Dimethyl fumarate and curcumin attenuate hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury via Nrf2/HO-1 activation and anti-inflammatory properties

BACKGROUND

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury occurs in different clinical settings as hepatic transplantation, and different types of shock. I/R injury is the main cause of hepatic damage and failure due to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokines. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF), an immunomodulatory drug, activates cellularantioxidantsignaling pathways exerting cytoprotective properties. Curcumin (CUR), a natural phenolic compound, possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

METHOD

To study potential protective effects of DMF with CUR against hepatic I/R injury in rats, animals were randomly allocated into seven groups as follows: (1) Sham; (2) DMF (25 mg/Kg, p.o); (3) CUR (400 mg/Kg, p.o.); (4) I/R; (5) DMF + I/R; (6) CUR + I/R; and combination (COM) therapy + I/R. Drugs were given for 14 days before I/R.

RESULTS

Compared with I/R group, COM group showed the best amelioration in hepatic injury induced by I/R insult. This was confirmed by a significant reduction in serum ALT and AST activity with improved histopathological results when compared to every single treatment. Hepatic protection afforded by DMF was mediated by activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling and increasing GSH and TAC contents. CUR treatment improved the inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, Il-6 and iNOS) as well as neutrophilic infiltration assessed as MPO. Moreover, CUR potentiated Nrf2/HO-1 signaling induced by DMF with significant suppression in lipid peroxidation.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that combining DMF and CUR has more efficient hepatoprotective effects against hepatic-induced IRI via potentiating antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties mediated by Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Geraniol activates Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling pathway mediating protection against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury

Geraniol (GOH) is a natural essential oil that possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties by various signaling pathways. Liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a serious event that triggers liver dysfunction or even failure. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcriptional factor, maintains cellular defense mechanism through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. To detect GOH effect against liver IRI through the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway, five groups of rats were randomized to normal, sham, IR, GOH, and GOH/IR. Blood samples and liver tissues were collected to measure various biochemical parameters related to liver function, and oxidative stress as well as inflammatory and apoptotic indicators besides liver tissue histopathology was evaluated by light microscopy. GOH induces activation of Nrf2 along with the upregulation of HO-1 expression. Also, the antioxidant activity of GOH was shown by the elevation of total antioxidant capacity and GSH levels, together with normalizing malondialdehyde. Regarding the anti-inflammatory effect of GOH, it suppresses the levels of TNF-α, iNOS, and COX-2. Additionally, the antiapoptotic effect of GOH, Bax, and caspase-3, 9 were reduced in liver tissue. GOH is a promising hepatoprotective agent in liver IRI through the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway.

Response surface optimization of biocompatible elastic nanovesicles loaded with rosuvastatin calcium: enhanced bioavailability and anticancer efficacy

Statins are mainly used for the treatment of hyperlipidemia, but recently, their anticancer role was extremely investigated. The goal of this study was to statistically optimize novel elastic nanovesicles containing rosuvastatin calcium to improve its transdermal permeability, bioavailability, and anticancer effect. The elastic nanovesicles were composed of Tween® 80, cetyl alcohol, and clove oil. The nanodispersions were investigated for their entrapment efficiency, particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, and elasticity. The optimized elastic nanovesicular dispersion is composed of 20% cetyl alcohol, 53.47% Tween 80, and 26.53% clove oil. Carboxy methylcellulose was utilized to convert the optimized elastic nanovesicular dispersion into elastic nanovesicular gels. Both the optimized dispersion and the optimized gel (containing 2% w/v carboxymethylcellulose) were subjected to in vitro release study, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, histopathological evaluation, and ex vivo permeation. The cell viability assay of the optimized gel on MCF-7 and Hela cell lines showed significant antiproliferative and potent cytotoxic effects when compared to the drug gel. Moreover, the optimized gel accomplished a significant increase in rosuvastatin bioavailability upon comparison with the drug gel. The optimized gel could be considered as a promising nanocarrier for statins transdermal delivery to increase their systemic bioavailability and anticancer effect. Graphical abstract.

