Protein Carbonyl Content Research Articles

Effects of alpha-cypermethrin and difenoconazole on survival, growth and biomarkers in European green toad tadpoles (<em>Bufotes viridis</em>, Laurenti 1768)

In recent decades, the decline of amphibian populations has become more pronounced and accelerated, with one of the contributing factors being the excessive use of pesticides. Alpha-cypermethrin, an insecticide, and difenoconazole, a fungicide, are widely employed pesticides globally. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the acute impact of these two pesticides on amphibians, we used European green toad (Bufotes viridis) tadpoles as our model organisms. We assessed mortality and mass as apical endpoints, and examined physiological biomarkers including electron transport system (ETS) activity, catalase activity, and carbonyl protein content. Tadpoles were exposed to varying concentrations of the two pesticides for 48 hours (0.2-10 µg/L for alpha-cypermethrin; 10-100 µg/L for difenoconazole). Our results indicate that the exposure of tadpoles to these pesticides significantly affected their physiology. Mortality was observed exclusively in tadpoles treated with difenoconazole (LC50 = 100.832 µg/L), while a decrease in mass occurred in tadpoles exposed to both pesticides. No significant differences across treatments were found for total ETS activity, catalase activity, or the presence of protein carbonyls. In conclusion, our findings suggest that alpha-cypermethrin at environmentally relevant concentrations poses a risk to European green toad tadpoles, while the effects of difenoconazole are become patent at higher concentrations than those recorded in natural aquatic environments.

The Synergistic Effect of Curcumin and Piperine Nanoparticles on Methamphetamine-induced Neurotoxicity, Oxidative Stress, and Memory Impairments in Mice Brain

Background: Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly addictive neural stimulant that severely affects the CNS and can induce oxidative damage. Piperine and curcumin are active constituents that have numerous properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective Objective: In this study, the synergistic effect of piperine and curcumin nanoparticles was investigated on the acute doses of METH-induced neurotoxicity in mice brains. Methods: METH (6 mg/kg, i.p) was administered to 14 groups of mice and piperine-curcumin nanoparticles at different doses (10, 20, 40 mg/kg and 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg, respectively) were administered. Open field test (OFT) and conditioned place preference (CPP) were used to investigate locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, and addictive behavior in mice. Oxidative stress biomarkers (reactive oxygen species (ROS), protein carbonyl content, lipid peroxidation, glutathione content, and mitochondrial function were evaluated in isolated brain mitochondria. Results: We found that piperine and curcumin nanoparticles significantly decreased hyperlocomotion and anxiety-like behavior in METH-treated mice. Also, METH enhanced CPP whilst piperine and curcumin nanoparticles suppressed the effect of METH-induced CPP. METH administration significantly increased ROS, protein carbonyl content, and lipid peroxidation and decreased glutathione content and mitochondrial function in the isolated brain mitochondria. Piperine and curcumin nanoparticles (at all doses) showed synergistic effects on reducing oxidative damages in a dosedependent manner compared to the METH group. Conclusion: In conclusion, combined piperine and curcumin nanoparticles showed greater neuroprotective effects against METH-induced neurotoxicity due to their greater permeability and better antioxidant properties than piperine and curcumin alone

Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. leaf flavonoid-rich extract on Nrf-2 and HO-1 pathways in liver damage of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

This study investigated the effects of flavonoid-rich extract from Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae) leaves on liver damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by evaluating various biochemical parameters, including the molecular gene expressions of Nrf-2 and HO-1 as well as histological parameters. The extract was found to significantly reduce liver damage, as evidenced by lower levels of fragmented DNA and protein carbonyl concentrations. Oxidative stress markers, including malondialdehyde (MDA) level, were also significantly (p<0.05) decreased, while antioxidant biomarkers, like reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were enhanced. Additionally, the extract improved the activities of key liver enzymes, including phosphatases and transaminases, and increased albumin levels. Importantly, the study demonstrated that H.sabdariffa extract effectively regulated the expression of Nrf-2 and HO-1, suggesting a significant role in mitigating liver damage. These findings highlight its potential as a therapeutic agent for liver protection in diabetic conditions.

