β-Caryophyllene causes regression of endometrial implants in a rat model of endometriosis without affecting fertility

Ethyl Pyruvate as a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Endometriosis: A Perspective

Endometriosis is a disease where vascularised tissue similar to endometrium (the lining of the uterus) grows outside of the uterus. Its pathogenesis involves a complex interplay of inflammation, angiogenesis, cellular proliferation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, altered energy metabolism, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT).Even though endometriosis was described more than 150 years ago, we have been unable to find its effective therapy. Conservative treatment approaches like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or hormone therapy are available to date for the treatment of endometriosis. Anti-angiogenic inhibitors and immunomodulators like IFN-α, β, and TNF-α inhibitors are also potential treatment options. These treatments are inadequate as they either affect the symptoms only of endometriosis or target only one pathological pathway involved. Surgical excision of the endometriotic lesion is also possible, however, recurrence of the disease is reported in several cases. A single therapeutic agent targeting several pathological processes in endometriosis would always be a better option. Here we present our perspective on the pharmacological potential of Ethyl pyruvate and also propose it as a promising therapeutic agent for endometriosis as it inhibits inflammation, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, aerobic glycolysis, EMT, and ROS activity together.

Ameliorative Role of β-Caryophyllene on Antioxidant Biomarkers in a Paroxetine-Induced Model of Male Sexual Dysfunction

Male sexual dysfunction, characterised by reduced libido, ejaculatory issues and erectile dysfunction, often results from oxidative stress and enzymatic imbalance, notably involving phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS). This study explores the therapeutic potential of β-caryophyllene (β-CBP), a sesquiterpene with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, in mitigating paroxetine-induced sexual dysfunction in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into nine treatment groups: control, paroxetine (20 mg/kg/day), sildenafil (20 mg/kg/day), β-CBP (10 mg/kg/day), β-CBP (20 mg/kg/day), paroxetine with β-CBP (10 mg/kg), paroxetine with β-CBP (20 mg/kg), paroxetine with sildenafil and β-CBP with sildenafil. Sexual behavioural assays were evaluated, along with oxidative stress markers, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity in penile tissue, assessed using spectrophotometric analysis. CB2 receptor expression was significantly increased in β-CBP-treated groups, suggesting enhanced cannabinoid receptor-mediated signalling, which may be linked to improved erectile function. The effects were dose-dependent, with the 20 mg/kg β-CBP group displaying the most significant improvements. Additionally, β-CBP restored antioxidant enzyme activities, including SOD, CAT and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in penile tissue, effectively reducing oxidative stress. β-CBP shows promise as a therapeutic agent for male sexual dysfunction by enhancing antioxidative capacity and modulating enzymatic balance.

Emerging bioengineering breakthroughs in precision diagnosis and therapy for endometriosis and adenomyosis

Endometriosis and adenomyosis are debilitating gynecological conditions that severely affect the quality of life of women. Traditional diagnostic and treatment methods, including laparoscopic surgery and hormonal therapy, face significant limitations such as incomplete lesion detection, high recurrence rates, and adverse side effects. Emerging bioengineering technologies offer promising solutions for precise diagnosis and therapy of these diseases. Advances in biomarker detection through electrochemical immunosensors, including specific molecular markers like cytokines and growth factors, have improved their early diagnosis. Innovative imaging techniques, such as near-infrared fluorescence imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, and photoacoustic imaging, enhance lesion visualization and surgical precision. In therapeutic applications, bioengineered drug delivery systems enable targeted therapy by modifying drug carriers with ligands targeting highly expressed receptors in endometriotic lesions. Such strategies could improve drug accumulation at target sites and reduce damage to healthy tissues. Integrating external energy (including lasers, focused ultrasound, and magnetic fields) with nanoplatforms offers key benefits for treating endometriosis and adenomyosis, allowing precise delivery of energy-responsive molecules to lesions and minimizing damage to healthy tissues. Additionally, novel approaches, such as immunotherapy, gene therapy, ferroptosis induction, and synthetic lethal activation, offer new avenues for effective treatment of endometriosis and adenomyosis. Significantly, this paper discusses the advantages of precision diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis in preserving the fertility of women of reproductive age. This review highlights the potential of bioengineering breakthroughs to transform the diagnosis and management of endometriosis and adenomyosis, emphasizing their role in advancing precision medicine and improving women's health.

