Sinapic Acid Ameliorates REV-ERB α Modulated Mitochondrial Fission against MPTP-Induced Parkinson's Disease Model

Maintenance of mitochondrial function by sinapic acid protects against tramadol-induced toxicity in isolated mitochondria obtained from rat brain

It is reported that tramadol can induce neurotoxic effects with the production of DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. The current study aimed to evaluate the potential role of mitochondrial impairment in the pathogenesis of tramadol-induced neurotoxicity, and protective effect of sinapic acid (SA) against it in isolated mitochondria from rat brain. Mitochondria were isolated and were incubated with toxic concentrations (100 μM) of tramadol and then cotreated with tramadol + SA (10, 50, and 100 μM). Biomarkers of mitochondrial toxicity including succinate dehydrogenases (SDH) activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation (LPO), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), GSH depletion, and mitochondrial swelling were assessed. Our results showed a significant decrease in SDH activity, and a significant increase in ROS, LPO, GSH depletion, MMP collapse, and mitochondrial swelling was detected in tramadol group. We observed that 50 and 100 μM SA cotreatment for 1 h efficiently ameliorated tramadol-caused damage in mitochondrial dysfunction, accumulation of ROS, LPO, GSH depletion, depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential, and mitochondrial swelling. These data suggest that mitochondrial impairment and oxidative stress are mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of tramadol-induced neurotoxicity. Also, results indicate that SA antagonizes against tramadol-induced mitochondrial toxicity and suggest SA may be a preventive/therapeutic agent for tramadol-induced neurotoxicity complications.

Development and Evaluation of a Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System for Sinapic Acid with Improved Antiviral Efficacy against SARS-CoV-2

This study aimed to develop a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNE) for sinapic acid (SA) to improve its solubility and antiviral activity. Optimal components for the SA-SNE formulation were selected, including Labrafil as the oil, Cremophor EL as the surfactant, and Transcutol as the co-surfactant. The formulation was optimized using surface response design, and the optimized SA-SNE formulation exhibited a small globule size of 83.6 nm, high solubility up to 127.1 ± 3.3, and a 100% transmittance. In vitro release studies demonstrated rapid and high SA release from the formulation. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed improved bioavailability by 2.43 times, and the optimized SA-SNE formulation exhibited potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. The developed SA-SNE formulation can enhance SA's therapeutic efficacy by improving its solubility, bioavailability, and antiviral activity. Further in silico, modeling, and Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (GaMD)-based studies revealed that SA could interact with and inhibit the viral main protease (Mpro). This research contributes to developing effective drug delivery systems for poorly soluble drugs like SA, opening new possibilities for their application via nebulization in SARS-CoV-2 therapy.

Sinapic Acid Attenuate Liver Injury by Modulating Antioxidant Activity and Inflammatory Cytokines in Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Cirrhosis in Rats

Sinapic acid (SA) is a natural pharmacological active compound found in berries, nuts, and cereals. The current study aimed to investigate the protective effects of SA against thioacetamide (TAA) fibrosis in rats by histopathological and immunohistochemical assays. The albino rats (30) were randomly divided into five groups (G). G1 was injected with distilled water 3 times/week and fed orally daily with 10% Tween 20 for two months. G2-5 were injected with 200 mg/kg TAA three times weekly for two months and fed with 10% Tween 20, 50 mg/kg silymarin, 20, and 40 mg/kg of SA daily for 2 months, respectively. The results showed that rats treated with SA had fewer hepatocyte injuries with lower liver index (serum bilirubin, total protein, albumin, and liver enzymes (ALP, ALT, and AST) and were similar to that of control and silymarin-treated rats. Acute toxicity for 2 and 4 g/kg SA showed to be safe without any toxic signs in treated rats. Macroscopic examination showed that hepatotoxic liver had an irregular, rough surface with micro and macro nodules and histopathology expressed by Hematoxylin and Eosin, and Masson Trichrome revealed severe inflammation and infiltration of focal necrosis, fibrosis, lymphocytes, and proliferation bile duct. In contrast, rats fed with SA had significantly lower TAA toxicity in gross and histology and liver tissues as presented by less liver tissue disruption, lesser fibrosis, and minimum in filtered hepatocytes. Immunohistochemistry of rats receiving SA showed significant up-regulation of HSP 70% and down-regulation of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein expression compared to positive control rats. The homogenized liver tissues showed a notable rise in the antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) actions with significantly lower malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to that of the positive control group. Furthermore, the SA-treated rats had significantly lower TNF-a, IL-6, and higher IL-10 levels than the positive control rats. Thus, the findings suggest SA as a hepatoprotective compound due to its inhibitory effects on fibrosis, hepatotoxicity, liver cell proliferation, up-regulation of HSP 70, and downregulation of α-SMA expression, inhibiting lipid peroxidation (MDA), while retaining the liver index and antioxidant enzymes to normal.

Inhibition of Drp1-dependent mitochondrial fission by natural compounds as a therapeutic strategy for organ injuries

Mitochondria are morphologically dynamic organelles frequently undergoing fission and fusion processes that regulate mitochondrial integrity and bioenergetics. These processes are considered critical for cell survival. The mitochondrial fission process regulates mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy. It is associated with apoptosis, while mitochondrial fusion controls the accurate distribution of mitochondrial DNA and metabolic substances across the mitochondria. Excessive mitochondrial fission results in mitochondrial structural changes, dysfunction, and cell damage. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that mitochondrial dynamics affect neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases along with several other diseases. Biological molecules regulating the process of mitochondrial fission are potential targets for developing therapeutic agents. Many natural products target the dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1)-dependent mitochondrial fission pathway, and their inhibitory effects ameliorate mitochondrial fragmentation. In this article, we reviewed the research literature that describes Drp1-dependent inhibition as a mechanism for the protective effects of natural compounds.

Mitochondrial fission mediated by Drp1-Fis1 pathway and neurodegenerative diseases

In recent years, the role of mitochondrial dynamics in neurodegenerative diseases has becoming increasingly important. More and more evidences have shown that in pathological conditions, abnormal mitochondrial divisions, especially Drp1-Fis1-mediated divisions, play an important role in the occurrence and development of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, glaucoma, and other neurodegenerative diseases. This review highlights several new mechanisms of physiological fission of mitochondria and the difference/connection of physiological/pathological mitochondrial fission. In addition, we described the relationship between abnormal mitochondrial dynamics and neurodegenerative diseases in detail and emphatically summarized its detection indicators in basic experiments, trying to provide references for further mechanism exploration and therapeutic targets.