Anti-lipid Peroxidative Properties Research Articles

Gelatin-Encapsulated Tetrahedral DNA Nanostructure Enhances Cellular Internalization for Treating Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.

Nanoparticle-based drug delivery strategies have emerged as a crucial avenue for comprehensive sensorineural hearing loss treatment. Nevertheless, developing therapy vectors crossing both biological and cellular barriers has encountered significant challenges deriving from various external factors. Herein, the rational integration of gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs) with tetrahedral DNA nanostructures (TDNs) to engineer a distinct drug-delivery nanosystem (designed as TDN@GNP) efficiently enhances the biological permeability and cellular internalization, further resolving the dilemma of noise-induced hearing loss via loading epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) with anti-lipid peroxidation property. Rationally engineering of TDN@GNP demonstrates dramatic alterations in the physicochemical key parameters of TDNs that are pivotal in cell-particle interactions and promote cellular uptake through multiple endocytic pathways. Furthermore, the EGCG-loaded nanosystem (TDN-EGCG@GNP) facilitates efficient inner ear drug delivery by superior permeability through the biological barrier (round window membrane), maintaining high drug concentration within the inner ear. The TDN-EGCG@GNP actively overcomes the cell membrane, exhibiting hearing protection from noise insults via reduced lipid peroxidation in outer hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons. This work exemplifies how integrating diverse vector functionalities can overcome biological and cellular barriers in the inner ear, offering promising applications for inner ear disorders.

Progress of research on the role of active ingredients of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium in liver injury

Liver is a vital organ responsible for metabolizing and detoxifying both endogenous and exogenous substances in the body. However, it is susceptible to damage from chemical and natural toxins. The high incidence and mortality rates of liver disease and its associated complications impose a significant economic burden and survival pressure on patients and their families. Various liver diseases exist, including cholestasis, viral and non-viral hepatitis, fatty liver disease, drug-induced liver injury, alcoholic liver injury, and severe end-stage liver diseases such as cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCA). Recent research has shown that flavonoids found in Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (CRP) have the potential to normalize blood glucose, cholesterol levels, and liver lipid levels. Additionally, these flavonoids exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, prevent oxidation and lipid peroxidation, and reduce liver toxicity, thereby preventing liver injury. Given these promising findings, it is essential to explore the potential of active components in CRP for developing new drugs to treat liver diseases. Recent studies have revealed that flavonoids, including hesperidin (HD), hesperetin (HT), naringenin (NIN), nobiletin (NOB), naringin (NRG), tangerine (TN), and erodcyol (ED), are the primary bioactive components in CRP. These flavonoids exhibit various therapeutic effects on liver injury, including anti-oxidative stress, anti-cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrosis, and anti-tumor mechanisms. In this review, we have summarized the research progress on the hepatoprotective effects of HD, HT, NIN, NOB, NRG, TN, ED and limonene (LIM), highlighting their underlying molecular mechanisms. Despite their promising effects, the current clinical application of these active ingredients in CRP has some limitations. Therefore, further studies are needed to explore the full potential of these flavonoids and develop new therapeutic strategies for liver diseases. For this review, we conducted a systematic search of three databases (ScienceNet, PubMed, and Science Direct) up to July 2022, using the search terms "CRP active ingredient," "liver injury," and "flavonoids." The search data followed the PRISMA standard. Our findings indicate that flavonoids found in CRP can effectively reduce drug-induced liver injury, alcoholic liver injury, and non-alcoholic liver injury. These therapeutic effects are mainly attributed to the ability of flavonoids to improve liver resistance to oxidative stress and inflammation while normalizing cholesterol and liver lipid levels by exhibiting anti-free radical and anti-lipid peroxidation properties. Our review provides new insights into the potential of active components in CRP for preventing and treating liver injury by regulating various molecular targets within different cell signaling pathways. This information can aid in the development of novel therapeutic strategies for liver disease.

