Medicinal Herb Extracts Research Articles

Medicinal Herbal Extracts: Therapeutic Potential in Acute Lung Injury

Medicinal Herbal Extracts: Therapeutic Potential in Acute Lung Injury

Anti-inflammatory Capacity of a Medicinal herb extract, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, on In vivo and In vitro models-induced atopic dermatitis

Anemarrhena asphodeloides (AA) Bunge, a rhizomatous plant from the Liliaceae family, is traditionally utilized to manage inflammatory conditions. Nevertheless, its impact on atopic dermatitis (AD) and the associated molecular pathways have not yet been fully explored. This study explored the therapeutic effects of AA on AD both in vivo, using 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced NC/Nga mice, and in vitro, with tumor necrosis factor-α/interferon-γ-stimulated HaCaT keratinocytes. Topical application of AA ointment on the dorsal skin notably alleviated AD symptoms and skin lesions, enhanced the dermatitis score, and improved parameters such as the rate of trans-epidermal water loss, epidermal thickness, mast cell infiltration, systemic IgE levels, and cytokine expression. Furthermore, AA treatment significantly reduced serum levels of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and locally suppressed mRNA expression of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) along with other relevant cytokines in affected skin. Both in vivo and in vitro applications of AA curtailed TSLP levels by inhibiting the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6, a key regulator of pruritus and an initiator of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. Additionally, AA affected the expression of tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis/fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14, a pathway of interest in the study of cutaneous inflammatory diseases. Collectively, these findings propose that AA holds potential as an effective therapeutic agent for treating AD-induced skin inflammation.

Phytochemicals analysis and aflatoxin B1 detoxification potential of leaves extract of Moringa oleifera and Calotropis procera

The present study aimed to identify the presence of certain classes of phytochemicals in the leaf extract of medicinal herbs viz. Moringa oleifera and Calotropis procera, using qualitative detection tests and explored the potential of aqueous and ethanolic extract to inhibit aflatoxin production by thin layer chromatography at 25 °C and pH (7) of different incubation times i.e. 0-, 1-, 3-, 6- and 24-h. Qualitative phytochemical analysis reported that the aqueous leave extracts of M. oleifera and C. procera contained tannins, phlobatannins, quinones, steroids, sugar, betacyanins, fatty acids, phenols, and volatile oils. Aflatoxin analysis reported that the ethanolic extract of M. oleifera was found more effective than detoxifying 100% of AFB1 after 24 h of incubation. In the case of C. procera, the aqueous extract reduced 96.5% of AFB1 and ethanolic extract reduced 96% of AFB1 after 24-h of incubation. The results revealed that natural plant products have a high potential to reduce AFB1 and could contribute to mitigation plans for AFB1. There is a need for further characterisation using techniques such as GC-MS, LC-MS, or NMR which would provide valuable information on the chemical composition of the extracts.

Matrine Enhances the Antitumor Efficacy of Chidamide in CTCL by Promoting Apoptosis.

Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare group of non-Hodgkin lymphoma originating from the skin, which is characterized by T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. Chidamide, a Chinese original antineoplastic agent with independent intellectual property rights, and matrine, an extract of Chinese herbal medicine, both have been reported to exert effects on the treatment of tumors individually. However, chidamide combined with matrine has not been tested for the treatment of CTCL. Both HH and Hut78 CTCL cell lines were treated with chidamide (0.4 μmol/L), matrine (0.6 g/L), or chidamide combined with matrine for 24, 48, and 72 h. Cell viability was estimated by MTS assay at each time point. Flow cytometry was then conducted to detect cell apoptosis. The exact mechanism of chidamide combined with matrine on CTCL cells was detected by Western blotting and further validated in xenograft models of NOD/SCID mice. Compared to the single drug, chidamide combined with matrine showed a more significant effect on proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction on CTCL cells both in vitro and in vivo. The results from the in vitro and in vivo studies suggested that matrine could enhance the anti-tumor effect of chidamide by increasing the protein expression of cleaved caspase- 3 and decreasing the expression of E-cadherin, NF-κB, p-Bad, and Bcl-2 to activate apoptosis. Our data have demonstrated chidamide combined with matrine to exhibit elevated antitumor activity in both CTCL cells and xenograft models of NOD/SCID mice, which may be a potential treatment option for CTCL.

