Improved Antioxidant Activity Research Articles

Exogenous foliar application of melatonin mitigates salt induced oxidative stress and promotes growth in Gerbera jamosonii

Salt stress is a major abiotic stress factor that is increasing at a continuos pace and pressurizing global food security in view of climate change. Therefore, plant scientists are developing strategies to ameliorate the negative effects of salt stress on crop production. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine; MT) is a vital biological hormone in plants that modulates growth, development, and tolerance to extreme environmental conditions. Its exogenous application is used to improve resistance to various stressors. Gerbera (Gerbera jamosonii L. cv. Yunnanhong) is a vital ornamental flower crop moderately sensitive against salt stress. A series of experiments were conducted on gerbera plants grown under NaCl stress (150 mM) with or in the absence of MT at 0.1 and 0.2 mM. It was shown that salt stress reduced growth and physiological traits but also caused oxidative stress, as recorded by the induction of oxidative stress markers in cell tissues. Foliar application of MT, especially at the concentration of 0.2 mM, boosted plant growth, biomass production, photosynthetic pigments, and ameliorated oxidative stress. The decrease in oxidative stress was associated with improved antioxidant activity linked to the production of the enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD). Exogenous MT also improved potassium (K+) uptake and restricted sodium (Na+) uptake in the leaves of gerbera. In conclusion, optimal MT application may serve as a potential ameliorator of salt-induced oxidative stress and help in the regulation of salinity for gerbera production under the threat of climate change.

Postharvest melatonin treatment enhanced antioxidant activity and promoted GABA biosynthesis in yellow-flesh peach.

The effects of postharvest melatonin treatment on antioxidant activity and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) biosynthesis in yellow-flesh peach fruit stored at 4°C and 90% RH for 28 d were explored. Results showed that melatonin treatment was effective in maintaining firmness, total soluble solids content and color in peach fruit. Melatonin treatment significantly reduced H2O2 and MDA contents, enhanced high level of non-enzymatic antioxidant system (ABTS∙+ scavenging capacity), and increased the activity or content of antioxidant enzymes including CAT, POD, SOD and APX. Melatonin treatment increased the contents of total soluble protein and glutamate, while reducing total free amino acid content. Moreover, melatonin treatment up-regulated the expression of GABA biosynthesis genes (PpGAD1 and PpGAD4) and suppressed the expression of GABA degradation gene (PpGABA-T), resulting in the accumulation of endogenous GABA. These findings indicated that melatonin treatment exerted positive effects on improving antioxidant activity and promoting GABA biosynthesis in yellow-flesh peach fruit.

Walnut Kernel Oil and Defatted Extracts Enhance Mesenchymal Stem Cell Stemness and Delay Senescence.

Decreased stemness and increased cellular senescence impair the ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to renew themselves, change into different cell types, and contribute to regenerative medicine. There is an urgent need to discover new compounds that can boost MSCs' stemness and delay senescence. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of walnut kernel oil (WKO) and defatted (WKD) extracts on bone marrow (BM)-MSC stemness and senescence. Premature senescence and inflammation were induced in BM-MSCs using H2O2 and LPS, respectively. Phytochemical constituents of WKO and WKD extracts were detected by HPLC. The stemness (proliferation and migration), senescence-related markers (p53, p21, SIRT1, and AMPK), oxidative stress/antioxidant markers, inflammatory cytokines, and cell cycle of BM-MSCs were measured by MTT assay, qPCR, ELISA, and flow cytometry. WKO and WKD extracts improved rat BM-MSC stemness, as evidenced by (1) increased cell viability, (2) decreased apoptosis (low levels of Bax and caspase3 and high levels of Bcl2), (3) upregulated MMP9 and downregulated TIMP1 expression, and (4) cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase and declined cell number in the S and G2/M phases. Additionally, WKO and WKD extracts reduced rat BM-MSC senescence, as indicated by (1) decreased p53 and p21 expression, (2) upregulated expression and levels of SIRT1 and AMPK, (3) reduced levels of ROS and improved antioxidant activity (higher activity of CAT, SOD, and GPx and upregulated expression of NrF2 and HO-1), and (4) declined levels of TNFα, IL1β, and NF-κB. When compared to the WKO extract, the WKD extract had a greater impact on the induction of stemness and reduction of senescence of BM-MSCs due to its stronger antioxidant activity, which could be attributed to its higher levels of flavonoids and phenolic compounds, as detected by HPLC analysis. WKO and WKD extracts enhance rat BM-MSC stemness and protect them from senescence, suggesting their potential use as enhancers to increase MSCs' therapeutic efficacy.