Exploring β-caryophyllene: a non-psychotropic cannabinoid's potential in mitigating cognitive impairment induced by sleep deprivation

Sleep deprivation or sleep loss, a prevalent issue in modern society, is linked to cognitive impairment, leading to heightened risks of errors and accidents. Chronic sleep deprivation affects various cognitive functions, including memory, attention, and decision-making, and is associated with an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular issues, and metabolic disorders. This review examines the potential of β-caryophyllene, a dietary non-psychotropic cannabinoid, and FDA-approved flavoring agent, as a therapeutic solution for sleep loss-induced cognitive impairment. It highlights β-caryophyllene's ability to mitigate key contributors to sleep loss-induced cognitive impairment, such as inflammation, oxidative stress, neuronal death, and reduced neuroplasticity, by modulating various signaling pathways, including TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3, MAPK, Nrf2/HO-1, PI3K/Akt, and cAMP/PKA/CREB. As a naturally occurring, non-psychotropic compound with low toxicity, β-caryophyllene emerges as a promising candidate for further investigation. The review underscores the therapeutic potential of β-caryophyllene for sleep loss-induced cognitive impairment and provides mechanistic insights into its action on crucial pathways, suggesting that β-caryophyllene could be a valuable addition to strategies aimed at combating cognitive impairment and other health issues due to sleep loss.

To Explore the Putative Molecular Targets of Diabetic Nephropathy and their Inhibition Utilizing Potential Phytocompounds

BACKGROUND

This review critically addresses the putative molecular targets of Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) and screens effective phytocompounds that can be therapeutically beneficial, and highlights their mechanistic modalities of action.

INTRODUCTION

DN has become one of the most prevalent complications of clinical hyperglycemia, with individual-specific variations in the disease spectrum that leads to fatal consequences. Diverse etiologies involving oxidative and nitrosative stress, activation of polyol pathway, inflammasome formation, Extracellular Matrix (ECM) modifications, fibrosis, and change in dynamics of podocyte functional and mesangial cell proliferation adds up to the clinical complexity of DN. Current synthetic therapeutics lacks target-specific approach, and is associated with the development of inevitable residual toxicity and drug resistance. Phytocompounds provides a vast diversity of novel compounds that can become an alternative therapeutic approach to combat the DN.

METHODS

Relevant publications were searched and screened from research databases like GOOGLE SCHOLAR, PUBMED and SCISEARCH. Out of 4895 publications, the most relevant publications were selected and included in this article.

RESULT

This study critically reviews over 60 most promising phytochemical and provides with their molecular targets, that can be of pharmacological significance in context to current treatment and concomitant research in DN.

CONCLUSION

This review highlights those most promising phytocompounds that have the potential of becoming new safer naturally-sourced therapeutic candidates and demands further attention at clinical level.

The nano-revolution in the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis

Endometriosis is a painful gynecological disease with a high prevalence, affecting millions of women worldwide. Innovative, non-invasive treatments, and new patient follow-up strategies are needed to deal with the harmful social and economic effects. In this scenario, considering the recent, very promising results already reported in the literature, a commitment to new research in the field of nanomedicine is urgently needed. Study findings clearly show the potential of this approach in both the diagnostic and therapeutic phases of endometriosis. Here, we offer a brief review of the recent exciting and effective applications of nanomedicine in both the diagnosis and therapy of endometriosis. Special emphasis will be placed on the emerging theranostic application of nanoproducts, and the combination of phototherapy and nanotechnology as new therapeutic modalities for endometriosis. The review will also provide interested readers with a guide to the selection process and parameters to consider when designing research into this type of approach.

