Protective effect of Lepidium sativum seed extract against hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in human liver cells (HepG2)

Novel drug therapy of acute hepatic failure induced in rats by a combination of tadalafil and Lepidium sativum

BACKGROUND

Hepatocyte death and a systemic inflammatory response are the outcome of a complex chain of events mediated by numerous inflammatory cells and chemical mediators. The point of this study was to find out if tadalafil and/or Lepidium sativum (L. sativum) could help people who have been exposed to carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) and are experiencing acute moderate liver failure. This was especially true when the two were used together.

METHOD AND MATERIALS

To cause mild liver failure 24 h before sacrifice, a single oral dosage of CCL4 (2.5 mL/kg b.w.) (50% in olive oil) was utilized. Furthermore, immunohistochemical expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) as well as histological abnormalities were performed on liver tissue.

RESULTS

The results showed that tadalafil and/or L. sativum, especially in combination, performed well to cure acute mild liver failure caused by CCL4. This was demonstrated by a decrease in NF-κB expression in the liver tissue and an improvement in organ damage markers observed in the blood and liver tissues. Furthermore, such therapy reduced interleukin1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels in the liver tissue. It's worth noting that the tested combination resulted in greater liver improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the findings, tadalafil and L. sativum, particularly in combination, have the ability to protect the liver from the negative effects of CCL4 exposure. Because of its capacity to improve liver function, restore redox equilibrium, and decrease inflammatory mediators, it is a prospective option for mitigating the negative effects of common environmental pollutants such as CCL4.

Research Update on the Therapeutic Potential of Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum Linn.) with Threatened Status

Garden cress (Lepidium sativum) has been used in India for medicinal purposes since the Vedic era. Garden cress, a native of Egypt and southwest Asia, is a small perennial edible herb that has been used to treat many diseases for centuries. The seeds, leaves as well as roots have medicinal properties. The seeds are rich in protein, fat, calcium, and iron and have high nutritional value. They are considered to be galactagogue, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, antiasthmatic and antidiarrheal. Leaves, seeds, and aerial parts extracts are found to have alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, polypeptides, vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Lepidium sativum is known for its pungent odor due to the several volatile oils and has been used to treat various conditions, including respiratory disorders, muscle pain, inflammation, and bone fractures in the past. Lepidium sativum is a fast-growing annual herb; in India, it is commonly known as Chandrasoor. Whole fruits or seeds are used, fresh or dried, as a seasoning with a peppery flavor. Boiled seeds are consumed in drinks by Arabs, either ground in honey or as an infusion in hot milk. The seed oil can be used for illumination and soap making. Additionally, limited awareness and conservation efforts have further contributed to its threatened status. Recognizing the importance of preserving this valuable plant species is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring its availability for future generations. Furthermore, this review explores the potential benefits of Lepidium sativum in different domains. Its nutritional value and health benefits make it a promising candidate for addressing malnutrition and improving overall well-being. The presence of bioactive compounds suggests its potential use in functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and natural medicines for various ailments. Moreover, Lepidium sativum exhibits antimicrobial and insecticidal properties, offering potential applications in agriculture and pest control. The current review discussed the nutritional, potential benefits and pharmacological effects of Lepidium sativum.

Hypolipidemic Activity and Mechanism of Action of Sargassum fusiforme Polysaccharides

Sargassum fusiforme polysaccharide (SFP) is a kind of biologically active macromolecule with biological functions. In this study, oxidative stress and high-fat HepG2 cell models were established to investigate its lipid-lowering activity and mechanism of action. It was found that SFP and its two isolated fractions had antioxidant effects on the cells. It was also found the polysaccharides decreased the content of total cholesterol and total triglyceride in the high-fat cells. RT-qPCR assays revealed that the three polysaccharides down-regulated the mRNA expression level of ACC, PPARγ, and SREBP-2. It could be concluded that the hypolipidemic effect of SFPs is achieved via multiple pathways, including the regulation on the expression level of lipid metabolism-related key enzymes and factors, and binding with bile acids. The hypolipidemic effect of SFPs could be partially due to their antioxidant activity. SFPs developed in the present work have potential as ingredients of functional foods with hypolipidemic effect.

