Dihydroquercetin Effects on the Morphology and Antioxidant/Prooxidant Balance of the Prostate in Rats with Sulpiride-Induced Benign Hyperplasia

Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of taxifolin against vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA)

Background and objective: The medicinal effects of flavonoids are widely described in the literature; however, their antimicrobial effects against antibiotic resistant bacteria are yet to be highlighted. This study was aimed at investigating the growth and biofilm inhibitory effects of taxifolin, a flavonoid, against vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA). Methods: Seven VRSA isolates were used to assess the antimicrobial and antibiofilm influence of taxifolin. The agar-well diffusion method was used to determine the zones of inhibition caused by taxifolin, and resazurin-based microdilution technique was used to assess the minimum inhibitory concentration. Crystal violet staining technique was used to assess the biomass of biofilms formed by the microorganisms. GraphPad Prism software was used to present the data in figures. Results: Taxifolin inhibited bacterial growth in a dose-dependent fashion and reduced bacterial viability. It similarly attenuated the biofilm production activity of bacterial isolates in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: Current findings suggest the antibacterial and antibiofilm influence of taxifolin against VRSA in a dose-dependent manner.

Simulation studies, 3D QSAR and molecular docking on a point mutation of protein kinase B with flavonoids targeting ovarian Cancer

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer is the world's dreaded disease and its prevalence is expanding globally. The study of integrated molecular networks is crucial for the basic mechanism of cancer cells and their progression. During the present investigation, we have examined different flavonoids that target protein kinases B (AKT1) protein which exerts their anticancer efficiency intriguing the role in cross-talk cell signalling, by metabolic processes through in-silico approaches.

METHOD

Molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) was performed to analyze and evaluate the stability of the complexes under physiological conditions and the results were congruent with molecular docking. This investigation revealed the effect of a point mutation (W80R), considered based on their frequency of occurrence, with AKT1 protein.

RESULTS

The ligand with high docking scores and favourable behaviour on dynamic simulations are proposed as potential W80R inhibitors. A virtual screening analysis was performed with 12,000 flavonoids satisfying Lipinski's rule of five according to which drug-likeness is predicted based on its pharmacological and biological properties to be active and taken orally. The pharmacokinetic ADME (adsorption, digestion, metabolism, and excretion) studies featured drug-likeness. Subsequently, a statistically significant 3D-QSAR model of high correlation coefficient (R2) with 0.822 and cross-validation coefficient (Q2) with 0.6132 at 4 component PLS (partial least square) were used to verify the accuracy of the models. Taxifolin holds good interactions with the binding domain of W80R, highest Glide score of - 9.63 kcal/mol with OH of GLU234 and H bond ASP274 and LEU156 amino acid residues and one pi-cation interaction and one hydrophobic bond with LYS276.

CONCLUSION

Natural compounds have always been a richest source of active compounds with a wide variety of structures, therefore, these compounds showed a special inspiration for medical chemists. The present study has aimed molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies on taxifolin targeting W80R mutant protein of protein kinase B/serine- threonine kinase/AKT1 (EC:2.7.11.1) protein of ovarian cancer for designing therapeutic intervention. The expected result supported the molecular cause in a mutant form which resulted in a gain of ovarian cancer. Here we discussed validations computationally and yet experimental evaluation or in vivo studies are endorsed for further study. Several of these compounds should become the next marvels for early detection of ovarian cancer.

Chemical profiles of the active fraction from Prinsepia utilis Royle leaves and its anti-benign prostatic hyperplasia evaluation in animal models

Background

The Prinsepia utilis Royle leaves (P. utilis) is a folk herb used for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) control by ethnic minorities for centuries in China with rich in resources. Our previous studies have confirmed the anti-BPH effect of its water extract (QCJ) and the active fraction (Fr. B) separated from the QCJ by animal test. The Fr. B from P. utilis should be a potential candidate for BPH control.

