Anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Mitracarpus frigidus in established animal models

The Potential of Hydrogel Preparations Containing Plant Materials in Supporting the Treatment of Vaginal and Vulvar Infections-Current State of Knowledge

Vaginal hydrogels are a modern alternative to solid (tablets, globules) and other semi-solid forms of medication (ointments, creams) in the control of pathogenic microorganisms in diseases of the female reproductive tract. This review aims to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the efficacy of hydrogels containing plant materials in the treatment of vaginal and vulvar infections. New therapies are essential to address the growing antimicrobial resistance crisis. Google Scholar, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Medline (PubMed) databases were searched. Twenty-five studies were included in the review, including basic, pre-clinical, and clinical studies. The results obtained confirmed the therapeutic potential of plant raw materials embedded in the polymer matrix of hydrogels. However, due to the small number of clinical trials conducted, further research in this area is needed.

Use of Callistemon citrinus as a gastroprotective and anti-inflammatory agent on indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers in obese rats

Background

Obesity leads to an elevated risk of developing gastrointestinal disease such as gastric ulcers. Callistemon citrinus leaf extract has shown antioxidant, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, and chemoprotective effects against colon cancer. The aim of this study is to evaluate the gastroprotective effect of C. citrinus leaf extract on indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers in obese rats.

Methods

Gastric ulcers were induced in female obese Wistar rats using a single oral dose of indomethacin (IND). In the first stage, the rats were fed with a high fat sugar diet (HFSD) for 15 weeks to induce obesity and, at the same time, the diet of the other group of animals included daily administration of ethanolic C. citrinus leaf extract (250 mg/kg) in addition to HFSD. In the second stage, gastric ulcers were induced with IND (30 mg/kg). The gastroprotective activity of C. citrinus, the inflammatory enzyme activities, and cytokines in the stomach were determined.

Results

C. citrinus produced a reduction of gastric lesions caused by IND. Myeloperoxidase (MPO), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) activities also decreased. Although inflammatory biomarkers such as TNFα, IL-6, AOPP, and leptin were significantly decreased by C. citrinus, adiponectin levels increased. Moreover, C. citrinus decreased weight gain and morphological and biochemical parameters.

Conclusion

The use of indomethacin in rats fed with a high fat-sugar diet increased gastric ulcers. Gastroprotective effect of C. citrinus in obese rats is attributed to the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the inflammatory enzymes.

Mitracarpus frigidus reduces lipid metabolism and PGE2 levels in inflammatory cells

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the ability of the aqueous extract of Mitracarpus frigidus (MFAq) to inhibit lipid body formation and inflammatory mediator production in macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ).

METHODS

MFAq was chemically characterized by ultrafast liquid chromatography/quadruple time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. The macrophages obtained from mice were incubated with MFAq. Cell viability and membrane integrity were evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and propidium iodide assays, respectively. Moreover, NO, reactive oxygen species (ROS), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels and lipid bodies (LBs) were examined in macrophages that were stimulated with LPS and IFN-γ and treated with MFAq. Finally, molecular docking analysis was conducted to investigate the interaction of MFAq with the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) enzyme.

KEY FINDINGS

Chlorogenic acid, clarinoside, harounoside, rutin, kaempferol-3O-rutinoside and 2-azaanthraquinone were identified in MFAq. MFAq significantly inhibited NO, ROS and LBs, and did not affect the membrane integrity of macrophages. MFAq-treated cells showed significantly lower levels of TGF-β and PGE2. Molecular docking demonstrated that the compounds found in MFAq are able to inhibit COX-2 by binding to important residues in the catalytic site.

CONCLUSIONS

MFAq interferes with lipid metabolism in stimulated macrophages, leading to the reduction of important inflammatory mediators. Furthermore, MFAq can directly inhibit the COX-2 enzyme or inhibit its expression owing to its ability to reduce NO production.

In Silico, In Vitro, and In Vivo Antitumor and Anti-Inflammatory Evaluation of a Standardized Alkaloid-Enriched Fraction Obtained from Boehmeria caudata Sw. Aerial Parts

In the context of the cancer-inflammation relationship and the use of natural products as potential antitumor and anti-inflammatory agents, the alkaloid-enriched fraction of Boehmeriacaudata (BcAEF) aerial parts was evaluated. In vitro antiproliferative studies with human tumor cell lines showed high activity at low concentrations. Further investigation on NCI-H460 cells showed an irreversible effect on cell proliferation, with cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and programmed cell death induction. Molecular docking studies of four alkaloids identified in BcAEF with colchicine’s binding site on β-tubulin were performed, suggesting (−)-C (15R)-hydroxycryptopleurine as the main inductor of the observed mitotic death. In vivo studies showed that BcAEF was able to reduce Ehrlich tumor volume progression by 30 to 40%. Checking myeloperoxidase activity, BcAEF reduced neutrophils migration towards the tumor. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by chemically induced edema models. In croton oil-induced ear edema and carrageenan (CG)-induced paw edema models, BcAEF reduced edema around 70 to 80% together with inhibition of activation and/or migration of neutrophils to the inflammatory area. All together the results presented herein show BcAEF as a potent antitumor agent combining antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory properties, which could be further explored in (pre)clinical studies.

