Antioxidant Levels Research Articles

Supplementation with cysteine improved metabolic syndrome in rats by increasing antioxidant potential in the liver and adipose tissue, as well as decreasing hepatic NF-κB expression

Insulin resistance is a key characteristic of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The hepatic nuclear factor- κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in insulin resistance and the development of type 2 diabetes. Our study aimed to examine the impact of cysteine (Cys) on various biochemical and histopathological parameters in the liver and kidney, hepatic NF-kβ expression, oxidative stress, inflammation, glycation, carbonyl stress markers, and insulin resistance. The study involved four groups of rats, each consisting of seven rats: a control group, a MetS group, and two similar groups receiving Cys treatment. Metabolic syndrome was induced in rats by administering a 40% sucrose solution, while, the treated groups received 50 mg/L Cys in their drinking water. Various factors, including body weight, hepatic NF-kβ expression, levels of antioxidants, anti-glycation, oxidative stress, carbonyl stress, inflammatory, anti-glycation, and glycation markers were assessed in blood and tissues. Liver and kidney function parameters and metabolic profiles were measured. Finally, liver tissue was also evaluated by a pathologist. The results showed that Cys reduced hepatic NF-kβ expression, oxidative stress, inflammation, glycation and carbonyl stress markers, as well as liver fatty content, blood sugar levels, insulin resistance, cardiovascular risk index, and body weight. The treatment also mitigated histopathological liver changes and acute hepatitis (p < 0.001). Cysteine exhibited anti-obesity and anti-atherosclerotic effects, improved β-cell function, insulin sensitivity, and lipid metabolism, and enhanced liver and kidney function, as well as prevented acute hepatitis by restoring the GSH/GSSG ratio, hepatic NF-kβ signaling, and carbonyl stress.

Imperatorin ameliorates ferroptotic cell death, inflammation, and renal fibrosis in a unilateral ureteral obstruction mouse model

BackgroundImperatorin is a naturally occurring furocoumarin derivative found in traditional Chinese medicine Angelica dahurica for its anticancer, antihypertensive, and antidiabetic properties. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health issue, characterized by a high prevalence, significant morbidity and mortality, and a range of related complications. ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the protective effects of imperatorin treatment and the specific underlying mechanisms in progressive CKD. MethodsImperatorin was orally administrated for 14 consecutive days to mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) to investigate the renal pathological alternations, pro-inflammatory mediators, antioxidant response, and ferroptotic death signaling. Imperatorin was also tested in the erastin-induced injury of renal proximal tubular cells (NRK-52E). Cell viability, ferroptosis protein markers, erastin-induced oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation were assessed. ResultsIn vivo, imperatorin treatment alleviated kidney histology alternations and attenuated the protein expression of fibrotic markers. Furthermore, imperatorin administration reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, and alleviated the oxidative stress burden by downregulating protein markers such as catalase, superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD-2), NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX-4), and thioredoxin reductase 1 (Trxr-1). It also mitigated ferroptosis markers such as glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), solute carrier family 7 member 11/cystine transporter (SLC7A11/xCT), and transferrin receptor 1 (TFR-1), and attenuated renal cell apoptosis. In vitro, imperatorin treatment effectively decreased erastin-induced feroptotic cell death, restored the antioxidant enzyme levels, and mitigated lipid peroxidation as well as the expression of ferroptosis-related markers (XCT, GPX4, and p-p53) in a dose-dependent manner. ConclusionOur finding demonstrated for the first time, that imperatorin treatment holds therapeutic potential in a UUO mouse model of CKD and inhibits the erastin-induced oxidative stress, ferroptosis, and subsequent lipid peroxidation in vitro. This highlights the potential of imperatorin as a future therapeutic target for ferroptosis to improve the progression of CKD.

