Research Journal of Pharmacognosy
Volume:10 Issue: 4, Autumn 2023

 Hyperuricemia is one of the major causes of gout and other oxidative stress-related diseases. Inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity, an enzyme that converts hypoxanthine to uric acid, has been considered as one of the therapeutic methods for hyperuricemia. Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. has been widely used in traditional medicine in Asia. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-hyperuricemic and xanthine oxidase inhibitory effect of extracts and fractions of Pogostemon cablin. 

 The dried aerial parts of P. cablin were soaked in 70% ethanol at room temperature for 72 h and were successively fractionated with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. Xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of the samples was determined spectrophotometrically at 290 nm.  The hypouricemic effect of extract was investigated in normal and hyperuricemic mice induced by potassium oxonate. 

 Our results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction of P. cablin was able to inhibit xanthine oxidase with IC50 value of 96.39 ± 2.56 µg/mL. Moreover, P. cablin ethanol extract was found to reduce blood uric acid in Swiss albino mice at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg and increased renal excretion of uric acid. 

Pogostemon cablin and extracts and fractions may have the potential to prevent hyperuricemia and require further clinical research.

 Paeonia daurica ssp. macrophylla (PD) (Paeoniaceae) is a perennial plant, growing in Iran. In Persian medicine, another species, Paeonia officinalis “Oode-saleeb” has been used especially for treating epilepsy and brain disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the sedative and hypnotic activity and the acute toxicity of P. daurica root extracts in mice. 

 Sedative and hypnotic effects of the aqueous extract, total hydro alcoholic 80% extract, and its fractions, hexane, chloroform, and methanol were examined by the righting reflex method. Plant samples (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) and vehicle (10 mL/kg) were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) 30 minutes before sodium thiopental injection (40 mg/kg, i.p.) in groups of seven mice. The time taken before losing the righting reflex and the time taken to regain the righting reflex were recorded as the onset of sleep and sleep duration, respectively. The findings of the study indicated that, with the exception of the chloroform fraction and the total hydroalcoholic extract administered at the dose of 50 mg/kg, all the samples demonstrated a reduction in sleep onset time produced by sodium thiopental. Furthermore, chloroform (200 mg/kg) was the most effective sample on sleep duration compared to diazepam (3 mg/kg) (p<0.001). 

 Results of this study demonstrated that Paeonia daurica root can be used as a sedative and hypnotic complementary drug.

 Investigations indicate that Wedelia chinensis extract increases efficacy of prostate cancer treatment. In the present study, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of prostate cancer cell line 22RV1 in the presence of W. chinensis extract derived from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were evaluated by gene ontology and pathway analysis. 

 Gene expression profiles of GSE100224 were analyzed by GEO2R. The significant DEGs were assessed via action map analysis. The related biological terms were identified for the significant DEGS. The highlighted dysregulated genes and pathways were discussed. 

 Seventy significant DEGs including 49 up-regulated genes and 21 down-regulated ones were assessed by inhibition, activation, expression, and binding actions. Cytochrome P450 and PTGS2 were highlighted as the crucial DEGs. Estrogen metabolism was pointed as the main targeted pathway.  

 Findings indicated that “estrogen metabolism” and UGT1A1, MAOA, PTSG2, and cytochrome P450 in the 22RV1 cells were the main targeted pathway and genes by W. chinensis .

 Hot flashes are among the common and bothersome side effects of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in men with prostate cancer.  Given the lack of standard treatment, further research is required to develop efficient and safe treatments. 

 In the present randomized controlled clinical trial, patients with prostate cancer undergoing ADT were randomly allocated into chicory-fumitory syrup (from hydroalcoholic extract of chicory and fumitory) and megestrol groups.  The participants recorded the number and severity of hot flashes in a daily diary one week before the intervention (baseline).  Next, they started the syrup (5 mL twice daily) and megestrol (20 mg twice daily) for four weeks and completed the diary. 

 A total of 69 patients completed the study (35 patients in the chicory-fumitory group and 34 patients in the megestrol group).  After four weeks of the intervention, the mean daily frequency of hot flashes in the chicory-fumitory group decreased to 38.19% (p=0.004); the hot flash score also decreased to 44.39% (p=0.008).  In the megestrol group, the mean frequency of hot flashes was decreased by 68.93% (p<0.001), and the mean hot flash score was reduced by 67.47 (p=0.001). According to the independent samples t-test, the number and severity of hot flashes showed a more significant reduction in the megestrol group compared with the chicory-fumitory group (p=0.001 and p=0.021, respectively). 

