Restoration of the Phenotype of Dedifferentiated Rabbit Chondrocytes by Sesquiterpene Farnesol

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disorder characterized by the progressive degeneration of articular cartilage. The phenotype and metabolism behavior of chondrocytes plays crucial roles in maintaining articular cartilage function. Chondrocytes dedifferentiate and lose their cartilage phenotype after successive subcultures or inflammation and synthesize collagen I and X (COL I and COL X). Farnesol, a sesquiterpene compound, has an anti-inflammatory effect and promotes collagen synthesis. However, its potent restoration effects on differentiated chondrocytes have seldom been evaluated. The presented study investigated farnesol’s effect on phenotype restoration by examining collagen and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis from dedifferentiated chondrocytes. The results indicated that chondrocytes gradually dedifferentiated through cellular morphology change, reduced expressions of COL II and SOX9, increased the expression of COL X and diminished GAG synthesis during four passages of subcultures. Pure farnesol and hyaluronan-encapsulated farnesol nanoparticles promote COL II synthesis. GAG synthesis significantly increased 2.5-fold after a farnesol treatment of dedifferentiated chondrocytes, indicating the restoration of chondrocyte functions. In addition, farnesol drastically increased the synthesis of COL II (2.5-fold) and GAG (15-fold) on interleukin-1β-induced dedifferentiated chondrocytes. A significant reduction of COL I, COL X and proinflammatory cytokine prostaglandin E2 was observed. In summary, farnesol may serve as a therapeutic agent in OA treatment.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties, Bioaccessibility and Intestinal Absorption of Sea Fennel (Crithmum maritimum) Extract Encapsulated in Soy Phosphatidylcholine Liposomes

A sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum) aqueous extract was prepared and loaded into soybean phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Both the free extract (FE), and the empty (L) and loaded (L-FE) liposomes were shown to be non-cytotoxic to THP-1 and Caco-2 cells. The anti-inflammatory effect was tested on THP-1 cells differentiated into macrophages. FE showed anti-inflammatory activity, revealed by the induced secretion of IL-10 cytokines in macrophages that were subsequently stimulated with LPS. Also, a decrease in TNF-α production by L was observed, evidencing that liposomes reduced the pro-inflammatory mediators’ secretion. The liposomes (L) showed protective anti-inflammatory activity and also were able to downregulate the inflammation. Furthermore, L-FE were also found to downregulate the inflammation response, as they were able to decrease TNF-α secretion in macrophages previously exposed to LPS. The simulated in vitro gastrointestinal digestion (GID) of FE diminished the chlorogenic acid content (the main polyphenolic compound of the extract) by 40%, while in L-FE, the amount of this phenolic compound increased with respect to the undigested liposomes. The amount of bioaccessible chlorogenic, however, was similar for FE and L-FE. The percentage of chlorogenic acid absorbed through a Caco-2 cell monolayer after 3 h of incubation, was significantly similar for the extract and the liposomes (~1.5%), without finding significant differences once the extract and liposomes were digested.

Anti- inflammatory effect of boric acid on cytokines in ovariectomy-induced rats

The increase in the rate of inflammation in the post-menopause period also leads to a significant increase in the use of anti-inflammatory agents. This study aimed to investigate the effect of BA supplementation on pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines in ovariectomy (OVX) induced rats. A total of 48 nonpregnant female Wistar albino rats (80-100 g) were used in the experiment. Forty-eight rats were divided into six equal groups (n=8): Control, OVX, OVX+5 mg/kg BA (OVX+BA5), OVX+10 mg/kg BA (OVX+BA10), 5 mg/kg BA (BA5), 10 mg/kg BA (BA10). Serum TNF-α cytokine levels of rats in the OVX group were higher than in control rats (P<0.05). TNF-α levels were significantly reduced in the OVX-induced rats with 5 mg/kg BA and 10 mg/kg BA supplementation (P<0.05). While serum IL-1α and IL-6 levels were not different between OVX and control rats, serum IL-3 levels were low (P<0.05) and not affected by 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg BA supplementation. Serum IL-11 levels increased significantly in the OVX rats with 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg BA supplementation (P<0.05). As far as we know, certain doses (5 and 10 mg/kg) of BA are the first study on the prevention of increased inflammation in rats induced by OVX. Results suggest that the supplementation of BA regulates the inflammatory changes associated with OVX and thus has beneficial for menopause management.

Spectral analyses of fresh and dry Hypericum perforatum L. Effects with colloidal nano silver 30 ppm

Spectral analyses of 1% water extracts of fresh and dry Hypericum perforatum L. and 1% dry H. perforatum with colloidal nano silver (NSPs) 30 ppm were conducted. The nano silver is standardised and patented by the Swiss company Evodrop. Non-equliblrium energy spectrum (NES) and Differential non-equliblrium energy spectrum (DNES) methods were used for the spectral analysis. A comparative analysis of 1% extracts of fresh and dry H. perforatum was performed in order to determine the local extremums for effects of nerve tissue conductivity at (-0.1112) eV, anti-inflammatory (-0.1212) eV, anti-tumor effects (-0.1387) eV. The results showed stimulating effect on the nervous system and improvement of nerve conduction (local extremums E=-0.1112 eV)(?=11.15 ?m) (?=897 cm-1), as well as anti-inflammatory effect (E = -0.1212 eV)( ?=10.23 ?m) (?=978 cm-1) and inhibition of development of tumor cells at a molecular level (E=-0.1387 eV) (?=8.95 ?m) (?=1117 cm-1). It was found that clusters of 16 and 15 water molecules are formed in the water herbal extracts of fresh H. perforatum and of dry H. perforatum with AgNPs 30 ppm. The fresh plant showed better results then the dry one. The addition of colloidal nano silver 30 ppm led to better results of the drug.