Protective Role of Hinokitiol Against H2O2-Induced Injury in Human Corneal Epithelium

Hinokitiol protects gastric injury from ethanol exposure via its iron sequestration capacity

Hinokitiol is a natural bioactive tropolone derivative isolated from Chamaecyparis obtusa and Thuja plicata, which exhibits promising potential in terms of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and possesses potent iron-binding capacity. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential role of hinokitiol in protecting against ethanol-induced gastric injury and elucidate the underlying mechanism. Our results demonstrated that hinokitiol effectively attenuated hemorrhagic gastric lesions, epithelial cell loss, and inflammatory response in mice with ethanol-induced gastric injury. Intriguingly, we found that ethanol exposure affects iron levels both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, the disturbed iron homeostasis was involved in the development of ethanol-induced injury. Iron depletion was found to enhance defense against ethanol-induced damage, while iron repletion showed the opposite effect. To further explore the role of iron sequestration in the protective effects of hinokitiol, we synthesized methylhinokitiol, a compound that shields the iron binding capacity of hinokitiol with a methyl group. Interestingly, this compound significantly diminishes the protective effect against ethanol-induced injury. These findings collectively demonstrated that hinokitiol could potentially be used to prevent or improve gastric injury induced by ethanol through regulating cellular iron homeostasis.

In Vitro Safety and Efficacy Evaluation of a Juniperus communis Callus Culture Extract and Matricaria recutita Processing Waste Extract Combination as a Cosmetic Ingredient

For skin health promotion and cosmetic applications, combinations of plant cell extracts are extensively utilized. As most natural ingredient suppliers offer crude extracts from individual plants or specific isolated compounds, the potential interactions between them are assessed in the development phase of cosmetic products. The industry seeks extract combinations that have undergone optimization and scrutiny for their bioactivities. This study presents a combination of two sustainably produced botanical ingredients and outlines their chemical composition, in vitro safety, and bioactivity for skin health enhancement. The amalgamation comprises the extract of Matricaria recutita processing waste and the extract from Juniperus communis callus culture. Chemical analysis revealed distinct compounds within the extracts, and their combination led to a broader array of potentially synergistic compounds. In vitro assessments on skin cells demonstrated that the combination possesses robust antioxidant properties and the ability to stimulate keratinocyte proliferation, along with regulating collagen type I and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) production by dermal fibroblasts. The identified traits of this combination render it an appealing cosmetic component. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first case when the extracts derived from medicinal plant processing waste and biotechnological plant cell cultivation processes have been combined and evaluated for their bioactivity.

Heat-Killed Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 7469 Improved UVB-Induced Photoaging Via Antiwrinkle and Antimelanogenesis Impacts

Exposure of ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is the main factor from the environment to cause skin photoaging. Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 7469, is a probiotic strain with a good track record for enhancing human health. The present study conducted the impacts of heat-killed L. rhamnosus ATCC 7469 (RL) on photoaging in vitro using mouse skin fibroblast (MSF) cells and human epidermal melanocytes (HEM) exposed to UVB. The results showed that (1) RL-protected UVB-induced cytotoxicity relating to absorb UVB and reduce DNA damage. (2) RL exerted the antiwrinkle impact involved in two aspects. Firstly, RL downregulated MMP-1, 2, 3 expressions associating with MAPK signaling, resulting in the increased the protein expression of COL1A1, further booting type I collagen abundant thereby promoting the antiwrinkle impact in MSF cells. Secondly, RL reduced ROS content, further decreasing oxidative damage relating to Nrf2/Sirt3/SOD2 signaling, thereby promoting the antiwrinkle impact in MSF cells. (3) RL suppressed tyrosinase and TYRP-2 activity and/or levels associating with PKA/CREB/MITF signaling, thereby promoting antimelanogenesis impact in HEM cells. In conclusion, our findings suggest that RL could reduce photoaging caused by UVB via antiwrinkle and antimelanogenesis properties and may be a potential antiphotoaging beneficial component, which is applied in the cosmetic industry.

