Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine
Volume:14 Issue: 4, Jul-Aug 2024

The use of flavonoids is increasing due to their costeffectiveness and less adverse reaction. Therefore, the effect ofapigenin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation wasinvestigated by measuring IL-1b, IL-6, and TNF-a, of serum in themale rats.

Ninety male wistar rats were divided in6 groups included; control, sham, dexamethasone 15 mg/kg,intraperitoneally (i.p.), and apigenin (5, 15, and 30 mg/kg, i.p).Thirty minutes after the administration of solvent or apigenin, LPS(30 μg/kg, i.p) was injected. At time intervals of 4, 12 and 24 hrafter injection, blood samples were taken and the concentrations ofTNF-a, IL-1b and IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay.

Compared to the control, apigenin (5 mg/kg) decreasedthe level of TNF-a, and IL-1b in a period of 24 hr (p<0.05). Theconcentration of IL-6 decreased significantly by apigenin (15mg/kg) 24 hr after injection (p<0.05). Apigenin (30 mg/kg)decreased the level of TNF-a, at all three time points (4 hr; p<0.05,12 hr; p<0.01, and 24 hr; p<0.01), and the level of IL-1b (p<0.01),24 hr and the level of IL-6 at 4 hr (p<0.05), and 24 hr (p<0.01)after LPS injection.

Apigenin can suppress serum inflammatorycytokines, similar to dexamethasone

This study assessed the effects of Aloe verasupplementation on serum inflammatory factors, blood sugar andlipid profiles in hemodialysis patients.

Totally, 50 hemodialysis patients wereallocated randomly to either Aloe vera or placebo groups. TheAloe vera group received 2 Aloe vera capsules daily for 8 weeks(500 mg/day). Serum C-reactive protein (hs- CRP), Fasting bloodglucose (FBS), and lipid profiles levels were evaluated at thebaseline and the end of the eighth week.

Aloe vera supplementation for 8 weeks was associatedwith a significant reduction of serum hs- CRP (p=0.004), totalcholesterol (p=0.01), low density lipoprotein (LDL) (p=0.02) levesand increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) (p=0.002)concentration in the hemodialysis patients.

Aloe vera supplementation is beneficial inimprovement of cardiovascular risk factors in hemodialysispatients

Periodontitis is a type of prevalent chronicinflammatory disorder resulting in a failure in the function oftissues supporting the tooth, like gingiva, alveolar bone, andperiodontal ligament. Although antibiotic therapy is a commontherapy for periodontitis cases, this approach can cause someadverse effects in these patients. Thus, finding an effectivecurative option with low side effects is still a puzzle.

This narrative review was conducted onthe effects of herbal and nano-based herbal medicine againstperiodontitis by searching different databases such as GoogleScholar, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, andScientific Information Databases.

According to published studies, some popular herbalformulations, such as Aloe vera, curcumin, Melaleuca alternifolia,and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, can be effective in periodontitistreatment. However, these herbal products may be accompaniedby some pharmacological limitations, such as poor bioavailability,instability, and weak water solubility. On the other hand,harnessing nano-based herbal formulations can elevate thebioavailability, diminish toxicity, and omit repeated administrationof drugs.

Herbal and nano-based herbal products can create agood chance to treat periodontitis efficiently.

This study assessed the cardioprotective properties ofPersicaria maculosa (PME) and Citrus sinensis (CME) hydromethanolic extracts, besides Citrus sinensis aqueous extract(CWE) against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity. The extracts were characterized. Micewere divided into eight groups: control (saline), DOX, protected(injected with 200 mg/kg of PME, CWE or CME for 21 days,orally, and DOX), and extracts (PME, CWE or CMEadministration, orally, for 21 days). DOX was injected (5 mg/kg,ip) on days 8, 13 and 18 of the experiment. Cardiac tumor necrosisfactor-alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2(Nrf2) and carbonyl reductase 1 (CBR1) expression levels, besidessuperoxide dismutase, catalase, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide andtotal protein levels were evaluated. Serum lactate dehydrogenase,creatine phosphokinase cardiac isoenzyme, aspartate transaminase,cholesterol, triglycerides and creatinine levels, as well as thecardiac tissues were examined. Comparing with the control, DOX considerably (p<0.01)up-regulated TNF-α expression, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide,cardiac enzymes, lipids and creatinine levels, while it significantly(p<0.01) down-regulated Nrf2 and CBR1. Additionally, DOXinterfered with antioxidant enzymes' activities (p<0.01).Conversely, protected groups showed a significant (p<0.01)amelioration of DOX-induced cardiotoxic effects. The current study provides a new understanding of P.maculosa and C. sinensis cardioprotective mechanisms. Theextracts' cardioprotective effects may be due to their antioxidantactivities, ability to maintain the redox homeostasis throughregulation of important antioxidant genes and primary antioxidantenzymes, and capability to recover inflammatory cytokines andlipids levels. Noteworthy, the tested extracts showed no toxicchanges on the normal mice.

