Antioxidant Defense Enzymes Research Articles

Effect of CCl4 on Renal Tissues of Male Mice and Prevented by Pretreatment with Bromelain Loaded with Gold Nanoparticles: Histopathological and Caspase-9 Expression Alterations

The study aimed to investigate the potential protective effect of bromelain on renal histopathological changes induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in albino mice. CCl4 is widely used in the chemical industry but is also known to cause toxicity to various organs including the brain, liver, kidneys and lungs. In this study, 49 animals were divided into 7 equal groups. The kidneys of the mice were examined to assess histopathological changes and immunohistochemical markers, specifically caspase-9. The groups that received bromelain solution coated with gold nanoparticles demonstrated greater protective effects against CCl4-induced kidney damage. The findings suggest that kidney damage induced by CCl4 may be attributed to oxidative stress, which disrupts the antioxidant defense system, enzyme function and biochemical markers. However, administration of bromelain significantly mitigated CCl4 toxicity by enhancing the antioxidant defense system and reducing the production of free radicals. Notably, the study found that a dose of 300 mg of bromelain effectively reduced CCl4-induced toxicity in rats. This highlights the potential therapeutic value of bromelain in protecting against chemical-induced kidney damage. HIGHLIGHTS The kidney damage from carbon tetrachloride can occur through oxidative stress, altering the antioxidant defense system, enzyme function, and biochemical markers. The bromelain can decreased the toxicity of CCL4. The 300 mg bromelain solution proved to be more efficacious than the 100 mg dose. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Seasonal variation in expression patterns of anti-microbial peptides and activity of anti-oxidant defence enzymes in muga silkworm larvae, Antheraea assamensis Helfer

Seasonal variation in expression patterns of anti-microbial peptides and activity of anti-oxidant defence enzymes in muga silkworm larvae, Antheraea assamensis Helfer

Effects of artificial diets on lipid and glucose metabolism, antioxidative capacity, and inflammation in the liver of mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi)

The mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) is a typical carnivorous fish, which has been able to consume artificial diets after domestication in recent years. However, the potential health consequences of artificial diets in mandarin fish remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these concerns. Fish (initial weight: 25.1 ± 0.1 g) were fed with natural (CON group) or artificial diets (AF group) for 8 weeks. Each diet was randomly distributed to sextuplicate circular tanks (300 L) with 40 fish in each tank. The transcriptome analysis revealed significant changes in metabolism-related pathways, particularly those involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Further investigation confirmed that the artificial diets significantly increased hepatic triglyceride content and fatty acid synthase activity. The artificial diets also significantly increased hepatic glycogen and glucose-6-phosphatase activity. Furthermore, the artificial diets significantly increased hepatic malondialdehyde levels, indicating increased oxidative stress. Antioxidant defense enzyme activities and the expression of antioxidant stress-related genes were significantly decreased. Additionally, the artificial diets significantly increased the expression of proinflammatory genes, including interleukin 1 beta and interferon-gamma. These findings collectively demonstrated that the artificial diets disrupted hepatic lipid and glucose metabolism, leading to oxidative stress and inflammation, thus affecting the health status of mandarin fish.

Epsilon-poly-l-lysine and methyl jasmonate synergistically inhibit Pseudomonas tolaasii-caused brown spot disease in postharvest button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus)

The brown spot disease, caused by Pseudomonas tolaasii is a serious disease that significantly affects the quality of Agaricus bisporus. To develop a safe and effective method to protect mushrooms from disease, the effects of epsilon-poly-l-lysine (ε-PL) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA), either alone or in combination, on brown spot disease caused by P. tolaasii in A. bisporus were investigated. Our results showed that both ε-PL (100 mg L−1) and MeJA (100 μmol L−1) effectively reduced the incidence rate and disease index, inhibited the activity of polyphenol oxidase activated by P. tolaasii, and suppressed the production of malonaldehyde, and their combination achieved a more effective effect; the reason for this result was not due to their coordinated antibacterial activity in vitro, but rather the synergistic induction of disease resistance in mushrooms. The combined treatment of ε-PL and MeJA not only increased the content of pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs), the activities of defense enzymes and antioxidant enzymes, but also enhanced the activities of phenylpropanoid pathway-related enzymes and the accumulation of total phenolic and total flavonoid substances. Furthermore, the combined treatment was also more effective in increasing JA levels and the activities of lipoxygenase and allene oxide synthase compared to treatment with either ε-PL or MeJA alone. Correlation analysis further demonstrated the important role of defense-related enzymes and PRs as well as phenylpropanoid pathway-related enzymes and metabolites in the inhibition of ε-PL and MeJA alone or in combination on the incidence rate and disease index. Taken together, our results showed that ε-PL combined with MeJA treatment has good prospects for alleviating mushroom brown spot disease.

