Ferulic Acid Protects Hyperglycemia-Induced Kidney Damage by Regulating Oxidative Insult, Inflammation and Autophagy

Potential utilization of ferulic acid and its derivatives in the management of metabolic diseases and disorders: An insight into mechanisms

Metabolic diseases are abnormal conditions that impair the normal metabolic process, which involves converting food into energy at a cellular level, and cause difficulties like obesity and diabetes. The study aimed to investigate how ferulic acid (FA) and its derivatives could prevent different metabolic diseases and disorders and to understand the specific molecular mechanisms responsible for their therapeutic effects. Information regarding FA associations with metabolic diseases and disorders was compiled from different scientific search engines, including Science Direct, Wiley Online, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Springer Link, and Google Scholar. This review revealed that FA exerts protective effects against metabolic diseases such as diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, cardiomyopathy, obesity, and diabetic hypertension, with beneficial effects on pancreatic cancer. Findings also indicated that FA improves insulin secretion by increasing Ca2+ influx through the L-type Ca2+ channel, thus aiding in diabetes management. Furthermore, FA regulates the activity of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-18, and IL-1β) and antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, and GSH-Px) and reduces oxidative stress and inflammation, which are common features of metabolic diseases. FA also affects various signaling pathways, including the MAPK/NF-κB pathways, which play an important role in the progression of diabetic neuropathy and other metabolic disorders. Additionally, FA regulates apoptosis markers (Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3) and exerts its protective effects on cellular destruction. In conclusion, FA and its derivatives may act as potential medications for the management of metabolic diseases.

Protective effects of the secondary metabolites from Quercus salicina Blume against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) model

To reveal the protective effect on the nephrotoxicity of Quercus salicina Blume(QS), a traditional medicine for the treatment of urolithiasis, the 50 % ethanol extract from the branches and leaves of QS was chemically studied by systematic solvent extraction and HPLC chromatography. Two phenolic acids and three flavonoids were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, namely Ferulic acid (1), p-Hydroxycinnamic acid (2), Hesperidin (3), Formononetin (4), and Quercetin (5). At the same time, the gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity of zebrafish was used as a model for the first time. The antioxidant activity of these derivatives with good antioxidant activity screened from free radical scavenging experiments in vitro (DPPH and ABTS) was evaluated in vivo, including protein levels (LPO, NO, GSH, and SOD), kidney injury factor (KIM-1), zebrafish kidney pathology and real-time PCR. The results showed that metabolites 1, 3, and 5 had strong antioxidant activity, and oxidative stress in renal tissue was significantly reduced; KIM-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner, which preliminarily revealed the protective effect of the secondary metabolites of QS on nephrotoxicity, and preliminarily discussed the structure-activity relationship. This study provides an experimental basis for further exploring the mechanism of QS in the kidney.

Loss of Nup155 promotes high fructose-driven podocyte senescence by inhibiting INO80 mRNA nuclear export

INTRODUCTION

Podocyte senescence causes podocyte loss and glomerulopathy. Excessive fructose intake is a risk factor for podocyte injury. However, whether high fructose promotes podocyte senescence remains unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the pathological mechanism by which high fructose drives podocyte senescence and find natural compounds to alleviate podocyte senescence.

METHODS

Podocyte senescence was characterized with senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining, Western blot, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), comet assay and immunofluorescence. Proteomics analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed proteins in high fructose-exposed podocytes. Podocyte nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) and foot processes were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The mRNA and protein levels of nucleoporin 155 (Nup155) and inositol requiring mutant 80 (INO80) were detected by qRT-PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence. Virtual screening was conducted to find natural compounds that target Nup155.

RESULTS

High fructose increased SA-β-gal activity, protein level of p53, p21, p16 and phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX), as well as mRNA expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in rat glomeruli and podocytes. Proteomic analysis unraveled a crucial molecule Nup155, which was decreased in high fructose-induced podocyte senescence. Meanwhile, the number of podocyte NPCs was also decreased in vivo and in vitro. Consistently, high fructose suppressed nuclear export of INO80 mRNA, thereby down-regulated INO80 protein expression in podocyte senescence. Deletion of Nup155 inhibited INO80 mRNA nuclear export to induce podocyte senescence, whereas overexpression of Nup155 or INO80 alleviated high fructose-induced podocyte senescence. Ferulic acid was found to up-regulate Nup155 by both direct binding to stabilize Nup155 protein and enhancing its transcription, to promote INO80 mRNA nuclear export in the mitigation of high fructose-caused podocyte senescence.

CONCLUSION

High fructose induces podocyte senescence by decreasing Nup155 to inhibit INO80 mRNA nuclear export. Ferulic acid targeting Nup155 may be a potential strategy to prevent high fructose-induced podocyte senescence.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of β-carboline-cinnamic acid derivatives as DYRK1A inhibitors in the treatment of diabetes

Dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase A (DYRK1A) is a potential drug target for diabetes. The DYRK1A inhibitor can promote β cells proliferation, increase insulin secretion and reduce blood sugar in diabetes. In this paper, a series β-carboline-cinnamic acid skeletal derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated to inhibit the activity of DYRK1A and promote pancreatic islet β cell proliferation. Pharmacological activity showed that all of the compounds could effectively promote pancreatic islet β cell proliferation at a concentration of 1 μM, and the cell viability of compound A1, A4 and B4 reached to 381.5 %, 380.2 % and 378.5 %, respectively. Compound A1, A4 and B4 could also inhibit the expression of DYRK1A better than positive drug harmine. Further mechanistic studies showed that compound A1, A4 and B4 could inhibit DYRK1A protein expression via promoting its degradation and thus enhancing the expression of proliferative proteins PCNA and Ki67. Molecular docking showed that β-carboline scaffold of these three compounds was fully inserted into the ATP binding site and formed hydrophobic interactions with the active pocket. Besides, these three compounds were predicted to possess better drug-likeness properties using SwissADME. In conclusion, compounds A1, A4 and B4 were potent pancreatic β cell proliferative agents as DYRK1A inhibitors and might serve as promising candidates for the treatment of diabetes.

Agro-Industrial By-Products of Plant Origin: Therapeutic Uses as well as Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity

The importance of bioactive compounds in agro-industrial by-products of plant origin lies in their direct impacts on human health. These compounds have been shown to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, contributing to disease prevention and strengthening the immune system. In particular, the antimicrobial action of these compounds emerges as an important tool in food preservation, providing natural alternatives to synthetic preservatives and contributing to combating antimicrobial resistance. Using agro-industrial by-products of plant origin not only addresses the need to reduce waste and promote sustainability but also inaugurates a new era in the formulation of functional foods. From fruit peels to pulps and seeds, these by-products are emerging as essential ingredients in the creation of products that can promote health. Continued research in this area will unveil new applications and properties of these by-products and open doors to a food paradigm in which health and sustainability converge, paving the way to a healthier and more equitable future. The present review presents an overview of our knowledge of agro-industrial by-products and some of their more relevant health-promoting bioactivities.

Effects of 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propionic Acid on Enhancing Grip Strength and Inhibiting Protein Catabolism Induced by Exhaustive Exercise

3-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propionic acid (HMPA), also known as dihydroferulic acid, is a hydroxycinnamic acid derivative that can be derived from the microbial transformation of dietary polyphenols or naturally obtained from fermented foods. Although numerous studies have documented its antioxidant and anti-obesity effects, the effect of HMPA on muscle function remains unknown. This study investigated the effects of HMPA on muscle strength and exercise endurance capacity. Mice were orally administered low and high doses of HMPA for 14 days and subjected to grip force and treadmill exhaustion tests to evaluate muscle function. Our results showed that HMPA-administered groups significantly enhanced absolute grip strength (p = 0.0256) and relative grip strength (p = 0.0209), and low-dose HMPA decreased the plasma level of blood urea nitrogen after exercise (p = 0.0183), but HMPA did not affect endurance performance. Low-dose HMPA administration increased Myf5 expression in sedentary mice (p = 0.0106), suggesting that low-dose HMPA may promote muscle development. Additionally, HMPA improved hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism, and inhibited muscular lipid metabolism and protein catabolism, as indicated by changes in mRNA expression levels of related genes. These findings suggest that HMPA may be a promising dietary supplement for muscle health and performance.

