Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Flavanones from Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (licorice) Leaf Phytocomplexes: Identification of Licoflavanone as a Modulator of NF-kB/MAPK Pathway

Abstract

Inflammation represents an adaptive response generated by injuries or harmful stimuli. Natural remedies represent an interesting alternative to traditional therapies, involving several biochemical pathways. Besides, the valorization of agrochemical wastes nowadays seems to be a feasible way to reduce the health spending and improve the accessibility at bioactive natural compounds. In this context, the chemical composition of three Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (licorice) leaf extracts, obtained through maceration or ultrasound-assisted method (fresh and dried leaves) was investigated. A guided fractionation obtained three main components: pinocembrin, glabranin and licoflavanone. All the extracts showed similar antioxidant properties, evaluated by 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) or 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) Diammonium Salt (ABTS) assay, while, among the isolated compounds, licoflavanone exhibited the best antioxidant activity. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts and the purified compounds was investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Extract C and licoflavanone showed a good anti-inflammatory activity without affecting cell viability, as they decreased nitrite levels even when used at 12.5 μg/mL (p < 0.005) and 50 μM concentration (p < 0.001), respectively. Interestingly, licoflavanone markedly decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines and cyclooxygenase 2/inducible nitric oxide synthase (COX-2/iNOS) expression levels (p < 0.001). A modulation of nuclear factor kappa B/mitogen-activated protein kinases (NF-kB/MAPK) pathway underlay such behavior, highlighting the potential of this natural compound as a new scaffold in anti-inflammatory drug research.

5-(Carbamoylmethylene)-oxazolidin-2-ones as a Promising Class of Heterocycles Inducing Apoptosis Triggered by Increased ROS Levels and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Breast and Cervical Cancer

“…Western blot analysis was conducted basically as previously reported [36]. In detail, MCF-7 and HeLa cells were grown to 70-80% confluence, added to DMSO, or treated with 15 and 30 µM OI, respectively, for 24 h. In order to obtain total cell lysates, harvested cells were lysed using 200 µL of lysis buffer as previously reported.…”

Sangiovese cv Pomace Seeds Extract-Fortified Kefir Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Activity in an In Vitro Model of Intestinal Epithelium Using Caco-2 Cells

“…The maintenance of intestinal permeability as a feature for overcoming the development of severe diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease and food allergies, is a growing topic in the field of nutrition science. Various substances have been used over the years, [3][4][5] including the conventional steroid drugs, able to improve gut health through the reduction of inflammatory mediators [6]. Polyphenols, which are the most important secondary metabolites of plants, demonstrated to modulate the expression and/or production of numerous proteins, but also to regulate the intestinal ecosystem [7].…”

Drosophila melanogaster Mitochondrial Carriers: Similarities and Differences with the Human Carriers

“…In this light, CIC activity is essential for connecting carbohydrate catabolism and lipogenesis in the liver [ 35 , 41 , 42 ]. CIC is involved in many important biochemical pathways, including gluconeogenesis, insulin secretion, inflammation [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ], protein acetylation [ 45 , 47 , 48 ] and innate immune cell function [ 45 ]. Additionally, its activity is decreased during chronic cholestasis [ 49 ], and its inhibition might be useful in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [ 50 ], as well as in cancer resistance [ 51 , 52 , 53 ] and in apoptosis induction in cancer cells [ 54 ].…”