Upregulation of GRP78 is accompanied by decreased antioxidant response and mitophagy promotion in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes in rats

Endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction are interconnected processes involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM). In the present study, we demonstrate a distinct unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling pathways in two mammalian models of DM: β-TC-6 cell line and streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes model in rats. However, a feature common to both systems was the upregulation of the GRP78 protein. Moreover, in vivo studies showed the disruption of the antioxidant system and an escalation of mitophagy against the background of a depletion of the level of ATP in pancreatic cells. In conclusion, we suggest that glucotoxic conditions induced GRP78 upregulation, and next cause depletion of the antioxidant pool and disruption of the functioning of antioxidant defense enzymes and in consequence promote mitophagy in pancreatic cells. Therefore, GRP78 may be considered as a potential therapeutic factor in patients with diabetes.

The Ectopic Expression of the MpDIR1(t) Gene Enhances the Response of Plants from Arabidopsis thaliana to Biotic Stress by Regulating the Defense Genes and Antioxidant Flavonoids.

The Defective in Induced Resistance 1 (DIR1) gene, a member of the lipid transferase proteins (LTPs), plays a crucial role in plant defense against pathogens. While previous transcriptomic studies have highlighted the significant expression of citrus LTPs during biotic stress, functional annotations of LTPs in the Citrus genera remain limited. In this study, we cloned the Murraya paniculata DIR1 (MpDIR1(t)) gene and overexpressed it in Arabidopsis thaliana to evaluate its stress response mechanisms against biotic stress. The transgenic Arabidopsis lines showed fewer disease symptoms in response to Pseudomonas syringae (Pst DC3000) compared to wild-type Arabidopsis. Defense and pathogenesis-responsive genes such as PR1, PR4, PR5, and WRKY12 were significantly induced, showing a 2- to 12-fold increase in all transgenic lines compared to the wild type. In addition, the Pst DC3000-infected transgenic Arabidopsis lines demonstrated elevated levels of flavonoids and salicylic acid (SA), along with higher expression of SA-related genes, compared to the wild type. Moreover, all transgenic lines possessed lower reactive oxygen species levels and higher activity of antioxidant defense enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase under Pst DC3000 stress compared to the wild type. The up-regulation of defense genes, activation of the SA pathway, accumulation of flavonoids, and reinforcement of antioxidant defense mechanisms in transgenic Arabidopsis lines in response to Pst DC3000 underscore the critical role of MpDIR1(t) in fortifying plant immunity. Thus, MpDIR1(t) constitutes a promising candidate gene for improving bacterial disease resistance in commercial citrus cultivars.

Delineating drought-induced antioxidative traits as potential mechanisms for climate resilience in Argania spinosa

