Rutin mitigates acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis: novel coloprotective mechanism

Background

Ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease, is characterized by a status of oxidative stress and inflammation. Rutin is a natural flavonoid with many pharmacological activities and its role in acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis through the high mobility group B1 (HMGB1)/ toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4)/ myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MYD88)/ nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) signaling pathway needs to be explored.

Methods

Four experimental groups were divided into control group, rutin group: treated with 100 mg/kg/day rutin orally for 10 days, acetic acid (AA) group: given intracolonic instillation of AA to induce ulcerative colitis, and acetic acid with rutin treatment (AA/Rutin) group.

Results

Acetic acid caused a marked increase in the colon weight/length ratio and induced colonic histopathological changes, leading to a marked rise in the colonic histopathological scores. Acetic acid exhibited a significant rise in LDH and CRP serum levels as well as TOS colonic levels, accompanied by a marked decline in TAS colonic contents compared to the control group. Moreover, AA-induced activation of the HMGB1/TLR4/MYD88/NF-kB signaling pathway. Rutin demonstrated a significant decrease in the colon weight/length ratio, ameliorated the colonic histopathological changes induced by AA, and exhibited a marked decline in the colonic histopathological scores. Rutin showed a significant decrease in serum LDH, and CRP levels as well as colonic TOS contents when compared with the AA group. Rutin suppressed the colonic activation of the HMGB1/TLR4/MYD88/NF-kB signaling pathway.

Conclusion

Rutin could be a promising coloprotective agent against AA-induced ulcerative colitis by targeting the HMGB1/TLR4/MYD88/NF-kB signaling pathway.

The effect of thyme essential oil and endothelial progenitor stem cells on lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis in C57BL/6 mice

Sepsis is a potentially fatal syndrome related to severe systemic inflammation developed by infection. Despite different antimicrobial therapies, morbidity and mortality rates remain high. Herbs along with cell therapy have been introduced as a promising option to improve the symptoms of sepsis. The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of simultaneous administration of thyme essential oil (TEO) and endothelial progenitor stem cells (EPCs) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis in C57BL/6 mice. Sepsis was induced in C57Bl/6J mice by intraperitoneal injection of LPS, followed 2 h later by an intravenous injection of EPCs or oral administration of TEO or simultaneous administration of TEO and EPCs. After 10 days, the complete blood cell, renal and liver factors, serum levels of inflammatory cytokines, and angiogenic factors were measured. Simultaneous treatment with EPCs and TEO significantly increased the survival of mice with sepsis and modulated the inflammatory response by reducing the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, this treatment significantly reduced the level of white blood cells and neutrophils and increased the number of red blood cells, the percentage of hematocrit, and hemoglobin. The combination of TEO with EPCs decreased organ injuries and was assessed by lower levels of the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase compared to the sepsis group. Administration of EPCs and TEO also significantly improved angiogenic factors, lung function, and toll-like receptor 4 expression. EPCs in combination with TEO increase survival in the LPS-induced sepsis mice model by acting on several targets. Thus, the combination of TEO with EPCs can be a feasible approach for the future clinical treatment and control of sepsis.

Phytochemicals and UHPLC-QTOF-HRMS characterisation of bioactives of butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea L.) seeds and their antioxidant potentials

Clitoria ternatea Linn. (Fabaceae) is a medicinal and ornamental plant, widely used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. There is no strong scientific evidence on the consumption of the tender fruits/seeds of blue- and white-flower plants as vegetables. Analysis of the nutrient composition revealed that the total carbohydrate, protein, and lipid were highest in the mature-stage seeds of both varieties. UHPLC analysis revealed the presence of rutin (1.66 mg%) as the major compound. LC-HRMS confirmed the presence of other bioactives, such as sinapic acid (m/z 223), catechin derivatives (m/z 305 and m/z 153), quercetin (m/z 463), etc., as well. The ascorbic acid content was found to be highest in blue-flowered plant seeds (18.10 mg/100 g). Analysis of antioxidant activity displayed the superiority of immature seeds over mature seeds. The research shows that these seeds are rich in nutrients and bioactives, which may have use in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Clinical efficacy, pharmacodynamic components, and molecular mechanisms of antiviral granules in the treatment of influenza: A systematic review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The Antiviral Granules (AG) are derived from the classical famous prescription, which is composed of 9 traditional Chinese medicines, namely Radix Isatidis (called Banlangen, BLG in Chinese), Forsythiae Fructus (called Lianqiao, LQ in Chinese), Gypsum fibrosum, Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (called Zhimu, ZM in Chinese), Phragmitis Rhizoma (called Lugen, LG in Chinese), Rehmanniae Radix (called Dihuang, DH in Chinese), Pogostemonis Herba (called Guanghuoxiang, GHX in Chinese), Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma (called Shichangpu, SCP in Chinese), and Curcumae Radix (called Yujin, YJ in Chinese), and has shown an excellent therapeutic effect in clinical treatment of influenza. However, there are few studies on the anti-influenza mechanism of AG, and the mechanism of action is still unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The purpose is to provide the latest information about the clinical efficacy, pharmacodynamic composition and mechanism of AG based on scientific literature, so as to enhance the utilization of AG in the treatment of influenza and related diseases, and promote the development and innovation of novel anti-influenza drugs targeting the influenza virus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Enter the data retrieval room, search for Antiviral Granules, as well as the scientific names, common names, and Chinese names of each Chinese medicine. Additionally, search for the relevant clinical applications, pharmacodynamic composition, pharmacological action, and molecular mechanism of both Antiviral Granules and single-ingredient medicines. Keywords includes terms such as "antiviral granules", "influenza", "Isatis indigotica Fort.", "Radix Isatidis", "Banlangeng", "pharmacology", "clinical application", "pharmacologic action", etc. and their combinations. Obtain results from the Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Sci Finder Scholar, CNKI and other resources.

