Therapeutic potential of second degree's skin burns by topical dressing of Teucrium ramosissimum that promotes re-epithelialization.

The aim of the report is to assess the protective effect of powder aerial part of Teucrium ramosissimum (TS) on the in vivo wound-healing of second-degree burn injuries. Teucrium phytocompounds were characterized by FTIR, HPLC, and GC/MS spectra. Burn wound models were employed to evaluate the in vivo wound-healing activity. Thirty six wistar rats with burn wounds were divided into six groups and treated daily with TS, the mixture of Teucrium and honey (TS-HY), thymol and Dermosalic® (0.05%) (DS) creams. Skin epithelialization was monitored on the 4th, 13th, and 21st days. Proteins and the level of malondialdehyde in the burned skin were assessed. Microscopic and macroscopic investigations of skin wound tissues showed significant wound closure rate via complete epidermal reepithelization and regeneration, higher protein content, collagen synthesis and deposition, hair follicles growth post wounding that were promoted in TS-, thymol-, TS-HY- and DS-treated wound tissues compared to the untreated burned wound tissues that was characterized by the absence of the epithelialization, vascularization and the formation of the epidermis layer. Additionally, the skin healing potential of TS and TS-HY was validated by markedly decreased of lipid peroxidation. Overall, TS was found to possess complete wound closure and improves the healing process.

Gallic acid improves the antioxidant ability against cadmium toxicity: Impact on leaf lipid composition of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seedlings.

In the present work, the effect of seed pre-soaking with gallic acid (GA; 3,4,5-triphydroxyl-benzoic acid) in conferring subsequent tolerance to Cd stress in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seedlings was investigated. Exposing sunflower seedlings to increasing Cd concentrations (5, 10 and 20 µM) caused a gradual decrease in root and shoot biomass and increased the metal accumulation in both organs. Seed pretreatment with 75 µM GA significantly restricted Cd uptake, markedly alleviated Cd-induced plant growth inhibition, and mitigated the oxidative damages caused by this metal, as compared to plants directly exposed to Cd. GA pre-soaking prior to Cd stress also enhanced catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities, while inhibiting that of superoxide dismutase. This was associated with increased levels of total thiols and glutathione along with a decreased level of oxidized glutathione in leaves. Moreover, GA pre-soaking led to changes in leaf fatty acid composition of seedlings challenged with Cd, as evidenced by the higher total lipid content and lipid unsaturation degree. As a whole, this study provides strong arguments highlighting the potential role of GA as a growth promoter for sunflower seedlings submitted to Cd stress, notably by boosting the antioxidant defense system and improving leaf membrane stability.

Pistacia atlantica Desf. roots extract: LC-ESI-MS Analysis, antioxidant activity and gastroprotective effect on experimentally-induced ultrastructural gastric ulcers in mice.

Pistacia atlantica Desf. (Atlas Pistachio) is an Anacardiaceae tree traditionally used in Tunisia for the treatment of ophthalmic, stomatitis, and digestive tract diseases. In the present study, the Pistacia atlantica Desf. roots extract (PR) was phytochemically analyzed, for the first time, by LC-ESI-MS for phenolic and flavonoid contents, in vitro tested for its potential antioxidant activity based on the 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the reduced power essays (FRAP), and in vivo tested for its ability to shield against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in mice. The LC-ESI-MS analysis proved the identification of 12 compounds, including Quinic, Gallic, and Protocatechuic, as major phenolic acids and high levels of flavonoids, such as Catechin, Epicatechin, and Cirsiliol. PR also exhibited a mild in vitro antioxidant activity when compared with ascorbic acid. In vivo pretreatment of ethanol-ulcerated mice with PR doses 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg body weight (b.w) significantly reduced (P< .05) gastric lesions at a rate of 20.10% and a rate of 40.90%, respectively, when compared with 60.70% rate of sucralfate (50 mg/kg b.w) evidenced by a dose-dependent manner increase in the gastric mucosa enzymatic (SOD, CAT, GPx) antioxidant levels, the decline of the lipid peroxidation, and the preservation of normal gastric superficial epithelium. The underlying mechanism of PR antiulcerogenic activity could be due to a synergistic effect of phenolic acids and flavonoid contents which enhances the gastric antioxidant defense system.Abbreviations: BHT: butylated hydroxytoluene, b.w: body weight, CAT: catalase, DPPH:1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, DW: dry weight, EtOH: ethanol, FRAP: Ferric reducing antioxidant power, GAE: gallic acid equivalents, GPx: Glutathione peroxidase, QE: quercetin equivalents, LC-ESI-MS: Liquid chromatography-Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry, MDA: malondialdehyde, PR: Pistacia root, TBA: thiobarbituric acid reagent, TBARS: thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TCA: trichloroacetic acid, SOD: Superoxide dismutase.