Acute and prolonged effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens GF424-derived SOD on antioxidant defense in healthy individuals challenged with intense aerobic exercise

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a vital role in cellular functions but can lead to oxidative stress and contribute to degenerative diseases when produced in excess. Maintaining redox balance is essential and can be achieved through innate defense mechanisms or external antioxidants. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a key enzyme that mitigates intracellular oxidative stress by converting harmful free radicals into hydrogen peroxide, which is subsequently neutralized by catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Previous studies have demonstrated the antioxidant capabilities of SOD derived from Bacillus amyloquefaciens GF424 (BA-SOD) in murine models exposed to either irradiation or SOD1 gene deletion. In this study, a randomized clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the antioxidative benefits of BA-SOD in healthy individuals undergoing acute aerobic exercise (AAE). Eighty participants were randomly assigned to receive either BA-SOD or a placebo for 8 weeks. Antioxidant enzyme activities and glutathione levels were measured before, immediately after, and 30 min post-exercise. A single dose of BA-SOD significantly reduced ROS levels induced by AAE, primarily by enhancing SOD activity in erythrocytes and activating glutathione peroxidase. Continuous BA-SOD administration was associated with a sustained increase in catalase activity and elevated levels of reduced glutathione (GSH). Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that a single BA-SOD dose facilitated GSH oxidation, as evidenced by decreased levels of serine, glutamine, and glycine, and increased pyroglutamate levels. Additionally, repeated dosing led to increased expression of genes encoding isocitrate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme, which are involved in NADPH synthesis, as well as nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase and NAD kinase, which are essential for NADP availability–critical for converting oxidized glutathione (GSSG) back to GSH. These molecular insights align with clinical observations, suggesting that both acute and long-term BA-SOD supplementation may effectively enhance antioxidant defenses and maintain redox balance under oxidative stress conditions.

CYR61/CCN1: A novel mediator of redox response in corneal stromal cells of keratoconus

Keratoconus (KC) is a progressive, multifactorial and ectatic corneal disorder that characterized by steepening thinning of the cornea. It was previously demonstrated that oxidative stress has a strong link with KC progression. However, the molecular mechanism underlying oxidative stress response in KC remains unclear. Hence, the present study analyzed the heterogeneity of response of corneal stromal cells (CSCs) to oxidative stress in order to further illustrate how oxidative shape the pathophysiology of KC. Single-cell transcriptomics analysis revealed that CSCs demonstrated significant higher oxidative stress score in the KC group compared to the Ctrl group. The expression of oxidative markers verified by experiments illustrated elevated oxidative stress levels and insufficient antioxidant levels in CSCs of KC. In further single-cell transcriptomics analysis, we identified CYR61 to distinguish different subgroups of CSCs responding to oxidative stress. The cornea stroma cells in KC could be differentiated into CYR61high cells and CYR61low cells. Of note, the CYR61high cells showed lower score in collagen production process and higher score in collagen catabolic process. Further experiments illustrated that CYR61 was elevated in KC and associated with collagen production.

Sexual dimorphism in physiological responses of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L) under acute hypoxia and reoxygenation

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is a crucial factor throughout fish life cycle. In this study, the hematology, hepatic antioxidant levels, histomorphology of the liver and gill were determined in both female and male turbot under acute hypoxia to evaluated the underlying mechanisms and potential sexual dimorphism difference. Results showed that acute hypoxia stress treatment for 3 h significantly increased plasma cortisol, glucose, hemoglobin (HGB), cholesterol (CHO), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, red blood cell count (RBC) number, hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), alanine-aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate-aminotransferase (AST) activity in both male and female turbot. Male obtained higher plasma CHO, TG and LDL contents, GSH-Px and SOD activity than female under hypoxia. Meanwhile, hypoxia increased gill respiratory frequency, secondary lamellar length, secondary lamellar width, perimeter, lamellar surface area and gill surface area and decreased interlamellar distance. Acute hypoxia induced clubbing, hyperplasia, hypertrophy of gill filaments and hepatic vacuolization in both male and female turbot. The aforementioned parameters were recovered to normal levels after reoxygenation for 12 h. In conclusion, sex dimorphism difference of turbot hematological (RBC, HGB) and biochemical (glucose, CAT, GSH-Px, MDA) parameters were observed under hypoxia stress, while male demonstrated more hypoxia tolerance than female. These results help understand turbot hypoxia tolerance mechanisms and provide more data for management in captivity.

