Antioxidant Capacity Research Articles

Optimizing Antioxidant Potential: Factorial Design-Based Formulation of Fucoidan and Gallic Acid-Conjugated Dextran Blends

The role of oxidative stress in health and homeostasis has generated interest in the scientific community due to its association with cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and other diseases. Therefore, extensive research seeks to identify new exogenous antioxidant compounds for supplementation. Polysaccharides are recognized for their antioxidant properties. However, polysaccharide chemical modifications are often necessary to enhance these properties. Therefore, dextran was conjugated with gallic acid (Dex-Gal) and later combined with fucoidan A (FucA) to formulate blends aimed at achieving superior antioxidant activity compared to individual polysaccharides. A factorial design was employed to combine FucA and Dex-Gal in different proportions, resulting in five blends (BLD1, BLD2, BLD3, BLD4, and BLD5). An analysis of surface graphs from in vitro antioxidant tests, including total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reducing power, and hydroxyl radical scavenging, guided the selection of BLD4 as the optimal formulation. Tests on 3T3 fibroblasts under various conditions of oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide revealed that BLD4 provided enhanced protection compared to its isolated components. The BLD4 formulation, resulting from the combination of Dex-Gal and FucA, showed promise as an antioxidant strategy, outperforming its individual components and suggesting its potential as a supplement to mitigate oxidative stress in adverse health conditions.

Exploring the benefits of astaxanthin as a functional food ingredient: Its effects on oxidative stress and reproductive outcomes in women with PCOS - A systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent gynecological-endocrinological disorder characterized by hyperandrogenism, menstrual irregularities, and metabolic disturbances. Recent research has highlighted the role of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in exacerbating PCOS symptoms and impeding reproductive outcomes. Astaxanthin, a potent antioxidant found in marine organisms, has been suggested as a potential therapeutic intervention due to its ability to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. This meta-analysis systematically reviews randomized controlled trials assessing the impact of astaxanthin supplementation on oxidative stress and reproductive outcomes in women with PCOS. Data from four trials were analyzed, focusing on markers of oxidative stress and reproductive health metrics. The meta-analysis utilized fixed and random-effects models to synthesize results, with heterogeneity assessed using Chi-square and I2 statistics. The findings indicate that while astaxanthin significantly improves markers of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in follicular fluid, it does not show a consistent effect on other oxidative stress biomarkers such as malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), or superoxide dismutase (SOD). Reproductive outcomes, including oocyte quality and the number of high-quality embryos, showed moderate improvements, although effects on fertilization rates and pregnancy outcomes were insignificant. The analysis highlights variability in study designs and dosing, suggesting a need for further research with standardized protocols and larger sample sizes. Future studies should focus on determining optimal dosing, exploring mechanistic pathways, and investigating the combined effects of astaxanthin with other interventions. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess long-term benefits and safety, and personalized approaches could enhance treatment efficacy for individualswithPCOS.

Bimetallic clusterzymes-loaded dendritic mesoporous silica particle regulate arthritis microenvironment via ROS scavenging and YAP1 stabilization

Clusterzymes are synthetic enzymes exhibiting substantial catalytic activity and selectivity, which are uniquely driven by single-atom constructs. A dramatic increase in antioxidant capacity, 158 times more than natural trolox, is noted when single-atom copper is incorporated into gold-based clusterzymes to form Au24Cu1. Considering the inflammatory and mildly acidic microenvironment characteristic of osteoarthritis (OA), pH-dependent dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DMSNs) coupled with PEG have been employed as a delivery system for the spatial-temporal release of clusterzymes within active articular regions, thereby enhancing the duration of effectiveness. Nonetheless, achieving high therapeutic efficacy remains a significant challenge. Herein, we describe the construction of a Clusterzymes-DMSNs-PEG complex (CDP) which remarkably diminishes reactive oxygen species (ROS) and stabilizes the chondroprotective protein YAP by inhibiting the Hippo pathway. In the rabbit ACLT (anterior cruciate ligament transection) model, the CDP complex demonstrated inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase activity, preservation of type II collagen and aggregation protein secretion, thus prolonging the clusterzymes' protective influence on joint cartilage structure. Our research underscores the efficacy of the CDP complex in ROS-scavenging, enabled by the release of clusterzymes in response to an inflammatory and slightly acidic environment, leading to the obstruction of the Hippo pathway and downstream NF-κB signaling pathway. This study illuminates the design, composition, and use of DMSNs and clusterzymes in biomedicine, thus charting a promising course for the development of novel therapeutic strategies in alleviating OA.

