A novel type lavandulyl flavonoid from Sophora flavescens as potential anti-hepatic injury agent that inhibit TLR2/NF-κB signaling pathway

Flavonoids in the Treatment of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer via Immunomodulation: Progress to Date

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the world, while non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 80% of all lung cancers. Most patients with NSCLC have advanced stage disease at diagnosis, and the 5-year survival rate can be discouragingly low. Flavonoids are widely found in fruits, vegetables, teas, and medicinal plants, with a variety of functional effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. This review aims to focus on the research progress of flavonoids in the treatment of NSCLC, including immunomodulatory effects on NSCLC, promotion of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, interaction with microRNA (miRNA), and interactions with certain proteins. In addition, combining flavonoids and anticancer agents, radiotherapy, or nanoparticles can reverse NSCLC  drug resistance, inducing apoptosis of cancer cells. It therefore appears that flavonoids alone or in combination with other treatment agents may be a promising therapeutic modality for treating NSCLC, with great potential in mass production and clinical applications.

Hepatoprotective efficacy of Argemone mexicana L. root in paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in a rat model

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Argemone mexicana L. (Papaveraceae), a weed that thrives in the tropical and subtropical areas of South and Central America, Mexico, Caribbean Islands and India. In India, it has been used traditionally to treat vesicular calculus, inflammatory conditions, and hepatobiliary disorders.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study was aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective efficacy of A. Mexicana roots in paracetamol (PCM)-induced toxicity rat.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The methanol extract of A. mexicana (MEAM) root was analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis to identify its compounds. Molecular docking analysis of the compounds was conducted against TGF-β and PPAR-α. The hepatoprotective activity of MEAM (200, 400 mg/kg) was evaluated in PCM (3000 mg/kg) intoxicated rats by measuring serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total bilirubin (TB), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLB), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Silymarin (100 mg/kg) was used as reference drug. Oxidative stress biomarkers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were investigated using liver homogenate. Additionally, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were studied. The results of the study were supported by histopathological examination.

RESULTS

GC-MS analysis revealed 163 compounds, from which eleven compounds were selected based on their docking scores against TGF-β and PPAR-α. MEAM (400 mg/kg) demonstrated a remarkable reduction in ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, and LDH in contrast to the PCM intoxicated group. A remarkable decline in TB and GLB, along with an increase in TP and ALB, was observed in the MEAM (400 mg/kg) group compared to the untreated PCM group. Rats receiving MEAM (400 mg/kg) exhibited a noticeable decrease in TC, TG, and LDL-C, along with an increase in HDL-C levels compared to PCM-induced untreated rats. The higher dose of MEAM also resulted in a significant decrease in TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and an increase in IL-4 and IL-10. Similarly, a notable elevation in SOD, CAT, and GSH, along with a decrease in MDA content, was observed in the group receiving MEAM (400 mg/kg). The histopathological result showed reduction of sinusoidal space and vesicular nuclei, with improvement of hepatocytes at the dose of MEAM (400 mg/kg). In molecular docking study, Eupatilin exhibited the highest docking scores of -10.4 kcal/mol and -9.1 kcal/mol against TGF-β and PPAR-α, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

MEAM root at dose of 400 mg/kg exhibited hepatoprotective effect against PCM-induced toxicity rat. Eupatilin might be considered as a potential candidate for the hepatoprotective effect of A. mexicana root.

FR429 from Polygonum capitatum Demonstrates Potential as an Anti-hepatic Injury Agent by Modulating PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