One-pot synthesis of tricyclic pyrano[3.2-c]chromene derivatives and their evaluation through in vitro immunomodulatory activity against T cells; Molecular docking investigations and ADME-Tox prediction studies

The aim of this work is the in vitro determination of the immunomodulation effect of pyrano[3,2-c]chromenes on the proliferation of T lymphocyts. These tricyclic heterocycles were prepared at room temperature via a one-pot, three-component condensation reaction involving 4‑hydroxy-2H-chromen-2-one, aromatic aldehydes, and malononitrile, using morpholine as a catalyst in a 1:1 ethanol/water mixture. This multicomponent reaction affords the product in high yields, in accordance with the criteria of green chemistry. The structure elucidation was accomplished by spectral data, IR, NMR (1H, 13C, 2D). We determined the in vitro effects of 2-amino-4-(3‑hydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)-5-oxo-4H,5H-pyrano[3,2-c]chromene-3-carbonitrile (AC09) the 2-amino-5-oxo-4-(thiophen-2-yl)-4H,5H-pyrano[3,2-c]chromene-3-carbonitrile (AC11) derivatives, on the proliferative responses of human T lymphocyts cells, cytokine secretion and intracellular redox status. The study revealed that compounds AC09 and AC11 are efficient immunostimulants in a dose-dependent manner.Human lymphocytes were less sensitive to AC11 at high concentrations compared to the potency of AC09. Human lymphocyte IL-2, IFNγ and IL-4 secretions were significantly enhanced by those pyrano[3,2-c]chromenes derivatives in a dose-dependent manner. The levels of intracellular lymphocytes glutathione (GSH), were unaffected by AC09 and AC11 at any concentrations. AC09 and AC11 induce a significant increase in hydroperoxide and carbonyl protein contents at high concentrations. Conversely, a computational study using molecular modelling revealed that compounds AC09 and AC11 exhibit a strong affinity for the active site residues of Interferon-γ (IFN-γ; PDB ID: 6E3K) target. This is confirmed by the low score energy value and the formation of different types of interactions such as: hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, and van der Waals forces. Moreover, all Drug likeness's rules were validated, and no toxicity is presented by these compounds. Finally, in vitro studies, molecular docking techniques and ADME-T (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity) evaluations were successfully conducted, aiding in the identification of new IFN-γ target inhibitors. A comparative analysis /or studies was then carried out to highlight the complementary effects of the two approaches.

Evaluation of the Dietary Arginine Supplementation on Yellow Catfish: From a Low-Temperature Farming Perspective.

The yellow catfish is an economically significant freshwater fish with increasing importance in aquaculture. However, the low temperature environments prevalent in certain regions pose challenges to its growth, development, and overall health. This study aimed to explore the impact of dietary arginine (Arg) addition on the growth, digestive capacity, and intestinal antioxidant response in fish under low temperature acclimation (18 °C). Total 720 fish were randomly distributed into six groups, each containing 120 fish. Over the course of eight weeks, each group was fed with diets about varying Arg concentrations (1.79-3.26 g/kg). The results indicated that Arg supplementation resulted in an increase in specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake (FI), feed efficiency (FE), as well as pancreatic enzyme activities in both pancreas and intestine. Conversely, malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC) contents initially decreased but increased with higher Arg concentrations. Glutathione peroxidase 1a (GPX1a) showed a positive correlation with nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2), showing its role in antioxidative capacity. Furthermore, this study revealed that Arg significantly enhanced the activities of anti-superoxide anion, anti-hydroxyl radical, and anti-oxidative enzymes, along with the relative mRNA abundance of Copper-Zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), catalase, GPX1a, glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), and Nrf2 in the intestine. It was determined that yellow catfish weighing between 61.0 g and 89.0 g require an intake of 26.8 g of Arg per kilogram of diet based on polynomial regression analysis of specific growth rate (SGR), which is equivalent to 37.0 g of dietary protein, under sub-low temperature conditions of 18 °C.

