Natural products with stunning chemical diversity have been extensively researched for their anticancer potential for more than fifty years. This study aimed to determine the effect of indole derivative 1 H -indole-2-hydroxy-3-carboxylic acid (IHCA), isolated as a novel alkaloid from Capparis ovata , on selected tumor suppressor, apoptotic, and cell cycle regulatory genes, which are known to be important in cancer pathophysiology, on Caco-2 and LNCaP cells in comparison with Taxol. The molecular mechanism of IHCA's anticancer activity is essentially undefined. Different concentrations of IHCA increased the expression levels of apoptosis-related genes, including BCL-2 and TNF-α. In addition, the tumor suppressor genes PTEN, P53, and RB were increased in LNCaP and Caco-2 cells. KRAS, an oncogenic gene, was significantly downregulated by IHCA in LNCaP cells. Western blot results showed that the protein expression levels of P53 and PTEN in LNCaP cells were increased when treated with IHCA, whereas CDK4 and TNF-α were decreased. Finally, IHCA and doxorubicin significantly increased P53-driven luciferase activity compared to the control. The results strongly suggest that the novel natural compound IHCA has an anticancer effect involving the regulation of the P53 gene and its networks in vitro. The molecular docking and MD simulation analyses reveal that IHCA exhibits superior binding potential to the MDM2 protein compared to Nutlin-3a. MD simulations further confirm that IHCA maintains a more stable and consistent interaction with MDM2, as indicated by lower RMSD values and reduced ligand fluctuation. These results highlight IHCA's potential as a more effective MDM2 inhibitor, suggesting its promise as a lead compound for anticancer drug development. Clinical Trial Registration: Not applicable.

This study examined the biological effects of borax-doped Fe2O3 and CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated THP-1 cells. The morphology and composition of the nanocomposites were confirmed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Cell viability (resazurin and crystal violet assays), apoptosis/necrosis (annexin V/propidium iodide [PI]), cell cycle (flow cytometry), migration (scratch assay), and inflammatory response (Iba1 immunofluorescence staining, inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS] activity, and RT-PCR) were evaluated. The particle sizes ranged from 21.34 to 33.47 nm (Fe2O3-B-NPs) and 31.07 to 36.62 nm (CeO2-B-NPs). The IC10 and IC50 dose ranges were defined for each nanocomposite and applied across different cell lines to evaluate dose-dependent biological effects. Fe2O3-B-NPs altered cell cycle progression, increasing the number of S phase cells. Both nanocomposites promoted migration at low doses but inhibited it at high doses. CeO2-B-NPs reduced Iba1 levels, whereas Fe2O3-B-NPs increased inflammatory marker levels at higher concentrations. CeO2-B-NPs suppressed TNF-α and IL-1β gene expression at the IC50 dose, while both nanocomposites reduced iNOS activity. These results indicate that the dose-dependent effects of nanocomposites should be carefully evaluated.

Neurodegenerative diseases involve the convergence of cholinergic dysfunction, neuronal loss, and sustained neuroinflammatory responses, necessitating the development of multifunctional therapeutic agents. In this study, a series of novel thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine-phenolic Mannich base hybrids were rationally designed, synthesized, and evaluated as dual cholinesterase inhibitors with neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory potential. The synthesized compounds exhibited potent inhibition against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), with inhibition constants in the low nanomolar range. Among them, compounds 5 and 9 emerged as the most active derivatives, displaying Ki values of 8.79 and 14.11 nM for AChE and 7.04 and 11.75 nM for BChE, surpassing the reference inhibitors tacrine and donepezil. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations supported the experimental findings, and Molecular Mechanics-Generalized Born Surface Area (MM-GBSA) binding free energy calculations further confirmed their superior binding affinities compared with donepezil. Cytotoxicity profiling in SH-SY5Y neuronal cells and RAW 264.7 and THP-1 immune cells identified a narrow sub-cytotoxic concentration window (EC05-EC10 = 1.2-2.1 μM), ensuring biological effects independent of nonspecific cell damage. Within this range, both compounds exerted pronounced anti-neuroinflammatory activity. Notably, compound 9 significantly downregulated pro-inflammatory mediators, reducing IL-1β, IL-6, and NF-κB1 gene expression by up to 2.78-, 3.37-, and 4.84-fold, respectively. Consistently, it suppressed nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated macrophages to levels comparable with ascorbic acid and markedly decreased Iba1 expression in activated THP-1 cells. This integrated enzymatic, computational, and cellular investigation identifies compounds 5 and 9 as promising multifunctional lead combining dual cholinesterase inhibition with robust anti-neuroinflammatory activity. The results provide a strong foundation for future in vivo studies and further optimization toward disease-modifying agents for neurodegenerative disorders.

