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Al-Abkal F, Abdel-Wahab BA, El-Kareem HFA, Moustafa YM, Khodeer DM. Protective Effect of Pycnogenol against Methotrexate-Induced Hepatic, Renal, and Cardiac Toxicity: An In Vivo Study. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15060674. [PMID: 35745592 PMCID: PMC9229807 DOI: 10.3390/ph15060674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Methotrexate (MTX) is one of the most commonly used chemotherapies for various types of cancer, including leukemia, breast cancer, hepatocarcinoma, and gastric cancers. However, the efficacy of MTX is frequently limited by serious side effects. Several studies have reported that the cytotoxic effect of MTX is not limited to cancer cells but can also affect normal tissues, leading to prospective damage to many organs. In the present study, we extensively investigated the molecular and microscopic basis of MTX-induced toxicity in different organs (liver, kidney, and heart) and explored the possible protective effect of pycnogenol, a polyphenolic component extracted from the bark of P. pinaster, to attenuate these effects. Biochemical analysis revealed that administration of MTX significantly reduced the function of the liver, kidney, and heart. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis indicated that MTX treatment caused damage to tissues of different organs. Interestingly, administration of pycnogenol (10, 20, and 30 mg/kg) significantly attenuated the deterioration effects of MTX on different organs in a dose-dependent manner, as demonstrated by biochemical and histological analysis. Our results reveal that pycnogenol successfully ameliorated oxidative damage and reduced toxicity, inflammatory response, and histological markers induced by methotrexate treatment. Taken together, this study provides solid evidence for the pharmacological application of pycnogenol to attenuate damage to different organs induced by MTX treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faten Al-Abkal
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt; (F.A.-A.); (Y.M.M.)
| | - Basel A. Abdel-Wahab
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 7111, Egypt;
| | - Hanaa F. Abd El-Kareem
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbasseya, Cairo 11566, Egypt;
| | - Yasser M. Moustafa
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt; (F.A.-A.); (Y.M.M.)
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University, Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Dina M. Khodeer
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt; (F.A.-A.); (Y.M.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +20-100-93345855
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Belcaro G, Cornelli U, Hosoi M, Cesarone MR, Scipione V, Scipione C, Dugall M, Feragalli B, Pellegrini L, Cotellese R. Intestinal fat absorption shifting (IFAS) with a chitosan biopolymer slows down the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis. A pilot study. Minerva Gastroenterol (Torino) 2022; 68:223-230. [PMID: 35179340 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-5985.22.03141-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intestinal fat absorption shifting (IFAS) can be achieved with a chitosan biopolymer (BP) able to retain most fats in the gut so that they are available to the intestinal microbiota (shift). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the standard management (SM) of asymptomatic cardiovascular disease prevention on intima-media thickness (IMT) in comparison with SM combined with BP. METHODS Two groups (SM and SM+3 g BP/day) were compared. They consisted of 86 and 81 subjects respectively treated for 6 months. Anthropometric variables, vital signs, fat mass, lipid profile, oxidative stress, carotid IMT, granulations at the IM layer and near-wall low density bubbles were measured. RESULTS Seventy-eight cases in the SM group and 81 in the SM+BP group completed the management period. Compliance was optimal (>97%) with no side effects. The anthropometric variables, vital signs, fat mass and oxidative stress were significantly lower only in the SM+BP group (P<0.05). Cholesterol and triglyceride levels improved with BP use (P<0.05). The changes in IMT were reduced significantly (P<0.05) in the SM+BP group only. The same was true for intimal granulation/bubbles. CONCLUSIONS The preliminary results suggest that the IFAS caused by BP has a positive effect on IMT and arterial wall structure (thickness and low-density bubbles) even during a short period of management. The intestinal fat shifting and reduction in oxidative stress seem to limit lipid oxidation and deposition on the arterial wall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianni Belcaro
- Irvine 3 Institute, San Valentino, Pescara, Italy - .,International Agency for Pharma-Standard Supplements - IAPSS, Pescara, Italy -
| | | | - Morio Hosoi
