Levels Of Antioxidant Enzymes Research Articles

Exploring the protective role of green tea extract against cardiovascular alterations induced by chronic REM sleep deprivation via modulation of inflammation and oxidative stress

BackgroundChronic Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation has been associated with various cardiovascular alterations, including disruptions in antioxidant defense mechanisms, lipid metabolism, and inflammatory responses. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of green tea extract (GTE) in mitigating these adverse effects.MethodsA total of 24 male Wistar albino rats were used in this study and divided into the control group (n = 8), Chronic-REM Sleep Deprivation (CRSD) Group (n = 8) and Chronic-REM SD + Green Tea 200 (CRSD + GTE200) Group (n = 8). After 21 days, a comprehensive analysis of paraoxonase (PON1), arylesterase (ARE), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NOx), proinflammatory cytokines, and lipid profiles in aortic tissue, heart tissue, and serum was conducted in a sleep-deprived rat model.ResultsChronic REM sleep deprivation led to a significant reduction in PON1 and ARE levels in aortic (p = 0.046, p = 0.035 respectively) and heart tissues (p = 0.020, p = 0.019 respectively), indicative of compromised antioxidant defenses. MDA levels increased, and NOx levels decreased, suggesting oxidative stress and impaired vascular function. Lipid profile alterations, including increased triglycerides and total cholesterol, were observed in serum. Elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-alpha) further indicated an inflammatory response (p = 0.007, p = 0.018 respectively). GTE administration demonstrated a protective role, restoring antioxidant enzyme levels, suppressing lipid peroxidation, and improving NOx levels.ConclusionThese findings suggest the therapeutic potential of GTE in alleviating the cardiovascular impairments of chronic REM sleep deprivation, emphasizing its candidacy for further clinical exploration as a natural intervention in sleep-related disorders and associated cardiovascular risks.

Molecular docking analysis and in vivo assessment of zinc oxide nanoparticle toxicity in zebrafish larvae

The zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) being widely employed in several industries and consumer products, are raising concerns about their safety on aquatic biota and human health. This study aims to investigate the possible toxicological effects of ZnO-NPs through a combined in vivo and in silico approach. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to several ZnO-NPs concentrations and morphological alterations and lipid peroxidation (MDA) were investigated. Furthermore, molecular docking simulations were applied to study the intermolecular interactions of ZnO-NPs against critical embryonic proteins namely zebrafish hatching enzyme1 (ZHE1) as well as the superoxide dismutase (SOD1). Treatment with ZnO-NPs resulted in an increase in MDA concentration and a decrease in antioxidant enzyme levels. Besides a significant decrease in mRNA expression of key enzymes of ROS detoxification genes, a modulation of inflammatory genes with a low downregulation of tnf-α, and an upregulation of il-1β were observed. Docking study suggests that the delayed hatching and increased cellular oxidative stress in zebrafish embryos may occur through a synergistic mechanism based on the ZnO-NP—dependent inhibition of ZHE1 and SOD1 enzymes. The integration of in vivo assessments with in silico computational modeling provided a more comprehensive evaluation of potential physiological risks in zebrafish embryos associated with nanomaterial exposure.

Dynamic Changes and Correlation Analysis of Pumpkin Quality and Physiological Indicators during Postharvest Storage

Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch.) is a versatile crop with strong stress resistance and promising growth potential. Widely cultivated in various regions of China, it ranks among the top crops globally in terms of both planting area and consumption. Known for its pleasant taste and high nutritional value, pumpkin pulp is rich in essential trace elements for the human body. Even after harvest, pumpkin fruit remains metabolically active, requiring its own nutrients to complete the postripening process. Failure to provide proper postharvest storage conditions can lead to excessive water loss and rapid nutrient depletion, resulting in rough, shriveled, and even rotten peel, ultimately diminishing the economic value of the pumpkin. This study aimed to investigate the changes in pumpkin quality and physiological indicators during storage to provide insights to determine optimal consumption and processing periods of pumpkins. The pumpkins were stored at a temperature of 16 ± 2 °C and 60% to 80% humidity during the experiment. The dynamic changes in fruit quality, hardness, respiration rate, malondialdehyde content, level of antioxidant enzymes, and other indicators of two pumpkin cultivars (BM5 and JQ) were assessed during storage, and the correlation among these indicators was evaluated. The results indicated a decrease in the vitamin C content and pulp hardness, whereas the superoxide dismutase and catalase contents initially increased and then decreased, and malondialdehyde and weight loss rates increased over the storage period. The weight loss rate exhibited significant positive and negative correlations with the malondialdehyde content (P < 0.01) of the two cultivars, whereas the vitamin C content showed a significant positive correlation with pulp hardness (P < 0.01). The findings indicate that optimal fruit quality was maintained within 40 days of postharvest storage. This study provides valuable insights into the selection of storable pumpkin cultivars.