Mitigating the effects of time in the heart and liver: The variable effects of short- and long-term caloric restriction

Caloric restriction (CR) is known for its anti-aging benefits, partly due to reduced oxidative stress and enhanced antioxidant defense. However, CR outcomes vary based on its intensity, timing, and duration. This study explored CR's effects on antioxidant activity in the heart and liver of male Wistar rats during aging. We investigated two CR paradigms: long-term CR (LTCR), started early in life, and short-term CR (STCR), initiated in middle or old age for 3 months. Contrary to previous findings of short-term CR deleterious effects of on the nervous system, our results revealed increased levels of key antioxidants after STCR. More specifically, we found an increase in GSH-Px and GSH under STCR that was particularly pronounced in the liver, while an increase in CAT and GR activities was observed in the heart of the STCR groups. Catalase was characterized as an enzyme particularly responsive to CR, as its activity was also increased in both the liver and heart after long-term caloric restriction. Our results highlight a significant tissue-specific response to CR and contribute to our understanding of the dynamic effects of CR, which in turn has implications for refining its therapeutic potential in combating age-related decline.

A multifunctional natural treasure based on a “one stone, many birds” strategy for designing health-promoting applications: Tordyliumapulum

Wild plants provide important bioactive compounds, and their analysis relies heavily on selecting the right extraction techniques and solvents. This study was conducted to determine the phenolic content and biopharmaceutical potential of four different extracts (ethyl acetate, ethanol, 70% ethanol, and water) from the aerial parts of wild plant Tordylium apulum L. The biochemical profile of the extract was screened using high performance liquid chromatography -mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analysis. The total phenolic and flavonoid content was examined using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay and the aluminium trichloride assay, respectively. The antioxidant activity was evaluated through several tests, including 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), phosphomolybdenum (PBD), and metal chelating activity (MCA). Five types of enzyme inhibition activity were tested against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butrylcholinesterase (BChE), tyrosinase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase. Additionally, For the first time, the inhibitory activity of T. apulum extract against human carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes I and II (hCA-I and hCA-II) was evaluated. Fifty-five compounds for negative ionization mode, and twenty-eight compounds for positive ionization mode were recorded in HPLC-MS analysis and they were polyphenolic, flavonoids, carbohydrates, sugar alcohol and amino acids. These results indicate that different solvents extract varying levels of antioxidants from T. apulum, with ethanol and water extracts generally exhibiting superior antioxidant activities. The ethanol extract of T. apulum exhibited the maximum contents of total phenolics measuring 33.71 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g. The ethanol extract exhibited the highest inhibition of AChE with 2.28 mg galanthamine equivalent (GALAE)/g. The ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts also showed the highest hCA-I and hCA-II inhibition potential, respectively. The ethanol-water and water extracts acted on the biofilm of E. coli (49.93% and 45.22%, respectively), and the biofilm of P. aeruginosa (50.68% and 44.46%, respectively). The extracts were tested on different cell lines for cytotoxic potentials and in particular the water extract induced the apoptotic pathways in cervical cancer (HELA) cell lines. In conclusion, T. apulum exhibit multidirectional biological properties and it could be considered as a versatile agent for the development of health-promoting applications.

