Gallic acid: Pharmacological activities and molecular mechanisms involved in inflammation-related diseases

Baru (Dipteryx alata Vog.) agro-industrial by-products promote the growth and metabolism of probiotic strains

AIMS

To evaluate the phytochemical composition and effects of the baru peel and pulp (BPP) and the partially defatted baru nut (DBN) on the growth and metabolism of probiotics.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The proximate composition, including dietary fibers, and polyphenol profile were determined in the BPP and DBN, and the prebiotic activity was evaluated on the growth and metabolism of the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains. BPP and DBN have a high content of insoluble fibers and phenolic compounds, mainly flavonoids and phenolic acids. Moreover, DBN stands out for its high content of proteins and lipids. BPP and DBN stimulated the growth and metabolism of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-05, and Lacticaseibacillus casei L-26.

CONCLUSIONS

Baru by-products have potential prebiotic properties to be confirmed in preclinical and clinical studies, and to be explored as an ingredient in new health-promoting foods.

IMPACT STATEMENT

Agro-industrial baru wastes, the peel plus pulp and the partially defatted nut, are sources of health-promoting compounds and stimulate the growth and metabolism of probiotics, indicating prebiotic properties.

Effects of natural products on cisplatin ototoxicity and chemotherapeutic efficacy

INTRODUCTION

Cisplatin is a very effective chemotherapeutic agent against a variety of solid tumors. Unfortunately, cisplatin causes permanent sensorineural hearing loss in at least two-thirds of patients treated. There are no FDA approved drugs to prevent this serious side effect.

AREAS COVERED

This paper reviews various natural products that ameliorate cisplatin ototoxicity. These compounds are strong antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. This review includes mostly preclinical studies but also discusses a few small clinical trials with natural products to minimize hearing loss from cisplatin chemotherapy in patients. The interactions of natural products with cisplatin in tumor-bearing animal models are highlighted. A number of natural products did not interfere with cisplatin anti-tumor efficacy and some agents actually potentiated cisplatin anti-tumor activity.

EXPERT OPINION

There are a number of natural products or their derivatives that show excellent protection against cisplatin ototoxicity in preclinical studies. There is a need to insure uniform standards for purity of drugs derived from natural sources and to ensure adequate pharmacokinetics and safety of these products. Natural products that protect against cisplatin ototoxicity and augment cisplatin's anti-tumor effects in multiple studies of tumor-bearing animals are most promising for advancement to clinical trials. The most promising natural products include honokiol, sulforaphane, and thymoquinone.

Chemical characterization, antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of a novel polyherbal formulation comprising of Hordeum vulgare, Elettaria cardamomum and Cicer arietinum extracts

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most prevalent endocrine disorder. Numerous individual herbs possess anti-diabetic activity. The seeds of Hordeum vulgare, Elettaria cardamomum and Cicer arietinum are traditionally used to manage DM. The ambition of this work was to formulate the poly-herbal granules (PHGs) comprising of these three functional foods and evaluate their in-vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic potential. The dried seed extracts of Hordeum vulgare, Elettaria cardamomum and Cicer arietinum were used in a ratio of 2.5:1:1 to formulate PHGs by wet granulation method. The ratio of extracts was selected on the basis of traditional phytotherapies popularly used by local Hakeems of Pakistan to achieve glycemic control in diabetic patients resistant to traditional allopathic regime of medicine. The flow properties of developed PHGs were evaluated. The UV-Visible spectroscopic, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and HPLC-DAD of all seed extracts and PHGs were performed. The in-vitro antioxidant DPPH, FRAP, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and Nitric Oxide (NO) scavenging assays were carried out on PHGs. The in-vitro antidiabetic activity of PHGs was investigated by alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzyme inhibition activity. The developed PHGs exhibited excellent flow properties. The UV-Vis spectra of all seed extracts and PHGs demonstrated peak at 278 nm showing the presence of flavonoids and phenols. The FTIR spectra confirmed the existence of flavonoids, and phenols along with amines in seed extracts as well as PHGs. The HPLC-DAD test revealed the existence of gallic acid, ascorbic acid, Quercetin-3-(caffeoyldiglucoside)-7-glucoside, Rosmarinic acid, delphinidin-3,5-diglucosides, Kaempferol-3-feruloylsophoroside-7-glucoside and Phloroglucinol in PHGs. The PHGs exhibited IC50 of 51.23, 58.57, 55.41 and 53.13 μg/mL in DPPH assay, FRAP assay, TAC, Nitric oxide scavenging assays respectively. The PHGs also demonstrated IC50 of 49.97 and 36.16 μg/mL in alpha-amylase and in alpha-glucosidase inhibition assays respectively in dose dependent manner. The developed PHGs exhibited an excellent flow property. These exhibit significant in-vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic profile by virtue of flavonoid and phenolic acid derivatives.

Phytochemical fingerprint and biological activity of raw and heat-treated Ornithogalum umbellatum

The plants that we use as food in our daily diet and as risk preventers against many diseases have many biological and pharmacological activities. The heat treatments applied during the cooking of the plants cause changes in the phytochemical content and bioactivity. In this study, the phytochemical fingerprint and biological activities of raw and heat-treated extracts of Ornithogalum umbellatum L., which is widely consumed in the Black Sea region, were investigated. The bulb and leaf parts of the plant consumed as food were dried in an oven at 35 °C and then ground into powder. For heat treatment, the plant was boiled at 100 °C for 20 min. Differences in phytochemical contents of raw and heat-treated extracts were determined by ICP-MS, LC-MS/MS, and FTIR analysis. Biological activity was investigated with antiradical, antimicrobial, antimutagenic and antiproliferative activity tests. In this way, the effect of heat treatment on both the phytochemical content and biological activity of the O. umbellatum extract was determined. Gallic acid, procateuic acid and caffeic acid were found as the main compounds in the O. umbellatum extract, while the presence of procateuic aldehyde, vanillin and kaempferol in minor proportions was determined. There was a significant decrease in phenolic compound levels after heat treatment and gallic acid content decreased by 92.6%, procateuic acid content by 90% and caffeic acid content by 84.8%. Significant differences were detected in macro and micro element levels after heat treatment in ICP-MS results. While Cd, Ba and Zn levels of the raw extract increased; Na, Mg, K, Fe, U, Co levels decreased significantly. In FTIR spectrum, shifts and disappearances were observed in some of the vibrations and the emergence of new vibrations was also determined after heat treatment. Raw extract exhibited strong scavenging activity against H2O2 and DPPH and had a broad spectrum antimicrobial property. As a result of heat application, regressions were detected in antiradicalic, antibacterial and antifungal activities. Antimutagenic and antiproliferative activities were determined by the Allium test and a significant decrease in both activities and loss of activity against some chromosomal abnormalities were determined after heat treatment. While the antiproliferative activity of the raw extract was 20%, the activity of the heat-treated extract decreased to 7.6%. The raw extract showed the strongest antimutagenic effect with 69.8% against the unequal distribution of chromatin. Similarly, the antimutagenic activity of the extract, which reduced the bridges by 56.1%, decreased to 0.74% after heat treatment and almost lost its antimutagenic activity. The biological activities of raw O. umbellatum are closely related to the major compounds it contains, and the decrease in the levels of these compounds with the effect of heat was reflected in the activity. Studies investigating the phytochemical contents of plants are very important and the studies investigating biological activities related to phytochemical content are more remarkable. In this study, the phytochemical fingerprint of O. umbellatum was determined, its biological activities were related to the compounds it contained, and the biological activity was found to be heat sensitive.

Deriving high value products from depolymerized lignin oil, aided by (bio)catalytic funneling strategies

Lignin holds tremendous and versatile possibilities to produce value-added chemicals and high performing polymeric materials. Over the years, different cutting-edge lignin depolymerization methodologies have been developed, mainly focusing on achieving excellent yields of mono-phenolic products, some even approaching the theoretical maximum. However, due to lignin's inherent heterogeneity and recalcitrance, its depolymerization leads to relatively complex product streams, also containing dimers, and higher molecular weight fragments in substantial quantities. The subsequent chemo-catalytic valorization of these higher molecular weight streams, containing difficult-to-break, mainly C-C covalent bonds, is tremendously challenging, and has consequently received much less attention. In this minireview, we present an overview of recent advances on the development of sustainable biorefinery strategies aimed at the production of well-defined chemicals and polymeric materials, the prime focus being on depolymerized lignin oils, containing high molecular weight fractions. The key central unit operation to achieve this is (bio)catalytic funneling, which holds great potential to overcome separation and purification challenges.

