Vaccaria n-Butanol Extract Lower the Production of Proinflammatory Cytokines and the Infection Risk of T. spiralis In Vivo

Impact of atorvastatin and mesenchymal stem cells combined with ivermectin on murine trichinellosis

Trichinellosis is one of the global food-borne parasitic diseases that can cause severe tissue damage. The traditionally used drugs for the treatment of trichinellosis have limited efficacy against the encysted larvae in the muscular phase of the disease. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the role of atorvastatin and mesenchymal stem cells combined with ivermectin against different phases of Trichinella in experimentally infected mice. A total of 120 male Swiss albino mice were divided into two major groups (n = 60 of each), intestinal and muscular phases. Then, each group was subdivided into 10 subgroups (n = 6); non-infected control, infected non-treated control, infected ivermectin treated, infected atorvastatin treated, infected mesenchymal stem cells treated, infected combined ivermectin and atorvastatin treated, infected combined mesenchymal stem cells and ivermectin treated, infected combined mesenchymal stem cells and atorvastatin treated, infected combined mesenchymal stem cells and a full dose of (ivermectin and atorvastatin) treated, and infected combined mesenchymal stem cells and half dose of (ivermectin and atorvastatin) treated. Mice were sacrificed at days 5 and 35 post-infection for the intestinal and muscular phases, respectively. The assessment was performed through many parameters, including counting the adult intestinal worms and muscular encysted larvae, besides histopathological examination of the underlying tissues. Moreover, a biochemical assay for the inflammatory and oxidative stress marker levels was conducted. In addition, levels of immunohistochemical CD31 and VEGF gene expression as markers of angiogenesis during the muscular phase were investigated. The combined mesenchymal stem cells and atorvastatin added to ivermectin showed the highest significant reduction in adult worms and encysted larvae counts, the most noticeable improvement of the histopathological changes, the most potent anti-inflammatory (lowest level of IL-17) and anti-angiogenic (lowest expression of CD31 and VEGF) activities, and also revealed the highly effective one to relieve the oxidative stress (lowest level of SOD, GSH, and lipid peroxidase enzymes). These observed outcomes indicate that adding mesenchymal stem cells and atorvastatin to ivermectin synergistically potentiates its therapeutic efficacy and provides a promising candidate against trichinellosis.

Comprehensive chemical profiling of Bassia indica Wight. aerial parts extract using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS, and its antiparasitic activity in Trichinella spiralis infected mice: in silico supported in vivo study

BACKGROUND

Trichinellosis is a public health threat infected both animals and humans as a result of eating undercooked meat. It caused by Trichinella spiralis that has widespread drug resistance and even developed many sophisticated strategies for their survival, this increases the demand in searching for new anthelmintic drugs from natural source.

METHODS

Our objectives were to test the in vitro and in vivo anthelmintic activity of Bassia indica BuOH frac., and to characterize its chemical composition using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Besides an in silico molecular docking study with the prediction of the PreADMET properties.

RESULTS

In vitro investigation of B. indica BuOH frac., showed severe destruction of the adult worm and larvae, marked cuticle swelling, areas with vesicles, blebs and loss of annulations. This was assured via in vivo study, which revealed a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the mean adult worm count with efficacy of 47.8% along with a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in the mean larval count per gram muscle with efficacy 80.7%. Histopathological examinations of the small intestine and muscular sections showed marked improvement. In addition, immunohistochemical findings demonstrated that B. indica BuOH frac. depressed the proinflammatory cytokines expressions of TNF-α, which was obviously upregulated by T. spiralis. Precise chemical investigation of the BuOH frac. using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS resulted in the identification of 13 oleanolic type triterpenoid saponins; oleanolic acid 3-O-6´-O-methyl-β-D-glucurono-pyranoside (1), chikusetsusaponin-IVa (2) and its methyl ester (3), chikusetsusaponin IV (4) and its methyl ester (5), momordin-Ic (6) and its methyl ester (7), betavulgaroside-I (8), -II (9) -IV (10), -X (11), licorice-saponin-C₂ (12) and -J₂ (13). In addition, 6 more phenolics were identified as syringaresinol (14), 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (15), 3-O-caffeoyl-4-O-dihydrocaffeoylquinic acid (16), 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid butyl ester (17), 3,5-di-O-galloyl-4-O-digalloylquinic acid (18) and quercetin 3-O-(6´´-feruloyl)-sophoroside (19). The auspicious anthelmintic activity was further ascertained using in silico molecular docking approach that targeted certain protein receptors (β-tubulin monomer, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), cysteine protease (Ts-CF1), calreticulin protein (Ts-CRT)), all the docked compounds (1-19) fit into the binding site of the active pocket with binding affinities noteworthy than albendazole. In addition, ADMET properties, drug score and drug likeness were predicted for all compounds.