Heat-Killed Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Ameliorated UVB-Induced Oxidative Damage and Photoaging and Its Underlying Mechanisms

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is a major environmental causative factor of skin oxidative damage and photoaging. Lacticaseibacillus paracasei is a well-known probiotic strain that can regulate skin health. The present study investigated the effects of heat-killed Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (PL) on UVB linked oxidative damage and photoaging in skin cells (Normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells and B16F10 murine melanoma cells). Results demonstrated that: (1) PL prevented UVB-induced cytotoxicity relating to decreased DNA damage in NHDF and B16F10 cells; (2) PL alleviated UVB-induced oxidative damage through increasing GSH content, as well as antioxidant enzyme activities and mRNA levels (except MnSOD activity and mRNA levels as well as CAT mRNA level) relating to the activation of Sirt1/PGC-1α/Nrf2 signaling in NHDF cells; (3) PL attenuated UVB-induced photoaging was noticed with a decrease in the percentage of SA-β-gal positive cells in NHDF cells model. Moreover, PL attenuated UVB-induced photoaging through exerting an anti-wrinkling effect by enhancing the type I collagen level relating to the inhibition (JNK, p38)/(c-Fos, c-Jun) of signaling in NHDF cells, and exerting an anti-melanogenic effect by suppressing tyrosinase and TYRP-1 activity and/or expressions relating to the inhibition of PKA/CREB/MITF signaling in B16F10 cells. In conclusion, PL could ameliorate UVB-induced oxidative damage and photoaging. Therefore, PL may be a potential antioxidant and anti-photoaging active ingredient for the cosmetic industry.

Tropolone derivative hinokitiol ameliorates cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice

Hinokitiol is a natural bio-active tropolone derivative with promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative effects of hinokitiol against acute pancreatitis induced by cerulein. Mice were pre-treated with hinokitiol intraperitoneally for 7 days (50 and 100 mg/kg), and on the final day of study, cerulein (6 × 50 μg/kg) was injected every hour for six times. Six hours after the last dose of cerulein, blood was collected from the mice through retro-orbital plexus for biochemical analysis. After blood collection, mice were euthanized and the pancreas was harvested for studying effects on oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory cytokines, immunohistochemistry and histopathology of tissue sections. Hinokitiol treatment significantly reduced edema of the pancreas and reduced the plasma levels of lipase and amylase in mice with cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. It also attenuated the oxidative and nitrosative stress related damage as evident from the reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite levels, which were significantly increased in the mice with acute pancreatitis. Furthermore, hinokitiol administration significantly reduced the pancreatitis-evoked decrease in the activity of catalase, glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the pancreatic tissue. Pre-treatment with hinokitiol significantly reduced the elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) as well as increased the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the pancreatic tissue of mice with acute pancreatitis. The immunohistochemical expression of nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and TNF-α were significantly decreased by hinokitiol in mice with cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrate that hinokitiol has significant potential to prevent cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis.

Hinokitiol Protects Cardiomyocyte from Oxidative Damage by Inhibiting GSK3β-Mediated Autophagy

More and more attention has been paid to the use of traditional phytochemicals. Here, we first verified the therapeutic potential of a natural bioactive compound called Hinokitiol in myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury. Hinokitiol exerts cardioprotective effect through inhibition of GSK-3β and subsequent elimination of excessive autophagy, tuning autophagic activity in moderate extent for remedial profit in acute myocardial infarction and myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury. Overall, our study establishes Hinokitiol as a novel available interventional treatment for myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury.

Beneficial Effects of Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) in an In Vitro Model of Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy

Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a bilateral, hereditary syndrome characterized by progressive irreversible injury in the corneal endothelium; it is the most frequent cause for corneal transplantation worldwide. Oxidative stress induces the apoptosis of corneal endothelial cells (CECs), and has a crucial function in FECD pathogenesis. The stimulation of the adenosine A_2A receptor (A_2Ar) inhibits oxidative stress, reduces inflammation and modulates apoptosis. Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) is a registered drug that acts through adenosine A_2Ar. Thus, the goal of this study was to assess the effect of PDRN in an in vitro FECD model. Human Corneal Endothelial Cells (IHCE) were challenged with H₂O₂ (200 μM) alone or in combination with PDRN (100 μg/mL), PDRN plus ZM241385 (1 μM) as an A_2Ar antagonist, and CGS21680 (1 μM) as a well-known A_2Ar agonist. H₂O₂ reduced the cells’ viability and increased the expression of the pro-inflammatory markers NF-κB, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α; by contrast, it decreased the expression of the anti-inflammatory IL-10. Moreover, the pro-apoptotic genes Bax, Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 were concurrently upregulated with a decrease of Bcl-2 expression. PDRN and CGS21680 reverted the negative effects of H₂O₂. Co-incubation with ZM241385 abolished the effects of PDRN, indicating that A_2Ar is involved in the mode of action of PDRN. These data suggest that PDRN defends IHCE cells against H₂O₂-induced damage, potentially as a result of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic properties, suggesting that PDRN could be used as an FECD therapy.

Hinokitiol Exhibits Antitumor Properties through Induction of ROS-Mediated Apoptosis and p53-Driven Cell-Cycle Arrest in Endometrial Cancer Cell Lines (Ishikawa, HEC-1A, KLE)

Hinokitiol is a natural tropolone derivative that is present in the heartwood of cupressaceous plants, and has been extensively investigated for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor properties in the context of various diseases. To date, the effects of hinokitiol on endometrial cancer (EC) has not been explored. The purpose of our study was to investigate the anti-proliferative effects of hinokitiol on EC cells. Cell viability was determined with an MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, and the quantification of apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROSs) was performed by using flow cytometry, while protein expression was measured with the Western blotting technique. Hinokitiol significantly suppressed cell proliferation through the inhibition of the expression of cell-cycle mediators, such as cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), as well as the induction of the tumor suppressor protein p53. In addition, hinokitiol increased the number of apoptotic cells and increased the protein expression of cleaved-poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and active cleaved-caspase-3, as well as the ratio of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) to B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2). Interestingly, except for KLE cells, hinokitiol induced autophagy by promoting the accumulation of the microtubule-associated protein light chain 3B (LC3B) and reducing the sequestosome-1 (p62/SQSTM1) protein level. Furthermore, hinokitiol triggered ROS production and upregulated the phosphorylation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK1/2) in EC cells. These results demonstrate that hinokitiol has potential anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic benefits in the treatment of endometrial cancer cell lines (Ishikawa, HEC-1A, and KLE).

Hinokitiol induces cell death and inhibits epidermal growth factor-induced cell migration and signaling pathways in human cervical adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine the antitumor activity of hinokitiol for its clinical application in the treatment of human cervical carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cervical carcinoma HeLa cells were treated by different concentrations of hinokitiol. Flow cytometry was used to analyze cell cycle. Senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) assay was used to identify senescent cells. The effects of hinokitiol on EGF-induced cell migration were determined by wound healing and transwell migration assays. Western blot was used to detect proteins involved in cell cycle progression, apoptosis, autophagy, and EGF-induced signaling pathways.

RESULTS

Hinokitiol suppressed cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that hinokitiol treatment resulted in cell cycle arrest at G1 phase, with reduced number of cells in the G2/M phase. Western blot analysis further demonstrated that hinokitiol treatment increased the levels of p53 and p21, and concomitantly reduced the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins, including cyclin D and cyclin E. SA-β-gal assay showed that hinokitiol treatment significantly induced β-galactosidase activity. In addition, treatment with hinokitiol increased the accumulation of the autophagy regulators, beclin 1 and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3-II), in a dose-dependent manner; however, it did not induce caspase-3 activation and poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage. In addition, epidermal growth factor-induced cell migration and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation were significantly inhibited by hinokitiol.

CONCLUSION

Our findings revealed that hinokitiol might serve as a potential therapeutic agent for cervical carcinoma therapy.

