Glutathione Reductase Levels Research Articles

The antioxidant effect of Aronia melanocarpa extract in rats oxidative stress induced by cisplatin administration

BackgroundThe reactive oxygen species generated by numerous xenobiotic substances has as consequences the impairment of different organs normal function. Many plants pose antioxidant activity to counteract oxidative stress, among them being the chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa). The purpose of present study was to determine if the use of A. melanocarpa extract can counteract the oxidative stress induced by cisplatin administration in rats. Material and methodsThe study was made on forty Wistar rats divided in four groups as follows: C (control): receiving i.p. 1 mL of saline solution; E1: receiving cisplatin 20 mg/kg bw, i.p.; E2: receiving cisplatin 20 mg/kg bw, i.p and A. melanocarpa berry 6 % aqueous extract as drinking water, and CB (control blank): i.p 1 mL saline solution and A. melanocarpa 6 % aqueous extract for four weeks. Results. Administration of Cisplatin was followed by the increase of serum superoxide dismutase (+21.18 %, P < 0.05), catalase (+25.44 %, P < 0.001), glutathione peroxidase (+17.88 %, P < 0.05) and thiobarbituric reactive substances (+28.17 %, P < 0.01) but significantly decreased glutathione reductase (−22.35 %, P < 0.001) level comparative to control, pointing out that administration of cisplatin induced oxidative stress in rats. In groups that received A. melanocarpa extract as drinking water, we noted that the levels of the oxidative stress biomarkers tended to be restored almost to normal levels, which could be a possible good antioxidant used in condition to cisplatin use. Also, we noted a significant (P < 0.001) decrease of total antioxidant capacity in liver and kidney of rats exposed to cisplatin, recovered in those that received chokeberry. Studied trace elements important for the stress oxidative enzymes (Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn) were decreased in cisplatin exposed groups compared to control and mainly all were almost to normal level in groups receiving A. melanocarpa. Conclusion. A. melanocarpa extract due to its antioxidants content could offer protection against free radicals produced as a consequence of cisplatin use.

Spraying Zinc Sulfate to Reveal the Mechanism through the Glutathione Metabolic Pathway Regulates the Cadmium Tolerance of Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz).

Cadmium (Cd) is considered to be one of the most toxic metals, causing serious harm to plants' growth and humans' health. Therefore, it is necessary to study simple, practical, and environmentally friendly methods to reduce its toxicity. Until now, people have applied zinc sulfate to improve the Cd tolerance of plants. However, related studies have mainly focused on physiological and biochemical aspects, with a lack of in-depth molecular mechanism research. In this study, we sprayed high (40 mM) and low (2.5 mM) concentrations of zinc sulfate on seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz) plants under 0.5 mM Cd stress. Transcriptome sequencing and physiological indicators were used to reveal the mechanism of Cd tolerance. Compared with the control treatment, we found that zinc sulfate decreased the content of Cd2+ by 57.03-73.39%, and that the transfer coefficient of Cd decreased by 58.91-75.25% in different parts of plants. In addition, our results indicate that the antioxidant capacity of plants was improved, with marked increases in the glutathione content and the activity levels of glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and other enzymes. Transcriptome sequencing showed that the differentially expressed genes in both the 0.5 Zn and 40 Zn treatments were mainly genes encoding GST. This study suggests that genes encoding GST in the glutathione pathway may play an important role in regulating the Cd tolerance of seashore paspalum. Furthermore, the present study provides a theoretical reference for the regulation mechanism caused by zinc sulfate spraying to improve plants' Cd tolerance.

