The effect of Argania spinosa seed oil on diabetic nephropathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in Wistar rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Diabetes is a significant metabolic disease impacting many of the world's population. In Morocco, a wide range of medicinal plants has taken great importance in the treatment of diabetes, among these plants; we find Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels.

AIM

The objective of our work is based on the evaluation of the effect of roasted (Roil) and unroasted (UnRoil) Argan seed oil on diabetic nephropathy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Roasted and unroasted oils from Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels seeds were examined for their effects on diabetic nephropathy using an experimental streptozotocin-induced model. Biochemical and histopathological analyses were conducted on blood and kidney samples to assess renal function and tissue damage.

RESULTS

Both oils ameliorated significantly diabetic nephropathy symptoms. They limited the renal damage caused by streptozotocin and improved diabetes symptoms, including blood glucose levels, body weight, water intake, urinary volume, and kidney parameters. This activity could be elucidated by the antioxidant effect of Argan oil, enabling to neutralize free radicals and undertake a fundamental role in preventing the onset of these complications.

CONCLUSION

Based on our findings, Argan oil could be used as dietary supplement for people with diabetes as a preventive measure against the emergence of diabetic complications.

Cananga oil inhibits Salmonella infection by mediating the homeostasis of purine metabolism and the TCA cycle

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE

Cananga oil (CO) is derived from the flowers of the traditional medicinal plant, the ylang-ylang tree. As a traditional antidepressant, CO is commonly utilized in the treatment of various mental disorders including depression, anxiety, and autism. It is also recognized as an efficient antibacterial insecticide, and has been traditionally utilized to combat malaria and acute inflammatory responses resulting from bacterial infections both in vitro and in vivo.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The objective of this study is to comprehensively investigate the anti-Salmonella activity and mechanism of CO both in vitro and in vivo, with the expectation of providing feasible strategies for exploring new antimicrobial strategies and developing novel drugs.

METHODS

The in vitro antibacterial activity of CO was comprehensively analyzed by measuring MIC, MBC, growth curve, time-killing curve, surface motility, biofilm, and Live/dead bacterial staining. The analysis of the chemistry and active ingredients of CO was conducted using GC-MS. To examine the influence of CO on the membrane homeostasis of Salmonella, we conducted utilizing diverse techniques, including ANS, PI, NPN, ONPG, BCECF-AM, DiSC3(5), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. In addition, the antibacterial mechanism of CO was analyzed and validated through metabolomics analysis. Finally, a mouse infection model of Salmonella typhimurium was established to evaluate the toxic side effects and therapeutic effects of CO.

RESULTS

The antibacterial effect of CO is the result of the combined action of the main chemical components within its six (palmitic acid, α-linolenic acid, stearic acid, benzyl benzoate, benzyl acetate, and myristic acid). Furthermore, CO disrupts the balance of purine metabolism and the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) in Salmonella, interfering with redox processes. This leads to energy metabolic disorders and oxidative stress damage within the bacteria, resulting in bacterial shock, enhanced membrane damage, and ultimately bacterial death. It is worth emphasizing that CO exerts an effective protective influence on Salmonella infection in vivo within a non-toxic concentration range.

CONCLUSION

The outcomes indicate that CO displays remarkable anti-Salmonella activity both in vitro and in vivo. It triggers bacterial death by disrupting the balance of purine metabolism and the TCA cycle, interfering with the redox process, making it a promising anti-Salmonella medication.

The effect of aromatherapy massage with lemon and peppermint essential oil on menopausal symptoms: A double-blinded, randomized placebo controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

Menopausal and postmenopausal women experience many physical and psychological symptoms. The positive effects of aromatherapy sessions with different oils on menopausal symptoms are well known. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an aromatherapy massage with peppermint and lemon essential oil on menopausal symptoms.

METHODS

Total 63 menopausal and postmenopausal women were included in this study. Participants were randomly divided into three groups: Menta peppermint (n = 21), Citrus lemon (n = 21), and Placebo (n = 21). The peppermint and lemon essential oils of the intervention groups were diluted with 1.5 % sweet almond oil. Pure sweet almond oil was used in the placebo group. Each participant in the massage groups received a hand and arm massage with the selected oil twice a week for 4 weeks in 30-min sessions. Participants' menopausal symptoms were assessed before and after application using the Menopause Symptoms Rating Scale (MRS).

RESULTS

When the differences in the treatment groups according to time were examined, it was found that there were statistically significant differences in lemon (F = 9.561, p = 0.003, η2 = 0.139) and peppermint essential oil (F = 15.687, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.210) groups according to time. The peppermint essential oil group was more effective than the lemon group. In addition, both peppermint and lemon essential oils were effective for somatic symptoms (p < 0.05). For psychological symptoms, only the lemon oil (p = 0.011) proved effective, and for urogenital symptoms, only the peppermint essential oil (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The study found that aromatherapy massage with peppermint and lemon essential oil effectively reduced menopausal symptoms. Peppermint essential oil was more effective than lemon essential oil in reducing the menopausal symptoms.

THE CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05677698.

Effects of lavender essential oil inhalation aromatherapy on depression and sleep quality in stroke patients: A single-blind randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Post-stroke depression (PSD) has major implications for rehabilitation, motor recovery, activities of daily living, social and interpersonal functioning, and mortality. In view of the side effects of antidepressants, aromatherapy, a widely used non-pharmacological therapy, has received growing attention in recent years for its benefits of reduced complications, accessibility, and effectiveness. This study was designed to assess the effects of inhalation aromatherapy with lavender essential oil on depression and sleep quality in patients with PSD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty patients with PSD were enrolled and randomized into experimental and placebo groups. Experimental-group patients inhaled microencapsulated lavender essential oil every night at bedtime over a period of 4 weeks. A nonwoven bag containing 2.3 g of microcapsules with about 1.5 g of lavender essential oil was placed on or under the patient's pillow, depending on the patient's scent sensitivity. Placebo-group patients used the empty nonwoven bags for the same period as the experimental group. The 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17), the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to measure outcomes.

RESULTS

The HAMD-17 score, SDS score, and PSQI score showed statistically significant differences between both groups before and after intervention (P ≤ 0.01). The improvement in the experimental group was more marked than in the placebo group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Lavender essential oil inhalation aromatherapy may help reduce depression and improve sleep quality in patients with PSD.

The effect of lavender foot baths on postoperative pain and sleep quality in comparison with foot baths with warm water only-A prospective randomized controlled study

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of warm water (WW) foot bath with or without lavender oil for pain and sleep quality in the patients who undergone abdominal surgeries.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

This study was designed as a prospective randomized controlled. The three study groups were defined as the control group (n = 44), the WW foot bath group (n = 46), WW foot bath with the lavender group (n = 40). Foot baths were done for 20 min with 40 °C every night for 3 days after surgery. Visual Analogue Scale and Richard-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire were used during data collection.

RESULTS

A total of 130 patients, mean age 55.99 ±  ± 13.05 years, 66 male (51 %), 103 of whom underwent abdominal surgery, were included in the study. When the patients during the postoperative three days were evaluated, decreased pain score and increased sleep quality both the WW and WW foot bath with lavender groups (p < 0.001). Noise-related sleep quality was detected to be lesser in the control group patients on the 3rd day (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

WW foot bath with or without lavender oil is an uncomplicated, economical, and effective complementary therapy to reduce postoperative pain and improve sleep quality. WW foot baths with essential oils are optionally available in clinics and can be used according to patients' preferences.

Effect of Lavender Oil on Preoperative Anxiety: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Surgical interventions are known to induce anxiety in patients due to the associated risks and potential complications. Various methods are employed to alleviate preoperative anxiety. This study aimed to investigate the impact of lavender oil application on the anxiety levels of patients scheduled for surgical procedures.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Studies were accessed using the keywords "preoperative and lavender oil and stress" in Turkish and English between July 1 and 30, 2022, through PubMed (including MEDLINE), Cochrane, EBSCOhost, Web of Science, YÖK National Thesis Center, and Google Scholar. The standardized mean difference was calculated using random-effects models, and the Cochrane Collaboration tool was used to assess the risk of bias in each study. The study was prepared according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis checklist.

FINDINGS

Twenty studies were included in the analysis. The anxiety level of the experimental group to which lavender oil was applied before the surgical intervention was significantly lower than that of the control group (standardized mean difference:-5.40; 95% CI: -8.76 to -2.04).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative lavender oil application was found to be an effective method for relieving patients' anxiety. Lavender oil is thought to be a potential standalone treatment for preoperative anxiety.

Pomegranate seed oil mitigates liver and kidney damage in an experimental colitis model: Modulation of NF-κB activation and apoptosis

Pomegranate seed oil, extracted from pomegranate seeds, is a slightly fragrant yellow oil with a mild odor. Pomegranate seed oil is the main source of punicic acid (conjugated linolenic acid). Punicic acid is a long-chain omega-5 polyunsaturated fatty acid and a conjugated α-linolenic acid molecule. This acid is thought to provide many health benefits. This study evaluated the potential of pomegranate seed oil to attenuate damage to liver and kidney tissues in an acetic acid-induced colitis model. 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: control, colitis, 0.4 ml/kg, and 0.8 ml/kg pomegranate seed oil treatment after colitis. At the end of the experiment, histopathological and immunohistochemistry analyses of liver and kidney tissues were performed. Pomegranate seed oil treatment reduced damage in liver and kidney tissues, suppressed NF-κB activation, and regulated apoptosis. These findings support the potential effects of pomegranate seed oil against extraintestinal symptoms of colitis through its anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties.

