Comparative study of the anti-inflammatory activity of etoricoxib and Matcha green tea against acute kidney injury induced by gamma radiation in rats.

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the anti-inflammatory activity between Etoricoxib (ETO) and Matcha green tea (MG) in the context of acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by ionizing gamma radiation (IR) in female rats. Furthermore, the potential impact of whole body IR exposure on the intestinal system and serum estradiol levels was investigated. Additionally, it was acknowledged that the ETO and MG treatments might have exerted favorable effects on the intestinal and hormonal responses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six groups of rats were assigned to different treatments: control, ETO, MG, irradiation (IRR), ETO + IRR, and MG + IRR. The evaluation included measuring the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of ETO and MG, as well as assessing their antioxidant activity, radical scavenging capacity, reducing power, and total antioxidant capacity. Kidney function was assessed through serum creatinine and urea levels. Oxidative stress markers, including superoxide dismutase, glutathione, malondialdehyde, and catalase, were measured to evaluate the antioxidant effects of ETO and MG. The anti-inflammatory potential of the treatments was evaluated by measuring STAT-3 and interleukins (IL-6, IL-23, and IL-17) using an ELISA assay. Prostaglandin E2 receptor (PGE-2) mRNA expression, histopathological examination, and immunohistochemistry for NF-κB inhibitors were performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms in kidney tissue homogenates. Histopathological changes and DNA fragmentation in the intestinal tissues were determined, and the characterization of Matcha green tea was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This allowed for the identification and quantification of various compounds present in Matcha green tea. Furthermore, the study assessed the effect of IR and treatments on estrogen levels in female rats. RESULTS: Data showed that both ETO and MG had the potential to mitigate the adverse effects of AKI induced by IR. Notably, MG exhibited greater efficacy in attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation associated with renal injury. These findings revealed and compared the effects of ETO and MG in alleviating AKI caused by IR. MG demonstrated greater anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, highlighting its potential as a natural therapeutic agent. CONCLUSIONS: These results contribute to the growing evidence supporting the use of MG in managing IR-induced renal complications. Future studies should focus on elucidating the molecular mechanisms and optimizing the application of MG in clinical settings.

This study is of significant importance as it compares the therapeutic potential of ETO and MG in mitigating AKI and intestinal damage induced by IR. The findings reveal that MG exhibits greater anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties compared to ETO. These results provide valuable insights into the potential use of MG as a natural therapeutic agent for managing IR-induced renal and intestinal complications. As radiation therapy is commonly used in cancer treatment, identifying effective agents to protect the kidneys from radiation damage is crucial. The study contributes to the growing evidence supporting the application of MG in clinical settings, offering a promising alternative approach with potential benefits in terms of reduced side effects and improved patient outcomes.

Ipomoea carnea mitigates ethanol-induced ulcers in irradiated rats via Nrf2/HO-1 pathway: an in vivo and in silico study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of Ipomoea carnea flower methanolic extract (ICME) as a natural gastroprotective therapy against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers, particularly in individuals exposed to ionizing radiation (IR). The study focused on the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, which plays a crucial role in protecting the gastrointestinal mucosa from oxidative stress and inflammation. Male Wistar rats were divided into nine groups, the control group received distilled water orally for one week, while other groups were treated with ethanol to induce stomach ulcers, IR exposure, omeprazole, and different doses of ICME in combination with ethanol and/or IR. The study conducted comprehensive analyses, including LC-HRESI-MS/MS, to characterize the phenolic contents of ICME. Additionally, the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, oxidative stress parameters, gastric pH, and histopathological changes were examined. The results showed that rats treated with IR and/or ethanol exhibited histopathological alterations, increased lipid peroxidation, decreased antioxidant enzyme activity, and reduced expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1. However, pretreatment with ICME significantly improved these parameters. Phytochemical analysis identified 39 compounds in ICME, with flavonoids, hydroxybenzoic acids, and fatty acids as the predominant compounds. Virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulations suggested that ICME may protect against gastric ulceration by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential of ICME as a natural gastroprotective therapy for preventing gastric ulcers. These findings contribute to the development of novel interventions for gastrointestinal disorders using natural plant extracts particularly in individuals with a history of radiation exposure.

Antimicrobial and antiviral evaluation of compounds from Holoptelea integrifolia: in silico supported in vitro study.

