Free Radical Scavenging Properties Research Articles

Flavonoid-rich fraction from Pleroma pereirae (Melastomataceae): Effects on calcium oxalate crystallization, antioxidant and antinociceptive activities

IntroductionPleroma pereirae is a Brazilian endemic shrub used in the folk medicine for the treatment of kidney diseases. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the biological effects of the flavonoid-rich fraction (FFPP) obtained from P. pereirae. MethodsCrude extract ofP. pereirae was fractioned on a silica gel column and the effects of FFPP on calcium oxalate crystallization, its free radical scavenging (using the DPPH• test) and antinociceptive properties (using two chemically induced pain models) were evaluated. ResultsThe P. pereirae ethanolic extract was fractioned through silica gel column yielding FFPP, which contains quercetin-O-galloylglucoside, quercetin-O-rutinoside (Rutin), isorhamnetin–O-galloylglucoside, kaempferol-O-rutinoside (Nicotiflorin), isorhamnetin-O-glucoside, isorhamnetin-O-rutinoside (Narcissin) and disaccharide isomers of kaempferol, quercetin and isorhamnetin. These natural products were characterized with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to DAD-ESI-MS/MSn. FFPP induced only nucleation and growth of calcium oxalate crystals and showed the ability to scavenge the free radical in the DPPH test (EC50 = 4.58 μg/mL). The antinociceptive activity was observed in the acetic acid-induced writhing test (p < 0.001) and in the formalin test (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, in early and late phases, respectively) at the doses tested. ConclusionsThe flavonoids present in FFPP showed strong antinociceptive activity and were able to inhibit aggregation of calcium oxalate crystals, what supports, at least in part, the use of P. pereirae for the treatment and prevention of some kidney diseases.

Protective Role of N-Acetylcysteine on the Cytotoxic Effect of Paclitaxel in MCF7 Breast Cancer Cell Line

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is a low molecular weight and thiol-containing antioxidant. The free radical scavenging property is linked to the nucleophilicity and redox interactions of the thiol group. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic effect of paclitaxel used in chemotherapeutic treatment of breast cancer and N-Acetylcysteine, an antioxidant molecule, on MCF7 cells. In the MCF7 breast cancer cell line, the cytotoxic effect of paclitaxel is 7.5 μM and 10 μM and N-acetylcysteine's 10mM, 25mM, 50mM, 75mM dose combinations on the cells were determined by WST1 test at 24, 48 and 72 hours incubation times. N-Acetylcysteine showed proliferative effect on breast cancer cells. This effect persisted when combined with paclitaxel and weakened the cytotoxic effect of paclitaxel. However, the proliferative effect of NAC decreased with increasing incubation time. Colony forming ability of applied combinations at MCF 7 cells is also supports the results of cytotoxicity. In vivo and in vitro longer-term studies that will be used concurrently with conventional cancer treatment and NAC will contribute to clarify the issue. Key words: N-Acetylcysteine, paclitaxel, MCF7 Special Issue of Health Sciences DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/6-03-23

Retraction: Epigallocatechin gallate effectively ameliorates fluoride-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in the liver of rats

Environmental exposure to sodium fluoride (NaF) compounds is a worldwide health concern. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a green tea catechin found in a variety of green tea preparations. The intention of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective role of EGCG in NaF-intoxicated rats. Rats were orally treated with NaF alone (25 mg·(kg body mass)(-1)·day(-1)) or plus EGCG at different doses (20, 40, and 80 mg·(kg body mass)(-1)·day(-1)) for 4 weeks. Hepatotoxicity of NaF was determined by increased levels of serum hepatospecific markers and total bilirubin, along with increased levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, lipid hydroperoxides, protein carbonyl content, and conjugated dienes. The hepatotoxic nature of NaF was further evidenced by the decreased activity of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant levels in liver. NaF-treated rats also showed increased DNA damage and fragmentation in hepatocytes. Administration of EGCG (40 mg·(kg body mass)(-1)) to NaF-intoxicated rats significantly recuperated the distorted biochemical indices, DNA damage, and pathological changes in the liver tissue. Thus, the results of the present study clearly demonstrate that EGCG has strong free radical scavenging, antioxidant, and antigenotoxic properties that protect against NaF-induced oxidative hepatic injury in rats.

