The effect of centaurein on interferon-γ expression and Listeria infection in mice

Immunomodulatory Properties of Natural Extracts and Compounds Derived from Bidens pilosa L.: Literature Review

Bidens pilosa L. has been used in different parts of the world mainly to treat diseases associated with immune response disorders, such as autoimmunity, cancer, allergies, and infectious diseases. The medicinal properties of this plant are attributed to its chemical components. Nevertheless, there is little conclusive evidence that describes the immunomodulatory activity of this plant. In this review, a systematic search was carried out in the PubMed-NLM, EBSCO Host and BVS databases focused on the pre-clinical scientific evidence of the immunomodulatory properties of B. pilosa. A total of 314 articles were found and only 23 were selected. The results show that the compounds or extracts of Bidens modulate the immune cells. This activity was associated with the presence of phenolic compounds and flavonoids that control proliferation, oxidative stress, phagocytosis, and the production of cytokines of different cells. Most of the scientific information analyzed in this paper supports the potential use of B. pilosa mainly as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumoral, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial immune response modulator. It is necessary that this biological activity be corroborated through the design of specialized clinical trials that demonstrate the effectiveness in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation, and infectious diseases. Until now there has only been one clinical trial in phase I and II associated with the anti-inflammatory activity of Bidens in mucositis.

Compounds of plants with activity against SARS-CoV-2 targets

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 global pandemic is a public health emergency due to its high virulence and mortality. Many vaccine development studies at clinical trials are currently conducted to combat SARS-CoV-2. Plants are a rich source of phytochemicals with different biological activities, including antiviral activities, which are the focus of many studies.

AREAS COVERED

This review shows compounds of traditional plants listed on RENISUS list have therapeutic properties against SARS-CoV-2 targets.

EXPERT OPINION

The rise of new variants, more pathogenic and virulent, impacts in the increase of mortality from SARS-CoV-2 infection, and thus, the control of the outbreaks of disease remains a global challenge. Other's drug and vaccines development is an essential element in controlling SARS-COV-2. Therefore, it is imperative that approach to tackle this pandemic has to be solidly evidence-informed. It should be noticed that the immune system does play critical roles in fighting viruses. Studies show that T cells levels decreased continuously as the disease progressed. T cell-mediated cellular immune response, probably by immunological memory, is essential for direct virus eradication after infection whilst B cells functions in producing antibodies that neutralize virus.But, have distinct patterns of T cell response exist in different patients, suggesting the possibility of distinct clinical approaches. Efforts are concentrated to elucidate the underlying immunological mechanisms in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and progression for better design of diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive strategies. We seek to identify biomolecules with the potential to act in biomarkers that predict how severe the disease can get. But it is important to warn that the plants that produce the compounds mentioned here should not be used without a physician prescription. Finally, we speculate that these compounds may eventually attract the attention of physicians and researchers to perform tests in specific contexts of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and if they show positive results, be tested in Clinical trials.

Authentication, phytochemical characterization and anti-bacterial activity of twoArtemisiaspecies

Artemisia species are aromatic herbs used as food and/or ethnomedicine worldwide; however, the use of these plants is often impeded by misidentification. Here, molecular and chemotaxonomic approaches were combined to assist in the morphology-based authentication of Artemisia species, and Artemisia indica and Artemisia argyi were identified. The plant extracts and compounds obtained from these species, 1,8-cineole, carveol, α-elemene, α-farnesene, methyl linolenate, diisooctyl phthalate inhibited the growth of food-borne harmful bacteria. Mechanistic studies showed that the extract and active compounds of A. indica killed Gram-negative and -positive bacteria via destruction of the bacterial membrane. Finally, in vivo data demonstrated that A. indica protected against bacterial infection in mice as evidenced by survival rate, bacterial load in organs, gut pathology, diarrhea, body weight, food consumption, stool weight, and pathology score. A. indica and its active compounds have potential for use as food supplements for food-borne bacterial diseases and thus improve human health.

Anti-coccidial properties and mechanisms of an edible herb, Bidens pilosa, and its active compounds for coccidiosis

Avian coccidiosis is an economically important disease in the poultry industry. In view of the disadvantages of anti-coccidial drugs in chickens, edible plants and their compounds are re-emerging as an alternative strategy to combat this disease. A previous publication reported that the edible plant B. pilosa showed promise for use against coccidiosis. Here, we first investigated into the anti-coccidial effects of B. pilosa. We found that B. pilosa at 100 ppm or more significantly suppressed E. tenella as evidenced by reduction in mortality rate, oocyst excretion and gut pathological severity in chickens and its minimum prophylactic duration was 3 days. Next, we explored the mode of action of anti-coccidial mechanism of B. pilosa. The E. tenella oocysts were not directly killed by B. pilosa; however, administration of the plant suppressed oocyst sporulation, sporozoite invasion, and schizonts in the life cycle of E. tenella. Besides, B. pilosa boosted T cell-mediated immunity. Finally, we characterized the related anti-coccidial phytochemicals and their mode of action. One of three potent polyynes present in B. pilsoa, Compound 1 (cytopiloyne), acted against coccidiosis in chickens in a similar manner to B. pilosa. These data illustrate the anti-coccidial potency and mechanism of B. pilosa and one of its active compounds, and provide a cornerstone for development of novel herbal remedies for avian coccidiosis.