JMJD6 Dysfunction Due to Iron Deficiency in Preeclampsia Disrupts Fibronectin Homeostasis Resulting in Diminished Trophoblast Migration

The mechanisms contributing to excessive fibronectin in preeclampsia, a pregnancy-related disorder, remain unknown. Herein, we investigated the role of JMJD6, an O₂- and Fe²⁺-dependent enzyme, in mediating placental fibronectin processing and function. MALDI-TOF identified fibronectin as a novel target of JMJD6-mediated lysyl hydroxylation, preceding fibronectin glycosylation, deposition, and degradation. In preeclamptic placentae, fibronectin accumulated primarily in lysosomes of the mesenchyme. Using primary placental mesenchymal cells (pMSCs), we found that fibronectin fibril formation and turnover were markedly impeded in preeclamptic pMSCs, partly due to impaired lysosomal degradation. JMJD6 knockdown in control pMSCs recapitulated the preeclamptic FN phenotype. Importantly, preeclamptic pMSCs had less total and labile Fe²⁺ and Hinokitiol treatment rescued fibronectin assembly and promoted lysosomal degradation. Time-lapse imaging demonstrated that defective ECM deposition by preeclamptic pMSCs impeded HTR-8/SVneo cell migration, which was rescued upon Hinokitiol exposure. Our findings reveal new Fe²⁺-dependent mechanisms controlling fibronectin homeostasis/function in the placenta that go awry in preeclampsia.

Health Potential of Aloe vera against Oxidative Stress Induced Corneal Damage: An "In Vitro" Study

Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is characterized by the gradual deterioration of corneal endothelial cells (CECs) and is the most common cause of corneal transplantation worldwide. CECs apoptosis caused by oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of FECD. Antioxidant compounds have been of considerable significance as a candidate treatment in the management of corneal diseases. Based on these findings, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of an aloe extract with antioxidant properties, in an “in vitro” model of FECD. Human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells were preincubated with aloe extract 100 μg/mL, two hours before hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) stimulus. H₂O₂ challenge significantly reduced the cell viability, increased the generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and malondialdehyde levels. Moreover, m-RNA expression and activity of Nrf-2, Catalase and Superoxide dismutase (SOD) were reduced together with an enhanced expression of IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). Furthermore, Bcl-2, Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 expression were down-regulated while Bax was up-regulated by H₂O₂ stimulus. Aloe extract blunted the oxidative stress-induced inflammatory cascade triggered by H₂O₂ and modulated apoptosis. Aloe extract defends HCE cells from H₂O₂-induced injury possibly due its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, indicating that eye drops containing aloe extract may be used as an adjunctive treatment for FECD.

Treatment of severe pneumonia by hinokitiol in a murine antimicrobial-resistant pneumococcal pneumonia model

Streptococcus pneumoniae is often isolated from patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Antibiotics are the primary line of treatment for pneumococcal pneumonia; however, rising antimicrobial resistance is becoming more prevalent. Hinokitiol, which is isolated from trees in the cypress family, has been demonstrated to exert antibacterial activity against S. pneumoniae in vitro regardless of antimicrobial resistance. In this study, the efficacy of hinokitiol was investigated in a mouse pneumonia model. Male 8-week-old BALB/c mice were intratracheally infected with S. pneumoniae strains D39 (antimicrobial susceptible) and NU4471 (macrolide resistant). After 1 h, hinokitiol was injected via the tracheal route. Hinokitiol significantly decreased the number of S. pneumoniae in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the concentration of pneumococcal DNA in the serum, regardless of whether bacteria were resistant or susceptible to macrolides. In addition, hinokitiol decreased the infiltration of neutrophils in the lungs, as well as the concentration of inflammatory cytokines in the BALF and serum. Repeated hinokitiol injection at 18 h intervals showed downward trend in the number of S. pneumoniae in the BALF and the concentration of S. pneumoniae DNA in the serum with the number of hinokitiol administrations. These findings suggest that hinokitiol reduced bacterial load and suppressed excessive host immune response in the pneumonia mouse model. Accordingly, hinokitiol warrants further exploration as a potential candidate for the treatment of pneumococcal pneumonia.

