Assessment of hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of medicinal plant Erica multiflora in triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia and liver function repair in rats: A comparison with fenofibrate.

Hyperlipidemia is a serious health threat that has been linked to oxidative stress and systemic inflammation, causing among many other disorders essentially liver disease. The current study was conducted to evaluate the antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of methanol leaf extract from Erica multiflora (M-EML). Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemic rats were divided into six groups: control group (CG), hyperlipidemic group (300 mg/kg body weight "BW") (HG), hyperlipidemic group treated with M-EML (150 and 250 mg/kg) (HG + M-EML), normal rats treated with M-EML (250 mg/kg) and fenofibrate-treated group (HG + FF) (65 mg/kg). After 24 h of administration, triton WR-1339 induced a significant increase in lipid profile, atherogenic index (AI) and Coronary Risk Index (CRI) in HG group compared to control group. Furthermore, triton WR-1339 administration induced alteration in the status of pro-inflammatory markers (aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, IFN-γ and Nitric oxide production). HG group showed also, a high level of lipid peroxidation, an altered antioxidant enzyme profiles and an increase in DNA damages, in liver. However, orally administration of M-EML mitigates significantly these disorders, proving hence a protective potential against triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia. These findings suggest that M-EML extract could be used as functional foods and natural adjuvant treatment of hyperlipidemia.

Heat processing effect of luteolin on anti-metastasis activity of human glioblastoma cells U87.

Among the flavonoïds, luteolin is a flavone that has been identified in many plants. It is known for its apoptotic potential with damage to DNA and cell cycle blockage. Many studies have shown that luteolin has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities. However, it is known that heat treatment (boiling, cooking, and treating with microwaves …) can influence the structure of flavonoïds, which often leads to changes in their activities. The present study was conducted to study the effect of heated luteolin on anti-tumor activity of glioblastoma cells U87. Glioblastoma cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay. Adhesion assay was performed on different protein matrices (collagen type 1, vitronectin, fibronectin, and poly-L-lysine); migration assay was determined by modified Boyden chambers and videomicroscopy, and finally, angiogenesis was tested in vitro by capillary network formation on Matrigel™. The results obtained show that the thermal treatment significantly reduces its cytotoxic activity and ability to inhibit cell adhesion to different protein matrices. It was also found that the heat processed significantly reduced the ability of luteolin to inhibit cell migration, cell invasion, and endothelial cell angiogenesis (HMEC-1). This suggests that heat treated luteolin has a lower anti-tumor potential than native luteolin. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Reversal of resistance in bacteria underlies synergistic effect of essential oils with conventional antibiotics.

The pervasive of bacterial resistance earnestly threaten the prevention and the treatment of infectious diseases. Therefore, scientific communities take precedence over development of new antimicrobial agents. The aim of the study was to determine antimicrobial potency of three North-African essential oils Pituranthos chloranthus, Teucruim ramosissimum and Pistacia lentiscus individually, and in combination with antibiotics, to inhibit the growth of highly resistant clinical pathogen. Bacteria clinically isolated from patients, subsequently, challenged to a panel of drugs to determine the antibiotic-resistance profiles. Drugs displaying clinically irrelevant CMI were subjected to further studies in order to rescue antibiotic actions. Singular activity of essential oils and activity when combined with an antibiotic was hence elucidated. The results obtained highlighted the occurrence of strong antibacterial potential of essential oils when administrated alone. In the interactive experiment essential oils were found highly effective in reducing the resistance of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to amoxicillin, tetracycline, piperacillin, ofloxacin and oxacillin and resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii to amoxicillin and to ofloxacin in interactive manner. Furthermore, the results proved synergism among essential oils and both antibiotics ofloxacin and novobiocin against the Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase producing E. coli (ESBL). Time kill kinetics was performed with a combination of sub-inhibitory concentrations to confirm the efficiency and killing rate of the combination over time. Further, the hypothetical toxicity of essential oils against human keratinocytes HaCat and murine spleenocytes were examined. The chemical composition of essential oils was assessed by GC/MS analysis and the major constituents found were sabinene, limonene, terpinen-4-ol, and ß-eudesmol.