Ginger Extract Reduces Chronic Morphine-Induced Neuroinflammation and Glial Activation in Nucleus Accumbens of Rats

Background: Chronic usage of morphine elicits the production of inflammatory factors by glial cells andinduces neuroinflammation. Ginger (Zingiber Officinale Roscoe) is a medicinal herb that has antiinflammatory properties. It has been reported that ginger shows anti-addictive effects against chronic usageof morphine; however, its influence on morphine-induced neuroinflammation has not yet been clarified.Methods: Morphine (12 mg/kg) was administrated intraperitoneally for 6 consecutive days. To evaluate theeffect of ginger on morphine-induced neuroinflammation, ginger extract (100 mg/kg) was given orally 30minutes before morphine. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK) levels were assayed by immunoblotting in the rat nucleus accumbens (NAcc).Findings: The injection of chronic morphine increased the levels of proteins involved in neuroinflammation(p38 MAPK and GFAP) in NAcc. Furthermore, the levels of p38 MAPK and GFAP significantly returned tothe control levels by ginger extract.Conclusion: The results suggest that the ginger extract can reduce morphine-induced neuroinflammation in NAcc

COVID-19: Is There Evidence for the Use of Herbal Medicines as Adjuvant Symptomatic Therapy?

Background: Current recommendations for the self-management of SARS-Cov-2 disease (COVID-19) include self-isolation, rest, hydration, and the use of NSAID in case of high fever only. It is expected that many patients will add other symptomatic/adjuvant treatments, such as herbal medicines. Aims: To provide a benefits/risks assessment of selected herbal medicines traditionally indicated for “respiratory diseases” within the current frame of the COVID-19 pandemic as an adjuvant treatment. Method: The plant selection was primarily based on species listed by the WHO and EMA, but some other herbal remedies were considered due to their widespread use in respiratory conditions. Preclinical and clinical data on their efficacy and safety were collected from authoritative sources. The target population were adults with early and mild flu symptoms without underlying conditions. These were evaluated according to a modified PrOACT-URL method with paracetamol, ibuprofen, and codeine as reference drugs. The benefits/risks balance of the treatments was classified as positive, promising, negative, and unknown. Results: A total of 39 herbal medicines were identified as very likely to appeal to the COVID-19 patient. According to our method, the benefits/risks assessment of the herbal medicines was found to be positive in 5 cases (Althaea officinalis, Commiphora molmol, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Hedera helix, and Sambucus nigra), promising in 12 cases (Allium sativum, Andrographis paniculata, Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea purpurea, Eucalyptus globulus essential oil, Justicia pectoralis, Magnolia officinalis, Mikania glomerata, Pelargonium sidoides, Pimpinella anisum, Salix sp, Zingiber officinale), and unknown for the rest. On the same grounds, only ibuprofen resulted promising, but we could not find compelling evidence to endorse the use of paracetamol and/or codeine. Conclusions: Our work suggests that several herbal medicines have safety margins superior to those of reference drugs and enough levels of evidence to start a clinical discussion about their potential use as adjuvants in the treatment of early/mild common flu in otherwise healthy adults within the context of COVID-19. While these herbal medicines will not cure or prevent the flu, they may both improve general patient well-being and offer them an opportunity to personalize the therapeutic approaches

Renoprotective effects of estrogen on acute kidney injury: the role of SIRT1

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common syndrome associated with high morbidity and mortality, despite progress in medical care. Many studies have shown that there are sex differences and different role of sex hormones particularly estrogens in kidney injury. In this regard, the incidence and rate of progression of kidney diseases are higher in men compared with women. These observations suggest that female sex hormone may be renoprotective. Silent information regulator 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) is a histone deacetylase, which is implicated in multiple biologic processes in several organisms. In the kidneys, SIRT1 inhibits renal cell apoptosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Studies have reported a link between SIRT1 and estrogen. In addition, SIRT1 regulates ERα expression and inhibition of SIRT1 activity suppresses ERα expression. This effect leads to inhibition of estrogen-responsive gene expression. In this text, we review the role of SIRT1 in mediating the protective effects of estrogen in the onset and progression of AKI. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. part of Springer Nature

Activators of SIRT1 in the kidney and protective effects of SIRT1 during acute kidney injury (AKI) (effect of SIRT1 activators on acute kidney injury)

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complex disorder and a clinical condition characterized by acute reduction in renal function. If AKI is not treated, it can lead to chronic kidney disease, which is associated with a high risk of death. SIRT1 (silent information regulator 1) is an NAD-dependent deacetylase. This enzyme is responsible for the processes of DNA repair or recombination, chromosomal stability, and gene transcription. This enzyme also plays a protective role in many diseases, including AKI. In this study, we review the mechanisms that mediate the protective effects of SIRT1 on AKI, including SIRT1 activators. © 2021, Japanese Society of Nephrology

Effects of CR on LV cardiomyocyte diameter and hydroxyproline content.