Dual purpose of superheated steam treatment: Inactivating surface pathogens of pork belly and replacing blanching

Superheated steam (SHS) treatment is increasingly recognised as an emerging thermal sterilisation technology in food processing because of its high energy efficiency, time-saving benefits and minimal quality loss in raw materials. The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of SHS treatment as a high-temperature pre-treatment approach for eliminating foodborne pathogens on the surface of pork belly and to determine its impact on nutritional quality. The SHS treatment at 180 °C and 25 kg h−1 for 50 s achieved sterilisation rates of 98.15% ± 1.70%, 96.59% ± 1.40% and 91.30% ± 2.14% for Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively, which were three times higher than those achieved by microwave (MIC) sterilisation (700 W, 20 s). Furthermore, SHS-treated pork belly exhibited the highest moisture content and lowest cooking loss, with no significant changes in pressing loss and pH values. Compared with samples treated with MIC and blanching (99 °C ± 1 °C, 2 min), those treated with SHS showed significantly lower TBARS value and protein carbonyl content, with an increasing trend in L∗ values. Meanwhile, SHS treatment not only preserved the tenderness of the pork belly to the greatest extent but also yielded the highest sensory score of 7.81 out of 9. These findings indicate the potential of SHS treatment in producing premium-quality pasteurised pork belly.

Lactoferrin modulates oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines in a murine model of dysbiosis induced by clindamycin.

Antibiotics, specifically clindamycin, cause intestinal dysbiosis, reducing the microbiota with anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, clindamycin can induce alterations in the immune responses and oxidative stress. Lactoferrin, among other activities, participates in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis and reduces dysbiosis induced by antibiotic treatment. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of native and iron-saturated bovine LF in a murine model of dysbiosis induced by clindamycin. Six groups of male C57BL/6 mice were treated with saline (control), clindamycin (Clin), native lactoferrin (nLF), iron-saturated lactoferrin (sLF), nLF/Clin or sLF/Clin. Oxidation caused in the intestinal cells of the ileum of animals subjected to different treatments was analyzed, focusing on lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl content. The expression of inflammatory mediators was determined by qRT-PCR. Treatment with clindamycin did not modify lipid peroxidation, but significantly increased protein carbonyl levels up to almost 5-fold respect to the control, an effect that was reversed by orally administering sLF to mice. Furthermore, clindamycin increased the expression of interleukin-6 and TNF-α by 1- and 2-fold change, respectively. This effect was reversed by treatment with nLF and sLF, decreasing the expression to basal levels. In conclusion, this study indicates that lactoferrin can prevent some of the effects of clindamycin on intestinal cells and their associated immune system.

Individual and combined effects of dietary chlorogenic acid and quercetin supplementation on the growth, lipid metabolism and flesh quality of grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the individual and combined effects of dietary chlorogenic acid and quercetin supplementation on the growth, lipid metabolism and flesh quality of Ctenopharyngodon idellus (C. idellus). Fish (59.7 ± 0.3 g) were fed for 60 days with five diets, including a basal diet not added (CON) or added with chlorogenic acid (CGA, 400 mg/kg), quercetin (QC, 400 mg/kg), and their combinations (CGA:QC=1:1) with 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg (CGA:QC-400; CGA:QC-800). The weight gain was increased (+4.00 %, +4.41 %), and the feed conversion ratio was decreased (-0.07, -0.08) by individual supplementation with CGA and QC (P<0.05), but not by their combinations (P>0.05). In addition, dietary CGA and QC promoted the apparent digestibility of dry matter and protein and the activities of intestinal amylase and protease (P<0.05). The CGA, QC and CGA:QC-800 groups presented higher activities of flesh superoxide dismutase, flesh glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and serum GSH-Px, as well as lower contents of protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde (MDA) in flesh and MDA in serum than those of CON group (P<0.05). An increase in flesh hardness, water-holding capacity, and total collagen, heat-insoluble collagen and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids contents was observed in the CGA, QC and CGA:QC-800 groups (P<0.05). The four supplements reduced mesenteric lipid-somatic index, flesh n-3/n-6 ratio and serum triglycerides (P<0.05), and the CGA:QC-400 and CGA:QC-800 groups also showed lower lipid content in flesh than CON group (P<0.05). Taken together, the individual supplementation of dietary CGA and QC enhanced the growth performance, lipid metabolism and flesh quality of C. idellus, and their combination presented synergistic effect only on lipid metabolism.