ABSTRACT This study examined the biological effects of borax‐doped Fe 2 O 3 and CeO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐activated THP‐1 cells. The morphology and composition of the nanocomposites were confirmed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy‐dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy (EDX). Cell viability (resazurin and crystal violet assays), apoptosis/necrosis (annexin V/propidium iodide [PI]), cell cycle (flow cytometry), migration (scratch assay), and inflammatory response (Iba1 immunofluorescence staining, inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS] activity, and RT‐PCR) were evaluated. The particle sizes ranged from 21.34 to 33.47 nm (Fe 2 O 3 ‐B‐NPs) and 31.07 to 36.62 nm (CeO 2 ‐B‐NPs). The IC 10 and IC 50 dose ranges were defined for each nanocomposite and applied across different cell lines to evaluate dose‐dependent biological effects. Fe 2 O 3 ‐B‐NPs altered cell cycle progression, increasing the number of S phase cells. Both nanocomposites promoted migration at low doses but inhibited it at high doses. CeO 2 ‐B‐NPs reduced Iba1 levels, whereas Fe 2 O 3 ‐B‐NPs increased inflammatory marker levels at higher concentrations. CeO 2 ‐B‐NPs suppressed TNF‐α and IL‐1β gene expression at the IC 50 dose, while both nanocomposites reduced iNOS activity. These results indicate that the dose‐dependent effects of nanocomposites should be carefully evaluated.

Breast cancer remains a major health challenge due to the heterogeneity of tumor subtypes and the limited efficacy of single-target therapeutic approaches. In this study, a new series of polymethoxy rhodanines was designed and synthesized, and their anticancer potential was evaluated against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines, together with healthy HEK-293 cell line. Among the tested derivatives, compound 2 emerged as the most promising candidate, exhibiting potent cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 (IC50 = 17.38 +/- 2.02 & micro;M) and MDA-MB-231 (IC50 = 27.30 +/- 1.04 & micro;M) cells, along with high selectivity indices of 30.8 and 19.6, respectively, compared to HEK-293 cells. To predict the molecular basis of its activity, compound 2 was subjected to computational studies targeting estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2). Induced-fit docking and MMGBSA calculations revealed favorable binding free energies for compound 2 against ER alpha (Delta Gbind = -85.18 kcal/mol) and VEGFR2 (Delta Gbind = 85.64 kcal/mol), outperforming the reference drug sorafenib. Molecular dynamics simulations further confirmed the stability of both complexes, with low RMSD values (2.0 & Aring; for ER alpha and 1.4 & Aring; for VEGFR2) and persistent key interactions throughout the simulation. In silico ADME predictions demonstrated that compound 2 possesses favorable pharmacokinetic properties, including high predicted oral absorption (100%) and acceptable drug-likeness parameters, comparable to sorafenib. This study provides experimental and computational evaluation of a promising anticancer scaffold and offers mechanistic insight into its interaction with molecular targets relevant to distinct breast cancer subtypes, highlighting compound 2 as a potential lead for further optimization.

Background/Objectives: X-inactive-specific transcript (XIST) is a factor that plays a role in neuroinflammation. This study investigated the role of XIST in neuronal development, neuroinflammation, myelination, and therapeutic responses within cerebral organoids in the context of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. Methods: Human cerebral organoids with oligodendrocytes were produced from XIST-silenced H9 cells, and the mature organoids were subsequently treated with either FTY720 or DMF. Gene expression related to inflammation and myelination was subsequently analyzed via qRT-PCR. Immunofluorescence staining was used to assess the expression of proteins related to inflammation, myelination, and neuronal differentiation. Alpha-synuclein protein levels were also checked via ELISA. Finally, transcriptome analysis was conducted on the organoid samples. Results: XIST-silenced organoids presented a 2-fold increase in the expression of neuronal stem cells, excitatory neurons, microglia, and mature oligodendrocyte markers. In addition, XIST silencing increased IL-10 mRNA expression by 2-fold and MBP and PLP1 expression by 2.3- and 0.6-fold, respectively. Although XIST silencing tripled IBA1 protein expression, it did not affect organoid MBP expression. FTY720, but not DMF, distinguished MBP and IBA1 expression in XIST-silenced organoids. Furthermore, XIST silencing reduced the concentration of alpha-synuclein from 300 to 100 pg/mL, confirming its anti-inflammatory role. Transcriptomic and gene enrichment analyses revealed that the differentially expressed genes are involved in neural development and immune processes, suggesting the role of XIST in neuroinflammation. The silencing of XIST modified the expression of genes associated with inflammation, myelination, and neuronal growth in cerebral organoids, indicating a potential involvement in the pathogenesis of MS. Conclusions: XIST may contribute to the MS pathogenesis as well as neuroinflammatory diseases such as and Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and may be a promising therapeutic target.

