The study of wound healing activity of Thespesia populnea L. bark, an approach for accelerating healing through nanoparticles and isolation of main active constituents.

The present study provides an evaluation for the wound healing activity of the ethanolic extract of Thespesia populnea L. bark (EBE) and its successive fractions in two doses level (1&2%), designed for determining the most bioactive fraction and the suitable dose. Furthermore, development of the most convenient formulation for these bioactive fractions through either their direct incorporation into hydrogel formulations or incorporation of chitosan-loaded nanoparticles with these bioactive fractions into hydrogel formulations. The highest excision wound healing activity was observed in petroleum ether (Pet-B) followed by ethyl acetate (Etac-B) fractions at the high dose (2%). The most suitable formulation designed for the Etac-B fraction was found to be the chitosan-loaded nanoparticles incorporated in the hydrogel formulation, while the conventional hydrogel formulation was observed to be the highly acceptable formulation for Pet-B fraction. Further phytochemical studies of the bioactive fractions led to the isolation of many compounds of different chemical classes viz; beta-sitosterol and lupeol acetate isolated from the Pet-B, in addition to cyanidin and delphinidin from the Etac-B. Our results revealed that EBE and its bioactive fractions (Pet-B & Etac-B) could be considered as strong wound healers through their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, in addition to stimulating collagen synthesis.

HPLC and GC-MS-based metabolic profiles and in vivo anticonvulsant, sedative, and antinociceptive potentials of truffles Tirmania nivea and Tirmania pinoyi hydromethanolic extracts in mice.

GC-MS and HPLC analyses of the hydromethanolic extracts of the truffles Tirmania nivea (TN) and Tirmania pinoyi (TP) revealed the presence of 18 metabolites and 11 polyphenols, respectively. In vivo, TP extract protected against subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (scPTZ) and maximal electric shock (MES)-induced convulsions faster than TN extract. TP extract (100 and 300 mg/kg) showed 100% protection and longer duration than TN extract in the scPTZ test. Similarly, at 300 mg/kg, TP demonstrated a quicker start (75%) and longer duration of action (100%) than TN in MES test. In the scPTZ test, ED50 of TP demonstrated greater anticonvulsant efficacy than that of TN. In mice given TP and TN treatments, the brain GABA levels noticeably increased. TP (100 and 300 mg/kg) produced a notable sedative effect in open-field test, whereas TN (100 or 300 mg/kg) and TP (300 mg/kg) reduced sleep latency by 52%, 45%, and 79%, respectively. In writhing test, TN (100 or 300 mg/kg) significantly enhanced analgesic efficacy by 50 and 87%, respectively. Comparatively, in formalin test, TP and TN at a dosage of 300 mg/kg decreased the length of the licking by 34 and 59%, respectively. For the first time, this study explains the anticonvulsant, sedative, central, and peripheral analgesic activities of truffle extracts.

HPLC-ESI/MS profiling, phytoconstituent isolation and evaluation of renal function, oxidative stress and inflammation in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats of Ficus spragueana Mildbr. & Burret.

Ficus spragueana Mildbr. & Burret (family Moraceae) was reported to have various biological activities. However, its activity in treatment of renal injury has not been investigated yet. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of F. spragueana leaf extract on nephrotoxicity caused by gentamicin. Gentamicin is an important broad-spectrum antibiotic; nevertheless, it exhibits serious nephrotoxic adverse effects. HPLC-ESI/MS spectrometric analysis of the extract revealed the presence of 37 phenolic compounds. Moreover, five compounds were isolated from the leaf extract, and identified on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The isolated compounds were syringic acid (1), p-coumaric acid (2), 3',5' O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3), luteolin-8-C-ß-D glucopyranoside (orientin) (4) and 8-methoxy kaempferol-3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2) ß-D-glucopyranoside] (5). The gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity model was used to evaluate the protective effect of F. spragueana on renal toxicity biomarkers throughout the development of acute kidney injury. Administration of extract led to improvement in kidney function through inhibition of kidney injury molecule-1, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and total bilirubin, as well as decreasing the inflammatory markers interlukin1-beta and myeloperoxidase. Furthermore, it reduced the oxidative stress by increasing reduced glutathione and total antioxidant capacity levels while decreasing malondialdehyde and nitric oxide content, and improved renal histopathological injuries.

Prophylactic effects of ellagic acid and rosmarinic acid on doxorubicin-induced neurotoxicity in rats.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used in human malignancies. Its long-term use cause neurobiological side effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prophylactic effect exerted by daily administration of ellagic acid (EA) and rosmarinic acid (RA) on DOX-induced neurotoxicity in rats. Our data showed that DOX-induced significant elevation of brain malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), caspase-3, and cholinesterase associated with significant reduction in reduced glutathione, monoamines namely serotonin, dopamine, as well as norepinephrine. Concomitant administration of EA (10 mg/kg/day, p.o. for 14 days) and/or RA (75 mg/kg/day, p.o. for 14 days) with DOX significantly mitigated the neural changes induced by DOX. Meanwhile, treatment ameliorated pro-inflammatory cytokines as TNF-α, iNOS, and attenuated oxidative stress biomarkers as well as brain monoamines. In conclusion, EA and RA can effectively protect against DOX-induced neurotoxicity, and the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effect are potentially associated with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties.