The effects of Anchusa azurea methanolic extract on burn wound healing: Histological, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory evaluation.

Anchusa azurea one of the medicinal plants that has been traditionally used for treat burn wounds. However, the traditional claim that A.azurea can hasten burn wound healing has not been supported by scientific studies. This experiment used a male Wistar rats model to investigate the activity of A. azurea aerial parts methanolic extract in burn wound healing. To determine their ability to help in healing burn wounds in rat models, the active components of the aerial parts of A. azurea were extracted with 80% methanol, then, 1% and 10% ointments were prepared from the extract, and applied topically. The LCMS chromatography of A. azurea plant extract showed different active ingredients, including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, fatty acids, and others. The plant extract's investigated as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and histological effects on the burn wound healing process. The results showed a significant (p-value < 0.025) rate of burn wound healing with 78.6% and 84.8% contraction, respectively using 1% and 10% (w/w) extract ointments after 12 days. These results were corroborated by histological observations such as collagen deposition, re-epithelialization, and repair of the remaining skin tissues without any sign of cutaneous toxicity. The plant extract showed significant (p-value < 0.025) antioxidant effect at the highest tested dose of 500 µg/mL, scavenging 89.78% of the DPPH with an IC50 of 213.6 µg/mL. These results confirmed by histological changes observations of collagen deposition, re-epithelialization, and reformation of remaining skin tissues without any signs of dermal toxicity. The plant extract exhibited significant (p-value < 0.025) level of antioxidant agents, by scavenging 89.78% of the DPPH at 500 µg/mL with IC50 of 213.6 µg/mL. Additionally, all pro-inflammatory cytokines examined, including IL-6 and IL-10, the results exhibited reduction in IL-6 level and increase IL-10 level. The aerial extract of the A. azurea plant revealed a wealth of several significant active ingredients, including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, fatty acids, and others, suggesting the potential for anti-inflammatory, burn wound-healing, and antioxidant medications. These findings can open an avenue to find new therapeutics for burn wounds healing, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Memory Enhancing and Neurogenesis Activity of Honey Bee Venom in the Symptoms of Amnesia: Using Rats with Amnesia-like Alzheimer's Disease as a Model.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is mainly characterized by amnesia that affects millions of people worldwide. This study aims to explore the effectiveness capacities of bee venom (BV) for the enhancement of the memory process in a rat model with amnesia-like AD. METHODS: The study protocol contains two successive phases, nootropic and therapeutic, in which two BV doses (D1; 0.25 and D2: 0.5 mg/kg i.p.) were used. In the nootropic phase, treatment groups were compared statistically with a normal group. Meanwhile, in the therapeutic phase, BV was administered to scopolamine (1mg/kg) to induce amnesia-like AD in a rat model in which therapeutic groups were compared with a positive group (donepezil; 1mg/kg i.p.). Behavioral analysis was performed after each phase by Working Memory (WM) and Long-Term Memory (LTM) assessments using radial arm maze (RAM) and passive avoidance tests (PAT). Neurogenic factors; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and Doublecortin (DCX) were measured in plasma using ELISA and Immunohistochemistry analysis of hippocampal tissues, respectively. RESULTS: During the nootropic phase, treatment groups demonstrated a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in RAM latency times, spatial WM errors, and spatial reference errors compared with the normal group. In addition, the PA test revealed a significant (P < 0.05) enhancement of LTM after 72 hours in both treatment groups; D1 and D2. In the therapeutic phase, treatment groups reflected a significant (P < 0.05) potent enhancement in the memory process compared with the positive group; less spatial WM errors, spatial reference errors, and latency time during the RAM test, and more latency time after 72 hours in the light room. Moreover, results presented a marked increase in the plasma level of BDNF, as well as increased hippocampal DCX-positive data in the sub-granular zone within the D1 and D2 groups compared with the negative group (P < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that injecting BV enhances and increases the performance of both WM and LTM. Conclusively, BV has a potential nootropic and therapeutic activity that enhances hippocampal growth and plasticity, which in turn improves WM and LTM. Given that this research was conducted using scopolamine-induced amnesia-like AD in rats, it suggests that BV has a potential therapeutic activity for the enhancement of memory in AD patients in a dose-dependent manner but further investigations are needed.