The Trace Element Concentrations and Oxidative Stress Parameters in Afterbirths from Women with Multiple Pregnancies.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the intensity of oxidative stress by measuring the concentrations of lipid peroxidation products (LPO) in fetal membrane, umbilical cord, and placenta samples obtained from women with multiple pregnancies. Additionally, the effectiveness of protection against oxidative stress was assessed by measuring the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione reductase (GR). Due to the role of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) as cofactors for antioxidant enzymes, the concentrations of these elements were also analyzed in the studied afterbirths. The obtained data were compared with newborn parameters, selected environmental factors, and the health status of women during pregnancy to determine the relationship between oxidative stress and the health of women and their offspring during pregnancy. The study involved women (n = 22) with multiple pregnancies and their newborns (n = 45). The Fe, Zn, and Cu levels in the placenta, umbilical cord, and fetal membrane were determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) using an ICAP 7400 Duo system. Commercial assays were used to determine SOD, GPx, GR, CAT, and LPO activity levels. The determinations were made spectrophotometrically. The present study also investigated the relationships between trace element concentrations in fetal membrane, placenta, and umbilical cord samples and various maternal and infant parameters in women. Notably, a strong positive correlation was observed between Cu and Zn concentrations in the fetal membrane (p = 0.66) and between Zn and Fe concentrations in the placenta (p = 0.61). The fetal membrane Zn concentration exhibited a negative correlation with shoulder width (p = -0.35), while the placenta Cu concentration was positively correlated with placenta weight (p = 0.46) and shoulder width (p = 0.36). The umbilical cord Cu level was positively correlated with head circumference (p = 0.36) and birth weight (p = 0.35), while the placenta Fe concentration was positively correlated with placenta weight (p = 0.33). Furthermore, correlations were determined between the parameters of antioxidative stress (GPx, GR, CAT, SOD) and oxidative stress (LPO) and the parameters of infants and maternal characteristics. A negative correlation was observed between Fe and LPO product concentrations in the fetal membrane (p = -0.50) and placenta (p = -0.58), while the Cu concentration positively correlated with SOD activity in the umbilical cord (p = 0.55). Given that multiple pregnancies are associated with various complications, such as preterm birth, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, and placental and umbilical cord abnormalities, research in this area is crucial for preventing obstetric failures. Our results could serve as comparative data for future studies. However, we advise caution when interpreting our results, despite achieving statistical significance.

Multiple RNA Profiling Reveal Epigenetic Toxicity Effects of Oxidative Stress by Graphene Oxide Silver Nanoparticles in-vitro.

The increasing industrial and biomedical utilization of graphene oxide silver nanoparticles (GO-AgNPs) raises the concern of nanosafety: exposure to the AgNPs or GO-AgNPs increases the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), causes DNA damage and alters the expression of whole transcriptome including mRNA, miRNA, tRNA, lncRNA, circRNA and others. Although the roles of different RNAs in epigenetic toxicity are being studied during the last decade, but still we have little knowledge about the role of circle RNAs (circRNAs) in epigenetic toxicity. Rabbit fetal fibroblast cells (RFFCs) were treated with 0, 8, 16, 24, 32 and 48 μg/mL GO-AgNPs to test the cell viability and 24 μg/mL GO-AgNPs was selected as the experimental dose. After 24 h treatment with 24 μg/mL GO-AgNPs, the level of ROS, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), intracellular ATP, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (Gr) were measured in the RFFCs. High-throughput whole transcriptome sequencing was performed to compare the expression of circRNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) and mRNA between 24 μg/mL GO-AgNPs-treated RFFCs and control cells. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis was performed to validate the accuracy of circRNA sequencing data. Bioinformatics analyses were performed to reveal the potential functional roles and related pathways of differentially expressed circRNAs, lncRNA and mRNA and to construct a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction network. We found that 57 circRNAs, 75 lncRNAs, and 444 mRNAs were upregulated while 35 circRNAs, 21 lncRNAs, and 186 mRNAs were downregulated. These differentially expressed genes are mainly involved in the transcriptional mis-regulation of cancer through several pathways: MAPK signaling pathway (circRNAs), non-homologous end-joining (lncRNAs), as well as PPAR and TGF-beta signaling pathways (mRNAs). These data revealed the potential roles of circRNAs in the GO-AgNPs induced toxicity through oxidative damage, which would be the basis for further research to determine their roles in the regulation of different biological processes.