Sapindus Mukurossi - An Effective Biocleanser for Removable Dental Prostheses? An In vitro Study.

This study aims to determine the efficient concentration of Sapindus mukorossi that can be used as a denture cleanser. 60 heat cure denture base resin specimens of dimensions 10*10*2 mm were fabricated. Among these, 30 were fabricated by compression moulding technique and the remaining 30 by an injection moulding technique. The samples inoculated with Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans were subjected to denture cleansing protocols using a medicinal herbal extract from the Sapindus mukorossi, at various concentrations [15%, 20%, and 25%]. The colony-forming unit [CFU] values were evaluated using a microprocessor colony counter. The statistical analysis was performed. The intragroup comparison showed a statistically significant difference between all groups except the compression moulded samples inoculated with Streptococcus mutans. The intergroup comparison revealed no statistically significant differences between the compared groups. The reduction in CFU values is evident in the effective anti-microbial activity of Sapindus mukorossi. A concentration of 25% Sapindus mukorossi solution showed the greatest efficiency. The maximum anti-microbial activity was observed against Candida albicans in a 25% concentration of Sapindus mukorossi. Among all, injection moulded samples showed better results.

Rapid identification of Radix Astragali origin by using fluorescence probe combined with chemometrics

Fluorescent probes for metal ion recognition can be divided into selective probes, weakly selective probes, and non-selective probes roughly. Weakly selective probes are not often used for quantitative analysis of metal ions due to their overlapping spectra resulting from simultaneous interactions with multiple metal ions. Conversely, the different metal ions contained in herbal medicine extracts from different geographical origins will produce corresponding fluorescence fingerprint profiles after interaction with weakly selective fluorescence probes. The performance can be used in the study of origin tracing of food or Chinese herbal medicine. Weakly selective fluorescent probes of benzimidazole derivatives have been synthesized and attempted to be used in the origin tracing of Radix Astragali in this work. Radix Astragali from different origins will produce different fluorescence fingerprint spectra due to the difference of metal ions and content in combination with the probe. Excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy in conjunction with N-way partial least squares discriminant analysis (N-PLS-DA), and unfolded partial least squares discriminant analysis (U-PLS-DA) were used to identify the origin of 150 Radix Astragali samples from five geographical origins. The prediction results showed that the correct recognition rates of the U-PLS-DA model and N-PLS-DA model are 95.92% and 93.88%, respectively. In comparison, the results of U-PLS-DA are slightly better than those of N-PLS-DA. These findings indicate that EEM fluorescence spectroscopy based on weakly selective fluorescent probes combined with multi-way chemometrics provides a good idea for the origin tracing of traditional Chinese medicine.

Enhancing nutritional value and health benefits of gluten-free confectionery products: innovative pastilles and marshmallows.

The research focuses on enhancing the nutritional value and potential health benefits of gluten-free confectionery products, developing innovative pastilles and marshmallows enriched with medicinal herb extracts, probiotics, and bioactive compounds from natural sources. Physicochemical properties, including water activity, texture, and color, are assessed to evaluate the quality of the final products. Moreover, in vitro digestibility of the confectionery products is also investigated, with a focus on the release of bioactive compounds such as total phenolic compounds (TPC) and total anthocyanin (TAC) during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Results indicate that the addition of specific ingredients to pastille samples does not lead to variations in water activity (~0.44), preserving the original properties, quality, and stability of the food. In contrast, the incorporation of additives in marshmallow products significantly increases water activity (p ≤ 0.05), attributed to their moisture-retaining effect. In general, our findings reveal that texture properties and color parameters are significantly affected by different formulations (p ≤ 0.05) for both confectionery products. Notably, the use of fruit and berries puree, along with the incorporation of additives, improves the functionality of confectionary products in terms of consumer acceptance (harder pastilles and softer marshmallow) and product quality. Furthermore, the study reveals that bioactive compounds are released and become more bioaccessible during digestion, particularly in the intestinal phase, with a maximum release exceeding 97% of TPC and TAC for both pastille and marshmallow samples. These findings pave the way for the development of a new category of gluten-free confectionery products, enriched with functional ingredients that offer potential health benefits, aligning with consumer preferences for natural, functional, and health-conscious treats. This research contributes to the evolving the landscape of functional confectionery products and underscores their potential as immune-boosting and naturally based food options.