Gallic-Acid-Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles: A Promising Transdermal Drug Delivery System with Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Agents

The objective of this study was to develop an innovative gallic-acid (GA) drug delivery system that could be administered transdermally, resulting in enhanced therapeutic benefits and minimal negative consequences. The method employed involved the preparation of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles loaded with GA through nanoprecipitation-denoted GA@PLGANPs. The results reveal that this strategy led to perfectly spherical, homogeneous, and negatively charged particles, which are suitable for administration via skin patches or ointments. A further analysis indicates that these GA@PLGANPs exhibit remarkable antioxidant activity as well as potent antibacterial effects against a diverse range of microorganisms, making them ideal candidates for numerous applications. Additionally, it has been observed that these nanoparticles can effectively mitigate oxidative stress while also significantly inhibiting microbial growth by exerting detrimental effects on bacterial cell walls or membranes. In conclusion, on the basis of the findings presented in this study, there is strong evidence supporting the potential use of GA@PLGANPs as an effective therapy option with reduced side effects compared to conventional drug delivery methods.

Pharmacological bioactivity of Ceratonia siliqua pulp extract: in vitro screening and molecular docking analysis, implication of Keap-1/Nrf2/NF-ĸB pathway

Inflammation is interfaced with various metabolic disorders. Ceratonia siliqua (CS) has a higher pharmaceutical purpose. The research aimed to investigate the biofunction of CS pulp aqueous extract (CS-PAE) with an emphasis on its integrated computational approaches as opposed to different specific receptors contributing to inflammation. The extract was assessed for its chemical and phenolic components via GC-MS, LC-MS, HPLC, and total phenolic and flavonoid content. In vitro, bioactivities and molecular docking were analyzed. Findings indicate that CS-PAE demonstrated higher scavenging activities of nitric oxide, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical, superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and anti-lipid peroxidation (IC₅₀ values were 5.29, 3.04, 0.63, 7.35 and 9.6 mg/dl, respectively). The extract revealed potent inhibition of RBCs hemolysis, acetylcholine esterase, monoamine oxidase-B, and α-glucosidase enzymes (IC₅₀ was 13.44, 9.31, 2.45, and 1.5 mg/dl, respectively). The extract exhibited a cytotoxic effect against prostate cancer Pc3, liver cancer HepG2, colon cancer Caco2, and lung cancer A549 cell lines. Moreover, CS-PAE owned higher antiviral activity against virus A and some bacteria. When contrasting data from molecular docking, it was reported that both apigenin-7-glucoside and rutin in CS-PAE have a good affinity toward the Keap-1/Nrf2/ NF-ĸB pathway. In conclusion, CS-PAE showed promise in therapeutic activity in metabolic conditions.

Isolation and identification of active ingredients and biological activity of Dioscorea nipponica Makino

This study reported the isolation and identification of bioactive compounds from Dioscorea nipponica Makino, a plant used in traditional medicine for various ailments. Nine compounds were isolated, including a new compound named as diosniposide E, which was elucidated by analyzing its ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, DEPT, COSY, HMBC and MS data and comparing them with data available in literature. The other eight compounds were identified as known compounds. Theoretical calculations of energy and the generation of a molecular electrostatic potential surface map were employed to assess the antioxidant capacity of nine compounds, the calculation results exhibited that compounds 5 and 6 had strong antioxidant capacities. To further evaluate the antioxidant activities of the investigated compounds, the DPPH and ABTS assays were conducted. The results from the DPPH scavenging activity test revealed that compounds 4-6 exhibited enhanced scavenging activities compared to L-ascorbic acid, while displaying similar efficacy to trolox. Moreover, the ABTS scavenging activities of compounds 4-6 were found to surpass those of L-ascorbic acid and trolox. In terms of α-glucosidase inhibition, compounds 3 and 4 displayed remarkable inhibitory activities that surpassed the effects of acarbose. Additionally, compound 2 exhibited potent anticholinesterase activities, outperforming donepezil. This research provides insights into the potential bioactive compounds present in Dioscorea nipponica Makino and may contribute to its use in traditional medicine.

The Most Potent Natural Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics, and Food Ingredients Isolated from Plants with Deep Eutectic Solvents

There is growing interest in reducing the number of synthetic products or additives and replacing them with natural ones. The pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries are especially focused on natural and bioactive chemicals isolated from plants or microorganisms. The main challenge here is to develop efficient and ecological methods for their isolation. According to the strategies and rules of sustainable development and green chemistry, green solvents and environmentally friendly technologies must be used. The application of deep eutectic solvents as efficient and biodegradable solvents seems to be a promising alternative to traditional methods. They are classified as being green and ecological but, most importantly, very efficient extraction media compared to organic solvents. The aim of this review is to present the recent findings on green extraction, as well as the biological activities and the possible applications of natural plant ingredients, namely, phenolics, flavonoids, terpenes, saponins, and some others. This paper thoroughly reviews modern, ecological, and efficient extraction methods with the use of deep eutectic solvents (DESs). The newest findings, as well as the factors influencing the efficiency of extraction, such as water content, and hydrogen bond donor and acceptor types, as well as the extraction systems, are also discussed. New solutions to the major problem of separating DESs from the extract and for solvent recycling are also presented.

Efficacy of FRO on Acne Vulgaris Pathogenesis

Acne vulgaris is a common skin disease characterized by increased sebum production, inflammation, and Cutibacterium acnes (CA: formerly Propionibacterium acnes) hyperproliferation in pilosebaceous follicles. This study evaluated the efficacy of FRO, a formula composed of fermented Rhus verniciflua Stokes and Orostachys japonicus, against acne pathogenesis via antimicrobial assessment and an in vitro analysis. Stimulated model cells treated with hormones, CA, or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were designed based on the characteristics of acne pathogenesis, including inflammation and sebum hypersecretion. High-performance liquid chromatography, disc diffusion, MTS, and western blotting assays were used to examine potential anti-acne effects. FRO was determined to contain phenolics such as gallic acid, fisetin, quercetin, and kaempferol. FRO exerted antimicrobial activity against CA and inhibited reactive oxygen species production that was otherwise increased by LPS or CA in HaCaT cells. Additionally, FRO exerted anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6, p-STAT-3, and p-NF-κB, which were previously upregulated by LPS or CA in THP-1 and HaCaT cells. FRO inhibited lipogenesis induced by steroid hormones and CA by decreasing FAS and SREBP-1 levels in sebocytes. Additionally, FRO down-regulated the androgen receptor, 5α-reductase, SREBP-1, and FAS levels, which were upregulated by steroid hormone in LNCaP cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that FRO alleviates acne by inhibiting the growth of CA, inflammation, and excess sebum and could be used for functional cosmetics or acne treatments.

Gallic acid improves liver cirrhosis by reducing oxidative stress and fibrogenesis in the liver of rats induced by bile duct ligation

Disturbance in the production and excretion of bile acid causes cholestatic liver disease. Liver cirrhosis is a disease that occurs if cholestasis continues. This study evaluated the protective effect of gallic acid (GA) on liver damage caused by biliary cirrhosis. Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, each with 8 subjects: 1) control, 2) BDL, 3) BDL + GA 20, and 4) BDL + GA 30. The rats were anesthetized 28 days after the BDL, followed by collecting their blood and excising their liver. Their serum was used to measure liver enzymes, and the liver was used for biochemical analysis, gene expression, and histopathological analysis. Serum levels of liver enzymes, total bilirubin, liver Malondialdehyde level (MDA), expression of inflammatory cytokines and caspase-3, necrosis of hepatocytes, bile duct proliferation, lymphocytic infiltration, and liver fibrosis showed an increase in the BDL group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, BDL decreased the activity of liver antioxidant enzymes and glutathione (GSH) levels compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The groups receiving GA indicated a decrease in liver enzymes, total bilirubin, MDA, the expression of inflammatory cytokines and caspase-3, and a reduction in liver tissue damage compared to the BDL group (p < 0.05). The level of GSH in the BDL + GA 20 group showed a significant increase compared to the BDL group (p < 0.05). Moreover, it was found that GA, with its anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory properties, reduces liver damage caused by biliary cirrhosis.

Amaranth and quinoa as potential nutraceuticals: A review of anti-nutritional factors, health benefits and their applications in food, medicinal and cosmetic sectors

Amaranth and quinoa are small-seeded grains with high nutritional and phytochemical profiles that promote numerous health benefits and offer protection against various chronic ailments including hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disorders. They are classified as pseudocereals and possess significant nutritional benefits due to their abundance of proteins, lipids, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Moreover, they exhibit an exceptional balance of essential amino acids. Despite having several health benefits, these grains have lost their popularity due to their coarse nature and are neglected in developed countries. Research and development activities are growing to explore these underutilized crops, characterizing and valorizing them for food applications. In this context, this review highlights the latest advancements in use of amaranth and quinoa as nutraceutical and functional foods, covering their bioactive substances, anti-nutritional factors, processing techniques, health benefits, and applications. This information will be valuable for planning novel research for efficient use of these neglected grains.

