Antibacterial and fungicidal effect of ethanol extracts from Juniperus sabina, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Pseudotsuga menziesii and Cephalotaxus harringtonia

Potential Hepatoprotective Effects of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana against Methotrexate-Induced Liver Injury: Integrated Phytochemical Profiling, Target Network Analysis, and Experimental Validation

Methotrexate (MTX) therapy encounters significant limitations due to the significant concern of drug-induced liver injury (DILI), which poses a significant challenge to its usage. To mitigate the deleterious effects of MTX on hepatic function, researchers have explored plant sources to discover potential hepatoprotective agents. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of the ethanolic extract derived from the aerial parts of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (CLAE) against DILI, specifically focusing on MTX-induced hepatotoxicity. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS was used to identify 61 compounds in CLAE, with 31 potential bioactive compounds determined through pharmacokinetic analysis. Network pharmacology analysis revealed 195 potential DILI targets for the bioactive compounds, including TP53, IL6, TNF, HSP90AA1, EGFR, IL1B, BCL2, and CASP3 as top targets. In vivo experiments conducted on rats with acute MTX-hepatotoxicity revealed that administering CLAE orally at 200 and 400 mg/kg/day for ten days dose-dependently improved liver function, attenuated hepatic oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, and reversed the disarrayed hepatic histological features induced by MTX. In general, the findings of the present study provide evidence in favor of the hepatoprotective capabilities of CLAE in DILI, thereby justifying the need for additional preclinical and clinical investigations.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Leaf Essential Oil as a Potential Anticancer Agent: Experimental and Computational Studies

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, affected by several factors including oxidative stress; and although conventional synthetic medicines have been used to treat cancer, they often result in various side effects. Consequently, there is a growing need for newer, safer and more effective alternatives, such as natural plant products. Essential oils (EOs) are one such alternative, offering a wide range of bioactivities, including antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. Accordingly, the objective of the present study was to investigate the chemical composition, as well as the antioxidant and anticancer properties of the leaf essential oil of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (CLLEO) belonging to the Cupressaceae family. Totally, 59 constituents were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. cis-Abienol, trans-ferruginol, α-cadinol, δ-muurolene and α-pinene were the major components. The in vitro cytotoxicity study against human breast (MCF-7), colon (HCT-116), lung (A-549), hepatocellular (HepG-2) carcinoma cells using MTT assay indicated a promising cytotoxic activity against all the tested cancer cells, particularly HepG-2, with significant selectivity indices. CLLEO exhibited weak antioxidant activity according to the DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays. In silico docking of these constituents against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), the myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) and caspase-8 using Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) software demonstrated good binding affinities of the components with the active site of these targets. These findings suggested using CLLEO, or its individual components, as a potentially viable therapeutic option for managing cancerous conditions.

Etiological factors in triggering non-specific allergic reactions to tuberculin in cattle

The article presents the results of allergic and bacteriological studies of cattle from a tuberculosis-free farm. The presence of cattle reacting to an allergen from atypical mycobacteria was established in three allergic simultaneous tests during 2019–2020. Based on the results obtained, the causative agent of tuberculosis and atypical mycobacteria were not isolated during the bacteriological examination of a biological material from animals slaughtered for diagnostic purposes (n = 17), as well as soil (n = 5) and straw (n = 3) samples. However, microorganisms of the genera Nocardia (n = 2), Rhodococcus (n = 10), and Actinomyces (n = 5) were isolated from the biomaterial according to the results of microscopy, culture and biochemical tests. These microorganisms were also isolated from the soil and straw samples. Short-term non-specific reactions in cattle to mycobacterial allergens were due to the persistence and circulation of the aforementioned microorganisms closely related to mycobacteria. It was determined that the genera Nocardia and Rhodococcus are sensitive to the 1.0%, 2.0%, 3.0% solutions of glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde and sodium hydroxide. Thus, it is necessary to take into account the epizootic situation as to the presence of nocardioform microorganisms in the herd during routine allergic studies, as well as in case of differentiation between specific reactions and paraallergic and pseudoallergic ones. It is necessary to carry out comprehensive systematic studies of livestock and feed quality assessment. For the purpose of disinfection, glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde at a concentration of 1.0% are effective in destroying microorganisms of the genera Nocardia and Rhodococcus with 3-hour exposure or more.