PMID: 

Front Oncol. 2019 ;9:100. Epub 2019 Feb 21. PMID: 30847305

Abstract Title: 

Wheat Germ Agglutinin as a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Leukemia.

Abstract: 

Dietary lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins found in food sources. We used a panel of seven dietary lectins to analyze cytotoxicity against hematological cancers. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), even at low doses, demonstrated maximum toxicity toward acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Using AML cell lines, we show time- and dose-dependent killing by WGA. We also show that low doses of WGA kills primary patient AML cells, irrespective of subtype, with no significant toxicity to normal cells. WGA caused AML cell agglutination, but failed to agglutinate RBC's at this dose. WGA, primarily, binds to-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) and is also reported to interact with sialic-acid-containing glycoconjugates and oligosaccharides. After neuraminidase pre-treatment, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of terminal sialic acid residues, AML cells were less sensitive to WGA-induced cell death. AML cells were also not sensitive to succinyl-WGA, which does not react with sialic acid. Incubation with LEL lectin, which recognizes GlcNAc or SNA, which binds preferentially to sialic acid attached to terminal galactose inα-2,6 and to a lesser degree α-2,3 linkage, did not alter AML cell viability. These data indicate that WGA-induced AML cell death is dependent on both GlcNAc binding and interaction with sialic acids. We did not observe anytoxicity of WGA toward normal cells at the concentrations tested. Finally, low doses of WGA injection demonstrated significanttoxicity toward AML cells, using xenograft mouse model. Thus, WGA is a potential candidate for leukemia therapy.

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PMID: 

J Nutr. 2019 Jul 1 ;149(7):1107-1115. PMID: 31162575

Abstract Title: 

Wheat Germ Supplementation Increases Lactobacillaceae and Promotes an Anti-inflammatory Gut Milieu in C57BL/6 Mice Fed a High-Fat, High-Sucrose Diet.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: A link between high-fat diet consumption and obesity-related diseases is the disruption of the gut bacterial population, which promotes local and systemic inflammation. Wheat germ (WG) is rich in bioactive components with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of WG supplementation in modulating the gut bacterial population and local and systemic inflammatory markers of mice fed a high-fat, high-sucrose (HFS) diet.METHODS: Six-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n = 12/group) and fed a control (C; 10% kcal fat, 10% kcal sucrose) or HFS (60% kcal fat, 20% kcal sucrose) diet with or without 10% WG (wt:wt) for 12 wk. Cecal bacteria was assessed via 16S rDNA sequencing, fecal short-chain fatty acids by GC, small intestinal CD4+ lymphocytes using flow cytometry, and gut antimicrobial peptide genes and inflammatory markers by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analyses included Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn's test and 2-factor ANOVA using HFS and WG as factors.RESULTS: There was a 4-fold increase (P = 0.007) in the beneficial bacterial family, Lactobacillaceae, in the HFS + WG compared with the HFS group. Fecal propionic and n-butyric acids were elevated at least 2-fold in C + WG compared with the other groups (P 

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PMID: 

J Food Sci. 2019 Aug ;84(8):2139-2146. Epub 2019 Jul 17. PMID: 31313302

Abstract Title: 

Antioxidant Peptide Fractions Isolated from Wheat Germ Protein with Subcritical Water Extraction and Its Transport Across Caco-2 Cells.

Abstract: 

Wheat germ protein (WGP) was extracted with subcritical water and then hydrolyzed with Alcalase 2.4 L to obtain antioxidant hydrolysates. Wheat germ peptides (WG-P, Mw

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PMID: 

Andrologia. 2019 Nov ;51(10):e13369. Epub 2019 Aug 16. PMID: 31418462

Abstract Title: 

The preventive role of wheat germ oil against sertraline-induced testicular damage in male albino rats.