Iron-Gallic Acid Peptide Nanoparticles as a Versatile Platform for Cellular Delivery with Synergistic ROS Enhancement Effect

Cytosolic delivery of peptides is of great interest owing to their biological functions, which could be utilized for therapeutic applications. However, their susceptibility to enzymatic degradation and multiple cellular barriers generally hinders their clinical application. Integration into nanoparticles, which can enhance the stability and membrane permeability of bioactive peptides, is a promising strategy to overcome extracellular and intracellular obstacles. Herein, we present a versatile platform for the cellular delivery of various cargo peptides by integration into metallo-peptidic coordination nanoparticles. Both termini of cargo peptides were conjugated with gallic acid (GA) to assemble GA-modified peptides into nanostructures upon coordination of Fe(III). Initial pre-complexation of Fe(III) by poly-(vinylpolypyrrolidon) (PVP) as a template favored the formation of nanoparticles, which are able to deliver the peptides into cells efficiently. Iron-gallic acid peptide nanoparticles (IGPNs) are stable in water and are supposed to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) from endogenous H₂O₂ in cells via the Fenton reaction. The strategy was successfully applied to an exemplary set of peptide sequences varying in length (1-7 amino acids) and charge (negative, neutral, positive). To confirm the capability of transporting bioactive cargos into cells, pro-apoptotic peptides were integrated into IGPNs, which demonstrated potent killing of human cervix carcinoma HeLa and murine neuroblastoma N2a cells at a 10 µM peptide concentration via the complementary mechanisms of peptide-triggered apoptosis and Fe(III)-mediated ROS generation. This study demonstrates the establishment of IGPNs as a novel and versatile platform for the assembly of peptides into nanoparticles, which can be used for cellular delivery of bioactive peptides combined with intrinsic ROS generation.

Review of recent advances on health benefits, microbial transformations, and authenticity identification of Citri reticulatae Pericarpium bioactive compounds

The extensive health-promoting effects of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (CRP) have attracted researchers' interest. The difference in storage time, varieties and origin of CRP are closely related to the content of bioactive compounds they contain. The consitituent transformation mediated by environmental microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) and the production of new bioactive components during the storage process may be the main reason for 'the older, the better' of CRP. In addition, the gap in price between different varieties can be as large as 8 times, while the difference due to age can even reach 20 times, making the 'marketing young-CRP as old-CRP and counterfeiting origin' flood the entire market, seriously harming consumers' interests. However, so far, the research on CRP is relatively decentralized. In particular, a summary of the microbial transformation and authenticity identification of CRP has not been reported. Therefore, this review systematically summarized the recent advances on the main bioactive compounds, the major biological activities, the microbial transformation process, the structure, and content changes of the active substances during the transformation process, and authenticity identification of CRP. Furthermore, challenges and perspectives concerning the future research on CRP were proposed.

Signaling pathways driving ocular malignancies and their targeting by bioactive phytochemicals

Ocular cancers represent a rare pathology. The American Cancer Society estimates that 3,360 cases of ocular cancer occur annually in the United States. The major types of cancers of the eye include ocular melanoma (also known as uveal melanoma), ocular lymphoma, retinoblastoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. While uveal melanoma is one of the primary intraocular cancers with the highest occurrence in adults, retinoblastoma remains the most common primary intraocular cancer in children, and squamous cell carcinoma presents as the most common conjunctival cancer. The pathophysiology of these diseases involves specific cell signaling pathways. Oncogene mutations, tumor suppressor mutations, chromosome deletions/translocations and altered proteins are all described as causal events in developing ocular cancer. Without proper identification and treatment of these cancers, vision loss, cancer spread, and even death can occur. The current treatments for these cancers involve enucleation, radiation, excision, laser treatment, cryotherapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy. These treatments present a significant burden to the patient that includes a possible loss of vision and a myriad of side effects. Therefore, alternatives to traditional therapy are urgently needed. Intercepting the signaling pathways for these cancers with the use of naturally occurring phytochemicals could be a way to relieve both cancer burden and perhaps even prevent cancer occurrence. This research aims to present a comprehensive review of the signaling pathways involved in various ocular cancers, discuss current therapeutic options, and examine the potential of bioactive phytocompounds in the prevention and targeted treatment of ocular neoplasms. The current limitations, challenges, pitfalls, and future research directions are also discussed.

Research progress on the prevention and treatment of hyperuricemia by medicinal and edible plants and its bioactive components

Hyperuricemia is another common metabolic disease, which is considered to be closely related to the development of many chronic diseases, in addition to the "three highs." Currently, although drugs show positive therapeutic effects, they have been shown to produce side effects that can damage the body. There is growing evidence that medicinal and edible plants and their bioactive components have a significant effect on hyperuricemia. In this paper, we review common medicinal and edible plants with uric acid-lowering effects and summarize the uric acid-lowering mechanisms of different bioactive components. Specifically, the bioactive components are divided into five categories: flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, polysaccharides, and saponins. These active substances exhibit positive uric acid-lowering effects by inhibiting uric acid production, promoting uric acid excretion, and improving inflammation. Overall, this review examines the potential role of medicinal and edible plants and their bioactive components as a means of combating hyperuricemia, with the hope of providing some reference value for the treatment of hyperuricemia.

Proteome Analysis of the Antiproliferative Activity of the Novel Chitooligosaccharide-Gallic Acid Conjugate against the SW620 Colon Cancer Cell Line

Chitooligosaccharide (COS) and gallic acid (GA) are natural compounds with anti-cancer properties, and their conjugate (COS-GA) has several biological activities. Herein, the anti-cancer activity of COS-GA in SW620 colon cancer cells was investigated. MTT assay was used to evaluate cell viability after treatment with 62.5, 122, and 250 µg/mL of COS, GA, and COS-GA for 24 and 48 h. The number of apoptotic cells was determined using flow cytometry. Proteomic analysis was used to explore the mechanisms of action of different compounds. COS-GA and GA showed a stronger anti-cancer effect than COS by reducing SW620 cell proliferation at 125 and 250 µg/mL within 24 h. Flow cytometry revealed 20% apoptosis after COS-GA treatment for 24 h. Thus, GA majorly contributed to the enhanced anti-cancer activity of COS via conjugation. Proteomic analysis revealed alterations in protein translation and DNA duplication in the COS group and the structural constituents of the cytoskeleton, intermediate filament organization, the mitochondrial nucleoid, and glycolytic processes in the COS-GA group. Anti-cancer-activity-related proteins were altered, including CLTA, HSPA9, HIST2H2BF, KRT18, HINT1, DSP, and VIM. Overall, the COS-GA conjugate can serve as a potential anti-cancer agent for the safe and effective treatment of colon cancer.

Antidiabetic and Immunoregulatory Activities of Extract of Phyllanthus emblica L. in NOD with Spontaneous and Cyclophosphamide-Accelerated Diabetic Mice

Oil-Gan, also known as emblica, is the fruit of the genus Phyllanthus emblica L. The fruits are high in nutrients and display excellent health care functions and development values. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the activities of ethyl acetate extract from Phyllanthus emblica L. (EPE) on type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) and immunoregulatory activities in non-obese diabetes (NOD) mice with spontaneous and cyclophosphamide (Cyp)-accelerated diabetes. EPE was vehicle-administered to spontaneous NOD (S-NOD) mice or Cyp-accelerated NOD (Cyp-NOD) mice once daily at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight for 15 or 4 weeks, respectively. At the end, blood samples were collected for biological analyses, organ tissues were dissected for analyses of histology and immunofluorescence (IF) staining (including expressions of Bcl and Bax), the expression levels of targeted genes by Western blotting and forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), and helper T lymphocyte 1 (Th1)/Th2/Th17/Treg regulatory T cell (Treg) cell distribution by flow cytometry. Our results showed that EPE-treated NOD mice or Cyp-accelerated NOD mice display a decrease in levels of blood glucose and HbA1c, but an increase in blood insulin levels. EPE treatment decreased blood levels of IFN-γ and tumor necrosis α (TNF-α) by Th1 cells, and reduced interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 by Th17 cells, but increased IL-4, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) by Th2 cells in both of the two mice models by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis. Flow cytometric data showed that EPE-treated Cyp-NOD mice had decreased the CD4⁺ subsets T cell distribution of CD4⁺IL-17 and CD4⁺ interferon gamma (IFN-γ), but increased the CD4⁺ subsets T cell distribution of CD4⁺IL-4 and CD4⁺Foxp3. Furthermore, EPE-treated Cyp-NOD mice had decreased the percentage per 10,000 cells of CD4⁺IL-17 and CD4⁺IFNγ, and increased CD4⁺IL-4 and CD4⁺Foxp3 compared with the Cyp-NOD Con group (p < 0.001, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, and p < 0.05, respectively). For target gene expression levels in the pancreas, EPE-treated mice had reduced expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, including IFN-γ and TNF-α by Th1 cells, but increased expression levels of IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-1β by Th2 cells in both two mice models. Histological examination of the pancreas revealed that EPE-treated mice had not only increased pancreatic insulin-expressing β cells (brown), and but also enhanced the percentage of Bcl-2 (green)/Bax (red) by IF staining analyses of islets compared with the S-NOD Con and the Cyp-NOD Con mice, implying that EPE displayed the protective effects of pancreas β cells. EPE-treated mice showed an increase in the average immunoreactive system (IRS) score on insulin within the pancreas, and an enhancement in the numbers of the pancreatic islets. EPE displayed an improvement in the pancreas IRS scores and a decrease in proinflammatory cytokines. Moreover, EPE exerted blood-glucose-lowering effects by regulating IL-17 expressions. Collectively, these results implied that EPE inhibits the development of autoimmune diabetes by regulating cytokine expression. Our results demonstrated that EPE has a therapeutic potential in the preventive effects of T1D and immunoregulation as a supplementary.

