Low-molecular-weight Ulva lacinulata extract exhibiting anti-inflammatory and pro-autophagic activities in RAW 264.7 macrophages: a promising candidate for the development of active ingredients targeting low-grade inflammation
The potential of an extract from the green seaweed Ulva lacinulata as a safe and effective functional ingredient for the development of functional food and/or dietary supplements targeting chronic low-grade inflammation is highlighted.
Allium victorialis L. is a significant plant traditionally used as both food and medicine in Northeast China. However, the structural and functional studies of its polysaccharide components remain limited. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of AVP-1-2 (DP 27), an inulin-type fructan isolated from A. victorialis, using an LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophage model. Its structural characterization was determined through methylation analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. AVP-1-2 is an inulin-type fructan composed of fructose and glucose. The backbone consists mainly of →1)-β-D-Fruf-(2→, with minor glucose residues and limited branching. The qPCR and ELISA results indicated that AVP-1-2 effectively suppressed the mRNA expression and protein secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) in a cellular model. Overall, this work provides new structural and functional insights into A. victorialis polysaccharides and offers a theoretical foundation for the comprehensive utilization of A. victorialis resources.
Xinyang Guo, Xiaoxiao Xiong, Xue-Qi Wang et al.· Plants· 0 citations
Black goji berry (Lycium ruthenicum Murr.) has been recognized for its immune-regulating and anti-cancer potentials, but its key active components and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we applied LC–MS/MS to characterize the metabolite profile of L. ruthenicum and performed in vitro assays to evaluate its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. A total of 149 metabolites were identified, with organic acids, carbohydrates, and amino acid derivatives as the dominant components. Isorhamnetin was identified as a representative flavonoid. In LPS-stimulated Calu3 cells, isorhamnetin reduced the secretion and mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta). In cancer cells, isorhamnetin induces ROS accumulation, DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and caspase-3-dependent apoptosis, with modulation of the AKT signaling pathway. These findings suggest that isorhamnetin may contribute to the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects of L. ruthenicum observed in vitro, providing preliminary experimental evidence for its potential as a functional food ingredient. However, this study is limited by the use of a single cell line (Calu3) and the absence of in vivo validation and pharmacokinetic evaluation; further studies are needed to confirm these observations.
Lei Jiang, Ji-Deng Ma, Zhi-Yuan Li et al.· Frontiers in Nutrition· 0 citations
This study highlights WSCE as a potential anti-dermatitis agent, suppressing pro-inflammatory mediators in T+I-stimulated keratinocytes via MAPK and NF-κB regulation and position WSCE as a promising candidate for ISD management.
The ethanolic extract of SMS attenuated LPS-induced inflammatory and oxidative stress responses in RAW 264.7 macrophages, suggesting effects may be associated with the suppression of inflammatory mediator production, reduction in the cellular oxidative stress burden and modulation of proteins involved in cellular stress responses and antioxidant defense.
Nianshou Zhao, Hongya Li, Peng Ji et al.· Antioxidants· 0 citations
Jing Guan Fang (JGF) is a traditional multi-herb formula used for hyperinflammatory conditions associated with severe viral infections; however, its protein-level effects in macrophage-mediated inflammation remain incompletely characterised. In this study, we combined ultra-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS)-based phytochemical profiling, functional anti-inflammatory assays, and discovery-level proteomic and secretome analyses to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of JGF in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Phytochemical profiling revealed predominantly flavonoid- and phenolic-related annotated features, together with selected terpenoid- and alkaloid-related annotations. Functionally, JGF treatment was associated with reduced nitric oxide production and differential effects on pro-inflammatory cytokine release, with a clearer concentration-dependent reduction in interleukin-6 (IL-6) and a more variable tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) response, without reducing cell viability. Label-free quantitative proteomics suggested that JGF treatment was associated with modulation of LPS-induced protein changes, including reduced abundance of inflammation-associated proteins such as myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2), together with partial restoration of selected regulatory proteins such as AIMP1 and AIMP2. Secretome analysis further suggested that JGF reduced extracellular inflammatory and tissue-remodelling-related mediators, including SERPINE1/PAI-1. Exploratory pathway analysis indicated that JGF treatment was associated with changes in inflammation-related and oxidative stress-related signalling networks. Collectively, these findings provide discovery-level molecular insights into the anti-inflammatory effects of JGF in LPS-stimulated macrophages and support further targeted validation of its pharmacological activity as a candidate multi-component anti-inflammatory formula.
S. Yeon, Muhammad A. Alsherbiny, Yu-Ting Sun et al.· Antioxidants· 0 citations
Plant-derived natural products are essential and prominent contributors to drug discovery, especially as anticancer agents. Medicinal plants used in alternative therapy are often obscured by poor definitions of the underlying mechanisms behind their bioactivity. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic and mechanistic effects of an enriched bioactive fraction derived from Mondia whitei. Bioactivity-guided fractionation was performed using C18 solid-phase extraction. The cytotoxic effects were evaluated using the MTT assay, while cellular morphology and mechanistic pathways were examined through microscopy, acridine orange staining, cathepsin-based assay, and immunoblotting of apoptosis- and autophagy-related proteins. Chemical profiling of the fraction was conducted using GC–MS analysis. The enriched fraction exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity at low microgram concentrations. Morphological assessment revealed prominent cytoplasmic vacuolation, while acridine orange staining indicated the accumulation of acidic vesicles. Cathepsin-based assays and immunoblot analysis of LC3-I/II confirmed lysosomal involvement and autophagy perturbation, whereas increased p62 levels suggested disruption of the autophagy–lysosome perturbation. In parallel, activation of intrinsic apoptosis was evidenced by the increased expression of caspase-9 and caspase-3. GC–MS profiling tentatively identified lupeol and cis-vaccenic acid as the major constituents of the fraction. The results from these studies demonstrate that the enriched fraction of Mondia whitei induced vacuolation-associated cytotoxicity through autophagy–lysosome perturbation and caspase-dependent apoptosis, providing mechanistic insight into its anticancer potential.
Saheed O Anifowose, Mobarak S. Al Mosallam, E. Bahattab et al.· Biomolecules· 0 citations
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