Zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized from Fraxinus rhynchophylla extract by green route method attenuates the chemical and heat induced neurogenic and inflammatory pain models in mice

The genus Fraxinus L. (Oleaceae): A review of botany, traditional and modern applications, phytochemistry, and bioactivity

Fraxinus L., a member of the Oleaceae family with approximately 60 species worldwide, is widely distributed in the warm temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. It is not only used as a folk medicine for treating various illnesses but is also documented in medical books. The traditional Chinese medicine "Qin Pi" originated from this genus and is known for its efficacy in treating conditions such as intestinal inflammation, redness and pain in the eyes, abomination of redness and leucorrhoea, and bacterial infections. This paper aims to fill the gap in the existing literature by providing a comprehensive review and critical analysis of the Fraxinus genus plant. The discussion in this paper covers various aspects of the plant, including its botany, traditional and modern applications, phytochemistry, bioactivity, role in ecosystems, phytogenetic evolution, economic benefits, and future challenges. By synthesizing this information, the review aims to offer valuable insights for the advancement, utilization, and further research of the Fraxinus spp.. Phytochemical studies have identified a total of 281 chemical constituents in Fraxinus spp., including secoiridoids, coumarins, and flavonoids. These Fraxinus spp. plants exhibit a wide range of biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. Furthermore, this paper delves into potential research directions within the genus and addresses the challenges associated with achieving a comprehensive understanding of Fraxinus spp. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of Fraxinus spp., highlighting their bioactivity mechanism and the opportunity to facilitate the advancement of new pharmaceuticals.

Synthesis and Characterization of Silver and Zinc Nanoparticles From Vitex altissima: Comparative Analysis of Anti-Oxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Antibacterial, and Anti-Biofilm Activities

Metal nanoparticles have attained much popularity due to their low toxicity, economic feasibility, and eco-friendly nature. The present study focuses on the synthesis of silver and zinc nanoparticles from Vitex altissima leaf extract, further characterized by UV/Vis spectral analysis, Powder-x-ray diffraction (XRD), FE-SEM, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential. Synthesized silver and zinc nanoparticles were screened for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-biofilm activities. AgNPs exhibited moderate antioxidant activities compared to ZnNPs, which were studied using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and ABTS assays. The anti-inflammatory effect was assessed using membrane stabilization and human red blood cell methods. Furthermore, both types of nanoparticles, AgNPs and ZnNPs, exhibited anti-biofilm activity against four MDR bacterial strains: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Synthesized nanoparticles show antibacterial activity. Our data suggest that silver nanoparticles exhibited moderate activity compared to ZnNPs. These nanoparticles could act as potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial agents.

Green Synthesis, Characterization and Pharmaceutical Applications of Biocompatible Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Heliotropium rariflorum Stocks

Background: Zinc oxide nanoparticles are safe, non-toxic, and biocompatible. These NPs are used in food packaging materials, self-cleaning glass, ceramics, deodorants, sunscreens, paints, coatings, ointments, lotions, and as preservatives. This study explored the biological potential of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized using H. rariflorum. Methods: In vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Candida albicans, Penicillium notatum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus solani were determined. Antioxidant activity was explored using the DPPH radical scavenging method. In vivo analgesic, antipyretic and sedative potential of synthesized nanoparticles was investigated using a mouse model. Results: SEM with various magnification powers showed that some particles were spherical while some were aggregated, flake-shaped, and hexagonal with rough and irregular surfaces. The EDX analysis revealed Zn (12.63%), O (22.83%) and C (63.11%) with trace quantities of Si (0.40%), Ca (0.54%) and P (0.49%). The XRD pattern indicated an amorphous state, with no peaks observed throughout the spectrum. The UV-visible spectrophotometry revealed a characteristic absorption peak at 375 nm, indicating the presence of ZnO nanoparticles. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) displayed several small peaks between 1793 and 2370 cm-1, providing evidence of the presence of different kinds of organic compounds with different functional groups. ZnO-NPs showed dose-dependent antibacterial and antifungal potential against all strains. Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans were the most susceptible strains. The nanoparticles exhibited a maximum antioxidant effect of 85.28% at 100 μg/mL. In this study, the acute toxicity test showed no mortality, and normal behavior was observed in mice at ZnO-NP doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg. For analgesic and antipyretic activities, a two-way ANOVA revealed that dose, time, and the interaction between dose and time were significant. In contrast, the samples had a non-significant effect on sedative activity. Conclusions: This innovative study suggests a potential use of plant resources for managing microbes and treating various diseases, providing a scientific basis for the traditional use of H. rariflorum.