Eight weeks of daily cottonseed oil intake attenuates postprandial angiopoietin-like proteins 3 and 4 responses compared to olive oil in adults with hypercholesterolemia: A secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial

Angiopoietin-like proteins (ANGPTLs) -3, -4, and -8 are regulators of lipid metabolism and have been shown to respond to changes in dietary fats. It is unknown how ANGPTLs respond to cottonseed oil (CSO) and olive oil (OO) consumption in a population with hypercholesterolemia. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of CSO vs. OO consumption on fasting and postprandial ANGPTL responses in adults with hypercholesterolemia. We hypothesized that CSO would have lower fasting and postprandial ANGPTL responses compared with OO. Forty-two adults with high cholesterol completed a single-blind, randomized trial comparing CSO (n = 21) vs. OO (n = 21) diet enrichment. An 8-week partial outpatient feeding intervention provided ∼60% of the volunteers' total energy expenditure (∼30% of total energy expenditure as CSO or OO). The remaining 40% was not controlled. Fasting blood draws were taken at pre-, mid-, and postintervention visits. Volunteers consumed a high saturated fat meal followed by 5 hours of blood draws pre- and postvisits. Fasting ANGPTL3 had a marginally significant treatment by visit interaction (P = .06) showing an increase from pre- to postintervention in CSO vs. OO (CSO: 385.1 ± 27.7 to 440.3 ± 33.9 ng/mL; OO: 468.2 ± 38.3 to 449.2 ± 49.5 ng/mL). Both postprandial ANGPTL3 (P = .02) and ANGPTL4 (P < .01) had treatment by visit interactions suggesting increases from pre- to postintervention in OO vs. CSO with no differences between groups in ANGPTL8. These data show a worsening (increase) of postprandial ANGPTLs after the OO, but not CSO, intervention. This aligns with previously reported data in which postprandial triglycerides were protected from increases compared with OO. ANGPTLs may mediate protective effects of CSO consumption on lipid control. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04397055).

The effect of Oenothera biennis (Evening primrose) oil on inflammatory diseases: a systematic review of clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Evening primrose oil (EPO), extracted from the seeds of Oenothera biennis, has gained attention for its therapeutic effects in various inflammatory conditions.

METHOD

We performed a systematic search in multiple databases and defined the inclusion criteria based on the following PICOs: P: Patients with a form of inflammatory condition, I: EPO, C: Placebo or other therapeutic interventions, O: changes in inflammatory markers or patients' symptoms; S: randomized controlled trials. The quality of the RCTs was evaluated using Cochrane's RoB tool.

RESULTS

Several conditions were investigated in the literature. In rheumatoid arthritis, mixed results were observed, with some studies reporting significant improvements in symptoms while others found no significant impact. EPO showed some results in diabetes mellitus, atopic eczema, menopausal hot flashes, and mastalgia. However, it did not demonstrate effectiveness in chronic hand dermatitis, tardive dyskinesia, psoriatic arthritis, cystic fibrosis, hepatitis B, premenstrual syndrome, contact lens-associated dry eyes, acne vulgaris, breast cyst, pre-eclampsia, psoriasis, or primary Sjogren's syndrome. Some results were reported from multiple sclerosis after EPO consumption. Studies in healthy volunteers indicated no significant effect of EPO on epidermal atrophy, nevertheless, positive effects on the skin regarding hydration and barrier function were achieved.

CONCLUSION

Some evidence regarding the potential benefits of EPO in inflammatory disorders were reported however caution is due to the limitations of the current survey. Overall, contemporary literature is highly heterogeneous and fails to provide strong recommendations regarding the efficacy of EPO on inflammatory disorders. Further high-quality studies are necessitated to draw more definite conclusions and establish O. biennis oil effectiveness as an assuring treatment option in alleviating inflammatory conditions.

Exploring the therapeutic potential of Prinsepia utilis Royle seed oil: A comprehensive study on chemical composition, physicochemical properties, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Prinsepiautilis (PU) Royle, native to the Himalayan region, is a deciduous thorny shrub with numerous traditional uses of its roots, leaves and seeds for treatment of conditions such as rheumatic pain, joint pain, arthritis, and inflammation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Keeping in mind the growing demand of products of natural origin as alternate medicine, the present study was undertaken to scientifically validate for the first time the traditional claims of healing pain and inflammation by evaluating the fatty oil isolated from the seeds using established in vitro and in vivo models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PU Seeds were Soxhlet extracted using n-hexane and fatty oil was isolated. Chemical composition of the oil was established with the aid of Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The oil was then subjected to in vitro anti-inflammatory activity by following the established protocols of trypsin inhibitory and bovine serum albumin denaturation assays. The acute toxicity of the oil was also studied using OECD guidelines 423. The anti-inflammatory property of the oil was further evaluated using carrageenan-induced and formalin-induced edema in the rat paw. Moreover, hot plate latency and tail immersion assay were employed to evaluate analgesic activity of the oil. To establish the quality of the oil, various physicochemical properties were also studied.

RESULTS

GC-FID and GC-MS analysis of the oil revealed the presence of linoleic acid (59.06 ± 0.00%), oleic acid (28.11 ± 0.01%), palmitic acid (9.51 ± 0.01%) and stearic acid (3.32 ± 0.01%). In vitro trypsin inhibitory and bovine serum albumin denaturation assay revealed dose-dependent notable activity of the oil with IC50 value of 63.57 μg/mL and 518.14 μg/mL, respectively. The physico-chemical characterization demonstrated that the oil possesses a low acidity and a high oxidative stability index. The oil was found to be non-toxic and displayed effective anti-inflammatory activities with significant inhibition till 4 h in carrageenan-induced and formalin-induced rat paw edema at maximum tested dose of 200 mg/kg b.w. The oil also exhibited significant results in hot plate latency and tail immersion assay with positive effects showing up to 4 h after dose administration.

CONCLUSION

These findings, besides supporting the traditional claims, suggest that P. utilis seed oil has potential therapeutic applications as a natural anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent. Further studies are warranted to explore its mechanisms of action and potential use in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries.

The Effects of Pomegranate Seed Oil on Mild Cognitive Impairment

Background

In recent years, there has been a growing interest, supported by many experimental and clinical studies, about the benefits of pomegranate in preventing various pathologic conditions, including brain neurodegeneration. The pomegranate seed oil (PSO) contains high levels of fatty acids that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Objective

Due to the lack of clinical trials, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of PSO on cognition of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods

Eighty people with the diagnosis of MCI were randomized forty to take 5 drops of PSO and follow the Mediterranean Diet (MeDi) and forty just followed MeDi. All were examined with an extensive neuropsychological assessment before and after one year of treatment.

Results

The results showed that the participants who took the PSO had statistically significantly better global cognition (p = 0.004), verbal episodic memory (p = 0.009), and processing and executive functions (p < 0.001) in contrast with the participants who did not take it.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the PSO can be beneficial for people with MCI as it is helpful for some important cognitive domains. As PSO is a natural product that does not burden the human body, it can be used by people with MCI and be a significant and promising part of holistic approaches for the prevention of dementia.

Intrapleural injection of brucea javanica oil emulsion provided a long-term benefits in patient with malignant pleural effusion from pleural mesothelioma: A case report

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a severe form of cancer that originates from mesothelium cells. Around 54-90% of mesotheliomas are associated with pleural effusions. Brucea Javanica Oil Emulsion (BJOE) is the processed oil derived from the seeds of Brucea javanica, which has shown potential as a treatment option for several types of cancer. Here, we present a case study of a MPM patient with malignant pleural effusion who received intrapleural injection of BJOE. The treatment resulted in the complete response of pleural effusion and chest tightness. While the precise mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of BJOE for pleural effusion are not yet fully understood, it has demonstrated a satisfactory clinical response without significant adverse effects.

The role of pomegranate seed oil on kidney and lung tissues in the treatment of sepsis: animal pre-clinical research

OBJECTIVES

Sepsis is a common disease with a high mortality. Decreasing the speed is possible with early and intensive therapy. However, most medicines have been tested, but none has proven effective. Therefore, the study aimed to discover the protective and therapeutic effects of pomegranate seed oil (PSO).

METHODS

The cecal ligation puncture (CLP) method was used to induce sepsis. The experimental procedure was started with the animals divided haphazardly into four groups: control (C), sepsis (CLP), CLP + low dose PSO (CLP + LD), and CLP + high dose PSO (CLP + HD). First, the cecum was filled with feces. The full cecum was tied under the ileocecal valve for ligation and punctured. At 1 hour after CLP, 0.32 mg/kg and 0.64 mg/kg of PSO were administered. 24 hours after, lung and kidney specimens were collected.

RESULTS

Neutrophil infiltration/aggregation and alveolar wall thickness decreased in lung with PSO groups compared with the CLP. The findings for overall lung injury were similar. In renal, all parameters were increased in the CLP compared with C, except for vascular vacuolization and hypertrophy. According to the CLP, all parameters were significantly lower in CLP + HD. Furthermore, glomerular vacuolization, degeneration, and necrosis of tubular cell, dilatation of bowman space, and tubular hyaline cylinders reduced CLP + LD versus CLP. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances decreased in lung, with the PSO groups. In addition, superoxide dismutase increased in PSO groups versus CLP.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that the high-dose PSO is especially effective in treating sepsis.

The effectiveness of organic vegetable oils with high biocompatibility in preventing epidural fibrosis: An experimental study

Background and purpose

Epidural fibrosis after all spinal surgeries is an important surgical issue. Various biological and non-biological materials have been tried to inhibit epidural fibrosis, which is deemed to be the most important cause of pain after spinal surgery. Olive oil, nigella sativa oil and soybean oil employed in oral nutrition in clinics involving liquid fatty acids, palmatic acid, linoleic acid, stearic acid and palmitoleic acid. The effectiveness of olive oil, nigella sativa oil and soybean oil on epidural fibrosis was researched on for the first time in laminectomy model.