ОПТИМИЗАЦИЯ ПРОДУКТИВНОСТИ И МОРФОЛОГИЧЕСКОГО СОСТАВА КРОВИ МОЛОДНЯКА КРУПНОГО РОГАТОГО СКОТА С ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕМ БИОЛОГИЧЕСКИ АКТИВНЫХ ДОБАВОК

Research objective. Determination of effectiveness of selenium and iodine preparations effect in combination with herbal extracts on productive qualities and physiological status of calves. The combined use of micronutrients selenium and iodine against the background of medicinal plant extracts to increase the productivity of farm animals is an urgent problem. The purpose of this work is to determine the effectiveness of the influence of selenium and iodine preparations in combination with extracts of medicinal herbs on the productive qualities and physiological status of calves. Procedure.From the beginning of the main period of the experiment (from 3 months of age), the conditions of housing and feeding for the groups were the same, but the animals of the experimental groups were given various drugs in addition to the main diet. Results. At the end of the experimental tests, compared with the control group, the average live weight of the animal in group 1 was higher by 1.30 %, and in group II it was higher by 3.3 % (P > 0.05). The average daily increase also increased in the first experimental group by 3.0 % (P > 0.05), in the second experimental group by 7.4 % (P > 0.05), compared with the control. Analysis of the morphological composition of blood from young animals subjected to testing showed on the 150th day of the experiment an increase in the number of erythrocytes in the 1st experimental group by 10.4 % (P < 0.05), and in the 2nd experimental group the increase occurred by 13.4 % (P < 0, 05) compared to control. We recorded an increase in the number of leukocytes in the blood of young calves at the end of the study, on day 150, in the first experimental group by 4.60 % (P > 0.05), in the second experimental group by 8.01 % (P < 0, 05), compared to the control group. On the 150th day of experimental tests, when studying the morphological composition of blood from experimental animals, it was found that the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood of young calves was higher in experimental group I by 3.30 % (P > 0.05), in experimental group II it was higher by 9, 74 % (P < 0.05) compared with analogues in the control group. Scientific novelty. The joint use of selenium and iodine micronutrients against the background of extracts of medicinal plants to increase the productivity of farm animals is an urgent problem. For the first time, the effect of various combinations of selenium and iodine preparations in combination with extracts of medicinal herbs on the productivity and physiological status of young cattle was assessed. Optimal doses of said fodder ingredients introduction into their diets are proposed.

Medicinal Herbs Extracts as an Alternative Therapeutics Approach against Multi-Drug Resistant Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli

Medicinal Herbs Extracts as an Alternative Therapeutics Approach against Multi-Drug Resistant Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli

Total phenolic content and antioxidant activities in methanol extracts of medicinal herbs from Indo-Gangetic plains of India

The present study investigates total phenolics, flavonoids, and in vitro antioxidant activities in methanol extracts of roots, stems, leaves, and fruits of medicinal herbs (Phyllanthus fraternus G.L. Webster; Bhui-amla and Solanum nigrum L.; Makoi or black nightshade) of Indo-Gangetic plains of India. The results showed that biochemical attributes of methanol extracts of both the tested plants varied significantly with sites (P < 0.05). Contents of total phenolics and flavonoids and antioxidant properties were found highest in fruits followed by leaf, stem, and least in root of P. fraternus and leaves, fruits, stem, and roots of S. nigrum plants. The present investigation revealed that total phenolic content in fruits of P. fraternus ranged from 26.69 to 61.48 mg GAE/g fw and from 8.89 to 24.69 mg GAE/g fw in leaves of S. nigrum plants, and thus, these plant parts can be promoted for pharmaceutical purposes and health benefits. It is also suggested that the individual phenolic compound in the different parts of tested plants should be analyzed to identify their elite population for their mass cultivation, conservation, and sustainable utilization.