Fraxini cortex: Progresses in phytochemistry, pharmacology and ethnomedicinal uses

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Fraxini cortex, which has been widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine for 2000 years, is made from the dried bark of four plant species: Fraxinus chinensis subsp. rhynchophylla (Hance) A.E.Murray, Fraxinus chinensis Roxb., Fraxinus chinensis subsp. chinensis and Fraxinus stylosa Lingelsh.. In Chinese traditional medicine, it possesses the properties of heat-clearing and dampness-drying, asthma relief and cough suppression, as well as vision improvement. It is utilized for treating bacterial disorders, enteritis, leukorrhea, chronic bronitis, painful red eyes with swelling, lacrimation due to windward exposure, psoriasis, and other diseases or related symptoms.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Fraxini cortex is abundant in chemical constituents and has garnered significant attention from plant chemists, particularly regarding coumarins, as evidenced by the recently identified three coumarin compounds. Considering the current dearth of systematic reporting on studies pertaining to Fraxini cortex, herein we provide a comprehensive summary of the advancements in phytochemistry, pharmacology, detection methods, and ethnomedicinal applications of Fraxini cortex.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive search across online data sources (Web of Science, Public Medicine (PubMed), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), as well as Chinese dissertations) and traditional Chinese medicine classics to gather the necessary literature resources for this review.

RESULTS

Briefly, The Fraxini cortex yielded a total of 132 phytochemicals, including coumarins, lignans, secoiridoids, phenylethanol glycosides, flavonoids, triterpenoids, and other compounds. Among them, the main active ingredients are coumarins which possess a diverse range of pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory effects, anti-tumor properties, prevention of tissue fibrosis and oxidation damage as well as cardioprotective effects.

CONCLUSIONS

All types of research conducted on Fraxini cortex, particularly in the field of ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacology, have been thoroughly reviewed. However, certain traditional applications and pharmacological activities of Fraxini cortex lack scientific evaluation or convincing evidence due to incomplete methodologies and ambiguous results, as well as a lack of clinical data. To validate its pharmacological activity, clinical efficacy, and safety profile, a systematic and comprehensive research evaluation is imperative. As an important traditional Chinese medicine, Fraxini cortex should be further explored to facilitate the development of novel drugs and therapeutics for various diseases. Greater attention should be given to how it can be better utilized.

Recent Research Advances in Nano-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Local Anesthetics

From a clinical perspective, local anesthetics have rather widespread application in regional blockade for surgery, postoperative analgesia, acute/chronic pain control, and even cancer treatments. However, a number of disadvantages are associated with traditional local anesthetic agents as well as routine drug delivery administration ways, such as neurotoxicity, short half-time, and non-sustained release, thereby limiting their application in clinical practice. Successful characterization of drug delivery systems (DDSs) for individual local anesthetic agents can support to achieve more efficient drug release and prolonged duration of action with reduced systemic toxicity. Different types of DDSs involving various carriers have been examined, including micromaterials, nanomaterials, and cyclodextrin. Among them, nanotechnology-based delivery approaches have significantly developed in the last decade due to the low systemic toxicity and the greater efficacy of non-conventional local anesthetics. Multiple nanosized materials, including polymeric, lipid (solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, and nanoemulsions), metallic, inorganic non-metallic, and hybrid nanoparticles, offer a safe, localized, and long-acting solution for pain management and tumor therapy. This review provides a brief synopsis of different nano-based DDSs for local anesthetics with variable sizes and structural morphology, such as nanocapsules and nanospheres. Recent original research utilizing nanotechnology-based delivery systems is particularly discussed, and the progress and strengths of these DDSs are highlighted. A specific focus of this review is the comparison of various nano-based DDSs for local anesthetics, which can offer additional indications for their further improvement. All in all, nano-based DDSs with unique advantages provide a novel direction for the development of safer and more effective local anesthetic formulations.

Green Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Moringa olifera Ethanolic Extract Lessens Acrylamide-Induced Testicular Damage, Apoptosis, and Steroidogenesis-Related Gene Dysregulation in Adult Rats