.

Methods

Fifty adult male Wistar albino rats weighing between 300 and 400 grams were used in the research. A total of 5 groups were formed: sham (Group I) (n = 10), no application was created; Group II (n = 10) 1 cc saline; Group III (n = 10) 1 cc olive oil; Group IV (n = 10) 1 cc nigella sativa oil; Group V (n = 10); 1 cc soybean oil was applied topically to the epidural region after laminectomy. The total spine of the rats was dissected, histopathological and immuno­chemical measurements were conducted. Neuro-histopathological results were scored semi-quantitatively in terms of vascular modification, neuron degeneration, gliosis and bleeding criteria.

.

Results

The lowest level of fibrosis and connective tissue proliferation was observed in the group where nigella sativa oil was used after the operation, followed by the group treated with olive oil and lastly with the group given soybean oil.

.

Conclusion

Nigella sativa oil and olive oil are very efficient for lowering the degree of epidural fibrosis and adhesions following laminectomy and can be employed as a simple, inexpensive and highly biocompatible material in clinical practice.

.

Beneficial Effects of Plant Oils Supplementation on Multiple Sclerosis: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical and Experimental Studies

Multiple sclerosis disease (MS) is a 38.5 chronic neurological autoimmune disease that affects the nervous system, and its incidence is increasing globally. At present, there is no cure for this disease, and with its severity and disabling variety, it is important to search for possibilities that could help to slow its progression. It is recognized that the mechanisms of MS pathology, its development and degree of activity can be affected by dietary factors. In this review, the beneficial health effects of 10 plants oils-mainly seed oils, including pomegranate seed oil, sesame oil, acer truncatum bunge seed oil, hemp seeds oil, evening primrose seed oil, coconut oil, walnut oil, essential oil from Pterodon emarginatus seeds, flaxseed oil and olive oil-on MS are discussed. The literature data indicate that plant oils could be effective for the treatment of MS and its related symptoms primarily through reducing inflammation, promoting remyelination, immunomodulation and inhibiting oxidative stress. Plant oils may potentially reduce MS progression. Longitudinal research including a larger sample size with a longer duration is essential to confirm the findings from the selected plant oils. Moreover, new plant oils should be studied for their potential MS benefit.

Randomized Controlled Study in the Use of Aromatherapy for Pain Reduction and to Reduce Opioid Use in the Emergency Department

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of aromatherapy on emergency department patients' perception of pain and its ability to reduce the use of opioids in an emergency department.

METHODS

This randomized, controlled, single-blinded study was conducted in a suburban/rural freestanding emergency department with a therapeutic group, sham group, and control group.

RESULTS

A total of 230 patients, 171 females and 59 males, completed the study. Of those who received the therapeutic agent, an average reduction in pain of 1.04 points on the pain scale was reported, whereas the sham group averaged 0.38 and the control group 0.23. There was a statistically significant reduction of pain scores in the therapeutic group. A total of 13 received opioid pain medication during their visit. Of these, the therapeutic group averaged a total of 2.67 morphine milligram equivalents for their visit compared with 3.63 in the sham group and 4.36 in the control group; however, statistical significance was not achieved.

DISCUSSION

This study supported what other studies have found, indicating that aromatherapy is effective in reducing pain. A difference between the placebo effect and a true therapeutic effect was seen by using a control group apart from the sham and therapeutic groups. Despite the small effect size (0.3), implementation of aromatherapy into standard practice may be practical considering the anxiolytic effects that have been shown in other studies. Aromatherapy with essential oils should be considered as another tool to use in a multimodal approach in the treatment of pain in the emergency department setting.

Garden Cress Seed Oil Abrogates Testicular Oxidative Injury and NF-kB-Mediated Inflammation in Diabetic Mice

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder associated with various complications encompassing male reproductive dysfunction. The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of biologically active Lepidium sativum seed oil (LSO) against the testicular dysfunction associated with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. Male adults (n = 24) were divided into four groups: control, LSO-administered, diabetic (D), and LSO-treated diabetic (D+LSO) groups. LSO was extracted from L. sativum seeds, and its chemical composition was determined using GC-MS. Serum testosterone levels, testicular enzymatic antioxidants (catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)), an oxidative stress (OS) biomarker, malondialdehyde (MDA), pro-inflammatory markers (NF-kB, IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α), and the expression level of NF-kB were assessed. In addition, histopathological changes were evaluated in testicular tissues. The results obtained showed that the chemical composition of LSO indicated its enrichment mainly with γ-tocopherol (62.1%), followed by 2-methylhexacosane (8.12%), butylated hydroxytoluene (8.04%), 10-Methylnonadecane (4.81%), and δ-tocopherol (3.91%). Moreover, LSO administration in the D+LSO mice significantly increased testosterone levels and ameliorated the observed testicular oxidative damage, inflammatory response, and reduced NF-kB expression compared to the diabetic mice. Biochemical and molecular analyses confirmed the histological results. In conclusion, LSO may prevent the progression of diabetes-induced impairment in the testes through inhibition of the OS- and NF-kB-mediated inflammatory response.

Cucumis sativus (Cucurbitaceae) seed oil prevents benzo(a)pyrene-induced prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo

Despite enormous progress in modern medicine, prostate cancer (PCa) remains a major public health problem due to its high incidence and mortality. Although studies have shown in vitro antitumor effects of cucurbitacins from Cucumis sativus, the in vivo anticancer effect of the seed oil as a whole, has yet to be demonstrated. The present study evaluated the in vitro anticancer mechanisms of C. sativus (CS) seed oil and its possible chemopreventive potential on benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)-induced PCa in Wistar rat. In vitro cell growth, clone formation, cell death mechanism, cell adhesion and migration as well as expression of integrins β-1 and β-4 were assessed. In vivo PCa was induced in 56 male rats versus 8 normal control rats, randomized in normal (NOR) and negative (BaP) control groups which, received distilled water; the positive control group (Caso) was treated with casodex (13.5 mg/kg BW). One group received the total seed extract at the dose of 500 mg/kg BW; while the remaining three groups were treated with CS seed oil at 42.5, 85, and 170 mg/kg BW. The endpoints were: morphologically (prostate tumor weight and volume), biochemically (total protein, prostate specific antigen (PSA), oxidative stress markers such as MDA, GSH, catalase, and SOD) and histologically. As results, CS seed oil significantly and concentration-dependently reduced the DU145 prostate cancer cell growth and clone formation (optimum = 100 μg/mL). It slightly increased the number of apoptotic cells and inhibited the migration and invasion of DU145 cells, while it decreased their adhesion to immobilized collagen and fibrinogen. The expression of integrin β-1 and β-4 was increased in presence of 100 μg/mL CS oil. In vivo, the BaP significantly elevated the incidence of PC tumors (75%), the total protein and PSA levels, pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6) and MDA levels compared to NOR. CS seeds oil significantly counteracted the effect of BaP by decreasing significantly the PC incidence (12.5%), and increasing the level of antioxidant (SOD, GSH, and catalase) and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in serum. While in BaP group PCa adenocarninoma was the most representative neoplasm, rats treated with 85 and 170 mg/kg prevented it in the light of the casodex. It is conclude that CS may provide tumor suppressive effects in vitro and in vivo which makes it an interesting candidate to support the current treatment protocol.

Effectiveness of cold application and lavender oil on pain during drain removal: A randomized clinical trial

Background and Aim

Analgesics are frequently used to prevent acute pain while removing the drain. Additional non-pharmacological methods have come to the agenda as a result of the fact that the pain cannot be fully controlled, and the pharmacological treatment response is variable. Our research was intended to determine the effectiveness of lavender aromatherapy and cold application in controlling pain during drain removal procedure.

Materials and Methods

The sample of the prospective randomized controlled study consisted of 121 patients. Patient data were collected using the introductory information form and the numerical pain scale. Four groups of patients were formed (lavender oil, oxygen, cold application, control), respectively. In all groups, vital signs and pain levels were evaluated before the drain removal procedure, as soon as and 15 minutes after it was withdrawn.

Results

Within the limits of study, lavender aromatherapy and cold application to the drainage area were found to be effective in reducing pain during drainage. When the effect on vital signs was evaluated, it was found that the pre-procedure systolic blood pressure was higher in both the lavender group and the cold application group than the post-procedure systolic blood pressure, and the respiratory rate was higher in the control group during the procedure.

Conclusions

According to the study, it was found that applying lavender and cold application to the patients before the drainage procedure was effective in controlling pain.

The role of oxidative stress in chemotherapy-induced gonadotoxicity in a rat model, and the protective effects of Nigella Sativa oil on oxidative stress, the anti-Müllerian hormone level, and apoptosis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the role of oxidative stress (OS) in carboplatin-induced gonadotoxicity and whether Nigella Sativa oil (NSO), an herbal antioxidant, has a protective effect on ovarian apoptosis, OS, and the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level in a rat model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 24 adult female rats that were divided into 4 treatment groups. Group A saline + saline (sham group); group B: NSO + saline; group C: saline + carboplatin; group D: NSO + carboplatin. Saline, NSO, and carboplatin were administered intraperitoneally 24 and/or 48 h before sacrification as 4 mL/kg, 4 mL/kg, and 80 mg/kg, respectively. Apoptosis, OS parameters, and AMH were measured.