Drought stress ranks among the most critical environmental challenges facing agriculture today, causing significant impairments to plant growth and development. In Morocco, these negative impacts are projected to intensify further under the combined pressures of climate change and the worsening water shortage crisis. The imperative need for sustainable arganiculture (cultivation of Argane trees) in dry lands necessitates the expeditious identification of drought-tolerant elite Argania spinosa trees. In this context, we investigated the drought tolerance of 2-year-old A. spinosa seedlings from two contrasting provenances Lakhssas (LKS) and Aoulouz (ALZ) under severe stress by evaluating their antioxidative defense mechanisms. A total of 24 parameters related to reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidative damage, and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense were measured and compared between both provenances. The results showed that the drought-stressed conditions significantly increased the activity of enzymatic antioxidants, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, and ascorbate-glutathione cycle enzymes, as well as the content of non-enzymatic antioxidants, including reduced glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (AsA), α-Tocopherols (α-toc), polyphenols, anthocyanins, and group thiols. The ability of A. spinosa trees to greatly enhance their antioxidant system to limit cellular damage caused by ROS production might be an important attribute linked to drought tolerance. Regarding the inter-provenance variation under drought stress conditions, LKS provenance exhibited superior antioxidative capacity through enhanced AsA-GSH cycle activity and elevated levels of AsA-GSH, α-toc, and polyphenols. However, ALZ demonstrated elevated anthocyanin levels and reduced peroxidative stress markers (hydrogen peroxide and malonyldialdehyde). Significant and positive correlations were recorded between studied ROS and antioxidants. Investigating the multifaceted antioxidative defense system underpinning drought tolerance in A. spinosa can facilitate the identification of drought-tolerant argane trees for the development of a future breeding program allowing sustainable arganiculture in dry lands.

Stimulating action of sodium nitroprusside and vinasse on salicin and direct regeneration in Salix Safsaf Forssk.

The present study aimed to enhance salicin and direct regeneration inwillow (Salix safsaf Forssk) using the sodium nitroprusside (SNP) regulation of nitric oxide (NO) and vinasse for its nutrition effect in culture medium. Internodes of Salix safsaf were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with benzyl adenine (BA) (0.25 mg L-1) and different concentrations of SNP (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mg L-1) or vinasse (0, 5, 10, and 20%) to examine shoot regeneration, antioxidant defense enzyme activity, total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and salicine contents. The reported data revealed that application of SNP at15 mg L-1 and vinasse at10% induced asignificant effectin vitro Salix safsaf shoot regeneration. To confirm that, nitric oxide is required for auxin-mediated activation of cell division in a dose-dependent manner. A concentration of 15 mg L-1 SNP promotes regeneration and salicin accumulation (3162.16mg/100g) during signaling action. On the other hand, the cross talk effect of nitric oxide and vinasse combination inSalix safsaf significantly induced a synergistic effect on direct propagation more than vinasse alone. SNP significantly stimulates salicylate accumulation in a dose-dependent manner, but the data on the association of vinasse and SNP on salicylate up-regulation showed a significant reduction in salicin accumulation when SNP was combined with 10% vinasse, which directly affected the signaling action of SNP as secondary product stimulators. Vinasse's phenolic compounds affect directly on thereduction activity ofSNP to suppress its signaling action, or indirectly by inhibiting the sequence cascade of the SNP signaling transduction process to decrease the accumulation of salicin contents. Data confirmed that vinasse andSNP stimulatedtheantioxidant enzymes activity throw quenching thestimulated reactive oxygen species that produced via SNP. Results show that modified media with SNP administration at 15 mg L-1 and the combination of vinasse at 10% and SNP at 15 mg L-1 are recommended for modifying tissue culture media for induced direct regeneration and salicin accumulation in tissue culture applications, which will be very useful for commercial salicin overproduction as a biological active ingredient in willows.

Sublethal Effect of Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) on Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Enzymes in the Mud Crab Scylla serrata

Under various severe environmental conditions, marine organisms can suffer from oxidative stress. In the mud crab, the sub-lethal effect of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) using environmentally realistic concentrations (10 ppb and 20 ppb) on oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses was studied. For oxidative stress, levels of Thiobarbituric Acid (TBARS) and carbonyl protein (CP) were determined. After 30 days of B[a]P exposure, the tissues contained considerably more CP and TBARS. The tissues of crab exposed to sublethal level of B[a]P for 30 days showed decrease in antioxidant defense enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Under B[a]P exposure, SOD and CAT activities were decreased considerably in the hepatopancreas. The glutathione S transferase (GST) increased in the hepatopancreas due to B[a]P exposure. The current study found a strong link between oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses in crab exposed to B[a]P. Overall, the results show that hepatopancreas is the most sensitive component to oxidative damage, implying that Scylla serrata could be employed as a bioindicator of organic pollution exposure by evaluating antioxidant enzyme activities.

