The inhibitory effect of flavonoids on interleukin-8 release by human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells infected with cag PAI (+) Helicobacter pylori

Galangin: A Promising Flavonoid for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis-Mechanisms, Evidence, and Therapeutic Potential

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by progressive joint inflammation and damage. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the onset and progression of RA, significantly contributing to the disease's symptoms. The complex nature of RA and the role of oxidative stress make it particularly challenging to treat effectively. This article presents a comprehensive review of RA's development, progression, and the emergence of novel treatments, introducing Galangin (GAL), a natural flavonoid compound sourced from various plants, as a promising candidate. The bioactive properties of GAL, including its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects, are discussed in detail. The review elucidates GAL's mechanisms of action, focusing on its interactions with key targets such as inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6), enzymes (e.g., SOD, MMPs), and signaling pathways (e.g., NF-κB, MAPK), which impact inflammatory responses, immune cell activation, and joint damage. The review also addresses the lack of comprehensive understanding of potential treatment options for RA, particularly in relation to the role of GAL as a therapeutic candidate. It highlights the need for further research and clinical studies to ascertain the effectiveness of GAL in RA treatment and to elucidate its mechanisms of action. Overall, this review provides valuable insights into the potential of GAL as a therapeutic option for RA, shedding light on its multifaceted pharmacological properties and mechanisms of action, while suggesting avenues for future research and clinical applications.

An Overview of the Spices Used for the Prevention and Potential Treatment of Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) ranks third in terms of cancer-related deaths and is the fifth most commonly diagnosed type of cancer. Its risk factors include Helicobacter pylori infection, Epstein-Barr virus infection, the consumption of broiled and charbroiled animal meats, salt-preserved and smoke-enhanced foods, alcohol drinking, tobacco smoking, exposure to ionizing radiation, and positive family history. The limited effectiveness of conventional therapies and the widespread risk factors of GC encourage the search for new methods of treatment and prevention. In the quest for cheap and commonly available medications, numerous studies focus on herbal medicine, traditional brews, and spices. In this review, we outline the potential use of spices, including turmeric, ginger, garlic, black cumin, chili pepper, saffron, black pepper, rosemary, galangal, coriander, wasabi, cinnamon, oregano, cardamom, fenugreek, caraway, clove, dill, thyme, Piper sarmentosum, basil, as well as the compounds they contain, in the prevention and treatment of GC. We present the potential molecular mechanisms responsible for the effectivity of a given seasoning substance and their impact on GC cells. We discuss their potential effects on proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. For most of the spices discussed, we also outline the unavailability and side effects of their use.

Effect of in vitro simulated digestion on the anti-Helicobacter Pylori activity of different Propolis extracts

Helicobacter pylori (HP) is among the most common pathogens causing infection in humans worldwide. Oxidative stress and gastric inflammation are involved in the progression of HP-related gastric diseases, and they can be targeted by integrating conventional antibiotic treatment with polyphenol-enriched natural products. In this work, we characterised three different propolis extracts and evaluated their stability under in vitro simulated gastric digestion, compared to their main constituents alone. The extract with the highest stability to digestion (namely, the dark propolis extract, DPE) showed a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) lower than 1 mg/mL on HP strains with different virulence factors. Finally, since urease is one of the virulence factors contributing to the establishment of a microenvironment that promotes HP infection, we evaluated the possible inhibition of this enzyme by using molecular docking simulations and in vitro colorimetric assay, showing that galangin and pinocembrin may be involved in this activity.

