Effect of biologically active fraction of Nardostachys jatamansi on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis

Desoxo-narchinol A and Narchinol B Isolated from Nardostachys jatamansi Exert Anti-neuroinflammatory Effects by Up-regulating of Nuclear Transcription Factor Erythroid-2-Related Factor 2/Heme Oxygenase-1 Signaling

We previously reported that desoxo-narchinol A and narchinol B from Nardostachys jatamansi DC (Valerianaceae) inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), and the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 protein in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 and primary microglial cells. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of desoxo-narchinol A and narchinol B. These two compounds inhibited the nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway, by repressing the phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitor kappa B (IκB)-α, nuclear translocation of the p65/p50 heterodimer, and DNA-binding activity of the p65 subunit. Furthermore, both compounds induced heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein expression, which was mediated by the activation of nuclear transcription factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway by desoxo-narchinol A was shown to be regulated by increased phosphorylation of p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), whereas only p38 was involved in narchinol B-induced activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. In addition, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling was also involved in the activation of HO-1 by desoxo-narchinol A and narchinol B. These compounds also increased the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) at serine-9 residue, following phosphorylation of Akt. The anti-neuroinflammatory effect of desoxo-narchinol A and narchinol B was partially blocked by a selective HO-1 inhibitor, suggesting that this effect is partly mediated by HO-1 induction. In addition, both compounds also induced HO-1 protein expression in rat-derived primary microglial cells, which was correlated with their anti-neuroinflammatory effects in LPS-stimulated primary microglial cells. In conclusion, desoxo-narchinol A and narchinol B are potential candidates for the development of preventive agents for the regulation of neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases.

In silico insight into EGFR treatment in patients with lung carcinoma and T790M mutations

The T790M mutational basis of treatment failure, following treatment via alteration of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway, is a well-known anomaly in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The T790M mutation activates the kinase domain, causing tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as gefitinib, to elicit little or no response. To overcome this acquired resistance in NSCLC cells, the present study utilized a structure-based drug designing method to identify a novel lead compound. An in-house traditional Chinese medicinal compound database was used and following initial virtual screening, pre-absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion/Tox and automated docking analyses, nardosinon was selected as the most appropriate candidate for further analysis. Two NSCLC cell lines, PC9GR4 and H2347, were used to test nardosinon and the results were compared with gefitinib. Results from an initial cell death assay revealed that nardosinon was able to induce cell death in NSCLC cells with and without the T790M mutation. These findings suggest that nardosinon may be an effective pharmacological compound for NSCLC treatment, including T790M EGFR mutant NSCLC cells.

Protective Effect of a Polyherbal Traditional Formula Consisting of Rosa damascena Mill., Glycyrrhiza glabra L. And Nardostachys jatamansi DC., Against Ethanol-induced Gastric Ulcer

"VARD" formula consisting of Rosa damascena Mill. (Rosaceae) petals, and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (Papilionaceae) and Nardostachys jatamansi DC. (Valerianaceae), has been proposed for gastric ulcer in Iranian traditional medicine. We investigated the antiulcer activity of each plant separately and in combination. The biochemical and molecular functions of extracts were also evaluated. Each plant hydroalcoholic extract was standardized via determination of total phenolic and flavonoid contents, also via some phenolic compounds determination and specially glycyrrhizic acid in G. glabra by using HPLC. Rats received orally extracts of the plants (20, 40 and 80 mg/Kg) and "VARD" (45 mg/Kg) 1 h before ethanol administration. Two h after receiving ethanol, animals were sacrificed; the stomach was removed for macroscopic and microscopic assessment. Also heme-oxygenase-1, glutathione, and catalase were measured in the gastric tissue of the rats pretreated by "VARD" and dose of 20 mg/Kg of extracts. Among three extracts, R. damascena and G. glabra contained more total phenolic and flavonoid content respectively. Gallic acid was prominent compound in R. damascena. The extracts of R. damascena, G. glabra, and N. jatamansi significantly decreased ulcer index. ED₅₀ values were 8.2, 31.86 and 25.08 mg/Kg respectively. "VARD" significantly decreased ulcer index compared to 20 mg/Kg of G. glabra (p < 0.0001) and N. jatamansi (p < 0.001). Pretreatment with "VARD" and each plant extracts (20 mg/Kg) increased glutathione, catalse and heme-oxygenase-1 significantly (p < 0.05) in comparison with control group. Our findings indicate that "VARD" partly via antioxidant activity can be considered as an effective antiulcer formula.

Cytoprotective role of heme oxygenase-1 in liver ischemia reperfusion injury

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is the main cause of graft dysfunction and failure in vascular occlusion both during liver surgery and during liver transplantation. The pathophysiology of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion includes a number of mechanisms including oxidant stress that contribute to various degrees to the overall organ damage. Heme oxygenases (HO) are essential enzymes which degrade heme into biliverdin-IXalpha, free divalent iron, and carbon monoxide (CO). Due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and, as recently described, anti-viral properties. The inducible HO isoform HO-1 is an important molecule which could find its way into therapy of acute and chronic liver injuries including acute liver failure, alcoholic or viral hepatitis, chronic inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma are life threatening diseases and as a consequence might result in the necessity of liver transplantation. Liver transplantation is limited by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, which is characterized by hypoxia and nutrient deficiency resulting in oxidative stress, apoptosis and immune activation. Induction of HO-1 and application predominantly of CO have been shown to interfere with liver I/R injury and to improve recipient and graft survival. HO-1 and its reaction products of heme degradation has been linked to cytoprotection, and as an inducible form of HO, serves a vital metabolic function as the rate-limiting step in the heme degradation pathway, and affords protection in models of liver I/R injury. HO-1 system is an important player in liver I/R injury condition, and may offer new targets for the management of this condition. This review aims to summarize cytoprotective role of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and its products within the liver.

