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Macrophages are primary immune cells that mediate a wide range of inflammatory diseases through their polarization potential. In this study, phytol isolated from Scoparia dulcis has been explored against 7-ketocholesterol and bacterial lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophage polarization in IC-21 cells. Isolated phytol has been characterized using GC–MS, TLC, HPTLC, FTIR, 1H-NMR, and HPLC analyses. The immunomodulatory effects of viable concentrations of phytol were tested on oxidative stress, arginase activity, nuclear and mitochondrial membrane potentials in IC-21 cells in addition to the modulation of calcium and lipids. Further, gene and protein expression of atherogenic markers were studied. Results showed that the isolated phytol at a viable concentration of 400 µg/ml effectively reduced the production of nitric oxide, superoxide anion (ROS generation), calcium and lipid accumulation, stabilized nuclear and mitochondrial membranes, and increased arginase activity. The atherogenic markers including iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, IL-1β, MMP-9, CD36, and NF-κB were significantly downregulated at the levels of gene and protein expression, while macrophage surface and nuclear receptor markers (CD206, CD163, and PPAR-γ) were significantly upregulated by phytol pre-treatment in macrophages. Therefore, the present pharmacognostic study supports the role of phytol isolated from Scoparia dulcis in preventing M2–M1 macrophage polarization under inflammatory conditions, making it a promising compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disruption of homeostasis, detoxification and excretion in kidney functions by endogenous or exogenous toxicants results in the occurrence of nephrotoxicity. The study aimed to explore Boerhaavia diffusa L., a Nyctaginaceae herbal medicine that has been used commonly for nephrotic syndrome for its nephroprotective property against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. Swiss albino mice were administered with gentamicin and pre-treated with B. diffusa. Biochemical aspects and antioxidants of the kidney were estimated. Histological impacts along with expressions of kidney injury markers and mediators were examined. The phytochemical analyses resulted in the presence of several herbal metabolites with therapeutic influence on kidney injury. Determination of changes in biochemical constituents of the kidney such as urea, uric acid and creatinine suggests that kidney function has been altered in the presence of gentamicin. Examination of histopathological changes revealed that oral administration of mice with an aqueous or ethanolic extract from the leaves of B. diffusa attenuated the kidney damage caused by gentamicin. Levels of cellular antioxidants responsible for scavenging ROS during nephrotoxic conditions were increased with modulation in the gene expression of acute kidney injury biomarkers in extract-treated animals showing their potential nephroprotective action against gentamicin. Inflammatory genes which are responsible for producing pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely, iNOS and IL-6 were downregulated upon B. diffusa administration. B. diffusa potentially mitigates gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity which can be a potential therapeutic drug as a nephroprotectant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digera muricata L., commonly known as Tartara, is an edible herb used as traditional medicine in many countries of Africa and Asia. This study aimed to elucidate the effect of a phytosterol-rich extract of D. muricata on 7-ketocholesterol-mediated atherosclerosis in macrophages. The extract was examined by phytochemical analyses, GC–MS, TLC, DPPH scavenging and hRBC membrane stabilization assays. Macrophage polarization was studied with experimental groups framed based on alamar blue cell viability and griess assays. Regulations of arginase enzyme activity, ROS generation, mitochondrial membrane potential, cell membrane integrity, pinocytosis, lipid uptake and peroxidation, as well as, intracellular calcium deposition were determined. In addition, expressions of atherogenic mediators were analysed using PCR, ELISA and immunocytochemistry techniques. Diverse phytochemicals with higher free radical scavenging activity and anti-inflammatory potential have been detected in the D. muricata. Co-treatment with D. muricata markedly reduced the atherogenic responses induced by 7KCh in the presence of LPS such as ROS, especially, NO and O2− along with lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, D. muricata significantly normalized mitochondrial membrane potential, cell membrane integrity, pinocytic activity, intracellular lipid accumulation and calcium deposition. These results provided us with the potentiality of D. muricata in ameliorating atherogenesis. Additionally, it decreased the expression of pro-atherogenic mediators (iNOS, COX-2, MMP9, IL-6, IL-1β, CD36, CD163 and TGFβ1) and increased anti-atherogenic mediators (MRC1 and PPARγ) with high cellular expressions of NF-κB and iNOS. Results showed the potential of sitosterol-rich D. muricata as a versatile biomedical therapeutic agent against abnormal macrophage polarization and its associated pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation remains a complex process in host defense system and the pathology caused by it remains unsolved till date. Several steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in current use to treat inflammatory diseases elicit side effects in longer run. Hence, in order to counteract these outcomes, a pharmacognistic study using a Lamiaceae plant, Plectranthus amboinicus has been focused in the present study. P. amboinicus commonly known as Indian borage has been used in folk medicine for years in treating numerous diseases. It is well known for the presence of major phytochemical constituents which possess anti-inflammatory properties. Assessment of biochemical constituents and molecular mechanisms behind the anti-inflammatory property of P. amboinicus leaves were carried out in in vivo and in vitro conditions. In vivo studies of formalin-induced nociception and paw edema in mice and for in vitro condition lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation using IC-21 macrophage cells were performed. Aqueous and ethyl acetate leaf extracts of P. amboinicus were analyzed for its phytochemical constituents. Variations in phytochemical components were noticed in GC-MS analysis. The carvacrol containing ethyl acetate extract exhibited higher anti-nociception in terms of lower paw licking time in the later phase of nociception and lowered hind paw edema volume up to 35%. The biochemical analysis revealed that the oxidative stress markers such as malondialdehyde and antioxidant enzymes have been modulated upon pretreatment with both extracts and also modulated the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase 2, Interleukin-1β, histamine 1 receptor genes and nuclear factor kappa B protein. In addition, nitric oxide inhibitory effect was observed in P. amboinicus treated IC-21 macrophages. Therefore, the molecular mechanism put forth in this study provides insights that the presence of carvacrol in ethyl acetate extract enhances anti-inflammatory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of present study was to elucidate anti-initiating efficacy of galangin against benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P)-induced lung carcinogenesis in male Swiss albino mice. Therefore, the activities of xenobiotic metabolic enzymes such as phase I and II were examined in lung as well as liver tissues (to compare the effects between target and non-target organs). Besides, the activities/levels of tissue marker enzymes, antioxidants, lipid peroxidation (LPO), cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) expressions and histological observation of lungs were also analyzed. B(a)P (50 mg/kg body weight) was administered to male Swiss albino mice (20-25 g) to experimentally induce lung cancer. B(a)P-induced animals showed increased activity of phase I (Cytochrome P450, Cytochrome b5, NADPH Cytochrome P450 redcutase and NADH Cytochrome b5 reductase) drug metabolic enzymes, LPO levels, tissue marker enzymes and decreased activity of phase II metabolic enzymes (glutathione-S-transferase, DT-diaphorase and UDP-glucuronyl transferase) as well as antioxidant levels. Histological examination of lungs revealed severe alveolar and bronchiolar damages in B(a)P-induced mice. Immunohistochemical and western blot analysis of CYP1A1 increased significantly in lung tissues of B(a)P-induced animals. Treatment with galangin (20 mg/kg body weight) efficiently counteracted all the above anomalies and restored cellular homeostasis. Our results demonstrate that galangin can modify xenobiotic enzymes in murine model of pulmonary tumorigenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]