Rehashing Our Insight of Seaweeds as a Potential Source of Foods, Nutraceuticals, and Pharmaceuticals

In a few Southeast Asian nations, seaweeds have been a staple of the cuisine since prehistoric times. Seaweeds are currently becoming more and more popular around the world due to their superior nutritional value and medicinal properties. This is because of rising seaweed production on a global scale and substantial research on their composition and bioactivities over the past 20 years. By reviewing several articles in the literature, this review aimed to provide comprehensive information about the primary and secondary metabolites and various classes of bioactive compounds, such as polysaccharides, polyphenols, proteins, and essential fatty acids, along with their bioactivities, in a single article. This review also highlights the potential of seaweeds in the development of nutraceuticals, with a particular focus on their ability to enhance human health and overall well-being. In addition, we discuss the challenges and potential opportunities associated with the advancement of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals derived from seaweeds, as well as their incorporation into different industrial sectors. Furthermore, we find that many bioactive constituents found in seaweeds have demonstrated potential in terms of different therapeutic attributes, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and other properties. In conclusion, seaweed-based bioactive compounds have a huge potential to play an important role in the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical sectors. However, future research should pay more attention to developing efficient techniques for the extraction and purification of compounds as well as their toxicity analysis, clinical efficacy, mode of action, and interactions with regular diets.

Synthesis and Evaluation of NF-κB Inhibitory Activity of Mollugin Derivatives

(1) Background: Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) is an important transcriptional regulator that regulates the inflammatory pathway and plays a key role in cellular inflammatory and immune responses. The presence of a high concentration of NF-κB is positively correlated with the severity of inflammation. Therefore, the inhibition of this pathway is an important therapeutic target for the treatment of various types of inflammation; (2) Methods: we designed and synthesized 23 mollugin derivatives and evaluated their inhibitory activity against NF-κB transcription; (3) Results: Compound 6d exhibited the most promising inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 3.81 µM) and did not show any significant cytotoxicity against the tested cell lines. Investigation of the mechanism of action indicated that 6d down-regulated NF-κB expression, possibly by suppressing TNF-α-induced expression of the p65 protein. Most of the compounds exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity. Compound 4f was the most potent compound with 83.08% inhibition of inflammation after intraperitoneal administration, which was more potent than mollugin and the reference drugs (ibuprofen and mesalazine). ADMET prediction analysis indicated that compounds 6d and 4f had good pharmacokinetics and drug-like behavior; (4) Conclusions: Several series of mollugin derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for NF-κB inhibitory activity and toxicity. These results provide an initial basis for the development of 4f and 6d as potential anti-inflammatory agents.

Plant Lectins as Potent Anti-coronaviruses, Anti-inflammatory, Antinociceptive and Antiulcer Agents

Lectins are defined as carbohydrate-binding proteins/glycoproteins of none immune origin, they are ubiquitous in nature, exist from bacteria to human cells. And due to their carbohydrate-binding recognition capacity, they have been a useful biological tool for the purification of glycoproteins and their subsequent characterization. Some plant lectins have also been revealed to own antinociceptive, antiulcer, and anti-inflammatory properties, where these features, in many instances, depending on the lectin carbohydrate-binding site. Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease that struck the entire world leaving millions of people dead and more infected. Although COVID-19 vaccines have been made available, and quite a large number of world populations have already been immunized, the viral infection rates remained in acceleration, which continues to provoke major concern about the vaccines' efficacy. The belief in the ineffectiveness of the vaccine has been attributed in part to the recurrent mutations that occur in the epitope determinant fragments of the virus. Coronavirus envelope surface is extensively glycosylated being covered by more than sixty N-linked oligomannose, composite, and hybrid glycans with a core of Man3GlcNAc2Asn. In addition some O–linked glycans are also detected. Of these glyco-chains, many have also been exposed to several mutations, and a few remained conserved. Therefore, numerous plant lectins with a specificity directed towards these viral envelope sugars have been found to interact preferentially with them and are suggested to be scrutinized as a possible future tool to combat coronaviruses including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) through blocking the viral attachment to the host cells. In this review, we will discuss the possible applications of plant lectins as anti-coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antiulcer agents with the proposed mechanism of their actions.

Red Seaweed-Derived Compounds as a Potential New Approach for Acne Vulgaris Care

Acne vulgaris (AV) is a chronic skin disease of the pilosebaceous unit affecting both adolescents and adults. Its pathophysiology includes processes of inflammation, increased keratinization, sebum production, hormonal dysregulation, and bacterial Cutibacterium acnes proliferation. Common AV has been treated with antibiotics since the 1960s, but strain resistance has emerged and is of paramount concern. Macroalgae are known producers of substances with bioactive properties, including anti-viral, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, among several others. In particular, red algae are rich in bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, lipids, sterols, alkaloids, and terpenoids, conferring them antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities, among others. Thus, the exploration of compounds from marine resources can be an appealing approach to discover new treatment options against AV. The aim of this work is to provide an overview of the current knowledge of the potentialities of red macroalgae in the treatment of AV by reviewing the main therapeutic targets of this disease, and then the existence of compounds or extracts with bioactive properties against them.