HPLC Analysis of Polyphenols Derived from Hungarian Aszú from Tokaj Wine Region and Its Effect on Inflammation in an In Vitro Model System of Endothelial Cells

Many studies have been published in recent years regarding the fact that moderate wine consumption, as a part of a balanced diet can have a beneficial effect on human health. The biologically active components of wine continue to be the subject of intense research today. In this study, the bioactive molecules of Hungarian aszú from the Tokaj wine region were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and investigated in an in vitro model system of endothelial cells induced by bacterial-derived lipopolysaccharide. The HPLC measurements were performed on a reversed phased column with gradient elution. The non-cytotoxic concentration of the active substance was determined based on 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)-, apoptosis, and necrosis assays. The antioxidant effect of the extract was determined by evaluating its ability to eliminate ROS. The expressions of the interleukin-(IL)1α, IL1-β, IL-6, and IL-8 pro-inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) at the mRNA level were evaluated using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). We found that the lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced increases in the expressions of the investigated cytokines were significantly suppressed by Hungarian aszú extract, excluding IL-6. In our experimental setup, our treatment had a positive effect on the eNOS expression, which was impaired as a result of the inflammatory manipulation. In our experimental model, the Hungarian aszú extract decreased the LPS-induced increases in the expression of the investigated cytokines and eNOS at the mRNA level, which presumably had a positive effect on the endothelial dysfunction caused by inflammation due to its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Collectively, this research contributes to a more thorough understanding of the bioactive molecules of aszú from the Tokaj wine region.

Pharmacological and molecular analysis of the effects of Huangqi Jianzhong decoction on proliferation and apoptosis in GES-1 cells infected with H. pylori

Background: Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) can cause chronic gastritis and other digestive tract diseases, and represents a public health concern. Current anti-H. pylori treatment can result in antibiotic resistance and other adverse reactions. Huangqi Jianzhong decoction (HQJZD) is a prescription form of traditional Chinese medicine for chronic gastritis that increases probiotics and inhibits H. pylori. In this study, its anti-bacterial activity against H. pylori receives a preliminary evaluation, and a pharmacology analysis is performed to predict its underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Human GES-1 cells are divided into a blank control group, a model group, a HQJZD low-dose (2.08 mg·mL⁻¹), a high-dose group (4.16 mg·mL⁻¹), and a positive control group (amoxicillin, 5 μg·mL⁻¹). After culture, the CCK-8 method is used to detect cell viability; flow cytometry is used to detect cell apoptosis rate; and RT-qPCR is used to detect the expression of mRNA virulence factors, including HpPrtC, OPiA, IceA1, and BabA2. Network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking were performed to explore the mechanisms of HQJZD in treating H. pylori gastritis, based on its anti-H. pylori infection effect.

Results: We noted lower cell survival rates in the model group, but higher apoptosis rates and mRNA expressions of HpPrtC, OPiA, IceA1, and BabA2 than in the control group (p < 0.05). Compared to the model group, the cell survival rate of each dosage group of Huangqi Jianzhong decoction and the positive control group increased significantly, while the apoptosis rate and the mRNA expressions of HpPrtC, OPiA, IceA1, and BabA2 were decreased significantly. The effect in each HQJZD group was dose-dependent (p < 0.05). Network pharmacological analysis involving 159 signaling pathways was used to screen 6 key active components of HQJZD and 102 potential target proteins for the treatment of H. pylori-related gastritis. The molecular docking results revealed that the 6 active compounds had a strong binding ability with the target proteins of ALB, IL-6, AKT1, IL-1B, and JUN.

Conclusion: HQJZD effectively increases the proliferation rate of human GES-1 cells after infection, while reducing the level of apoptosis. The mechanism may be related to multiple components, multiple targets and pathways, which provides a scientific basis for further elucidating the mechanism of action, the pharmacodynamic material basis, and the clinical application of HQJZD against H. pylori infection.

