Evaluation of phytoestrogens in inducing cell death mediated by decreasing Annexin A1 in Annexin A1-knockdown leukemia cells.

Background: Phytoestrogens are plant compounds that are structurally similar to estrogen and that possess anti-cancer properties. Previous studies have reported that coumestrol, daidzein and genistein could induce cell death by reducing Annexin A1 protein in leukemic cell lines. Annexin A1 (ANXA1) is involved in cell progression, metastasis, and apoptosis in several types of cancer cells.

In vitro anti-allergic activity of Moringa oleifera Lam. extracts and their isolated compounds.

Background: Moringa oleifera Lam. is a commonly used plant in herbal medicine and has various reported bioactivities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer and antidiabetes. It is rich in nutrients and polyphenols.

Standardized ethanol extract, essential oil and zerumbone of Zingiber zerumbet rhizome suppress phagocytic activity of human neutrophils.

Background: Zingiber zerumbet rhizome and its bioactive metabolites have previously been reported to exhibit innumerable pharmacological properties particularly anti-inflammatory activities. In the present study, the 80% ethanol extract, essential oil and zerumbone of Z. zerumbet rhizomes were explored for their in vitro immunosuppressive properties on chemotaxis, CD11b/CD18 expression, phagocytosis and chemiluminescence of isolated human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs).

Phyllanthus amarus protects against spatial memory impairment induced by lipopolysaccharide in mice.

Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. and Thonn. is a wide spread medicinal herb with various traditional uses.

Standardised Extract Reduces Cholesterol Levels and Modulates Oxidative Status in Postmenopausal Rats Fed with Cholesterol Diet Enriched with Repeatedly Heated Palm Oil.

(Lour.) Merr. (GP) has been reported in previous studies to possess antihyperlipidaemic, antioxidative, and cardioprotective properties.

Insights on the synthesis of asymmetric curcumin derivatives and their biological activities.

Curcumin is a small organic molecule with pleiotropic biological activities. However, its multiple structural-pharmacokinetic challenges prevent its development into a clinical drug. Various structural modifications have been made to improve its drug profile.

Comparative anti-osteoporotic properties of the leaves and roots of in postmenopausal rat model.

Background: var. (), popularly known as Kacip Fatimah, is widely used to maintain female reproductive health, facilitate post-partum recovery and manage symptoms of menopause and osteoporosis in South-East Asia. This study aims to further evaluate the osteoprotective potential of in view of reports of its bone-protective properties in postmenopausal condition.

Lamiaceae: An Insight on Their Anti-Allergic Potential and Its Mechanisms of Action.

The prevalence of allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergy and atopic dermatitis has increased dramatically in recent decades. Conventional therapies for allergy can induce undesirable effects and hence patients tend to seek alternative therapies like natural compounds. Considering the fact above, there is an urgency to discover potential medicinal plants as future candidates in the development of novel anti-allergic therapeutic agents.

Effects of annexin A1 on apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human leukemic cell lines.

Recent studies suggest that annexin A1 (ANXA1) promotes apoptosis in cancerous cells. This study aims to investigate the effects of ANXA1 on apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in K562, Jurkat and U937 cells and peripheral blood mononu-clear cells (PBMC). Cells were treated with ANXA1 and cyclophosphamide prior to flow cytometry analysis for apoptosis and cell cycle arrest induction.

Protective Effects of Against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Impairment in Rats.

(PA) is widely studied for its hepatoprotective properties but has recently received increasing attention due to its diverse anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effects of PA in modulating immune responses in the central nervous system leading to protection against functional changes remain unexplored. Therefore, we sought to examine the protective effects of 80% v/v ethanol extract of PA on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced non-spatial memory impairment and neuroinflammation.

Zerumbone from Zingiber zerumbet inhibits innate and adaptive immune responses in Balb/C mice.

Zerumbone exhibited various biological properties including in vitro immunosuppressive effects. However, its modulatory activity on the immune responses in experimental animal model is largely unknown. This investigation was conducted to explore the effects of daily treatment of zerumbone (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) isolated from Zingiber zerumbet rhizomes for 14 days on various cellular and humoral immune responses in Balb/C mice.

Cardiovascular autonomic effects of transcutaneous auricular nerve stimulation via the tragus in the rat involve spinal cervical sensory afferent pathways.