The Effects of Clove and Its Constituents on Reproductive System: a Comprehensive Review

Clove with the scientific name of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry is an evergreen tree in which its buds are used for medicinal purposes. Traditional medicine manuscripts as well as recent studies reported its effects on male and female reproductive systems. The aim of this study is to investigate the reported contradictory effects of clove and its phytochemicals on the reproductive system of both males and females. All types of in vitro, animal, and human studies of clove and its main constituents in the field of reproductive systems were collected via searching electronic databases including PubMed and Scopus from the onset till 2021. In this review, 76 articles were included, of which 25 were related to male reproduction, 32 were related to female reproduction, and 19 were related to reproductive malignancies. Analysis of the literature indicates the effects of clove and its constituents especially eugenol and β-caryophyllene on the level of sex hormones, fertility, sperm abnormalities, endometriosis, menstrual cycle, as well as gynecological infections, and reproductive tumors. The main mechanism of clove has not been understood yet but it seems that different parameters affect its pharmacological activity including the type of extract, dose, and duration of administration as well as the primary cause of the disorder. According to the effects of clove on different parts of the reproductive system, it seems that it can be a suitable candidate for related disorders, provided that more and more detailed studies are done on it.

Development, characterization and evidence of anti-endometriotic activity of Phytocannabinoid-Rich nanoemulsions

During the last decades, the cannabinoid research for therapeutic purposes has been rapidly advancing, with an ever-growing body of evidence of beneficial effects for a wide sort of conditions, including those related to mucosal and epithelial homeostasis, inflammatory processes, immune responses, nociception, and modulating cell differentiation. β-caryophyllene (BCP) is a lipophilic volatile sesquiterpene, known as non-cannabis-derived phytocannabinoid, with documented anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and analgesic effects in both in vitro and in vivo models. Copaiba oil (COPA) is an oil-resin, mainly composed of BCP and other lipophilic and volatile components. COPA is reported to show several therapeutic effects, including anti-endometriotic properties and its use is widespread throughout the Amazonian folk medicine. COPA was nanoencapsulated into nanoemulsions (NE), then evaluated regarding the potential for transvaginal drug delivery and providing endometrial stromal cell proliferation in vitro. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that spherical NE were obtained with COPA concentration that varied from 5 to 7 wt%, while surfactant was maintained at 7.75 wt%. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements showed droplet sizes of 30.03 ± 1.18, 35.47 ± 2.02, 43.98 ± 4.23 and PdI of 0.189, 0.175 and 0.182, respectively, with stability against coalescence and Ostwald ripening during 90 days. Physicochemical characterization results suggest that NE were able to both improve solubility and loading capacity, and increase thermal stability of COPA volatile components. Moreover, they showed slow and sustained release for up to eight hours, following the Higuchi kinetic model. Endometrial stromal cells from non-endometriotic lesions and ectopic endometrium were treated with different concentrations of COPA-loaded NE for 48 h to evaluate its effect on cell viability and morphology. The results suggested significant decrease in cell viability and morphological modifications in concentrations higher than 150 μg/ml of COPA-loaded NE, but not when cells were treated with the vehicle (without COPA). Given the relevance of Copaifera spp. species in folk medicine and their bio economical importance in the Amazon, the development of novel formulations to overcome the technological limitations related to BCP and COPA, is promising. Our results showed that COPA-loaded NE can lead to a novel, uterus-targeting, more effective and promising natural alternative treatment of endometriosis.

Potential protective effect of beta-caryophyllene against cadmium chloride-induced damage to the male reproductive system in mouse

Cadmium is a metal that can affect the male reproductive process, possibly leading to infertility. In contrast, beta-caryophyllene (BC) is a sesquiterpene that has shown antigenotoxic, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the protective effect of BC against the deleterious effects of cadmium chloride (CC) on various mouse testicular and sperm parameters. We tested three doses of BC (20, 200, and 400 mg/kg) given before and during exposure to 3 mg/kg CC (six days after a single administration). Our results show significant alleviation of the damage induced by CC after the three doses of BC. Regarding the sperm concentration and morphology, the protection with the high dose was complete, and regarding sperm mobility and viability, the protection was more than 74%. In the comet assay, the highest dose showed a reduction of 92.5% in the damage induced by CC, and regarding the number of micronuclei in the spermatids, the reduction was 83.3%. In the oxidative evaluation, regarding sperm lipoperoxidation, the improvement was complete with the high dose, and in the ABTS.+ test, the improvement in the response to the BC high dose was 26.3%. Regarding testicular lipoperoxidation and protein oxidation, the protective effects of the high BC dose were 87.6% and 89.9%, respectively. We also found that BC protected against the histological and morphometric alterations induced by CC. Therefore, our study clearly demonstrates the beneficial, chemopreventive effect of BC against the mouse sperm and testicular alterations induced by CC.