Inhibition of 5-alpha reductase attenuates cardiac oxidative damage in obese and aging male rats via the enhancement of antioxidants and the p53 protein suppression

In aging and metabolic syndrome oxidative stress is a causative factor in the cardiovascular pathology. Upregulation of 5-⍺ reductase is associated with cardiac hypertrophy but how inhibition of 5-⍺ reductase affects cardiometabolic function during oxidative damage under those conditions is unclear. Our hypothesis was that Finasteride (Fin), a 5-⍺ reductase inhibitor, promotes an antioxidant response, leading to an improvement in cardiac function in obese and aging rats. Male rats were divided into 3 groups including normal diet (ND) fed rats, ND-fed rats treated with d-galactose (D-gal) to induce aging, and high-fat diet (HFD) fed rats to induce obesity. Rats received their assigned diet or D-gal for 18 weeks. At week 13, rats in each group were divided into 2 subgroups and received either a vehicle or Fin (5 mg/kg/day, oral gavage). Cardiometabolic and molecular parameters were subsequently investigated. Both D-gal and HFD successfully induced cardiometabolic dysfunction, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and DNA fragmentation. Fin treatment did not affect metabolic disturbances; however, it reduced cardiac sympathovagal imbalance, cardiac dysfunction through the inhibition of oxidative stress and promoted antioxidants, resulting in reduced p53 protein levels and DNA fragmentation. Surprisingly, Fin induced insulin resistance in ND-fed rats. Fin effectively improved cardiac function in both models by enhancing antioxidant levels, suppressing oxidative stress and DNA fragmentation. However, Fin treatment did not confer any beneficial effects on metabolic status. Fin administration effectively improved cardiac sympathovagal balance and cardiac function in rats with oxidative damage induced by either D-gal or HFD.

Foliar spraying exogenous ABA resists chilling stress on adzuki beans (Vigna angularis).

Adzuki bean, an important legume crop, exhibits poor tolerance to low temperatures. To investigate the effect of exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) on the physiological metabolism and yield resistance of adzuki bean under low-temperature stress, we conducted a potted experiment using Longxiaodou 4 (LXD 4) and Tianjinhong (TJH) as test materials and pre-sprayed with exogenous ABA at flowering stage continuously for 5 days with an average of 12°C and an average of 15°C, respectively. We found that, compared with spraying water, foliar spraying exogenous ABA increased the activities of antioxidants and the content of non-enzymatic antioxidants, effectively inhibited the increase of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, O2-· production rate. Exogenous ABA induced the activation of endogenous protective mechanisms by increasing antioxidant enzymes activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), as well as elevated levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants including ascorbic acid (ASA) and glutathione (GSH). Moreover, the yield loss of 5.81%-39.84% caused by chilling stress was alleviated by spraying ABA. In conclusion, foliar spraying exogenous ABA can reduce the negative effects of low-temperature stress on the yield of Adzuki beans, which is essential to ensure stable production of Adzuki beans under low-temperature conditions.

The Influence of Oxidative Stress Markers in Patients with Ischemic Stroke.

Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and its incidence is rising rapidly. Acute ischemic stroke is a subtype of stroke that accounts for the majority of stroke cases and has a high mortality rate. An effective treatment for stroke is to minimize damage to the brain's neural tissue by restoring blood flow to decreased perfusion areas of the brain. Many reports have concluded that both oxidative stress and excitotoxicity are the main pathological processes associated with ischemic stroke. Current measures to protect the brain against serious damage caused by stroke are insufficient. For this reason, it is important to investigate oxidative and antioxidant strategies to reduce oxidative damage. This review focuses on studies assessing the concentration of oxidative stress biomarkers and the level of antioxidants (enzymatic and non-enzymatic) and their impact on the clinical prognosis of patients after stroke. Mechanisms related to the production of ROS/RNS and the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke are presented, as well as new therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing the effects of ischemia and reperfusion.