Ameliorating effect of Mucuna pruriens seed extract on sodium arsenite-induced testicular toxicity and hepato-renal histopathology in rats.

A significant cause of arsenic poisoning is polluted groundwater. Arsenic poisoning results in the suppression of spermatogenesis and the liver and kidneys are vulnerable to the toxic effects as well. Mucuna pruriens has been identified to have fertility-enhancing and anti-lipid peroxidation properties. Based on these properties of M. pruriens, this study aimed to investigate the efficacy of M. pruriens seed extract in reducing sodium arsenite-induced testicular impairment and hepato-renal histopathology in rats. The study was divided into two groups; short-term (45 days) and long-term (90 days) treatment groups and each group was divided into nine subgroups. Subgroups 1 and 2 served as normal and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) controls, respectively. Subgroups 3-9 received sodium arsenite in the drinking water (50 mg/L). Subgroup-4 received NAC (210 mg/kg body weight [BW]) orally once daily. Subgroups 5-7 received aqueous seed extract of M. pruriens (350, 530, and 700 mg/kg BW, respectively) orally once daily. Subgroups 8 and 9 received a combination of NAC and aqueous seed extract (350 and 530 mg/kg BW, respectively) orally once daily. Following the treatment, animals were sacrificed and sperm parameters and DNA damage were evaluated. Testis, liver, and kidneys were analyzed for histopathology. Sodium arsenite-induced a significant reduction in sperm parameters and increase in the abnormal architecture of spermatozoa. Histology revealed tissue necrosis. The M. pruriens seed extract ameliorated the damaging effects of sodium arsenite with respect to tissue architecture and sperm parameters when coadministered. Mucuna pruriens has beneficial effects against the deleterious effects of sodium arsenite on various tissues. Thus, M. pruriens (530 and 700 mg/kg BW) supplementation would reduce the adverse changes observed with sodium arsenite exposure.

Identifying Chemical Composition, Safety and Bioactivity of Thai Rice Grass Extract Drink in Cells and Animals

Rice grass has been reported to contain bioactive compounds that possess antioxidant and free-radical scavenging activities. We aimed to assess rice grass extract (RGE) drink by determining catechin content, free-radical scavenging and iron-binding properties, as well as toxicity in cells and animals. Young rice grass (Sukhothai-1 strain) was dried, extracted with hot water and lyophilized in a vacuum chamber. The resulting extract was reconstituted with deionized water (260 mg/40 mL) and served as Sukhothai-1 rice grass extract drink (ST1-RGE). HPLC results revealed at least eight phenolic compounds, for which the major catechins were catechin, epicatechin and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) (2.71–3.57, 0.98–1.85 and 25.47–27.55 mg/40 mL serving, respectively). Elements (As, Cu, Pb, Sn and Zn) and aflatoxin (B1, B2, G1 and G2) contents did not exceed the relevant limits when compared with WHO guideline values. Importantly, ST1-RGE drink exerted radical-scavenging, iron-chelating and anti-lipid peroxidation properties in aqueous and biological environments in a concentration-dependent manner. The drink was not toxic to cells and animals. Thus, Sukhothai-1 rice grass product is an edible drink that is rich in catechins, particularly EGCG, and exhibited antioxidant, free radical scavenging and iron-binding/chelating properties. The product represents a functional drink that is capable of alleviating conditions of oxidative stress and iron overload.