Effect of 6-gingerol on oxidative stability and quality characteristics of mutton meatballs during refrigerated storage

Meat products are high in nutrients but easily spoiled; adding antioxidants is the most straightforward and efficient approach in the food industry. In this study, different concentrations of 6-gingerol (6-GG) were added to refrigerated (4°C) mutton meatballs to evaluate the effect of 6-GG on their oxidative stability and quality characteristics. The results demonstrated that 6-GG prevented the increase in protein carbonyl content and decreased the loss of protein sulfhydryl content as storage times increased. Moreover, the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (0.4643 mg MDA/kg) in the 0.0440% 6-GG treatment group did not exceed the pertinent fresh meat standards on day 7. The texture, water-holding capacity, and microstructure of the meatballs were also improved, suggesting that the addition of 6-GG is a feasible strategy to improve the quality of meatballs and meat products.

Maillard reaction products inhibit lipid oxidation by regulating myoglobin stability in washed muscle model.

Lipid oxidation significantly contributes to muscle deterioration, with heme protein oxidation playing a crucial role in this process. This study investigated the inhibition of heme protein oxidation by Maillard reaction products (MRPs) using a washed muscle model combining washed carp with myoglobin (Mb). Protein oxidation products, protein texture, and lipid oxidation levels were assessed. Results showed that metmyoglobin (MetMb) is a primary driver of lipid oxidation in meat, likely due to Mb oxidation, exposing hydrophobic groups that bind to lipids. MRPs at concentrations of 0.5% and 1% effectively inhibited Mb oxidation. Specifically, treatment with 1% MRPs reduced MetMb formation by 15.38%, protein carbonyl content by 6.53%, hydroxyl radical content by 20.37%, protein aggregation by 40.81%, and particle size by 36.95% during later storage stages, thereby preserving Mb stability. In the Mb-mediated oxidation model, 1% MRPs inhibited the formation of primary and secondary oxidative metabolites by 59.47% and 68.19%, respectively, while maintaining muscle tissue texture integrity. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The antioxidation of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) improves the stability of common carp. By inhibiting the autoxidation of myoglobin and lipid, MRPs help preserve the texture and color of fish muscle while extending its shelf life. This study provides a valuable reference for effectively controlling lipid oxidation in refrigerated fish products and enhancing their overall quality.

Monosaccharide-Mediated Glycoxidation of Bovine Serum Albumin and Its Prevention by Nigella sativa.