An Evaluation of the Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a Thai Traditional Polyherbal Recipe TPDM6315 in LPS-Induced RAW264.7 Macrophages and TNF-α-Induced 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

TPDM6315 is an antipyretic Thai herbal recipe that contains several herbs with anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity activities. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of TPDM6315 extracts in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages and TNF-α-induced 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and the effects of TPDM6315 extracts on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The results showed that the TPDM6315 extracts reduced the nitric oxide production and downregulated the iNOS, IL-6, PGE₂, and TNF-α genes regulating fever in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. The treatment of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes with TPDM6315 extracts during a differentiation to the adipocytes resulted in the decreasing of the cellular lipid accumulation in adipocytes. The ethanolic extract (10 µg/mL) increased the mRNA level of adiponectin (the anti-inflammatory adipokine) and upregulated the PPAR-γ in the TNF-α induced adipocytes. These findings provide evidence-based support for the traditional use of TPDM6315 as an anti-pyretic for fever originating from inflammation. The anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory actions of TPDM6315 in TNF-α induced adipocytes suggest that this herbal recipe could be useful for the treatment of metabolic syndrome disorders caused by obesity. Further investigations into the modes of action of TPDM6315 are needed for developing health products to prevent or regulate disorders resulting from inflammation.

Insights into the potential benefits of triphala polyphenols toward the promotion of resilience against stress-induced depression and cognitive impairment

In response to environmental challenges, stress is a common reaction, but dysregulation of the stress response can lead to neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression and cognitive impairment. Particularly, there is ample evidence that overexposure to mental stress can have lasting detrimental consequences for psychological health, cognitive function, and ultimately well-being. In fact, some individuals are resilient to the same stressor. A major benefit of enhancing stress resilience in at-risk groups is that it may help prevent the onset of stress-induced mental health problems. A potential therapeutic strategy for maintaining a healthy life is to address stress-induced health problems with botanicals or dietary supplements such as polyphenols. Triphala, also known as Zhe Busong decoction in Tibetan, is a well-recognized Ayurvedic polyherbal medicine comprising dried fruits from three different plant species. As a promising food-sourced phytotherapy, triphala polyphenols have been used throughout history to treat a variety of medical conditions, including brain health maintenance. Nevertheless, a comprehensive review is still lacking. Here, the primary objective of this review article is to provide an overview of the classification, safety, and pharmacokinetics of triphala polyphenols, as well as recommendations for the development of triphala polyphenols as a novel therapeutic strategy for promoting resilience in susceptible individuals. Additionally, we summarize recent advances demonstrating that triphala polyphenols are beneficial to cognitive and psychological resilience by regulating 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) receptors, gut microbiota, and antioxidant-related signaling pathways. Overall, scientific exploration of triphala polyphenols is warranted to understand their therapeutic efficacy. In addition to providing novel insights into the mechanisms of triphala polyphenols for promoting stress resilience, blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability and systemic bioavailability of triphala polyphenols also need to be improved by the research community. Moreover, well-designed clinical trials are needed to increase the scientific validity of triphala polyphenols' beneficial effects for preventing and treating cognitive impairment and psychological dysfunction.

Cu-GA-coordination polymer nanozymes with triple enzymatic activity for wound disinfection and accelerated wound healing

During the past few years, bacterial infection and oxidative stress have become important issues for wound healing. However, the emergence of numerous drug-resistant superbugs has had a serious impact on the treatment of infected wounds. Presently, the development of new nanomaterials has become one of the most important approaches to the treatment of drug-resistant bacterial infections. Herein, coordination polymer copper-gallic acid (Cu-GA) nanorods with multi-enzyme activity is successfully prepared for efficient wound treatment of bacterial infection, which can effectively promote wound healing. Cu-GA can be efficiently prepared by a simple solution method and had good physiological stability. Interestingly, Cu-GA shows enhanced multienzyme activity (peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase), which can produce a large number of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under acidic conditions while scavenging ROS under neutral conditions. In acidic environment, Cu-GA possesses POD (peroxidase)-like and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)-like catalytic activities that is capable of killing bacteria; but in neutral environment, Cu-GA exhibits superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like catalytic activity that can scavenge ROS and promote wound healing. In vivo studies show that Cu-GA can promote wound infection healing and have good biosafety. Cu-GA contributes to the healing of infected wounds by inhibiting bacterial growth, scavenging reactive oxygen species, and promoting angiogenesis. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Cu-GA-coordinated polymer nanozymes with multienzyme activity were successfully prepared for efficient wound treatment of bacterial infection, which could effectively promote wound healing. Interestingly, Cu-GA exhibited enhanced multienzyme activity (peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase), which could produce a large number of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under acidic conditions and scavenge ROS under neutral conditions. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that Cu-GA was capable of killing bacteria, controlling inflammation, and promoting angiogenesis.

β-Cyclodextrin/chitosan-based (polyvinyl alcohol-co-acrylic acid) interpenetrating hydrogels for oral drug delivery

Gallic acid is an important phenolic compound with extensive applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries due to its health-promoting properties. However, due to its poor solubility and bioavailability, it is rapidly excreted from the body. Therefore, β-cyclodextrin/chitosan-based (polyvinyl alcohol-co-acrylic acid) interpenetrating controlled release hydrogels were developed to improve its dissolution and bioavailability. pH, polymer ratios, dynamic and equilibrium swelling, porosity, sol-gel, FTIR, XRD, TGA, DSC, SEM and structural parameters like an average molecular weight between crosslinks, solvent interaction parameters, and diffusion coefficient affecting release behavior were investigated. The highest swelling and release were observed at pH 7.4. Furthermore, hydrogels showed good antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Hydrogels improved the bioavailability of gallic acid in a pharmacokinetics study in rabbits. In vitro biodegradation showed that hydrogels were more stable in blank PBS than lysozyme and collagenase. Hydrogels were safe for rabbits (3500 mg/kg) without causing hematological or histopathological changes. The hydrogels showed good biocompatibility, and no adverse reactions were observed. Moreover, the developed hydrogels can be used to improve the bioavailability of various other drugs.

Phytochemical Characterization of Saudi Mint and Its Mediating Effect on the Production of Silver Nanoparticles and Its Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities

The green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) is attracting enormous attention as a new area of study that encompasses the development and discovery of new agents for their utilization in different fields, such as pharmaceuticals and food. Nowadays, the use of plants, particularly medicinal plants, for the creation of NPs has emerged as a safe, ecofriendly, rapid, and simple approach. Therefore, the present study aimed to use the Saudi mint plant as a medicinal plant for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of AgNPs compared to mint extract (ME). A phenolic and flavonoid analysis that was conducted by using HPLC indicated the presence of numerous compounds in the ME. Through an HPLC analysis, chlorogenic acid at a concentration of 7144.66 µg/mL was the main detected component in the ME, while catechin, gallic acid, naringenin, ellagic acid, rutin, daidzein, cinnamic acid, and hesperetin were identified in varying concentrations. AgNPs were synthesized by using ME and were confirmed via UV-visible spectroscopy at 412 nm of the maximum absorption. The mean diameter of the synthesized AgNPs was measured by TEM to be 17.77 nm. Spectra obtained by using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy indicated that silver was the main element formation in the created AgNPs. The presence of various functional groups, analyzed by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), indicated that the mint extract was responsible for reducing Ag⁺ to Ag⁰. The spherical structure of the synthesized AgNPs was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, the ME showed reduced antimicrobial activity (a zone of inhibition of 30, 24, 27, 29, and 22 mm) compared with the synthesized AgNPs (a zone of inhibition of 33, 25, 30, 32, 32, and 27 mm) against B. subtilis, E. faecalis, E. coli, P. vulgaris, and C. albicans, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the AgNPs was lower than that of the ME for all of the tested micro-organisms, except for P. vulgaris. The MBC/MIC index suggested that the AgNPs revealed a higher bactericidal effect compared to the ME. The synthesized AgNPs exhibited antioxidant activity with a reduced IC₅₀ (IC₅₀ of 8.73 µg/mL) compared to that of the ME (IC₅₀ of 13.42 µg/mL). These findings demonstrate that ME could be applied as a mediator for AgNPs synthesis and natural antimicrobial and antioxidant agents.

