Publications (6)14.44 Total impact
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Article: Anti-inflammatory activity of Cymbopogon citratus leaves infusion via proteasome and nuclear factor-κB pathway inhibition: contribution of chlorogenic acid.
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ABSTRACT: ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf leaves infusion is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, however little is known about their bio-active compounds. AIM OF THE STUDY: Investigate the compounds responsible for anti-inflammatory potential of Cymbopogon citratus (Cy) on cytokines production induced by lipopolysaccharide in human and mouse macrophages, and the action mechanisms involved. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An essential oil-free infusion of Cy was prepared and polyphenol-rich fractions (PFs) were obtained from it by column chromatography. Chlorogenic acid was identified, by HPLC/PDA/ESI-MS(n). The expression of cytokines, namely TNF-α and CCL5, was analyzed by real-time RT-PCR, on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human macrophages. Activation of nuclear factor-κB, a master regulator of inflammation, was investigated by Western blot and gene reporter assay. Proteasome activity was assessed using a fluorogenic peptide. RESULTS: Cymbopogon citratus extract and its polyphenols inhibited the cytokine production on human macrophages. This supports the anti-inflammatory activity of Cy polyphenols in physiologically relevant cells. Concerning the effect on the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway, the results pointed to an inhibition of LPS-induced NF-κB activation by Cy and PFs. Chlorogenic acid was identified, by HPLC/PDA/ESI-MS(n), as the main phenolic acid of the Cy infusion, and it demonstrated to be, at least in part, responsible by that effect. Additionally, it was verified for the first time, that Cy and PFs inhibited the proteasome activity, a complex that controls NF-κB activation, having CGA a strong contribution. CONCLUSIONS: The results evidenced, for the first time, the anti-inflammatory properties of Cymbopogon citratus through proteasome inhibition and, consequently NF-κB pathway and cytokine expression. Additionally, Cy polyphenols, in particular chlorogenic acid, were highlighted as bio-active compounds.Journal of ethnopharmacology 04/2013; · 2.32 Impact Factor -
Article: Effect of lipopolysaccharide, skin sensitizers and irritants on thioredoxin-1 expression in dendritic cells: relevance of different signalling pathways
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ABSTRACT: Thioredoxin-1 is a ubiquitous protein involved in phenotypical and functional changes in dendritic cells (DC). We investigated the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), skin sensitizers, and irritants on thioredoxin-1 by Western blot and immunofluorescence and on mRNA by real-time PCR. As DC models, we used a skin DC line and DC derived from human blood monocytes. We observed that all tested chemicals increased thioredoxin-1 expression, which is only transient for irritants, being the strongest effect observed for LPS (63±15%). To address the involvement of thioredoxin-1 in DC maturation, we analysed the effect of an activator of thioredoxin-1 expression, hydrogen peroxide, on CD86 expression, a marker of DC maturation. We found that hydrogen peroxide increases thioredoxin-1 and CD86 expression reinforcing thioredoxin-1 involvement in DC maturation. Because mitogen-activated protein kinases and PI3K are activated upon DC maturation, we also analysed their involvement in thioredoxin-1 modulation. We verified that LPS-induced upregulation of thioredoxin-1 expression was dependent on PI3K pathway. KeywordsDendritic cells maturation-Intracellular signalling pathways-Lipopolysaccharide-Skin sensitization-ThioredoxinArchives for Dermatological Research 04/2012; 302(4):271-282. · 2.28 Impact Factor -
Article: Cymbopogon citratus as source of new and safe anti-inflammatory drugs: bio-guided assay using lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages.
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ABSTRACT: Aqueous extracts of Cymbopogon citratus (Cy) leaves are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, however, little is known about their mechanism of action. The aim of this study is to explore the anti-inflammatory properties of Cymbopogon citratus leaves and their polyphenol-rich fractions (PFs), as well its mechanism of action in murine macrophages. A lipid- and essential oil-free infusion of Cy leaves was prepared (Cy extract) and fractionated by column chromatography. Anti-inflammatory properties of Cy extract (1.115 mg/ml) and its PFs, namely phenolic acids (530 μg/ml), flavonoids (97.5 μg/ml) and tannins (78 μg/ml), were investigated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Raw 264.7 macrophages as in vitro model. As inflammatory parameters, nitric oxide (NO) production was evaluated by Griess reaction, as well as effects on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression and on intracellular signaling pathways activation, which were analyzed by Western blot using specific antibodies. Cy extract inhibited iNOS expression, NO production and various LPS-induced pathways like p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), c-jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) 1/2 and the transcription nuclear factor (NF)-κB. The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt activation were not affected by Cy extract. Both phenolic acid- and tannin-rich fractions significantly inhibited NF-κB activation, iNOS expression and NO production but none of the PFs modulated MAPKs or PI3K/Akt activation. Neither Cy extract nor PFs affected LPS-induced COX-2 expression but LPS-induced PGE(2) production is inhibited by Cy extract and by phenolic acid-rich fraction. Our data provide evidence that support the usage of Cymbopogon citratus leaves extract in traditional medicine, and suggest that Cy, in particular its polyphenolic compounds, could constitute a natural source of a new and safe anti-inflammatory drug.Journal of ethnopharmacology 11/2010; 133(2):818-27. · 2.32 Impact Factor -
Article: Anti-inflammatory activity of Cymbopogon citratus leaf infusion in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated dendritic cells: contribution of the polyphenols.