Efficacy of Zingiber officinale and Cinnamomum zeylanicum extracts against experimental Trichinella spiralis infection

Trichinellosis is a re-emerging zoonotic disease that has become a public health concern since its reported human outbreaks in many countries. The traditional therapy has many adverse effects in addition to the developing resistance. So, this necessitates finding effective natural alternatives. The current study targeted to assess the potential therapeutic effects of Zingiber officinale and Cinnamomum zeylanicum in comparison to albendazole, a conventional therapy for treatment of trichinosis. Sixty mice were classified into five groups (12 mice each), non-infected control, infected control, combined albendazole and prednisolone, Zingiber officinale, and Cinnamomum zeylanicum treated groups. Mice sacrifice was performed on the 7th and 35th days post infection for intestinal and muscular phases respectively. Efficiency of the used preparations was assessed by parasitological, histopathological, immunohistochemical, biochemical studies in addition to ultrastructural evaluation using transmission electron microscopy. A significant reduction in the mean number of T. spiralis adult worms and larvae was observed in Zingiber officinale and Cinnamomum zeylanicum treated groups, (64.5%, 50.8%) and (68%, 54.6%) respectively. Also, both extracts showed moderate cytoplasmic reactivity for TGF-β1, (69.3% & 67.8%) respectively. The highest reduction in serum TNF- α level was observed in Zingiber officinale treated group during the muscle phase (58.4%) while in the intestinal phase was 50%. The ultrastructural study revealed degenerative effects on both adults and larvae in addition to obvious improvement of the histopathological changes in the small intestine and muscles. We concluded that these herbal extracts especially Zingiber officinale can be considered a practical and successful alternative for the treatment of trichinellosis.

Systematic Review of Potential Anticancerous Activities of Erythrina senegalensis DC (Fabaceae)

The objective of this study was to carry out a systematic review of the substances isolated from the African medicinal plant Erythrina senegalensis, focusing on compounds harboring activities against cancer models detailed in depth herein at both in vitro and in vivo preclinical levels. The review was conducted through Pubmed and Google Scholar. Nineteen out of the forty-two secondary metabolites isolated to date from E. senegalensis displayed interesting in vitro and/or in vivo antitumor activities. They belonged to alkaloid (Erysodine), triterpenes (Erythrodiol, maniladiol, oleanolic acid), prenylated isoflavonoids (senegalensin, erysenegalensein E, erysenegalensein M, alpinumisoflavone, derrone, warangalone), flavonoids (erythrisenegalone, senegalensein, lupinifolin, carpachromene) and pterocarpans (erybraedine A, erybraedine C, phaseollin). Among the isoflavonoids called "erysenegalensein", only erysenealenseins E and M have been tested for their anticancerous properties and turned out to be cytotoxic. Although the stem bark is the most frequently used part of the plant, all pterocarpans were isolated from roots and all alkaloids from seeds. The mechanisms of action of its metabolites include apoptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy and mitophagy via the modulation of cytoplasmic proteins, miRNA and enzymes involved in critical pathways deregulated in cancer. Alpinumisoflavone and oleanolic acid were studied in a broad spectrum of cancer models both in vitro and in preclinical models in vivo with promising results. Other metabolites, including carpachromen, phaseollin, erybraedin A, erysenegalensein M and maniladiol need to be further investigated, as they display potent in vitro effects.

l-Hypaphorine and d-hypaphorine: Specific antiacetylcholinesterase activity in rat brain tissue

Acetylcholinesterase (AChEis) inhibitors are used to treat neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD). l-Hypaphorine (l-HYP) is a natural indole alkaloid that has been shown to have effects on the central nervous system (CNS). The goal of this research was to synthesize l-HYP and d-HYP and test their anticholinesterasic properties in rat brain regions. l-HYP suppressed acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity only in the cerebellum, whereas d-HYP inhibited AChE activity in all CNS regions studied. No cytotoxic effect on normal human cells (HaCaT) was observed in the case of l-HYP and d-HYP although an increase in cell proliferation. Molecular modeling studies revealed that d-HYP and l-HYP have significant differences in their binding mode positions and interact stereospecifically with AChE's amino acid residues.

Vaccaria segetalis: A Review of Ethnomedicinal, Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Findings

Vaccaria segetalis is a dry mature seed of Vaccaria hispanica (Mill.) Rauschert, which belongs to the genus V. segetalis (Neck.) Garcke. There are multiple medicinal parts of V. segetalis, according to the records, including roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds, which should be used together. Currently, V. segetalis is most frequently used in the treatment of menstruation, dysmenorrhea, breast milk stoppages, and chylorrhea. Numerous studies present historical evidence of the use of V. segetalis to treat several diseases and describe its beneficial effects including prolactin- (PRL-) like, estrogen-like, antitumor, antiangiogenesis, and antioxidant activity. We summarized the period from January 1980 to December 2019 regarding V. segetalis. This review paper indicates that V. segetalis has promising clinical applications. The main active ingredients of the plant have been elucidated in recent years. We summarized the previously and newly discovered pharmacological effects of V. segetalis in addition to its active ingredients, ethnopharmacological uses, and toxicological properties, and provided a focus for future research.