Anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic effects of Phoenix dactylifera L. (date palm) seed by controlling cytokines and inhibiting JAK1/STAT3 pathway on CFA-induced arthritis rat and its phytochemical profiling

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Phoenix dactylifera L. (date palm) seed is widely used in Arabian traditional medicine to alleviate several health problems including inflammatory conditions. The herbal tea of date palm seed has been consumed by rheumatoid patients to relief their symptoms.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study was to investigate the claimed beneficial use of P. dactylifera L. (Sewy variety) seed (PDS) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its mechanism of action as well as to study its phytoconstituents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties of the non-polar and the polar extracts of PDS were studied using Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis rat model. Paw edema, body weight, total nitrate/nitrite NOX content and cytokine markers were evaluated to monitor the progress of arthritis. Also, histological examination and thermal analysis were conducted. The phytoconstituent profiles of non-polar and polar extracts of PDS were investigated using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). The multiple reactions monitoring mode (MRM) of liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was used to quantify phenolic phytoconstituents in both extracts.

RESULTS

According to the findings, the polar and non-polar PDS extracts kept body weight comparable to those of healthy individuals while considerably lowering paw swelling, edema, and neutrophil infiltration. It also reduced the levels of Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB), Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin 22, Interleukin 23, Interferon (IFN), Interleukin 17, Interleukin 1β, Interleukin 6, Interleukin 36, Janus Kinase 1 (JAK1), and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3). They also reduced the degenerative alterations caused by RA. Thermal research gave additional support for these findings. 83 phytoconstituents were identified in the non-polar PDS extract and 86 phytoconstituents were identified in the polar PDS extract. 74 of the identified phytoconstituents were common in both extracts. 33 phytoconstituents were identified here from P. dactylifera for the first time as far as we know. In MRM-LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis, the major phenolics in both extracts were chlorogenic acid, naringenin, and vanillin. Catechin was only detected in the non-polar PDS extract. On the other hand, apigenin, kaempferol, and hesperetin were only detected in the polar PDS extract. Generally, the polar PDS extract showed higher concentrations of the identified phenolics than the non-polar extract.

CONCLUSIONS

The PDS extracts especially the non-polar extract showed significant anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties in the CFA-induced arthritis rat model. PDS might be used to produce RA medicines.

Symbiotic Antidiabetic Effect of Lactobacillus casei and the Bioactive Extract of Cleome droserifolia (Forssk.) Del. on Mice with Type 2 Diabetes Induced by Alloxan

The consumption of probiotics protects pancreatic β-cells from oxidative damage, delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and preventing microvascular and macrovascular complications. This study aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic activity of CDE fermented by Lactobacillus casei (ATCC 39539) (LC) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The oxidative stress identified by catalase (CAT), serum AST, ALT, ALP, creatinine, urea, and uric acid were measured. The chemical profiles of the plant extract and the fermented extract were studied using HPLC/MS. The potential of the compounds towards the binding pockets of aldose reductase and PPAR was discovered by molecular docking. A significant reduction in fasting blood glucose in alloxan-treated rats. The CAT showed a significant decrease in diabetic rats. Also, serum AST, ALT, ALP, creatinine, urea, and uric acid were significantly decreased in the mixture group. Mild histological changes of pancreatic and kidney tissues suggested that the mixture of probiotics and cleome possesses a marked anti-diabetic effect. Overall, the study suggests that the combination of Cleome droserifolia fermented by Lactobacillus casei exhibits significant antidiabetic activity (p-value=0.05), reduces oxidative stress, improves lipid profiles, and shows potential for the treatment of diabetes.

Phytochemical Profiling and Compound Isolation of Cissus rhombifolia Vahl. Leaves Aqueous Methanolic Extract with the Evaluation of Its Anti-Inflammatory Effect Using Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation in RAW 264.7 Cells

The inflammatory disorders represent a serious health issue. Certain Cissus species possess anti-inflammatory effect. Cissus rhombifolia Vahl. leaves' anti-inflammatory activities and phytoconstituents are poorly characterized. In this study, 38 constituents were tentatively characterized in Cissus rhombifolia Vahl. leaves' aqueous methanolic extract (CRLE) using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) and Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1 H-NMR). Myricetin, β-amyrin, and alliospiroside A, were isolated from CRLE using column chromatography. The anti-inflammatory effect of CRLE and its isolated compounds were studied in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT assay) was used to assess how CRLE and its isolated compounds affected cell viability. Further, its effects on the production of intracellular NO, and inflammatory cytokines cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were assessed by the Griess test, and cytokine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. CRLE and its isolated compounds, myricetin, β-amyrin, and alliospiroside A decreased the NO production. Western blotting was performed to assess the protein expression levels of the inflammatory cytokines inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Alliospiroside A downregulated IL-6, TNF-α, and COX-2 and inhibited the expression of iNOS. CRLE and its compounds represent effective alternative candidate to treat inflammatory diseases.