Pectin based hydrogel with covalent coupled doxorubicin and limonin loading for lung tumor therapy

Self-healing hydrogels have shown great application potential in drug delivery for anti-tumor therapy and tissue engineering. In this research, Doxorubicin (DOX) was coupled onto the oxidized pectin (pec-Ald) to prepare DOX grafted pec-AD and used to fabricate self-healing hydrogel for lung cancer therapy combined with novel herbal medicine extract limonin targeting lung cancer cells. The hydrogel was prepared with P(NIPAM195-co-AH54) cross-linking and the hydrazone bond cross-linked hydrogel showed good mechanical property and self-healing behavior. With pectin composition, the hydrogel was still biodegradable catalyzed by enzyme and in vivo. The hydrogel formed fast fit for injectable application and the hydrogel itself showed moderate lung cancer inhibition activity. With limonin loading, the hydrogel showed synergistic lung cancer therapy with the tumor growth greatly inhibited. The covalent coupling of DOX and loaded limonin in the hydrogel decreased in vivo toxicity and the hydrogel degraded on time. With biodegradability and improved lung cancer therapy efficiency, this DOX grafted self-healing hydrogel could find great potential application in cancer therapy in near future.

Anti-Ectoparasite Activity of Medicinal Herbal Plant in Terms of Reducing Ectoparasites Effect on Sheep and Goat Skins

Ethiopia has one of the world’s largest livestock resources. However, the effects of disease, inadequate nutrition and management constrain the potential of this resource. Ectoparasites are one of the primary contributing factors in the tanneries for sheep and goat skin rejection. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of medicinal herbal plant extracts on ectoparasites (ticks) on small ruminants in Ethiopia. According to scientific and ethnomedical data gathered from respondents (farmers), the plant species P. dodecandra, E. globulus, C. macrostachyus, J. schimperiana, and C. aurea were used (by farmers) for the study. Phytochemical screening of extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols and saponins, tannins. Ticks from small ruminants (i.e goat and sheep) were collected and an in vitro adult tick immersion test was carried out using concentrations of 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mg/ml of all medicinal plant extracts. The temporal tick mortality was observed within 24-hours. In order to compare the results, distilled water and 12.5% amitraz was used as positive and negative controls, respectively. After 24 hours of exposure, P. dodecandra, J. schimperiana, and C. macrostachyus extracts had a moderate (60%) effect on tick mortality; however, C. aurea extract at 100 mg/ml and E. globulus extract at 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml had the highest mortality rate (80%). The study found that following in vitro treatment for the studied plants, the mean tick mortality increased considerably with increasing concentration and exposure duration. The existence of phytochemicals (active ingredients) in several plants, such as phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannin, saponin, etc., may be the cause of their anti-ectoparasite effects. The study’s findings suggested that these plants might be crucial in reducing the need for chemical based medicines as well as managing the population of resistant ticks in an environmentally friendly manner.