Dietary additive ferulic acid alleviated oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis induced by chronic exposure to avermectin in the liver of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Avermectin (AVM) has been utilized extensively in agricultural production since it is a low-toxicity pesticide. However, the pollution caused by its residues to fisheries aquaculture has been neglected. As an abundant polyphenolic substance in plants, ferulic acid (FA) possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The goal of the study is to assess the FA's ability to reduce liver damage in carp brought on by AVM exposure. Four groups of carp were created at random: the control group; the AVM group; the FA group; and the FA + AVM group. On day 30, and the liver tissues of carp were collected and examined for the detection of four items of blood lipid as well as the activity of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in carp liver tissues by biochemical kits, and the transcript levels of indicators of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis by qPCR. The results showed that liver injury, inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis were attenuated in the FA + AVM group compared to the AVM group. In summary, dietary addition of FA could ameliorate the hepatotoxicity caused by AVM in carp by alleviating oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis in liver tissues.

Multifaceted antineoplastic curative potency of novel water-soluble methylimidazole-based oxidovanadium (IV) complex against triple negative mammary carcinoma

A bunch of complexes harboring vanadium as metal centers have been reported to exhibit a wide array of antineoplastic properties that come under non‑platinum metallodrug series and emerge to offer alternative therapeutic strategies from the mechanistic behaviors of platinum-drugs. Though antineoplastic activities of vanado-complexes have been documented against several animal and xenografted human cancers, the definite mechanism of action is yet to unveil. In present study, a novel water soluble 1-methylimidazole substituted mononuclear dipicolinic acid based oxidovanadium (IV) complex (OVMI) has been evaluated for its antineoplastic properties in breast carcinoma both in vitro and in vivo. OVMI has been reported to generate cytotoxicity in human triple negative breast carcinoma cells, MDA-MB-231 as well as in mouse 4T1 cells by priming them for apoptosis. ROS-mediated, mitochondria-dependent as well as ER-stress-evoked apoptotic death seemed to be main operational hub guiding the cytotoxicity of OVMI in vitro. Moreover, OVMI has been noticed to elicit antimetastatic effect in vitro. Therapeutic application of OVMI has been extended on 4T1-based mammary tumor of female Balb/c mice, where it has been found to reduce tumor size, volume and restore general tissue architecture successfully to a great extent. Apart from that, OVMI has been documented to limit 4T1-based secondary pulmonary metastasis along with being non-toxic and biocompatible in vivo.

Ameliorative effect of ferulic acid on thyroid dysfunction against propyl-thiouracil induced hypothyroid rats

PURPOSE

Hypothyroidism is an endocrine disorder characterised by decreased T3, T4 and increased TSH levels. This study aims to examine the potential effects of Ferulic acid (FA) on rats with hypothyroidism induced by propylthiouracil through the estimation of biochemical parameters and histopathological studies.

METHODS

Twenty-five female wistar rats were allocated into five groups: Control group [1% CMC, p.o.], Disease group [PTU-50 mg/kg, p.o.], [Levothyroxine (LT4) group - 20 µg/kg, p.o. + PTU-50 mg/kg, p.o.], [FA -25 mg/kg, p.o. + PTU-50 mg/kg, p.o.] and [FA 50 mg/kg, p.o. + PTU-50 mg/kg, p.o.]. On 15th day blood was collected and serum was separated for estimation of biochemical parameters, liver and kidney homogenate was utilised for the estimation of oxidative stress markers and the thyroid gland was dissected to examine histological features.

RESULTS

PTU administration for 14 days showed a substantial decline in T3 and T4 and increases in TSH levels. PTU-administered rats significantly increased TC, TG and LDL levels, and decreased HDL levels. AST, ALT, urea, creatinine, and IL-6 were determined and these levels were significantly altered in PTU-induced hypothyroid group. In hypothyroid rats MDA, NO, GSH and SOD levels were significantly altered. However, treatment with FA for 14 days attenuated PTU-induced alterations. Furthermore, FA improves the histological changes of the thyroid gland.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, FA treatment showed a protective effect against hypothyroidism by stimulating the thyroid hormones through the activation of thyroid peroxidase enzyme and improving thyroid function. In addition, FA diminished the increase in lipids, liver and kidney markers, oxidative stress and inflammation.

Enhanced antichemobrain activity of amino acid assisted ferulic acid solid dispersion in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI), also known as "chemobrain," is a common side effect of breast cancer therapy which causes oxidative stress and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Ferulic acid (FA), a natural polyphenol, belongs to BCS class II is confirmed to have nootropic, neuroprotective and antioxidant effects. Here, we have developed FA solid dispersion (SD) in order to enhance its therapeutic potential against chemobrain. An amorphous ferulic acid loaded leucin solid dispersion (FA-Leu SD) was prepared by utilizing amino acid through spray-drying technique. The solid-state characterization was carried out via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Additionally, in-vitro release studies and antioxidant assay were also performed along with in-vivo locomotor, biochemical and histopathological analysis. The physical properties showed that FA-Leu SD so formed exhibited spherical, irregular surface hollow cavity of along with broad melting endotherm as observed from FE-SEM and DSC results. The XRD spectra demonstrated absence of sharp and intense peaks in FA-Leu SD which evidenced for complete encapsulation of drug into carrier. Moreover, in-vitro drug release studies over a period of 5 h in PBS (pH 7.4) displayed a significant enhanced release in the first hr (68. 49 ± 5.39%) and in-vitro DPPH assay displayed greater antioxidant potential of FA in FA-Leu SD. Furthermore, the in-vivo behavioral findings of FA-Leu SD (equivalent to 150 mg/kg of free FA) exhibited positive results accompanied by in-vivo biochemical and molecular TNF-α showed a significant difference (p < 0.001) vis-à-vis DOX treated group upon DOX + FA-Leu SD. Additionally, histopathological analysis revealed neuroprotective effects of FA-Leu SD together with declined oxidative stress due to antioxidant potential of FA which was induced by anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). Overall, the above findings concluded that spray-dried FA-Leu SD could be useful for the treatment of chemotherapy induced cognitive impairment.

Natural products as pharmacological modulators of mitochondrial dysfunctions for the treatment of diabetes and its complications: An update since 2010

Diabetes, characterized as a well-known chronic metabolic syndrome, with its associated complications pose a substantial and escalating health and healthcare challenge on a global scale. Current strategies addressing diabetes are mainly symptomatic and there are fewer available curative pharmaceuticals for diabetic complications. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify novel pharmacological targets and agents. The impaired mitochondria have been associated with the etiology of diabetes and its complications, and the intervention of mitochondrial dysfunction represents an attractive breakthrough point for the treatments of diabetes and its complications. Natural products (NPs), with multicenter characteristics, multi-pharmacological activities and lower toxicity, have been caught attentions as the modulators of mitochondrial functions in the therapeutical filed of diabetes and its complications. This review mainly summarizes the recent progresses on the potential of 39 NPs and 2 plant-extracted mixtures to improve mitochondrial dysfunction against diabetes and its complications. It is expected that this work may be useful to accelerate the development of innovative drugs originated from NPs and improve upcoming therapeutics in diabetes and its complications.

Effect and pharmacological mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza and its characteristic extracts on diabetic nephropathy

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a severe diabetic microvascular complication with an increasing prevalence rate and lack of effective treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine has been proven to have favorable efficacy on DN, especially Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SM), one of the most critical and conventional herbs in the treatment. Over the past decades, studies have demonstrated that SM is a potential treatment for DN, and the exploration of the underlying mechanism has also received much attention.

AIM OF THIS REVIEW

This review aims to systematically study the efficacy and pharmacological mechanism of SM in the treatment of DN to understand its therapeutic potential more comprehensively.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant information was sourced from Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI databases.

RESULTS

Several clinical trials and systematic reviews have indicated that SM has definite benefits on the kidneys of diabetic patients. And many laboratory studies have further revealed that SM and its characteristic extracts, mainly including salvianolic acids and tanshinones, can exhibit pharmacological activity against DN by the regulation of metabolism, renal hemodynamic, oxidative stress, inflammation, fibrosis, autophagy, et cetera, and several involved signaling pathways, thereby preventing various renal cells from abnormal changes in DN, including endothelial cells, podocytes, epithelial cells, and mesangial cells.

