Nanoemulsion and Encapsulation Strategy of Hydrophobic Oregano Essential Oil Increased Human Prostate Cancer Cell Death via Apoptosis by Attenuating Lipid Metabolism

Origanum vulgare essential oil (EO) is traditionally well-known for its aromatic properties and biomedical applications, including anticancer. This was the first report where oregano essential oil-based nano emulsion (OENE) was synthesized for studying its effects on prostate cancer cell lines (PC3). At first, we have synthesized OENE and characterized using various spectroscopic analyses. The toxicity and inhibitory concentration (IC50) of OENE toward prostate cancer by MTT analysis were performed. The lipid biogenesis mediated, molecular target pathway analyses were performed using fluorescence cellular staining techniques, real-time RT-PCR, or western blotting analysis. OENE showed IC50 at 13.82 µg/mL and significantly induced distinct morphological changes, including cell shrinkage, cell density, and cell shape reduction. In addition, OENE could also significantly decreased lipid droplet accumulation which was confirmed by studying mRNA transcripts of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) (0.31-fold), fatty acid synthase (FASN) (0.18-fold), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREPB1) (0.11-fold), respectively. Furthermore, there is a significant upregulation BAX (BCL2 associated X) and caspase 3 expressions. Nevertheless, OENE decreased the transcript level of BCL2 (B-cell lymphoma 2), thus resulting in apoptosis. Overall, our present work demonstrated that OENE could be a therapeutic target for the treatment of prostate cancer and warrants in vivo studies.</jats:p

Role of Nanoparticles in Environmental Remediation: An Insight into Heavy Metal Pollution from Dentistry

Environmental damage is without a doubt one of the most serious issues confronting society today. As dental professionals, we must recognize that some of the procedures and techniques we have been using may pose environmental risks. The usage and discharge of heavy metals from dental set-ups pollute the environment and pose a serious threat to the ecosystem. Due to the exclusive properties of nanosized particles, nanotechnology is a booming field that is being extensively studied for the remediation of pollutants. Given that the nanoparticles have a high surface area to volume ratio and significantly greater reactivity, they have been greatly considered for environmental remediation. This review aims at identifying the heavy metal sources and their environmental impact in dentistry and provides insights into the usage of nanoparticles in environmental remediation. Although the literature on various functions of inorganic nanoparticles in environmental remediation was reviewed, the research is still confined to laboratory set-ups and there is a need for more studies on the usage of nanoparticles in environmental remediation.</jats:p

Phyllanthus emblica fruit extract attenuates lipid metabolism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes via activating apoptosis mediated cell death

© 2019 Elsevier GmbH Background: Phyllanthus emblica L. (Indian gooseberry) is widely used in the Ayurveda for thousands of years to treat health complications including disorders of the immune system, diabetes, and obesity. Purpose: For the first time, our study aims to demonstrate the molecular mechanisms of the fruit extract of Phyllanthus emblica (PEFE) involved in the promotion of fat cell apoptosis and alleviation of adipogenesis. Methods: The active constituents from PEFE were identified using high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). We carried out the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of PEFE using 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. The colonogenic assay was carried out to determine the inhibitory effect of 3T3-L1 adipocytes after PEFE treatment. In addition, inhibition of pancreatic lipase activity was performed and the lipolytic activity of PEFE and digallic acid was compared with the well-known standard drug orlistat. Besides, the molecular interaction and ligand optimization between digallic and adipogenesis/apoptosis markers were also carried out. Furthermore, to confirm fat cell apoptosis we have used several detection methods that includes Hoechst staining, PI staining, Oil staining and qPCR respectively. Results: Digallic acid was identified as a major component in the PEFE. The IC50 values of digallic acid and PEFE were found to be 3.82 µg/ml and 21.85 µg/ml respectively. PEFE and digallic acid showed significant anti-lipolytic activity compared to the standard drug orlistat. In the mature adipocytes, PEFE significantly decreased triglyceride accumulation by downregulating adiponectin, PPARγ, cEBPα, and FABP4 respectively. We further analyzed the expression of apoptosis related genes upon PEFE treatment. Apoptotic process initiated through upregulation of BAX and downregulation of BCL2 resulting in an increased caspase-3 activity. In addition, we have also confirmed the apoptosis and DNA fragmentation in 3T3-L1 cells using Hoechst, PI and TUNEL assays. Conclusion: PEFE negatively regulates adipogenesis by initiating fat cell apoptosis and therefore it can be considered as a potential herbal medicinal product for treating obesity

Evaluation of the sub-acute toxicity of Acacia catechu Willd seed extract in a Wistar albino rat model.

Acacia catechu (A. catechu) or Khair (Hindi) is used in several herbal preparations in the Ayurvedic system of medicine in India. Traditionally, this drug is beneficial against several gastrointestinal and stomach related ailments, and leprosy. The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the sub-acute oral toxicity of the ethanolic extract of A. catechu seeds in Wistar albino rats. Results obtained from the quantitative chemical analysis of A. catechu seed extract were compared with commercially available standards. A. catechu seed extract was administered orally at the doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg b.w. daily for 28 days. General behavior, bodyweight and mortality were examined during the entire study period. At the end of 28 days, hematological and biochemical parameters along with the relative organ weights were determined. It was observed that the extract did not induce death or any significant changes in the body weight, relative weight of vital organs and in hematological parameters for up to a dose of 1000 mg/kg. The oral administration of the plant extract did not produce any significant changes in the levels of glucose. In addition, there were no significant changes in the activity of both hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic marker enzymes in the serum. Oral administration of A. catechu also did not produce any significant changes in the levels of oxidative markers. Furthermore, the findings from the biochemical studies were, well corroborated with the histological findings

Natural products in the management of obesity: Fundamental mechanisms and pharmacotherapy

Obesity is an alarming medical condition, whereby, its prevalence has escalated tremendously across the globe. The aetiology of obesity is obscure and multifactorial, which primarily involves complex interactions between genetic background, social and environmental factors, as well as developmental and biological factors. Multiple comorbidities have been linked with obesity, such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and stroke. Therefore, appropriate behavioural and lifestyle modifications are essential to achieve weight loss in obese patients. There are several conventional drugs and pharmacological modalities available for the therapeutic management of obesity. Nevertheless, many of these conventional anti-obesity agents are associated with severe adverse effects and long-term complications. These factors have prompted extensive research for the discovery and development of novel anti-obesity agents. A vast range of natural products have been explored and studied for their anti-obesity potential. Compounds from plant sources have demonstrated improved toxicological profiles and multipronged synergistic actions. In this review, we have discussed the influence of various natural products on obesity. We have also elaborated the various mechanisms of action underlying the anti-obesity effects of notable natural substances