The Complexity of Sesquiterpene Chemistry Dictates Its Pleiotropic Biologic Effects on Inflammation

Sesquiterpenes (SQs) are volatile compounds made by plants, insects, and marine organisms. SQ have a large range of biological properties and are potent inhibitors and modulators of inflammation, targeting specific components of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling pathway and nitric oxide (NO) generation. Because SQs can be isolated from over 1600 genera and 2500 species grown worldwide, they are an attractive source of phytochemical therapeutics. The chemical structure and biosynthesis of SQs is complex, and the SQ scaffold represents extraordinary structural variety consisting of both acyclic and cyclic (mono, bi, tri, and tetracyclic) compounds. These structures can be decorated with a diverse range of functional groups and substituents, generating many stereospecific configurations. In this review, the effect of SQs on inflammation will be discussed in the context of their complex chemistry. Because inflammation is a multifactorial process, we focus on specific aspects of inflammation: the inhibition of NF-kB signaling, disruption of NO production and modulation of dendritic cells, mast cells, and monocytes. Although the molecular targets of SQs are varied, we discuss how these pathways may mediate the effects of SQs on inflammation.

An Overview on the Conservative Management of Endometriosis from a Naturopathic Perspective: Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants

Background: Endometriosis is a chronic and debilitating disease, which affects millions of young women worldwide. Although medicine has incontestably evolved in the last years, there is no common ground regarding the early and accurate diagnosis of this condition, its pathogenic mechanisms, and curative treatment. Even though the spontaneous resolution of endometriosis is sometimes possible, recent reports suggested that it can be a progressive condition. It can associate chronic pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, infertility, or malignant degenerescence. Conventional treatments could produce many side effects, and despite treatment, the symptoms may reappear. In recent years, experimental evidence suggested that plant-based medicine could exert beneficial effects on endometriosis and endometriosis-related symptoms. This study aims to highlight the pharmaceutical activity of phytochemicals and medicinal plants against endometriosis and to provide a source of information regarding the alternative treatment of this condition. Methods: For this review, we performed a research using PubMed, GoogleScholar, and CrossRef databases. We selected the articles published between January 2000 and July 2020, written in English. Results: We found 17 medicinal plants and 13 phytochemicals, which have demonstrated their beneficial effects against endometriosis. Several of their biological activities consist of antiangiogenic, anti-inflammatory effects, and oxidative-stress reduction. Conclusion: Medicinal herbs and their bioactive compounds exhibit antiangiogenic, antioxidant, sedative and pain-alleviating properties and the effects recorded until now encourage their use for the conservative management of endometriosis.

Ameliorating Effects of Natural Antioxidant Compounds on Female Infertility: a Review

The prevalence of female infertility cases has been increasing at a frightening rate, affecting approximately 48 million women across the world. However, oxidative stress has been recognized as one of the main mediators of female infertility by causing various reproductive pathologies in females such as endometriosis, PCOS, preeclampsia, spontaneous abortion, and unexplained infertility. Nowadays, concerned women prefer dietary supplements with antioxidant properties over synthetic drugs as a natural way to lessen the oxidative stress and enhance their fertility. Therefore, the current review is an attempt to explore the efficacy of various natural antioxidant compounds including vitamins, carotenoids, and plant polyphenols and also of some medicinal plants in improving the fertility status of females. Our summarization of recent findings in the current article would pave the way toward the development of new possible antioxidant therapy to treat infertility in females. Natural antioxidant compounds found in fruits, vegetables, and other dietary sources, alone or in combination with other antioxidants, were found to be effective in ameliorating the oxidative stress-mediated infertility problems in both natural and assisted reproductive settings. Numerous medicinal plants showed promising results in averting the various reproductive disorders associated with female infertility, suggesting a plant-based herbal medicine to treat infertility. Although optimum levels of natural antioxidants have shown favorable results, however, their excessive intake may have adverse health impacts. Therefore, larger well-designed, dose-response studies in humans are further warranted to incorporate natural antioxidant compounds into the clinical management of female infertility.