This study was conducted to investigate the mechanism of the potential and anti-inflammatory properties of nitrogen-substituted oleanolic acid derivatives that can be used to treat neuroinflammatory diseases. Nitrogen-containing oleanolic acid derivatives have been evaluated for their anti-neuroinflammatory effects in vitro in neuronal and monocytic cell lines at nontoxic doses, and the production of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-17), the inflammatory enzyme induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and NF-κB signalling under LPS-stimulated conditions, and the expression of genes associated with Alzheimer's disease have been assessed. In addition, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation assessments are conducted in silico. Key protein markers of neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer's disease and neuroinflammation, TAU protein levels, and microglial activation, as well as ionised calcium-binding adaptor protein-1 (IBA1) levels, were significantly reduced with the addition of oleanolic acid derivatives. LPS-induced NF-κB luciferase reporter activity and iNOS activity were significantly inhibited, approaching the levels in uninduced controls. The mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines critical for neuroinflammation, such as TNF-α, NF-κB, IL-6 and IL-17, was reduced twofold to sevenfold. Furthermore, the molecular docking and MD simulation analyses revealed potential interactions with the TNF-α and NF-κB proteins. These findings underscore the potential of oleanolic acid derivatives, particularly compound 16, as candidates for further development as therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases associated with chronic inflammation.

Inula viscosa (L.) Aiton is a traditional medicinal plant extensively utilized in Mediterranean nations for the treatment of rheumatic pain, inflammatory disorders, diabetes, anemia, and cancer. This study further explored its anti-inflammatory mechanisms through the highest components, chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid, and rutin, on the expression of the ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) on monocyte-derived macrophage-like cells. Iba1 is known to contribute pathogenesis of diverse inflammatory diseases. HPLC analysis identified 13 major phenolic compounds, with rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid, and rutin as major components. The aqueous extract of the plant and its major components exhibited dose-dependent antiproliferative activity on pTHP-1, RAW264.7, and PCS-201-012 cells. Immunofluorescence staining revealed a significant reduction in Iba1 protein expression, which is associated with inflammation, at the high dose of I. viscosa and rutin. Molecular docking studies indicated that rosmarinic acid and rutin had the strongest predicted interactions with Iba1, with docking scores of -12.403 and -12.301 kcal/mol and MM/GBSA binding energies of -64.47 and -84.20 kcal/mol, respectively. I. visoca and its major components were observed to significantly suppress iNOS activity in LPS-stimulated cells; these findings were also supported by RT-PCR results. Treatment with the high dose of I. viscosa resulted in 9.45% necrotic cells and caused cell cycle arrest in the S phase (59.2 +/- 5.23%). This suggests that it may potentially reduce the proliferation of activated macrophages. In the fibroblast migration assays, the relative wound closure rate was found to be significant 27.06 +/- 18.09% at the low dose of I. viscosa and 31.59 +/- 22.42% at the high dose of I. viscosa. Although the relatively low wound closure rate limits tissue repair, it may benefit chronic wounds and fibrosis by suppressing excessive cell proliferation and inflammation. These results suggest that I. viscosa is a promising natural source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in anti-inflammatory drug development.

In this study, a novel series of eleven 3,5-disubstituted thiazolidine-2,4-dione (TZD) derivatives were rationally designed and synthesized, incorporating tertiary amine moieties to enhance cholinesterase binding. The acetamide-linked TZD scaffold was selected for its potential dual functionality: cholinesterase inhibition and cytotoxicity against neuronal cells. All compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), alongside cytotoxicity assays on SH-SY5Y cancerous neuroblastoma and HEK-293 healthy cells. Compound 7 showed the strongest AChE inhibition (IC50 = 17.87 μM and Ki = 19.48 μM), while compound 8 exhibited the most potent BChE inhibition (IC50 = 34.98 μM and Ki = 26.15 μM), showing better activity than reference inhibitors (IC50Tacrine = 53.81 μM and IC50Galantamine = 43.21 μM). Several compounds, particularly 3, showed the greatest selectivity toward SH-SY5Y cells (SI = 4.9), followed by 8 (SI = 4.4) and 2 (SI = 3.4). All three compounds matched or exceeded Sorafenib's selectivity (SI = 3.8), despite Sorafenib exhibiting stronger cytotoxicity. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations supported the observed in vitro results, revealing strong and stable binding interactions of compound 7 with AChE and compound 8 with BChE. The correlation between BChE inhibition and cytotoxicity suggests potential multifunctionality. The findings highlight compounds 7 and 8 as promising lead candidates for neurodegenerative disorders and support their eligibility for further in-depth pharmacological investigations.

