Perforatum Extract Research Articles

Platelet antiaggregant activity of Hypericum perforatum extracts

BackgroundIn addition to its potential use as an antidepressant, different studies have shown that Hypericum perforatum (HP) can have antibacterial, antioxidant, and antiviral properties. Despite this potential, most of the therapeutic bioactivities attributed to HP need further scientific support. In a previous study we found an inhibitory effect of HP in platelet activation markers. So, in the present work we investigate the effect of HP in another aspect of platelet function, platelet aggregation. MethodsFirst, the effect of different concentrations of the total alcoholic extract of HP on platelet aggregation was studied in 9 healthy donors by aggregometry methods using collagen as agonist. After that, to obtain dose-effect curves, 3 experiments were carried out independently in a single individual using collagen, adenosine diphosphate and epinephrine as agonists. ResultsOur results reveal a marked inter-individual variability and a significant dose-dependent decrease of aggregation responses induced by collagen in the presence of HP extracts (mean of minimum inhibition: 8% at a dose of 0.068 mg es/ml and mean of maximum inhibition: 43% at a dose of 0.456 mg es/ml). With the results obtained it was possible to obtained a IC50 value of 0.34 mg es/ml. ConclusionsWe can conclude that HP has a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on platelet function (activation and aggregation responses), therefore, our results suggest that HP may be recognized as an herbal medicine with anti-platelet properties.

Active packaging coating based on Ocimum basilicum seed mucilage and Hypericum perforatum extract: Preparation, characterization, application and modeling the preservation of ostrich meat

Fresh meat is prone to spoilage, resulting in health risks and financial losses. Research has explored various edible coatings infused with antioxidants and antibacterial agents to preserve meat freshness. The purpose of this research was therefore to create an innovative edible coating for ostrich meat slices using Ocimum basilicum seed mucilage (OBSM) infused with Hypericum perforatum extract (HPE). The phenolic profile, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of HPE were investigated. The HPE contained significant levels of phenolic (34.48 mg gallic acid/g) and flavonoids (15.44 mg quercetin/g) compounds, which included hyperforin, protopseudohypericin, and hypericin as the primary extract compounds. The HPE also demonstrated potent antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The HPE (0, 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 %) was combined with OBSM to coat the ostrich meat slices and stabilize their physicochemical, microbial, and sensory properties during storage (4 °C, 9 days). The samples coated with OBSM+2.5 %HPE showed lower counts of total viable count (6.20 vs. 7.46 log colony forming unit (CFU)/g), psychrotrophic (4.09 vs. 5.37 log CFU/g), coliform (3.08 vs. 3.62 log CFU/g), and fungi (2.33 vs. 3.36 log CFU/g). Additionally, the coated samples exhibited a lower total color difference and higher moisture content, hardness, and overall acceptance during storage. The comparative analysis revealed that Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) outperformed the Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) in terms of precision, demonstrating a superior ability to estimate the experimental data with minimal deviation. The findings of this study indicate that the OBSM+HPE-based edible coating was highly effective in improving the shelf-life of ostrich meat.

Enhancment of zebrafish (Danio rerio) immune and antioxidant systems using medicinal plant extracts encapsulated in alginate-chitosan nanocapsules with slow sustained release.

This study aimed to screen 10 medicinal plant extracts on zebrafish (Danio rerio), evaluating their impact on the complement system, immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels, lysozyme, and peroxidase activity, while also enhancing their efficacy through the gradual release using alginate-chitosan nanocapsules. The prepared methanolic extracts were combined with fish feed. The fish were divided into 12 groups, including 10 treatment groups, a positive and a negative control group. Results showed varying impacts of the extracts on the immune and antioxidant systems, with Cinnamon (Cinnamon cassia) and Hypericum (Hypericum perforatum) extracts demonstrating the most significant effects. Subsequently, Cinnamon and Hypericum extract were encapsulated in alginate-chitosan nanocapsules to assess their impact on zebrafish immune parameters, separately and synergistically. Gradual release of the extracts from the nanocapsules was observed, with slower release at pH 2 compared to pH 7. Overall, Cinnamon and Hypericum extracts exhibited substantial immune system enhancement, and their encapsulation in nanocapsules improved their effects on zebrafish immune parameters. These findings suggest using these encapsulated extracts to enhance immune responses in aquatic organisms.