Curculigoside Regulates Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress Against Spinal Cord Injury by Modulating the Nrf-2/NQO-1 Signaling Pathway In Vitro and In Vivo.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe neurological disorder that can lead to paralysis or death. Oxidative stress during SCI is a critical phase causing extensive nerve cell damage and apoptosis, thereby impairing spinal cord healing. Thus, a primary goal of SCI drug therapy is to mitigate oxidative stress. Curculigoside (CUR), a phenolic glucoside extracted from the dried root and rhizome of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn, possesses neuroprotective and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate whether CUR effectively promotes the recovery of spinal cord tissue following SCI and elucidate its mechanism. We employed a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced PC12 cell model and an SCI rat model to observe the effects of CUR on oxidation and apoptosis. The results demonstrated that CUR significantly reduced the expression of apoptosis-related proteins (Bax and Caspase-3), Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI), and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), while increasing the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Moreover, CUR effectively enhanced levels of antioxidants (glutathione [GSH)] and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vitro. Furthermore, CUR facilitated functional recovery through its anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative stress effects on spinal cord tissues in SCI rats. These effects were mediated via the Nrf2/NQO1 signaling pathway. Therefore, our study showed that CUR acted as an anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative stress agent, inhibiting astrocyte activation and promoting neuronal reconstruction and functional recovery. These findings may contribute significantly to the development of SCI treatments and advance the field of SCI drug therapy.

Mathurameha ameliorates cardiovascular complications in high-fat diet/low-dose streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats: insights from histological and proteomic analysis.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a global health concern with increasing prevalence. Mathurameha, a Thai herbal formula, has shown promising glucose-lowering effects and positive impacts on biochemical profiles in diabetic rats. The present study investigated the protective effects of Mathurameha on cardiovascular complications in high-fat diet/streptozotocin (HFD/STZ)-induced type 2 diabetic rats using histological and proteomic analyses. Thirty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into seven groups: normal diet (ND), ND with aqueous extract (ND + AE450), ND with ethanolic extract (ND + EE200), diabetes (DM), DM with AE (DM + AE450), DM with EE (DM + EE200), and DM with metformin (DM + Met). Mathurameha, especially at 200mg/kg EE, significantly reduced adipocyte size, cardiac and vascular abnormalities, collagen deposition, and arterial wall thickness in DM rats. Proteomic analysis of rat aortas revealed 30 significantly altered proteins among the ND, DM, and DM + EE200 groups. These altered proteins are involved in various biological processes related to diabetes. Biochemical assays showed that Mathurameha reduced lipid peroxidation (MDA), increased antioxidant levels (GSH), and decreased the expression of inflammatory markers (ICAM1, TNF-α). In conclusion, Mathurameha exhibited significant protective effects against cardiovascular complications in HFD/STZ-induced type 2 diabetic rats through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Nerolidol- Potential Therapeutic Agent for Various Neurological Disorders via its Antioxidative Property.

Neurological disorders are devastating conditions affecting both cognitive and motorrelated functions in aged people. Yet there is no proper medication to treat these illnesses, and the currently available medications can only provide symptomatic relief to the patients. All neurological disorders share the same etiology, such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, neurochemical deficiency, neuronal loss, apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, neuroinflammation, and disease-related protein aggregation. Nowadays, researchers use antioxidant-based strategies to prevent or halt the disease progression. Nerolidol, a strong antioxidant, possesses various biological activities and properties that treat cardiotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and many other diseases. Many recent publications and research studies highlight the beneficial effect of nerolidol on brain disorders. In Alzheimer's disease, nerolidol shows neuroprotection by decreasing amyloid plaque formation, lipid peroxidation, cholinergic neuronal loss, locomotor dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and hippocampal damage via enhancing antioxidant expression. Also, it shows neuroprotection against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity by inhibiting microglial activation. Another study reported that nerolidol shows antiepileptic effects in animal models by suppressing kindling-induced memory impairment by decreasing oxidative stress. It has been found that NRL administration increases the antioxidant levels, decreasing the proinflammatory cytokine release as well as decreasing the apoptotic protein and cerebral infarct size. In conclusion, nerolidol tends to reverse the harmful effects of disease-related factors, including OS, neuroinflammation, protein aggregation, and apoptosis, making nerolidol a choiceable drug for the management of neurological disorders. The purpose of this review is to discuss the mechanism of nerolidol in treating various neurological disorders.

