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Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complex condition which has an intricate pathology mostly involving hemodynamic, inflammatory, and direct toxic effects at the cellular level with high morbidity and mortality ratios. Renal ischemic reperfusion injury (RIRI) is the main factor responsible for AKI, most often observed in different types of shock, kidney transplantation, sepsis, and postoperative procedures. The RIRI-induced AKI is accompanied by increased reactive oxygen species generation together with the activation of various inflammatory pathways. In this context, plant-derived medicines have shown encouraging nephroprotective properties. Evidence provided in this systemic review leads to the conclusion that plant-derived extracts and compounds exhibit nephroprotective action against renal ischemic reperfusion induced-AKI by increasing endogenous antioxidants and decreasing anti-inflammatory cytokines. However, there is no defined biomarker or target which can be used for treating AKI completely. These plant-derived extracts and compounds are only tested in selected transgenic animal models. To develop the results obtained into a therapeutic entity, one should apply them in proper vertebrate multitransgenic animal models prior to further validation in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with the isolation of the active constituent(s) from a methanolic extract of Pistacia integerrima J. L. Stewart barks and it was also oriented to evaluate the in vivo and in silico anti-inflammatory activity. By NMR and crystallography techniques, we have isolated a triterpenoid identified as daturaolone (compound 1). This compound showed in vivo a significant and dose dependent (1–30 mg/kg) anti-inflammatory activity on carrageenan-induced mouse paw oedema (ED50 = 10.1 mg/kg) and on acetic acid-induced writhing responses in mice (ED50 = 13.8 mg/kg). In the in vivo experiments, the effect of tested compound was also evaluated in presence of the reference drug diclofenac (1–30 mg/kg). Moreover, in silico analysis of receptor ligand complex shows that compound 1 interacts with cyclooxygenases (COXs) binding sites displaying an interesting interaction with COX-1. These findings suggest that compound 1 isolated from P. integerrima possesses in vivo anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive potentials, which are supported in silico by an interaction with COXs receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pistacia integerrima is one of twenty species among the genus Pistacia. Long horn-shaped galls that develop on this plant are harvested and used in Ayurveda and Indian traditional medicine to make “karkatshringi”, a herbal medicine used for the treatment of asthma and different disorders of respiratory tract. However, until now, the molecular mechanisms of action of “karkatshringi” and its chemical characterization are partially known. This study deals with the isolation and characterization of the active constituents from the methanolic extract of P. integerrima galls and it was also oriented to evaluate in vitro and in silico their potential enzymatic inhibitory activity against phosphodiesterase-1 (PDE1), a well-known enzyme involved in airway smooth muscle activity and airway inflammation. Our results showed that the methanolic extract of P. integerrima galls and some of its active constituents [naringenin (1) and 3,5,7,4′-tetrahydroxy-flavanone (2)] are able in vitro to inhibit PDE1 activity (59.20 ± 4.95%, 75.90 ± 5.90%, and 65.25 ± 5.25%, resp.) and demonstrate in silico an interesting interaction with this enzymatic site. Taken together, our results add new knowledge of chemical constituents responsible for the biological activity of P. integerrima and contextually legitimate the use of this plant in folk medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]