The pharmacophylogenetic relationships of two edible medicinal plants in the genus Artemisia

Artemisia argyi and Artemisia indica are edible medicinal plants belonging to the genus Artemisia in the Asteraceae. There are many similarities in their morphology, traditional curative effect, and modern pharmacological treatment. In this study, we built distribution maps of A. argyi and A. indica in China and a phylogenetic tree of common medicinal plants in Asteraceae. Then, we verified the chemical composition changes of A. argyi and A. indica via their metabolome. Traditional efficacy and modern pharmacological action were verified by network pharmacology and in vitro using RAW264.7 cells. The results showed that A. argyi and A. indica are widely distributed in China, and they shared pharmaphylogeny, which provides theoretical support for the mixed use of A. argyi and A. indica in most regions of China. Furthermore, there were both similarities and differences in volatile oil and flavonoid composition between A. argyi and A. indica. The network pharmacology results showed that A. argyi and A. indica had 23 common active compounds and that both had pharmacological effects on chronic gastritis (CG). Molecular docking analyses showed that quercetin, luteolin, and kaempferol have strong binding affinities with the target proteins JUN, TP53, AKT1, MAPK3, TNF, MAPK, and IL6. The cell experiment results further demonstrated that A. argyi and A. indica treat CG via the NOD-like receptor pathway. Based on the theory of pharmaphylogeny, this study explored the pharmaphylogeny between A. argyi and A. indica from various perspectives to provide a basis for the substitution of A. argyi and A. indica.

Basic Traditional Chinese Medicinal Compound for Adjuvant Treatment of Helicobacter pylori-Related Gastritis: Implication for Anti-H. pylori-Related Gastritis Drug Discovery

This study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the adjuvant treatment of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis (HPAG) and exploring the molecular mechanism underlying the action of the basic TCM compounds against HPAG. Eight representative Chinese and British databases were combed for pertinent literature. In light of the basic principle of evidence-based medicine, this work rigorously stuck to the inclusion and exclusion of criteria so as to plump for qualified articles. Also, the data mining method was adopted to help determine the basic TCM compound for HPAG treatment. Furthermore, a network pharmacology-based strategy was used to uncover the underlying mechanisms of the basic TCM compound against HPAG. Ultimately, molecular docking was used for preliminary verification. TCM combined with triple or quadruple therapy against HPAG possessed more advantages in improving the total effective rate and H. pylori eradication rate than triple or quadruple therapy alone. The basic TCM plant materials against HPAG consisted of Citrus reticulata Blanco, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit, Coptis chinensis Franch, and Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf. Quercetin, kaempferol, naringenin, baicalein, nobiletin, and hederagenin were determined as the key active ingredients of the basic TCM preparation against HPAG. Moreover, these ingredients played a therapeutic role by acting on AKT1, TP53, interleukin (IL)-6, VEGFA, CASP3, MAPK3, JUN, TNF, and MAPK8 via Pathways in cancer, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway. The results of molecular docking indicated that the key ingredients could bind stably with the core targets. The efficacy of the TCM in the adjuvant treatment of HPAG is worthy of affirmation. Compatible use of the key ingredients of the basic TCM compound is a novel idea of drug research with profound clinical significance and research value in the development of anti- H. pylori drugs.

Plant-Derived Compounds as Promising Therapeutics for Vitiligo

Vitiligo is the most common depigmenting disorder characterized by white patches in the skin. The pathogenetic origin of vitiligo revolves around autoimmune destruction of melanocytes in which, for instance, oxidative stress is responsible for melanocyte molecular, organelle dysfunction and melanocyte specific antigen exposure as well as melanocyte cell death and thus serves as an important contributor for vitiligo progression. In recent years, natural products have shown a wide range of pharmacological bioactivities against many skin diseases, and this review focuses on the effects and mechanisms of natural compounds against vitiligo models. It is showed that some natural compounds such as flavonoids, phenols, glycosides and coumarins have a protective role in melanocytes and thereby arrest the depigmentation, and, additionally, Nrf2/HO-1, MAPK, JAK/STAT, cAMP/PKA, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways were reported to be implicated in these protective effects. This review discusses the great potential of plant derived natural products as anti-vitiligo agents, as well as the future directions to explore.