The Potential of Ginkgo biloba as a Source of Biologically Active Compounds-A Review of the Recent Literature and Patents

Ginkgo biloba is a relict tree species showing high resistance to adverse biotic and abiotic environmental factors. Its fruits and leaves have high medicinal value due to the presence of flavonoids, terpene trilactones and phenolic compounds. However, ginkgo seeds contain toxic and allergenic alkylphenols. The publication revises the latest research results (mainly from 2018-2022) regarding the chemical composition of extracts obtained from this plant and provides information on the use of extracts or their selected ingredients in medicine and food production. A very important section of the publication is the part in which the results of the review of patents concerning the use of Ginkgo biloba and its selected ingredients in food production are presented. Despite the constantly growing number of studies on its toxicity and interactions with synthetic drugs, its health-promoting properties are the reason for the interest of scientists and motivation to create new food products.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of gallic acid on experimental dry eye: in vitro and in vivo studies

BACKGROUND

To investigate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of gallic acid (GA) on human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) and RAW264.7 macrophages as well as its therapeutic effects in an experimental dry eye (EDE) mouse model.

METHODS

A cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to test the cytotoxicity of GA. The effect of GA on cell migration was evaluated using a scratch wound healing assay. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of GA in vitro were tested using a hypertonic model (HCECs) and an inflammatory model (RAW264.7 cells). The in vivo biocompatibility of GA was detected by irritation tests in rabbits, whereas the preventive and therapeutic effect of GA in vivo was evaluated using a mouse model of EDE.

RESULTS

In the range of 0-100 μM, GA showed no cytotoxicity in RAW264.7 cells or HCECs and did not delay the HCECs monolayer wound healing within 24 h. Ocular tolerance to GA in the in vivo irritation test was good after seven days. In terms of antioxidative activity, GA significantly reduced the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated RAW264.7 macrophages and HCECs exposed to hyperosmotic stress. Furthermore, after pre-treatment with GA, the expression levels of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and NADPH quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1) were significantly upregulated in RAW264.7 macrophages. GA also exhibits excellent anti-inflammatory properties. This is mainly demonstrated by the ability of GA to effectively downregulate the nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway in LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages and to reduce inflammatory factors, such as nitric oxide (NO), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). In vivo efficacy testing results in a mouse model of EDE showed that GA can effectively prevent and inhibit the apoptosis of corneal epithelial cells (CECs), reduce inflammatory factors in the cornea and conjunctiva as well as protect goblet cells.

CONCLUSION

In vitro and in vivo results indicate that GA possesses potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties with no apparent cytotoxicity within the range of 0-100 μM. It is a promising eye drop formulation for the effective prevention and treatment of dry eye disease (DED).

Flavonoids nanostructures promising therapeutic efficiencies in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is among the frequently diagnosed cancers with high mortality rates around the world. Polyphenolic compounds such as flavonoids are secondary plant metabolites which exhibit anti-cancer activities along with anti-inflammatory effects. However, due to their hydrophobicity, sensitivity to degradation and low bioavailability, therapeutic effects have shown poor therapeutic effect. Nano delivery systems such as nanoliposomes, nanomicelles, silica nanoparticles have been investigated to overcome these difficulties. This review provides a summary of the efficiency of certain flavonoids and polyphenols (apigenin, genistein, resveratrol, quercetin, silymarin, catechins, luteolin, fisetin, gallic acid, rutin, and curcumin) on colorectal cancer models. It comprehensively discusses the influence of nano-formulation of flavonoids on their biological functions, including cellular uptake rate, bioavailability, solubility, and cytotoxicity, as well as their potential for reducing colorectal cancer tumor size under in vivo situations.

Metabolomics analysis reveals metabolite changes during freeze-drying and oven-drying of Angelica dahurica

Angelica dahurica (Angelica dahurica Fisch. ex Hoffm.) is widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine and the secondary metabolites have significant pharmacological activities. Drying has been shown to be a key factor affecting the coumarin content of Angelica dahurica. However, the underlying mechanism of metabolism is unclear. This study sought to determine the key differential metabolites and metabolic pathways related to this phenomenon. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) based targeted metabolomics analysis was performed on Angelica dahurica that were freeze-drying (- 80 °C/9 h) and oven-drying (60 °C/10 h). Furthermore, the common metabolic pathways of paired comparison groups were performed based on KEEG enrichment analysis. The results showed that 193 metabolites were identified as key differential metabolites, most of which were upregulated under oven drying. It also displayed that many significant contents of PAL pathways were changed. This study revealed the large-scale recombination events of metabolites in Angelica dahurica. First, we identified additional active secondary metabolites apart from coumarins, and volatile oil were significantly accumulated in Angelica dahurica. We further explored the specific metabolite changes and mechanism of the phenomenon of coumarin upregulation caused by temperature rise. These results provide a theoretical reference for future research on the composition and processing method of Angelica dahurica.

Acrylamide induces the activation of BV2 microglial cells through TLR2/4-mediated LRRK2-NFATc2 signaling cascade

Acrylamide (ACR), a potential neurotoxin, is generated from the Maillard reaction between reducing sugars and free amino acids during food processing. Our work focuses on clarifying the role of the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) and nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic 2 (NFATc2) in the polarization of BV2 cells to the M1 proinflammatory type induced by ACR. Specifically, ACR promoted the phosphorylation of LRRK2 and NFATc2 in BV2 microglia. Furthermore, selectively phosphorylated LRRK2 by ACR induced nuclear translocation of NFATc2 to trigger a neuroinflammatory cascade. Knock-down of LRRK2 by silencing significantly diminished ACR-induced microglial neurotoxic effect with the decline of IL-1β, IL-6, and iNOS levels and the decrease of NFATc2 expression in BV2 cells. After pretreated with Toll-Like Receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR4 inhibitors separately, both the activation of LRRK2 and the release of pro-inflammatory factors were inhibited in BV2 cells. Gallic acid (GA) is ubiquitous in most parts of the medicinal plant. GA alleviated the increased CD11b expression, IL-6 and iNOS levels induced by ACR in BV2 microglia. In conclusion, this study shows that ACR leads to the cascade activation of LRRK2-NFATc2 mediated by TLR2 and TLR4 to induce microglial toxicity.

Oral administration of curcumin and gallic acid alleviates pentachlorophenol-induced oxidative damage in rat intestine

INTRODUCTION

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is used as pesticide and wood preservative. We have previously shown that PCP causes oxidative damage in rat intestine.

AIM

This study aimed to delineate the possible therapeutic potential of curcumin (CUR) and gallic acid (GA) against PCP-induced damage in rat intestine.

METHODS

PCP alone group received 125 mg PCP/kg body weight/day orally for 4 days. Animals in combination groups received CUR or GA (100 mg/kg bw) for 18 days and PCP (125 mg/kg bw) for the last four days. Rats were sacrificed and intestinal preparations were analyzed for various parameters.

RESULTS

Administration of PCP alone altered the activities of metabolic, antioxidant and brush border membrane enzymes. It also increased DNA-protein crosslinking and DNA-strand scission. Animals in combinations groups showed significant amelioration against PCP-induced oxidative damage. Histological abrasions were seen in PCP alone group which were reduced in the intestines of combination groups. CUR was more effective protectant than GA.

CONCLUSIONS

CUR and GA protected rat intestine from PCP-mediated changes in the activities of metabolic, antioxidant and brush border membrane enzymes. They also prevented DNA damage and histological abrasions. The antioxidant character of CUR and GA may be responsible for the diminution of PCP-mediated oxidative damage.

pH-sensitive gallol-rich chitosan hydrogel beads for on-off controlled drug delivery

Malignant tumors have emerged as a serious health issue, and the interest in developing pH-sensitive polymers for site-specific drug delivery has increased. The physical and/or chemical properties of pH-sensitive polymers depend on the pH, and thus, drugs can be released by cleaving dynamic covalent and/or noncovalent bonds. In this study, gallic acid (GA) was conjugated to chitosan (CS) to prepare self-crosslinked hydrogel beads containing Schiff base (imine bond) crosslinks. The CS-GA hydrogel beads were formed by the dropwise addition of the CS-GA conjugate solution into a Tris-HCl buffer solution (TBS, pH 8.5). The pH-sensitivity of pristine CS was significantly enhanced following the introduction of GA moiety, and as a result, the CS-GA hydrogel beads swelled more than approximately 5000 % at pH 4.0, indicating an excellent swelling/deswelling ability of the beads at different pH (pH 4.0 and 8.5). The reversible breakage/recovery of the imine crosslinks in the CS-GA hydrogel beads was confirmed through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic and rheological studies. Finally, Rhodamine B was loaded onto the hydrogel beads as a model drug to investigate the pH-sensitive drug release behavior. At pH 4, the drug was released up to approximately 83 % within 12 h. The findings indicate that the CS-GA hydrogel beads have great potential as a drug delivery system that is sensitive to acidic tumor sites in the body.