RESULTS

AG is effective in the treatment of influenza and is often used in combination with other drugs to treat viral diseases. Its chemical composition is complex, including alkaloids, polysaccharides, volatile oils, steroid saponins, phenylpropanoids, terpenoids and other compounds. These compounds have a variety of pharmacological activities, which can interfere with the replication cycle of the influenza virus, regulate RIG-I-MAVS, JAK/STAT, TLRs/MyD88, NF-κB signaling pathways and related cytokines, regulate intestinal microorganisms, and protect both the lungs and extrapulmonary organs.

CONCLUSIONS

AG can overcome the limitations of traditional antiviral drug therapy, play a synergistic role in fighting influenza virus with the characteristics of multi-component, multi-pathway and multi-target therapy, and reverse the bodily function damage caused by influenza virus. AG may be a potential drug in the prevention and treatment of influenza and related diseases.

Hawthorn leaves flavonoids attenuate cardiac remodeling induced by simulated microgravity

CONTEXT

Hawthorn leaves are a kind of widely used medicinal plant in China. The major ingredient, hawthorn leaves flavonoids (HLF), have cardiotonic, cardioprotective, and vascular protective effects.

OBJECTIVE

The study evaluated the protective role of HLF in cardiac remodelling and the underlying mechanisms under simulated microgravity by hindlimb unloading rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, HLF, HU (hindlimb unloading) and HU + HLF groups (n = 8). After HU and daily intragastric administration at the dose of 100 mg/kg/d for 8 weeks, cardiac function and structure were evaluated by biochemical indices and histopathology. We identified the main active compounds and mechanisms involved in the cardioprotective effects of HLF via bioinformatics and molecular docking analysis, and relative signalling pathway activity was verified by Western blot.

RESULTS

HLF treatment could reverse the HU-induced decline in LV-EF (HU, 55.13% ± 0.98% vs. HU + HLF, 71.16% ± 5.08%), LV-FS (HU, 29.44% ± 0.67% vs. HU + HLF, 41.62% ± 4.34%) and LV mass (HU, 667.99 ± 65.69 mg vs. HU + HLF, 840.02 ± 73.00 mg). Furthermore, HLF treatment significantly increased NPRA expression by 135.39%, PKG by 51.27%, decreased PDE5A by 20.03%, NFATc1 by 41.68% and Rcan1.4 by 54.22%.

CONCLUSIONS

HLF plays a protective effect on HU-induced cardiac remodelling by enhancing NPRA-cGMP-PKG pathway and suppressing the calcineurin-NFAT pathway, which provides a theoretical basis for use in clinical therapies.

Daylily (Hemerocallis fulva Linn.) flowers improve sleep quality in human and reduce nitric oxide and interleukin-6 production in macrophages

The flowers of daylily (Hemerocallis fulva Linn.) have been used as vegetable and medicinal herb for thousands of years in Taiwan and eastern Asia. Daylily flowers have been demonstrated to exert several biomedical properties. In this study, we provided the evidences show that daylily flowers exert anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and improved the sleep quality in vivo. We demonstrated that adult volunteers received water extract of daylily flowers improved sleep quality, sleep efficiency and daytime functioning, while sleep latency was reduced, compared to the adult volunteers received water. In addition, we demonstrated that aqueous and ethanol extracts of daylily flowers inhibited nitric oxide and interleukin-6 production in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages. Furthermore, the quantitative high performance liquid chromatography-based analysis showed the rutin content of the aqueous extract, ethanolic extract, ethyl acetate fractions of ethanolic extract, and water fractions of ethanolic extract were 7.27, 23.30, 14.71, and 57.43 ppm, respectively. These results indicate that daylily flowers have the potential to be a nutraceutical for improving inflammatory-related diseases and sleep quality in the future.

Genotoxicity and maternal-fetal safety of the dried extract of leaves of Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Meliaceae) in Wistar rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Meliaceae), popularly known as "neem", is used for the treatment of rheumatism, cancer, ulcers, diabetes, respiratory problems, among others. This species is present on six continents and contains more than 400 bioactive compounds. Practically all parts of the plant are used in the treatment of diseases. Although it is widely used, no study has evaluated the safety of this species throughout the gestational period in Wistar rats.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the genotoxicity and the effect of treatment with dried extract of leaves of Azadirachta indica on maternal toxicity and fetal development.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The dried extract of leaves of A. indica was obtained by spray drying after percolation of the plant material in 30% ethanol (w/w). The total flavonoids and rutin contents of the extract were determined by spectrophotometric method and HPLC-DAD, respectively. Pregnant Wistar rats (n = 40) were divided into four groups (n = 10/group): one control and three groups treated with dried extract of leaves of A. indica at doses of 300, 600 or 1200 mg/kg. Treatments were carried out from gestational day (GD) 0-20. During gestation, clinical signs of toxicity, weight gain, feed and water consumption of the dams were evaluated. On GD 21, rats were euthanized and cardiac blood was collected. Liver, kidneys, lung, heart, uterus, ovaries and bone marrow were collected. Reproductive performance parameters, histopathological analysis, biochemistry and genotoxicity were evaluated. Fetuses were evaluated for external morphology, skeletal and visceral changes.

RESULTS

The total flavonoid content of the extract ranged from 2.64 to 3.01%, and the rutin content was 1.07%. There was no change in body mass gain, food and water consumption between the evaluated groups. There was also no difference between the groups in terms of biochemical parameters, reproductive performance, histopathological analysis of the mother's organs and genotoxicity. Supernumerary ossification sites of the sternum were observed, and other skeletal and visceral alterations were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

The treatment did not induce maternal toxicity, it was neither embryotoxic nor fetotoxic. The extract was not potentially genotoxic, and at a dose of 1200 mg/kg, it caused changes in the ossification of the sternum.

Beneficial effects of flavonoids on cardiovascular diseases by influencing NLRP3 inflammasome

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of global mortality and have a high incidence rate worldwide. The function of inflammasomes in CVDs has received a lot of attention recently, and the nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome may be a new target for the prevention and treatment of CVDs. Flavonoids, which are found in food and plant extracts, inhibited inflammation in CVDs by regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome. CB-Dock was used to investigate whether 34 flavonoids from natural products acted on NLRP3 inflammasome. In brief, the PDB format of NLRP3 was selected as a protein file, and 34 flavonoids in SDF format were selected as the ligand file, and then input to CB-Dock for molecular docking. The docking results showed that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), amentoflavone, baicalin, scutellarin, vitexin, silibinin, and puerarin had good binding affinities to NLRP3, which could be used as NLRP3 inhibitors, and aid in the discovery of lead compounds for the design and development of CVDs.

