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El Jemli M, Ezzat SM, Kharbach M, Mostafa ES, Radwan RA, El Jemli Y, El-Guourrami O, Ahid S, Cherrah Y, Zayed A, Alaoui K. Bioassay-guided isolation of anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive metabolites among three Moroccan Juniperus leaves extract supported with in vitro enzyme inhibitory assays. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 331:118285. [PMID: 38703873 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Herbs of the genus Juniperus (family Cupressaceae) have been commonly used in ancestral folk medicine known as "Al'Araar" for treatment of rheumatism, diabetes, inflammation, pain, and fever. Bioassay-guided isolation of bioactives from medicinal plants is recognized as a potential approach for the discovery of novel drug candidates. In particular, non-addictive painkillers are of special interest among herbal phytochemicals. AIM OF THE STUDY The current study aimed to assess the safety of J. thurifera, J. phoenicea, and J. oxycedrus aqueous extracts in oral treatments; validating the traditionally reported anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Further phytochemical investigations, especially for the most bioactive species, may lead to isolation of bioactive metabolites responsible for such bioactivities supported with in vitro enzyme inhibition assays. MATERIALS AND METHODS Firstly, the acute toxicity study was investigated following the OECD Guidelines. Then, the antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory bioactivities were evaluated based on chemical and mechanical trauma assays and investigated their underlying mechanisms. The most active J. thurifera n-butanol fraction was subjected to chromatographic studies for isolating the major anti-inflammatory metabolites. Moreover, several enzymatic inhibition assays (e.g., 5-lipoxygenase, protease, elastase, collagenase, and tyrosinase) were assessed for the crude extracts and isolated compounds. RESULTS The results showed that acute oral administration of the extracts (300-500 mg/kg, p. o.) inhibited both mechanically and chemically triggered inflammatory edema in mice (up to 70% in case of J. thurifera) with a dose-dependent antinociceptive (tail flick) and anti-inflammatory pain (formalin assay) activities. This effect was partially mediated by naloxone inhibition of the opioid receptor (2 mg/kg, i. p.). In addition, 3-methoxy gallic acid (1), quercetin (2), kaempferol (3), and ellagic acid (4) were successfully identified being involved most likely in J. thurifera extract bioactivities. Nevertheless, quercetin was found to be the most potent against 5-LOX, tyrosinase, and protease with IC50 of 1.52 ± 0.01, 192.90 ± 6.20, and 399 ± 9.05 μM, respectively. CONCLUSION J. thurifera extract with its major metabolites are prospective drug candidates for inflammatory pain supported with inhibition of inflammatory enzymes. Interestingly, antagonism of opioid and non-opioid receptors is potentially involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meryem El Jemli
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco; Faculty of Pharmacy, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Shahira M Ezzat
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, 11562, Egypt; Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), 6th October 12451, Egypt.
| | - Mourad Kharbach
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco; Circular Economy/Sustainable Solutions, LAB University of Applied Sciences, Mukkulankatu 19, 15101 Lahti, Finland
| | - Eman Sherien Mostafa
- Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), 6th October 12451, Egypt
| | - Rasha Ali Radwan
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Biotechnology, German International University (GIU), Regional Ring Road, East Cairo, New Administrative Capital, Egypt
| | | | - Otman El-Guourrami
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
| | - Samir Ahid
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco; Faculty of Pharmacy, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Yahia Cherrah
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
| | - Ahmed Zayed
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, El Guish Street, Medical Campus, 31527, Tanta, Egypt
| | - Katim Alaoui
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
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Luo P, Li X, Gao Y, Chen Z, Zhang Q, Wang Z, Tian X. Central administration of human opiorphin alleviates dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis in mice through activation of the endogenous opioid system. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:904926. [PMID: 36176442 PMCID: PMC9513434 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.904926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The opioid system plays a crucial role in maintaining gastrointestinal homeostasis. Endogenous opioid peptide enkephalins have anti-inflammatory effect and participate in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Here, we investigated the effect of natural enkephalinase inhibitor human opiorphin (HO) on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Our results showed that central administration of HO attenuated DSS-induced colitis, as indicated by the reduction of disease activity index (DAI) scores, macroscopic scores, histological scores, and the myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Moreover, HO alleviated DSS-induced inflammation by decreasing inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, and increasing anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in both serum and colon tissues in DSS-treated mice. The potential anti-inflammatory effect of HO at a dose of 40 μg/kg was observed as evidenced by a decrease in nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65, toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), iNOS, and COX-2. HO also improved intestinal barrier function by enhancing the expression of tight junction proteins. Furthermore, HO treatment significantly inhibited activities of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and aminopeptidase N (APN), elevated serum enkephalins concentrations, and increased expressions of mu and delta opioid receptors. In addition, pretreatment with opioid receptor antagonist naloxone hydrochloride (NH) compromised the protective effect of HO and aggravated colitis symptoms, as indicated by inhibited anti-inflammatory effects, disrupted intestinal barrier function, and decreased opioid receptor activity. In conclusion, these data indicate that HO protects against DSS-induced colitis by inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB pathway activation and improving intestinal barrier function through activation of the endogenous opioid system. Therefore, targeting the opioid system with peptidase inhibitors intervention would be a novel strategy in the therapy of IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Luo