A) The hematoxylin and eosin stained LV cross sections in experimental groups. B) LV cardiomyocyte diameter bar graphs of experimental groups. Black lines show LV cardiomyocyte diameters in the cell nucleus region. C) Hydroxyproline content in experimental groups (n = 4 hearts/group, +++ PVS. Sham+HFD; ###PVS. OVX+SD; &&&P&PVS. OVX+HFD; ^^^PVS. Sham+HFD+CR). CR: Calorie restriction, HFD: High-fat diet, SD: Standard diet, LV: Left ventricular, Sham: Ovary-intact, OVX: Ovariectomy.</p

Effects of E2 administration on TGF-β1 level in OVX rats.

Data are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 7 rats/group). ***PVS. SD+Oil; +++PVS. HFD+Oil; #PVS. SD+CR+Oil; &PVS. HFD+CR+Oil. CR: Calorie restriction, HFD: High-fat diet, SD: Standard diet, OVX: Ovariectomy, E2: 17-β estradiol, Oil: Sesame oil.</p

Fig 1 -

Schematic of A) animal classification, B, and C) time tables of the experimental protocol. OVX: Ovariectomy, SD: Standard diet, HFD: High-fat diet, CR: Calorie restriction, E2: 17-β Estradiol, Oil: Sesame oil.</p

S1 Dataset -

Obesity and menopause lead to cardiovascular diseases. Calorie restriction (CR) can modulate estrogen deficiency and obesity-related cardiovascular diseases. The protective effects of CR and estradiol on cardiac hypertrophy in ovariectomized obese rats were explored in this study. The adult female Wistar rats were divided into sham and ovariectomized (OVX) groups that received a high-fat diet (60% HFD) or standard diet (SD) or 30% CR for 16 weeks, and then, 1mg/kg E2 (17-β estradiol) was injected intraperitoneally every 4 days for four weeks in OVX-rats. Hemodynamic parameters were evaluated before and after each diet. Heart tissues were collected for biochemical, histological, and molecular analysis. HFD consumption led to weight gain in sham and OVX rats. In contrast, CR and E2 led to body weight loss in these animals. Also, heart weight (HW), heart weight/body weight (HW/BW) ratio, and left ventricular weight (LVW) were enhanced in OVX rats that received SD and HFD. E2 reduced these indexes in both diet conditions but reduction effects of CR were seen only in HFD groups. HFD and SD feeding increased hemodynamic parameters, ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide) mRNA expression, and TGF-β1(transforming growth factor-beta 1) protein level in the OVX animals, while CR and E2 reduced these factors. Cardiomyocyte diameter and hydroxyproline content were increased in the OVX-HFD groups. Nevertheless, CR and E2 decreased these indicators. The results showed that CR and E2 treatment reduced obesity-induced-cardiac hypertrophy in ovariectomized groups (20% and 24% respectively). CR appears to have almost as reducing effects as estrogen therapy on cardiac hypertrophy. The findings suggest that CR can be considered a therapeutic candidate for postmenopausal cardiovascular disease.</div

Effect of E2 administration on LV cardiomyocyte diameter and hydroxyproline content in OVX animals.

A) The hematoxylin and eosin stained LV cross sections of OVX animals. Black lines show LV cardiomyocyte diameters in the cell nucleus region. B) LV cardiomyocyte diameter bar graphs of OVX rats. C) Hydroxyproline content in heart of OVX rats (n = 4 hearts/group, *PVS. SD+Oil; +++P++P+PVS. HFD+Oil; &&P&PVS. HFD+CR+Oil). CR: Calorie restriction, HFD: High-fat diet, SD: Standard diet, LV: Left ventricular, OVX: Ovariectomy, E2: 17-β estradiol, Oil: Sesame oil.</p