170 Understanding how zinc and manganese interact with the hormones found in anabolic implants to alter growth of bovine satellite cells

Abstract It has been well established in both in vitro and in vivo models that the hormones found in anabolic implants [estradiol (E2) and trenbolone acetate (TBA)] positively impact skeletal muscle growth. Previous research has demonstrated that treating primary bovine satellite cells (BSC) with E2 or TBA results in increases in proliferation and protein synthesis and decreases in protein degradation, leading to enhanced skeletal muscle growth. This improved skeletal muscle growth occurs through partially defined pathways, but many unknowns remain. More recently, research has emerged demonstrating that strategic supplementation of specific trace minerals (TM) may further augment the positive effects of E2 and TBA on skeletal muscle growth. There are many ways through which the complex signaling pathways induced by the hormones found in anabolic implants may interact with TM to further enhance skeletal muscle growth. Zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) are two of the TM that we have recently investigated. Zinc is the most utilized metal in biological processes and supports animal growth through critical roles in the functions of IGF-1, GH, and DNA synthesis. Manganese is an essential TM providing catalytic activity to enzymes involved in protein glycosylation, nitrogen metabolism, and antioxidant capacity. However, additional research is needed to determine if hormones and TM interact to impact growth of skeletal muscle, specifically. As such, the goal of recent research that has been conducted by our group is to utilize an in vitro primary BSC model to determine whether hormones and TM interact to alter differentiation and protein synthesis. Preliminary research from our group assesses the impacts of varying, physiological concentrations of Zn or Mn on differentiation and protein synthesis of primary BSC cultures that have also been treated with or without the hormones found in anabolic implants. These preliminary findings demonstrate that while there seems to be no interaction between Zn and hormones in differentiating BSC, supplemental Zn on the higher end of physiologically relevant concentrations has a positive effect on signaling pathways involved in growth, protein turnover, skeletal muscle differentiation, and mineral transporters. However, it appears that Zn and Mn each interact with hormones to positively augment protein synthesis in primary BSC cultures. A deeper understanding of the relationship these TM and others may have with hormones will allow for more strategic supplementation practices that can potentially improve skeletal muscle growth.

Asiaticoside ameliorates uterine injury induced by zearalenone in mice by reversing endometrial barrier disruption, oxidative stress and apoptosis

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium fungi that has been shown to have adverse effects on human and animal health, particularly on the fertility of females. As a saponin derived from the medicinal plant Centella asiatica, asiaticoside (AS) has multiple bioactivities. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of AS on ZEA-induced uterine injury and the underlying mechanism. In the present study, we demonstrated that AS could rescue ZEA-induced uterine histopathological damage and modulate the secretion of sex hormones, including progesterone (P4), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E2), in ZEA-treated mice. Moreover, AS alleviated ZEA-induced damage to endometrial barrier function by upregulating the expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-3). Further mechanistic investigations indicated that ZEA reduces the antioxidant capacity of uterine tissues, whereas AS improves the antioxidant capacity through activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Most notably, the protective effect of AS was blocked in Nrf2 gene knockout (Nrf2−/−) mice. Moreover, the p38/ERK MAPK pathway has been implicated in regulating ZEA toxicity and the beneficial effect of AS. Additionally, an Nrf2 inhibitor (ML385) weaken the suppressive effect of AS on the oxidative stress and MAPK pathway. AS also inhibits ZEA-induced apoptosis in uterine tissues via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. However, when the PI3K small molecule inhibitor LY294002 was co-administered, the ability of AS to suppress the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and inhibit ZEA-induced apoptosis decreased. Collectively, these findings reveal the involvement of multiple pathways and targets in the protective effect of AS against ZEA-induced uterine injury, providing a new perspective for the application of AS and the development of a ZEA antidote.