RESULTS

Oxidant levels and apoptosis were higher, whereas AMH and the antioxidants were lower in group C than in group A. Apoptosis, OS parameters, and AMH levels were negatively affected by chemotherapy (CTx) in group C whilst improvement in those parameters was observed in group D following NSO pretreatment. The levels of apoptosis and malondialdehyde (MDA), an OS parameter, in group D were lower than in group C as they declined from 34.3% to 8.65% (p = 0.002) and from 199.4 nmol/g tissue to 136.4 nmol/g tissue (p = 0.002), respectively. However, the slight increase in AMH level from 2.7 ng/mL to 3.5 ng/mL due to the NSO effect was not significant between groups C and D.

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings show that carboplatin has adverse effects on AMH, ovarian tissue apoptosis, and OS parameters. NSO pretreatment might protect ovarian tissue and decrease CTx-induced ovarian injury by decreasing OS and apoptosis, but the protective effect of NSO on AMH is limited.

Coconut oil: an overview of cardiometabolic effects and the public health burden of misinformation

Recent data from meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) suggest that dietary intake of coconut oil, rich in saturated fatty acids, does not result in cardiometabolic benefits, nor in improvements in anthropometric, lipid, glycemic, and subclinical inflammation parameters. Nevertheless, its consumption has surged in recent years all over the world, a phenomenon which can possibly be explained by an increasing belief among health professionals that this oil is as healthy as, or perhaps even healthier than, other oils, in addition to social network misinformation spread. The objective of this review is to present nutritional and epidemiological aspects related to coconut oil, its relationship with metabolic and cardiovascular health, as well as possible hypotheses to explain its high rate of consumption, in spite of the most recent data regarding its actual effects.

Lavender essential oil fractions alleviate sleep disorders induced by the combination of anxiety and caffeine in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) essential oil is renowned for its use in the treatment of insomnia and mental disorder diseases in folk medicine. Previous pharmacological studies have also shown that lavender essential oil displays sedative and hypnotic activities. However, the active ingredients and mechanism of lavender essential oil for sleep-improving effect remain unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study investigates whether inhalation of different fractions of lavender essential oil can attenuate the sleep disturbances induced by combined anxiety and caffeine and explores the underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Molecular distillation was applied to separate lavender essential oil into fractions containing different chemical components, and GC-MS was used to analyze the volatile compounds of lavender essential oil and its fractions. The elevated plus maze test, pentobarbital-induced sleep test, and neurotransmitters enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were conducted to evaluate the anxiolytic and hypnotic effects of lavender essential oil and its fractions on mice suffering from sleep disorders.

RESULTS

The results of behavioral tests indicated that lavender essential oil and its fractions (3%, v/v) exerted an ameliorating effect on sleep disturbances induced by anxiety and caffeine. The light fraction and heavy fractions exhibited complementary chemical composition, with the former enriched in linalool and trans-β-ocimene and the latter in linalyl acetate, lavandulyl acetate, trans-caryophyllene, etc. The light fraction contributed more to sleep maintenance, and the heavy fraction performed better at sleep initiation. The neurobiological parameters elucidated that the mechanism of lavender essential oil for sleep-improving was multifaceted, related to the GABAergic system, cholinergic system, histaminergic system, and monoamines in the limbic system. The heavy fraction shared a similar mechanism with the lavender essential oil, while the light fraction did not actively participate in the cholinergic system, histaminergic system, and dopaminergic system.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, our results demonstrated that different fractions of lavender essential oil played different roles in ameliorating sleep disorders, and this may be credited to their compositional differences and the complicated interactions with the central nervous system. The results are informative for future investigations on the molecular level mechanisms and provide guidance for appropriate applications of lavender essential oil.

Hypericum perforatum L. extract exerts insulinotropic effects and inhibits gluconeogenesis in diabetic rats by regulating AMPK expression and PKCε concentration

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hypericum perforatum L., commonly known as St. John's Wort (SJW), represents one of the best-known and most thoroughly researched medicinal plant species. The ethnobotanical usage and bioactivities related to H. perforatum include treatment of skin diseases, wounds and burns, gastrointestinal problems, urogenital diseases and psychiatric disorders, particularly depression. In the last decade, many studies focused on the bioactive constituents responsible for the antihyperglycemic and antidiabetic activity of SJW extracts. However, the mechanism by which H. perforatum extract exhibits these properties is still unclear. Hence, the current study was designed to gain insight into the underlying biochemical and molecular mechanisms by which wildly growing H. perforatum exerts its antihyperglycemic and antidiabetic activities.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Plant material of H. perforatum was harvested from a natural population in the Republic of North Macedonia during full flowering season. Methanol (80% v/v) was used to extract bioactive components from HH powder. The dissolved HH dry extract (in 0.3% CMC) was given daily as a single treatment (200 mg/kg bw) during 14 days both in healthy and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. As a positive control, we applied glibenclamide. The activity of key enzymes involved in carbohydrate methabolisam in the liver were assessed, along with substrate concentration, as well as AMPK mRNA levels, PKCε concentration, plasma insulin level and pancreatic PARP activity.

RESULTS

Compared to diabetic rats, treatment of diabetic rats with HH extract resulted with decreased activity of hepatic enzymes glucose-6-phospatase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, increased liver glycogen and glucose-6-phosphate content, which resulted with reduced blood glucose concentration up to normoglycaemia. Non-significant changes were observed in the activity of hexokinase, glycogen phosphorylase and glucose-6-phospahte dehydrogenase. HH-treatment also caused an increase in plasma insulin concentration and increase in pancreatic PARP activity. Finally, HH treatment of diabetic rats showed significant increase in AMPK expression and decrease of PKCε concentration.

CONCLUSION

We present in vivo evidence that HH- extract exert insulinotropic effects and regulate endogenous glucose production mostly by suppressing liver gluconeogenesis. The HH-treatment did not effected glycogenolysys and glycolysis. Finally, we confirm the antihyperglycemic and antidiabetic effect of HH-extract and the mechanism of this effect involves amelioration of AMPK and PKCε changes in the liver.

Molecular mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effects of plant essential oils: A systematic review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Plant essential oils (PEOs) extracted from aromatic compounds of the plant contain complex mixtures of volatile and lipophilic bioactive compounds. In ancient Egypt, Arabia, Greece, and China, PEOs were traditional used in aromatherapy for various health disorders, including pain and inflammation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this review, we provide an overview of the anti-inflammatory effects of PEOs and the underlying mechanisms associated with anti-inflammatory effects using in vitro and in vivo models. Further, clinical trials associated with PEOs were explored.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The literature search was performed using various web-based tools and databases like Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, CNKI and SCOPUS. The keywords used for conducting the literature review were general terms like "essential oils" followed by (AND) the subject of interest like "in vitro and/or in vivo anti-inflammatory models," "inflammatory response," "inflammatory indicators," "pro-inflammatory cytokines," "signaling pathway," "anti-inflammatory mechanism," "toxicology and side effects" and "clinical trials." The articles selected were published between 2017 and 2022. The articles prior to 2017 were only considered if they were associated with molecular mechanisms or signaling pathways involved in the inflammatory responses.

RESULTS

In vitro and in vivo inflammation models have been used to study the anti-inflammatory effects of 48 PEOs. Studies have reported that PEOs targets and inhibit multiple dysregulated signaling pathways associated with inflammation, including Toll-like receptors, nuclear transcription factor-κ B, mitogen-activated protein kinases, Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3, and auxiliary pathways like the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/antioxidant response element and Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription) signaling pathways.

CONCLUSION

PEOs extracted from different plant materials had varied qualitative and quantitative compositions of biologically active compounds. Different anti-inflammatory potentials and different molecular signal transduction have been attributed to PEOs-derived bioactive compounds with different chemical structures. The data on therapeutic efficacy and the long-term side effects of PEOs as an anti-inflammatory drug are still unknown due to the lack of clinical trials on PEOs. There is still insufficient evidence to draw conclusions on anti-inflammatory properties of PEOs without promising outcomes from clinical trials.

Punica granatum seed oil detracts peritoneal adhesion: Perusing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and antiangiogenic impacts

Peritoneal adhesion is a significant problem following gastrointestinal surgeries, accompanied by a significant economic burden and morbidity for patients. Punica granatum seed oil (PSO) possesses antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the antiperitoneal adhesive properties of PSO in rats. Forty-eight Wistar rats (200-250 g) were randomly and equally divided into six groups: sham group, control group; peritoneal adhesion without any treatment, vehicle group; peritoneal adhesion with saline + Tween-80.5% treatment, and experimental groups; peritoneal adhesion with 0.5%, 1.5%, and 4.5% v/v PSO treatment. In addition, peritoneal adhesion was examined macroscopically along with evaluating the oxidative stress (malondialdehyde [MDA], nitric oxide [NO], and glutathione [GSH]) inflammatory (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]), fibrotic (transforming growth factor-β [TGF-β]), and angiogenic (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]) factors. Our results revealed that the levels of adhesion scores, MDA, NO, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, TGF-β, and VEGF, were propagated in the vehicle group while the GSH level was alleviated (p < 0.001). In contrast, premedication with PSO, especially at the lowest concentration, notably lessened the levels of adhesion scores, MDA, NO, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, TGF-β, and VEGF as well as GSH in comparison to the vehicle group following the peritoneal adhesion induction (p < 0.001-0.05). As a result, PSO may prevent peritoneal adhesion through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and antiangiogenic properties. Therefore, PSO could be considered a beneficial candidate for the treatment of postoperative peritoneal adhesion.