Chitosan/Hyaluronate Complex-Coated Electrospun Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Materials Containing Extracts from Melissa officinalis and/or Hypericum perforatum with Various Biological Activities: Antioxidant, Antibacterial and In Vitro Anticancer Effects.

The present study aimed to fabricate innovative fibrous materials with various biological activities from poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), sodium hyaluronate (HA), chitosan (Ch), Melissa officinalis (MO), Hypericum perforatum (HP) extract, or a combination of both extracts. Electrospinning or electrospinning followed by dip coating and the subsequent formation of a polyelectrolyte complex were the methods used to prepare these materials. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) were applied for investigating the morphology of materials, their thermal characteristics, and their surface chemical composition. The composition and design of the mats had an influence on the in vitro release behavior of the main bioactive compounds present in the MO and HP extracts incorporated in the materials. It was found that as-created materials comprising a combination of both extracts and a Ch/HA complex exerted higher antioxidant activity than that of (non-)coated MO-containing mats and Ch/HA-coated mats containing HP. The novel materials manifested antibacterial efficacy towards the pathogenic bacteria S. aureus and E. coli, as evidenced by the performed microbiological screening. Furthermore, the mats possessed a great growth inhibitory effect on HeLa cancer cells but had a less pronounced effect on the growth of normal mouse BALB/3T3 fibroblasts. The loading of both extracts in the mats and the formation of coating led to the enhancement of the in vitro anticancer and antibacterial activities of the materials. Thus, the novel materials have potential for use in local cancer therapy as well as for use as wound dressings.

Determination of Antimicrobial, Anticarcinogenic Activity of Bioactive Components of Hypericum Perforatum L. Plant

Hypericum perforatum L. (St John's wort), although primarily utilized in traditional medicine, is also frequently employed in modern therapy. Within the scope of the study, H. perforatum was collected from Kahramanmaraş region and dried. Extracts derived from above-ground parts were analyzed to determine their levels of total phenolic and flavonoid compounds, as well as their antioxidant, anticancer and antimicrobial properties. Following the GC-MS analysis of the extracts, a total of 18 distinct fatty acids were identified. The main fatty acid components were identified as behenic (37.90 %), linoleic (21.22 %), gamma-linolenic (15.87 %), oleic (9.45 %) and palmitic acid (7.64 %). The plant extracts were found to have a total phenolic content of 60.22 mg GAE g-1 and a flavonoid content of 7.68 µg QE g-1, as determined through analysis. Additionally, FRAP and IC50 values were determined as 26.96 µg AAE g-1 and 0.44 µg mL-1, respectively. The antimicrobial activities of H. perforatum extracts were investigated among a total of 11 microorganisms, including 9 bacteria and 2 yeasts. It has been observed that extracts possess significant antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms. H. perforatum extracts were observed to have dose-dependent inhibition of all organisms. It was observed that H. perforatum extracts killed cancer cells at concentrations of 0.1 mg mL-1 and above on H1299, MCF-7 and HUVEC cancer cell lines.

Dermal Delivery of Hypericum perforatum (L.) Loaded Nanogel: Formulation to Preclinical Psoriasis Assessment.

Nanophytosomes represent an effective choice for topical drug delivery systems thanks to their small size, general non-toxicity, ease of functionalization and high surface to volume ratio. The goal of the current study was to investigate the potential benefits of using Hypericum perforatum extract nanogel as a means of improving skin penetration and prolonging skin deposition in dermatitis similar to psoriasis. Nanophytosomes (NPs) were developed, optimised and thoroughly characterised. The optimised NPs were then placed in a Carbopol gel base matrix and tested ex-vivo (skin penetration and dermatokinetic) and in-vivo (antipsoriatic activity in an Imiquimod-induced psoriatic rat model). The optimised NPs had a spherical form and entrapment efficiency of 69.68% with a nanosized and zeta potential of 168 nm and -10.37mV, respectively. XRD spectra and transmission electron microscopy tests confirmed the plant botanical encapsulation in the NPs. Following 60 days of storage at 40 ± 2°C/75 ± 5% RH, the optimised formula remained relatively stable. As compared to extract gel, nano-gel showed a much-improved ex vivo permeability profile and considerable drug deposition in the viable epidermal-dermal layers. When developed nano-gel was applied topically to a rat model of psoriasis, it demonstrated distinct in vivo anti-psoriatic efficacy in terms of drug activity and reduction of epidermal thickness in comparison to other formulations and the control. ELISA and histopathologic studies also demonstrated that nano-organogel had improved skin integrity and downregulated inflammatory markers (IL-17, IL-6, IFN-γ and MCP-1). Findings suggest that a developed plant botanicals-based nanogel has a potential for the treatment of psoriasis-like dermatitis with better skin retention and effectiveness.

