SPAGYRIC HERBALISM

New compound from blessed thistle promotes functional nerve regeneration

UNIVERSITY OF COLOGNE

 

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DRIED BLESSED THISTLE (CNICUS BENEDICTUS)

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CREDIT: DIETMAR FISCHER

Blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus) is a plant in the family Asteraceae and also grows in our climate. For centuries, it has been used as a medicinal herb as an extract or tea, e.g. to aid the digestive system. Researchers at the Center for Pharmacology of University Hospital Cologne and at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Cologne have now found a completely novel use for Cnicin under the direction of Dr Philipp Gobrecht and Professor Dr Dietmar Fischer. Animal models as well as human cells have shown that Cnicin significantly accelerates axon (nerve fibres) growth. The study ‘Cnicin promotes functional nerve regeneration’ was published in Phytomedicine.

Rapid help for nerves

Regeneration pathways of injured nerves in humans and animals with long axons are accordingly long. This often makes the healing process lengthy and even frequently irreversible because the axons cannot reach their destination on time. An accelerated regeneration growth rate can, therefore, make a big difference here, ensuring that the fibres reach their original destination on time before irreparable functional deficits can occur. The researchers demonstrated axon regeneration in animal models and human cells taken from retinae donated by patients. Administering a daily dose of Cnicin to mice or rats helped improve paralysis and neuropathy much more quickly.

Compared to other compounds, Cnicin has one crucial advantage: it can be introduced into the bloodstream orally (by mouth). It does not have to be given by injection. “The correct dose is very important here, as Cnicin only works within a specific therapeutic window. Doses that are too low or too high are ineffective. This is why further clinical studies on humans are crucial,” said Fischer. The University of Cologne researchers are currently planning relevant studies. The Center for Pharmacology is researching and developing drugs to repair the damaged nervous system.

The current study received funding of around 1,200,000 euros from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research within the framework of the project PARREGERON.

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JOURNAL

Phytomedicine

DOI

10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155641 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Animals

ARTICLE TITLE

Cnicin promotes functional nerve regeneration

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

14-Apr-2024

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 SPAGYRIC HERBALISM

U of T researchers lead discovery of ginger compound with potential to treat inflammatory bowel disease

University of Toronto

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Research Associate Jiabao Liu and Professor Henry Krause.

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Credit: University of Toronto

An international team led by researchers at the University of Toronto has found a compound in ginger, called furanodienone (FDN), that selectively binds to and regulates a nuclear receptor involved in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Through a screen to identify chemical components of ginger that bind to receptors associated with IBD, the team observed a strong interaction between FDN and the pregnane X receptor (PXR). FDN reduces inflammation in the colon by activating PXR’s ability to suppress the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the body. While researchers have been aware of FDN for decades, they had not determined its functions or targets in the body until now.

“We found that we could reduce inflammation in the colons of mice through oral injections of FDN,” said Jiabao Liu, research associate at U of T's Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research. “Our discovery of FDN’s target nuclear receptor highlights the potential of complementary and integrative medicine for IBD treatment. We believe natural products may be able to regulate nuclear receptors with more precision than synthetic compounds, which could lead to alternative therapeutics that are cost-effective and widely accessible.”

The study was published recently in the journal Nature Communications.

IBD patients typically start to experience symptoms early in life; around 25 per cent of patients are diagnosed before the age of 20. There is currently no cure for IBD, so patients must adhere to life-long treatments to manage their symptoms, including abdominal pain and diarrhea, enduring significant psychological and economic consequences.

While patients with IBD have found some relief through changes to their diet and herbal supplements, it is not clear which chemical compounds in food and supplements are responsible for alleviating intestinal inflammation. With FDN now identified as a compound with potential to treat IBD, this specific component of ginger can be extracted to develop more effective therapies.

An additional benefit of FDN is that it can increase the production of tight junction proteins that repair damage to the gut lining caused by inflammation. The effects of FDN were demonstrated in the study to be restricted to the colon, preventing harmful side effects to other areas of the body.

