Elevated Superoxide Dismutase Levels Research Articles

Attenuation of Cadmium Toxicity by Methanol Extracts of Rauvolfia vomitoria and Aframomum melegueta leaves

Highlights:1. This study provides insight into the detrimental effect of cadmium exposure on mammalian cells using a murine model.2. The co-administration of Rauvolfia vomitoria and Aframomum melegueta leaf extracts is more effective in ameliorating cadmium-induced toxicity than a single administration of each plant extract.3. The co-administration of Rauvolfia vomitoria and Aframomum melegueta plant extracts can upregulate the expression of IL-10 and reverse the derangements in the TNF-α, IL-6, SOD, and GPX levels. Abstract Cadmium has long been known to be an environmental pollutant that can harm human health, with toxicity majorly affecting the kidneys and liver. This study aimed to investigate the mitigating potential of methanol extracts of Rauvolfia vomitoria and Aframomum melegueta leaves in cadmium-induced liver toxicity. Twenty-five male adult Wistar rats, averagely weighing 200 g, were randomly allocated into five groups, each comprising five rats. Group 1 was unexposed to any substances and only received distilled water. Group 2 was given cadmium at a standard dose of 12 mg/kg bw. Groups 3, 4, and 5 received 12 mg/kg bw of cadmium, and each group was treated with 200 mg/kg bw of Rauvolfia vomitoria leaf extract, Aframomum melegueta leaf extract, and a combination of both extracts, respectively. After 28 days, the animals were euthanized to obtain their livers, which were then excised and processed for histopathological, mRNA expression, and biochemical analyses. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the data, and Duncan multiple tests were employed to compare the categorical variables (p<0.05). The results revealed elevated levels of interleukin 10 (IL-10) in the rats treated with Rauvolfia vomitoria and Aframomum melegueta extracts when compared to Group 2. On the other hand, the treatment groups exhibited a significant decrease in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels, along with significantly elevated levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Group 5 showed a normal liver histoarchitecture similar to Group 1, reversing the histopathological abnormalities shown in Group 2. In conclusion, the co-administrative treatment using Rauvolfia vomitoria and Aframomum melegueta extracts reversed the cadmium-induced toxicity better than using each plant extract individually. This further suggests that Rauvolfia vomitoria and Aframomum melegueta leaf methanol extracts may ameliorate the effects of cadmium-induced toxicity, including reducing oxidative stress and fortifying the anti-oxidant system.

Benefits of heat-killed Lactobacillus acidophilus on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant status, immunity, and cecal microbiota of rabbits.

Heat-killed probiotics, as a type of inactivated beneficial microorganisms, possess an extended shelf life and broader adaptability compared to their live counterparts. This study aimed to investigate the impact of heat-killed Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus, LA) - a deactivated probiotic on the growth performance, digestibility, antioxidant status, immunity and cecal microbiota of rabbits. Two hundred weaned Hyla rabbits were randomly allocated into five equal groups (CON, L200, L400, L600, and L800). Over a 28-day period, the rabbits were fed basal diets supplemented with 0, 200, 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg of heat-killed LA, respectively. Results revealed a significant reduction in the feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) in the L600 and L800 groups (p < 0.05). Additionally, the L800 group exhibited significantly higher apparent digestibility of crude fiber (CF) and crude protein (CP) (p < 0.05). Regarding digestive enzyme activities, enhanced trypsin and fibrinase activities were observed in the L600 and L800 groups (p < 0.05). Concerning the regulation of the body's antioxidant status, the L800 group demonstrated elevated levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in both serum and ileal tissue (p < 0.05). In terms of immune capacity modulation, serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were significantly lower in the L600 and L800 groups (p < 0.05), while immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels were higher (p < 0.05). Additionally, the L800 group exhibited a substantial increase in secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) levels in the intestinal mucosa (p < 0.05). In comparison to the CON group, the L800 group exhibited a significant increase in the relative abundance of Phascolarctobacterium and Alistipes in the cecum (p < 0.05). Phascolarctobacterium demonstrated a positive correlation with SIgA (p < 0.05), IgM (p < 0.01), and Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (p < 0.05), while displaying a negative correlation with TNF-α levels (p < 0.05). Concurrently, Alistipes exhibited positive correlations with IgA (p < 0.05), IgM (p < 0.05), SIgA (p < 0.01), GSH-Px (p < 0.05), SOD (p < 0.05), and T-AOC (p < 0.01), and a negative correlation with TNF-α (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the dietary incorporation of 600 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg of heat-killed LA positively influenced the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant status, immune capacity and cecal microbiota of rabbits. This highlights the potential benefits of utilizing heat-killed probiotics in animal nutrition.