Efficacy and safety of oral Nigella sativa oil for symptomatic treatment of knee osteoarthritis: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The oil of Nigella sativa (NS) seeds has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, the efficacy and safety of NS oil in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis were evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and sixteen patients aged 50-70 years were randomly assigned to take 2.5 mL NS oil (N = 58) or placebo (N = 58) orally every 8 h for 1 month. WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) was the primary outcome measure and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, number of 500 mg acetaminophen tablets taken per day during the trial, patients' satisfaction with the interventions, complete blood count and the blood levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were the secondary outcome measures.

RESULTS

Fifty two and 54 patients respectively in the NS oil and placebo groups completed the study. The VAS scores were decreased by 33.96 ± 17.04% (NS oil group) and 9.21 ± 0.32% (placebo group) (p < 0.001), and WOMAC total scores were decreased by 27.72 ± 18.61% (NS oil group) and 1.34 ± 2.31% (placebo group) (p < 0.001) compared to baseline. The NS oil reduced the dose of acetaminophen significantly compared with the placebo (p = 0.001). The patients were significantly more satisfied with the NS oil than the placebo (p < 0.001). The NS oil had no significant effect on the other variables. There was no side effect.

CONCLUSION

Oral NS oil safely reduces the osteoarthritis symptoms and analgesic dose in the knee osteoarthritis patients.

Complementary and alternative medicine for functional dyspepsia: An Asian perspective

A considerable number of Asian patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) are searching for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) because they are unsatisfied with conventional medical treatment. However, no article has focused on CAM for FD from Asian perspective. In Asian countries, many traditional herbal formulas, including Banha-sasim-tang, Soyo-san, Sihosogan-san, Yukgunja-tang, and Pyeongwi-san, are used in patients with FD. In the few blinded and placebo-controlled studies conducted, the weak evidence regarding the effectiveness of herbal prescriptions in patients with FD did not allow any conclusions to be made. The clinical efficacy and safety of STW-5 were proven in several prospective randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews. Hence, it was recently approved as a therapeutic option for the treatment of FD. Peppermint and caraway, FDgard, black seed oil, and Jollab have been used in patients with FD, but there is limited evidence supporting their use. Reviews of acupuncture in patients with FD showed inconsistent results: a Cochrane review reported a negative result, while other meta-analyses reported positive results. Psychotherapy, including hypnotherapy, psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy, may be used in patients with FD, although it is only supported by weak evidence. Therefore, well-planned, large-scale studies are necessary to evaluate the efficacy of CAM in treating FD, especially in Asian countries.

The Treatment Efficiency and Microbiota Analysis of Sapindus mukorossi Seed Oil on the Ligature-Induced Periodontitis Rat Model

Periodontitis is a common oral disease mainly caused by bacterial infection and inflammation of the gingiva. In the prevention or treatment of periodontitis, anti-bacterial agents are used to inhibit pathogen growth, despite increasing levels of bacterial resistance. Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn (SM) seed oil has proven anti-bacterial and anti-inflammation properties. However, the possibility of using this plant to prevent or treat periodontitis has not been reported previously. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of SM oil on experimental periodontitis in rats by using micro-CT and microbiota analysis. The distance between cementoenamel junction (CEJ) and alveolar bone crest (ABC) on the sagittal micro-CT slide showed that total bone loss (TBL) was significantly lower in CEJ-ABC distances between SM oil and SM oil-free groups on Day 14. Histology data also showed less alveolar bone resorption, a result consistent result with micro-CT imaging. The microbiota analyzed at phylum and class levels were compared between the SM oil and SM oil-free groups on Day 7 and Day 14. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria were the dominant bacterium. Firmicutes in box plot analysis was significantly less in the SM oil group than in the SM oil-free group on Day 7. At the class level, Bacteroidia, Gammaproteobacteria, Bacilli, Clostridia, and Erysipelotrichia were the dominant bacteria. The bacteria composition proportion of Bacilli, Clostridiay, and Erysipelotrichia could be seen in the SM oil group significantly less than in t SM oil-free group on Day 7. Overall, the present results show that topical application of SM oil can reduce bone resorption and change bacteria composition in the ligature-induced periodontitis model. According to these results, it is reasonable to suggest SM oil as a potential material for preventing oral disease.

The Effect of Aromatherapy on Blood Pressure and Stress Responses by Inhalation and Foot Massage in Patients With Essential Hypertension: Randomized Clinical Trial

A 3-arm, parallel group, randomized clinical trial examines the effect of aromatherapy through inhalation and foot massage on blood pressure and stress response in patients with essential hypertension. Lavender oil reduced blood pressure, heart rate, serum cortisol, and subjective anxiety in hypertensive patients.

The GABAergic System and Endocannabinoids in Epilepsy and Seizures: What Can We Expect from Plant Oils?

Seizures and epilepsy are some of the most common serious neurological disorders, with approximately 80% of patients living in developing/underdeveloped countries. However, about one in three patients do not respond to currently available pharmacological treatments, indicating the need for research into new anticonvulsant drugs (ACDs). The GABAergic system is the main inhibitory system of the brain and has a central role in seizures and the screening of new ACD candidates. It has been demonstrated that the action of agents on endocannabinoid receptors modulates the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters; however, studies on the anticonvulsant properties of endocannabinoids from plant oils are relatively scarce. The Amazon region is an important source of plant oils that can be used for the synthesis of new fatty acid amides, which are compounds analogous to endocannabinoids. The synthesis of such compounds represents an important approach for the development of new anticonvulsant therapies.

A Pilot Randomized Control Trial to Assess the Impact of Lavender on Anxiety and Comfort After Cesarean Birth and the Barriers Encountered

PURPOSE

This study aimed to assess the effect of lavender aromatherapy on anxiety and comfort after cesarean birth.

STUDY DESIGN

Randomized control trial.

METHODS

Forty-eight patients who had a cesarean birth were asked to complete the six-item State and Trait Anxiety (STAI-6) score to assess their level of anxiety pre- and postapplication of either lavender aromatherapy or placebo during their inpatient postpartum stay. Their comfort and pain levels pre- and postadministration were assessed, and differences between groups were analyzed. Results: There was no difference in postintervention STAI-6 scores between the aromatherapy and placebo groups (p = .56). Women who received the lavender aromatab® had significantly (p = .037) higher self-reported levels of comfort (M 2.6 SD .82) when compared with those who received placebo (M 2.0 SD 1.0).

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Many women use aromatherapy at home to promote comfort and relaxation. Women feel lavender aromatherapy improves their comfort in the hospital setting after cesarean birth. Clinicians should consider ways to safely use aromatherapy as one option to promote postoperative cesarean birth care.

Anticancer activity of Zingiber ottensii essential oil and its nanoformulations

Zingiber ottensii, is widely used in Asian traditional remedies for the treatment of many diseases. The present study explores anticancer activity of Z. ottensii essential oil (ZOEO) and its nanoformulations. ZOEO obtained from hydrodistillation of Z. ottensii fresh rhizomes was analysis using gas chromatography mass spectroscopy. Zerumbone (25.21%) was the major compound of ZOEO followed by sabinene (23.35%) and terpene-4-ol (15.97%). Four types of ZOEO loaded nanoformulations; nanoemulsion, microemulsion, nanoemulgels, and microemulgel, were developed. The average droplet size of the nanoemulsion and microemulsion was significantly smaller than that of the nanoemulgel and microemulgel. Comparison with other essential oils of plants of the same family on anticancer activity against A549, MCF-7, HeLa, and K562, ZOEO showed the highest cytotoxicity with IC50 of 43.37±6.69, 9.77±1.61, 23.25±7.73, and 60.49±9.41 μg/mL, respectively. Investigation using flow cytometry showed that ZOEO significantly increased the sub-G1 populations (cell death) in cell cycle analysis and induced cell apoptosis by apoptotic analysis. The developed nanoformulations significantly enhanced cytotoxicity of ZOEO, particularly against MCF-7 with the IC50 of 3.08±2.58, 0.74±0.45, 2.31±0.91, and 6.45±5.84 μg/mL, respectively. Among the four nanoformulations developed in the present study, nanoemulsion and microemulsion were superior to nanoemulgel and microemulgel in delivering ZOEO into cancer cells.

Enhanced antinociceptive activity of Nigella sativa oil after its combined treatment with honey in rats

Antinociceptive activity of honey and Nigella sativa (N. sativa) oil are well known. Therefore, aim of this study was to investigate the antinociceptive effect of N. sativa oil and its concurrent administration with honey in rats. The tested animals were randomized into 5 groups: Group (1) Normal saline (0.2ml, p.o.); Group (2) N. sativa oil (1gm/kg, p.o.); Group (3) honey (1gm/kg, p.o.); Group (4) N. sativa oil (1gm/kg, p.o.) + honey (1gm/kg, p.o.): Group (5) pethidine (20mg/kg, S.C.) as positive standard. The antinociceptive activity was tested using radiant heat and tail immersion tests. Antioxidant potential was determined by using in-vitro antioxidant assays. Our findings showed that N. sativa oil and honey have antinociceptive effect, the antinociceptive effect appeared after 30 and 60min of administration and declined after 120 and 180 min. Combined administration of N. sativa oil with Honey increased the antinociceptive effect by 20 to 30% in all models. In addition, the antinociceptive effect of the combination reduced the time for onset of action as well as prolonged its duration of action. In conclusion, combined treatment of N. sativa oil with honey increased its antinociceptive activity, showed faster onset of action and prolonged its duration, the fact that can be utilized in the management of painful conditions in humans.