Clusters of Responders and Predictive Factors for Response to Supplementation with Boswellia, Turmeric, and Red Algae Extracts in Painful Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Observational Study Using an Arsenal of Patient-Centered Measures

Purpose

This observational study evaluated a combination of boswellia, turmeric, and red algae extracts in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Given the growing interest in patient-centered care in osteoarthritis, effects were assessed by an arsenal of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs): Patient Acceptable Symptom Scale (PASS), Minimal Clinically Important Improvement (MCII), Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC), and Lequesne algofunctional index (LAFI). Patients also completed a list of 17 items on pain quality.

Patients and Methods

Patients with painful unilateral or bilateral KOA had to take 1-4 capsules per day of a dietary supplement containing boswellia, turmeric, and red algae extracts for 90 days. Patients completed PROMs on Days 0 (baseline), 10, 20, 30, 60, and/or 90.

Results

A total of 118 patients [female: 69.5%; age: 62.9 (9.5) years, mean (SD)] were included in the study and took at least one capsule. Mean (SD) follow-up duration was 100.7 (54.9) days. Pain relief was maximal on Day 90: 64.5% of patients were responders (positive PASS); 68.8% and 58.4% had MCII and PGIC scores indicating positive effect (score ≥3) or global improvement (score ≥5); 73.3% (versus 47.5% at baseline) were mildly/moderately disabled (LAFI score <8); 55.2% had meaningful decrease (-30%) in pain intensity (VAS), 35.1% (versus 59.2% at baseline) took analgesics as supplementary treatment. Median time to the first PASS change was 34 days. Pain intensity (VAS), as well as two pain characteristics (ie, "Stabbing pain" and "Widespread pain"), were independent factors associated with non-response on Day 30. Four clusters of responders were isolated according to pain characteristics, with one cluster exhibiting a higher responder rate.

Conclusion

The results of this preliminary study suggest that the combination of boswellia, turmeric, and red algae extracts tested could improve KOA patients. Beyond these results, this study showed the importance of PROMs and specific pain qualitative descriptors for the accurate evaluation of dietary supplement approaches in painful conditions.

Lectin from red algae Amansia multifida Lamouroux: Extraction, characterization and anti-inflammatory activity

Seaweed lectins are very promising biotechnological tools that also gain prominence when applied to the pharmacology field. The purpose of the present work was to isolate and characterize lectin from the red algae Amansia multifida and subsequently test it in general inflammation models. The lectin was purified by ion exchange chromatography, characterized with two-dimensional electrophoresis, automated analysis of amino acid sequences and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The pharmacological tests performed were paw edema induced by carrageenan or rapid inflammatory mediators, peritonitis induced by carrageenan and myeloperoxidase leukocyte count assays, glutathione and cytokine concentration. Our results have identified a 30 KDa molecular weight protein that presents a major secondary structure arranged in β-strand elements (~43%). A fragment of 20 amino acid residues was sequenced and presented low identity to the known classes of lectins from marine alga. This lectin was able to modulate inflammatory parameters such as paw edema, leukocyte migration, oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines. Thus, the lectin from the seaweed Amansia multifida has evident anti-inflammatory properties because it acts by reducing the formation of edema by modulating the effect of vascular mediators, migration of neutrophils, proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress control.

Synthetic and medicinal chemistry of phthalazines: Recent developments, opportunities and challenges

Fused diaza-heterocycles constitute the core structure of numerous bioactive natural products and effective therapeutic drugs. Among them, phthalazines have been recognized as remarkable structural leads in medicinal chemistry due to their wide application in pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. Accessing such challenging pharmaceutical agents/drug candidates with high chemical complexity through synthetically efficient approaches remains an attractive goal in the contemporary medicinal chemistry and drug discovery arena. In this review, we focus on the recent developments in the synthetic routes towards the generation of phthalazine-based active pharmaceutical ingredients and their biological potential against various targets. The general reaction scope of these innovative and easily accessible strategies was emphasized focusing on the functional group tolerance, substrate and coupling partner compatibility/limitation, the choice of catalyst, and product diversification. These processes were also accompanied by the mechanistic insights where deemed appropriate to demonstrate meaningful information. Moreover, the rapid examination of the structure-activity relationship analyses around the phthalazine core enabled by the pharmacophore replacement/integration revealed the generation of robust, efficient, and more selective compounds with pronounced biological effects. A large variety of in silico methods and ADME profiling tools were also employed to provide a global appraisal of the pharmacokinetics profile of diaza-heterocycles. Thus, the discovery of new structural leads offers the promise of improving treatments for various tropical diseases such as tuberculosis, leishmaniasis, malaria, Chagas disease, among many others including various cancers, atherosclerosis, HIV, inflammatory, and cardiovascular diseases. We hope this review would serve as an informative collection of structurally diverse molecules enabling the generation of mature, high-quality, and innovative routes to support the drug discovery endeavors.

