Pharmacological Research - Natural Products最新文献

{"title":"A new insight into the phytochemistry, radical scavenging, and antimicrobial activity of Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit grown in different localities","authors":"Pratibha Mishra,&nbsp;Saima Sohrab,&nbsp;Sanjay Kumar Mishra","doi":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100247","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100247","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Diverse edaphoclimatic conditions remarkably influence the pharmacological potential by affecting the synthetic ability of bioactive secondary metabolites in plants. Present research delves into exploring how the locality specific factors influence the phytochemical profile, antioxidative and antimicrobial activities of the untamed invasive weed, <em>Hyptis suaveolens</em> (L.) Poit. Advanced techniques like FTIR and GC-MS have been employed in order to identify the bioactive compounds present in the methanolic leaf extract of these plants. The therapeutic potential of the methanolic leaf extract was evaluated and compared for radical scavenging activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay and antimicrobial effectiveness employing the disc diffusion method, respectively. The IC₅₀ for radical scavenging and MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) for antimicrobial activities were determined using standard methods. Our results revealed that the methanolic leaf extracts of <em>Hyptis suaveolens</em> from localities Prayagraj (L1) and Shankargarh (L2), showed significant in-vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities due to the presence of an array of diverse bioactive secondary metabolites, including unique terpenes and fatty acids such as methyl 11,12-octadieodecanate, 8,9-octadecadienoate, cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid, squalene, beta-caryophyllene and n-hexadecanoic acid synthesized in glandular and non-glandular trichomes of the leaves. These compounds are lipophilic and contain carbonyl and hydroxyl groups, effectively contributing towards these pharmacological effects. The enhanced pharmacological effect observed in L1 plants can be attributed to the presence of additional active compounds like squalene (triterpene) and n-hexadecanoic acid (fatty acid), which were absent in L2 plants. This study underscores the influence of locality specific factors in shaping the pharmacological potential of <em>Hyptis suaveolens</em>, providing valuable insights for effective use in medicine.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101014,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Natural Products","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100247"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143894895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anticancer and apoptotic effects of orange peel extract and naringin on doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in human esophageal squamous carcinoma cell line","authors":"Mahboubeh Tajaldini ,&nbsp;Firooz Samadi ,&nbsp;Jahanbakhsh Asadi ,&nbsp;Ayoub Khosravi ,&nbsp;Faezeh Samadi","doi":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100244","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100244","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The presence of bioactive compounds in orange peel, which possess strong antioxidant properties, suggests that they may have pharmacological effects on cancer cells while maintaining low toxicity. This study sought to investigate the anticancer and apoptotic effects of orange peel extract (OPE) and its main flavonoid derivative, naringin (NR), on doxorubicin (Dox)-induced apoptosis in a human esophageal squamous carcinoma cell line (ESCC). The assessment of cytotoxicity and DNA fragmentation was conducted by employing the methylthiazoletetrazolium (MTT) assay and the fluorescent nuclear dye 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) assay, respectively. The levels of Bax, Bcl-2, p21, p53, and caspases 8 and 9 were quantified through the utilization of ELISA to determine the protein expression. A decline in the viability of YM-1 cells treated with OPE, NR, and Dox was observed in a dose-dependent manner. The combination of Dox with OPE and NR demonstrated a protective effect against Dox-induced cytotoxicity. Furthermore, normal cells exposed to Dox exhibited the lowest viability compared to other treatments, while the combination of Dox with OPE or NR reduced its cytotoxic effects. The interaction between Dox and OPE as well as NR resulted in a decrease in apoptotic bodies. The YM-1 cells subjected to treatments showed an up-regulation of the pro-apoptotic Bax gene. However, the interaction between Dox and OPE as well as NR led to the down-regulation of Bax. Furthermore, the activation of executioner caspases 8 and 9 was found in the YM-1 cell line exposed to Dox and its combination with OPE and NR. The YM-1 cells subjected to the treatments exhibited an overexpression of the anti-tumor genes p21 and p53. Conversely, the interaction between Dox and OPE as well as NR resulted in the down-regulation of the anti-tumor genes P21 and P53. In conclusion, this study suggests that OPE and NR