Cardioprotective effects of cinnamoyl imidazole on apoptosis and oxidative stress in hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced H9C2 cell lines.

This study explored the effects of cinnamoyl imidazole on alleviating oxidative stress and apoptosis in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced H9C2 cells, using computational analysis with in-vitro validation. Computational techniques, including SwissADME and Swiss Target Prediction, were employed to predict the ADME properties and to identify targets of cinnamoyl imidazole. Differential gene expression (DEG) analysis was conducted on myocardial infarction (MI) datasets obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus. Gene enrichment and molecular simulation studies were done to focus on apoptotic pathways. The computational findings were validated through In vitro experiments on H9C2 cardiomyocytes subjected to 8 h of hypoxia followed by 24 h of reoxygenation. Antioxidant enzyme levels (catalase, GST, GSH-Px, and SOD), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), caspase-3 activity, and the expression of CASP3, MAPK8, JAK2, and BCL2L1 were assessed. Cinnamoyl imidazole has demonstrated favourable pharmacokinetic properties, characterized by high gastrointestinal absorption and low toxicity with negative toxicity for organ endpoints. Molecular docking studies revealed the strong binding affinities for CASP3, MAPK8, and JAK2. In vitro results showed a significant increase in cell viability (94.7 % at 10 μM, p < 0.001) and antioxidant enzyme activity, along with a 64.3 % reduction in caspase-3 activity at 1000 μM (p < 0.01). Cinnamoyl imidazole treatment preserved mitochondrial membrane potential, downregulated pro-apoptotic genes CASP3 and MAPK8, and upregulated the anti-apoptotic gene BCL2L1. Cinnamoyl imidazole effectively mitigates oxidative stress and apoptosis in H/R-induced H9C2 cells, enhancing cell viability and antioxidant defenses while maintaining mitochondrial integrity.

Chromium uptake and its impact on antioxidant level, photosynthetic machinery, and related gene expression in Brassica napus cultivars.

The development of heavy metals, particularly chromium (Cr)-tolerant crop cultivars, is hampered due to lack of understanding of the mechanisms behind Cr stress tolerance. In this study, two Brassica napus cultivars, ZS758 and ZD622, were compared for Cr stress resistance by using the chlorophyll a fluorescence technique and biochemical characteristics. In both cultivars, Cr stress dramatically decreased PSII and PSI efficiency, biomass accumulation, and antioxidant enzyme levels. Although, cultivar ZS758 showed reduction in oxidative stress by decreasing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in terms of reduced H2O2 and MDA content and increased enzymatic activities of key antioxidants enzymes including SOD, APX, CAT, and POD activities that play a crucial role in the regulation of numerous transcriptional pathways involved in oxidative stress responses. Higher non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and QY were found in tolerant ZS758 cultivar under Cr stress, indicating that tolerant cultivar had a greater capacity to preserve PSII activity under Cr stress by enhancing heat dissipation as a photo-protective component of NPQ. Lower PSI activity and electron transfer from PSII were confirmed by lower PSI efficiency and higher donor end limitation of PSI in both rapeseed cultivars. The Cr concentration was greater in the ZD622 as compared to ZS758, which affected the mineral nutrients profile and damaged the cellular ultrastructure and related gene expression levels. However, current study suggest that cultivar ZS758 is more resistant to Cr stress than ZD622 due to improved metabolism and structural integrity and Cr stress tolerance that is linked with the increased PSII activity, NPQ, and antioxidant potential; these physiological characteristics can be exploited to select cultivars for Cr stress tolerance.