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of algal-mediated silver and gold nanoparticles

This study focused on the synthesis and application of nanoparticles using Neodesmus pupukensis (MG257914). Cell free extracts of the microalga was employed to synthesize both silver (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The nanoparticles were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The nanoparticles were screened for their antimicrobial potential and free radical scavenging activity against stable free radical (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl). The UV absorption spectra showed absorbance peaks of 430 nm and 530 nm for AgNPs and AuNPs respectively. The FTIR spectra at 3283, 2102.87, 1636.02 for AgNPs and 3264.86, 2104.49, 1636.62, 1232.39, 1028.97 cm−1 for AuNPs confirms the participation of proteins in the capping and stabilization of the nanoparticles. The zone of inhibition indicating the activity of the NP-AgNPs were: Pseudomonas sp (43 mm); Escherichia coli (24.5 mm); Klebsiella pneumoniae (27 mm), Serratia marcescens (39 mm) while AuNPs showed activity to only Pseudomonas sp (27.5 mm) and Serratia marcescens (28.5 mm). The antifungal potency of NP-AgNPs was confirmed with mycelial inhibition of 80.6, 57.1, 79.4, 65.4 and 69.8% against Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, A. flavus, Fusarium solani and Candida albicans respectively, while NP-AuNPs had 79.4, 44.3, 75.4, 54.9 and 66.4% against A. niger, A. fumigatus, A. flavus, F. solani and C. albicans respectively. Appreciable free radical scavenging properties was obtained with NP-AuNPs (68.9%) and NP-AgNPs (41.21%). The nanoparticles of Neodesmus pupukensis showed appreciable potential as antimicrobial and antioxidant agents and could be explored for various applications in biotechnology.

Characterization and biomedical application of phytosynthesized gold nanoparticles from Datura stramonium seed extract

This study describes characterization and some biological evaluation of gold nanoparticles synthesized using aqueous seed extract of Datura stramonium. The phytosynthesized AuNPs was characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and evaluated for antifungal, antioxidant, thrombolytic and anticoagulant activities. The AuNPs were nearly spherical, and agglomerated in nature with size ranges of 75.1-156.5 nm. Gold was the most occurring metal noted on EDX analysis, while the AuNPs showed face-centred crystalline pattern. The UV-visible spectrum of the AuNPs synthesized displayed clear peak at 536 nm. The FTIR peaks at 3423.76, 2920.32, 2360.95 and 1635.69 cm−1 attributed to the involvement of proteins in the AuNPs biofabrication and capping. The AuNPs showed potent antifungal activity through inhibitions of mycelia by 57.9, 60.7, 64.5, 69.6 and 80.6 % against Fusarium solani, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, A. flavus and A. fumigatus at 250 μg/ml respectively.The AuNPs synthesized showed scavenging properties of 28.9, 37.3, 42.5 and 52.4 % at 250, 500, 750 and 1000 μg/ml against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl. Furthermore, the synthesized AuNPs also showed free radical scavenging properties against nitric oxide at 250 (52.20 %), 500 (55.73 %), 750 (56.71 %) and 1000 (59.51 %) μg/ml respectively using sodium nitroprusside as positive control. Blood coagulation was prevented by the AuNPs at 250 (54 %), 500 (55 %), 750 (56 %) and 1000 (59 %) μg/ml. Also, AuNPs showed thrombolytic potential by causing lysis of blood clot thus, showing potential for biomedical applications. An in-expensive and environmental-friendly synthesis of AuNPs from Datura stramonium seed has been presented for various nano-biotechnological applications.

Computational and experimental validation of free radical scavenging properties of high-performance thin-layer chromatography quantified phenyl myristate in Homalium nepalense.

