ECHOPvir: A Mixture of Echinacea and Hop Extracts Endowed with Cytoprotective, Immunomodulatory and Antiviral Properties.

Respiratory viral infections continue to pose significant challenges, particularly for more susceptible and immunocompromised individuals. Nutraceutical strategies have been proposed as promising strategies to mitigate their impact and improve public health. In the present study, we developed a mixture of two hydroalcoholic extracts from the aerial parts of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (ECP) and the cones of Humulus lupulus L. (HOP) that can be harnessed in the prevention and treatment of viral respiratory diseases. The ECP/HOP mixture (named ECHOPvir) was characterized for the antioxidant and cytoprotective properties in airway cells. Moreover, the immunomodulating properties of the mixture in murine macrophages against antioxidant and inflammatory stimuli and its antiviral efficacy against the PR8/H1N1 influenza virus were assayed. The modulation of the Nrf2 was also investigated as a mechanistic hypothesis. The ECP/HOP mixture showed a promising multitarget bioactivity profile, with combined cytoprotective, antioxidant, immunomodulating and antiviral activities, likely due to the peculiar phytocomplexes of both ECP and HOP, and often potentiated the effect of the single extracts. The Nrf2 activation seemed to trigger these cytoprotective properties and suggest a possible usefulness in counteracting the damage caused by different stressors, including viral infection. Further studies may strengthen the interest in this product and underpin its future nutraceutical applications.

Exploring In Vitro the Combination of Cistus × incanus L. and Castanea sativa Mill. Extracts as Food Supplement Ingredients against H. pylori Infection.

Cistus spp. have been traditionally used for inflammatory and infectious disorders, including gastrointestinal ailments, in the Mediterranean area. Among them, Cistus × incanus L. is one of the most frequently cited species in the literature for a variety of biological activities which include inflammatory diseases. Cistus spp. aerial parts are rich in polyphenols such as condensed and hydrolysable tannins, procyanidins, and flavonoids, which show gastroprotective activities. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the biological activities of a hydroalcoholic extract from Cistus × incanus L. aerial parts in gastric epithelial cells (GES-1) infected with H. pylori. The extracts inhibited IL-8 and NF-κB induced by H. pylori and showed antibacterial activity after simulated digestion. Since our previous paper reported interesting results on the ability of Castanea sativa Mill. leaf extract to decrease inflammatory conditions in H. pylori-infected gastric cells, the combination of Castanea sativa and Cistus × incanus extracts was also investigated, showing strong anti-inflammatory activity and inhibition of bacterial adhesion. This association of botanicals is proposed herein as a novel food supplement capable of counteracting gastric inflammatory conditions.

Ellagitannins from Castanea sativa Mill. Leaf Extracts Impair H. pylori Viability and Infection-Induced Inflammation in Human Gastric Epithelial Cells.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is an etiologic factor of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. Virulent strains of H. pylori are correlated with the severity of gastritis, due to NF-κB activation and IL-8 expression at the epithelial level. Ellagitannins have been documented for antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities, thus suggesting their potential use in gastritis. Recently, several authors, including our group, demonstrated that tannin-rich extracts from chestnut byproducts, at present considered agricultural waste, display promising biological activities. In this work, we detected high levels of polyphenols in hydroalcoholic extracts from chestnut leaves (Castanea sativa L.). Among polyphenols, the ellagitannin isomers castalagin and vescalagin (about 1% w/w of dry extract) were identified as potential bioactive compounds. In GES-1 cells infected by H. pylori, leaf extract and pure ellagitannins inhibited IL-8 release (IC50 ≈ 28 µg/mL and 11 µM, respectively). Mechanistically, the anti-inflammatory activity was partly due to attenuation of NF-κB signaling. Moreover, the extract and pure ellagitannins reduced bacterial growth and cell adhesion. A simulation of the gastric digestion suggested that the bioactivity might be maintained after oral administration. At the transcriptional level, castalagin downregulated genes involved in inflammatory pathways (NF-κB and AP-1) and cell migration (Rho GTPase). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation in which ellagitannins from plant extracts have demonstrated a potential role in the interaction among H. pylori and human gastric epithelium.

