Activity of isoflavone biochanin A in chronic experimental toxoplasmosis: impact on inflammation

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is a worldwide prevalent parasite. The infection has been linked to variable inflammatory effects including neuroinflammation. Biochanin A (BCA) is an isoflavone, known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. In this study, we examined the effect of BCA on the brain and liver inflammatory lesions in a murine model with chronic toxoplasmosis. Mice were divided in to six groups: non-infected control, non-infected BCA-treated, and four infected groups with Toxoplasmagondii Me49-type II cystogenic strain: infected control, BCA (50 mg/kg/day)-treated, combined BCA/cotrimoxazole-treated and cotrimoxazole (370 mg/kg/day) alone-treated. Gene expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR in the brain and liver tissues. In the infected control group, an upregulation of TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA expression levels was found. However, a downregulation of iNOS expression was detected in the brain of infected control mice. In both BCA- and combined-treated groups, the brain and liver tissues showed significantly reduced inflammatory lesions compared to the infected control mice with inhibited TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA levels. The iNOS expression levels in the brain tissues of BCA group were significantly higher than the levels of the infected control group. BCA alone or combined significantly reduced T. gondii cyst count in the brain tissues. In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory activity of BCA was demonstrated in the brain tissues of mice with chronic toxoplasmosis with decreased TNF-α and IL-1β expression levels and increased iNOS expression levels.

Application of the Luminescence Syncytium Induction Assay to Identify Chemical Compounds That Inhibit Bovine Leukemia Virus Replication

“…One compound, BSI-066, is an isoflavone named biochanin A, which has been reported to possess phytoestrogenic activity [ 35 ] and regulate inflammation [ 36 , 37 ]. Isoflavones have been reported to suppress cancer growth [ 38 , 39 ] and inhibit some viral infections as detailed below.…”

Biochanin A Has Protective and Therapeutic Effects against Li2CO3-induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats Model

“…Positive control, or the Li 2 CO 3 group, consisted of rats that received 24 mg/kg Li 2 CO 3 by oral gavage every alternate day for 7 weeks to induce renal injury. (17) Li 2 CO 3 and BCA therapeutic group (Li 2 CO 3 + BCA) consisted of rats received 24 mg/kg Li 2 CO 3 orally every alternate day for 7 weeks, then receive 50 mg/kg BCA orally daily for 3 weeks (18). BCA and Li 2 CO 3 protective group (BCA+ Li 2 CO 3 ) consisted of rats received 50 mg/kg BCA orally at same time with 24 mg/kg Li 2 CO 3 every alternate day for 7 weeks.…”

“…BCA and Li 2 CO 3 protective group (BCA+ Li 2 CO 3 ) consisted of rats received 50 mg/kg BCA orally at same time with 24 mg/kg Li 2 CO 3 every alternate day for 7 weeks. (18) Total body weights of rats estimated at beginning and end of experimental using digital scale. At 7 th weeks, followed 12 hours of experimental end, rats anesthetized by inhalation of diethyl ether.…”

Transcriptomic profiling of long non-coding RNAs and messenger RNAs in the liver of mice during Toxoplasma gondii infection

“…Several lncRNAs and mRNAs have been identified to be differentially expressed in the liver during the course of infection with T. gondii [ 2 , 5 ]. For example, a study found that the mRNA for the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α was significantly upregulated in T. gondii -infected livers [ 6 ]. TNF-α is known to promote liver inflammation and can contribute to liver damage [ 7 ].…”