Isolation and characterization of ergosterol from Monascus anka for anti-lipid peroxidation properties

Unbalanced lipid peroxidation damages the human body, and is associated with the formation of tumors, infections, inflammations, autoimmune diseases, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, food and drugs that contain anti-lipid peroxidation active substances, can help to protect against these negative health impacts. We observed lipid peroxidation inhibition in the metabolites of fermented Monascus anka, in media with Dendrobium nobile Lindl. The anti-lipid peroxidation ability of the extracts was strongest in ethyl acetate, so this was selected for further purifications. A crystal with strong antioxidant properties was obtained by column chromatography. Based on its spectroscopic analysis by Electron Bombardment Ion Source and Mass Spectrometry (EI-MS), 1H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR), and 13C-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (13C-NMR), the isolated crystal was identified as ergosterol. The inhibition rates of the lipid peroxide due to the ergosterol were 57.42%, at 2μg/mL in vitro. Simultaneously, the survival rates of the damaged cells treated with 0.3mmol/L H2O2 were significantly improved with the ergosterol, up to 43.88% (200μg/mL) and 46.64% (400μg/mL), compared to 36.47% for the injured cells. The survival rate of the cells was 78.32% (400μg/mL), with ergosterol as a prevention. Cell injury can increase the level of intracellular ROS, but its levels in the damaged cells were reduced after the ergosterol treatments, and the reduction increased with the increasing concentrations. A 400μg/mL concentration resulted in the lowest fluorescence intensity; 33421.11 AU below the normal level. Ergosterol significantly reduced the ROS levels, to reduce the cell damage. Ergosterol from Monascus anka was thus found to have strong anti-lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capabilities, and the ability to protect and repair damaged cells. It may consequently serve as a potential natural antioxidant and will play an important role in human anti-lipid peroxide.

Antioxidant activitiy of Lactobacillus plantarum , Lactobacillus sake and Lactobacillus curvatus strains isolated from fermented Turkish Sucuk.

In recent years, it is very important to find more safe and natural antioxidants than biological sources to replace synthetic antioxidants. The antioxidant properties of 22 lactic acid bacteria were investigated in vitro in the present study. The conducted in vitro antioxidant assays included scavenging the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) free radical, metal (Fe+2) ion chelation, hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical scavenging properties, and anti-lipid peroxidation. Analysis of DPPH free radical scavenging property of microorganisms demonstrated that Lactobacillus plantarum IH14L (90.34 ± 0.40%) strain exhibited the highest activity. The highest Fe+2 chelation activity was observed with Lactobacillus curvatus GH5L (75.98 ± 5.35%), while the lowest chelation activity was observed with L. plantarum IH14L (19.80 ± 0,05). The highest and lowest hydroxyl radical scavenging strains were L. plantarum IH16L (82.25 ± 1.60%) and L. plantarum IH26L (35.60 ± 4.50) strains, respectively. Comparison of superoxide radical scavenging activities of the microorganisms demonstrated that these activities ranged between 21.63 ± 1.32% and 7.22 ± 0.04%. A positive correlation was identified between the hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of the microorganisms and the anti-lipid peroxidation property. It was found that they had the potential for use in nutritional and probiotic applications as protective and natural antioxidants.

Hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and anti-lipid peroxidation properties of a methanol extract of Paullinia pinnata root-bark, in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats

Abstract This study evaluated the hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and anti-lipid peroxidation properties of a methanol extract of Paullinia pinnata root-bark, in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats. The extract of P. pinnata root-bark was prepared using a cold maceration method with 80% methanol and concentrated at 40°C in hot air oven. The extract was administered once daily per os at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg for 21 consecutive days. Distilled water (5 mL/kg) and glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) were used as the vehicle and reference standard, respectively. The serum lipid profile, markers of liver and kidney functions, antioxidant status (malondialdehyde level, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities), histopathological changes in liver and kidney were examined 24h after the last treatment on day 21. The extract reduced serum lipid profile, markers of liver and kidney functions of treated rats relative to vehicle-treated rats. The superoxide dismutase and catalase activities of the extract treated rats were also elevated relative to the vehicle-treated rats. The extract reversed liver and kidney injuries induced by alloxan in the treated rats. This study provides some basic information which suggest that P. pinnata could be effective in managing diabetic complications.