Modelling and optimization of hexavalent chromium removal from aqueous solution by adsorption on low-cost agricultural waste biomass using response surface methodological approach.

In this study, a response surface methodology (RSM) approach using central composite design (CCD) was investigated to develop a mathematical model and to optimize the effects of pH, adsorbent amount and temperature related to the hexavalent chromium removal by biosorption on peanut shells (PSh). The highest removal percentage of 30.28% was found by the predicted model under the optimum conditions (pH of 2.11, 0.73 g of PSh and 37.2 °C) for a 100 mg/L initial Cr(VI) concentration, which was very near to the experimental value (29.92%). The PSh was characterized by SEM, EDX, FTIR, BET, XRD analyses. Moreover, a Langmuir isotherm fitted well (R2 = 0.992) with the experimental data, and the maximum adsorption capacity was discovered to be 2.48 and 3.49 mg/g respectively at 25 and 45 °C. Kinetic data were well foreseen by pseudo second order. Thermodynamic study depicted that biosorption of Cr(VI) onto PSh was spontaneous and endothermic. Regeneration of the PSh using NaOH showed a loss <5% in the Cr(VI) removal efficiency up to three recycle runs. In summary, the Cr(VI) removal onto economic, sensitive and selective biosorbent (PSh) was optimized using CCD to study biosorption behaviors.

Histopathological and Biochemical Effects of Thyme Essential Oil on H2O2 Stress in Heart Tissues.

BACKGROUND: Thymus algeriensis (T. algeriensis) is traditionally used in Tunisia to treat many human diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether terpenes extracted from the aerial parts of T. algeriensis are potent cardioprotective agents for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. METHOD: Thirty (30) rats were divided into six groups as per the experimental design: control (n = 6); 0.1 mmol/L H2O2 (LD H2O2) (n = 6); 1 mmol/L H2O2 (HD H2O2) (n = 6); oily fraction of T. algeriensis (OFTS) (180 mg/kg b.wt) (n = 6); OFTS + 0.1 mmol/L H2O2 (n = 6); and OFTS + 1 mmol/L H2O2 (n = 6). RESULTS: The H2O2 demonstrated concentration-dependent cardiotoxic effects in vitro. While, exposure of rats to OFTS significantly depleted H2O2-induced protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation, it raised antioxidant defence enzymes, and protected against H2O2-induced histopathological alterations. The antioxidant potential of the thyme essence was assessed by both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, OFTS may be a potential compound for the therapy of oxidative stress-induced heart disease.

Optimization of boron removal from water by electrodialysis using response surface methodology.

Boron removal from water containing 5 mg L-1 of boron using electrodialysis (ED) was studied as a function of several parameters such as flow rates, initial pH, coexisting anions and ED time. An ED cell, equipped with three cation exchange membranes (fumasep FKB) and two anion exchange membranes (fumasep FAB), was applied. The central composite design, which is the standard design of response surface methodology, was used to evaluate the effects and interactions of studied factors on boron removal efficiency. The effectiveness of the considered design parameters was well examined to find the optimum condition. The experimental data obtained were analyzed by analysis of variance for the polynomial model with 95% confidence level. Boron removal by ED showed to be independent of the electrodialysis time, whereas flow rate as well as the pH of the feed solution and also the coexisting anions on the feed solution play a significant role on the deboronation efficiency. According to the desirability function, the maximum response of 43.5% was predicted for boron removal at a pH equal to 10, a flow rate of 10 L h-1, a ratio between sulfates and that of boron equal to 2 and a reaction time of 25 minutes.