 The chicory-fumitory syrup is effective against hot flashes in men with prostate cancer; however, the reduction in the number and severity of hot flashes in the megestrol group was more prominent. Further clinical trials with longer intervention periods, and larger sample sizes are recommended to confirm the efficacy of chicory and fumitory against hot flashes.

 COVID-19 is a respiratory condition frequently followed by an inflammatory reaction in addition to respiratory symptoms, which disrupts the blood coagulation process. One drug candidate known to have dual anti-inflammatory and anticoagulating effects is hydroxysafflor yellow A, an active compound found in the flowers of Carthamus tinctorius. Therefore, this study analysed the effect of C. tinctorius ethanol extract in combination with dexamethasone on coagulation biomarkers in mice induced with the SARS-CoV2 spike protein. 

 Flowers of Carthamus tinctorius were extracted with 98% ethanol. The concentrated extract was used in the study. Twenty-five Balb/c mice, comprising five healthy controls and twenty mice were induced with SARS-CoV2. The SARS-CoV2-induced mice were then randomized to receive seven days of treatment, which consisted of vehicle or dexamethasone 2.5 mg/kg BW, dexamethasone 2.5 mg/kg BW + C. tinctorius extract 400 mg/kg BW, or dexamethasone 2.5 mg/kg BW + C. tinctorius extract 800 mg/kg BW. Subsequently, the lungs and blood of the mice were analysed. 

 SARS-CoV2-induced mice increased all the coagulation markers studied. Treatment with dexamethasone alone or in combination with C. tinctorius extract 400 mg/kg BW did not cause reductions in D-dimer, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, lactate dehydrogenase, platelet-to-leucocyte ratio, or neutrophil-to-leucocyte ratio. However, dexamethasone co-treatment with C. tinctorius extract at 800 mg/kg BW resulted in the normalization of D-dimer, PAI-1, and NLR in SARS-CoV2-induced mice. 

 The administration of high dose of C. tinctorius flower extracts (800 mg/kg BW) in combination with dexamethasone showed the benefit of minimizing the coagulation disorder in SARS-CoV2.

Human diet is branded with higher caloric and protein content and cooking processes in comparison with the diet of the primate species. The aim of this study was to explore the differences between human diet and chimpanzee diet which consists of fruits and vegetables, to find benefits and harmful aspects of human nutritional behavior.

Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of mouse liver in response to consume “human cafeteria diet” and “chimpanzee diet” were acquired form Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The DEGs were assessed based on p-adj and fold change criteria. The significant DEGs were included in a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network to form an interactome unit. Central nodes of the studied network were determined based on degree value and betweenness centrality. The identified central genes were evaluated via gene ontology.

Numbers of 150 significant DEGs that discriminated the two nutrition diet regimes were introduced. Fatty acid synthase (FASN), stearoylCoA desaturase (SCD), and farnesyl-diphosphate farnesyltransferase 1 (FDFT1) were pointed out as the central DEGs. “Activation of gene expression by SREBF (SREBP)” and “NR1H2 & NR1H3 regulate gene expression linked to lipogenesis” were highlighted as two classes of the biological terms that were related to the central DEGs.

The findings indicated that human cafeteria diet is a lipogenic regime compared to the chimpanzee diet which is enriched with vegetables. The studied human nutrition behavior was accompanied with increased level of fatty acid synthesis enzymes beside cholesterol accumulation in body.

  This study evaluated the acute and subacute toxicity of the Coriander Triphala tablet (CTT) in Wistar rats. 

The CTT was prepared according to the method described in our previous work. In the acute toxicity study, five female Wistar rats received 2000 mg/kg CTT and five female rats were administered distilled water as control. In the subacute test, sixty male and female rats were randomly divided into six groups. Three groups received 200, 500, and 1000 mg/kg of the tablet; the satellite group was treated with 1000 mg/kg of CTT, and controls received distilled water for 28 days. Body weights and food and water intake of rats were recorded. Toxicity signs were recorded and hematological, biochemical, and histopathological analyses were performed. 