Endometriosis: current challenges in modeling a multifactorial disease of unknown etiology

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory hormone-dependent condition associated with pelvic pain and infertility, characterized by the growth of ectopic endometrium outside the uterus. Given its still unknown etiology, treatments usually aim at diminishing pain and/or achieving pregnancy. Despite some progress in defining mode-of-action for drug development, the lack of reliable animal models indicates that novel approaches are required. The difficulties inherent to modeling endometriosis are related to its multifactorial nature, a condition that hinders the recreation of its pathology and the identification of clinically relevant metrics to assess drug efficacy. In this review, we report and comment endometriosis models and how they have led to new therapies. We envision a roadmap for endometriosis research, integrating Artificial Intelligence, three-dimensional cultures and organ-on-chip models as ways to achieve better understanding of physiopathological features and better tailored effective treatments.

A Systematic Review of Essential Oils and the Endocannabinoid System: A Connection Worthy of Further Exploration

Aromatic compounds have a long history of use as medicines in most recorded cultures. An increasing interest in these therapeutic volatile molecules in both scientific and lay communities has led to the advancement of essential oils as phytomedicines. Recent discoveries suggest essential oils augment the endocannabinoid system in a positive manner to mitigate various pathologies. However, the exact mechanisms whereby essential oils influence endocannabinoid system activity are not fully known, these studies provide a glimpse into their involvement and warrant further evaluation. Additional study of the interaction between essential oils and the endocannabinoid system may lead to promising phytomedicines for the treatment of diseases and conditions involving dysregulation or activation of the endocannabinoid system.

Modular Characteristics and Mechanism of Action of Herbs for Endometriosis Treatment in Chinese Medicine: A Data Mining and Network Pharmacology-Based Identification

Endometriosis is a common benign disease in women of reproductive age. It has been defined as a disorder characterized by inflammation, compromised immunity, hormone dependence, and neuroangiogenesis. Unfortunately, the mechanisms of endometriosis have not yet been fully elucidated, and available treatment methods are currently limited. The discovery of new therapeutic drugs and improvements in existing treatment schemes remain the focus of research initiatives. Chinese medicine can improve the symptoms associated with endometriosis. Many Chinese herbal medicines could exert antiendometriosis effects via comprehensive interactions with multiple targets. However, these interactions have not been defined. This study used association rule mining and systems pharmacology to discover a method by which potential antiendometriosis herbs can be investigated. We analyzed various combinations and mechanisms of action of medicinal herbs to establish molecular networks showing interactions with multiple targets. The results showed that endometriosis treatment in Chinese medicine is mainly based on methods of supplementation with blood-activating herbs and strengthening qi. Furthermore, we used network pharmacology to analyze the main herbs that facilitate the decoding of multiscale mechanisms of the herbal compounds. We found that Chinese medicine could affect the development of endometriosis by regulating inflammation, immunity, angiogenesis, and other clusters of processes identified by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. The antiendometriosis effect of Chinese medicine occurs mainly through nervous system–associated pathways, such as the serotonergic synapse, the neurotrophin signaling pathway, and dopaminergic synapse, among others, to reduce pain. Chinese medicine could also regulate VEGF signaling, toll-like reporter signaling, NF-κB signaling, MAPK signaling, PI3K-Akt signaling, and the HIF-1 signaling pathway, among others. Synergies often exist in herb pairs and herbal prescriptions. In conclusion, we identified some important targets, target pairs, and regulatory networks, using bioinformatics and data mining. The combination of data mining and network pharmacology may offer an efficient method for drug discovery and development from herbal medicines.

