Exploring the Antioxidant Potential of Tragia volubilis L.: Mitigating Chemotherapeutic Effects of Doxorubicin on Tumor Cells

Mitigating cyclophosphamide-associated gonadotoxicity in male Wistar rats: exploring the therapeutic potential of hesperidin

Hesperidin, a bioactive flavanone glycoside prevalent in citrus fruits, with remarkable therapeutic properties stands out as a formidable defender against the debilitating reproductive toxicity associated with Cyclophosphamide (CYP) chemotherapy. This study explores the protective potential of hesperidin (HSP@100 mg/kg b.wt PO daily) against CYP-induced (@ 40 mg/kg b.wt IP once in a week) reproductive toxicity in male Wistar rats as several studies were documented on single dose toxicity of CYP. In this experiment, we chose multidosage drug effects, which are more relevant in chemotherapy. Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups: Group 1 (Control), group 2 (CYP-treated), group 3 (HSP-treated), and group 4 (CYP + HSP-treated) for 28 days. The experimental design included assessments of relative testicular weight, semen analysis, testosterone levels, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, gross and histopathological changes, and immunohistochemical evaluation. The results revealed that the administration of CYP led to a significant reduction in testicular weight, sperm count, motility, and testosterone levels, accompanied by increased oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Hesperidin co-administration demonstrated a protective effect by restoring these parameters to near-normal levels. Histopathological analysis revealed improved testicular architecture in the group 4 compared with the group 2. Oxidative stress indices indicated that hesperidin attenuated CYP-induced damage by reducing malondialdehyde levels, enhancing superoxide dismutase activity and maintaining glutathione levels. Similarly, inflammatory cytokine analysis demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects of hesperidin by reducing tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and elevating interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels in the group 4. Immunohistochemical evaluation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) revealed increased inflammation in the CYP group, while hesperidin significantly reduced NF-κB expression, suggesting its anti-inflammatory properties.

Chenopodium quinoa Willd. and Amaranthus hybridus L.: Ancestral Andean Food Security and Modern Anticancer and Antimicrobial Activity

The species Chenopodium quinoa Willd. and Amaranthus hybridus L. are Andean staples, part of the traditional diet and gastronomy of the people of the highlands of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, northern Argentina and Chile, with several ethnopharmacological uses, among them anticancer applications. This review aims to present updated information on the nutritional composition, phytochemistry, and antimicrobial and anticancer activity of Quinoa and Amaranth. Both species contribute to food security due to their essential amino acid contents, which are higher than those of most staples. It is highlighted that the biological activity, especially the antimicrobial activity in C. quinoa, and the anticancer activity in both species is related to the presence of phytochemicals present mostly in leaves and seeds. The biological activity of both species is consistent with their phytochemical composition, with phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins and peptides being the main compound families of interest. Extracts of different plant organs of both species and peptide fractions have shown in vitro and, to a lesser degree, in vivo activity against a variety of bacteria and cancer cell lines. These findings confirm the antimicrobial and anticancer activity of both species, C. quinoa having more reported activity than A. hybridus through different compounds and mechanisms.