CONCLUSION

As a potential drug for the treatment of DN, SM has multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway pharmacological effects. This work will not only verify the satisfactory curative effect of SM in the treatment of DN but also provide helpful insights for the development of new anti-DN drugs and the application of traditional Chinese medicine.

Insights into the Therapeutic uses of Plant Derive Phytocompounds onDiabetic Nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the primary consequences of diabetes mellitus, affecting many people worldwide and is the main cause of death under the age of sixty. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production rises during hyperglycemia and is crucial to the development of diabetic complications. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are produced excessively in a diabetic state and are accumulated in the kidney, where they change renal architecture and impair renal function. Another important targeted pathway for the formation of DN includes nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB), Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (Akt/mTOR), and autophagy. About 40% of individuals with diabetes eventually acquire diabetic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease that needs hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or kidney transplantation to survive. The current state of acceptable therapy for this kidney ailment is limited. The studies revealed that some naturally occurring bioactive substances might shield the kidney by controlling oxidative stress, renal fibrosis, inflammation, and autophagy. In order to provide new potential therapeutic lead bioactive compounds for contemporary drug discovery and clinical management of DN, this review was designed to examine the various mechanistic pathways by which conventional plants derive phytocompounds that are effective for the control and treatment of DN.

Canagliflozin ameliorates high glucose-induced apoptosis in NRK-52E cells via inhibiting oxidative stress and activating AMPK/mTOR-mediated autophagy

BACKGROUND

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, as a new type of hypoglycemic drug, can prevent proximal renal tubule injury related to glucose toxicity and play a renoprotective role. Canagliflozin, a recognized SGLT-2 inhibitor, has been proved to have potential protection in diabetic nephropathy (DN), but its mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In this study, the protective effect of canagliflozin against high glucose (HG)-induced renal tubular epithelial cell (NRK-52E) injury in vitro was assessed.

METHODS

The viability and apoptosis of NRK-52E cells were detected using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. The expression levels of cleaved caspase-3, oxidative stress-related proteins (NOX4 and Nrf2), autophagy marker light chain 3 (LC3) I/II, and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway-related proteins were evaluated by Western blot. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was evaluated by dihydroethidium (DHE) reactive oxygen species assay, the activities of SOD, CAT, GSH-Px and MDA were analyzed using kits. The changes of morphology and red fluorescent protein (RFP)-LC3 fluorescence were observed under microscopy.

RESULTS

Canagliflozin significantly ameliorated HG-induced NRK-52E cell apoptosis and caspase-3 cleavage. Furthermore, canagliflozin markedly ameliorated HG-induced NRK-52E cell oxidative stress. Moreover, canagliflozin significantly increased LC3-II levels and induced RFP-LC3-containing punctate structures in NRK-52E cells. Finally, canagliflozin increased the phosphorylation of AMPK and suppressed the phosphorylation of mTOR. The AMPK inhibitor compound C abolished canagliflozin-induced autophagy activation, as well as the anti-apoptotic effect of canagliflozin.

CONCLUSION

Canagliflozin effectively ameliorate HG-induced apoptosis of NRK-52E cells in vitro that involved its antioxidant effect and induction of autophagy through the AMPK/mTOR pathway.

Early diagnostic biomarkers for acute kidney injury using cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rat model

Chronic kidney diseases (CKD) caused by acute kidney injury (AKI) results rapid and reversible loss in renal function. A real-time, highly accurate, and sensitive acute kidney injury biomarker is urgently required in order to keep these patients alive and prevent end stage renal disease and related complications that include hypertension, fluid and electrolyte retention, metabolic acidosis, anemia, stroke etc. This study was designed to develop a specific and sensitive model for the early identification of renal damage in male albino rats. Using a single intraperitoneal dose of cisplatin (10 mg/kg body weight) to the rats, the various duration-dependent nephrotoxic activities were compared using multiple physiological, biochemical, genomic, and histopathological markers. We looked into when renal dysfunction would start occurring after receiving a single high dose of cisplatin while blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (sCr) remained normal. Following a single cisplatin injection, various measurements were taken in plasma, urine, and/or kidney tissues of rats euthanized on days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7. When the urine kidney injury molecule (KIM-1), interleukine 18 (IL-18), nephrin, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and serum cystatin C (Cys C) levels are greatly raised on day 3 after cisplatin treatment, BUN and sCr levels remain normal. Nephrotoxicity of cisplatin is also indicated by the upregulated mRNA expression of KIM-1, IL-18, Cys C, and NGAL and downregulated expression of nephrin in kidney tissue at very initial stage. Protein expression of KIM-1, IL-18 and NGAL level of kidney tissues was upregulated indicated confirmatory results done by western blot. Utilising an array of kidney impairment indicators has emerged as an earlier, more effective, and more reliable technique to diagnose AKI when compared to the most sophisticated signs now available.

Traditional Chinese medicine alleviating neuropathic pain targeting purinergic receptor P2 in purinergic signaling: A review

Past studies have suggested that Chinese herbal may alleviate neuropathic pain, and the mechanism might target the inhibition of purinergic receptor P2. This review discusses whether traditional Chinese medicine target P2 receptors in neuropathic pain and its mechanism in order to provide references for future clinical drug development. The related literatures were searched from Pubmed, Embase, Sinomed, and CNKI databases before June 2023. The search terms included"neuropathic pain", "purinergic receptor P2", "P2", "traditional Chinese medicine", "Chinese herbal medicine", and "herb". We described the traditional Chinese medicine alleviating neuropathic pain via purinergic receptor P2 signaling pathway including P2X2/3 R, P2X3R, P2X4R, P2X7R, P2Y1R. Inhibition of activating glial cells, changing synaptic transmission, increasing painful postsynaptic potential, and activating inflammatory signaling pathways maybe the mechanism. Purine receptor P2 can mediate the occurrence of neuropathic pain. And many of traditional Chinese medicines can target P2 receptors to relieve neuropathic pain, which provides reasonable evidences for the future development of drugs. Also, the safety and efficacy and mechanism need more in-depth experimental research.

Biological evaluation of the novel 3,3'-((4-nitrophenyl)methylene)bis(4-hydroxy-2H-chromen-2-one) derivative as potential anticancer agents via the selective induction of reactive oxygen species-mediated apoptosis

Selective initiation of programmed cell death in cancer cells than normal cells is reflected as an attractive chemotherapeutic strategy. In the current study, a series of synthetic bis-coumarin derivatives were synthesized possessing reactive oxygen species (ROS) modulating functional groups and examined in four cancerous and two normal cell lines for their cytotoxic ability using MTT assay. Among these compounds, 3 l emerged as the most promising derivative in persuading apoptosis in human renal carcinoma cells (SKRC-45) among diverse cancer cell lines. 3 l causes significantly less cytotoxicity to normal kidney cells compared to cisplatin. This compound was able to induce apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest by modulating the p53 mediated apoptotic pathways via the generation of ROS, decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential, and causing DNA fragmentation. Unlike cisplatin, the 3 l derivative was found to inhibit the nuclear localisation of NF-κB in SKRC-45 cells. It was also found to reduce the proliferation, survival and migration ability of SKRC-45 cells by downregulating COX-2/ PTGES2 cascade and MMP-2. In an in vivo tumor model, 3 l showed an anticancer effect by reducing the mean tumor mass, volume and inducing caspase-3 activation, without affecting kidney function. Further studies are needed to establish 3 l as a promising anti-cancer drug candidate.

