Advances in Traditional Medicine最新文献

The inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients have increased intestinal glucose absorption associated with hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus. Thus, IBD treatment might minimize diabetic mellitus risk. Eggplant extract is frequently prescribed in traditional Chinese medicine and is effective against various diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory infections. It contains active compounds; chlorogenic acid (CGA) exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycemic effects. However, the effect of eggplant extract (EPE) on intestinal glucose uptake in IBD is unknown. Thus, this study uses LPS-induced inflammation in a co-culture model to mimic IBD. This work determined the impact of EPE glucose transport in the inflammatory co-culture model—the caco-2 cells in a transwell insert plate on LPS-induced inflammatory THP-1-derived macrophages. Caco-2 cells were treated with various doses of EPE. Inflammatory parameters and intestinal glucose transport function of Caco-2 cells were studied. It was observed that EPE inhibited proinflammatory cytokine gene expression and production. Furthermore, EPE inhibited intestinal glucose absorption under inflammatory conditions. These data suggested that EPE may attenuate inflammatory conditions and glucose absorption in the inflammatory co-cultures model; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of EPE must be evaluated through further investigation.

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Ginkgo biloba is a traditional medicinal herb with anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and liver protective properties. In here, we investigated several variables related to Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb)-induced apoptosis in human acute myeloid leukemia KG1a cells. The MTT method was used to quantify cell survival. Following Hoechst 33,258 staining, an inverted microscope to examine the appearance of apoptotic cells was used. Furthermore, to determine the ratio of necrotic to apoptotic cells, annexin V-FITC, propidium iodide (PI) double staining was performed. Using flow cytometry analysis, alterations in the cell cycle were examined. Using the appropriate reagent kits, the activities of caspase-3 was examined. Alterations in multiple apoptosis-associated gene expression were evaluated using a quantitative real-time PCR technique. The MTT results demonstrated that EGb dramatically and dose-dependently reduced the viability of KG1a cells. EGb causes KG1a cells to contract and produce more apoptotic bodies according to observations of their morphology. According to cell cycle studies, EGb arrested the cells in the S phase of cell cycle. The validity of the cell cycle data was confirmed by the decrease in cyclin A expression, and the increase in the expression of p53, p21, cyclin E, and CDK2. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that EGb induces apoptosis by reducing Survivin, raising Noxa, and causing a time-dependent increase in Bax/Bcl-2 transcript. These results suggest EGb induces cell death, potentially offering a promising treatment approach for acute myeloid leukemia.

Traditional Herbal Medicine Systems, commonly known as Complementary and Alternative Systems of Medicine, is currently one of the most extensively researched subjects. The genus Ixora belongs to the family Rubiaceae, which is commonly referred to as the Madder family. It comprises 500 species and is one of the most investigated herbs today. For centuries, ethnic groups have incorporated various parts of the Ixora plant (flowers, leaves, stems, and roots) into Ayurvedic medicine to treat a range of ailments, including hepatic disorders, diarrhea, cancer, tumors, microbial infections, antioxidants, pain, ulcers, anti-tumor properties, and anti-inflammatory effects. Due to the extensive use of the Ixora genus in traditional medicine, researchers were compelled to examine the phytochemical composition of its various species. Multiple studies on the genus Ixora, which belongs to the Rubiaceae family, have uncovered a rich assortment of phenolic compounds. These include flavonoids, tannins, aromatic acrid oils, poly-sterols, saponins, carbohydrates, fatty acids, peptides, and terpenoids. Over the past 50 years, extensive phytochemical studies have been conducted on the genus Ixora, these studies have not only revealed the composition of the plant extract, but they have also helped to develop a comprehensive pharmacological profile. In doing so, these studies have provided scientific evidence supporting the ethno-medicinal uses of the plant. Every part of various Ixora species is said to possess beneficial properties which have added to its value as a medicinal plant. The purpose of this review is to thoroughly analyze the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of the Ixora genus. Along the way present an updated and categorized compilation of the scientific evidence of its medicinal properties. As a result, it aims to inspire scholars to pursue additional research on this particular genus.

