Protective effects of bark ethanolic extract from Spondias dulcis Forst F. against DNA damage induced by benzo[a]pyrene and cyclophosphamide

Guidance for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring anti-genotoxicity

Since DNA damage can occur spontaneously or be produced by the environmental genotoxins in living cells, it is important to investigate compounds that can reverse or protect DNA damage. An appropriate methodology is essential for the responsive identification of protection offered against DNA damage. This review includes information on the current state of knowledge on prokaryotic cell-based assays (SOS chromotest, umu test, vitotox assay) and cytogenetic techniques (micronucleus assay, chromosome aberration test and sister chromatid exchange assay) with an emphasis on the possibility to explore genoprotective compounds. Throughout the last decade, studies have extrapolated the scientific methodologies utilized for genotoxicity to assess genoprotective compounds. Therefore, shortcomings of genotoxicity studies are also mirrored in antigenotoxicity studies. While regulatory authorities around the world (OECD, US-EPA and ICH) continue to update diverse genotoxic assay strategies, there are still no clear guidelines/approaches for efficient experimental design to screen genoprotective compounds. As a consequence, non-synergetic and inconsistent implementation of the test method by the researchers to execute such simulations has been adopted, which inevitably results in unreliable findings. The review has made the first attempt to collect various facets of experimentally verified approaches for evaluating genoprotective compounds, as well as to acknowledge potential significance and constraints, and further focus on the assessment of end points which are required to validate such action. Henceforth, the review makes an incredible commitment by permitting readers to equate several components of their test arrangement with the provided simplified information, allowing the selection of convenient technique for the predefined compound from a central repository.

Cuminum cyminum Ameliorates Urotoxic Effects of Cyclophosphamide by Modulating Antioxidant, Inflammatory Cytokines, and Urinary Bladder Overactivity: In vivo and in Silico Investigations

Interstitial Cystitis (IC) is a chronic inflammatory disease that lacks effective treatment. The present study aimed to investigate the potential of aqueous ethanol extract of Cuminum cyminum (AEECC) on oxidative stress, inflammation and overactivity of urinary bladder induced by cyclophosphamide (CYP). Female Sprague-Dawley rats received intraperitoneal administration of cyclophosphamide (150 mg/kg, i. p. 1st , 4th , and 7th days). To investigate the urothelial damage, the bladder weight, nociception behavior, and Evans blue dye extravasation method was used. The antioxidants CAT, GPX and NO were measured. ELISA determined the IL-6 and TNF-α levels. The spasmolytic effect of AEECC was investigated on isolated bladder strips and its mechanisms were determined. The enhanced nociception behavior, bladder weight, vascular permeability, edema, hemorrhage, nitric oxide, IL-6 and TNF-α levels by CYP administration were significantly reduced by AEECC (250 and 500 mg/kg). A significant increase in serum antioxidant system such as CAT and GPx was also observed in AEECC-treated rats. The AEECC (3 mg/ml) significantly reduced urinary bladder tone in the strips pre-contracted with carbachol in both control and CYP-treated rats. This relaxation was demolished by atropine, nifedipine, glibenclamide, and indomethacin but not with propranolol. The plant extract showed the presence of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals. These results suggest that Cuminum cyminum offers uroprotective activity and can ameliorate CYP-induced bladder toxicity by modulating antioxidant parameters, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and bladder smooth muscle overactivity. The in silico binding interactions of antioxidant 2I3Y and anti-inflammatory protein 1TNF with various ligands from Cuminum cyminum seeds revealed potential bioactive compounds with promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, providing valuable insights for drug development and nutraceutical research.

Spondias sp: Shedding Light on Its Vast Pharmaceutical Potential

Many plants are used by the population through popular knowledge passed from generation to generation for the treatment of various diseases. However, there is not always any scientific content supporting these uses, which is very important for safety. One of these plants is the fruit of the Spondias genus, which during its processing generates various residues that are discarded, but which also have pharmacological properties. The focus of this review is to survey the pharmacological activities that Spondias genus shows, as well as which part of the plant is used, since there is a lot of richness in its by-products, such as leaf, bark, resin, seed, and peel, which are discarded and could be reused. The main activities of this genus are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antifungal, and antiviral, among others. These properties indicate that this genus could be used in the treatment of several diseases, but there are still not many products available on the market that use this genus as an active ingredient.

In vivo assessment of antioxidant, antigenotoxic, and antimutagenic effects of bark ethanolic extract from Spondias purpurea L

Medicinal plants have always been used for therapeutic purposes; however, some plants may contain toxic and mutagenic substances. The aim of this study was to assess the cytotoxic, genotoxic, mutagenic, antioxidant, antigenotoxic, and antimutagenic effects of the bark ethanolic extract of Spondias purpurea L. using male and female Swiss albino mice. To determine the protective effects of the extract, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and cyclophosphamide (CP) were selected as cell damage inducers. The extract was examined at doses of 500, 1000, or 1500 mg/kg body weight (BW)via gavage alone or concomitant with B[a]P or CP. Oxidative stress was measured by quantification of blood catalase activity (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in total blood, liver, and kidney, and concentrations of malondiadehyde (MDA) in liver and kidney. Genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity were evaluated by the comet assay using peripheral blood. Cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, and antimutagenicity were determined utilizing the micronucleus test in bone marrow and peripheral blood. The S. purpurea L extract increased CAT activity and GSH levels accompanied by a decrease in MDA levels after treatment with B[a]P and CP. No genotoxic, cytotoxic, or mutagenic effects were found in mice exposed only to the extract. These results indicate that the extract of S. purpurea exhibited protective effects against oxidative and DNA damage induced by B[a]P and CP.