Nuclear receptors serve as sensors within the body for a wide range of molecules, including those involved in metabolism and inflammation. PXR specifically plays a role in the metabolism of foreign substances, like dietary toxins and pharmaceuticals. Binding between FDN and PXR needs to be carefully regulated because over-activating the receptor can lead to an increase in the metabolism and potency of other drugs and signaling metabolites in the body.

FDN is a relatively small molecule that only fills a portion of the PXR binding pocket. The study shows that this allows for an additional compound to bind simultaneously, thereby increasing the overall strength of the bond and its anti-inflammatory effects in a controlled manner.

“The number of people diagnosed with IBD in both developed and developing countries is on the rise due to a shift towards diets that are more processed and are high in fat and sugar,” said Henry Krause, principal investigator on the study and professor of molecular genetics at U of T’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine. “A natural product derived from ginger is a better option for treating IBD than current therapies because it does not suppress the immune system or affect liver function, which can lead to major side effects. FDN can form the basis of a treatment that is more effective while also being safer and cheaper.”

 

This research was supported by Canadian Institutes of Health Research; Agence Nationale de la Recherche SYNERGY; Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province, China; National Institutes of Health; National Natural Science Foundation of China; Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and New Frontiers in Research Fund.

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Journal

Nature Communications

DOI

10.1038/s41467-025-56624-0 

Article Title

An abundant ginger compound furanodienone alleviates gut inflammation via the xenobiotic nuclear receptor PXR in mice

SPAGYRIC HERBALISM

Compound derived from Brazilian plant exhibits action against parasite that causes visceral leishmaniasis

The researchers synthesized a molecule inspired by a substance present in Nectandra leucantha (canela-seca or canela-branca). Animal trials have produced promising results.

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

 

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Electron microscope image of Leishmania, structure of synthetic compound, and rat 

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Credit: André Gustavo Tempone

A compound derived from Nectandra leucantha, a tree native to southern Brazil (local names canela-seca or canela-branca), has the potential to be used to treat visceral leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease associated with poverty, malnutrition, poor housing and lack of basic sanitation. 

The disease is almost always fatal if left untreated. Most cases occur in Brazil, East Africa and India, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). An estimated 50,000-90,000 new cases and 20,000-50,000 deaths occur worldwide annually, with only 25%-45% of cases being reported to WHO.

The disease is caused by a protozoan parasite transmitted by sandfly bite, and characterized by long bouts of fever, loss of weight and muscle strength, enlargement of the spleen and liver, and anemia.

An article by researchers affiliated with institutions in Brazil, the United Kingdom and Portugal, published in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, reports the findings of a study showing that the substance killed Leishmania infantum, the parasite that causes the disease, selectively (i.e. without affecting host cells).

The first step in the study, which was supported by FAPESP, was synthesis of a compound similar to dehydrodieugenol B, a neolignan found naturally in N. leucantha and isolated originally by João Lago, full professor at the Federal University of the ABC (UFABC) in São Paulo state, Brazil. The synthesis was performed by Edward Anderson, a professor of organic chemistry at the University of Oxford in the UK. 

“We used this substance as a prototype, a model based on which we could design novel versions of the molecule [with minor structural variations] and test them one by one on the parasite in vitro with the aim of optimizing its action,” said André Gustavo Tempone, principal investigator for the study and a researcher at Butantan Institute’s Physiopathology Laboratory in Brazil. 

In this manner, the researchers obtained a molecule four times more powerful than the prototype. However, in vivo tests involving animals were disappointing because the optimized compound circulated in the rodents’ organism for less than ten minutes, and the study was unable to make progress. “The fact that the substance circulated for such a short time in the rats’ bodies suggested that the ensuing stages of the research would fail. It became clear that the substance wouldn’t produce the expected results,” Tempone said.

The team then focused on additional optimization of the molecule with the aim of enhancing its bioavailability so that it would remain for longer in the animal’s organism. After several chemical optimization processes conducted in vitro in partnership with Maiara Amaral, a student of Tempone’s who was on an internship at Oxford University and used the project as her PhD thesis, they arrived at a more potent molecule whose mean plasma half-life reached 21 hours.

