Myricitrin inhibits vascular adhesion molecule expression in TNF-α-stimulated vascular smooth muscle cells

Phenolic Compounds in Salicornia spp. and Their Potential Therapeutic Effects on H1N1, HBV, HCV, and HIV: A Review

Despite public health risk mitigation measures and regulation efforts by many countries, regions, and sectors, viral outbreaks remind the world of our vulnerability to biological hazards and the importance of mitigation actions. The saltwater-tolerant plants in the Salicornia genus belonging to the Amaranthaceae family are widely recognized and researched as producers of clinically applicable phytochemicals. The plants in the Salicornia genus contain flavonoids, flavonoid glycosides, and hydroxycinnamic acids, including caffeic acid, ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, apigenin, kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, myricetin, isoquercitrin, and myricitrin, which have all been shown to support the antiviral, virucidal, and symptom-suppressing activities. Their potential pharmacological usefulness as therapeutic medicine against viral infections has been suggested in many studies, where recent studies suggest these phenolic compounds may have pharmacological potential as therapeutic medicine against viral infections. This study reviews the antiviral effects, the mechanisms of action, and the potential as antiviral agents of the aforementioned phenolic compounds found in Salicornia spp. against an influenza A strain (H1N1), hepatitis B and C (HBV/HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), as no other literature has described these effects from the Salicornia genus at the time of publication. This review has the potential to have a significant societal impact by proposing the development of new antiviral nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals derived from phenolic-rich formulations found in the edible Salicornia spp. These formulations could be utilized as a novel strategy by which to combat viral pandemics caused by H1N1, HBV, HCV, and HIV-1. The findings of this review indicate that isoquercitrin, myricetin, and myricitrin from Salicornia spp. have the potential to exhibit high efficiency in inhibiting viral infections. Myricetin exhibits inhibition of H1N1 plaque formation and reverse transcriptase, as well as integrase integration and cleavage. Isoquercitrin shows excellent neuraminidase inhibition. Myricitrin inhibits HIV-1 in infected cells. Extracts of biomass in the Salicornia genus could contribute to the development of more effective and efficient measures against viral infections and, ultimately, improve public health.

Promising Medicinal Plants with Diuretic Potential Used in Brazil: State of the Art, Challenges, and Prospects

Medicinal plants are used in traditional medicine to treat a wide range of ailments. The knowledge of them is handed down from generation to generation and is described in several pharmacopoeia and in the general literature. The immense biodiversity of the Brazilian flora, covering about 25% of all plant species worldwide, makes Brazil a huge potential source of medicinal plants. Indeed, many of these plant species are already used in the Brazilian ethnopharmacology for their probable effect to induce diuresis, to reduce fluid retention, and to treat cardiovascular and renal disorders. This review article describes and discusses the main native Brazilian medicinal plants (including some of their isolated compounds) used as diuretics. It also gives a comprehensive analysis of the most relevant scientific studies presented to date, as well as addressing a special topic with future prospects for plant species that have not yet been scientifically studied. In brief, several plants can be indicated for more detailed study, with a view to obtain scientific subsidies for a new and effective diuretic medicine in the future. These include Bauhinia forficata, Leandra dasytricha, and Tropaeolum majus. Other species have reputed medicinal properties but lack experimental assays to demonstrate their pharmacological effects (e.g., Mikania hirsutissima, Phyllanthus niruri, and Tagetes minuta). Several active principles are indicated as responsible for the diuretic effects of the plants studied, with emphasis on phenolic compounds as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and xanthones. These results should encourage more detailed preclinical, clinical, and phytochemical investigations on Brazilian plants in the future.

Myricitrin inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and mice

In the present study, the protective effects of myricitrin against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenesis of vascular endothelial cells were characterized. Cells were induced with 50 ng/mL VEGF in the presence or absence of various concentrations of myricitrin for 24 h. Myricitrin treatment significantly reduced cell proliferation by more than 50 %. Cells treated with myricitrin showed significantly increased caspase 3/7 activity and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with 1, 10, or 100 μM myricitrin significantly reduced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity by 23.3 %, 46.2 %, or 64.3 %, respectively. Myricitrin significantly reduced MMP1 and MMP2 mRNA expression. Similarly, treatment with 1, 10, or 100 μM myricitrin reduced MMP1 protein expression by 10.5 %, 31.6 %, or 52.6 %, respectively, and MMP2 protein expression by 10.9 %, 28.2 %, or 43.5 %, respectively. Cells treated with myricitrin showed significant inhibition of cell migration as well as capillary tube and sprouting formation. Myricitrin treatment significantly reduced the VEGF level. Immune-deficient nude mice bearing U251 xenograft tumors were used to investigate the antiangiogenic effects of myricitrin in vivo. The results demonstrated that myricitrin treatment in vivo significantly inhibited U251 cell xenograft tumor growth, as confirmed by the decreases in tumor volume and tumor weight. VEGF expression is a key proangiogenic factor. Myricitrin treatment significantly reduced mRNA and protein VEGF expression. Taken together, these results indicate that myricitrin is a potential inhibitor of VEGF-induced angiogenesis.