Plant-derived medicines for treatment of endometriosis: A comprehensive review of molecular mechanisms

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease with inflammatory lesions at extra-uterine sites, causing pelvic pain and fertility reduction. Conventional therapies primarily focus on reducing systemic levels of estrogens; however, they do not have desirable effectiveness and possess considerable side effects. Therefore, there is a growing interest in the use of herbal medicine for the treatment of endometriosis. In this paper, electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane library and Google Scholar were searched to obtain any studies evaluating any herbal products in the management of endometriosis. Data were collected from 1980 to 2018. Most of studies investigating the effect of herbal medicines in endometriosis were in vitro and animal and only three clinical trials were found; one on Pinus pinaster bark extract (Pycnogenol) and two on Chinese herbal formulas. The studies on phytochemicals had mostly focused on polyphenolic compounds (epigallocatechin-3-gallate, genistein) and sesquiterpenes (β-caryophyllene, parthenolide). Various molecular mechanisms of action have been involved in beneficial effects of herbal medicines and phytochemicals including anti-inflammatory (via reduction of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin -1, interleukin -6, interleukin -8, transforming growth factor-beta, tumor necrosis factor-α, nuclear factor-kappa B, growth factors, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1), antioxidant (through downregulation of hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species and upregulation of superoxide dismutase), anti-proliferative and apoptotic (via enhancing Bcl-2-associated X protein/ B-cell lymphoma-2 and caspase3, 8 and 9 activity), anti-angiogenic (by downregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors/ vascular endothelial growth factor), anti-invasive (via decreasing expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and matrix metalloproteinases), immunomodulatory, and estrogen modulating activities. So, medicinal plants seem to be a valuable source for identifying new drugs for treatment of endometriosis; however, since most of studies are preclinical, further clinical trials are required to achieve more conclusive results.

Essential Oils of Oregano: Biological Activity beyond Their Antimicrobial Properties

Essential oils of oregano are widely recognized for their antimicrobial activity, as well as their antiviral and antifungal properties. Nevertheless, recent investigations have demonstrated that these compounds are also potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and cancer suppressor agents. These properties of oregano essential oils are of potential interest to the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The aim of this manuscript is to review the latest evidence regarding essential oils of oregano and their beneficial effects on health.

Use of β-caryophyllene to combat bacterial dental plaque formation in dogs

BACKGROUND

Periodontal disease is a highly prevalent illness that affects many dogs, reaching up to 85 % prevalence in individuals over the age of 4 years. Currently the drug of choice for combating the formation of dental plaque in these animals, the etiologic agent of the disease, is chlorhexidine, which has several side effects reported. Thus, surveys are conducted throughout the world in order to identify potential substitutes for antimicrobial therapy and prevention of periodontal disease. The objective of the work was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of β-caryophyllene against bacteria from dog's dental plaque in vitro and in vivo. The minimum inhibitory concentration was evaluated by agar microdilution assay, the induction or inhibition of bacterial adherence by sub-inhibitory concentrations in 96-well plates, and reduction of dental plaque formation in mongrel dogs subjected to topical solution with β-caryophyllene for 15 days.

RESULTS

Results showed minimum inhibitory concentrations above 100 mg/mL for 25 % of the isolates, 100 mg/mL for 3 %, 50 mg/mL for 25 %, 25 mg/mL for 12 %, 12.5 mg/mL for 19 % and 6.25 mg/mL for 16 %. Bacterial adherences of three Enterococcus sp., one Streptococcus sp., one Haemophilus sp., one Aerococcus sp., one Bacillus sp. and one Lactococcus sp. isolates were inhibited by subinhibitory concentration. One Lactococcus sp., one Bacillus sp. and one Streptococcus sp. were stimulated to adhere by concentrations of 0.19, 1.56 and 0.78 mg/mL, respectively. In vivo assay showed reduction in dental plaque formation by β-caryophyllene, with final plaque coverage of 23.3 ± 2.6 % of the total area of the teeth, with significant difference compared with chlorhexidine group (37.5 ± 3.7 % - p < 0.05) and negative control group (65.5 ± 2.5 % - p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that β-caryophyllene has antimicrobial activity against the proliferation of dog's dental plaque-forming bacteria representing a suitable alternative to the use of chlorhexidine in prophylaxis and treatment of periodontal disease of dogs.