A novel series of 4-thiomorpholinophenyl-thiosemicarbazones (3a-p) was synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. The compounds were evaluated for inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), key enzymes associated with neurodegenerative disorders. All derivatives exhibited potent inhibition, with nanomolar IC50 values ranging from 11.36 to 34.17 nM (AChE) and 33.42 to 79.77 nM (BChE), comparable to standard drugs galantamine and tacrine. Compound 3l, bearing a benzyl group, showed the strongest dual inhibition (AChE IC50 = 11.36 nM) and compound 3n exhibited the highest BChE selectivity (Ki = 33.42 ± 2.38 nM). Anticancer activity was assessed against SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma and HEK-293 cell lines. Compound 3l demonstrated selective cytotoxicity against SH-SY5Y cells (IC50 = 21.11 ± 0.42 μM) with minimal toxicity toward HEK-293 cells (IC50 = 69.49 ± 4.27 μM, SI = 3.3), comparable to sorafenib. Molecular docking showed multiple π-π and hydrogen-bond interactions of 3l with AChE (Tyr-72, Tyr-337, Trp-286, His-447, Phe-295, Tyr-124) and 3n with BChE (Trp-231, Phe-329, Pro-285, Gln-119, Thr-120). MM-GBSA calculations indicated favorable binding energies (-70.74 and - 67.09 kcal/mol) driven by van der Waals and lipophilic forces. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed stable complexes with RMSD ∼1.4 Å for ligands, ∼2.0 Å for proteins, persistent interactions, and reduced flexibility (RMSF ∼1.5 Å). ADME analysis suggested acceptable drug-like properties. These results highlight 3l and 3n as promising scaffolds for dual cholinesterase inhibition and selective anticancer activity.

Five novel 1,2,3-triazole/arylidenehydrazide/thiazolidinone hybrid compounds (7-11) were synthesized and characterized using NMR, HRMS, IR, and HPLC purity analysis. The cytotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated on fibroblasts and THP-1 cells, showing that all compounds were nontoxic at the tested concentrations. The wound healing assay revealed that compounds 7, 9, and 10 significantly enhanced wound closure, with a 7.74%-32.69% improvement in treated cells. Compounds 8 and 11 showed moderate effects. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed through qRT-PCR, demonstrating that compound 10 led to the most significant reduction in proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and NF-κB1. In addition, the expression of Iba1 protein in THP-1 cells confirmed that compound 8 showed the strongest anti-inflammatory effect, surpassing that of aspirin. Compound 10 showed the highest inhibition of NF-κB signaling and iNOS activity. Molecular docking studies revealed that compounds 10 and 11 had strong binding affinities to TNF-α and iNOS, with compound 11 showing the most stable interactions. Molecular dynamics simulations supported these findings, indicating that compound 11 demonstrated more stable binding to both targets. Overall, the results suggest that compounds 10 and 11 are promising anti-inflammatory candidates with potential for further development in therapeutic applications for inflammatory diseases.

Mesalamine (mesalazine, 5-aminosalicylic acid, 5-ASA) is an essential anti-inflammatory agent both used for therapy and as a remission control in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis (UC). Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are used to alleviate remaining symptoms in patients already receiving IBD therapy or with quiescent inflammation. The cytochrome P4502D6 enzyme is involved in the metabolism of TCAs. Hence, it is crucial to investigate the role of CYP2D6 in 5-ASA metabolism. Initially, in silico analysis involving the docking of 5-ASA to CYP2D6 and molecular dynamics simulations was conducted. Next, the rate of O-demethylation of a nonfluorescent probe 3-[2-(N,N-diethyl-N-methylammonium)-ethyl]-7-methoxy-4-methylcoumarin (AMMC) into a fluorescent metabolite AMHC (3-[2-(N,N-diethyl-N-methylammonium)ethyl]-7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin) was optimized with baculosomes co-expressing human CYP2D6 and human P450 oxidoreductase (hCPR) to monitor CYP2D6 activity in a microtiter plate assay. The apparent Km and Vmax were found to be 1.30 μM and 32.68 pmol/min/mg of protein for the O-demethylation of AMMC to AMHC, and the reaction was linear for 40 min. Then, nonselective inhibition of CYP2D6 activity with various concentrations of 5-ASA was detected. Finally, the conversion of AMMC to metabolites was analyzed by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS spectrometry, and none were identified. Thus, this study suggests that concurrent use of mesalamine with TCA may lead to adverse effects, and CYP2D6 genotyping should be routinely performed on these patients to eliminate possible threats.

