Zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized from Allium cepa prevents UVB radiation mediated inflammation in human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT cells)

The molecular basis of the immunomodulatory effects of natural products: A comprehensive review

BACKGROUND

Natural products (NPs) have long been recognized for their potential to modulate the immune system, offering a natural and holistic approach to enhancing immune function. In recent years, the immunomodulation effects of various natural products have attained significant attention.

PURPOSE

This article provides an overview of the role of natural products in immunomodulation, exploring their mechanisms of action, common types of NPs with immunomodulation properties, clinical applications, as well as considerations for their safety and efficacy.

METHODS

Extensive research has been conducted to compile important discoveries on the immunomodulatory properties of NPs through thorough searches of multiple databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus up until January 2024.

RESULTS

By decreasing the levels of Th2 cytokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines, the results suggested that NPs have the ability to modulate the immune system. Therefore, NPs alleviate inflammation in various disorders such as asthma and cancer. Furthermore, the observed increase in CD4 cells and IFN-ɣ/IL4 levels, along with an increased IFN-c/IL4 ratio, indicates a stimulatory effect of NPs on Th1 activity in various inflammatory conditions. Therefore, NPs regulate the immune system by inhibiting T-cells and decreasing the growth of young B-cell lymphoma cells.

CONCLUSION

Reviewing studies indicated that NPs have the potential to serve as immunomodulatory candidates for treating disorders characterized by immune dysregulation. However, additional experimental and clinical studies are necessary before these agents can be implemented in clinical settings.

Cutting-edge developments in zinc oxide nanoparticles: synthesis and applications for enhanced antimicrobial and UV protection in healthcare solutions

This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent advancements in utilizing zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) to enhance antimicrobial and UV protective properties in healthcare solutions. It delves into the synthesis techniques of ZnO NPs and elucidates their antimicrobial efficacy, exploring the underlying mechanisms governing their action against a spectrum of pathogens. Factors impacting the antimicrobial performance of ZnO NPs, including size, surface characteristics, and environmental variables, are extensively analyzed. Moreover, recent studies showcasing the effectiveness of ZnO NPs against diverse pathogens are critically examined, underscoring their potential utility in combatting microbial infections. The study further investigates the UV protective capabilities of ZnO NPs, elucidating the mechanisms by which they offer UV protection and reviewing recent innovations in leveraging them for UV-blocking applications in healthcare. It also dissects the factors influencing the UV shielding performance of ZnO NPs, such as particle size, dispersion quality, and surface coatings. Additionally, the paper addresses challenges associated with integrating ZnO NPs into healthcare products and presents future perspectives for overcoming these hurdles. It emphasizes the imperative for continued research efforts and collaborative initiatives to fully harness the potential of ZnO NPs in developing advanced healthcare solutions with augmented antimicrobial and UV protective attributes. By advancing our understanding and leveraging innovative approaches, ZnO NPs hold promise for addressing pressing healthcare needs and enhancing patient care outcomes.

Critical Review on Nutritional, Bioactive, and Medicinal Potential of Spices and Herbs and Their Application in Food Fortification and Nanotechnology

Medicinal or herbal spices are grown in tropical moist evergreen forestland, surrounding most of the tropical and subtropical regions of Eastern Himalayas in India (Sikkim, Darjeeling regions), Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, a few Central Asian countries, Middle East, USA, Europe, South East Asia, Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia. According to the cultivation region surrounded, economic value, and vogue, these spices can be classified into major, minor, and colored tropical spices. In total, 24 tropical spices and herbs (cardamom, black jeera, fennel, poppy, coriander, fenugreek, bay leaves, clove, chili, cassia bark, black pepper, nutmeg, black mustard, turmeric, saffron, star anise, onion, dill, asafoetida, celery, allspice, kokum, greater galangal, and sweet flag) are described in this review. These spices show many pharmacological activities like anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, central nervous system, and antioxidant activities. Numerous bioactive compounds are present in these selected spices, such as 1,8-cineole, monoterpene hydrocarbons, γ-terpinene, cuminaldehyde, trans-anethole, fenchone, estragole, benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, piperine, linalool, malabaricone C, safrole, myristicin, elemicin, sinigrin, curcumin, bidemethoxycurcumin, dimethoxycurcumin, crocin, picrocrocin, quercetin, quercetin 4'-O-β-glucoside, apiol, carvone, limonene, α-phellandrene, galactomannan, rosmarinic acid, limonene, capsaicinoids, eugenol, garcinol, and α-asarone. Other than that, various spices are used to synthesize different types of metal-based and polymer-based nanoparticles like zinc oxide, gold, silver, selenium, silica, and chitosan nanoparticles which provide beneficial health effects such as antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-diabetic, enzyme retardation effect, and antimicrobial activity. The nanoparticles can also be used in environmental pollution management like dye decolorization and in chemical industries to enhance the rate of reaction by the use of catalytic activity of the nanoparticles. The nutritional value, phytochemical properties, health advantages, and both traditional and modern applications of these spices, along with their functions in food fortification, have been thoroughly discussed in this review.

Role of mitochondria on UV-induced skin damage and molecular mechanisms of active chemical compounds targeting mitochondria

Mitochondria are the principal place of energy metabolism and ROS production, leading to mtDNA being especially sensitive to the impacts of oxidative stress. Our review aims to elucidate and update the mechanisms of mitochondria in UV-induced skin damage. The mitochondrial deteriorative response to UV manifests morphological and functional alterations, including mitochondrial fusion and fission, mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial energy metabolism and mitophagy. Additionally, we conclude the effect and molecular mechanisms of active chemical components to protect skin from UV-induced damage via mitochondrial protection which have been described in the last five years, showing prospective prospects in cosmetics as new therapeutic targets.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized using Hyssopus Officinalis L. Extract Induced oxidative stress and changes the expression of key genes involved in inflammatory and antioxidant Systems

BACKGROUND

Recent advances in the synthesis of bioactive nanoparticles resulted in the discovery and introduction of new bioactive nanoparticles to the pharmaceutical industry. In this regard, this research is aimed to synthesize the zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using Hyssopus officinalis L. extract and to evaluate the safety of nanoparticles using Balb/C mice.

METHODS

Forty male mice were divided into four groups and received 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of ZnO-NPs for thirty days. At the end of the experiment, blood sugar, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (A.S.T.), and alanine aminotransferase (A.L.T.) were determined. Furthermore, histopathological and oxidative stress biomarker analyses in liver and kidney tissues were performed. The changes in the major inflammatory- and antioxidant-related genes were determined.

RESULTS

The results showed that blood sugar and creatinine reduced significantly (P < 0.05) when 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg ZnO-NPs were supplemented to the diet. The serum ALT and AST and lipid peroxidation in the liver and kidney tissues were increased significantly (p < 0.05) when 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg ZnO-NPs were supplemented to the diet. Supplementation of ZnO-NPs suppressed the expression of antioxidant-related genes (SOD and CAT) and up-regulated the inflammatory biomarkers (iNOS and TNF- α). The concentration of 200 mg/Kg nanoparticles indicated cellular degeneration and necrosis in the liver and kidney tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, it can be concluded that supplementation of ZnO-NPs synthesized using Hyssopus Officinalis L. extract in this study at 50 mg/kg or higher concentrations might be toxic to the mice.

Allium cepa: A Treasure of Bioactive Phytochemicals with Prospective Health Benefits

As Allium cepa is one of the most important condiment plants grown and consumed all over the world, various therapeutic and pharmacological effects of A. cepa were reviewed. Onion (Allium cepa) is a high dietary fiber-rich perennial herb that is placed under the family Amaryllidaceae. It contains high concentration of folic acid, vitamin B6, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus as well as vitamins and minerals. It is widely used as an antimicrobial agent, but it showed anticancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antiplatelet, antihypertensive, and antidepressant effects and neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antiparasitic effects and so on. It is said to have beneficial effects on the digestive, circulatory, and respiratory systems, as well as on the immune system. This review article was devoted to discussing many health benefits and traditional uses of onions in pharmacological perspectives, as well as the safety/toxicological profile. If more detailed research on this perennial herb is conducted, it will open the door to an infinite number of possibilities.

A review of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects of Allium cepa and its main constituents

CONTEXT

Allium cepa L. (Liliaceae), known as onion, is consumed throughout the world. Onion and its derivatives including saponins, aglycones, quercetin, cepaenes, flavonoids, organosulfurs, and phenolic compounds, showed various pharmacological properties and therapeutic effects.

OBJECTIVE

Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects of A. cepa and its main constituents, along with the underlying molecular mechanisms are presented.

METHODS

Databases including, Web of Knowledge, Medline/PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were checked for articles published between 1996 and the end of July 2020, using the key-words Allium cepa, quercetin, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory.

RESULTS

A. cepa and its constituents mainly quercetin showed anti-inflammatory effects mediated via reduction of total and differential WBC counts, inhibition of chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, COX, and LOX pathways and prevented formation of leukotrienes and thromboxanes, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) as onVCAM-1, NF-κB, MARK,d STAT-1, JNK, p38 and osteoclastogenesis. A. cepa and its derivatives showed antioxidant effect by decreasing lipid peroxidation, NAD(P)H, MDA, NO, LPO and eNOS but enhancing antioxidants such as SOD, CAT, GSH, GPx, GSPO, TrxR, SDH, GST and GR activities and thiol level. Immunomodulatory effects of the plant and quercetin was also shown by reduction of Th2 cytokines, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 as well as IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1β and TNF-α and IgE levels, but increased CD4 cells, IFN-γ level and IFN-γ/IL4 ratio (Th1/Th2 balance).