SILENCING M 6 A READER YTHDC1 REDUCES INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE IN SEPSIS-INDUCED CARDIOMYOPATHY BY INHIBITING SERPINA3N EXPRESSION

ABSTRACT

Sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC) is one of the most common complications of infection-induced sepsis. An imbalance in inflammatory mediators is the main factor leading to SIC . N 6 -methyladenosine (m 6 A) is closely related to the occurrence and development of sepsis. N 6 -methyladenosine reader YTH domain containing 1 (YTHDC1) is an m 6 A N 6 -methyladenosine recognition protein. However, the role of YTHDC1 in SIC remains unclear. Herein, we demonstrated that YTHDC1-shRNA inhibits inflammation, reduces inflammatory mediators, and improves cardiac function in a LPS-induced SIC mouse model. Based on the Gene Expression Omnibus database analysis, serine protease inhibitor A3N is a differential gene of SIC. Furthermore, RNA immunoprecipitation indicated that serine protease inhibitor A3N (SERPINA3N) mRNA can bind to YTHDC1, which regulates the expression of SERPINA3N. Serine protease inhibitor A3N-siRNA reduced LPS-induced inflammation of cardiac myocytes. In conclusion, the m 6 A reader YTHDC1 regulates SERPINA3N mRNA expression to mediate the levels of inflammation in SIC. Such findings add to the relationship between m 6 A reader YTHDC1 and SIC, providing a new research avenue for the therapeutic mechanism of SIC.

Effects of Herbs and Derived Natural Products on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Toxicity: A Literature Review

Introduction

Oxidative stress (OS) during inflammation can increase inflammatory responses and damage tissue. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can induce oxidative stress and inflammation in several organs. Natural products have several biological activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunoregulatory properties. The aims of the study are to study the possible therapeutic effects of natural products on LPS inducing toxicity on the nervous system, lung, liver, and immune system.

Methods

The in vitro and in vivo research articles that were published in the last 5 years were included in the current study. The keywords included "lipopolysaccharide," "toxicity," "natural products," and "plant extract" were searched in different databases such as Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar until October 2021.

Results

The results of most studies indicated that some medicinal herbs and their potent natural products can help to prevent, treat, and manage LPS-induced toxicity. Medicinal herbs and plant-derived natural products showed promising effects on managing and treating oxidative stress, inflammation, and immunomodulation by several mechanisms.

Conclusion

However, these findings provide information about natural products for the prevention and treatment of LPS-induced toxicity, but the scientific validation of natural products requires more evidence on animal models to replace modern commercial medicine.

Rutin ameliorates gout via reducing XOD activity, inhibiting ROS production and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in quail

Gout is a metabolic disease affected by monosodium urate (MSU) deposition, which is directly related to hyperuricemia. Recent reports on the prevalence and incidence of gout have been widely circulated worldwide. Currently, the anti-gout drugs in clinical practice are mainly small-molecule synthetic drugs, and the effectiveness and safety are limited. Reducing uric acid and inhibiting inflammation are the focused areas of drug research and development on gout. Rutin, a natural flavonoid, has been reported to alleviate inflammation in various diseases. However, whether rutin exerts protective effects on gout remains to be elucidated. This study used quails without urate oxidase as experimental animals to induce endogenous gout models through a high purine diet. We confirmed that quail in the model group developed gout symptoms at 30 days of the experiment. And the targets of uric acid metabolism, oxidative stress level, and NLRP3 inflammasome were dysregulated in quails. Rutin treatment improves gout and reduces inflammatory expression in quail. We further confirmed that rutin treatment reduced XOD activity and uric acid levels in quail. And rutin inhibited ROS production, restored oxidative stress balance, inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and exerted anti-inflammatory effects. We extracted and identified the fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) for the first time. The results showed that rutin could reduce ROS production and NLRP3 inflammasome activation of FLS after uric acid stimulation. In conclusion, our findings underscore that rutin may be a gout protective agent by reducing XOD activity, inhibiting ROS production and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Meanwhile, this study also provides an available animal model for the research drugs of gout.

Identification of cuproptosis-related biomarkers in dilated cardiomyopathy and potential therapeutic prediction of herbal medicines

Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the significant causes of heart failure, and the mechanisms of metabolic ventricular remodelling due to disturbances in energy metabolism are still poorly understood in cardiac pathology. Understanding the biological mechanisms of cuproptosis in DCM is critical for drug development. Methods: The DCM datasets were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus, their relationships with cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) and immune signatures were analyzed. LASSO, RF, and SVM-RFE machine learning algorithms were used to identify signature genes and the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model was used to assess diagnostic efficacy. Molecular clusters of CRGs were identified, and immune Infiltration analysis was performed. The WGCNA algorithm was used to identify specific genes in different clusters. In addition, AUCell was used to analyse the cuproptosis scores of different cell types in the scRNA-seq dataset. Finally, herbal medicines were predicted from an online database, and molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were used to support the confirmation of the potential of the selected compounds. Results: We identified dysregulated cuproptosis genes and activated immune responses between DCM and healthy controls. Two signature genes (FDX1, SLC31A1) were identified and performed well in an external validation dataset (AUC = 0.846). Two molecular clusters associated with cuproptosis were further defined in DCM, and immune infiltration analysis showed B-cell naive, Eosinophils, NK cells activated and T-cell CD4 memory resting is significant immune heterogeneity in the two clusters. AUCell analysis showed that cardiomyocytes had a high cuproposis score. In addition, 19 and 3 herbal species were predicted based on FDX1 and SLC31A1. Based on the molecular docking model, the natural compounds Rutin with FDX1 (-9.3 kcal/mol) and Polydatin with SLC31A1 (-5.5 kcal/mol) has high stability and molecular dynamics simulation studies further validated this structural stability. Conclusion: Our study systematically illustrates the complex relationship between cuproptosis and the pathological features of DCM and identifies two signature genes (FDX1 and SLC31A1) and two natural compounds (Rutin and Polydatin). This may enhance our diagnosis of the disease and facilitate the development of clinical treatment strategies for DCM.