Reproductive performance and milk yield of rabbits fed diets supplemented with garden cress (Lepidium sativum) seed

Recently, phytochemicals in plants have evoked interest as sources of naturally beneficial substances and as alternatives to antimicrobials. Based on these benefits, it was hypothesized that garden cress (GC; Lepidium sativum) supplementation could overcome the negative impacts of severe heat stress on the reproductive and lactation performance, physiological parameters, and antioxidant status of rabbits. Twenty-four mature V-line does (6 months old) with an average body weight of 3.65 ± 0.54 kg were randomly assigned into four homogenously equal groups (n = 6) according to the level of supplemented GC seeds. Rabbits in the control group were fed a basal diet without GC seeds (GC 0), the other three treatment groups (GC 3, GC 4.5, and GC 6) were fed a basal diet supplemented with GC seeds at levels 3, 4.5 and 6%, respectively. Investigations revealed that the inclusion of 3% GC enhanced the litter weight of heat-stressed rabbits on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days. Furthermore, treatment with 3% and 6% GC seeds increased the milk yield on the 28th day. the most of lipid profile parameters, such as cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), serum urea levels, and antioxidant status improved in rabbits supplemented with 6% GC. In conclusion, the dietary supplemention of GC seed at 6% increased milk yield at 28^th day "weaning age", consequently, improved the blood lipid profile and antioxidant status. Further studies should be conducted to commercialize theusage of garden cress seeds as a supplement in rabbits.

Exceptional Properties of Lepidium sativum L. Extract and Its Impact on Cell Viability, Ros Production, Steroidogenesis, and Intracellular Communication in Mice Leydig Cells In Vitro

The prevalence of reproductive dysfunction in males has risen in the last few years, and alternative therapies are gradually gaining in popularity. Our in vitro study aimed to evaluate the potential impact of Lepidium sativum L. on mice TM3 Leydig cells, concerning basal parameters such as cell viability, cell membrane integrity, and lysosomal activity, after 24 h and 48 h exposure. Moreover, reactive oxygens species generation, sex-steroid hormone secretion, and intercellular communication were quantified. In the present study, the microgreen extract from Lepidium was rich in ferulic acid, 4-OH benzoic acid, and resveratrol, with a significant antioxidant activity. The results showed that lower experimental doses (62.5-250 µg/mL) could positively affect the observed parameters, with significant differences at 250 µg/mL after 24 h and 48 h, respectively. Potential risks could be associated with higher concentrations, starting at 500 µg/mL, 1000 µg/mL, and 2000 µg/mL of Lepidium. Nevertheless, biochemical quantification indicated a significant antioxidant potential and a rich content of biologically active molecules at the applied doses, and time determined the intracellular response of the cultured model.

Anti-inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Properties of Lepidium sativum

Background

Lepidium sativum (garden cress) is a member of the Brassicaceae family that has been utilized for medicinal and culinary purposes in centuries. Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, antiasthmatic, and hypoglycemic properties are found in various portions of the plant. The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects of L. sativum were the subject of this review.

Methods

The required information was gathered by searching the Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases for the terms anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, immune system, and Lepidium sativum. Up until February 2022, the search was conducted.

Results

TNF-, IL-6, IL-1, NO, iNOS, and HO-1 levels were reduced, indicating that L. sativum has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Flavonoids, alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, tannins, glucosinolates, sterols, and triterpenes are the key chemical components that contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects. In peritoneal neutrophils, L. sativum reduced oxidative stress by scavenging free radicals, as evidenced by a drop in superoxide anion and an increase in glutathione.

Conclusion

The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities of L. sativum could be explored in clinical trials to treat inflammatory and immune system illnesses.

Nutraceutical Profiling, Bioactive Composition, and Biological Applications of Lepidium sativum L

The roots, leaves, and seeds of Lepidium sativum L., popularly known as Garden cress in different regions, have high economic importance; although, the crop is particularly cultivated for the seeds. In traditional medicine, this plant has been reported to possess various biological activities. This review is aimed at providing updated and critical scientific information about the traditional, nutritional, phytochemical, and biological activities of L. sativum. In addition, the geographic distribution is also reviewed. The comprehensive literature search was carried out with the help of different search engines PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct. This review highlighted the importance of L. sativum as an edible herb that possesses a wide range of therapeutic properties along with high nutritional values. Preclinical studies (in vitro and in vivo) displayed anticancer, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, gastrointestinal, and fracture/bone healing activities of L. sativum and support the clinical importance of plant-derived bioactive compounds for the treatment of different diseases. Screening of literature revealed that L. sativum species and their bioactive compounds may be a significant source for new drug compounds and also could be used against malnutrition. Further clinical trials are needed to effectively assess the actual potential of the species and its bioactive compounds.

