Immunomodulatory and Anticancer Activities of Hyacinthus orientalis L.: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study

Water-soluble phenolics from Phoenix dactylifera fruits as potential reno-protective agent against cisplatin-induced toxicity: pre- and post-treatment strategies

Nephrotoxicity is the major side effect of cisplatin, an effective platinum-based chemotherapeutic drug that is applicable in the treatment of several solid-tissue cancers. Studies have indicated that certain water-soluble phenolics offer renal protection. Thus, this study investigates the role of pre and post-treatment of rats with water-soluble phenolics from Phoenix dactylifera (PdP) against nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin. Rats were either orally pretreated or post-treated with 200 mg/kg body weight of PdP before or after exposure to a single therapeutic dose of cisplatin (5 mg/kg body weight) for 7 successive days intraperitoneally. The protective effects of PdP against Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity was based on the evaluation of various biochemical and redox biomarkers, together with histopathological examination of kidney tissues. The composition, structural features, and antioxidative influence of PdP were determined based on chromatographic, spectroscopic, and in vitro antioxidative models. Cisplatin single exposure led to a substantial increase in the tested renal function biomarkers (uric acid, creatinine, and urea levels), associated with an increase in malondialdehyde indicating lipid peroxidation and a significant decline (p < 0.05) in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in the renal tissue when compared with the control group. A marked decline exists in the kidney antioxidant enzymes (catalase, SOD, and GPx). Nevertheless, treatment with PdP significantly suppressed the heightened renal function markers, lipid peroxidation, and oxidative stress. Spectroscopic analysis revealed significant medicinal phenolics, and in vitro tests demonstrated antioxidative properties. Taken together, results from this study indicate that pre- and/or post-treatment strategies of PdP could serve therapeutic purposes in cisplatin-induced renal damage.

Phytol from Scoparia dulcis prevents NF-κB-mediated inflammatory responses during macrophage polarization

Macrophages are primary immune cells that mediate a wide range of inflammatory diseases through their polarization potential. In this study, phytol isolated from Scoparia dulcis has been explored against 7-ketocholesterol and bacterial lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophage polarization in IC-21 cells. Isolated phytol has been characterized using GC-MS, TLC, HPTLC, FTIR, 1H-NMR, and HPLC analyses. The immunomodulatory effects of viable concentrations of phytol were tested on oxidative stress, arginase activity, nuclear and mitochondrial membrane potentials in IC-21 cells in addition to the modulation of calcium and lipids. Further, gene and protein expression of atherogenic markers were studied. Results showed that the isolated phytol at a viable concentration of 400 µg/ml effectively reduced the production of nitric oxide, superoxide anion (ROS generation), calcium and lipid accumulation, stabilized nuclear and mitochondrial membranes, and increased arginase activity. The atherogenic markers including iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, IL-1β, MMP-9, CD36, and NF-κB were significantly downregulated at the levels of gene and protein expression, while macrophage surface and nuclear receptor markers (CD206, CD163, and PPAR-γ) were significantly upregulated by phytol pre-treatment in macrophages. Therefore, the present pharmacognostic study supports the role of phytol isolated from Scoparia dulcis in preventing M2-M1 macrophage polarization under inflammatory conditions, making it a promising compound.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-024-03924-9.

Anticancer, Immunomodulatory, and Phytochemical Screening of Carthamus oxyacantha M.Bieb Growing in the North of Iraq

Carthamus oxyacantha M.Bieb is a promising repository of active phytochemicals. These bioactive compounds work synergistically to promote the plant's antioxidant, anticancer, and immunomodulatory capabilities. The present study aimed to discover the potential immunomodulatory and cytotoxicity of different extracts of Carthamus oxycantha roots. Aqueous ethanol (70%), aqueous methanol (90%), ethyl acetate, and n-hexane extracts were tested against five cell lines (T47D, MDA-MB231, Caco-2, EMT6/P, and Vero). Among these extracts, ethyl acetate and n-hexane extracts showed significant activity in inhibiting the proliferation of cancerous cells because of the presence of several phytochemical compounds, including flavonoids, phenolics, and alkaloids. The n-hexane extract was the most potent extract against T47D and Caco-2 cell lines and had IC50 values of 0.067 mg/mL and 0.067 mg/mL, respectively. In comparison, ethyl acetate extract was active against T47D and MDAMB231, and IC50 values were 0.0179 mg/mL and 0.03 mg/mL, respectively. Both n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts reduced tumor size (by 49.981% and 51.028%, respectively). Remarkably, Carthamus oxyacantha extracts decreased the average weight of the tumor cells in the in vivo model. The plant induced significant apoptotic activity by the activation of caspase-3, immunomodulation of macrophages, and triggering of pinocytosis. The implications of these intriguing findings demand additional research to broaden the scope of the understanding of this field, opening the doors to the possibilities of using Carthamus oxyacantha M.Bieb as an effective cancer treatment adjuvant in the future.