Investigation of nanoparticles present in biochemic tissue salt Kalium phosphoricum in different potencies

BackgroundBiochemic tissue salts are defined as essential inorganic salts needed to maintain homoeostasis within living tissue. Kali phosphoricum is one of the twelve biochemic tissue salts. Nanomedicine is an expanding field, in which nanoparticles play an integral part and are known to exist in the natural world and can also be manufactured by scientists. This study sought to determine whether Kali phos included nanoparticles and whether may help to mitigate brain problems. Material and MethodTo investigate whether potassium phosphate nanoparticles were present in Kali phos, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used. To analyze the biochemical parameters, the homogenate of brain was incubated with lactose powder (control group), different potencies of Kali phos and K2HPO4. 25% homogenate of normal brain tissue was made with the help of ice cold 0.02M Tris-Cl (pH 7.4) buffer. Different antioxidant enzymes and glycolytic enzyme activities were measured. ResultsIt may be concluded from this investigation, utilizing these chosen potencies, that the biochemic tissue salt Kali phos does contain nanoparticles of potassium phosphate, adding to the development of the nanomedicine field. Lower potency remedies were more effective in modulating the level of antioxidant and glycolytic enzymes. ConclusionAlthough there is clearly a body of scientific evidence, mainstream medicine claims that there is simply an inadequate amount of such evidence. These results may expand the range of use and applications of biochemic tissue salts, lay the groundwork for the creation of empirical homoeopathic evidence, and bring innovative research avenues.

Enhancement of PFAS stress tolerance and wastewater treatment efficiency by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in constructed wetlands

This study aims to explore the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the growth of Iris pseudacorus L. and treatment efficacy in constructed wetlands (CWs) subjected to stress from per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). The findings reveal that PFASs exposure induces oxidative damage and inhibits the growth of I. pseudacorus. However, AMF symbiosis enhances plant tolerance to PFAS stress by modulating oxidative responses. AMF treatment not only promoted plant growth but also improved photosynthetic efficiency under PFAS exposure. Compared to non-AMF treatment, those with AMF treatment exhibited significantly increased levels of peroxidases and antioxidant enzymes, including peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, along with a notable reduction in lipid peroxidation. Additionally, AM symbiosis markedly enhanced the efficacy of CWs in the remediation of wastewater under PFASs-induced stress, with removal efficiencies for COD, TP, TN, and NH4+-N increasing by 19–34%, 67–180%, 106–137%, and 25–95%, respectively, compared to the AMF- treatments. In addition, the metabolic pathways of PFASs appeared to be influenced by their carbon chain length, with long-chain PFASs like perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoro anionic acid (PFNA) exhibiting more complex pathways compared to short-chain PFASs such as perfluoro acetic acid (PFPeA), and perfluoro hexanoic acid (PFHpA). These results suggest that AMF-plant symbiosis can enhance plant resilience against PFAS-induced stress and improve the pollutant removal efficiency of CWs. This study highlights the significant potential of AMF in enhancing environmental remediation strategies, providing new insights for the more effective management of PFAS-contaminated ecosystems.

Modulation of metagenomic, biochemical, and histo-morphological features in the termite Odontotermes formosanus through nanoemulsion treatment

A biotechnological technique that involves creating novel pesticides is the nanotechnology of natural compounds, like essential oils. With a lower threat to the environment and public health, these rational approaches provide a more sustainable choice. The present work sought to create novel nanoemulsions of ginger essential oil (G-EO) (Zingiber officinale) and basil essential oil (B-EO) (Ocimum basilicum) to control Odontotermes formosanus (O. formosanus). Stabilization of the ginger nano-emulsion (G-NE) and basil nano-emulsion (B-NE) was assessed by dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential (ZP), and PH measurement, and the characterization was verified by transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, a chemical investigation utilizing gas chromatography and mass spectrometers revealed the main components of B-NE, B-EO, G-NE, and G-EO. In addition to assessing the essential oil's termiticidal abilities against O. formosanus in bulk and nanoemulsion formulations. When G-NE and G-EO were both at 17.5 mg/mL, the mortality rates were 100% and 42.87%, respectively. B-EO appeared to have a 45.33% death rate, while B-NE displayed a 100% mortality rate at a dose of 0.273 mg/mL. According to the termiticide appraisal, nanoemulsions have a greater effect on suppressing O. formosanus than essential oils. Additional research was conducted on the impact of G-NE and B-NE on the level of total protein, detoxification enzymes (carboxylesterase, acid, alkaline phosphatase, and acetylcholinesterase), and antioxidant enzyme (peroxidase). It was found that there was a significant change in biochemical activities when compared to the control. Additionally, changes in morphology and histology were seen after exposure to G-NE and B-NE. Moreover, when contrasted to the untreated group, the current study's analysis of the fungal community after exposure to B-NE revealed a high degree of diversity. This work stressed the potential of G-NE and B-NE as natural plant-derived termiticides and suggested a novel technique for sustainability and environmental friendliness in controlling O. formosanus.