This study assessed the possible protective role of green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles using Moringa olifera leaf extract (MO-ZNPs) in acrylamide (ACR)-induced reproductive dysfunctions in male rats. ACR (20 mg/kg b.wt/day) and/or MO-ZNPs (10 mg/kg b.wt/day) were given orally by gastric gavage for 60 days. Then, sperm parameters; testicular enzymes; oxidative stress markers; reproductive hormones including testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH)-estradiol, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentration; testis histology; steroidogenesis-related gene expression; and apoptotic markers were examined. The findings revealed that MO-ZNPs significantly ameliorated the ACR-induced decline in the gonadosomatic index and altered the pituitary-gonadal axis, reflected by decreased serum testosterone and FSH with increased estradiol and LH, and sperm analysis disruption. Furthermore, a notable restoration of the tissue content of antioxidants (catalase and reduced glutathione) but depletion of malondialdehyde was evident in MO-ZNPs+ACR-treated rats compared to ACR-exposed ones. In addition, MO-ZNPs oral dosing markedly rescued the histopathological changes and apoptotic caspase-3 reactions in the testis resulting from ACR exposure. Furthermore, in MO-ZNPs+ACR-treated rats, ACR-induced downregulation of testicular steroidogenesis genes and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immune-expression were reversed. Conclusively, MO-ZNPs protected male rats from ACR-induced reproductive toxicity by suppressing oxidative injury and apoptosis while boosting steroidogenesis and sex hormones.

Palliative effect of Moringa olifera-mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles against acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity in rats

Repeated acrylamide (ACR) exposure in experimental animals and humans causes variable degrees of neuronal damage. Because of its unique features, several green synthesized nanomaterials are explored for neuromodulatory activity. Hence, this study investigated the effect of green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles using Moriga olifera leaves extract (MO-ZnONP) against acrylamide (ACR)-induced neurobehavioral and neurotoxic impacts in rat. Forty male Sprague Dawley rats were distributed into four groups orally given distilled water, MO-ZnONP (10 mg/kg b.wt), ACR (20 mg/kg b.wt), or MO-ZnONP + ACR for 60 days. Gait quality and muscular, motor, and sensory function were assessed. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), dopamine, catalase, malondialdehyde (MDA), and Zn brain contents were determined. Brain histopathology and immunohistochemical localization of the amyloid-β protein and abnormal Tau were performed. The results revealed that MO-ZnONP significantly reduced ACR-induced sensory dysfunctions, hind limb abnormality, and motor deficits. Additionally, the ACR-induced increase in dopamine and AChE were significantly supressed by MO-ZnONP. Besides, MO-ZnONP significantly restored catalase and Zn content but reduced increased MDA brain content resulting from ACR. Furthermore, the ACR-induced neurodegenerative changes and increased amyloid-β and phosphorylated Tau immunoexpression was significantly abolished by MO-ZnONP. Conclusively, MO-ZnONP could be used as a biologically effective compound for mitigating ACR's neurotoxic and neurobehavioral effects.

Insights into the mapping of green synthesis conditions for ZnO nanoparticles and their toxicokinetics

Research on ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) has broad medical applications. However, the green synthesis of ZnO NPs involves a wide range of properties requiring optimization. ZnO NPs show toxicity at lower doses. This toxicity is a function of NP properties and pharmacokinetics. Moreover, NP toxicity and pharmacokinetics are affected by the species type and age of the animals tested. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling offers a mechanistic platform to scrutinize the colligative effect of the interplay between these factors, which reduces the need for in vivo studies. This review provides a guide to choosing green synthesis conditions that result in minimal toxicity using a mechanistic tool, namely PBPK modeling.

Clobetasol Attenuates White Matter Injury by Promoting Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cell Differentiation

INTRODUCTION

White matter injury (WMI) is the most common brain injury in preterm infants and can result in life-long neurological deficits. The main cause of WMI is damage to the oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPC) in the brain that results in delayed myelin sheath formation, or the destruction of existing myelin sheaths. OPC undergo highly regulated and strictly timed developmental changes that result in their transformation to mature oligodendrocytes capable of myelin production.

OBJECTIVE

Studies have shown that clobetasol strongly promotes differentiation of OPC into myelin sheaths. Therefore, we hypothesized that clobetasol may be a therapeutic option for the treatment of preterm WMI.

METHODS

We induced a WMI rat model and observed white matter damage under an optical microscope. Rats subjected to WMI were injected intraperitoneally with clobetasol (2 or 5 mg/kg daily) from day 1 to day 5 in the early treatment groups, or from day 6 to day 10 in the late treatment groups. After 17 days, the rats were sacrificed and the expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) was visualized using immunofluorescence. In addition, we evaluated myelin sheath formation using electron microscopy. The rats were also subjected to the suspension test, ramp test, and open field test to evaluate neurobehavioral functions.

RESULTS

A rat model of WMI was successfully induced. It was found that clobetasol significantly induced MBP expression and myelin sheath formation and improved neurobehavioral function in the rats subjected to WMI.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that clobetasol attenuates WMI by promoting OPC differentiation, and it may be an effective therapeutic agent for the treatment of preterm WMI.