Comparative pharmacokinetic analysis of six major bioactive constituents using UPLC-MS/MS in samples isolated from normal and diabetic nephropathy rats after oral administration of Gushen Jiedu capsule

Berberine, palmatine, physcion, rhein, calycosin-7-O-glucoside, and ferulic acid are six major active consituents that are present in Gushen Jiedu capsule (GSJD) extracts. The aim of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of the six active consituents in vivo by a rapid, sensitive, and precise UPLC-MS/MS method, which were compared between normal and diabetic nephropathy (DN) rats. Good separation of the target analytes and internal standards (ketoprofen and puerarin) was obtained on a Waters BEH C18 UPLC column with a mobile phase of 0.1 % formic acid acetonitrile-0.1 % formic acid water. All the calibration curves showed good linearity with a regression coefficient (r2) of ≥ 0.9908. The lower limits of quantification (LLOQ) for berberine, palmatine, physcion, rhein, calycosin-7-O-glucoside, and ferulic acid were 20, 2.5, 20, 20, 2.5, and 2.5 ng/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of intra-day and inter-day precision were all within 12.66 %, and the relative errors of intra-day and inter-day accuracy ranged from - 15.00 to 14.93 %. Good extraction recovery and matrix effects were obtained. The stability study confirmed the stability of the six analytes (RSD < 15 %). Finally, the data showed that the pharmacokinetic parameters (especially CLz/F, AUC and Tmax) of the six target analytes in DN rats were significantly different from those in normal rats. PK studies under pathological conditions could provide new thoughts to elucidate the underlying mechanism of GSJD and promote the clinical development of GSJD to treat DN.

Ferulic Acid Enhances Oocyte Maturation and the Subsequent Development of Bovine Oocytes

Improving the quality of oocytes matured in vitro is integral to enhancing the efficacy of in vitro embryo production. Oxidative stress is one of the primary causes of quality decline in oocytes matured in vitro. In this study, ferulic acid (FA), a natural antioxidant found in plant cell walls, was investigated to evaluate its impact on bovine oocyte maturation and subsequent embryonic development. Bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were treated with different concentrations of FA (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 μM) during in vitro maturation (IVM). Compared to the control group, supplementation with 5 μM FA significantly enhanced the maturation rates of bovine oocytes and the expansion of the cumulus cells area, as well as the subsequent cleavage and blastocyst formation rates after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Furthermore, FA supplementation was observed to effectively decrease the levels of ROS in bovine oocytes and improve their mitochondrial function. Our experiments demonstrate that FA can maintain the levels of antioxidants (GSH, SOD, CAT) in oocytes, thereby alleviating the oxidative stress induced by H2O2. RT-qPCR results revealed that, after FA treatment, the relative mRNA expression levels of genes related to oocyte maturation (GDF-9 and BMP-15), cumulus cell expansion (HAS2, PTX3, CX37, and CX43), and embryo pluripotency (OCT4, SOX2, and CDX2) were significantly increased. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that FA supplementation during bovine oocyte IVM can enhance oocyte quality and the developmental potential of subsequent embryos.

The role of autophagy in the treatment of type II diabetes and its complications: a review

Type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by prolonged hyperglycemia and insulin resistance (IR). Its incidence is increasing annually, posing a significant threat to human life and health. Consequently, there is an urgent requirement to discover effective drugs and investigate the pathogenesis of T2DM. Autophagy plays a crucial role in maintaining normal islet structure. However, in a state of high glucose, autophagy is inhibited, resulting in impaired islet function, insulin resistance, and complications. Studies have shown that modulating autophagy through activation or inhibition can have a positive impact on the treatment of T2DM and its complications. However, it is important to note that the specific regulatory mechanisms vary depending on the target organ. This review explores the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of T2DM, taking into account both genetic and external factors. It also provides a summary of reported chemical drugs and traditional Chinese medicine that target the autophagic pathway for the treatment of T2DM and its complications.

Oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetic nephropathy: role of polyphenols

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) often leads to end-stage renal disease. Oxidative stress demonstrates a crucial act in the onset and progression of DN, which triggers various pathological processes while promoting the activation of inflammation and forming a vicious oxidative stress-inflammation cycle that induces podocyte injury, extracellular matrix accumulation, glomerulosclerosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, renal tubular atrophy, and proteinuria. Conventional treatments for DN have limited efficacy. Polyphenols, as antioxidants, are widely used in DN with multiple targets and fewer adverse effects. This review reveals the oxidative stress and oxidative stress-associated inflammation in DN that led to pathological damage to renal cells, including podocytes, endothelial cells, mesangial cells, and renal tubular epithelial cells. It demonstrates the potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties by targeting Nrf2, SIRT1, HMGB1, NF-κB, and NLRP3 of polyphenols, including quercetin, resveratrol, curcumin, and phenolic acid. However, there remains a long way to a comprehensive understanding of molecular mechanisms and applications for the clinical therapy of polyphenols.

Hepatoprotective and anti-hyperglycemic effects of ferulic acid in arsenic-exposed mice

Arsenic is a toxic metalloid that increases the risk of hepatotoxicity and hyperglycemia. The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of ferulic acid (FA) in mitigating glucose intolerance and hepatotoxicity caused by sodium arsenite (SA). A total of six groups including control, FA 100 mg/kg, SA 10 mg/kg, and groups that received different doses of FA (10, 30, and 100 mg/kg), respectively just before SA (10 mg/kg) for 28 days were examined. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) and glucose tolerance tests were conducted on the 29th day. On day 30, mice were sacrificed and blood and tissues (liver and pancreas) were collected for further investigations. FA reduced FBS and improved glucose intolerance. Liver function and histopathological studies confirmed that FA preserved the structure of the liver in groups received SA. Furthermore, FA increased antioxidant defense and decreased lipid peroxidation and tumor necrosis factor-alpha level in SA-treated mice. FA, at the doses of 30 and 100 mg/kg, prevented the decrease in the expression of PPAR-γ and GLUT2 proteins in the liver of mice exposed to SA. In conclusion, FA prevented SA-induced glucose intolerance and hepatotoxicity by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and hepatic overexpression of PPAR-γ and GLUT2 proteins.

Implication of solvent polarities on browntop millet (Urochloa ramosa) phenolic antioxidants and their ability to protect oxidative DNA damage and inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes

Phenolics of browntop millet extracted in solvents with varying polarities [water, methanol, acetone (80%), ethanol (70%)] were comparatively assessed for their phenolic profiles, antioxidant activities, DNA damage protection and enzyme inhibitory properties. Results indicated that acetone (80%) and ethanol (70%) were most effective in extracting millet phenolics than other solvents. Gallic, caffeic and ferulic acids were the major phenolic acids, myricetin and kaempferol were the most abundant flavonoids detected in all the extracts of browntop millet. Phenolics extracted in 80% acetone and 70% ethanol offered noticeable contributions toward several antioxidant mechanisms and prevented the oxidative DNA damage than water and methanol extracts. All the millet extracts exhibited potent inhibition towards α-glucosidase than α-amylase activities. These results suggest that the solvents and their polarities impacted the extraction and bioactivities of millet phenolics and provided useful information for the effective utilization of browntop millet as a functional food ingredient to manage hyperglycemia.

Supplemental ferulic acid does not affect metabolic markers and improves some oxidative damage parameters in diabetic rats

This study investigated the differences in health outcomes associated with ferulic acid (FA) supplementation in animals before the induction of diabetes with streptozotocin (STZ) treatment and post-STZ treatment. 18 male Wistar rats were equally distributed into three groups: groups 1 and 2 received FA (50 mg/kg body weight) supplementation one week before STZ treatment (60 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneal) and one week after STZ treatment, respectively; group 3 received STZ without FA supplementation. FA supplementation was continued for 12 weeks after STZ treatment. The results indicated no difference in glucose and lipid profile with FA supplementation. However, FA supplementation reduced lipid and protein oxidative damage in the heart, liver and pancreas and increased glutathione in the pancreas. The results indicate that while oxidative damages were positively affected by FA, it was not sufficient to improve metabolic markers of diabetes.

