Terpenoids from Abies holophylla Attenuate LPS-Induced Neuroinflammation in Microglial Cells by Suppressing the JNK-Related Signaling Pathway

Natural products target pyroptosis for ameliorating neuroinflammation: A novel antidepressant strategy

BACKGROUND

Depression is a common mental disorder characterized by prolonged loss of interest and low mood, accompanied by symptoms such as sleep disturbances and cognitive impairments. In severe cases, there may be a tendency toward suicide. Depression can be caused by a series of highly complex pathological mechanisms; However, its key pathogenic mechanism remains unclear. As a novel programmed cell death (PCD) pathway and inflammatory cell death mode, pyroptosis involves a series of tightly regulated gene expression events. It may play a significant role in the pathogenesis and management of depression by modulating neuroinflammatory processes. In addition, a large number of studies have shown that various pharmacologically active natural products can regulate pyroptosis through multiple targets and pathways, demonstrating significant potential in the treatment of depression. These natural products offer advantages such as low costs and minimal side effects, making them a viable supplement or alternative to traditional antidepressants. In this review, we summarized recent research on natural products that regulate pyroptosis and neuroinflammation to improve depression. The aim of this review was to contribute to a scientific basis for the discovery and development of more natural antidepressants in the future.

METHODS

To review the antidepressant effects of natural products targeting pyroptosis-mediated neuroinflammation, data were collected from the Web of Science, ScienceDirect databases, and PubMed to classify and summarize the relationship between pyroptosis and neuroinflammation in depression, as well as the pharmacological mechanisms of natural products.

RESULTS

Multiple researches have revealed that pyroptosis-mediated neuroinflammation serves as a pivotal contributory factor in the pathological process of depression. Natural products, such as terpenoids, terpenes, phenylethanol glycosides, and alkaloids, have antidepressant effects by regulating pyroptosis to alleviate neuroinflammation.

CONCLUSION

We comprehensively reviewed the regulatory effects of natural products in depression-related pyroptosis pathways, providing a uniquely insightful perspective for the research, development, and application of natural antidepressants. However, future research should further explore the modulatory mechanisms of natural products in regulating pyroptosis, which is of great importance for the genration of effective antidepressants.

Prostaglandins: Biological Action, Therapeutic Aspects, and Pathophysiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Esterified ARA on the inner surface of the cell membrane is hydrolyzed to its free form by phospholipase A2 (PLA2), which is further metabolized by COXs and lipoxygenases (LOXs) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. PGs produce detrimental effects due to their proinflammatory properties. The generation of prostaglandin (PG)G2 and PGH2 is triggered by cyclooxygenase (COX) isozymes such as COX-1 and COX-2. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is significantly elevated in ASD. Considerable data indicate that COX enzymes and their metabolites of ARA play important roles in the initiation and development of human neurodevelopmental diseases. The involvement of disrupted COX2/PGE2 signaling in ASD pathology in changing neuronal cell behavior and the expression of ASD-related genes and proteins is due to disrupted COX2/PGE2 signaling. Prostacyclin (PGI2) is synthesized from arachidonic acid by metabolic-pathway-dependent cyclooxygenase (COX) and synthesized in a primary step of ARA transformation (PGG2, PGH2), by degradation of the abovementioned prostaglandins.

Insights on therapeutic approaches of natural anti-Alzheimer's agents in the management of Alzheimer's disease: A future perspective

In the current scenario, Alzheimer's disease is a complex, challenging, and arduous health issue, and its prevalence, together with comorbidities, is accelerating around the universe. Alzheimer's disease is becoming a primary concern that significantly impacts an individual's status in life. The traditional treatment of Alzheimer's disease includes some synthetic drugs, which have numerous dangerous side effects, a high risk of recurrence, lower bioavailability, and limited treatment. Hence, the current article is a detailed study and review of all known information on plant-derived compounds as natural anti-Alzheimer's agents, including their biological sources, active phytochemical ingredients, and a possible mode of action. With the help of a scientific data search engine, including the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI/PubMed), Science Direct, and Google Scholar, analysis from 2001 to 2024 has been completed. This article also described clinical studies on phytoconstituents used to treat Alzheimer's disease. Plant-derived compounds offer promising alternatives to synthetic drugs in treating Alzheimer's disease, with the potential for improving cognitive function and slowing down the progression of the disease. Further research and clinical trials are needed to fully explore their therapeutic potential and develop effective strategies for managing this complex condition.