Potential of natural products in osteosarcoma treatment: Focus on molecular mechanisms

Osteosarcoma is the most frequent type of bone cancer found in children and adolescents, and commonly arises in the metaphyseal region of tubular long bones. Standard therapeutic approaches, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, are used in the management of osteosarcoma. In recent years, the mortality rate of osteosarcoma has decreased due to advances in treatment methods. Today, the scientific community is investigating the use of different naturally derived active principles against various types of cancer. Natural bioactive compounds can function against cancer cells in two ways. Firstly they can act as classical cytotoxic compounds by non-specifically affecting macromolecules, such as DNA, enzymes, and microtubules, which are also expressed in normal proliferating cells, but to a greater extent by cancer cells. Secondly, they can act against oncogenic signal transduction pathways, many of which are activated in cancer cells. Some bioactive plant-derived agents are gaining increasing attention because of their anti-cancer properties. Moreover, some naturally-derived compounds can significantly promote the effectiveness of standard chemotherapy drugs, and in certain cases are able to ameliorate drug-induced adverse effects caused by chemotherapy. In the present review we summarize the effects of various naturally-occurring bioactive compounds against osteosarcoma.

Fighting the Antibiotic Crisis: Flavonoids as Promising Antibacterial Drugs Against Helicobacter pylori Infection

Over half of the world’s population is estimated to be infected with Helicobacter pylori. Chronic infection with this microbial class I carcinogen is considered the most important risk factor for developing gastric cancer. The increasing antimicrobial resistance to first-line antibiotics mainly causes the failure of current eradication therapies, inducing refractory infections. The alarming increase in multidrug resistance in H. pylori isolates worldwide is already beginning to limit the efficacy of existing treatments. Consequently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has included H. pylori in its list of “priority pathogens” for which new antibiotics are urgently needed. Novel strategies must be followed to fight this antibiotic crisis, including properly exploiting the proven therapeutic potential of medicinal plants and plant-derived phytochemicals. In this mini-review, we overview the impressive properties of naturally occurring flavonoids as effective antimicrobial agents against H. pylori, which support the use of these plant-derived bioactive compounds as promising drug candidates for inclusion in novel and personalized combinatory therapies against H. pylori infection.

Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Identify Multiple Downstream Targets of Paraburkholderia phymatum σ54 During Symbiosis with Phaseolus vulgaris

RpoN (or σ⁵⁴) is the key sigma factor for the regulation of transcription of nitrogen fixation genes in diazotrophic bacteria, which include α- and β-rhizobia. Our previous studies showed that an rpoN mutant of the β-rhizobial strain Paraburkholderia phymatum STM815^T formed root nodules on Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Negro jamapa, which were unable to reduce atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. In an effort to further characterize the RpoN regulon of P. phymatum, transcriptomics was combined with a powerful metabolomics approach. The metabolome of P. vulgaris root nodules infected by a P. phymatumrpoN Fix⁻ mutant revealed statistically significant metabolic changes compared to wild-type Fix⁺ nodules, including reduced amounts of chorismate and elevated levels of flavonoids. A transcriptome analysis on Fix⁻ and Fix⁺ nodules—combined with a search for RpoN binding sequences in promoter regions of regulated genes—confirmed the expected control of σ⁵⁴ on nitrogen fixation genes in nodules. The transcriptomic data also allowed us to identify additional target genes, whose differential expression was able to explain the observed metabolite changes in numerous cases. Moreover, the genes encoding the two-component regulatory system NtrBC were downregulated in root nodules induced by the rpoN mutant, and contained a putative RpoN binding motif in their promoter region, suggesting direct regulation. The construction and characterization of an ntrB mutant strain revealed impaired nitrogen assimilation in free-living conditions, as well as a noticeable symbiotic phenotype, as fewer but heavier nodules were formed on P. vulgaris roots.

Flavonoids as detoxifying and pro-survival agents: What's new?

