Antioxidant Anti-inflammatory Properties Research Articles

Hydroxytyrosol and Arginine as Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Immunostimulant Dietary Supplements for COVID-19 and Long COVID.

Phytochemicals from plant extracts are becoming increasingly popular in the world of food science and technology because they have positive effects on human health. In particular, several bioactive foods and dietary supplements are being investigated as potential treatments for chronic COVID. Hydroxytyrosol (HXT) is a natural antioxidant, found in olive oil, with antioxidant anti-inflammatory properties that has been consumed by humans for centuries without reported adverse effects. Its use was approved by the European Food Safety Authority as a protective agent for the cardiovascular system. Similarly, arginine is a natural amino acid with anti-inflammatory properties that can modulate the activity of immune cells, reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α. The properties of both substances may be particularly beneficial in the context of COVID-19 and long COVID, which are characterised by inflammation and oxidative stress. While l-arginine promotes the formation of •NO, HXT prevents oxidative stress and inflammation in infected cells. This combination could prevent the formation of harmful peroxynitrite, a potent pro-inflammatory substance implicated in pneumonia and COVID-19-associated organ dysfunction, as well as reduce inflammation, improve immune function, protect against free radical damage and prevent blood vessel injury. Further research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits of HXT and arginine in the context of COVID-19.

Curcumin reduces enteric isoprostane 8-iso-PGF2\u03b1 and prostaglandin GF2\u03b1 in specific pathogen-free Leghorn chickens challenged with Eimeria maxima

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate and determine the concentration of prostaglandin GF2α (PGF2α) and isoprostane 8‐iso‐PGF2α in plasma and intestine of specific pathogen-free (SPF) Leghorn chickens challenged with Eimeria maxima, with or without dietary supplementation of curcumin using solid‐phase microextraction and ultra‐performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Eighty 1-day-old male SPF chickens were randomly allocated to one of four groups with four replicates (n = 5 chickens/replicate). Groups consisted of: (1) Control (no challenge), (2) Curcumin (no challenge), (3) Eimeria maxima (challenge), and (4) Eimeria maxima (challenge) + curcumin. At day 28 of age, all chickens in the challenge groups were orally gavaged with 40,000 sporulated E. maxima oocysts. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in the groups regardless of the treatment or challenge with E. maxima. Enteric levels of both isoprostane 8‐iso‐PGF2α and PGF2α at 7 days and 9 days post-challenge were significantly increased (P < 0.01) compared to the non-challenge control chickens. Interestingly, the enteric levels of both isoprostane 8‐iso‐PGF2α and PGF2α at 7 days post-challenge were significantly reduced in chickens fed curcumin, compared to control chickens challenge with E. maxima. At 9 days post-challenge, only levels of isoprostane 8‐iso‐PGF2α in the enteric samples were significantly reduced in chickens challenged with E. maxima supplemented with curcumin, compared with E. maxima challenge chickens. No differences of isoprostane 8‐iso‐PGF2α or PGF2α were observed in plasma at both days of evaluation. Similarly, no significant differences were observed between the challenge control or chickens challenge with E. maxima and supplemented with curcumin at both times of evaluation. The results of this pilot study suggests that the antioxidant anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin reduced the oxidative damage and subsequent intestinal mucosal over-production of lipid oxidation products. Further studies to confirm and extend these results in broiler chickens are required.

Dietary Foeniculum vulgare Mill extract attenuated UVB irradiation-induced skin photoaging by activating of Nrf2 and inhibiting MAPK pathways

BackgroundFoeniculum vulgare Mill (FV) has long been prescribed in traditional medicine due to its antioxidant anti-inflammatory properties. However, little research has been done on the use of FV to alleviate changes in UVB-induced photoaging PurposeThis study was to investigate the photoprotective effects and mechanism of FV in vitro and in vivo. MethodsThe anti-photoaging effect of FV was assessed in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) in vitro. The secretion of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), GSH, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), procollagen type I, IL-6 and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were measured by kits. Additionally, the level of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), p-ERK and p38 were evaluated by western blotting. In vivo, H&E and Masson's trichrome staining were employed. The expression of MMP-1, procollagen type I, TGF-β1 and elastin were measured by western blot. ResultsFV significantly increased the production of collagen, elastin and TGF-β1 levels, while blocked matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) production in UVB irradiation induced hairless mice, which were consistent with the result in NHDFs. Furthermore, FV dose-dependently decreased the production of ROS and LDH by promoting the nuclear amount of Nrf2 and enhancing the expression of cytoprotective antioxidants such as GSH. FV also significantly quenched UVB-induced phosphorylation of ERK and p38 in NHDFs. ConclusionOur results indicate that FV is a potential botanical agent for the treatment of skin damage induced by UV irradiation.

Pomegranate bioactive constituents suppress indomethacine induced experimental peptic ulcer

Peptic ulcer disease, is the most common ulcer of the gastrointestinal tract. Several investigations have confirmed the role of oxidative stress in developmental peptic ulcers, possibly via the formation of free radicals. Currently due to several adverse effects of chemical drugs, herbal medicines are generally used in the treatment of peptic ulcer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of pomegranate juice on experimental gastric ulcer induced by indomethacin and exhibit its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Forty male albino rats were used in this study and divided into four groups (control, pomegranate, peptic ulcer and treated) groups. Pomegranate and treated groups received 0.5 ml pomegranate juice/rat/day orally by gavage. After four weeks, liver and kidney functions were estimated, stomach malondialdehyde, superoxidedismutase, paraoxonase and total antioxidant capacity were determined by colorimetric methods. Serum interleukin-1 α was estimated by ELISA while, serum homocysteine was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Pomegranate supplementation significantly increased stomach total antioxidant, superoxide dismutase and paraoxonase levels concomitant with a reduction of malondialdhyde, interleukin-1 α and homocysteine values in treated group compared to peptic ulcer group. In conclusion, pomegranate seems to be a highly promising plant in protecting against the peptic ulcer through its antioxidant anti-inflammatory properties.