Review On Documented Medicinal Plants Used For The Treatment Of Cancer

Background:

Cancer is a frightful disease and it is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Naturally derived compounds are gaining interest of research workers as they have less toxic side effects as compared to currently used treatments such as chemotherapy. Plants are the pool of chemical compounds which provides a promising future for research on cancer.

Objective:

This review paper provides updated information gathered on medicinal plants and isolated phytoconstituents used as anticancer agents and summarises the plant extracts and their isolated chemical constituents exhibiting anticancer potential on clinical trials.

Methods:

An extensive bibliographic investigation was carried out by analysing worldwide established scientific databases like SCOPUS, PUBMED, SCIELO, ScienceDirect, Springerlink, Web of Science, Wiley, SciFinder and Google Scholar etc. In next few decades, herbal medicine may become a new epoch of medical system.

Results:

Many researches are going on medicinal plants for the treatment of cancer but it is a time to increase further experimental studies on plant extracts and their chemical constituents to find out their mechanism of action at molecular level.

Conclusion:

The article may help many researchers to start off further experimentation that might lead to the drugs for the cancer treatment.

The investigation of the efficacy ratio of cress seeds supplementation to moderate hyperglycemia and hepatotoxicity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

OBJECTIVE

Oxidative stress resulting from chronic hyperglycemia induced many complications in diabetes and led to disorders and dysfunctions in different organs. This study aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective rate of cress seeds (CS) or Lepidium sativum seeds in the diet on lowering hyperglycemia and oxidative stress damaging.

METHODS

Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ). Forty-eight male rats were randomly divided into six groups : (D-0) and (ND-0) diabetic, and non-diabetic groups were fed with a normal diet, (ND-CS2) and (ND-CS5) non-diabetic groups were fed with diet containing 2 % and 5 % of cress seeds respectively, (D-CS2) and (D-CS5) diabetic groups were fed with diet containing 2 % and 5 % of cress seeds respectively. After 28 days of treatment, biochemical, histological, and oxidative parameters were determined. Hepatic and pancreatic histological sections were developed.

RESULTS

STZ-injection caused hyperglycemia accompanied by a disturbance in biochemical parameters and intensified oxidative stress status compared to the (ND-0) group. Hepatic and pancreatic histological sections of diabetic rats showed a disrupted architecture. However, the cress seeds-diet revealed a significant decrease of hyperglycemia and a reduction of the intensity of oxidative stress induced by diabetes compared to the (D-0) group, remarked by a decreased level of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and high levels of glutathione (GSH) and the antioxidant enzymes, led to the decrease of the majority of parameters principally hepatic and lipid profile with histological regeneration.

CONCLUSIONS

Cress seeds supplementation confirmed their potential anti-diabetic and antioxidant activities with higher efficacy of 5 % dose than the lower dose of 2 %. Therefore, 5 % of cress seeds administration seems to be the excellent rate recommended in controlling diabetes and its complications.

Effects of dietary baicalin supplementation on growth performance, antioxidative status and protection against oxidative stress-induced liver injury in GIFT tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Baicalin, a main bioactive compound of Scutellaria baicalensis, has a variety of pharmacological activities including antioxidation, anti-inflammation and hepatoprotection. However, there are few reports on these biological activities in fish. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of baicalin on growth performance, antioxidative status and hepatoprotection in tilapia. The fish were fed on different doses of baicalin (0, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 g/kg diet). After feeding 60 days, parts of fishes were netted, and the blood, liver, gills and muscle tissues were collected to analyze the antioxidative effect. The remaining fishes were injected with saline or hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) for challenge test. The results showed that the specific growth rate of fish was slightly increased in three baicalin treatments, and the feed efficiency was clearly improved in 0.4 g/kg baicalin treatment. Meanwhile, the antioxidative capacity in blood, liver and/or gill was enhanced in treatments with 0.4, 0.8 and/or 1.6 g/kg baicalin. After challenge test, the pre-treatments with baicalin effectively alleviated H₂O₂-induced liver injury. In serum and liver, pre-treatments with 0.8 and/or 1.6 g/kg baicalin suppressed the oxidative damage induced by H₂O₂, as evidenced by improvement of the levels of SOD, T-AOC and GSH and the decline of MDA level. More important, pre-treatments with 0.4, 0.8 and/or 1.6 g/kg baicalin blocked the upregulation of mRNA levels of tlr1, myd88, irak4, rela, tnf-α and il-1β in H₂O₂-induced liver injury. In summary, dietary baicalin supplementation could improve feed efficiency, enhance antioxidative ability and alleviate oxidative stress-induced hepatotoxicity in tilapia.