 No remarkable toxic effect of the tablet was observed in the rats after receiving a single dose of 2000 mg/kg. This indicated that the median lethal dose (LD50) was more than 2000 mg/kg. In the subacute toxicity study, different doses of CTT didn’t change hematological parameters. However, the tablet increased the levels of cholesterol, creatinine, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in males and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and AST in females at high doses. Histopathological evaluation of liver samples from both sexes showed congestion and hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes. Renal histopathology revealed varying degrees of tubular cell necrosis. 

 Our data indicated the toxic effects of CTT on the liver and kidney, suggesting the need for special precautions in administration of this medication to the patients.

Coffee is a favorable drink in the world with advantages that are documented during different investigations. In the present study, the effect of caffeine which is one of the important compounds of coffee has been evaluated on function of mice liver via network analysis and gene ontology enrichment.

Results of GSE53131 from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were analyzed and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were assessed via protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and gene ontology. Cytoscape software and STRING database were used to analyze the data.

Effect of caffeine on mice liver was appeared in the gene expression profiles of the mice liver which were fed with caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee. Acat2, Acly, Acss2, Akr1d1, Ehhadh, Elovl2, Fasn, Fdps, Gsta3, Hmgcr, Ldlr, Lss, Mmab, Mvd, Mvk, Nsdhl, Prodh, Rdh11, and Thrsp that are related mostly to lipid metabolism and cholesterol biosynthesis were pointed out as the discriminator genes in response to caffeine effect on liver function.

In conclusion, assessment of mice liver gene expression profiles revealed that lipid metabolism of the mice liver was affected considerably by consumption of caffeinated coffee versus liver of mice that were fed with decaffeinated coffee. Using caffeine as a preventing factor for hepatic disorders is recommended base on the findings of present study.

 The fruits and leaves of Rubus discolor Weihe & Nees (Rosaceae) have been used for treatment of diabetes, diarrhea, prostatitis, and wounds and thus were evaluated in this study. 

 The leaves and stems methanol extracts were prepared by maceration and different fractions were obtained. Total phenolics, tannins, and flavonoids contents were measured. The phenolic profiles were determined by HPLC/DAD analysis. The antioxidant activity was tested. The antiproliferative activity was evaluated against epidermoid carcinoma (A431) and normal (HU02) cells by MTT assay. The zone of inhibition and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were determined against three pathogens. 

 The leaves ethyl acetate fraction showed the strongest antioxidant activity (IC50 25.74±0.07 μg/mL) and the highest content of total phenolics (149.72±1.23 mg GAE/g). The antioxidant activity and phenolic content of leaves methanol extract were close to ethyl acetate fraction (IC50 26.26±0.13 μg/mL and 140.63±1.32 23 mg GAE/g, respectively). The leaves methanol fraction and methanol extract showed the highest flavonoids (58.87±0.71 mg QE/g) and tannins content (314.4±0.11 mg TAE/g), respectively. The leaves and stems methanol extract and methanol fraction exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 37.5 mg/mL). The most potent cytotoxic effect was for leaves ethyl acetate fraction (369.6±56.1 μg/mL). HPLC analysis proved the presence of gallic acid, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, luteolin and rutin in leaves ethyl acetate fraction, and gallic acid and ferulic acid in leaves methanol fraction. 

 The leaves ethyl acetate and methanol fraction showed potential to be investigated in further studies.

Endophytic fungi are microorganisms that colonize plants during their entire, or a significant part of their life cycle without any symptoms, establishing a symbiosis association. They are abundant in plants and have been reported in various tissues, such as roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits. In recent years, research on the beneficial use of endophytic fungi has increased worldwide. These fungi have the ability to protect plants from both biotic and abiotic stresses through different mechanisms. They also improve water and nutritional status leading to increased growth and fitness of host plants. Endophytes are rich sources of bioactive and secondary metabolites, making them promising candidates for the development of compounds with anticancer, antibiotic, antiviral, antidiabetic, and other pharmacological activities. Moreover, they produce various enzymes that hold economic and environmental potential for industrial applications. This study explored the diverse effects of endophytic fungi in agriculture, biofuels, medicine, industry and bioremediation.