Antibacterial activity of hinokitiol against both antibiotic-resistant and -susceptible pathogenic bacteria that predominate in the oral cavity and upper airways

Hinokitiol, a component of the essential oil isolated from Cupressaceae, possesses antibacterial and antifungal activities and has been used in oral care products. In this study, the antibacterial activities of hinokitiol toward various oral, nasal and nasopharyngeal pathogenic bacteria, including Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, methicillin-resistant and -susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, antibiotic-resistant and -susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pyogenes were examined. Growth of all these bacterial strains was significantly inhibited by hinokitiol, minimal inhibitory concentrations of hinokitiol against S. mutans, S. sobrinus, P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, A. actinomycetemcomitans, F. nucleatum, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, methicillin-susceptible S. aureus, antibiotic-resistant S. pneumoniae isolates, antibiotic-susceptible S. pneumoniae, and S. pyogenes being 0.3, 1.0, 1.0, 30, 0.5, 50, 50, 30, 0.3-1.0, 0.5, and 0.3 μg/mL, respectively. Additionally, with the exception of P. gingivalis, hinokitiol exerted bactericidal effects against all bacterial strains 1 hr after exposure. Hinokitiol did not display any significant cytotoxicity toward the human gingival epithelial cell line Ca9-22, pharyngeal epithelial cell line Detroit 562, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, or human gingival fibroblasts, with the exception of treatment with 500 μg/mL hinokitiol, which decreased numbers of viable Ca9-22 cells and gingival fibroblasts by 13% and 12%, respectively. These results suggest that hinokitiol exhibits antibacterial activity against a broad spectrum of pathogenic bacteria and has low cytotoxicity towards human epithelial cells.

Experimental and Clinical Applications of Chamaecyparis obtusa Extracts in Dry Eye Disease

Purpose

To investigate the effects of Chamaecyparis obtusa (CO) on human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells, a murine experimental dry eye (EDE) model, and the efficacy of antioxidant eye mask in dry eye disease (DED) patients.

Methods

0.001%, 0.01%, and 0.1% CO extracts were used to treat HCE cells, cell viability, and production of antioxidative enzymes, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were assessed. Afterwards, CO extracts or balanced salt solution (BSS) was applied in EDE. Clinical and experimental parameters were measured at 7 days after treatment. In addition, DED patients were randomly assigned to wear either an eye mask containing CO extracts or a placebo. Clinical parameters were evaluated.

Results

The viability of HCE cells and antioxidative enzyme expression significantly improved after treatment with 0.1% CO extracts. Mice treated with 0.1% CO extracts showed significant improvement in clinical parameters. During the trial, the clinical parameters significantly improved in the treatment group at 4 weeks after application.

Conclusions

0.1% CO extracts could promote the expression of antioxidative proteins and ROS production. In addition, an eye mask containing CO extracts could improve DED clinical parameters. These suggest that CO extracts may be useful as an adjunctive option for the DED treatment.

Hinokitiol copper complex inhibits proteasomal deubiquitination and induces paraptosis-like cell death in human cancer cells

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) plays a central role in the regulation of proteins that control cell growth and apoptosis and has therefore become an important target for anticancer therapy. Several constitutive subunits of the 19S proteasome display deubiquitinase (DUB) activity, suggesting that ubiquitin modification of proteins is dynamically regulated. Our study and others have shown that metal complexes, such as copper complexes, can induce cancer cell apoptosis through inhibiting 19S proteasome-associated DUBs and/or 20S proteasome activity. In this study, we found that (1) Hinokitiol copper complex (HK-Cu) induces striking accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins in A549 and K562 cells (2) HK-Cu potently inhibits the activity of the 19S proteasomal DUBs much more effectively than it does to the chymotrypsin-like activity of the 20S proteasome (3) HK-Cu effectively induces caspase-independent and paraptosis-like cell death in A549 and K562 cells, and (4) HK-Cu-induced cell death depends on ATF4-assosiated ER stress but is apparently not related to ROS generation. Altogether, these data indicate that HK-Cu can inhibit the activity of the 19S proteasomal DUBs and induce paraptosis-like cell death, representing a new drug candidate for cancer treatment.