Boric Acid (Boron) Attenuates AOM-Induced Colorectal Cancer in Rats by Augmentation of Apoptotic and Antioxidant Mechanisms

Boric acid (BA) is a naturally occurring weak Lewis acid containing boron, oxygen, and hydrogen elements that can be found in water, soil, and plants. Because of its numerous biological potentials including anti-proliferation actions, the present investigates the chemopreventive possessions of BA on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rats. Thirty laboratory rats were divided into 5 groups: negative control (A) received two subcutaneous inoculations of normal saline and nourished on 10% Tween 20; groups B-E had two injections of 15 mg/kg azoxymethane followed by ingestion of 10% Tween 20 (B, cancer control), inoculation with intraperitoneal 35 mg/kg 5-fluorouracil injection (C, reference group), or ingested with boric acid 30 mg/kg (D) and 60 mg/kg (E). The gross morphology results showed significantly increased total colonic ACF in cancer controls, while BA treatment caused a significant reduction of ACF values. Histopathological evaluation of colons from cancer controls showed bizarrely elongated nuclei, stratified cells, and higher depletion of the submucosal glands than that of BA-treated groups. Boric acid treatment up-surged the pro-apoptotic (Bax) expression and reduced anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) protein expressions. Moreover, BA ingestion caused upregulation of antioxidant enzymes (GPx, SOD, CAT), and lowered MDA contents in colon tissue homogenates. Boric acid-treated rats had significantly lower pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) and higher anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) based on serum analysis. The colorectal cancer attenuation by BA is shown by the reduced ACF numbers, anticipated by its regulatory potentials on the apoptotic proteins, antioxidants, and inflammatory cytokines originating from AOM-induced oxidative damage.

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) seeds accelerates wound healing in rats: Possible molecular mechanisms

Wound healing is a complex, intricate, and dynamic process that requires effective therapeutic management. The current study evaluates the wound healing potentials of methanolic extract of Cuminum cyminum L. seeds (CCS) in rats. Sprague Dawley (24) rats were distributed into four cages, wounds produced on the back of the neck, and received two daily topical treatments for 14 days: A, rats received normal saline; B, wounded rats treated with intrasite gel; C and D, rats received 0.2 mL of 250 and 500 mg/kg of CCS, respectively. After that, wound area and closure percentage were evaluated, and wound tissues were dissected for histopathological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical examinations. Acute toxicity trials of methanolic extract of CCS showed the absence of any physiological changes or mortality in rats. CCS application caused a significant reduction in wound size and a statistically elevated percentage of wound contraction than those of vehicle rats. CCS treatment caused significant up-regulation of collagen fiber, fibroblasts, and fewer inflammatory cells (inflammation) in granulation tissues. TGF-β1 (angiogenetic factor) was significantly more expressed in CCS-treated rats in comparison to normal saline-treated rats; therefore, more fibroblasts transformed into myofibroblasts (angiogenesis). CCS-treated rats showed remarkable antioxidant potentials (higher SOD and CAT enzymes) and decreased MDA (lipid peroxidation) levels in their wound tissue homogenates. Hydroxyproline amino acid (collagen) was significantly up-regulated by CCS treatment, which is commonly related to faster wound closure area. The outcomes suggest CCS as a viable new source of pharmaceuticals for wound treatment.

Sinomenine accelerate wound healing in rats by augmentation of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunuhistochemical pathways

Sinomenine (SN) is a well-documented unique plant alkaloid extracted from many herbal medicines. The present study evaluates the wound healing potentials of SN on dorsal neck injury in rats. A uniform cut was created on Sprague Dawley rats (24) which were arbitrarily aligned into 4 groups receiving two daily topical treatments for 14 days as follows: A, rats had gum acacia; B, rats addressed with intrasite gel; C and D, rats had 30 and 60 mg/ml of SN, respectively. The acute toxicity trial revealed the absence of any toxic signs in rats after two weeks of ingestion of 30 and 300 mg/kg of SN. SN-treated rats showed smaller wound areas and higher wound closure percentages compared to vehicle rats after 5, 10, and 15 days of skin excision. Histological evaluation of recovered wound tissues showed increased collagen deposition, fibroblast content, and decreased inflammatory cells in granulated tissues in SN-addressed rats, which were statistically different from that of gum acacia-treated rats. SN treatment caused positive augmentation of Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 (angiogenetic factor) in wound tissues, denoting a higher conversion rate of fibroblast into myofibroblast (angiogenesis) that results in faster wound healing action. Increased antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT), as well as decreased MDA contents in recovered wound tissues of SN-treated rats, suggest the antioxidant potentials of SN that aid in faster wound recovery. Wound tissue homogenates showed higher hydroxyproline amino acid (collagen content) values in SN-treated rats than in vehicle rats. SN treatment suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased anti-inflammatory cytokines in the serum of wounded rats. The outcomes present SN as a viable pharmaceutical agent for wound healing evidenced by its positive modulation of the antioxidant, immunohistochemically proteins, hydroxyproline, and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Mangiferin (mango) attenuates AOM-induced colorectal cancer in rat's colon by augmentation of apoptotic proteins and antioxidant mechanisms