Effects of Bile Acid Supplementation on Lactation Performance, Nutrient Intake, Antioxidative Status, and Serum Biochemistry in Mid-Lactation Dairy Cows.

This experiment investigated the effects of different levels of bile acid (BA) additives in diets on the lactation performance, serum antioxidant metabolites, and serum biochemical indices of 60 multiparous mid-lactation dairy cows. The cows were randomized to receive one of the four homogeneous treatments, with the BA preparation supplemented at 0, 6, 12, and 18 g/head/d. The experiment lasted for 14 weeks. The first 2 weeks were the pre-feeding period. The milk yield and composition data were recorded weekly, and the dry matter intake and antioxidative blood index were analyzed on the 6th, 10th, and 14th weeks of the study. On the 84th day of the experiment, the experimental group exhibited significantly higher levels of total protein and albumin, by 57.5% and 55.6%, respectively, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). On both the 28th and 84th days of the trial, the experimental group showed a markedly higher lipase content compared to the control group, by 26.5% and 25.2%, respectively (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the experimental group displayed notably elevated levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity, surpassing the control group by 17.4%, 21.6%, and 8.7%, respectively. In conclusion, BA additives improve the serum antioxidant indices of dairy cows, thereby enhancing the performance of these cows.

Biochemical insights into enhanced lipid production by a microalga under combined stress of salinity and arsenic

The contamination of water bodies and depleting fuel resources are the two major global concerns. Such a scenario demands a coherent approach of production of green fuels by utilizing the waste/brackish waters for a sustainable economy. Therefore, the current study investigated the adaptive response of Scenedesmus sp. IITRIND2, a halotolerant microalga under combined stress of osmolarity along with arsenic (As (III), As (V)) toxicity. The algal cells efficiently mitigated 75–89 % of As (III) and As (V) from artificial seawater (ASW) having 80 ppm of initial concentration. The ∼ 2-fold higher biosorption of As in ASW cultivated cells was mediated due to the remarkable changes in the cell size as compared to fresh water (FW) grown cells. Though uptake of As in cells significantly inhibited the growth and photosynthetic activity but the cells remodeled their biochemical pools to maintain the overall proportion of lipids (50 % of the dry cell weight). Elevated levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and glutathione reductase aided major stress responsive adaptation in cells under co-toxicity of salinity and As. Further, As spiked cells grown in ASW media improved the oxidative stability and cetane number of the derived fuel. This research sheds light on the possible utilization of a halotolerant microalga, paving a viable and eco-friendly biorefinery framework to remediate As, produce green fuels while desalinating the abundant seawater for further municipal usage.

Assessment of the Oxidative Stress Status in those with Diabetes and Hypertension Attending Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Nigeria

Diabetes is a serious, long-term condition with a major impact on the lives and wellbeing of individuals, families, and societies worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the impact of oxidative stress on individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension who were receiving care at the Endocrinology unit of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH). A total of 54 subjects, comprising both males and females, were randomly selected for the study. The subjects included 27 patients diagnosed with T2DM and hypertension, as well as 27 healthy volunteers who were recruited as a control group. The study focused on assessing various parameters related to oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activity. The evaluation of oxidant status involved measuring Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, which serve as a marker for lipid peroxidation, as well as Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and Lipid profile. Additionally, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and reduced glutathione (GSH), was examined. Demographic information, lifestyle factors, and clinical assessments were also collected during the study. The results showed that HbA1c levels were significantly higher in diabetic patients compared to the healthy participants. Furthermore, the diabetic group exhibited higher MDA activity, indicating increased lipid peroxidation, compared to the control group (P = 0.001). In terms of antioxidant enzyme activity, the diabetic group showed elevated levels of SOD, CAT, and GSH compared to the control group (P = 0.001). Regarding lifestyle factors, there was a significant difference (P = 0.001) in lipid profiles between diabetic and non-diabetic individuals who engaged in regular exercise compared to those who did not exercise. Similarly, diabetic individuals who had consultations with a registered dietician or an Endocrinologist also demonstrated significantly improved lipid profiles compared to those who did not seek professional advice. Notably, diabetics who exercised regularly and received dietary guidance exhibited significantly higher levels of HDL compared to those who did not engage in exercise or receive dietary counseling. In conclusion, this study highlighted the association between oxidative stress and T2DM with hypertension. The findings emphasized the importance of managing oxidative stress through lifestyle modifications, such as regular exercise and dietary interventions, in improving lipid profiles and potentially mitigating the impact of diabetes on individuals' health and well-being.