Life on both environment in semi-aquatic frogs: Impact of aquatic microplastic (MP) from MP enrichment to growth, immune function and physiological stress

The pervasive distribution of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems presents a significant threat to wildlife, with amphibians being particularly vulnerable due to their complex life cycles and ecological roles. This study investigates physiological and ecological impacts of aquatic MP exposure on juvenile black-spotted pond frogs (Pelophylax nigromaculatus), focusing on juvenile frog stage, history of life after metamorphosis. MP examinations in the intestine and body revealed accumulation primarily in the gastrointestinal tracts without evidence of systemic distribution. Experimental exposure to different concentrations of MPs demonstrated adverse effects on growth, physiological stress, and immune function. Notably, higher MP concentrations led to significant reductions in growth and innate immunity, indicative of compromised health. High concentrations of MPs were associated with elevated levels of corticosterone and antioxidant enzymes, indicating physiological stress. However, there was no evidence of extreme hormonal surges or imbalances in antioxidant enzyme activity, suggesting that amphibians were able to effectively cope with the levels of MPs used in the study. Changes in gastrointestinal morphology and fecal microbiota composition were observed, reflecting response of metabolic adaptation to MP exposure. At low concentrations of MPs, adaptive changes in digestive tract morphology and the maintenance of gut microbiota balance were observed, indicating that the frogs were able to manage the exposure below a certain threshold. In contrast, high concentrations of MPs had clear negative effects on amphibians, which could impact biodiversity and ecosystem stability. These findings also suggest that MPs may trigger adaptive responses at lower concentrations, while still posing significant environmental risks at higher levels.

Multi-functional PGPR Serratia liquefaciens confers enhanced resistance to lead stress and bacterial blight in soybean (Glycine max L.)

Lead toxicity and bacterial blight disease caused by Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. glycinea have destructive impacts on soybean growth and productivity. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria have been used as an eco-friendly approach for augmenting crop growth and stress resistance. The current study investigated the efficacy of Serratia liquefaciens ZM6 strain in enhancing soybean resistance to lead (Pb) stress and bacterial blight. Two pot experiments were performed. In the first pot experiment, soybean plants were inoculated with S. liquefaciens ZM6 and grown under variable Pb stress levels (0, 200 and 400µM of Pb(NO3)2). In the second experiment, S. liquefaciens-inoculated soybean plants were infected with P. savastanoi pv. glycinea, and disease severity was assessed two weeks post infection. The results revealed that S. liquefaciens strain resisted Pb stress up to 400µM Pb(NO3)2 and exhibited the highest levels of solubilized phosphate, solubilized zinc, siderophore, indole acetic acid, exopolysaccharide, trehalose and antioxidant enzymes at 400µM Pb compared to the other treatments. Moreover, Pb stress (200 and 400µM) significantly decreased the growth, yield, nutrient uptake, gas exchange, and contents of chlorophyll, soluble proteins, sugars, and phenolics of soybean plants. Pb stress also induced the levels of proline, glycine betaine, Pb, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzymes, ascorbate, glutathione and expression of stress-responsive genes (CAT, APX, POD, Fe-SOD, CHS7, CHI1A, PAL, IFS2, P5CS and WRKY54) in soybean plants. On the other hand, S. liquefaciens application markedly boosted the growth, yield and levels of nutrients, gas-exchange, chlorophyll, osmolytes, antioxidant enzymes and expression of stress-tolerant genes of Pb-stressed soybean plants. The bacterial inoculation significantly diminished oxidative stress indicators and Pb content in stressed plants. Inoculation of soybean plants with S. liquefaciens also caused significant reductions in blight disease symptoms in P. savastanoi pv. glycinea-infected plants, indicating the efficiency of this strain in controlling harmful blight disease. Overall, this study demonstrated S. liquefaciens ZM6 effectiveness in enhancing soybean resistance to Pb stress and bacterial blight.