Sesamol Alleviates the Cytotoxic Effect of Cyclophosphamide on Normal Human Lung WI-38 Cells via Suppressing RAGE/NF-κB/Autophagy Signaling

Cyclophosphamide (CYL) is a chemotherapeutic medication commonly used in managing various malignancies like breast cancer or leukemia. Though, CYL has been documented to induce lung toxicity. Mechanism of CYL toxicity is through oxidative stress and the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Sesamol (SES) is a natural antioxidant isolated from Sesamum indicum and its effect against CYL-induced lung toxicity is not studied yet. This study aims to investigate whether SES could prevent any deleterious effects induced by CYL on lung using normal human lung cells, WI-38 cell line, without suppressing its efficacy. Cells were pretreated with SES and/or CYL for 24 h, then cell viability was estimated by MTS and trypan blue assays. The mode of cell death was determined by AO/EB staining. Additionally, caspase-3 level, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers were evaluated by colorimetric and ELISA techniques. qRT-PCR was performed to evaluate RAGE, NF-κB, and Beclin-1 mRNA-expression. CYL-treated WI-38 cells developed a significantly increased cell death with enhanced oxidative and RAGE/NF-κb/Autophagy signaling, which were all attenuated after pretreatment with SES. Thus, we concluded that SES offered a protective role against CYL-induced lung injury via suppressing oxidative stress and RAGE/NF-κB/Autophagy signaling, which is a natural safe therapeutic option against CYL toxicities.

Aldose reductase inhibitor form Cassia glauca: A comparative study of cytotoxic activity with Ag nanoparticles (NPs) and molecular docking evaluation

UPLC-MS/MS profiling of Cassia glauca leaves extract revealed the identification of 10 flavonoids. Kaempferol 3-O-β-D-rutinoside was isolated and studied for its cytotoxic activity. It showed high cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 (IC50 of 4.6±0.038 μg/ml) and HepG-2 (IC50 of 8.2±0.024 μg/ml) cancer cell lines, compared to the leaves extracts, their Ag nanoparticles, and doxorubicin. Moreover, Kaempferol 3-O-β-D-rutinoside exerted a synergistic cytotoxic effect with doxorubicin on MCF-7 cell lines. It was discovered as kinases and aldose reductase inhibitor while rationalizing its cytotoxic activity through molecular docking study. Thus, it is expected that the cardiotoxic effects of doxorubicin can be also decreased by using Kaempferol 3-O-β-D-rutinoside due to its aldose reductase inhibitory effect. These findings suggested that Kaempferol 3-O-β-D-rutinoside could be used in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs to increase the sensitivity to their cytotoxic activity and protect against their side effects.

Correlation of Chillies Capsaicinoids Contents with their Cytotoxic Effects against Hepatocarcinoma Cells

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Chillies are delicious spices that are used extensively. Capsaicinoids, the major constituents of chillies with reported anti-cancer effects, have been determined with non-specific colorimetric methods. A rapid and reproducible method for extraction and quantification of the major chillies capsaicinoids; capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin (DHC) and nordihydrocapsaicin (n-DHC), was reported, moreover study of their cytotoxic activity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study has covered the extraction of capsaicinoids from red and green-colored chillies followed by their quantification using HPLC-UV method after validation. Furthermore, the correlation of capsaicinoids contents with their in vitro hepatocarcinoma cytotoxicity was represented by Pearson's correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

Capsaicinoids contents are ranged from 1219.88-15098.67 ng mg-1 of Dried Extract (DE). Capsaicin exhibits the lowest IC50 when compared to doxorubicin (9.201±0.91 and 16.1±0.82 μg mL-1, respectively). The exhibited activities of methanol extracts of red and green-colored chillies (IC50 = 20.21±1.72 and 16.02±0.69 μg mL-1, respectively) may attribute to their excessive contents of capsaicinoids (6975.42 and 15098.67 ng mg-1 DE, respectively). Capsaicin and n-DHC contents have a negative correlation with cytotoxic activity.

CONCLUSION

Green-colored chillies were found to be more cytotoxic in comparison with red-colored chillies that may be relative to their high content of capsaicinoids. The present investigation suggests that capsaicinoids contents correlate with cytotoxic activity.

Pinocembrin's protective effect against acute pancreatitis in a rat model: The correlation between TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 and miR-34a-5p/SIRT1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathways

BACKGROUND

Acute pancreatitis (APS) is a prevalent acute pancreatic inflammation, where oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling pathways, and apoptosis activation contribute to pancreatic injury.

METHODS

Pinocembrin, the predominant flavonoid in propolis, was explored for its likely shielding effect against APS provoked by two intraperitoneal doses of L-arginine (250 mg / 100 g) in a rat model.