Optimization of Hypericum Perforatum Microencapsulation Process by Spray Drying Method

Hypericum perforatum (HP) contains valuable and beneficial bioactive compounds that have been used to treat or prevent several illnesses. Encapsulation technology offers protection of the active compounds and facilitates to expose of the biologically active compounds in a controlled mechanism. Microcapsulation of the hydroalcoholic gum arabic and maltodextrin have hot been used as wall materials in the encapsulation of HP extract. Therefore, the optimum microencapsulation parameters of Hypericum perforatum (HP) hydroalcoholic extract were determined using response surface methodology (RSM) for the evaluation of HP extract. Three levels of three independent variables were screened using the one-way ANOVA. Five responses were monitored, including total phenolic content (TPC), 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), carr index (CI), hausner ratio (HR), and solubility. Optimum drying conditions for Hypericum perforatum microcapsules (HPMs) were determined: 180 °C for inlet air temperature, 1.04/1 for ratio of maltodextrin to gum arabic (w/w), and 1.98/1 for coating to core material ratio (w/w). TPC, antioxidant activity, CI, HR, and solubility values were specified as 316.531 (mg/g GAE), 81.912%, 6.074, 1.066, and 35.017%, respectively, under the optimized conditions. The major compounds of Hypericum perforatum (hypericin and pseudohypericin) extract were determined as 4.19 μg/g microcapsule and 15.09 μg/g microcapsule, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis revealed that the mean particle diameter of the HPMs was 20.36 µm. Based on these results, microencapsulation of HPMs by spray drying is a viable technique which protects the bioactive compounds of HP leaves, facilitating its application in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.Graphical

Humoral immune response of Galleria mellonella after mono- and co-injection with Hypericum perforatum extract and Candida albicans.

Galleria mellonella is used as a model organism to study the innate immune response of insects. In this study, the humoral immune response was assessed by examining phenoloxidase activity, fungal burden, and the expression of phenoloxidase and antimicrobial peptide genes at different time point following separate and combined injections of Hypericum perforatum extract and a nonlethal dose of Candida albicans. The administration of a plant extract at low doses increased phenoloxidase activity, while higher doses had no effect. Similarly, co-injection of a low dose of the extract with the pathogen allowed half of the yeast cells to survive after 24 h. Co-injection of plant extract with the pathogen decreased the phenoloxidase activity at the end of 4 h compared to C. albicans mono-injection. The phenoloxidase gene expressions was reduced in all experimental conditions with respect to the control. When plant extracts and the pathogen were administered together, gallerimycin and hemolin gene expressions were considerably higher compared to mono-injections of plant extracts and the pathogen. The results of this study reveal that gene activation and regulatory mechanisms may change for each immune gene, and that recognition and signaling pathways may differ depending on the involved immunoregulator.

Apolar Extracts of St. John's Wort Alleviate the Effects of β-Amyloid Toxicity in Early Alzheimer's Disease.

Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) has been described to be beneficial for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Different extractions have demonstrated efficiency in mice and humans, esp. extracts with a low hypericin and hyperforin content to reduce side effects such as phototoxicity. In order to systematically elucidate the therapeutic effects of H. perforatum extracts with different polarities, APP-transgenic mice were treated with a total ethanol extract (TE), a polar extract obtained from TE, and an apolar supercritical CO2 (scCO2) extract. The scCO2 extract was formulated with silicon dioxide (SiO2) for better oral application. APP-transgenic mice were treated with several extracts (total, polar, apolar) at different concentrations. We established an early treatment paradigm from the age of 40 days until the age of 80 days, starting before the onset of cerebral β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition at 45 days of age. Their effects on intracerebral soluble and insoluble Aβ were analyzed using biochemical analyses. Our study confirms that the scCO2H. perforatum formulation shows better biological activity against Aβ-related pathological effects than the TE or polar extracts. Clinically, the treatment resulted in a dose-dependent improvement in food intake with augmentation of the body weight, and, biochemically, it resulted in a significant reduction in both soluble and insoluble Aβ (-27% and -25%, respectively). We therefore recommend apolar H. perforatum extracts for the early oral treatment of patients with mild cognitive impairment or early AD.