Exogenous nitric oxide treatment delays the senescence of postharvest mung bean sprouts by regulating ascorbic acid metabolism.

This study evaluated the effects of nitric oxide (NO) treatment on ascorbic acid (AsA) metabolism and mung bean sprout quality. It examined changes in the AsA content, enzyme activity associated with AsA metabolism, antioxidant capacity, cell membrane composition, and cellular structure to clarify the effects of NO on mung bean sprouts. Nitric oxide treatment preserved mung bean sprout quality by enhancing significantly the activity of enzymes involved in the l-galactose pathway (including guanosine diphosphate (GDP)glutathione (-d-mannose pyrophosphorylase, GDP-mannose-3',5'-epimerase, GDP-l-galactose phosphorylase, l-galactose-1-phosphate phosphatase, l-galactose dehydrogenase, and l-galactose-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase) and the AsA-glutathione (GSH)(Beijing Solarbio Science and Technology Co.,Ltd., Beijing, China) cycle (including ascorbate peroxidase, ascorbic acid oxidase, glutathione reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and monodehydroascorbate reductase) during the germination and storage stage. Increased enzyme activity led to an increase in AsA content and enhanced antioxidant capacity, and reduced the membrane lipid damage in mung bean sprouts. This was demonstrated by higher levels of DPPH radical scavenging capacity, unsaturated fatty acids and phospholipids, along with lower levels of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anions, and malondiadehyde, in NO-treated mung bean sprouts. Scanning electron microscopy also revealed that NO treatment maintained the integrity of the cellular structure of the mung bean sprouts. Nitric oxide accelerates AsA metabolism effectively by regulating the biosynthesis and regeneration of AsA in mung bean sprouts. These changes increased AsA levels, alleviated membrane lipid damage, delayed senescence, and maintained the quality of mung bean sprouts during storage. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

356 Exploring the manganese requirement of feedlot steers

Abstract Angus-cross steers [n = 144; body weight (BW) = 359 kg ± 13.4] were used to assess the effect of dietary Mn and steroidal implants on trace mineral (TM) status, and liver and serum metabolites related to N metabolism. Steers (n = 6/pen) were stratified by BW in a 3 × 2 factorial. GrowSafe bunks recorded individual feed intake (experimental unit = steer; n = 24/treatment). Dietary treatments included (MANG; 8 pens per treatment; Mn as MnSO4): 1) no supplemental Mn (analyzed 14 mg Mn/kg DM; Mn0); 2) 20 mg supplemental Mn/kg DM (Mn20); 3) 50 mg supplemental Mn/kg DM (Mn50). Within MANG, steers received a steroidal implant treatment (IMP) on d 0: 1) no implant; NO; or 2) combination implant (Revalor-200; REV). Liver biopsies for TM analysis and qPCR, and blood for serum urea-N (SUN) analysis were collected on d 0, 20, 40, and 77. Liver TM, serum metabolite, enzyme activity, and gene expression data were analyzed as repeated measures using PROC MIXED of SAS 9.4. The Correlation Procedure of SAS 9.4 was utilized to assess correlations between liver arginase activity, SUN concentrations, and liver Mn concentrations. No MANG × IMP effects were noted (P ≥ 0.12) for growth or carcass measures. Steroidal implants increased final BW (FBW), overall average daily gain (ADG), and gain to feed (G:F; P ≤ 0.01). Dietary Mn did not influence FBW, overall ADG, or overall G:F (P ≥ 0.14). Liver Mn concentration increased with supplemental Mn (P = 0.01). An IMP × DAY effect was noted for liver Mn (P = 0.01) where NO and REV were similar on d 0 but NO cattle increased liver Mn from d 0 to 20 while REV liver Mn decreased. Relative expression of liver Mn transporter ZnT10 tended to be least (MANG; P = 0.10) in Mn20 while Mn0 and Mn100 were similar. Relative expression of liver Mn transporter ZIP8 was not influenced by MANG, IMP, or MANG × IMP (P ≥ 0.23). Liver arginase activity was not influenced by MANG, IMP, MANG × DAY, IMP × DAY, or MANG × IMP (P ≥ 0.15) but tended to decrease over time (DAY; P = 0.10). On d 0, 20, and 40, arginase activity was correlated (r ≤ 0.33; P ≤ 0.01) with SUN and liver Mn. Relative expression of MnSOD in the liver was greater in REV (P = 0.03) compared with NO and within a MANG × IMP effect (P = 0.01) REV increased liver MnSOD activity. This study indicates current NASEM Mn recommendations are adequate to meet demands of finishing beef cattle given a steroidal implant. This study also reveals how implants and supplemental Mn influence liver enzyme activity and genes related to arginine metabolism, urea synthesis, antioxidant capacity, and TM homeostasis.

