scholarly journals Molecular Insights into the Antistress Potentials of Brazilian Green Propolis Extract and Its Constituent Artepillin C

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 80
Author(s):  
Ashish Kaul ◽  
Raviprasad Kuthethur ◽  
Yoshiyuki Ishida ◽  
Keiji Terao ◽  
Renu Wadhwa ◽  
...  

Propolis, also known as bee-glue, is a resinous substance produced by honeybees from materials collected from plants they visit. It contains mixtures of wax and bee enzymes and is used by bees as a building material in their hives and by humans for different purposes in traditional healthcare practices. Although the composition of propolis has been shown to depend on its geographic location, climatic zone, and local flora; two largely studied types of propolis: (i) New Zealand and (ii) Brazilian green propolis have been shown to possess Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (CAPE) and Artepillin C (ARC) as the main bioactive constituents, respectively. We have earlier reported that CAPE and ARC possess anticancer activities, mediated by abrogation of mortalin-p53 complex and reactivation of p53 tumor suppressor function. Like CAPE, Artepillin C (ARC) and the supercritical extract of green propolis (GPSE) showed potent anticancer activity. In this study, we recruited low doses of GPSE and ARC (that did not affect either cancer cell proliferation or migration) to investigate their antistress potential using in vitro cell based assays. We report that both GPSE and ARC have the capability to disaggregate metal- and heat-induced aggregated proteins. Metal-induced aggregation of GFP was reduced by fourfold in GPSE- as well as ARC-treated cells. Similarly, whereas heat-induced misfolding of luciferase protein showed 80% loss of activity, the cells treated with either GPSE or ARC showed 60–80% recovery. Furthermore, we demonstrate their pro-hypoxia (marked by the upregulation of HIF-1α) and neuro-differentiation (marked by differentiation morphology and upregulation of expression of GFAP, β-tubulin III, and MAP2). Both GPSE and ARC also offered significant protection against oxidative stress and, hence, may be useful in the treatment of old age-related brain pathologies.

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2528
Author(s):  
Priyanshu Bhargava ◽  
Debajit Mahanta ◽  
Ashish Kaul ◽  
Yoshiyuki Ishida ◽  
Keiji Terao ◽  
...  

Propolis is produced by honeybees from materials collected from plants they visit. It is a resinous material having mixtures of wax and bee enzymes. Propolis is also known as bee glue and used by bees as a building material in their hives, for blocking holes and cracks, repairing the combs and strengthening their thin borders. It has been extensively used since ancient times for different purposes in traditional human healthcare practices. The quality and composition of propolis depend on its geographic location, climatic zone and local flora. The New Zealand and Brazilian green propolis are the two main kinds that have been extensively studied in recent years. Their bioactive components have been found to possess a variety of therapeutic potentials. It was found that Brazilian green propolis improves the cognitive functions of mild cognitive impairments in patients living at high altitude and protects them from neurodegenerative damage through its antioxidant properties. It possesses artepillin C (ARC) as the key component, also known to possess anticancer potential. The New Zealand propolis contains caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) as the main bioactive with multiple therapeutic potentials. Our lab performed in vitro and in vivo assays on the extracts prepared from New Zealand and Brazilian propolis and their active ingredients. We provided experimental evidence that these extracts possess anticancer, antistress and hypoxia-modulating activities. Furthermore, their conjugation with γCD proved to be more effective. In the present review, we portray the experimental evidence showing that propolis has the potential to be a candidate drug for different ailments and improve the quality of life.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin-Young Park ◽  
Govindarajan Karthivashan ◽  
Hyun Myung Ko ◽  
Duk-Yeon Cho ◽  
Joonsoo Kim ◽  
...  

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a commonly reported age-related neurodegenerative disorder. Microglial-mediated neuroinflammation is one of the cardinal hallmarks of various neurodegenerative disorders, including PD progression. Inadequate therapeutic strategies and substantial adverse effects of well-established drug candidates demand new therapeutic leads to treat PD. Dendropanax morbifera (DM) is an endemic plant species of South Korea, and it has been used extensively as traditional medicine to treat numerous clinical complications. In this study, we conducted an initial profiling of the few major phytoconstituents of aqueous DM leaf extracts (DML) and quantified the same using high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). We subsequently evaluated the antineuroinflammatory activity and ameliorative potential of DML in both in vitro and in vivo experimental PD models. The prophylactic treatment of DML effectually improved the behavioral deficits, curbed the microglial-mediated neuroinflammation, and protected dopaminergic (DA) neuronal loss by restoring tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) levels in brain tissue of the MPTP-induced PD mouse model. We conducted chromatographic profiling and identified chlorogenic acid (CA) as a major constituent (19.5 mg/g of BuOH fraction), which has been well documented as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. This was found to be in harmony with our in vitro results, where DML suppressed the level of inflammatory mediators and allied the signaling pathway in LPS-stimulated microglial cells. The results of our study indicate that DML and its bioactive constituents can be developed as potential therapeutic candidates against progressive PD complications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Zhao ◽  
Hio-Tong Kam ◽  
Yan Chen ◽  
Guiyi Gong ◽  
Maggie Pui-Man Hoi ◽  
...  

Crocetin and crocin are two important carotenoids isolated from saffron (Crocus sativus L.), which have been used as natural biomedicines with beneficial effects for improving the suboptimal health status associated with abnormal angiogenesis. However, the anti-angiogenic effects and underlying mechanisms of the effects of crocetin and crocin have not been investigated and compared. The anti-angiogenic effects of crocetin and crocin were tested on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro, and in zebrafish in vivo. In vivo, crocetin (20 μM) and crocin (50 and 100 μM) significantly inhibited subintestinal vein vessels formation, and a conversion process between them existed in zebrafish, resulting in a difference in their effective concentrations. In the HUVEC model, crocetin (10, 20 and 40 μM) and crocin (100, 200 and 400 μM) inhibited cell migration and tube formation, and inhibited the phosphorylation of VEGFR2 and its downstream pathway molecules. In silico analysis further showed that crocetin had a higher ability to bind with VEGFR2 than crocin. These results suggested that crocetin was more effective than crocin in inhibiting angiogenesis through regulation of the VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling pathway. These compounds, especially crocetin, are potential candidate natural biomedicines for the management of diseases associated with abnormal blood vessel growth, such as age-related macular degeneration.


2008 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 487-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karina Pontin ◽  
Ademar A. Da Silva Filho ◽  
Fransérgio Francisco Santos ◽  
Márcio Luís Andrade e Silva ◽  
Wilson Roberto Cunha ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 282-283 ◽  
pp. 317-321
Author(s):  
Ting Ting Lin ◽  
Jun Qiu Liu

Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) is a well-known selenoenzyme that can protect cells against oxidative damage. A novel dicyclodextrinyl ditelluride (2-TeCD) compound was devised as a functional mimic of the GPX. The antioxidant effect of 2-TeCD was evaluated by its ability to protect mitochondria from oxidative damage. 2-TeCD could also suppress the TNF-α induced inflammatory effect on HUVECs surface in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, 2-TeCD exhibited anti-proliferative property both in vitro and in vivo. These results indicate that 2-TeCD may be useful for developing medical agents in many pathological conditions such as cataract­, age-related diseases­, atherosclerosis, cancer and so on.


Author(s):  
D.E. Loudy ◽  
J. Sprinkle-Cavallo ◽  
J.T. Yarrington ◽  
F.Y. Thompson ◽  
J.P. Gibson

Previous short term toxicological studies of one to two weeks duration have demonstrated that MDL 19,660 (5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,4-dihydro-2,4-dimethyl-3Hl, 2,4-triazole-3-thione), an antidepressant drug, causes a dose-related thrombocytopenia in dogs. Platelet counts started to decline after two days of dosing with 30 mg/kg/day and continued to decrease to their lowest levels by 5-7 days. The loss in platelets was primarily of the small discoid subpopulation. In vitro studies have also indicated that MDL 19,660: does not spontaneously aggregate canine platelets and has moderate antiaggregating properties by inhibiting ADP-induced aggregation. The objectives of the present investigation of MDL 19,660 were to evaluate ultrastructurally long term effects on platelet internal architecture and changes in subpopulations of platelets and megakaryocytes.Nine male and nine female beagle dogs were divided equally into three groups and were administered orally 0, 15, or 30 mg/kg/day of MDL 19,660 for three months. Compared to a control platelet range of 353,000- 452,000/μl, a doserelated thrombocytopenia reached a maximum severity of an average of 135,000/μl for the 15 mg/kg/day dogs after two weeks and 81,000/μl for the 30 mg/kg/day dogs after one week.


