Anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic potential of opuntiol, opuntioside-I, and opuntiol’s silver nanoparticles: The role of cytokines and chemokines

Abstract Background Disruption of immune system leads to excessive inflammation and the development of serious autoimmune diseases including atherosclerosis, characterized by the accumulation of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL) and various immune cells, particularly macrophages in the arte...

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Main Authors: Perbhat Ali, Talat Roome, Tehseen Fatima, Muhammad Usman, Uzma Zaman, Talat Mirza, Zamara Sarwar, Zara Aslam, Shaheen Faizi, Muhammad Raza Shah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-05-01
Series:Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-025-00797-4
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author Perbhat Ali
Talat Roome
Tehseen Fatima
Muhammad Usman
Uzma Zaman
Talat Mirza
Zamara Sarwar
Zara Aslam
Shaheen Faizi
Muhammad Raza Shah
author_facet Perbhat Ali
Talat Roome
Tehseen Fatima
Muhammad Usman
Uzma Zaman
Talat Mirza
Zamara Sarwar
Zara Aslam
Shaheen Faizi
Muhammad Raza Shah
author_sort Perbhat Ali
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Disruption of immune system leads to excessive inflammation and the development of serious autoimmune diseases including atherosclerosis, characterized by the accumulation of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL) and various immune cells, particularly macrophages in the arterial wall. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), stimulated and recognized by ox-LDL and toll-like receptors (TLRs), respectively, triggers intracellular signaling cascades, leading to the excessively released of various cytokines and chemokines. The expression control at any level is of great importance in decreasing the overall cascade of immune responses and inflammation, specifically, atherosclerosis. One of the most promising areas of research in the pathogenesis of inflammation and atherogenesis is herbal medications and its bioactive compounds with better delivery to target the exact cell and tissues with high efficacy and fewer side effects in pharmaceutical exploration. Therefore, the aim of present study was to explore the anti-inflammatory effects of naturally derived compounds, i.e., opuntiol (OP), opuntioside-I (OPG), and opuntiol’s silver nanoparticles (OP-Ag) for achieving optimal therapeutic approach to address the underlying inflammatory processes in atherosclerosis and improving treatment outcomes. Zymosan-induced peritonitis mouse model and ox-LDL was employed to determine the inhibitory potential of these compounds on the expression levels of key cytokines and chemokines allied with the onset of inflammatory events during atherosclerosis. Results qRT-PCR and ELISA were employed to check the expression levels of various cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6), chemokines (MCP-1, KC), and a transcription factor (NF-ĸB). Significant reduction was observed in chemotaxis along with decreased expression of key intermediates in response to the natural extracts, i.e., OP, OPG. Its silver-based nanoparticles and OP-Ag in lower concentration enhanced the drug delivery with improved inhibitory roles. Conclusion Overall, the present findings hold promise for advancing the potential therapeutic effects of OP, OPG, and its OP-Ag nano-conjugates at minimum concentrations, especially in the inflammation characteristic of atherosclerosis context, by incorporating zymogen-induced ox-LDL model where it interacts with TLRs in triggering inflammatory responses, and subsequently simulate atherosclerotic conditions via upregulation of MCP-1.