A Comparative Study on Alvogyl and a Mixture of Black Seed Oil and Powder for Alveolar Osteitis: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Clinical Trial

INTRODUCTION

Alveolar osteitis (AO) is the most common complication faced by exodontia patients and is usually seen 24-74 hours after tooth extraction, heralded by severe throbbing pain. Nigella sativa is commonly known as black seed known to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties along with other reparative properties that enhance bone formation. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of Alvogyl and a mixture of Nigella sativa powder and oil in the treatment of dry sockets.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty patients above the age of 18 and below 70 years, from both genders, who underwent extraction of teeth and were clinically diagnosed with a dry socket at the clinic of the College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Saudi Arabia, were included in this study. Pain scores were assessed after placement of the dressing at the following intervals: 5 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 2^nd day, 4^th day, and 7^th day. Patients were randomly allocated to three groups, namely, Group 1 (Alvogyl), Group 2 (mixture of Nigella sativa's powder and oil), and Group 3 (control). Pain relief and healing of the socket were compared between the three groups. The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis through Spearman's correlation test, independent t-test, ANOVA, and post hoc test.

RESULTS

A mixture of Nigella sativa powder and oil showed a statistically significant difference in relieving pain compared to the Alvogyl group. A mixture of Nigella sativa's powder and oil required fewer dressings when compared to the Alvogyl group.

CONCLUSION

A mixture of Nigella sativa powder and oil is the more efficacious dressing material for the management of dry sockets compared to Alvogyl. It provides immediate and complete pain relief and fewer numbers of repeated visits.

Confocal Raman Spectroscopic Imaging for Evaluation of Distribution of Nano-Formulated Hydrophobic Active Cosmetic Ingredients in Hydrophilic Films

Film-forming systems are highly relevant to the topical administration of active ingredients (AI) to the body. Enhanced contact with the skin can increase the efficacy of delivery and penetration during prolonged exposure. However, after the evaporation of volatile solvents to form a thin film, the distribution of the ingredient should remain homogenous in order to ensure the effectiveness of the formula. This is especially critical for the use of hydrophobic molecules that have poor solubility in hydrophilic films. In order to address this concern, hydroxyphenethyl esters (PHE) of Punica granatum seed oil were prepared as a nanosuspension stabilised by poloxamers (NanoPHE). NanoPHE was then added to a formulation containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a film forming agent, Glycerol as a plasticiser and an antimicrobial agent, SepicideTM HB. Despite their reliability, reference methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography are increasingly challenged due to the need for consumables and solvents, which is contrary to current concerns about green industry in the cosmetics field. Moreover, such methods fail to provide spatially resolved chemical information. In order to investigate the distribution of ingredients in the dried film, Confocal Raman imaging (CRI) coupled to Non-negatively Constrained Least Squares (NCLS) analysis was used. The reconstructed heat maps from a range of films containing systematically varying PHE concentrations highlighted the changes in spectral contribution from each of the ingredients. First, using NCLS scores it was demonstrated that the distributions of PVA, Glycerol, SepicideTM HB and PHE were homogenous, with respective relative standard deviations (RSD) of 3.33%, 2.48%, 2.72% and 6.27%. Second, the respective relationships between ingredient concentrations in the films and their Raman responses, and the spectral abundance were established. Finally, a model for absolute quantification for PHE was be constructed using the percentage of spectral abundance. The prepared %w/w concentrations regressed against predicted %w/w concentrations, displaying high correlation (R2 = 0.995), while the Root Mean Squared Error (0.0869% w/w PHE) confirmed the precision of the analysis. The mean percent relative error of 3.75% indicates the accuracy to which the concentration in dried films could be determined, further supporting the suitability of CRI for analysis of composite solid film matrix. Ultimately, it was demonstrated that nanoformulation of hydrophobic PHE provides homogenous distribution in PVA based film-forming systems independent of the concentration of NanoPHE used in the formula.

Comparing anti-aging hallmark activities of Metformin and Nano-PSO in a mouse model of genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Advanced age is the main risk factor for the manifestation of late onset neurodegenerative diseases. Metformin, an anti-diabetic drug, was shown to extend longevity, and to ameliorate the activity of recognized aging hallmarks. Here, we compared the clinical, pathologic and biochemical effects of Metformin to those of Nano-PSO (Granagard), a brain targeted anti-oxidant shown by us to delay disease advance in transgenic mice mimicking for genetic Creutzfeldt Jacob disease (CJD) linked to the E200KPrP mutation. We demonstrate that both Metformin and Nano-PSO reduced aging hallmarks activities such as activated AMPK, the main energy sensor of cells as well as Nrf2 and COX IV1, regulators of oxidation, and mitochondrial activity. Both compounds reduced inflammation and increased stem cells production, however did not decrease PrP accumulation. As opposed to Nano-PSO, Metformin neither delayed clinical disease advance in these mice nor reduced the accumulation of sulfated glycosaminoglycans, a pathologic feature of prion disease. We conclude that elevation of anti-aging markers may not be sufficient to delay the fatal advance of genetic CJD.

Beneficial effects of a plant-fish oil, slow carbohydrate diet on cardio-metabolic health exceed the correcting effects of metformin-pioglitazone in diabetic pigs fed a fast-food diet

Background

Lifestyle influences endocrine, metabolic and cardiovascular homeostasis. This study investigated the impact of diet and oral anti-diabetic medication on cardio-metabolic health in human-sized diabetic pigs.

Methods

After a growing pre-phase from ~30 to ~69 kg during which domestic pigs were fed either a low fat, low sucrose diet (group A) or a fast food-type diet elevated in lard (15%) and sucrose (40%) (group B), the pigs were subdivided in 5 groups (n = 7–8 pigs per group). Group 1, normal pigs from group A on a low fat, low sugar (L) pig diet and group 2, normal pigs from group B on a high lard (25%), sucrose-fructose (40%), cholesterol (1%) fast food-type (F) diet. Diabetes (D) was induced in group B pigs by streptozotocin and group 3 received the F diet (DF), group 4 received the F diet with Anti-diabetic medication metformin (2 g.day^-1)-pioglitazone (40 mg.day^-1) (DFA) and group 5 switched to a Plant-Fish oil (25%), Slowly digestible starch (40%) diet (DPFS). The F and PFS diets were identical for fat, carbohydrate and protein content but only differed in fat and carbohydrate composition. The 5 pig groups were followed up for 7 weeks until reaching ~120 kg.

Results

In normal pigs, the F diet predisposed to several abnormalities related to metabolic syndrome. Diabetes amplified the inflammatory and cardiometabolic abnormalities of the F diet, but both oral FA medication and the PFS diet partially corrected these abnormalities (mean±SEM) as follows: Fasting plasma TNF-ɑ (pg.ml^-1) and NEFA (mmol.l^-1) concentrations were high (p<0.02) in DF (193±55 and 0.79±0.16), intermediate in DFA (136±40 and 0.57±012) and low in DPFS pigs (107±31 and 0.48±0.19). Meal intolerance (response over fasting) for glucose and triglycerides (area under the curve, mmol.h^-1) and for lactate (3-h postprandial, mmol.l^-1) was high (p<0.03) in DF (489±131, 8.6±4.8 and 2.2±0.6), intermediate in DFA (276±145, 1.4±1.1 and 1.6±0.4) and low in DPFS (184±62, 0.7±1.8 and 0.1±0.1). Insulin-mediated glucose disposal (mg.kg^-1.min^-1) showed a numerical trend (p = NS): low in DF (6.9±2.2), intermediate in DFA (8.2±1.3) and high in DPFS pigs (10.4±2.7). Liver weight (g.kg^-1 body weight) and liver triglyceride concentration (g.kg^-1 liver) were high (p<0.001) in DF (23.8±2.0 and 69±14), intermediate in DFA (21.1±2.0 and 49±15) and low in DPFS pigs (16.4±0.7 and 13±2.0). Aorta fatty streaks were high (p<0.01) in DF (16.4±5.7%), intermediate in DFA (7.4±4.5%) and low in DPFS pigs (0.05±0.02%).

Conclusion

This translational study using pigs with induced type 2 diabetes provides evidence that a change in nutritional life style from fast food to a plant-fish oil, slowly digestible starch diet can be more effective than sole anti-diabetic medication.

Effect of sunflower seed oil emollient therapy on newborn infant survival in Uttar Pradesh, India: A community-based, cluster randomized, open-label controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Hospitalized preterm infants with compromised skin barrier function treated topically with sunflower seed oil (SSO) have shown reductions in sepsis and neonatal mortality rate (NMR). Mustard oil and products commonly used in high-mortality settings may possibly harm skin barrier integrity and enhance risk of infection and mortality in newborn infants. We hypothesized that SSO therapy may reduce NMR in such settings.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

This was a population-based, cluster randomized, controlled trial in 276 clusters in rural Uttar Pradesh, India. All newborn infants identified through population-based surveillance in the study clusters within 7 days of delivery were enrolled from November 2014 to October 2016. Exclusive, 3 times daily, gentle applications of 10 ml of SSO to newborn infants by families throughout the neonatal period were recommended in intervention clusters (n = 138 clusters); infants in comparison clusters (n = 138 clusters) received usual care, such as massage practice typically with mustard oil. Primary analysis was by intention-to-treat with NMR and post-24-hour NMR as the primary outcomes. Secondary analysis included per-protocol analysis and subgroup analyses for NMR. Regression analysis was adjusted for caste, first-visit weight, delivery attendant, gravidity, maternal age, maternal education, sex of the infant, and multiple births. We enrolled 13,478 (52.2% male, mean weight: 2,575.0 grams ± standard deviation [SD] 521.0) and 13,109 (52.0% male, mean weight: 2,607.0 grams ± SD 509.0) newborn infants in the intervention and comparison clusters, respectively. We found no overall difference in NMR in the intervention versus the comparison clusters [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84 to 1.11, p = 0.61]. Acceptance of SSO in the intervention arm was high at 89.3%, but adherence to exclusive applications of SSO was 30.4%. Per-protocol analysis showed a significant 58% (95% CI 42% to 69%, p < 0.01) reduction in mortality among infants in the intervention group who were treated exclusively with SSO as intended versus infants in the comparison group who received exclusive applications of mustard oil. A significant 52% (95% CI 12% to 74%, p = 0.02) reduction in NMR was observed in the subgroup of infants weighing ≤1,500 g (n = 589); there were no statistically significant differences in other prespecified subgroup comparisons by low birth weight (LBW), birthplace, and wealth. No severe adverse events (SAEs) were attributable to the intervention. The study was limited by inability to mask allocation to study workers or participants and by measurement of emollient use based on caregiver responses and not actual observation.