Isolation and characterization of flavonoids from Tapirira guianensis leaves with vasodilatory and myeloperoxidase-inhibitory activities

The aim of this study was to perform the isolation and characterization of vasodilatory flavonoids from Tapirira guianensis Aubl. (Annacardiaceae) leaves. In this context, ethyl acetate fraction (EA fraction) was obtained and subjected to fractionation batches by HSCCC affording: myricetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (myricitrin, 1); quercetin 3-O-(6"-O-galloyl)-β-D-galactopyranoside (2); quercetin 3-O-α-L-arabinofuranoside (avicularin, 3); and quercetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (quercitrin, 4). Myricitrin (1) induced a relaxation of 56.07 ± 13.04% at 300 μM (P < 0.05; n = 5), indicating that this flavonoid contributes to the vasodilatory activity of EA fraction. In addition, all EA fraction flavonoids were evaluated for their capacity of inhibiting myeloperoxidase activity and flavonoid (2) (IC₅₀ 1.0 ± 0.3 µM) was the strongest peroxidase inhibitor. In conclusion, it was possible to verify that myricitrin together with quercetin are mainly responsible for vasodilatory potential, besides flavonoid 2 for myeloperoxidase inhibition. Together these flavonoids seem to be responsible for Tapirira guianensis cardiovascular effects.

The protective effect of myricitrin in osteoarthritis: An in vitro and in vivo study

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a long-term, chronic, progressive joint condition caused by a pathology characterized by the deterioration of joint cartilage and proliferation of subchondral bone. Myricitrin (Myr) is a flavonoid compound extracted from myrica rubra with potent anti-inflammatory properties, as demonstrated in various studies. However, the mechanisms by which Myr plays a protective role in OA are not completely understood. In this study, the anti-inflammatory properties and potential mechanisms of Myr on mouse chondrocytes treated with interleukin (IL) -1beta (β) were explored in vitro and the role of Myr in a mouse model of OA in vivo. The production of pro-inflammatory factors, such as IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO) were assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the Griess reaction. Protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), Collagen-II, matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-13, MMP-3, thrombospondin motifs 5(ADAMTS5), inhibitor ofnuclear factor kappa-B (IκB), p-IκB, p65, p-p65, c-jun-terminal kinase (JNK), p-JNK, extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK), p-ERK, p38 and p-p38 were quantified using Western blot analysis. In the present study, we found that Myr inhibited IL-1β-induced production of NO and PGE2, expression of MMP-13, MMP-3 and ADAMTS5 and degradation of collagen-II in mouse chondrocytes. Mechanistically, Myr inhibited the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) treated with IL-1β in mouse chondrocytes. In vivo, Myr decreased OA Research Society International (OARSI) scores in a surgically-induced mouse model of OA. These data suggest that Myr could be developed as a potential therapyfor OA.

Carpinus turczaninowii Extract May Alleviate High Glucose-Induced Arterial Damage and Inflammation

Hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress triggers severe vascular damage and induces an inflammatory vascular state, and is, therefore, one of the main causes of atherosclerosis. Recently, interest in the natural compound Carpinus turczaninowii has increased because of its reported antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We investigated whether a C. turczaninowii extract was capable of attenuating high glucose-induced inflammation and arterial damage using human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (hASMCs). mRNA expression levels of proinflammatory response [interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)], endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress [CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBP) homologous protein (CHOP)], and adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-protein activated kinase α2 (AMPK α2)], and DNA damage [phosphorylated H2.AX (p-H2.AX)] were measured in hASMCs treated with the C. turczaninowii extracts (1 and 10 μg/mL) after being stimulated by high glucose (25 mM) or not. The C. turczaninowii extract attenuated the increased mRNA expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and CHOP in hASMCs under high glucose conditions. The expression levels of p-H2.AX and AMPK α2 induced by high glucose were also significantly decreased in response to treatment with the C. turczaninowii extract. In addition, 15 types of phenolic compounds including quercetin, myricitrin, and ellagic acid, which exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, were identified in the C. turczaninowii extract through ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight (UPLC-Q-TOF) mass spectrometry. In conclusion, C. turczaninowii may alleviate high glucose-induced inflammation and arterial damage in hASMCs, and may have potential in the treatment of hyperglycemia-induced atherosclerosis.

Genome sequencing provides insights into the evolution and antioxidant activity of Chinese bayberry

Background

Chinese bayberry (Myrica rubra Sieb. & Zucc.) is an economically important fruit tree characterized by its juicy fruits rich in antioxidant compounds. Elucidating the genetic basis of the biosynthesis of active antioxidant compounds in bayberry is fundamental for genetic improvement of bayberry and industrial applications of the fruit’s antioxidant components. Here, we report the genome sequence of a multiple disease-resistant bayberry variety, ‘Zaojia’, in China, and the transcriptome dynamics in the course of fruit development.

Results

A 289.92 Mb draft genome was assembled, and 26,325 protein-encoding genes were predicted. Most of the M. rubra genes in the antioxidant signaling pathways had multiple copies, likely originating from tandem duplication events. Further, many of the genes found here present structural variations or amino acid changes in the conserved functional residues across species. The expression levels of antioxidant genes were generally higher in the early stages of fruit development, and were correlated with the higher levels of total flavonoids and antioxidant capacity, in comparison with the mature fruit stages. Based on both gene expression and biochemical analyses, five genes, namely, caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase, anthocyanidin 3-O-glucosyltransferase, (+)-neomenthol dehydrogenase, gibberellin 2-oxidase, and squalene monooxygenase, were suggested to regulate the flavonoid, anthocyanin, monoterpenoid, diterpenoid, and sesquiterpenoid/triterpenoid levels, respectively, during fruit development.

Conclusions

This study describes both the complete genome and transcriptome of M. rubra. The results provide an important basis for future research on the genetic improvement of M. rubra and contribute to the understanding of its genetic evolution. The genome sequences corresponding to representative antioxidant signaling pathways can help revealing useful traits and functional genes.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-5818-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.