Electroacupuncture promotes expression of glutathione related regulatory enzymes in ovary tissue of rats with diminished ovarian reserve

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on ovarian function and expression of glutathione (GSH) related regulatory enzymes γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS), glutathione reductase (GR) protein and gene in rats with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), so as to explore its mechanisms underlying up-regulation of antioxidant stress ability. A total of 30 female SD rats with normal estrous cycle were randomly divided into blank control, model and EA groups, with 10 rats in each group. The DOR model was established by gavage of tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside suspension (50 mg·kg-1·d-1) for 14 consecutive days, while the rats in the blank group were given equal volume of 0.9% sodium chloride solution. One hour after daily gavage, EA (1.0 mA, 100 Hz) was applied alternately to bilateral "Shenshu"(BL23), and "Zhongwan"(CV12)+"Guanyuan"(CV4) for 10 min, for 14 consecutive days. Estrous cycles of rats in each group were observed and recorded daily during intervention.After the intervention, H.E.staining was used to observe histopathological changes of the ovarian tissue. The contents of serum sex hormones ［follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), estradiol (E2)］ and oxidative damage markers ［8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHDG) and nitrotyrosine (NTY)］ were determined by ELISA. The contents of GSH and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in the liver tissue were determined by colorimetry, and their ratios were calculated. Immunohistochemistry and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR were used to detect the immunoactivity and gene expression levels of γ-GCS and GR in the ovarian tissues, respectively. Compared with the blank group, the model group had a marked increase in the disorder rate of estrous cycle, serum FSH, 8-OHDG and NTY contents (P<0.01) and a considerable decrease in the levels of serum AMH and E2, liver GSH and GSSG contents and GSH/GSSG ratio, ovarian optical density and cell number as well as the expression of γ-GCS and GR mRNAs (P<0.05, P<0.01). After EA intervention, the increase of the disorder rate of estrous cycle, serum FSH, 8-OHDG and NTY contents and the decrease of serum AMH and E2, liver GSH and GSSG contents and GSH/GSSG ratio, ovarian optical density and cell number of γ-GCS and GR as well as the expression of γ-GCS genes were all reversed (P<0.01, P<0.05). H.E. staining showed degenerative changes of the ovarian tissue, fewer follicles at every level and increase of atretic follicles, disarrangement and layer number decrease of granulosa cells, and atrophy of corpus luteum in the model group, which were relatively milder in the EA group. EA can improve ovarian function, and reduce oxidative stress damage in DOR rats, which may be associated with its functions in up-regulating the expression of γ-GCS and GR protein and gene in the ovarian tissue.

Individual and Combined Toxic Effects of Nano-ZnO and Polyethylene Microplastics on Mosquito Fish (Gambusia holbrooki)

The omnipresence of microplastics and nanoparticles has led to their entry into the fresh and marine aquatic systems and affected the biota. The present study aims to evaluate the impact of the interaction of polyethylene microplastic (PE-MPs) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) in mosquito fish, Gambusia holbrooki. For this, fish were exposed to 100 µg L−1 PE-MPs (group 2), 200 µg L−1 PE-MPs (group 3), 50 µg L−1 ZnO-NPs (group 4), 50 µg L−1 ZnO-NPs combined with 100 µg L−1 PE-MPs (group 5), and 200 µg L−1 PE-MPs (group 6) and control (group 1) for 14 days. The assessment was made through accumulation studies (MPs and Zn) and antioxidant assay. Significant elevation in the activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase levels was observed in ZnO-NPs alone and in combination with PE-MPs (100 and 200 µg L−1) groups only. High malondialdehyde levels were observed in all the exposed groups. Concordantly total antioxidant (TAN) levels displayed a significant reduction in all treated groups compared to control. Accumulation study on microplastic suggested liver-targeted accumulation of PE-MPs, while for ZnO-NPs, observed PE-MPs assisted accumulation. The study affirms the induction of oxidative stress and ZnO-NPs-induced toxicity facilitated by PE-MPs in fish.

Repurposing Sulfasalazine as a Radiosensitizer in Hypoxic Human Colorectal Cancer.

xCT overexpression in cancer cells has been linked to tumor growth, metastasis and treatment resistance. Sulfasalazine (SSZ), an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of rheumatoid sarthritis, and inflammatory bowel diseases, has anticancer properties via inhibition of xCT, leading to the disruption of redox homeostasis. Since reactive oxygen species (ROS) are pivotal for the efficacy of radiotherapy (RT), elevated levels of ROS are associated with improved RT outcomes. In this study, the influence of SSZ treatment on the radiosensitivity of human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells was investigated. Our principal finding in human HCT116 and DLD-1 cells was that SSZ enhances the radiosensitivity of hypoxic CRC cells but does not alter the intrinsic radiosensitivity. The radiosensitizing effect was attributed to the depletion of glutathione and thioredoxin reductase levels. In turn, the reduction leads to excessive levels of ROS, increased DNA damage, and ferroptosis induction. Confirmation of these findings was performed in 3D models and in DLD-1 xenografts. Taken together, this study is a stepping stone for applying SSZ as a radiosensitizer in the clinic and confirms that xCT in cancer cells is a valid radiobiological target.