Rutin and Hesperidin Alleviate Paclitaxel-Induced Nephrocardiotoxicity in Wistar Rats via Suppressing the Oxidative Stress and Enhancing the Antioxidant Defense Mechanisms

Paclitaxel is a primary chemotherapy agent that displays antitumor activity against a variety of solid tumors. However, the clinical effectiveness of the drug is hampered by its nephrotoxic and cardiotoxic side effects. Thus, this investigation aimed at assessing the protective effects of rutin, hesperidin, and their combination to alleviate nephrotoxicity caused by paclitaxel (Taxol), cardiotoxicity in male Wistar rats, as well as oxidative stress. Rutin (10 mg/kg body weight), hesperidin (10 mg/kg body weight), and their mixture were given orally every other day for six weeks. Rats received intraperitoneal injections of paclitaxel twice weekly, on the second and fifth days of the week, at a dose of 2 mg/kg body weight. In paclitaxel-treated rats, the treatment of rutin and hesperidin decreased the elevated serum levels of creatinine, urea, and uric acid, indicating a recovery of kidney functions. The cardiac dysfunction in paclitaxel-treated rats that got rutin and hesperidin treatment also diminished, as shown by a substantial reduction in elevated CK-MB and LDH activity. Following paclitaxel administration, the severity of the kidney and the heart's histopathological findings and lesion scores were markedly decreased by rutin and hesperidin administration. Moreover, these treatments significantly reduced renal and cardiac lipid peroxidation while markedly increased GSH content and SOD and GPx activities. Thus, paclitaxel likely induces toxicity in the kidney and the heart by producing oxidative stress. The treatments likely countered renal and cardiac dysfunction and histopathological changes by suppressing oxidative stress and augmenting the antioxidant defenses. Rutin and hesperidin combination was most efficacious in rescuing renal and cardiac function as well as histological integrity in paclitaxel-administered rats.

Protective Application of Morus and Its Extracts in Animal Production

Different components of the mulberry tree (fruits, leaves, twigs, and roots) are rich in active compounds, and have been reported to possess potent beneficial properties, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-allergenic, antihypertensive, and neuroprotective. The mulberry and its extracts can effectively improve the growth performance and fitness of animals. They not only possess the properties of being safe and purely natural, but also they are not prone to drug resistance. According to the literature, the supplemental level of the mulberry and its extracts in animal diets varies with different species, physiological status, age, and the purpose of the addition. It has been observed that the mulberry and its extracts enhanced the growth performance, the quality of animal products (meat, egg, and milk), the antioxidant and the anti-inflammatory responses of animals. Furthermore, the mulberry and its extracts have antibacterial properties and can effectively moderate the relative abundance of the microbial populations in the rumen and intestines, thus improving the immunity function of animals and reducing the enteric methane (CH₄) production in ruminants. Furthermore, the mulberry and its extracts have the potential to depurate tissues of heavy metals. Collectively, this review summarizes the nutrients, active compounds, and biological functions of mulberry tree products, as well as the application in livestock production with an aim to provide a reference for the utilization of the mulberry and its extracts in animal production.

The protective effects of rutin on the liver, kidneys, and heart by counteracting organ toxicity caused by synthetic and natural compounds

Rutin is a flavonoid present in many plant species. Because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties, rutin is of interest for its potential protective effects against toxic agents. The hepatoprotective, renoprotective, and cardioprotective effects of rutin are reviewed. The antioxidant effects of rutin are elicited by enhancing antioxidant enzymes such as GST, GGT, CAT, GPx, SOD, and GR, activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, elevating GSH content, and the reduction in MDA. The anti-inflammatory effects of rutin are mediated by the inhibition of IL-1β, IL-6, TGF-β1, COX-2, iNOS, TLR4, and XO. Rutin exerted its antiapoptotic effects by inhibition of free radicals, caspase-3/-7/-9, hsp70, HMGB1, and p53, and the elevation of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. Rutin has potential therapeutic effectiveness against several toxicants, and its beneficial effects are more than likely mediated by its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and/or antiapoptotic property.

Hymenocallis littoralis ameliorates inflammatory responses in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and HCl/EtOH-induced gastric mucosal injury via targeting the MAPK pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hymenocallis littoralis (Jacq.) Salisb. Also known as Pancratium littorale Jacq. And Hymenocallis panamensis Lindl., is a medicinal plant from the family Amarylideceae used for emetic and wound healing and has manifested anti-neoplastic, anti-oxidant, and anti-viral properties.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this paper is to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential and molecular mechanism of H. littoralis against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophages and in vivo HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis mucosal injury models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators was evaluated by Griess assay, RT-PCR, and real-time PCR. Moreover, the relevant proteins of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) including ERK, JNK, p38, c-Jun, and c-Fos were detected using immunoblotting.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that H. littoralis prominently dampened production of nitric oxide (NO) in LPS-, poly I:C-, or pam3CSK-stimulated RAW264.7 cells; down-regulated the expression levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and inducible nitric oxide synthase; and markedly attenuated the luciferase activities of AP-1 reporter promoters. Moreover, H. littoralis administration prominently downregulated c-Fos and c-Jun phosphorylation as well as JNK1, ERK2, and MKK7 overexpression in HEK 293T cells. Furthermore, H. littoralis displayed anti-inflammatory effects in the HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis mice model.

CONCLUSIONS

Cumulatively, these results demonstrated that H. littoralis exerts eminently anti-inflammatory activities in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells in vitro and in HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis mice models in vivo. These activities could be attributed to its modulatory effects on the MAPK signaling pathway.

