Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Angiogenic Aattributes of Moringa olifera Lam. and its Nanoclay-Based Pectin-Sericin films.

Background: Inflammation is a strong reaction of the non-specific natural immune system that helps to start protective responses against encroaching pathogens and develop typical immunity against intruding factors. However, prolonged inflammation may lead to chronic autoimmune diseases. For thousands of years, medicinal plants have served as an excellent source of treatment for chronic pathologies such as metabolic diseases. Purpose: The present study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic potential of Moringa olifera Lam. extract (MO) and Moringa-loaded nanoclay films. Methods: The extract preparation was done through the maceration technique using absolute methanol (99.7%) and labelled as Mo. Me. Mo. Me-loaded nanoclay-based films were prepared by using pectin and sericin (Table 1). The in vitro studies characterized the film thickness, moisture, and phytochemical contents. The in vivo anti-inflammatory tests involved using a cotton pellet-induced granuloma model assay. In addition, the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay was employed for angiogenesis activity. Results: The phytochemical analysis of the extract confirmed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids and phytosterol. This extract contained quercetin in a large quantity. Cotton-pellet induced granuloma model study revealed a comparable (p > 0.05) effect of a high dose of Mo. Me (500 mg/kg) as compared with standard drug. Noteworthy, data obtained through the RT-PCR technique manifested the dose-dependent anti-oedematous effect of Moringa olifera via downregulation of TNF-α and interleukin-1ß. The findings of the CAM assay exhibited a remarkable anti-angiogenic activity of Mo. Me loaded nanoclay films, showing diffused vasculature network in the macroscopic snapshot. Conclusion: Moringa olifera and its nanocomposite films have therapeutic potential against inflammation.

The promising therapeutic potentials of ginsenosides mediated through p38 MAPK signaling inhibition.

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 MAPK) is a 38kD polypeptide recognized as the target for many potential anti-inflammatory agents. Accumulating evidence indicates that p38 MAPK could perform many roles in human disease pathophysiology. Therefore, great therapeutic benefits can be attained from p38 MAPK inhibitors. Ginseng is an exceptionally valued medicinal plant of the family Araliaceae (Panax genus). Recently, several studies targeted the therapeutic effects of purified individual ginsenoside, the most significant active ingredient of ginseng, and studied its particular molecular mechanism(s) of action rather than whole-plant extracts. Interestingly, several ginsenosides: ginsenosides compound K, F1, Rb1, Rb3, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1, Rg2, Rg3, Rg5, Rh1, Rh2, Ro, notoginsenoside R1, and protopanaxadiol have shown to possess great therapeutic potentials mediated by their ability to downregulate p38 MAPK signaling in different cell lines and experimental animal models. Our review compiles the research findings of various ginsenosides as potent anti-inflammatory agents, highlighting the crucial role of p38 MAPK suppression in their pharmacological actions. In addition, in silico studies were conducted to explore the probable binding of these ginsenosides to p38 MAPK. The results obtained proposed p38 MAPK involvement in the beneficial pharmacological activities of ginsenosides in different ailments.

Therapeutic Implications of a Polymethoxylated Flavone, Tangeretin, in the Management of Cancer via Modulation of Different Molecular Pathways.

Chemotherapeutics can induce oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and abnormalities in neurotransmitter metabolism leading to toxicity. Because there have been no therapeutic strategies developed to target inflammation and oxidative stress, there is a continuing need for new and improved therapy. As a result, there has been increasing interest in complementary and alternative medicine with anticancer potential. Studies have shown that the antioxidant activities and anti-inflammatory effects of citrus fruits are promising natural phytochemicals in the development of new anticancer agents. Tangeretin is a naturally polymethoxylated flavone compound extracted from the citrus peel that has shown significant intestinal absorption and adequate bioavailability, with the added benefit of promoting longevity. In addition, tangeretin is known to exhibit considerable selective toxicity to many types of cancer cell proliferation such as ovarian, brain, blood, and skin cancer. Evidence indicates that tangeretin acts through several mechanisms including growth inhibition, induction of apoptosis, autophagy, antiangiogenesis, and estrogenic-like effects. Furthermore, tangeretin works through mitigating levels of inflammatory mediators in the immune system. Using tangeretin in combination with clinically applied anticancer drugs could be a good strategy for increasing the efficiency of these agents and protecting noncancerous cells from damage caused by chemotherapy. The purpose of this review is to highlight the protective effects of a novel natural product, tangeretin against chemotherapeutic-induced toxicity. The development of chemoprevention strategies can lead to significant health care improvement in cancer survivors. Thus, study outcomes may attract more investigators to conduct tangeretin-related research and find out potentially significant impacts on health care of cancer patients and decreased health problems associated with chemotherapeutics-induced toxicity.

Ficus carica and Sizigium cumini Regulate Glucose and Lipid Parameters in High-Fat Diet and Streptozocin-Induced Rats.