Anti-oxidant effect of nitrite in the pancreatic islets of type 2 diabetic male rats.

Nitrite, a nitric oxide (NO) donor, increases insulin secretion from pancreatic islets and has positive metabolic effects in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Here, we test the hypothesis of whether nitrite-induced insulin secretion is due to blunting of diabetes-induced oxidative stress in the islets. T2D was created in male rats using a combination of streptozotocin at 25 mg/kg and a high-fat diet. Wistar rats were assigned to 3 groups (n=6 in each group), including control, T2D, and T2D+nitrite; the latter group consumed drinking water containing sodium nitrite (50 mg/l) for eight weeks. At the end of the study, mRNA levels of NADPH oxidase (Nox1, 2, 3, and 4), superoxide dismutase (SOD1, 2, and 3), glutathione peroxides (GPX1 and 7), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase, thioredoxin (TXN1 and 2), and thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD1) were measured in the isolated pancreatic islets. In the islets of diabetic rats, mRNA expressions of Nox1, 2, and 4 were higher, whereas expressions of SOD1, 2, catalase, GPX1, 7, GR, and TXN1 were lower than controls. Nitrite significantly (all P-values<0.05) decreased gene expression of Nox1 (0.39-fold) and Nox4 (0.23-fold) and increased gene expression of SOD1 (2.2-fold), SOD2 (2.8-fold), catalase (2.7-fold), GPX1 (2.2-fold), GPX7 (6.0-fold), GR (3.0-fold), TXN1 (2.1-fold), and TXNRD1 (2.3-fold) in diabetic rats. Nitrite decreased oxidative stress in isolated pancreatic islets of rats with T2D by suppressing oxidants and augmenting anti-oxidants. These findings favor the notion that nitrite-induced insulin secretion is partially due to decreased oxidative stress.

Analysis of antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress markers in the liver of naturally infected Indian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) with cystic echinococcosis.

The present study assessed the antioxidants and oxidative stress markers in the liver of buffalo naturally infected with cystic echinococcosis. Infected and non-infected livers were collected from the abattoir, and processed to determine the markers of oxidative stress and antioxidants. In addition, samples were also analyzed for liver tissue injury markers. A significantly higher level of glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were observed in the infected liver compared to a healthy liver. On the other hand, the levels of glutathione reductase (GR) and thioredoxin reductase (TR) were significantly reduced in the infected liver compared to a healthy liver. Reduced glutathione (GSH), a key non-enzymatic antioxidant, was also decreased in the infected than in the non-infected liver. The cystic echinococcosis is accompanied by the enhanced production of ROS with subsequent elevation of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation, as evident from increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC), respectively. Enhanced MDA disrupts the cell membrane leading to the release of liver injury markers AST, ALT, ACP, and ALP, which suggest liver damage. This could result from the mechanical pressure and the space-occupying affect of cystic echinococcosis cysts. In summary, our findings suggest that alteration in the level of antioxidants and oxidative stress markers may potentially serve as evidence for the oxidative stress in the liver of infected buffalo.

Effect of the Anticancer Drug Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) on Antioxidant Studies and Ultrastructural Investigation in the Liver, Kidney, and Heart Tissues of Male Rats