Estimated dietary intake of polyphenols from cereal foods and associated lifestyle and demographic factors in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study

Cereal foods are consumed globally and are important sources of polyphenols with potential health benefits, yet dietary intakes are unclear. We aimed to calculate the dietary intakes of polyphenols from cereal foods in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study (MCCS), and describe intakes by demographic and lifestyle factors. We estimated intakes of alkylresorcinols, lignans and phenolic acids in n = 39,892 eligible MCCS participants, using baseline dietary data (1990-1994) from a 121-item FFQ containing 17 cereal foods, matched to a polyphenol database developed from published literature and Phenol-Explorer Database. Intakes were estimated within groups according to lifestyle and demographic factors. The median (25th-75th percentile) intake of total polyphenols from cereal foods was 86.9 mg/day (51.4-155.8). The most consumed compounds were phenolic acids, with a median intake of 67.1 mg (39.5-118.8), followed by alkylresorcinols of 19.7 mg (10.8-34.6). Lignans made the smallest contribution of 0.50 mg (0.13-0.87). Higher polyphenol intakes were associated with higher relative socio-economic advantage and prudent lifestyles, including lower body mass index (BMI), non-smoking and higher physical activity scores. The findings based on polyphenol data specifically matched to the FFQ provide new information on intakes of cereal polyphenols, and how they might vary according to lifestyle and demographic factors.

Natural products in attenuating renal inflammation via inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome in diabetic kidney disease

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a prevalent and severe complications of diabetes and serves as the primary cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) globally. Increasing evidence indicates that renal inflammation is critical in the pathogenesis of DKD. The nucleotide - binding oligomerization domain (NOD) - like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is the most extensively researched inflammasome complex and is considered a crucial regulator in the pathogenesis of DKD. The activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is regulated by various signaling pathways, including NF- κB, thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), and non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), among others. Natural products are chemicals extracted from living organisms in nature, and they typically possess pharmacological and biological activities. They are invaluable sources for drug design and development. Research has demonstrated that many natural products can alleviate DKD by targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome. In this review, we highlight the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in DKD, and the pathways by which natural products fight against DKD via inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome activation, so as to provide novel insights for the treatment of DKD.

Ferulic Acid: A Review of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Effects on Pulmonary Diseases

Ferulic acid (FA), a prevalent dietary phytochemical, has many pharmacological effects, including anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation effects, and has been widely used in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetics industries. Many studies have shown that FA can significantly downregulate the expression of reactive oxygen species and activate nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor-2/heme oxygenase-1 signaling, exerting anti-oxidative effects. The anti-inflammatory effect of FA is mainly related to the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-kappaB signaling pathways. FA has demonstrated potential clinical applications in the treatment of pulmonary diseases. The transforming growth factor-β1/small mothers against decapentaplegic 3 signaling pathway can be blocked by FA, thereby alleviating pulmonary fibrosis. Moreover, in the context of asthma, the T helper cell 1/2 imbalance is restored by FA. Furthermore, FA ameliorates acute lung injury by inhibiting nuclear factor-kappaB and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways via toll-like receptor 4, consequently decreasing the expression of downstream inflammatory mediators. Additionally, there is a moderate neuraminidase inhibitory activity showing a tendency to reduce the interleukin-8 level in response to influenza virus infections. Although the application of FA has broad prospects, more preclinical mechanism-based research should be carried out to test these applications in clinical settings. This review not only covers the literature on the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of FA, but also discusses the therapeutic role and toxicology of FA in several pulmonary diseases.

Dysregulated autophagy: A key player in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes and its complications

Autophagy is essential in regulating the turnover of macromolecules via removing damaged organelles, misfolded proteins in various tissues, including liver, skeletal muscles, and adipose tissue to maintain the cellular homeostasis. In these tissues, a specific type of autophagy maintains the accumulation of lipid droplets which is directly related to obesity and the development of insulin resistance. It appears to play a protective role in a normal physiological environment by eliminating the invading pathogens, protein aggregates, and damaged organelles and generating energy and new building blocks by recycling the cellular components. Ageing is also a crucial modulator of autophagy process. During stress conditions involving nutrient deficiency, lipids excess, hypoxia etc., autophagy serves as a pro-survival mechanism by recycling the free amino acids to maintain the synthesis of proteins. The dysregulated autophagy has been found in several ageing associated diseases including type 2 diabetes (T2DM), cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. So, targeting autophagy can be a promising therapeutic strategy against the progression to diabetes related complications. Our article provides a comprehensive outline of understanding of the autophagy process, including its types, mechanisms, regulation, and role in the pathophysiology of T2DM and related complications. We also explored the significance of autophagy in the homeostasis of β-cells, insulin resistance (IR), clearance of protein aggregates such as islet amyloid polypeptide, and various insulin-sensitive tissues. This will further pave the way for developing novel therapeutic strategies for diabetes-related complications.

Bee Pollen as Functional Food: Insights into Its Composition and Therapeutic Properties

Bee pollen is a hive product made up of flower pollen grains, nectar, and bee salivary secretions that beekeepers can collect without damaging the hive. Bee pollen, also called bee-collected pollen, contains a wide range of nutritious elements, including proteins, carbs, lipids, and dietary fibers, as well as bioactive micronutrients including vitamins, minerals, phenolic, and volatile compounds. Because of this composition of high quality, this product has been gaining prominence as a functional food, and studies have been conducted to show and establish its therapeutic potential for medical and food applications. In this context, this work aimed to provide a meticulous summary of the most relevant data about bee pollen, its composition—especially the phenolic compounds—and its biological and/or therapeutic properties as well as the involved molecular pathways.

Effects of Dietary Ferulic Acid on Intestinal Health and Ileal Microbiota of Tianfu Broilers Challenged with Lipopolysaccharide

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been considered the primary agent to establish animal models of inflammation, immunological stress, and organ injury. Previous studies have demonstrated that LPS impaired gastrointestinal development and disrupted intestinal microbial composition and metabolism. Ferulic acid (FA) isolated from multiple plants exhibits multiple biological activities. This study investigated whether FA ameliorated intestinal function and microflora in LPS-challenged Tianfu broilers. The results showed that LPS challenge impaired intestinal function, as evidenced by decreased antioxidant functions (p < 0.05), disrupted morphological structure (p < 0.05), and increased intestinal permeability (p < 0.05); however, these adverse effects were improved by FA supplementation. Additionally, FA supplementation preserved sIgA levels (p < 0.05), increased mRNA expression levels of CLDN and ZO-1 (p < 0.05), and enhanced epithelial proliferation (p < 0.05) in the ileal mucosa in LPS-challenged chickens. Moreover, FA supplementation rectified the ileal microflora disturbances in the LPS-challenged broilers. The results demonstrate that dietary FA supplementation decreased LPS-induced intestinal damage by enhancing antioxidant capacity and maintaining intestinal integrity. Furthermore, FA supplementation protects intestinal tight junctions (TJs), elevates secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels, and modulates ileal microflora composition in LPS-challenged broilers.

Ferulic acid supplementation alleviates hyperuricemia in high-fructose/fat diet-fed rats via promoting uric acid excretion and mediating the gut microbiota

The prevalence of hyperuricemia (HUA) has been rising, and it is typically accompanied by renal injury and intestinal flora disorder, leading to a non-negligible health crisis. Ferulic acid (FA), as a familiar polyphenol, has been proven to exert anti-hyperuricemic properties via inhibiting uric acid (UA) synthesis; however, the detailed underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the regulatory effect of FA on UA excretion as a potential strategy for reducing UA levels, and the comorbidities of HUA. FA treatment downregulated the expression of urate absorption transporter genes and repressed the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway in UA-stimulated HK-2 cells. To examine these effects in vivo, FA or allopurinol (positive control) was given to rats with HUA induced by a high-fructose/fat diet (HFFD) for 20 weeks. FA markedly decreased the serum UA, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine levels. The expression of urate absorption transporters was downregulated, whereas the expression of secretion transporters was upregulated in the kidneys and intestines of FA-treated HUA rats. Additionally, FA mitigated renal oxidative stress, and suppressed the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway and the downstream inflammatory response-related markers in the kidneys. Moreover, FA remodeled the composition of the gut microbiota, characterized by an increase in beneficial bacteria (e.g., Lactobacillus and Ruminococcus) and a decrease in pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Bacteroides). In conclusion, our study validated FA as an effective nutrient to ameliorate HFFD-induced HUA, suggesting its potential to mitigate the HUA-associated renal impairment and intestinal microbiota disturbance.

