RESUMEN
There is great interest in evaluating the anti-inflammatory properties of new herbal products. Thus, the effects of Mentha pulegium L. extract on gene and protein expressions of pro-inflammatory mediators and transcription factors were determined. The hydro-ethanolic extract of Mentha pulegium L. was obtained and optimal non-cytotoxic concentrations of the extract were determined by MTT assay. Then, three different concentrations of Mentha pulegium L. (10, 30, and 90 µg/mL) were used to pre-treat the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated and non-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 10 healthy individuals. Finally, the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-6, Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65, activator protein-1 (AP-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene expressions and TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, TLR-4, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and COX-2 protein levels were measured. MTT results showed that there is no significant difference in cell viability among 10, 20, 40, and 80 µg/mL concentrations of Mentha pulegium L. extract at 24, 48, and 72 h (P > 0.05). The IC50 values were 236.1, 147.0, and 118.0 µg/mL after 24, 48, and 72 h respectively. TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, TLR-4, iNOS, and NF-κB p65 mRNA levels in the pre-treated LPS-stimulated PBMCs were concentration-dependently reduced (P < 0.01 for TNF-α, TLR-4, and NF-κB p65; P < 0.05 for IL-1ß, IL-6, and iNOS). Also, the protein levels of pro-inflammatory mediators decreased and these differences were significant for TNF-α, IL-1ß, and TLR-4 (P < 0.001, P < 0.01, and P < 0.001, respectively). Mentha pulegium L. extract decreased the expression and biosynthesis of pro-inflammatory mediators. These effects are mainly mediated by TLR-4 and NF-κB suppression. Thus, Mentha pulegium L. could be useful in treating or ameliorating chronic inflammatory diseases.
RESUMEN
Background: B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) gene regulates carcinogenesis by inhibiting apoptosis. This study evaluated the association of Bcl-2 3'-untranslated regions (3' UTR) rs1564483 polymorphism and miR-296-3p with the development of breast and gastric cancers. Methods: A microarray analysis was performed on the Genomic Spatial Event (GSE)29431 and GSE161533 datasets for breast and gastric cancers. Blood samples were taken from 222 (111 patients and 111 controls) and 210 (84 patients and 126 controls) individuals for breast and gastric cancers, respectively. Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood samples and genotyping was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), followed by examining the high-temperature melting curve. Statistical analysis was conducted to examine the potential correlation between the rs1564483 polymorphism and the risk of breast and gastric cancers concerning pathological characteristics. Results: The results of the microarray showed that the Bcl-2 gene was up-regulated in gastric cancer (logFC [log fold change]: 0.65, adjusted P < .05). Clinical outcome showed no notable relationship between the rs1564483 polymorphism and breast cancer risk; however, for gastric cancer, it identified a large difference between healthy controls and patients for an allelic frequency of rs1564483 (P ⩽ .001). Moreover, an assay of different models (dominant, recessive, and co-dominant) showed a significant association between the AG genotype between control and gastric cases (Pearson chi-square test, P = .046). In addition, the prevalence of the AG genotype was greater in persons under the age of 45 and in patients with H. pylori infection (P ⩽ .001). The AG genotype was not related to smoking, although the AA genotype was associated with increased cancer incidence in smokers (P ⩽ .001). Conclusions: In silico studies and calculations of the ΔG binding of micro ribonucleic acid (miRNA) hsa-miR-296-3p to the mutant and wild alleles of the rs15644833 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) have revealed that Bcl-2 mRNA expression in gastric cancer decreases, thus confirming the tumor suppressor role of the Bcl-2 gene.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Medicinal plants have attracted global attention due to their safety as well as their considerable antioxidant content that helps to prevent or ameliorate various disorders including memory impairments. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of beet root (Beta vulgaris) leaf extract on scopolamine-induced spatial memory impairments in male Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10): Control (C), scopolamine 1 mg/kg/day (S), scopolamine+50 mg/kg B. vulgaris leaf extract (S+B 50), scopolamine+100 mg/kg B. vulgaris leaf extract (S+B 100) and scopolamine+200 mg/kg B. vulgaris leaf extract (S+B 200). Morris water maze task was used to assess spatial memory. Serum antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were also measured. RESULTS: Group S spent significantly less time in the target quadrant compared to the control group, and the administration of B. vulgaris leaf extract (100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly increased this time (p<0.05). Scopolamine decreased serum antioxidant capacity and increased serum MDA level yet insignificantly. B. vulgaris extract (200 mg/kg) significantly increased the antioxidant capacity and decreased serum MDA level in scopolamine-treated rats (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that B. vulgaris leaf extract could ameliorate the memory impairments and exhibited protective effects against scopolamine-induced oxidation. Further investigation is needed to isolate specific antioxidant compounds from B. vulgaris leaf extract with protective effect against brain and memory impairments.
RESUMEN
CONTEXT: Saffron extract can inhibit the metabolic disorders induced by stress but the mechanism of action of saffron extract in the central nervous system is not clear. OBJECTIVE: The present research investigated the effects of saffron water extract and its constituent, safranal on the behavioral and metabolic signs induced by electroshock stress in male Wistar rats (W: 250-300 g). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dried saffron material and maceration method was used for extraction. Animals received intra-amygdala (1, 5, and 10 µg/rat) or intraperitoneal (1, 5, and 10 mg/kg) administration of the extract, safranal (Fluka, Germany), or saline 5 or 30 min before stress induction, respectively. RESULTS: The result showed that stress elevated the corticosterone plasma (115 nmol/L) concentration in the control and intra-amygdala (1, 5, and 10 µg/rat)-treated groups but not in groups that received extract or safranal (55 nmol/L) intraperitoneally (1, 5, and 10 mg/kg). Moreover, anorexia was reduced only in groups that received the extract (1, 5, and 10 mg/kg) or safranal (1, 5, and 10 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (50 sec). Stress increased sniffing, rearing, locomotion, and coping time, which were decreased by intraperitoneal (1, 5, and 10 mg/kg) but not by intra-amygdala (1, 5, and 10 µg/rat) administration of saffron extract and safranal. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results revealed that saffron water extract and safranal had an important impact on the reduction of both metabolic and behavioral signs of stress in male Wistar rats. Moreover, the involvement of the amygdala in this observation can be ruled out.