Background
Pomegranate (
Punica granatum
) is one of the oldest known edible fruit. Recently, there has been an increased interest in this fruit as a functional food for health benefits due to its use in disease prevention and promotion of overall health wellness.
Objective
This study aims to investigate the effects of pomegranate extract for the development of non-opioid substitution therapy for
in-vitro
and
in-vivo
studies.
Materials and methods
Anthocyanin contents consisting of cyanidin 3-glucoside, diglucoside, and pelargonidin 3-glucoside, diglucoside were detected and quantified in pomegranate extract using high-performance liquid chromatography. The optimum dosage of the extract was determined based on the regulation of MORs and cAMP proteins in U-87 cells. Co-treatment of the extract with morphine was performed to evaluate its potency in reducing the concentration levels of MORs and cAMP. For animal studies, rats were divided into two major groups representing both acute and chronic morphine-induced treatments and the Morris water maze (MWM) study was employed after treatment for each rat. The rats were sacrificed after the treatments and serum samples were collected to evaluate the levels of CREB and BDNF.
Results
The results indicated that each of the anthocyanin content tested in the study was present in the pomegranate extract. Additionally,
in-vitro
studies using pomegranate extract treatment showed that the extract was effective in decreasing the MORs and cAMP protein levels in U-87 cells at a concentration of 0.125 mg/mL. The memory impairment based on the MWM study in rats was also subsequently improved after treatment with pomegranate extract as compared to treatment with morphine. The blood serum derived from the rats treated with pomegranate extract also showed a significant decrease in CREB level and an increase in BDNF as compared to rats treated with morphine.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this study substantiates the potency of pomegranate extract as a non-opioid substitution therapy for
in-vitro
and
in-vivo
studies.
Objective: Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr is a well-known traditional herb and is widely used for traditional medicine by human. Previous clinical studies have shown the benefit effect of this leaves with inflammation, high blood pressure and others. This study aims to investigate the effect of methanol, ethanol, and ethyl acetate extracts of Gynura procumbens on U-87 cell line, human Glioblastoma multiforme cell line. Methods: In the present study, effect of methanol, ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts on U-87 cell line was determined by MTT-based anti-proliferative assay and any significant changes to the cells towards apoptotic changes was observed under a light microscope. Results: The ethanol and methanol extracts of Gynura procumbens was found to have high anti-proliferative effect on U-87 cell line with IC 50 less than 20µg/ml. By comparing IC 50 value, ethanol and methanol extracts of Gynura procumbens had high potential for anti-proliferative effect on U-87 cell line. Therefore, ethanol and methanol extracts can be a potential anti-proliferative effect on U-87 cell line. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of exploring the effect of Gynura procumbens extracts using three different polarity (methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate) effect on U-87 cell line, Human Glioblastoma multiforme cells.
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