Phenyl myristate was isolated from Homalium nepalense, which is known for its therapeutic virtues in traditional medicine. However, the study of radical scavenging-capacity of phenyl myristate is limited by its relatively low abundance in medicinal plants. We have studied the isolation, structure-elucidation, and bioactivities of high-performance thin-layer chromatography validated phenyl myristate from hydroalcohol-extract of bark of H. nepalense. The chemical structure of phenyl myristate was elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The chromatography was performed on high-performance thin-layer chromatography aluminum plates coated with silica-gel 60 F254 . Determination and quantitation of phenyl myristate were performed by densitometric-scanning at 254nm (chloroform-methanol, 9:1, v/v; Rf 0.49). The method was validated according to International Council for Harmonisation guidelines in terms of linearity, specificity, sensitivity, accuracy, precision, robustness, and stability. Linearity-range of phenyl myristate was 100-500ng/5µL with correlation-coefficient r2 =0.9997. Limits of detection and quantitation were 3.35 and 10.17ng, respectively. Phenyl myristate showed significant free-radical-scavenging activities in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, oxygen-radical-absorbance-capacity, and ex vivo cell-based-antioxidant-protection-in-erythrocytes assays. Molecular-docking approach of phenyl myristate showed effective binding at active sites of human serum albumin (HSA) with the lowest binding energy (-8.4kcal/mol) that was comparable with ascorbic acid (-5.0kcal/mol). These studies provide mechanistic insight into the potential free radical scavenging activities of phenyl myristate.

Garlic (Allium sativum) as an antidote or a protective agent against natural or chemical toxicities: A comprehensive update review.

Garlic (Allium sativum, Liliaceae) is used widely as a spice and medicinal herb not only in its native region (Central Asia and northeastern Iran) but also all around the world. Garlic has abundance chemical compounds such as allicin, alliin, S-allyl cysteines, thiacremonone, diallyl-disulfide, diallylsulfide, and others. This medicinal plant and its constituents offer a lot of benefits including free-radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, anticholesterolemic, anti-gastric ulcer, antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. Garlic also modulates the activity of several metabolizing enzymes. This review summarizes various in vitro and animal studies on the protective effects of garlic against natural and chemical toxicities. It has been shown that garlic and its major components can ameliorate the toxicity of different agents in brain, kidney, blood, liver, embryo, spleen, pancreas, heart, reproductive system in part through radical scavenging, antioxidant effect, reducing lipid peroxidation, anti-inflammatory, chelating agent, cytoprotective activities, increase protein synthesis in damaged tissues, suppressing apoptosis, modulation of p53, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, Akt, nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2, antioxidant responsive element, p38 MAPK, inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, cytosolic phospholipases A2, cleaved-caspase-9, cleaved-caspase-3 Bcl-2, Bcl-2-associated X, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, NF-jB, nuclear factor-kappaB signaling pathways and cytochrome P450 enzymes. With controlled clinical trials, garlic may be introduced as a universal antidote or protective plant against many toxic agents.

Kinetics Studies on Free Radical Scavenging Property of Ceria in Polysulfone-Ceria Radiation Resistant Mixed-matrix Membrane

Cerium oxide (ceria) contains two stable states of cerium ions (Ce3+ and Ce4+). The presence of these two states, and the ability to swap from one state to another (Ce3+ ↔ Ce4+) by scavenging the highly reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated from radiolysis of water, ensures the enhanced stability of polysulfone (Psf) membranes in the γ-radiation environment. In this study, the ROS scavenging ability of ceria was studied. Ceria nanoparticles were found to scavenge hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide by mimicking peroxidase-like activity. This is responsible for offering protection to the Psf host matrix, and in turn the stability to the Psf-ceria mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) in γ-radiation environment. Thus, presence of ceria nanoparticles provides an opportunity for the application of Psf-ceria MMMs in radioactive effluent treatment with increased life span, without compromise in the performance.

