Curcumin-loaded niosomes downregulate mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory markers involved in asthma: an in vitro study

Investigating mechanistic insights of curcumin in blocking the Interleukin-8 signaling pathway associated with Breast Cancer: An in-silico approach

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a chemokine, a type of signaling molecule that has a role in immunological responses and inflammation. In recent years, IL-8 is additionally related to cancer growth and recurrence. Breast cancer growth, progression, and metastatic development are all linked to IL-8. Breast cancer cells are known to develop faster when IL-8 stimulates their proliferation and survival. It can also cause angiogenesis, or the creation of new blood vessels, which is necessary for tumor nutrition and growth. IL-8 and curcumin have been subjects of interest in drug design, particularly in the context of inflammation-related disorders and cancer. This study aims to give an overview of the role of IL-8. Inhibitor-based treatment approaches were being used to target IL-8 with curcumin. Molecular docking method was employed to find a potential interaction to supress competitive inhibition of IL-8 with curcumin. PASS analysis and ADMET characteristics were also being carried out. In the end, IL-8 complexed with curcumin is chosen for MD simulations. Overall, our results showed that during the simulation, the complex stayed comparatively stable. It is also possible to investigate curcumin further as a possible treatment option. The combined results imply that IL-8 and their genetic alterations can be studied in precision cancer therapeutic treatments, utilizing target-driven therapy and early diagnosis.

Therapeutic potency of curcumin for allergic diseases: A focus on immunomodulatory actions

In light of increasing research evidence on the molecular mechanisms of allergic diseases, the crucial roles of innate and acquired immunity in the disease's pathogenesis have been well highlighted. In this respect, much attention has been paid to the modulation of unregulated and unabated inflammatory responses aiming to suppress pathologic immune responses in treating allergic diseases. One of the most important natural compounds with a high potency of immune modulation is curcumin, an active polyphenol compound derived from turmeric, Curcuma longa L. Curcumin's immunomodulatory action mainly arises from its interactions with an extensive collection of immune cells such as mast cells, eosinophils, epithelial cells, basophils, neutrophils, and lymphocytes. Up to now, there has been no detailed investigation of curcumin's immunomodulatory actions in allergic diseases. So, the present review study aims to prepare an overview of the immunomodulatory effects of curcumin on the pathologic innate immune responses and dysregulated functions of T helper (T_H) subtypes, including T_H1, T_H2, T_H17, and regulator T cells (Tregs) by gathering evidence from several studies of In-vitro and In-vivo. As the second aim of the present review, we also discuss some novel strategies to overcome the limitation of curcumin in clinical use. Finally, this review also assesses the therapeutic potential of curcumin regarding its immunomodulatory actions in allergic diseases.

Berberine-loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles inhibit non-small cell lung cancer proliferation and migration in vitro

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is reported to have a high incidence rate and is one of the most prevalent types of cancer contributing towards 85% of all incidences of lung cancer. Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid which offers a broad range of therapeutical and pharmacological actions against cancer. However, extremely low water solubility and poor oral bioavailability have largely restricted its therapeutic applications. To overcome these limitations, we formulated berberine-loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNs) and investigated their in vitro antiproliferative and antimigratory activity in human lung epithelial cancer cell line (A549). 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), trypan blue staining, and colony forming assays were used to evaluate the anti-proliferative activity, while scratch wound healing assay and a modified Boyden chamber assay were carried out to determine the anti-migratory activity. We also investigated major proteins associated with lung cancer progression. The developed nanoparticles were found to have an average particle size of 181.3 nm with spherical shape, high entrapment efficiency (75.35%) and have shown sustained release behaviour. The most remarkable findings reported with berberine-loaded LCNs were significant suppression of proliferation, inhibition of colony formation, inhibition of invasion or migration via epithelial mesenchymal transition, and proliferation related proteins associated with cancer progression. Our findings suggest that anti-cancer compounds with the problem of poor solubility and bioavailability can be overcome by formulating them into nanotechnology-based delivery systems for better efficacy. Further in-depth investigations into anti-cancer mechanistic research will expand and strengthen the current findings of berberine-LCNs as a potential NSCLC treatment option.

