Crocus sativus L. Extract Containing Polyphenols Modulates Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Response against Anti-Tuberculosis Drugs-Induced Liver Injury

Hepatoprotective activity of medicinal plants, their phytochemistry, and safety concerns: a systematic review

Medicinal plants and their derivatives represent a promising reservoir of remedies for various ailments. Especially secondary metabolites of these plants, including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, steroids, saponins, tannins, and anthraquinones, play crucial roles in hepatoprotection. Studies have identified several prominent phytoconstituents, such as silymarin, quercetin, luteolin, glycyrrhizin, curcumin, gallic acid, chebulic acid, catechin, aloin, emodin, liquiritin, liquiritigenin, cudraflavone B, and karaviloside, as effective agents for addressing hepatotoxicity. The mechanisms underlying their efficacy include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, free radical scavenging, and the ability to block oxidative stress, cytokine production, and stabilize liver cell membranes. The application of natural products derived from medicinal plants in treating liver injuries is rooted in their efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and safety profile, contributing to their popularity. Many studies, encompassing in vitro, in vivo, preclinical, and clinical investigations, have demonstrated that the extracts of medicinal plants mitigate chemical-induced liver damage using animal models. However, intensive research efforts regarding the safety, regulatory standard, and quality control issues for using medicinal plants as hepatoprotective agents remain the strong task of scholars. The primary focus of this systematic review is to analyze the current state of the literature regarding treating liver ailments using extracts from medicinal plants, examining their phytochemical composition, and addressing associated safety considerations.

Polyphenols as Therapeutics in Respiratory Diseases: Moving from Preclinical Evidence to Potential Clinical Applications

Respiratory diseases are the most common and severe health complication and a leading cause of death worldwide. Despite breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment, few safe and effective therapeutics have been reported. Phytochemicals are gaining popularity due to their beneficial effects and low toxicity. Polyphenols are secondary metabolites with high molecular weights found at high levels in natural food sources such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and citrus seeds. Over recent decades, polyphenols and their beneficial effects on human health have been the subject of intense research, with notable successes in preventing major chronic non-communicable diseases. Many respiratory syndromes can be treated effectively with polyphenolic supplements, including acute lung damage, pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, and lung cancer. This review summarizes the role of polyphenols in respiratory conditions with sufficient experimental data, highlights polyphenols with beneficial effects for each, and identifies those with therapeutic potential and their underlying mechanisms. Moreover, clinical studies and future research opportunities in this area are discussed.

An overview of analytical methods employed for quality assessment of Crocus sativus (saffron)

This paper reviews qualitative and quantitative analytical methodologies used for the appraisal of saffron quality, as the most expensive spice. Due to the chemical diversity of biologically active compounds of the Crocus genus, analytical methods with different features are required for their complete analysis. However, screening of the main components, such as carotenoids and flavonoids, appears to be sufficient for quality control, a more precise examination needs evaluation of minor compounds, including anthocyanins and fatty acids. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and thin-layer chromatography (TLC), are elementary and applicable methods in quality control analysis, whereas HPLC provides metabolite fingerprint and monitoring multi-compound instances at preparative and analytical levels. Combination approaches like metabolomics using different methods could classify saffron types, identify its adulterations, contaminants and provide a comprehensive metabolite map for quality control of selected compounds.

Bioactive Components and Biological Activities of Crocus sativus L. Byproducts: A Comprehensive Review

The production of saffron spice results in numerous byproducts, as only 15 g of spice can be produced from 1 kg of flowers, indicating that over 90% of the saffron flower material is eventually discarded as waste. In view of this, the paper reviews current knowledge on the natural active components in saffron byproducts and their biological activities, aiming to lay a theoretical and scientific foundation for the further utilization. Saffron byproducts contain a variety of phytochemical components, such as flavonoids, anthocyanins, carotenoids, phenolic acids, monoterpenoids, alkaloids, glycosides, and saponins. The activities of saffron byproducts and their mechanisms are also discussed in detail here.