Immunomodulatory Potency of Eclipta alba (Bhringaraj) Leaf Extract in Heteropneustes fossilis against Oomycete Pathogen, Aphanomyces invadans

Aphanomyces invadans is an aquatic oomycete pathogen and the causative agent of epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) in fresh and brackish water fish, which is responsible for severe mortalities and economic losses in aquaculture. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop anti-infective strategies to control EUS. An Oomycetes, a fungus-like eukaryotic microorganism, and a susceptible species, i.e., Heteropneustes fossilis, are used to establish whether an Eclipta alba leaf extract is effective against the EUS-causing A. invadans. We found that treatment with methanolic leaf extract, at concentrations between 50-100 ppm (T4-T6), protects the H. fossilis fingerlings against A. invadans infection. These optimum concentrations induced anti-stress and antioxidative response in fish, marked by a significant decrease in cortisol and elevated levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels in treated animals, as compared with the controls. We further demonstrated that the A. invadans-protective effect of methanolic leaf extract was caused by its immunomodulatory effect and is linked to the enhanced survival of fingerlings. The analysis of non-specific and specific immune factors confirms that methanolic leaf extract-induced HSP70, HSP90 and IgM levels mediate the survival of H. fossilis fingerlings against A. invadans infection. Taken together, our study provides evidence that the generation of anti-stress and antioxidative responses, as well as humoral immunity, may play a role in protecting H. fossilis fingerlings against A. invadans infection. It is probable that E. alba methanolic leaf extract treatment might become part of a holistic strategy to control EUS in fish species.

A histological investigation of the influence of Naringin on acetaminophen-induced nephrotoxicity in male albino rats

A study was conducted to examine the protective effects of naringin (NRG) on renal tissues of rats, specifically against acetaminophen (ACN)-induced damage. Thirty-two male rats were included in the study, divided into four groups. The first group (group I) was administered 1 ml/kg of saline orally, serving as the control group. The second group received 2g/kg of ACN on the first day. The third group received a single oral dose of 2g/kg of ACN on the first day, followed by 40 mg/kg of oral NRG for eight consecutive days. Lastly, the fourth group was given a single oral dose of 2g/kg of ACN on the first day, followed by 80 mg/kg of oral NRG for eight days. The rats were then euthanized and their kidneys were removed after they had been anesthetized for blood collection. The ACN-induced renal damage was characterized by significant reductions in body weight, levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase. Additionally, there were significant increases in kidney weight, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, serum uric acid, malondialdehyde enzyme (MAD), and histopathological alterations. The study demonstrated that NRG treatment at doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg b.w. effectively reduced renal toxicity and oxidative damage induced by ACN. The effectiveness of these improvements was demonstrated by the noticeable increase in body weight, elevated levels of SOD and CAT, as well as the reduction in kidney weight, CR, BUN, SUA, and MAD levels. As a result of these findings, NRG is confirmed to have antioxidant properties and be capable of protecting rats from renal toxicity caused by ACN.

Outbreak of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis associated with Aeromonas hydrophila in Pangasianodon hypophthalmus: The role of turmeric oil in enhancing immunity and inducing resistance against co-infection.

Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, a ciliated parasite causing ichthyophthiriasis (white spot disease) in freshwater fishes, results in significant economic loss to the aquaculture sector. One of the important predisposing factors for ichthyophthiriasis is low water temperature (i.e., below 20°C), which affects the health and makes freshwater fishes more susceptible to parasitic infections. During ichthyophthiriasis, fishes are stressed and acute immune reactions are compromised, which enables the aquatic bacterial pathogens to simultaneously infect the host and increase the severity of disease. In the present work, we aimed to understand the parasite–bacteria co-infection mechanism in fish. Later, Curcuma longa (turmeric) essential oil was used as a promising management strategy to improve immunity and control co-infections in fish. A natural outbreak of I. multifiliis was reported (validated by 16S rRNA PCR and sequencing method) in Pangasianodon hypophthalmus from a culture facility of ICAR-CIFRI, India. The fish showed clinical signs including hemorrhage, ulcer, discoloration, and redness in the body surface. Further microbiological analysis revealed that Aeromonas hydrophila was associated (validated by 16S rRNA PCR and sequencing method) with the infection and mortality of P. hypophthalmus, confirmed by hemolysin and survival assay. This created a scenario of co-infections, where both infectious agents are active together, causing ichthyophthiriasis and motile Aeromonas septicemia (MAS) in P. hypophthalmus. Interestingly, turmeric oil supplementation induced protective immunity in P. hypophthalmus against the co-infection condition. The study showed that P. hypophthalmus fingerlings supplemented with turmeric oil, at an optimum concentration (10 ppm), exhibited significantly increased survival against co-infection. The optimum concentration induced anti-stress and antioxidative response in fingerlings, marked by a significant decrease in cortisol and elevated levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in treated animals as compared with the controls. Furthermore, the study indicated that supplementation of turmeric oil increases both non-specific and specific immune response, and significantly higher values of immune genes (interleukin-1β, transferrin, and C3), HSP70, HSP90, and IgM were observed in P. hypophthalmus treatment groups. Our findings suggest that C. longa (turmeric) oil modulates stress, antioxidant, and immunological responses, probably contributing to enhanced protection in P. hypophthalmus. Hence, the application of turmeric oil treatment in aquaculture might become a management strategy to control co-infections in fishes. However, this hypothesis needs further validation.

Fumonisin B1-Induced Oxidative Burst Perturbed Photosynthetic Activity and Affected Antioxidant Enzymatic Response in Tomato Plants in Ethylene-Dependent Manner

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a harmful mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species, which results in oxidative stress leading to cell death in plants. FB1 perturbs the metabolism of sphingolipids and causes growth and yield reduction. This study was conducted to assess the role of ethylene in the production and metabolism of reactive oxygen species in the leaves of wild type (WT) and ethylene receptor mutant Never ripe (Nr) tomato and to elucidate the FB1-induced phytotoxic effects on the photosynthetic activity and antioxidant mechanisms triggered by FB1 stress. FB1 exposure resulted in significant ethylene emission in a concentration-dependent manner in both genotypes. Moreover, FB1 significantly affected the photosynthetic parameters of PSII and PSI and activated photoprotective mechanisms, such as non-photochemical quenching in both genotypes, especially under 10 µM FB1 concentration. Further, the net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance were significantly reduced in both genotypes in a FB1 dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, lipid peroxidation and loss of cell viability were also more pronounced in WT as compared to Nr leaves indicating the role of ethylene in cell death induction in the leaves. Thus, FB1-induced oxidative stress affected the working efficiency of PSI and PSII in both tomato genotypes. However, ethylene-dependent antioxidant enzymatic defense mechanisms were activated by FB1 and showed significantly elevated levels of superoxide dismutase (18.6%), ascorbate peroxidase (129.1%), and glutathione S-transferase activities (66.62%) in Nr mutants as compared to WT tomato plants confirming the role of ethylene in the regulation of cell death and defense mechanisms under the mycotoxin exposure.

Grewia asiatica Berry Juice Diminishes Anxiety, Depression, and Scopolamine-Induced Learning and Memory Impairment in Behavioral Experimental Animal Models.