Ultrasonic treatment alleviated cadmium stress in sugarcane via improving antioxidant activity and physiological and biochemical status

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic element that endangers crop growth and affects food safety and human health. Therefore, the study of Cd mitigation technology is important. Ultrasonic treatment can improve crop growth and enhance their ability to resist various abiotic stresses. In this study, the effect of ultrasonic treatment on alleviating sugarcane Cd stress was studied in a barrel experiment using sugarcane varieties ‘ROC22’ and ‘LC05‐136’ as test materials. Sugarcane buds without ultrasonic treatment and with ultrasonic treatment (20–40 kHz mixed frequency ultrasound for 2 min, dry treatment) were planted in soil with Cd contents of 0, 50, 100, 250, and 500 mg·kg−1. Compared with non-ultrasonic treatment, Ultrasonic treatment significantly increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes in sugarcane, significantly increased the content of osmoregulation substances, significantly reduced the content of superoxide anion (the highest decreases reached 11.55%) and malondialdehyde (the highest decreases reached 20.59%), and significantly increased the expression level of metallothionein (MT)-related genes, with the expression of ScMT1 increased by 8.80–37.49% and the expression of ScMT2–1–5 increased by 1.55–69.33%. In addition, ultrasonic treatment significantly reduced the Cd contents in sugarcane roots, stems, leaves, bagasse, and juice (the highest reduction in Cd content was 49.18%). In general, ultrasonic treatment regulated the metabolism of reactive oxygen species and MT-related gene expression in sugarcane, increased the Cd tolerance of sugarcane, promoted photosynthesis in sugarcane leaves, improved root morphology, enhanced sugarcane growth, and increased cane and sugar yield.

Water extract from Ligusticum chuanxiong delays the aging of Saccharomyces cerevisiae via improving antioxidant activity

Ligusticum chuanxiong is a common traditional edible-medicinal herb that has various pharmacological activities. However, its effects on Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) remains unknown. In this study, we found that water extract of Ligusticum chuanxiong (abbreviated as WEL) exhibited excellent free radical scavenging ability in-vitro. Moreover, WEL treatment could delay the aging of S. cerevisiae, an important food microorganism sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS) stress. Biochemical analyses revealed that WEL significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes in S. cerevisiae, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR), as well as their gene expression. As a result, ROS level was significantly decreased and accompanied with the decline of malondialdehyde (MDA), which represented a state of low oxidative stress. The reduction of oxidative stress could elevate S. cerevisiae's ethanol fermentation efficiency. Taken together, WEL plays a protective role against S. cerevisiae aging via improving antioxidant activity.

Malic Acid Improves Behavioral, Biochemical, and Molecular Disturbances in the Hypothalamus of Stressed Rats.