Impact of Water Scarcity on the Growth of Golden Sweet Potato

In this review study, the effect of water scarcity on the growth of Golden Sweet Potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) is investigated. Particular emphasis is made to the morphological and biochemical responses of this significant crop to weather circumstances that are characterized by drought. One of the most important crops, the golden sweet potato is well-known for the remarkable nutritional benefits it has, including high levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Water scarcity, which is made worse by climate change and expanding agricultural requirements, poses significant threats to its production and productivity. However, these threats are made worse by the fact that water is scarce. In order to achieve the objective of this study, which is to provide a comprehensive understanding of how the growth and physiological health of Golden Sweet Potato plants are influenced by decreased water availability, the data from prior studies will be synthesized. The study focuses on the key morphological changes that occur as a result of water scarcity. These changes include a decrease in plant height, leaf area, biomass production, and root architecture. When the plant is experiencing a drought, these alterations demonstrate that it is making an effort to save water and maintain critical physiological functions. Biological reactions, such as alterations in protein synthesis, glucose metabolism, antioxidant activity, and chlorophyll content, are also investigated in this research. Chlorophyll content regularly decreases in reaction to water scarcity, which in turn reduces the efficiency of photosynthetic processes and the overall amount of energy produced. Through the production of stress-responsive proteins and the accumulation of osmolytes, which are both essential adaptation processes, plants are able to control the process of dehydration and maintain the integrity of their cells. An further characteristic response that protects plants from the oxidative stress that is brought on by drought is an increase in the activity of antioxidants. For the purpose of summarizing, this article presents a comprehensive investigation of the ways in which water scarcity influences the growth of golden sweet potatoes. It also gives insights into the processes by which the plant adapts to drought and alternative approaches for improving drought resistance. When it comes to finding solutions to the issues that are brought about by climate change and water scarcity in agriculture, the findings highlight how urgently additional research and ingenuity are required.

Assessing Heat Stress Tolerance of Wheat Genotypes through Integrated Molecular and Physio-Biochemical Analyses

Heat as an abiotic stress significantly impairs the sustainable productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). To determine the tolerance of genotypes to heat stress, a comprehensive approach should be used that integrates simultaneous phenotyping and genotyping analyses. The aim of this study is to identify local heat-tolerant genotypes using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and evaluate the selected genotypes under field conditions for their tolerance to heat stress. Of the 12 SSR markers that showed polymorphism, eight were associated with six important traits. The use of hierarchical cluster analysis (HC) based on SSR markers led to the identification of 13 genotypes that showed varying results and were grouped into three distinct heat tolerance classes: tolerant (T), moderately tolerant (MT), and sensitive (S). The results showed that heat stress had a significant effect on 19 traits under this study, with significant variation in tolerance to heat stress between genotypes. The tolerant genotypes exhibited a range of average thousand-kernel weight (TKW) values between 40.56 and 44.85, while the sensitive genotype (Yecora Rojo) had an average TKW of 35.45. Furthermore, the tolerant genotypes showed two to three times higher levels of antioxidants compared to the sensitive genotypes when exposed to heat stress. Among the traits analyzed, six showed a favorable combination of high heritability (&gt;60%) and genetic gain (&gt;20%). Through the integration of principal component analysis and stepwise multiple linear regression, it was determined that six traits (grain yield, 1000-kernel weight, plant height, intercellular carbon dioxide, flag leaf area, and grain filling duration) revealed differences between the 13 genotypes. HC analysis of the six traits resulted in the same division of genotypes into three main categories as observed in an HC analysis based on SSR markers. It is worth noting that Saudi wheat, including KSU106, KSU105, and KSU115 as local genotypes, in addition to the 16HTWYT-22 genotype, showed higher heat tolerance compared to the other genotypes tested, indicating its potential suitability for agriculture in Saudi Arabia. These results contribute to breeding programs focused on developing heat-tolerant wheat varieties and accelerate progress in wheat productivity improvement programs.