Interface potential-induced natural antioxidant mimic system for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Although the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is still unknown, the molecular pathological phenomena is clear, mainly due to mitochondrial dysfunction and central nervous system inflammation caused by imbalanced antioxidant capacity and synaptic dysfunction, so antioxidant therapy is still the preferred treatment for AD. However, although antioxidant enzymes have high catalytic efficiency, the substrate spectrum is narrow; Antioxidants have wider range of effects, but their efficiency is low. Since the antioxidant defense system in high-grade organisms is composed of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic systems, therefore we synthesized a metal-organic framework (MOF) with superoxide dismutase activity, and depending on the interface potential effect, curcumin was loaded to construct a synergistic antioxidant treatment system. More importantly, due to the complementary surface electrostatic potential between MOF and curcumin, the system exhibited both good antioxidant activity and efficient β-amyloid plaque scavenging ability, which slowed down the cognitive dysfunction in the brain of AD mice.

Fatty acid composition and antioxidant capacity of defatted, non-defatted and oils extracts of <i>Quercus ilex</i> fruit from Algeria

Fatty acid composition and antioxidant capacity of defatted, non-defatted and oils extracts of <i>Quercus ilex</i> fruit from Algeria

Delaying walnut oxidation using a compostable film comprising poly(ε-caprolactone), thermoplastic gliadins, and green tea extract

A new active packaging composed of poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) and thermoplastic gliadin proteins incorporating green tea extract (GTE) was developed through compounding and film-extrusion process. Firstly, commercial green tea extract was analyzed, revealing that GTE primarily comprised epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which conferred potent antioxidant activity determined by the DPPH assay, along with moderate antibacterial activity. The incorporation of 5 wt% of GTE in the extruded films increased thermal stability and Young’s Modulus, and reduced oxygen and water vapor permeability with respect to control PCL/TPG film. Migration studies showed that the release of GTE depended on the type of food simulant, with higher levels observed in an oil-in-water emulsion simulant compared to a non-acidic aqueous food simulant, while no migration of GTE components was detected in dry foodstuffs simulant. Consequently, the antioxidant capacity derived from migrated GTE components were considerably higher in 50 % ethanol than in 10 % ethanol. Furthermore, PCL/TPG-GTE film exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram negative E. coli and Gram positive S. aureus in vitro when tested following the JIS Z2801 standard. The GTE addition also improved walnuts stability, resulting in a reduction and delay of fat peroxidation. Hence, the novel active system developed in this work can constitute a sustainable alternative to improve quality and safety of packaged products.

Network pharmacology and phytochemical composition combined with validation in vivo and in vitro reveal the mechanism of platycodonis radix ameliorating PM2.5-induced acute lung injury