Antibacterial functions of a novel fish-egg lectin from spotted knifejaw (Oplegnathus punctatus) during host defense immune responses

Fish-egg lectins (FELs) have been identified in several teleost species and have been proved to play important roles in innate immune system against pathogen infection. In this study a novel fish-egg lectin (OppFEL) was identified from spotted knifejaw (Oplegnathus punctatus), and the expression patterns against bacterial infection was characterized. The amino acid sequence is highly homologous to other teleost FELs, containing five repeats of the conserved TECPR domain. Expression of OppFEL was widely observed in examined tissues, with the most abundant transcripts observed in gill, showing a pattern of tissue specific expression. The OppFEL expression was significantly up-regulated following a Gram-negative bacterium (Vibrio anguillarum) challenge in vivo, suggesting participation in host antibacterial immune responses. Recombinant OppFEL protein (rOppFEL) possessed calcium dependent binding capacities and agglutination to four Gram-negative bacterium and two Gram-positive bacterium. Sugar binding assay revealed that rOppFEL specifically bound to insoluble lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan. In addition, rOppFEL was also proved to have hemagglutinating activity against erythrocytes from Mus musculus, O. punctatus, Sebastes schlegelii and Paralichthys olivaceus. Dual-luciferase analysis showed that overexpression of OppFEL could suppress the activity of NF-κB in a dose dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that OppFEL is a unique fish-egg lectin that possesses apparent immunomodulating property and is involved in host defense against pathogens invasion.

An overview on red algae bioactive compounds and their pharmaceutical applications

Objectives To review red algae bioactive compounds and their pharmaceutical applications. Content Seaweed sources are becoming attractive to be used in health and therapeutics. Among these red algae is the largest group containing bioactive compounds utilized in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food industry, manure and various supplements in food formula. Various significant bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides (aginate, agar, and carrageenan), lipids and polyphenols, steroids, glycosides, flavanoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, triterpenoids, antheraquinones and cardiac glycosides have been reported in red algae. The red algae have rich nutritional components Different polysaccharides of red algae possess the antiviral potential namely agarans, carrageenan, alginate, fucan, laminaran and naviculan. Sulfated polysaccharides and carraginans of red algae are rich source of soluble fibers which can account for antitumor activities depending upon chemistry of various secondary metabolites and metabolism of cell line. Flavons-3-ols containing catechins from many red algae block the telomerase activity in colon cancer cells. Contraceptive agents were tested from red algae as a source for post-coital. Lectin of red algae showed pro-healing properties and anti-ulcerogenic activities. Carragenates from red algae also conferred a positive influence on diabetes. Red algae depicted a reducing effect on plasma lipids and obesity. Porphyran from red alga can act as anti-hyperlipidemic agent also reduces the apolipoprotein B100 via suppression of lipid synthesis in human liver. Summary The polyphenolic extracts of Laurencia undulate, Melanothamnus afaqhusainii and Solieria robusta extract show anti-inflammatory effects against multiple genera of devastating fungi. Antioxidants such as phlorotannins, ascorbic acids, tocopherols, carotenoids from red algae showed toxicity on some cancer cells without side effects. Red algae Laurencia nipponica was found insecticidal against mosquito larvae. Red algae fibers are very important in laxative and purgative activities. Gracilaria tenuistipitat resisted in agricultural lands polluted with cadmium and copper. Outlook In the recent decades biotechnological applications of red algae has been increased. Polysaccharides derived from red algae are important tool for formulation of drugs delivery system via nanotechnology.

Antinociceptive and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Methanolic Extract of Laurencia caspica

Introduction: Seaweeds are valuable resources for the discovery of efficient and safe drugs for pain treatment. In the present investigation, we evaluated the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of, methanolic extract of Laurencia caspica, a red algae, in mice models. Methods: The analgesic effect of methanolic extract of L. caspica was assessed by hot-plate and acetic acid-induced writhing tests in male Swiss albino mice (weight = 20-25 g). The anti-inflammatory activity of methanolic extract of L. caspica was also evaluated by formalin-induced ear edema and xylene-induced paw edema tests. Results: The total flavonoid content of the extract was estimated as 0.0537 mg quercetin/g extract. Both first and second phases of the nociception were significantly inhibited at a dose of 120 mg/kg of methanolic extract of L. caspica. The observed anti-inflammatory effect was dose-dependent. Acetic acid-induced writhing test and hot plate test showed that the extract significantly reduced pain in all evaluated doses (15, 30, 60, and 120 mg/kg). The antinociceptive activity of the methanolic extract was significantly reduced by naloxone (4 mg/kg). Moreover, the extract significantly reduced paw edema at the dose of 120 mg/kg in all the animals. Conclusion: Methanolic extract of L. caspica exhibited central analgesic effect, as well as anti-inflammatory activity probably due to the presence of constituents like flavonoids and triterpenoids.