Application of Nanotechnology and Phytochemicals in Anticancer Therapy

Cancer is well recognized as a leading cause of mortality. Although surgery tends to be the primary treatment option for many solid cancers, cancer surgery is still a risk factor for metastatic diseases and recurrence. For this reason, a variety of medications has been adopted for the postsurgical care of patients with cancer. However, conventional medicines have shown major challenges such as drug resistance, a high level of drug toxicity, and different drug responses, due to tumor heterogeneity. Nanotechnology-based therapeutic formulations could effectively overcome the challenges faced by conventional treatment methods. In particular, the combined use of nanomedicine with natural phytochemicals can enhance tumor targeting and increase the efficacy of anticancer agents with better solubility and bioavailability and reduced side effects. However, there is limited evidence in relation to the application of phytochemicals in cancer treatment, particularly focusing on nanotechnology. Therefore, in this review, first, we introduce the drug carriers used in advanced nanotechnology and their strengths and limitations. Second, we provide an update on well-studied nanotechnology-based anticancer therapies related to the carcinogenesis process, including signaling pathways related to transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), Wnt, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), Notch, and Hedgehog (HH). Third, we introduce approved nanomedicines currently available for anticancer therapy. Fourth, we discuss the potential roles of natural phytochemicals as anticancer drugs. Fifth, we also discuss the synergistic effect of nanocarriers and phytochemicals in anticancer therapy.

Abies holophylla Leaf Essential Oil Alleviates Allergic Rhinitis Based on Network Pharmacology

Abies holophylla is an evergreen coniferous species that has been widely used for treating pulmonary diseases and colds. Previous research has demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effect of Abies species and the anti-asthmatic activities of Abies holophylla leaf essential oil (AEO). As asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) share pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutic interventions, AEO inhalation can also ameliorate upper respiratory allergic diseases. This study explored the protective effects of AEO on AR with network pharmacological pathway prediction. The potential target pathways of AEO were analyzed by a network pharmacological approach. The BALB/c mice were sensitized by ovalbumin (OVA) and 10 μm particular matter (PM₁₀) to induce allergic rhinitis. Aerosolized AEO 0.0003% and 0.03% were delivered by nebulizer for 5 min a day, 3 times a week for 7 weeks. Nasal symptoms (sneezing and rubbing), histopathological changes in nasal tissues, serum IgE, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) expressions on nasal tissues were analyzed. After AR induction with OVA+PM₁₀ and inhalation of AEO 0.0003% and 0.03% treatment, AEO significantly decreased allergic symptoms (sneezing and rubbing), hyperplasia of nasal epithelial thickness, goblet cell counts, and serum IgE level. The network analysis demonstrated that the possible molecular mechanism of AEO is highly associated with the IL-17 signaling pathway and tight junction. The target pathway of AEO was investigated in RPMI 2650 nasal epithelial cells. Treatment of AEO on PM₁₀-treated nasal epithelial cells significantly reduced the production of inflammatory mediators related to the IL-17 signaling pathway, NF-κB, and the MAPK signaling pathway and prevented the reduction in TJ-related factors. When taken together, AEO inhalation may be considered as a potential treatment for AR by alleviating nasal inflammation and recovering the tight junction.

Phytochemical and biological studies on rare and endangered plants endemic to China. Part XXV. Structurally diverse triterpenoids and diterpenoids from two endangered Pinaceae plants endemic to the Chinese Qinling Mountains and their bioactivities

A joint phytochemical investigation on the MeOH extracts of the twigs and needles of two endangered Pinaceae plants endemic to the Chinese Qinling Mountains, Picea neoveitchii (an evergreen spruce) and Larix potaninii var. chinensis (a deciduous larch), led to the isolation and characterization of 34 and 24 structurally diverse terpenoids, respectively. Among them, seven are previously undescribed, including a picane-type [i.e., 14(13 → 12)abeo-12αH-serratane] (neoveitchin A) and a serratane-type (neoveitchin B) triterpenoids, and an abietane-type (neoveitchin C) as well as four labdane-type (potalarxins A-D) diterpenoids. Their structures and absolute configurations were established by extensive spectroscopic methods and/or X-ray diffraction analyses. All isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against the human protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). Serrat-14-en-3α,21β-diol, betulinic acid, 3β-hydroxy-11-ursen-13(28)-olide, ursolic acid, and oleanolic acid were found to have considerable inhibitory effects against PTP1B, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 1.1 to 18.1 μM. The interactions of the bioactive triterpenoids with PTP1B were thereafter performed by employing molecular docking studies. In addition, 7-oxo-dehydroabietic acid (an abietane-type diterpenoid) and mangiferonic acid (a cycloartane-type triterpenoid) inhibited acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase 1 (ACC1), with IC₅₀ values of 3.4 and 6.6 μM, respectively.