FR429, an ellagitannin isolated and purified from the whole herb Polygonum capitatum (P. capitatum), possesses a robust pharmacological profile, which is particularly noteworthy for its anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. Despite these established effects, its potential in mitigating hepatic injury remains to be fully explored. The present investigation delineates the hepatoprotective efficacy of FR429 and unveils its underlying molecular mechanisms. Initially, of the tested compounds, 10 compounds (specifically, compounds 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 14) exhibited significant protective effects at a concentration of 10 μM, elevating HepG2 (human liver cancer cell) cell viability from 43.4 to 70% following carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) exposure. Among them, compounds 2 (FR429, half-maximum effective concentration (EC50) = 6.46 μM) and 6 (2"-O-galloylquercitrin, EC50 = 5.36 μM) demonstrated the highest cytoprotective activities. In the murine model, FR429 dramatically attenuated serum levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase, indicative of its hepatoprotective potential. Histopathological evaluation further substantiated these findings, as FR429 noticeably mitigated CCl4-induced hepatic lesions, involving necrosis, ballooning degeneration, and neutrophil infiltration. Transcriptomic analysis unveiled 178 differentially expressed genes in FR429-treated mice liver tissue, with significant alterations indicative of a hepatoprotective response. Mechanistic investigations revealed that FR429's hepatoprotective effects involve modulation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, evidenced by downregulation of toll-like receptor 2, phosphorylated PI3K, phosphorylated Akt, nuclear factor-kappa-B, interleukin-1 beta, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression. Furthermore, FR429 modulated the gene and protein expression levels of apoptotic markers (apoptotic protein (Bax) and B-lymphoblastoma-2 gene (Bcl2)), reinforcing its anti-hepatic damage efficacy. This study represents the first report establishing FR429 as an effective hepatoprotective compound, paving the way for further investigation into its therapeutic applications.

Prenylated Flavonoids in Sophora flavescens: A Systematic Review of Their Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Sophora flavescens has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 1700 years. This plant is known for its heat-clearing, damp-drying, insecticidal, and diuretic properties. Phytochemical research has identified prenylated flavonoids as a unique class of bioactive compounds in S. flavescens. Recent pharmacological studies reveal that the prenylated flavonoids from S. flavescens (PFS) exhibit potent antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and glycolipid metabolism-regulating activities, offering significant therapeutic benefits for various diseases. However, the pharmacokinetics and toxicological profiles of PFS have not been systematically studied. Despite the diverse biological effects of prenylated flavonoid compounds against similar diseases, their structure-activity relationship is not yet fully understood. This review aims to summarize the latest findings regarding the chemical composition, drug metabolism, pharmacological properties, toxicity, and structure-activity relationship of prenylated flavonoids from S. flavescens. It seeks to highlight their potential for clinical use and suggest directions for future related studies.

Discovery and validation of COX2 as a target of flavonoids in Apocyni Veneti Folium: Implications for the treatment of liver injury

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Apocyni Veneti Folium (AVF), a popular traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is known for its effects in soothing the liver and nerves and eliminating heat and water. It is relevant from an ethnopharmacological perspective. Pharmacological research has confirmed its benefits on antihypertension, antihyperlipidemia, antidepression, liver protection, immune system boosting, antiaging, and diabetic vascular lesions. Previous studies have shown that flavonoids, the active ingredients, have a hepatoprotective effect. However, the exact mechanism has not been clarified.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to identify the active flavonoids in AVF and their corresponding targets for liver injury. Multiple methods were introduced to confirm the targets.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

AVF compounds were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Then, network pharmacology was utilized to screen potential hepatoprotection targets of the compounds. An enzyme activity assay was performed to determine the effect of the compounds on the targets. Biolayer interferometry (BLI) was applied to confirm the direct interaction between the compounds and the targets.

RESULTS

A total of 71 compounds were identified by LC-MS and 19 compounds and 112 shared targets were screened using network pharmacology. These common targets were primarily involved in the TNF signaling pathway, cancer pathways, hepatitis B, drug responses, and negative regulation of the apoptotic process. Flavonoids were the primary pharmacological substance basis of AVF. The cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) protein was one of the direct targets of flavonoids in AVF. The enzyme activity assay and BLI-based intermolecular interactions demonstrated that the compounds astragalin, isoquercitrin, and hyperoside exhibited stronger inhibition of enzyme activity and a higher affinity with COX2 compared to epigallocatechin, quercetin, and catechin.

CONCLUSIONS

COX2 was preliminarily identified as a target of flavonoids, and the mechanism of the hepatoprotective effect of AVF might be linked to flavonoids inhibiting the activity of COX2. The findings can establish the foundation for future research on the traditional hepatoprotective effect of AVF on the liver and for clinical studies on liver disorders.

Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Sophora flavescens Aiton and Protective Effects against Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury and Oxidative Stress in Mice

In this study, we investigated the hepatoprotective effects of an ethanol extract of Sophora flavescens Aiton (ESF) on an alcohol-induced liver disease mouse model. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) was caused by the administration of ethanol to male C57/BL6 mice who were given a Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet, including ethanol. The alcoholic fatty liver disease mice were orally administered ESF (100 and 200 mg/kg bw/day) or silymarin (50 mg/kg bw/day), which served as a positive control every day for 16 days. The findings suggest that ESF enhances hepatoprotective benefits by significantly decreasing serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT), markers for liver injury. Furthermore, ESF alleviated the accumulation of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC), increased serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH), and improved serum alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity in the alcoholic fatty liver disease mice model. Cells and organisms rely on the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1- Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Keap1-Nrf2) system as a critical defensive mechanism in response to oxidative stress. Therefore, Nrf2 plays an important role in ALD antioxidant responses, and its level is decreased by increased reactive oxidation stress (ROS) in the liver. ESF increased Nrf2, which was decreased in ethanol-damaged livers. Additionally, four polyphenol compounds were identified through a qualitative analysis of the ESF using LC-MS/MS. This study confirmed ESF's antioxidative and hangover-elimination effects and suggested the possibility of using Sophora flavescens Aiton (SF) to treat ALD.

Exposure to volatile organic compounds is a risk factor for diabetes retinopathy: a cross-sectional study

Introduction

A few past experimental studies have indicated that exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might be a potential risk factor for diabetes retinopathy (DR). However, these findings lack substantial support from extensive epidemiological research. This large-scale cross-sectional study aimed to examine whether exposure to low levels of VOCs in the general population is associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) and DR.

Methods

The analytical data was from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset (2011-2018). To minimize the potential impact of gender and age on the findings, propensity score matching was utilized to align the data selection. Relationships between blood VOCs and DM and DR were assessed in a sample of 2,932 adults using the logistic regression models. Additionally, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models and Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) were conducted for mixture exposure analysis.

Results

The result shows VOCs were positive associated with DM and DR in US adults, as assessed by WQS model, and the calculated odd ratios (ORs) [95% confidence interval (C.I)] were 53.91(34.11 ~ 85.22) and 7.38(3.65 ~ 14.92), respectively. Among the components of VOCs, 1,2-Dibromoethane, Carbon Tetrachloride and 2,5-Dimethylfuran were positive related with the DR, and ORs (95%C.I) were 2.91(2.29 ~ 3.70), 2.86(2.25 ~ 3.65) and 2.19(1.79 ~ 2.94), respectively. BKMR model shows that there was a dose-response relationship between combined VOCs and DR, although the relationship was non-linearly.

Conclusion

This study suggested that exposure to VOCs may increase the risk of DR, which had important public health implications.

Mechanism of action of certain medicinal plants for the treatment of asthma

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Asthma is often treated and prevented using the pharmacological properties of traditional medicinal plants. These healthcare systems are among the most well-known, conveniently accessible, and economically priced in India and several other Asian countries. Traditional Indian Ayurvedic plants have the potential to be used as phyto-therapeutics, to create novel anti-asthmatic drugs, and as a cost-effective source of pharmaceuticals. Current conventional therapies have drawbacks, including serious side effects and expensive costs that interfere with treatment compliance and affect the patient's quality of life. The primary objective of the article is to comprehensively evaluate the advancement of research on the protective phytochemicals of traditional plants that target immune responses and signaling cascades in inflammatory experimental asthma models. The study would assist in paving the way for the creation of natural phytomedicines that are protective, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory against asthma, which may then be used in individualized asthma therapy.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study demonstrates the mechanisms of action of phytochemicals present in traditional medicinal plants, diminish pulmonary disorder in both in vivo and in vitro models of asthma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive review of the literature on conventional plant-based asthma therapies was performed from 2006 to 2022. The study uses authoritative scientific sources such as PubMed, PubChem Compound, Wiley Online Library, Science Direct, Springer Link, and Google Scholar to collect information on potential phytochemicals and their mechanisms of action. World Flora Online (http://www.worldfloraonline.org) and Plants of the World Online (https://wcsp.science.kew.org) databases were used for the scientific names of medicinal plants.