INTRODUCTION:The absence of physiologically relevant models for neuroinflammatory brain disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), highlights the need for improved drug screening platforms. To bridge this gap, this study aimed to develop a human brain organoid (hBO) model incorporating essential neural cell types, including astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes. METHODS:hBOs were generated from H9 stem cells, and neuroinflammatory characteristics were elicited by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The expression of specific neuronal and inflammatory markers was assessed through qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence staining (IFS), and ELISA. RESULTS:IFS of mature hBOs with anti-SOX2, anti-SATB2, anti-MAPT, anti-GFAP, anti- MBP, and anti-IBA1 antibodies and images collected with the confocal microscope confirmed the differentiation of H9 cells into cortical neurons, astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocyte cell types. Elevated GFAP, IBA1, NF-κB, and IL-6 levels, along with reduced CNPase expression with LPS treatment, were considered reflective of MS-like pathology and were used to test fingolimod and its derivatives. Fingolimod and all its derivatives, specifically ST-1505, decreased MAPT (2.1-fold in ELISA, 1.7-fold in IFS), GFAP (1.8-fold in IFS), TNFα (5.4-fold in qRT-PCR), and FABP (1.5-fold in ELISA) levels, and increased IL-10 (11-fold in qRT-PCR) and MBP (2.9-fold in IFS) levels. DISCUSSION:The present data collectively showed LPS to evoke neuroinflammation in the hBO model, while fingolimod and its derivatives, particularly ST-1505, exhibited significant anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties by counteracting these evoked changes in the hBO model. CONCLUSION:The findings supported the applicability of brain organoids as a model system for drug screening studies for neuroinflammatory brain diseases.

Alzheimer disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are inflammatory neurological disorders. The main symptom of AD is dementia, and the main symptoms of MS are vertigo, sexual dysfunction, cognitive problems, and fatigue. Today, millions of people are affected by AD and MS, and the number is growing day by day. However, there are not any accurate remedies for both disorders. For this reason, discovering novel drug molecules against neurological disorders such as AD and MS is essential and precious. Oximes and benzofurans exhibit many pharmacological effects including anti-inflammatory and neurological activities. Thus, several novel compounds bearing oxime and benzofuran chemical cores were designed and synthesized, and their in vitro anticholinesterase activities were investigated in our previous study. A number of the synthesized molecules showed excellent anticholinesterase activity against both AChE and BChE enzymes. The mentioned study constituted a background for this study. In this study, we picked different chemical skeletons among all the synthesized molecules to conduct further in silico and in vitro experiments. In order to support our in vitro anticholinesterase findings, we also examined in silico anti-Alzheimer activity of the selected molecules. In addition, in silico and in vitro activities against MS disease of the synthesized molecules were investigated. Molecule 4 extraordinarily showed outstanding activity against AD disease both in silico and in vitro, as well as in silico activity against MS disease. This feature makes molecule 4 a possible drug lead molecule which is very limited in the market. On the other hand, molecule 1, a less substituted oxime skeleton, demonstrated the strongest in vitro activity against MS disease through in vitro anti-inflammatory effect. As an observation, molecule 4 was determined to be the most promising molecule to focus on in the further steps.

