The In Vitro Activity of Angelica archangelica L. Essential Oil on Inflammation

Cheminformatics-based analysis identified (Z)-2-(2,5-dimethoxy benzylidene)-6-(2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-oxoethoxy) benzofuran-3(2H)-one as an inhibitor of Marburg replication by interacting with NP

The highly pathogenic Marburg virus (MARV) is a member of the Filoviridae family, a non-segmented negative-strand RNA virus. This article represents the computer-aided drug design (CADD) approach for identifying drug-like compounds that prevent the MARV virus disease by inhibiting nucleoprotein, which is responsible for their replication. This study used a wide range of in silico drug design techniques to identify potential drugs. Out of 368 natural compounds, 202 compounds passed ADMET, and molecular docking identified the top two molecules (CID: 1804018 and 5280520) with a high binding affinity of -6.77 and -6.672 kcal/mol, respectively. Both compounds showed interactions with the common amino acid residues SER_216, ARG_215, TYR_135, CYS_195, and ILE_108, which indicates that lead compounds and control ligands interact in the common active site/catalytic site of the protein. The negative binding free energies of CID: 1804018 and 5280520 were -66.01 and -31.29 kcal/mol, respectively. Two lead compounds were re-evaluated using MD modeling techniques, which confirmed CID: 1804018 as the most stable when complexed with the target protein. PC3 of the (Z)-2-(2,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-6-(2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-oxoethoxy) benzofuran-3(2H)-one (CID: 1804018) was 8.74 %, whereas PC3 of the 2'-Hydroxydaidzein (CID: 5280520) was 11.25 %. In this study, (Z)-2-(2,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-6-(2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-oxoethoxy) benzofuran-3(2H)-one (CID: 1804018) unveiled the significant stability of the proteins' binding site in ADMET, Molecular docking, MM-GBSA and MD simulation analysis studies, which also showed a high negative binding free energy value, confirming as the best drug candidate which is found in Angelica archangelica which may potentially inhibit the replication of MARV nucleoprotein.

Innovative Bioactive Nanofibrous Materials Combining Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Extracts and Electrospinning Method

Since antiquity, humans have known about plants as a medicinal cure. Recently, plant extracts are attracting more attention as a result of their natural origin and wide range of desirable features. Nanotechnology's progress and innovations enable the production of novel materials with enhanced properties for a broad range of applications. Electrospinning is a cutting-edge, flexible and economical technique that allows the creation of continuous nano- and microfibrous membranes with tunable structure, characteristics and functionalities. Electrospun fibrous materials are used in drug delivery, tissue engineering, wound healing, cosmetics, food packaging, agriculture and other fields due to their useful properties such as a large surface area to volume ratio and high porosity with small pore size. By encapsulating plant extracts in a suitable polymer matrix, electrospinning can increase the medicinal potential of these extracts, thus improving their bioavailability and maintaining the required concentration of bioactive compounds at the target site. Moreover, the created hybrid fibrous materials could possess antimicrobial, antifungal, antitumor, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that make the obtained structures attractive for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. This review summarizes the known approaches that have been applied to fabricate fibrous materials loaded with diverse plant extracts by electrospinning. Some potential applications of the extract-containing micro- and nanofibers such as wound dressings, drug delivery systems, scaffolds for tissue engineering and active food packaging systems are discussed.

Mesosphaerum suaveolens Essential Oil Attenuates Inflammatory Response and Oxidative Stress in LPS-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Macrophages by Regulating NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze (Syn. Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit.) is a wild essential-oil-bearing plant having multiple uses in traditional medicine, perfumery, food, agriculture, and pharmaceutical industries. The present paper is the first report on the in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of the leaf essential oil of M. suaveolens (MSLEO) and unravels its molecular mechanism in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. GC-MS analysis of the essential oil (EO) isolated from the leaves by hydro-distillation led to the identification of 48 constituents, accounting for 90.55% of the total oil, and β-caryophyllene (16.17%), phyllocladene (11.85%), abietatriene (11.46%), and spathulenol (7.89%) were found to be the major components. MSLEO treatment had no effect on the viability of RAW 264.7 cells up to a concentration of 100 μg/mL, and the EO was responsible for a reduction in proinflammatory cytokines like IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, a decrease in intracellular ROS production, and the restoration of oxidative damage by elevating the levels of endogenous antioxidative enzymes like CAT, SOD, GPx, and GSH. RT-qPCR analysis indicated that MSLEO reduced the mRNA expression levels of iNOS and COX-2 as compared to the LPS-induced group. In addition, a confocal microscopy analysis showed that MSLEO inhibited the translocation of NF-κB from the cytosol to the nucleus. The results of this experiment demonstrate that MSLEO possesses significant anti-inflammatory potential by preventing the activation of NF-κB, which, in turn, inhibits the downstream expression of other inflammatory mediators associated with the activation of the NF-κB pathway in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Thus, the leaf essential oil of M. suaveolens may prove to be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of inflammation, and targeting the NF-κB signaling pathway may be considered as an attractive approach for anti-inflammatory therapies.