Ferulic acid mitigates diabetic cardiomyopathy via modulation of metabolic abnormalities in cardiac tissues of diabetic rats

Cardiovascular abnormalities have been reported as a major contributor of diabetic mortality. The protective effect of ferulic acid on diabetic cardiomyopathy in fructose-streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetes (T2D) rat model was elucidated in this study. Type 2 diabetic rats were treated by oral administration of low (150 mg/kg b.w) and high (300 mg/kg b.w) doses of ferulic acid. Metformin was used as the antidiabetic drug. Rats were humanely euthanized after 5 weeks of treatment, and their blood and hearts were collected. Induction of T2D depleted the levels of reduced glutathione, glycogen, and HDL-cholesterol and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ENTPDase, and 5'nucleotidase. It simultaneously triggered increase in the levels of malondialdehyde, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, creatinine kinase-MB as well as activities of acetylcholinesterase, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), ATPase, glucose-6-phopsphatase, fructose-1,6-bisphophatase, glycogen phosphorylase, and lipase. T2D induction further revealed an obvious degeneration of cardiac muscle morphology. However, treatment with ferulic acid markedly reversed the levels and activities of these biomarkers with concomitant improvement in myocardium structural morphology, which had favorable comparison with the standard drug, metformin. Additionally, T2D induction led to the depletion of 40%, 75%, and 33% of fatty acids, fatty esters, and steroids, respectively, with concomitant generation of eicosenoic acid, gamolenic acid, and vitamin E. Ferulic acid treatment restored eicosanoic acid, 2-hydroxyethyl ester, with concomitant generation of 6-octadecenoic acid, (Z)-, cis-11-eicosenoic acid, tridecanedioic acid, octadecanoic acid, 2-hydroxyethyl ester, ethyl 3-hydroxytridecanoate, dipalmitin, cholesterol isocaproate, cholest-5-ene, 3-(1-oxobuthoxy)-, cholesta-3,5-diene. These results suggest the cardioprotective potential of ferulic acid against diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Multi-Mechanistic and Therapeutic Exploration of Nephroprotective Effect of Traditional Ayurvedic Polyherbal Formulation Using In Silico, In Vitro and In Vivo Approaches

Based on traditional therapeutic claims, NEERI KFT (a traditional Ayurvedic polyherbal preparation) has been innovatively developed in recent time on the decades of experience for treating kidney dysfunction. Due to the lack of scientific evidence, the present investigations are needed to support the rationale use of NEERI KFT. Considering the facts, the study investigated the nephroprotective effect of NEERI KFT against kidney dysfunction using in silico, in vitro and in vivo approaches. In this study, phytochemical and network pharmacology studies were performed for the developed formulation to evaluate the molecular mechanism of NEERI KFT in the amelioration of kidney disease. In vitro nephroprotective and antioxidant effect of NEERI KFT was determined on HEK 293 cells against cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress. In vivo nephroprotective effect of NEERI KFT was determined against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats, via assessing biochemical markers, antioxidant enzymes and inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, CASP-3, etc. The results showed that the compounds such as gallic acid, caffeic acid and ferulic acid are the major constituents of NEERI KFT, while network pharmacology analysis indicated a strong interaction between polyphenols and several genes (CASPs, ILs, AGTR1, AKT, ACE2, SOD1, etc.) involved in the pathophysiology of kidney disease. In vivo studies showed a significant (p < 0.05) ameliorative effect on biochemical markers and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH, etc.), and regulates inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β, CASP-3) expression in kidney tissue. Hence, it can be concluded that NEERI KFT subsequently alleviates renal dysfunction mediated by cisplatin via attenuating oxidative and inflammatory stress, thus preserving the normalcy of kidney function.

Ferulic acid enhances insulin secretion by potentiating L-type Ca2+ channel activation

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of ferulic acid, a natural compound, on pancreatic beta cell viability, Ca²⁺ channels, and insulin secretion.

METHODS

We studied the effects of ferulic acid on rat insulinoma cell line viability using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide viability assay. The whole-cell patch-clamp technique and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were also used to examine the action of ferulic acid on Ca²⁺ channels and insulin secretion, respectively.

RESULTS

Ferulic acid did not affect cell viability during exposures up to 72 h. The electrophysiological study demonstrated that ferulic acid rapidly and concentration-dependently increased L-type Ca²⁺ channel current, shifting its activation curve in the hyperpolarizing direction with a decreased slope factor, while the voltage dependence of inactivation was not affected. On the other hand, ferulic acid have no effect on T-type Ca²⁺ channels. Furthermore, ferulic acid significantly increased insulin secretion, an effect inhibited by nifedipine and Ca²⁺-free extracellular fluid, confirming that ferulic acid-induced insulin secretion in these cells was mediated by augmenting Ca²⁺ influx through L-type Ca²⁺ channel. Our data also suggest that this may be a direct, nongenomic action.

CONCLUSION

This is the first electrophysiological demonstration that acute ferulic acid treatment could increase L-type Ca²⁺ channel current in pancreatic β cells by enhancing its voltage dependence of activation, leading to insulin secretion.

Ferulic acid supplementation for 40 days in hair ewe lambs experiencing seasonal heat stress: short-term effects on physiological responses, growth, metabolism, and hematological profile

Free ferulic acid (FA) is a natural compound with antioxidant properties which mitigates the negative effects of cold stress in sheep; however, its impact on thermoregulatory responses in heat-stressed sheep has not been defined. The objective was to evaluate the effects of FA supplementation on physiological responses, serum analyte concentrations, and the hematological profile of heat-stressed hair ewe lambs. Twenty-two Dorper × Katahdin ewe lambs (initial body weight = 23.5 ± 2.8 kg and age = 4 months) were housed in individual pens for 40 days and assigned under a randomized complete block design to the following treatments (n = 11): basal diet with 0 (control) or 250 mg of FA/kg of feed. The FA × sampling day interaction only affected serum concentration of some metabolic hormones; particularly on day 20 of the trial, FA increased (P < 0.01) insulins and the insulin to glucose ratio while decreased (P = 0.05) thyroxine. Overall, supplemental FA did not affect rectal temperature, respiratory rate, most body surface temperatures, feedlot performance, and serum concentrations of metabolites, electrolytes, triiodothyronine, and cortisol. In addition, FA only tended to decrease (P ≥ 0.09) erythrocyte count and plaquetocrit and to increase (P = 0.08) mean corpuscular volume. In conclusion, FA supplementation did not improve the growth nor thermoregulatory capacity of heat-stressed hair ewe lambs. Still, it partially modulated the metabolism to reinforce some energetic adaptive mechanisms when the ambient temperature was ≥ 35 °C.

The impact of oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction on diabetic microvascular complications

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia, with absolute insulin deficiency or insulin resistance as the main cause, and causes damage to various target organs including the heart, kidney and neurovascular. In terms of the pathological and physiological mechanisms of DM, oxidative stress is one of the main mechanisms leading to DM and is an important link between DM and its complications. Oxidative stress is a pathological phenomenon resulting from an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the scavenging of antioxidant systems. The main site of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is the mitochondria, which are also the main organelles damaged. In a chronic high glucose environment, impaired electron transport chain within the mitochondria leads to the production of ROS, prompts increased proton leakage and altered mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), which in turn releases cytochrome c (cyt-c), leading to apoptosis. This subsequently leads to a vicious cycle of impaired clearance by the body's antioxidant system, impaired transcription and protein synthesis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is responsible for encoding mitochondrial proteins, and impaired DNA repair systems, contributing to mitochondrial dysfunction. This paper reviews the dysfunction of mitochondria in the environment of high glucose induced oxidative stress in the DM model, and looks forward to providing a new treatment plan for oxidative stress based on mitochondrial dysfunction.