Antioxidant properties of Ageratum conyzoides L. Asteraceae leaves

In vitro antioxidative and anti-lipid peroxidative properties of aqueous and methanol extracts of Ageratum conyzoides leaves were studied in controlling erectile dysfunction caused by oxidative stress. Methanol extract gave a significantly (P ˂ 0.05) higher content of total phenolic (61.4 mgGAE/g), total flavonoid (42.2 mgQE/g), ascorbic (10.1 mgAAE/100g) and phosphomolybdate (45.8 mgAAE/g) than the aqueous extract. The result showed that the extracts have high antioxidant activities. However, the methanol extract showed a higher DPPH and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities over aqueous extract but the aqueous extract had a higher reducing power. The methanol extract exhibited a greater inhibition against lipid peroxidation induced by Fe2+ in rat pancreas and penile tissue homogenate exemplified by their least IC50 (94.21 μg/ml in pancreas) and (75.95 μg/mL in penile tissue) while in rat brain homogenate the aqueous extract exhibited a greater inhibition against lipid peroxidation induced by Fe2+ with least IC50 of 91.74 μg/mL. Hence, these extracts can be used as a potent natural antioxidant against free radicals and as a natural source of combating erectile dysfunction caused by oxidative stress. The extracts of Ageratum conyzoides leaves could be useful therapeutically as erectogenic agent.Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res.53(4), 265-276, 2018

Sea knotgrass (Polygonum maritimum L.) as a potential source of innovative industrial products for skincare applications

Several Polygonum species and related genera display diverse skincare properties and were considered as active cosmetic ingredients. Thus, this work explored the halophyte sea knotgrass (Polygonum maritimum L.) as source of phenolics and flavonoids-enriched extracts with skincare properties, for the cosmetic industry. To improve the content in these compounds, different extraction solvents and methodologies were used, and the resulting extracts were tested for total contents of phenolics (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC). The acetone extract made on an ultrasound bath for 30 min had the highest TPC (275 mg of gallic acid equivalents [GAE]/g of dry weight [DW]), TFC (48.0 mg of rutin equivalents [RE]/g DW), and yield (20.3%). This extract was selected and evaluated for its in vitro antioxidant (total antioxidant, superoxide radical-scavenging and lipid peroxidation), anti-inflammatory (nitric oxide [NO] reduction on lipopolysaccharide [LPS]-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages), anti-wrinkles (elastase), anti-acne (lipase), antimicrobial (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans), anti-melanogenic (anti-tyrosinase and reduction of melanin production on B16 4A5 melanoma cells). The extract was also appraised for toxicity, and its chemical profile was determined by ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHRMS). The acetone extract showed a high O2− scavenging (half maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 40.4 μg/mL), total antioxidant capacity (TAC; IC50 = 647 μg/mL), and late anti-lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid [TBA]; IC50 = 784 μg/mL) properties. It also had a high capacity to reduce NO production on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages (IC50 = 22.0 μg/mL), and in vitro anti-melanogenic activity through tyrosinase inhibition (IC50 = 64.1 μg/mL), reduction of melanin production in B16 melanoma cells (IC50 = 77.7 μg/mL). It had low toxicity against mammalian cell lines. Thirty-one compounds were identified in the extract, including 24 flavonoids, 5 phenolic acids, and 1 acetophenone. Myricitrin, catechin and monogalloyl-hexose were the main compounds detected. Altogether, our results suggest sea knotgrass as a promising source of natural products with skincare properties for industrial cosmetic applications.

Foliar anti-diabetic and antioxidant potential of a promising accession of Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.: GC-MS based evidences

The present study makes an effort to investigate the foliar neutraceutical potential of a promising green accession of a seed amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus, accession no. IC94661) based on anti-lipid peroxidation property, reducing power, metal chelating activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging property, antidiabetic factor and GC-MS based identification of hydroxyl containing phytochemicals. Methanol and aqueous fractions possessed exhibited better anti-lipid peroxidation, reducing, hydroxyl radical scavenging, and metal chelating properties in the experimental accession. Estimation of anti-diabetic factors from the young leaf extract also revealed significantly high α-glucosidase and α- amylase inhibition properties. When GC-MS study was carried out, it exhibited presence of several hydroxyls containing phytochemicals in the accession, some of which are having antioxidant properties. Taken as a whole, the data not only provide evidence of rich sources of marker antioxidant properties but also the availability of several phytochemicals with hydroxyls, in support of its rich pharmaceutical potential.