RESULTS

The study outlines the phytochemical mechanisms of some traditional Ayurveda botanicals used to treat asthma. Active phytochemicals including curcumin, withaferin-A, piperine, glabridin, glycyrrhizin, 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid, trans-cinnamaldehyde, α-hederin, thymoquinone, eugenol, [6]-shogoal, and gingerol may treat asthma by controlling inflammation and airway remodeling. The study concluded that certain Ayurvedic plants' phytochemicals have the ability to reduce inflammation and modulate the immune system, that can effectively cure asthma.

CONCLUSION

Plants used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine have been utilized for millennia, advocating phyto-therapy as a treatment for a variety of illnesses. A theoretical foundation for the use of cutting-edge asthma treatments has been built with the growth of experimental research on traditional phytochemicals. In-depth phytochemical research for the treatment of asthma using Indian Traditional Ayurvedic herbs is compiled in the study. The approach for preventative therapeutics and cutting-edge alternatives to battle the molecular pathways in the pathophysiology of asthma are the key themes of the study. The phytochemical mechanism of action of traditional Ayurvedic herbs is explained to get the attention of the pharmaceutical industry so they can make future anti-asthma drugs for personalized asthma care in the community. The study develops strategies for customized phyto-therapeutics, concentrating on low-cost, side-effect-free approaches that employ bioactive phytochemicals from plants as the major source of effective anti-asthmatic therapy.

Suppression of inflammation-induced lung cancer cells proliferation and metastasis by exiguaflavanone A and exiguaflavanone B from Sophora exigua root extract through NLRP3 inflammasome pathway inhibition

Objective: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is recognized for its aggressive nature and propensity for high rates of metastasis. The NLRP3 inflammasome pathway plays a vital role in the progression of NSCLC. This study aimed to investigate the effects of S. exigua extract and its active compounds on NLRP3 regulation in NSCLC using an in vitro model. Methods: S. exigua was extracted using hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol to obtain S. exigua hexane fraction (SE-Hex), S. exigua ethyl acetate fraction (SE-EA), and S. exigua ethanol fraction (SE-EtOH) respectively. The active compounds were identified using column chromatography and NMR analysis. A549 cells were primed with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for activated NLRP3 inflammasome. The anti-inflammatory properties were determined using ELISA assay. The anti-proliferation and anti-metastasis properties against LPS-ATP-induced A549 cells were determined by colony formation, cell cycle, wound healing, and trans-well migration and invasion assays. The inflammatory gene expressions and molecular mechanism were determined using RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Results: SE-EA exhibited the greatest anti-inflammation properties compared with other two fractions as evidenced by the significant inhibition of IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-6, cytokine productions from LPS-ATP-induced A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). The analysis of active compounds revealed exiguaflavanone A (EGF-A) and exiguaflavanone B (EGF-B) as the major compounds present in SE-EA. Then, SE-EA and its major compound were investigated for the anti-proliferation and anti-metastasis properties. It was found that SE-EA, EGF-A, and EGF-B could inhibit the proliferation of LPS-ATP-induced A549 cells through cell cycle arrest induction at the G0/G1 phase and reducing the expression of cell cycle regulator proteins. Furthermore, SE-EA and its major compounds dose-dependently suppressed migration and invasion of LPS-ATP-induced A549 cells. At the molecular level, SE-EA, EGF-A, and EGF-B significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6, and NLRP3 in LPS-ATP-induced A549 cells. Regarding the mechanistic study, SE-EA, EGF-A, and EGF-B inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation through suppressing NLRP3, ASC, pro-caspase-1(p50 form), and cleaved-caspase-1(p20 form) expressions. Conclusion: Targeting NLRP3 inflammasome pathway holds promise as a therapeutic approach to counteract pro-tumorigenic inflammation and develop novel treatments for NSCLC.