Pharmacokinetic studies measuring the time required for the substance to be absorbed, distributed, metabolized and excreted showed that it circulated in the rat’s organism for a period 100 times longer than that observed initially.

Based on the in vitro analysis, the researchers concluded both that the novel substance was more potent in combating L. infantum, and that it did no damage to host cells. They also investigated its action mechanism, showing that it caused an irreversible collapse of the parasite’s energy mechanism (ATP) due to an increase in calcium, while reducing host cell inflammation, a key factor in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis. With these good results behind them, the scientists plan to advance farther in animal trials. “We need to analyze the action of the compound in rodents with leishmaniasis in order to assess its efficacy and the doses required for treatment,” Tempone said. 

Their long-term goal is to use the compound to produce medications against visceral leishmaniasis, but a great deal of work still has to be done to achieve this objective. As Tempone recalled, novel drugs take around 15 years to come to market, the development process involving rigorous tests and trials to ensure that the active ingredient is totally safe before clinical trials involving humans can be approved. 

This research is extremely important, he added, as the large pharmaceutical companies are not interested in developing drugs for neglected diseases such as visceral leishmaniasis. “Brazil has one of the most outstanding biodiversities in the world, and a huge abundance of available chemical structures that can be copied and used in medications. If we don’t invest in combating this disease, the rich countries where it isn’t endemic certainly won’t,” he said. 

About FAPESP

The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration.

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Journal

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy

DOI

10.1128/aac.00831-24 

Article Title

Synthesis of a dehydrodieugenol B derivative as a lead compound for visceral leishmaniasis—mechanism of action and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies

 

Exploring the eco-friendly future of antibiotic particles

How goji berries can be used to create silver nanoparticles

American Institute of Physics

 

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An illustration of the preparation of goji berries for silver nanoparticle synthesis.

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Credit: Kamran Alam et al.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 2025 – As the search for sustainability permeates all fields, researchers are turning to a unique organic source for creating antibacterial silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) – the humble goji berry.

Goji berries are a ubiquitous superfood known for a multitude of health benefits, including their antibiotic properties. In research published in AIP Advances, by AIP Publishing, researcher Kamran Alam from Sapienza University of Rome along with others from NED University of Engineering and Technology and King Saud University found an effective way to harvest silver nanoparticles from these berries.

“Silver nanoparticles are responsible for disrupting the cell membrane structure, which can generate reactive oxygen species used for inhibiting bacterial growth,” explained Alam.

Silver nanoparticles can be generated using a number of chemical techniques, but green solutions that use biological sources like fruit or leaf extracts are preferred because they save on energy and are nontoxic, nonhazardous, and biologically compatible with humans.

In this interdisciplinary undertaking, Alam and researchers demonstrated a technique for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using store-bought goji berries.

“Goji berries are easily and locally available in the botanic garden and are rich in bioactive compounds that have natural reducing and stabilizing agents, eliminating the need for additional capping agents during processing,” Alam said.

Alam and the team created silver nanoparticles by drying, grinding, and then filtering the goji berries to create an extract. Then, they added chemical silver nitrate (AgNO3) and reduced the solution.

Using visualization techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) Spectroscopy, and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy, the team confirmed the presence of silver nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were also viewed under a microscope and tested for their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, a gram-positive bacterium that causes staph infections among other diseases.

In the future, Alam plans to study the cellular toxicity and biocompatibility of the nanoparticles synthesized from these berries, which could positively contribute to biomedical research.

“This is a simple and straightforward synthesis method which does not need additional chemicals or complex equipment and can be scaled up for industrial applications,” he said.

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The article “Ecofriendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles using metallic solution-based goji berry extract for their antibacterial properties” is authored by Abdul Rauf Jamali, Waseem Khan, Salahuddin Khan, Ahmed Ahmed Ibrahim, and Kamran Alam. It will appear in AIP Advances on Jan. 7, 2025 (DOI: 10.1063/5.0237276). After that date, it can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0237276.