1973 ◽  
Vol 29 (03) ◽  
pp. 694-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul L. Rifkin ◽  
Marjorie B. Zucker

SummaryDipyridamole (Persantin) is reported to prolong platelet survival and inhibit embolism in patients with prosthetic heart valves, but its mechanism of action is unknown. Fifty jxM dipyridamole failed to reduce the high percentage of platelets retained when heparinized human blood was passed through a glass bead column, but prolonged the inhibition of retention caused by disturbing blood in vitro. Possibly the prostheses act like disturbance. Although RA 233 was as effective as dipyridamole in inhibiting the return of retention, it was less effective in preventing the uptake of adenosine into erythrocytes, and more active in inhibiting ADP-induced aggregation and release. Thus there is no simple relation between these drug effects.


1976 ◽  
Vol 36 (02) ◽  
pp. 376-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teruhiko Umetsu ◽  
Kazuko Sanai ◽  
Tadakatsu Kato

SummaryThe effects of bupranolol, a new β-blocker, on platelet functions were investigated in vitro in rabbits and humans as compared with propranolol, a well-known β-blocker. At first, the effect of adrenaline on ADP-induced rabbit platelet aggregation was studied because adrenaline alone induces little or no aggregation of rabbit platelets. Enhancement of ADP-induced rabbit platelet aggregation by adrenaline was confirmed, as previously reported by Sinakos and Caen (1967). In addition the degree of the enhancement was proved to be markedly affected by the concentration of ADP and to increase with decreasing concentration of ADP, although the maximum aggregation (percent) was decreased.Bupranolol and propranolol inhibited the (adrenaline-ADP-)induced aggregation of rabbit platelets, bupranolol being approximately 2.4–3.2 times as effective as propranolol. Bupranolol stimulated the disaggregation of platelet aggregates induced by a combination of adrenaline and ADP, but propranolol did not. Platelet adhesion in rabbit was also inhibited by the β-blockers and bupranolol was more active than propranolol. With human platelets, aggregation induced by adrenaline was inhibited by bupranolol about 2.8–3.3 times as effectively as propranolol.From these findings. We would suggest that bupranolol might be useful for prevention or treatment of thrombosis.


1964 ◽  
Vol 12 (01) ◽  
pp. 179-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torstein Hovig

SummaryThe effect of calcium and magnesium on the aggregation of rabbit blood platelets in vitro was studied, with the following results:1. Platelet aggregation induced by ADP or collagen could be prevented by EGTA or EDTA. The aggregating effect was restored by recalcification. The effect was also restored by addition of magnesium in EDTA-PRP, but not in EGTA-PRP unless a surplus of calcium was present.2. Calcium remained in concentrations of the order of 0.15–0.25 mM after dialysis or cation exchange of plasma. Aggregation of washed platelets resuspended in such plasma could not be produced with ADP or collagen, unless the calcium concentration was increased or that magnesium was added.3. The adhesiveness of blood platelets to collagen was reduced in EGTA-PRP and EDTA-PRP. Release of ADP from platelets influenced by collagen could not be demonstrated either in EGTA-PRP (presence of magnesium) or in EDTA-PRP.4. It is concluded that calcium is a necessary factor both for the reaction leading to release of ADP and for the the aggregation produced by ADP.5. Thrombin induced aggregation of washed platelets suspended in tris-buffered saline in the presence of calcium. No effect of magnesium could be observed unless small quantities of calcium were present.


1983 ◽  
Vol 50 (04) ◽  
pp. 852-856 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Gresele ◽  
C Zoja ◽  
H Deckmyn ◽  
J Arnout ◽  
J Vermylen ◽  
...  

SummaryDipyridamole possesses antithrombotic properties in the animal and in man but it does not inhibit platelet aggregation in plasma. We evaluated the effect of dipyridamole ex vivo and in vitro on platelet aggregation induced by collagen and adenosine- 5’-diphosphate (ADP) in human whole blood with an impedance aggregometer. Two hundred mg dipyridamole induced a significant inhibition of both ADP- and collagen-induced aggregation in human blood samples taken 2 hr after oral drug intake. Administration of the drug for four days, 400 mg/day, further increased the antiplatelet effect. A significant negative correlation was found between collagen-induced platelet aggregation in whole blood and dipyridamole levels in plasma (p <0.001). A statistically significant inhibition of both collagen (p <0.0025) and ADP-induced (p <0.005) platelet aggregation was also obtained by incubating whole blood in vitro for 2 min at 37° C with dipyridamole (3.9 μM). No such effects were seen in platelet-rich plasma, even after enrichment with leukocytes. Low-dose adenosine enhanced in vitro inhibition in whole blood.Our results demonstrate that dipyridamole impedes platelet aggregation in whole blood by an interaction with red blood cells, probably involving adenosine.


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