Hepatoprotective effect of hydromethanol extract of Otostegia integrifolia benth leaves in isoniazid and rifampicin induced Swiss albino mice

Introduction

Drug-induced liver injury is the most common cause of acute liver failure. Off-Target effect "hepatotoxicity "frequently detected during clinical examination of patients on anti-Tb medication particularly isoniazid (INH), and rifampin (RMP). However, there is no any treatment option against isoniazid and rifampicin induced hepatotoxicity. It is, therefore, necessary to search for effective affordable and safe drugs from medicinal plants for the prevention of liver toxicity caused by isoniazid and rifampicin. The aim the current study is to evaluate hepatoprotective effect of hydro methanol extract from Otostegia integrifolia leaves in isoniazid and rifampicin-induced hepatotoxicity in Swiss albino mice.

Methods

O. integrifolia leaves powder was macerated in hydromethanol and thirty Swiss albino mice 29.0-40.6 g were grouped in to five groups. Group I were given 20 ml/kg distilled water, group II were given 100 mg INH and 150 mg RIF per kg body weight. Group III, group IV, and group V were given 200 mg extract, 400 mg extract, and 100 mg of N-acetyl cysteine respectively per kg 1hr before induction with 100 mg INH plus 150 mg RIF per kg. The treatments were followed for 14 days. On the 15th day, all mice were anaesthetized with diethyl ether; blood samples were collected for the assessment liver enzyme and function test.

Results

Group II mice's serum ALT, AST and total bilirubin levels were significantly increased and serum total protein and albumin levels were significantly decreased as compared with group I mice. The groups of mice treated with O. integrifolia at a dose of 400 mg/kg and N-acetyl cysteine AST, ALT and total bilirubin level were significantly decreased; and total protein and albumin levels were significantly (P < 0.05) increased as compared with group II. The liver index of the group IV showed decreased (P < 0.05) as compared to the group II.

Conclusion

Evidence from our study revealed that the hydromethanol extract of O. integrifolia has a hepatoprotective effect against isoniazid and rifampicin-induced hepatotoxicity in Swiss Albino mice. This protective effect of O. integrifolia extract may be based on its metal ion reducing power, free radical scavenging activity, and anti-inflammatory activity and could be used as a potential therapeutic option.

Deciphering the emerging role of phytocompounds: Implications in the management of drug-resistant tuberculosis and ATDs-induced hepatic damage

Tuberculosis is a disease of poverty, discrimination, and socioeconomic burden. Epidemiological studies suggest that the mortality and incidence of tuberculosis are unacceptably higher worldwide. Genomic mutations in embCAB, embR, katG, inhA, ahpC, rpoB, pncA, rrs, rpsL, gyrA, gyrB, and ethR contribute to drug resistance reducing the susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to many antibiotics. Additionally, treating tuberculosis with antibiotics also poses a serious risk of hepatotoxicity in the patient's body. Emerging data on drug-induced liver injury showed that anti-tuberculosis drugs remarkably altered levels of hepatotoxicity biomarkers. The review is an attempt to explore the anti-mycobacterial potential of selected, commonly available, and well-known phytocompounds and extracts of medicinal plants against strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Many studies have demonstrated that phytocompounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds have antibacterial action against Mycobacterium species, inhibiting the bacteria's growth and replication, and sometimes, causing cell death. Phytocompounds act by disrupting bacterial cell walls and membranes, reducing enzyme activity, and interfering with essential metabolic processes. The combination of these processes reduces the overall survivability of the bacteria. Moreover, several phytochemicals have synergistic effects with antibiotics routinely used to treat TB, improving their efficacy and decreasing the risk of resistance development. Interestingly, phytocompounds have been presented to reduce isoniazid- and ethambutol-induced hepatotoxicity by reversing serum levels of AST, ALP, ALT, bilirubin, MDA, urea, creatinine, and albumin to their normal range, leading to attenuation of inflammation and hepatic necrosis. As a result, phytochemicals represent a promising field of research for the development of new TB medicines.

Mechanisms of isoniazid and rifampicin-induced liver injury and the effects of natural medicinal ingredients: A review

Isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RFP) are the first-line medications for tuberculosis treatment, and liver injury is the major adverse effect. Natural medicinal ingredients provide distinct benefits in alleviating patients’ symptoms, lowering the liver injury risk, delaying disease progression, and strengthening the body’s ability to heal. This paper summarises the recent research on the mechanisms of INH and RFP-induced liver injury and the effects of natural medicinal ingredients. It is believed that INH-induced liver injury may be attributed to oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, drug metabolic enzymes, protoporphyrin IX accumulation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, bile transport imbalance, and immune response. RFP-induced liver injury is mainly related to cholestasis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and liver lipid accumulation. However, the combined effect of INH and RFP on liver injury risk is still uncertain. RFP can increase INH-induced hepatotoxicity by regulating the expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters. In contrast, INH can antagonize RFP-induced liver injury by reducing the total bilirubin level in the blood. Sagittaria sagittifolia polysaccharide, quercetin, gallic acid, and other natural medicinal ingredients play protective roles on INH and RFP-induced liver injury by enhancing the body’s antioxidant capacity, regulating metabolism, inhibiting cell apoptosis, and reducing the inflammatory response. There are still many gaps in the literature on INH and RFP-induced liver injury mechanisms and the effects of natural medicinal ingredients. Thus, further research should be carried out from the perspectives of liver injury phenotype, injury markers, in vitro and in vivo liver injury model construction, and liver-gut axis. This paper comprehensively reviewed the literature on mechanisms involved in INH and RFP-induced liver injury and the status of developing new drugs against INH and RFP-induced liver injury. In addition, this review also highlighted the uses and advantages of natural medicinal ingredients in treating drug-induced liver injury.

Crocus sativus L. Petal Extract Inhibits Inflammation and Osteoclastogenesis in RAW 264.7 Cell Model

The dried stigmas of Crocus sativus L. (Iridaceae) are traditionally processed to produce saffron, a spice widely used as a food coloring and flavoring agent, which is important in the pharmaceutical and textile dye-producing industries. The labor-intensive by-hand harvesting and the use of only a small amount of each flower cause saffron to be the most expensive spice in the world. Crocus sp. petals are by-products of saffron production and represent an interesting raw material for the preparation of extracts intended for health protection in the perspective of a circular economy. In the present study, ethanolic extract from Crocus sativus L. petals (Crocus sativus L. petal extract, CsPE) was tested on macrophages by in vitro models of inflammation and osteoclastogenesis. The extract was found to be endowed with anti-inflammatory activity, significantly reducing the nitric oxide production and IL-6 release by RAW 264.7 murine cells. Moreover, CsPE demonstrated an anti-osteoclastogenic effect, as revealed by a complete inhibition of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive osteoclast formation and a decreased expression of key osteoclast-related genes. This study, which focuses on the macrophage as the target cell of the bioactive extract from Crocus sativus L. petals, suggests that the petal by-product of saffron processing can usefully be part of a circular economy network aimed at producing an extract that potentially prevents bone disruption.

Nutritional composition and antioxidant properties of the fruit of Berberis heteropoda Schrenk

Objective

This study assessed the major nutrients and antioxidant properties of Berberis heteropoda Schrenk fruits collected from the Nanshan Mountain area of Urumqi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.

Methods and materials

We assessed the basic nutrients, including amino acids, minerals, and fatty acids, and determined the total phenol, flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents of the extracts.

Results

The analytical results revealed the average water (75.22 g/100 g), total fat (0.506 g/100 g), total protein (2.55 g/100 g), ash (1.31 g/100 g), and carbohydrate (17.72 g/100 g) contents in fresh B. heteropoda fruit, with total phenol, flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents of B. heteropoda fruits at 68.55 mg gallic acid equivalents/g, 108.42 mg quercetin equivalents/g, and 19.83 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalent/g, respectively. Additionally, UPLC-Q-TOF-MS^E analysis of polyphenols in B. heteropoda fruit revealed 32 compounds.

Conclusion

B. heteropoda fruits may have potential nutraceutical value and represent a potential source of nutrition and antioxidant phytochemicals in the human diet.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Corm of Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman Extract against Isoniazid and Rifampicin Induced Hepatotoxicity in Swiss Albino Mice