ABOUT THE JOURNAL

AIP Advances is an open access journal publishing in all areas of physical sciences—applied, theoretical, and experimental. The inclusive scope of AIP Advances makes it an essential outlet for scientists across the physical sciences. See https://pubs.aip.org/aip/adv.

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Journal

AIP Advances

DOI

10.1063/5.0237276 

Article Title

Ecofriendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles using metallic solution-based goji berry extract for their antibacterial properties

Article Publication Date

7-Jan-2025

SPAGYRIC HERBALISM
Ginger from Southeast Asia can fight cancer, study finds

Carl Samson
Wed, September 6, 2023 



[Source]

A type of ginger native to Southeast Asia has anti-cancer properties, a new study reveals.

What it is: This ginger is called kencur (Kaempferia galanga L.), which is typically used as a spice or prepared as herbal tea. It has a peppery and camphorous scent.

What it does: Researchers from Japan’s Osaka Metropolitan University found that kencur extract and its main active component, ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EMC), can significantly suppress the growth of cancer cells in cellular and animal experiments. EMC is known to decrease the expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), which is linked to the proliferation of cancer cells.

Additionally, the researchers observed that kencur might induce anti-proliferative effects without cytotoxicity to normal cells. This makes it a promising candidate for further study as a safer anti-cancer agent.

More from NextShark: Japanese scientists grow living, self-healing human skin that can be put on robots

What researchers are saying: The study confirms kencur’s anti-cancer properties, the researchers said. However, further research is needed, including clinical trials.

“The results of this study confirm the anti-cancer effects of Kencur extract and its main active ingredient, EMC,” lead author Akiko Kijima said in a statement. “It is highly expected that TFAM will become a new marker for anti-cancer effects in the future as research advances in related fields.”

The study was published in the journal Heliyon.

 SPAGYRIC HERBALISM

Elderberry juice shows benefits for weight management, metabolic health

Washington State University

SPOKANE, Wash.—Elderberry juice may be a potent tool for weight management and enhancing metabolic health, according to a recent Washington State University-led study.

A clinical trial published in the journal Nutrients found that drinking 12 ounces of elderberry juice daily for a week causes positive changes in the gut microbiome and improves glucose tolerance and fat oxidation.

Elderberry, a small dark purple berry found on elder trees native to Europe, is commonly used as a medicinal plant and supplement to promote immune function. Its other potential health benefits are poorly understood, however.

“Elderberry is an underappreciated berry, commercially and nutritionally,” said corresponding author Patrick Solverson, an assistant professor in the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine’s Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. “We’re now starting to recognize its value for human health, and the results are very exciting.”

The researchers tested the effects of elderberry on metabolic health in a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 18 overweight adults. Participants consumed either elderberry juice or a placebo with similar coloring and taste, specially designed by North Carolina State University’s Food Innovation Lab, while maintaining a standardized diet.

Clinical testing following the intervention showed that participants who consumed elderberry juice had significantly increased amounts of beneficial gut bacteria, including firmicutes and actinobacteria, and decreased amounts of harmful bacteria, such as bacteroidetes. A healthy gut microbiome is essential for nutrient absorption and supports physical and mental health.

In addition to positive microbiota changes, the elderberry intervention resulted in improved metabolism. Results showed that the elderberry juice reduced participants’ blood glucose levels by an average of 24%, indicating a significantly improved ability to process sugars following carbohydrate consumption. Results also showed a 9% decrease in insulin levels.

Additionally, results suggested that elderberry juice can enhance the body’s ability to burn fat. Participants who received the elderberry juice showed significantly increased fat oxidation, or the breakdown of fatty acids, after a high carbohydrate meal and during exercise.

The researchers attribute these positive effects to elderberry’s high concentration of anthocyanins, plant-based bioactive compounds that have a variety of health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and antimicrobial effects.

“Food is medicine, and science is catching up to that popular wisdom,” Solverson said. “This study contributes to a growing body of evidence that elderberry, which has been used as a folk remedy for centuries, has numerous benefits for metabolic as well as prebiotic health.”

Other berries contain anthocyanins, but typically in lower concentrations. A person would have to consume four cups of blackberries a day to achieve the same anthocyanin dose contained in 6 ounces of elderberry juice, Solverson said.

