In vitro and in vivo hepatoprotective activity of extracts of aerial parts of Bidens pilosa L (Asteraceae)

Purpose: To investigate the protective effects of aqueous and methanol extracts of Bidens pilosa using various in vivo and in vitro models of hepatic injury.Methods: One kilogram of the aerial parts of Bidens pilosa was used to prepare 80 % methanol and aqueous extracts of the plant (500 g for each extract). The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity of both extracts were evaluated. The hepatoprotective activity of these extracts in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4, 0.1 %) and D-galactosamine (700 mg/kg)-induced liver injury, respectively, was investigated in mice. Paracetamol-induced liver injury was used as in vitro reference standard.Results: TPC and TFC of methanol extract were higher than those of the aqueous extract. The combination of methanol extract and silymarin showed the highest antioxidant activity. In vivo administration of CCl4 and D-galactosamine significantly increased the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), but decreased the total protein, albumin and glutathione (GSH) contents of liver. Co-administration of the extracts (50 mg/kg) and silymarin (100 mg/kg) effectively countered the effects of CCl4 and Dgalactosamine, while also exerting their antioxidant properties. Both methanol and aqueous extracts showed hepatoprotective activity in paracetamol-induced cytotoxicity in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.Conclusion: Bidens pilosa possesses significant in vivo and in vitro hepatoprotective activity in mice and may be therapeutically useful as a protective agent in acute liver injury.Keywords: Bidens pilosa, D-galactosamine, Carbon tetrachloride, Paracetamol, Liver injury, Hepatoprotective, Antioxidant, Silymarin, Hepatocyte

Role of tomosynthesis and ultrasound in the assessment of asymmetric breast densities: a comparative prospective study

Abstract Background Tomosynthesis is a recent advancement of full-field digital mammography involves transforming two-dimensional (2D) breast images into three dimensions (3D) images. It reduces the adverse effect of tissue superimposition on conventional 2D- mammography, therefore having high potential enhancing identification and assessment of asymmetric breast densities. The aim of the study was to assess and compare the diagnostic performance of breast ultrasound and 3D digital breast tomosynthesis in the assessment of asymmetric breast densities. Results In the current study, 80 patients with 80 mammographically and/or tomosynthesized breast asymmetries were included. The patients' ages ranged from 30 to 70 years old, with a mean age of 47.2 ± 9.2 SD. Breast ultrasound outperformed digital breast tomosynthesis in terms of diagnostic performance. Tomosynthesis had a sensitivity of 86.4%, specificity of 93.1%, positive predictive value of 82.6%, negative predictive value of 94.7%, and accuracy of 91.3% compared to ultrasounds' sensitivity of 100.00%, specificity of 93.1%, positive predictive value of 84.6%, negative predictive value of 100.00%, and accuracy of 95%. Conclusions Incorporating ultrasonography in the assessment of asymmetric breast densities outperformed tomosynthesis and shown to be more precise in characterisation of lesions underlying asymmetric breast density

Design, synthesis, anti-inflammatory evaluation, and molecular modelling of new coumarin-based analogs combined curcumin and other heterocycles as potential TNF-α production inhibitors via upregulating Nrf2/HO-1, downregulating AKT/mTOR signalling pathways and downregulating NF-κB in LPS induced macrophages

AbstractPersistent inflammation contributes to various inflammatory conditions. Inflammation-related diseases may be treated by inhibiting pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines. Curcumin and coumarin derivatives can target signalling pathways and cellular factors to address immune-related and inflammatory ailments. This study involved designing and synthesising three series of coumarin-based analogs that incorporated curcumin and other heterocycles. These analogs were evaluated for their potential as anti-inflammatory agents in LPS-induced macrophages. Among the fourteen synthesised coumarin derivatives, compound 14b, which contained 3,4-dimethoxybenzylidene hydrazinyl, demonstrated the highest anti-inflammatory activity with an EC50 value of 5.32 μM. The anti-inflammatory effects of 14b were achieved by modulating signalling pathways like AKT/mTOR and Nrf2/HO-1, and downregulating NF-kβ, resulting in reduced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. The modelling studies revealed that 14b and dexamethasone bind to the same TNF-α pocket, suggesting that 14b has potential as a therapeutic agent superior to dexamethasone for TNF-α