Holoptelea integrifolia, also known as the Indian Elm Tree, has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for its medicinal properties. In this study, two biologically active metabolites, 5(6) dihydrostigmast 22en 3-O-ß-glucoside (DHS) and 1-O-eicosanoyl glycerol-2'-O-ß-galactouronic (EGG), were isolated for the first time from the n-butanol fraction of H. integrifolia using a chromatographic technique and identified by NMR, and HRESI-MS. The antiviral and multidrug-resistant activities of these metabolites were evaluated as well as the n-butanol fraction. The n-butanol fraction of H. integrifolia exhibited weak antiviral effects, but DHS and EGG demonstrated significant antiviral activity against herpes simplex type-1 (HSV-1) and Coxsackie (CoxB4) viruses. Both metabolites showed lower IC50 values than the standard antiviral drug acyclovir, indicating their potency in inhibiting viral replication. EGG showed potent antiviral activity with minimal cytotoxicity at the highest concentration tested, presenting a selectivity index (SI) of 18.18 and 15.58 against HSV-1 and CoxB4 viruses, respectively. A preliminary assessment of the antibacterial activity of the n-butanol fraction and metabolites revealed that DHS had the highest inhibitory potency against drug-resistant strains, including MRSA and Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia. It also exhibited significant inhibitions against Fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans and ESBL - Escherichia coli. DHS displayed the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values, indicating its superiority as an antibacterial agent compared to EGG and the n-butanol fraction. Molecular docking analysis confirmed the antiviral and antibacterial actions of DHS and EGG by demonstrating their strong binding.

Role of TLR4 signaling pathway in the mitigation of damaged lung by low-dose gamma irradiation.

Organisms frequently suffer negative effects from large doses of ionizing radiation. However, radiation is not as hazardous at lower doses as was once believed. The current study aims to evaluate the possible radio-adaptive effect induced by low-dose radiation (LDR) in modulating high-dose radiation (HDR) and N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA)-induced lung injury in male albino rats. Sixty-four male rats were randomly divided into four groups: Group 1 (control): normal rats; Group 2 (D): rats given NDEA in drinking water; Group 3 (DR): rats administered with NDEA then exposed to fractionated HDR; and Group 4 (DRL): rats administered with NDEA then exposed to LDR + HDR. In the next stage, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione reduced (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the lung tissues were measured. Furthermore, the enzyme-linked immunoassay analysis technique was performed to assess the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4), and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) expression levels. Histopathological and DNA fragmentation analyses in lung tissue, in addition to hematological and apoptosis analyses of the blood samples, were also conducted. Results demonstrated a significant increase in antioxidant defense and a reduction in MDA levels were observed in LDR-treated animals compared to the D and DR groups. Additionally, exposure to LDR decreased TLR4, IRAK4, and MAPK levels, decreased apoptosis, and restored all the alterations in the histopathological, hematological parameters, and DNA fragmentation, indicating its protective effects on the lung when compared with untreated rats. Taken together, LDR shows protective action against the negative effects of subsequent HDR and NDEA. This impact may be attributable to the adaptive response induced by LDR, which decreases DNA damage in lung tissue and activates the antioxidative, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory systems in the affected animals, enabling them to withstand the following HDR exposure.

Matcha-silver nanoparticles reduce gamma radiation-induced oxidative and inflammatory responses by activating SIRT1 and NLRP-3 signaling pathways in the Wistar rat spleen.

The biogenic synthesis of nanoparticles has drawn significant attention. The spleen is the largest lymphatic organ that is adversely impacted during irradiation. The current study was designated to evaluate the possible anti-inflammatory effect of matcha-silver nanoparticles (M-AgNPs) to reduce inflammation associated with γ-radiation induced-oxidative stress and inflammation in rats' spleen. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized by biogenic synthesis using a green sonochemical method from matcha (M) green tea. The obtained M-AgNPs were extensively characterized by dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Using zetasizer analysis, the surface charge, particle size, and radical scavenging DPPH assay of M-AgNPs were also examined. Biocompatibility and cytotoxicity were analyzed by MTT assay, and the IC50 was calculated. Four groups of 24 Wistar rats each had an equal number of animals. The next step involved measuring the levels of oxidative stress markers in the rat splenic tissue. Additionally, the amounts of inflammatory protein expression were evaluated using the ELISA analysis. The results indicated the formation of spherical nanoparticles of pure Ag° coated with matcha polyphenols at the nanoscale, as well as uniform monodisperse particles suited for cellular absorption. Results revealed that M-AgNPs improved all biochemical parameters. Furthermore, M-AgNPs relieve inflammation by reducing the expression of NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and enhancing the levels of ileSnt information regulator 1 (SIRT1). Histopathological examinations demonstrated the ability of M-AgNPs to overcome the damage consequent to irradiation and recover the spleen's cellular structure. These results confirmed that matcha is a potential biomaterial for synthesizing AgNPs, which can be exploited for their anti-inflammatory activity.