Beneficial Role Of Antioxidants Research Articles

Impact of antioxidants in MgO–C refractory on steel cleanliness and refractory degradation

Magnesia-carbon (MgO–C) refractories are used in steelmaking processes as lining materials. We performed lab-scale tests at 1600 °C and a pO2 of 10−15 atm to determine the effect of Al and Si antioxidant level, time and slag composition on the amount and nature of inclusions in the steel and on the corrosion and infiltration of the refractory. In all steel samples, a pick-up of Al, Si and C was observed. For the refractories containing antioxidants, longer holding times seem to increase the number density of inclusions, especially in combination with a slag with lower MgO content. For the given experiments, the beneficial role of antioxidants against slag corrosion was not observed, possibly due to the low pO2, which prevented C oxidation. As both MgAl2O4 and SiC, formed in the refractory, react and dissolve in the slag infiltrating in the refractory, they do not play a protective role.

Vitamin C Deficiency May Delay Diet-Induced NASH Regression in the Guinea Pig.

Oxidative stress is directly linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the progression to steaotohepatitis (NASH). Thus, a beneficial role of antioxidants in delaying disease progression and/or accelerating recovery may be expected, as corroborated by recommendations of, e.g., vitamin E supplementation to patients. This study investigated the effect of vitamin C deficiency—often resulting from poor diets low in fruits and vegetables and high in fat—combined with/without a change to a low fat diet on NAFLD/NASH phenotype and hepatic transcriptome in the guinea pig NASH model. Vitamin C deficiency per se did not accelerate disease induction. However, the results showed an effect of the diet change on the resolution of hepatic histopathological hallmarks (steatosis, inflammation, and ballooning) (p < 0.05 or less) and indicated a positive effect of a high vitamin C intake when combined with a low fat diet. Our data show that a diet change is important in NASH regression and suggest that a poor vitamin C status delays the reversion towards a healthy hepatic transcriptome and phenotype. In conclusion, the findings support a beneficial role of adequate vitamin C intake in the regression of NASH and may indicate that vitamin C supplementation in addition to lifestyle modifications could accelerate recovery in NASH patients with poor vitamin C status.

The Effect of N-acetylcysteine on Periodontitis: A mini-review of literature

Recently, there is strong evidence for the beneficial role of antioxidants in the treatment of periodontal diseases. A drug that is gaining more and more focus in new research is N-acetylcysteine, an antioxidant that contributes to the increase in glutathione (GSH), used as a mucolytic agent, however, recent studies have shown its significant role in decreasing levels of reactive oxygen species and in the bone resorption process in experimental periodontitis, therefore, this review sought to elucidate whether N-acetylcysteine is effective in the treatment of periodontitis and also in the involved mechanisms already mentioned in the literature. The present study is a mini-review, in which a search was performed on Google Scholar, PubMed and Web of Science and databases for the collection of studies published in the last 10 years (2009-2020). The mini-review included studies that addressed a direct or indirect link between the effects of N-acetylcysteine on periodontitis, studies published in recent years, and in vitro and in vivo studies (animal and / or human models). Seven articles were selected from the following databases: PubMed (03) and Google Scholar (04) were subsequently analyzed. As for the language and the journal, all were published in international Journals and in English. It was concluded that N-acetylcysteine was effective in bone resorption in experimental periodontitis, but further studies are suggested in order to elucidate all the mechanisms involved in the observed results.

Role of Non Androgenic Factors in Hair loss and Hair Regrowth

Multiple nutritional, environmental and lifestyle factors can directly affect hair follicles, to weaken and make them sensitive to the action of androgens. Hair loss can be corrected and hair growth can be improved by addressing these non-androgenic factors. Patients having hair fall, thinning, loss of volume and poor growth can be precursors to androgenetic alopecia. Recent research has shown that androgens inhibit hair growth through release of Transforming Growth Factor (TGF) ß1. Further study of this mechanism reveals that generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) induced by androgens leads to release of TGF ß1 and use of ROS scavengers can block the release of TGF ß1, explaining beneficial role of antioxidants in hair growth. The binding of ROS to intracellular proteins also causes hair loss by altering the protein structure, changing their immune recognition and converting them to new antigens targeted by inflammatory and immune systems. Calorie restriction and individual micronutrient deficiencies lead to a new process of intracellular destruction or autophagy before cell apoptosis, which could explain cessation of hair growth. Telogen is not a resting phase but now defined as active conservation of follicles under unfavourable conditions. Thus any stress, trauma, metabolic change or insult causes telogen. Micronutrients zinc, copper, selenium maintains immunity, control inflammation and preserve antioxidant activity of the cells. Vitamins A, C, D have a role in phagocytosis and antibodies maintaining resistance. Vitamin D3 modulates the hair-inductive capacity of dermal papilla cells. Vitamin and micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent among all the population of the world. Nutritive value of the foods has reduced over the years by 30%. Endocrine Disrupting chemicals are creating further damage to the hormonal balance of the body. All these can be countered by use of antioxidants and a well-planned nutritional program which will ensure strengthening and regrowth of hair follicles, without the use of Finasteride.