Doxorubicin is a well-known antineoplastic agent that has proved to be successful in the treatment of various types of cancer. I used rats as the model to evaluate the effect of doxorubicin on antioxidant studies and ultrastructural investigations in the liver, kidney, and heart tissues. Male albino rats were given 1.0 mg/kg body weight of the anticancer drug doxorubicin intraperitoneally three times a week for 52 days. This was for a total of 18 doses. Control animals received 52 doses of 0.5 ml of saline over 52 days. The body weights of rats injected with doxorubicin experienced a significant decrease after the last dose compared to the control group of rats. In this study, the weights of the heart, kidneys, and liver were measured. Except for cardiac tissues, the protein content in the aforementioned tissues in treated rats was significantly different from the control. Glutathione (GSH) levels in the kidneys of experimental rats were not significantly lower (7.946 ± 0.781) compared to controls (8.06 ± 0.74) but there was a non-significant increase in GSH levels in the liver (17.095 ± 1.066) compared to controls (13.8 ± 1.3). In addition, the mean GSH levels in doxorubicin-treated hearts were significantly lower (7.9462 ± 0.781) compared to controls (8.06 ± 0.74). Lipid peroxidation (Lpx) and malondialdehyde content (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, were found in much lower concentrations in the liver organ of the doxorubicin-treated group (0.0162 ± 0.00086) as compared to (0.20 ± 0.02) controls, and MDA content in the kidney was decreased (0.0239 ± 0.0003) compared to control rats (0.31 ± 0.03), as well as heat production (0.0398 ± 0.00097) compared to (47.451 ± 1.708) controls. Glutathione reductase (GR) levels were significantly elevated in the same tissue treatment group. Glutathione-S-Transferase (G-S-T) activity was assessed and significantly increased in all tissues in the doxorubicin model. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity showed a significant decrease in all the above tissues after doxorubicin injection. The catalase (CAT) activity of doxorubicin was greatly increased in one treated rat. In the doxorubicin-treated group, levels of cytochrome p450 (CYTp450) were significantly decreased in liver and kidney tissue and significantly elevated in heart tissue. After doxorubicin treatment, cytochrome b5 (CYTb5) levels in liver tissues increased significantly (837.177± 61.197) compared to controls (615 ± 37.0), and the contents of cytochrome b5 in rats' kidneys increased significantly (447.685 ± 35.215) compared to controls (2605.5± 259.2). and cytochrome b5 in heart tissues was lower (165.352± 8.7) when compared to controls (88± 0.4). The results showed that there were few obvious changes in histological, ultrastructural, and biochemical changes in liver tissue in the doxorubicin model. Long-term doxorubicin treatment in kidney tissue results in no significant changes at the light microscopic level, but the electron microscopic level reveals no change from a histological point of view.

Investigation of Some Metabolic Enzyme Activities in Samples of Serum and Humor Aqueous of Cataract Cases with Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome

Objective: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) occurs as a result of aggregation of extracellular matrix material in ocular tissues and visceral organs and it is known as a systemic disease. The purpose of our study is to investigate the activities of carbonic anhydrase (CA), glutathione reductase (GR), aldose reductase (AR), paraoxonase (PON) enzymes in aqueous and serum samples, also serum selenium levels.&#x0D; Methods: Serum and aqueous samples from 33 PEX and 33 control subjects were collected. Enzyme activities were studied in both serum and aqueous samples by biochemical methods.&#x0D; Results: According to the results, serum CA hydratase enzyme activity levels were higher in the samples with PEX compared to the control samples (p &lt; 0.05). Aqueous CA hydratase and aqueous/serum PON, GR and AR activity levels did not differ significantly among the study samples (p &gt; 0.05). &#x0D; Conclusions: Based on the relationship of carbonic anhydrase with aqueous production and glaucoma, increased CA hydratase activity may help to understand the etiopathogenesis and mechanism of conversion to glaucoma of PEX. In the literature, we did not find a study on activity of CA in aqueous and serum samples in patients with PEX. Therefore, we believe that this study can be a reference.

Slow and Fast-Growing Chickens Use Different Antioxidant Pathways to Maintain Their Redox Balance during Postnatal Growth.

The evolution of parameters known to be relevant indicators of energy status, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defense in chickens was followed. These parameters were measured weekly from 1 to 42 days in plasma and/or muscles and liver of two strains differing in growth rate. At 1-day old, in plasma, slow-growing (SG) chicks were characterized by a high total antioxidant status (TAS), probably related to higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and uric acid levels compared to fast-growing (FG) chicks whereas the lipid peroxidation levels were higher in the liver and muscles of SG day-old chicks. Irrespective of the genotype, the plasma glutathione reductase (GR) and peroxidase (GPx) activities and levels of hydroperoxides and α- and γ-tocopherols decreased rapidly post-hatch. In the muscles, lipid peroxidation also decreased rapidly after hatching as well as catalase, GR, and GPx activities, while the SOD activity increased. In the liver, the TAS was relatively stable the first week after hatching while the value of thio-barbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and GR activity increased and GPx and catalase activities decreased. Our study revealed the strain specificities regarding the antioxidant systems used to maintain their redox balance over the life course. Nevertheless, the age had a much higher impact than strain on the antioxidant ability of the chickens.