Animal Galectins and Plant Lectins as Tools for Studies in Neurosciences

Lectins are proteins or glycoproteins of non-immunological origin capable of reversibly and specifically binding to glycoconjugates. They exist in free form or associated with cells and are widely distributed in nature, being found in plants, microorganisms, and animals. Due to their characteristics and mainly due to the possibility of reversible binding to glycoconjugates, lectins have stood out as important tools in research involving Neurobiology. These proteins have the ability to modulate molecular targets in the central nervous system (CNS) which may be involved with neuroplasticity, neurobehavioral effects, and neuroprotection. The present report integrates existing information on the activity of animal and plant lectins in different areas of Neuroscience, presenting perspectives to direct new research on lectin function in the CNS, providing alternatives for understanding neurological diseases such as mental disorders, neurodegenerative, and neuro-oncological diseases, and for the development of new drugs, diagnoses and therapies in the field of Neuroscience.

Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Marine Algae in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neuroinflammation is one of the main contributors to the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Microglial and astrocyte activation is a brain defense mechanism to counteract harmful pathogens and damaged tissues, while their prolonged activation induces neuroinflammation that can trigger or exacerbate neurodegeneration. Unfortunately, to date there are no pharmacological therapies able to slow down or stop the progression of neurodegeneration. For this reason, research is turning to the identification of natural compounds with protective action against these diseases. Considering the important role of neuroinflammation in the onset and development of neurodegenerative pathologies, natural compounds with anti-inflammatory activity could be good candidates for developing effective therapeutic strategies. Marine organisms represent a huge source of natural compounds, and among them, algae are appreciated sources of important bioactive components such as antioxidants, proteins, vitamins, minerals, soluble dietary fibers, polyunsaturated fatty acids, polysaccharides, sterols, carotenoids, tocopherols, terpenes, phycobilins, phycocolloids, and phycocyanins. Recently, numerous anti-inflammatory compounds have been isolated from marine algae with potential protective efficacy against neuroinflammation. This review highlights the key inflammatory processes involved in neurodegeneration and the potential of specific compounds from marine algae to counteract neuroinflammation in the CNS.

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the citrus flavanone naringenin

Objective:

Naringenin, a flavonoid found in citrus fruits, has notably diverse pharmacological properties. In the present study, we investigated the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of naringenin.

Materials and Methods:

The antinociceptive effects were evaluated using hot-plate, acetic acid-induced writhing, and tail-flick assays in mice and rats. The anti-inflammatory effects were examined by a carrageenan-induced paw edema test in rats.

Results:

Naringenin (100 or 200 mg/kg, oral administration) significantly delayed the reaction time of mice to thermal stimulation generated by a hot plate and a tail-flick unit and reduced the acetic acid-induced writhing response in mice. In addition, naringenin significantly decreased paw edema induced by carrageenan in rats, showing its anti-inflammatory effect.

Conclusion:

Our results show that naringenin has therapeutic potential with antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties and can further be exploited for the development of drugs for pain and inflammatory-related diseases.

Marine Carbohydrate-Based Compounds with Medicinal Properties

The oceans harbor a great diversity of organisms, and have been recognized as an important source of new compounds with nutritional and therapeutic potential. Among these compounds, carbohydrate-based compounds are of particular interest because they exhibit numerous biological functions associated with their chemical diversity. This gives rise to new substances for the development of bioactive products. Many are the known applications of substances with glycosidic domains obtained from marine species. This review covers the structural properties and the current findings on the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antitumor and antimicrobial activities of medium and high molecular-weight carbohydrates or glycosylated compounds extracted from various marine organisms.

Lectins from red algae and their biomedical potential

Lectins are unique proteins or glycoproteins of non-immune origin that bind specifically to carbohydrates. They recognise and interact reversibly to either free carbohydrates or glycoconjugates, without modifying their structure. Lectins are highly diverse and widely distributed in nature and have been extensively reported from various red algae species. Numerous red algae species have been reported to possess lectins having carbohydrate specificity towards complex glycoproteins or high-mannose N-glycans. These lectin-glycan interactions further trigger many biochemical responses which lead to their extensive use as valuable tools in biomedical research. Thus, owing to their exceptional glycan recognition property, red algae lectins are potential candidate for inhibition of various viral diseases. Hence, the present report integrates existing information on the red algae lectins, their carbohydrate specificity, and characteristics of purified lectins. Further, the review also reports the current state of research into their anti-viral activity against various enveloped viruses such as HIV, hepatitis, influenza, encephalitis, coronavirus and herpes simplex virus and other biomedical activities such as anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and acaricidal activities.

Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory potentials of Vernoniaamygdalina leaf extract via reductions of leucocyte migration and lipid peroxidation

Background:

Vernonia amygdalina is well known as a medicinal plant in folk medicine as antidiabetic, anthelmintic, antimalarial, laxative/purgative, and expectorant among others.