Stress can lead to emotional and mental symptoms such as anxiety, sadness, panic attacks, and depression. Malic acid was chosen due to malic acid has the ability to improve antioxidant activity and improves liver damage. This study evaluates malic acid anti-depressant activity in the hypothalamus of stressed rats. Thirty-six male albino rats were divided into 2 equal groups; Normal and chronic mild stress (CMS) rats. Normal rats were divided into 3 equal groups; control, malic acid, and venlafaxine drug groups: normal rats were administered orally with 1 mL of saline solution, 250 mg/kg of malic acid, and 20 mg/kg of venlafaxine drug, respectively. CMS rats were divided into 3 equal groups; CMS, CMS + malic acid, and CMS + venlafaxine drug: CMS rats were administered orally with 1 mL of saline solution, 250 mg/kg of malic acid, and 20 mg/kg of venlafaxine drug, respectively. All the above-mentioned treatments were administered once a day by oral gavage for 6 weeks. The obtained results revealed that the animal behavioral tests such as forced swimming test, tail suspension test, sucrose preference test, and open-field test (center square entries test, center square duration test, and distance travelled test), norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, γ-aminobutyric acid, nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity, oxidative index, conjugated dienes, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-10, interleukin-1β, sodium/potassium-ATPase activity, and histamine-N-methyl transferase (Hnmt) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) enzymes in the hypothalamus of stressed rats, were returned to approaching the normal state in the stressed group after treating with malic acid for 6 weeks. Malic acid ameliorated stressed-related symptoms and it inhibited superoxide anion and neuro-inflammation in the hypothalamus of stressed rats.

Green synthesis of nanolipo-fibersomes using Nutriose® FB 06 for delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside delivery: Characterization, physicochemical properties, and application

Anthocyanins are potential bioactive compounds with less bioavailability due to instability in physicochemical and physiological harsh environments. This study synthesized a “nanolipo-fibersomes (NLFS)” using Lipoid® S75 and Nutriose® FB 06 (dextrinization of wheat starch) through a self-assembly technique with probe sonication. We aimed to encapsulate delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside (D3S) successfully and evaluate physicochemical and controlled release properties with improved antioxidant activity on palmitic acid (PA)-induced colonic cells (Caco-2 cells). D3S-loaded nanolipo-fibersomes (D3S-NLFS) were nanosized (<150 nm), spherical shaped, and homogenously dispersed in solution with promising encapsulation efficiency (~ 89.31 to 97.31 %). Particles formation was further verified by FTIR. NLFS were well-stable in thermal, storage, and gastrointestinal mimic environments. NLFS exhibited better-controlled release and mucoadhesive properties compared to nanoliposomes (NL). The NLFS showed better cellular uptake than NL, which was correlated to higher mucoadhesive properties. Furthermore, D3S-NLFS exhibited promising protective effects against PA-induced cytotoxicity, O2•− radicals generation, mitochondrial dysfunctions, and GSH depletion, while the free D3S was ineffective. Among D3S-loaded nanoparticles, D3S-NLFS 3 was the most efficient nanocarrier followed by D3S-NLFS 2, D3S-NLFS 1, and D3S-NL, respectively. The above data suggest that nanolipo-fibersomes can be considered as promising nanovesicles for improving colonic delivery of hydrophilic compounds with controlled release properties and greater antioxidant activity.

Effects of oligosaccharides on performance, egg quality, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant status, and immunity of laying hens: a meta-analysis

A meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effects of different types of oligosaccharides (OS) on the egg quality, intestinal profile, nutrient digestibility, and immunity of laying hens. A dataset was constructed from articles published between 2006 and 2023 via a literature search using several keywords related to oligosaccharides and laying hens’ performance. After careful evaluation, the final dataset was developed from 25 in vivo studies comprising 165 comparisons. The meta-regression showed that levels of OS supplementation curvilinearly increased (p < 0.05) hen day egg production (HDEP), and crude protein digestibility (CPD). However, OS supplementation did not affect (p > 0.05) feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), egg mass, egg weight, eggshell thickness, shell strength, and Haugh unit. OS supplementation showed a positively improved antioxidant activity, as indicated by the curvilinear effect on superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. In the categorical meta-analysis, mannan oligosaccharide (MOS), xylooligosaccharides (XOS), and chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) significantly increased (p < 0.01) HDEP and CPD. MOS was the only type of OS that decreased (p < 0.05) FCR while FOS showed to increase (p < 0.01) Haugh unit. To sum up, oligosaccharides could generally increase HDEP but MOS is superior to improving HDEP and FCR while FOS is better than other OS to increase eggshell thickness. HIGHLIGHTS Oligosaccharides increase egg production and protein digestibility in laying hens. Mannan oligosaccharide improves feed conversion ratio in laying hens. Elevated trends of IgG and IgA after supplementation with oligosaccharides. Fructo-oligosaccharides improve eggshell thickness and suppress Malondialdehyde (MDA) in laying hens.