Grewia asiatica L. fruit natively called phalsa is a popular berry of Pakistan and widely consumed in the form of fresh juices and carbonated drinks in the summer season. The berry is enriched with antioxidants such as phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and vitamin C. Scientifically, it is the least explored berry in terms of neuromodulatory activities, and therefore, in the designed study, chronically fed rats with the different dilutions (5%−30%) of fruit juice were subjected to behavioral assessment for anxiety, depression, and cognition (spatial memory) followed by biochemical analysis of isolated brains. Results revealed a prominent impact of 20 and 30% dilutions of fruit exudate as treated animals showed anxiolytic behavior to central zone (P < 0.05) of open field test (OFT) and open arms of elevated plus maze (EPM) (P < 0.05) in anxiety models. Overall, immobility of rats treated with a higher concentration of exudate in forced swim test (FST) was reduced (P < 0.05) presenting antidepressant-like activity. Moreover, in learning and memory experimental models, the treated animals reversed scopolamine-induced amnesic effects as evident from improved step-through latencies (P < 0.05 vs. scopolamine; passive avoidance test), spontaneous alternation behavior (P < 0.05 vs. scopolamine; Y-maze test), discrimination index (P < 0.05 vs. scopolamine; novel object recognition test), and escape latencies (P < 0.05 vs. scopolamine; Morris water maze). Biochemical studies of isolated brains from treated rats demonstrated significantly elevated levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.05), whereas levels of acetylcholinesterase and malondialdehyde level (P < 0.05) were reduced, indicating its potential to reduce oxidative damage in the brain and modulation with the cholinergic system. The outcomes of studies support the benefits of phytoconstituents possessed by G. asiatica fruit in the amelioration of neurological disorders that could be due to their antioxidative capacity or due to interaction with GABAergic, serotonergic, and cholinergic systems in the brain.

Sericin-Induced Melanogenesis in Cultured Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Is Associated with Elevated Levels of Hydrogen Peroxide and Inflammatory Proteins.

We previously demonstrated that the silk protein sericin promotes pigmentation of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) by activating the NF-κB pathway. Among numerous agents, NF-κB can be activated by hydrogen peroxide. In the present study, we explored possible associations between reactive oxygen species and sericin-induced melanogenesis in RPE. The proteome of human fetal RPE cultured for seven days with or without 1% sericin was analyzed using ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA). The proteomic data was verified by immunofluorescence and immunoblotting. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to assess morphology. Dihydroethidium (DHE) and dihydrorhodamine (DHR) assays were used to measure superoxide and hydrogen peroxide species. Expression levels of proteins related to inflammation, differentiation, cell survival and cell adhesion were higher in cells cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) with 1% sericin, whereas cells cultured in DMEM alone showed higher expression levels of proteins associated with Bruch’s membrane and cytoskeleton. Despite upregulation of inflammatory proteins, sericin co-cultured RPE yielded significantly higher cell viability compared to cells cultured without sericin. Addition of sericin to culture media significantly increased hydrogen peroxide-levels without significantly affecting superoxide-levels. We suggest that sericin-induced melanogenesis in cultured RPE is associated with elevated levels of superoxide dismutase, hydrogen peroxide and inflammatory proteins.

Intraperitoneal injections of copper ferrite nanoparticles disturb blood, plasma, and antioxidant parameters of Wistar rats in a sex-specific manner.

The present study was designed to report the synthesis and characterization of copper ferrite nanoparticles (CF NPs) and their biocompatibility in Wistar rats. Coprecipitation method was used to generate CF NPs having average diameter of 14.06 nm. NPs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Six-week-old Wistar rats of both sexes intraperitoneally received 10 mg/ml saline/Kg body weight of CF NPs for 14 days. Control groups were maintained in parallel that received saline solution for 14 days through same route. Open field and novel object recognition tests, complete blood count, selected plasma parameters, antioxidants, and copper concentration in vital organs were determined in all treatments. Female rats treated with CF NPs had significantly higher platelet count (P = 0.05) and platelet crit (P = 0.05) and decreased plasma triglyceride concentration levels (P = 0.02) than control group. Female rats had significantly increased levels of superoxide dismutase (P = 0.01), catalase (P = 0.05), and malonaldehyde (P = 0.05) in the kidney, while male rats had significantly elevated levels of superoxide dismutase in the lungs (P = 0.01) as compared with respective control groups. Copper concentrations in the liver were significantly higher in both female (P = 0.04) and male (P = 0.05) rats exposed to CF NPs than control group. All other studied parameters of behavioral tests, blood biochemistry, antioxidant, and copper concentrations in the brain varied nonsignificantly (P > 0.05) when compared between CF NPs treated and untreated rats of both sexes. Intraperitoneal supplementation of CF NPs for 14 days disturbed the platelet count, plasma triglyceride concentration, copper levels in the liver, and antioxidant concentrations in the kidney of female Wistar rats. These parameters remained unaffected in male subjects.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes improve injury of hippocampal neurons in rats with depression by upregulating microRNA-26a expression