The substantial rise in metabolic illnesses that has occurred in both developed and developing countries over the last three decades has been linked to an increase in sugar-added foods and sweetened beverage intake. The significance of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases related to modern nutrition is an emerging issue. Spices and herbs can potentially be potent AGE production inhibitors due to their high polyphenol content. The inhibitory activity of an aqueous extract of Nigella sativa seeds (NS) on glucose- and fructose-mediated glycation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated. The glycation of proteins and its prevention using NS were assessed using spectrophotometry, spectrofluorometrics, and electrophoretic techniques. Additionally, the NBT assay, DNPH assay, Ellman assay, and thioflavin T assay were used to observe the biochemical alterations caused by glycated BSA. Molecular docking was employed to dock the BSA active site residues with inhibitors. Our data showed that NS protects against glucose- and fructose-mediated glycation and aggregation in vitro by inhibiting the formation of fructosamine, protein carbonyl content, free sulfhydryl groups, and fluorescent AGEs. Furthermore, NS also inhibited the production of β-cross-amyloid aggregates in proteins. It was interesting to note that the inhibition was found to be significantly higher in the Glu-BSA system, although the glycation product formed in the Fru-BSA system was higher compared to the Glu-induced protein system. It can be concluded that, by inhibiting AGE production, oxidation, and aggregation of the protein, NS may be an effective antiglycation drug for the prevention of diabetes complications.

Multiple Biomarker Responses in Aegla castro Exposed to Copper: A Laboratory Approach.

Although some biomarkers have already been determined in aeglids collected in the field, data from laboratory exposures are scarce. To our knowledge, no studies have investigated oxidative stress biomarkers in aeglids exposed to metals in the laboratory, or performed hemocyte counts and the comet assay using gill and hepatopancreas of aeglids. Thus, we investigated the effects of acute Cu exposure on intermolt males of Aegla castro, collected from a reference stream, acclimated for 6days in the laboratory, and then exposed to 11μgL-1 of dissolved Cu (Cu 11) or only to water (CTR), for 24h. Gill and hepatopancreas samples were used to determine Cu accumulation, DNA damage, and metallothionein content (MT), while hemolymph samples were used to determine Cu accumulation, DNA damage, and hemocyte counts. Muscle samples were used to determine Cu accumulation and acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE). Non-protein thiol content (NPSH), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase activities (GST), lipoperoxidation (LPO), and protein carbonylation content (PCC) were measured only in the hepatopancreas. Aegla castro exposed to Cu accumulated this metal in gills and activated detoxification mechanisms, through increased MT content in the gill, and showed an immune response, evidenced by an increase in hyaline hemocytes. Therefore, gill and hemocytes appear to have a protective role in preventing the transport and bioavailability of Cu through the body. On the other hand, we observed a decrease in MT content in the hepatopancreas of crabs exposed to Cu, suggesting the excretion of MT in association with Cu bound to the sulfhydryl groups of this protein.

Identification of Key Volatile Compounds in Tilapia during Air Frying Process by Quantitative Gas Chromatography-Ion Mobility Spectrometry.

Air frying as a new roasting technology has potential for roasted fish production. In this study, the changes in volatile compounds (VCs) during air frying of tilapia were studied by quantitative gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry, followed by the identification of key VCs based on their odor activity value (OAV). There were 34 verified VCs, of which 16 VCs were identified as the key VCs with OAV ≥ 1. Most of the VCs were improved by air frying and peaked at 20 min. During the air frying, the total sulfhydryl content markedly decreased, while the protein carbonyl and MDA content significantly increased, suggesting the enhancement in the oxidation of lipids and proteins. The correlation network among the chemical properties and key VCs was constructed. The change in total sulfhydryl, protein carbonyl, and MDA showed significant correlation with most of the key VCs, especially 2-methyl butanal, ethyl acetate, and propanal. The results indicated that the oxidation of lipids and proteins contributed the most to the flavor improvement in air-fried tilapia. This study provides a crucial reference for the volatile flavor improvement and pre-cooked product development of roasted tilapia.