- College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xuelin Li
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Biology Education, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhengjun Chen
- College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Quanwei Zhang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Quanwei Zhang, ; Zhimin Wang, ; Xiaozhu Tian,
| | - Zhimin Wang
- Gansu Provincial Hospital PET/CT Center, Lanzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Quanwei Zhang, ; Zhimin Wang, ; Xiaozhu Tian,
| | - Xiaozhu Tian
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Biology Education, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Quanwei Zhang, ; Zhimin Wang, ; Xiaozhu Tian,
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Strategies for the Identification and Assessment of Bacterial Strains with Specific Probiotic Traits. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10071389. [PMID: 35889107 PMCID: PMC9323131 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10071389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Early in the 1900s, it was proposed that health could be improved and senility delayed by manipulating gut microbiota with the host-friendly bacteria found in yogurt. Later, in 1990, the medical community reconsidered this idea and today probiotics represent a developed area of research with a billion-dollar global industry. As a result, in recent decades, increased attention has been paid to the isolation and characterization of novel probiotic bacteria from fermented foods and dairy products. Most of the identified probiotic strains belong to the lactic acid bacteria group and the genus Bifidobacterium. However, current molecular-based knowledge has allowed the identification and culture of obligatory anaerobic commensal bacteria from the human gut, such as Akkermansia spp. and Faecalibacterium spp., among other human symbionts. We are aware that the identification of new strains of these species does not guarantee their probiotic effects and that each effect must be proved through in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies before clinical trials (before even considering it as a probiotic strain). In most cases, the identification and characterization of new probiotic strain candidates may lack the appropriate set of in vitro experiments allowing the next assessment steps. Here, we address some innovative strategies reported in the literature as alternatives to classical characterization: (i) identification of alternatives using whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing, metabolomics, and multi-omics analysis; and (ii) probiotic characterization based on molecular effectors and/or traits to target specific diseases (i.e., inflammatory bowel diseases, colorectal cancer, allergies, among others).
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Ceuleers H, Hanning N, De Bruyn M, De Man JG, De Schepper HU, Li Q, Liu L, Abrams S, Smet A, Joossens J, Augustyns K, De Meester I, Pasricha PJ, De Winter BY. The Effect of Serine Protease Inhibitors on Visceral Pain in Different Rodent Models With an Intestinal Insult. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:765744. [PMID: 35721192 PMCID: PMC9201642 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.765744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Serine proteases are believed to play a key role in the origin of abdominal pain in IBD and IBS. We previously demonstrated a reduction of visceral pain in a post-inflammatory IBS rat model after a single intraperitoneal or intracolonic administration of a serine protease inhibitor. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of serine protease inhibition on visceral pain in two different animal models involving a colonic insult based either on acute inflammation or on neonatal irritation. Moreover, protease profiling was explored in the acute colitis model. Methods: An acute 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) colitis rat model and a chronic neonatal acetic acid mouse model were used in this study. Visceral sensitivity was quantified by visceromotor responses (VMRs) to colorectal distension, 30 min after intraperitoneal administration of the serine protease inhibitors nafamostat, UAMC-00050 or their vehicles. Colonic samples from acute colitis rats were used to quantify the mRNA expression of a panel of serine proteases and mast cell tryptase by immunohistochemistry. Finally, proteolytic activities in colonic and fecal samples were characterized using fluorogenic substrates. Key Results: We showed a significant and pressure-dependent increase in visceral hypersensitivity in acute colitis and neonatal acetic acid models. UAMC-00050 and nafamostat significantly reduced VMRs in both animal models. In acute colitis rats, the administration of a serine protease inhibitor did not affect the inflammatory parameters. Protease profiling of these acute colitis animals revealed an increased tryptase immunoreactivity and a downregulation of matriptase at the mRNA level after inflammation. The administration of UAMC-00050 resulted in a decreased elastase-like activity in the colon associated with a significantly increased elastase-like activity in fecal samples of acute colitis animals. Conclusion: In conclusion, our results suggest that serine proteases play an important role in visceral hypersensitivity in an acute TNBS colitis model in rats and a neonatal acetic acid model in mice. Moreover, we hypothesize a potential mechanism of action of UAMC-00050 via the alteration of elastase-like proteolytic activity in acute inflammation. Taken together, we provided fundamental evidence for serine protease inhibitors as a promising new therapeutic strategy for abdominal pain in gastrointestinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Ceuleers