Curcuma longa and curcumin affect respiratory and allergic disorders, experimental and clinical evidence: A comprehensive and updated review

Curcuma longa and its constituents, mainly curcumin, showed various of pharmacological effects in previous studies. This review article provides updated and comprehensive experimental and clinical evidence regarding the effects of C. longa and curcumin on respiratory, allergic, and immunologic disorders. Using appropriate keywords, databases including PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus were searched until the end of October 2021. C. longa extracts and its constituent, curcumin, showed the relaxant effect on tracheal smooth muscle, which indicates their bronchodilatory effect in obstructive pulmonary diseases. The preventive effects of extracts of C. longa and curcumin were shown in experimental animal models of different respiratory diseases through antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. C. longa and curcumin also showed preventive effects on some lung disorders in the clinical studies. It was shown that the effects of C. longa on pulmonary diseases were mainly due to its constituent, curcumin. Pharmacological effects of C. longa extracts and curcumin on respiratory, allergic, and immunologic disorders indicate the possible therapeutic effect of the plant and curcumin on these diseases.

Pharmacological Strategies and Recent Advancement in Nano-Drug Delivery for Targeting Asthma

With a high prevalence globally, asthma is a severe hazard to human health, as well as an economic and social burden. There are now novel therapies available for asthma with the use of nanotechnology. Recent developments in nanoscience and medicine have encouraged the creation of inhalable nanomedicines that can enhance the efficacy, patient compliance, and life quality for sufferers of asthma. Nanocarriers for asthma therapy, including liposomes, micelles, polymers, dendrimers, and inorganics, are presented in depth in this study as well as the current research status of these nanocarriers. Aerosolized nanomaterial-based drug transport systems are currently being developed, and some examples of these systems, as well as prospective future paths, are discussed. New research subjects include nano-modification of medicines and the development of innovative nano-drugs. Clinical experiments have proven that nanocarriers are both safe and effective. Before nanotherapy can be applied in clinical practice, several obstacles must be addressed. We look at some of the most recent research discoveries in the subject of nanotechnology and asthma therapy in this article.

Rutin loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles inhibit non-small cell lung cancer proliferation and migration in vitro

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the major causes of cancer-related mortality globally. Despite the availability of therapeutic options, the improvement in patient survival is yet to be achieved. Recent advances in natural product (e.g., Rutin) research, therapeutic nanotechnology and especially the combination of both could aid in achieving significant improvements in the treatment or management of NSCLC. In this study, we explore the anti-cancer activity of Rutin-loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNs) in an in vitro model where we have employed the A549 human lung epithelial carcinoma cell line. The anti-proliferative activity was determined by MTT and Trypan blue assays, whereas, the anti-migratory activity was evaluated by the scratch wound healing assay and a modified Boyden chamber assay. We also evaluated the anti-apoptotic activity by Annexin V-FITC staining, and the colony formation activity was studied using crystal violet staining. Here, we report that Rutin-LCNs showed promising anti-proliferative and anti-migratory activities. Furthermore, Rutin-LCNs also induced apoptosis in the A549 cells and inhibited colony formation. The findings warrant further detailed and in-depth anti-cancer mechanistic studies of Rutin-LCNs with a focus towards a potential therapeutic option for NSCLC. LCNs may help to enhance the solubility of Rutin used in the treatment of lung cancer and hence enhance the anticancer effect of Rutin.

Rutin-loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles attenuate oxidative stress in bronchial epithelial cells: a PCR validation

Aim: In the present study, the inhibitory potential of rutin-loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNs) on oxidative stress was determined in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) by analysing the expression levels of different antioxidant (NADPH quinine oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1); γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase catalytic subunit (GCLC)) and pro-oxidant (NADPH oxidase (Nox)-4; Nox2B) genes. Results: Our findings revealed that the rutin-loaded LCNs inhibited the genes, namely Nox2B and Nox4, which caused oxidative stress. In addition, these nanoparticles demonstrated an upregulation in the expression of the antioxidant genes Gclc and Nqo-1 in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: The study indicates the promising potential of rutin-loaded LCNs as an effective treatment strategy in patients with high oxidant loads in various respiratory diseases.