Cytopiloyne, a polyacetylenic glucoside from Bidens pilosa, acts as a novel anticandidal agent via regulation of macrophages

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Bidens pilosa, a tropical and sub-tropical herbal plant, is used as an ethnomedicine for bacterial infection or immune modulation in Asia, America and Africa. It has been demonstrated that cytopiloyne (CP), a bioactive polyacetylenic glucoside purified from B. pilosa, increases the percentage of macrophages in the spleen but the specific effects on macrophages remain unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of CP on macrophage activity and host defense in BALB/c mice with Candida parapsilosis infection and investigate the likely mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RAW264.7 cells, a mouse macrophage cell line, were used to assess the effects of CP on macrophage activity by phagocytosis assay, colony forming assay and acridine orange/crystal violet stain. To evaluate the activity of CP against C. parapsilosis, BALB/c mouse infection models were treated with/without CP and histopathological examination was performed. The role of macrophages in the infection model was clarified by treatment with carrageenan, a selective macrophage-toxic agent. RAW264.7 macrophage activities influenced by CP were further investigated by lysosome staining, phagosomal acidification assay, lysosome enzyme activity and PKC inhibitor GF109203X.

RESULTS

The results showed that CP in vitro enhances the ability of RAW264.7 macrophages to engulf and clear C. parapsilosis. In the mouse model, CP treatment improved the survival rate of Candida-infected mice and lowered the severity of microscopic lesions in livers and spleens via a macrophage-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, with CP treatment, the fusion and acidification of phagolysosomes were accelerated and the lysosome enzyme activity of RAW264.7 macrophages was elevated. PKC inhibitor GF109203X reversed the increase in phagocytic activity by CP demonstrating that the PKC pathway is involved in the macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of C. parapsilosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggested that CP, as an immunomodulator, enhances macrophage activity against C. parapsilosis infections.

Chemistry and pharmacology of Bidens pilosa: an overview

Bidens pilosa L. is an edible herb and has been traditionally used for a wide range of ailments in many countries. The aim of this review is to present comprehensive information of the chemical constituents, nutraceutical and ethnomedical uses as well as the biological and pharmacological effects and toxicity of this plant based on 218 literary sources reported over 40 years. Major chemical constituents (including 301 compounds) belonging to polyacetylenes, polyacetylene glycosides, flavonoids, flavone glycosides, aurones, chalcones, okanin glycosides, phenolic acids, terpenes, pheophytins, fatty acids and phytosterols have been identified or isolated from the different parts of this plant. Many of them have been considered as the bioactive compounds which are potentially responsible for the pharmacological actions. Various types of preparations, extracts and individual compounds derived from this plant have been found to possess biological and pharmacological activities such as anti-malarial, anti-allergy, anti-hypertensive and smooth muscle relaxant, anti-cancerogenic, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antioxidant. The results of data analysis on the chemicals, pharmacological and toxicological characteristics of B. pilosa validate the view of its folk worldwide-medicinal uses. This herb has a great beneficial therapeutic property and is possibly used for complement or alternative to pharmaceutical drugs in some specific cases. However, this herb is known as hyperaccumulator and as-excluder; therefore, harvesting the herb for medicinal uses should be judiciously cautioned.

Beneficial Effect of Bidens pilosa on Body Weight Gain, Food Conversion Ratio, Gut Bacteria and Coccidiosis in Chickens

In the interests of food safety and public health, plants and their compounds are now re-emerging as an alternative approach to treat gastrointestinal diseases in chickens. Here, we studied the impact of the edible medicinal plant, B. pilosa, on growth performance, gut bacteria and coccidiosis in chickens. First, we found that B. pilosa significantly elevated body weight gain and lowered feed conversion ratio in chickens. Next, we showed that B. pilosa reduced cecal damage as evidenced by increased hemorrhage, villus destruction and decreased villus-to-crypt ratio in chicken ceca. We also performed pyrosequencing of the PCR ampilcons based on the 16S rRNA genes of gut bacteria in chickens. Metagenomic analysis indicated that the chicken gut bacteria belonged to 6 phyla, 6 classes, 6 orders, 9 families, and 8 genera. More importantly, we found that B. pilosa affected the composition of bacteria. This change in bacteria composition was correlated with body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and gut pathology in chickens. Collectively, this work suggests that B. pilosa has beneficial effects on growth performance and protozoan infection in chickens probably via modulation of gut bacteria.

Bidens pilosa L. (Asteraceae): Botanical Properties, Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology

There are 230 to 240 known Bidens species. Among them, Bidens pilosa is a representative perennial herb, globally distributed across temperate and tropical regions. B. pilosa has been traditionally used in foods and medicines without obvious adverse effects. Despite significant progress in phytochemical and biological analyses of B. pilosa over the past few years, comprehensive and critical reviews of this plant are anachronistic or relatively limited in scope. The present review aims to summarize up-to-date information on the phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of B. pilosa from the literature. In addition to botanical studies and records of the traditional use of B. pilosa in over 40 diseases, scientific studies investigating the potential medicinal uses of this species and its constituent phytochemicals for a variety of disorders are presented and discussed. The structure, bioactivity, and likely mechanisms of action of B. pilosa and its phytochemicals are emphasized. Although some progress has been made, further rigorous efforts are required to investigate the individual compounds isolated from B. pilosa to understand and validate its traditional uses and develop clinical applications. The present review provides preliminary information and gives guidance for further basic and clinical research into this plant.

Flavonoid treatment of murine macrophages does not alter ingestion or intracellular survival of Listeria monocytogenes

It was recently reported that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) plays a role in innate immunity to Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice. In this study the authors analyzed whether incubation of murine macrophages with various flavonoids that have agonist or antagonist activity for the AhR (beta-naphthoflavone, alpha-naphthoflavone, quercetin, luteolin) affect the uptake and survival of L. monocytogenes. Using the RAW264.7 and J774 murine macrophage cell lines and bone marrow-derived macrophages, the authors found no significant difference between flavonoid-treated and control macrophages. They also found that macrophages incubated with flavonoids alone did not exhibit a significant increase in release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, a crucial cytokine in anti-Listeria resistance.