Although elderberry products are less popular in the U.S. than in Europe, demand exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic and elderberry continues to be a growing market.

The researchers have filed for a provisional patent for using the bioactive components of American black elderberry for weight management and gut health through supplements or other applications. The WSU Office of Commercialization is assisting with commercialization opportunities with more information available at commercialization@wsu.edu.

This research was supported by a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under award number 2020-67018-30851. The research team included collaborators at Colorado State University, North Carolina State University and the University of Vermont.

With an additional $600,000 in NIFA funding, the researchers plan to explore other applications of elderberry juice, including whether it can help individuals who have discontinued weight loss medications maintain their weight. They note that further studies are needed to both confirm their initial findings and to determine the long-term effects of elderberry in various populations.

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Journal

Nutrients

DOI

10.3390/nu16203555 

Article Title

A One-Week Elderberry Juice Intervention Augments the Fecal Microbiota and Suggests Improvement in Glucose Tolerance and Fat Oxidation in a Randomized Controlled Trial

 

Can carrots be used to treat diabetes?

Current research from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) reveals that carrots may help regulate blood sugar and improve gut flora – a combination that could potentially benefit individuals with type 2 diabetes.

University of Southern Denmark Faculty of Health Sciences

Could an ordinary carrot improve the treatment of type 2 diabetes? A new study from SDU suggests so. The researchers found that carrots can enhance the body's ability to regulate blood sugar and positively influence the composition of gut bacteria.

Type 2 diabetes affects millions worldwide, with numbers on the rise in Denmark and globally. In Denmark alone, the number of cases has more than quadrupled since 1996.

Treatment typically involves dietary changes and medication, though many people experience side effects from common pharmaceuticals. According to researchers from SDU, Odense University Hospital, and the University of Copenhagen, who collaborated on the recently published study, carrots could offer a natural and potentially side-effect-free way to complement existing treatments.

The impact of carrots on blood sugar and gut bacteria

Researchers studied the effects of carrots over 16 weeks using mice induced with type 2 diabetes. The mice were placed on a high-fat diet to mimic an unhealthy human lifestyle. They were divided into two groups: one received a diet supplemented with 10% freeze-dried carrot powder, while the other received a diet without carrots. Both diets were calorie-matched, ensuring the only variable was the bioactive compounds in the carrots. Results showed that the group receiving carrot powder exhibited improved blood sugar regulation, as measured by glucose tolerance tests.

A glucose tolerance test measures how well the body regulates blood sugar after consuming a specified amount of sugar. In this study, mice were given a sugar solution, and their blood sugar levels were measured over time.

– Our study showed that carrots altered the composition of the gut microbiome – the billions of microorganisms living in the gut that play a crucial role in digestion and health. Mice consuming carrots exhibited a healthier balance of gut bacteria, explains project coordinator Morten Kobæk Larsen, associate professor at the Department of Clinical Research, SDU.

Additionally, these mice had more bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These small molecules formed when bacteria break down dietary fibres, help regulate energy metabolism and blood sugar while supporting gut health.

– Everything we eat affects the composition of gut bacteria, Larsen elaborates.

– Consuming carrots shifts the gut bacteria towards a healthier balance, benefiting mice with type 2 diabetes.

How do carrots work?

Carrots contain bioactive compounds that enhance cells' ability to absorb sugar, thereby aiding blood sugar regulation. These bioactive substances, derived from unsaturated fatty acids, are also present in other vegetables from the carrot family, such as parsley, celery, and parsnips.

– We see carrots as a potential component of future dietary strategies for type 2 diabetes, says Lars Porskjær Christensen, professor of analytical chemistry and natural product chemistry at the Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, SDU.

– Other vegetables in the carrot family might have similar properties.

Could carrots help humans?

The researchers are cautious about directly applying their findings to humans.

– Our study used an animal model, and the next step is to conduct clinical trials, they explain. – Such studies are costly, and we are working to secure external funding to conduct a smaller clinical trial with carrots containing relatively high amounts of bioactive compounds. This could pave the way for larger clinical studies including studies in animals with purified bioactive compounds and thereby substantiate the preventive effects of carrots against type 2 diabetes, says Christensen.