Hypericum perforatum: a comprehensive review on pharmacognosy, preclinical studies, putative molecular mechanism, and clinical studies in neurodegenerative diseases.

The herb Hypericum perforatum, also referred to as St. John's wort, has drawn a lot of interest because of its potential therapeutic benefits in treating neurodegenerative illnesses. Due to the absence of effective therapies, illnesses like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease pose an increasing worldwide health concern. Because of its wide variety of phytochemicals, especially hyperforin, and hypericin, Hypericum perforatum is well known for its neuroprotective properties. These substances have proven to be able to affect different cellular processes linked to neurodegeneration. They can act as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neurotransmitter system regulators, which may help halt neurodegenerative illnesses' progression. The use of Hypericum perforatum extracts and its contents has shown encouraging results in research on animal models of neurodegenerative disorders. These advantages include higher nerve cell survival, lowered oxidative stress, and higher cognitive performance. Underscoring its versatile potential to combat neurodegeneration, Hypericum perforatum has neuroprotective mechanisms that modulate neuroinflammation and prevent apoptotic pathways. In conclusion, Hypericum perforatum shows tremendous promise as a potential treatment for neurological illnesses due to its wide variety of phytochemicals. To completely comprehend its specific mechanisms of action and turn these discoveries into efficient clinical therapies, additional research is needed. Investigating Hypericum perforatum's function in neurodegenerative disorders may present new opportunities for the advancement of ground-breaking therapeutic strategies.

The In Vitro Assessment of Antibacterial and Antioxidant Efficacy in Rosa damascena and Hypericum perforatum Extracts against Pathogenic Strains in the Interplay of Dental Caries, Oral Health, and Food Microbiota.

The rising demand for novel antibiotic agents prompts an investigation into natural resources, notably plant-derived compounds. In this study, various extracts (aqueous, ethanolic, aqueous-ethanolic, and enzymatic) of Rosa damascena and Hypericum perforatum were systematically evaluated against bacterial strains isolated from dental lesions (n = 6) and food sources (raw milk and broiler carcass, n = 2). Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC), antibiofilm activity, and time-kill kinetics were assessed across a range of extract concentrations, revealing a dose-responsive effect. Notably, some extracts exhibited superior antibacterial efficacy compared to standard clinical antibiotics, and the time-kill kinetics demonstrated a rapid elimination of bacterial loads within 24 h. The susceptibility pattern proved strain-specific, contingent upon the extract type, yet all tested pathogens exhibited sensitivity. The identified extracts, rich in phenolic and polyphenolic compounds, as well as other antioxidant properties, contributed to their remarkable antibiotic effects. This comprehensive investigation not only highlights the potential of Rosa damascena and Hypericum perforatum extracts as potent antibacterial agents against diverse bacterial strains including caries pathogens, but also underscores their rapid action and dose-dependent efficacy. The findings suggest a promising avenue for harnessing plant-derived compounds in the development of novel antimicrobial strategies against dental caries and other oral inflammations, bridging the gap between natural resources and antibiotic discovery.

«Decreased everolimus blood concentration associated with consumption of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) extract sweets»

«Decreased everolimus blood concentration associated with consumption of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) extract sweets»

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles by Hypericum perforatum extract and Berberine and Evaluation of Their Antibacterial Effects(Original Article)

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles by Hypericum perforatum extract and Berberine and Evaluation of Their Antibacterial Effects(Original Article)

Investigation of the effects of stirring rate and surfactant concentration on in vitro characterization of Hypericum perforatum extract loaded polycaprolactone particles

Investigation of the effects of stirring rate and surfactant concentration on in vitro characterization of Hypericum perforatum extract loaded polycaprolactone particles

Phytochemical and Biological Evaluation and Isolation of Quercetin from Hypericum cordifolium Flower