Aim:

This study was conducted to investigate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of V. amygdalina.

Materials and Methods:

Methanol extract of V. amygdalina leaf (MEVA) was evaluated for antinociceptive effect and possible mechanisms of action in the presence of naloxone (1 mg/kg), atropine (2 mg/kg), and prazosin (1 mg/kg) using acetic acid writhing test in mice. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated in carrageenan hind paw edema and carrageenan air pouch models. Protein concentration, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) assays were carried out for its antioxidative activities in inflammation. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to assess the level of inflammation.

Results:

From the acetic acid writhing test results, MEVA (50,100 mg/kg) showed significant antinociceptive effect. Naloxone, atropine and prazosin did not significantly reverse the antinociceptive effect of MEVA (50 mg/kg). MEVA (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) showed dose-dependent inhibition of edema (41.4, 63.0, and 68.6%) at 4 h post-carrageenan injection. In the carrageenan air pouch model, MEVA (200 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced infiltrating leukocytes, protein concentration and MDA levels, while GSH and SOD were unaffected. The histological study showed a reduction in the infiltration of inflammatory cells in MEVA-treated groups.

Conclusion:

V. amygdalina showed antinociceptive activity and anti-inflammatory effect via reductions of leukocyte migration and lipid peroxidation.

Potential anti-inflammatory natural products from marine algae

Inflammatory diseases have become one of the leading causes of health issue throughout the world, having a considerable influence on healthcare costs. With the emerging developments in natural product, synthetic and combinatorial chemistry, a notable success has been achieved in discovering natural products and their synthetic structural analogs with anti-inflammatory activity. However, many of these therapeutics have indicated detrimental side effects upon prolonged usage. Marine algae have been identified as an underexplored reservoir of unique anti-inflammatory compounds. These include polyphenols, sulfated polysaccharides, terpenes, fatty acids, proteins and several other bioactives. Consumption of these marine algae could provide defense against the pathophysiology of many chronic inflammatory diseases. With further investigation, algal anti-inflammatory phytochemicals have the potential to be used as therapeutics or in the synthesis of structural analogs with profound anti-inflammatory activity with reduced side effects. The current review summarizes the latest knowledge about the potential anti-inflammatory compounds discovered from marine algae.

Marine Natural Product Inhibitors of Neutrophil-Associated Inflammation

Neutrophils are widely recognized to play an important role in acute inflammatory responses, and recent evidence has expanded their role to modulating chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and microbicidal compounds released from neutrophils that are recruited to the site of inflammation contribute to the pathogenesis of multiple inflammation-associated diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atherosclerosis, and hepatitis. Marine organisms are a valuable source of bioactive compounds with potential for industrial and pharmaceutical application. Marine natural products that inhibit neutrophil activation could be used as drugs for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Numerous studies investigating marine natural products have reported novel anti-inflammatory agents. Nevertheless, the detailed mechanisms underlying their actions, which could facilitate our understanding of the molecular events occurring in neutrophils, have not been reported in most of the associated research studies. Therefore, in this review, we will present marine products that inhibit neutrophil-associated inflammation. Furthermore, we will be limiting the detailed discussion to agents with well-investigated molecular targets.

Lectin from Abelmoschus esculentus reduces zymosan-induced temporomandibular joint inflammatory hypernociception in rats via heme oxygenase-1 pathway integrity and tnf-α and il-1β suppression

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders show inflammatory components, heavily impacting on quality of life. Abelmoschus esculentus is largely cultivated in Northeastern Brazil for medicinal purposes, having it shown anti-inflammatory activity. We evaluated A. esculentus lectin (AEL) efficacy in reducing zymosan-induced temporomandibular joint inflammatory hypernociception in rats along with the mechanism of action through which it exerts anti-inflammatory activity. Animals were pre-treated with AEL (0.01, 0.1 or 1mg/kg) before zymosan (Zy) injection in the TMJ to determine anti-inflammatory activity. To analyse the possible effect of the hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) and the nitric oxide (NO) pathways on AEL efficacy, animals were pre-treated with ZnPP-IX (3mg/kg), a specific HO-1 inhibitor, or aminoguanidine (30mg/kg), a selective iNOS inhibitor, before AEL administration. Von Frey test evaluated inflammatory hypernociception, synovial fluid collection was performed to determine leukocyte counting and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity 6h after Zy injection, and Evans Blue extravasation determined vascular permeability. TMJ tissue was collected for histopathological analysis (H&E) and immunohistochemistry (TNF-α, IL-1β, HO-1). In addition, TMJ tissue and trigeminal ganglion collection was performed for TNF-α and IL-1β dosage (ELISA). AEL increased inflammatory nociceptive threshold, reduced leukocyte influx along with MPO activity, leukocyte influx into the synovial membrane, and Evans Blue extravasation. It promoted HO-1 overexpression whilst decreased TNF-α and IL-1β expression in the TMJ tissue. AEL reduced TNF-α and IL-1β levels in TMJ tissue and trigeminal ganglion. AEL effects, however, were not observed in the presence of ZnPP-IX. These findings suggest that AEL efficacy depends on TNF-α/IL-1β inhibition and HO-1 pathway integrity.