Background: The goal of the current study was to investigate the inhibitory activity of six phenolic compounds, i.e., rosmarinic acid, gallic acid, oleuropein, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), 3-hydroxytyrosol, and quercetin, against β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE1), also known as β-secretase or memapsin 2, which is implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods and Results: The inhibitory potential against BACE1, molecular docking simulations, as well as neurotoxicity and the effect on the AD-related gene expression of the selected phenolics were tested. BACE1 inhibitory activity was carried out using the ELISA microplate assay via fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology. Molecular docking experiments were performed in the human BACE1 active site (PDB code: 2WJO). Neurotoxicity of the compounds was carried out in SH-SY5Y, a human neuroblastoma cell line, by the Alamar Blue method. A gene expression analysis of the compounds on fourteen genes linked to AD was conducted using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Rosmarinic acid, EGCG, oleuropein, and quercetin (also used as the reference) were able to inhibit BACE1 with their respective IC50 values 4.06 ± 0.68, 1.62 ± 0.12, 9.87 ± 1.01, and 3.16 ± 0.30 mM. The inhibitory compounds were observed to occupy the non-catalytic site of the BACE1. However, hydrogen bonds were found to be present between rosmarinic acid and EGCG and aspartic amino acid D228 in the catalytic site. Oleuropein and quercetin effectively suppressed the expression of PSEN, APOE, and CLU, which are recognized to be linked to the pathogenesis of AD. Conclusions: The outcomes of the work bring quercetin, EGCG, and rosmarinic acid to the forefront as promising BACE1 inhibitors.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment has received much attention, yet there is still no certain cure. We herein investigate the therapeutic effect of olean-12-en-28-ol, 3β-pentacosanoate (OPCA) on a preclinical model of MS. First, OPCA was synthesized semisynthetically and characterized. Then, the mice with MOG35-55-induced experimental autoimmune/allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) were given OPCA along with a reference drug (FTY720). Biochemical, cellular, and molecular analyses were performed in serum and brain tissues to measure anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective responses. OPCA treatment protected EAE-induced changes in mouse brains maintaining blood-brain barrier integrity and preventing inflammation. Moreover, the protein and mRNA levels of MS-related genes such as HLD-DR1, CCL5, TNF-α, IL6, and TGFB1 were significantly reduced in OPCA-treated mouse brains. Notably, the expression of genes, including PLP, MBP, and MAG, involved in the development and structure of myelin was significantly elevated in OPCA-treated EAE. Furthermore, therapeutic OPCA effects included a substantial reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines in the serum of treated EAE animals. Lastly, following OPCA treatment, the promoter regions for most inflammatory regulators were hypermethylated. These data support that OPCA is a valuable and appealing candidate for human MS treatment since OPCA not only normalizes the pro- and anti-inflammatory immunological bias but also stimulates remyelination in EAE.

In this study, a total of 13 compounds (5–17) were synthesized starting from oleanolic acid (OA), a natural triterpenoid. Five new compounds (10, 11, 12, 15 and 17), are the main targets of the study, which were synthesized for the first time in this work as oxime, imine and hydrazone derivatives of OA. Other compounds were previously obtained as natural or semi-synthetically. NMR and HRMS analyses were carried out to determine of structures of all the synthesized molecules. The inhibitory effects of the synthesized compounds on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), human carbonic anhydrase I (hCA I) and II (hCA II) were evaluated. Compounds 13 and 15 showed better inhibitory activity than the other compounds against both hCA I and hCA II isoenzymes, which are competing with AZA. In addition, compound 15 showed the strongest AChE inhibitory activity among all the tested compounds, with an IC50 value of 34.46 µM.

Abstract Capparis ovata is a natural plant that grows widely in Turkey and its flowering buds and berry pickle are used in traditional medicine. Thus, the current study was expanded to evaluate the biochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological aspects of the Capparis ovata water extract (COWE). To determine the biochemical properties of COWE, mineral and fatty acid content, elemental analysis, flavonoid/phenolic content, radical‐scavenging capacity, and pesticide analysis were performed. Furthermore, to find out whether it had anti‐inflammatory properties, reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) luciferase activity tests were conducted. Whole‐genome transcriptomic profiling was carried out at a dose level of 500 mg/kg COWE to understand its pharmacological effect. Transaminases in serum were tested, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was done using a custom design array that included the stress and molecular toxicology pathway to establish its toxicological qualities. As a result of the evaluations, it was observed that COWE has a high mineral and unsaturated fatty acid content, flavonoid/phenolic content, and radical‐scavenging ability. It significantly inhibited NF‐κB transcriptional activity as well as inflammatory cytokine expression in T‐lymphoblast cells. Whole‐genome transcriptomic profiling depicted that COWE modulates immune responses by upregulating natural killer cell activation, cellular response to type I interferon, B‐cell proliferation and differentiation, and Janus kinase–signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK–STAT) pathways. Molecular Toxicology Pathfinder RT2 Profiler PCR array analysis revealed that COWE at or lower dose of 500 mg/kg/day did not cause a comparatively adverse effect. According to the findings, COWE is a rich source of nutrients and can be used as an adjunct therapy for various inflammatory diseases.