Serum levels of iron, zinc, selenium, copper and oxidative stress in hypertensive patients: A comparative study of age-related changes in the governorate of Basrah, Iraq

Hypertension is the force of blood through blood vessels, where the heart works harder and blood vessels are under more pressure. The relationship between trace element levels and oxidative stress in hypertension is under investigation, with conflicting results. This study aimed to determine the relationship between concentrations of certain antioxidant trace elements (iron, zinc, selenium, and copper) and protein carbonyl concentration as an indicator of oxidative stress in the serum of hypertensive patients compared to the control group in Basra, Iraq, according to age. The study included 100 hypertensive patients (44 males and 56 females) compared to 50 healthy individuals (25 males and 25 females). Patients were divided into three age groups: 35–45, 46–56, and over 57 years. The study showed a significant decrease (p&lt;0.001) in the mean concentration of all selected elements in the patients' serum compared to the control group. Conversely, the mean protein carbonyl level showed a significant increase (p&lt;0.001) in patients compared to the control group. Trace element concentrations decreased in patients with increasing age, while carbonyl protein levels increased, especially in the third age group. The study also showed a significant negative correlation between protein carbonyl level and all trace elements at p&lt;0.001. These results suggest that hypertension is associated with an imbalance in oxidative stress and trace elements. Monitoring trace element intake may help reduce oxidative stress and improve overall health in individuals with hypertension, especially with advancing age, by restoring the balance of essential elements and antioxidants in the body.

Acute effect of gold nanoparticles on neuropathic pain in a model of regional complex pain syndrome

We evaluated the effects of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) administered in the acute phase of an animal model of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I (CRPS-I). Oxidative stress parameters [substances reactive to thiobarbituric acid (TBA-RS), total sulfhydryl content (SH), protein carbonyl content and the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)] and pain, through mechanical and thermal allodynia, were evaluated in the blood and sciatic nerves of mice. Animals were anesthetized and an elastic tourniquet was used around the left hind paw for 120 minutes, followed by measurements of the mechanical threshold and thermal. Animals received intraperitoneal administrations of AuNPs at concentrations of 2.5 mg/L, 7.0 mg/L and 22.0 mg/L, Ankyrin Transient Potential Receptor 1 (TRPA1) antagonist (HC030031) or saline vehicle after induction of CRPS-I. AuNPs showed significant results in thermal and mechanical anti-allodynic effects on day 1 (2.5 mg/L), days 2 and 3 (7.0 and 22.0 mg/L). The TRPA1 reduced mechanical allodynia (days 1 and 2) and thermal allodynia (days 1, 2 and 3), in addition to reversing the changes caused by CRPS-I in oxidative stress. The CRPS-I model increased TBA-RS, reduced the total sulfhydryl content and increased CAT activity. The results showed that, at all concentrations, AuNPs reversed the increase in CAT. At 7.0 mg/L partially reversed and at 22.0 mg/L completely reversed the increase in TBA-RS levels and at 22.0 mg/L reversed the reduction in sulfhydryl content.

Melatonin's protective effect against placental transfer of Methadone in mice: An experimental study.

Methadone is a substance widely used in the substitution treatment of opiate addiction in pregnancy. The placental transfer of methadone influences oxidative stress processes. Melatonin is a hormone with antioxidant activity. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of melatonin on oxidative stress induced by the transfer of transplacental methadone in mice. In this experimental study, 36 female mice (2 months old, 20 2 gr) were divided into 6 groups (n = 6/each) of control, methadone (0.3 mg/kg intraperitoneal, single dose) and melatonin (2, 4, and 6 mg/kg/day gavage) were administered 30 min before methadone, and one group received melatonin alone (0.6 mg/kg with single injection). Administration for 10 consecutive days of the pregnancy period was done. After baby mice were born, all neonatal mice were killed by beheading or sacrificing after anesthesia. The liver tissues were extracted. The samples were then sent for studying oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxidation, glutathione, and protein carbonyl contents. Also, we have used the immunohistochemistry method for apoptotic markers such as: BAX, Bcl2, and Caspase3 for assaying apoptosis. This study has shown that methadone caused a significant decrease in glutathione concentration (p = 0.035). Also, we observed a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl contents (p = 0.015, 0.025 respectively). However, melatonin treatment significantly inhibited oxidative stress markers (p = 0.025). Also, apoptosis assay has shown that melatonin could decrease BAX and Caspase 9 as apoptotic and increase Bcl2 as an antiapoptotic proteins (p = 0.015). Our findings have shown that melatonin has a protective effect against oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by the placental transfer of methadone via its antioxidant effects.