Lycoperoside H protects against diabetic nephropathy via alteration of gut microbiota and inflammation

It is well known that hyperglycemia leads to the progression and expansion of various micro and macrovascular disease such as diabetic nephropathy (DN). Lycoperoside H (LH) alkaloidal saponin exhibited the antidiabetic effect, but its DN effect is unclear. In this experimental study, we scrutinized the renal protective effect of LH against the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DN in rats and explore the underlying mechanism. Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this experimental study and an intraperitoneal injection of STZ (45 mg/kg) was used for the induction of diabetes, rats received the oral administration of LH (20 mg/kg). The blood glucose level, body weight, organ weight (renal and pancreas), and biochemical parameters were estimated. We also scrutinized the effect of LH to enhance intestinal barrier function and suppress inflammation and intestinal permeability. LH significantly (p < 0.001) decreased the glucose level and enhanced the body weight with a reduction of renal weight and boost the pancreas weight. LH significantly (p < 0.001) enhanced the creatinine level and decreased the albumin level, urine volume, urinary albumin excretion rate, and urinary albumin creatinine ratio in the urine. It also suppressed the renal parameters, such as creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and urea. LH significantly (p < 0.001) altered the level of lipid and antioxidant parameters. LH treatment significantly (p < 0.001) suppressed the cytokines and inflammatory parameters. LH considerably enhanced the Ruminococcaceae, Blautia, and suppressed the abundance of Bifidobacterium, Clostridium, and Turicibacter. It reduced the F/B ratio along with alteration of community abundance of Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Tenericutes, other bacteria, and Bacteroidetes. The current result suggests that LH suppressed the diabetic nephropathological condition via alteration of gut microbiota and inflammation.

Use of Ferulic Acid in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus and Its Complications

Diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disease mainly characterized by hyperglycemia, is becoming a serious social health problem worldwide with growing prevalence. Many natural compounds have been found to be effective in the prevention and treatment of diabetes, with negligible toxic effects. Ferulic acid (FA), a phenolic compound commonly found in medicinal herbs and the daily diet, was proved to have several pharmacological effects such as antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant actions, which are beneficial to the management of diabetes and its complications. Data from PubMed, EM-BASE, Web of Science and CNKI were searched with the keywords ferulic acid and diabetes mellitus. Finally, 28 articles were identified after literature screening, and the research progress of FA for the management of DM and its complications was summarized in the review, in order to provide references for further research and medical applications of FA.

Recent Advances in the Neuroprotective Properties of Ferulic Acid in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Narrative Review

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, characterized by neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter deficits, and neurodegeneration, which finally leads to neuronal death. Emerging evidence highlighted that hyperglycemia and brain insulin resistance represent risk factors for AD development, thus suggesting the existence of an additional AD form, associated with glucose metabolism impairment, named type 3 diabetes. Owing to the limited pharmacological options, novel strategies, especially dietary approaches based on the consumption of polyphenols, have been addressed to prevent or, at least, slow down AD progression. Among polyphenols, ferulic acid is a hydroxycinnamic acid derivative, widely distributed in nature, especially in cereal bran and fruits, and known to be endowed with many bioactivities, especially antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic, thus suggesting it could be exploited as a possible novel neuroprotective strategy. Considering the importance of ferulic acid as a bioactive molecule and its widespread distribution in foods and medicinal plants, the aim of the present narrative review is to provide an overview on the existing preclinical and clinical evidence about the neuroprotective properties and mechanisms of action of ferulic acid, also focusing on its ability to modulate glucose homeostasis, in order to support a further therapeutic interest for AD and type 3 diabetes.

Integrating experimental model, LC-MS/MS chemical analysis, and systems biology approach to investigate the possible antidiabetic effect and mechanisms of Matricaria aurea (Golden Chamomile) in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a heterogeneous disease with numerous abnormal targets and pathways involved in insulin resistance, low-grade inflammation, oxidative stress, beta cell dysfunction, and epigenetic factors. Botanical drugs provide a large chemical space that can modify various targets simultaneously. Matricaria aurea (MA, golden chamomile) is a widely used herb in Middle Eastern communities for many ailments, including diabetes mellitus, without any scientific basis to support this tradition. For the first time, this study aimed to investigate the possible antidiabetic activity of MA in a type 2 diabetic rat model, identify chemical constituents by LC-MS/MS, and then elucidate the molecular mechanism(s) using enzyme activity assays, q-RTPCR gene expression analysis, network pharmacology analysis, and molecular docking simulation. Our results demonstrated that only the polar hydroethanolic extract of MA had remarkable antidiabetic activity. Furthermore, it improved dyslipidemia, insulin resistance status, ALT, and AST levels. LC-MS/MS analysis of MA hydroethanolic extract identified 62 compounds, including the popular chamomile flavonoids apigenin and luteolin, other flavonoids and their glycosides, coumarin derivatives, and phenolic acids. Based on pharmacokinetic screening and literature, 46 compounds were chosen for subsequent network analysis, which linked to 364 candidate T2DM targets from various databases and literature. The network analysis identified 123 hub proteins, including insulin signaling and metabolic proteins: IRS1, IRS2, PIK3R1, AKT1, AKT2, MAPK1, MAPK3, and PCK1, inflammatory proteins: TNF and IL1B, antioxidant enzymes: CAT and SOD, and others. Subsequent filtering identified 40 crucial core targets (major hubs) of MA in T2DM treatment. Functional enrichment analyses of the candidate targets revealed that MA targets were mainly involved in the inflammatory module, energy-sensing/endocrine/metabolic module, and oxidative stress module. q-RTPCR gene expression analysis showed that MA hydroethanolic extract was able to significantly upregulate PIK3R1 and downregulate IL1B, PCK1, and MIR29A. Moreover, the activity of the antioxidant hub enzymes was substantially increased. Molecular docking scores were also consistent with the networks’ predictions. Based on experimental and computational analysis, this study revealed for the first time that MA exerted antidiabetic action via simultaneous modulation of multiple targets and pathways, including inflammatory pathways, energy-sensing/endocrine/metabolic pathways, and oxidative stress pathways.

Dietary ferulic acid supplementation improved cottonseed meal-based diet utilization by enhancing intestinal physical barrier function and liver antioxidant capacity in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon Idellus)

The present study explored the effects of ferulic acid (FA) supplementation in cottonseed meal (CSM)-based diets on grass carp growth performance, feed utilization, liver antioxidation status, and intestinal physical barrier function. Here, four experimental diets supplemented with FA at graded levels (0, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) and CSM as the main protein source (384.6 g/kg feed) for an 8-week feeding trial. Our results indicated that 200 mg/kg FA supplementation in a CSM-based diet significantly improved growth performance [including final body weight (FBW), weight gain rate, and specific growth rate] and feed utilization [including feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio] in grass carp (p &lt; 0.05). The results of polynomial regression analysis based on FBW recommended that the optimal dose for FA supplementation was 204 mg/kg. Compared with that no FA supplementation, 200 mg/kg FA supplementation significantly reduced liver malondialdehyde levels and increased glutathione reductase activities (p &lt; 0.05) and 100 mg/kg FA supplementation significantly increased liver total superoxide dismutase activities and reduced blood alanine transaminase levels (p &lt; 0.05). Compared with the control group, 100 mg/kg FA supplementation also led to significantly increased mRNA expression of zo-1, zo-2, occludin, claudin-b, claudin-3, claudin-7a, and claudin-12, encoding intestinal tight junction proteins (p &lt; 0.05). Notably, FA supplementation could reduce lipid deposition by regulating bile acid (BA) secretion. In this study, 100 and 200 mg/kg FA supplementation significantly increased blood and liver total BA levels, respectively (p &lt; 0.05); 100 mg/kg FA also significantly activated mRNA expressions of fxr and cyp7a1 (p &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, the whole-body composition results presented that FA treatment relieved lipid deposition, particularly 50 and 200 mg/kg FA supplementation (p &lt; 0.05). Moreover, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels were significantly lower and high-density lipoprotein levels were significantly higher with 200 mg/kg FA supplementation than with no FA supplementation (p &lt; 0.05). Taken together, the results indicated that FA may be a beneficial feed additive to boost fish growth performance and increase CSM utilization.

