Clausena anisata-mediated protection against lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice

Optimization of dynamic maceration of Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook. f. ex Benth. leaves to maximize trans-anethole content

Trans-anethole possesses several biological and pharmacological effects. It is also used as masking agent in household products and as a flavoring agent in food. Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook. f. ex Benth. leaves are reported as a source of trans-anethole that makes their anise-like odor. This work sought to optimize the dynamic maceration of C. anisata leaves to maximize the trans-anethole content. The circumscribed central composite experimental design was applied to investigate the effects of extraction temperature and time on extraction yield, trans-anethole content in the extract, and trans-anethole content in the plant raw material. The results showed that the extraction yield was high when C. anisata leaves were extracted over a long extraction time, while the extraction temperature had a lesser effect on the extraction yield. Trans-anethole content in the extract and plant raw material determined using a linear, specific, precise, and accurate HPLC method was high when a medium extraction temperature with a short extraction time was used. The optimal condition that maximized trans-anethole content involved an extraction temperature of 61.8 °C and an extraction time of 12.9 min, respectively. The percentage error of the prediction conducted by computer software was low, suggesting that the prediction was highly accurate. In conclusion, the optimal condition of dynamic maceration obtained from this work could be used as a guide for maximizing trans-anethole content from C. anisata leaves.

Validated Reversed-Phase Ion-Interaction High-Performance Liquid Chromatography for Quantitation of Nitrate Content of Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook. f. ex Benth. Leaves

This work sought to validate the reversed-phase ion-interaction high-performance liquid chromatography for quantifying the nitrate content in the extract and raw material of Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook. f. ex Benth. leaves. Three extraction methods (i.e., decoction, infusion, and ultrasound-assisted extraction) were investigated and compared. Furthermore, the effect of the solid-to-solvent ratio and defatting was also evaluated. The validation result showed that the high-performance liquid chromatographic method had a linear response (R ² = 0.9999) in the range of 1-50 μg/mL. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation were 0.25 μg/mL and 0.75 μg/mL, respectively. In addition, the method was specific, precise, and accurate. So the validated method was suitable for determination of the nitrate content in C. anisata leaves. Infusion of a nondefatted sample using a solid-to-solvent ratio of 1 : 10 gave the highest nitrate content in the raw material, 0.251 ± 0.003%. In case of a defatted sample, decoction provided the highest nitrate content, 0.309 ± 0.001%. Increasing the solid-to-solvent ratio and defatting had a huge effect on the nitrate content of C. anisata leaves extracted from decoction. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that used the reversed-phase ion-interaction high-performance liquid chromatography for quantifying the nitrate content in C. anisata leaves. Furthermore, the authors suggested that nitrate could be used as a standard marker for quality control of C. anisata leaves' extract and raw material.

Eriodictyol ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury by suppressing the inflammatory COX-2/NLRP3/NF-κB pathway in mice

The purpose of this paper is to observe the protective action and its effective mechanism of eriodictyol on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI). In this study, our results indicated that eriodictyol could dramatically suppress the inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, prostaglandin E2, and tumor necrosis factor-α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of LPS-challenged mice. Eriodictyol also alleviated the wet/dry ratio and improved pathological changes of the lung. In addition, eriodictyol significantly decreased myeloperoxidase activity and malondialdehyde content as well as increased superoxide dismutase activity. Moreover, eriodictyol inhibited the COX-2/NLRP3/NF-κB signaling pathway in the lung tissues of ALI mice. In conclusion, our observations validated that eriodictyol processed the protective effects on ALI mice, which was related to the regulation of the COX-2/NLRP3/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Anti-Semaphorin-7A single chain antibody demonstrates beneficial effects on pulmonary inflammation during acute lung injury

Pulmonary inflammation is a primary characteristic of lung injury initiated by the accession of immune cells into the alveolar space. Neutrophil migration serves an important role in pulmonary inflammation mediated by the migration of neutrophils into hypoxic tissue sites. The elimination of pulmonary inflammation is directly associated with rehabilitation in patients with lung injury. Anti-inflammatory treatment is essential following lung injury and ultimately determines patient outcomes. Semaphorin-7A (SEMA-7A) is a member of the Semaphorin family that influences the migration of neutrophils into hypoxic tissue sites, thus promoting inflammation. However, understanding of the role of SEMA-7A serves during lung injury is limited and the immunological function of SEMA-7A during the migration of neutrophils into acute injury sites remains unknown. The present study investigated SEMA-7A expression and constructed a single chain antibody for SEMA-7A (Anti-SEMA-7A) to study its therapeutic efficacy against pulmonary inflammation in a mouse model of acute injury sites. The data indicated that the expression of SEMA-7A was upregulated due to induction by pro-inflammatory cytokines and demonstrated that Anti-SEMA-7A inhibited SEMA-7A expression in vitro and in vivo. The current study also indicated that the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by SEMA-7A in endothelial and epithelial cells enhanced pulmonary inflammation. Anti-SEMA-7A suppressed the transendothelial migration of neutrophils mediated by SEMA-7A. Anti-SEMA-7A treatment neutralized SEMA-7A expression and reduced signs of pulmonary inflammation, leading to the elimination of pulmonary inflammation in rat with acute lung injury. The current study identified Anti-SEMA-7A as a potential agent to interfere with the inflammatory pathway during acute lung injury, which may be the basis for anti-inflammatory strategies to treat lung injuries in the future.