Mangiferin (MF) is a natural C-glucosylxantone compound that has many substantial curative potentials against numerous illnesses including cancers. The present study's goal is to appraise the chemo preventive possessions of MF on azoxymethane (AOM)-mediated colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rats. Rats clustered into 5 groups, negative control (A), inoculated subcutaneously with normal saline twice and nourished on 0.5% CMC; groups B-E injected twice with 15 mg/kg azoxymethane followed by ingestion of 0.5% CMC (B, cancer control); intraperitoneal inoculation of 35 mg/kg 5-fluorouracil (C, reference rats) or nourished on 30 mg/kg (D) and 60 mg/kg (E) of MF. Results of gross morphology of colorectal specimens showed significantly lower total colonic ACF incidence in MF-treated rats than that of cancer controls. The colon tissue examination of cancer control rats showed increased ACF availability with bizarrely elongated nuclei, stratified cells, and higher depletion of the submucosal glands compared to MF-treated rats. Mangiferin treatment caused increased regulation of pro-apoptotic (increased Bax) proteins and reduced the β-catenin) proteins expression. Moreover, rats fed on MF had significantly higher glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and lower malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in their colonic tissue homogenates. Mangiferin supplementation significantly down-shifted pro-inflammatory cytokines (transforming growth factor-α and interleukine-6) and up-shifted anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukine-10) based on serum analysis. The chemo-protective mechanistic of MF against AOM-induced ACF, shown by lower ACF values and colon tissue penetration, could be correlated with its positive modulation of apoptotic cascade, antioxidant enzymes, and inflammatory cytokines originating from AOM oxidative stress insults.

Pinostrobin attenuates azoxymethane-induced colorectal cytotoxicity in rats through augmentation of apoptotic Bax/Bcl-2 proteins and antioxidants

OBJECTIVES

Pinostrobin (5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone; PN) is a natural active ingredient with numerous biological activities extensively utilized in tumour chemotherapy. The present study investigates the chemo-preventive potentials of PN on azoxymethane-mediated colonic aberrant crypt foci in rats.

METHODS

Sprague Dawley rats clustered into five groups, normal control (A) and cancer controls were subcutaneously injected with normal saline and 15 mg/kg azoxymethane, respectively, and nourished on 10% tween 20 and fed on 10% tween 20; reference control (C), injected with 15 mg/kg azoxymethane and injected (intraperitoneal) with 35 mg/kg 5-fluorouracil (5-FU); D and E rat groups received a subcutaneous injection of 15 mg/kg azoxymethane and nourished on 30 and 60 mg/kg of PN, respectively.

RESULTS

The acute toxicity trial showed a lack of any abnormal signs or mortality in rats ingested with 250 and 500 mg/kg of PN. The gross morphology of colon tissues revealed significantly lower total colonic aberrant crypt foci incidence in PN-treated rats than that of cancer controls. Histological examination of colon tissues showed increased aberrant crypt foci availability with bizarrely elongated nuclei, stratified cells and higher depletion of the submucosal glands in cancer controls. PN treatment caused positive modulation of apoptotic (Bax and Bcl-2) proteins and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10). Moreover, rats fed on PN had significantly higher antioxidants (superoxide dismutase) and lower malondialdehyde concentrations in their colon tissue homogenates.

CONCLUSION

The chemoprotective efficiency of PN against azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci is shown by lower aberrant crypt foci values and higher aberrant crypt foci inhibition percentage, possibly through augmentation of genes responsible for apoptotic cascade and inflammations originating from azoxymethane oxidative stress insults.