Acellular Biomaterials Associated with Autologous Bone Marrow-Derived Mononuclear Stem Cells Improve Wound Healing through Paracrine Effects

Wound healing is a complex process of repair that involves the interaction between different cell types and involves coordinated interactions between intracellular and extracellular signaling. Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BMSCs) based and acellular amniotic membrane (AM) therapeutic strategies with the potential for treatment and regeneration of tissue. We aimed to evaluate the involvement of paracrine effects in tissue repair after the flap skin lesion rat model. In the full-thickness flap skin experiment of forty Wistar rats: A total of 40 male Wistar rats were randomized into four groups: group I: control (C; n = 10), with full-thickness lesions on the back, without (BMSCs) or AM (n = 10); group II: injected (BMSCs; n = 10); group III: covered by AM; group IV-injected (AM + BMSCs; n = 10). Cytokine levels, IL-1, and IL-10 assay kits, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GRs) and carbonyl activity levels were measured by ELISA 28th day, and TGF-β was evaluated by immunohistochemical, the expression collagen expression was evaluated by Picrosirius staining. Our results showed that the IL-1 interleukin was higher in the control group, and the IL-10 presented a higher mean when compared to the control group. The groups with BMSCs and AM showed the lowest expression levels of TGF-β. SOD, GRs, and carbonyl activity analysis showed a predominance in groups that received treatment from 80%. The collagen fiber type I was predominant in all groups; however, the AM + BMSCs group obtained a higher average when compared to the control group. Our findings suggest that the AM+ BMSCs promote skin wound healing, probably owing to their paracrine effect attributed to the promotion of new collagen for tissue repair.

Jasmonic acid biosynthetic inhibitor ibuprofen inhibits the accumulation of ascorbic acid in strawberry fruit induced by lanthanum nitrate

By using jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthetic inhibitor ibuprofen (IBU), we investigated the roles of JA in the process of lanthanum nitrate (La(NO3)3)-regulated ascorbic acid (AsA) content and metabolic enzymes responsible for AsA metabolism in strawberry fruit. Findings demonstrated that La(NO3)3 markedly improved AsA content by enhancing the activities and transcript levels of glutathione reductase (GR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) and L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GalLDH), and inhibiting the activities and transcript levels of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and ascorbic acid oxidase (AAO). In comparison with La(NO3)3 alone, all the concentrations of IBU plus La(NO3)3 markedly inhibited the activities and transcript levels of DHAR, MDHAR, GalLDH and AAO, and improved the activities and transcript levels of GR and APX, which further reduced AsA content. Besides, La(NO3)3 increased JA content and IBU decreased JA content induced by La(NO3)3. Meanwhile, the results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that JA content had significant correlations with the activities and transcript levels of DHAR, MDHAR and GalLDH. Above findings implied that La(NO3)3 induced JA production, which further increased AsA content in fruits by mainly up-regulating the activities and transcript levels of DHAR, MDHAR and GalLDH.

The Influence of Probiotics in Reducing Cisplatin-Induced Toxicity in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

In this work, the effects of probiotic supplementation on cisplatin toxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) were examined. For this study, adult female zebrafish were given cisplatin (G2), the probiotic, Bacillus megaterium (G3), and cisplatin+B. megaterium (G4) for 30days, in addition to the control (G1). In order to investigate changes in antioxidative enzymes, ROS production, and histological changes after treatment, the intestines and ovaries were excised. The levels of lipid peroxidation, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase were found to be significantly higher in the cisplatin group than in the control group in both the intestine and the ovaries. Administration of the probiotic and cisplatin effectively reversed this damage. Histopathological analyses showed that the cisplatin group had much more damage than the control group and that probiotic+cisplatin treatment significantly cured these damages. It opens the door to probiotics being combined with cancer-related drugs, which may be a more efficient approach for minimizing side effects. The underlying molecular mechanisms of probiotics must be further investigated.