RESULTS

Pinocembrin ameliorated the histological and immunohistochemical changes in pancreatic tissues and lowered the activities of pancreatic amylase and lipase that were markedly elevated with L-arginine administration. Moreover, pinocembrin reinstated the oxidant/antioxidant equilibrium, which was perturbed by L-arginine, and boosted the pancreatic levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Pinocembrin markedly reduced the elevation in serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level induced by L-arginine. Additionally, it decreased the expression of high motility group box protein 1 (HMGB1), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and NOD-like receptor (NLR) Family Pyrin Domain Containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in the pancreas. Furthermore, it also reduced myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Pinocembrin markedly downregulated miR-34a-5p expression and upregulated the protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α) and Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and the gene expression level of the inhibitor protein of NF-κB (IκB-α), along with normalizing the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio.

CONCLUSIONS

Pinocembrin notably improved L-arginine-induced APS by its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities. Pinocembrin exhibited a protective role in APS by suppressing inflammatory signaling via the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway and enhancing cytoprotective signaling via the miR-34a-5p/SIRT1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Pegylated polymeric micelles of boswellic acid-selenium mitigates repetitive mild traumatic brain injury: Regulation of miR-155 and miR-146a/BDNF/ Klotho/Foxo3a cue

This study aims to explore the protective machinery of pegylated polymeric micelles of boswellic acid-selenium (PMBS) against secondary neuronal damage triggered by mild repetitive traumatic brain injury (RTBI). After PMBS characterization in terms of particle size, size distribution, zeta potential, and transmission electronic microscopy, the selected formula was used to investigate its potency against experimental RTBI. Five groups of rats were used; group 1 (control) and the other four groups were subjected to RTBI. Groups 2 was RTBI positive control, while 3, 4, and 5 received boswellic acid (BSA), selenium (SEL), and PMBS, respectively. The open-field behavioral test was used for behavioral assessment. Subsequently, brain tissues were utilized for hematoxylin and eosin staining, Nissl staining, Western blotting, and ELISA in addition to evaluating microRNA expression (miR-155 and miR-146a). The behavioral changes, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation triggered by RTBI were all improved by PMBS. Moreover, PMBS mitigated excessive glutamate-induced excitotoxicity and the dysregulation in miR-155 and miR-146a expression. Besides, connexin43 (Cx43) expression as well as klotho and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were upregulated with diminished neuronal cell death and apoptosis because of reduced Forkhead Box class O3a(Foxo3a) expression in the PMBS-treated group. The current study has provided evidence of the benefits produced by incorporating BSA and SEL in PEGylated polymeric micelles formula. PMBS is a promising therapy for RTBI. Its beneficial effects are attributed to the manipulation of many pathways, including the regulation of miR-155 and miR-146a expression, as well as the BDNF /Klotho/Foxo3a signaling pathway.

Middle Eastern Plants with Potent Cytotoxic Effect Against Lung Cancer Cells

Cancer is one of the leading causes of increasing global mortality with uprising health concerns and threats. Unfortunately, conventional chemotherapy has substantial side effects, limiting its relevance and prompting a quest for safe and efficient alternatives. For thousands of years, plants have provided a rich reservoir for curing a variety of ailments, including cancer. According to the World Health Organization, medicinal plants would be the best source of medications. However, only 25% of drugs in the present pharmacopoeia are derived from plants. Hence, further research into different plants is required to better understand their efficacy. Twenty extracts of widely distributed Middle Eastern plants were screened for the cytotoxic effect against lung cancer cell lines (A549). Eleven plants showed IC50 below 25 μg/mL, consequently, the bioactive extracts were further fractionated by graded precipitation using absolute ethanol. All fraction A (FA; crude polysaccharides precipitate) showed potent IC50, 0.2-5.5 μg/mL except the FA of Brassica juncea, Silybum marianum, and Phaseolus vulgaris, whereas FB fractions (filtrate) of Anastatica hierochuntica, Plantago ovate, Tussilago farfara, and Cucurbita moschata had lower efficacy than other fractions with IC50 values in the range of 0.1-7.7 μg/mL. The fractions of FA Taraxacum officinale and FB Ziziphus spina possess the most potent cytotoxic activity with IC50, 0.2 and 0.1 μg/mL, respectively. Moreover, cell cycle analysis of both fractions revealed an arrest at G1/S-phase and activation of apoptosis rather than necrosis as the mode of cell death. Therefore, T. officinale and Z. spina fractions may pave the way to manage lung carcinoma as an alternative and complementary food regimen.

