies have shown that cardiac remodelling plays a significant role in the development of heart failure. Zingerone, a monomer component extracted from ginger, has been proven to possess various properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antidiabetic properties. As oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to acute and chronic myocardial injury, we explored the role of zingerone in cardiac remodelling. Mice were subjected to aortic banding (AB) or sham surgery and then received intragastric administration of zingerone or saline for 25 days. In vitro, neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) were treated with zingerone (50 and 250 μmol/L) when challenged with phenylephrine (PE). We observed that zingerone effectively suppressed cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, oxidative stress and inflammation. Mechanistically, Zingerone enhanced the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) activation via increasing the phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) production. Additionally, we used Nrf2-knockout (KO) and eNOS-KO mice and found that Nrf2 or eNOS deficiency counteracts these cardioprotective effects of zingerone in vivo. Together, we concluded that zingerone may be a potent treatment for cardiac remodelling that suppresses oxidative stress via the eNOS/Nrf2 pathway.

Zingerone (4-(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl) butan-2-one) protects against alloxan-induced diabetes via alleviation of oxidative stress and inflammation: Probable role of NF-kB activation

Diabetes is considered as the most common metabolic disease affecting millions of people all around the world. Use of natural herbal medicines can be effective in treating diabetes. Zingerone (4-(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl) butan-2-one) a polyphenolic alkanone extracted from ginger has a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties and thus can be used as a promising candidate against various ailments. In the current study we aimed at demonstrating the protective effect of zingerone against diabetes mellitus and elucidating its possible mechanism. Five groups of animals (I-V) were made with ten animals each. Group I (control) was given normal saline orally. Group II (diabetic positive control) was given alloxan at the dose rate of 100 mg/kg bwt once. Group III and IV was given alloxan once at the dose rate of 100 mg/kg bwt. and received oral treatment of zingerone at a dose rate of 50 and 100 mg/kg bwt respectively daily for 21 days. Group V was given alloxan at the dose of 100 mg/kg bwt. and was treated with standard drug glibenclamide at the dose rate of 4.5 mg/kg bwt. daily for 21 days. According to our findings we confirmed that zingerone restrained the alloxan induced oxidative stress by increasing the activity of reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and reducing the peroxidative damage. We also confirmed that zingerone suppressed the level of redox sensitive transcription factor NFκB and downregulated other downstream inflammatory cytokines like interleukins (IL1-β IL-2, IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Moreover, the experimental findings suggested that zingerone improved the insulin levels. Taken together our results indicated that zingerone effectively ameliorated the diabetes induced complications which provide a strong theoretical basis for zingerone to be used clinically for treatment of diabetes.