Antinociception of spirocyclopiperazinium salt compound LXM-10-M targeting α7 nicotinic receptor and M4 muscarinic receptor and inhibiting CaMKIIα/CREB/CGRP signaling pathway in mice

The present study was designed to investigate the antinociception of spirocyclopiperazinium salt compound LXM-10-M (2,4-dimethyl-9-β-m-hydroxyphenylethyl-3-oxo-6, 9-diazaspiro [5.5] undecane chloride) in thermal and chemical pain models, and further to explore the molecular target and potential signal pathway. We assessed the antinociception of LXM-10-M in hot-plate test, formalin test and acetic acid writhing test in mice. The possible changes of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα)/cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB)/calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) signaling pathway were detected by Western Blot in mice. Administration of LXM-10-M produced significant antinociception in hot-plate test, formalin test and acetic acid writhing test in mice, with no obvious toxicity. The antinociceptive effects were blocked by pretreatment with methyllycaconitine citrate (MLA, α7 nicotinic receptor antagonist) or tropicamide (TRO, M4 muscarinic receptor antagonist). Western blot analysis showed that the upregulations of p-CaMKIIα, p-CREB and CGRP in the spinal cord were reduced by LXM-10-M in chemical pain model in mice, and the effects were blocked by MLA or TRO pretreatment. This is the first paper to report that LXM-10-M exerted significant antinociception, which may be attributed to the activation of α7 nicotinic receptor and M4 muscarinic receptor and thereby triggering the inhibition of CaMKIIα/CREB/CGRP signaling pathway in mice.

Marine lectins and their medicinal applications

Marine organisms have been extensively explored for the last several decades as potential sources of novel biologically active compounds, and extensive research has been conducted on lectins. Lectins derived from marine organisms are structurally diverse and also differ from those identified from terrestrial organisms. Marine lectins appear to be particularly useful in some biological applications. They seem to induce negligible immunogenicity because they have a relatively small size, are more stable due to extensive disulfide bridge formation, and have high specificity for complex glyco-conjugates and carbohydrates instead of simple sugars. It is clear that many of them have not yet been extensively studied when compared with their terrestrial counterparts. Marine lectins can be used to design and develop new potentially useful therapeutic agents. This review encompasses recent research on the isolation and identification of marine lectins with potential value in medicinal applications.

Microalgal lipids biochemistry and biotechnological perspectives

In the last few years, there has been an intense interest in using microalgal lipids in food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries and cosmetology, while a noteworthy research has been performed focusing on all aspects of microalgal lipid production. This includes basic research on the pathways of solar energy conversion and on lipid biosynthesis and catabolism, and applied research dealing with the various biological and technical bottlenecks of the lipid production process. In here, we review the current knowledge in microalgal lipids with respect to their metabolism and various biotechnological applications, and we discuss potential future perspectives. The committing step in fatty acid biosynthesis is the carboxylation of acetyl-CoA to form malonyl-CoA that is then introduced in the fatty acid synthesis cycle leading to the formation of palmitic and stearic acids. Oleic acid may also be synthesized after stearic acid desaturation while further conversions of the fatty acids (i.e. desaturations, elongations) occur after their esterification with structural lipids of both plastids and the endoplasmic reticulum. The aliphatic chains are also used as building blocks for structuring storage acylglycerols via the Kennedy pathway. Current research, aiming to enhance lipogenesis in the microalgal cell, is focusing on over-expressing key-enzymes involved in the earlier steps of the pathway of fatty acid synthesis. A complementary plan would be the repression of lipid catabolism by down-regulating acylglycerol hydrolysis and/or β-oxidation. The tendency of oleaginous microalgae to synthesize, apart from lipids, significant amounts of other energy-rich compounds such as sugars, in processes competitive to lipogenesis, deserves attention since the lipid yield may be considerably increased by blocking competitive metabolic pathways. The majority of microalgal production occurs in outdoor cultivation and for this reason biotechnological applications face some difficulties. Therefore, algal production systems need to be improved and harvesting systems need to be more effective in order for their industrial applications to become more competitive and economically viable. Besides, a reduction of the production cost of microalgal lipids can be achieved by combining lipid production with other commercial applications. The combined production of bioactive products and lipids, when possible, can support the commercial viability of both processes. Hydrophobic compounds can be extracted simultaneously with lipids and then purified, while hydrophilic compounds such as proteins and sugars may be extracted from the defatted biomass. The microalgae also have applications in environmental biotechnology since they can be used for bioremediation of wastewater and to monitor environmental toxicants. Algal biomass produced during wastewater treatment may be further valorized in the biofuel manufacture. It is anticipated that the high microalgal lipid potential will force research towards finding effective ways to manipulate biochemical pathways involved in lipid biosynthesis and towards cost effective algal cultivation and harvesting systems, as well.