CURRENT PHARMACOLOGICAL STATUS OF CARDIOPROTECTIVE PLANTS AGAINST ISOPROTERENOL INDUCED MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Objective: Cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the modern era. Myocardial infarction is a condition where there is a significant decrease or block in the blood (oxygen) supply to the part of heart, leading to degeneration of a portion of the myocardium which triggers a cascade of cellular, inflammatory and biochemical events, leading eventually to the irreversible death (necrosis) of heart muscle cells. Various therapeutic interventions, including lifestyle modification, pharmacological treatment options, and surgical techniques are available. The present review focus on the plants that have been evaluated for cardioprotective activity against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction.Method: The current status of Cardioprotective plants was obtained from a literature search of electronic databases such as Google Scholar, Pubmed and Scopus up to 2017 for publications on medicinal plants used against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction. Isoproterenol, Isoprenaline, myocardial infarction, cardioprotective were used as keywords for the searching.Result: A total of 117 different plant parts and their extracts have till now been published to possess cardioprotection against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction. Isoproterenol a beta-adrenergic receptors agonist causes severe stress in myocardium resulting in the infarct-like lesion and produced cardiotoxic effects by elevating the levels of cardiac biomarkers and causing changes in ECG. Plant-based medicines with their antioxidant, antiapoptotic, antihyperlipidemic, platelet antiaggregatory, anti-lipid peroxidation property provide substantial evidence for the management of Ischemia.Conclusion: This review, therefore, provides a useful resource to enable a thorough assessment of the profile of plants that have cardioprotective activity against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction.

Rosmarinic acid ameliorates the negative effects of salinity in in vitro-regenerated potato explants (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Salinity causes massive loss of economic crops due to the build-up of toxic salts in shoot. Rosmarinic acid (RA) has been known to prevent the inevitable damage to vital biological molecules under stress. There is an increasing interest, therefore, in the use of polyphenols in crop stress physiology studies. An in vitro regeneration protocol was established using explants of the potato cultivar White Desiree to assess tolerance to salinity at a morphological, cellular, and biochemical level. Additionally, we examined the potential ameliorative effects of RA on growth in salt-stressed potato explants. Based on our observations, we propose a model for the ameliorative effects of a caffeic acid conjugate of α-hydroxyhydrocaffeic acid. Explants of White Desiree showed differential responses to salt and RA supplementation. Salt-stressed and control explants grown in RA-supplemented media showed a pronounced expansion of leaf area, suggesting direct effects of RA on cell elongation in potato explants. Root elongation was less affected by salinity in comparison to shoot elongation. Moderate levels of RA resulted in stimulatory effects on growth. The microscopic examination of leaves and stems indicated the presence of unique trichomes at the early stages of explant growth under RA supplementation, which varied considerably in size, shape, and distribution in response to stress. Our data indicated that RA significantly decreased osmolyte content under stress. Salinity resulted in the biosynthesis of high levels of free proline, carbohydrates, and malondialdehyde (MDA). However, the lower contents of MDA in salt-stressed explants treated with RA indicate that RA possesses anti-lipid peroxidation properties. Our observations provide evidence for the stimulatory effects of RA on cellular growth and the protection of membranes from ion toxicity.