CONCLUSIONS

In this trial, we observed that promotion of SSO therapy universally for all newborn infants was not effective in reducing NMR. However, this result may not necessarily establish equivalence between SSO and mustard oil massage in light of our secondary findings. Mortality reduction in the subgroup of infants ≤1,500 g was consistent with previous hospital-based efficacy studies, potentially extending the applicability of emollient therapy in very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants along the facility-community continuum. Further research is recommended to develop and evaluate therapeutic regimens and continuum of care delivery strategies for emollient therapy for newborn infants at highest risk of compromised skin barrier function.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN38965585 and Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI/2014/12/005282) with WHO UTN # U1111-1158-4665.

Prophylactic and curative potential of peppermint oil against calcium oxalate kidney stones

Mentha piperita L., a well-known traditional herb, constitutes essential oil as one of its important constituent, used for its flavor, aroma and therapeutic applications. Based on the antioxidant, antispasmodic and nephroprotective potential, the essential oil of Mentha piperita was evaluated for its preventive and curative effects against ethylene glycol induced urolithiasis. Peppermint oil (Mp.Eo) was evaluated for its antioxidant potential by DPPH method. Urolithiasis was developed in male rats by the administration of ammonium chloride and ethylene glycol in drinking water. Different doses of Mp.Eo (10, 30 and 50 mg/kg) and cystone, the standard antiurolithic drug (500 mg/kg), were given along with stone-inducing regimen in prophylactic model and after intoxication for the next fourteen days in curative model. Urine and serum were analyzed for various biochemical parameters. One representative kidney from each group was studied for changes in histological parameters. Mp.Eo was found to be effective against urolithiasis-associated changes including crystalluria, polyuria and acidic urine. Mp.Eo also neutralized the altered levels of urinary uric acid, magnesium, total protein, serum creatinine and serum BUN. The data obtained from the present study demonstrated the therapeutic importance of peppermint oil against urolithiasis.

The Role of Allium subhirsutum L. in the Attenuation of Dermal Wounds by Modulating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Wistar Albino Rats

In our study, Allium subhirsutum L. (AS) was investigated to assess its phenolic profile and bioactive molecules including flavonoids and organosulfur compounds. The antioxidant potential of AS and wound healing activity were addressed using skin wound healing and oxidative stress and inflammation marker estimation in rat models. Phytochemical and antiradical activities of AS extract (ASE) and oil (ASO) were studied. The rats were randomly assigned to four groups: group I served as a control and was treated with simple ointment base, group II was treated with ASE ointment, group III was treated with ASO ointment and group IV (reference group; Ref) was treated with a reference drug "Cytolcentella® cream". Phytochemical screening showed that total phenols (215 ± 3.5 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (172.4 ± 3.1 mg QE/g) were higher in the ASO than the ASE group. The results of the antioxidant properties showed that ASO exhibited the highest DPPH free radical scavenging potential (IC50 = 0.136 ± 0.07 mg/mL), FRAP test (IC50 = 0.013 ± 0.006 mg/mL), ABTS test (IC50 = 0.52 ± 0.03 mg/mL) and total antioxidant capacity (IC50 = 0.34 ± 0.06 mg/mL). In the wound healing study, topical application of ASO performed the fastest wound-repairing process estimated by a chromatic study, percentage wound closure, fibrinogen level and oxidative damage status, as compared to ASE, the Cytolcentella reference drug and the untreated rats. The use of AS extract and oil were also associated with the attenuation of oxidative stress damage in the wound-healing treated rats. Overall, the results provided that AS, particularly ASO, has a potential medicinal value to act as effective skin wound healing agent.

Effect of Massage With Lavender Oil on Postoperative Pain Level of Patients Who Underwent Gynecologic Surgery: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

This was a randomized, placebo-controlled study. The sample consisted of 3 groups of patients: an experimental group, massage application with lavender oil (n = 15); a placebo group, massage application with ultrasound gel (n = 15); and a control group (n = 15). Massage application was performed 3 hours after analgesic application. Pain levels of the patients in the experiment and placebo groups were evaluated with a Verbal Rating Scale (VRS) at the 30th minute and the 3rd hour after the application. Similarly, the pain level of patients in the control group was also evaluated with the VRS at 3 hours after the initial analgesic administration and following the 30th minute and the 3rd hour. Generally, the VRS scores of the 3 groups did not show a significant difference in terms of group and time interaction (P = .221). However, there was a significant difference in VRS scores between the experimental and control groups at the 30th minute after the massage (P = .036). This difference was caused by the lower pain level of the group, which had massage with lavender (2.66 ± .89) compared with the control group (3.80 ± 1.01). According to the study results, while only hand massage application after gynecologic surgery was effective for a short period in decreasing postoperative pain, it was determined that massage application with lavender had a longer effect in decreasing postoperative pain. The results of this study showed that this inexpensive and easy-to-apply method can be safely performed by nurses on postoperative patients and can support pain management of patients in the first hours after gynecologic surgery.

Allium hooshidaryae (Alliaceae); Chemical compositions, biological and ethnomedicine uses

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Allium hooshidaryae (sect. Pseudoprason) is a wild plant in northwestern Iran. The plant is traditionally used, besides as spice, also for its medicinal properties.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Due to the shortcoming evidence in scientific research and the importance of this plant in folk medicine, this study aims to assess the chemical compositions and biological activities, which have no longer reported to date.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The bulbs of A. hooshidaryae were collected from West Azerbaijan, Iran. The plant essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation using Clevenger-type apparatus according to the European pharmacopeia. The plant hydromethanolic extract was obtained using maceration method. The volatile oil compositions of A. hooshidaryae bulbs were evaluated by use of combined gas chromatography/flame ionization detector (GC/FID) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) techniques. Furthermore, different biological activities of the yielded essential oil and hydromethanolic extract were in vitro evaluated. The antibacterial and antifungal activities were assessed using disc diffusion assay, tube dilution assay, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC), and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC). The cytotoxic activities were assayed by reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) toward two human cancerous cell lines (MOLT-4 and MCF-7). Antioxidant activity was investigated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^•) radical scavenging assay.

RESULTS

GC/FID and GC/MS analyses allowed detecting 62 components in the A. hooshidaryae essential oil representing the 91.87% of the total oil. The volatile compounds were identified by comparison of the relative retention indices (RRI), mass spectra with those in NIST08/NIH and Wiley (257 and 7 L) libraries and co-elution with authentic samples where available. Surprisingly, the most abundant compound was obtained as menthol (19.0%) followed by carvacrol (10.1%), menthone (6.4%), methyl (methylthiomethyl) disulfide (4.2%), dimethyl disulfide (3.8%), and thymol (3.8%). Contrary to the other Allium species enriched by sulfur compounds, just three compounds accounting for 10.7% of the total oil were obtained as the sulfur-sulfur bond containing components (Dimethyl disulfide, Methyl (methylthio) methyl disulfide, Bis-methylthiomethyl disulfide). The hydromethanolic extract of A. hooshidaryae showed higher anti-radical (IC_50DPPH of 9.81 μg/mL) and cytotoxic (for MOLT-4 and MCF-7, IC_50s were 76.3 and 128.6 μg/mL, respectively) activities rather than that of the obtained essential oil (IC_{50 DPPH} of 39.9 μg/mL; IC_{50 MOLT-4} of 109.2 μg/mL, and IC_{50 MCF-7} of 297.5 μg/mL). While, the essential oil exhibited the anti-Staphylococcus aurous and anti-Escherichia coli activities approximately the same as Chloramphenicol (positive control). The MIC values were 31.25 and 62.5 μg/mL and the disk inhibition zone values were 23 and 21 mm, respectively. In addition, Candida albicans had moderate sensitivity (MFC of 62.5 μg/mL) for the essential oil.

CONCLUSIONS

The hydromethanolic extract of A. hooshidaryae shows the potency to be used for food protection in addition to further cytotoxic investigations. Associated with antimicrobial abilities of both A. hooshidaryae products, the compatible results was observed with the traditional claim having being not investigated to date. These findings will facilitate the development of A. hooshidaryae for further deep investigations.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of Evening Primrose Oil for Mastalgia Treatment

Mastalgia, or breast pain, is common among women which can lead to significant impairment in daily living. Hence, finding an effective treatment that can alleviate the symptom is very important. Thus, we carry out this study to determine the efficacy of evening primrose oil (EPO) for mastalgia treatment in women. The review included published randomised clinical trials that evaluated EPO used for treating mastalgia against a placebo or other treatments, irrespective of the blinding procedure, publication status, or sample size. Two independent authors screened the titles and abstracts of the identified trials; full texts of relevant trials were evaluated for eligibility. Two reviewers independently extracted data on the methods, interventions, outcomes, and risk of bias. The random-effects model was used for estimating the risk ratios and mean differences with 95% confidence intervals. Thirteen trials with 1752 randomised patients were included. The results showed that EPO has no difference to reduce breast pain compared to topical NSAIDS, danazol, or vitamin E. The number of patients who achieved pain relief was no different compared to the placebo or other treatments. The EPO does not increase adverse events, such as nausea, abdominal bloating, headache or giddiness, increase weight gain, and altered taste compared to a placebo or other treatments. EPO is a safe medication with similar efficacy for pain control in women with mastalgia compared to a placebo, topical NSAIDS, danazol, or vitamin E.