The Effects of Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on Turkey Poults: Assessment of Biochemical Parameters and Histopathological Changes

A lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a large molecule and an outer membrane glycolipid found in Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli (E. coli). These molecules (LPS) target acute inflammatory responses and significant physiological changes. Importantly, E. coli is considered one of the most important bacterial causes of avian colibacillosis that affect domestic turkey industry. However, little information is available about the potential influence of LPS on the biochemical parameters and histopathological changes in turkey poults. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules on serum biomarkers and histopathological changes in turkey poults. The birds were randomly divided into five groups, as follows: group I did not receive any inoculation; group II was inoculated with sterile saline; and groups III, IV, and V were inoculated intraperitoneally with LPS at 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/kg of body weight (BW), respectively. The biochemical parameters and the histopathology of different organs were examined in all birds one day post-inoculation. Our results revealed hypolipidemia, hypoglycemia, a significant decrease in uric acid, and a significant increase in serum activities of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase (CK), as well as cardiac troponin T concentrations in treated groups. Moreover, there was a significant increase in α1-, β-, and γ-globulin concentrations and a decrease in albumin and α2-globulin concentrations in group V. However, a significant increase in α2- and γ-globulin levels and a decrease in albumin levels were detected in groups III and IV. In addition, significant decreases in the albumin/globulin ratio were recorded in all LPS-treated groups. Hepatocellular and cardiac muscle necrosis, slight renal changes, and massive pulmonary inflammatory reactions were recorded. This study provides valuable information about serum biomarkers, protein fractions, and histopathological changes in turkey poults treated with LPS for further investigations of pathophysiological mechanisms in avian medicine along with biomedical research.

Rutin Inhibits Cardiac Apoptosis and Prevents Sepsis-Induced Cardiomyopathy

Rutin is a flavanol-type polyphenol that consists of flavanol quercetin and the disaccharide rutinose, which has been reported to exert various biological effects such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. It is not clear whether rutin has a protective effect on sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC). In this study, we used male C57BL/6 mice and cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) surgery to establish the model of SIC. Rutin was precautionarily treated (50, 100, 200 mg/kg per day, 7 days) before CLP. The results showed that rutin pretreatment (100, 200 mg/kg per day, 7 days) reduced the mortality of murine sepsis. We chose the 100 mg/kg dose for further studies. Mice were pretreatment with rutin (100 mg/kg per day, 7 days) before subjected to CLP, and myocardial tissue and blood samples were collected 24 h after CLP. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and cTNT decreased, while interleukin-10 (IL-10) increased with rutin pretreatment. The cardiomyocytes apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction were also alleviated with rutin pretreatment. In conclusion, this study confirmed the efficacy of rutin-enriched diet in the prophylaxis of cardiac apoptosis and cardiac injury induced by CLP in mouse model. It provides a potential new approach on SIC prophylaxis in sepsis.

Cardioprotective effects of phytopigments via multiple signaling pathways

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are among the deadliest non-communicable diseases, and millions of dollars are spent every year to combat CVDs. Unfortunately, the multifactorial etiology of CVDs complicates the development of efficient therapeutics. Interestingly, phytopigments show significant pleiotropic cardioprotective effects both in vitro and in vivo.

PURPOSE

This review gives an overview of the cardioprotective effects of phytopigments based on in vitro and in vivo studies as well as clinical trials.

METHODS

A literature-based survey was performed to collect the available data on cardioprotective activities of phytopigments via electronic search engines such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus.

RESULTS

Different classes of phytopigments such as carotenoids, xanthophylls, flavonoids, anthocyanins, anthraquinones alleviate major CVDs (e.g., cardiac hypertrophy, atherosclerosis, hypertension, cardiotoxicities) via acting on signaling pathways related to AMPK, NF-κB, NRF2, PPARs, AKT, TLRs, MAPK, JAK/STAT, NLRP3, TNF-α, and RA.

CONCLUSION

Phytopigments represent promising candidates to develop novel and effective CVD therapeutics. More randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies are recommended to establish the clinical efficacy of phytopigments.

Attenuated Cardiac oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in Obese Mice with nonfatal infection of Escherichia coli

Obesity is a risk factor of many diseases, but could be beneficial to the individuals with bacterial infection. The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between obesity and heart during nonfatal bacterial infection. Male normal (lean) and diet-induced obesity mice (DIO, fed with high-fat diet) were chosen to perform nasal instillation with E. coli to establish a nonfatal acute mouse model. The cardiac histopathology, inflammation and oxidative damage, as well as apoptosis were detected post-infection. The results revealed that the Escherichia coli (E.coli)-infected mice exhibited increased cardiac index, contents of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, leptin and resistin, levels of apoptotic proteins (caspase-3 and caspase-9, and bax/bcl-2 ratio), cardiac pathological changes and oxidative stress. Furthermore, these parameters were more serious in the lean mice than those in the DIO mice. In summary, our findings gave a new sight that E.coli infection impaired heart via histopathological lesions, inflammation and oxidative stress and excessive apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. Interestingly, obesity exerted attenuated effects on the heart of mice with non-fatal infection of E.coli through decreased inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis of cardiac tissue.

Astragaloside IV-targeting miRNA-1 attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced cardiac dysfunction in rats through inhibition of apoptosis and autophagy

Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), the major active constituent purified from Astragalus membranaceus, was previously reported to have protective effects against cardiac dysfunction. However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of AS-IV on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cardiac dysfunction and explored the potential mechanism by focusing on miRNA-1 (miR-1) at the animal and cellular levels. A series of methods were used, including echocardiography, flow cytometry, ELISA, immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, RT-PCR, and western blotting. The results showed that both AS-IV and the miR-1 inhibitor improved cardiac dysfunction, reduced heart injury, inhibited apoptosis and autophagy, and regulated the expression of calcium- and mitochondrial energy metabolism-related proteins in the heart tissue of rats treated with LPS. Importantly, AS-IV downregulated the expression of miR-1 mRNA in heart tissue. All effects of AS-IV were at least partly abolished by miR-1 mimics. In the in vitro study, both AS-IV and the miR-1 inhibitor inhibited apoptosis and autophagy and regulated the expression of calcium- and mitochondrial energy metabolism-related proteins in heart cells treated with LPS. Similarly, AS-IV downregulated the expression of miR-1 mRNA in heart cells. All effects of AS-IV on cells were at least partly abolished by miR-1 mimics. Furthermore, miR-1 mimics exhibited effects similar to LPS both in animal and cellular studies. Taken together, these results suggest that AS-IV protects against LPS-induced cardiac dysfunction by inhibiting calcium-mediated apoptosis and autophagy by targeting miR-1, highlighting a new mechanism for the therapeutic effect of AS-IV on cardiac dysfunction.