Antimicrobial activity of plant extracts against carbapenem-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and in vivo toxicological assessment

The global spread of multidrug-resistant strains has prompted the scientific community to explore novel sources of chemicals with antimicrobial activity. The aim of the study was to examine the antimicrobial activity in vitro of 28 extracts against carbapenem-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, individually and in combination with antibiotics and in vivo toxicological assessment of the most active product. The multi-resistant K. pneumoniae strain was submitted for phenotypic and molecular characterization. The antibacterial activity of 28 plant extracts was evaluated alone and in combination with antibiotics against this strain through the agar disk diffusion. Of these, 16 extracts showed synergism against carbapenem-producing K. pneumoniae, being that B. crassifolia extract exhibited synergism with three antibiotics. Based on this assessment, B. crassifolia-extract-induced toxicity on Swiss male mice was evaluated by administering this extract and subsequently determining apoptosis and splenic phagocytosis using the comet and micronucleus assays. The results of this study showed that B. crassifolia extract had synergistic activity promising and groups treated with B. crassifolia exhibited no genotoxic or mutagenic activity, indicating that B. crassifolia extract exerted beneficial effects and appeared safe to use at the studied concentrations.

In Vitro Studies on Therapeutic Potential of Probiotic Yeasts Isolated from Various Sources

The present study investigates the therapeutic properties of probiotic yeasts viz. Yarrowia lipolytica VIT-MN01, Kluyveromyces lactis VIT-MN02, Lipomyces starkeyi VIT-MN03, Saccharomycopsis fibuligera VIT-MN04 and Brettanomyces custersianus VIT-MN05. The antimutagenic activity of probiotic yeasts against the mutagens viz. Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), and Sodium azide (SA) was tested. S. fibuligera VIT-MN04 showed highest antimutagenicity (75%). Binding ability on the mutagen acridine orange (AO) was tested and L. starkeyi VIT-MN03 was able to bind AO effectively (88%). The probiotic yeasts were treated with the genotoxins viz. 4-Nitroquinoline 1-Oxide (NQO) and Methylnitronitrosoguanidine (MNNG). The prominent changes in UV shift confirmed the reduction in genotoxic activity of S. fibuligera VIT-MN04 and L. starkeyi VIT-MN03, respectively. Significant viability of probiotic yeasts was noted after being exposed to mutagens and genotoxins. The adhesion capacity and anticancer activity were also assessed using Caco-2 and IEC-6 cell lines. Adhesion ability was found to be more in IEC-6 cells and remarkable antiproliferative activity was noted in Caco-2 cells compared to normal cells. Further, antagonistic activity of probiotic yeasts was investigated against S. typhimurium which was found to be more in S. fibuligera VIT-MN04 and L. starkeyi VIT-MN03. The inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase activity confirmed the antidiabetic activity of probiotic yeasts. Antioxidant activity was also tested using standard assays. Therefore, based on the results, it can be concluded that probiotic yeasts can serve as potential therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of colon cancer, type 2 diabetes and gastrointestinal infections.

Camel milk exosomes modulate cyclophosphamide-induced oxidative stress and immuno-toxicity in rats

Camel milk proteins exhibit many beneficial properties including immuno-modulatory and anti-oxidant effects. Recent studies demonstrated that most of these properties are ascribed to the presence of extracellular nanovesicles known as exosomes. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the effect of the immuno-modulatory and anti-oxidant properties of camel milk exosomes on the immuno-toxicity and oxidative stress induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX) in albino rats. Exosomes were isolated from camel milk and exosomal kappa casein and lactoferrin mRNAs were detected and then sequenced. CTX was used to induce immunosuppression in rats, which were further treated with camel milk and its exosomes. The alterations in biochemical parameters, antioxidant status, cytokine profile, spleen histopathology and flow cytometric analysis were detected. Treatment with CTX resulted in a significant decrease in total protein, albumin, globulin, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels associated with a significant increase in the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) when compared with the control group. Moreover, CTX depleted lymphocytes in the spleen tissue, significantly reduced the expression of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in the spleen cells and decreased the CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cell percentages in the blood and spleen, while it induced a significant increase in the expression of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Co-administration of camel milk exosomes was able to normalize the antioxidant status and most of the biochemical and immunological parameters. This study clarifies that camel milk and its exosomes successfully ameliorate immunosuppression and oxidative stress induced by CTX in rats.