Antioxidant Potential of Four Species of Natural Product and Therapeutic Strategies for Cancer through Suppression of Viability in the Human Multiple Myeloma Cell Line U266.

OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to evaluate the protective effects of bioactive compounds such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, and tannins present in four species extracted with methanol. METHODS: The total phenolic content of the methanolic extracts was measured spectrophotometrically. The effect of the extracts on cell viability in U266 cells was measured. The effects of extracts on free radical scavenging were assessed by the DPPH test and FRAP assay. Antibacterial effects of the natural products in this report were investigated by using the disc diffusion method. RESULTS: Our results clearly demonstrated that the methanolic extracts were characterized by a high amount of phenolic compounds. It has been speculated that ME-TA and ME-TAl exhibit a significant (P < 0.05) and dose-dependent antiradical potential. The exposure of cells to high doses of extracts almost completely suppressed cell growth in vitro. ME-TA and ME-TAl showed significant cytotoxic effects at a concentration of 100 µg/mL in the U266 cell line. ME-TAl and ME-CF inhibited the growth of B. subtilis and S. aureus, respectively, to the same extent as 10 µg/µL of chloramphenicol at a concentration of 1 mg/mL. CONCLUSION: Overall, these results suggest that plants used in traditional medicine have a novel application as free radical scavengers, bacterial inhibitors and tumor suppressors.

Investigation of Extracts from Tunisian Ethnomedicinal Plants as Antioxidants, Cytotoxins, and Antimicrobials.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the medicinal potential of various plants and their parts extracted with different solvents. METHODS: The total phenolic content of acetonitrile/water (60%-40%) (ACN/W) and aqueous (W) extract fractions was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and terpenic compounds were detected by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Antioxidant activity of the samples was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and ß-carotene bleaching method. Cell viability was investigated by thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol)-2-yl 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] (MTT) assay. The mechanisms involved in cytotoxic activity were investigated in a murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) and cancer lines. RESULTS: Our findings show that 11 plant species exhibited biological activity. In addition, moderate antibacterial activity was reported against one or more of the tested bacterial strains at two concentrations: 300 µg and 3 mg/disc. Furthermore, our data reveal that among all plants investigated, some extract and hydrophobic fractions were potent scavengers of the DPPH radical (6.78 µg/mL < EC50 < 8.55 µg/mL). Taken together, our results show that Nerium oleander (NOACN/W) and Pituranthos tortuosus (PTACN/W) were highly cytotoxic against RAW 264.7 cells with IC80 values of 0.36, and 1.55 µg/mL, respectively. In contrast, murine macrophage cell lines had low growth and were significantly sensitive to water extracts of Thymus hirtus sp. algeriensis (THW), Lavandula multifida (LMW), and ACN/W extract of Erica multiflora (EMACN/W) at doses > 400, 47.20, and 116.74 µg/mL, respectively. The current work demonstrates that RAW 264.7 cell proliferation was inhibited by samples in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Our findings, validated through free radical scavenging activity, agar diffusion assay, and cytotoxicity of essential oils towards cancer cells, show that ethnomedicinal plants used in this work have a novel application as a tumor suppressor.

Antioxidant Machinery Related to Decreased MDA Generation by Thymus Algeriensis Essential Oil-induced Liver and Kidney Regeneration.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the histopathological and biochemical effects of Thymus algeriensis essential oil (TEO) on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress in liver and kidney tissues of rats. METHODS: Rats were treated in six groups and were exposed for 2 weeks to low (LD; 100 µmol/L) and high doses (HD; 1 mmol/L) of H2O2 in the presence or absence of TEO (180 mg/kg). Liver and kidney atrophy was measured by using biochemical and histopathological assays. RESULTS: Our study demonstrated that H2O2 induced liver and kidney atrophy, as evidenced by the significant elevation of serum aminotransferase, urea, and creatinine levels compared with those in the control rats. Urea levels were estimated by evaluating the activity of serum urease that hydrolyzes urea into CO2 and ammonia. However, TEO treatment significantly alleviated oxidative stress in the H2O2-induced liver and kidney toxicity model by reducing the levels of malondialdehyde concomitantly with marked elevations in superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase, as well as decrease in glutathione activity. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that TEO protected against H2O2 toxicity by decreasing oxidant levels and DNA damage, as well as increasing antioxidant levels, indicating that TEO has a spectrum of antioxidant and DNA-protective properties.