Development and in vivo evaluation of chitosan-gel containing Mitracarpus frigidus methanolic extract for vulvovaginal candidiasis treatment

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is characterized by inflammatory changes in the vaginal mucosa caused by abnormal colonization of Candida species. Traditional topical therapies using reference antifungal drugs usually present several issues and limitations for VVC treatment. Thus, the interest in new vaginal formulations, mainly those based on compounds from natural origin, has been growing over the last years. Methanolic extract from the plant species Mitracarpus frigidus (Willd. Ex Reem Schult.) K. Schum (MFM) has presented potential antifungal activity against C. albicans vaginal infection. Here, we aimed to develop and characterize a gynecological gel formulation based on chitosan containing MFM and to evaluate its anti-C. albicans effectiveness in the treatment of VVC. First, MFM was incorporated into a gel formulation based on chitosan in three final concentrations: 2.5 %, 5.0 %, and 10.0 %. Next, these gel formulations were subjected to stationary and oscillatory rheological tests. Finally, the gel was tested in an experimental VVC model. The rheological tests indicated pseudoplastic fluids, becoming more viscous and elastic with the increase of the extract concentration, indicating intermolecular interactions. Our in vivo analyses demonstrated a great reduction of vulvovaginal fungal burden and infection accompanied with the reduction of mucosal inflammation after MFM chitosan-gel treatment. The present findings open perspectives for the further use of the MFM-chitosan-gel formulation as a therapeutic alternative for VVC treatment.

The anti-inflammatory effects of Yunnan Baiyao are involved in regulation of the phospholipase A2/arachidonic acid metabolites pathways in acute inflammation rat model

The traditional Chinese medicine Yunnan Baiyao (YNB) has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties, however its mechanism of action remains unclear. It was previously reported that YNB ameliorated depression of arachidonic acid (AA) levels in a rat model of collagen-induced arthritis. In the current study, the capacity of YNB to ameliorate inflammation was compared in carrageenan-induced and AA-induced acute inflammation of the rat paw with celecoxib and mizolastine, respectively (n=24 per group). The capacity of YNB to affect the phospholipase A2 (PLA2)/AA pathway (using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction) and release of inflammatory lipid mediators (by ELISA) were investigated. Celecoxib ameliorated carrageenan-induced paw edema, and mizolastine ameliorated AA-induced rat paw edema. YNB alleviated paw edema and inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration in the two models. YNB inhibited production of 5-LOX AA metabolite leukotriene B4 (LTB4), and suppressed expression of 5-LOX, cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2), 5-LOX-activating protein, and LTB4 receptor mRNA in the AA-induced inflammation model (P<0.05). YNB Inhibited the production of the COX-2 AA metabolite prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and suppressed expression of COX-2, cPLA2, PGE2 mRNA in the carrageenan-induced inflammation mode (P<0.05). Taken together, the data suggest that modulation of COX and LOX pathways in AA metabolism represent a novel anti-inflammatory mechanism of YNB.

Antiedematogenic Evaluation of Copaifera langsdorffii Leaves Hydroethanolic Extract and Its Major Compounds

Inflammatory disorders affect many people worldwide, and medicinal plants are used to ameliorate these health problems. This paper reports the antiedematogenic and analgesic evaluation of Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. leaves hydroethanolic extract (Cop) and two of its isolated compounds: quercetin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (quercitrin) and kaempferol-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (afzelin). For that, the following experimental protocols were undertaken locomotor performance, writhing induced by acetic acid, antinociceptivity induced by formalin, hot plate latency, paw oedema induced by carrageenan and dextran, and cell migration induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as well as the measurement of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 10 (IL-10) in macrophages. Neither the extract nor the isolated compounds displayed analgesic activity. The obtained results showed that C. langsdorffii extract possesses antiedematogenic properties acting on peripheral sites, whereas quercitrin and afzelin are not involved. Moreover, these properties are not associated with cell migration inhibition, TNF-α, IL-6, or IL-10 regulation.

Development and evaluation of curcumin-loaded elastic vesicles as an effective topical anti-inflammatory formulation

Curcumin has diverse biological activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. However, its clinical use for topical application is limited due to its poor aqueous solubility and thus, minimal cutaneous bioavailability. Elastic vesicles (EVs) of curcumin were prepared to improve its cutaneous bioavailability and to use it for topical anti-inflammatory effect. Ex vivo skin permeation and retention studies were performed to check if incorporation of curcumin into EVs could improve its permeation into and retention in the skin. Evaluation of acute and chronic anti-inflammatory effect was done using xylene-induced acute ear edema in mice and cotton pellet-induced chronic inflammation in rats, respectively. A significant improvement in flux (nine times) across murine skin was observed when aqueous dispersion of curcumin (flux - 0.46 ± 0.02 μg/h/cm(2)) was compared with curcumin-loaded EVs (flux - 4.14 ± 0.04 μg/h/cm(2)). Incorporation of these curcumin-loaded EVs into a hydrophilic ointment base resulted in higher skin retention (51.66%) in contrast to free curcumin ointment (1.64%) and a marketed formulation (VICCO® turmeric skin cream). The developed ointment showed an effect similar (p < 0.05) to the marketed diclofenac sodium ointment (Omni-gel®) in suppression of acute inflammation in mouse; a significant inhibition (28.8% versus 3.91% for free curcumin) of cotton pellet-induced chronic inflammation was also observed. Thus, curcumin-loaded EVs incorporated in hydrophilic ointment is a promising topical anti-inflammatory formulation.