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of extract and two isolated flavonoids of Carthamus tinctorius L

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) has been long used both in the traditional system and folk medicine as an analgesic anti-inflammatory agent in China. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of hydroalcoholic extract (HE) and two isolated kaempferol glycosides of Carthamus tinctorius L. to provide experimental evidence for its traditional use.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Antinociceptive effects of HE, kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside (K-3-R) and kaempferol 3-O-glucoside (K-3-G) were assessed in mice using the acetic acid-induced writhing test, formalin test and cinnamaldehyde test. The anti-inflammatory effects of HE, K-3-R and K-3-G were determined in two animal models: carrageenan-induced paw edema and xylene-induced ear edema.

RESULTS

The HPLC analysis showed the presence of K-3-R and K-3-G in Carthamus tinctorius L. HE (500 and 1000mg/kg) as well as K-3-R and K-3-G (150, 300 and 600mg/kg) produced significant inhibition on nociception induced by acetic acid and formalin. Oral treatment of HE, K-3-R and K-3-G at all doses significantly reduced both the nociceptive response and cinnamaldehyde-induced paw edema, effect that was superior to aspirin. In anti-inflammatory tests, HE and K-3-G significantly inhibited the paw edema during the both phases of carrageenan-induced inflammation while K-3-G suppressed the late phase inflammation only. HE (400 and 800mg/kg) and K-3-G (200, 400, 800mg/kg) produced significant dose-dependent inhibition of xylene-induced ear edema development. K-3-R only suppressed ear edema formation at a high dose (800mg/kg).

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that Carthamus tinctorius L. extract possess remarkable antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities which may be due to K-3-R and K-3-G at least in part, supporting the folkloric usage of the plant to treat various inflammatory and pain diseases.

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of Sargassum wightii and Halophila ovalis sulfated polysaccharides in experimental animal models

The present study investigated the effects of sulfated polysaccharides from brown seaweed Sargassum wightii (Sw-SP) and seagrass Halophila ovalis (Ho-SP) in nociceptive and inflammatory models. In the formalin test, Sw-SP and Ho-SP significantly reduced licking time in both phases of the test at a dose of 10 mg/kg. In the hot plate test, the antinociceptive effect was observed only in animals treated with 10 mg/kg of Sw-SP and 5, 10 mg/kg of Ho-SP, suggesting that the analgesic effect occurs through a central action mechanism at the higher dose. Sw-SP and Ho-SP (10 mg/kg) significantly inhibited paw edema induced by carrageenan, especially at 3 h after treatment and potentially decreased neutrophil migration by 53% and 52%, respectively. In Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritic rats, there was a significant increase in the rat paw volume and decrease in body weight, but in Sw-SP- and Ho-SP-treated groups (10 mg/kg), a significant reduction in paw volume and a normal gain in body weight were observed. The present results indicate that Sw-SP and Ho-SP possess antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects and have potential usefulness for development as therapeutic agents.

Marine algal natural products with anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties

For their various bioactivities, biomaterials derived from marine algae are important ingredients in many products, such as cosmetics and drugs for treating cancer and other diseases. This mini-review comprehensively compares the bioactivities and biological functions of biomaterials from red, green, brown, and blue-green algae. The anti-oxidative effects and bioactivities of several different crude extracts of algae have been evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Natural products derived from marine algae protect cells by modulating the effects of oxidative stress. Because oxidative stress plays important roles in inflammatory reactions and in carcinogenesis, marine algal natural products have potential for use in anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of the ethanolic extract of Bougainvillea xbuttiana

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Bougainvillea xbuttiana is widely distributed in Mexico and it is used as an analgesic in folk medicine.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In the present study the in vivo antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the Bougainvillea xbuttiana ethanolic extract have been studied in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The phytochemical analysis was performed. Antinociceptive activity was evaluated through writhing and formalin test in mice. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined with the carrageenan-induced mice paw oedema model. IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ levels were determined by enzyme-like immunosorbent assay, whereas TNF and nitrite levels were detected by standard assay with L929 cells and colorimetric Griess reactive, respectively.

RESULTS

The results showed that the ethanolic extract of the Bougainvillea xbuttiana has significant anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities, by inhibition of nociception induced by acetic acid and paw oedema. This extract also induced a decrease in TNF levels and an increase of IL-6, IFN-γ and NO levels that we observed up to 2h. The highest levels of IL-10 were observed up to 4h. The ratios of pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokines in sera from mice injected with the ethanolic extract, may be manifesting an anti-inflammatory status.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study provides convincing evidences that Bougainvillea xbuttiana extract possesses significant anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects.