ObjectiveBone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs)-derived exosomes have been widely applied in disease therapies. However, the role of BMSCs-derived exosomes in depression remains obscure. This study aims to explore the mechanism of BMSCs-derived exosomal microRNA-26a (miR-26a) on hippocampal neuronal injury of depressed rats. MethodsBMSCs and their exosomes were obtained and identified. Rat models of depression were established by corticosterone injection, then injected with BMSCs-derived exosomes. The contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), imalondialdehyde (MDA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in rats’ serum, hippocampal tissues and neurons were determined. The expression of miR-26a in hippocampal tissues and neurons was detected by RT-qPCR. The injury models of rat hippocampal neurons were established to figure out the role of BMSCs-derived exosomes and miR-26a in neuron apoptosis and proliferation. ResultsIn hippocampal tissues of depressed rats, miR-26a was lowly expressed, and BMSCs-derived exosomes upregulated miR-26a expression. BMSCs-derived exosomes restrained apoptosis in hippocampal tissues of depressed rats. BMSCs-derived exosomes and upregulated miR-26a elevated SOD level, lessened MDA, LDH, TNF-α and IL-1β levels, boosted hippocampal neuron proliferation and suppressed apoptosis in depressed rats. ConclusionCollectively, our study reveals that miR-26a is lowly expressed in depressed rats, and BMSCs-derived exosomes improve hippocampal neuron injury of rat with depression by upregulating miR-26a.

D-allose alleviates ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in skin flap via MKP-1

BackgroundD-allose was promising in the protection of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. We intended to investigate the function of D-allose in skin flap of rat followed by the injury of I/R and whether ERK signal pathway was involved in.MethodsThe back flap of Wistar rats was picked up with a vascular bundle of the lateral chest wall. I/R model was made by the venous clamp for 6 h. Rats received D-allose and PD-98059, the inhibitor of ERK1/2, 30 min before modeling. Morphology of tissue was observed by HE staining. Nitric oxide (NO), myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in skin flap were determined by ELISA kits. mRNA and protein levels were determined by qPCR and Western blot respectively.ResultsD-allose alleviated the condition of pathological changes and raised the survival rate of skin flap injured by I/R. Moreover, D-allose suppressed NO, MPO and MDA while elevated SOD levels during I/R status. Furthermore, D-allose decreased MCP-1, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 levels in skin flap injured by I/R. In addition, D-allose inhibited MKP-1 expression and activated ERK1/2 pathway in skin flap injured by I/R. PD-98059 partially counteracted D-allose effects on I/R injury.ConclusionsD-allose exerted its protective function via inhibiting MKP-1expression and further activated ERK1/2 pathway to suppress the progress of oxidative stress, inflammation and necrosis, contributing to the survival of skin flap injured by I/R. Thus, D-allose was promising in the transplantation of skin flap.

Precompetitional Weight Reduction Modifies Prooxidative-Antioxidative Status in Judokas.

