scholarly journals Comparative Study of Bioactivity and Safety Evaluation of Ethanolic Extracts of Zanthoxylum schinifolium Fruit and Pericarp

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (19) ◽  
pp. 5919
Author(s):  
Jun Gu Kim ◽  
Jae Jung Lim ◽  
Ji Sang You ◽  
Hyeok Jun Kwon ◽  
Heung Bin Lim

The fruit and pericarp of Zanthoxylum schinifolium (ZS) have been used in traditional medicine; however, few studies have characterized ZS fruit and pericarp. Therefore, in the present study, we evaluated the safety of ZS fruit (ZSF) and pericarp (ZSP) extracts and compared their bioactivity. To evaluate the safety of ZSF and ZSP, mutagenicity, cytotoxicity, and oxidative stress assays were performed and nontoxic concentration ranges were obtained. ZSP was found to be superior to ZSF in terms of its antimutagenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. In the S9 mix, the mutation inhibition rate of ZSP was close to 100% at concentrations exceeding 625 µg·plate-1 for both the TA98 and TA100 strains. ZSP exhibited efficient DPPH (IC50 = 75.6 ± 6.1 µg·mL−1) and ABTS (IC50 = 57.4 ± 6 µg·mL−1) scavenging activities. ZSP inhibited the release of cytokines, involved in IL-1β (IC50 = 134.4 ± 7.8), IL-6 (IC50 = 262.8 ± 11.2), and TNF-α (IC50 = 223.8 ± 5.8). These results indicate that ZSP contains a higher amount of biochemicals than ZSF, or that ZSP contains unique biochemicals. In conclusion, for certain physiological activities, the use of ZSP alone may be more beneficial than the combined use of ZSF and ZSP.

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (40) ◽  
pp. 4310-4317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lichao Sun ◽  
Shouqin Ji ◽  
Jihong Xing

Background/Aims: Central pro-inflammatory cytokine (PIC) signal is involved in neurological deficits after transient global ischemia induced by cardiac arrest (CA). The present study was to examine the role of microRNA- 155 (miR-155) in regulating IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in the hippocampus of rats with induction of CA. We further examined the levels of products of oxidative stress 8-isoprostaglandin F2α (8-iso PGF2α, indication of oxidative stress); and 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG, indication of protein oxidation) after cerebral inhibition of miR-155. Methods: CA was induced by asphyxia and followed by cardiopulmonary resuscitation in rats. ELISA and western blot analysis were used to determine the levels of PICs and products of oxidative stress; and the protein expression of NADPH oxidase (NOXs) in the hippocampus. In addition, neurological severity score and brain edema were examined to assess neurological functions. Results: We observed amplification of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α along with 8-iso PGF2α and 8-OHdG in the hippocampus of CA rats. Cerebral administration of miR-155 inhibitor diminished upregulation of PICs in the hippocampus. This also attenuated products of oxidative stress and upregulation of NOX4. Notably, inhibition of miR-155 improved neurological severity score and brain edema and this was linked to signal pathways of PIC and oxidative stress. Conclusion: We showed the significant role of blocking miR-155 signal in improving the neurological function in CA rats likely via inhibition of signal pathways of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, suggesting that miR-155 may be a target in preventing and/or alleviating development of the impaired neurological functions during CA-evoked global cerebral ischemia.


Pharmacology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Naseratun Nessa ◽  
Miyuki Kobara ◽  
Hiroe Toba ◽  
Tetsuya Adachi ◽  
Toshiro Yamamoto ◽  
...  

Introduction: Periodontitis is a lifestyle-related disease that is characterized by chronic inflammation in gingival tissue. Febuxostat, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Objective: The present study investigated the effects of febuxostat on periodontitis in a rat model. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: control, periodontitis, and febuxostat-treated periodontitis groups. Periodontitis was induced by placing a ligature wire around the 2nd maxillary molar and the administration of febuxostat (5 mg/kg/day) was then initiated. After 4 weeks, alveolar bone loss was assessed by micro-computed tomography and methylene blue staining. The expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG), a bone resorption inhibitor, was detected by quantitative RT-PCR and immunological staining, and the number of osteoclasts in gingival tissue was assessed by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining. The mRNA and protein expression levels of the proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), in gingival tissue were measured using quantitative RT-PCR and immunological staining. Oxidative stress in gingival tissue was evaluated by the expression of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE), and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). To clarify the systemic effects of periodontitis, blood pressure and glucose tolerance were examined. Results: In rats with periodontitis, alveolar bone resorption was associated with reductions in OPG and increases in osteoclast numbers. The gingival expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, 4-HNE, and 8-OHdG was up-regulated in rats with periodontitis. Febuxostat significantly reduced alveolar bone loss, proinflammatory cytokine levels, and oxidative stress. It also attenuated periodontitis-induced glucose intolerance and blood pressure elevations. Conclusion: Febuxostat prevented the progression of periodontitis and associated systemic effects by inhibiting proinflammatory mediators and oxidative stress.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Noha H. Habashy ◽  
Ahmad S. Kodous ◽  
Marwa M. Abu-Serie

AbstractCarbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is an abundant environmental pollutant that can generate free radicals and induce oxidative stress in different human and animal organs like the kidney, lung, brain, and spleen, causing toxicity. The present study evaluated the alleviative mechanism of the isolated polyphenolic fraction from seedless (pulp and skin) black Vitis vinifera (VVPF) on systemic oxidative and necroinflammatory stress in CCl4-intoxicated rats. Here, we found that the administration of VVPF to CCl4-intoxicated rats for ten days was obviously ameliorated the CCl4-induced systemic elevation in ROS, NO and TBARS levels, as well as MPO activity. Also, it upregulated the cellular activities of the enzymatic (SOD, and GPx) and non-enzymatic (TAC and GSH) antioxidants. Furthermore, the gene expression of the ROS-related necroinflammatory mediators (NF-κB, iNOS, COX-2, and TNF-α) in the kidney, brain, and spleen, as well as IL-1β, and IL-8 in the lung were greatly restored. The histopathological studies confirmed these biochemical results and showed a noticeable enhancing effect in the architecture of the studied organs after VVPF intake. Thus, this study indicated that VVPF had an alleviative effect on CCl4-induced necroinflammation and oxidative stress in rat kidney, lung, brain, and spleen via controlling the ROS/NF-κB pathway.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Jinfang Deng ◽  
Zhenpeng He ◽  
Xiuru Li ◽  
Wei Chen ◽  
Ziwen Yu ◽  
...  

Background. Huangkui capsule (HKC) comprises the total flavonoid extract of flowers of Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medicus. This study aimed to explore the effects of HKC on lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice and LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Methods. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, histopathology, spectrophotometry, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used for the assessments. Statistical analysis was performed using a one-way analysis of variance. Results. LPS significantly increased lung inflammation, neutrophil infiltration, and oxidative stress and downregulated lung miR-451 expression. Treatment with HKC dramatically attenuated the lung wet/dry weight ratio, reduced the total cell count in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and inhibited myeloperoxidase activity in the lung tissues 24 h after LPS challenge. Histopathological analysis demonstrated that HKC attenuated LPS-induced tissue oedema and neutrophil infiltration in the lung tissues. Additionally, the concentrations of tumour necrosis factor- (TNF-) α and interleukin- (IL-) 6 in BALF and IL-6 in the plasma reduced after HKC administration. Moreover, HKC could enhance glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities and upregulate the expression of miR-451 in the lung tissues. In vitro experiments revealed that HKC inhibited the production of nitric oxide, TNF-α, and IL-6 in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells and mouse primary peritoneal macrophages. Additionally, HKC downregulated LPS-induced transcription of TNF-α and IL-6 in RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusions. These findings suggest that HKC has anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects that may protect mice against LPS-induced ALI and macrophage activation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 2163-2172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaorong Hu ◽  
Ruisong Ma ◽  
Jiajia Lu ◽  
Kai Zhang ◽  
Weipan Xu ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Inflammation and oxidative stress play an important role in myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury. We hypothesized that IL-23, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, could promote myocardial I/R injury by increasing the inflammatory response and oxidative stress. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into sham operated control (SO) group, ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) group, (IL-23 + I/R) group and (anti-IL-23 + I/R) group. At 4 h after reperfusion, the serum concentration of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) and the tissue MDA concentration and SOD activity were measured. The infarcte size was measured by TTC staining. Apoptosis in heart sections were measured by TUNEL staining. The expression of HMGB1 and IL-17A were detected by Western Blotting and the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 were detected by Elisa. Results: After 4 h reperfusion, compared with the I/R group, IL-23 significantly increased the infarct size, the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and the levels of LDH and CK (all P < 0.05). Meanwhile, IL-23 significantly increased the expression of eIL-17A, TNF-α and IL-6 and enhanced both the increase of the MDA level and the decrease of the SOD level induced by I/R (all P<0.05). IL-23 had no effect on the expression of HMGB1 (p > 0.05). All these effects were abolished by anti-IL-23 administration. Conclusion: The present study suggested that IL-23 may promote myocardial I/R injury by increasing the inflammatory responses and oxidative stress reaction.


Drug Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (03) ◽  
pp. 151-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abayomi Ajayi ◽  
Benneth Ben-Azu ◽  
Samuel Onasanwo ◽  
Olusegun Adeoluwa ◽  
Anthony Eduviere ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Ocimum gratissimum L. leaves has been traditionally used for management of febrile illnesses and symptoms typified of sickness behavior. In this work we investigated the modulatory effect of flavonoid-rich fraction of O. gratissimum leaves (EAFOg) on sickness behavior, inflammatory and oxidative stress responses in LPS-challenged mice. Method O. gratissimum leaf was first extracted with n-hexane, chloroform and methanol, and EAFOg was obtained by ethylacetate partitioning of a sequentially resultant methanol extract. The effect of EAFOg (25–100 mg/kg) on acute LPS-induced neurobehavioral impairment in an open field test (OFT) and depressive-like behavior in forced swimming test (FST) was investigated. Serum nitrite and TNF-α, as well as myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were determined in liver and brain tissues. Result EAFOg prevented the reduction in locomotor and rearing activity in OFT and the increase in immobility time in FST. The fraction significantly attenuated the elevation of serum TNF- α and nitrite levels. EAFOg reversed LPS-induced increase in MDA, MPO, and nitrite levels and attenuated GSH depletion in liver and brain tissues of mice. Conclusion Flavonoid-rich fraction of O. gratissimum leaf demonstrated significant modulation of LPS-induced sickness behavior, inflammatory and oxidative stress response in mice. This suggests an important therapeutic strategy in slowing down LPS-mediated hepatic and neuronal disease processes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xia Li ◽  
Dianxuan Guo ◽  
Hualan Zhou ◽  
Youdong Hu ◽  
Xiang Fang ◽  
...  