Lepidium sativum as candidate against excitotoxicity in retinal ganglion cells

Glutamate excitotoxicity is considered one of the major causes of retinal ganglion cell death in many retinal diseases. Retinal ganglion cell degeneration causes severe blindness since visual signals from the eye to the brain are conducted only through retinal ganglion cells.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to explore the potential ameliorative effects of L. sativum against glutamate excitotoxicity-induced retinal ganglion cell damage.

METHODS

Pure retinal ganglion cells were divided into a control group (untreated); L. sativum-treated groups in which retinal ganglion cells were treated with 5, 10, 50, or 100 µg/mL L. sativum seed extract for 2 h; glutamate-treated groups in which cells were treated with 5, 10, 50, or 100 µM glutamate for 48 h; and L. sativum/glutamate groups [pretreatment with L. sativum for 2 h (50 or 100 µg/mL) before glutamate treatment at 100 µM for 48 h]. Cell damage was assessed by comet assay and cell viability was by MTT test.

RESULTS

Tailed DNA, tail length, and tail moment of the 50 and 100 mM glutamate-treated groups were significantly greater than those of the blank control group, while the L. sativum-treated groups demonstrated nonsignificantly different tailed DNA, tail length, and tail moment compared with the blank control group, but significantly lower values compared with the glutamate-treated groups.

CONCLUSION

L. sativum ameliorated the cell viability in retinal ganglion cells after high-concentration glutamate exposure. L. sativum seed extracts were efficient anti-excitotoxic and antioxidant agent that might improve the clinical presentation of many neurological disorders.

A Panoramic Review on Lepidium sativum L. Bioactives as Prospective Therapeutics

BACKGROUND

Lepidium sativum (L. sativum), an annual herb belonging to family Brassicaceae is commonly known as Garden cress of Egyptian origin but now a day's cultivated worldwide. The plant material and its constituents are used in various traditional and folk medicines for the treatment of various liver diseases and other ailments.

OBJECTIVE

This review aims to gather comprehensive information on L. sativum's bioactive constituents, and it's antioxidant, hepato-protective and anticancer activity.

METHOD

Systematic exploration for research evidences were carried out using well-structured and focused review question and presented data in the tabular form for readers' convenience.

RESULTS

The comprehensive literature survey was conducted, and we found that specific studies on L. Sativum and its bioactive compounds had been carried out to date. We explored the unique and selective effect of L. Sativum and its bioactive constituents to combat oxidative stress and hepatic carcinoma.

CONCLUSION

The present article appraised that L. sativum extract has a potential therapeutic effect against liver toxicity and hepato-carcinoma. Graphical Abstract.

Osteoprotective Activity and Metabolite Fingerprint via UPLC/MS and GC/MS of Lepidium sativum in Ovariectomized Rats

Lepidium sativum seeds are used traditionally to accelerate healing of bone fracture in addition to its culinary uses. This study aimed to characterize the osteoprotective effect of L. sativum in an ovariectomized rat model at two dose levels (50 and 100 mg/kg) using 17β-estradiol as a positive reference standard. Moreover, a complete metabolite profile of L. sativum via UHPLC/PDA/ESI-MS, as well as headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME)-GC/MS is presented. Results revealed that L. sativum extract exhibited significant anti-osteoporotic actions as evidenced by mitigating the decrease in relative bone weight concurrent with improved longitudinal and perpendicular femur compression strength. Further, the extract enhanced the serum bone formation biomarkers lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and osteocalcin levels. The extract also inhibited exhaustion of superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and accumulation of lipid peroxides in bone tissues. This is in addition to ameliorating the rise in the markers of bone resorption carboxyterminal telopeptide, type I (CTXI) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and modulating receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL)/ osteoprotegerin (OPG) expression. Metabolite characterization suggests that glucosinolates, lignans, coumarins, phenolic acids, and alkaloids mediate these anti-osteoporotic effects in a synergistic manner.