ANTIOXIDANT, ANTI-LIPID PEROXIDATIVE AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF THE EPIPHYTIC FERN, PYRROSIA HETEROPHYLLA (L.) M. G. PRICE

Objective: The present study was aimed at establishing the antioxidant, free radical scavenging, anti-lipid peroxidative and antimicrobial properties of the plant Pyrrosia heterophylla (L.) M. G. PRICE.Methods: Standard protocols were used to estimate the antioxidant potential of the hexane, ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of the plant. Radical scavenging ability of the extracts was assayed for 2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonicacid) (ABTS), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals. Total antioxidant activity assay was done following the phospho- molybdenum method. The reductive potential was measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Lipid peroxidation assay was done in vitro. Total phenolic content was measured by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Antimicrobial activity was identified by well diffusion method, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by serial dilution method.Results: Results revealed that the ethyl acetate extract (PHE) exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity followed by the methanolic extract (PHM) whereas the hexane extract (PHH) had the lowest activity. The percentage radical scavenging by PHE was found to be 86.63±0.85, 89.48±2.08 and 70.89±1.46 for DPPH, ABTS and hydroxyl radicals respectively, at a concentration of 800μg/ml. The total antioxidant activity of PHE, PHM and PHH was found to be 538.33±3.51, 283.33±7.57and 13.76±3.95 ascorbic acid equivalents/g of extract respectively. Phenolic content of PHE was the highest (207.22±1.95 gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g of extract), followed by PHM and PHH (197.92±2.00 and 37.50±2.18 GAE/g respectively). Total reducing power was also found to be the highest in PHE followed by PHM and PHH as per the FRAP assay. All the extracts were found to possess inhibitory activity against the tested microorganisms. MIC50 value of all the extracts was below 40 µg/ml.Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed the antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-lipid peroxidation potentials of the plant P. heterophylla (L.) M. G. PRICE.

The Relative Contributions of Chlorogenic Acid and Rutin to Antioxidant Activities of Two EndemicPrangos(Umbelliferae) Species (P. HeyniaandP. Denticulata)

The aim of this study was to investigate the metal chelating, radical-scavenging and anti-lipid peroxidative properties and the chlorogenic acid/rutin contents of two endemic Prangos species; Prangos heyniae H. Duman & M. F. Watson and Prangos denticulata Fisch. & Mey. According to high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, the highest rutin and chlorogenic acid contents were found in P. denticulata leaf methanol extract (33.6 ± 2.8 μg/mg extract) and P. heyniae leaf methanol extract (24.8 ± 0.2 μg/mg extract), respectively. The water and methanol extracts of the species showed high scavenging abilities and significant capacities to suppress lipid peroxidation. These results demonstrated that chlorogenic acid may be an important component in the antioxidant activities of these Prangos species. Practical Applications Prangos Lindl. (Umbelliferae) species are known as “Çakşir otu” in Turkey and used to make herbed cheese to give the desired aroma and taste. Young shoots of Prangos species are used as boiled vegetables and pickles. Prangos species have been used in folk medicine as emulient, carminative, to stop bleeding and heal the scars. The results demonstrated that the extracts of two Prangos species exhibited good antioxidant activity, which correlated with high polyphenol content. Therefore, they may be used as a potential source of natural antioxidants for food supplementation or development of nutraceuticals.

Antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antilipid peroxidative activities of Dracocephalum polychaetum shoot extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: In vivo and in vitro studies

