Antidiabetic Properties of Hydroalcoholic Leaf and Stem Extract of Levisticum officinale: An implication for α-amylase Inhibitory Activity of Extract Ingredients through Molecular Docking

Liuweizhiji Gegen-Sangshen beverage protects against alcoholic liver disease in mice through the gut microbiota mediated SCFAs/GPR43/GLP-1 pathway

Introduction

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a pathological state of the liver caused by longterm alcohol consumption. Recent studies have shown that the modulation of the gut microbiota and its metabolic products, specifically the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), exert a critical role in the evolution and progression of ALD. The Liuweizhiji Gegen-Sangshen beverage (LGS), as a functional beverage in China, is derived from a traditional Chinese herbal formula and has been clinically applied for ALD treatment, demonstrating significant efficacy. However, the underlying mechanisms of LGS for alleviating ALD involving gut microbiota regulation remain unknown.

Methods

In this study, an ALD murine model based on the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) method was established.

Results

The results showed that oral LGS treatment dose-dependently alleviated alcoholinduced liver injury and inflammation in mice through decreasing levels of ALT, AST and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β). LGS significantly improved liver steatosis, enhanced activities of alcohol metabolizing enzymes (ALDH and ADH), and reduced the CYP2E1 activity. Notably, regarding most detected indices, the effect of LGS (particularly at medium and high dose) was comparable to the positive drug MTDX. Moreover, LGS had a favorable effect on maintaining intestinal barrier function through reducing epithelial injury and increasing expression of occludin. 16S rRNA sequencing results showed that LGS remarkably modulated gut microbiota structure in ALD mice via recovering alcohol-induced microbial changes and specifically mediating enrichment of several bacterial genera (Alloprevotella, Monoglobus, Erysipelatoclostridium Parasutterella, Harryflintia and unclassified_c_Clostridia). Further study revealed that LGS increased production of SCFAs of hexanoic acid in cecum, promoted alcohol-mediated reduction of GRP43 expression in ileum, and increased serum GLP-1 level.

Discussion

Overall, LGS exerts a remarkable protective effect on ALD mice through the gut microbiota mediated specific hexanoic acid production and GPR43/GLP-1 pathway.

Anti-inflammatory and Apoptotic Effects of Levisticum Officinale Koch Extracts on HT 29 and Caco-2 Human Colorectal Carcinoma Cell Lines

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer is among the deadliest cancers in the world. Due to the occurrence of side effects related to current standard therapy, researchers are seeking better alternative treatments. For many years, herbs have been a promising source for discovering therapeutic compounds. Therefore, the primary objective of this research was to examine the distinctive apoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties exhibited by Levisticum officinale Koch (lovage) on HT-29 and Caco-2 cell lines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The maceration method was used to prepare different extracts (ethanol, dichloromethane, petroleum, and residues) from the plant. These extracts were then tested on two colon cancer cell lines - HT-29 and Caco-2 - using the MTT assay to determine the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values. In addition, we evaluated the expression levels of several inflammatory genes (IKKb, IKKa, and REIB) using real-time PCR. We also assessed Cox-2 protein expression using western blot analysis. The western blot was also used to analyze apoptosis-related proteins, including Caspase-3, BAX, and Bcl-2.

RESULTS

The dichloromethane extract of Levisticum officin (DELO) exhibited a high cytotoxic effect on Caco-2 and HT-29 cell lines, with IC50 values of 106.0±2 μg/mL in HT-29 cells and 175.3±4 μg/mL in Caco-2 cells after 72 hours. None of the lovage extracts showed a significant cytotoxic effect on non-cancerous cells (3T3 cell line). Furthermore, the group treated with DELO showed a lower expression level of inflammatory genes and COX-2 protein compared to the control group. Notably, treatment with DELO resulted in an increase in Caspase-3 protein and BAX/Bcl-2 ratio in both HT-29 and Caco-2 cells.

CONCLUSION

According to this study, DELO has the potential to act as an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent. Further research on the compounds present in DELO and their effect on various signaling pathways could help in the development of new drugs for diseases where inflammation or cells escape from apoptosis play a crucial role.

GC–MS analysis of phytocompounds and antihyperglycemic property of Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam. is a popular medicinal plant of Assam having several ethnomedicinal values. The present study investigated the metallic content, phytochemical contents, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase enzymes inhibitory property of H. sibthorpioides using in-vitro and in-silico methods. Heavy metal contents were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. GC–MS was used to analyze the phytochemical compounds of the plant. Enzyme inhibition study was carried out by Spectrophotometry methods. The drug-likeness and toxicity properties of the phytocompounds were studied using SwissADME and ADMETlab databases. Docking and molecular visualizations were performed in AutoDock vina and Discovery studio tools. The study found that the extract of H. sibthorpioides contains a negligible amount of toxic elements. GC–MS analysis detected four compounds from the methanolic extract of the plant. Biochemical study showed considerable α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory property of the crude extract of H. sibthorpioides. The IC50 of the plant extracts were found to be 1.27 mg/ml and 430.39 µg/ml for α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes, respectively. All four compounds were predicted to have potential drug-likeness properties with high cell membrane permeability, intestinal absorption, and less toxic effects. The docking study also showed strong binding affinities between the plant compounds and enzymes. Plant compound C2 showed an almost similar binding affinity with the α-amylase enzyme as compared to standard acarbose. The present study, thus, suggests the antihyperglycemic property of H. sibthorpioides and can be a potential source of antidiabetic drug candidates.