GMP-compliant fully automated radiosynthesis of [18F]FEPPA for PET/MRI imaging of regional brain TSPO expression

Background

Expression of translocator protein (TSPO) on the outer mitochondrial membrane of activated microglia is strongly associated with neuroinflammation. The second-generation PET ligand [¹⁸F]FEPPA specifically binds TSPO to enable in vivo visualization and quantification of neuroinflammation. We optimized a fully automated radiosynthesis method and evaluated the utility of [¹⁸F]FEPPA, the second-generation PET ligand specifically binds TSPO, in a mouse model of systemic LPS challenge to detect TSPO-associated signals of central and peripheral inflammation. In vivo dynamic PET/MR imaging was performed in LPS-induced and control mice after [¹⁸F]FEPPA administration. The relationship between the [¹⁸F]FEPPA signal and the dose of LPS was assessed. The cytokine levels (i.e., TNF-α, Il-1β, Il-6) in LPS-induced mice were measured by RT-PCR. Standard uptake value (SUV), total volume of distribution (VT) and area under the curve (AUC) were determined based on the metabolite-uncorrected plasma input function. Western blotting and immunostaining were used to measure TSPO expression in the brain.

Results

The fully automated [¹⁸F]FEPPA radiosynthesis produced an uncorrected radiochemical yield of 30 ± 2% within 80 min, with a radiochemical purity greater than 99% and specific activity of 148.9‒216.8 GBq/µmol. Significant differences were observed in the brain after [¹⁸F]FEPPA administration: SUV, VT and AUC were 1.61 ± 0.1, 1.25 ± 0.12 and 1.58 ± 0.09-fold higher in LPS-injected mice than controls. TNF-α, Il-1β and Il-6 mRNA levels were also elevated in the brains of LPS-injected mice. Western blotting revealed TSPO (p < 0.05) and Iba-1 (p < 0.01) were upregulated in the brain after LPS administration. In LPS-injected mice, TSPO immunoactivity colocalized with Iba-1 in the cerebrum and TSPO was significantly overexpressed in the hippocampus and cerebellum. The peripheral organs (heart, lung) of LPS-injected mice had higher [¹⁸F]FEPPA signal-to-noise ratios than control mice.

Conclusions

Based on the current data on ligand specificity and selectivity in central tissues using 7 T PET/MR imaging, we demonstrate that [¹⁸F]FEPPA accumulations significant increased in the specific brain regions of systemic LPS-induced neuroinflammation (5 mg/kg). Future investigations are needed to determine the sensitivity of [¹⁸F]FEPPA as a biomarker of neuroinflammation as well as the correlation between the PET signal intensity and the expression levels of TSPO.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13550-021-00768-9.

Natural Marine and Terrestrial Compounds as Modulators of Matrix Metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 in Alzheimer's Disease

Several studies have reported neuroprotective effects by natural products. A wide range of natural compounds have been investigated, and some of these may play a beneficial role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases, have been implicated in AD. In particular, MMP-2 and MMP-9 are able to trigger several neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative pathways. In this review, we summarize and discuss existing literature on natural marine and terrestrial compounds, as well as their ability to modulate MMP-2 and MMP-9, and we evaluate their potential as therapeutic compounds for neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases, with a focus on Alzheimer's disease.

Rutin-protected BisGMA-induced cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and apoptosis in macrophages through the reduction of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and induction of antioxidant enzymes

Bisphenol-A-glycidyldimethacrylate (BisGMA) is a resin monomer frequently used in dentin restorative treatments. The leakage of BisGMA monomer from BisGMA-based polymeric resins can lead to cytotoxicity in macrophages. Rutin has various beneficial bioeffects, including antioxidation and antiinflammation. In this study, we found that pretreatment of RAW264.7 macrophages with rutin-inhibited cytotoxicity induced by BisGMA in a concentration-dependent manner. BisGMA-induced apoptosis, which was detected by levels of phosphatidylserine from the internal to the external membrane and formation of sub-G1, and genotoxicity, which was detected by cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus and single-cell gel electrophoresis assays, were inhibited by rutin in a concentration-dependent manner. Rutin suppressed the BisGMA-induced activation of caspase-3 and -9 rather than caspase-8. Rutin inhibited the activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, including cytochrome C release and mitochondria disruption, after macrophages were treated with BisGMA. Finally, BisGMA-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and antioxidant enzyme (AOE) deactivation could be reversed by rutin. Parallel trends were observed in the elevation of AOE activation and inhibition of ROS generation, caspase-3 activity, mitochondrial apoptotic pathway activation, and genotoxicity. These results suggested that rutin suppressed BisGMA-induced cytotoxicity through genotoxicity, the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, and relatively upstream factors, including reduction of ROS generation and induction of AOE.

Rapid characterization of the chemical constituents of Duzhong Jiangya tablet by HPLC coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Duzhong Jiangya tablet is a hypotensive drug. In this study, high-performance liquid chromatography-Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance-mass spectrometry technology was used to quickly identify its chemical composition. SinoChrom ODS-BP column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) was used. The mobile phase was acetonitrile(A)-0.1% formic acid solution(B). The flow rate was 1 mL/min. Extracted ion chromatogram was used to analyze the samples in positive and negative ion modes. Based on the accurate mass spectrometry information (such as quasi-molecular ions and fragment ions) obtained from the instrument, combined with reference compounds and literature, the chemical composition of Duzhong Jiangya Tablets was identified. A total of 131 compounds were identified, including four types of penylpropanoids, six types of phenylethanoid glycosides, 10 types of organic acids, 14 types of iridoids, 12 types of lignans, 18 types of alkaloids, seven types of coumarins, and 60 kinds of flavonoids. This established method can quickly and efficiently identify chemical constituents in Duzhong Jiangya tablet, lay a foundation for the research on the efficacy and quality of this traditional Chinese medicine, and provide a reference for the characterization of the chemical constituents of other traditional Chinese medicine preparations.