Preliminary findings from a similar study on carrots' effects on colon cancer suggest that as little as 30–40 grams of raw or lightly cooked carrots daily could have beneficial effects.

According to the researchers, the concentration of bioactive compounds varies widely among carrot varieties. However, the right variety can provide sufficient doses of these compounds without needing concentrated products. For example, the 'Night Bird' variety, a purple carrot, contains relatively high concentrations of bioactive substances.

Does preparation matter?

Cooking impacts the amount of health-promoting substances, but they do not disappear entirely.

– Even with prolonged frying or boiling, some bioactive compounds remain. However, raw or lightly cooked carrots seem to be the best option to retain as many beneficial compounds as possible, Christensen advises.

The study is published in Clinical and Translational Science. Read more here: https://ascpt.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cts.70090

What are bioactive compounds?

Bioactive compounds are organic chemicals of biological origin that influence physiological processes. Many are derived from plants and fungi and can have either beneficial or harmful effects on humans. Some bioactive compounds from plants and fungi are used in medicines, while others in plant-based foods are believed to promote health and prevent diseases. Their effects depend on mechanisms of action, bioavailability, and concentration in food, which can vary by crop variety, cultivation, and processing.

Facts about carrots

The main bioactive compounds in carrots are falcarinol and falcarindiol, which the vegetable produces to defend against fungal infections. Besides their antifungal properties, these compounds have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic effects.

The study was conducted using 54 mice and funded by the Odense University Hospital Research Fund. The carrots used were organically grown by a Danish producer.

Facts about diabetes

As of 2022, approximately 350,000 people in Denmark lived with diabetes, 89% of whom had type 2 diabetes. Globally, over half a billion people have diabetes, with type 2 diabetes rates increasing in most countries. This rise is attributed to lifestyle changes, increased obesity rates, and an ageing population.

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Journal

Clinical and Translational Science

DOI

10.1111/cts.70090 

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Effect of carrot intake on glucose tolerance, microbiota, and gene expression in a type 2 diabetes mouse model

SPAGYRIC HERBALISM

Substances extracted from the Annona squamosa leaf have analgesic and anti-arthritic potential, study reveals

Researchers tested the effects of the plant’s methanolic extract and an isolated alkaloid substance, palmatine, on mice. The results were promising.

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

 

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Annona squamosa is already used medicinally in several countries and is used in folk medicine to treat pain and arthritis 

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Credit: Marcos José Salvador

In Brazil, researchers have identified substances with analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperalgesic (against persistent pain) and anti-arthritic activity in the leaves of Annona squamosa, a tree popularly known in the country as fruta-do-conde or pinha. The results of the research, supported by FAPESP through five projects (09/05992-6, 14/17436-9, 15/03726-8, 16/06407-3 and 21/09693-5), were published in the journal Pharmaceuticals.

The work involved scientists from the Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD), the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) and São Paulo State University (UNESP). The group evaluated the plant’s methanolic extract (methanol is used as a solvent and then removed by evaporation to obtain a dry extract) and an isolated substance called palmatine.

As the authors explain, Annona squamosa is already used medicinally in several countries and is used in folk medicine to treat pain and arthritis. Several pharmacological properties have been observed, such as gastroprotective, antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. It represents a possible alternative to the main pharmacological treatments for pain, opioid analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, whose prolonged use can cause various side effects such as addiction, ulcers and cardiovascular thrombotic events. It can also be an alternative to the main anti-inflammatory drugs, such as glucocorticoid analogs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which in chronic treatment can lead to adrenal insufficiency and insulin resistance, among other problems.

“In view of this, the aim of the study was to investigate the analgesic, anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory potential of the methanolic extract and palmatine obtained from Annona squamosa,” says Marcos José Salvador, full professor at the Department of Plant Biology at UNICAMP and co-author of the research.