Context: Dracocephalum polychaetum Bornm. (Lamiaceae) is used in folk medicine and contains antioxidant agents.Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antilipid peroxidative properties of methanol extract of D. polychaetum aerial parts.Materials and methods: The effect of extract (200, 300, and 400 mg/kg, b.w.) on oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was investigated. Also, extract (300 mg/kg) administered orally in diabetic rats for 14 d then, serum levels of some biochemical factors were evaluated. Pancreas samples were used for the determination of malondealdehyde (MDA) level, glutathione (GSH) content, superoxide dismutase, and catalase enzyme activities. Red blood cells (RBCs) and plasma were used for MDA estimation. Pancreatic α-amylase inhibition, DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) assays were done. The total flavonoid content of the extract was determined by spectrophotometry.Results: Extract (300 mg/kg) decreased serum glucose level (27.1%) significantly at 120 min in OGTT. Serum levels of creatinine, triglycerides, cholesterol, alanine amino transferase and MDA levels in plasma, RBCs, and pancreas significantly decreased in treated (300 mg/kg) diabetic rats, while pancreatic GSH content, superoxide dismutase, and catalase enzymatic activities increased (p < 0.05). The IC50 values for the extract and butyl hydroxyanisole were 5.6 and 1.15 mg/mL in DPPH and 0.155 and 0.062 mg/mL in the FRAP methods, respectively. The extract had no inhibitory effect on α-amylase activity. The total amount of flavonoids of the extract was estimated to be 1.8% (g/g) on the basis of quercetin content.Conclusion: Dracocephalum polychaetum shoot extract has antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic, and antilipid peroxidative properties.

Antioxidant properties of Elaeagnus umbellata berry solvent extracts against lipid peroxidation in mice brain and liver tissues

Elaeagnus umbellata is a plant that grows in the hilly areas of Pakistan. Free radical scavenging activities and anti-lipid peroxidative properties of hot water, methanol, n-hexane, and acetone extracts of E. umbellata berries were evaluated. Extracts showed inhibition against thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) induced using the pro-oxidants iron (10 μM FeSO4) and sodium nitroprusside (5 μM) in brain and liver homogenates of mice. Extracts also showed metal chelating activities of IC50 (extract concentration that causes 50% scavenging)=40–43 μg/mL and DPPH radical scavenging activities of IC50=45.4–49 μg/mL. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of gallic, vanillic, coumaric, ferulic, sinapic, and caffeic acids in berries. The fruit of E. umbellata is a potential source of antioxidants with therapeutic importance.

Hepatoprotective Effect of L entinus edodes Mycelia Fermented Formulation against Alcoholic Liver Injury in Rats

The hepatoprotective effects of fermented black rice bran extracts (FF1 and FF2: black rice bran fermented by Lentinus edodes derived from mycelium supplemented with soybean or Hovenia dulcis) and their associated mechanisms were evaluated. In an in vitro experiment, FFs caused significant amelioration of the metabolic function of rat hepatocytes treated with NH4Cl. In addition, administration of FFs to rats with chronic liver injury induced by 12-week continual alcohol consumption resulted in significant restoration of body weight shrinkage, notable attenuation of excessive aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and endotoxin in serum, malondialdehyde in liver and the lactulose/mannitol ratio in urine. Furthermore, FF1 or FF2 also caused significant downregulation of gene expression of several critical inflammatory mediators (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase). Histopathological findings also indicated that FFs reduced inflammation, necrosis and fatty infiltration in liver tissue. Taken together, FFs exert hepatoprotective effects through anti-inflammatory and anti-lipid peroxidative properties and regulation of intestinal permeability. Practical Applications In this study, mycelia fermentation was utilized as a feasible strategy for enhancing the hepatotherapeutic effect of black rice and herbs. The findings demonstrated that Hovenia dulcis exerts a synergistic protective effect on an alcoholic liver disease animal model and could provide a new effective potential approach to alleviate alcoholic liver diseases.