Prevention of H2O2 Induced Oxidative Damages of Rat Testis by Thymus algeriensis.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluate the effects of Thymus algeriensis (TEO) against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) toxicity on body and testis weight, testis sperm count, testis lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzyme activities in rats. METHODS: Rats were treated with low (LD) and high dose (HD) of H2O2 (0.1 and 1 mmol/L) in the presence or absence of TEO (150 mg/kg). RESULTS: The results exhibited a significant decrease in body weight and testis weight, in total sperm number decrease (P<0.05), sperm motility and percentage of sperm viability, leading to complete arrest, in sperm flagellar beat frequency by the gavage of 1 mmol/L H2O2 compared to controls. The administration of H2O2 resulted in a significant reduction in testis GSH, GPx, CAT, SOD, and GST activity and significant increase (P<0.05) in MDA concentration compared with the untreated control animals. TEO pre-treatment protected testis from the H2O2 generated oxidative stress. These results were confirmed by histological architecture examinations. CONCLUSION: H2O2 has the ability to alter the sperm function, characteristics and development of testis. However, TEO is an efficient natural agent, which can prevent the testis from H2O2-induced oxidative damage in rats.

Application of response surface methodology and artificial neural network: modeling and optimization of Cr(VI) adsorption process using Dowex 1X8 anion exchange resin.

We report the adsorption efficiency of Cr(VI) on a strong anionic resin Dowex 1X8. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of this adsorbent were investigated. Response surface methodology was applied to evaluate the main effects and interactions among initial pH, initial Cr(VI) concentration, adsorbent dose and temperature. Analysis of variance depicted that resin dose and initial pH were the most significant factors. Desirability function (DF) showed that the maximum Cr(VI) removal of 95.96% was obtained at initial pH 5, initial Cr(VI) concentration of 100 mg/L, resin dose of 2 g and temperature of 283 K. Additionally, a simulated industrial wastewater containing 14.95 mg/L of Cr(VI) was treated successfully by Dowex 1X8 at optimum conditions. Same experimental design was employed to develop the artificial neural network. Both models gave a high correlation coefficient (RRSM(2) = 0.932, RANN(2) = 0.996).

Investigation of Antiulcer and Antioxidant Activity of Juniperus phoenicea L. (1753) Essential Oil in an Experimental Rat Model.

Juniperus phoenicea is a tree of the Cupressaceae family that is popularly known in the south of Tunisia because of its wide application in herbal medicine, including the use of its leaves to treat many diseases such as diarrhea, rheumatism, and intestinal disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ulceroprotective and antioxidant activity of essential oil extracted from the leaves of J. phoenicea (EOJp) against hydrogen chloride (HCl)/ethanol-induced ulcers in rats. The antiulcer activities of 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) EOJp were investigated on 0.3 M HCl/ethanol-induced ulcers in rats. The essential oil yield was 0.69% with 48 compounds; α-pinene was the principal component (20.24%). In vivo pretreatment with EOJp given orally provided dose-dependent protection against HCl/ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats. Furthermore, pretreatment with EOJp significantly decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The activity of the antiulcerogenic EOJp could be from synergistic antioxidant and anti-secretory effects. Oral use of EOJp has excellent preventive effects on induced gastric ulcers comparable to those of the proton pump inhibitor (PPI) omeprazole.

Effects of Thymus hirtus sp. algeriensis Boiss. et Reut. (Lamiaceae) essential oil on healing gastric ulcers according to sex.