Obesity linked diabetes, popularly known as diabesity, has been viewed as a direct product of the modern lifestyle in both developed and developing countries, and its increased prevalence is seen as a major threat to public health globally. Ficus carica (FC) and Syzigium cumini (SC) are part of indigenous flora with traditional medicinal properties. Fresh seeds of SC fruit and fruit of FC were collected and macerated to obtain the final extract. Wistar rats were divided into seven groups fed either on a normal diet or high-fat diet (HFD) along with streptozocin (STZ) to induce diabesity. The crude extract of FC (FC.Cr.) and SC (SC.Cr.) were administered at 250 mg/kg/day and 500 mg/kg/day in induced diabesity state. Body weights, blood glucose level, complete blood count (CBC), cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were recorded to analyze their effects on glucose and lipid metabolism. Further, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured to examine their effects on lipid peroxidation and ant oxidative enzyme. Results showed that both FC.Cr. and SC.Cr. have the potential to control obesity-linked type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by lowering the body weights, serum glucose, cholesterol, TG, LDL, and VLDL, while increasing the protective effects of HDL dose-dependently. The crude extract of both plants showed significant activity to raise SOD and curb MDA under diabetic states. It was concluded that both FC.Cr. and SC.Cr. exhibited remarkable therapeutics potential in HFD-STZ-induced diabetic rats. However, we found that the effects of SC.Cr. are relatively more pronounced as compared to FC.Cr. in almost all parameters.

Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. Expedites the Healing Process in Contact Frostbite.

Frostbite is caused due to extreme vulnerability to cold, resulting in damage of deeper and superficial tissues alike. In this study, we report the anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties of aqueous methanolic extract of Cuscuta reflexa (Cs.Cr) against contact frostbite. Thirty rats were divided into five groups including three treatment groups with increasing doses of Cs.Cr, a standard drug group receiving acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), and a metal bar-induced frostbite group. Frostbite injury was induced by a 3 × 3.5 cm metal bar frozen up to -79°C on shaved skin for continuous 3 minutes. Wounded area percentages were recorded to measure the healing rate in response to Cs.Cr administration. Haematological parameters and malondialdehyde content were also noted. On treatment with Cs.Cr, the healing rate is drastically increased and lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde was decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Results were compared with frostbite and ASA (standard drug group). These results indicate that Cs.Cr possesses excellent wound-healing properties against frostbite injury and can prove to be a prospective compound in such conditions.

In Silico Prediction of the Mode of Action of Viola odorata in Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: The metabolic syndrome increases the risk of different diseases such as type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome has rapidly grown and affected more than 230 million people worldwide. Viola odorata is a traditionally used plant for the treatment of diabetes; however, its mechanism to manage diabetes is still unknown. PURPOSE: This study was designed to systematically assess the mechanism of action of Viola odorata in diabetes. METHODS: An extensive literature search was made to establish an ingredient-target database of Viola odorata. Of these, targets related to diabetes were identified and used to develop a protein-protein interaction network (PPIN) by utilizing the STITCH database. The obtained PPIN was assessed through Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis based on ClueGO plugin. RESULTS: According to the acquired data, there were about 143 chemical constituents present in Viola odorata having 119 protein targets. Of these, 31 targets were established to give the pharmacological effect against diabetes. The UniProt database was used for screening of 31 targets, out of which Homo sapiens contained 22 targets. Ultimately, 207 GO terms, grouped into 41 clusters, were found by gene analysis, and most of them were found to be linked with diabetes. According to findings, several proteins including TP53, BCL2, CDKN1A, 1L6, CCND1, CDKN2A, and RB1 have a significant role in the treatment of diabetes by Viola odorata. CONCLUSION: The possible activity of Viola odorata in the management of diabetes may be mediated by several molecular mechanisms, including the glutamine metabolic process, IRE1-mediated unfolded protein response, and pentose metabolic process.

Antrodia cinnamomea boosts the anti-tumor activity of sorafenib in xenograft models of human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been recognized worldwide as one of the major causes of cancer death. The medicinal fungus Antrodia cinnamomea (A. cinnamomea) has been served as a functional food for liver protection. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential activity of A. cinnamomea extracts as a safe booster for the anticancer activity of sorafenib, a multi-kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of HCC. The biologically active triterpenoids in the ethanolic extracts of A. cinnamomea (EAC) were initially identified by HPLC/LC/MS then the different extracts and sorafenib were assessed in vitro and in vivo. EAC could effectively sensitize HCC cells to low doses of sorafenib, which was perceived via the ability of the combination to repress cell viability and to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HCC cells. The ability of EAC to enhance sorafenib activity was mediated through targeting mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, modulating cyclin proteins expression and inhibiting cancer cell invasion. Moreover, the proposed combination significantly suppressed ectopic tumor growth in mice with high safety margins compared to single-agent treatment. Thus, this study highlights the advantage of combining EAC with sorafenib as a potential adjuvant therapeutic strategy against HCC.

Decorosides A and B, cytotoxic flavonoid glycosides from the leaves of Rhododendron decorum.

Bioassay and NMR-guided fractionation of the methanolic extract of Rhododendron decorum leaves resulted in the isolation of two new flavonoid glycosides, 5,7-dihydroxy-6,8-dimethyldihydroflavanone-7-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (decoroside A, 1) and its 3-hydroxy congener (decoroside B, 2), along with five known compounds myricitrin (3), afzelin (4), (-)-epicatechin (5), (+)-catechin (6), and ampeloptin (7). The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by extensive interpretation of their spectral data. Biological evaluation using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay revealed promising cytotoxic activities of these compounds against different cancer cell lines.