Background: Electrical stimulation on select areas of the external auricular dermatome influences the autonomic nervous system. It has been postulated that activation of the Auricular Branch of the Vagus Nerve (ABVN) mediates such autonomic changes. However, the underlying neural pathways mediating these effects are unknown and, further, our understanding of the anatomical distribution of the ABVN in the auricle has now been questioned.

Potential roles of 5-HT receptor (5-HTR) antagonists in modulating the effects of nicotine.

5-HTR antagonists such as ondansetron, granisetron and tropisetron have been clinically used to treat nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients. However, current study and research revealed novel potentials of these ligands in other diseases like inflammation, Alzheimer's, and drug abuse. Towards utilising these drugs as anti-smoking agents to treat nicotine dependence problem, there are conflicting reports regarding the potential of these ligands in modulating the effects of nicotine in both human and animal behavioural studies.

Risk factor analysis on the healing time and infection rate of diabetic foot ulcers in a referral wound care clinic.

Objective:: Objectives. To determine the prevalence and risk factors for diabetic foot infection (DFI), and to identify factors associated with delayed wound healing of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU).

Method:: The retrospective study was performed in a referral wound care clinic in Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

Standardized extract of Zingiber zerumbet suppresses LPS-induced pro-inflammatory responses through NF-κB, MAPK and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways in U937 macrophages.

Background: Zingiber zerumbet rhizome has been used as spices and in traditional medicine to heal various immune-inflammatory related ailments. Although the plant was reported to have potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties by several studies, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects have not been well justified.

Purpose: The study was carried out to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory properties of the standardized 80% ethanol extract of Z.

Immunosuppressive effects of the standardized extract of Zingiber zerumbet on innate immune responses in Wistar rats.

Zingiber zerumbet rhizome has been used in traditional medicine mainly for the treatment of various immune-inflammatory related ailments and has been shown to exhibit a wide spectrum of biological effects especially antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study was aimed to investigate the immunosuppressive effects of the standardized 80% ethanol extract of Z. zerumbet at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg on the innate immune responses in male Wistar rats.

Parkia speciosa empty pod extract exerts anti-inflammatory properties by modulating NFκB and MAPK pathways in cardiomyocytes exposed to tumor necrosis factor-α.

Parkia speciosa Hassk is a plant found abundantly in the Southeast Asia region. Its seeds, with or without pods, have been used in traditional medicine locally to treat cardiovascular problems. The pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases involves inflammation and oxidative stress.

The medicinal uses, toxicities and anti-inflammatory activity of Polyalthia species (Annonaceae).

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Polyalthia is one of the largest and notable genera in Annonaceae family. Polyalthia species have been widely used in folklore medicine for the treatment of rheumatic fever, gastrointestinal ulcer and generalized body pain. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies on Polyalthia Species have also corroborated the significant anti-inflammatory potential of its extracts and secondary metabolites.

Raging the War Against Inflammation With Natural Products.

Over the last few decade Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are the drugs of choice for treating numerous inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis. The NSAIDs produces anti-inflammatory activity via inhibiting cyclooxygenase enzyme, responsible for the conversation of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. Likewise, cyclooxegenase-2 inhibitors (COX-2) selectively inhibit the COX-2 enzyme and produces significant anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-pyretic activity without producing COX-1 associated gastrointestinal and renal side effects.

Corrigendum: Plant-derived immunomodulators: an insight on their preclinical evaluation and clinical trials.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.

Dendritic cells pulsed with generated tumor cell lysate from Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn. induces anti-tumor immune response.

Background: Dendritic cells (DCs) are unique antigen presenting cells (APC) which play a pivotal role in immunotherapy and induction of an effective immune response against tumors. In the present study, 80% ethanol extract of Phyllanthus amarus was used to generate tumor lysate (TLY) derived from HCT 116 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines via induction of apoptosis. Monocyte-derived DCs were generated ex vivo from the adherent population of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Stimulation of the ATPase activity of Hsp90 by zerumbone modification of its cysteine residues destabilizes its clients and causes cytotoxicity.

Hsp90 is an ATP-dependent molecular chaperone that assists folding and conformational maturation/maintenance of many proteins. It is a potential cancer drug target because it chaperones oncoproteins. A prokaryotic homolog of Hsp90 (HtpG) is essential for thermo-tolerance in some bacteria and virulence of zoonotic pathogens.