Synergistic Effects of AgNPs and Biochar: A Potential Combination for Combating Lung Cancer and Pathogenic Bacteria.

The synthesis of reliable biological nanomaterials is a crucial area of study in nanotechnology. In this study, Emericella dentata was employed for the biosynthesis of AgNPs, which were then combined with synthesized biochar, a porous structure created through biomass pyrolysis. The synergistic effects of AgNPs and biochar were evaluated through the assessment of pro-inflammatory cytokines, anti-apoptotic gene expression, and antibacterial activity. Solid biosynthesized AgNPs were evaluated by XRD and SEM, with SEM images revealing that most of the AgNPs ranged from 10 to 80 nm, with over 70% being less than 40 nm. FTIR analysis indicated the presence of stabilizing and reducing functional groups in the AgNPs. The nanoemulsion's zeta potential, hydrodynamic diameter, and particle distribution index were found to be -19.6 mV, 37.62 nm, and 0.231, respectively. Biochar, on the other hand, did not have any antibacterial effects on the tested bacterial species. However, when combined with AgNPs, its antibacterial efficacy against all bacterial species was significantly enhanced. Furthermore, the combined material significantly reduced the expression of anti-apoptotic genes and pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to individual treatments. This study suggests that low-dose AgNPs coupled with biochar could be a more effective method to combat lung cancer epithelial cells and pathogenic bacteria compared to either substance alone.

Globularia arabica Methanolic Leaf Extract Has Higher Efficacy on Burn Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats Compared to Malva slyvestries Methanolic Leaf Extract.

This study aimed to see how effective Globularia arabica and Malva slyvestries-based cream formulations were at healing scald burn wounds in rats. Depending on ointment, preparations of 1%, 5%, and 10% w/w were created. For comparison, an ointment base and a regular burn cream composed soframycine were utilized. Rats introduced a burn by solidifying equipment at 100°C on a 14-mm2 shaved dorsal region. A deep second-degree burn was created, and the percentage of wound contraction was measured over the next 15 days. The rats were euthanized on days 8 and 15, and histological slides were prepared using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Compared to the control group, there was a substantial increase in wound contraction and a significant decrease in the duration of epithelialization in the based ointment-treated groups. However, as paralleled to Globularia arabica, significant (P < .05) results were observed with 10% Globularia arabica cream, whereas Malva slyverstries indicate minimal healing. Soframycine causes a substantial increase in wound contraction (P < .05). Soframycine cream with 10% Globularia arabica therapy resulted in practically complete re-epithelialization and re-structuring of wound tissue on histological examination, whereas Malva slyversries treatment resulted in low epithelization during treatment days. The findings suggest that Globularia arabica-based cream has the wound-healing capability.

Biodegradation modeling of phenol using Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens as plant-growth-promoting bacteria.

Phenol is a major worry pollutant resulting from industrialized manufacturing and chemical reactions. The growth kinetics and biodegradation of phenol were initially investigated using C. flaccumfaciens, a recently identified plant growth stimulating bacterium. Based on the Haldane inhibition model, Haldane's growth kinetics inhibition coefficient (Ki), half-saturation coefficient (Ks), and the maximum specific growth rate (max) for phenol-dependent growth kinetics were estimated to be 329 (mg/L), 9.14 (mg/L), and 1.05 (h-1), respectively. With a sum of squared error (SSR) of 1.36 × 10-3, the Haldane equation is well adapted to empirical data. The improved Gombertz model also accurately predicts phenol biodegradation trends. The rate of phenol biodegradation and the lag time both increased as the initial phenol concentrations were increased. C. flaccumfaciens growth and phenol biodegradation were best achieved at a pH of 7.0 at a temperature of 28 °C incubation. A phenol biodegradation mechanism by C. flaccumfaciens has been proposed. In conclusion, this study revealed the ability of C. flaccumfaciens to promote plant growth and biodegrade phenol simultaneously. This could aid in rhizoremediation and crop yield preservation in phenol-stressed conditions.

Efficacy of methanolic extracts of some medicinal plants on wound healing in diabetic rats.

