Investigations on Leucas cephalotes (Roth.) Spreng. for inhibition of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediators in murine macrophages and in rat model

In vitro cancer cell line luminescence-based validation of anticancer phytocompounds obtained from Leucas biflora against HELA cervical and A549 lung cancer cells

Current research aims to screen the anticancer prospective of Leucas biflora phytocompounds against apoptotic regulator target protein essential for cancer progression. In gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis major phytocompounds such as tetracosahexaene, squalene, phytol, 22-stigmasten-3-one, stigmasterol, fluorene, and 1,4-dihydro were identified in ethanolic leaf extract of Leucas biflora. In vitro, the free radical scavenging potential of ethanolic leaf extract of Leucas biflora was examined through its DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging potential IC50 value 15.35 and 13.20 μg/ml, respectively. Dose-dependent cytotoxicity was monitored against both A549 lung cancer and HELA cervical cancer cells. Leucas biflora ethanolic leaf extract highly reduces the cell viability of both HELA and A549 cells in in vitro cytotoxicity assays. Leucas biflora ethanolic extract produces 23.76% and 29.76% viability rates against A549 lung and HELA cervical cancer cell lines, and their IC50 values differ slightly at 95.80 and 90.40 μg/ml, respectively. In molecular docking analysis lung cancer target protein-ligand complex 5Y9T-16132746 showed a maximum score of -14 kcal/mol by exhibiting stable binding affinity and interactions among all screened complexes. Based on docking score nine phytocompounds from Leucas biflora and two reference standard drugs were chosen for further analysis. Further validation reveals that the fluorene, 1,4-dihydro possess good ADMET, Bioactivity and density functional theory indices.

Freshwater Clam Extract Mitigates Neuroinflammation and Amplifies Neurotrophic Activity of Glia: Insights from In Vitro Model of Neurodegenerative Pathomechanism

Background. An extensive body of research suggests that brain inflammation and oxidative stress are the underlying causes of Parkinson’s disease (PD), for which no potent therapeutic approach exists to mitigate the degradation of dopamine neurons. Freshwater clams, an ancient health food of Chinese origin, have been documented to exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. We previously reported that freshwater clam extract (FCE) can attenuate astrocytic activation and subsequent proinflammatory cytokine production from substantia nigra in an MPTP-induced PD mouse model. This article provides insight into the potential mechanisms through which FCE regulates neuroinflammation in a glia model of injury. Materials and methods. In total, 1 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 200 μM rotenone were conducted in primary glial cell cultures to mimic the respective neuroinflammation and oxidative stress during injury-induced glial cell reactivation, which is relevant to the pathological process of PD. Results. FCE markedly reduced LPS-induced neuroinflammation by suppressing NO and TNF-α production and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, FCE was effective at reducing rotenone-induced toxicity by diminishing ROS production, promoting antioxidant enzymes (SOD, catalase, and GPx) and minimizing the decline in glial-cell-secreted neurotrophic factors (GDNF, BDNF). These impacts ultimately led to a decrease in glial apoptosis. Conclusions. Evidence reveals that FCE is capable of stabilizing reactive glia, as demonstrated by reduced neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, the increased release of neurotrophic factors and the inhibition of apoptosis, which provides therapeutic insight into neurodegenerative diseases, including PD.

Functional characterization and expression profile of microsomal FAD2 and FAD3 genes involved in linoleic and α-linolenic acid production in Leucas cephalotes

The genus Leucas belongs to Lamiaceae, and has attained more attention due to the presence of unusual allenic fatty acids called laballenic and phlomic acid in majority of its species. This genus has been known since traditional medicinal times and has numerous economical, nutritional, and industrial properties. So far genetic, molecular and biochemical analyses of lipid metabolism and fatty acid biosynthetic pathway in Leucas has not been reported. The objective of this study is to identify, isolate, analyze expression profiles, and functionally characterize the membrane-associated desaturases responsible for unsaturated fatty acid accumulation in Leucas cephalotes. Full-length LcFAD2 and LcFAD3 cDNAs were isolated and expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY4741 for functional characterization. Substrate feeding assay using S. cerevisiae confirmed that the LcFAD2 enzyme catalyzes desaturation of both palmitoleic (16:1∆⁹) and oleic (18:1∆⁹) acids to form palmitolinoleic (16:2∆^9,12) and linoleic (18:2∆^9,12) acids respectively. As a contrast, the heterologous activity of LcFAD2 enzyme in S. cerevisiae led to the synthesis of palmitolinoleic (16:2∆^9,12) acid, an unusual fatty acid that is not found naturally in Leucas cephalotes. While the LcFAD3 enzyme catalyzed linoleic acid (18:2∆^9,12) into α-linolenic acid (18:3∆^9,12,15). Furthermore, transcript abundance of LcFAD2 and LcFAD3 cDNAs were estimated from various plant parts such as roots, shoots, leaves, petals and developing seeds. Our results have shown that the differential transcriptional activity of LcFAD2 and LcFAD3 desaturase genes differs significantly in developing seeds, petals, leaves, stems, and roots of L. cephalotes. Furthermore, for the industrial production of these essential fatty acids, namely, linoleic and α-linolenic acid, FAD2 and FAD3 enzyme activity could be exploited from this upcoming significant oil plant, Leucas cephalotes.

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The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-021-01016-z.