Attenuation of ovalbumin-induced inflammation and lung oxidative injury in asthmatic rats by Zingiber officinale extract: combined in silico and in vivo study on antioxidant potential, STAT6 and TNF-α pathways.

In the present study we focused on the anti-asthmatic and antioxidant effects of Zingiber officinalis roscoe L. (ZO) aqueous extract. This study includes 20 adult male rats, which were grouped into four; Group I: control group; Group II: asthmatic group (Ovalbumin sensitized/challenge model, Oval group); Group III: received ovalbumin sensitized/challenge associated a dose of 207 mg/kg body weight (BW) of ZO (Oval + D1 group); Group IV: received ovalbumin sensitized/challenge associated a dose of 414 mg/k BW of ZO (Oval + D2 group). After 21 days, blood and lung samples were collected for biochemical, hematological, and histopathological analyses. The ameliorative effect of ZO phytochemical compounds was also assessed by in silico approach on transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) receptors. The oxidative/antioxidative status was evaluated in the lung tissues. Our results show that ZO extract alleviated the ovalbumin-induced hematological and biochemical disruptions associated oxidative injury. In fact, white and red blood cells (WBC and RBC, respectively), aspartate aminotransaminase (ASAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were significantly disrupted (p < 0.05) in Oval group and alleviated following ZO treatment. Besides, several histopathological features were outlined in lung tissues of Oval group. Interestingly, ZO was found to exert ameliorative effects on tissue level. In silico analyses, particularly the binding affinities, the number of H-bonds, the embedding distance and the molecular interactions of ZO phytochemical compounds with either STAT6 or TNF-α supported the in vivo results. These findings confirm the potential ethno-pharmacological effects of ZO against asthma and its associated complications.

Kidney injury and oxidative damage alleviation by Zingiber officinale: pharmacokinetics and protective approach in a combined murine model of osteoporosis.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is considered as a nutraceutical spice, which possesses several health promotion and benefits. This study was carried out to investigate the phyto-chemical composition, the antioxidant capacities, the drug-likeness, and pharmacokinetic properties of ginger extract on kidney injury-associated osteoporosis in rats. Phenolic and flavonoid contents were assessed by standard chemical analysis methods and HPLC. In vivo protective effect was based on the use of female rats to evaluate the effect on renal injury as a result of combined osteoporosis using biochemical markers, oxidative status, and histological analyses. Results showed that ZO contained appreciable amounts of phenolics and flavonoids and it exhibited high scavenging activity. Ovariectomy-associated corticotherapy induced severe renal injury marked by altered biochemical markers (creatinine, urea, and uric acid), reduced GFR, significative oxidative damage signs, and disrupted antioxidant status in the combined osteoporotic rats. The histopathological examination revealed structural modifications of kidney tissues. However, all these changes were reversed following the use of ZO. These results confirm the renoprotective and antioxidant potential of ginger against renal injuries in osteoporotic rats.

Phytochemical Characterization, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Cleome arabica L. Fruits Extract against Formalin Induced Chronic Inflammation in Female Wistar Rat: Biochemical, Histological, and In Silico Studies.

In recent decades, the use of herbs and plants has been of great interest, as they have been the sources of natural products, commonly named as bioactive compounds. In specific, the natural compounds from the Capparaceae family which has been proved to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-carcinogenic activities, by several studies. Cleome arabica L. (CA) specie is the most used medicinal plants in Tunisia and elsewhere in North African countries for treatment of various diseases including diabetes, rheumatism, inflammation, cancer, and digestive disorders. The current work was undertaken to estimate the total phenolic, flavonoid and condensed tannin contents, to identify and quantify the polyphenolic compounds, and to evaluate the antioxidant and the anti-inflammatory proprieties of CA fruits extract against formalin induced chronic inflammation in Female Wistar rats. In fact, the antioxidant activity was tested by Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging (DPPH), Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and Nitric Oxide radical (NO·). Anti-inflammatory effect of fruits extract was examined using formalin (2%) induced paw edema in rats. Molecular docking tools were used to investigate the interaction of some compounds from CA fruits extract with the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) target protein. Our results showed that, the total phenolic, flavonoid and tannins contents, which were assessed by the Folin-Ciocalteu, Quercetin, and Catechin methods, respectively, were 230.22 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight (mg GAE/g DW), 55.08 mg quercetin equivalent/g dry weight (QE/g DW) and 15.17 mg catechin equivalents/g dry weight (CatE/g DW), respectively. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of five polyphenolic compounds whose catechin was found to be the most abundant compounds. The antioxidant activity of extract was quantified by DPPH, FRAP and NO· tests and IC50 reached the values of 3.346 mg/mL, 2.306 and 0.023 mg/mL, respectively. Cleome fruits ameliorated the histological integrity of the skin and alleviated the disruptions in hematological parameters (WBC, LYM, RBC, and HGB), inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α), C-reactive protein, and some oxidative stress markers (TBARS (-49%) and AOPP (-42%) levels, SOD (+33%) and GPx (+75%) activities, and GSH (+49%) content) induced by formalin injection. Moreover, the in-silico investigation had shown that CA fruits extract compounds have a stronger interaction with COX-2 active site, more than the reference drug "indomethacin" (two H-bonds). Our research gives pharmacological backing to the healthcare utilization of Cleome plant in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and oxidative harm.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Zingiber officinale roscoe and Allium subhirsutum: In Silico, Biochemical and Histological Study.