In Vitro Biological Activity and Lymphoma Cell Growth Inhibition by Selected Mexican Medicinal Plants

Cancer is a major health problem with significant morbidity and mortality. In addition, plants are a source of metabolites with diverse biological properties, including antitumor potential. In this study, we investigated the in vitro murine lymphoma L5178Y-R cell growth inhibition, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) toxicity and proliferation, and antioxidant, hemolytic, and anti-hemolytic activities of methanol extracts from 15 plants of traditional use in Mexico. Justicia spicigera caused the highest tumor cell growth inhibition with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 29.10 µg/mL and a selectivity index >34.36 compared with those of PBMC, whereas Mimosa tenuiflora showed the highest lymphoproliferative activity from 200 µg/mL compared with that induced by concanavalin A. In addition, M. tenuiflora showed an antioxidant effect (IC50 = 2.86 µg/mL) higher than that of ascorbic acid. Regarding the hemolytic and anti-hemolytic activity, all extracts presented significant anti-hemolytic activity. The extract of J. spicigera is emerging as a possible source of effective antineoplastic compounds.

Immunomodulatory and Anticancer Activities of Barley Bran Grown in Jordan: An in vitro and in vivo Study

The Mediterranean diet is regarded as one of the most healthful dietary patterns in the world, owing to a combination of foods high in antioxidants and anticancer constituents. Barley bran is one of the components of the Mediterranean diet. It has nutritional and beneficial effects in different pathological conditions. Many studies were achieved to assess the nutritious values of barley bran, but there is no research indicating immunomodulatory and anticancer activities of barley bran grown in Jordan. The present study aims to examine and assess the potential immunomodulatory and anti-tumor activities of ethanol, n-hexane, aqueous/methanol, and water extracts obtained from barley bran. The Maceration method was utilized to prepare ethanol, n-hexane, aqueous/methanol, and water extracts. Various phytochemical groups were determined by using qualitative phytochemical tests. The antiproliferative activity of extracts was determined against MCF-7, HCT-116, A549, and EMT6/p by the MTT assay. The Folin-Ciocalteu reagent was used to detect the total phenolic content in extracts. Furthermore, immunomodulatory activity was assessed by determining the effect of extracts on splenocytes proliferation in the presence and absence of mitogens. The nitro blue tetrazolium assay and the neutral red method were used to assess the effect of each extract on the phagocytic activity of macrophages and pinocytosis, respectively. For the in vivo part, three different concentrations (10, 20, and 30% w/v) of barley bran were used to test the prophylactic effect in four Balb/C mice groups inoculated with EMT6/p cell-line subcutaneously. Also, serum samples were collected to assess the effect on cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10). Barley bran extracts inhibited cancer cell proliferation. According to immunoassays, n-hexane and aqueous/methanol extracts could significantly rise lymphocyte proliferation and pinocytosis activity of macrophages. The activity of phagocytosis was increased by n-hexane and ethanol extracts. For the in vivo part, the average tumor size and weight of mice given the 30% barley bran group was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) compared with the control group. During our study, higher levels of TH1 cytokines (IFN- γ, IL-2) and lower levels of TH2 cytokine (IL-4) and T regulatory cytokine (IL-10) were obtained due to consumption of barley bran in food. Barley bran can be used as a prophylactic agent because it has anti-cancer and immunomodulatory activities.

Characterisation of the Complete Chloroplast Genomes of Seven Hyacinthus orientalis L. Cultivars: Insights into Cultivar Phylogeny

To improve agricultural performance and obtain potential economic benefits, an understanding of phylogenetic relationships of Hyacinthus cultivars is needed. This study aims to revisit the phylogenetic relationships of Hyacinthus cultivars using complete chloroplast genomes. Nine chloroplast genomes were de novo sequenced, assembled and annotated from seven cultivars of Hyacinthus orientalis and two Scilloideae species including Bellevalia paradoxa and Scilla siberica. The chloroplast genomes of Hyacinthus cultivars ranged from 154,458 bp to 154,641 bp, while those of Bellevalia paradoxa and Scilla siberica were 154,020 bp and 154,943 bp, respectively. Each chloroplast genome was annotated with 133 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 38 transfer RNA genes and 8 ribosomal RNA genes. Simple sequence repeats AAGC/CTTG and ACTAT/AGTAT were identified only in ‘Eros’, while AAATC/ATTTG were identified in all cultivars except ‘Eros’. Five haplotypes were identified based on 460 variable sites. Combined with six other previously published chloroplast genomes of Scilloideae, a sliding window analysis and a phylogenetic analysis were performed. Divergence hotspots ndhA and trnG-UGC were identified with a nucleotide diversity threshold at 0.04. The phylogenetic positions of Hyacinthus cultivars were different from the previous study using ISSR. Complete chloroplast genomes serve as new evidence in Hyacinthus cultivar phylogeny, contributing to cultivar identification, preservation and breeding.