Endogenous opiates and behavior: 2011

This paper is the thirty-fourth consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2011 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior (Section 2), and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia (Section 3); stress and social status (Section 4); tolerance and dependence (Section 5); learning and memory (Section 6); eating and drinking (Section 7); alcohol and drugs of abuse (Section 8); sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (Section 9); mental illness and mood (Section 10); seizures and neurologic disorders (Section 11); electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (Section 12); general activity and locomotion (Section 13); gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (Section 14); cardiovascular responses (Section 15); respiration (Section 16); and immunological responses (Section 17).

Holothuria grisea agglutinin (HGA): the first invertebrate lectin with anti-inflammatory effects

Holothuria grisea agglutinin (HGA) is a dimeric lectin of molecular mass 228 kDa by gel filtration with monomers of 105 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The lectin is highly thermostable as it retains full activity for 1 h at 70 °C. Unlike other lectins purified from marine invertebrates, the hemagglutination activity of HGA does not require any divalent metal ions. The affinity analysis of HGA showed that only mucin was able to inhibit the hemagglutinating activity. HGA administered intravenously was tested in classical models of nociception and inflammation. HGA was able to inhibit neutrophil migration into the peritoneal cavity induced by carrageenan. This inhibitory effect was 68% at a dose of 1 mg/kg. In acetic acid-induced writhing tests, a significant antinociceptive effect was observed by treatment with HGA (0.1; 1 or 10 mg/kg) reducing constrictions by 27, 90 and 84%, respectively. In formalin tests, HGA at a dose of 10 mg/kg showed antinociceptive effect only in the inflammatory phase (phase 2). Nevertheless, in hot-plate tests, HGA did not show any nociceptive effect. In rota-rod and open-field tests, HGA did not alter the animals' behavior. The treatment with HGA 10 mg/kg presented diminished myeloperoxidase activity activity (81.6% inhibition) and raised the circulating levels of NO by 50.4% when compared with the carrageenan group. HGA has demonstrated the ability to modulate the inflammatory response in models of inflammation in vivo. HGA is the first marine invertebrate lectin that showed an anti-inflammatory effect. This finding opens a new perspective on the potential of lectins from the marine environment.

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of crude methanolic extract of red alga Bryothamnion triquetrum

The marine environment is an extraordinary reservoir of bioactive natural products, many of which exhibit chemical and structural features not found in terrestrial natural products. In this regard, the aim of this study was to investigate the possible antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of a crude methanolic extract of the red alga Bryothamnion triquetrum (BT-MeOH) in murine models. Groups of Swiss mice of both sexes (25-30 g) were used throughout the experiments. The potential antinociceptive of BT-MeOH was evaluated by means of the following tests: acetic acid-induced writhing, hot-plate test and glutamate- and formalin-induced nociception. The anti-inflammatory activity of BT-MeOH was investigated using the zymosan A-induced peritonitis test. The tests were conducted using 100 mg/kg (p.o.) BT-MeOH, 33.3 mg/kg (p.o.) dipyrone, 35.7 mg/kg (p.o.) indomethacin and 5.7 mg/kg (s.c.) morphine. The extract and all standard drugs were administered 40 min before the nociceptive/inflammatory stimulus. In the acetic acid-induced writhing test, BT-MeOH and dipyrone inhibited the nociceptive response by 55.9% (22.2 ± 2.0 writhings; p < 0.01) and 80.9% (9.6 ± 2.1 writhings; p < 0.01). In the hot-plate test, BT-MeOH did not increase the latency time of the animals in the time evaluated. In addition, BT-MeOH inhibited glutamate-induced nociception by 50.1%. While BT-MeOH did not inhibit the neurogenic phase in formalin-induced nociception, the inflammatory phase was inhibited by 53.1% (66.8 ± 14.2 s; p < 0.01). Indomethacin inhibited the inflammatory phase by 60.2% (56.8 ± 8.7 s; p < 0.01). In the zymosan-induced peritonitis test, BT-MeOH inhibited 55.6% (6.6 ± 0.2 × 10(6) leukocytes/mL; p < 0.01) of leukocyte migration, while indomethacin inhibited 78.1% (3.2 ± 0.1 × 10(6) leukocytes/mL; p < 0.01). Based on the results obtained in this study, we conclude that BT-MeOH has peripheral antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. However, more studies need to be conducted to confirm these properties.

Heart health peptides from macroalgae and their potential use in functional foods

Macroalgae have for centuries been consumed whole among the East Asian populations of China, Korea, and Japan. Due to the environment in which they grow, macroalgae produce unique and interesting biologically active compounds. Protein can account for up to 47% of the dry weight of macroalgae depending on species and time of cultivation and harvest. Peptides derived from marcoalgae are proven to have hypotensive effects in the human circulatory system. Hypertension is one of the major, yet controllable, risk factors in cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is the main cause of death in Europe, accounting for over 4.3 million deaths each year. In the United States it affects one in three individuals. Hypotensive peptides derived from marine and other sources have already been incorporated into functional foods such as beverages and soups. The purpose of this review is to highlight the potential of heart health peptides from macroalgae and to discuss the feasibility of expanding the variety of foods these peptides may be used in.