Overexpression of tomato glutathione reductase (SlGR) in transgenic tobacco enhances salt tolerance involving the S-nitrosylation of GR

S-nitrosylation, a post-translational modification (PTM) dependent on nitric oxide, is essential for plant development and environmental responsiveness. However, the function of S-nitrosylation of glutathione reductase (GR) in tomato (SlGR) under NaCl stress is yet uncertain. In this study, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an exogenous NO donor, alleviated the growth inhibition of tomato under NaCl treatment, particularly at 100 μM. Following NaCl treatment, the transcripts, enzyme activity, and S-nitrosylated level of GR were increased. In vitro, the SlGR protein was able to be S-nitrosylated by S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), significantly increasing the activity of GR. SlGR overexpression transgenic tobacco plants exhibited enhanced germination rate, fresh weight, and increased root length in comparison to wild-type (WT) seedlings. The accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was lower, whereas the expression and activities of GR, ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT); the ratio of ascorbic acid/dehydroascorbic acid (AsA/DHA), reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG), total soluble sugar and proline contents; and the expression of stress-related genes were higher in SlGR overexpression transgenic plants in comparison to the WT plants following NaCl treatment. The accumulation of NO and S-nitrosylated levels of GR in transgenic plants was higher in comparison to WT plants following NaCl treatment. These results indicated that S-nitrosylation of GR played a significant role in salt tolerance by regulating the oxidative state.

Antioxidant effects of Citric Acid on Myocardium

Background: Myocardial ischemia is associated with myocardial damage and necrosis. The pathogenesis of myocardial damage includes increased oxidative stress and diminished antioxidant defense. Aim: To assess levels of oxidative stress and scavenger enzyme system in experimental model of ischemia. Study design: This was a randomized experimental study. Place and duration: King Edward Medical University and University of Veterinary &amp; Animal Sciences, Lahore for six months. Methodology: Thirty male rabbits were randomly divided into three groups. Control--group: animals got normal saline 1ml per oral for 14 days. ISO--group: animals got normal saline 1ml per oral for 14 days. CA+ISO--group: animals got citric acid 500 mg/kg body weight per oral for 14 days. Myocardial infarction was induced on 15th day in CA-group and CA+ISO-group by two doses of isoproterenol, administered subcutaneously at the interval of 24 hours. (isoproterenol dose= 85mg/kg body weight). To measure cTn-I (serum cardiac troponin I), tissue SOD (Super -oxide dismutase), CAT(catalase), GPx (glutathione peroxidase), GR (glutathione reductase), MDA (Malondialdehyde) and GSH (total reduced glutathione) animal serum was obtained from blood sample. SPSS was utilized to analyze the data. Quantitative data was shown as mean ± standard-deviation. One way analysis of variance and multiple comparison test LSD was applied. p value ≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Result: ISO--group showed significant decline in the level of SOD, CAT, GPx, GR and GSH as compare to control—group. ISO-group showed significant rise in the level of cTn-I and MDA. CA-group showed significantly recovery in SOD, CAT, GPx, GR and GSH levels in comparison to ISO-group. CA-group also showed significant decline in levels of cTn-I and MDA. Practical implication :Consumption of citric acid or diet rich in citric acid enhances the scavenger enzymes capability thus protects from acute myocardial infarction. Conclusion: It is concluded that citric acid possess strong anti-oxidant potential. It improves the anti-oxidant capability of myocardium in term of GSH content and level of scavenger enzymes in ischemic myocardium that help myocardium to battle against free radical injury and survive during ischemic condition. Keywords: Antioxidant, citric acid, SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, GSH

Renoprotective Effect of Taxifolin in Paracetamol-Induced Nephrotoxicity: Emerging Evidence from an Animal Model.