Normothermic Machine Perfusion Combined with Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves the Oxidative Stress Response and Mitochondrial Function in Rat Donation After Circulatory Death Livers

There is a need to improve the quality of donor liver from donation after circulatory death (DCD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects and mechanism of normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) on the oxidative stress and mitochondrial function in DCD livers. DCD livers were obtained, a rat NMP system was established, and BMMSCs were extracted and identified. The DCD livers were grouped by their preservation method: Normal, static cold storage (SCS), NMP (P), and NMP combined with BMMSCs (PB), and the preservation time was up to 8 h. An IAR20 cell oxidative stress injury model was established in vitro by simulating DCD oxidative stress injury and coculturing with BMMSCs for 6 h. Compared with SCS group, after 6 h in vitro, the PB and P groups had significantly improved liver function and liver histological damage, reduced hepatocyte apoptosis and oxidative stress, improved hepatocyte mitochondrial damage, and increased mitochondrial membrane potential. These indicators were significantly better in the PB group than in the P group. BMMSCs significantly inhibited reactive oxygen species release from the IAR20 cell oxidative stress model in vitro, ameliorated mitochondrial damage, and increased mitochondrial membrane potential level. BMMSCs also downregulated the JUN N-terminal kinase-nuclear factor kappa B (JNK-NF-κB) signaling pathway significantly in the IAR20 cell oxidative stress model and promoted AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. We verified that NMP combined with BMMSCs also played the same role in the PB group. NMP combined with BMMSCs could improve liver quality by relieving oxidative stress injury and improving mitochondrial function in rat DCD livers. The mechanism of protective role might involve inhibiting the JNK-NF-κB pathway to reduce oxidative stress and promote AMPK activation, thereby reducing mitochondrial damage and increase mitochondrial function.

Pro-oxidant versus anti-oxidant effects of seeds aglycone extracts of Lepidium sativum and Eruca vesicaria Linn., in vitro, and on neutrophil nitro-oxidative functions

This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of seeds aglycone extracts from Lepidium sativum (LS) and Eruca vesicaria (EV) Linn., on oxidative damages in vitro and on neutrophil nitro-oxidative functions. The results showed that LS and EV aglycone extracts attenuated liver microsomal lipids and proteins oxidation through a potent antioxidant effect as attested by the dose dependent quenching of DPPH radical scavenging activity. LS and EV aglycone extracts inhibited dose dependently the production of superoxide anion by BALB/c mice-derived peritoneal neutrophils, whereas they slightly enhanced exocytosis of myeloperoxidase (MPO), a marker of azurophilic granules. Interestingly, only LS replenished glutathione (GSH) and nitric oxide levels, indicating a fine differential effect. This study highlighted the subtle oxidative and antioxidant capacity of LS and EV seeds aglycone extracts. These health promoting compounds could be used to finely modulate critical events involved in microbial infection, inflammation and nitro-oxidative stress.

Catalytic Efficiency of Red Mud for the Degradation of Olive Mill Wastewater through Heterogeneous Fenton’s Process

Olive mill wastewater is a challenging effluent, especially due to its toxicity related to the presence of phenolic compounds. Fenton’s process was analysed on the abatement of phenolic acids typically found in this kind of effluents. To overcome the main drawback of Fenton’s process, a waste from the aluminium industry commonly called red mud was used as a heterogeneous source of iron. The adsorption of simulated effluent on the red mud was negligible. Therefore, the degradation of phenolic acids during Fenton’s process was due to oxidation by hydroxyl radicals. The amount of red mud and hydrogen peroxide were optimized regarding phenolic acids degradation. The optimal conditions leading to the highest removal of contaminants (100% of phenolic acids degradation and 25% of mineralization after 60 min of reaction) were 1 g/L of catalyst and 100 mg/L of hydrogen peroxide. The possibility of recovering treated water for agricultural purposes was evaluated by assessing the toxic impact over a wide range of species. The toxicity observed for the treated samples was mainly related to the residual hydrogen peroxide remaining after treatment.

