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Slighoua M, Amrati FEZ, Chebaibi M, Mahdi I, Al Kamaly O, El Ouahdani K, Drioiche A, Saleh A, Bousta D. Quercetin and Ferulic Acid Elicit Estrogenic Activities In Vivo and In Silico. Molecules 2023; 28:5112. [PMID: 37446770 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28135112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we examined the sub-acute toxicity of quercetin and ferulic acid and evaluated their effects on protein, cholesterol, and estrogen levels in vivo. Six groups of female Wistar rats were fed by gavage. The first and second groups represent the positive (Clomiphene citrate 10 mg/kg) and negative (NaCl 0.9%) control groups, while the other groups received quercetin and ferulic acid at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg/day for 28 days. The sub-acute toxicity was monitored by examining the weights, biochemical parameters (AST, ALT, ALP, urea, and CREA), and histological changes in the kidneys and liver of the treated animals. Furthermore, the in vivo estrogenic effects were studied in terms of the serum and ovarian cholesterol levels, serum estradiol, and uterine proteins. Finally, Docking studies were conducted to evaluate the binding affinity of quercetin and ferulic acid for alpha and beta estrogen receptors. Results showed that both compounds were devoid of any signs of nephrotoxicity or hepatotoxicity. Additionally, quercetin and ferulic acid caused significant estrogenic effects evidenced by an increase of 8.7 to 22.48% in serum estradiol, though to a lesser amount than in the reference drug-treated group (64.21%). Moreover, the two compounds decreased the serum cholesterol levels (12.26-32.75%) as well as the ovarian cholesterol level (11.9% to 41.50%) compared to the negative control. The molecular docking in estrogen alpha and estrogen beta active sites showed high affinity of quercetin (-10.444 kcal/mol for estrogen alpha and -10.662 kcal/mol for estrogen beta) and ferulic acid (-6.377 kcal/mol for estrogen alpha and -6.3 kcal/mol for estrogen beta) to these receptors. This study provides promising insights into the potential use of quercetin as a therapeutic agent for the management of female fertility issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meryem Slighoua
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment, Agro-Food, and Health (LBEAS), Faculty of Sciences, University 7 Sidi-Mohamed-Ben-Abdellah (USMBA), Fez 30050, Morocco
| | - Fatima Ez-Zahra Amrati
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment, Agro-Food, and Health (LBEAS), Faculty of Sciences, University 7 Sidi-Mohamed-Ben-Abdellah (USMBA), Fez 30050, Morocco
| | - Mohamed Chebaibi
- Biomedical and Translational Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Fez, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez 30000, Morocco
| | - Ismail Mahdi
- AgroBioSciences Research Division, College for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Science, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Lot 660-Hay Moulay Rachid, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco
| | - Omkulthom Al Kamaly
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khadija El Ouahdani
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment, Agro-Food, and Health (LBEAS), Faculty of Sciences, University 7 Sidi-Mohamed-Ben-Abdellah (USMBA), Fez 30050, Morocco
| | - Aziz Drioiche
- Laboratory of Innovative Materials and Biotechnology of Natural Resources, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay 19 Ismail University, Meknes 50070, Morocco
| | - Asmaa Saleh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dalila Bousta
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment, Agro-Food, and Health (LBEAS), Faculty of Sciences, University 7 Sidi-Mohamed-Ben-Abdellah (USMBA), Fez 30050, Morocco
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El Ouahdani K, Es-safi I, Mechchate H, Al-zahrani M, Qurtam AA, Aleissa M, Bari A, Bousta D. Thymus algeriensis and Artemisia herba-alba Essential Oils: Chemical Analysis, Antioxidant Potential and In Vivo Anti-Inflammatory, Analgesic Activities, and Acute Toxicity. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26226780. [PMID: 34833872 PMCID: PMC8625911 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26226780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of bioactive molecules of natural origin is a focus of current research. Thymus algeriensis and Artemisia herba-alba are two medicinal plants widely used by the Moroccan population in the traditional treatment of several pathologies linked to inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the single and combined antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the essential oils extracted from these two medicinal plants, and also their potential toxicity. Essential oils were extracted using hydro-distillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by two methods: the scavenging of the free radical DPPH, and the reduction in iron. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by evaluating the edema development induced by carrageenan injecting, while the analgesic power was evaluated according to the number of abdominal contortions induced by the intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid (0.7%). The acute oral toxicity was performed to assess the potential toxicity of the studied EOs, followed by an analysis of the blood biochemical parameters. The results of the two antioxidant tests indicated that our extract mixture exhibits good iron reduction capacity and very interesting DPPH free radical scavenging power, with an IC50 of around 4.38 ± 0.98 μg/mL higher than that of the benchmark antioxidant, BHT. The anti-inflammatory test demonstrated that the mixture administered orally at a dose of 150 mg/kg has a better activity, exceeding that of 1% Diclofenac, with a percentage of maximum inhibition of the edema of 89.99 ± 4.08. The number of cramps in the mice treated with the mixture at a dose of 150 mg/kg is significantly lower (29.80 ± 1.92) than those of the group treated with Tramadol (42.00 ± 2.70), respectively. The toxicity results show no signs of toxicity with an LD50 greater than 150 mg/Kg. These interesting results show that the two plants’ EOs had an important anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant activity, and also a powerful synergistic effect, which encourages further in-depth investigations on their pharmacological proprieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadija El Ouahdani
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment, Agri-Food and Health (LBEAS), Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University (USMBA), Fez B.P. 1796, Morocco; (K.E.O.); (H.M.); (A.B.); (D.B.)
| | - Imane Es-safi
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment, Agri-Food and Health (LBEAS), Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University (USMBA), Fez B.P. 1796, Morocco; (K.E.O.); (H.M.); (A.B.); (D.B.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Hamza Mechchate
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment, Agri-Food and Health (LBEAS), Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University (USMBA), Fez B.P. 1796, Morocco; (K.E.O.); (H.M.); (A.B.); (D.B.)
| | - Mohammed Al-zahrani
- Biology Department, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 11623, Saudi Arabia; (M.A.-z.); (A.A.Q.); (M.A.)
| | - Ashraf Ahmed Qurtam
- Biology Department, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 11623, Saudi Arabia; (M.A.-z.); (A.A.Q.); (M.A.)
| | - Mohammed Aleissa
- Biology Department, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 11623, Saudi Arabia; (M.A.-z.); (A.A.Q.); (M.A.)
| | - Amina Bari
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment, Agri-Food and Health (LBEAS), Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University (USMBA), Fez B.P. 1796, Morocco; (K.E.O.); (H.M.); (A.B.); (D.B.)
| | - Dalila Bousta
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment, Agri-Food and Health (LBEAS), Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University (USMBA), Fez B.P. 1796, Morocco; (K.E.O.); (H.M.); (A.B.); (D.B.)
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