Boosting the antioxidant potential of pasta by a premature stop mutation in wheat keto-acythiolase-2

Phenolics are a class of chemical compounds possessing antioxidant activity, which are mainly located in the wheat (Triticum aestivum) bran. Different approaches have been used in food industry to increase the availability of phenolics. Compared to these methods, however, genetic improvement of the wheat antioxidant potential, is a cost-effective, easier and safer approach. Here, we showed a single premature stop mutation in the keto-acythiolase-2 (kat-2b) gene, which significantly improved the antioxidant potential of pasta by a 60 ± 16% increase in its antioxidant potential by increasing the accumulation of ferulic acid. These changes are likely determined by the increased transcription (46% higher) and activity (120% higher) of the phenylalanine lyase genes observed in the mutated line compared to the control. Even if more studies will need to be done, overall, this study suggested that the kat-2b mutant could represent an excellent genetic resource to improve wheat's antioxidant and health-promoting potential.

Poloxamer 407 and Hyaluronic Acid Thermosensitive Hydrogel-Encapsulated Ginsenoside Rg3 to Promote Skin Wound Healing

Ginsenoside Rg3 has shown beneficial effects in various skin diseases. The current interest in designing and developing hydrogels for biomedical applications continues to grow, inspiring the further development of drug-loaded hydrogels for tissue repair and localized drug delivery. The aim of the present study was to develop an effective and safe hydrogel (Rg3-Gel), using ginsenoside Rg3, and we evaluated the wound-healing potential and therapeutic mechanism of Rg3-Gel. The results indicated that the optimized Rg3-Gel underwent discontinuous phase transition at low and high temperatures. Rg3-Gel also exhibited good network structures, swelling water retention capacity, sustainable release performance, and excellent biocompatibility. Subsequently, the good antibacterial and antioxidant properties of Rg3-Gel were confirmed by in vitro tests. In full-thickness skin defect wounded models, Rg3-Gel significantly accelerated the wound contraction, promoted epithelial and tissue regeneration, and promoted collagen deposition and angiogenesis. In addition, Rg3-Gel increased the expression of autophagy proteins by inhibiting the MAPK and NF-KB pathways in vivo. It simultaneously regulated host immunity by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria and the diversity of the wound surface flora. From these preliminary evaluations, it is possible to conclude that Rg3-Gel has excellent application potential in wound-healing drug delivery systems.

Pharmacologically Active Phytomolecules Isolated from Traditional Antidiabetic Plants and Their Therapeutic Role for the Management of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic complication that affects people of all ages. The increased prevalence of diabetes worldwide has led to the development of several synthetic drugs to tackle this health problem. Such drugs, although effective as antihyperglycemic agents, are accompanied by various side effects, costly, and inaccessible to the majority of people living in underdeveloped countries. Medicinal plants have been used traditionally throughout the ages to treat various ailments due to their availability and safe nature. Medicinal plants are a rich source of phytochemicals that possess several health benefits. As diabetes continues to become prevalent, health care practitioners are considering plant-based medicines as a potential source of antidiabetic drugs due to their high potency and fewer side effects. To better understand the mechanism of action of medicinal plants, their active phytoconstituents are being isolated and investigated thoroughly. In this review article, we have focused on pharmacologically active phytomolecules isolated from medicinal plants presenting antidiabetic activity and the role they play in the treatment and management of diabetes. These natural compounds may represent as good candidates for a novel therapeutic approach and/or effective and alternative therapies for diabetes.

The Underexplored Dimensions of Nutritional Hormesis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Hormesis is biphasic response wherein low and high doses of chemical and nutrient confer beneficial and toxic effects respectively, typically in a U-shaped manner. Hormesis is intricately related to bioenergetic state of a cell, and therefore, nutrition impacts it. Excessive nutrition can halt the endogenous antioxidant synthesis leading to cytotoxic effects. While low and optimum doses of the same bring about hormetic stimulation that can exalt the antioxidant response and reduce susceptibility towards degenerative diseases. The sirtuin family of proteins is triggered by mild stress of calorie restriction and exerts hormesis. Similarly, several phytochemicals and micronutrients are known to bring about health benefits at optimum dose and deleterious effects at high doses. Despite this attribute, nutritional hormesis is not very well researched upon because the magnitude of hormetic effect observed is generally quite modest. There is no precise regulation of optimal intake of certain foods to witness hormesis and no characterization of any biomarker that reports stress responses at various doses above or below optimal intakes. There is a major gap in research between nutrition and hormesis being affected by sirtuin family of proteins, phytochemicals, and micronutrients.

RECENT FINDINGS

Mild stress of calorie restriction elevates sirtuin protein and effect of sirtuin protein on hormesis has been recently reported. More foods that enhance sirtuin protein, phytochemicals, and micronutrients need to be explored in relation to hormesis and associated health benefits.

C-reactive protein inhibits C3a/C3aR-dependent podocyte autophagy in favor of diabetic kidney disease

Numerous studies have reported the pathogenic roles of C-reactive protein (CRP) and complement activation in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) individually. However, considering the potent regulatory effect of CRP on complement activation, it remains unclear whether CRP participates in DKD pathogenesis by regulating complement activation. Moreover, this work focuses on complement activation in rats, which aims at settling the dispute that whether rat CRP can activate the complement system. To address this question, the complement effectors C3a, C5a, and C5b-9 were examined in human patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and wt, Crp^-/- , and huCRPtg rats with STZ-diabetic DKD. The Crp^-/- rats showed more C3a accumulation in blood and glomeruli than wt and huCRPtg rats. The balance between autophagy and apoptosis was evaluated in DKD rats, and Crp^-/- rats showed increased podocyte autophagy compared with wt and huCRPtg rats. Meanwhile, stable CRP-overexpression and CRP-knockout cell lines were established and used to demonstrate that CRP suppresses C3a-induced podocyte autophagy under high-glucose conditions. We further verified that the inhibition of C3a-induced podocyte autophagy by CRP was dependent on C3aR expression and that this effect could be reversed with a C3aR antagonist and agonist. Therefore, our findings provide evidence that CRP suppresses podocyte autophagy to accelerate the development of DKD by inhibiting C3a/C3aR axis signaling, which may help in the development of a new therapeutic strategy for the management of podocyte autophagy and DKD. In addition, rat CRP has been shown to be identical to human CRP in the activation of autologous complement and interspecific complement.

Role of Bioactive Compounds in Obesity: Metabolic Mechanism Focused on Inflammation

Obesity is a disease characterized by an inflammatory process in the adipose tissue due to diverse infiltrated immune cells, an increased secretion of proinflammatory molecules, and a decreased secretion of anti-inflammatory molecules. On the other hand, obesity increases the risk of several diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. Their treatment is based on nutritional and pharmacological strategies. However, natural products are currently implemented as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Polyphenols and fiber are naturally compounds with potential action to reduce inflammation through several pathways and play an important role in the prevention and treatment of obesity, as well as in other non-communicable diseases. Hence, this review focuses on the recent evidence of the molecular mechanisms of polyphenols and dietary fiber, from Scopus, Science Direct, and PubMed, among others, by using key words and based on recent in vitro and in vivo studies.

Ferulic acid protects renal tubular epithelial cells against anoxia/reoxygenation injury mediated by AMPKα1

Anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) injury causes dysfunction of rat renal tubular epithelial cells (NRK-52E), which is associated with excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and eventually leads to apoptosis. Ferulic acid (FA), a phenolic acid, which is abundant in fruits and vegetables. FA possesses the properties of scavenging free radicals and cytoprotection against oxygen stress. In the study, the protective effects of FA against NRK-52E cells damage induced by A/R were explored and confirmed the role of AMP-activated protein kinaseα1 (AMPKα1). We found that after NRK-52E cells suffered A/R damage, FA pretreatment increased the cell viability and decreased LDH activity in culture medium in a concentration-dependent manner, the activities of endogenous antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase improved, intracellular ROS generation and malondialdehyde contents mitigated. In addition, pretreatment of 75 μM FA ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction by A/R-injury and ultimately decreased apoptosis (25.3 ± 0.61 vs 12.1 ± 0.60), which was evidenced by preventing the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytoplasm. 75 μM FA pretreatment also significantly upregulated AMPKα1 expression (3.16 ± 0.18 folds) and phosphorylation (2.56 ± 0.13 folds). However, compound C, a specific AMPK inhibitor, significantly attenuated FA pretreatment's effects, as mentionedabove. These results firstly clarified that FA pretreatment attenuated NRK-52E cell damage induced by A/R via upregulating AMPKα1 expression and phosphorylation.