Copper(II) complexes as potential anticancer and Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents: In vitro and in vivo studies

Copper-based compounds are promising entities for target-specific next-generation anticancer and NSAIDS therapeutics. In lieu of this, benzimidazole scaffold plays an important role, because of their wide variety of potential functionalizations and coordination modes. Herein, we report three copper complexes 1-3 with benzimidazole-derived scaffolds, a biocompatible molecule, and secondary ligands viz, 1-10-phenanthroline and 2,2'-bipyridyl. All the copper complexes have been designed, synthesized and adequately characterized using various spectroscopic techniques. In-vitro, human serum albumin (HSA) binding was also carried out using fluorescence technique and in-silico molecular modeling studies, which exhibited significant binding affinities of the complexes with HSA. Furthermore, copper complexes 1-3 were tested for biological studies, i.e., anticancer as well as NSAIDS. In vitro cytotoxicity results were carried out on cultured MCF-7 cell lines. To get the insight over the mechanism of action, GSH depletion and change in lipid peroxidation were tested and thus confirmed the role of ROS generation, responsible for the cytotoxicity of the complexes 1-3. Moreover, the copper complexes 1-3 were tested for potential to act as NSAIDS on albino rats and mice in animal studies in-vivo. Additionally, we also predicted the mechanism of action of the copper complexes 1-3 using molecular modeling studies with COX-2 inhibitor.

Methyl ferulic acid attenuates liver fibrosis and hepatic stellate cell activation through the TGF-β1/Smad and NOX4/ROS pathways

Liver fibrosis is a pathological wound-healing response caused by chronic liver damage due to a virus, autoimmune disorder, or drugs. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play an essential role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Methyl ferulic acid (MFA), a biologically active monomer, has a protective effect on liver injury. However, the effects and roles of MFA in liver fibrosis remain unknown. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of MFA on hepatic fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms. Human hepatic stellate LX-2 cells were exposed to 5 μg/L TGF-β1 for 48 h to stimulate liver fibrosis in vitro. Using MTT, RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, we revealed that MFA significantly inhibited the proliferation of LX-2 cells as well as decreased the expressions of α-SMA and type I collagen in LX-2 cells. SD rats were fed with ethanol, and this combined with the intraperitoneal injection of CCl₄ induced liver fibrosis in vivo. We found that the administration of MFA markedly decreased the levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen type III (PC-III), type IV collagen (CIV) and laminin (LN) in the serum, inhibited the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) as well as type I and type III collagen, and up-regulated the ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-1 in rats. The antifibrotic effects of MFA were also evaluated by H&E staining and Masson's trichrome staining. In addition, further studies suggested that this protection by MFA from liver fibrosis was possibly related to the inhibition of TGF-β1/Smad and NOX4/ROS signalling. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that MFA attenuated liver fibrosis and hepatic stellate cell activation by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad and NOX4/ROS signalling pathways.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Steroidal Glycosides From Dioscorea villosa on Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Hepatotoxicity in HepG2 Cells

Dioscorea villosa, commonly known as "Wild Yam" and native to North America, is well documented for its pharmacological properties due to the presence of steroidal glycosides. However, the hepatoprotective potential of these compounds has not been studied so far. The present investigation was aimed to study the hepatoprotective effect of the steroidal glycosides from D. villosa against H2O2, a known hepatotoxin, in human liver cell line (HepG2). Cytotoxicity assessment was carried out in cells exposed to various concentrations (10-50 μM) of compounds for 24 h using MTT assay and morphological changes. All tested compounds were known and among them, spirostans (zingiberensis saponin I, dioscin, deltonin and progenin III) were found to be cytotoxic whereas, furostans (huangjiangsu A, pseudoprotodioscin, methyl protobioside, protodioscin, and protodeltonin) were non-cytotoxic. Further, HepG2 cells were pretreated with biologically safe concentrations (10, 30, and 50 μM) of non-cytotoxic compounds and then cytotoxic (0.25 mM) concentration of H2O2. After 24 h, cell viability was assessed by MTT and NRU assays, while morphological changes were observed under the microscope. The results showed that treatment of HepG2 cells with compounds prior to H2O2 exposure effectively increased cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, huangjiangsu A, pseudoprotodioscin, methyl protobioside, protodioscin, and protodeltonin at 50 μM increased GSH level and decreased intracellular ROS generation against H2O2-induced damages. The results from this study revealed that compounds isolated from D. villosa have hepatoprotective potential against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity and ROS generation and could be promising as potential therapeutic agents for liver diseases.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of Lepidium sativum seed oil