Recovery of protein-rich biomass from surimi rinsing wastewater by using a sustainable cold plasma treatment

Surimi rinsing wastewater is typically discarded, causing waste of protein resources and environmental pollution. This study investigated the technology of a cold atmospheric plasma jet (CAPJ) for the recovery of protein-rich biomass (PRB), including myofibrillar proteins (MPs) and sarcoplasmic proteins (SPs), from surimi rinsing wastewater. The protein recovery yield was up to 59.84 %. CAPJ induced an increase in carbonyl and decreased sulfhydryl in protein content. Furthermore, the secondary structure of the protein was unfolded, particularly the transition from α-helix to β-sheet. The formation of disulfide bonds and increased hydrophobic interactions promoted protein aggregation (the particle size from 185.76 nm to 1869.07 nm, P < 0.05) and reduced solubility. The proteomic results indicated that CAPJ increased the expression level of antioxidant enzymes. Overall, the CAPJ technology could recover proteins from surimi rinsing wastewater for industrial application, which will promote the sustainable development of the surimi industry.

Assessing the effects of N-acetyl cysteine on growth, antioxidant and immune response in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) under different regimes of stocking densities.

The study investigated the impact of N-acetyl cysteine on growth, immune response, and antioxidant activity in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Fish were reared at three densities (1.50, 3.00, and 4.50 kg/m3) with four levels of N-acetyl cysteine supplementation (0, 2, 4, and 6 mg/kg) over 60 days. Better growth was observed at low density, but at all densities, fish fed the highest N-acetyl cysteine level (6 mg/kg) showed improved growth. Chemical composition of fish and activity of amylase, lipase and protease in all treatments were noted to be insignificant. The levels of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) and cortisol in HD treatments were high as compared to LD and MD treatment. However, fish fed with N3 diet in each density treatment showed the lowest level of antioxidant enzymes as well as cortisol. Similarly, the levels of malondialdehyde were noted to be high at HD treatments as compared to that in LD and MD. Its levels were lower in fish fed with N3 diets in all density treatments. Expression of somatostatins-1 did not increase in MD and HD treatments in response to high stocking density when compared with LD treatment. However, pro-opiomelanocortin-α level was reduced after N3 diet in HD treatment and interleukin 1-β expression increased after N3 supplement in HD treatment. In conclusion, N-acetyl cysteine supplementation improved growth and antioxidant response in tilapia. The most optimum dose of N-acetyl cysteine was noted to be 6 mg/kg at high stocking, suggesting the potential role of this nutraceutical in tilapia intensive culture.

Agomelatine-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers alleviate neuropathic pain in rats by Nrf2/HO-1 signalling pathway.

Neuropathic pain arises from impairments or malfunctions within the nervous system, resulting in atypical transmission and interpretation of pain signals. In the present study, we examined the neuroprotective effects of agomelatine (AGM) and agomelatine-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (AGM-NLCs) in neuropathic animal models induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into seven experimental groups to compare the effects of AGM and AGM-NLCs, which were administered at 20 mg/kg for 14 consecutive days after CCI. Our finding demonstrated that CCI triggered the onset of analgesia in these animals, corroborated by mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Furthermore, CCI induced an elevation in inflammatory mediators such as interleukin (IL)-1β and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and downregulated heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf2). Treatment with AGM and AGM-NLCs reversed inflammatory cascades and elevated antioxidant enzyme levels, leading to a reduction in paw withdrawal latency and threshold in rats. To further investigate the effect of AGM and AGM-NLCs, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) was administered, which antagonizes Nrf2. ATRA substantially downregulated Nrf2 expression and exacerbated thermal hyperalgesia, whereas Nrf2 and HO-1 expressions were significantly upregulated after AGM-NLCs administration. Overall, the results demonstrated that AGM-NLCs offer promising antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties in alleviating neuropathic pain symptoms, which can be attributed to improved drug delivery and therapeutic outcomes compared with AGM alone.