Objective The main aim of the study was an assessment of the influence of rapid weight loss on oxidative stress parameters in judokas differing in weight reduction value. Materials and Methods The study included 30 judokas with an age range of 18-30 years (mean age: 22.4 ± 3.40 years). Enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidative markers, lipid peroxidation markers, and total oxidative stress were assessed three times: one week before a competition (the first stage), after gaining the desired weight (the second stage), and one week after the competition (the third stage). Results Between the first and the second stage, the concentration of lipid hydroperoxides (LPH) decreased significantly. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), copper- and zinc-containing superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD), ceruloplasmin (CER), malondialdehyde (MDA), LPH, and total oxidative stress (TOS) concentrations were the lowest one week after the competition. Linear regression indicated that the emphases on increased weight reduction increased the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and protein sulfhydryl (PSH) between the first and the second stage of the study. Moderate weight reduction (2-5%) resulted in elevated levels of SOD, Mn-SOD, LPH, MDA, and TOS in comparison to low and high reductions. An opposite relation was observed in PSH. In judokas, the precompetitional weight reduction range was 0.44-6.10% (mean: 2.93% ± 1.76%) of the initial body weight. Concentrations of superoxide dismutase (SOD; p < .01), manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD; p < .001), and ceruloplasmin (CER; p < .05) decreased between the first and the third stage of the study as well between the second and third one. Before competitions, a decrease in lipid hydroperoxide (LPH; p < .01) concentration was observed. A reduction of malondialdehyde (MDA; p < .05), LPH (p < .01), and total oxidative stress (TOS; p < .05) levels between the first and the final stage occurred. The increase in weight reduction was linearly correlated with the rise of glutathione peroxidase (GPx; p < .05), glutathione reductase (GR; p < .05), glutathione S-transferase (GST; p < .05), and protein sulfhydryl (PSH; p < .05) concentrations between the first and the second stage of the study. Moderate weight reduction (2-5%) resulted in elevated levels of SOD (p < .05), Mn-SOD (p < .05), LPH (p < .05), MDA (p < .05), and TOS (p < .05) in comparison to low and high reductions. An opposite relation was observed in PSH (p < .005). Conclusions The effect of weight reduction in judo athletes on prooxidative-antioxidative system diversity depends on the weight reduction value.

Some Functional Properties of khambir, an Ethnic Fermented Cereal-Based Food of Western Himalayas.

Traditional leavened wheat-based flat bread khambir is a staple food for the high-altitude people of the Western Himalayan region. The health promoting abilities of two types of khambir, yeast added khambir (YAK) and buttermilk added khambir (BAK), were evaluated. A group of microbes like yeast, mold, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and Bifidobacterium sp. were abundant in both khambir but in varied proportions. Both are enriched with phenolics and flavonoids. The aqueous extracts of both breads strongly inhibited the growth of enteropathogens. Molecular docking experiments showed that phenolic acid, particularly p-coumaric acid, blocked the active sites of β-glucosidase and acetylcholine esterase (AChE), thereby inhibiting their activities. YAK and BAK showed antiradical and antioxidant activity ranging from 46 to 67% evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The aqueous extract of both khambir samples protected the arsenic toxicity when examined under an in situ rat intestinal loop model study. The arsenic induced elevated levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and DNA fragmentation, and transmembrane mitochondrial potential was alleviated by khambir extract. These results scientifically supported its age-old health benefit claims by the consumer at high altitude and there are enough potentialities to explore khambir as a medicinal food for human welfare.

Effect of sulphoraphane on newborn mouse cardiomyocytes undergoing ischaemia/reperfusion injury

Context: Sulphoraphane (SFN) is an isothiocyanate, having antioxidant activity, antitumor, and therapeutic effects on cardiovascular disease.Objective: This study explores the mechanisms of SFN preconditioning on ischaemia/reperfusion injury (IRI).Materials and methods: Cardiomyocytes were divided into four groups as follows: control group (normoxic condition), SFN group (5 μmol/L), hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) group (1 h, 3 h) and SFN + H/R group. Cell viability was determined by MTT method. Levels of creatine kinase (CK), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and maleic dialdehyde (MDA) were determined by colorimetric method. Cell apoptosis, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were determined by flow cytometry. Levels of Bax, Bcl-2, C caspase-3, NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were detected by Western blot.Results: H/R model inhibited cell viability, increased the levels of LDH, CK, Bax and C caspase-3, and decreased the levels of NO, Bcl-2, while the effect of H/R was partially reversed by SFN. SFN treatment reduced ROS, MDA (from 4.9 nM to 2.8 nM) production, elevated SOD level (from 39.5 U/mL to 61.7 U/mL) and improved MMP damage. Under the effect of SFN, up-regulation of nuclear Nrf2 expression and down-regulation of cytosolic Nrf2 expression were observed, which led to Nrf2 nuclear translocation and enhanced the expression of HO-1.Conclusion: These results suggested that SFN had a protective effect on cardiomyocytes undergoing IRI, and its mechanism may be realized via activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, thereby inhibiting apoptosis. This might provide a new approach for the treatment of ischaemic heart disease.