Divine noni's protective impact on Swiss albino mice's short-term memory impairment caused by cyclophosphamide: A behavioral and biochemical approach

Cyclophosphamide (CYL) is a first-line cancer chemotherapeutic agent widely used for the treatment of cancer that has severe toxic effects. The primary mechanism by which CYL induces toxicity through free radical generation. Morinda citrifolia (Noni) fruit juice is an herbal remedy documented to have antioxidant properties. The aim of the current study was to investigate the protective effect of noni against CYL-induced memory impairment in Swiss albino mice. Treatment schedule: Group 1: Normal: Received vehicle; Group 2: CYL treatment: Received CYL (40.0 mg/kg b.w. i.p.) on day one; Group 3: NJ treatment: Received NJ (360 mg/b.w. p.o.) once daily for 14 days. Group 4: DNG treatment: DNG (360 mg/b.w. p.o.) once daily for 14 days, Group 5: NJ + CYL treatment: Received CYL (40.0 mg/kg b.w. i.p.) on day one and after half an hour of received NJ (360 mg/b.w. p.o.) once daily for 14 days. Group 6: DNG + CYL treatment: Received CYL (40.0 mg/kg b.w. i.p.) on day one and after half an hour received DNG (360 mg/b.w. p.o.) once daily for 14 days. Mice were subjected to the Morris water maze (MWM) challenge for two weeks as part of a behavioral study. Short-term memory impairment was observed in the behavioral activity of CYL-treated mice in the MWM test in the 1st week trial, and this effect was reversed in the 2nd week trial in the combination treatment group. The behavioral analysis proved that noni supplementation reduced the risk of memory impairment caused by CYL. Biochemical analysis revealed that CYL markedly increased the levels of AChE and MDA in brain tissue. Similarly, decreases in the levels of antioxidants, i.e., GSH, CAT, SOD and GST, were detected in the brain tissue of the mice exposed to CYL. Qualitative and quantitative examinations of histopathological examination of the mouse hippocampus supported the above findings. The results demonstrated that noni supplement therapy reversed the changes in the MDA, AChE, and antioxidant enzyme levels while improving the behavioral and histological alterations caused by CYL. Long-term hippocampal growth and memory are unaffected, suggesting that CYL is less harmful. According to our research, supplementing with noni in conjunction with CYL may be a helpful treatment strategy for treating memory impairment caused by CYL.

Nrf2 Deficiency Exacerbates Parkinson's Disease by Aggravating NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in MPTP-Induced Mouse Models and LPS-Induced BV2 Cells.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a movement disorder characterized by the progressive loss of dopamine neurons. Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation drives disease progression and becomes a critical factor in neuronal degeneration. Recent studies have found that nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related-2 (Nrf2) expression levels are reduced during aging and neurodegenerative diseases, but its regulatory mechanism on microglia-induced neuroinflammation has not been fully elucidated. In vivo, we used the intraperitoneal injection of the neurotoxic drug neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to establish an animal model of PD and, at the same time, administered Nrf2 inhibitors ML385 and dimethyl fumarate to regulate Nrf2 protein levels. In vitro, we used si-RNA to knock out the Nrf2 gene to intervene in BV2 cells and used lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to stimulate and induce the cell model. The study found that inhibition of Nrf2 expression aggravated the motor defects of PD mice, accompanied by a significant loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and striatum of the brain. In addition, after inhibition of Nrf2, the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the substantia nigra of the midbrain of mice increased, and the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) decreased, accompanied by the proliferation of microglia and astrocytes. In addition, the activation of the NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, the assembly of apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) protein in microglia, and the release of downstream inflammatory factors caspase-1 and interleukin (IL)-1β, were aggravated. At the cellular level, it was found that knocking out the expression of Nrf2 would aggravate the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes and the assembly of ASC in LPS-induced BV2 cells. Inhibited Nrf2 activity can reduce the downstream antioxidant enzyme HO-1 and antioxidant levels, induce NLRP3 inflammasome activation and ASC protein assembly in microglia, and ultimately aggravate PD inflammatory response and dopamine neuron degeneration.

Sulforaphane nanoparticles coated with zein-propylene glycol alginate attenuate N-diethylnitrosamine-induced liver injury in mice.