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The conservation and rational management of medicinal plants require preliminary studies of ethnobotanical. It is for this reason that the present study on the woody medicinal plants of the three sub-division of Mayo-Tsanaga subjected to anarchic exploitation was undertaken. The aim of this study was to contribute to a better understanding of woody medicinal plants used in traditional pharmacopoeia, with a view to their sustainable management for conservation and use by the population. The study was carried out with herbalists, traditional practitioners, phytotherapists or any other person who uses plants for therapeutic purposes in three sub-divisions of the Mayo-Tsanaga division through the use of ethnobotanical survey forms. The results were processed using Statgraphics plus 5.0 version 11.0 and the Excel spreadsheet program. Following our series of surveys, the studies enabled us to identify 97 plant species used in the traditional medicine, belonging to 72 genera and 31 families. The most represented families are Fabaceaea (21 species), Combretaceae (9 species), Anacardiaceae (8 species) and Malvaceae (7 species). The most popular species used in traditional pharmacopoeia were Boswellia dalzielii (81.3%), Khaya senegalensis (80.3%), Ximenia americana (78.2%), Bauhinia rufescens (73.4%), Tamarindus indica (77.4%), Haematostaphis barteri (73.6%), Sarcocephalus latifolius (73.9%), Kigelia africana (71.8%), Guiera senegalensis (70.8%) and Sclerocarya birrea (69.3%).The results of this study showed that the bark was the most frequently plant part used in the preparation of medicine. The majority of traditional medicines were prepared in the form of decoction and oral route is their common mode of administration. This study is a source of information that contribute to the knowledge of medicinal plant flora with a view to sustainable management and to safeguard of the local popular know-how. It can also be used as a database for developing this valuable resource with a view of discovering new active ingredients for use in pharmacology and the pharmaceutical industry.

Cholestatic itch dramatically impairs the quality of life of affected patients; however, the therapeutic choices are limited and far from sufficient. ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K_ATP channels) contribute to transmitting signals, including itch. Here, we investigated the role of K_ATP channels in cholestatic pruritus in mice induced by bile duct ligation (BDL). K_ATP channel openers (diazoxide and minoxidil) and blockers (glibenclamide) were administered via the intraperitoneal route in BDL and sham-operated (Sham) mice. After the open-field test, the scratching behavior in response to the intradermal vehicle injection was videotaped for one hour. We investigated the probable alterations in the dermal expression of genes encoding the K_ATP channel (Kcnj8 and Kcnj11) via RT-qPCR analysis. We detected increased scratching responses in cholestatic mice regarding intradermal vehicle injection, representing cholestatic pruritus. K_ATP channel openers, diazoxide (10 mg/kg, i.p.), and minoxidil (10 mg/kg, i.p.) attenuated scratching responses in the bile duct ligated mice. On the other hand, K_ATP channel blocker glibenclamide (3 mg/kg, i.p.) intensified the scratching behavior. Moreover, pre-treatment with the sub-effective dose of glibenclamide (1 mg/kg, i.p.) reversed the anti-pruritic effects of diazoxide (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and minoxidil (10 mg/kg, i.p.). The open-field test revealed that the scratching behavior was not affected by locomotor activity. Our finding of RT-qPCR analysis also showed an increase in the expression of Kcnj11 in BDL mice. We conclude that K_ATP channels are possibly involved in cholestatic itch. Further studies are needed to elucidate the other associations between cholestasis and itch.

Glioblastoma is the most lethal brain tumor; despite available multimodal therapies. This poor survival is an outcome of many contributing factors the major is resistance due to inflammation and the presence of a subset of cells called glial stem-cells (GSCs). A rationale combination of drugs which act by targeting multiple mechanisms to inhibit cancer cells and GSCs would be more potent in abrogating chemoresistance. In this study, we aimed to target cancer hallmarks using a natural polyphenol in combination with 2-deoxyglucose, a glycolytic inhibitor on the heterogeneous human U-87 Glioblastoma model. The U-87 glioblastoma cells were treated with curcumin, 2-deoxyglucose and combination of both. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay and combination index was analyzed. Cell cycle inhibition and apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry. The tumorigenicity of the cells was evaluated by clonogenic and soft agar assay. Migration efficacy of the cells was assessed by wound healing assay while the inflammation trigger Il-6 was assessed by ELISA. The changes in expression of molecular marker of stemness were analyzed by immuno-cytochemistry. Curcumin enhanced the cytotoxic effect of 2-deoxyglucose in GB cancer cells. The combination of CUR (20µM) and 2-DG (4mM) showed a synergistic effect in reducing cell viability with a combination index of less than 0.9. The polyphenol induced apoptosis, arrested the cells in S and G2/M phase of the cell cycle, inhibited anchorage dependent, anchorage independent clone forming efficacy, cell migration capacity as well as stemness while 2-DG downregulated IL-6 expression potently. Our novel combination exhibited the potential to reduce glio-oncogenesis trigger Il-6 and inhibit GSCs responsible for relapse and resistance. The study suggests that our tailor-made combination using established drugs can target multiple cancer signaling molecules to yield optimal therapeutic outcome and is the right approach to address stemness attributed resistance.

