The Inhibitory Mechanisms Study of 5,6,4'-Trihydroxy-7,3'-Dimethoxyflavone against the LPS-Induced Macrophage Inflammatory Responses through the Antioxidant Ability

GC/MS and LC-MS Analysis and in-vitro Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oil and Crude Methanol Extract from the Leaves of Acacia Gerrardii Benth. Growing in Saudi Arabia

In this study, I determined the essential oil (EO) chemical composition and crude methanol extract (ME) phytochemical profile of the leaves of Acacia gerrardii (ACGL), a plant growing in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, I assessed their in vitro antioxidant activity. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the EO revealed a high content of oxygenated monoterpenes (79.86 %), primarily dominated by pulegone (35.11 %), carvacrol (27.36 %), and neo-dihydrocarveol (4.67 %). The ME was analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine its qualitative chemical profile. Four organic acids, eleven phenolic compounds, sixteen flavonoids, nine terpenoids (eight triterpenoids and one diterpenoid), and one coumarin were found in the ME of ACGL. This extract was found to be dominated by 5,6,4-trihydroxy-7,3-dimethoxyflavone (39.30 %), acteoside (30.27 %), nevadensin (7.55 %), isoacteoside (3.08 %) and apiin (3.23 %), and hesperidin (2.73 %). The phenolic (TPC=127.70±1.47 mg gallic acid equivalents/g of extract) and flavonoid (TFC=85.48±0.12 mg quercetin equivalents/g of extract) contents of the ME were also assessed. The in vitro antioxidant activities of both the EO and ME were evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, and ferrous ion chelating effect assays. Compared to the positive control (vit. E and Vit. C), and both extracts exhibited excellent activity.

Biologically synthesized black ginger-selenium nanoparticle induces apoptosis and autophagy of AGS gastric cancer cells by suppressing the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Despite being a promising strategy, current chemotherapy for gastric cancer (GC) is limited due to adverse side effects and poor survival rates. Therefore, new drug-delivery platforms with good biocompatibility are needed. Recent studies have shown that nanoparticle-based drug delivery can be safe, eco-friendly, and nontoxic making them attractive candidates. Here, we develop a novel selenium-nanoparticle based drug-delivery agent for cancer treatment from plant extracts and selenium salts.

RESULTS

Selenium cations were reduced to selenium nanoparticles using Kaempferia parviflora (black ginger) root extract and named KP-SeNP. Transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray, dynamic light scattering, and Fourier-transform infrared spectrum were utilized to confirm the physicochemical features of the nanoparticles. The KP-SeNPs showed significant cytotoxicity in human gastric adenocarcinoma cell (AGS cells) but not in normal cells. We determined that the intracellular signaling pathway mechanisms associated with the anticancer effects of KP-SeNPs involve the upregulation of intrinsic apoptotic signaling markers, such as B-cell lymphoma 2, Bcl-associated X protein, and caspase 3 in AGS cells. KP-SeNPs also caused autophagy of AGS by increasing the autophagic flux-marker protein, LC3B-II, whilst inhibiting autophagic cargo protein, p62. Additionally, phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway markers and downstream targets was decreased in KP-SeNP-treated AGS cells. AGS-cell xenograft model results further validated our in vitro findings, showing that KP-SeNPs are biologically safe and exert anticancer effects via autophagy and apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that KP-SeNPs treatment of AGS cells induces apoptosis and autophagic cell death through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, suppressing GC progression. Thus, our research strongly suggests that KP-SeNPs could act as a novel potential therapeutic agent for GC.

CK2 and protein kinases of the CK1 superfamily as targets for neurodegenerative disorders

Casein kinases are involved in a variety of signaling pathways, and also in inflammation, cancer, and neurological diseases. Therefore, they are regarded as potential therapeutic targets for drug design. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of the casein kinase 1 superfamily as well as protein kinase CK2 in the development of several neurodegenerative pathologies, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. CK1 kinases and their closely related tau tubulin kinases as well as CK2 are found to be overexpressed in the mammalian brain. Numerous substrates have been detected which play crucial roles in neuronal and synaptic network functions and activities. The development of new substances for the treatment of these pathologies is in high demand. The impact of these kinases in the progress of neurodegenerative disorders, their bona fide substrates, and numerous natural and synthetic compounds which are able to inhibit CK1, TTBK, and CK2 are discussed in this review.

Antioxidant and Antiproliferation Activities of Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora): An In Vitro and In Vivo Study

Aloysia citrodora (Verbenaceae) is traditionally used to treat various diseases, including bronchitis, insomnia, anxiety, digestive, and heart problems. In this study, this plant’s antioxidant and anti-proliferation effects were evaluated. In addition to volatiles extraction, different solvent extracts were prepared. The GC-MS, LC-MS analysis and the Foline-Ciocalteu (F-C) method were used to investigate the phytochemical components of the plant. MTT assay was used to measure the antiproliferative ability for each extract. Antioxidant activity was determined using the 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. In in vivo anti-proliferation experiments, Balb/C mice were inoculated with tumor cells and IP-injected with ethyl acetate extract of A. citrodora. After treatment, a significant reduction in tumor size (57.97%) and undetected tumors (44.44%) were obtained in treated mice, demonstrating the antiproliferative efficacy of the ethyl acetate extract. Besides, ethanol extract revealed the most potent radical scavenging effect. The findings of this study displayed that A. citrodora has promising cytotoxic and antioxidant activities. Still, further testing is required to investigate the extract’s chemical composition to understand its mechanisms of action.