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is one of the cumbersome health-related problems which render approximately 50% of liver failure and patients to receiving liver transplantation every year. Antituberculosis drugs such as isoniazid and rifampicin are potentially rendering hepatotoxicity. Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman is an herbaceous perennial plant that contributes to the indigenous ethnomedicinal values for the society. This study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of corm of Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman extracts against isoniazid and rifampicin induced hepatotoxicity in Swiss albino mice. The study was conducted on 30 Swiss albino mice randomly allocated into five groups. Group I, group II, group III, group IV, and group V were the groups in which mice were given distilled water, only isoniazid and rifampicin, isoniazid and rifampicin along with 200 mg/kg corm of Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman extract, isoniazid and rifampicin along with 400 mg/kg corm of Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman extract, and isoniazid and rifampicin along with silymarin per oral per day, respectively. On the 30th day of the experiment, mice were sacrificed after anesthetized, and blood was drawn for the liver function test, and the liver was also taken from each experimental mouse for histopathological evaluation. Data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 subsequently exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis by using one-way ANOVA. Plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin (TBIL) of group II mice were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated as compared to group I. The group of mice treated with a corm of Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman at a dose of 400 mg/kg (group IV) and silymarin100 mg/kg (group V) showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in ALT, AST, ALP, and TBIL as compared to the group II. The liver section of group II showed a change in liver architecture; however, these deformities were not noticed in group IV mice. The result showed corm of Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman extract has a very promising hepatoprotective potential against isoniazid and rifampicin induced liver injury.

Dietary Intake of Vegetables and Cooking Oil Was Associated With Drug-Induced Liver Injury During Tuberculosis Treatment: A Preliminary Cohort Study

Background and Purpose: Drug-induced liver injury is challenging during tuberculosis treatment. There is no epidemiological data investigating the relation between dietary intake and the risk of drug-induced liver injury during tuberculosis treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of food and nutrient intake with the incidence of tuberculosis-drug-induced liver injury.

Methods: A cohort study was conducted in two city-level tuberculosis-specialized hospitals in Linyi City and Qingdao City, China from January 2011 to December 2013. The dietary intake was assessed by a 3-day 24-h food recall survey and a standard food-frequency questionnaire. The liver functions including aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were monitored throughout the 6-month tuberculosis therapy. Liver injury was defined as ALT or AST higher than two times of the upper limit of normal (ULN). Liver dysfunction was defined as ALT or AST higher than the ULN. The ULN for ALT and AST is 40 U/L. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the dietary factors associated with the incidence of liver injury and liver dysfunction.

Results: A total of 605 patients were included in the analysis. During the treatment, 8.1% patients exhibited liver injury and 23.3% patients exhibited liver dysfunction. A lower intake of vegetables was associated with a higher risk of liver injury [OR (95% CI): 3.50 (1.52–8.08), P = 0.003) and liver dysfunction [OR (95% CI): 2.37 (1.31–4.29), P = 0.004], while a lower intake of cooking oil was associated with a lower risk of liver injury [OR (95% CI): 0.44 (0.20–0.96), P = 0.040)] and liver dysfunction [OR (95% CI): 0.51 (0.31–0.85), P = 0.009].

Conclusion: The current study indicated that the higher risks of tuberculosis-drug-induced liver injury and liver dysfunction were statistically associated with decreased vegetable intake and increased cooking oil intake.

Plant growth promoting and antifungal asset of indigenous rhizobacteria secluded from saffron (Crocus sativus L.) rhizosphere

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is an important plant in medicine. The Kashmir Valley (J&K, India) is one of the world's largest and finest saffron producing regions. However, over the past decade, there has been a strong declining trend in saffron production in this area. Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) are free living soil bacteria that have ability to colonize the surfaces of the roots and ability to boost plant growth and development either directly or indirectly. Using the efficient PGPR as a bio-inoculant is another sustainable agricultural practice to improve soil health, grain yield quality, and biodiversity conservation. In the present study, a total of 13 bacterial strains were isolated from rhizospheric soil of saffron during the flowering stage of the tubers and were evaluated for various plant growth promoting characteristics under in vitro conditions such as the solubilization of phosphate, production of indole acetic acid, siderophore, hydrocyanic acid, and ammonia production and antagonism by dual culture test against Sclerotium rolfsii and Fusarium oxysporum. All the isolates were further tested for the production of hydrolytic enzymes such as protease, lipase, amylase, cellulase, and chitinase. The maximum proportions of bacterial isolates were gram-negative bacilli. About 77% of the bacterial isolates showed IAA production, 46% exhibited phosphate solubilization, 46% siderophore, 61% HCN, 100% ammonia production, 69% isolates showed protease activity, 62% lipase, 46% amylase, 85% cellulase, and 39% showed chitinase activity. Three isolates viz., AIS-3, AIS-8 and AIS-10 were found to have the most plant growth properties and effectively control the growth of Sclerotium rolfsii and Fusarium oxysporum. The bacterial isolates were identified as Brevibacterium frigoritolerans (AIS-3), Alcaligenes faecalis subsp. Phenolicus (AIS-8) and Bacillus aryabhattai (AIS-10) respectively by 16S rRNA sequence analysis. Therefore, these isolated rhizobacterial strains could be a promising source of plant growth stimulants to increase cormlets growth and increase saffron production.