Metformin protects against small intestine damage induced by diabetes and dunning's prostate cancer: A biochemical and histological study.

The oral biguanide metformin is used to treat type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM). Anti-cancer effects have been proven by metformin in different hormone-sensitive tumors, including breast, pancreatic, colon, and prostate cancer. Therefore, we investigated whether metformin could defend against small intestine damage in Dunning's prostate cancer. The study divided the six groups of male Copenhagen rats into the following categories: control, diabetic (D), cancer (C), diabetic + cancer (DC), cancer + metformin (CM), and diabetic + cancer + metformin (DCM). After sacrifice, the small intestines were removed to assess biochemical markers and histopathological evaluation. Biochemical evaluations showed that glutathione (reduced) levels and other enzyme activities related antioxidant systems, paraoxonase, sodium potassium ATPase, acetylcholinesterase activities were decreased. In contrast, lipid peroxidation, total oxidant status, reactive oxygen species, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, sucrase, maltase, trypsin, myeloperoxidase, xanthine oxidase activities, protein carbonyl contents and sialic acid levels were raised in the damaged groups. Treatment with metformin restored all of this. The histological assessment revealed moderate to severe damage in the small intestine following processes D and C. According to the study's findings, metformin treatment led to a notable decline in histopathological damage in the C and DC. A slight lowering in inflammatory cells and an improvement in the damaged gland integrity in the small intestine were noted with metformin treatment.​ Metformin use protected the small intestinal tissue damage and decreased oxidative stress.

Essential oils and capsaicin in the diet of Jersey cows at early lactation and their positive impact on anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunological responses.

The objective of this work was to determine whether the addition of phytogenic compounds based on essential oils (carvacrol, eugenol, cinnamaldehyde) and resinous pepper oil (capsaicin) to the diet of Jersey cows at the beginning of lactation affects anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory responses, as well as whether there are effects of EO on blood metabolites, ruminal fermentation, digestibility and milk production and composition. Six primiparous cows (370.00 ± 17kg body weight (BW); 13.02kg dry matter intake (DMI); 21 days of lactation and average milk production of 20 ± 2L per day) were allocated to crossed experimental design (2 × 2) with two experimental periods of 28 days and two treatments. Blood, milk and rumen fluid were collected and, at the end of each period, feed and feces samples were collected to evaluate the apparent digestibility of nutrients. The groups were control (CLT) without supplementation and treated (BEO) with the addition of 150mg/kg of dry matter of the phytogenic to the concentrated portion of the diet. Cows in the BEO group had lower numbers of leukocytes (P ≤ 0.05) and lymphocytes (P ≤ 0.02), but total protein and globulin levels were higher on days 21 and 28 (P ≤ 0.01). In the BEO group, the levels of immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin heavy chain and transferrin were higher (P ≤ 0.05). The levels of ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin and C-reactive protein were lower in the BEO group (P ≤ 0.05). Lipid peroxidation levels and protein carbonyl content were lower in the BEO group. The total antioxidant capacity (P ≤ 0.09) and the activity of glutathione S-transferase (P ≤ 0.03) and glutathione peroxidase (P ≤ 0.05) were higher in the BEO group. Cows in the BEO group had lower pH (P ≤ 0.05), acetic acid concentrations (P ≤ 0.01) and higher protozoa counts (P ≤ 0.01). Our results suggest that phytogenic supplementation has positive effects on the health of Jersey cows in early lactation, characterized by immunostimulant, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Impact of singular versus combinatorial environmental stress on RONS generation in Drosophila melanogaster larvae.