Transdermal Delivery of Phloretin by Gallic Acid Microparticles

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes harmful effects on the skin, such as inflammatory states and photoaging, which depend strictly on the form, amount, and intensity of UV radiation and the type of individual exposed. Fortunately, the skin is endowed with a number of endogenous antioxidants and enzymes crucial in its response to UV radiation damage. However, the aging process and environmental stress can deprive the epidermis of its endogenous antioxidants. Therefore, natural exogenous antioxidants may be able to reduce the severity of UV-induced skin damage and aging. Several plant foods constitute a natural source of various antioxidants. These include gallic acid and phloretin, used in this work. Specifically, polymeric microspheres, useful for the delivery of phloretin, were made from gallic acid, a molecule that has a singular chemical structure with two different functional groups, carboxylic and hydroxyl, capable of providing polymerizable derivatives after esterification. Phloretin is a dihydrochalcone that possesses many biological and pharmacological properties, such as potent antioxidant activity in free radical removal, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and antiproliferative effects. The obtained particles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Antioxidant activity, swelling behavior, phloretin loading efficiency, and transdermal release were also evaluated. The results obtained indicate that the micrometer-sized particles effectively swell, and release the phloretin encapsulated in them within 24 h, and possess antioxidant efficacy comparable to that of free phloretin solution. Therefore, such microspheres could be a viable strategy for the transdermal release of phloretin and subsequent protection from UV-induced skin damage.

Neurobiological effects of gallic acid: current perspectives

Gallic acid (GA) is a phenolic molecule found naturally in a wide range of fruits as well as in medicinal plants. It has many health benefits due to its antioxidant properties. This study focused on finding out the neurobiological effects and mechanisms of GA using published data from reputed databases. For this, data were collected from various sources, such as PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, SpringerLink, and Web of Science. The findings suggest that GA can be used to manage several neurological diseases and disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, strokes, sedation, depression, psychosis, neuropathic pain, anxiety, and memory loss, as well as neuroinflammation. According to database reports and this current literature-based study, GA may be considered one of the potential lead compounds to treat neurological diseases and disorders. More preclinical and clinical studies are required to establish GA as a neuroprotective drug.

Effects of Leea indica leaf extracts and its phytoconstituents on natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity in human ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

The rich biodiversity of medicinal plants and their importance as sources of novel therapeutics and lead compounds warrant further research. Despite advances in debulking surgery and chemotherapy, the risks of recurrence of ovarian cancer and resistance to therapy are significant and the clinical outcomes of ovarian cancer remain poor or even incurable.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the effects of leaf extracts from a medicinal plant Leea indica and its selected phytoconstituents on human ovarian cancer cells and in combination with oxaliplatin and natural killer (NK) cells.

METHODS

Fresh, healthy leaves of L. indica were harvested and extracted in 70% methanol by maceration. The crude extract was partitioned with n-hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate. Selected extracts and compounds were analyzed for their effects on cell viability of human ovarian cancer cells, NK cell cytotoxicity, and stress ligands expression for NK cell receptors. They were also evaluated for their effects on TNF-α and IL-1β production by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human U937 macrophages.

RESULTS

Leaf extracts of L. indica increased the susceptibility of human ovarian tumor cells to NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Treatment of cancer cells with methyl gallate but not gallic acid upregulated the expression of stress ligands. Tumor cells pretreated with combination of methyl gallate and low concentration of oxaliplatin displayed increased levels of stress ligands expression and concomitantly enhanced susceptibility to NK cell-mediated cytolysis. Further, NK cells completely abrogated the growth of methyl gallate-pretreated ovarian cancer cells. The leaf extracts suppressed TNF-α and IL-1β production in human U937 macrophages. Methyl gallate was more potent than gallic acid in down-regulating these cytokine levels.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated for the first time that leaf extracts of L. indica and its phytoconstituent methyl gallate enhanced the susceptibility of ovarian tumor cells to NK cell cytolysis. These results suggest that the combined effect of methyl gallate, oxaliplatin and NK cells in ovarian cancer cells warrants further investigation, for example for refractory ovarian cancer. Our work is a step towards better scientific understanding of the traditional anticancer use of L. indica.

Lignin Valorization: Production of High Value-Added Compounds by Engineered Microorganisms

Lignin is the second most abundant polymer in nature, which is also widely generated during biomass fractionation in lignocellulose biorefineries. At present, most of technical lignin is simply burnt for energy supply although it represents the richest natural source of aromatics, and thus it is a promising feedstock for generation of value-added compounds. Lignin is heterogeneous in composition and recalcitrant to degradation, with this substantially hampering its use. Notably, microbes have evolved particular enzymes and specialized metabolic pathways to degrade this polymer and metabolize its various aromatic components. In recent years, novel pathways have been designed allowing to establish engineered microbial cell factories able to efficiently funnel the lignin degradation products into few metabolic intermediates, representing suitable starting points for the synthesis of a variety of valuable molecules. This review focuses on recent success cases (at the laboratory/pilot scale) based on systems metabolic engineering studies aimed at generating value-added and specialty chemicals, with much emphasis on the production of cis,cis-muconic acid, a building block of recognized industrial value for the synthesis of plastic materials. The upgrade of this global waste stream promises a sustainable product portfolio, which will become an industrial reality when economic issues related to process scale up will be tackled.

Understanding the Combined Effects of High Glucose Induced Hyper-Osmotic Stress and Oxygen Tension in the Progression of Tumourigenesis: From Mechanism to Anti-Cancer Therapeutics

High glucose (HG), a hallmark of the tumour microenvironment, is also a biomechanical stressor, as it exerts hyper-osmotic stress (HG-HO), but not much is known regarding how tumour cells mechanoadapt to HG-HO. Therefore, this study aimed to delineate the novel molecular mechanisms by which tumour cells mechanoadapt to HG/HG-HO and whether phytochemical-based interference in these mechanisms can generate tumour-cell-selective vulnerability to cell death. Mannitol and L-glucose were used as hyper-osmotic equivalents of high glucose. The results revealed that the tumour cells can efficiently mechanoadapt to HG-HO only in the normoxic microenvironment. Under normoxic HG/HG-HO stress, tumour cells polySUMOylate a higher pool of mitotic driver pH3(Ser10), which translocates to the nucleus and promotes faster cell divisions. On the contrary, acute hypoxia dampens HG/HG-HO-associated excessive proliferation by upregulating sentrin protease SENP7. SENP7 promotes abnormal SUMOylation of pH3(Ser10), thereby restricting its nuclear entry and promoting the M-phase arrest and cell loss. However, the hypoxia-arrested cells that managed to survive showed relapse upon reversal to normoxia as well as upregulation of pro-survival-associated SENP1, and players in tumour growth signalling, autophagy, glycolytic pathways etc. Depletion of SENP1 in both normoxia and hypoxia caused significant loss of tumour cells vs undepleted controls. SENP1 was ascertained to restrict the abnormal SUMOylation of pH3(Ser10) in both normoxia and hypoxia, although not so efficiently in hypoxia, due to the opposing activity of SENP7. Co-treatment with Momordin Ic (MC), a natural SENP1 inhibitor, and Gallic Acid (GA), an inhibitor of identified major pro-tumourigenic signalling (both enriched in Momordica charantia), eliminated surviving tumour cells in normal glucose, HG and HG-HO normoxic and hypoxic microenvironments, suggesting that appropriate and enhanced polySUMOylation of pH3(Ser10) in response to HG/HG-HO stress was attenuated by this treatment along with further dampening of other key tumourigenic signalling, due to which tumour cells could no longer proliferate and grow.

Rutin, a Flavonoid Compound Derived from Garlic, as a Potential Immunomodulatory and Anti-Inflammatory Agent against Murine Schistosomiasis mansoni

Schistosomiasis is a tropical disease caused by trematode worms. The inflammatory response of the host to schistosome eggs leads to formation of granuloma in the liver and intestine. Praziquantel (PZQ) is still an effective treatment for schistosomiasis, however resistance development may reduce its efficacy. The current study investigated the possible immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory action of rutin, a natural flavonoid compound isolated from garlic, on liver fibrotic markers in mice infected with S. mansoni in comparison to PZQ. Male albino CD1 mice were infected with 100 ± 2 S. mansoni cercariae/mouse and treated with garlic, rutin, or PZQ. At the end of the experiment, the liver and intestines were harvested for parasitological and histological assessment and to analyze the proinflammatory cytokine. Rutin significantly affects the pathological alterations caused by Schistosoma in the liver. This may be partially explained by a decrease in the number of eggs trapped in the tissues of the liver and a modification in the serum levels of certain cytokines, which are implicated in the formation of Schistosoma granuloma. In conclusion, rutin has strong anti-schistosome properties in vivo, raising the possibility that rutin might be further investigated as a therapy for S. mansoni.