In this study, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Zingiber officinale roscoe and Allium subhirsutum aqueous extracts were examined in a carrageenan-induced acute inflammation model. Some markers of inflammation such as hematological parameters, fibrinogen and C-reactive protein were measured. Variables reflecting oxidative stress included thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), advanced oxidation of protein products (AOPP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione were determined in both inflamed foci and erythrocytes. The in silico molecular docking simulation showed that the main components of Zingiber officinale roscoe and Allium subhirsutum bound to toll-like receptor 6 (TLR6) with high affinities. Moreover, histological examinations of paw edema were carried out. Both Zingiber officinale roscoe and Allium subhirsutum ameliorated the induced inflammation and oxidative stress status as outlined by anti-edematous, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Our investigation lends pharmacological support to the medical uses of these spices in the management of inflammatory disorders and oxidative damage. The results of the in silico assay satisfactory explain the in vivo effects as compared with indomethacin.

Proficiencies of Zingiber officinale against spine curve and vertebral damage induced by corticosteroid therapy associated with gonadal hormone deficiency in a rat model of osteoporosis.

This study was assessed to examine whether Zingiber officinale (ZO) can prevent spine disorder and trabecular microarchitecture disruption in osteoporotic murin model. Three groups of male rats were selected: Controls (CTRL), combined model of osteoporosis (CMO), in which rats were orchidectomized and treated with cortisol, and CMO treated with ZO (CMO + ZO). One month after the surgical procedures, the rats were sacrificed. Lumbar curve of the spine has been evaluated using the kyphotic method. The spines were submitted to histological and histomorphometric analysis and mineral (calcium and phosphorus) metabolism assessment. Compared to CTRL, the mean kyphotic angle (KA) was significantly higher in CMO rats. The spinal deconditioning associated decreased bone trabecular volume and a disrupted microarchitecture. A disorder was observed in the serum and bone levels of calcium and phosphorus in the combined severe osteopenia model. An increase in the level of TRAcP associated with an increase in osteoclast number and activity has been reported. These disturbances were reduced following the use of ZO in the CMO + ZO group. Finally, ginger might be an alternative therapeutic candidate for the treatment of severe osteopenia induced vertebral damage and spine curve disruption.

Corticosteroid treatment exacerbates bone osteopenia in mice with gonadal hormone deficiency-induced osteoporosis.

Gonadic deficiency and corticotherapy are important risk factors in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. This study was outlined to assess the effects of combined orchidectomy (ORX) and corticosteroid (cortisol; CS) administration on bone remodeling and metabolism. Twenty-week-old male Swiss mice were randomized into four groups: either sham operated (sham), ORX, CS injected (CS), or ORX and CS injected (ORX+CS). After 28days, mice were euthanized. Both ORX and CS resulted in reduced trabecular volume, and mineral apposition rate and increased osteoclast number and activity. TRAcP levels were increased in ORX and CS mice, but reached highest values in ORX+CS. Bone and serum mineral content (calcium and phosphorus) were disrupted in ORX and CS groups when compared to Sham, and were more affected in ORX+CS group. Urinary calcium measures were increased in ORX, CS, and ORX+CS during the time course of the study. Increases were more prominent in ORX+CS. The differences between groups were generally more accentuated at ORX+CS group. Biochemical data showed a parallel extent to the histologic and histomorphometric changes. This study provides a valid pre-clinical model for severe and rapid osteopenia by ORX associated corticotherapy in which bone loss was significantly higher than either ORX or CS alones.