Background: One of the primary health concerns for diabetes individuals is wounds. The used drugs have several side effects, urging the need for new natural sources for therapeutics. Materials and methods: This study was designed to estimate the wound healing potential of the methanolic extract of Globularia arabica and Malva sylvestris leaves and Rhus coriaria fruits. plant extracts were orally administered to the rats to determine their effect on the wound-healing process. Results: Plant extracts significantly increased the contraction of the wound in non-diabetic and diabetic rats (P < 0.05) and increased the fibroblast's proliferation and migration resulting in a faster healing process. The plant extracts have no cytotoxic effects. The proliferation assay exhibited the lowest cell mortality after treatment with plant extract. Conclusion: These findings may indicate that the methanolic leaf extract of the above plants can be used as new therapeutics for wound healing in diabetic patients.

In Vivo Therapeutic Effect of Some Medicinal Plants' Methanolic Extracts on the Growth and Development of Secondary Hydatid Cyst Infection.

PURPOSE: The current study aimed to explore the in vivo therapeutic effects of the methanolic extracts of Citrullus colocynthis, Ruta graveolens, and Peganum harmala against hydatid cyst secondary infection. METHODS: Aerial parts of P. harmala and R. graveolens, including leaves and stems, and seeds of C. colocynthis were collected and extracted using absolute methanol. Rats that are infected with secondary infection of hydatid cysts were treated orally and intraperitoneally according to the determined lethal doses for 30 days. Histological, hematological, and biochemical investigations were done 8 months after the infection. RESULTS: Compared to Albendazole drug, C. colocynthis, and P. harmala, the methanol extract of R. graveolens showed higher and significant (P < 0.05) therapeutic effects on the secondary hydatid cysts growth. Those effects were represented by the reduction in the cysts' number, size, and weight; as well as the significant changes (P < 0.05) in values of hematological and biochemical parameters, the elevation of IFN-γ levels, and the decline of IL-10 and IL-4 cytokines, compared to the negative control group in both routes of treatment (oral and IP). Moreover, the histological sections showed that R. graveolens has a clear damaging effect on the hydatid cysts GL in the infected rats represented by the detachment of GL from LL and AL. CONCLUSION: This study can open an avenue to find new therapeutics for secondary hydatid cyst infections using the studied plant extracts, especially the extract of R. graveolens.

In vitro and in vivo wound healing activities of Globularia arabica leaf methanolic extract in diabetic rats.

AIM: This study assessed the effects of topical application of the plant Globularia arabica extract on the diabetic rate of wound closure. METHODS: The effect of methanol extracts of G. arabica leaf extract on pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, as well as the rate of wound contraction, hydroxyproline, and collagen content, was examined using an excision model of wound repair in male rats. RESULTS: The healing pattern was also highly related to using 10% plant extract and significantly, (p-values <0.025) increased wound contraction and increased hydroxyproline and collagen expression in both non-diabetic and diabetic rats, demonstrating that G. arabica extract possesses potent wound healing capacity. During the early wound healing phase, IL-6 levels were found to be upregulated by G. arabica treatment. Increased wound contraction augmented hydroxyproline and collagen content, supporting the early wound healing exhibited by G. arabica. One of the ways for speeding wound healing may be the induction of cytokine production. The result of our study shows that the fibroblast cell line treated with 20 µg/ml methanolic extract of G. arabica significantly (p-values <0.035) increases the cell migration that indicated the high wound healing activity. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that G. arabica may be useful in the topical management of wound healing.

Effect of Rhus coriaria L. methanolic fruit extract on wound healing in diabetic and non-diabetic rats.

AIM: This study assessed the effects of topical application of R. coriaria extract on the rate of wound closure. The rate of wound contraction was used to assess the wound healing efficacy of the R. coriaria fruit methanolic extract. METHODS: Using excision and burn model of wound repair in diabetic male Wistar rats. Also, hydroxyproline, collagen content, and proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines levels were determined in this study. RESULTS: During the early wound healing phase, interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels were found to be decreased by R. coriaria treatment and increased the level of interleukin 10 (IL-10). Increased wound contraction augmented with hydroxyproline and collagen content, supporting the early wound healing exhibited by R. coriaria. The epithelialization, neovascularization and enhanced hydroxyproline and collagen expression were strongly associated with the healing pattern. CONCLUSION: This study indicating that R. coriaria methanolic fruit extract has a potent wound healing capacity. And may be effective in the topical therapy of wound healing.