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Ammi visnaga (A. visnaga) is an annual herb that has been used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments attributed to the presence of its bioactive compounds. The purpose of this study was to identify and examine the phytochemical properties of the hydroalcoholic extract of A. visnaga using in vitro and in vivo models. Our findings demonstrated that the extract contained a variety of beneficial components, including phenols, flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, saponins, khellin, and visnagin. The total polyphenolic content and total flavonoid content were 23.26 mg/GAE/g dry weight and 13.26 mg/GAE/g dry weight, respectively. In vitro tests demonstrated that the extract possessed antioxidant properties as evidenced by the ability to scavenge free radicals, including DPPH, ABTS, nitric oxide (NO), phosphomolybdate, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Further, the extract was found to inhibit hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced hemolysis. In a 90-d in vivo study, female Wistar rats were administered 1 g/kg of A. visnaga extract orally resulting in a significant increase in total white blood cell count. Although morphological changes were observed in the liver, no marked alterations were noted in kidneys and spleen. In a female Swiss albino mice model of acetic acid-induced vascular permeability, A. visnaga significantly inhibited extravasations of Evans blue at doses of 0.5 or 1 g/kg with inhibition percentages of 51 and 65%, respectively, blocking tissue necrosis. The extract also demonstrated potential immunomodulatory properties in mice by enhancing antibody production in response to antigens. In silico molecular docking studies demonstrated a strong affinity between khellin or visnagin and immunomodulatory proteins, NF-κB, p52, and TNF-α. These findings suggest that A. visnaga may be considered a beneficial antioxidant with immunomodulatory properties and might serve as a therapeutic agent to combat certain diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platelets are very abundant in the blood, where they play a role in hemostasis, inflammation, and immunity. When activated, platelets undergo a conformational change that allows the release of numerous effector molecules as well as the production of extracellular vesicles, which are circulating submicron vesicles (10 to 1,000 nm in diameter) released into the extracellular space. Extracellular vesicles are formed by the budding of platelet and they carry some of its contents, including nucleic acids, surface proteins, and organelles. While platelets cannot cross tissue barriers, platelet-derived extracellular vesicles can enter the lymph, bone marrow, and synovial fluid. This allows the transfer of diverse contents carried by these platelet-derived vesicles to cell recipients and organs inaccessible to platelets where they can perform many functions. This review highlights the importance of these platelet-derived extracellular vesicles under different physiological and pathophysiological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platelets were isolated from healthy donors (n = 10, green dots), COVID-19 patients treated with aspirin (n = 10, red dots), or not treated with aspirin (n = 10, blue squares). Given that aspirin was found without effect on platelet functions in certain proinflammatory conditions, [15][16][27] and since it is unclear what mediates platelet activation in COVID-19, the question of whether aspirin would have any effect on platelet activation in COVID-19 patients remained to be addressed. Thus, an aspirin regimen can reduce platelet aggregation induced by low concentrations of thrombin and collagen and the production of TxB SB 2 sb , but the effects of aspirin on platelet aggregation are lost with higher concentrations of agonists. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is spreading throughout the world at an alarming rate. [Extracted from the article]

To further explore the signaling mechanism involved in the regulatory role of PKC in thrombin-induced platelet aggregation in CD patients, we assessed the phosphorylation of PKC on Tyr SP 311 sp and Thr SP 505 sp . In human platelets, pre-treatment with the specific PKC inhibitor significantly decreased platelet activation in patients with CD. The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), representing chronic and relapsing-remitting disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, encompasses Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Artemisia herba-alba (AHA) is largely used in folk medicine in different countries. However, rare studies provided toxicological evaluation regarding their safety on human health. Objective: This study investigated the safety of the standardized aqueous extract of AHA, like used by patients, to evaluate their toxicity in vivo and in vitro. Materials and Methods: For toxicological evaluation in vivo we used acute (during 14 days) and sub-acute oral gavages in Wistar rats (rats treated daily for 42 days at 1-5 g/kg bw) and the 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay was performed to determine the level of cell viability and the degree of cytotoxicity in vitro (0-30 µg/ml) on cultured spleen cells. Results: The LD50 was up to 2 g/kg. Signs of mortality and toxicity were observed after single doses and no-observed-adverse-effect levels in the sub acute toxicity was up to 2 g/kg bw. Compared to the control, the treatment did not produce any statistically significant changes on alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase serum titer. However, for creatinine and urea serum value, a significant increase (P < 0.05) was observed. The histological observations of liver and spleen tissues have shown well-preserved normal cells. Indeed for kidney tissues some artifacts of retraction and vascular congestion were noted for 3-5 g/kg doses after sub-chronic treatment. The addition of plant extracts to the spleen cells did not show any sign of toxicity for all doses tested. Conclusion: We conclude that AHA aqueous extract at the dosage up to 2g/kg bw will be toxic and can affect mainly the kidney tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[13] Although platelets from COVID-19 patients have shown hyperreactivity, [4][5][6] no scientific data have been able to demonstrate platelet dysfunction in people injected with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. [13] Therefore, this study aimed to assess platelet function by measuring the aggregation of platelets from participants who had been injected with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine compared with platelets from a cohort of healthy donors. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Artemisia herba-alba (AHA) is largely used in folk medicine in different countries. However, rare studies provided toxicological evaluation regarding their safety on human health. Objective: This study investigated the safety of the standardized aqueous extract of AHA, like used by patients, to evaluate their toxicity in vivo and in vitro. Materials and Methods: For toxicological evaluation in vivo we used acute (during 14 days) and sub-acute oral gavages in Wistar rats (rats treated daily for 42 days at 1-5 g/kg bw) and the 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay was performed to determine the level of cell viability and the degree of cytotoxicity in vitro (0-30 µg/ml) on cultured spleen cells. Results: The LD50 was up to 2 g/kg. Signs of mortality and toxicity were observed after single doses and no-observed-adverse-effect levels in the sub acute toxicity was up to 2 g/kg bw. Compared to the control, the treatment did not produce any statistically significant changes on alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase serum titer. However, for creatinine and urea serum value, a significant increase (P < 0.05) was observed. The histological observations of liver and spleen tissues have shown well-preserved normal cells. Indeed for kidney tissues some artifacts of retraction and vascular congestion were noted for 3-5 g/kg doses after sub-chronic treatment. The addition of plant extracts to the spleen cells did not show any sign of toxicity for all doses tested. Conclusion: We conclude that AHA aqueous extract at the dosage up to 2g/kg bw will be toxic and can affect mainly the kidney tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic disorders that includes two main disease forms, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. The understanding of the intestinal inflammation occurring in IBD has been immeasurably advanced by the development of the now numerous murine models of intestinal inflammation. The usefulness of this research tool in IBD arises from a convergence of underlying genetic susceptibility, immune system dysfunction, environmental factors, and shifts in gut microbiota. Due to the multifactorial feature of these diseases, different animal models have been used to investigate the underlying mechanisms and develop potential therapeutic strategies. The results of preclinical efficacy studies often inform the progression of therapeutic strategies. This review describes the distinct feature and limitations of each murine IBD model and discusses the previous and current lessons from the IBD models., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any competing interests., (Copyright © 2021 Zineb Baydi et al.)