We investigated environmentally correlated abiotic stressor desiccation (D), heat (H), and starvation (S) in the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) using Drosophila melanogaster larvae as an experimental model, subjected to either individual stressors or exposed to a combinatorial form of stressors (D + H, H + S, and D + S). The study was also extended to find synergistic endpoints where the impacts of all three stressors (D + H + S) were exerted simultaneously. We estimated the lethal time (LT20) at specific doses using regression and probit analyses based on the larval survival. LT20 values were used as the base-level parameter for further oxidative stress experimental analysis work. First, all stressors led to the activation of a typical common oxidative stress-mediated response irrespective of the mode of exposure. As envisaged, D. melanogaster larvae exhibited a homeostatic stress tolerance mechanism, triggering an antioxidant defense mechanism, indicated by an elevated level of total antioxidant capacity and enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase. In all types of stress-exposed regimes, we found a negative impact of stressors on the activity of mitochondrial enzyme aconitase. Elevated levels of other oxidative stress markers, viz., lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content, and advanced oxidative protein products, were obvious although the increment was treatment-specific. Desiccation stress proved to be the most dominant stressor compared to heat and starvation. Among the combination of stressors, rather than a single stressor, D + H impacted more than other binary stress exposures. Focusing on the impact of singular versus combinatorial stress exposure on RONS generation, we observed an increase in the RONS level in both singular and combinatorial forms of stress exposure although the magnitude of the increment varied with the nature of stressors and their combinations. The present study indicated an "additive" effect when all three stressors (D + H + S) operate simultaneously, rather than a "synergistic" effect.

Carbon dots as a distinctive platform fabricated through a sustainable approach for versatile applications

Red-emitting carbon dots (R-CDs) have garnered significant interest owing to its exceptional fluorescence (FL) characteristics. In this study, we present a one-pot solvothermal synthesis for producing biomass-derived R-CDs, utilizing Birch leaves as the primary raw material. The R-CDs display high solubility in ethanol and demonstrate deep-red emission at 625 nm with narrowband characteristics. After conducting a selectivity assessment with different metal ions, it is observed that R-CDs demonstrate exceptional sensitivity and specificity specifically to Fe3+. This demonstrates a linear relationship up to a concentration of 500 μM, with a detection limit of 0.302 μM (S/N=3). In this research, we created photoluminescent and transparent composites made from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with embedded fluorescent R-CDs, using the solution casting method for fabrication. The synthesized R-CDs exhibit robust and consistent FL in solution, whereas, the R-CDs@PVA nanocomposites (NCs) films are transparent and exceptionally flexible. The optimized 0.08 wt% R-CDs demonstrated the most effective ultra violet (UV) blockage across the UV-A (76.84 %), UV-B (74.86 %), and UV-C (78.46 %) region. However, PVA alone absorbed < 25 % of the light in all UV regions. The study explored the shape memory and FL characteristics of the R-CDs@PVA NCs changed under varying conditions such as water, temperature and pH. In alkaline conditions, the FL intensity of the R-CDs@PVA NCs increased due to the deprotonation of the R-CDs surface. In addition, R-CDs dispersed within PVA exhibit superior ink-free patterned substrates, proving to be advantageous for non-destructive template relief printing. Furthermore, R-CDs serve as effective anti-oxidants, combating 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity and mitigating the oxidative stress (OS) in red blood cells (RBCs) induced by sodium nitrite (NaNO2). They aid in the restoration of essential stress indicators, encompassing lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonyl content (PCC), total thiol (TT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). Furthermore, R-CDs restored the damaged liver, kidney, heart, and pancreas by regulating biochemical parameters. Furthermore, incorporated R-CDs into red light-emitting diodes (R-LEDs) and white light-emitting diodes (W-LEDs), thereby enhancing plant growth efficiency. The results of this study highlight the possible of R-CDs as non-toxic, UV blocking agents suitable for developing edible coatings and packaging. These properties suggest their applicability in the food industry, anti-counterfeiting (AC) measures, and biomedical applications.