Comparative Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activities of Qurs-Saffron and Quknar Polyherbal Tablets in Mouse Model

Objective: We aimed to study the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects for two polyherbal tablets in animal model.&#x0D; Methods: Suspensions of Qurs-Saffron and Quknar polyherbal formulations (p.o.) were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory (in carrageenan-induced paw edema) and analgesic activities (in formalin-induced paw licking test) in albino mice using Ibuprofen (50 mg/kg, orally) as standard drug. Acute toxicity testing of suspensions from Qurs-Saffron and Quknar tablets was also performed at doses 1, 2 and 3 gm/kg, orally. Parametric data were evaluated by one way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test while graphics were made using GraphPad Prism.&#x0D; Results: Administration of Qurs-Saffron (1000, 1500, 2000 mg/kg) and Quknar (500, 750, 1000 mg/kg) suspensions showed significant (P &lt; 0.05) inhibition of paw edema and at later time point (after 3 hours), both suspensions showed highly significant (P &lt; 0.001) inhibition of paw edema. In another experiment (formalin-induced paw licking test), Qurs-Saffron (2000 mg/kg) and Quknar (1000 mg/kg) showed the highly significant (P &lt; 0.001) analgesic activity.&#x0D; Conclusion: Qurs-Saffron and Quknar tablets possessed anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects that were most likely due to flavonoids and phenolic compounds with free radical scavenging properties which significantly reduced inflammation and pain in treated mice and were also found safe in toxicity testing.

Asian hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax venom: Evaluation and identification of the bioactive compound responsible for human keratinocyte protection against oxidative stress

The present study aimed to explore the potential antioxidant molecules of the Asian hornet venom (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) responsible for radical scavenging activity and human keratinocyte protection against oxidative stress. We developed a first technical platform that combined a DPPH radical scavenging chemical assay and cytotoxicity and ROS (reactive oxygen species) production in HaCaT keratinocyte cells exposed to UVB to evaluate the antioxidant property of V. velutina venom. We further employed Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) combined with the DPPH assay as a targeted separation approach to isolate the antioxidant compounds responsible for the free radical scavenging property of V. velutina venom. In parallel, the latter was fractionated by a HPLC-DAD non-targeted separation approach. From this experiment, nine fractions were generated which were again evaluated separately for their antioxidant properties using DPPH assays. Results showed that only one fraction exhibited significant antioxidant activity in which serotonin was identified as the major compound by a UHPLC-ESI-QTOF HRMS/MS approach. We finally demonstrated, using purified serotonin molecule that this bioactive structure is mostly responsible for the free radical scavenging property of the crude venom as evidenced by DPPH and ROS assays in HaCaT cells exposed to UVB.

Prophylactic effect of vitamin e on carmoisine food dye induced kidney damage in male mice: histological, physiological and immunological studies

The study evaluates the immunomodulatory effect of vitamin E against the side effect of synthetic food dye-induced oxidative damage and nephrotoxicity in male mice. Mice were divided into 4 groups viz., group 1 as control mice, group 2 received vitamin E (100 mg kg−1 bw), group 3 administered with carmoisine (250 mg kg−1 bw), and group 4 received carmoisine and vitamin E for 28 days. Nephrotoxicity induce in mice was assessed by observing the changes in levels of renal markers, and antioxidant status. Administration of vitamin E significantly restored the levels of renal functions (urea and creatinine), antioxidants status and immunological parameters (TNF-a, Cox-2, Bcl-2, CD95 and caspase 3). The prophylactic role of vitamin E against food dye-induced toxicity may be attributed to their antioxidant effects and free radical scavenging properties.

Synthesis and inhibitory activity of N-acetylpyrrolidine derivatives on α-glucosidase and α-amylase.

Background and purpose:Carbohydrate hydrolysis enzymes including α-glucosidase and α-amylase are related to type 2 diabetes mellitus. The inhibiting of these enzymes might use for type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment.Experimental approach:N-substituted-acetylpyrrolidine linked with -benzyl- (N-(benzyl)-2-acetylpyrrolidine (4a)) and -tosyl- (N-(tosyl)-2-acetylpyrrolidine (4b)) were synthesized and evaluated for their pharmaceutical properties against α-glucosidase and α-amylase and free radical scavenging activity. The structures of 4a and 4b were determined through spectral studies (1H-NMR).Findings / Results:Both compounds 4a and 4b had highest inhibitory potential on α-glucosidase with the IC50 values of 0.52 ± 0.02 and 1.64 ± 0.08 mM, respectively. The kinetic investigation of 4a and 4b against α-glucosidase and α-amylase were functioned in mixed type inhibition. Moreover, both compounds are more likely to bind with the free enzyme than the enzyme-substrate complex based on the Ki < Ki´ on the α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes. Regarding the free radical scavenging, 4a had a higher capacity than 4b with IC50 values of 1.01 ± 0.010 mM for 4a and 1.82 ± 0.048 mM for 4b.Conclusion and implications:Our results indicated that a derivative of N-substitute-acetylpyrrolidine had high potential to inhibit α-glucosidase and α-amylase, and their free radical scavenging properties might be applied to the therapeutic care of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