Characteristics of speech function in the process of patients getting used to removable dentures

Relevance. The study of the attitude to the disease of dental patients during the adaptation period with the use of conventional clinical research methods is relatively rarely covered in the available domestic and foreign literature. Objective. To study the changes of internal disease pattern after the adaptation period completion in rehabilitation of patients with full tooth loss by full removable acrylic dentures, including the use of such orthopedic dental prosthesis together with the adhesive agent, designed to improve their fixation. Materials and methods. 48 (15 men and 33 women) elderly patients (61–74 years old) with a total loss of teeth were examined and were divided into 2 study groups: 1 – comparison group; 2 – main group. There were also examined 17 elderly people who had no defects of dental rows and formed a control group. The defects of dental rows in the patients of the 1st and 2nd groups were eliminated by making removable dentures. At the same time, during the adaptation period the patients of the second group of the study used a new domestic adhesive cream Aceptа Рarodontal with an extract of medicinal herbs for fixation of dentures. Before treatment and during the adaptation period the types of patients’ relation to the disease were investigated; for this purpose the clinical technique «Type of relation to the disease» (TORD) was usedResults. It was found that while preserving the integrity of dental rows in elderly people the types of attitude to the disease included in the conditionally adaptive block were mainly marked. At the end of adaptation period if all patients of the main group 2 had the types of attitude towards the disease included in the first conditionally adaptive block, then the patients of the comparison group 1 in only 39.1% of people revealed similar types of attitude towards the disease, which testified to the problems in adaptation to new removable acrylic dentures made for the treatment of complete tooth loss. Conclusion. The use of ASEPTA РARODONTAL adhesive cream with herbal extracts by patients provides a positive correction of the internal picture of the disease and the patient’s personal reaction to the treatment. On the basis of the carried out research it is possible to recommend to patients the domestic adhesive cream ASEPTA РARODONTAL for denture fixation in order to optimize the adaptation period to removable acrylic dentures as well as for permanent use, which will improve not only fixation and stabilization of dentures, condition of denture bed mucosa, but also quality of speech function.

Isodopharicin C inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation and alleviates septic shock in mice

To investigate the effect of Isodopharicin C (Iso C), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine extract, on NLRP3 inflammasome activation and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic shock in mice. Murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) and human monocytic THP-1 cells were stimulated with LPS before treatment with different NLRP3 inflammasome agonists to activate canonical NLRP3 inflammasomes. The non-canonical NLRP3 inflammasomes were activated by intracellular LPS transfection, and AIM2 inflammasomes were activated with poly A: T. The cleavage of caspase-1 induced by NLRP3 activation was measured using Western blotting. The levels of NLRP3-dependent and -independent pro-inflammatory cytokines in the cell culture supernatant were detected using ELISA, and the intracellular potassium ion concentration was measured using ICP-OES. In the animal experiment, C57BL/6J mouse models of septic shock (induced by intraperitoneal LPS injection) were treated with Iso C, and the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 in the serum and peritoneal lavage fluid were detected using ELISA. The survival time of the mice was observed within 48 h after LPS injection and a survival curve was plotted. In BMDM cells, Iso C dose-dependently inhibited the activation of canonical NLRP3 inflammasomes and non-canonical NLRP3 inflammasomes (P<0.05) without obviously affecting the secretion levels of TNF-α and IL-6 (P>0.05), the activation of AIM2 inflammasomes (P>0.05), or K + efflux, the upstream signaling of NLRP3 activation (P>0.05). Iso C inhibited the activation of canonical NLRP3 inflammasomes in human THP-1 cells. In septic C57BL/6J mice, Iso C treatment significantly reduced IL-1β levels in the serum and peritoneal lavage fluid, and prolonged the survival time of the mice (P<0.05). Iso C specifically inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation and alleviates septic shock in mice, and can serve as a potential small molecule compound for treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Quercetin as a major component of Punica granatum L. effectively controls WSSV infection and transmission in the larval shrimp culture stage