Natural Products for the Treatment of Drug Addiction: Narrative Review

Drug addiction is considered a chronic disorder affecting the individual's life, his/her family and society. Up till now the treatment of drug addiction is considered a problematic issue. Synthetic drugs available for the treatment of drug addiction are few, of limited efficacy and associated with serious side effects. Therefore, there is a continuous search for better therapeutic agents for drug addiction. Natural products represent a promising source for drug addiction treatment. This review summaries drug addiction definition, its mechanism of action, its types, its diagnosis, factors affecting its development and different available approaches for its treatment especially the use of natural products. Six plants were discussed thoroughly in this review, including, Tabernanthe iboga Baill., Mitragyna speciosa Korth., Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Sanjappa & Pradeep, Hypericum perforatum L., Panax ginseng C.A. Mey., and Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal.

Phytoconstituents of Sansevieria suffruticosa N.E.Br. Leaves and Its Hepatoprotective Effect via Activation of the NRF2/ARE Signaling Pathway in an Experimentally Induced Liver Fibrosis Rat Model

Sansevieria species possess antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities. However, the therapeutic potential of Sansevieria suffruticosa N.E.Br. in liver fibrosis was not evaluated yet. Twenty-seven phytoconstituents were tentatively identified in the phytoconstituents profile of Sansevieria suffruticosa N.E.Br. leaves extract (SSLE) using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI/MS-MS). Using column chromatography, hesperetin, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, ginsenoside Rg2, and quinic acid were isolated from SSLE. The hepatoprotective effect of SSLE via the activation of the NRF2 signaling pathway was evaluated using a rat model of thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis. Five groups of 6 male adult Wistar rats were used. All animals except the normal control were injected with 200 mg/kg of TAA intraperitoneally twice weekly for 6 weeks. SSLE-treated groups were orally administered 200 and 100 mg/kg/day of the extract, two weeks before the liver fibrosis induction and were continued concomitantly with TAA injection. A reference group received 100 mg/kg b.wt of silymarin orally. SSLE treated groups exhibited a marked reduction in serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared with the TAA group. The levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) content and hepatic mRNA levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 were significantly increased. Histological findings further confirmed the protective role of SSLE against TAA. In conclusion, the aforementioned results indicated that the hepatoprotective mechanism of SSLE was exerted via activating the Nrf2 pathway to counteract oxidative stress.

In vitro wound healing properties, antioxidant activities, HPLC-ESI-MS/MS profile and phytoconstituents of the stem aqueous methanolic extract of Dracaena reflexa Lam

Column chromatography of the stem aqueous methanolic extract of Dracaena reflexa Lam. (DRSE) led to the isolation of five flavonoids, one phenolic glycoside, one triterpenoid, and two steroidal saponins. Furthermore, forty-four compounds were tentatively identified in the phytoconstituents profile of DRSE using HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The antioxidant activity of DRSE was evaluated. In DPPH radical scavenging assay, DRSE exhibited IC₅₀ value 311.6 ± 10.10 μg/mL compared to IC₅₀ value of the standard Trolox (24.42 ± 0.87 μg/mL). The antioxidant activities of DRSE using ABTS assay and FRAP assay were 326.63 μM TE/mg extract and 208.67 μM TE/mg extract, respectively. The wound healing activity of DRSE was studied by the scratch assay using HSF (Human Skin Fibroblast) cells. After 24 hrs. DRSE (at 10 and 20 μg/mL) decreased the wound width to 0.55 ± 0.37 and 0.47 ± 0.55 mm, respectively, compared to the wound width in the control cells (0.77 ± 0.17 mm). This result suggested that DRSE improved the wound healing process by inducing the migration of fibroblasts. Moreover, a docking study was performed to evaluate the binding affinity of the identified phytoconstituents toward GSK-3β relative to the co-crystalized inhibitor and curcumin with the possible involvement of this pathway in the wound healing activity of the extract.

HPLC-ESI/MS profiling, phytoconstituent isolation and evaluation of renal function, oxidative stress and inflammation in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats of Ficus spragueana Mildbr. & Burret

Ficus spragueana Mildbr. & Burret (family Moraceae) was reported to have various biological activities. However, its activity in treatment of renal injury has not been investigated yet. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of F. spragueana leaf extract on nephrotoxicity caused by gentamicin. Gentamicin is an important broad-spectrum antibiotic; nevertheless, it exhibits serious nephrotoxic adverse effects. HPLC-ESI/MS spectrometric analysis of the extract revealed the presence of 37 phenolic compounds. Moreover, five compounds were isolated from the leaf extract, and identified on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The isolated compounds were syringic acid (1), p-coumaric acid (2), 3',5' O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3), luteolin-8-C-β-D glucopyranoside (orientin) (4) and 8-methoxy kaempferol-3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2) β-D-glucopyranoside] (5). The gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity model was used to evaluate the protective effect of F. spragueana on renal toxicity biomarkers throughout the development of acute kidney injury. Administration of extract led to improvement in kidney function through inhibition of kidney injury molecule-1, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and total bilirubin, as well as decreasing the inflammatory markers interlukin1-beta and myeloperoxidase. Furthermore, it reduced the oxidative stress by increasing reduced glutathione and total antioxidant capacity levels while decreasing malondialdehyde and nitric oxide content, and improved renal histopathological injuries.

Cordyline fruticosa (L.) A. Chev. leaves: isolation, HPLC/MS profiling and evaluation of nephroprotective and hepatoprotective activities supported by molecular docking

The metabolites profile of C. fruticosa (L.) A. Chev. leaves, 12 isolates, and its nephroprotective and hepatoprotective activities are described.