The use of medicinal herbs in gynecological and pregnancy-related disorders by Jordanian women: a review of folkloric practice vs. evidence-based pharmacology

Context National statistical reports in Jordan indicate a decrease in the total fertility rate along with a parallel increase in contraceptive use. The folkloric use of medicinal herbs in gynecological disorders has been growing in Jordan, despite of deficient reports on the evidence-based safety and efficacy of these practices. Objective The aim of this comprehensive article is to review medicinal plants with claimed ethnonpharmacological usage in various gynecological and pregnancy-related issues in Jordan, and to assess their evidence-based pharmacological studies as well as their phytochemistry. Methods The published literature was surveyed using Google Scholar entering the terms "ethnopharmacology AND Jordan AND infertility AND gynecology OR gestation". We included ethnopharmacological surveys in Jordan with available full-text. Results Twelve articles were reviewed. Plant species which are commonly used for female gynecological issues such as Artemisia monosperma Del. and A. herba-alba Asso. (Asteraceae) have been found to exert an antifertility effect. Ricinus communis L. (Euphorbiaceae) and Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. (Cucurbitaceae) had antifertility effects in male rats, but Nigella sativa oil L. (Ranunculaceae) and Cinnamon zeylanicum J. Presl (Lauraceae) were found to enhance it. Conclusion Using plants for gynecological disorders is a common practice in Jordan. Many of them, whether utilised for gynecological or non-gynecological conditions equally, were found to have detrimental effects on female or male fertility. Thus, couples planning pregnancy should be discouraged from the consumption of these herbs. Further local studies are warranted to confirm the appreciable beneficial pharmacological effects and safety of these plants.

Evaluation of peritoneal endometriosis treatment using intralesional acetylsalicylic acid injection in rabbits

PURPOSE

To investigate the efficacy of intralesional 20% aspirin injection for treatment of experimental peritoneal endometriosis.

METHODS

Peritoneal endometriosis was experimentally induced in forty adult nulligravid female rabbits. On day 30 post-endometriosis induction, rabbits were randomly divided to assess early (10 days) and late (20 days) effects of intralesional injection of physiological saline solution (control groups) in comparison to intralesional injection of 20% bicarbonate aspirin solution (experimental groups) as follows: control group 1 (10 days, n=10); control group 2 (20 days, n=10); experimental group 3 (10 days, n=10); experimental group 4 (20 days, n=10). Resected tissues, including endometriosis foci, were qualitatively (general morphology and signs of inflammatory cells infiltrate, necrosis and apoptosis) and quantitatively (remaining endometriosis area) assessed by histopathological analysis.

RESULTS

Extensive necrosis, hemorrhage, apoptosis, and fibrosis were observed in the experimental groups 3 and 4. Groups 1 and 2 presented typical endometrial tissue cysts, respectively. Groups 3 and 4 showed sparse endometrial tissue foci and no endometrial tissue, respectively. Quantitative analysis revealed that aspirin-treated groups 3 and 4 had significantly (p<0.05) smaller remaining endometriosis area, compared to control groups 1 and 2.

CONCLUSION

Intralesional 20% aspirin injection caused total destruction of peritoneal endometriosis foci in rabbits.

Curbing Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis and Endometriosis: Should Mast Cells Be Targeted?

Inflammatory diseases and conditions can arise due to responses to a variety of external and internal stimuli. They can occur acutely in response to some stimuli and then become chronic leading to tissue damage and loss of function. While a number of cell types can be involved, mast cells are often present and can be involved in the acute and chronic processes. Recent studies in porcine and rabbit models have supported the concept of a central role for mast cells in a “nerve-mast cell-myofibroblast axis” in some inflammatory processes leading to fibrogenic outcomes. The current review is focused on the potential of extending aspects of this paradigm into treatments for multiple sclerosis and endometriosis, diseases not usually thought of as having common features, but both are reported to have activation of mast cells involved in their respective disease processes. Based on the discussion, it is proposed that targeting mast cells in these diseases, particularly the early phases, may be a fruitful avenue to control the recurring inflammatory exacerbations of the conditions.