To do this, the leaves of the plant were dried and turned into powder. The substances to be analyzed were then extracted. The methanolic extract and the alkaloid palmatine were administered orally to mice and studied in several experimental models, including pleurisy (inflammation of the pleura, the membranes that line the lungs and chest wall) induced by a substance called carrageenan; joint inflammation induced by zymosan; and mechanical hyperalgesia (increased sensitivity to painful stimuli) induced by TNF (tumor necrosis factor, a signaling protein produced by defense cells that plays a crucial role in regulating the immune response).

“The results showed that the methanolic extract and palmatine extracted from A. squamosa have analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential. Palmatine also has anti-hyperalgesic properties, which may involve inhibition of the tumor necrosis factor-mediated pathway,” explains Salvador. “We also concluded that palmatine may be one of the components responsible for the anti-arthritic properties of the plant.”

The conclusions of the analysis are very relevant and help to prove the therapeutic effects of the samples analyzed and to elucidate their mechanisms of action, which are not yet fully understood. However, further studies are needed before they can be used in practice to treat diseases.

“Further studies are needed to assess whether, in other formulations, the effects and pharmacokinetic properties of palmatine would be altered,” says the researcher, noting that more research is also needed to assess the toxicity of the compounds and the doses needed to achieve the therapeutic effect for clinical use.

About FAPESP

The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration.

 

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Journal

Pharmaceuticals

DOI

10.3390/ph17101331 

Article Title

Open AccessArticle Analgesic and Anti-Arthritic Potential of Methanolic Extract and Palmatine Obtained from Annona squamosa Leaves

 

Shiitake-derived functional food shows suppression of liver fibrosis progression

Early administration of AHCC at the stage of hepatitis might hold possibility of preventing onset of cirrhosis

Osaka Metropolitan University

 

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AHCC seems to work on two pathways that lead to the suppression of liver fibrosis.

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Credit: Osaka Metropolitan University

Chronic liver damage can lead to hepatitis, which causes fibrosis of the liver. This buildup of collagen and other fibrous tissue accelerates when hepatic stellate cells become activated during hepatitis, often resulting in liver cancer or cirrhosis, both of which can be fatal. As there are no effective drugs to treat cirrhosis, suppressing the activation of the stellate cells is considered as a way of controlling the progression of liver fibrosis.

“It is estimated that one out of every 3-4 people worldwide have steatotic liver disease, when there is an abnormal accumulation of lipids, which is a precursor to fibrosis. So, it is important to prevent the progression of liver fibrosis at an early stage,” explained Dr. Hayato Urushima, an Associate Professor of the Graduate School of Medicine at Osaka Metropolitan University.

His research team investigated how AHCC (Amino Up Co., Ltd., Sapporo, Japan), a standardized extract of cultured Lentinula edodes mycelia, protects the liver and its mechanism.

The team administered AHCC to mice and found that the supplement might inhibit the activation of hepatic stellate cells through two channels.

Via the TLR2 (toll-like receptor protein) channel, AHCC induced cytoglobin that decreased reactive oxygen species, while via the TLR4 channel, the supplement suppressed the expression of collagen in the liver of the mice. 

“We aim to conduct clinical trials to confirm the efficacy of AHCC in patients with liver fibrosis to build more reliable scientific evidence,” Dr. Urushima stated.

The findings were first published online on September 24, 2024, in the American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, with the final version published on November 6, 2024.

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About OMU 

Established in Osaka as one of the largest public universities in Japan, Osaka Metropolitan University is committed to shaping the future of society through “Convergence of Knowledge” and the promotion of world-class research. For more research news, visit https://www.omu.ac.jp/en/ and follow us on social media: X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn.

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Journal

AJP Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology

DOI

10.1152/ajpgi.00134.2024 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

AHCC inhibited hepatic stellate cells activation by regulation of cytoglobin induction via TLR2-SAPK/JNK pathway and collagen production via TLR4-NF-κβ pathway

COI Statement

AHCC® is a trademark of Amino Up Co., Ltd., Sapporo, Japan. Dr. Urushima received a research grant from Amino Up Co., Ltd. None of the other authors has any conflicts of interests to disclose.