Potential of CME@ZIF-8 MOF Nanoformulation: Smart Delivery of Silymarin for Enhanced Performance and Mechanism in Albino Rats.

Silymarin, an antioxidant, is locally used for kidney and heart ailments. However, its limited water solubility and less oral bioavailability limit its therapeutic efficiency. The present study investigated the enhancement of solubility and bioavailability of silymarin by loading it in Cordia myxa plant extract-coated zeolitic imidazole framework (CME@ZIF-8) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced nephrotoxicity and cardiac toxicity in albino rats. The synthesized PEG-coated silymarin drug-loaded CME@ZIF-8 MOFs (PEG-Sily@CME@ZIF-8) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and zeta potential. The average crystal size of CME@ZIF-8 and PEG-Sily@CME@ZIF-8 was 12.69 and 16.81 nm, respectively. The silymarin drug loading percentage in PEG-Sily@CME@ZIF-8 was 33.05% (w/w). In the animal model with CCl4 treatment, different parameters like serum profile, enzymatic level, genotoxicity, and histopathology were assessed. Treatment with PEG-Sily@CME@ZIF-8 with different doses of 500, 1000, and 1500 μg/kg body weight efficiently ameliorated the alterations in the antioxidant defenses, biochemical parameters, and histopathological alterations and DNA damage in comparison to silymarin drug in a CCl4-induced toxicity rat model via alleviating the cellular abnormalities and attenuation of normal antioxidant enzymes levels. Moreover, the molecular mechanism of drug-silymarin interaction with the target protein was investigated. It involves the binding pockets of silymarin molecules with VEGFR, TNF-α, NLRP3, AT1R, NOX1, RIPK1, Caspase-3, CHOP, and MMP-9 proteins, elucidating the silymarin-protein interactions by the formation of hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. This study suggests that the nanodrug PEG-Sily@CME@ZIF-8 MOFs protect the kidneys and heart possibly by mitigating oxidative stress more efficiently than the conventional drug silymarin.

Exploring the anti-cancer and antimetastatic effect of Silymarin against lung cancer

Lung cancer metastasis remains a significant challenge in cancer therapy, necessitating the exploration of novel treatment modalities. Silymarin, a natural compound derived from milk thistle, has demonstrated promising anticancer properties. This work explored the inhibitory effects of silymarin on lung cancer metastasis and revealed the underlying processes, focusing on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and MMP-9 activities. Using a combination of in vitro and molecular docking analyses, we found that silymarin effectively reducing the lung cancer cells' motility and invasion by modulation of expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Furthermore, MTT assays revealed a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation upon silymarin treatment and found the IC50 value at 58 μM. We observe that apoptotic morphology characteristic in silymarin treated groups. Cell cycle analysis exhibit the cell cycle arrest at G1 phase, 25.8 % increased apoptosis in silymarin treated groups, as evidenced by Annexin V staining. Moreover, silymarin treatment shows the lipid peroxidation in elevated level and reduced in enzymatic antioxidant level, indicating its potential role in mitigating oxidative stress induce cell death. Gelatin zymography assay indicates the silymarin has ability to inhibit the MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in lung cancer. Additionally, cell migration assays and colony formation assays demonstrated impaired migratory and colony-forming abilities of lung cancer cells when treated with silymarin. Molecular docking studies further supported the binding affinity of silymarin with MMP-2 and MMP-9, demonstrate the −10.26 and −6.69 kcal/mol of binding energy. Collectively, our findings highlight the multifaceted anticancer properties of silymarin against lung cancer metastasis, providing insights into its therapeutic potential as an adjuvant treatment strategy.