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a major pathogen in shrimp culture because of its high infectivity, fast transmission speed, and high fatality rate. White spot disease (WSD), caused by WSSV poses a substantial threat to shrimp production. Therefore, it is crucial to identify effective antiviral agents to mitigate the economic loss caused by WSD. In this study, we prepared 20 ethanol extracts of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) and evaluated their anti-WSSV effectiveness using Litopenaeus vannamei larvae as a model. Among the tested extracts, Punica granatum L. exhibited the highest inhibition of WSSV infection at 85%, followed by Gentiana macrophylla at 79% and Isatis tinctoria L. at 63%. Quercetin, an active ingredient found in P. granatum at a concentration of 6.3 μM, increased the survival rate of WSSV-infected larvae by 30% after 72 hpi, and significantly inhibited WSSV infection. Further data from pre-incubation assays indicated that quercetin exhibited a potentially destructive effect on WSSV virions, thereby reducing the virulence and blocking viral horizontal transmission. Moreover, the high stability of the aquacultural water facilitated the continuous exchange of quercetin treatment, which further prolonged the survival time of WSSV-infected shrimp such that the survival rate was still at 13% after 5 days. These results highlight the potential application of quercetin in eliminating WSSV during shrimp larval production.

Integrated multi-omics and bioinformatic methods to reveal the mechanisms of sinomenine against diabetic nephropathy

ObjectivesDiabetic Nephropathy (DN) is a serious complication of diabetes, the diagnosis and treatment of DN is still limited. Sinomenine (SIN) is an active extract of herbal medicine and has been applied into the therapy of DN.MethodsIn the part of bioinformatic analyses, network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses were conducted to predict the important pathway of SIN treatment for DN. In-vivo study, DN rats were randomized to be treated with vehicle or SIN (20 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg) daily by gavage for 8 weeks. Then, the pharmacological effect of SIN on DN and the potential mechanisms were also evaluated by 24 h albuminuria, histopathological examination, transcriptomics, and metabolomics.ResultsFirstly, network pharmacology and molecular docking were performed to show that SIN might improve DN via AGEs/RAGE, IL-17, JAK, TNF pathways. Urine biochemical parameters showed that SIN treatment could significantly reduce 24 h albuminuria of DN rats. Transcriptomics analysis found SIN could affect DN progression via inflammation and EMT pathways. Metabolic pathway analysis found SIN would mainly involve in arginine biosynthesis, linoleic acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism to affect DN development.ConclusionsWe confirmed that SIN could inhibit the progression of DN via affecting multiple genes and metabolites related pathways.

Antiglycation and antioxidant activity of herbal medicines used in the treatment of climacteric symptoms

ObjectivesThis work had the objective to evaluate the antiglycation and antioxidant potential of Cimicifuga racemosa L., Trifolium pratense L., Humulus lupulus L. and Morus nigra L., commonly used in traditional medicine for the treatment of climacteric symptoms. MethodsAntioxidant activity was evaluated by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power, inhibition of lipid peroxidation thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging and inhibition of oxidative haemolysis test. The evaluation of antiglycation activity was performed by the determination of relative electrophoretic mobility of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with ribose and BSA with methylglyoxa in the presence and absence of Cu2+ ion. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were determined by spectrophotometric methods. ResultsThe highest antioxidant activity for DPPH and ferric reducing antioxidant power test was detected in Humulus lupulus (83.56% and 46.95 µM TE/g dry extract, respectively). For the inhibition of lipid peroxidation, the lowest percentages of TBARS were found in M. nigra (4.82%) and H. lupulus (18.26%). C. racemosa presented the lowest nitrite formation (34.57 µmol/mL nitrite formed) in nitric oxide test. T. pratense presented the highest polyphenol (24.61 mg GAE/g dry extract) and flavonoid (22.79 mg RE/g dry extract) contents. For the oxidative haemolysis assay, the extracts showed concentration-dependent inhibitory capacity, while for the antiglycation activity all extracts showed antiglycation potential against glycation of BSA promoted by Ribose evaluated by the electrophoretic profile. ConclusionsIn view of the results obtained in this study, it was possible to verify that the dry extracts of herbal medicines used for climacteric symptoms present antioxidant and antiglycation activities, mainly due to the presence of phenols compounds in their composition.

Protective Effects of a Mixed Medicinal Herb Extract (NUC1) on Collagenase-Induced Osteoarthritis in Rabbits.