Bioactive Compounds (BACs): A Novel Approach to Treat and Prevent Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the leading disorders of serious death and cause huge economic loss to patients and society. It is estimated that about 18 million people have a high death ratio due to the incidence of CVDs such as (stroke, coronary heart disease, and non-ischemic heart failure). Bioactive compounds (BACs) are healthy nutritional ingredients providing beneficial effects and nutritional value to the human body. Epidemiological studies strongly shed light on several bioactive compounds that are favorable candidates for CVDs treatment. Globally, the high risk of CVDs and related results on human body parts made them a serious scenario in all communities. In this present review, we intend to collect previously published data concerned over the years concerning green-colored foods and their BACs that aim to work in the prevention, diagnosis, and/or systematic treating CVDs. We also comprehensively discussed the oral delivery of several bioactive compounds derived from fruits and vegetables and their bioavailability and physiological effects on human health. Moreover, their important characteristics, such as anti-inflammatory, lowering blood pressure, anti-obesity, antioxidant, anti-diabetics, lipid-lowering responses, improving atherosclerosis, and cardioprotective properties, will be elaborated further. More precisely, medicinal plants' advantages and multifaceted applications have been reported in this literature to treat CVDs. To the best of our knowledge, this is our first attempt that will open a new window in the area of CVDs with the opportunity to achieve a better prognosis and effective treatment for CVDs.

Computational Modelling and Molecular Docking of Industrial Leather Enzymes

Leather is one of the widely traded commodities globally. It is a strategically important sector for the economic and industrial development of the country. However, the leather industry is perceived as a highly polluting industry. It produces huge amounts of solid and liquid wastes, and if these wastes are not properly treated and disposed of, then it tends to deteriorate the quality of soil and water, as well as cause emanations of smell and noxious gases into the surrounding. The current paper provides information about industrial leather enzymes, primarily collagenase, tannase, and lecithinase. In this study, enzymes such as collagenase, tannase, and lecithinase had a pivotal role in leather industries and their action in the bioremediation of leather effluents was further analysed and docked with a diverse range of compounds (ligands), with an optimal binding affinity score was determined. All interactions between protein ligands were depicted, which will help us with future research. Furthermore, this method can be tested practically, and other parameters can be studied in the future. Further, applications of enzymes and their hydrolyse by-products have also been highlighted in a variety of industries, including the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, agricultural, medical, and food sectors. Subsequently, this finding provides an innovative and broader goal for various sectors in terms of sustainability, stabilisation, and identifying research gaps that can guide modern industries and research scientists.

Gallic Acid Improves Comorbid Chronic Pain and Depression Behaviors by Inhibiting P2X7 Receptor-Mediated Ferroptosis in the Spinal Cord of Rats

Ferroptosis is an inflammatory programmed cell death process that is dependent on iron deposition and lipid peroxidation. The P2X7 receptor not only is involved in the pain process but also is closely related to the onset of depression. Gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid), which is naturally found in a variety of plants, exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic effects. This study established a rat model with the comorbidity of chronic constrictive injury (CCI) plus chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) to explore the role and mechanism of gallic acid in the treatment of pain and depression comorbidity. Our experimental results showed that pain and depression-like behaviors were more obvious in the chronic constriction injury (CCI) plus chronic unpredictable mild stimulation (CUMS) group than they were in the sham operation group, and the P2X7-reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling pathway was activated. The tissue iron concentration was increased, and mitochondrial damage was observed in the CCI plus CUMS group. These results were alleviated with gallic acid treatment. Therefore, we speculate that gallic acid inhibits the ferroptosis of the spinal microglia by regulating the P2X7-ROS signaling pathway and relieves the behavioral changes in rats with comorbid pain and depression.

The effects of gallic acid and vagotomy on motor function, intestinal transit, brain electrophysiology and oxidative stress alterations in a rat model of Parkinson's disease induced by rotenone

INTRODUCTION

The neuropathology of Parkinson's disease (PD) is complex and affects multiple systems of the body beyond the central nervous system. This study examined the effects of gallic acid (GA) and gastrointestinal vagotomy (VG) on motor, cognitive, intestinal transit time, and thalamic nuclei electrical power in an animal model of PD induced by rotenone.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: Sham, ROT, ROT+GA, VG + ROT. Sham rats received vehicle, those in ROT received rotenone (5 mg/kg/2 ml, ig), PD rats in ROT+GA were treated with GA (100 mg/kg, gavage/once daily, for 28 days), and in VG + ROT, the vagal nerve was dissected. Stride length, motor coordination and locomotion, intestinal transit time, cognitive and pain threshold, and thalamic local EEG were evaluated. Oxidative stress indexes in striatal tissue were also measured.

RESULTS

Rotenone diminished significantly the stride length (p < 0.001), motor coordination (p < 0.001), power of thalamic EEG (p < 0.01) and pain (p < 0.001). MDA increased significantly (p < 0.001) while GPx activity decreased (p < 0.001). Intestinal transit time rose significantly (p < 0.01). PD rats treated with GA improved all above disorders (p < 0.001, p < 0.01). Vagotomy prevented significant alterations of motor and non-motor parameters by rotenone.

CONCLUSION

According to current findings, rotenone acts as a toxin in GI and plays a role in the pathogenesis of PD through gastric vagal nerve. Thus, vagotomy could prevent the severity of toxicity by rotenone. In addition, GA improved symptoms of PD induced by rotenone. Therefore, GA can be regarded as a promising therapeutic candidate for PD patients.

Phenolic Acids-Mediated Regulation of Molecular Targets in Ovarian Cancer: Current Understanding and Future Perspectives

Cancer is a global health concern with a dynamic rise in occurrence and one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Among different types of cancer, ovarian cancer (OC) is the seventh most diagnosed malignant tumor, while among the gynecological malignancies, it ranks third after cervical and uterine cancer and sadly bears the highest mortality and worst prognosis. First-line treatments have included a variety of cytotoxic and synthetic chemotherapeutic medicines, but they have not been particularly effective in extending OC patients' lives and are associated with side effects, recurrence risk, and drug resistance. Hence, a shift from synthetic to phytochemical-based agents is gaining popularity, and researchers are looking into alternative, cost-effective, and safer chemotherapeutic strategies. Lately, studies on the effectiveness of phenolic acids in ovarian cancer have sparked the scientific community's interest because of their high bioavailability, safety profile, lesser side effects, and cost-effectiveness. Yet this is a road less explored and critically analyzed and lacks the credibility of the novel findings. Phenolic acids are a significant class of phytochemicals usually considered in the nonflavonoid category. The current review focused on the anticancer potential of phenolic acids with a special emphasis on chemoprevention and treatment of OC. We tried to summarize results from experimental, epidemiological, and clinical studies unraveling the benefits of various phenolic acids (hydroxybenzoic acid and hydroxycinnamic acid) in chemoprevention and as anticancer agents of clinical significance.

Gallic acid alleviates gastric precancerous lesions through inhibition of epithelial mesenchymal transition via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Gallic acid (GA) is a natural polyphenolic compound derived from Rhus chinensis Mill. with a variety of biological activities such as astringent sweat, cough, dysentery, hemostasis, and detoxification, and is widely used in China as a treatment for cough, bleeding, and gastrointestinal disorders. In recent years, the anticancer activity of GA has been demonstrated in a variety of cancers, affecting multiple cellular pathways associated with cancer onset, development and progression.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the role and potential mechanism of GA on gastric precancerous lesions (GPL), the key turning point of gastritis to gastric cancer, with the aim of delaying, blocking or reversing the dynamic overall process of "inflammation-cancer transformation" and thus blocking GPL to prevent the development of gastric cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, we established N-Nitroso-N-methylurea (MNU)-induced GPL mice model and induced precancerous lesions of gastric cancer cells (MC), i.e. epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), in human gastric mucosal epithelial cells (GES-1) with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). We used conventional pathology, immunohistochemistry, RNA sequencing, Western blot and other techniques to study the therapeutic effect of GA on GPL and its possiblemechanism in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

The results showed that compared with normal GES-1 cells, MC cells had the characteristics of malignant cells such as abnormal proliferation, invasion and metastasis, accompanied by decreased expression of EMT-related protein E-cadherin and increased expression of N-cadherin and Vimentin. GA can inhibit the malignant behavior of MC cell proliferation and induce its G0/G1 phase arrest, which is achieved by downregulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and thereby inhibiting the EMT process. However, when we incubated with the Wnt pathway activator (Wnt agonist 1), the effect of GA was reversed. Furthermore, analysis of human gastric specimens showed that activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was significantly associated with GPL pathological changes. Meanwhile, GA reversed MNU-induced intestinal metaplasia and partial dysplasia in GPL mice.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, these results indicate that GA prevents the occurrence and development of GPL by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and then inhibiting the EMT process, which may become potential candidates for the treatment of GPL.