Bisabolol mitigates isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats

Introduction: Myocardial infarction is becoming a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Preventative and/or therapeutic interventions using natural products for ischaemic heart disease, i.e. myocardial infarction, have gained considerable attention worldwide. Objectives: This study investigated the cardioprotective effect and possible mechanism of bisabolol (BSB), a natural monocyclic sesquiterpene alcohol, which has garnered attention in recent years because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Materials and methods: This study used a clinically relevant animal model; the isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction model in rats. ISO, is a non-selective β -adrenergic agonist, which mimics human myocardial infarction involving subendocardial ischaemia, haemodynamic dysfunction and contractile impairment. Rats were pretreated for 14 days with BSB (20mg/kg/day, per oral) before inducing myocardial injury by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (85mg/kg body weight) for two consecutive days at an interval of 24hours. Results: Rats given isoproterenol showed elevated serum levels of malondialdehyde, cardiac markers (creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme, lactate dehydrogenase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase), markers of inflammation (interleukin-1β , interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha), oxidative stress (decreases in the level of the reduced form of glutathione and activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase) and nitric oxide, when compared with normal control. Pretreatment with BSB significantly reduced the elevation of these oxidative/nitrosative stress and inflammatory markers. BSB treatment strengthened antioxidant status and attenuated ISO-induced myocardial lipid peroxidation. Preservation of histoarchitecture of the heart further supported the biochemical findings and demonstrated the cardioprotective effect of BSB. The cardioprotective effect of the BSB treatment could be due to its antilipid peroxidative, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Conclusions: Result suggested that BSB may have a potential benefit in preventing ischaemic heart disease, such as myocardial infarction. Considering the safety profile of BSB and its additional activities, BSB has tremendous therapeutic potential in a multitude of other diseases associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. Acknowledgements: College of Medicine and Health Sciences for a research grant and Dr Shreesh Ojha for supervising this project.

Iron-chelating and anti-lipid peroxidation properties of 1-(N-acetyl-6-aminohexyl)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpyridin-4-one (CM1) in long-term iron loading β-thalassemic mice

To evaluate the iron-chelating properties and free-radical scavenging activities of 1-(N-acetyl-6-aminohexyl)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpyridin-4-one (CM1) treatment in chronic iron-loaded β-thalassemic (BKO) mice. The BKO mice were fed with a ferrocene-rich diet and were orally administered with CM1 [50 mg/(kg.day)] for 6 months. Blood levels of non-transferrin bound iron, labile plasma iron, ferritin (Ft) and malondialdehyde were determined. The BKO mice were fed with an iron diet for 8 months which resulted in iron overload. Interestingly, the mice showed a decrease in the non-transferrin bound iron, labile plasma iron and malondialdehyde levels, but not the Ft levels after continuous CM1 treatment. CM1 could be an effective oral iron chelator that can reduce iron overload and lipid peroxidation in chronic iron overload β-thalassemic mice.

Antihyperglycemic, antilipid peroxidation, and insulin secretory activities of Otostegia persica shoot extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and in vitro C187 pancreatic β-cells

Context: Otostegia persica Boiss (Lamiaceae) contains antioxidant agents and is used in traditional medicine for treatment of diabetes mellitus complications.Objectives: The acute antihyperglycemic, antilipid peroxidation, and insulin secretory activities of methanol extract of O. persica aerial parts were investigated.Materials and methods: The extract [200, 300, 400 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)] was given orally to rats and glucose (2 g/kg b.w. orally) was administered 30 min later. Glucose and insulin serum levels were measured before and 30, 60, 120, and 240 min after administration of the test samples in normal and diabetic rats. The in vitro insulin secretory activity of extract was evaluated in C187 pancreatic β-cells and its antilipid peroxidation effect was determined by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels in rat livers after 240 min. The identification of the major phytoconstituents of the extract was carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.Results: The extract (300 mg/kg b.w.) significantly decreased the serum glucose level in diabetic rats at 1 h (494 ± 13.4 vs. 426 ± 12.9), 2 h (472.8 ± 17.8 vs. 396 ± 22), and 4 h (438.8 ± 25 vs. 346 ± 19) after treatment. Accordingly, the serum insulin level increased at the same times. The extract significantly increased glucose-induced insulin secretion in C187 β-cells. Moreover, the extract significantly decreased MDA and increased GSH levels in the liver of diabetic rats. Phytochemical analysis revealed thymol as the major phytoconstituent in the extract.Discussion and conclusion: O. persica shoot extract has antihyperglycemic, antilipid peroxidation, and insulin secretory properties.