BACKGROUND: Thymus algeriensis Boiss. et Reut. (Lamiaceae), popularly known as "mougecha" or "mazoukcha" is prolific in Mediterranean regions, mostly in North Africa, and is used in folk medicine to treat of stomach diseases. METHODS: In this study, animals were induced with gastric ulcers using HCl/ethanol (0.3 M HCl/60% ethanol) and treated orally with essential oil of Thymus algeriensis (EOTa) in various doses ranging from 54 mg/kg body weight to 180 mg/kg body weight. RESULT: The dose found to be effective was 180 mg/kg body weight, since this dose brought about a maximum reduction in lesion index in female rats. In gastric tissues, levels of total glutathiones (GSH, GST and GPx) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were evaluated. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. Histopathological changes were observed using a cross section of gastric tissue. Chemical analysis revealed the presence of 13 components accounting for 77.7% of the essential oil from dried leaves. Oral administration of EOTa (54, 117 and 180 ml/kg) inhibited HCl/ethanol-induced ulcers. Lesion index was significantly reduced in ulcer induced animals treated with EOTa (HCl/ethanol + EOTa) compared to those ulcerated with HCl/ethanol but with no treatment given. Females showed a greater resistance to ulcers and gastric lesions occurred less often than in males. GSH, pH, enzymic antioxidants, and adherent mucus content were all significantly increased. CONCLUSION: From the data presented in this study, it can be concluded that male rats are more sensitive to gastric ulcers induced by HCl/ethanol than females.

New Medical Herbalism Formulations as a Targeted Therapeutic Strategies Used in Southern Tunisia to Promote Neo-Epithelium, Angiogenesis, and Collagen Biosynthesis and to Impede Scar Formation Post-Third-Degree Burned Skin.

The aim of the study is to assess the suitability of the herbal formulation for topical application as a skin burn dressing on the in vivo wound-closure of third-degree wound injuries. Rat wound models were used to prove the in vivo skin burn-healing process. Body weight gain, food and water intake, and behavior were investigated daily during treatment period. Cutaneous biopsies of the burned wound surfaces were monitored at days 4, 13, and 28. Formulation markedly (P < .05) increased wound repair rate and collagen production compared to untreated burnt skin. Macroscopic and histological analysis of the wound of formula (F)-treated group showed significant skin contraction rate and rapid wound healing without scar through regeneration of epidermis that were approved in formula mixed with honey (F-hY)- and Drs-treated wound compared with thymol, and the untreated wound tissues that were not covered by denuded epithelial. Furthermore, the wound healing efficacy of F-hY, F, and Drs cream was proved by decreased the amount of malondialdehyde compared to untreated rats. In conclusion, F and F-hY was found to promote cutaneous wound repair. In all case, the formula alone or mixed with honeybees was even better than thymol in the repair of cutaneous wound.

Colorectal carcinoma cell targeting aromatherapy with Teucrium ramosissimum essential oil to sensitize TRAIL/Apo2L-induced HCT-116 cell death.

This report drives insights for the investigation of the underlying mechanisms of antitumor effects of Teucrium ramosissimum (TrS) essential oil (EO) that elicits colon tumor protection via activation of cell death machinery. A study of the aerial part phytocomplex was performed by FTIR spectra and GC/MS. In vivo colon carcinogenesis induced by LPS was carried out using mouse model. HCT-116 cells were coincubated with TrS EO and TRAIL-resistant cancer cells, and then cell lysates were assessed using Western blotting technique for death and decoy receptor expression. TrS essential oil potentiates TRAIL-mediated apoptosis cell death of HCT-116 as detected by PARP cleavage and caspase activation. Further data suggest that TrS up-regulates DR 5/4 expression, and down-regulates DcRs expression. Additionally, TrS potentiates apoptosis in TRAIL-resistant tumor cells through induction of MAPK signalling components, including ERK, p38 kinase, JNK, and activation of CHOP, and SP1, involved in DR5 expression. Moreover, Teucrium EO phytoconstituents mediate HCT-116 cells apoptosis by evoking cell cycle arrest at the G1 and G2/M phase through diminishing the expression of cyclin D1 acting as a potent multitargeted factors of inhibition of JAK/STAT oncogenic signaling pathway. These results demonstrate that TRAIL-induced apoptosis enhancing effect of TrS mediated through proto-oncogene expression in HCT-116. TrS administered intragastrically is able to prevent tumor of colon by stopping carcinogenesis process and impede tumor cell growth in in vivo analysis promoted by LPS. On the whole, our results revealed that TrS is an effective antitcancer agent through the induction of transcription factor and kinases, either are needed to trigger Apo2L receptors.