Atractylodes oil alleviates diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome by regulating intestinal inflammation and intestinal barrier via SCF/c-kit and MLCK/MLC2 pathways

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. is a widely used traditional herb that is well known for treating spleen deficiency and diarrhea. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is caused by cold and dampness, resulting in diarrhea and abdominal pain. Nevertheless, the effect and mechanism of Atractylodes on IBS-D are still unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study was designed to confirm the therapeutic effect of Atractylodes lanceolata oil (AO) in a rat model of IBS-D, and to determine the mechanisms by which AO protects against the disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical components in AO were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The expression levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and surfactant protein (SP) in serum and colon tissue were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blotting (WB), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and immunofluorescence (IF) were used to elucidate the mechanism of action of AO toward inflammation and the intestinal barrier in a rat model of IBS-D.

RESULTS

The 15 chemical substances of the highest concentration in AO were identified using GC-MS. AO was effective against IBS-D in the rat model, in terms of increased body weight, diarrhea grade score, levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10), aquaporin 3 (AQP3), and aquaporin 8 (AQP8), and reduced fecal moisture content, levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), 5-HT, VIP, and SP, while also reducing intestinal injury, as observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. In addition, the results indicated that AO increased the mRNA and protein expression levels of stem cell factor (SCF) and c-kit and enhanced the levels of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin, as well as decreased the levels of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and inhibited the phosphorylation of myosin light chain 2 (p-MLC2).

CONCLUSIONS

AO was found to be efficacious in the rat model of IBS-D. AO inhibited the SCF/c-kit pathway, thereby reducing inflammation and protecting against intestinal barrier damage via the MLCK/MLC2 pathway.

An Overview of the Potential Therapeutic Applications of Essential Oils

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has urged researchers to explore therapeutic alternatives, one of which includes the use of natural plant products such as essential oils (EO). In fact, EO obtained from clove, oregano, thymus, cinnamon bark, rosemary, eucalyptus, and lavender have been shown to present significant inhibitory effects on bacteria, fungi, and viruses; many studies have been done to measure EO efficacy against microorganisms. The strategy of combinatory effects via conventional and non-conventional methods revealed that the combined effects of EO-EO or EO-antibiotic exhibit enhanced efficacy. This paper aims to review the antimicrobial effects of EO, modes of EO action (membrane disruption, efflux inhibition, increase membrane permeability, and decrease in intracellular ATP), and their compounds' potential as effective agents against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. It is hoped that the integration of EO applications in this work can be used to consider EO for future clinical applications.

Therapeutic effects of andiroba (Carapa guianensis Aubl) oil, compared to low power laser, on oral mucositis in children underwent chemotherapy: A clinical study

ETHNO-PHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The Carapa guianensis Aubl, popularly known as andiroba, is a large tree of the Meliaceae family, commonly found in the Amazon region. The oil extracted from its seeds is recognized in traditional medicine and has high anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential, which are the basic prerequisites for a therapeutic agent that can be used in the treatment of oral mucositis (OM). Moreover, the aforementioned oil has antimicrobial, antiallergic, and parasiticidal actions and is effective in the management of cutaneous and muscular dysfunctions.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the therapeutic effects of andiroba gel (Carapa guianensis Aubl) on the symptomatology and evolution of OM in children with leukemia who underwent chemotherapy and to compare it to the effects of low power laser.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This randomized, double-blind clinical trial involved 60 patients of both genders with leukemia, with age ranging from six to twelve years. The patients were divided into two study groups: the andiroba group (n = 30) and the laser group (n = 30). The level of pain experienced by the patients was assessed using the Wong-Baker visual analog scale and the degree of severity of OM was assessed using a table, recommended by the World Health Organization, that depicts the degrees of severity of OM. The data obtained were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test, with statistical significance indicated by a P value less than or equal to 0.05.

RESULTS

A statistically significant reduction in the degree of OM was observed on the fourth, fifth, and sixth days and in the pain scores on the second, third, and fourth days in the andiroba group after the manifestation of OM, compared to the laser group.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of andiroba oil effectively reduced the severity of OM and relieved pain, which resulted in a decrease in the severity of signs and symptoms in the patients in the andiroba group, compared to the laser group.

Confirmation of ethnopharmacological anti-inflammatory properties of Ocotea odorifera and determination of its main active compounds

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ocotea odorifera (Vell.) Rohwer has been used in traditional medicine in the south of Brazil for the treatment of inflammatory-related conditions, such as rheumatism. However, there is not any scientific evidence for popular use.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

To investigate the O. odorifera anti-inflammatory potential and identification of the main active compounds through metabolomic approaches.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In order to in vivo evaluate the inhibition of the main inflammatory pathways, the leaf decoction, leaf extract, its fractions and the essential oils from leaves and branches were submitted to the ear oedema and the neutrophils recruitment assays. The samples were chemically investigated by UHPLC-HRMS or GC-MS. The multivariate statistical analysis (PLS-DA) was used to determine the substances correlated with the anti-inflammatory properties.

RESULTS

The in vivo studies indicated a promissory anti-inflammatory effect on both oedema and neutrophil recruitment for some samples including the decoction; hydroethanolic, ethyl acetate, and chloroform fractions; and the essential oils. According to the PLS-DA, the S-(+)-reticuline was evidenced as one of the three compounds of the plant most correlated with both anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Thus, S-(+)-reticuline was isolated and the anti-inflammatory activity was confirmed. Moreover, for the first time, the dual inhibition of oedema and neutrophil recruitment was uncovered and reported. Another compound positively correlated with the anti-inflammatory activity is likely to be a new compound since zero hit on the comprehensive mass database were encountered. The compounds found in the essential oils also showed significant anti-inflammatory activity, and thus indeed the plant has different classes of active substances.

CONCLUSIONS

The decoction of O. odorifera and different fractions from its ethanolic extract demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity through dual inhibition of oedema and neutrophil recruitment. Thus, corroborating the popular medicinal use of the decoction of leaves from O. odorifera as an anti-inflammatory medicine. Besides, reticuline, one of the main active compounds, was isolated and proved to display the dual mechanism of action, indicating the O. odorifera as a promising source of active compounds for the treatment of inflammatory conditions.

Gano oil: A novel antinociceptive agent extracted from Ganoderma lucidum inhibits paw oedema and relieves pain by hypnotic and analgesic actions of fatty acid amides

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Lingzhi or Reishi - Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) P. Karst is an extensively used medicinal mushroom in folklore and traditional medicine in south East Asia to treat a number of diseases. Lingzhi is known as 'mushroom of immortality' in Chinese folklore. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is considered as a panacea to cure all diseases.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to evaluate antinociceptive effect of Gano oil, a novel fatty acid rich extract obtained from G. lucidum and identification of the active principle.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Gano oil extracted from Ganoderma lucidum was evaluated for inhibition of formalin-induced paw oedema on Swiss albino mice by oral administration as well as topical application. Antinociceptive activity of Gano oil was tested by acetic acid - induced abdominal writhing test as well as hot plate test. Free radical scavenging activity was determined by DPPH assay. COX enzyme inhibiting activity was assayed using different concentrations of Gano oil exposed to LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cell line. NF-kB inhibiting activity of Gano oil was assayed using Lentix-293T P65 Ds Red stable cell line by fluorescent imaging and flow cytometry analysis. Chemical profile of Gano oil was ascertained by HPTLC analysis and active principle was identified by HRLCMS analysis.

RESULTS

The oral administration of Gano oil at doses of 10,25, 50 mg/kg b.wt showed 42, 58 and 73% inhibition of paw oedema while topical applications at dose of 1,5 and 10% reduced 33, 50 and 58% oedema respectively. Acetic acid writhing test showed that Gano oil inhibited 44.44% contortions (p < 0.001) and while in hot plate method Gano oil at 25 mg/kg b. wt showed response latency of 30.0 ± 2.08 s for 120 min compared to base 1.65 ± 0.32 s (p < 0.01). Gano oil at 100 μg/ml inhibited 50% COX enzyme activity (p < 0.01). High throughput flurescent imaging and flow cytometry assay revealed marked ability of Gano oil to inhibit NF-kB activity. Gano oil was found to possess dose dependent free radical scavenging activity as evident from DPPH assay. HPTLC analysis of Gano oil indicated the chemical figure print. HR LC-MS analysis showed the major chemical components were fatty acid amides namely, Oleamide, C₁₈H₃₅NO, M⁺281, Hexadecanamide, C₁₆H₃₃NO, M⁺255 and 9-oxo-10 (E) Octadecadienoic acid, C₁₈H₃₀O₃ M⁺294.

CONCLUSION

Fatty acid rich Gano oil extracted from G.lucidum is a novel antinociceptive agent capable to inhibit oedema by oral administration as well as topical application. The results indicate the pharmacological interest, clinical significance and therapeutic use. The finding suggests that Gano oil might be a potent natural product based analgesic. The effect might be assigned to the fatty acid amide constituents especially oleamide which has been demonstrated to have analgesic and hypnotic actions.