Beta-Caryophyllene Modifies Intracellular Lipid Composition in a Cell Model of Hepatic Steatosis by Acting through CB2 and PPAR Receptors

Improved recognition memory and reduced inflammation following β-caryophyllene treatment in the Wistar-Kyoto rodent model of treatment-resistant depression

Persistent low mood, anxiety and cognitive deficits are common symptoms of depression and highly efficacious treatments that address symptoms including cognitive dysfunction are still required. β-caryophyllene (BCP) is a terpene with anti-inflammatory and pro-cognitive properties; however, its efficacy on cognition in depression remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate acute and chronic BCP treatment effects on cognitive, depressive- and anxiety-like behaviours, and inflammation in male and female Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, a rodent model of treatment-resistant depression. Rats were administered either BCP (50 mg/kg) or vehicle (control). Open field (OFT), social interaction, sucrose preference, novel object recognition (NOR) and elevated plus maze (EPM) tests were conducted after acute (1 h) and chronic (2 weeks) treatment. Peripheral plasma inflammatory cytokine levels were examined. BCP acutely increased locomotor activity in the OFT but did not improve social interaction, whereas chronic BCP prevented increased latency to first interaction in females (not males). BCP did not improve sucrose preference or prevent anxiety-like behaviours in the EPM. BCP significantly increased novel object discrimination in the NOR test in male and female WKY rats and reduced cytokine levels after chronic treatment. This study shows for the first time that chronic BCP treatment improved recognition memory and exerted anti-inflammatory properties in a rodent model of depressive-like behaviours. BCP did not significantly improve anxiety-like behaviours, social interaction or anhedonia in WKY rats of either sex. These findings demonstrate the pro-cognitive effects of BCP in a rodent model of treatment-resistant depression worthy of further investigation.

Reduction of the geomagnetic field to hypomagnetic field modulates tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv Microtom) gene expression and metabolomics during plant development

An interesting aspect that links the geomagnetic field (GMF) to the evolution of life lies in how plants respond to the reduction of the GMF, also known as hypomagnetic field (HMF). In this work, tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum cv Microtom) were exposed either to GMF or HMF and were studied during the development of leaves and fruit set. Changes of expression of genes encoding for primary and secondary metabolites, including Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), proteins, fatty acids, polyphenols, chlorophylls, carotenoids and phytohormones were assessed by qRT-PCR, while the corresponding metabolite levels were quantified by GC-MS and HPLC-MS. Two tomato homologs of the fruit fly magnetoreceptor MagR, Isca-like 1 and erpA 2, were modulated by HMF, as were numerous tomato genes under investigation. In tomato leaves, positive correlations were observed with most of the genes associated with phytohormones production, ROS scavenging and production, and lipid metabolism, whereas an almost reversed trend was found in flowers and fruits. Interestingly, downregulation of Isca-like 1 and erpA 2 was found to correlate with an upregulation of most unripe fruit genes. Exposure to HMF reduced chlorophyll and carotenoid content, decreased photosynthetic efficiency and increased non-photochemical quenching. Auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, jasmonic acid and salicylic acid content and the expression of genes related to their metabolism correlated with tomato ISCA modulation. The results here reported suggest that Isca-like 1 and erpA 2 might be important players in tomato magnetoreception.

Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Fibrotic Effects of a Mixture of Polyphenols Extracted from "Navelina" Orange in Human Hepa-RG and LX-2 Cells Mediated by Cannabinoid Receptor 2