Methods

In this study, the chemical ingredients of Fr. B were identified by UPLC-QTOF-MS, and quantified by HPLC. Murine animal models were divided into 8 groups, Sham rats, BPH rats, BPH rats administered with finasteride (1 mg/kg), BPH rats administered with Pule’an (460 mg/kg), BPH rats administered with low, high dosage of QCJ (860 mg/kg, 2580 mg/kg respectively), BPH rats administered with low, high dosage of Fr. B (160 mg/kg, 480 mg/kg respectively). The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the prostate tissue of rats was tested, and serum levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and total superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) in prostate homogenate were measured. One-way ANOVA followed by LSD was used for statistical analysis.

Results

The BPH rats treated by Fr. B exhibited significant reductions of VEGF and MDA levels, as well as significant increases of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT in the prostate tissue after 28 day administration (P < 0.05). Moreover, Fr. B significantly reduced DHT, DHT/E2 ratio, TNF-α, while increased T levels in serum of BPH rats (P < 0.05). UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis revealed 10 flavonoids as the key constituents of this fraction, which accounted for 54.96% of all substance of Fr. B. The relative contents of compound 1, 2 are 11.1%, 13% in Fr. B respectively.

Conclusions

These results indicated that the Fr. B obtained from P. utilis alleviated the symptoms of BPH rats through multiple mechanisms including reduction of DHT/E2 ratio, inhibition of growth factor, anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation, in which flavonoids might be the key constituents. It supported the hypothesis that the Fr. B should be further explored as a candidate for BPH patients.

An insight into the health-promoting effects of taxifolin (dihydroquercetin)

Taxifolin (3,5,7,3,4-pentahydroxy flavanone or dihydroquercetin) is a flavonoid commonly found in onion, milk thistle, French maritime pine bark and Douglas fir bark. It is also used in various commercial preparations like Legalon™, Pycnogenol^®, and Venoruton^®. This review focuses on taxifolin's biological activities and related molecular mechanisms. Published literatures were gathered from the scientific databases like PubMed, SciFinder, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library, Google Scholar, and Web of Science up to January 2019. Taxifolin showed promising pharmacological activities in the management of inflammation, tumors, microbial infections, oxidative stress, cardiovascular, and liver disorders. The anti-cancer activity was more prominent than other activities evaluated using different in vitro and in vivo models. Further research on the pharmacokinetics, in-depth molecular mechanisms, and safety profile using well-designed randomized clinical studies are suggested to develop a drug for human use.

Experimental Analysis of the Efficacy of Dihydroquercetin on the Model of Chronic Nonbacterial Inflammation of the Prostatic Gland

We studied the efficiency of dihydroquercetin on the model of chronic nonbacterial inflammation of the prostatic gland in rats. It was found that administration of dihydroquercetin was followed by a significant decrease in the area of the connective tissue in the prostatic gland to initial levels, which attested to antifibrotic properties of this oxidant. Additionally, the substance prevented the development of atrophy of acinus epithelium. After administration of reference drug Prostamol Uno, only moderate antifibrotic effects were observed.

Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Could Dietary Polyphenols Be an Alternative to Existing Therapies?

The incidence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is gradually on the increase. While conventional drugs such as the α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists and 5α-reductase inhibitors have been found to be useful in the treatment of BPH, the adverse side effects associated with their usage, have led to increased search for alternative means of managing this disease. Furthermore, although surgery has also been suggested to be a sure method, the cost and risks associated with it excludes it as a routine treatment. Dietary polyphenols have gained public interest in recent times due to their roles in the prevention of various diseases that implicate free radicals/reactive oxygen species. However, their roles in the management of BPH have not been explored. Hence, this review on their prospects in the management of BPH and their mechanisms of action. Literature search was carried out in several electronic data bases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Medline, Agora, and Hinari from1970 to 2017 to identify the current status of knowledge on this concept. The findings from these data bases suggest that while dietary polyphenols may not replace the need for the existing therapies in the management of BPH, they hold promise in BPH management which could be explored by researchers working in this field.