Variation among Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) Genotypes for Antioxidant Defence System and Yield under High Temperature Stress

Background: Blackgram is a short duration pulse crop which is sensitive to high temperatures. Raising global temperatures are becoming a serious threat to the production of blackgram by altering biochemical processes at cellular level. Hence, the present investigation was carried out for better understanding of genotypic variability and the biochemical mechanisms governing heat stress tolerance which can help in identifying heat tolerant blackgram genotypes that can yield better under climate change scenarios. Methods: Thirty blackgram genotypes selected from temperature induction response technique were evaluated for biochemical efficiency under natural high temperature conditions during summer, 2022 and 23. Field experiment was conducted at Agricultural College Farm, Acharya N.G Ranga Agricultural University, Agricultural College, Bapatla. Biochemical and yield parameters were recorded at flowering and the data were analyzed statistically and pooled. Result: The results of the study revealed that the genotypes TBG-129, LBG-1015, PU-1804 and PU-31 recorded higher seed yield indicating their ability to withstand high temperatures by up-regulating various biochemical pathways involved in increased production of proline, carotenoids and antioxidant defense enzymes that might have scavenged the free radicals that were produced due to high temperature stress, thereby preventing lipid peroxidation. Lower seed yield was recorded in TBG-125 and LBG-1023 which might be due to oxidative damage caused by higher accumulation of free radicals and poor scavenging activity of antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, the results of correlation analysis revealed that all the biochemical traits such as proline, carotenoids and antioxidant defense enzymes showed positive association with seed yield except free radicals and malondialdehyde. The principal component analysis results revealed considerable variability among the traits accounting for 80.0%. The genotypes TBG-129, LBG-1015, PU-1804 and PU-31 can be used in breeding programmes for development of heat tolerant genotypes.

Exogenous Melatonin Alleviates Osmotic Stress by Enhancing Antioxidant Metabolism, Photosynthetic Maintenance, and Hormone Homeostasis in Forage Oat (Avena sativa) Seedlings

Melatonin (MT) is a multifunctional hormone that enhances crop resilience against various abiotic stresses. However, its regulatory mechanism of osmotic tolerance in forage oats (Avena sativa) plants under water-limited scenarios is still unclear. This study aimed to delineate the impact of MT pretreatment on the morphological, physiological, and biochemical functions of oat seedlings under osmotic stress. Our findings demonstrated that exogenous treatment of MT noticeably elevated leaf area while decreasing the root/shoot ratio of oat seedlings subjected to osmotic stress. Osmotic-induced 38.22% or 48.37% decrease in relative water content could be significantly alleviated by MT pretreatment on day 7 or day 14, respectively. MT treatment also significantly mitigated osmotic-induced decreases in photosynthetic parameters including net photosynthetic rate, stomatic conductance, and intercellular CO2 concentration as well as various chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, which could contribute to enhanced accumulations of free proline and soluble sugars in seedlings after being subjected to a prolonged duration of osmotic stress. Furthermore, MT markedly improved antioxidant enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, and peroxidase along with the accumulation of ascorbic acid contributing to a significant reduction in reactive oxygen species under osmotic stress. In addition, the MT application induced a 978.12%, 33.54%, or 30.59% increase in endogenous MT, indole acetic acid, or gibberellic acid content under osmotic stress but did not affect the accumulation of abscisic acid. These findings suggest that an optimal concentration of MT (100 μmol·L−1) could relieve osmotic stress via improvement in osmotic adjustment, the enzymatic antioxidant defense system, and endogenous hormonal balance, thereby contributing to enhanced photosynthetic functions and growth of oat seedlings under water-limited conditions.