Ethnopharmacological relevancePlatycodonis radix (PR), the root of Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) A. DC., is a traditional Chinese medicine recognized for its dual role as both a medicinal and dietary substance, exhibiting significant anti-inflammatory properties. It is frequently utilized in the treatment of lung diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms by which PR exerts its effects in the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI) remain unclear. Aim of the studyThis study presents a novel strategy that integrates network pharmacology, molecular docking, untargeted metabolomics analysis and experimental validation to investigate the molecular mechanisms through which PR treats ALI. Materials and methodInitially, the bioactive components of PR, along with its targets and pathways in the treatment of ALI, were identified using network pharmacology. Following this, preliminary validation was conducted through molecular docking. The active ingredients in the aqueous extract of PR were characterized using HPLC-MS. Finally, in vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to further validate the findings from the network pharmacology. ResultsA total of 14 bioactive components and 156 effective targets were identified using the TCMSP, DisGeNET, Genecard, OMIM databases and Venny 2.1.0. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis revealed 22 core targets including TP53, AKT1, STAT3 and JUN. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses indicated that these targets primarily participate in the regulation of cellular apoptosis, lung cancer and inflammatory pathways. Molecular docking demonstrated that four bioactive components exhibited strong affinities with their respective docking targets. LC-MS analysis confirmed that the aqueous extract of PR contained 87 components, including two active ingredients identified through network pharmacology and molecular docking. Preliminary validation was conducted in mice with ALI induced by acute PM2.5 exposure, revealing that the aqueous extract of PR reduced inflammatory factor levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, enhanced antioxidant capacity in lung tissue, and decreased lung cell apoptosis in PM2.5-exposed mice. Notably, PR alleviated PM2.5-induced ALI through the STAT3, JUN, and AKT1 signaling pathways. Similarly, the results of in vitro intervention experiments further confirmed that the aqueous extract of PR protected pulmonary epithelial cells against PM2.5 exposure through activating AKT1 sinalling pathway, and inhibiting STAT3 and JUN signalling pathways. ConclusionThis study identifies the active components of PR and elucidates the molecular mechanisms by which PR alleviates ALI, specifically by inhibiting the phosphorylation levels of STAT3 and c-JUN, or by activating the phosphorylation level of AKT1. These results provide a foundational basis for the application of PR in the treatment or prevention of lung injuries induced by particulate matter.

Covalent interaction of ovalbumin with proanthocyanidins improves its thermal stability and antioxidant and emulsifying activity.

The structure of proanthocyanidins (PC) contains a large number of active phenolic hydroxyl groups, which makes it have strong antioxidant capacity. This study investigated the structural and functional properties of ovalbumin (OVA) modified by its interaction with PC. It was found that on increasing the concentration ratio of PC to OVA from 10:1 to 40:1, the free amino and total sulfhydryl contents of OVA decreased from 470.59 ± 38.77 and 29.81 ± 0.31 nmol mg-1 to 96.61 ± 4.55 and 21.22 ± 0.78 nmol mg-1, respectively, and the free sulfhydryl content increased from 7.65 ± 0.41 to 9.48 ± 0.58 nmol mg-1. These results indicated that CN and CS bonds were formed and PC was covalently linked with OVA. The PC content in the OVA-PC conjugates increased from 281.93 ± 12.92 to 828.81 ± 46.09 nmol mg-1 on increasing the concentration ratio of PC to OVA from 10:1 to 40:1. The contents of α-helix and β-turn of OVA decreased, and the contents of β-sheet and random coil increased, confirmed by circular dichroism. The tertiary structure of OVA was also altered according to the results of fluorescence and ultraviolet absorption spectra. The surface hydrophobicity of OVA-PC conjugates decreased with increasing bound polyphenol content. The conjugation of OVA to PC significantly improved its emulsification and antioxidant activity and denaturation temperature. This study may provide valuable information for improving OVA's functional properties and its PC conjugates for applications in the food industry. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

The preservative effect of the black rice's cold, hot and ultrasonic ethanol extracts on the storage quality of beef patties

SummaryThis work aimed to determine the total anthocyanin and phenolic contents and antioxidant capacity of extracts of the black rice's cold, hot and ultrasonic‐assisted extracts and their preservative effect on the storage quality of beef patties. The three extracts exhibited high anthocyanin, phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, and they were used in beef patties at five treatments (negative control without extract, positive control with 0.01% butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), 7.5% cold extract, 7.5% hot extract and 7.5% ultrasound‐assisted extract). Raw and cooked beef patties were tested at 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 days of cold storage in aerobically packaged polyethylene containers regarding pH, oxidative stability, antioxidant capacity and microbial quality. While adding black rice extracts did not influence the proximate composition of raw samples (P > 0.05), it slowed down the pH and lipid oxidation during storage and provided pH and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) stability in all final products. The BHT and treatments with extract indicated a higher 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) value than the negative control. Also, the incorporation of black rice extracts slightly retarded bacterial growth. These results suggest that the black rice extracts at 7.5% can be used effectively to protect beef patties from microbial spoilage and oxidation during cold storage for 12 days.