Hypericum cordifolium is a medicinal plant used in the treatment of various ailments in Nepalese traditional medicine. The medicinal values and bioactive constituents of Hypericum perforatum have been well investigated and is used as an alternative medicine in the treatment of depression, cancer, inflammation, bacterial and viral infections. However, scientific reports on Nepalese H. cordifolium are very limited. Here we report about the chemical screening of extracts, quality analysis of H. cordifolium extract by thin layer chromatography, TLC using H. perforatum extract and hyperoside as the standards, estimation of phenolics, flavonoids, tannins and sugars as well as antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of flower extracts. The ethyl acetate extract was fractionated and some phytochemicals were isolated. In our findings, TLC analysis of H. cordifolium extract showed the presence of chlorogenic acid, hyperoside and quercetin. Hypericine and rutin were not detected which indicated that the chemotaxonomy of H. cordifolium is different from H. perforatum. In phytochemical analysis, ethyl acetate extract showed the greater amounts of flavonoids, methanol extract showed the greater amounts of tannins and sugars and 50% aqueous methanol extract showed the greater amounts of phenolics. In DPPH free radical scavenging assay, ethyl acetate (18.79±0.98 μg/ml) and 50% aq. methanol (18.98±0.81 μg/ml) extracts showed the lower IC50 values than the methanol extract (27.00±1.03 μg/ml) due to the presence of high amounts of flavonoids and phenolics in these extracts. In antibacterial assay, all extracts showed moderate antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus except 50% aqueous methanol extract. In cytotoxicity assay on human bladder carcinoma cell line 5637, ethanol extract showed IC50 value of 41.35±5.01 μg/ ml. Quercetin was isolated from ethyl acetate extract and characterized by UV and FTIR spectroscopy. The present findings indicated that the flowers of H. cordifolium could be the rich source bioactive compounds with antibacterial, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities.

LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of secondary metabolites of different St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) extracts used as food supplements and evaluation of developmental toxicity on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and larvae

LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of secondary metabolites of different St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) extracts used as food supplements and evaluation of developmental toxicity on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and larvae

Anti-cancer Potential of Hypericum spp. with Focus on Hypericum Perforatum: A Review of the Literature

Background and Ams: Cancer is the cause of many deaths and is the second most prevalent cause of death worldwide. Besides its high mortality, cancer can cause emotional and economic burdens on patients and society. Hypericum is known as herbal medicine that has many species. Its anticancer effects have been proven in various articles. It has many active compounds, including flavonoids, phloroglucinols, and phenylpropanoids. The current review aimed to collect data on the anticancer potential of Hypericum on different types of cancer cell lines and their chief mechanisms. Method: A search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar databases to find relevant studies on the anti-cancer potential of Hypericum perforatum and its underlying mechanisms of action in different cancers. The relevant English language articles published up to March 2022 were collected, screened, and reviewed. Results: The anti-cancer effects of Hypericum perforatum were shown against glioblastoma, neuroblastoma, leukemia, and liver, breast, prostate, lung, bladder, colon, skin, and pancreatic cancers. It can induce apoptosis by activating caspase enzymes and inhibit cell growth in different cancer cell lines. Also, the cytotoxic effects of Hypericum perforatum extract on cancer cell lines were shown in in vitro studies. Conclusion: Hypericum perforatum can be proposed as a strong herbal remedy for the treatment of cancer since it is an available and cheap treatment for cancer compared to other treatments, but further clinical trial studies should be performed to confirm these properties.

Hypericum perforatum ekstresinin siyatik sinir hasarı ile indüklenen periferik nöropati üzerindeki düzenleyici etkisi: fareler üzerinde deneysel bir çalışma

Purpose: The effect of Hypericum perforatum (HP), which is a medicinal plant, on sciatic nerve injury-induced peripheral neuropathy has been less studied so far. The current experimental study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective and antinociceptive effects of Hypericum perforatum (HP) extract on sciatic nerve injury-induced peripheral neuropathy in mice.
 Materials and Methods: In the present study, 18 Balb/C albino mice were allocated equally into three groups. The first group was determined as controls, and no procedure was performed on these mice. Neuropathy was generated by the partial sciatic nerve ligation method on mice allocated to the second and third groups. Mice in the third group received HP extract at a dose of 70 mg/kg per day for fourteen days. Nociception (cold allodynia) was evaluated using the cold plate test at the end of the experimental period. Tumor necrosis factor –αlpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in plasma; inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Bax levels in sciatic nerve were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test. 
 Results: Cold plate latencies (sec) of the neuropathy + HP, neuropathy, and control groups were 8.33 ± 0.67, 5.17 ± 0.60, and 13 ± 0.73, respectively. Plasma TNF-α, IL-6 levels, and sciatic nerve iNOS, COX-2, NF-κB, caspase-3, and Bax levels were significantly decreased after HP supplementation. Bcl-2 levels of the neuropathy + HP, neuropathy, and control groups were 9.92 ± 0.71, 5.37 ± 0.53, and 13.65 ± 0.68, respectively.
 Conclusion: HP has improved oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptotic responses, as well as cytokine levels in plasma and sciatic nerves of mice. It has been concluded that HP provided neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive effects in experimental mice with sciatic nerve injury models, which is suggested to guide future studies on neuropathic pain management.