Hyperhomocysteinemia-Induced Alterations in Protein Expression and Oxidative Stress Parameters in Rat Heart

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is considered an independent risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. Among the proposed mechanisms underlying homocysteine toxicity are altered protein expression and induction of oxidative stress. In the present study, we explored protein abundance and parameters related to oxidative stress in heart homogenates of rats exposed to chronic mild HHcy. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry 22 altered proteins (6 upregulated and 14 downregulated) were identified. For eight proteins the altered abundances were validated by Western blot analysis. Identified proteins are primarily involved in energy metabolism (mainly enzymes of glycolysis, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, citric acid cycle, and ATP synthase), cardiac muscle contraction (α-actin and myosin light chains), stress response (heat-shock protein β1 and αB-crystallin) and antioxidant defense (glutathione peroxidase 1). Diminished antioxidant defense was confirmed by decreases in total antioxidant capacity and GSH/GSSG ratio. Consistent with the decline in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense the protein oxidative modification, as determined by tyrosine nitration, was significantly increased. These findings suggest that both, altered protein expression and elevated oxidative stress contribute to cardiovascular injury caused by HHcy.

METOVITAN INCREASES THE RESISTANCE OF THE BODY TO HYPOXIA

Aim. To study the efficacy of the vitamin preparation Metovitan and multivitamin preparation Decamevit in preventing the development of oxidative stress in the development of oxidative stress in rat tissues and their survival under hypoxic hypoxia. Methods. Experiments were performed on Wistar rats, 160-220 g. A model of hypoxic hypoxia was induced by lifting the rats in a barocamp to a conditional altitude of 11 thousand meters above sea level (pressure 190 mm Hg). Tissue metabolite concentrations and enzyme activities were measured using conventional biochemical methods. Results. The results of the study showed that the positive effect of Metovitan, which contained methionine and vitamins E, B1, and B3, on many indicators, including the activity of antioxidant defense enzymes, was significantly higher than the effect of Decamevit, which contained the same components plus vitamins A, B2, B6, B9, B12, vitamin C, and the bioflavonoid rutin. The survival time of rats treated with Metovitan before the experiment was one and a half times longer than that of Decamevit. Conclusion. A preparation containing a limited amount of vitamins acting synergistically on narrow links of cellular metabolism was more effective in preventing oxidative stress than a conventional multivitamin preparation.

Field evaluation and characterization of a novel biostimulant for broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) cultivation under drought and salt stress which increases antioxidant, glucosinolate and phytohormone content

Anthropogenic global warming is affecting crop yield and thus compromising food security. Drought and salinization of the irrigation water or soil are increasingly frequent in most arable land, specifically in arid and semiarid areas such as the Mediterranean basin. Many crops have been displaced or their yield has plummeted in recent years, causing food shortages and price increases. In a context of global population growth and reduction in the availability of natural resources used in agriculture, finding novel tools that help farmers to maintain yield in an increasingly arid and saline scenario is of pivotal importance. This is particularly important in organic agriculture, where the number of available tools is very limited. Biostimulants are substances or microorganisms of natural origin whose function is to stimulate plant processes related to nutrient absorption, nutrient use efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress or the quality of the agricultural products obtained. In the present work, we have evaluated, in field, the agronomic effectiveness of a novel biostimulant formulation in a cruciferous crop of great interest in the Mediterranean basin (broccoli) under control conditions, water and salt stress. Our research has shown that our product had a positive effect on broccoli production and in delaying flowering time. We have also found that the application of our biostimulant increased enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense under drought conditions. Similarly, when exposed to salinity, the biostimulant increased the concentration of different phytohormones and glucosinolates. Taken together, our biostimulant increases the tolerance of broccoli to salt stress and water limitation by increasing the antioxidant response, the level of glucosinolates and eliciting the hormonal response.

