Acrocomia aculeata associated with doxorubicin: cardioprotection and anticancer activity

CYP2J2-derived epoxyeicosatrienoic acids protect against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis via activation of the AMPK pathway

Objective

Despite the widespread use of doxorubicin (DOX) in chemotherapy, it can cause cardiotoxicity, which severely limits its potential clinical use. CYP2J2-derived epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) exert cardioprotective effects by maintaining cardiac homeostasis. The roles and latent mechanisms of EETs in DOX cardiotoxicity remain uncertain. We investigated these aspects using mouse tissue and cell culture models.

Methods

C57BL/6J mice were injected with rAAV9-CYP2J2 or a control vector via the caudal vein. A five-week intraperitoneal course of DOX (5 mg/kg per week) was administered. After pretreatment with 14,15-EET, H9C2 cells were treated for 24-h with DOX, to use as a cell model to verify the role of EETs in cardiotoxicity in vitro.

Results

CYP2J2 overexpression mitigated DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, as shown by the diminished cardiac injury marker levels, improved heart function, reduced oxidative stress, and inhibition of myocardial apoptosis in vivo. These protective roles are associated with the enhancement of antioxidant and anti-apoptotic abilities and the activation of the AMPK pathway. 14,15-EET suppresses DOX-induced oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis in H9C2 cells. AMPK knockdown partially abolished the cardioprotective effects of 14,15-EET against oxidative damage and apoptosis in DOX-treated cells, suggesting that AMPK is responsible for EET-mediated protection against cardiotoxicity.

Conclusion

CYP2J2-derived EETs confer myocardial protection against DOX-induced toxicity by activating the AMPK pathway, which reduces oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis.

New Therapeutic Strategies for Obesity and Its Metabolic Sequelae: Brazilian Cerrado as a Unique Biome

Brazil has several important biomes holding impressive fauna and flora biodiversity. Cerrado being one of the richest ones and a significant area in the search for new plant-based products, such as foods, cosmetics, and medicines. The therapeutic potential of Cerrado plants has been described by several studies associating ethnopharmacological knowledge with phytochemical compounds and therapeutic effects. Based on this wide range of options, the Brazilian population has been using these medicinal plants (MP) for centuries for the treatment of various health conditions. Among these, we highlight metabolic diseases, namely obesity and its metabolic alterations from metabolic syndrome to later stages such as type 2 diabetes (T2D). Several studies have shown that adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction leads to proinflammatory cytokine secretion and impaired free fatty acid (FFA) oxidation and oxidative status, creating the basis for insulin resistance and glucose dysmetabolism. In this scenario, the great Brazilian biodiversity and a wide variety of phytochemical compounds make it an important candidate for the identification of pharmacological strategies for the treatment of these conditions. This review aimed to analyze and summarize the current literature on plants from the Brazilian Cerrado that have therapeutic activity against obesity and its metabolic conditions, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.