Suppression of LPS-Induced Hepato- and Cardiotoxic Effects by Pulicaria petiolaris via NF-κB Dependent Mechanism

Recently, there is an increasing interest in searching for harmless natural products isolated from plant materials that can be used as beneficial dietary supplements and/or therapeutic drug candidates. The present study aimed to test the potential protective role of Pulicaria petiolaris (PP, Asteraceae) against hepatic and cardiotoxic effects associated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. PP was given orally for 5 days at two different doses before LPS injection. Results have shown that LPS induced remarkable hepatic and cardiac injurious effects in mice. Hepatic damage was evident through increased serum transaminases, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and activity. Estimation of high levels of serum creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I indicated cardiac damage. Histopathological examination of liver and heart confirmed the biochemical results. Increase in oxidative stress along with a depressed antioxidant status of liver and heart were observed in LPS-intoxicated animals. Furthermore, LPS induced activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and subsequent elevation of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6). On the other hand, PP treatment successfully safeguards both organs against LPS-induced injury as indicated by the improvement of the biochemical and histopathological parameters. These results suggest that PP ameliorates LPS-induced hepatic and cardiac oxidative injurious effects via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Total flavonoids from Anchusa italica Retz. Improve cardiac function and attenuate cardiac remodeling post myocardial infarction in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The plant Anchusa italica Retz. (Anchusa azurea Mill.) has been traditionally used in Uygur medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in China. Our previous study showed that total flavonoids from Anchusa italica Retz. (TFAI) exhibited potent cardioprotection in acute ischemia/reperfusion injured rats.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of TFAI on chronic myocardial infarction (MI) in mice and the underlying mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Total flavonoids were extracted from the whole herb of Anchusa italica Retz. and were characterized using HPLC-MS analysis. The left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery was ligated to simulate MI injury in mice. After surgery, mice were orally fed with TFAI at the doses of 10, 30 and 50 mg/kg body weight/day for a total of four weeks. Cardiac function and infarct size were measured, and inflammatory mediators were detected. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and Masson's trichrome staining were performed on heart sections. The apoptotic factors, such as Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase 3, as well as the key proteins in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway were examined by Western blot.

RESULTS

The content of total flavonoids in TFAI was 56.2%. Four weeks following the MI surgery, TFAI enhanced the survival rate in post-MI mice. TFAI treatment at the doses of 30 and 50 mg/kg remarkably reduced infarct size and improved cardiac function as indicated by elevated EF and FS. Assay of the inflammatory factors showed that sera levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were markedly decreased by TFAI treatment compared to the MI group. H&E staining and Masson's trichrome staining demonstrated that TFAI suppressed myocyte hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis as indicated by the decreased cross-section area and collagen volume. Western blot analysis showed that cleaved caspase 3 and Bax/Bcl-2 were significantly downregulated following TFAI treatment. Furthermore, TFAI treatment significantly suppressed the activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that TFAI exerts a potent protective effect against chronic MI injury, and its beneficial effects on cardiac function and cardiac remodeling might be attributable, at least in part, to anti-inflammation and inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

TNF-alpha inhibitor adalimumab attenuates endotoxin induced cardiac damage in rats

Purpose

To investigate the effects of adalimumab pretreatment on the lipopolysaccharide-mediated myocardial injury.

Methods

Twenty-eight Wistar rats were randomized into four groups (n=7). Control (C) group animals were injected once a day with intraperitoneal (i.p) 0.9 % saline for two days. In the Adalimumab (Ada) group, adalimumab was injected at a dose of 10 mg/kg/ day (i.p) for two days. Lipopolysaccharide (Lps) group rats were injected with a dose of 5 mg/kg (i.p) lipopolysaccharide. Lipopolysaccharide + Adalimumab (Lps+Ada) group rats received adalimumab before the administration of lipopolysaccharide. The animals were sacrificed 24 h after the last injection and blood samples were obtained for determination of biochemical cardiac injury markers and circulating levels of TNF-α and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Hearts were harvested for histological examination.

Results

Endotoxin exposure resulted in significant increases in serum cardiac injury markers, serum cytokines and histological myocardial injury scores in the Lps group. The levels of circulating cytokines, cardiac injury markers and histological injury scores for myocardial necrosis, perivascular cell infiltration, and inflammation were significantly reduced in Lps+Ada as compared to Lps group (p<0.05).

Conclusions

Adalimumab pretreatment reduces endotoxin-induced myocardial damage in rats. This beneficial effect is thought to be related to the reduction of cytokine release.

The Anti-inflammatory Mediator Resolvin E1 Protects Mice Against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Heart Injury

Background

Sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC) is a common severe complication of sepsis that contributes to mortality. SIC is closely associated with excessive inflammatory responses, failed inflammation resolution, and apoptotic damage. Resolvin E1 (RvE1), an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-derived metabolite, has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory or proresolving activity in multiple animal models of inflammatory disease. However, the therapeutic potential of RvE1 in SIC remains undetermined, which was, therefore, the aim of the present study.

Methods

C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into three groups: control, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and LPS + RvE1. Echocardiography, Western blotting (WB), quantitative real-time (QRT)-PCR, histological analyses, and flow cytometry were used to evaluate cardiac function, myocardial inflammation, and the underlying mechanisms.

Results

The RvE1-injected group showed improved left ventricular (LV) function and reduced serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase myocardial bound (CK-MB) levels. Compared to LPS treatment alone, RvE1 treatment inhibited the infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages into the heart and spleen and suppressed the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, in the heart. We also observed that the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathways was blocked by RvE1 treatment, and this inhibition contributed to the improvement in the inflammatory response induced by LPS. RvE1 inhibited LPS-induced M1 macrophage polarization and promoted macrophage polarization toward the M2-like phenotype in both the heart and spleen. In addition, LPS administration dysregulated cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) in the heart, which were rectified by RvE1 treatment. RvE1 also reduced myocardial apoptosis rate in response to LPS-induced heart injury.