have the potential to induce apoptosis in ESCC through Bax-dependent pathways and could serve as promising agents to mitigate the toxic effects of Dox on ESCC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101014,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Natural Products","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100244"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143891675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antibacterial effect of Vachellia farnesiana (L.) WIGHT & ARN. pod extract against gram positive and gram negative multidrug-resistant strains","authors":"Denise Aline Casimiro Bezerra ,&nbsp;Maria Anésia Sousa de Alencar ,&nbsp;Dárcio Luiz de Sousa Júnior ,&nbsp;Luciene Ferreira De Lima ,&nbsp;Ítalo Mykaell da Silva Benjamim ,&nbsp;Luiz Eduardo Oliveira Teotônio ,&nbsp;Nadghia Figueiredo Leite Sampaio ,&nbsp;Pedro Everson Alexandre De Aquino ,&nbsp;Ítalo Rosal Lustosa ,&nbsp;Joanda Paolla Raimundo e Silva ,&nbsp;Josean Fechine Tavares ,&nbsp;Marcelo Sobral da Silva ,&nbsp;Micheline Azevedo Lima ,&nbsp;Lucas Silva Abreu ,&nbsp;Jaime Ribeiro-Filho ,&nbsp;Francisco Assis Bezerra Da Cunha ,&nbsp;Henrique Douglas Melo Coutinho","doi":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100245","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100245","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antibiotic resistance rates have increased over time, requiring the development of new antimicrobial drugs and the identification of bioactive compounds capable of improving the effectiveness of currently available antibiotics. <em>Vachellia farnesiana</em> (L.) is a species of the Fabaceae family characterized by phenolic compounds and terpenes. Thus, considering the evidence that these compounds have significant biological effects, this study aimed to characterize the chemical composition and antibacterial effects of the ethanolic extract of <em>V. farnesiana</em> pods against standard and multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, <em>Escherichia coli</em>, and <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em>. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined to assess the antibacterial activity of the extract, as well as to investigate its enhancing the effectiveness of amikacin, gentamicin, and clindamycin against MDR strains. Therefore, the antibiotics were combined with a sub-inhibitory extract concentration (MIC/8). The extract showed significant antibacterial activity against <em>S. aureus</em> and <em>E. coli</em>. In addition, the association of antibiotics with a sub-inhibitory concentration (MIC/8) of the extract significantly reduced the MIC of at least two drugs against different strains, indicating potentiation. Finally, the HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS analyses detected the presence of 25 peaks, with the identification of 30 compounds in 22 peaks (88 %) in the extracts of <em>V. farnesiana</em> green pods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101014,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Natural Products","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100245"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143894896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling the role of luteolin as a promising bioactive for wound healing","authors":"Sandeep Prakash ,&nbsp;Akash Ved ,&nbsp;Shikha Srivastava","doi":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100233","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100233","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Natural goods and human health are intimately related. Luteolin (LUT), belonging to polyphenolic flavonoid compound found to be abundant in fruits, vegetables, flowers, and plants. Notably, LUT has a range of advantageous pharmacological characteristics and has a great deal of promise for therapeutic use, especially in the areas of anticancer, anti-convulsion, diabetic management, anti-inflammatory, neuroprection, anti-oxidation, and anti-cardiovascular. The possible mode of action has been partially deciphered, involving the involvement of many mechanisms such as NF-κB, toll-like receptor, MAPK, Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/Akt, AMPK/mTOR, and Nrf-2. The goal of the review was to thoroughly compile all pertinent data on LUT's as best source for wound healing and its natural sources, pharmaceutical effects, therapeutic and preventative potential, and possible mechanisms. The purpose of the study was providing a theoretical framework for the ongoing advancement and utilization of LUT for wound healing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101014,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Natural Products","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100233"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143882572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biofabrication of nano-silver composites from Indian catmint-Anisomeles ovata flower buds extract and evaluation of their potential in-vitro biological applications","authors":"Shashiraj Kariyellappa Nagaraja ,&nbsp;Bidhayak Chakraborty ,&nbsp;Anil H ,&nbsp;Meghashyama Prabhakara Bhat ,&nbsp;Sreenivasa