Navelina oranges (Citrus sinensis) are rich in phytonutrients and bioactive compounds, especially flavonoids like hesperidin. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties of hesperidin (HE) and a polyphenol mixture from Navelina oranges (OE) in human hepatocytes (Hepa-RG) and hepatic stellate cells (LX-2), in order to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. In Hepa-RG cells, HE treatment increased expression of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R), which was associated with down-regulation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 MAPK) but had minimal impact on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) levels. Conversely, OE treatment not only enhanced CB2R levels and reduced p38 MAPK, but also promoted a significant reduction in both COX-2 and TGF-β levels, suggesting that OE might be more effective in mitigating inflammatory and fibrotic processes than HE. In LX-2 cells, HE treatment caused a notable decrease in both COX-2 and TGF-β levels, reflecting its efficacy in targeting fibrosis-associated inflammation. OE treatment, on the other hand, reduced Nuclear Factor-Kappa B p65 (NF-κB) expression, a critical transcription factor involved in inflammatory responses, though it did not significantly affect COX-2. LX-2 cells induced to fibrosis with TGF-β and treated with HE and OE showed a reduction in the expression levels of several fibrosis markers. In addition, HE and OE showed antioxidant effects by increasing protein levels of Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1), Mn superoxide dismutase (SOD2) and catalase (CAT) and influencing the state of lipid peroxidation. Further research is needed to explore the effects of the treatments in activated hepatic stellate cells and in vivo liver disease models.

Natural products in atherosclerosis therapy by targeting PPARs: a review focusing on lipid metabolism and inflammation

Inflammation and dyslipidemia are critical inducing factors of atherosclerosis. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand-activated transcription factors and control the expression of multiple genes that are involved in lipid metabolism and inflammatory responses. However, synthesized PPAR agonists exhibit contrary therapeutic effects and various side effects in atherosclerosis therapy. Natural products are structural diversity and have a good safety. Recent studies find that natural herbs and compounds exhibit attractive therapeutic effects on atherosclerosis by alleviating hyperlipidemia and inflammation through modulation of PPARs. Importantly, the preparation of natural products generally causes significantly lower environmental pollution compared to that of synthesized chemical compounds. Therefore, it is interesting to discover novel PPAR modulator and develop alternative strategies for atherosclerosis therapy based on natural herbs and compounds. This article reviews recent findings, mainly from the year of 2020 to present, about the roles of natural herbs and compounds in regulation of PPARs and their therapeutic effects on atherosclerosis. This article provides alternative strategies and theoretical basis for atherosclerosis therapy using natural herbs and compounds by targeting PPARs, and offers valuable information for researchers that are interested in developing novel PPAR modulators.

The Role of Cannabidiol in Liver Disease: A Systemic Review

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid abundant in Cannabis sativa, has gained considerable attention for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, and neuroprotective properties. It exhibits the potential to prevent or slow the progression of various diseases, ranging from malignant tumors and viral infections to neurodegenerative disorders and ischemic diseases. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease, and viral hepatitis stand as prominent causes of morbidity and mortality in chronic liver diseases globally. The literature has substantiated CBD's potential therapeutic effects across diverse liver diseases in in vivo and in vitro models. However, the precise mechanism of action remains elusive, and an absence of evidence hinders its translation into clinical practice. This comprehensive review emphasizes the wealth of data linking CBD to liver diseases. Importantly, we delve into a detailed discussion of the receptors through which CBD might exert its effects, including cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55), transient receptor potential channels (TRPs), and their intricate connections with liver diseases. In conclusion, we address new questions that warrant further investigation in this evolving field.

Decoding the Postulated Entourage Effect of Medicinal Cannabis: What It Is and What It Isn't

The 'entourage effect' term was originally coined in a pre-clinical study observing endogenous bio-inactive metabolites potentiating the activity of a bioactive endocannabinoid. As a hypothetical afterthought, this was proposed to hold general relevance to the usage of products based on Cannabis sativa L. The term was later juxtaposed to polypharmacy pertaining to full-spectrum medicinal Cannabis products exerting an overall higher effect than the single compounds. Since the emergence of the term, a discussion of its pharmacological foundation and relevance has been ongoing. Advocates suggest that the 'entourage effect' is the reason many patients experience an overall better effect from full-spectrum products. Critics state that the term is unfounded and used primarily for marketing purposes in the Cannabis industry. This scoping review aims to segregate the primary research claiming as well as disputing the existence of the 'entourage effect' from a pharmacological perspective. The literature on this topic is in its infancy. Existing pre-clinical and clinical studies are in general based on simplistic methodologies and show contradictory findings, with the clinical data mostly relying on anecdotal and real-world evidence. We propose that the 'entourage effect' is explained by traditional pharmacological terms pertaining to other plant-based medicinal products and polypharmacy in general (e.g., synergistic interactions and bioenhancement).