Molecular mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effects of plant essential oils: A systematic review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Plant essential oils (PEOs) extracted from aromatic compounds of the plant contain complex mixtures of volatile and lipophilic bioactive compounds. In ancient Egypt, Arabia, Greece, and China, PEOs were traditional used in aromatherapy for various health disorders, including pain and inflammation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this review, we provide an overview of the anti-inflammatory effects of PEOs and the underlying mechanisms associated with anti-inflammatory effects using in vitro and in vivo models. Further, clinical trials associated with PEOs were explored.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The literature search was performed using various web-based tools and databases like Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, CNKI and SCOPUS. The keywords used for conducting the literature review were general terms like "essential oils" followed by (AND) the subject of interest like "in vitro and/or in vivo anti-inflammatory models," "inflammatory response," "inflammatory indicators," "pro-inflammatory cytokines," "signaling pathway," "anti-inflammatory mechanism," "toxicology and side effects" and "clinical trials." The articles selected were published between 2017 and 2022. The articles prior to 2017 were only considered if they were associated with molecular mechanisms or signaling pathways involved in the inflammatory responses.

RESULTS

In vitro and in vivo inflammation models have been used to study the anti-inflammatory effects of 48 PEOs. Studies have reported that PEOs targets and inhibit multiple dysregulated signaling pathways associated with inflammation, including Toll-like receptors, nuclear transcription factor-κ B, mitogen-activated protein kinases, Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3, and auxiliary pathways like the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/antioxidant response element and Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription) signaling pathways.

CONCLUSION

PEOs extracted from different plant materials had varied qualitative and quantitative compositions of biologically active compounds. Different anti-inflammatory potentials and different molecular signal transduction have been attributed to PEOs-derived bioactive compounds with different chemical structures. The data on therapeutic efficacy and the long-term side effects of PEOs as an anti-inflammatory drug are still unknown due to the lack of clinical trials on PEOs. There is still insufficient evidence to draw conclusions on anti-inflammatory properties of PEOs without promising outcomes from clinical trials.

The discovery of novel immunomodulatory medicinal plants by combination of historical text reviews and immunological screening assays

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

With the advent of immunotherapies against cancers, autoimmune diseases and infections, there is a steady demand for novel medicines. New sources for discovery of potentially novel immunomodulatory compounds are therefore needed. Nature contains a large and diverse reservoir of novel compounds that can be exploited for their potential as new drugs, and exploring the pharmaceutical potential of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine is highly relevant.

AIM OF THE STUDY

We aimed with this study to explore usage of medicinal plants in Scandinavian folk medicine against diseases interpreted to involve the immune system, and to further screen water extracts from previously overlooked medicinal plants in order to discover potential new sources of immunomodulatory compounds.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We systematically investigated historical records dating back to the 1800s with an emphasis on plants used as treatment for wounds or diseases interpreted to be inflammatory. Of 74 candidate plants, 23 pharmacologically under-studied species were selected for further characterization. The plants were collected from their natural habitats in Southern Norway, air-dried, and subjected to boiling water and accelerated solvent extraction. The crude extracts were separated into polysaccharide-enriched fractions and C-18 solid phase extracted fractions. Immunological screenings were performed with all extracts and fractions. Monosaccharide composition and total phenolic content were determined and compared across all species.

RESULTS

We identified 10 species with clear immune activating effects and 8 species with immune inhibitory effects by comparing cytokine production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, primary human T- and NK-cell proliferation, and nitric oxide production from macrophages.