Antioxidative phytoceuticals to ameliorate pancreatitis in animal models: An answer from nature

Despite enthusiastic efforts directed at elucidating critical underlying mechanisms towards the identification of novel therapeutic targets for severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), the disease remains without a specific therapy to be executed within the first hours to days after onset of symptoms. Although earlier management for SAP should aim to either treat organ failure or reduce infectious complications, the current standard of care for the general management of AP in the first hours to days after onset of symptoms include intravenous fluid replacement, nutritional changes, and the use of analgesics with a close monitoring of vital signs. Furthermore, repeated evaluation of severity is very important, as the condition is particularly unstable in the early stages. In cases where biliary pancreatitis is accompanied by acute cholangitis or in cases where biliary stasis is suspected, an early endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is recommended. However, practice guidelines regarding the treatment of pancreatitis are suboptimal. In chronic pancreatitis, conservative management strategies include lifestyle modifications and dietary changes followed by analgesics and pancreatic enzyme supplementation. Recently, attention has been focused on phytoceuticals or antioxidants as agents that could surpass the limitations associated with currently available therapies. Because oxidative stress has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis, antioxidants alone or combined with conventional therapy may improve oxidative-stress-induced organ damage. Interest in phytoceuticals stems from their potential use as simple, accurate tools for pancreatitis prognostication that could replace older and more tedious methods. Therefore, the use of antioxidative nutrition or phytoceuticals may represent a new direction for clinical research in pancreatitis. In this review article, recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of pancreatitis are discussed and the paradigm shift underway to develop phytoceuticals and antioxidants to treat it is introduced. Despite the promise of studies evaluating the effects of antioxidants/phytoceuticals in pancreatitis, translation to the clinic has thus far been disappointing. However, it is expected that continued research will provide solid evidence to justify the use of antioxidative phytoceuticals in the treatment of pancreatitis.

Preventive Effect of Three Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Seeds Fractions on Cerulein-Induced Acute Pancreatitis in Mice

BACKGROUND

Acute pancreatitis (AP) refers to afflicted inflammation of pancreas with unfavorable adverse effects and developed multiple organ failures. Unfortunately, there is not a certain therapeutic method for this disease. Oxidative stress has a serious role in the pathogenesis of AP. Thus, decreasing of oxidative stress may prevent induction and progression of AP. Punica granatum L. has been extensively used in traditional medicine and possesses various active biological elements. Due to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of pomegranate, it could be considered as a good candidate alternative medicine with beneficial effects on AP. In this study, we decided to study the protective effect of three fractions of pomegranate seeds on cerulein-induced AP.

METHODS

AP was induced in male Syrian mice by five intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of cerulein (50 μg/kg) with 1 h intervals. Treatments with pomegranate freeze-dried powder (PFDP) and hydroalcoholic pomegranate seeds extract (PSE) at doses of 125, 250, 500 mg/kg (i.p.) were started 30 min before pancreatitis induction. Pomegranate seed oil fraction (PSOF) was orally administered (50, 100, 200 μL/kg) and continued for 10 days. Pancreatic tissue was evaluated for histopathological parameters and pancreatic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity as well as lipase and amylase levels were measured in plasma.

RESULTS

The higher doses of three fractions (250 and 500 mg/kg for PFDP and PSE and doses of 100, 200 μL/kg for PSOF) significantly reduced amylase and lipase activity in serum (at least P < 0.01), pancreatic MPO activity (P < 0.001), edema, leukocyte infiltration and vacuolization in comparison to the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These results propose that pomegranate seeds fractions can prevent and/or treat the AP.

Beneficial Effects of Fractions of Nardostachys jatamansi on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Response

It has been previously shown that Nardostachys jatamansi (NJ) exhibits anti-inflammatory properties against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenges. However, the potency of NJ constituents against LPS-induced inflammatory responses has not been examined. In this present study, we determined which NJ extract fractions exhibit inhibitory effects against LPS-induced inflammatory responses. Among the NJ fractions, NJ-1, NJ-3, NJ-4, and NJ-6 inhibited LPS-induced production of NO. The NJ-3, NJ-4, and NJ-6 fractions also inhibited the production of cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. However, NJ-1, NJ-3, NJ-4, and NJ-6 showed differential inhibitory mechanisms against LPS-induced inflammatory responses. NJ-1, NJ-3, and NJ-4 inhibited LPS-induced activation of c-jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 but did not affect activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) or NF-κB. On the other hand, NJ-6 inhibited activation of MAPKs and NF-κB. In addition, in vivo experiments revealed that administration of NJ-1, NJ-3, NJ-4, and NJ-6 reduced LPS-induced endotoxin shock, with NJ-6 especially showing a marked protective effect. Taken together, these results provide the evidence for the potential of selective NJ fractions against LPS-induced inflammation. Thus, it will be advantageous to further isolate and determine single effective compounds from these potent fractions.

Heme oxygenase-1 and gut ischemia/reperfusion injury: A short review

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury of the gut is a significant problem in a variety of clinical settings and is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. Although the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of gut I/R injury have not been fully elucidated, it is generally believed that oxidative stress with subsequent inflammatory injury plays an important role. Heme oxygenase (HO) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the catabolism of heme, followed by production of CO, biliverdin, and free iron. The HO system is believed to confer cytoprotection by inhibiting inflammation, oxidation, and apoptosis, and maintaining microcirculation. HO-1, an inducible form of HO, serves a vital metabolic function as the rate-limiting step in the heme degradation pathway, and affords protection in models of intestinal I/R injury. HO-1 system is an important player in intestinal I/R injury condition, and may offer new targets for the management of this condition.