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ABSTRACT: Cymbopogon citratus, an herb known worldwide as lemongrass, is widely consumed as an aromatic drink, and its fresh and dried leaves are currently used in traditional cuisine. However, little is known about the mechanism of action of C. citratus, namely, the anti-inflammatory effects of its dietary components. Because nitric oxide (NO), produced in large quantities by activated inflammatory cells, has been demonstrated to be involved in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic inflammation, we evaluated the effects of the infusion of dried leaves from C. citratus, as well as its polyphenolic fractions--flavonoid-, tannin-, and phenolic acid-rich fractions (FF, TF, and PAF, respectively)--on the NO production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a skin-derived dendritic cell line (FSDC). C. citratus infusion significantly inhibited the LPS-induced NO production and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) protein expression. All the polyphenolic fractions tested also reduced the iNOS protein levels and NO production stimulated by LPS in FSDC cells, without affecting cell viability, with the strongest effects being observed for the fractions with mono- and polymeric flavonoids (FF and TF, respectively). Our results also indicated that the anti-inflammatory properties of FF are mainly due to luteolin glycosides. In conclusion, C. citratus has NO scavenging activity and inhibits iNOS expression and should be explored for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, in particular of the gastrointestinal tract.Journal of medicinal food 06/2010; 13(3):681-90. · 1.39 Impact Factor -
Article: Differential roles of PI3-Kinase, MAPKs and NF-kappaB on the manipulation of dendritic cell T(h)1/T(h)2 cytokine/chemokine polarizing profile.
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ABSTRACT: Dendritic cells (DC) are professional antigen-presenting cells with a unique capacity to initiate and modulate immune responses by their ability to prime naïve T-cells. Upon stimuli, DC experience several morphologic, phenotypic and functional changes in a process referred to as maturation. This process is crucial to the biological functions of DC since their maturation status confer them the ability to polarize distinct T-cell subsets. In this work we explored the relevance of PI3-Kinase, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs) and NF-kappaB on cytokines/chemokines and co-stimulatory molecules expression. As experimental model, we used a fetal skin-derived dendritic cell line (FSDC) induced to mature by treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Morphology and ultrastructure were analyzed by confocal and electron microscopies, respectively. Levels of phosphorylated proteins were evaluated by Western blot, production of cytokines/chemokines was analyzed by protein arrays and the expression of surface molecules was evaluated by flow cytometry. The effect of specific inhibitors of the studied signaling pathways on the transcription of cytokines/chemokines and co-stimulatory molecules was accessed by Quantitative Real-Time RT-PCR. The results showed that LPS induces significant morphological and ultrastructural changes in FSDC. Western blot analysis revealed that LPS challenge promotes an early and transient activation of NF-kappaB, ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, along with a more sustained PI3 kinase/AKT activation. The co-stimulatory CD40, CD80, CD86 and antigen-presenting MHC class I and II molecules were increased and among secreted molecules, interleukin IL-6, CCL5, G-CSF, CCL2, CXCL2 were strongly up-regulated. Using a pharmacological approach we observed that LPS-induced increase of these molecules was differentially regulated by the distinct signaling pathways. Moreover, the polarizing T(h)2 cytokines/chemokines induced by LPS in FSDC were found to be positively regulated by NF-kappaB and ERK and negatively modulated by p38 MAPK. Altogether these results suggest that the use of pharmacological inhibitors to manipulate DC maturation, namely the polarizing T(h)1/T(h)2 cytokine/chemokine profile, may be useful in the development of more specific immunotherapeutic protocols.Molecular Immunology 07/2009; 46(13):2481-92. · 2.90 Impact Factor -
Article: Differential modulation of CXCR4 and CD40 protein levels by skin sensitizers and irritants in the FSDC cell line.
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ABSTRACT: The development of non-animal methods for skin sensitization testing is an urgent challenge. Some of the most promising in vitro approaches are based on the analysis of phenotypical and functional modifications induced by sensitizers in dendritic cell models. In this work, we evaluated, for the first time, a fetal skin-derived dendritic cell line (FSDC) as a model to discriminate between sensitizers and irritants, through analysis of their effects on CD40 and CXCR4 protein expression. The chemicals concentrations were chosen based on a slight cytotoxicity effect (up to 15%). Protein levels were evaluated by Western blot and immunocytochemistry, after stimulation with the skin sensitizers 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB), 1,4-phenylenediamine (PPD) and nickel sulphate (NiSO(4)), the non-sensitizer 2,4-dichloronitrobenzene (DCNB), and the irritants sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and benzalkonium chloride (BC). All sensitizers tested increased CD40 and CXCR4 levels. In contrast, irritants decreased both proteins levels, with a more pronounced effect on CXCR4. In agreement with these results, dendritic cells derived from human peripheral blood monocytes-derived dendritic cells (MoDC) showed a similar response pattern to the skin sensitizer and irritant tested, PPD and SDS, respectively. In conclusion, evaluation of CD40 and CXCR4 proteins in chemical-treated FSDC may represent a useful tool in a future in vitro test for sensitizing assessment.Toxicology Letters 03/2008; 177(1):74-82. · 3.23 Impact Factor
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2009–2013
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University of Coimbra
- Center for Pharmaceutical Studies
Coimbra, Distrito de Coimbra, Portugal
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