Abstract: 

Sertraline is an antidepressant medication used extensively in the therapy of depression. The present investigation was intended to estimate the actual protective role of wheat germ oil on sertraline-caused testicular injury in albino rats. Sertraline (human therapeutic dose, 15.63 mg/kg) was orally administrated to rats for 28 successive days. Sertraline-administered rats were concurrently supplemented with wheat germ oil (human therapeutic dose, 68.75 mg/kg) for 28 successive days. Sertraline administration induced an elevation in testicular DNA damage and acute testicular damage illustrated by the histopathological alterations including marked degeneration and necrosis of germ cells lining seminiferous tubules, as well as interstitial oedema, congestion of interstitial blood vessel. Wheat germ oil administration potentially mitigated the histopathological alterations of sertraline-administered rats. Lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress biomarker, showed a significant elevation in testicular tissue of sertraline-administered rats. Furthermore, glutathione content and catalase activity were decreased in testicular tissue of sertraline-administered rats. Serum testosterone level was elevated in sertraline-administered rats. Wheat germ oil significantly reduced lipid peroxidation of testicular tissue and improved the antioxidant defences. Finally, wheat germ oil has a preventive role against testicular damage induced by sertraline in rats probably via its potential to prevent reactive oxygen species.

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PMID: 

J Pharmacopuncture. 2019 Sep ;22(3):131-139. Epub 2019 Sep 30. PMID: 31673442

Abstract Title: 

Effective Medicinal Plants in the Treatment of the Cyclic Mastalgia (Breast Pain): A Review.

Abstract: 

Introduction: Mastalgia is the most common benign breast disorder during the fertility period of women. So far a wide range of natural or complementary medicines is used to cure mastalgia. Sanitary organizations need complete and suitable details to help women, for making the proper decision for alternative treatment based on the evidence. The aim of the present study is to introduce medicinal plant-based treatments about mastalgia and summarizes clinical trials about this disorder.Method: The articles were provided using mixture of keywords including cyclic pain, breast, treatment, therapeutics, therapy, clinical trial, herbal, drug, mastalgia and all the probable terms, in national and international databases SID, Iran Medex, Magiran, PubMed, Scopus, Medline, Science direct and Cochrane library, in both Persian and English languages. All cross-sectional and review articles about herbal treatment of mastalgia until 2018 November were studied.Results: Nineteen articles from all of the available articles (45 cases) and a sample size about of (1987 cases) were included in our study. The articles were clinical trials. The results revealed that mastalgia could be healed by Nigella sativa, Vitex agnus-castus, curcumin, Hypericum perforatum, Citrus sinensis, wheat germ, and Ginkgo biloba.Conclusion: Most of the evaluated medicinal plants possessing antioxidant compounds with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, exhibited healing effects in the treatment of mastalgia. Thus, medicinal plants can be considered in the treatment of mastalgia; however, further investigations are needed to obtain more details about their probable side effects.

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PMID: 

Phytomedicine. 2017 Dec 1 ;36:262-272. Epub 2017 Sep 27. PMID: 29157824

Abstract Title: 

Fraxetin and ethyl acetate extract from Lawsonia inermis L. ameliorate oxidative stress in P. berghei infected mice by augmenting antioxidant defence system.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Lawsonia inermis L. is a well-documented plant for cosmetic as well as medicinal properties. It is used by local communities in India and Nigeria for the treatment of many parasitic diseases, including malaria.HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: Earlier studies on the plant's antiplasmodial activity were not assigned to any phytochemical with no quality assurance data. In this report, a recent chemically characterized extract and it's major constituent were investigated for in vitro antiplasmodial activity on chloroquine sensitive NF-54 strain. Furtherly, the potent extract and this constituent were assessed in vivo in Plasmodium berghei infected mice. The bioactive phytochemical and enriched extract were also monitored against various oxidative stress parameters.STUDY DESIGN/METHOD: The extract characterization was done by the quantitative analysis of eight phytochemicals using gradient reverse phase HPLC method. In vitro antiplasmodial activity was evaluated on chloroquine sensitive NF-54 strain by the determination of pfLDH activity. In vivo activity of the most potent extract and constituent were evaluated in P. berghei infected mice upon oral administration. The estimation of oxidative stress was done by monitoring various enzymatic and non-enzymatic parameters.RESULTS: The ethyl acetate extract of leaves (IC9.00 ± 0.68 µg/ml) and fraxetin (IC19.21 ± 1.04 µM) were the most effective in in vitro assays therefore selected for in vivo tests. The administration of the ethyl acetate extract of leaves and fraxetin to the infected mice resulted in significant (p 

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PMID: 

Daru. 2018 Sep ;26(1):11-17. Epub 2018 Jul 27. PMID: 30159762

Abstract Title: 

Lawsone-loaded Niosome and its antitumor activity in MCF-7 breast Cancer cell line: a Nano-herbal treatment for Cancer.