Background: Pro-inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress are related to severity of angina pectoris in patients with coronary heart disease. Objective: We evaluated the effects of pro-inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress on recurrent angina pectoris after coronary artery stenting in elderly patients. Methods: We determined the expression levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), acrolein (ACR), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD3), paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in elderly patients with recurrent angina pectoris after coronary artery stenting. Results: Levels of MDA, ACR, TNF-α and TLR4 were significantly increased (p<0.001), and levels of SOD3, PON-1, SDF-1α and EPCs were significantly decreased (p<0.001) in the elderly patients with recurrent angina pectoris after coronary artery stenting. MDA, ACR, TNF-α and TLR4 as markers of oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory mediators may have suppressed SOD3, PON-1, SDF-1α and EPCs as markers of anti-oxidative stress/anti-inflammatory responses. Oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory mediators were important factors involved in recurrent angina pectoris of elderly patients after coronary artery stenting. Conclusion: Oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory mediators could be considered as potential non-invasive prognostic, predictive and therapeutic biomarkers for stable recurrent angina and recurrent unstable angina in the elderly patients after coronary artery stenting.


Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Srinivas Sriramula ◽  
Nithya Mariappan ◽  
Elizabeth McILwain ◽  
Joseph Francis

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and angiotensin II (Ang II) play an important role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease in part by inducing the cardiac hypertrophic response and oxidative stress. Recently we demonstrated that angiotensin induced hypertensive response is attenuated in mice lacking the gene for TNF-α. In this study, we examined whether Ang II induced cardiac hypertrophy and increased oxidative stress is mediated through TNF-α. Methods and results: Male TNF-α (−/−) and age matched control (WT) mice were subcutaneously implanted with osmotic minipumps containing Ang II (1 μg/kg/min) or saline for 14 days. Human recombinant TNF-α was injected in one group of TNF-α (−/−) mice (10 μg/kg/day) for 14 days. In WT+Ang mice, a temporal increase in blood pressure was observed during the study as measured by radio telemetry transmitters. At the end of the study, echocardiography revealed an increase in thickness and dimensions of left ventricle (LV) and decreased fractional shortening (%FS) in WT+Ang mice. Real time RT-PCR showed that Ang II- infusion resulted in an increase in heart/bodyweight ratio and of cardiac hypertrophy markers ANP and BNP, and profibrotic genes Collagen Type I, Collagen Type II, and TGF-β in WT mice. Electron Spin resonance spectroscopy revealed an increase in total ROS, superoxide and peroxynitrite in the WT+ANG mice when compared to control WT mice. However, these changes were all attenuated in TNF-α (−/−)+Ang mice. Ang II infusion also increased significantly the mRNA expression of gp91Phox, NOX-1, NOX-4 and AT1R in the LV of WT mice, but not in TNF-α (−/−) mice. Interestingly, injection of TNF-α in the TNF-α (−/−) mice, treated with Ang II resulted in increased cardiac hypertrophy and oxidative stress. Conclusions: Findings from the present study suggest that TNF-α plays an important role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and oxidative stress in Ang II-induced hypertension.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1215-1220
Author(s):  
Bingshuang Xue ◽  
Yi Xue ◽  
Jiaojiao Zhou ◽  
Qichao Yang

The occurrence of complications of diabetic patients not only increases the difficulty and burden of treatment but also significantly affects the health and safety of patients. Traditional therapeutic drugs are prone to drug resistance, which affects the therapeutic effect. In recent years, the application of plant-derived natural compounds in the treatment of diseases has become a hot spot in the research of diabetes drugs. Curcumin has anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and antimicrobial effects, but the mechanism of its effect on cardiomyocytes in diabetic patients is not yet clear. In this study, curcumin was prepared into nano-preparations and its mechanism of action in the process of myocardial fibrosis in diabetic rats was further explored. We found that injection of curcumin nano-suspension can increase the LVIDd and LVFS of rats, while reducing the serum CKMB, LDH, AST and cTnI levels. Further exploration found that curcumin can reduce serum TNF- α and IL-1 β levels in diabetic rats, while increasing the SOD and GSH-Px activities of myocardial tissue, and reducing MDA content. These suggests that curcumin can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in diabetic rats. Therefore, this study believes that curcumin nano-suspension can effectively inhibit diabetic cardiomyocyte fibrosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation and protect the rat myocardium.


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