In-vivo and In-vitro Antioxidant Activity of Troxerutin on Nickel Induced Toxicity in Experimental Rats

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of troxerutin (TXN) on Nickel (Ni) toxicity by using rats and in-vitro model. Ni toxicity induced in male albino wistar rats (20 mg/kg body weight (b.w) was administered orally for 20 days). TXN was administered orally (100 mg/kg (b.w) for 20 days with administration of Ni. The toxic effect of Ni and the action of TXN was measure by determining the lipid peroxidation markers and antioxidant levels in plasma and various in-vitro antioxidant systems. TXN exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) antioxidant activity in Ni induced toxicity by reversing the changes observed in TBARS, HP, Vitamin C, E and GSH. The free radical scavenging properties of TXN at different concentrations (10-50ug/mL) were investigated with various in-vitro methods such as 2, 2’-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), 2, 2’-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical (ABTS•+), hydroxyl radical, superoxide anion scavenging activity and reducing power. Among the different concentrations, 50 μg/mL of TXN was more effective compared to other concentrations in all in-vitro assays. The above study conclude that TXN possesses potent in-vivo and in-vitro antioxidant activity with effective free radical scavenger for potential therapeutic value

Sedative, hypothermic, anxiolytic effects and rapid radical scavenging property of aqueous leaf extract of Vitex doniana (Lamiaceae) in mice

Vitex doniana is used ethnomedicinally for the management of madness, insanity, and epilepsy. This study was undertaken to evaluate the sedative, hypothermic and anxiolytic effects of crude aqueous leaf extract of Vitex doniana (AVD) in mice, as well as its rapid radical scavenging property. Doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg AVD were adopted for the pharmacological testing in mice of both sexes (n=6). The behavioural effects of the extract in the open field apparatus were determined. AVD was evaluated for its anxiolytic effect, using elevated T- maze, staircase, and hole-board models. While the sedative and hypothermic effects of the extract in mice were determined by assessments of ketamine-induced sleeping time and rectal temperature respectively. AVD was subjected to rapid radical scavenging test using thin-layer chromatography (TLC)-bioautography. The results showed AVD to have an inhibitory effect on CNS in the open field test. AVD demonstrated anxiolytic effect at 250 mg/kg, and sedative effect at 500 and 1000 mg/kg. The sedative effect of AVD at 500 and 1000 mg/kg was further revealed in ketamine-induced sleeping time and rectal temperature. AVD also showed strong free radical scavenging property attributed to the presence of fatty acid esters, terpenes, phenolics, and phenolic glycosides. AVD is acutely non-toxic and it possesses significant sedative, hypothermic and anxiolytic effects, which could in part be due to the presence of rapid free radical scavenging compounds, thus, providing pharmacological justification for its ethnomedicinal uses as a curative for madness and insanity.

Study of Phytochemical Content and Antioxidant Properties of Musa Balbisiana Corm Extract

Musa balbisiana colla is an important plant native to India and many other Asian countries. Parts of this plant such as seeds, fruit pulp, inflorescence, pseudo-stem, and corm have been known to possess several medicinal values. In Kokrajhar district of Assam, the decoction of corm part of the plant is traditionally used as antidiabetic medicine. The present study was aimed to investigate the phytochemicals, antioxidants, trace element, and major compounds of the corm part of Musa balbisiana. Phenolic and flavonoid contents were estimated following standard protocols. The antioxidant activity of the plant was studied by ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, total antioxidant capacity, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl, and lipid peroxidation scavenging assay. The phytochemical study revealed that the corm extract is rich in protein, carbohydrates, phenolics, and flavonoid content. Antioxidant study revealed strong free radical scavenging property of the crude corm extract of Musa balbisiana. The elemental analysis showed highest Zn content (0.2993 ppm) followed by Ni, Cu, and Mn. Pb, Cd, and Cr were not detected in the extract. GC-MS analysis showed difluroisocyanotophosphine to be the major compound of Musa balbisiana corm extract