Therapeutic strategies of Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) for stomach and forestomach ulceration induced by HCl/EtOH in rat model.

Background: The drumstick tree Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae), distributed in many parts of the world, is an important food plant with high nutritional value and used in medical applications and pharmaceutical industries. The aim of this study was to highlight the gastroprotective effect of Moringa oleifera in hydrochloric acid/Ethanol (HCl/EtOH) in a rat model. Methods: Moringa phytocompounds were characterized by infrared spectra (FTIR). Rats were induced for gastric ulcer with 150 mmol/L HCl/60% EtOH solution and pretreated orally with the edible infusion extract of the leaves of Moringa oleifera at a single dose of 100 mg/kg body weight (bw). Antioxidant parameters and lipid peroxide levels were measured and the pathological damage was histologically analysed. Results: The FTIR analysis showed the presence of several chemical biocompounds. The methanolic extract is the potent radical-scavengers with an estimated value of 87.54% at the higher concentration used (500 µg/ml) and antibacterial agent. Further, the DPPH inhibition value of the M. oleifera infusion was 80.58%. For in vivo analysis, mucus was highly produced in gastric mucosa of plant-treated rats, thereby pH were elevated in rats pretreated with M. oleifera compared to ulcerated animals. Whereas, lesion index was markedly reduced (79%) in stomach protected with plant. Interestingly, oral administration of M. oleifera protected gastric mucosa through decreasing MDA levels as well as increasing antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, SOD, GPx). Conclusion: Overall, the therapeutic value against acidified ethanol induced gastric and ulcer ability of M. oleifera might be due to its biocompounds.

Scanning Electron Microscopy Analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrum Structure Profile Characterisation, and in vitro Biological Effect of Salvia officinalis L. Phytocompounds.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this research is to investigate the potential activity of Salvia officinalis and various hair samples responsible for secretion of essential oil. In Tunisia, biological activity of Salvia officinalis is poorly recorded. Salvia leaves contain various types of hairs (glandular and nonglandular). METHODS: The investigation of different trichomes was carried out by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) apparatus. Antiradical potential was assessed using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay. Antimicrobial activity was analysed using disc diffusion assay. The extracts of Salvia officinalis (SvOf), showed the following order of richness in phenolic contents: methanolic (70.76 mg GAE/g DW), aqueous (43.76 mg GAE/g DW) and infusion (9.42 mg GAE/g DW). The methanolic fraction records the highest levels of flavonoids (77 mg QE/g DW) compared with the aqueous extracts (33.19 mg EQ/g DW) and infusion (26.25 mg EQ/g DW). MESvOf showed higher value of free radical scavenging activity towards DPPH free radical and ferric reducing power. RESULTS: The results revealed that the main bioactive constituents in the methanolic fractions of sage leaves generally exhibited higher antibacterial effects. Overall, sage phytocompounds constitute a promising approach for the treatment of infectious diseases. DISCUSSION: Functional groups detected in S. officinalis by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FT-IR) were mainly phenols, saccharides, amine and Aromatic (Ar-H). CONCLUSION: Antiradical and antibacterial activities of Salvia officinalis are mainly due to phenolic content and other bioactive compounds. Non-glandular hairs are the most important trichomes in the Salvia leaves.