Abstract: 

Phytochemicals like Lawsone have some drawbacks that stem from their poor solubility. Low solubility in aqueous mediums results in low bioavailability, poor permeability and instability of phytochemical compounds in biological environments. The aim of this study was to design nanoniosomes containing Lawsone (Law) using non-ionic surfactants and cholesterol. Niosomes were prepared by thin film hydration method (TFH). Then, they were loaded with Henna extract (HLaw) and standard Lawsone (SLaw), and two resulted formulations were compared. The henna extract was analyzed by mass gas chromatography. Size, zeta potential, polydispersity index (PDI) and morphology of the loaded formulations were evaluated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron spectroscopy (SEM). The incorporation and release rate of Law from niosome bilayers were evaluated by UV-Vis spectroscopy. In vitro experiments were carried out to evaluate antitumor activity in MCF-7 cell line. The results showed distinct spherical shapes and particle sizes were about 250 nm in diameter and have negative zeta potentials. Niosomes were stable at 4 °C for 2 months. Entrapment efficiently of both formulations was about 70% and showed a sustained release profile. In vitro study exhibited that using of niosome to encapsulating Law can significantly increase antitumoractivity of formulation in MCF-7 cell line compared to Law solution (free Law). Thus, niosomes are a promising carrier system for delivery of phytochemical compounds that have poor solubility in biological fluids. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

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PMID: 

Nat Prod Res. 2019 Feb 5:1-5. Epub 2019 Feb 5. PMID: 30721090

Abstract Title: 

Lawsonia inermis L. leaves aqueous extract as a natural antioxidant and antibacterial product.

Abstract: 

This study was carried out to investigate the biomedicinal potential of aqueous extract (1.25 and 2.5%) of three henna ecotypes (Shahdad, Roodbar and Bam) against Two types of Gram positive and negative bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Streptococcus agalactiae (ATCC 29933), Bacillus cereus (ATCC 14579), Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (ATCC 19410), Klebsiella pneumonia (ATCC 700603), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Salmonella enterica serovar typhi (ATCC 19430). Henna extract prevent the growth of bacteria in a dose dependent manner. The species of K. pneumonia and B. cereus showed higher resistant to henna aqueous extract compared with other bacteria species. Leaves aqueous extract of Shahdad ecotype had the highest antioxidant activity compared with those of the other ecotypes. The highest amount of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone as an antibacterial compound was obtained in Bam ecotype. The results also implies that other phytochemical compounds may have contributed in antibacterial and antioxidant activity of henna and thus further study needs to be done to explore them.

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PMID: 

Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2019 Jan ;35(1):24-32. PMID: 30844141

Abstract Title: 

Topical administration of hydroethanolic extract of Lawsonia inermis (henna) accelerates excisional wound healing process by reducing tissue inflammation and amplifying glucose uptake.

Abstract: 

Several studies have reported the beneficial effects of Lawsonia inermis on wound healing, but the mechanism of action is still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a new ointment formulation of hydroethanolic extract leaves of L. inermis on wound healing by gene expression of glucose transporter-1 (Glut-1) and insulin-like growth factor I (Igf-1) in Wistar rats. The animals were topically treated with different doses of L. inermis. An experimentally induced circular excisional wound model of 314 mmsurface area was surgically created. The percentage of wound contraction and histopathological changes was assessed at different time points following wound induction. The expression of Glut-1 and Igf-1 was evaluated by reverse-transcription PCR. Topical administration of L. inermis, dose dependently, shortened inflammatory phase, accelerated cellular proliferation, and enhanced wound contraction ratio. It also improved revascularization, collagen deposition, and re-epithelialization rate and promoted intracytoplasmic carbohydrate storage (P 

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In the beginning, the earth was blessed with rich, fertile soil and lush vegetation. The soil was teaming with microbes — bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, to name a few. In the perfect cycle of life, microbes in the soil break down dead plant material and create substances and nutrients that nourish plants. When humans eat these plants, we enjoy the nutrients that they provide

The microbes in the soil make the hidden treasure called fulvic acid, the miracle of life. Fulvic acid is not a vitamin or a mineral and science cannot synthesize this substance in a laboratory. Our bodies require it for optimal health, but, we no longer get fulvic acid in adequate amounts from our food.

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