Phytochemical investigation and antioxidant characterization of essential oil from roots of Rumex nepalensis Spreng high altitude of North India

The chemical constituents and antioxidant activity of essential oil from Rumex nepalensis growing in Himalayan region was evaluated. The essential oil was obtained from steam distillation of fresh plant and analyzed by Gas Chromatography and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in relation with their Kovat retention indices and mass spectra. The essential oil was rich in monoterpenoids and oxygenated monoterpenoids. The major chemical constituents were identified from roots of Rumex nepalensis as hemellitol (10.80%), 1,1,3-trimethyl-cyclohexane (9.17%), n-nonane, (7.05%), linalool oxide (3.87%), 4-methyl-octane (3.58%), 14-oxy-α-muurolene (3.56%), α-humulene (3.53%), khusinol (3.21%), 2,6-ditertary-butyl-phenol (3.09%), tridecene (2.94%), E-caryophyllene (2.83%), α-copaene (2.36%), δ-cadinene (2.32%), ethyl-cyclohexane (2.18%) & 3,5-dimethylheptane (2.09%) where as oxygenated sesquiterpenoids were minor constituents. Our study showed there is little known about the chemical composition of essential oil from Rumex nepalensis along with other minor constituents. The free radical scavenging property of Rumex nepalensis employed by in-vitro assay methods like scavenging activity of 2,2-diphenyl1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and scavenging of H2O2 activity was 83.10% & 79.18% at 600 µg/mL concentrations, respectively. In this study, the mean chemical constituents of roots of Rumex nepalensis was reported first time from roots which may contribute to its higher antioxidant activities and provide scientific evidences for its traditional uses.

Antioxidant activitiy of Lactobacillus plantarum , Lactobacillus sake and Lactobacillus curvatus strains isolated from fermented Turkish Sucuk.

In recent years, it is very important to find more safe and natural antioxidants than biological sources to replace synthetic antioxidants. The antioxidant properties of 22 lactic acid bacteria were investigated in vitro in the present study. The conducted in vitro antioxidant assays included scavenging the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) free radical, metal (Fe+2) ion chelation, hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical scavenging properties, and anti-lipid peroxidation. Analysis of DPPH free radical scavenging property of microorganisms demonstrated that Lactobacillus plantarum IH14L (90.34 ± 0.40%) strain exhibited the highest activity. The highest Fe+2 chelation activity was observed with Lactobacillus curvatus GH5L (75.98 ± 5.35%), while the lowest chelation activity was observed with L. plantarum IH14L (19.80 ± 0,05). The highest and lowest hydroxyl radical scavenging strains were L. plantarum IH16L (82.25 ± 1.60%) and L. plantarum IH26L (35.60 ± 4.50) strains, respectively. Comparison of superoxide radical scavenging activities of the microorganisms demonstrated that these activities ranged between 21.63 ± 1.32% and 7.22 ± 0.04%. A positive correlation was identified between the hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of the microorganisms and the anti-lipid peroxidation property. It was found that they had the potential for use in nutritional and probiotic applications as protective and natural antioxidants.

Antidiabetic Activity of Gold Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Wedelolactone in RIN-5F Cell Line.