Enhanced Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. tuberosi Resistance in Transgenic Potato Expressing a Rice GLP Superoxide Dismutase Gene

Germin like proteins (GLPs) are a large group of related and ubiquitous plant proteins which are considered to be involved in different processes important for plant development and defense. Multiple functional copies of this gene family have been reported in a number of species (wheat, barley, rice, soybean mosses and liverwort), and their role is being evaluated by gene regulation studies and transgenic approaches. To analyze the role of a rice (Oryza sativa) root expressed germin like protein1 OsRGLP1, for its antifungal activity, transgenic potato plants were developed. These transgenic potato plants were molecularly characterized and biologically assessed after inoculation with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. tuberosi. Functional analysis showed high accumulation of H2O2, increased Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity and no oxalate oxidase activity (OxO) in transgenics in comparison to nontransformed control. This increased SOD activity, resistance to heat and sensitivity to H2O2 suggest it is a Fe-like SOD. OsRGLP1 expression in potato plants exhibited enhanced resistance in comparison to nontransformed wild type plants suggesting its role in providing protection against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. tuberosi through elevated SOD level. Overall, results suggest that OsRGLP1 is a candidate for the engineering of potato plants with increased fungal tolerance however, the greater height and tuber number was observed. This phenotype associated with the resistance needs to be evaluated to determine if this is a positive or negative feature.

MiR-212 Attenuates MPP⁺-Induced Neuronal Damage by Targeting KLF4 in SH-SY5Y Cells.

PurposeParkinson's disease (PD) is a common age-dependent neurodegenerative disease. MiR-212 has been demonstrated to exert protective effects in several neurological disorders. The present study aimed to investigate the role and underlying molecular mechanism of miR-212 in PD.Materials and Methods1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-induced SH-SY5Y cells were applied as a PD model in vitro. RTqPCR was used to measure the expression of miR-212 and Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) mRNA. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the protein levels of KLF4, Notch1 and Jagged1. Cell viability and apoptosis were determined by the Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry, respectively. Quantitative analysis of caspase-3 activity, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) was conducted with corresponding ELISA kits. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was employed to evaluate the relationship between miR-212 and KLF4.ResultsMiR-212 was downregulated in MPP+-induced SH-SY5Y cells. Also, miR-212 alleviated MPP+-induced SH-SY5Y cell damage, embodied by increased cell viability, decreased caspase-3 activity, LDH release, ROS production, TNF-α, and IL-1β expression, as well as elevated SOD levels. KLF4 was a direct target of miR-212, and miR-212 repressed KLF4 expression in a post-transcriptional manner. Moreover, miR-212-mediated protection effects were abated following KLF4 expression restoration in MPP+-induced SH-SY5Y cells, represented as lowered cell viability and enhanced apoptotic rate. Furthermore, Notch signaling was involved in the regulation of miR-212/KLF4 axis in MPP+-induced SH-SY5Y cells.ConclusionmiR-212 might attenuate MPP+-induced neuronal damage by regulating KLF4/Notch signaling pathway in SH-SY5Y cells, a promising target for PD therapy.

ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Postconditioning Protects the Isolated Perfused Rat Heart from Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) postconditioning against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Methods: Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 15 for each) and used to generate the Langendorff isolated perfused rat heart model. The sham group received a continuous perfusion of 150 min. The remaining three I/R-treated groups sequentially received a 30-min perfusion, a 30-min cardioplegia, and a 90-min reperfusion. The I/R-ischemic preconditioning (IP) group additionally received three cycles of 20-s reperfusion and 20-s coronary reocclusion preceded the 90 min of reperfusion. The I/R-ω group were perfused with ω-3 PUFAs for 15 min before the 90 min of reperfusion. The myocardial infarct size, the degree of mitochondrial damage, the antioxidant capacity of the myocardium, and the cardiac functions during reperfusion were compared among groups. Results: Compared with the I/R group, the I/R-ω group had significantly reduced myocardial infarct size, reduced levels of lactate dehydrogenase and malondialdehyde, elevated superoxide dismutase level, and elevated rising (+dp/dt_max) and descending (–dp/dt_max) rate of left ventricular pressure. The I/R-ω group had a significantly lower rate of mitochondrial damage in myocardial tissue compared with the I/R and I/R-IP groups. Conclusion: ω-3 PUFA postconditioning possesses good cardioprotective effects and may be developed into a therapeutic strategy for myocardial I/R injury.