Ellagic Acid: A Logical Lead for Drug Development?

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abolfazl Shakeri ◽  
Mohammad Reza Zirak ◽  
Amirhossein Sahebkar

Background: Naturally occurring polyphenols are the subject of increasing attention due to their potent antioxidant activity and their marked effects on the prevention of various oxidative stress-associated diseases such as cancer. Ellagic acid (EA) is an herbal polyphenol that is structurally a condensed dimer of gallic acid. Methods: This review aims to provide a comprehensive and updated overview on the biological activities of EA and potential therapeutic applications. Results: EA is found in fruits and nuts, either in the combined form with hexahydroxydiphenic acid or in the bound form (ellagitannins). EA exhibits many biological properties such as antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anticancer and apoptosis-inducing activities. These biological and pharmacological properties are relevant to the treatment of several human diseases. Conclusion: Owing to its multiple mechanisms of action, EA represents a potential therapeutic agent against human diseases particularly cancer.

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 285-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah M. Alnuqaydan ◽  
Bilal Rah

Background:Tamarix Articulata (T. articulata), commonly known as Tamarisk or Athal in Arabic region, belongs to the Tamaricaece species. It is an important halophytic medicinal plant and a good source of polyphenolic phytochemical(s). In traditional medicines, T. articulata extract is commonly used, either singly or in combination with other plant extracts against different ailments since ancient times.Methods:Electronic database survey via Pubmed, Google Scholar, Researchgate, Scopus and Science Direct were used to review the scientific inputs until October 2018, by searching appropriate keywords. Literature related to pharmacological activities of T. articulata, Tamarix species, phytochemical analysis of T. articulata, biological activities of T. articulata extracts. All of these terms were used to search the scientific literature associated with T. articulata; the dosage of extract, route of administration, extract type, and in-vitro and in-vivo model.Results:Numerous reports revealed that T. articulata contains a wide spectrum of phytochemical(s), which enables it to have a wide window of biological properties. Owing to the presence of high content of phytochemical compounds like polyphenolics and flavonoids, T. articulata is a potential source of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties. In view of these pharmacological properties, T. articulata could be a potential drug candidate to treat various clinical conditions including cancer in the near future.Conclusion:In this review, the spectrum of phytochemical(s) has been summarized for their pharmacological properties and the mechanisms of action, and the possible potential therapeutic applications of this plant against various diseases discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (19) ◽  
pp. 2019-2035
Author(s):  
Esmaeil Sheikh Ahmadi ◽  
Amir Tajbakhsh ◽  
Milad Iranshahy ◽  
Javad Asili ◽  
Nadine Kretschmer ◽  
...  

Naturally occurring naphthoquinones (NQs) comprising highly reactive small molecules are the subject of increasing attention due to their promising biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, apoptosis-inducing activities, and especially anticancer activity. Lapachol, lapachone, and napabucasin belong to the NQs and are in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of many cancers. This review aims to provide a comprehensive and updated overview on the biological activities of several new NQs isolated from different species of plants reported from January 2013 to January 2020, their potential therapeutic applications and their clinical significance.


Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 620
Author(s):  
Anne Ardaillou ◽  
Jérôme Alsarraf ◽  
Jean Legault ◽  
François Simard ◽  
André Pichette

Several families of naturally occurring C-alkylated dihydrochalcones display a broad range of biological activities, including antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties, depending on their alkylation sidechain. The catalytic Friedel–Crafts alkylation of the readily available aglycon moiety of neohesperidin dihydrochalcone was performed using cinnamyl, benzyl, and isoprenyl alcohols. This procedure provided a straightforward access to a series of derivatives that were structurally related to natural balsacones, uvaretin, and erioschalcones, respectively. The antibacterial and cytotoxic potential of these novel analogs was evaluated in vitro and highlighted some relations between the structure and the pharmacological properties of alkylated dihydrochalcones.


Author(s):  
Siamak Shahidi ◽  
◽  
Alireza Komaki ◽  
Safoura Raoufi ◽  
Iraj Salehi ◽  
...  

Background/Aim: Hyperalgesia is one of the current complications of diabetes mellitus that Oxidative stress and inflammation have principal role in its development. Ellagic Acid (EA) as a herbal component, has some biological activities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This study was designed to evaluate the possible beneficial effect of EA on hyperalgesia in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat. Materials and Methods: Rats were divided into control(vehicle received), diabetic, EA (25, 50 mg/kg)-treated control and EA(25, 50 mg/kg)-treated diabetic groups. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mg/Kg). EA was administered daily by oral gavage for 4 weeks. Hyperalgesia was assessed using tail flick (TF) and hot plate (HP) tests. Also, oxidative stress markers including malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the serum were evaluated. Results: Diabetic animals showed marked reductions in TF and HP latencies, elevation of serum MDA level and TOS and diminution of serum TAC compared to controls significantly. Treatment of Diabetic rats with EA ameliorated reduction of TF latency at the dose of 25 mg/kg and HP latency at the dose of 50 mg/kg. Furthermore EA significantly increased TAC and decreased MDA level at dose of 50 mg/kg and reduced TOS at both doses in the serum of diabetic animals. In EA treated normal rats we could see no significant alterations in the parameters studied. Conclusion: These results displayed potent antinociceptive effect of EA in diabetic rats via attenuating oxidative stress. This proposes therapeutic potential of EA for damping diabetic hyperalgesia.


Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1290
Author(s):  
Marzia Pucci ◽  
Stefania Raimondo ◽  
Chiara Zichittella ◽  
Vincenza Tinnirello ◽  
Valeria Corleone ◽  
...  

Lemon essential oil (LEO) is a well-known flavoring agent with versatile biological activities. In the present study, we have isolated and characterized four citral-enriched fractions of winter LEO. We reported that in murine and human macrophages the pre-treatment with a mix of these fractions (Cfr-LEO) reduces the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 induced by LPS. In addition, Cfr-LEO counteracts LPS-induced oxidative stress, as shown by the increase in the GSH/GSSG ratio in comparison to cells treated with LPS alone. Overall, the results reported here encourage the application of EO fractions, enriched in citral, in the nutraceutical industry, not only for its organoleptic properties but also for its protective action against inflammation and oxidative stress.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radu Claudiu Fierascu ◽  
Georgeta Temocico ◽  
Irina Fierascu ◽  
Alina Ortan ◽  
Narcisa Elena Babeanu

The strawberries represent in our days one of the main fresh fruits consumed globally, inevitably leading to large amounts of by-products and wastes. Usually appreciated because of their specific flavor, the strawberries also possess biological properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, or anti-inflammatory effects. In spite of the wide spread of the Fragaria genus, few species represent the subject of the last decade scientific research. The main components identified in the Fragaria species are presented, as well as several biological properties, as emerging from the scientific papers published in the last decade.


Antioxidants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 857
Author(s):  
Inyong Jung ◽  
Hyerin Kim ◽  
Seongcheol Moon ◽  
Hyuk Lee ◽  
Bonglee Kim

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (S. miltiorrhiza) is a medicinal herb that has been used for the treatment for various diseases such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in East Asia including Korea. Considering its extensive usage as a therapeutic agent for multiple diseases, there is a need to review previous research regarding its therapeutic benefits and their mechanisms. Therefore, we searched PubMed and PubMed Central for articles reporting its therapeutic effects on certain disease groups including cancers, cardiovascular, liver, and nervous system diseases. This review provides an overview of therapeutic benefits and targets of S. miltiorrhiza, including inflammation, fibrosis, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. The findings on multi-functional properties of S. miltiorrhiza discussed in this article support the efficacy of S. miltiorrhiza extract on various diseases, but also call for further research on the multiple mechanisms that mediate its therapeutic effects.


Antioxidants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvana Alfei ◽  
Barbara Marengo ◽  
Guendalina Zuccari

Oxidative stress (OS), triggered by overproduction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, is the main mechanism responsible for several human diseases. The available one-target drugs often face such illnesses, by softening symptoms without eradicating the cause. Differently, natural polyphenols from fruits and vegetables possess multi-target abilities for counteracting OS, thus representing promising therapeutic alternatives and adjuvants. Although in several in vitro experiments, ellagitannins (ETs), ellagic acid (EA), and its metabolites urolithins (UROs) have shown similar great potential for the treatment of OS-mediated human diseases, only UROs have demonstrated in vivo the ability to reach tissues to a greater extent, thus appearing as the main molecules responsible for beneficial activities. Unfortunately, UROs production depends on individual metabotypes, and the consequent extreme variability limits their potentiality as novel therapeutics, as well as dietary assumption of EA, EA-enriched functional foods, and food supplements. This review focuses on the pathophysiology of OS; on EA and UROs chemical features and on the mechanisms of their antioxidant activity. A discussion on the clinical applicability of the debated UROs in place of EA and on the effectiveness of EA-enriched products is also included.


2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 1174-1187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Artur Rozentsvit ◽  
Kevin Vinokur ◽  
Sherin Samuel ◽  
Ying Li ◽  
A. Martin Gerdes ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Elevated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is linked to endothelial dysfunction and is one of the key contributors to the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications. Emerging evidence has indicated that ellagic acid (EA), a polyphenol found in fruits and nuts, possesses numerous biological activities including radical scavenging. However, whether EA exerts a vasculo-protective effect via antioxidant mechanisms in blood vessels exposed to diabetic conditions remains unknown. Accordingly, the goal of this current study was to determine whether EA decreases vascular ROS production and thus ameliorates endothelial dysfunction in the diabetic milieu. Methods: Intact rat aortas and human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) were stimulated with 30mM high glucose (HG) with and without EA co-treatment. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation was measured using a wire myograph. Gene and protein expression of non-phagocytic nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases 4 (NOX4) were detected using RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. Oxidative stress was determined by measuring ROS levels using dihydroethidium (DHE) staining. Results: Intact aortas exposed to HG condition displayed exacerbated ROS production and impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilation, characterizing endothelial dysfunction. These effects were markedly reduced with EA treatment. HG enhanced ROS production in HAEC, paralleled by increased ERK1/2 activation and NOX4 expression. EA treatment blunted the increase of ROS generation, ERK1/2 activation and decreased NOX4. Conclusions: EA significantly decreases endothelial ROS levels and ameliorates the impairment of vascular relaxation induced by HG. Our results suggest that EA exerts a vasculo-protective effect under diabetic conditions via an antioxidant effect that involves inhibition of ERK1/2 and downregulation of NOX4.


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