CONCLUSIONS

The effect of onion and its constituents on oxidative stress, inflammatory and immune system were shown indicating their therapeutic value in treatment of various diseases associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune-dysregulation.

Antitumor activity of zinc nanoparticles synthesized with berberine on human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells through acting on Cox-2/NF-kB and p53 pathways

BACKGROUND

Drawbacks and side effects of currently available therapies to colorectal cancer (CRC) devoted the researchers to search for new therapeutic strategies.

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to investigate the effects of zinc nanoparticles biosynthesized with berberine (ZnNPs-BER) on Caco-2 cells compared to 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and explore the possible underlying pathways.

METHODS

Caco-2 and Vero cells were treated with 5-FU, BER, or ZnNPs-BER for 24 h. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Oxidative stress and apoptotic markers and cell cycle were determined. Additionally, Cox-2 and NF-kB levels were also measured.

RESULTS

The IC50 of 5-FU, BER, and ZnNPs-BER on Caco-2 cells were 34.65 µM, 19.86 µg/ml and 10.49 µg/ml, respectively by MTT assay. The IC50 value for 5-FU in Vero cells was 21.7 μg/ml, however, BER and BER-ZnNPs treatment showed non-toxic effects to the Vero cells. Further, ZnNPs-BER exerted significant induction of ROS besides exhaustion of the antioxidant capacity of tumor cells indicated by declined GSH and elevated NO and MDA contents. Marked increments in levels of Bax and caspase-3 were detected together with declines in Bcl-2 levels in Caco-2 cells submitted to BER-ZnNPs therapy. On the molecular basis, upregulation in mRNA levels of pro-apoptotic genes (Bax, caspase-3, and tumor suppressor gene p53) with downregulation in the antiapoptotic gene (Bcl-2) were observed in ZnNPs-BER treated Caco-2 cells. Furthermore, ZnNPs-BER showed more pronounced effects on apoptosis increased cell percentage in the S and subG1 phases. In addition, green synthesis of ZnNPs with BER showed notable induction of Cox2 and NF-kB in Caco-2 cells.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, the antitumor potential of ZnNPs-BER in colon cancer cells may be endorsed for induction of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptotic changes in tumor cells. Our study documents the new therapeutic potential of Zn nanoparticles conjugated with BER, as a new option for combined chemotherapy.

Research progress of keratinocyte-programmed cell death in UV-induced Skin photodamage

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a basic component of life and an important terminal path for cells. A variety of biological events are associated with PCD, including the conservation of tissue homeostasis and removal of harmful cells. Overexposure of the skin to UV radiation causes skin photodamage. Keratinocytes are the first line of defence against ultraviolet radiation. During UV radiation, the keratinocyte can undergo four modes of PCD: apoptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis and autophagy. The molecular mechanisms of these four modes of PCD have been widely studied as potential therapeutic targets for the prevention of UV-induced skin inflammation, ageing and skin cancer. In this review, we summarize the role of keratinocyte PCD in the pathogenesis of UV-induced skin photodamage. This article will provide new research directions for the design of intervention strategies for the treatment and prevention of skin photodamage.

Anticancer and genotoxicity effect of (Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels) Peel ZnONPs on neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells through the modulation of autophagy mechanism

Nanotechnology is an emerged field to develop the plant mediated metal based nanodrugs by green method. In this current study, the zinc oxide metal based nanoparticles were developed using (Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels) Peel aqueous extracts and zinc nitrate. The C.L extract zinc nanoparticleswere indicated by the sharp peak seen at 350 nm utilizing the Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). The high peaks indicate the presence of phytochemicals and its functional groups in ZnONPs were studied by the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The X-Ray Diffraction analysis (XRD) explores the pattern and structure of ZnONPs as spherical and base-centered monoclinic crystalline shapes. The C.L extract with Zn nanoparticles were spherical in nature and the size of the synthesized particles were about 28.42 nm respectively. The autophagy (Beclin-1, LC3-I, LC3-II and ATG4B) and apoptotic (Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3) proteins were regulated by the treatment with ZnONPs in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. The DNA loss or damage was occurred in the ZnONPs treatment and it was performed using Comet assay. The ZnONPs treatment generates the ROS in the cells and decreased its stability and viability. Addition of NAC prevents ROS in the cultured SH-SY5Y cells and prevents the cells from the apoptosis. We concluded that the ZnONPs potentially kills the neuroblastoma cells by producing the intracellular ROS.