Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity of Nigella sativa L. and Allium ursinum Extracts in a Cellular Model of Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity

Abstract

Natural products black cumin—Nigella sativa (N. sativa) and wild garlic—Allium ursinum (AU) are known for their potential role in reducing cardiovascular risk factors, including antracycline chemotherapy. Therefore, this study investigates the effect of N. sativa and AU water and methanolic extracts in a cellular model of doxorubicin (doxo)-induced cardiotoxicity. The extracts were characterized using Ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) and Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. Antioxidant activity was evaluated on H9c2 cells. Cytosolic and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) release was evaluated using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin-diacetate (DHCF-DA) and mitochondria-targeted superoxide indicator (MitoSOX red), respectively. Mitochondrial membrane depolarization was evaluated by flow cytometry. LC-MS analysis identified 12 and 10 phenolic compounds in NSS and AU extracts, respectively, with flavonols as predominant compounds. FT-IR analysis identified the presence of carbohydrates, amino acids and lipids in both plants. GC-MS identified the sulfur compounds in the AU water extract. N. sativa seeds (NSS) methanolic extract had the highest antioxidant activity reducing both intracellular and mitochondrial ROS release. All extracts (excepting AU methanolic extract) preserved H9c2 cells viability. None of the investigated plants affected the mitochondrial membrane depolarization. N. sativa and AU are important sources of bioactive compounds with increased antioxidant activities, requiring different extraction solvents to obtain the pharmacological effects.

New Insight Into the Cardioprotective Effects of Allium ursinum L. Extract Against Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

“…Contrastingly, the results of the study conducted on cell lines that are previously exposed to doxorubicin treatment indicate the powerful antioxidant effect of ethanol AUE but poor the effect of the methanolic extract on the antioxidant capacity of wild garlic. The discrepancy between their results and the findings of other studies may be attributed to different study designs and measurement of the impact of A. ursinum on different parameters of redox status by using various tests (Pop et al, 2020).…”

Comparative Protective Effect of Nigella sativa Oil and Vitis vinifera Seed Oil in an Experimental Model of Isoproterenol-Induced Acute Myocardial Ischemia in Rats

“…In total, 13 compounds were identified in the NSO extract and 16 were identified in the GSO extract. The identification was done by comparing compound retention times, UV/Vis absorption spectra, and the [M + H] + protonated molecules with those reported in the literature [ 8 , 24 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. The identified compounds in the oil extracts belonged to various classes such as hydroxybenzoic acids (peak 1, 4), pavine alkaloids (peak 2), flavan-3-ol (peak 3), hydroxycinnamic acids (peak 5, 6, 7), flavonoid glycoside (peak 8), dicaffeoylquinic acids (peak 9, 10), tannins (peak 12,14 17, 22, 23), and monoterpenoid phenol (peak 11, 20, 21) ( Table 4 ).…”

“…The FTIR analysis and in-tube extraction technique (ITEX) coupled with GC-MS analysis was used to determine the phytochemical composition of the oils as described in Pop et al [ 8 ].…”

“…The oil extracts were characterized quantitatively regarding their TPC and antioxidant activity and qualitatively to identify the characteristic phenolic compound composition as previously described [ 8 ].…”

“…Nigella sativa is an annual herbaceous plant that belongs to the botanical Ranunculaceae family. Its seeds contain many active compounds, with anti-inflammatory, anti-ischemic, antihypertensive, hypoglycemic, and cardioprotective effects [ 7 , 8 ]. Compounds from Nigella sativa have been shown to have effects on monocyte-derived macrophages, which are prone to take up oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and augment local inflammation.…”