Toxic effects of perinatal arsenic exposure on the brain of developing rats and the beneficial role of natural antioxidants

The aim of this study was to determine what changes in biochemical parameters and in the antioxidant capacity occur in the brain of arsenic-exposed rats (50mg As/L in drinking water) and investigate the protective effect of antioxidants as Zn, vitamin C and vitamin E during pregnancy and lactation. After arsenic-exposure, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was enhanced in arsenic group, returning to normal levels in the arsenic+antioxidants one. A significant increase of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was noted in both arsenic groups. Metalloide exposure caused a significant increase in lipid peroxidation (TBARS), whereas antioxidant administration reversed it. Catalase (CAT) activity in arsenic groups was increased, but no changes were found in the other groups. No significant effect of arsenic in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and reduced glutathione concentration (GSH) was noted. This study provides evidence of the deleterious effect of arsenic exposure during gestation and lactation and the beneficial role of antioxidants.

Anti-oxidative trypanocidal drugs, myth or reality

Sir, “Blueberries best be eaten because they taste good, not because their consumption will lead to less cancer.” Prof. Jim Watson [1]. Recently, Professor Jim Watson, father of DNA double-helix, has described in his paper that antioxidant supplements may have caused more cancers than they have prevented. Alongside this controversial, several papers give rise on looking for anti-cancers among antioxidants [2-4]. In reality, mechanism of anti-cancer action is very important, where induction of free radicals and augmentation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are the main pharmacological modes of anti-neoplastic activity [5]. In spite of the fact that beneficial role of antioxidants in chemoprevention of cancer has been well-known, effectiveness of them in treatment of cancer is still in challenge. Interestingly, there is a similar situation for another important disease, Chagas (American trypanosomiasis), a tropical parasitic illness caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and affects eight to 10 million people residing in Latin American countries [6,7]. Nowadays natural compounds have been evaluated for discovery of new chemotherapeutics in treatment of Chagas disease. But, literature revealed that most of the researchers select the compounds without attention to their probable antioxidant activity, while therapeutic action of the remarkable trypanocidal compounds like elatol involves mitochondria as the primary target leading to increase of ROS generation through the electron transport chain, which consequently affects cell membrane and DNA integrity and finally death of parasite [8]. Although this is not the only mechanism of action for trypanocidal drugs, well-known natural phenolics such as gallic acid can act via pro-oxidant activity as well as enhancing DNA single-strand breaks to kill Trypanosoma[9]. Furthermore, anti-trypanosoma activity of komaroviquinone (a diterpenoid) was found to be attributed by generation of ROS catalyzed by T. cruzi old yellow enzyme [10]. It seems that potent natural antioxidants like hydroxycoumarins derivatives or flavonoids are not potentially strong trypanocidal agents [11]. The question arise from this concept is “why does a physician recommend consumption of antioxidant in treatment of trypanosomiasis?” The answer to this question may be hidden behind the differences in mechanism of actions for trypanocidal drugs and also the role of antioxidants in prevention of inflammation in this illness. To the best of our knowledge, consumption of antioxidant supplements is new perspective in therapy of Chagas disease because of the attenuation of oxidative stress associated to this disease [12]. Additionally, it has been reported that Trypanosoma infection decreases the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) in the blood, liver, kidney, and also the plasma levels of vitamin C [13]. For this reason, they believe that supplementation of infected patient with vitamin C could prevent the depletion of endogenous antioxidants. Actually, another probable reason for this entrenched attitude is the ubiquitous application of antioxidant supplements. Therefore, we recommend the researchers to focus on possible mode of actions for trypanocidal candidates, especially when the nominated compounds are proved to possess antioxidant ability.