The role of flavonoids in the survival machinery of cells has come in the spotlight due to the recent evidence of their effect on the relationship mitochondria-ER stress-proteasome, including the intracellular mechanisms of autophagy and apoptosis. Numerous experimental animal investigations and even human clinical studies have highlighted the major role of these natural compounds in the economy of life and their deep relationship with autotrophic organisms in the evolutionary space. Their role as anti-oxidant and oxidative stress preventive molecules has to date been investigated extensively in the literature. Despite this great amount of promising evidence, many concerns, however, remain, most of which dealing with biochemistry, bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, and interaction of flavonoids with gut microbiome, issues that make difficult any good attempt to introduce these molecules in the human healthcare systems as possible, encouraging therapeutic substances. This review tries to address and elucidate these items.

Correlation of serum levels of IL-4, IFN-γ and TNF-α with clinicopathologic features in patients with gastric cancer

AIM

To detect the serum levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in gastric cancer (GC) patients and analyze their correlation with clinicopathologic features.

METHODS

A total of 50 GC patients and 50 healthy subjects were included in this study. We detected their serum levels of IL-4, IFN-γ and TNF-α by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and collected their clinicopathological data. Then we analyzed the correlation between the serum levels of IL-4, IFN-γ, TNF-α and the clinicopathologic features by spearman correlation analysis.

RESULTS

Compared to healthy subjects, serum levels of IL-4 and TNF-α significantly increased (57.62 pg/mL vs 42.63 pg/mL, P < 0.05; 315.08 pg/mL vs 34.21 pg/mL, P < 0.05), but serum level of IFN-γ significantly decreased (14.95 pg/mL vs 24.92 pg/mL, P < 0.05) in GC patients. There was a positive correlation between serum level of IL-4 and the depth of tumor invasion(r = 0.571, P < 0.05), but there was a negative correlation between serum level of IFN-γ and the number of metastatic lymph nodes (r = -0.526, P < 0.05) and depth of tumor invasion (r = -0.671, P < 0.05). Serum level of TNF-α was positively correlated with tumor differentiation (r = 0.816, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

GC patients have altered serum levels of IL-4, IFN-γ and TNF-α, and they may be related to the occurrence and development of GC, and have certain clinical value in predicting the biological behavior of GC and in developing treatment strategies.

Constituents of leaves from Bauhinia curvula Benth. exert gastroprotective activity in rodents: role of quercitrin and kaempferol

The Bauhinia genus is known as "Pata-de-Vaca" and a wide variety of these species are used in Brazilian folk medicine due to their gastroprotective properties. This study aimed to investigate the antiulcer efficacy of the hydroalcoholic extract from B. curvula (HEBC) leaves, as well as its semi-purified fraction (SPFr) and the contribution of their phytochemicals constituents for this effect. For that, ethanol 60%/HCl 0.3 M- and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer were performed in rodents. Gastric ulcerated tissues were processed for histological, histochemical and biochemical analysis. The oral treatment with HEBC and SPFr decreased the gastric ulcer induced by ethanol/HCl in mice and by indomethacin (only HEBC) in rats. The gastroprotective effect of HEBC was abolished in mice pretreated with Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, N-Ethylmaleimide, glibenclamide or indomethacin. Both HEBC and SPFr reduced myeloperoxidase activity in parallel with a decrease of lipoperoxides content at the site of the lesion. On the other hand, HEBC did not alter volume, pH, total acidity or pepsin activity of acid gastric secretion in rats, and neither inhibited the in vitro H(+),K(+)-ATPase activity. Additionally, the compounds identified and isolated from the SPFr, the flavonoids quercitrin (65%) and kaempferol (35%), were able to diminish the extent of ulcerated area induced by both ethanol/HCl and indomethacin. Taking together, these findings show that B. curvula extracts present gastroprotective effect, mainly explained by the presence of flavonoids quercitrin and kaempferol, which may possibly improve the defensive factors of gastric mucosa.