Nayaka","doi":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100246","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100246","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This research examines the phyto-fabrication of silver nanoparticles utilizing the extract from <em>Anisomeles ovata</em> flower buds, along with their potential applications in antimicrobial and anticancer activities. The synthesized AoFb-AgNPs underwent characterisation using a range of bio-analytical techniques. The synthesis was validated via UV-Vis spectrophotometry, revealing an absorption peak at 408 nm. The FTIR analysis confirmed the reduction and capping of AoFb-AgNPs, revealing peaks associated with different functional groups. The examinations conducted using SEM-EDS and TEM indicated that the AoFb-AgNPs exhibited a spherical morphology, while the EDS analysis validated the presence of silver atoms at an energy level of 3 keV. The crystalline structure of AoFb-AgNPs was elucidated through XRD studies. The size and stability of the synthesized AgNPs were determined through DLS and Zeta potential tests, resulting in a measurement of 99.7 nm. The TGA analyses of AoFb-AgNPs exhibited considerable stability across the various tested temperatures, indicating minimal weight loss. AoFb-AgNPs produced through biological synthesis exhibited strong inhibitory effects on various microbial strains. Additionally, the effectiveness of biosynthesized AoFb-AgNPs in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells was evaluated towards the Panc-1 cell line employing the MTT method. The results demonstrated that the viability of cells decreased in a manner that was dependent on the concentration. The flow cytometry analysis revealed significant percentages of cells in both early and late stages of apoptosis. This indicates that the biologically synthesized AoFb-AgNPs have the potential to be used in therapeutics to enhance their effectiveness due to their notable antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties. Additional investigation has the potential to open up new possibilities for the creation of innovative and secure treatments for cancer, utilizing biofabricated AgNPs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101014,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Natural Products","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100246"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143886371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hypoglycemic effects of dauricine, possibly through mitochondrial respiratory chain (complex I) and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase interaction pathways","authors":"Muhammad Torequl Islam ,&nbsp;Md. Showkot Akbor ,&nbsp;Salehin Sheikh ,&nbsp;Jannatul Ferdous ,&nbsp;Raihan Chowdhury ,&nbsp;Md. Shimul Bhuia ,&nbsp;Irfan Aamer Ansari ,&nbsp;Siddique Akber Ansari ,&nbsp;Na’il Saleh ,&nbsp;Pablo Antonio Maia de Farias ,&nbsp;Henrique D.M. Coutinho ,&nbsp;Md. Amirul Islam","doi":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100241","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100241","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Two separate studies indicate that dauricine (DAU), an isoquinoline alkaloid derived from the Asian vine <em>Menispermum dauricum</em>, has shown anti-diabetic effects in laboratory animals. This study emphasizes evaluating the hypoglycemic effect against glucose-induced hyperglycemia animals <em>in vivo</em> along with possible molecular interventions of DAU through <em>in silico</em> studies. For this, adult male <em>Swiss</em> albino mice were treated with DAU (5 and 10 mg/kg) with or without the standard hypoglycemic drug metformin hydrochloride (MET) at 100 mg/kg via oral gavage and checked peripheral blood glucose levels (BGL) up to 3 hours from oral glucose administration (4 g/kg). The molecular docking study of DAU was conducted against MET-target proteins. Findings suggest that DAU dose-dependently and significantly (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05) decreased the BGL in animals from 60 minutes. At 180 minutes, it normalized BGL at both doses. With MET, it significantly (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05) and profoundly reduced the BGL compared to the individually treated groups. The molecular docking studies demonstrate that DAU has a strong binding affinity of –9.9 and −8.3 kcal/mol with the mitochondrial respiratory chain (complex I) receptor and mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase receptor, respectively, whereas the standard drugs MET showed binding affinities between –4.9 and −4.3 kcal/mol for these subunits. Taken together, DAU dose-dependently reduced BGL and enhanced the hypoglycemic effect of MET in animals. We suppose that DAU may show its hypoglycemic effect on mice, possibly through mitochondrial respiratory chain (complex I) and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase receptor interaction pathways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101014,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Natural Products","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100241"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143886451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, GC-MS