Effects of supplemental feeding of Chinese herbal mixtures to perinatal sows on antioxidant capacity and gut microbiota of sows and their offspring piglets

Effects of supplemental feeding of Chinese herbal mixtures to perinatal sows on antioxidant capacity and gut microbiota of sows and their offspring piglets

Sustainable design and synthesis of high-performance lignin-based sunscreen ingredients

The active ingredients most commonly employed in sunscreens are compounds containing one or two aromatic rings. Lignin is the most abundant renewable aromatic polymer that has the potential to yield low molecular weight aromatic chemicals when strategically depolymerized. Here, the UV absorbance of a series of monomeric and dimeric lignin model compounds (LMCs) were studied. Specifically, vanillin and ferulic acid demonstrated good absorption in the UVB (280–320 nm) range, while the 5–5 dimer showed efficient absorption in the UVA (320–400 nm) range. Based on this, vanillin, ferulic acid and 5–5 dimer were mixed in pairs and dispersed in the oily isoeugenol to prepare LMC hybrid dispersions. Subsequently, demethylated lignin (DL) was synthesized and used to encapsulate the LMC hybrid dispersions via ultrasonic cavitation to prepare DL-based nano-capsules (DLNCs). The DLNCs were used as the only active ingredient in sunscreens, whose sun protection factor (SPF) value could be up to 55 with a dosage of 10 wt%. Due to anti-photolysis property of DL, the SPF value of DLNCs-based sunscreens increased initially and maintained >8 h under UV irradiation. Additionally, the prepared DLNCs exhibited excellent anti-permeability, antioxidant capacity and biocompatibility, making them a potential substitute for conventional petroleum-based sunscreen agents.

Mutagenicity of the agriculture pesticide chlorothalonil assessed by somatic mutation and recombination test in Drosophila melanogaster.

Chlorothalonil (CTL) is a pesticide widely used in Brazil, yet its mutagenic potential is not fully determined. Thus, we assessed the mutagenicity of CTL and its bioactivation metabolites using the somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) in Drosophila melanogaster, by exposing individuals, with basal and high bioactivation capacities (standard and high bioactivation cross offspring, respectively), from third instar larval to early adult fly stages, to CTL-contaminated substrate (0.25, 1, 10 or 20 μM). This substrate served as food and as physical medium. Increased frequency of large single spots in standard cross flies' wings exposed to 0.25 μM indicates that, if CTL is genotoxic, it may affect Drosophila at early life stages. Since the total spot frequency did not change, CTL cannot be considered mutagenic in SMART. The same long-term exposure design was performed to test whether CTL induces oxidative imbalance in flies with basal (wild-type, WT) or high bioactivation (ORR strain) levels. CTL did not alter reactive oxygen species and antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals levels in adult flies. However, lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels were increased in WT male flies exposed to 1 μM CTL. SMART and LPO alterations were observed only in flies with basal bioactivation levels, pointing to direct CTL toxicity to DNA and lipids. Survival, emergence and locomotor behavior were not affected, indicating no bias due to lethality, developmental and behavioral impairment. We suggest that, if related to CTL exposure, DNA and lipid damages may be residual damage of earlier life stages of D. melanogaster.

Ocotillol Derivatives Mitigate Retinal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Regulating the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE Signaling Pathway.

Retinal ischemia-reperfusion (RIR) injury can lead to various retinal diseases. Oxidative stress is considered an important pathological event in RIR injury. Here, we designed and synthesized 34 ocotillol derivatives, then examined their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities; we found that compounds 7 (C24-R) and 8 (C24-S) were most active. To enhance their water solubility, sustained release, and biocompatibility, compounds 7 and 8 were encapsulated into liposomes for in vivo activity and mechanistic studies. In vivo studies indicated that compounds 7 and 8 protected normal retinal structure and physiological function after RIR injury, reversed damage to retinal ganglion cells, and the S-configuration exhibited significantly stronger activity compared with the R-configuration. Mechanistic studies showed that compound 8 exerted a therapeutic effect on RIR injury by activating the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway; compound 7 did not influence this pathway. We also demonstrated that differential isomerization at the C-24 position influenced protection against RIR injury.