- Irvine 3 Institute, San Valentino, Pescara, Italy.,International Agency for Pharma-Standard Supplements - IAPSS, Pescara, Italy
| | - Maria R Cesarone
- Irvine 3 Institute, San Valentino, Pescara, Italy.,International Agency for Pharma-Standard Supplements - IAPSS, Pescara, Italy
| | - Valeria Scipione
- Irvine 3 Institute, San Valentino, Pescara, Italy.,International Agency for Pharma-Standard Supplements - IAPSS, Pescara, Italy
| | - Claudia Scipione
- Irvine 3 Institute, San Valentino, Pescara, Italy.,International Agency for Pharma-Standard Supplements - IAPSS, Pescara, Italy
| | - Mark Dugall
- Irvine 3 Institute, San Valentino, Pescara, Italy.,International Agency for Pharma-Standard Supplements - IAPSS, Pescara, Italy
| | | | - Luciano Pellegrini
- Irvine 3 Institute, San Valentino, Pescara, Italy.,International Agency for Pharma-Standard Supplements - IAPSS, Pescara, Italy
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Hu S, Belcaro G, Cesarone MR, Feragalli B, Cotellese R, Dugall M, Scipione C, Scipione V, Maione C. Central cardiovascular calcifications: supplementation with Pycnogenol® and Centellicum®: variations over 12 months. Minerva Cardioangiol 2019; 68:22-26. [PMID: 31633315 DOI: 10.23736/s0026-4725.19.05052-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This 'concept' registry study evaluated the efficacy of Pycnogenol® and the combination Pycnogenol® and Centella Asiatica (Centellicum®) in controlling over 12 months the increasing number of arterial/cardiac calcifications in subjects with asymptomatic atherosclerosis. METHODS The study included 3 groups of 30 males with asymptomatic coronary calcifications. Group one was followed with standard management (SM); group 2 used SM and Pycnogenol® (150 mg/day); group 3 used the combination Pycnogenol® (150 mg/day) + Centellicum® (450 mg/day). All subjects took cardioaspirin (Bayer, 100 mg/day). RESULTS No dropouts, no clinical events were observed in 12 months. The 3 groups had comparable demographic and medical characteristics at baseline. No tolerability problems and no side effects from supplementation were reported. After 12 months, oxidative stress was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in both groups taking Pycnogenol®. The evaluation of the number of calcifications >1 mm indicated a trend in controls using SM towards a progressive increase in calcifications. At 12 months the decrease in the number of calcifications with the combined supplements (Pycnogenol® and Centellicum®) (group 3) was -9.952% and thus significantly better that in the other two groups (P<0.05). Pycnogenol® alone was more effective than SM alone in controlling the variation in calcifications (P<0.05). Considering a 34.88% increase in SM subjects, the total absolute difference between SM (34.8%) and the decrease observed in group 3 (-9.95%) was 44.75% (P<0.02). This indicates that supplementation with the combined supplements blocks the increase in calcified areas and, possibly, in time may decrease the number of calcified spots. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that there is a significant activity of the complex Pycnogenol®+ Centellicum® in reducing the progressive diffusion of central cardiovascular calcifications-associated with advanced plaques - in a relatively short period of time. Longer studies - focusing also on events - may better evaluate the efficacy of these standardized supplements combination on the evolution of atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Hu
- IRVINE3 Labs, Department of Medical Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, Chieti-Pescara University, IAPSS, Pescara, Italy
| | - Gianni Belcaro
- IRVINE3 Labs, Department of Medical Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, Chieti-Pescara University, IAPSS, Pescara, Italy -
| | - Maria Rosaria Cesarone
- IRVINE3 Labs, Department of Medical Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, Chieti-Pescara University, IAPSS, Pescara, Italy
| | - Beatrice Feragalli
- IRVINE3 Labs, Department of Medical Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, Chieti-Pescara University, IAPSS, Pescara, Italy
| | - Roberto Cotellese
- IRVINE3 Labs, Department of Medical Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, Chieti-Pescara University, IAPSS, Pescara, Italy
| | - Mark Dugall
- IRVINE3 Labs, Department of Medical Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, Chieti-Pescara University, IAPSS, Pescara, Italy
| | - Claudia Scipione
- IRVINE3 Labs, Department of Medical Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, Chieti-Pescara University, IAPSS, Pescara, Italy
| | - Valeria Scipione
- IRVINE3 Labs, Department of Medical Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, Chieti-Pescara University, IAPSS, Pescara, Italy
| | - Claudia Maione
- IRVINE3 Labs, Department of Medical Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, Chieti-Pescara University, IAPSS, Pescara, Italy
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