characterization, and antimicrobial activity of leaf and flower extracts of Porophyllum ruderale","authors":"Aaron Dzigbor ,&nbsp;David Neglo ,&nbsp;Clement O. Tettey ,&nbsp;Portia Alormassor","doi":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100243","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100243","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The entire aerial part of <em>Porophyllum ruderale</em> has been reported to possess biological activities. No study has been undertaken to compare the biological activities of the aerial parts. This study aimed to compare the total phenolic content (TPC) and the biological activities of ethanolic extracts of leaves and flowers of <em>Porophyllum ruderale</em>. TPC was measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay, and antimicrobial activity was estimated by measuring the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the flower and leaf extract tested against test microorganisms. In addition, the interaction effects of combining the extracts with standard antimicrobial drugs were also evaluated. TPC of the flower and leaf extracts of <em>Porophyllum ruderale</em> were 381.00 ± 27.00 and 328.33 ± 49.89 mg GAE/g, respectively. The flower extract recorded significantly higher DPPH antioxidant activity (80.16 ± 5.54 %) than the leaf extract (29.74 ± 4.15 %). GC-MS analysis revealed that the major compounds found in the flower extract included 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (65.38 %), n-hexadecanoic acid (10.04 %), phytol (10.36 %) and alpha-tocopherol (10.21 %) while 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (33.55 %), phytol (22.31), and alpha-tocopherol (24.93 %) were present in the leaf extracts. The MIC of the flower extract ranged between 0.39 and 12.50 mg/mL, while the MIC of the leaf extract ranged between 0.39 and 25.00 mg/mL. The leaf extracts against antibacterial drugs showed predominantly synergistic effects, while that of the flower extract showed either synergistic, additive, or no difference effects. Thus, there are differences in their biological activity, but both extracts showed the potential to be used as antimicrobial agents, either alone or in combination with standard antimicrobial drugs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101014,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Natural Products","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100243"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143873846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Piper longum (Linn.) fruit mitigates diabetic nephropathy: Insights from in vitro, in vivo, and microarray studies","authors":"Kanhaiya Lal ,&nbsp;Muhammed Amanat ,&nbsp;Tanya Gupta,&nbsp;Randhir Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100242","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100242","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Piper longum</em> (Linn.) is familiar for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, both of which play a crucial role in mitigating diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, its renoprotective potential has not been extensively studied. Therefore, current study explores the protective effects of <em>Piper longum</em> hydro-alcoholic extract (PLHA) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DN in rats through <em>in vitro</em>, <em>in vivo</em>, and computational analyses. Oral doses of PLHA (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) were administered for 60 days. GC-MS analysis identified key phytoconstituents, and biochemical as well as histopathological evaluations were conducted to assess renal function and tissue injury. <em>In vitro</em> assays demonstrated the antioxidant potential of PLHA, while <em>in vivo</em> studies showed improvements in blood glucose levels, body weight, urinary output, and renal biomarkers, likely due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, histopathological analysis confirmed reduced renal damage in treated groups. <em>In silico</em> studies identified albumin (ALB) as a key molecular target, suggesting a potential mechanism for the nephroprotective effects of PLHA. These findings indicate that PLHA may serve as a promising therapeutic agent for preventing the progression of DN. Further clinical studies are needed to validate its efficacy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101014,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Natural Products","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100242"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143886372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phytoprospection, ethnomedicine, phytochemistry, and pharmacological potentials of Solanum torvum Swartz: A comprehensive phytotherapeutic review","authors":"Abbas Alam Choudhury ,&nbsp;Nasima Aktar Choudhury ,&nbsp;Anil Bhattarai ,&nbsp;Sivaraman Dhanasekaran ,&nbsp;Devi Rajeswari V.","doi":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100237","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100237","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phytotherapy has been a cornerstone of traditional medicine for millennia and has gained increased