UPLC-PDA-ESI/MS metabolic profiling of dill shoots bioactive fraction; evidence of its antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects in vitro and in vivo

Natural Products for Acetaminophen-Induced Acute Liver Injury: A Review

The liver plays a vital role in metabolism, synthesis, and detoxification, but it is susceptible to damage from various factors such as viral infections, drug reactions, excessive alcohol consumption, and autoimmune diseases. This susceptibility is particularly problematic for patients requiring medication, as drug-induced liver injury often leads to underestimation, misdiagnosis, and difficulties in treatment. Acetaminophen (APAP) is a widely used and safe drug in therapeutic doses but can cause liver toxicity when taken in excessive amounts. This study aimed to investigate the hepatotoxicity of APAP and explore potential treatment strategies using a mouse model of APAP-induced liver injury. The study involved the evaluation of various natural products for their therapeutic potential. The findings revealed that natural products demonstrated promising hepatoprotective effects, potentially alleviating liver damage and improving liver function through various mechanisms such as oxidative stress and inflammation, which cause changes in signaling pathways. These results underscore the importance of exploring novel treatment options for drug-induced liver injury, suggesting that further research in this area could lead to the development of effective preventive and therapeutic interventions, ultimately benefiting patients with liver injury caused by medicine.

Mentha pulegium L. (Pennyroyal, Lamiaceae) Extracts Impose Abortion or Fetal-Mediated Toxicity in Pregnant Rats; Evidenced by the Modulation of Pregnancy Hormones, MiR-520, MiR-146a, TIMP-1 and MMP-9 Protein Expressions, Inflammatory State, Certain Related Signaling Pathways, and Metabolite Profiling via UPLC-ESI-TOF-MS

Pregnant women usually turn to natural products to relieve pregnancy-related ailments which might pose health risks. Mentha pulegium L. (MP, Lamiaceae) is a common insect repellent, and the present work validates its abortifacient capacity, targeting morphological anomalies, biological, and behavioral consequences, compared to misoprostol. The study also includes untargeted metabolite profiling of MP extract and fractions thereof viz. methylene chloride (MecH), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), butanol (But), and the remaining liquor (Rem. Aq.) by UPLC-ESI-MS-TOF, to unravel the constituents provoking abortion. Administration of MP extract/fractions, for three days starting from day 15th of gestation, affected fetal development by disrupting the uterine and placental tissues, or even caused pregnancy termination. These effects also entailed biochemical changes where they decreased progesterone and increased estradiol serum levels, modulated placental gene expressions of both MiR-(146a and 520), decreased uterine MMP-9, and up-regulated TIMP-1 protein expression, and empathized inflammatory responses (TNF-α, IL-1β). In addition, these alterations affected the brain's GFAP, BDNF, and 5-HT content and some of the behavioral parameters escorted by the open field test. All these incidences were also perceived in the misoprostol-treated group. A total of 128 metabolites were identified in the alcoholic extract of MP, including hydroxycinnamates, flavonoid conjugates, quinones, iridoids, and terpenes. MP extract was successful in terminating the pregnancy with minimal behavioral abnormalities and low toxicity margins.

Design and optimization of cranberry extract loaded bile salt augmented liposomes for targeting of MCP-1/STAT3/VEGF signaling pathway in DMN-intoxicated liver in rats

Cranberry extract (CBE) is a major source of the antioxidant polyphenolics but suffers from limited bioavailability. The goal of this research was to encapsulate the nutraceutical (CBE), into bile salt augmented liposomes (BSALs) as a promising oral delivery system to potentiate its hepatoprotective impact against dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) induced liver injury in rats. The inclusion of bile salt in the liposomal structure can enhance their stability within the gastrointestinal tract and promote CBE permeability. CBE loaded BSALs formulations were fabricated utilizing a (2³) factorial design to explore the impact of phospholipid type (X₁), phospholipid amount (X₂), and sodium glycocholate (SGC) amount (X₃) on BSALs properties, namely; entrapment efficiency percent, (EE%); vesicle size, (VS); polydispersity index; (PDI); zeta potential, (ZP); and release efficiency percent, (RE%). The optimum formulation (F1) exhibited spherical vesicles with EE% of 71.27 ± 0.32%, VS; 148.60 ± 6.46 nm, PDI; 0.38 ± 0.02, ZP; −18.27 ± 0.67 mV and RE%; 61.96 ± 1.07%. Compared to CBE solution, F1 had attenuated DMN-induced hepatic injury, as evidenced by the significant decrease in serum level of ALT, AST, ALP, MDA, and elevation of GSH level, as well as SOD and GPX activities. Furthermore, F1 exhibited an anti-inflammatory character by suppressing TNF-α, MCP-1, and IL-6, as well as downregulation of VEGF-C, STAT-3, and IFN-γ mRNA levels. This study verified that when CBE was integrated into BSALs, F1, its hepatoprotective effect was significantly potentiated to protect the liver against DMN-induced damage. Therefore, F1 could be deliberated as an antioxidant, antiproliferative, and antifibrotic therapy to slow down the progression of hepatic damage.

Antioxidant, Antimicrobial Activities and Characterization of Polyphenol-Enriched Extract of Egyptian Celery (Apium graveolens L., Apiaceae) Aerial Parts via UPLC/ESI/TOF-MS

Medicinal plant extracts are increasingly considered a major source of innovative medications and healthcare products. This study focused on preparing a polyphenol enriched water extract of Egyptian celery “Apium graveolens L., Apiaceae” aerial parts (TAE) in an endeavor to accentuate its antioxidant capacity as well as its antimicrobial activity. (TAE) of celery was partitioned against different organic solvents to yield dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EAC), and butanol (BUOH) fractions. (TAE) and the organic fractions thereof besides the remaining mother liquor (ML) were all screened for their antioxidant capacity using various protocols viz. monitoring the reducing amplitudes for ferric ions (FRAP), and radical scavenging potentials of oxygen (ORAC), 2,2’-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and metal chelation assays. The examination procedure revealed both (TAE) extract and (DCM) fraction, to pertain the highest antioxidant potentials, where the IC₅₀ of the (TAE) using ABTS and metal chelation assays were ca. 34.52 ± 3.25 and 246.6 ± 5.78 µg/mL, respectively. The (DCM) fraction recorded effective results using the FRAP, ORAC, and DPPH assays ca. 233.47 ± 15.14 and 1076 ± 25.73 μM Trolox equivalents/mg sample and an IC₅₀ 474.4 ± 19.8 µg/mL, respectively. Additionally, both (TAE) and (DCM) fraction exerted antimicrobial activities recording inhibition zones (mm) (13.4 ± 1.5) and (12.0 ± 1.0) against Staphylococcus aureus and (11.0 ± 1.2) and (10.0 ± 1.3) against Escherichia coli, respectively, with no anti-fungal activity. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of (TAE) and (DCM) fraction were 1250 and 2500 µg/mL, respectively. UPLC/ESI/TOF-MS unveiled the chemical profile of both (TAE) and (DCM) fraction to encompass a myriad of active polyphenolic constituents including phenylpropanoids, coumarins, apigenin, luteolin, and chrysoeriol conjugates.