The combination of sesamol and clofibric acid moieties leads to a novel potent hypolipidemic agent with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activity

Optimization of clofibrate by carvacrol results in a new hypolipidemic compound with low hepatic injury

The hepatic injury caused by clofibrate (CF) is strongly associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. This study aims to develop a hypolipidemic compound that possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties and reduces liver injury. Carvacrol-clofibrate (CF-Carvacrol) was synthesized by optimizing the structure of CF by carvacrol. CF-Carvacrol showed significant lipid-lowering effects in hyperlipidemic mouse models induced by Triton WR 1339. The molecular docking results showed that CF-Carvacrol has a good affinity for PPAR-α. The liver injury study showed that CF-Carvacrol had significantly lower liver injury compared to CF. Manifested as a significant decrease in liver weight and liver coefficient (P < 0.01), as well as a significant decrease in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P < 0.01). Histopathology of liver tissue showed that the necrosis of liver cells, cytoplasmic looseness, nuclear degeneration, and infiltration of inflammatory cells were significantly reduced in the CF-Carvacrol group. CF-Carvacrol can significantly up-regulate the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in liver (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The expression of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6 in the liver was significantly down-regulation (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) significantly increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in lipid peroxidation significantly decreased (P < 0.01). These results revealed that CF-Carvacrol has significant hypolipidemic activity and mild liver injury, and may exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway to reduce liver injury.

Sesamol defends neuronal damage following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion: a crosstalk of autophagy and Notch1/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling

OBJECTIVE

Sesamol (SES) is a phenolic compound found in sesame seed oil. Several studies have revealed its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, its complete underlying mechanistic perspective about cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) lesions has not yet been disclosed. Consequently, we aimed to scrutinize its neuroprotective mechanism against cerebral injury during a global cerebral I/R in a rat model, considering its impact on autophagy and Notch1/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling regulation.

METHODS

To affirm our purpose, adult Wistar rats were allotted into five groups: sham and the other four groups in which transient global cerebral ischemia was induced by bilateral common ligation (2VO) for 1 h, then reperfusion for either 24 h or 5 days: I/R (1/24), I/R (1/5), SES + I/R (1/24), and SES + I/R (1/5). In treated groups, SES (100 mg/kg, p.o., for 21 days) was administered before cerebral I/R induction. The assessment of histopathological changes in brain tissues, immunohistochemistry, biochemical assays, ELISA, and qRT-PCR were utilized to investigate our hypothesis.

RESULTS

Advantageously, SES halted the structural neuronal damage with lessened demyelination induced by cerebral I/R injury. Restoring oxidant/antioxidant balance was evident by boosting the total antioxidant capacity and waning lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, SES reduced inflammatory and apoptosis markers. Additionally, SES recovered GFAP, Cx43, and autophagy signaling, which in turn switched off the Notch-1/NLRP3 inflammasome trajectory.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results revealed the neuroprotective effect of SES against cerebral I/R injury through alleviating injurious events and boosting autophagy, consequently abolishing Notch1/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling.

Antibacterial Effect and Possible Mechanism of Sesamol against Foodborne Pathogens

Food safety problems caused by foodborne pathogens have become a major public issue, and the search for efficient and safe bacteriostatic agents has gained attention. Sesamol (SE), a phenolic compound abundant in sesame oil, offers numerous health benefits and exhibits certain antibacterial properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial effect and potential mechanisms of SE against representative foodborne pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella serovar Enteritidis. The results showed that SE significantly inhibited the growth of the five pathogenic bacteria in sterile saline and pasteurized milk by 2.16-4.16 log10 CFU/g within 48 h. The results of the minimum bactericidal concentration and time-kill assay showed that SE had a greater inhibitory effect on L. monocytogenes compared with other bacteria. Additionally, SE was found to alter the cell membranes' permeability in these bacteria, resulting in the release of intercellular proteins and DNA. A scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that exposure to SE resulted in significant changes in bacterial morphology, producing cell shrinkage and deformation. These findings suggest that SE could inhibit both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria by interfering with the function and morphology of bacterial cells.

Sesamol: A lignan in sesame seeds with potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties

Inflammation is associated with the development and progression of a plethora of diseases including joint, metabolic, neurological, hepatic, and renal disorders. Sesamol, derived from the seeds of Sesamum indicum L., has received considerable attention due to its well-documented multipotent phytotherapeutic effects, including its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. However, to date, no comprehensive review has been established to highlight or summarize the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of sesamol. Herein, we aim to address this gap in the literature by presenting a thorough review encapsulating evidence surrounding the range of inflammatory mediators and cytokines shown to be targeted by sesamol in modulating its anti-inflammatory actions against a range of inflammatory disorders. Additionally, evidence highlighting the role that sesamol has in modulating components of adaptive immunity including cellular immune responses and Th1/Th2 balance is underscored. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms and the signaling pathways underlying such effects are also highlighted. Findings indicate that this seemingly potent lignan mediates its anti-inflammatory actions, at least in part, via suppression of various pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-1β and TNFα, and downregulation of a multitude of signaling pathways including NF-κB and MAPK. In conclusion, we anticipate that sesamol may be employed in future therapeutic regimens to aid in more effective drug development to alleviate immune-related and inflammatory conditions.

Hypolipidemic and Anti-Atherogenic Effects of Sesamol and Possible Mechanisms of Action: A Comprehensive Review

Sesamol is a phenolic lignan isolated from Sesamum indicum seeds and sesame oil. Numerous studies have reported that sesamol exhibits lipid-lowering and anti-atherogenic properties. The lipid-lowering effects of sesamol are evidenced by its effects on serum lipid levels, which have been attributed to its potential for significantly influencing molecular processes involved in fatty acid synthesis and oxidation as well as cholesterol metabolism. In this review, we present a comprehensive summary of the reported hypolipidemic effects of sesamol, observed in several in vivo and in vitro studies. The effects of sesamol on serum lipid profiles are thoroughly addressed and evaluated. Studies highlighting the ability of sesamol to inhibit fatty acid synthesis, stimulate fatty acid oxidation, enhance cholesterol metabolism, and modulate macrophage cholesterol efflux are outlined. Additionally, the possible molecular pathways underlying the cholesterol-lowering effects of sesamol are presented. Findings reveal that the anti-hyperlipidemic effects of sesamol are achieved, at least in part, by targeting liver X receptor α (LXRα), sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression, as well as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathways. A detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-hyperlipidemic potential of sesamol is necessary to assess the possibility of utilizing sesamol as an alternative natural therapeutic agent with potent hypolipidemic and anti-atherogenic properties. Research into the optimal sesamol dosage that may bring about such favorable hypolipidemic effects should be further investigated, most importantly in humans, to ensure maximal therapeutic benefit.