recognition. Recent phytomedicine research emphasizes plant medicinal benefits, prioritizing natural product chemistry in novel drug development. Natural products are increasingly popular for treating various diseases, considered safer than pharmacotherapy due to fewer adverse effects. Moreover, natural compounds from plants offer abundant bioactive compounds, making them promising alternative medicines. Solanum torvum Swartz is one such plant from the Solanaceae family, traditionally used for both food and medicine. Its leaves, fruits, roots, and other parts are known for their ethnomedicinal properties. It contains flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, and tannins, etc. These bioactive compounds play a key role in phytotherapy research as alternative medicine. Although multiple pharmacological studies have shown Solanum torvum Sw. has anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. However, partial validation of ethnomedicinal properties with limited pharmacological exploration of S. torvum phytocompounds constrains their potential benefits. Hence, further research is needed, particularly on long-term toxic effects. This review is an effort to compile and update major information on the ethnomedicine, phytochemical, pharmacological, toxicity, and nutritional benefits of Solanum torvum.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101014,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Natural Products","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100237"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143891676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative study of the ameliorating effect of Cyperus esculentus and clomiphene citrate on cadmium-induced toxicity on male reproductive hormones in wistar rats","authors":"Justina Nwandimma Nwangwa ,&nbsp;Ekementeabasi Aniebo Umoh ,&nbsp;Esu Ukpai Enene","doi":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100239","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prenap.2025.100239","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Though herbal remedies have been associated with several functions, the compounds of the herbs and their mechanism of action associated with these functions have always been a task many researchers fail to provide. Such is the case of Cyperus esculentus and its subsequent effect on the reproductive parameters in male animals. This research seeks to ascertain the second messenger signalling pathway through which active compounds of Cyperus esculentus are used to ameliorate toxicity of the reproductive system in rats by assessing hormonal levels of the testis and applying bioinformatics study. Rats of 200–250 g divided into control, cadmium, high-dose cyperus extract (HDCE), low-dose cyperus extract (LDCE), middle-dose cyperus extract (MDCE), and clomid experimental groups (n = 5) were used. All animals were allowed free access to food and water. Except for the control group, others were exposed to a daily 3 g/10 L cadmium chloride solution as their drinking water for the four weeks of administration. HDCE, MDCE, and LDCE received oral Cyperus esculentus ethanolic extract at 3750 mg/kg, 2500 mg/kg, and 1250 mg/kg, respectively, using the previously published LD50 result of 5000 mg/kg. The Clomid group received a solution of Clomid at the standard recommended dose of 2.8 mg/kg. An extract of Cyperus esculentus was assessed for its phytochemical compounds using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) techniques, and compounds with the highest peak area were docked with enzymes of signalling pathways, namely 4UYA (PKC), 4YHJ (PKA), and 5IUZ (PKG). At the end of the administration period, animals were sacrificed in the laboratory using isoflurane anaesthesia. Through cardiac puncture, the serum was extracted for testosterone, FSH, LH, and GnRH assay using ELISA kits. The result of serum testosterone (ng/mL) among the control, cadmium, LDCE, MDCE, HDCE, and Clomid groups in mean ± SD was 1.13 ± 0.02 ng/mL, 0.81 ± 0.08 ng/mL, 0.88 ± 0.09 ng/mL, 0.98 ± 0.10 ng/mL, 1.02 ± 0.07 ng/mL, and 1.09 ± 0.02 ng/mL, respectively. Testosterone levels in the MDCE, HDCE, and Clomid groups were significantly higher than that of Cadmium, whereas those of the MDCE and HDCE were significantly lower than that of the Clomid group at P &lt; 0.05, indicating the ameliorating effect of Clomid and Cyperus esculentus. The same ameliorating results were observed for FSH, LH, and GnRH. A bioinformatics study presented Caryophyllene as the active compound of Cyperus esculentus responsible for its effect following a peak area of 12.47. Furthermore, whereas Clomid showed more affinity and bioactive properties with 4YHJ, caryophyllene binds more with 5IUZ. Therefore, the ameliorating effect of Clomid and Cyperus esculentus through caryophyllene is likely via the cAMP and cGMP second messenger pathways, respectively. Future in vitro studies are required to authenticate these pathways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101014,"journal":{"name":"Pharmacological Research - Natural Products","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100239"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143873845","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}