NUC1 (Nutraceutical compound 1) is an ethanol extract composed of a formulation based on medicinal herbs traditionally used for the treatment of arthritis in Korea and China. This study investigated the therapeutic effects of NUC1 on osteoarthritis (OA). The protective effect of NUC1 on OA was tested in a rabbit model of collagenase-induced arthritis (CIA) for 4 weeks. Results were compared among four groups (n = 9 per group): the normal group (untreated), the CIA group (vehicle control), the NUC1 group (CIA rabbits treated with 200 mg/kg NUC1), and the JOINS group (positive control, CIA rabbits treated with 200 mg/kg JOINS tablet). NUC1 significantly inhibited NO production (p < 0.05 at 125 μg/ml, p < 0.01 at 250 μg/ml, and p < 0.001 at 500 μg/ml) and iNOS expression in macrophages, in a concentration-dependent manner. NUC1 also inhibited the release and protein expression of MMP-1, 3, and 13, in TNF-α-induced chondrosarcoma cells in a concentration-dependent manner. In vivo, the MMP-1 and MMP-3 levels in synovial fluids were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in NUC1 group (77.50 ± 20.56 and 22.50 ± 7.39 pg/ml, respectively) than in the CIA group (148.33 ± 68.58 and 77.50 ± 20.46 pg/ml, respectively). Also, in histopathological, NUC1 ameliorated articular cartilage damage in OA by increasing the abundance of chondrocytes and proteoglycan in the articular cartilage. Thus, NUC1 showed promise as a potential therapeutic agent, and it can be generalized to a broader study population in different OA animal models.

Efficient production of 4-acetylantroquinonol B in submerged cultures of Antrodia cinnamomea via addition of Chinese herbal medicine extracts

Antrodia cinnamomea is a valuable fungus. The 4-acetylantroquinonol B (4-AAQB) contained in it has strong anticancer activity. In this study, five kinds of herbs, burdock, wolfberry, coix seed, hawthorn, and tangerine peel were selected and processed into powders, aqueous extracts, and ethanolic extracts to investigate the effects on the production of 4-AAQB by A. cinnamomea. A combination strategy was conducted by adding burdock and tangerine peel aqueous extract. By this means, the production of 4-AAQB was improved to 54.5 mg/L, which was approximately 33-fold higher than the control. After analysis of components of the tangerine peel aqueous extract and the addition of the major components, vanillic acid, protocatechuic acid, and their analogs played an important role in the synthesis of 4-AAQB. It was demonstrated that the addition of Chinese herbs facilitated both cell growth of A. cinnamomea and 4-AAQB production, providing a feasible way to increase the yield of 4-AAQB.

Identification of Bioactive Compounds in Plant Extracts of Greek Flora and Their Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity

This study examined five species of the Lamiaceae family, Origanum vulgare L., Origanum dictamnus L., Origanum majorana L., Mentha spicata L. and Lavandula angustifolia L., and one species of the Hypericaceae family, Hypericum perforatum L., for their potential to enhance health and wellbeing or to prevent diseases. An analysis of secondary metabolites was performed by mass spectrometry and HPLC coupled with diode array detection to determine the phenolic compounds included in the plant extracts. The samples were evaluated for their total phenolic content, antioxidant potential, ability to prevent DNA scission caused by peroxyl radicals and antimicrobial activity against pathogens (MIC). All the samples, except Lavandula angustifolia L., had a high DPPH radical scavenging activity and showed significant antibacterial activity. Origanum majorana L. demonstrated the lowest IC50 value (10.31 μg·mL−1). Extracts of medicinal herbs had a remarkably high phenolic content varying between 428 and 1512.74 μg GAE/mg of dry extract, with Origanum vulgare L. having the largest amount of polyphenols. Moreover, the plant extracts exhibited a high level of resistance against DNA damage, with Origanum majorana L. showing the greatest level of protection with 98.05% inhibition. According to the results of this study, these plants from the Greek flora provide beneficial effects for health as natural antioxidants. A baseline can be established through the analysis of the findings of this survey for future research on the same plant species.