Renoprotective effect of Limonium duriusculum (de Girard) Kuntze via modulation of oxidative stress/ UPR markers and inflammation during cyclosporine-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Objectives: The present study aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying the potency of the renoprotective effect of the EtOAc fraction of Limonium duriusculum (EALD) (Plumbaginaceae) against cyclosporine A (CsA), in comparison to vitamin E (Vit. E). Materials and Methods: In the in-vivo experiment, a model of CsA-induced nephrotoxicity was established by dosing male Wistar rats with 25 mg/kg, for 14 days. The protective effect of EALD was investigated through pretreatment of rats with a dose of 200 mg/kg for 14 days, compared to the oral administration of Vit. E at 100 mg/kg. Renal function and markers of oxidative stress were then assessed. Furthermore, a complementary in-vitro study was carried out to evaluate CsA-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and inflammation on cell culture (3T3 cells and MCT cells) using western blot and quantitative RT-PCR.. Results: Pretreatment of rats with EALD significantly attenuated the elevated levels of renal dysfunction markers (BUN, creatinine) and suppressed malondialdehyde (MDA) levels; It also significantly regulated the changes in superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxydase (GPx), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) levels as compared to Vit. E, demonstrating a more effective recovery in renal tissues. Treatment of cells with CsA was linked to the expression of ERS and inflammatory markers activating transcription factor (ATF4), inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α), binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP1). In contrast, pretreatment of cells with EALD resulted in a significant decrease in both ERS and inflammatory markers. Conclusion: These findings indicate the renoprotective potential of L. duriusculum, as it demonstrated the ability to ameliorate CsA-induced renal dysfunction through its distinctive antioxidant properties.

A new isoflavonoid derivative, evaluation of the antioxidant capacity and phenolic content of Genista lobelii DC.

The phytochemical investigation of both chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts of Genista lobelii DC from an Algerian endemic plant led to the isolation of a new isoflavonoid Aspalathoidin compound (1) and nine known compounds (laburnetin, isokaempferide, retamasin B, ephedrodin, sakuretin, isoprunetin, genistein -7-O-ß-glucoside, derrone-4'-O-methyl ether and eriodictyol-7,3'-dimethylether). Twelve phenolic compounds were identified in ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts through a qualitative investigation of phenolic compounds using HPLC. Finally, both extracts were estimated for their phenolic and flavonoid contents as well as the evaluation of their antioxidant activity using five different assays DPPH, CUPRAC, ABTS, GOR and the sun protection factor SPF was determined as an index of the photoprotective capacity of the G.lobelii DC extracts. The extract of chloroform and ethyl acetate has good antioxidant and includes significant levels of phenolic and flavonoid components.