Thymus hirtus sp. algeriensis Boiss. and Reut. volatile oil enhances TRAIL/Apo2L induced apoptosis and inhibits colon carcinogenesis through upregulation of death receptor pathway.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to determine the anticancer activity of Thymus algeriensis (TS) and its underlying mechanisms using in vitro and in animal models. METHODS: HCT116 cells were treated with TS essential oil alone or with TRAIL, and then its anticancer effect was determined by using MTT assay, live dead assay, caspase activation and PARP cleavage. Further mechanisms of its anticancer effects was determined by analyzing expression of death receptor signaling pathway using Western blotting. A mouse model was also used to assess the antitumor potential of thyme essential oil. RESULTS: TS oily fraction showed tumor growth inhibitory effect even at lower concentration. TS induces apoptotic cell death as indicated by cleavage of PARP, and activation of the initiator and effector caspases (caspase-3, -8 and -9). Further, results showed that TS increases the expression of death receptors (DRs) and reduces the expression of TRAIL decoy receptors (DcRs). In addition, upregulation of signaling molecules of MAPK pathway (p38 kinase, ERK, JNK), down-regulation of c-FLIP, and overexpression of SP1 and CHOP were observed by TS. Further in animal model, intragastric administration of TS (12.5 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml) prevented colorectal carcinogenesis by blocking multi-steps in carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Overall, these results indicate that thymus essential oil promotes apoptosis in HCT116 cells and impedes tumorigenesis in animal model. Moreover, thyme potentiates TRAIL-induced cell death through upregulation of DRs, CHOP and SP1 as well as downregulation of antiapoptotic proteins in HCT116 cells. However, therapeutic potential of TS needs to be further explored.

Volatile oil of Teucrium alopecurus sensitizes colon cancer cells to TRAIL-induced cell death.

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL/Apo2L), a member of cytokine family, is known to selectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells. However, developing resistance to TRAIL is a major obstacle in cancer therapy. In this study, the in vitro effect of Teucrium alopecurus (TA) essential oil on inhibition of cancer cell growth and enhancing TRAIL-induced apoptosis were investigated in colon cancer cells. Untreated tumor cell lines are used as controls. TA induced cell death and increased the anticancer effects of TRAIL as observed by cell toxicity, live/dead assay, cleavage of caspases and PARP. Furthermore, the mechanism of anticancer potentiating effect of TA was found to be linked with the upregulation of death receptors (DRs) and reduced expression of TRAIL decoy receptors (DcRs). TA also down-regulated antiapoptotic proteins and induced p53 in colon cancer cells. In addition, we observed upregulation of MAPK signalling pathway (p38 kinase, JNK, ERK) and increased expression of C/EBP homologous transcription factor (CHOP) and specificity protein 1 (SP1) by TA. These findings demonstrate the potent anticancer effect of bioactive constituents of Teucrium alopecurus essential oil.

In vivo pathogenesis of colon carcinoma and its suppression by hydrophilic fractions of Clematis flammula via activation of TRAIL death machinery (DRs) expression.

This work focused on characterizing hydrophilic fractions of Clematis flammula (CFl). The data here clearly demonstrated that hydrolate fractions act as a free radical scavengers and inhibited proliferation of different cell lines in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, transwell, and with a significant cytotoxic effect. Treating cells with CFl had the effect of suppressing cell growth attenuated by ROS generation in colonic carcinoma. Moreover, CFl in HCT116 cells suppressed survival, proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis in vitro by inhibiting gene expression. Following CFl treatment, caspases and PARP cleavage were detected. The up- and down-regulated genes obtained from the WBA of the effect of CFl showed that several biological processes were associated with apoptosis and induction of G1 cell cycle arrest. CFl synergizes the effect of TRAIL by down-regulating the expression of cell survival proteins involved in apoptosis compared to cells treated with CFl or TRAIL alone. Our findings showed that CFl sensitizes apoptosis in TRAIL-resistant cells by activating MAPKs, SP1, and CHOP, that induced DR5 expression. Overall, our data showed that CFl is a promising antitumor agent through kinases and transcription factor induction, both of which are required to activate TRAIL receptors. Colon inflammation induced by LPS was inhibited by CFl hydrolate.