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Infla-Med, Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Nikita Hanning
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Infla-Med, Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Michelle De Bruyn
- Infla-Med, Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Joris G De Man
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Infla-Med, Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Heiko U De Schepper
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Infla-Med, Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Qian Li
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Liansheng Liu
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Steven Abrams
- Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Data Science Institute, UHasselt, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Annemieke Smet
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Infla-Med, Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jurgen Joossens
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Koen Augustyns
- Infla-Med, Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ingrid De Meester
- Infla-Med, Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Pankaj J Pasricha
- Center for Neurogastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Benedicte Y De Winter
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Infla-Med, Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
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De bruyn M, Ceuleers H, Hanning N, Berg M, De Man JG, Hulpiau P, Hermans C, Stenman UH, Koistinen H, Lambeir AM, De Winter BY, De Meester I. Proteolytic Cleavage of Bioactive Peptides and Protease-Activated Receptors in Acute and Post-Colitis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10711. [PMID: 34639054 PMCID: PMC8509398 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The protease activity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome has been studied extensively using synthetic fluorogenic substrates targeting specific sets of proteases. We explored activities in colonic tissue from a 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis rat model by investigating the cleavage of bioactive peptides. Pure trypsin- and elastase-like proteases on the one hand and colonic tissue from rats with TNBS-induced colitis in the acute or post-inflammatory phase on the other, were incubated with relevant peptides to identify their cleavage pattern by mass spectrometry. An increased cleavage of several peptides was observed in the colon from acute colitis rats. The tethered ligand (TL) sequences of peptides mimicking the N-terminus of protease-activated receptors (PAR) 1 and 4 were significantly unmasked by acute colitis samples and these cleavages were positively correlated with thrombin activity. Increased cleavage of β-endorphin and disarming of the TL-sequence of the PAR3-based peptide were observed in acute colitis and linked to chymotrypsin-like activity. Increased processing of the enkephalins points to the involvement of proteases with specificities different from trypsin- or chymotrypsin-like enzymes. In conclusion, our results suggest thrombin, chymotrypsin-like proteases and a set of proteases with different specificities as potential therapeutic targets in IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle De bruyn
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (M.D.b.); (A.-M.L.)
- Infla-Med, Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (H.C.); (N.H.); (M.B.); (J.G.D.M.); (B.Y.D.W.)
| | - Hannah Ceuleers
- Infla-Med, Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (H.C.); (N.H.); (M.B.); (J.G.D.M.); (B.Y.D.W.)
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics (LEMP), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Nikita Hanning
- Infla-Med, Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (H.C.); (N.H.); (M.B.); (J.G.D.M.); (B.Y.D.W.)
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics (LEMP), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Maya Berg
- Infla-Med, Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (H.C.); (N.H.); (M.B.); (J.G.D.M.); (B.Y.D.W.)
| | - Joris G. De Man
- Infla-Med, Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (H.C.); (N.H.); (M.B.); (J.G.D.M.); (B.Y.D.W.)
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics (LEMP), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Paco Hulpiau
- Bioinformatics Knowledge Center (BiKC), Howest University of Applied Sciences, 8000 Bruges, Belgium; (P.H.); (C.H.)
| | - Cedric Hermans
- Bioinformatics Knowledge Center (BiKC), Howest University of Applied Sciences, 8000 Bruges, Belgium; (P.H.); (C.H.)
| | - Ulf-Håkan Stenman
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; (U.-H.S.); (H.K.)
| | - Hannu Koistinen
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; (U.-H.S.); (H.K.)
| | - Anne-Marie Lambeir
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (M.D.b.); (A.-M.L.)
- Infla-Med, Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (H.C.); (N.H.); (M.B.); (J.G.D.M.); (B.Y.D.W.)
| | - Benedicte Y. De Winter
- Infla-Med, Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (H.C.); (N.H.); (M.B.); (J.G.D.M.); (B.Y.D.W.)
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics (LEMP), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Ingrid De Meester
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (M.D.b.); (A.-M.L.)
- Infla-Med, Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (H.C.); (N.H.); (M.B.); (J.G.D.M.); (B.Y.D.W.)
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