The effects of edaravone, a free-radical scavenger in lung injury induced by valproic acid demonstrated via different biochemical parameters

Biochemical and Histological Effects of Moringa oleifera Extract against Valproate-Induced Kidney Damage

Valproic acid is an effective treatment for generalized seizure and related neurological defects. Despite its efficacy and acceptability, its use is associated with adverse drug effects. Moringa oleifera leaves are rich in phytochemical and nutritional components. It has excellent antioxidant and ethnobotanical benefits, thus popular among folk medicines and nutraceuticals. In the present study, 70% ethanol extract of moringa leaves was assessed for its in vivo biochemical and histological effects against valproate-induced kidney damage. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: Group I: control animals given physiological saline (n = 8); Group II: Moringa extract-administered group (0.3 g/kg b.w./day, n = 8); Group III: valproate-administered animals (0.5 g/kg b.w./day, n = 15); and Group IV: valproate + moringa extract (given similar doses of both valproate and moringa extract, n = 12) administered group. Treatments were administered orally for 15 days, the animals were fasted overnight, anesthetized, and then tissue samples harvested. In the valproate-administered experimental group, serum urea and uric acid were elevated. In the kidney tissue of the valproate rats, glutathione was depleted, antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, and glutathione peroxidase) disrupted, while oxidative stress biomarker, inflammatory proteins (Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6), histological damage scores, and the number of PCNA-positive cells were elevated. M. oleifera attenuated all these biochemical defects through its plethora of diverse antioxidant and therapeutic properties.

Ameliorative Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Moringa oleifera Leaves in Combination with Curcumin against PTZ-Induced Kindled Epilepsy in Rats: In Vivo and In Silico

The ameliorative effect of ethanolic extract of M. oleifera (MOEE) leaves in combination with curcumin against seizures, cognitive impairment, and oxidative stress in the molecular docking of PTZ-induced kindled rats was performed to predict the potential phytochemical effects of MOEE and curcumin against epilepsy. The effect of pretreatment with leaves of M. oleifera ethanolic extracts (MOEE) (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg, orally), curcumin (200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg, orally), valproic acid used as a standard (100 mg/kg), and the combined effect of MOEE (250 mg/kg) and curcumin (200 mg/kg) at a low dose on Pentylenetetrazole was used for (PTZ)-induced kindling For the development of kindling, individual Wistar rats (male) were injected with pentyletetrazole (40 mg/kg, i.p.) on every alternate day. Molecular docking was performed by the Auto Dock 4.2 tool to merge the ligand orientations in the binding cavity. From the RCSB website, the crystal structure of human glutathione reductase (PDB ID: 3DK9) was obtained. Curcumin and M. oleifera ethanolic extracts (MOEE) showed dose-dependent effects. The combined effects of MOEE and curcumin leaves significantly improved the seizure score and decreased the number of myoclonic jerks compared with a standard dose of valproic acid. PTZ kindling induced significant oxidative stress and cognitive impairment, which was reversed by pretreatment with MOEE and curcumin. Glutathione reductase (GR) is an enzyme that plays a key role in the cellular control of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, activating GR can uplift antioxidant properties, which leads to the inhibition of ROS-induced cell death in the brain. The combination of the ethanolic extract of M. oleifera (MOEE) leaves and curcumin has shown better results than any other combination for antiepileptic effects by virtue of antioxidant effects. As per the docking study, chlorogenic acid and quercetin treated with acombination of curcumin have much more potential.

Therapeutic Potential of Zeolites/Vitamin B12 Nanocomposite on Complete Freund's Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis as a Bone Disorder: In Vivo Study and Bio-Molecular Investigations

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disease. As nanotechnology has advanced, a growing number of nanodrugs have been used in the treatment of RA due to their unique physical and chemical properties. The purpose of this study was to assess the therapeutic potential of a novel zeolite/vitamin B12 nanocomposite (Nano ZT/Vit B12) formulation in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis. The newly synthesized Nano ZT/Vit B12 was fully characterized using various techniques such as XRD, FT-IR, BET analysis, HERTEM, SEM, practical size, zeta potential, XRF, and EDX. The anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities as well as the immunomodulation effect of Nano ZT/Vit B12 on the CFA rat model of arthritis were examined. Histopathologic ankle joint injuries caused by CFA intrapedal injection included synovium hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration, and extensive cartilage deterioration. The arthritic rats' Nano ZT/Vit B12 supplementation significantly improved these effects. Furthermore, in arthritic rats, Nano ZT/Vit B12 significantly reduced serum levels of RF and CRP, as well as the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-17, and ADAMTS-5, while increasing IL-4 and TIMP-3 levels. Nano-ZT/Vit B12 significantly declined the LPO level and increased antioxidant activities, such as GSH content and GST activity, in the arthritic rats. In arthritic rats, Nano ZT/Vit B12 also reduced TGF-β mRNA gene expression and MMP-13 protein levels. Collectively, Nano ZT/Vit B12 seems to have anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, making it a promising option for RA in the future.

Edaravone Attenuated Particulate Matter-Induced Lung Inflammation by Inhibiting ROS-NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Background

Particulate matter (PM) exposure is related to mitochondria dysfunction and airway inflammation. Antioxidant drug edaravone (EDA) is reported to improve the occurrence and development of oxidative stress-related diseases. At present, there is no data on whether EDA can alleviate lung inflammation caused by PM.

Methods

The anti-inflammatory effects of EDA were investigated in urban PM-induced human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) and C57/BL6J mouse models. In vitro, its effects on the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and inflammatory cytokines were assessed by DCFH-DA staining, JC-1 assay, and real-time PCR, respectively. In vivo, the oxidant stress in lung tissues was assessed by dihydroethidium (DHE) staining and malondialdehyde (MDA) activity, and inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were assessed by ELISA, respectively. Furthermore, the potential signaling pathways were studied by siRNA transfection and western blot.

Results

PM increased the expression of inflammatory cytokines and protein, including IL-6, IL-1α, IL-1β, and COX-2, while these alternations were significantly alleviated following EDA treatment in a dose-dependent manner. EDA treatment also alleviated the inflammatory responses in lung tissues of PM-exposed mice. We further showed mitochondrial dysfunction in PM-exposed HBECs and mice, which were reversed by EDA treatment. Moreover, the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 in PM-exposed HBECs and mice was weakened by EDA. Transfection with NF-κB p65 siRNA further inhibited PM-induced inflammation in HBECs.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that EDA treatment had a protective role in PM-induced lung inflammation through maintaining mitochondrial balance and regulating the ROS-NF-κB p65 signaling pathway. This provided a new therapeutic method for PM-induced lung inflammation in the future.