Hepatoprotective effects of Gynura procumbens against thioacetamide-induced cirrhosis in rats: Targeting inflammatory and oxidative stress signalling pathways

Gynura procumbens is an edible flowering plant that has been utilized as traditional therapy for numerous diseases. The current experiment investigates the hepatoprotective potentials of the ethanol extract of Gynura procumbens leaf (EEGPL) against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver cirrhosis in rats. Thirty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 clusters: A, rats received orally 10% Tween 80 and intraperitoneal (i.p) inoculation of sterile distal water; B, rats received orally10% Tween 80; C, rats received orally daily 50 mg/kg of silymarin, while groups; D and E, rats received orally daily doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg of EEGPL, respectively. Furthermore, B-E clusters received 200 mg/kg thioacetamide (i.p) three times a week for 60 days. The liver gross morphology of rats that received only TAA (B) revealed irregular rough surface layers compared to smoother livers of rats that received EEGPL. Histopathology of group B revealed clear hepatic necrosis and fibrous connective tissue, which were significantly reduced in C-E groups. EEGPL treatment caused a significant down-regulation of PCNA and α-SMA protein expressions. Antioxidant (SOD and CAT) enzymes in hepatic homogeneity were meaningfully lower, and MDA levels were significantly higher in TAA controls compared to those of C-E groups. Moreover, EEGPL treatment caused a reduction of TNF-α and IL-6 and increased expression of IL-10 cytokines. Therefore, the hepatoprotective potentials of EEGPL might be contributed to its modulation of detoxification enzymes, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities.

Synthesis of Novel Derivatives of Quinazoline Schiff base Compound Promotes Epithelial Wound Healing

Quinazoline is an aromatic bicyclic compound exhibiting several pharmaceutical and biological activities. This study was conducted to investigate the potential wound healing properties of Synthetic Quinazoline Compound (SQC) on experimental rats. The toxicity of SQC was determined by MTT cell proliferation assay. The healing effect of SQC was assessed by in vitro wound healing scratch assay on the skin fibroblast cells (BJ-5ta) and in vivo wound healing experiment of low and high dose of SQC on adult Sprague-Dawley rats compared with negative (gum acacia) and positive control (Intrasite-gel). Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), Masson's Trichrome (MT) staining and immunohistochemistry analysis were performed to evaluate the histopathological alterations and proteins expression of Bax and Hsp70 on the wound tissue after 10 days. In addition, levels of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in wound tissue homogenates. The SQC significantly enhanced BJ-5ta cell proliferation and accelerated the percentage of wound closure, with less scarring, increased fibroblast and collagen fibers and less inflammatory cells compared with the negative control. The compound also increases endogenous enzymes and decline lipid peroxidation in wound homogenate.

Ethanolic extract of Brucea javanica inhibit proliferation of HCT-116 colon cancer cells via caspase activation

Brucea javanica (L.) Merr. is a well-known plant in Chinese System of Medicine. Its fruits and seeds have been reported to possess curative properties against various ailments. The chemical constituents and biological activity of this plant have been an interesting area in plant and chemistry medicine. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antiproliferative effects of the B. javanica extract against a colon cancer cell line and identification of the chemical components derived from the extract. An ethanolic extract from B. javanica fruits was prepared by cold maceration method, subjected to LC-MS profiling to elucidate the composition abbreviated as BJEE. The extract was screened for the cytotoxicity effects on HCT-116 colon cancer cells via MTT and LDH methods. Additionally, AO/PI staining verified apoptosis features in HCT-116 cells through microscopic analysis. ROS, caspase activity, and gene expression has been performed to identify its possible mechanism of actions which contribute to apoptosis. Output data from this study showed BJEE inhibited the cell proliferation of HCT-116 colon cancer cells at IC50 value of 8.9 ± 1.32 (μg mL-1) and significantly increased the levels of caspase-8, 9, and 3/7 in treated cells in comparison to untreated. The changes in expression of caspase genes and some apoptosis genes like Bax and Bcl-2 were confirmed using RT-PCR. Phytochemical analysis by LC-MS identified six major active compounds (bruceine D, isobrucein A, quassimarin, C16 sphinganine, phytosphingosine, and enigmol) in BJEE that may play a key role in cell apoptosis. The current study showed BJEE could be a promising agent for colorectal cancer therapy by significant increase in caspase activity level, and up-regulation of the specific apoptotic genes.