Taxifolin (TXF) is a flavonoid found abundantly in citrus/onion. Encouraging results on its renoprotective effect have been reported in a limited number of drug-induced nephrotoxicity animal models. The present study aimed to evaluate for the first time the potential renoprotective effects of TXF in a paracetamol (PAR)-induced nephrotoxicity rat model. Rats were divided into three equal groups (n = 6 animals per group). Group 1 (PAR group, PARG) received PAR diluted in normal saline by gavage (1000 mg/kg). Group 2 (TXF group, TXFG) received TXF diluted in normal saline by gavage (50 mg/kg) one hour after PAR administration. Group 3 (control group, CG) received normal saline. Twenty-four hours after PAR administration, all animals were sacrificed using high-dose anesthesia. Blood samples were collected and kidneys were removed. The serum blood urea nitrogen, creatinine levels and serum malondialdehyde levels were significantly increased in the PARG. The serum glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and total glutathione levels were significantly higher in the TXFG. At the same time, the kidneys of the PARG animals demonstrated tubular epithelium swelling, distension and severe vacuolar degeneration. The kidneys of the TXFG animals showed mildly dilated/congested blood vessels. The TXF renoprotective effects are promising in preventing PAR-induced nephrotoxicity, mainly through antioxidant activity, and warrant further testing in future studies.

Artemisia baimaensis allelopathy has a negative effect on the establishment of Elymus nutans artificial grassland in natural grassland

ABSTRACT Planting Elymus nutans artificial grassland to replace degraded Artemisia baimaensis grassland on the Qinghai Tibetan plateau (QTP) can effectively alleviate local grass-livestock imbalance. However, it is unknown whether the allelopathy of natural grassland plant A. baimaensis on E. nutans affects grassland establishment. Accordingly, we examined the effects of varying concentrations of aqueous extracts of A. baimaensis litter on the seed germination and early seedling growth of E. nutans, and the effects of A. baimaensis volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on the growth parameters and physiological characteristics of E. nutans. The results indicate that the aqueous extract inhibited the force, percentage, and index of germination of E. nutans and affected early seedling growth, particularly at high concentrations. Further, the VOCs significantly reduced the aboveground and root biomass of E. nutans and increased malondialdehyde concentrations. Additionally, these VOCs altered the antioxidant enzyme activities and increased the superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, ascorbic acid peroxidase, soluble sugar, and proline content but significantly decreased glutathione reductase levels. Our results indicate that the allelopathy of A. baimaensis significantly inhibited the germination and seedling growth of E. nutans . Thus, the leaching of A. baimaensis may produce allelochemicals in the soil that inhibit the germination of E. nutans seeds. Moreover, the VOCs of A. baimaensis may disrupt the growth process, resulting in a decrease in biomass and a disruption of the physiological metabolism of seedlings under field conditions.

Low Cd-accumulating rice grain production through inoculation of germinating rice seeds with a plant growth-promoting endophytic bacterium

This study investigated the effects of the plant growth-promoting endophytic bacterium Cupriavidus taiwanensis KKU2500–3 on the growth of KDML105 rice plants and cadmium (Cd) accumulation in grains. The rice plants were cultivated in soils with 20 and 50 ppm Cd under greenhouse conditions for two consecutive years. At both levels, Cd reduced rice growth and development. Under Cd stress, KKU2500–3 colonized the root surface and interior of rice plants at the early growth stage, and this colonization remained until the late stage. The colonized bacteria increased the pigment contents but reduced the root-to-aboveground translocation of Cd. In soil with 20 ppm Cd, the phytochelatin content of the bacteria-inoculated rice was lower (32.3–89.3%) than that of uninoculated rice. In soil with 50 ppm Cd, the bacteria-inoculated rice exhibited higher glutathione reductase (5–63%) and proline (5–115%) levels, a higher reduced glutathione (GSH)/0.5 oxidized glutathione (GSSG) ratio (4–212%) and decreased lipid peroxidation (1–19%) compared with uninoculated rice. The root-to-grain translocation factor of inoculated rice in soil with 50 ppm Cd was significantly lower than that of inoculated rice in soil with 20 ppm Cd, and this finding was consistent with the 38.6% and 75.1% reductions in Cd accumulation observed in grains from soils with 20 and 50 ppm Cd, respectively. The Cd content of KDML105 grains grown in soil with 50 ppm Cd was 0.36 ppm, which is below the Codex standard for polished rice (0.4 ppm). The levels of available P, Zn, and SO42- also affect Cd availability in soil, and colonized KKU2500–3 showed varying responses to different Cd levels. Thus, bacterial inoculation, the Cd level and soil properties play important roles in Cd accumulation in KDML105 rice grains. The role of C. taiwanensis KKU2500–3 on the production of low-Cd-accumulating rice in paddy fields contaminated with a range of Cd levels should be further investigated.