Lepidium sativum (garden cress) seed oil was examined for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. The oil was obtained by hydrodistillation, where gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry that utilized to study its chemical composition. Microdilution method was used to test the antimicrobial effect of oil against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Candida albicans. The antioxidant activity was assessed by radical scavenging activity assay using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical. The major constituents found in the oil were 7,10-hexadecadienoic acid, 11-octadecenoic acid, 7,10,13-hexadecatrienoic acid, and behenic acid. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against all pathogens was 47.5 mg/ml, except for Salmonella enterica, which showed MIC of 90 mg/ml. The oil demonstrated antioxidant activity in a dose dependent pattern, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 40 mg/ml, and exerted anti-inflammatory activity, wherein 21% protection was shown at a concentration of 300 μg/ml. Thus, L. sativum seed oil shows antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Antibacterial Activity of 7-Epiclusianone and Its Novel Copper Metal Complex on Streptococcus spp. Isolated from Bovine Mastitis and Their Cytotoxicity in MAC-T Cells

Mastitis is an inflammation of mammary gland parenchyma that adversely affects bovine health and dairy production worldwide despite significant efforts to eradicate it. The aim of this work was to characterize the antimicrobial activity of 7-epiclusianone (7-epi), a compound extracted from the Rheedia brasiliensis fruit, its complex with copper against Streptococcus spp. isolated from bovine mastitis, and to assess their cytotoxicity to bovine mammary alveolar cells (MAC-T). The complex 7-epiclusianone-Cu (7-epi-Cu) was an amorphous green solid with optical activity. Its vibrational spectrum in the infrared region showed absorption bands in the high-frequency region, as well as bands that can be attributed to the unconjugated and conjugated stretching of the free ligand. The complex was anhydrous. One of the tested bacterial strains was not sensitive to the compounds, while the other three had MIC values of 7.8 µg mL^-1 and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values between 15.6 and 31.3 µg mL^-1. These two compounds are bacteriostatic, did not cause damage to the cell wall and, at sub-inhibitory concentrations, did not induce bacterial adhesion. The compounds were not cytotoxic. Based on these results, 7-epi and 7-epi-Cu exhibited desirable antimicrobial properties and could potentially be used in bovine mastitis treatment.

Hepatoprotective activity of Lepidium sativum seeds against D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide induced hepatotoxicity in animal model

BACKGROUND

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is clinical syndrome with very poor prognosis and high mortality there is urgent need for the development of safe and non-toxic hepatoprotective agents for the adequate management of hepatitis. Hepatoprotective effect of the Lepidium sativum ethanolic extract (LSEE) was assessed by D-galactosamine-induced/lipopolysaccharide (400 mg/kg and 30 μg/kg) liver damage model in rats.

METHODS

Hepatoprotective activity of LSEE (150 and 300 mg/kg) and silymarin on D-GalN/LPS induced FHF in rat was assessed using several liver function enzyme parameters. Antioxidant properties as antioxidant stress enzymes were assessed in hepatic Liver as well as mRNA expression of cytokines genes such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 and stress related genes iNOS and HO-1 were determined by RT-PCR. Protein expression of apoptotic genes were evaluated through western blot. MPO and NF-κB DNA-binding activity was analyzed by ELISA. The magnitude of hepatic impairment was investigated through histopathological evaluation.

RESULTS

Marked amelioration of hepatic injuries by attenuation of serum and lipid peroxidation has been observed as comparable with silymarin (25 mg/kg p.o). D-GalN/LPS induced significant decrease in oxidative stress markers protein level, and albumin. LSEE significantly down-regulated the D-GalN/LPS induced pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL-6 mRNA expression in dose dependent fashion about 0.47 and 0.26 fold and up-regulates the IL-10 by 1.9 and 2.8 fold, respectively. While encourages hepatoprotective activity by down-regulating mRNA expression of iNOS and HO-1. MPO activity and NF-κB DNA-binding effect significantly increased and was mitigated by LSEE in a dose-dependent style as paralleled with silymarin.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggests that pretreatment of LSEE down regulates the caspase 3 and up-regulates the BCl₂ protein expression. The above findings revealed that Lepidium sativum has significant hepatoprotective activity.