Delphinidin or α-amyrin attenuated liver steatosis and metabolic disarrangement in rats fed a high-fat diet

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a liver pathology concomitant with metabolic disarrangement. This study assessed the therapeutic impacts of delphinidin, an anthocyanin, or α-amyrin, a pentacyclic triterpenoid, on NAFLD in rats and the underlying mechanisms involved. NAFLD was established by feeding a high-fat diet (HFD) for 10 weeks, either alone or in combination with delphinidin (40 mg/kg, oral) or α-amyrin (20 mg/kg, oral). Delphinidin or α-amyrin ameliorated the metabolic and histopathological perturbations induced by HFD. These compounds markedly attenuated NAFLD-induced hepatic steatosis, as evidenced by a substantial decrease in body weight, insulin resistance, and liver and adipose tissue indices. Alongside normalization of the atherogenic index, both improved HFD-mediated abnormalities in serum lipids, liver enzymes, leptin, and ghrelin levels. Moreover, their intervention activated the NFE2 like bZIP transcription factor 2 and heme oxygenase 1 pathways and abrogated HFD-triggered activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 signaling. These remedies inhibited hepatic apoptosis and modulated the gene expression of lipogenic enzymes. Furthermore, histological analysis corroborated the suppression of lipid accumulation and amelioration of hepatic architecture in the treated rats. Our findings highlight the hepatoprotective value of delphinidin or α-amyrin against NAFLD and related metabolic diseases through their insulin-sensitizing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic effects.

Unlocking the Power of Onion Peel Extracts: Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Effects Improve Wound Healing through Repressing Notch-1/NLRP3/Caspase-1 Signaling

Onion peels are often discarded, representing an unlimited amount of food by-products; however, they are a valuable source of bioactive phenolics. Thus, we utilized UPLC-MS/MS to analyze the metabolomic profiles of red (RO) and yellow (YO) onion peel extracts. The cytotoxic (SRB assay), anti-inflammatory (Griess assay), and antimicrobial (sensitivity test, MIC, antibiofilm, and SP-SDS tests) properties were assessed in vitro. Additionally, histological analysis, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA tests were conducted to investigate the healing potential in excisional skin wound injury and Candida albicans infection in vivo. RO extract demonstrated antibacterial activity, limited skin infection with C. albicans, and improved the skin's appearance due to the abundance of quercetin and anthocyanin derivatives. Both extracts reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide release in vitro and showed a negligible cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 and HT29 cells. When extracts were tested in vivo for their ability to promote tissue regeneration, it was found that YO peel extract had the greatest impact. Further biochemical analysis revealed that YO extract suppressed NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling and decreased inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, YO extract decreased Notch-1 levels and boosted VEGF-mediated angiogenesis. Our findings imply that onion peel extract can effectively treat wounds by reducing microbial infection, reducing inflammation, and promoting tissue regeneration.

Sesamol defends neuronal damage following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion: a crosstalk of autophagy and Notch1/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling

OBJECTIVE

Sesamol (SES) is a phenolic compound found in sesame seed oil. Several studies have revealed its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, its complete underlying mechanistic perspective about cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) lesions has not yet been disclosed. Consequently, we aimed to scrutinize its neuroprotective mechanism against cerebral injury during a global cerebral I/R in a rat model, considering its impact on autophagy and Notch1/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling regulation.

METHODS

To affirm our purpose, adult Wistar rats were allotted into five groups: sham and the other four groups in which transient global cerebral ischemia was induced by bilateral common ligation (2VO) for 1 h, then reperfusion for either 24 h or 5 days: I/R (1/24), I/R (1/5), SES + I/R (1/24), and SES + I/R (1/5). In treated groups, SES (100 mg/kg, p.o., for 21 days) was administered before cerebral I/R induction. The assessment of histopathological changes in brain tissues, immunohistochemistry, biochemical assays, ELISA, and qRT-PCR were utilized to investigate our hypothesis.

RESULTS

Advantageously, SES halted the structural neuronal damage with lessened demyelination induced by cerebral I/R injury. Restoring oxidant/antioxidant balance was evident by boosting the total antioxidant capacity and waning lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, SES reduced inflammatory and apoptosis markers. Additionally, SES recovered GFAP, Cx43, and autophagy signaling, which in turn switched off the Notch-1/NLRP3 inflammasome trajectory.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results revealed the neuroprotective effect of SES against cerebral I/R injury through alleviating injurious events and boosting autophagy, consequently abolishing Notch1/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling.