Research Journal of Pharmacognosy
Volume:9 Issue: 1, Winter 2022

AMPK/SIRT1/PGC1α signaling pathway has an important role in diabetic condition. Some natural products exert anti-diabetic effects by modulating this pathway and also by inhibition of NF-κB. Vinca herbacea has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities In the present study, we investigated the effects of this plant on the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC1α axis and NF-κB genes expression as well as glucose, insulin levels and total antioxidant capacity in streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats.

Streptozotocin induced diabetic male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to six groups: control, diabetic, diabetic + different doses of Vinca herbacea extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg.b.w) and glibenclamide. Fasting blood glucose, serum insulin and total antioxidant capacity were measured. The histopathology of liver and pancreas were evaluated. Real-time PCR was performed to assess gene expression levels.

Vinca herbacea extract (100 and 200 mg/kg.b.w) significantly reduced fasting blood glucose and 2-h blood glucose and increased serum insulin levels and total antioxidant capacity compared to the control diabetic rats. Also an improvement in lipid profile and liver enzymes levels was observed. According to the histopathological assay, different damages induced by streptozotocin to liver and pancreas tissues were largely eliminated by treatment with the extract. Vinca herbacea extract significantly upregulated the AMPK, SIRT1 and PGC-1α and downregulated the NF-κB mRNA expression compared to the diabetic control rats.

Anti-diabetic effects of V. herbacea extract were indicated in streptozotocin -induced diabetic rats. The AMPK/SIRT1/PGC1α/NF-κB signaling pathway was suggested as the mechanism involved in the protective effects of this extract in diabetes.

Pistacia vera is known as a source of unique materials with therapeutic function such as antioxidant and nephron-protective activities. This study aimed to identify the biochemical and histopathological effects of Pistacia vera pericarp aqueous extract on the kidney in phenylhydrazine-induced anemia model in rats.

Extraction of the P. vera pericarp was carried out by maceration technique. For animal study, the rats were studied in six groups and were exposed to phenylhydrazine for two days in the absence or presence of the extract. Renal changes were measured using biochemical and histopathological assays. The urine samples were collected in metabolic cages for total urine volume, creatinine, and 24-hour proteinuria measurement with the protein/creatinine ratio. Serum catalase, malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase as oxidative stress markers were examined using ELISA test.

Phenylhydrazine induced kidney injuries evidenced by significant changes of urine, serum urea, creatinine levels, sodium, and potassium ions in comparison to the control group; however, the extract treatment significantly decreased kidney injuries. Administration of 80 mg/kg of the extract significantly reduced the creatinine and proteinuria in treated animals (p<0.05) but 160 mg/kg of extract helped the anemic animals to reduce protein and creatinine to normal levels.

Twenty-four hours protein and creatinine can be used as markers of renal injuries in anemia and their regular measurement can be useful to find the risk of renal problems in anemia. These results revealed that P. vera pericarp administration may decrease renal injuries and dysfunction by reducing inflammation in the kidney.

To identify new targets for cancer clinical management, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis of proteome data could accelerate this approach. For this aim, proteins with differential expressions in 6-shogaol exposure from proteomics study underwent protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Cytoscape version 3.8.2 and its plug-ins including NetworkAnalyzer and ClueGO2.5.8+CluePedia1.5.8 were applied for the construction and the corresponding analysis of the network. A number of six differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified as hub-bottlenecks of the PPI network. The critical proteins GAPDH, ENO1, HSP90AB1, ACTG1, RPSA, and CALR were determined as central elements of the analyzed network and their related biological processes were identified as “protein folding chaperones” and “glucose catabolic process”. Potential candidates may be predicted as both anticancer agents and promoters of side effects of 6-shogaol in cancer treatment; however, complementary studies are required to provide validation and deeper understating of its molecular behavior in this regard.

Recent data propose the beneficial antihyperlipidemic effects of several marine brown alga belonging to the genus Sargassum. In the current study, the effects of ethanol fraction of Sargassum angustifolium were assessed on dexamethasone-induced dyslipidemia in rats.

The fraction was prepared by maceration method and then using a reverse phase column chromatography. It was evaluated for total phenolic and salt contents. Seven groups of six male rats were used as the following: group 1 (normal control) received vehicle for 1 week; group 2 (Sargassum control) was treated only with 80 mg/kg S. angustifolium for one week; group 3 (dyslipidemic control) received dexamethasone (10 mg/kg/day, subcutaneously) for one week; groups 4-6 (test groups) received dexamethasone and were simultaneously treated orally with 20, 40 or 80 mg/kg S. angustifolium and group 7 (reference) received dexamethasone and atorvastatin (40 mg/kg, orally) for one week. At the end of experiment, fasting blood glucose, lipid markers and malondialdehyde levels were evaluated in serum specimens. Livers were weighed and processed for histopathological inspection.

The content of total phenolics was 87.21 ± 2.4 mg/g as gallic acid equivalent and salt as NaCl was 6.5 g/100 g. Treatment with S. angustifolium significantly decreased serum blood sugar, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low‑density lipoprotein-cholesterol and malondialdehyde levels and also alleviated steatotic changes in liver tissues compared to the dexamethasone-induced dyslipidemic control group.

Findings of the current study revealed anti-hyperglycemic, hypolipidemic and anti-lipid proxidative properties of S. angustifolium ethanol fraction in an animal model of dyslipidemia.

The Ferulago species are perennial aromatic plants and have been used as digestive, flavoring, sedatives, and aphrodisiac agent. The volatile oil from Ferulago stellata fruits was attained through hydrodistillation methods using a Clevenger-type apparatus. Then, the chemical composition was assessed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant activity of the volatile oil was evaluated by the DPPH method. The extracts were sequentially obtained by the Soxhlet apparatus with different solvents. To analyze the fatty acid profile, the non-polar extract (n-hexane) was converted to the corresponding methyl ester via saponification and esterification and assessed by GC. The antimicrobial activity of the volatile oil and extracts were evaluated against eight microorganisms and MIC and MBC were attained by the micro broth dilution method. The antiproliferative and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of the extracts was evaluated as well. Fourteen volatile constituents were identified of which the main constituent was 2,4,6-trimethyl benzaldehyde (56.05%). The essential oil indicated high antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 6.05 ± 0.77 μg/mL. The volatile oil showed powerful antimicrobial activity against all strains of the microorganisms with MIC 0.78 to 3.12 µg/mL and MBC between 1.56 and 6.25 µg/mL. The n-hexane extract showed higher cytotoxicity effect compared to other extracts. The result of the fatty acid profile demonstrated that the fruits were rich source of unsaturated fatty acids. F. stellata might be a potent source of antioxidant, antimicrobial, and healthy fatty acid which can be used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.

Macrophages play an important role in tumor growth (M2 macrophage) or suppression (M1 macrophage). Auraptene, a prenyloxycoumarin compound extracted from Citrus plants, has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this study was to look into the effect of auraptene on macrophage polarization and the tumor microenvironment when a human monocyte cell line (THP-1) was co-cultured with human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29). The toxicity of auraptene on THP-1 and HT-29 cells was determined by the MTT method. Using flow cytometry, the effect of auraptene on macrophage polarization was studied through THP-1 as a macrophage source. The effect of auraptene on the macrophage population was also studied in THP-1 co-cultured with HT-29. Furthermore, macrophage function was assessed by measuring IL-10 and IL-12 concentrations using the ELISA method, nitric oxide (NO) concentrations using the Griess method, and HT-29 apoptosis by flow cytometry. The M1/M2 ratio of THP-1 exposed to auraptene increased significantly in both naive THP-1 and THP-1 co-cultured with HT-29. Auraptene significantly reduced tumor-protective IL-10 secretion in M1 (p=0.0032) and M2 (p=0.0011). Auraptene increased anti-tumor IL-12 in M2 significantly (p=0.0011). It increased M1 NO production (p=0.0236) while decreasing M2 NO production (p=0.0001). Auraptene also increased HT-29 apoptosis in M0 and M1 co-cultures (p<0.0001). Auraptene altered the release profiles and macrophage types to enhance the suppression of HT-29 cells.

Doxorubicin, an effective anticancer agent, might impair the function of testicular tissue and lead to infertility. Royal jelly can heal male infertility because of its antioxidant activities. This study aimed to evaluate the histologic, genetic and biochemical repair potential of royal jelly on doxorubicin-induced male reproductive system side effects during eight chemotherapy cycles in mice. In this study, 77 male Balb/c mice (11 mice in each group) were divided to: no medication as sham group, normal saline (0.09%), royal jelly (50, 100 mg/kg), doxorubicin (2 mg/kg), and royal jelly+doxorubicin groups, receiving treatment once a week for six weeks. Histological and biochemical factors of male reproductive system were evaluated. There was a significant reduction in testicular weight, spermatozoa parameters, diameter of seminiferous tubules, and total antioxidant capacity levels in the doxorubicin group compared to the control group (p<0.05), whereas these parameters in the royal jelly (50, 100 mg/kg)+doxorubicin groups were significantly increased compared to  the doxorubicin group (p<0.05). Malondialdehyde, apoptotic index, and its regulatory genes were significantly higher in the doxorubicin group, while these parameters were decreased in the royal jelly (50, 100 mg/kg)+doxorubicin groups in comparison with the doxorubicin group (p<0.05). Royal jelly protects male reproductive system damage induced by doxorubicin administration in mice. This protection was observed in both histological and biochemical respects. This beneficial effect of royal jelly can be attributed to its antioxidant properties.

Psoriasis is a prevalent, chronic, and inflammatory disorder with good response rates using novel treatment strategies. However, side effects are a limiting factor in long-time treatment. Recent studies have demonstrated that many natural remedies have fewer side effects, and are thus safer options. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a novel topical herbal preparation in patients with plaque psoriasis.

This randomized, triple-blind, vehicle-controlled, two-arm parallel trial was conducted in patients with mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis (psoriasis area & severity index= PASI score< 12). We randomized 108 patients in 1:1 ratio to receive Boswellia-based cream (containing Boswellia spp. ethanolic extract, Boswellia spp. oil, Glycyrrhiza glabra extract, Cucurbita pepo pulp oil) or vehicle cream, both applied as a thin layer on skin lesions twice daily for four weeks.

Compared with vehicle, the Boswellia-based cream group showed greater reduction in mean PASI score from baseline to week two and from week two to week four (both p<0.001). After two weeks of therapy, Dermatology Life Quality Index decreased in both groups, but to a greater extent in the intervention group compared with vehicle (p=0.004). From week two to week four, this item showed an additional decrease in Boswellia-based group compared to vehicle (p=0.001). After four weeks of therapy, patients in the Boswellia-based group were more satisfied than patients in vehicle group (median score: 8 in Boswellia-based group and 5 in vehicle, p<0.001).

The outcomes showed significant alleviation of psoriasis signs and symptoms with this herbal cream.

Anti-proliferative activity of carnosol from Rosemary on malignancies has revealed its potential for cancer therapeutic purposes. Molecular studies such as proteomics could open a new insight in underling mechanisms of anticancer processes of carnosol treatment through analysis of the most relevant modulated proteins in cancer.

Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) treated with carnosol proteome was conducted. Cyroscape and its plug-ins explored the PPI network construction and its features including centrality and gene ontology.

Among 22 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), 21 individuals were recognized by the STRING database. The queried DEPs and the added first neighbors formed a scale-free network. GAPDH, TPI1, ENO1, and PGK1 were identified as the hub-bottlenecks of the PPI network of carnosol-treated ATL.

ALDOA, PFKFB3, PKM2, and LDHA and related metabolic processes are targets of anticancer compounds of rosemary extract; however, more investigation is suggested.

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (licorice) is one of the most important medicinal plants for respiratory disorders. It is used alone or in combination with other species. In the present investigation, an herbal syrup containing licorice, fennel, and fig was formulated according to Iranian traditional medicine prescriptions and glycyrrhizic acid content of the syrup was quantified using a validated HPLC method. Traditional syrup was prepared by decocting the mixture of licorice: fennel: fig (20, 8, 62.5 g in 100 mL). It was filtered and concentrated. Sugar was used in the syrup (40%). Quality control tests were performed and glycyrrhizic acid content of the syrup was determined using an HPLC method. The method was verified according to verification parameters, as well. Accelerated stability tests were carried out during 6 months in 40 °C. The prepared syrup was brown colored with fennel odor and sweet taste. The pH, viscosity, dry residue and density were 5.13, 134.8 cP, 51.43%, 1.10 g/cm3, respectively. Glycyrrhizic acid content was 1.99 mg/mL. The HPLC method was valid according to specificity, linearity (9.3-27.9 µg/mL, r2: 0.9972), intra-day precision (RSD≤1.71%), inter-day precision (RSD: 3.31%), instrument precision (RSD: 0.82%), recovery (95.6%), LOD (1.48 µg/mL) and LOQ (4.49 µg/mL). The prepared syrup with suitable physicochemical and microbial characteristics is a proper candidate for producing at industrial scale after further invivo and clinical studies. Moreover, the HPLC method can be used as a validated method for quality control of the syrup.