Nuciferine inhibits TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK signaling axis and alleviates adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition primarily affecting the joints. Nuciferine (NCF), a key bioactive aporphine alkaloid biosynthesized in lotus leaves, exhibits promising anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In this study, we investigated whether NCF could alleviate inflammatory arthritis conditions in a complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-mediated arthritis model in rats. The arthritis model was established through intradermal injection of CFA (100 μL) in the sub-plantar region of the right hind paw. The arthritic animals were treated orally with NCF at 5 and 10 mg/kg and indomethacin (Indo) at 5 mg/kg body weight as reference control. NCF treatment remarkably alleviated inflammatory joint swelling and arthritic index. The radiological and histological analysis revealed evidence of the beneficial effects of NCF. NCF treatment decreased the content of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and restored the anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) in the paw joints. The serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were also markedly reduced in the NCF (10 mg/kg) treatment group. Moreover, the arthritis-induced inflammatory mediators, including cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling proteins were substantially decreased in the NCF treatment groups. NCF treatment also restored the antioxidant defense enzymes and abrogated lipid peroxidation in the paw tissue. Our findings strongly suggest that NCF is a promising therapeutic molecule for rheumatoid arthritis, inspiring further research, and development in this area.

Evaluation of Enzymatic and Non-enzymatic Antioxidant Defense Responses of Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) in Coping with Boron Stress

Wheat, one of the world's most important agricultural products, plays a vital role in meeting the nutritional needs of our growing global population. However, arid and semi-arid regions face a potential threat from boron (B) toxicity. While boron is an essential nutrient for plant growth and development, its excessive presence can be toxic. It disrupts physiological processes, causing chlorosis and necrosis, ultimately leading to yield loss or plant death. Although B deficiency is a problem in the soils of many countries, Türkiye is one of the few experiencing B toxicity problems in its agricultural areas. This study investigated the physiological and biochemical responses of durum wheat to various B concentrations (0-20 mg L-1) under controlled air-conditioned cabin conditions. Durum wheat exhibited a decrease in chlorophyll content, phenolic content, and antiradical capacity at B doses exceeding 10 mg L-1. However, carotene content increased steadily with increasing B concentrations. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione S-transferase (GST), increased up to a B dose of 15 mg L-1. Catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities increased up to 10 mg L-1 B dose but decreased at higher B levels. Proline content increased tenfold up to a B dose of 10 mg L-1, indicating an attempt to mitigate stress. Conversely, malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation increased continuously (approximately 150%) with increasing B doses, suggesting membrane damage. Despite being considered B-sensitive, this study demonstrated that durum wheat can effectively cope with B stress up to a B dose of 10 mg L-1 under controlled conditions. Beyond this threshold, physiological and biochemical changes indicate a decline in stress tolerance. Many osmoregulators, carotenes, alkaloids, flavonoids, tocopherols, phenolic compounds, non-protein amino acids, and several unidentified metabolites are activated to support antioxidant defense. The SOS pathway and the released ROS force gene regulatory systems come into play. Following these, the ROS released in the organism are neutralized, and ionic homeostasis and cellular stress resistance are achieved.

A comparative study of the efficiency of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants MitoTEMPO and SKQ1 under oxidative stress

MitoTEMPO (MT) and Visomitin (SKQ1) are regareded as mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, which inhibit production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the differences in function between MT and SKQ1 remain unexplored. Herein, we investigated the differential potency of MT and SKQ1 in mitigating oxidative stress under different conditions. The results indicated that high levels of SKQ1 induced cell death. The appropriate concentrations of MT and SKQ1 can prevent or rescue cell damage triggered by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and menadione (MEN). MT and SKQ1 reduced ROS levels and reversed the down-regulation of antioxidant defence genes and enzymes. These effects can alleviate the damage to lipids, proteins, and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) caused by oxidative stress and restore adenosine 5′ triphosphate (ATP) generation. Subsequently, we found that MT administration in ischemic reperfusion kidney injury in mice provided superior renal protection compared to SKQ1, as evidenced by reduced plasma levels of kidney injury markers, improved renal morphology, decreased apoptosis, restored mitochondrial function, and enhanced antioxidant capacity. Overall, our findings suggest that MT is safer and has greater potential than SKQ1 as a therapeutic agent to mitigate oxidative stress damage or oxidative renal injury.

Magnesium, selenium and zinc deficiency compromises antioxidant defense in women with obesity.

