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El-Hashim AZ, Khajah MA, Orabi KY, Balakrishnan S, Sary HG, Barakat AM. Treatment with onion bulb extract both prevents and reverses allergic inflammation in a murine model of asthma. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2024; 62:326-340. [PMID: 38584568 PMCID: PMC11003327 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2024.2335187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT Asthma presents a global health challenge. The main pharmacotherapy is synthetic chemicals and biological-based drugs that are costly, and have significant side effects. In contrast, use of natural products, such as onion (Allium cepa L., Amaryllidaceae) in the treatment of airway diseases has increased world-wide because of their perceived efficacy and little safety concerns. However, their pharmacological actions remain largely uncharacterized. OBJECTIVE We investigated whether onion bulb extract (OBE) can (1) reverse established asthma phenotype (therapeutic treatment) and/or (2) prevent the development of the asthma phenotype, if given before the immunization process (preventative treatment). MATERIALS AND METHODS Six groups of male Balb/c mice were established for the therapeutic (21 days) and five groups for the preventative (19 days) treatment protocols; including PBS and house dust mite (HDM)-challenged mice treated with vehicle or OBE (30, 60, and 100 mg/kg/i.p.). Airways inflammation was determined using cytology, histology, immunofluorescence, Western blot, and serum IgE. RESULTS Therapeutic (60 mg/kg/i.p.) and preventative (100 mg/kg/i.p.) OBE treatment resulted in down-regulation of HDM-induced airway cellular influx, histopathological changes and the increase in expression of pro-inflammatory signaling pathway EGFR, ERK1/2, AKT, pro-inflammatory cytokines and serum IgE. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Our data show that OBE is an effective anti-inflammatory agent with both therapeutic and preventative anti-asthma effects. These findings imply that onion/OBE may be used as an adjunct therapeutic agent in established asthma and/or to prevent development of allergic asthma. However, further studies to identify the active constituents, and demonstrate proof-of-concept in humans are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Z. El-Hashim
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Maitham A. Khajah
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Khaled Y. Orabi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Sowmya Balakrishnan
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Hanan G. Sary
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Ahmad M. Barakat
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
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Elegbeleye JA, Krishnamoorthy S, Bamidele OP, Adeyanju AA, Adebowale OJ, Agbemavor WSK. Health-promoting foods and food crops of West-Africa origin: The bioactive compounds and immunomodulating potential. J Food Biochem 2022; 46:e14331. [PMID: 36448596 DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.14331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
The rural communities of the sub-Sahara regions in Africa are rich in diverse indigenous culinary knowledge and foods, food crops, and condiments such as roots/tubers, cereal, legumes/pulses, locust beans, and green leafy vegetables. These food crops are rich in micronutrients and phytochemicals, which have the potentials to address hidden hunger as well as promote health when consumed. Some examples of these are fermented foods such as ogi and plants such as Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf), Zingiber officinales (garlic), Hibiscus sabdariffa (Roselle), and condiments. Food crops from West Africa contain numerous bioactive substances such as saponins, alkaloids, tannins, phenolics, flavonoids, and monoterpenoid chemicals among others. These bioresources have proven biological and pharmacological activities due to diverse mechanisms of action such as immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and antioxidant activities which made them suitable as candidates for nutraceuticals and pharma foods. This review seeks to explore the different processes such as fermentation applied during food preparation and food crops of West-African origin with health-promoting benefits. The different bioactive compounds present in such food or food crops are discussed extensively as well as the diverse application, especially regarding respiratory diseases. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The plants and herbs summarized here are more easily accessible and affordable by therapists and others having a passion for promising medicinal properties of African-origin plants.The mechanisms and unique metabolic potentials of African food crops discussed in this article will promote their applicability as a template molecule for novel drug discoveries in treatment strategies for emerging diseases. This compilation of antiviral plants will help clinicians and researchers bring new preventive strategies in combating COVID-19 like viral diseases, ultimately saving millions of affected people.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Srinivasan Krishnamoorthy
- Department of Technology Dissemination, National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, Thanjavur (NIFTEM-T), Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Adeyemi A Adeyanju
- Department of Food Science and Microbiology, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
| | | | - Wisdom Selorm Kofi Agbemavor
- Radiation Technology Centre, Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Legon Accra, Ghana
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Zhao XX, Lin FJ, Li H, Li HB, Wu DT, Geng F, Ma W, Wang Y, Miao BH, Gan RY. Recent Advances in Bioactive Compounds, Health Functions, and Safety Concerns of Onion ( Allium cepa L.). Front Nutr 2021; 8:669805. [PMID: 34368207 PMCID: PMC8339303 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.669805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Onion (Allium cepa L.) is a common vegetable, widely consumed all over the world. Onion contains diverse phytochemicals, including organosulfur compounds, phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, and saponins. The phenolic and sulfur-containing compounds, including onionin A, cysteine sulfoxides, quercetin, and quercetin glucosides, are the major bioactive constituents of onion. Accumulated studies have revealed that onion and its bioactive compounds possess various health functions, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, anticancer, cardiovascular protective, neuroprotective, hepatorenal protective, respiratory protective, digestive system protective, reproductive protective, and immunomodulatory properties. Herein, the main bioactive compounds in onion are summarized, followed by intensively discussing its major health functions as well as relevant molecular mechanisms. Moreover, the potential safety concerns about onion contamination and the ways to mitigate these issues are also discussed. We hope that this paper can attract broader attention to onion and its bioactive compounds, which are promising ingredients in the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals for preventing and managing certain chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Xin Zhao
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, China
- Chengdu National Agricultural Science and Technology Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Fang-Jun Lin
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Hang Li
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Hua-Bin Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition, and Health, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ding-Tao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), Sichuan Engineering and Technology Research Center of Coarse Cereal Industralization, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fang Geng
- Key Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), Sichuan Engineering and Technology Research Center of Coarse Cereal Industralization, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Ma
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, China
- Chengdu National Agricultural Science and Technology Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, China
- Chengdu National Agricultural Science and Technology Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Bao-He Miao
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, China
- Chengdu National Agricultural Science and Technology Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Ren-You Gan
- Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, China
- Chengdu National Agricultural Science and Technology Center, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), Sichuan Engineering and Technology Research Center of Coarse Cereal Industralization, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
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