Potential Nutraceutical Benefits of In Vivo Grown Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) As Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Anticoagulant, and Antidepressant in Mice

Crocus sativus, a medicinally important herbaceous plant, has been traditionally used to cure coughs, colds, insomnia, cramps, asthma, and pain. Moreover, the therapeutic applications of saffron include its immunomodulatory and anticancer properties. The current experimental analysis was performed to explore the potential nutraceutical efficacy of corm, leaf, petal, and stigma of saffron ethanolic extracts as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and antidepressant using hot plate, carrageenan-induced paw edema, capillary tube and forced swim test, respectively in mice. The results indicated that among all the extracts, stigma ethanolic extract (SEE) represented maximum latency activity (72.85%) and edema inhibition (77.33%) followed by petal ethanolic extract (PEE) with latency activity and edema inhibition of 64.06 and 70.50%, respectively. Corm ethanolic extract (CEE) and leaf ethanolic extract (LEE) displayed mild analgesic activity of 22.40% and 29.07%, respectively. Additionally, LEE (53.29%) and CEE (47.47%) exhibited mild to moderate response against inflammation. The coagulation time of SEE (101.66 s) was almost equivalent to the standard drug, aspirin (101.66 s), suggesting a strong anticoagulant effect followed by PEE (86.5 s). LEE (66.83 s) represented moderate inhibitory effect on coagulation activity while CEE (42.83 s) showed neutral effect. Additionally, PEE and SEE also expressed itself as potential antidepressants with immobility time ≤76.66 s, while CEE (96.50 s) and LEE (106.83 s) indicated moderate to mild antidepressant efficacy. Based on the in vivo activities, saffron extract, particularly SEE and PEE, can be used as a potential nutraceutical and therapeutic agent due to its significant pharmacological activities.

Pterocarpus mildbraedii (Harms) extract resolves propanil-induced hepatic injury via repression of inflammatory stress responses in Wistar rats

Pterocarpus mildbraedii (PME) is a green leafy vegetable from the Papilionaceae family. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of PME in Wistar rats exposed to experimental hepatotoxicity using propanil (PRP), a post-emergent herbicide. Animals were grouped as control, PRP, PME, and PME + PRP. After 7 days, the levels of stress-activated protein kinases/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT-3) were measured in rat liver. Furthermore, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and nitric oxide (NO) levels, as well as protein expressions of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB p65), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) were determined. Compared with PRP-treated rats, PME significantly reduced the hepatic MPO and NO levels. PME also diminished NFκB, iNOS, and COX-2 protein expressions in PRP-treated rats. This study showed that Pterocarpus mildbraedii leaves produce active principles with relevant anti-inflammatory potential. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Previous studies have shown that bioactive principles contained in medicinal plants can offer protection against chemically induced inflammation. Pterocarpus mildbraedii leaves, with rich content of polyphenols, flavonoids, and essential fatty acids, could be exploited as a therapeutic agent against pesticide-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. This current study has also shown that the potential of PME as a functional food is boosted by the presence of α-linolenic acid, an omega-3-fatty acid known to possess anti-inflammatory activity. Here, we elucidated the cellular mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory action of PME.

Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antidiabetic and Cytotoxic Activity of Crocus sativus L. Petals

The purpose of this research is to examine in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic and cytotoxic efficacy of different extracts of Crocus sativus L. petals. Antioxidant activity of extracts was assessed by DPPH and ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assay. Among all extracts, ethanol (SPE) had the maximum radical scavenging activity with IC50 values 86.63 ± 7.53 μg/mL. The antimicrobial activity was determined by the evaluation of the minimum inhibitory concentration using the agar well plate procedure. The most effective extract was SPE with a minimum inhibitory concentration varying between 500 µg/mL, 250 µg/mL, 125 µg/mL, 62.5 µg/mL, 31.25 µg/mL, 15.63 µg/mL. Cytotoxic activity was tested against MDA-MB-231 cell lines using the MTT method whereas, antidiabetic activity was evaluated using an alpha-glucosidase inhibition assay. All extracts were found to have significant antidiabetic activity.