Resveratrol and Colorectal Cancer: A Molecular Approach to Clinical Researches

Phytochemicals are the most valuable and comprehensive structures, which may have a broad range of protective benefits, from reducing inflammation and speeding healing to preventing infection and fighting cancer. Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural phenolic compound from the oligomeric stilbenoid group, which is usually found in human daily diets such as grape, peanut, berries and grains. It exhibits anti-inflammatory, neuroprotection, antioxidant and cancer prevention and treatment effects. RSV is thought to have an impressive outcome in colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment through the vital molecules and cancer signaling pathways, including SIRT1, P53, P21, AMPK, ROS, BMP7, COX-2, NO, Caspases, Wnt, TNFs, NF-κB, EMT, and pentose phosphate pathway. Therefore, this paper reviews the current researches on resveratrol pharmacological effects and pharmacokinetic and drug delivery system, as well as clinical studies in CRC.

Study on constituents of Scutellaria nepetifolia as a potent source of phytochemicals with NO inhibitory effect

Based on the long history of Scutellaria plants in east traditional medicines, several species of Scutellaria showed promising antioxidant, anti-inflammation and neuroprotection effects in pharmacological researches. Using bioassay-guided fractionation of various extract of Scutellaria nepetifolia, an endemic species that grows widely in Iran, based on on nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity against H₂O₂ induced NO production in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells led to the isolation of two iridoid compounds namely, as 6β-hydroxy 8-epiboshnaloside (1) and 1,5,9-epideoxy loganic acid (2) and Verbascoside (3). Finally, the interaction of isolated compounds with inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein was simulated by molecular docking study. It is the first report of these two iridoid glycosides from Scutellaria spp. All three isolated compounds showed strong interaction with iNOS enzyme in molecular docking simulations. So, they possibly contributed in the NO inhibitory effect of S. nepetifolia.

In vitro evaluation of ferutinin on proliferation and osteogenesis differentiation in human unrestricted Somatic stem cells

Osteoporosis is a common disease in post-menopausal women. The increased risk of breast cancer and malignancy with hormone replacement, hampers its wide-usage. Phytoestrogens are known to have selective estrogen receptor modulator activity. The present study aims to determine how ferutinin affects unrestricted human Somatic Stem Cells (USSCs) osteogenic differentiation. The effect of ferutinin on USSCs proliferation was assessed by MTT assay while osteogenesis was evaluated using Alkaline Phosphatase Activity (ALP), calcium deposition and Alizarin Red Staining. Quantitative real-time PCR was applied to examine the expression of bone specific genes such as osteocalcin, Runx₂, and BMP-₂. Ferutinin (5-15 µg/mL) could positively impact on the proliferation of cells in a dose-dependent manner. Also, ALP enzyme activity and calcium deposition were enhanced in the presence of ferutinin. Based on real-time PCR results, ferutinin could increase the expression of bone marker genes. The pattern of ferutinin effect on gene expression is similar to standard synthetic estrogen, 17-β-estradiol. In the presence of the estrogen activity inhibitor (ICI), the effect of ferutinin on ALP and gene level was diminished. In conclusion, ferutinin may be considered as a potential candidate for the stem cell therapy in osteoporosis.

Effects of Some Lamiaceae Species on NO Production and Cell Injury in Hydrogen Peroxide-induced Stress

Nitric oxide (NO) is a key mediator that plays an important role in pathogenesis of various chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, there is a great attitude for finding natural compounds, which could control and inhibit NO production in pathological conditions. Therefore, we were encouraged to investigate the effects of some Lamiaceae species on NO production and cell injury during oxidative stress in PC12 cells. In this study, cell death determined by MTT assay and NO levels were evaluated using Griess assay. PC12 cells were exposed to total metanolic extracts of three Scutellaria and one Nepeta species. The results revealed that Nepeta laxiflora (N. laxiflora) could protect PC12 cells from hydrogen proxide-induced oxidative stress and all of the plants inhibited NO production in that condition except Scutellaria tournefortii (Sc. tournefortii). In addition, Scutellaria multicaulis (Sc. multicaulis) was meanwhile subjected to fractionation using different organic solvents. The dichloromethan and ethyl acetate fractions of Sc. multicaulis could protect PC12 cells from oxidative stress injury. However, NO production was restrained by the hexane and dichloromethane fractions. Considering the results, N. laxiflora, Scutellaria nepetifolia (Sc. nepetifolia), and Sc. multicaulis are good candidates for further investigations in neuroprotection and anti-inflammation studies.

Investigation of Some Medicinal Plants Inhibitory Effect on NO Production in Oxidative Stressed PC12 Cells

Background: Nitric oxide and reactive nitrogen species play an important role in various pathological conditions like cancer, inflammation and neurodegeneration. As plants and natural compounds have a great potency of discovering lead compounds which might affect NO production during inflammation and various pathologies, we examined the effects of three medicinal plants native to Iran, on NO production during oxidative stress in PC12 cells. Methods: In this study, cell death and NO levels were measured by MTT and by Griess assay, respectively. Oxidative stress was induced by hydrogen peroxide and extracts of Astragalus jolderensis, Convolvulus commutatus and Salvia multicaulis were used as pretreatment in oxidative stressed PC12 cells. Results: A. jolderensis extract significantly suppressed NO production in 150 and 200 μg/ml concentrations and C. commutatus extract in all concentration inhibited NO production in stressed PC12 cells. In addition, the extract of S. multicaulis inhibited NO production during stress at all concentrations above 50 μg/ml. Besides, the extract of S. multicaulis showed protective effect at lower doses in stressed cells. Conclusion: According to the results, S. multicaulis inhibited NO production and protected cells from oxidative stress. Hence, S. multicaulis is a good candidate for further in vitro and in vivo investigations. A. jolderensis and C. commutatus also suppressed NO production during stress. Therefore, they could be noticed in experiments that centralize on the inhibition of NO production and drug discovery studies in the field of neurodegenerative and chronic inflammatory diseases.