Lupeol attenuated the NAFLD and PCOS-induced metabolic, oxidative, hormonal, histopathological, and molecular injuries in mice.

Background and purpose: The current study aimed to study the therapeutic effects of lupeol as a nutritional triterpene on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) disorders in separate and concurrent models. Experimental approach: This study was performed in three sets and each set contained 4 groups of female mice (n = 6), including control, NAFLD or PCOS and/or NAFLD/PCOS, lupeol, and metformin (MET). The treatment groups following the induction of disorders were treated with lupeol (40 mg/kg, orally) or MET (500 mg/kg, orally) for 28 days. The insulin resistance index and hormonal assessments were conducted on the collected serum samples. Moreover, oxidative stress biomarkers were measured in the liver and ovaries. Histopathological studies and ultimately any changes in the expression of androgen receptors, toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 and TLR-4 were analyzed. Findings/Results: Results revealed that lupeol reduced significantly the insulin resistance index in NAFLD and NAFLD/PCOS-positive animals. Lupeol attenuated remarkably the PCOS and PCOS/NAFLD-elevated concentration of testosterone. lupeol recovered the metabolic disorders-induced oxidative stress and restored the disorders-depleted glutathione. The NAFLD/PCOS-induced hepatic damages such as microvesicular or macrovesicular steatosis and atretic follicles number in the ovary were attenuated in the lupeol-treated mice. Serum level of TNF-α was reduced and the expression of androgen receptors, TLR-4 and TLR-2 were downregulated in the lupeol-treated NAFLD/PCOS-positive animals. Conclusions and implication: The results suggest that lupeol could be a novel nutraceutical for the treatment of metabolic disorders. Lupeol's anti-metabolic disorders effects attribute to its anti-dyslipidemia, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

The herbal medicine Melissa officinalis extract effects on gene expression of p53, Bcl-2, Her2, VEGF-A and hTERT in human lung, breast and prostate cancer cell lines.

INTRODUCTION: Earlier, we verified that Melissa officinalis extract (MOE) elicits potent antiproliferative effects on different human cancer cells. To gain insights into the molecular mechanisms accounting for the cytotoxic effects of MOE, we assessed the expression patterns of several prominent molecules with therapeutic potential in cancer by Quantitative PCR (Q-PCR). METHODS: A549, MCF-7 and PC3 cancer cells were grown in complete RPMI 1640 and seeded in 24 well micro plates. After incubation for 72h, 100µg/ml of MOE was added and the cells were further incubated for 72h. Afterwards, the cells were subjected to RNA extraction for the means of Q-PCR. RESULTS: Our results indicated that in PC3 cancer cells, MOE resulted in a significant downregulation of VEGF-A (0.0004 fold), Bcl-2 (0.001 fold), Her2 (0.02 fold), and hTERT (0.023 fold) compared to the untreated control. In addition, VEGF-A and hTERT mRNA were significantly downregulated in MCF-7 and A549 cancer cells, as well. Notably, high anti-angiogenic activity was closely associated with a high anti-telomerase activity of MOE in studying cancer cells. The decrease in VEGF-A expression was significantly superior than that of hTERT downregulation, as PC3 cancer cells with the highest hTERT down regulation (0.023) presented the highest anti VEGF activity (0.0004 fold), whereas MCF-7 cells with the lowest hTERT inhibition (0.213) showed the lowest VEGF inhibition(0.0435) among the three studied cancer cells. We noticed that the modulation of VEGF-A and hTERT gene expression can be considered as a common target, accounting for the therapeutic potential of MOE on human breast, lung and prostate cancer cells. CONCLUSION: Altogether, it is suggested that the potent antiproliferative activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of Melissa officinalis is somehow explainable by its high potency to inhibit expression of the prominent oncogenes Bcl2, Her2, VEGF-A and hTERT in prostate cancer. In tumors with functional p53, including MCF-7 and A549 cancer cells, the role of p53, Bcl2 and Her2 is less significant. It appears that MOE exerts its antiproliferative effects in these cancer cells partly via concurrent downregulation of VEGF-A and hTERT. Additional studies are needed to clarify the role of other active molecules in cancer cells harboring functional p53.

Comparative protective effect of hawthorn berry hydroalcoholic extract, atorvastatin, and mesalamine on experimentally induced colitis in rats.

The protective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of hawthorn berries (HBE) on acetic acid (AA)-induced colitis in rats was investigated. Forty-two Wistar rats were divided into seven groups, including control and test groups (n=6). The control animals received saline, and the test animals were treated with saline (sham group), mesalamine (50 mg/kg; M group), atorvastatin (20 mg/kg; A group), HBE (100 mg/kg; H group), mesalamine and HBE (HM group), or atorvastatin plus HBE (HA group), 3 days before and a week after colitis induction. Colitis was induced by administration of 1 mL AA (4%) via a polyethylene catheter intrarectally. High-performance liquid chromatography analyses showed that HBE contained 0.13% and 0.5% oleanolic acid and ursolic acid, respectively. Elevated myeloperoxidase activity and lipid peroxidation were attenuated in the HA group. The H and HM groups showed marked reductions in colitis-induced decreases in total thiol molecules and body weight. The histopathological studies revealed that HBE decreased colitis-induced edema and infiltration of neutrophils. Our data suggest the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of HBE and atorvastatin protect against AA-induced colitis. The anti-inflammatory effect of HBE may be attributable to its ability to decrease myeloperoxidase activity as a biomarker of neutrophil infiltration.

Silymarin protects from varicocele-induced damages in testis and improves sperm quality: evidence for E2f1 involvement.

This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of silymarin (SMN) on varicocele-induced damage in testis and its effects on sperm parameters and on antioxidant status. Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control-sham, varicocele-induced, and SMN-treated varicocelized (50mg/kg, orally) rats. The sperm count, DNA integrity, and histone-protamine transition was evaluated after 42 days. The antioxidant status was analyzed by determining testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) and total thiol molecules (TTM). The endocrine status of the testicular tissue was estimated by counting the normal Leydig cell distribution/mm(2) and by determination of serum testosterone. The expression of E2f1 mRNA was analyzed using RT-PCR. Carbohydrate depletion and lipid foci replacement in germinal cells were examined by histochemical analyses. Silymarin rehabilitated the varicocele-induced Leydig cell degeneration and testosterone reduction. In addition, SMN recovered the varicocele-induced reduction of TTM and lowered significantly (P < 0.05) the varicocele-elevated content of MDA. The SMN treatment resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) down-regulation of the VCL-up-regulated E2f1 mRNA. Silymarin-treated animals were protected from varicocele-induced testicular atrophy and these animals showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the percentage of seminiferous tubules with positive tubular differentiation, repopulation, and spermiogenesis indices. Furthermore, SMN improved the varicocele-induced carbohydrate reduction in germinal cells. Our data suggest that in addition to oxidative stress, alteration in the testicular endocrine function plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of varicocele. Moreover, the protective effects of SMN on varicocele-induced damage may reflect its antioxidant property, which may be mediated via the E2f1 transcription factor.