Hyperforin Enhances Heme Oxygenase-1 Expression Triggering Lipid Peroxidation in BRAF-Mutated Melanoma Cells and Hampers the Expression of Pro-Metastatic Markers.

Hyperforin (HPF) is an acylphloroglucinol compound found abundantly in Hypericum perforatum extract which exhibits antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antitumor activities. Our recent study revealed a potent antimelanoma effect of HPF, which hinders melanoma cell proliferation, motility, colony formation, and induces apoptosis. Furthermore, we have identified glutathione peroxidase-4 (GPX-4), a key enzyme involved in cellular protection against iron-induced lipid peroxidation, as one of the molecular targets of HPF. Thus, in three BRAF-mutated melanoma cell lines, we investigated whether iron unbalance and lipid peroxidation may be a part of the molecular mechanisms underlying the antimelanoma activity of HPF. Initially, we focused on heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which catalyzes the heme group into CO, biliverdin, and free iron, and observed that HPF treatment triggered the expression of this inducible enzyme. In order to investigate the mechanism involved in HO-1 induction, we verified that HPF downregulates the BTB and CNC homology 1 (BACH-1) transcription factor, an inhibitor of the heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX-1) gene transcription. Remarkably, we observed a partial recovery of cell viability and an increase in the expression of the phosphorylated and active form of retinoblastoma protein when we suppressed the HMOX-1 gene using HMOX-1 siRNA while HPF was present. This suggests that the HO-1 pathway is involved in the cytostatic effect of HPF in melanoma cells. To explore whether lipid peroxidation is induced, we conducted cytofluorimetric analysis and observed a significant increase in the fluorescence of the BODIPY C-11 probe 48 h after HPF administration in all tested melanoma cell lines. To discover the mechanism by which HPF triggers lipid peroxidation, along with the induction of HO-1, we examined the expression of additional proteins associated with iron homeostasis and lipid peroxidation. After HPF administration, we confirmed the downregulation of GPX-4 and observed low expression levels of SLC7A11, a cystine transporter crucial for the glutathione production, and ferritin, able to sequester free iron. A decreased expression level of these proteins can sensitize cells to lipid peroxidation. On the other hand, HPF treatment resulted in increased expression levels of transferrin, which facilitates iron uptake, and LC3B proteins, a molecular marker of autophagy induction. Indeed, ferritin and GPX-4 have been reported to be digested during autophagy. Altogether, these findings suggest that HPF induced lipid peroxidation likely through iron overloading and decreasing the expression of proteins that protect cells from lipid peroxidation. Finally, we examined the expression levels of proteins associated with melanoma cell invasion and metastatic potential. We observed the decreased expression of CD133, octamer-4, tyrosine-kinase receptor AXL, urokinase plasminogen activator receptor, and metalloproteinase-2 following HPF treatment. These findings provide further support for our previous observations, demonstrating the inhibitory effects of HPF on cell motility and colony formation in soft agar, which are both metastasis-related processes in tumor cells.

The Effect of Hypericum perforatum Extract on Gastric Ulcer Development in Rat Models

Gastric ulcer is a serious condition that results from the wearing/tearing of the stomach mucosa. A physiological equilibrium is maintained between mucosal defense and aggressive factors. In this study, the effectiveness of medicinal plants (Hypericum perforatum) in the management of gastric ulcer was compared to that of omeprazole, a well-known drug for gastric ulcer. This study involved numerous study groups of male rats comprising of the following: the first group (control group exposed to H. pylori and fed with normal animal feed), the second group (rats exposed to H. pylori and treated with two doses {of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg} of aqueous H. perforatum), and the third group (rats exposed to H. pylori and treated with 20 mg/kg of omeprazole). The outcome of the study demonstrated that a high dose of H. perforatum prevents (50.65%) the development of stomach ulcers. The group treated with omeprazole revealed a formation of stomach ulcers (24.50%). A high dose of the aqueous plant extracts showed greater effectiveness in preventing gastric ulcer formation compared to the lower dosage.