Autophagy, as a cellular pathway involved inremoving damaged proteins and organelles, performs a vitalfunction in the homeostasis and fate of cells. Natural compoundsof coumarin (CO) are found in a variety of herbs. Due to theirmany medicinal properties, including antitumor and antiproliferative activity, they are involved in apoptosis and autophagyprocesses. This investigation desired to analyze the apoptotic andautophagic effects of p-coumaric acid (PCA) and CO on HT-29cells cultured in fibrin hydrogel. Cell viability and apoptotic andautophagic changes were evaluated by MTT assay, AcridineOrange, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), andmonodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining. The expression Bax, Bad,Bcl2, Lc3, Beclin-1, P53 and Atg5 was respectively measured byqRT-PCR and Western blotting. CO (IC50=25 μM) and PCA (IC50=150 μM) had a doseand time-dependent cytotoxic effect in HT-29 cells. So, thecytotoxic effects of CO were significantly higher than PCA andthese differences were also evident in cell morphologyinvestigations. The data illustrated a high expression of proapoptotic and pro-autophagic genes and a declined expression ofanti-apoptotic and anti-autophagic genes. CO (that was more potent) and p-coumaric acidinduced autophagy via PI3K/Akt/mTOR and AMPK/mTORsignaling on HT-29 cells.

Stroke is a highly prevalent and devastating conditionaffecting millions worldwide. The Devil's Claw (DCW) plant is anative African plant whose anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, andneuroprotective properties have been investigated. We postulatedthat DCW could protect the brain injury caused by cerebralischemia. The rats were randomly divided into fourgroups. The sham and control (Ctrl) groups received pretreatmentwith a distilled water vehicle. Doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg wereselected for pretreatment with DCW. The filament or intravascularocclusion method was used for middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO). The Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) stainingmethod was used to investigate the infarct zone and penumbravolume. The neuroprotective effect of DCW was measured byhematoxylin staining. Movement performance was evaluated fromneurological deficit score, rotarod performance, and open field tests. TTC staining showed that the DCW/400 group couldmaintain the penumbra's structure and reduce the infarct volumecompared to the Ctrl group (p<0.001). Histological studiesconfirmed the neuroprotective properties of DCW at doses of 200and 400 mg/kg compared to the Ctrl group (p<0.01 and p<0.0001,respectively). The results of behavioral tests showed animprovement in behavioral performance in pretreatment 400 mg/kgdoses compare to Ctrl group (p<0.0001). The study showed that pretreatment with DCW withits neuron protection potential reduces the infarct area and restoresmotor function after MCAO.

Influenza complications are mild to serious, and cancause death in some cases. A great deal of attention has been paidin recent years to the development and use of new antiviralcompounds to overcome drug resistance in certain strains of theinfluenza virus and treat the clinical implications. This studyaimedto investigate the antiviral effect of punicalagin and itsassociatedmechanism against influenza A (H1N1) virus in vitro.

the ant-influenza activity of punicalaginwas studied in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells usinginfluenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) (PR8) usingHemagglutinin assay (HA) and 50% tissue culture infective dose(TCID50). Then, the inhibition of haemagglutination, virucidalactivity, inhibitory effect at different times, replication of viralRNA and expression of viral genes were investigated.

Punicalagin could inhibit influenza virus infection with50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 3.98 μg/ml and selectivityindex (SI) value of 6.1. Punicalagin decreased virus titers with aninhibitory effect on virus hemagglutination (p<0.05). Punicalaginalso inhibited viral adsorption. The results of virus RNAreplicationand viral mRNA (NS1 and HA) expression aftertreatment withpunicalagin showed significant suppression of viral mRNAexpression but no effect on replication of viral RNA.

The results of the present study indicated thatpunicalagin was effective against influenza infection mostprobablyvia inhibition of haemagglutination activity and virusbinding.

The objective of this study was to evaluate theeffectiveness of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. extract (HS) as an adjunctto valsartan in the treatment of high blood pressure in patients withmild chronic kidney disease (CKD).

This trial was conducted in Gorgan,Iran. Seventy-two participants with CKD and high blood pressurewere randomly assigned to either the HS group, receiving a 350mg pill every 12 hr for 90 days along with 40 mg of valsartanevery 12 hr, or the control group (40 mg valsartan + 12.5 mghydrochlorothiazide). The primary objective was to assess theimprovement of hypertension, while secondary objectives includedthe evaluation of proteinuria, albuminuria, kidney function, lipidprofile, and electrolyte levels. Molecular docking analysis wasperformed to examine the mechanisms of action of the isolatedcomponents of HS.

Out of 80 initial participants, 72 were included in theanalysis. Both groups showed a significant reduction in bloodpressure (p<0.001). The HS group demonstrated a statisticallysignificant decrease in lipid profile (p<0.001). There were nostatistically significant differences between the groups regardingthe reduction of renal markers. Molecular docking analysisrevealed that the compounds present in HS, particularly itsanthocyanins and flavonoids, exhibited greater angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory potential thanhydrochlorothiazide in both domains. Moreover, the compoundsmet the criteria for drug likeness and Lipinski rules.

Adjunctive therapy with HS showed promisingresults in reducing hypertension and improving lipid profile inpatients with CKD.