Conclusion

RvE1 protects the heart against SIC possibly through the inhibition of the MAPK and NF-κB inflammatory signaling pathways, modulation of macrophage polarization, and reduction in myocardial apoptosis. RvE1 may be a novel lipid mediator for the treatment of SIC.

Potentially Critical Roles of NDUFB5, TIMMDC1, and VDAC3 in the Progression of Septic Cardiomyopathy Through Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis

Septic cardiomyopathy (SC) is a rare and harmful cardiovascular disease with decreased left ventricular (LV) output and multiple organ failure, which poses a serious threat to human life. Despite the advances in SC, its diagnostic basis and treatment methods are limited, and the specific diagnostic biomarkers and its candidate regulatory targets have not yet been fully established. In this study, the GSE79962 gene expression profile was retrieved, with 20 patients with SC and 11 healthy donors as control. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was employed to investigate gene modules that were strongly correlated with clinical phenotypes. Blue module was found to be most significantly related to SC. Moreover, Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed on the coexpression genes in blue module and showed that it was associated with metabolic pathways, oxidative phosphorylation, and cardiac muscle contraction. Furthermore, a total of 10 hub genes NDUFB5, TIMMDC1, VDAC3, COQ10A, MRPL16 (mitochondrial ribosomal protein L16), C3orf43, TMEM182, DLAT, NDUFA8, and PDHB (pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 beta subunit) in the blue module were identified at transcriptional level and further validated at translational level in myocardium of an lipopolysaccharide-induced septic cardiac dysfunction mouse model. Overall, the results of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were consistent with most of the microarray analysis results. Intriguingly, we observed that the highest change was NDUFB5, TIMMDC1, and VDAC3. These identified and validated genes provided references that would advance the understanding of molecular mechanisms of SC. Taken together, using WGCNA, the hub genes NDUFB5, TIMMDC1, and VDAC3 might serve as potential biomarkers for diagnosis and/or therapeutic targets for precise treatment of SC in the future.

Tracking of GFP-labeled unrestricted somatic stem cells transplanted in the sepsis mouse model

Cell-based therapy provides a promising approach for the treatment of sepsis and related disorders. Fate determination of transplanted cells is the most essential issue for cell therapist. Optical imaging is the reliable, time and cost-effective system for cell tracking. The present study was aimed to apply an optical imaging system for monitoring of GFP-labeled unrestricted somatic stem cells in the sepsis animal model. In vivo imaging showed the most accumulation of intravenously injected cells into the lungs and liver of septic mice. Thereafter, the imaging data were more approved by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry staining. Cellular localization in septic lungs and liver that observed by optical imaging technique may offer beneficial evidence for designing of sepsis clinical trials.

Protective effects induced by alcoholic Phlomis fruticosa and Phlomis herba-venti extracts in isolated rat colon: Focus on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities in vitro

Phlomis fruticosa L. and P. herba-venti are species belonging to the Lamiaceae family, which have been traditionally used to prepare tonic and digestive drinks. Multiple studies also demonstrated the inhibitory effects of P. fruticosa extracts and essential oil against oxidative/proinflammatory pathways and bacterial strains deeply involved in ulcerative colitis. Considering these findings, the present study evaluated the effects of alcoholic P. fruticosa and P. herba-venti leaf extracts in isolated rat colon challenged with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an ex vivo experimental paradigm of ulcerative colitis. In this context, we assayed colon levels of pro-oxidant and proinflammatory biomarkers, including nitrites, malondialdehyde (MDA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and serotonin (5-HT). Additionally, the extracts have been tested in order to evaluate possible inhibitory effects on specific bacterial and fungal strains involved in ulcerative colitis. Alcoholic P. fruticosa and P. herba-venti extracts were able to blunt LPS-induced nitrite, MDA, 5-HT, and LDH levels in isolated rat colon. The same extracts also inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. In conclusion, our findings show a potential role exerted by alcoholic P. fruticosa and P. herba-venti in managing the clinical symptoms related to ulcerative colitis.

Natural flavonoids inhibit the plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase

Research on flavonoids from plant sources has recently sparked increasing interest because of their beneficial health properties. Different studies have shown that flavonoids change the intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis linked to alterations in the function of mitochondria, Ca²⁺ channels and Ca²⁺ pumps. These findings hint at plasma membrane Ca²⁺-ATPase (PMCA) involvement, as it transports Ca²⁺ actively to the extracellular medium coupled to ATP hydrolysis, thus maintaining ion cellular homeostasis. The present study aims to investigate the effect of several natural flavonoids on PMCA both in isolated protein systems and in living cells, and to establish the relationship between flavonoid structure and inhibitory activity on PMCA. Our results show that natural flavonoids inhibited purified and membranous PMCA with different effectiveness: quercetin and gossypin were the most potent and their inhibition mechanisms seem to be different, as quercetin does not prevent ATP binding whereas gossypin does. Moreover, PMCA activity was inhibited in human embryonic kidney cells which transiently overexpress PMCA, suggesting that the effects observed on isolated systems could occur in a complex structure like a living cell. In conclusion, this work reveals a novel molecular mechanism through which flavonoids inhibit PMCA, which leads to Ca²⁺ homeostasis and signaling alterations in the cell.

Natural Products as a Source for Antifibrosis Therapy

Although fibrosis is a final pathological feature of many chronic diseases, few interventions are available that specifically target the pathogenesis of fibrosis. Natural products are becoming increasingly recognized as effective therapies for fibrosis. The highlights of common cellular and molecular mechanisms of fibrosis facilitate the discovery of effective antifibrotic drugs. We describe some new profibrotic mechanisms and corresponding therapeutic targets using natural products. Interleukin, ephrin-B2, Gas6/TAM, Wnt/β-catenin, hedgehog pathway, PPARγ, lysophosphatidic acid, and CTGF are promising therapeutic targets. Natural products can target these mediators and inhibit chronic inflammation, myofibroblast activation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and extracellular matrix accumulation to alleviate fibrosis. Of note, natural products have the potential to inhibit fibrosis in one organ, simultaneously targeting fibrosis in multiple other organs, which provides us new strategies to find antifibrotic drugs.