CBR-470-1 protects against cardiomyocyte death in ischaemia/reperfusion injury by activating the Nrf2–GPX4 cascade

Cardiac ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) impairs mitochondrial function, resulting in excessive oxidative stress and cardiomyocyte ferroptosis and death. Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key regulator of redox homeostasis and has cardioprotective effects against various stresses. Here, we tested whether CBR-470-1, a noncovalent Nrf2 activator, can protect against cardiomyocyte death caused by I/R stress. Compared with vehicle treatment, the administration of CBR-470-1 (2 mg/kg) to mice significantly increased Nrf2 protein levels and ameliorated the infarct size, the I/R-induced decrease in cardiac contractile performance, and the I/R-induced increases in cell apoptosis, ROS levels, and inflammation. Consistently, the beneficial effects of CBR-470-1 on cardiomyocytes were verified in a hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) model in vitro, but this cardioprotection was dramatically attenuated by the GPX4 inhibitor RSL3. Mechanistically, CBR-470-1 upregulated Nrf2 expression, which increased the expression levels of antioxidant enzymes (NQO1, SOD1, Prdx1, and Gclc) and antiferroptotic proteins (SLC7A11 and GPX4) and downregulated the protein expression of p53 and Nlrp3, leading to the inhibition of ROS production and inflammation and subsequent cardiomyocyte death (apoptosis, ferroptosis and pyroptosis). In summary, CBR-470-1 prevented I/R-mediated cardiac injury possibly through inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis, ferroptosis and pyroptosis via Nrf2-mediated inhibition of p53 and Nlrp3 and activation of the SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway. Our data also highlight that CBR-470-1 may serve as a valuable agent for treating ischaemic heart disease.

Comparison of Protective Effects of Polyphenol-Enriched Extracts from Thinned Immature Kiwifruits and Mature Kiwifruits against Alcoholic Liver Disease in Mice.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is regarded as one of the main global health problems. Accumulated evidence indicates that fruit-derived polyphenols can lower the risk of ALD, this attributed to their strong antioxidant capacities. Thinned immature kiwifruits (TIK) are the major agro-byproducts in the production of kiwifruits, which have abundantly valuable polyphenols. However, knowledge about the protective effects of polyphenol-enriched extract from TIK against ALD is still lacking, which ultimately restricts their application as value-added functional products. To promote their potential applications, phenolic compounds from TIK and their corresponding mature fruits were compared, and their protective effects against ALD were studied in the present study. The findings revealed that TIK possessed extremely high levels of total phenolics (116.39 ± 1.51 mg GAE/g DW) and total flavonoids (33.88 ± 0.59 mg RE/g DW), which were about 7.4 times and 4.8 times greater than those of their corresponding mature fruits, respectively. Furthermore, the level of major phenolic components in TIK was measured to be 29,558.19 ± 1170.58 μg/g DW, which was about 5.4 times greater than that of mature fruits. In particular, neochlorogenic acid, epicatechin, procyanidin B1, and procyanidin B2 were found as the predominant polyphenols in TIK. In addition, TIK exerted stronger in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects than those of mature fruits, which was probably because of their higher levels of polyphenols. Most importantly, compared with mature fruits, TIK exhibited superior hepatoprotective effects on alcohol-induced liver damage in mice. The administration of polyphenol-enriched extract from TIK (YK) could increase the body weight of mice, reduce the serum levels of ALP, AST, and ALT, lower the levels of hepatic TG and TC, and diminish lipid droplet accumulation and hepatic tissue damage. In addition, the treatment of YK could also significantly restore the levels of antioxidant enzymes (e.g., SOD and CAT) in the liver and lower the levels of hepatic proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α), indicating that YK could effectively ameliorate ALD in mice by reducing hepatic oxidative stress and hepatic inflammation. Collectively, our findings can provide sufficient evidence for the development of TIK and their extracts as high value-added functional products for the intervention of ALD.

Overexpression of Auxin/Indole-3-Acetic Acid Gene TrIAA27 Enhances Biomass, Drought, and Salt Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana

White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is an important forage and aesthetic plant species, but it is susceptible to drought and heat stress. The phytohormone auxin regulates several aspects of plant development and alleviates the effects of drought stress in plants, including white clover, by involving auxin/indole acetic acid (Aux/IAA) family genes. However, Aux/IAA genes and the underlying mechanism of auxin-mediated drought response remain elusive in white clover. To extend our understanding of the multiple functions of Aux/IAAs, the current study described the characterization of a member of the Aux/IAA family TrIAA27 of white clover. TrIAA27 protein had conserved the Aux/IAA family domain and shared high sequence similarity with the IAA27 gene of a closely related species and Arabidopsis. Expression of TrIAA27 was upregulated in response to heavy metal, drought, salt, NO, Ca2+, H2O2, Spm, ABA, and IAA treatments, while downregulated under cold stress in the roots and leaves of white clover. TrIAA27 protein was localized in the nucleus. Constitutive overexpression of TrIAA27 in Arabidopsis thaliana led to enhanced hypocotyl length, root length, plant height, leaf length and width, and fresh and dry weights under optimal and stress conditions. There was Improved photosynthesis activity, chlorophyll content, survival rate, relative water content, endogenous catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) concentration with a significantly lower electrolyte leakage percentage, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration in overexpression lines compared to wild-type Arabidopsis under drought and salt stress conditions. Exposure to stress conditions resulted in relatively weaker roots and above-ground plant growth inhibition, enhanced endogenous levels of major antioxidant enzymes, which correlated well with lower lipid peroxidation, lower levels of reactive oxygen species, and reduced cell death in overexpression lines. The data of the current study demonstrated that TrIAA27 is involved in positively regulating plant growth and development and could be considered a potential target gene for further use, including the breeding of white clover for higher biomass with improved root architecture and tolerance to abiotic stress.

Mitigation of heavy metal toxicity in pigeon pea by plant growth promoting Pseudomonas alcaliphila strain PAS1 isolated from contaminated environment.

The risk of arsenic contamination is rising globally, and it has negative impacts on the physiological processes and growth of plants. Metal removal from contaminated soils can be accomplished affordably and effectively with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)-based microbial management. From this angle, this research evaluated the mitigation of arsenic toxicity using the bacteria isolated from contaminated site, Mettur, Salem district, South India. The newly isolated bacterial strain was screened for plant growth promotion potential and arsenic tolerance such as (100ppm, 250ppm, 500ppm, 800ppm and 1200ppm). The metal tolerant rhizobacteria was identified using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis as Pseudomonas alcaliphila strain PAS1 (GenBank accession number: OQ804624). Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) plants were used in pot culture experiments with varying concentrations of arsenic, (5ppm, 10ppm and 25ppm) both with and without bacterial culture, for a period of 45days. At the concentration of 25ppm after the application of PAS1 enhanced the plant growth, protein and carbohydrate by 35.69%, 18.31% respectively. Interestingly, P. alcaliphila strain PAS1 significantly reduced the stress-induced elevated levels of proline, flavonoid, phenol and antioxidant enzyme in pigeon pea plants was 40%, 31.11%, 27.80% and 20.12%, respectively. Consequently, PAS1 may significantly reduce the adverse effects that arsenic causes to plant development in acidic soils, improve plant uptake of nutrients, and increase plant production. The findings of this study reveal that P. alcaliphila PAS1 is intrinsic for phytoremediation by reducing arsenic accumulation in the root and shoot.

Acute cardiorenal dysfunctions induced by isoprenaline in Wistar rats: Mitigating potential of Juglans regia hull extract

The present study aimed to determine the attenuating properties of Juglans regia hull extract (JRHE) in mitigating isoprenaline (ISO) induced cardiorenal dysfunctions in Wistar rats. Thirty adult Wistar rats were randomly allocated to five groups with six animals in each group. Group I served as control; group II animals were administered ISO and group III received JRHE alone whereas group IV and V received JRHE and quercetin along with ISO, respectively. Administration of ISO in rats induced cardiac and renal tissue damage as reflected by significantly (p < 0.05) increased plasma activities of creatine kinase-myocardial band, lactate dehydrogenase, acetylcholinesterase, arylesterase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine along with altered antioxidant biomarkers viz. total antioxidant status, total thiols, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase and increased (p < 0.05) lipid and protein peroxidation in cardiac and renal tissues. Histopathological findings corroborated that ISO has inflicted significant damage on cardiac and renal tissues. Repeated administration of JRHE significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the severity of ISO-induced alterations in blood, cardiac and renal biomarkers. In addition to restoring the levels of altered cardio-renal antioxidant enzymes, JRHE also ameliorated histopathological lesions in cardiac and renal tissues in ISO-treated rats.