Bisphenol S (BPS) is one of the monomers preferred in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics. Unfortunately, its estrogenic and genotoxic effects are similar to those of bisphenol A. The protective effects of Sphaeranthus indicus floral extract (SFE) against reprotoxic effects of BPS (50 µg/kg per body weight) in rats exposed to it via drinking water was investigated. Different SFE doses (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) were administered via oral gavage for 10 weeks. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results indicated that SFE was rich in polyphenols, with rutin and quercetin being important bioactive molecules modulating BPS-induced necroptosis and apoptosis. Biochemical analyses unveiled that rats administered BPS only exhibited considerable elevation of biomarkers of nitro-oxidative stress, necroptotic (RIPK1/RIPK3 and MLKL), and apoptotic mediators (Fas/FasL and caspase 3/caspase-8). These events caused changes in sperm characteristics (sperm motility, sperm head, and sperm viability), sperm count, and hormonal profile (thyroid stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone) of the rats. Histological analysis suggested that there was pronounced sloughing of Sertoli cells, reduced spermatogenic cell density, increased levels of seminiferous tubules, and disorganized morphometric parameters related to seminiferous tubules. The SFE supplementation in rats with BPS-containing water restored nitro-oxidative stress biomarkers, which led to the reduction of necroptosis and apoptosis. Reinstatement of all the biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation, necroptosis, and apoptosis after SFE supplementations restored the hormonal profile and normal histoarchitecture of the testes. Virtual screening elucidated that the key regulators of the necroptosis are RIPK3-rutin and RIPK1-quercetin complexes. Further studies are needed to assess its pharmacodynamics, kinetics, and effective concentration for daily use in humans.

Annona muricata (L.) is used worldwide in folk medicine to treat numerous ailments. In vitro studies have reported that the phytocomponents of this plant have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties against multiple tumoral cells, including colon cancer cell lines. However, few studies have tested its antitumoral potential in vivo, especially against colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC), whose main risk factor is inflammation. This study assessed, for the first time, the protective properties of A. muricata in a murine model of CAC at the histopathological, immunological, and molecular levels. CAC was induced chemically in BALB/c mice using azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate salt (DSS). The ethanolic extract of A. muricata leaves was administered preventively or simultaneously with CAC induction. At the end of the experimental period, which lasted six months, colon and liver histopathology were assessed through hematoxylin and eosin staining. Circulating cytokines were evaluated by flow cytometry, and KRAS oncogene and APC tumor-suppressor gene expression by RT-qPCR. The ethanolic extract of A. muricata decreased circulating cytokine levels (IL-10, IL-1β, INF-γ, and IL-12) compared to the AOM-DSS group and protected colon architecture. The preventive administration of A. muricata also decreased the expression of oncogenic KRAS but increased the expression of APC tumor-suppressor mRNA in the colon of BALB/c mice. Administering A. muricata extract alone had no adverse effect on the studied parameters. Hence, our findings support the ethnobotanical use of A. muricata.

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This work aims to investigate whether acupuncture can ameliorate liver injury caused by platinum-based therapy and relevant mechanism. The liver indices of patients receiving and not receiving acupuncture were analyzed based on the clinical statistics, and it was found that after acupuncture treatment, the aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin (ALB), and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase of the patients were significantly improved. Then, the animal experiments were conducted for verification. After treatment with cisplatin (DDP) modeling and acupuncture, the HE and Masson staining results of the livers of mice showed that the liver injuries were reduced, and the indexes of platelets, AST and ALT became normal after acupuncture treatment. The gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis indicated that acupuncture may ameliorates liver injury through the Notch signaling pathway. Under the effect of blocker γ-secretase inhibitor (DAPT) for the Notch signaling pathway, the expressions of inflammatory factors and the genes and proteins related to the Notch signaling pathway were all up-regulated, while the alleviation of liver injury by acupuncture was inhibited. These results suggest that acupuncture can ameliorate platinum treatment-induced liver injury through the Notch signaling pathway.

Gynura cusimbua (D. Don) S. Moore is a medicinal plant traditionally used to accelerate wound healing. Scientifically, it has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, hypoglycemic and anti-angiogenic activities. However, no report on wound healing activity of this plant has been studied scientifically so far. Thus, our study presents a scientific evaluation of wound healing potential of hydroalcoholic extract of Gynura cusimbua leaves. To identify the major phytoconstituents of hydroalcoholic extract, LCMS analysis was carried out. Protein denaturation inhibition method and membrane stabilization test was utilized to check anti- inflammatory activity of the extract. Caudal fin regeneration experiment on adult zebrafish was conducted to study wound healing potential of the extract. Developmental toxicity was studied in zebrafish embryos to rule out toxicity in the model species after systemic administration of the extract. LCMS analysis detected a total of 774 metabolites consisting of flavonoids, terpenoids, polyphenols, lipids, organic acids, phenolic acids as well as cinnamic and coumaric acid derivatives. In vitro anti-inflammatory tests revealed the extract exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in a dose dependent manner. No developmental toxicity was observed after exposure to the extract. Regeneration of caudal fin was observed in fishes exposed to the extract with significant increase in the 800 µg/mL treatment group at 5dpa and 7dpa. Neutrophil accumulation along the wounded area was observed to be highest at 24hpa. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first report showing the wound healing potential of Gynura cusimbua with no developmental toxicity after exposure in the zebrafish model.