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spelling doaj-art-eacf0e026e604c16b891ab4b4d932d8d2025-08-20T02:31:58ZengSpringerOpenFuture Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences2314-72532025-05-0111112210.1186/s43094-025-00797-4Anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic potential of opuntiol, opuntioside-I, and opuntiol’s silver nanoparticles: The role of cytokines and chemokinesPerbhat Ali0Talat Roome1Tehseen Fatima2Muhammad Usman3Uzma Zaman4Talat Mirza5Zamara Sarwar6Zara Aslam7Shaheen Faizi8Muhammad Raza Shah9Department of Pathology, Section Molecular Pathology, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health SciencesDepartment of Pathology, Section Molecular Pathology, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health SciencesDow College of Biotechnology, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health SciencesDow Institute for Advanced Biological and Animal Research, Dow University of Health SciencesDepartment of Biochemistry, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health SciencesDepartment of Pathology, Section Histopathology, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health SciencesHEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of KarachiHEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of KarachiHEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of KarachiHEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of KarachiAbstract Background Disruption of immune system leads to excessive inflammation and the development of serious autoimmune diseases including atherosclerosis, characterized by the accumulation of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL) and various immune cells, particularly macrophages in the arterial wall. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), stimulated and recognized by ox-LDL and toll-like receptors (TLRs), respectively, triggers intracellular signaling cascades, leading to the excessively released of various cytokines and chemokines. The expression control at any level is of great importance in decreasing the overall cascade of immune responses and inflammation, specifically, atherosclerosis. One of the most promising areas of research in the pathogenesis of inflammation and atherogenesis is herbal medications and its bioactive compounds with better delivery to target the exact cell and tissues with high efficacy and fewer side effects in pharmaceutical exploration. Therefore, the aim of present study was to explore the anti-inflammatory effects of naturally derived compounds, i.e., opuntiol (OP), opuntioside-I (OPG), and opuntiol’s silver nanoparticles (OP-Ag) for achieving optimal therapeutic approach to address the underlying inflammatory processes in atherosclerosis and improving treatment outcomes. Zymosan-induced peritonitis mouse model and ox-LDL was employed to determine the inhibitory potential of these compounds on the expression levels of key cytokines and chemokines allied with the onset of inflammatory events during atherosclerosis. Results qRT-PCR and ELISA were employed to check the expression levels of various cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6), chemokines (MCP-1, KC), and a transcription factor (NF-ĸB). Significant reduction was observed in chemotaxis along with decreased expression of key intermediates in response to the natural extracts, i.e., OP, OPG. Its silver-based nanoparticles and OP-Ag in lower concentration enhanced the drug delivery with improved inhibitory roles. Conclusion Overall, the present findings hold promise for advancing the potential therapeutic effects of OP, OPG, and its OP-Ag nano-conjugates at minimum concentrations, especially in the inflammation characteristic of atherosclerosis context, by incorporating zymogen-induced ox-LDL model where it interacts with TLRs in triggering inflammatory responses, and subsequently simulate atherosclerotic conditions via upregulation of MCP-1.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-025-00797-4OpuntiolOpuntioside-IOpuntiol’s silver nanoparticlesInflammationMonocytes migrationAtherosclerotic phenomenon
spellingShingle Perbhat Ali
Talat Roome
Tehseen Fatima
Muhammad Usman
Uzma Zaman
Talat Mirza
Zamara Sarwar
Zara Aslam
Shaheen Faizi
Muhammad Raza Shah
Anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic potential of opuntiol, opuntioside-I, and opuntiol’s silver nanoparticles: The role of cytokines and chemokines
Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Opuntiol
Opuntioside-I
Opuntiol’s silver nanoparticles
Inflammation
Monocytes migration
Atherosclerotic phenomenon
title Anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic potential of opuntiol, opuntioside-I, and opuntiol’s silver nanoparticles: The role of cytokines and chemokines
title_full Anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic potential of opuntiol, opuntioside-I, and opuntiol’s silver nanoparticles: The role of cytokines and chemokines
title_fullStr Anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic potential of opuntiol, opuntioside-I, and opuntiol’s silver nanoparticles: The role of cytokines and chemokines
title_full_unstemmed Anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic potential of opuntiol, opuntioside-I, and opuntiol’s silver nanoparticles: The role of cytokines and chemokines
title_short Anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic potential of opuntiol, opuntioside-I, and opuntiol’s silver nanoparticles: The role of cytokines and chemokines
title_sort anti inflammatory and anti atherosclerotic potential of opuntiol opuntioside i and opuntiol s silver nanoparticles the role of cytokines and chemokines
topic Opuntiol
Opuntioside-I
Opuntiol’s silver nanoparticles
Inflammation
Monocytes migration
Atherosclerotic phenomenon
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-025-00797-4
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