Studies have shown that deficiencies in magnesium, selenium, and zinc in individuals with obesity compromise the endogenous antioxidant defense system. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of mineral deficiency on enzymatic antioxidant defense in women with obesity. The study involved 63 women with obesity (BMI ≥ 35kg/m2) and 77 eutrophic women (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9kg/m2). Variables such as fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin, fasting insulin, and serum lipids were analyzed. Insulin resistance was measured using the homeostasis assessment model (HOMA-IR) and beta cell function using the homeostasis assessment model (HOMA-β). Dietary intake of energy, macronutrients (including magnesium, zinc, and selenium), and plasma, erythrocyte, and urinary concentrations of these minerals were measured and analyzed. Serum cortisol, plasma leptin, plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and the activity of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and erythrocyte catalase were also analyzed. Women with obesity had reduced plasma and erythrocyte concentrations and greater urinary excretion of all minerals compared to normal weight women (p < 0.05). There was a positive association between erythrocyte concentrations of zinc and selenium and the activity of the GPX and SOD enzymes in erythrocytes in women with obesity (p < 0.05), in addition to a positive association between serum insulin and the enzyme GPX, which is dependent on dietary selenium (p < 0.05). Individuals with obesity are deficient in magnesium, selenium, and zinc, which appears to impair the antioxidant defense system and contribute to important metabolic disorders such as oxidative stress in these patients.

Effect of &lt;i&gt;Bacillus subtilis&lt;/i&gt; in combination with chitosan salicylate on peroxidase and catalase activity in &lt;i&gt;B. sorokiniana&lt;/i&gt; infected wheat

The aim of the work was to study the effect of Bacillus subtilis strains VKM B‑2604D and VKM B‑2605D which form the basis of the Vitaplan biological product, and their combinations with chitosan salicylate on antioxidant defense enzymes in the process of formation of resistance of wheat plants to infection with the dark brown blotch pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana. In wheat plants treated with B. subtilis strains and their combinations with chitosan salicylate, upon subsequent infection, catalase and peroxidase are activated, which regulate the intensity of oxidative stress induced by the introduction of the pathogen. Taking into account the data obtained by us, it can be assumed that the increase in plant resistance to the pathogen is realized through the control of the activity of antioxidant enzymes (inparticular, catalase, peroxidase), which maintain the concentration of H2O2 at the level necessary for the neutralization of the phytopathogen in tissues, including the direct destruction of the invading pathogen and / or activation of crosslinking and lignification of the cell wall. These processes strengthen the cell wall and help contain the spread of the pathogen in the plant. At the same time, protective reactions are also switched on, leading to the development of induced resistance in wheat plants to dark brown spotting, which manifests itself in a decrease in the development of the disease by 25–45% relative to the infected control in the treated plants. The obtained results indicate that the combination of active strains of microorganisms-antagonists of plant pathogens and chitosan salicylate is promising for increasing the biological efficiency and expanding the spectrum of action of the developed prescription forms of biological products.

Micronutrient deficiency-induced oxidative stress in plants.

Micronutrients like iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), boron (B), nickel (Ni), and molybdenum (Mo) perform significant roles in the regulation of plant metabolism, growth, and development. Micronutrients, namely Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Ni, are involved in oxidative stress and antioxidant defense as they are cofactors or activators of various antioxidant enzymes, viz., superoxide dismutase (Fe, Cu/Zn, Mn, and Ni), catalase (Fe), and ascorbate peroxidase (Fe). An effort has been made to incorporate recent advances along with classical work done on the micronutrient deficiency-induced oxidative stress and associated antioxidant responses of plants. Deficiency of a micronutrient produces ROS in the cellular compartments. Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense systems are often modulated by micronutrient deficiency to regulate redox balance and scavenge deleterious ROS for the safety of cellular constituents. ROS can strike cellular constituents such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids and can destruct cellular membranes and proteins. ROS might act as a signaling molecule and activate the antioxidant proteins by interacting with signaling partners such as respiratory burst oxidase homolog (RBOH), G-proteins, Ca2+, mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and various transcription factors (TFs). Opinions on probable ROS signaling under micronutrient deficiency have been described in this review. However, further research is required to decipher micronutrient deficiency-induced ROS generation, perception, and associated downstream signaling events, leading to the development of antioxidant responses in plants.