Gallic acid impairs fructose-driven de novo lipogenesis and ameliorates hepatic steatosis via AMPK-dependent suppression of SREBP-1/ACC/FASN cascade

Accumulating evidence suggests that de novo lipogenesis is a typical characteristic facilitating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progression. Gallic acid (GA) is a naturally occurring phenolic acid with metabolic disease-related clinical significance and preclinical benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-steatotic potentials of GA in a fructose-induced NAFLD mouse model featuring a hepatic lipogenic phenotype. The results revealed that GA alleviated hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response in fructose-fed mice. Mechanistically, GA treatment restored AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα) phosphorylation, resulting in downregulations of pro-lipogenic factors, including sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), fatty acid synthetase (FASN), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), in hepatocytes of mice and in vitro. Furthermore, computational docking analysis indicated that GA could directly interact with AMPKα/β subunits to stabilize its activation. These results suggest that GA ameliorates fructose-induced hepatosteatosis by restraining hepatic lipogenesis via AMPK-dependent suppression of the SREBP-1/ACC/FASN cascade. Altogether, this study demonstrates that GA supplement may be a promising therapeutic strategy in NAFLD, especially in the subset with enhanced hepatic lipogenesis.

Cyclophilin D-mediated angiotensin II-induced NADPH oxidase 4 activation in endothelial mitochondrial dysfunction that can be rescued by gallic acid

Vascular endothelial dysfunction plays a central role in the most dreadful human diseases, including stroke, tumor metastasis, and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Strong evidence suggests that angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced mitochondrial dysfunction is essential for endothelial dysfunction pathogenesis. However, the precise molecular mechanisms remain obscure. Here, polymerase-interacting protein 2 (Poldip 2) was found in the endothelial mitochondrial matrix and no effects on Poldip 2 and NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX 4) expression treated by Ang II. Interestingly, we first found that Ang II-induced NOX 4 binds with Poldip 2 was dependent on cyclophilin D (CypD). CypD knockdown (KD) significantly inhibited the binding of NOX 4 to Poldip 2, and mitochondrial ROS generation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Similar results were also found in cyclosporin A (CsA) treated HUVECs. Our previous study suggested a crosstalk between extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) phosphorylation and CypD expression, and gallic acid (GA) inhibited mitochondrial dysfunction in neurons depending on regulating the ERK-CypD axis. Here, we confirmed that GA inhibited Ang II-induced NOX 4 activation and mitochondrial dysfunction via ERK/CypD/NOX 4/Poldip 2 pathway, which provide novel mechanistic insight into CypD act as a key regulator of the NOX 4/Poldip 2 axis in Ang II-induced endothelial mitochondrial dysfunction and GA might be beneficial in the treatment of wide variety of diseases, such as COVID-19, which is worthy further research.

Development and Application of Whole-Cell Biosensors for the Detection of Gallic Acid

Gallic acid is a prevalent secondary plant metabolite distinguished as one of the most effective free-radical scavengers among phenolic acids. This compound is also known for its cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. Bulk quantities of gallic acid are conventionally produced by acid hydrolysis of tannins, a costly and environmentally hazardous process. With the aim to develop more sustainable approaches, microbial bioproduction strategies have been attempted recently. To advance synthetic biology and metabolic engineering of microorganisms for gallic acid production, we characterize here a transcription factor-based inducible system PpGalR/P_{PP_RS13150} that responds to the extracellular gallic acid in a dose-dependent manner in Pseudomonas putida KT2440. Surprisingly, this compound does not mediate induction when PpGalR/P_{PP_RS13150} is used in non-native host background. We show that the activation of the inducible system requires gallate dioxygenase activity encoded by galA gene. The 4-oxalomesaconic acid, an intermediate of gallic acid-metabolism, is identified as the effector molecule that interacts with the transcription factor GalR mediating activation of gene expression. Introduction of galA gene along galR enables development of biosensors suitable for detection and monitoring of gallic acid extracellularly using non-native hosts such as E. coli and C. necator. Moreover, the P. putida-based biosensor's applicability is demonstrated by detecting and measuring gallic acid in extracts of Camellia sinensis leaves. This study reports the strategy, which can be applied for developing gallic acid biosensors using bacterial species outside Pseudomonas genus.

Effects of medwakh smoking on salivary metabolomics and its association with altered oral redox homeostasis among youth

The use of alternative tobacco products, particularly medwakh, has expanded among youth in the Middle East and around the world. The present study is conducted to investigate the biochemical and pathophysiological changes caused by medwakh smoking, and to examine the salivary metabolomics profile of medwakh smokers. Saliva samples were collected from 30 non-smokers and 30 medwakh smokers and subjected to metabolomic analysis by UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS. The CRP and Glutathione Peroxidase 1 activity levels in the study samples were quantified by ELISA and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) by TAC assay kits. Statistical measurements and thorough validation of data obtained from untargeted metabolomics identified 37 uniquely and differentially abundant metabolites in saliva of medwakh smokers. The levels of phthalate, L-sorbose, cytosine, uridine, alpha-hydroxy hippurate, and L-nicotine were noticeably high in medwakh smokers. Likewise, 20 metabolic pathways were differentially altered in medwakh smokers. This study identified a distinctive saliva metabolomics profile in medwakh smokers associated with altered redox homeostasis, metabolic pathways, antioxidant system, and CRP levels. The impact of the altered metabolites in medwakh smokers and their diagnostic utility require further research in large cohorts.

Phytochemicals as potential target on thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are currently the major cause of death and morbidity on a global scale. Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) is a marker related to metabolism, oxidation, and inflammation induced in CVDs. The overexpression of TXNIP is closely related to the occurrence and development of CVDs. Hence, TXNIP inhibition is critical for reducing the overactivation of its downstream signaling pathway and, as a result, myocardial cell damage. Due to the chemical variety of dietary phytochemicals, they have garnered increased interest for CVDs prevention and therapy. Phytochemicals are a source of medicinal compounds for a variety of conditions, which aids in the development of effective and safe TXNIP-targeting medications. The objective of this article is to find and virtual screen novel safe, effective, and economically viable TXNIP inhibitors from flavonoids, phenols, and alkaloids derived from foods and plants. The results of the docking study revealed that silibinin, rutin, luteolin, baicalin, procyanidin B2, hesperetin, icariin, and tilianin in flavonoids, polydatin, resveratrol, and salidroside in phenols, and neferine in alkaloids had the highest Vina scores, indicating that these compounds are the active chemicals on TXNIP. In particular, silibinin can be utilized as a lead chemical in the process of structural alteration. These dietary phytochemicals may aid in the discovery of lead compounds for the development of innovative TXNIP agents for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Above the Invasive and Ornamental Attributes of the Traveler's Palm: An In Vitro and In Silico Insight into the Anti-Oxidant, Anti-Enzymatic, Cytotoxic and Phytochemical Characterization of Ravenala madagascariensis

Ravenala madagascariensis is a widely known ornamental and medicinal plant, but with a dearth of scientific investigations regarding its phytochemical and pharmacological properties. Hence, these properties were appraised in this study. The DPPH (154.08 ± 2.43 mgTE/g), FRAP (249.40 ± 3.01 mgTE/g), CUPRAC (384.57 ± 1.99 mgTE/g), metal chelating (29.68 ± 0.74 mgEDTAE/g) and phosphomolybdenum assay (2.38 ± 0.07 mmolTE/g) results demonstrated that the aqueous extract had the most prominent antioxidant activity, while the methanolic extract displayed the best antioxidant potential in the ABTS assay (438.46 ± 1.69 mgTE/g). The HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS-MS analysis allowed the characterization of 41 metabolites. The methanolic extract was the most active against acetylcholinesterase. All extracts were active against the alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes, with the ethyl acetate extract being the most active against the alpha-amylase enzyme, while the methanolic extract showed the best alpha-glucosidase inhibition. A plethora of metabolites bonded more energetically with the assayed enzymes active sites based on the results of the in silico studies. R. madagascariensis extracts used in this study exhibited cytotoxicity against HT29 cells. The IC₅₀ of the methanolic extract was lower (506.99 ug/mL). Based on the heat map, whereby flavonoids were found to be in greater proportion in the extracts, it can be concluded that the flavonoid portion of the extracts contributed to the most activity.