We synthesized the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using wedelolactone (WDL) and characterized them using UV-visible spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopic (SEM), transmission electron microscopic (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopic (AFM) studies. The electronic spectrum exhibited an absorption peak at 535 nm. The FT-IR results proved that WDL was stabilized on the surface of AuNPs by acting as a capping or reducing agent. The crystalline structure was affirmed by XRD pattern and the spherical shape of WDL-AuNPs was evidenced by SEM, TEM, and AFM. The synthesized WDL-AuNPS were evaluated for anti-diabetic activity in pancreatic RIN-5F cell lines. In vitro results showed that WDL-AuNPs did not only improve the insulin secretion affected by di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), but also the cell viability in RIN5F cells. WDL-AuNPs treatment modulates the pro-apoptotic proteins and anti-apoptotic proteins expression to prevent the cells undergoing apoptosis in DEHP-exposed RIN-5F cells. The exposure of DEHP causes an increase in ROS production and lipid peroxidation levels. The free radical scavenging and antioxidant properties of WDL-AuNPs increase the deleterious effect caused by DEHP. On the other side, WDL-AuNPs increase mRNA expressions of insulin-signaling proteins in RIN-5F cells. This study concludes that WDL-AuNPs can be successfully used to regulate the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins, reduce lipid peroxidation, and to improve the secretion of antioxidants and insulin through the GLUT2 pathway in RIN-5F cell lines.

In situ forming and reactive oxygen species-scavenging gelatin hydrogels for enhancing wound healing efficacy

The overexpression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributes to the pathogenesis of numerous diseases such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, cancer, and chronic inflammation. Therefore, the development of materials that can locally control the adverse effects resulting from excessive ROS generation is of great significance. In this study, the antioxidant gallic acid-conjugated gelatin (GGA) was introduced into gelatin-hydroxyphenyl propionic (GH) hydrogels to create an injectable hydrogel with enhanced free radical scavenging properties compared to pure GH hydrogels. The modified hydrogels were rapidly formed by an HRP-catalyzed cross-linking reaction with high mechanical strength and biodegradability. The resulting GH/GGA hydrogels effectively scavenged the hydroxyl radicals and DPPH radicals, and the scavenging capacity could be modulated by varying GGA concentrations. Moreover, in an in vitro H2O2-induced ROS microenvironment, GH/GGA hydrogels significantly suppressed the oxidative damage of human dermal fibroblast (hDFBs) and preserved their viability by reducing intracellular ROS production. More importantly, the ROS scavenging hydrogel efficiently accelerated the wound healing process with unexpected regenerative healing characteristics, shown by hair follicle formation; promoted neovascularization; and highly ordered the alignment of collagen fiber in a full-thickness skin defect model. Therefore, we expect that injectable GH/GGA hydrogels can serve as promising biomaterials for tissue regeneration applications, including wound treatment and other tissue repair related to ROS overexpression. Statement of significanceRecently, many researchers have endeavored to develop injectable hydrogel matrices that can modulate the ROS level to normal physiological processes for the treatment of various diseases. Here, we designed an injectable gelatin hydrogel in which gallic acid, an antioxidant compound, was conjugated onto a gelatin polymer backbone. The hydrogels showed tunable properties and could scavenge the free radicals in a controllable manner. Because of the ROS scavenging properties, the hydrogels protected the cells from the oxidative damage of ROS microenvironment and effectively accelerated the wound healing process with high quality of healed skin. We believe that this injectable ROS scavenging hydrogel has great potential for wound treatment and tissue regeneration, where oxidative damage by ROS contributes to the pathogenesis.

Assessment of Hepatoprotective Activity of Rajata Bhasma in CCl­4 Induced Hepatotoxicity Rats

Rajata Bhasma (RB) is an Ayurvedic formulation and used for the treatment of liver disorders. Till date scientific validation according to modern tool of RB has been not performed. Hence it was planned to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of RB in CCl­4 induced liver cirrhosis rats. The different formulation RB1 (9 puta) and RB2 (17 puta) were prepared by following classical methods. The SGOT, SGPT, ALP, ACP, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin in blood significantly enhance in CCl4 treated rats compared to normal group rats. After treatment with the different doses of RB1 (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) and RB2 (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) significantly decreased the CCl4 induced alteration in SGOT, SGPT, ALP, ACP, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin in blood. The RB1 and RB2 treated rats significantly increased the level of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase enzyme, whereas lipid peroxidation was decreased, when compared to CCl4 treated group rats. Theses property confirmed the antioxidant properties of RB. The findings suggest that hepatoprotective activity of RB may be due to free radical scavenging property.