Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Ethanol Extract of Prasiola japonica, an Edible Freshwater Green Algae, and Its Various Solvent Fractions in LPS-Induced Macrophages and Carrageenan-Induced Paw Edema via the AP-1 Pathway

Abstract

Prasiola japonica possesses several biological activities. However, reports on the anti-inflammatory activities and molecular mechanisms of its different solvent fractions remain limited. In this study, we investigated the potential anti-inflammatory activities of P. japonica ethanol extract (Pj-EE) and four solvent fractions of Pj-EE made with hexane (Pj-EE-HF), chloroform (Pj-EE-CF), butanol (Pj-EE-BF), or water (Pj-EE-WF) in both in vitro (LPS-induced macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells) and in vivo (carrageenan-induced acute paw edema mouse models) experiments. The most active solvent fraction was selected for further analysis. Various in vitro and in vivo assessments, including nitric oxide (NO), cytokines, luciferase assays, real-time polymerase chain reactions, and immunoblotting analyses were performed to evaluate the underlying mechanisms. In addition, the phytochemical constituents were characterized by Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In in vitro studies, the highest inhibition of NO production was observed in Pj-EE-CF. Further examination revealed that Pj-EE-CF decreased the expression of inflammation-related cytokines in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells and suppressed subsequent AP-1-luciferase activity by inhibition of phosphorylation events in the AP-1 signaling pathway. Pj-EE-CF treatment also demonstrated the strongest reduction in thickness and volume of carrageenan-induced paw edema, while Pj-EE-BF showed the lowest activity. Furthermore, Pj-EE-CF also reduced gene expression and cytokines production in tissue lysates of carrageenan-induced paw edema. These findings support and validate the evidence that Pj-EE, and especially Pj-EE-CF, could be a good natural source for an anti-inflammatory agent that targets the AP1 pathway.

Anti-Struvite, Antimicrobial, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts of Saussurea costus (Falc) Lipsch Asteraceae

“…Depending on the MIC, the MBC can be determined after microdilution. Extracts from wells with concentrations at or below the MIC are spread on nutrient agar and after 24 h of incubation at 37 °C, bacterial growth was observed [ 40 ].…”

“…The evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the plant studied was carried out by a chemical method with carrageenan [ 40 ], Before the injection of 1% carrageenan (10 mg Kg −1 ) to all the animals in the right posterior leg, the rats were divided into different groups (n = 6) (180–200 g); each group received, orally, the following experimental solutions:…”

Skimmia anquetilia N.P. Taylor and Airy Shaw (Rutaceae): A Critical Appriasal of its Ethnobotanical and Pharmacological Activities

“…Out of 17,000–18,000 angiospermic species in India, over 7,000 plant species have been identified with medicinal properties ( Kala et al, 2006 ) and of these, ∼1,748 plant species are being used as medicinal plants in the Himalayan region ( Joshi et al, 2016 ). Medicinal plants have been reported to possess several biological activities such as anticancer ( Mlilo and Sibanda, 2022 ), antimicrobial ( Chan et al, 2022 ), anti-diabetic ( Ahmed et al, 2022 ), anti-inflammatory ( Rahmawati et al, 2021 ; Doe et al, 2022 ), antiviral ( Shahrajabian et al, 2022 ), anti-feedant ( Kerebba et al, 2022 ), antioxidant ( Appiah-Opong et al, 2022 ), and anti-spasmolytic activities ( Batiha et al, 2020 ; Hussain et al, 2020 ). These activities have been ascribed to their active principles viz : coumarins, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, tannins, carotenoids, phenolics, phenols, alkaloids, terpenes, etc.…”

“…Medicinal plants have been reported to possess several biological activities such as anticancer (Mlilo and Sibanda, 2022), antimicrobial (Chan et al, 2022), anti-diabetic (Ahmed et al, 2022), anti-inflammatory Abbreviations: GC-MS, gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy; NMR, nuclear magnetic resonance; COSY, correlation spectroscopy; HMQC, heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence; HMBC, heteronuclear multiple bond correlation; NOESY, nuclear overhauser effect spectroscopy; HRBC, human red blood cell; SRB, sulphorhodamine; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; DPPH, 2,2diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; BHT, butylated hydroxytoluene; ABTS, 2,2 -azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulpohonic acid); FRAP, ferric reducing antioxidant power; TPC, total phenolic contents; TFC, total flavonoid contents; MIC, minimum inhibitory concentration. (Rahmawati et al, 2021;Doe et al, 2022), antiviral (Shahrajabian et al, 2022), anti-feedant (Kerebba et al, 2022), antioxidant (Appiah-Opong et al, 2022), and anti-spasmolytic activities (Batiha et al, 2020;Hussain et al, 2020). These activities have been ascribed to their active principles viz: coumarins, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, tannins, carotenoids, phenolics, phenols, alkaloids, terpenes, etc.…”

Chloroform Fraction of Prasiola japonica Ethanolic Extract Alleviates UPM 1648a-Induced Lung Injury by Suppressing NF-κB Signaling

“…In a recent study, we compared the general anti-inflammatory effects of solvent fractions of Pj-EE prepared with n-hexane, chloroform, n-butanol, and water [8]. Interestingly, the chloroform fraction (Pj-EE-CF) was most effective in suppressing nitric oxide levels and inflammatory cytokine gene expression in LPS-stimulated macrophages and in reducing edema in carrageenan-treated paws [8]. The predominantly used indicators in the evaluation of the inflammatory activities of compounds or plant-derived extracts are influenced by Pj-EE [9][10][11].…”