Sulforaphane-loaded nanoparticles (NP-SF) were prepared in this study to improve their biological effects. Based on propylene glycol alginate and zein as wall materials and anthocyanin and CaCl2 as crosslinking agents, the NPs were encapsulated by the crosslinking method and freeze-dried. With the increasing contents of anthocyanin and Ca2+, the encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of NP-SF were both increased. In vitro simulated digestion experiments showed controlled release of SF from the NPs. The pharmacokinetics confirmed that NP-SF exerted a slower release effect in rats, with improved SF bioavailability and protective effects on liver injury induced by N-diethylnitrosamine in mice. NP-SF reduced serum indicators of liver injury, increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes and GSH levels, and reduced malondialdehyde levels in the liver. In addition, SF activated the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway and upregulated the expression of the Nrf2 downstream genes NQO1 and heme oxidase 1. High doses of NP-SF, in particular, had a higher therapeutic effect. In conclusion, encapsulation enhanced the biological activity of SF and promoted physiological function.

Neuroprotective Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone and Hericium erinaceus in Scopolamine-induced Alzheimer's Diseases-like Symptoms in Male Rats.

The neuroprotective effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and Hericium erinaceus (H. erinaceus) mushroom extract against scopolamine-induced Alzheimer's disease-like symptoms in male Wistar rats were investigated. Sixty-four male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups (n = 8). Scopolamine (SCO) was intraperitoneally injected at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day for 10 days. The treatment groups orally received DHEA (250 mg/kg/day) and/or H. erinaceus (300 mg/kg/day) for 14 days. Afterward, the Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition tests were implemented. Then, animals were anesthetized and the brain tissue samples were separated. Levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase activity (CAT), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were determined. Also, histopathological studies were evaluated in the brain tissue samples. Administration of SCO significantly decreased spatial and cognitive memory (p < 0.001). Not only did SCO injection significantly increase the levels of the LPO but also the SCO markedly reduced the levels of the TAC, CAT activity, and the BDNF in the brain tissue. On the other hand, a combination of the DHEA and H. erinaceus showed higher efficacy than the DHEA or H. erinaceus in attenuating behavioral anomalies and improving the antioxidant defense system and BDNF levels. Histological examination was well correlated with biochemical findings regarding SCO neurodegeneration and DHEA and/or H. erinaceus neuroprotection. Interestingly, ADHE and/or H. erinaceus may due to their potential neurotrophic properties be used as a new and beneficial concurrent therapy in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease-like symptoms caused by SCO.

Assessment of Nutraceuticals Potentials of Protein Isolates from Seed Coat of Four Melon Species

Recently, there has been more attention on the bioactivity of phytochemicals and other metabolites in agro-food by-products for the management of oxidative stress–related conditions. Hence, the objective of this paper is to assess the nutraceuticals potential by investigating antioxidant and α-amylase inhibitory potentials of seed coat protein isolates from four melon species namely: Citrullus colocynthis, Citrullus mucosospermus, Cucumeropsis mannii and Lagenaria siceraria using appropriate standard methods. At highest concentration, Lagenaria siceraria had the strongest free radical scavenging activity (38% inhibition). The strongest chelating effect was exhibited by C. mannii (IC50 = 0.59 ± 0.08 mg/ml), which also showed highest ferric reducing potential at all concentrations. At 0.05 mg/ml, C. colocynthis, C. mucosospermus, C. mannii, and L. siceraria seed coat protein extracts inhibited alpha-amylase activity by 43.2%, 16.76%, 2.6% and 22.3%, respectively, and inhibition of 60.9%, 28.6%, 38.3% and 29.5% were recorded for the seed protein extracts respectively, at 0.5 mg/ml. In conclusion, the various melon seed coat protein isolates showed appreciable levels of antioxidants and possessed inhibitory activity against α-amylase. Hence, the seed coats of the four melon varieties assessed in this study are promising potential sources of antioxidants for the supplementary treatment of oxidative stress–induced conditions.