Anticholesterolemic Activity of Three Vegetal Extracts (Artichoke, Caigua, and Fenugreek) and Their Unique Blend.

Hepatic-related diseases, in particular hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia, are a thorn on the side of the national health institutes around the globe. Indeed, liver lipid and cholesterol dysregulation could lead to atherosclerotic plaque formation and cardiovascular diseases. Currently, statin administration and monacolin K consumption are the main therapies proposed to counter this alarming connection, but relevant side effects are known. To overcome this issue, safe nutraceutical formulations and/or vegetal extracts, endowed with anticholesterolemic activity, could be instrumental in hypercholesterolemia prevention and treatment. In the present work, the anticholesterolemic efficacy of three vegetal extracts used in traditional medicine (artichoke, caigua, and fenugreek), their unique blend (ACFB), and the monacolin K-containing red yeast extract (RYR), was investigated with an in vitro approach based on hepatic cell line HepG2. The impact on cholesterol of the three extracts, their blend, and RYR were investigated by determining hepatocyte total and free cholesterol and bile acids biosynthesis. According to our results, the anticholesterolemic activity of the vegetal extracts was confirmed, and a novel choleretic activity of caigua extract was evidenced. ACFB showed to be safer than RYR while showing a similar effect on total and free cholesterol and bile acids synthesis compared to it. The anticholesterolemic activity of the blend was obtained with lower vegetal extract concentrations compared with the single vegetal extract, potentially indicating an additive effect between the extracts. In conclusion, the vegetal extracts and their blend, ACFB, are safe and are endowed with anticholesterolemic activity, potentially providing complementary therapies to the statin-based ones for hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia-related complications.

Epilobium angustifolium L. extract with high content in oenothein B on benign prostatic hyperplasia: A monocentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in adult men. Especially in Europe, increasing attention has been focused on E. angustifolium extracts (EAEs), which are widely used for their positive effects on the symptoms of BPH, although human clinical trials are limited. The aim of this monocentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial is to evaluate if a daily intake of hard, gastric-resistant capsules containing a chemically characterized EAE (500 mg) for 6 months may allow a significant improvement in symptoms in subjects with BPH. This study was conducted in 128 adult men, randomly assigned to receive either EAE food supplement (N = 70) or placebo (N = 58), who underwent four visits (baseline = t0, after 15 days = t1, after 2 months = t2 and after 6 months = t3) in an outpatient setting to evaluate post-void residual (PVR) and prostate volume (PV) by means of prostate ultrasound, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and neutrofile/lymphocyte ratio (N/L), nocturia before the clinical visits and International Prostate Specific Score (IPSS) registered by the physicians. EAE food supplement induced a significant decrease in the PVR and consequently nocturia improving the quality of life as suggested by the decrease of IPSS. No subjects reported adverse effects related to oral intake of EAE food supplement. Moreover, EAE food supplement did not show hepatic or renal toxicity. In conclusion, EAE food supplements can be used in subjects with BPH, to improve their quality of life and general renal function.

Thyme extract increases mucociliary-beating frequency in primary cell lines from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory disorder characterized by a progressive and irreversible airflow limitation. COPD is associated to a chronic inflammatory response with infiltration of inflammatory cells in the surface epithelium of large airways and abnormalities in structure and functions of cilia. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) is a traditional medicinal plant of the Mediterranean area used to treat respiratory disorders. We previously evidenced that thyme extract reduce IL-1beta and IL-8, by downregulating the activated NF-κB levels, suggesting its potential therapeutically use in COPD. Cilia beating frequency (CBF) is dramatically impaired in COPD and different pharmacological agents can modulate cilia function. Herein we evaluated the effect of a commercial thyme extract in modulating CBF by measuring its activity in stimulating cAMP, Ca2+ levels and CBF in a MucilAir 3D human COPD airway epithelia reconstituted in vitro system using salmeterol, YM976, isoproterenol and GSK1016790 A as positive controls. Results showed that thyme extract increased cAMP levels starting from 12 h post-treatment, decreased extracellular Ca2+ levels and increased the CBF in airway epithelia from COPD donors. Overall, this work demonstrated that thyme extract is effective in stimulating CBF by inducing an increase of cAMP and Ca2+ levels, thus supporting its therapeutical use in the treatment of COPD.