Nanoencapsulation of quinoa oil enhanced the antioxidant potential and inhibited digestive enzymes

Quinoa oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E, but its instability limits its application in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products. Nanoencapsulation emerges as a promising strategy to promote water dispersibility, preserve and enhance functional properties, and increase the bioavailability of bioactive compounds. This study encapsulated quinoa oil through O/W emulsification, using porcine gelatin (OG) and isolated whey protein (OWG) as encapsulating agents. The particles were characterized by different physical and chemical methods and evaluated in vitro for cytotoxicity using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, human hepatocarcinoma cells (HepG2) and epithelial cells, and bioactive potential through the determination of Total Antioxidant Capacity (CAT) (acidic and neutral media) and iron chelation, and inhibition of digestive enzymes (α-amylase and amyloglucosidase). OG and OWG particles presented smooth surfaces, with an average size between 161 ± 7 and 264 ± 6 nm, with a polydispersity index of 0.11 ± 0.03 and 0.130 ± 0.04, encapsulation efficiency of 74 ± 1.47 % and 83 ± 2.92 %, and water dispersibility >70 %, respectively. Free and nanoencapsulated quinoa oil did not show cytotoxic effects (cell viability >70 %). Nanoencapsulation promoted the enhancement of the antioxidant activity of quinoa oil in the range of 50–63 % in a neutral medium and 96–153 % in an acidic medium than free oil (p < 0.05). OG and OWG also enhanced the inhibition of the enzymes α-amylase (by 5–7 %) and amyloglucosidase (6–9 times more) than free oil (p < 0.05). The results showed that nanoencapsulation increased the potential for quinoa oil application, enabling the development of innovative products.

A field study to optimize protein and lipid levels in diet for cage-cultured subadult rockfish Sebastes schlegelii

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate growth, body composition, serum biochemistry, digestion and metabolism, and oxidation resistence of S. schlegelii fed 9 diets in a 3×3 factorial design (protein levels: 44 %, 48 %, 52 %; lipid levels: 6 %, 10 %, 14 %), to optimize protein and lipid levels for practical feed formula. Rockfish (114.25 g) were stocked into 27 cages in an offshore system and fed test diets to satiation twice daily for 8 weeks. Growth increased but feed conversion rate decreased with dietary protein increasing. Increasing dietary protein to >48 % led to reduced feeding intake but increased protein efficiency ratio. Lipid efficiency ratio increased with dietary protein increasing but decreased with dietary lipid increasing. Hepatosomatic index decreased coupling with the increases in condition factor and liver lipid content as dietary lipid increased to 14 %. Intraperitoneal fat ratio increased with dietary lipid increasing. Increasing dietary protein to > 48 % significantly elevated serum total protein and glucose concentrations, hepatic glycogen synthase activity. High-protein (52 %) diets elevated serum albumin and urea nitrogen concentrations, hepatic pyruvate kinase and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities but downregulated hepatic growth-hormone (GH) receptor. Activities of trypsin, lipase, serum superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity decreased with the dietary lipid increasing. Increasing dietary lipid to > 10 % reduced serum GH concentration, and high-lipid (14 %) diets significantly enhanced serum triglyceride concentration and hepatic transaminases activities, and resulted in a visual increase of adipocytes in liver. Serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein decreased as dietary protein increased to 48–52 % or dietary lipid >10 %. Hepatic succinate dehydrogenase activity and serum IGF-1 significantly increased while hepatic fatty acid synthetase decreased as dietary protein increased to >48 % or dietary lipid >10 %. High-protein (52 %) diet or high-lipid (14 %) diet elevated serum malonaldehyde concentration. These findings suggested 48 % protein and 10 % lipid were the optimal in diet for subadult S. schlegelii.

Antioxidant capacity of fermented corn gluten meal in broiler chickens: a solid-state approach with mixed microbial fermentation

Antioxidant capacity of fermented corn gluten meal in broiler chickens: a solid-state approach with mixed microbial fermentation