CONCLUSIONS

With this study, we provide a comprehensive overview of Scandinavian medicinal plants and their usage, and our findings support an approach of combining historical sources with modern pharmacology in the discovery of plant sources containing potentially new pharmacological compounds.

Understanding the phytochemistry and molecular insights to the pharmacology of Angelica archangelica L. (garden angelica) and its bioactive components

Plant-derived molecules have enduring usefulness in treating diseases, and herbal drugs have emerged as a vital component of global therapeutic demand. Angelica archangelica L. (A. archangelica), commonly known as garden angelica, is an aromatic food plant used in culinary procedures as a flavoring agent. In the traditional medicine system, it is regarded as an "Angel plant" due to its miraculous curative power. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the plant's taxonomic profile, ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities. Various in vivo and in vitro experiments have validated that the plant possesses broad pharmacological potential. The biological activities attributed to the plant include anti-anxiety activity, anti-convulsant activity, cognition enhancer, antiviral activity, cholinesterase inhibitory potential, antiinflammatory activity, gastroprotective activity, and radioprotective activity. The beneficial effects of the plant are credited to its bioactive components, that is, coumarins and volatile oils. The review summarizes the pharmacological activities of crude extract and its bioactive fractions and has also explored their target-oriented effects. This review will be of value in undertaking further investigations on the plant with regard to exploring mechanism-based pharmacological approaches on A. archangelica.

Back to the Roots-An Overview of the Chemical Composition and Bioactivity of Selected Root-Essential Oils

Since ancient times, plant roots have been widely used in traditional medicine for treating various ailments and diseases due to their beneficial effects. A large number of studies have demonstrated that-besides their aromatic properties-their biological activity can often be attributed to volatile constituents. This review provides a comprehensive overview of investigations into the chemical composition of essential oils and volatile components obtained from selected aromatic roots, including Angelica archangelica, Armoracia rusticana, Carlina sp., Chrysopogon zizanioides, Coleus forskohlii, Inula helenium, Sassafras albidum, Saussurea costus, and Valeriana officinalis. Additionally, their most important associated biological impacts are reported, such as anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, pesticidal, and other miscellaneous properties. Various literature and electronic databases-including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springer, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Wiley-were screened and data was obtained accordingly. The results indicate the promising properties of root-essential oils and their potential as a source for natural biologically active products for flavor, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and fragrance industries. However, more research is required to further establish the mechanism of action mediating these bioactivities as well as essential oil standardization because the chemical composition often strongly varies depending on external factors.

Optimization of extraction conditions of Angelica archangelica extract and activity evaluation in experimental fibromyalgia

The plant Angelica archangelica, owing to its magnificent therapeutic effectiveness in folklore medicine system, has been regarded as an "angel plant." The current investigation was aimed to optimize extraction conditions of A. archangelica roots and to investigate in vivo role of optimized extract in fibromyalgia. Plant material (dried roots) was subjected to methanol extraction at variable temperature (40 to 60 °C) and time (12 to 36 hr) conditions as per two-factorial design strategy, and responses in terms of antioxidant activity were determined. The optimized extraction conditions were found to be temperature of 60 °C and time of 36 hr. HPLC fingerprinting indicated the presence of coumarins in extract. To induce fibromyalgia, the mice were administered reserpine at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg. Mice were orally treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg extract, and magnitude of fibromyalgia was quantified. In comparison to reserpine group, the extract treatment attenuated pain as shown by significant increase in paw withdrawal threshold against mechanical stimuli (P < 0.05), improved motor ability indicated by increase in fall-off time in inclined plane test (P < 0.05), improved locomotion indicated by increased square crossings in open field test (P < 0.05), and improved cognition as shown by significant reduction in time to reach platform in Morris water maze test and passive avoidance task test (P < 0.05). Extract treatment significantly halted reserpine-induced rise in serum cytokine level (P < 0.05) and brain oxidative stress (P < 0.05). Angelica archangelica extract exerted its beneficial effects in fibromyalgia possibly through the attenuation of oxidative stress-mediated inflammatory cascade. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Leads from natural products have become an integral part of drug designing processes and have high acceptability due to their better tolerance. The optimization of extraction conditions of plant yields better results and could reduce the processing time, thus increasing its industrial value.