Ultrasound-assisted formation of chitosan-glucose Maillard reaction products to fabricate nanoparticles with enhanced antioxidant activity

The influence of ultrasonic processing parameters including reaction temperature (60, 70 and 80 °C), time (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min) and amplitude (70, 85 and 100%) on the formation and antioxidant activity of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) in a solution of chitosan and glucose (1.5 wt% at mass ratio of 1:1) was investigated. Selected chitosan-glucose MRPs were further studied to determine the effects of solution pH on the fabrication of antioxidative nanoparticles by ionic crosslinking with sodium tripolyphosphate. Results from FT-IR analysis, zeta-potential determination and color measurement indicated that chitosan-glucose MRPs with improved antioxidant activity were successfully produced using an ultrasound-assisted process. The highest antioxidant activity of MRPs was observed at the reaction temperature, time and amplitude of 80 °C, 60 min and 70%, respectively, with ∼ 34.5 and ∼20.2 μg Trolox mL−1 for DPPH scavenging activity and reducing power, respectively. The pH of both MRPs and tripolyphosphate solutions significantly influenced the fabrication and characteristics of the nanoparticles. Using chitosan-glucose MRPs and tripolyphosphate solution at pH 4.0 generated nanoparticles with enhanced antioxidant activity (∼1.6 and ∼ 1.2 μg Trolox mg−1 for reducing power and DPPH scavenging activity, respectively) with the highest percentage yield (∼59%), intermediate particle size (∼447 nm) and zeta-potential ∼ 19.6 mV. These results present innovative findings for the fabrication of chitosan-based nanoparticles with enhanced antioxidant activity by pre-conjugation with glucose via the Maillard reaction aided by ultrasonic processing.

Biosynthesis of Novel Ascorbic Acid Esters and Their Encapsulation in Lignin Nanoparticles as Carriers and Stabilizing Systems.

A dual-target strategy was designed for the application of lignin nanoparticles in the lipase mediated biosynthesis of novel 3-O-ethyl-L-ascorbyl-6-ferulate and 3-O-ethyl-L-ascorbyl-6-palmitate and in their successive solvent-shift encapsulation in order to improve stability and antioxidant activity against temperature and pH-dependent degradation. The loaded lignin nanoparticles were fully characterized in terms of kinetic release, radical scavenging activity and stability under pH 3 and thermal stress (60 °C), showing improved antioxidant activity and high efficacy in the protection of ascorbic acid esters from degradation.

Comparative Study of Conventional, Microwave-Assisted and Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Microalgae: The Case of Scenedesmus obliquus

The recovery of bioactive products with green processes is a critical topic for the research and industry fields. In this work, the application of solid–liquid (SLE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) with aq. ethanol 90% v/v and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO2 for the recovery of biocomponents from Scenedesmus obliquus is studied. The effects examined were temperature (30–60 °C), time (6–24 h), and solvent-to-biomass ratio (20–90 mLsolv/gbiom) for SLE, temperature (40–60 °C), time (5–25 min), solvent-to-biomass ratio (20–90 mLsolv/gbiom), and microwave power (300–800 W) for MAE, and temperature (40–60 °C), pressure (110–250 bar), solvent flow rate (20–40 gsolv/min), and cosolvent presence (0, 10% w/w ethanol) for SFE in relation to the extract’s yield, phenolic, chlorophyll, carotenoid content, and antioxidant activity. The optimum extraction conditions determined were 30 °C, 24 h, and 90 mLsolv/gbiom for SLE, 60 °C, 5 min, 90 mLsolv/gbiom, and 300 W for MAE, and 60 °C, 250 bar, and 40 gsolv/min for SFE. Additionally, a kinetic SFE study was conducted and the obtained results were satisfactorily correlated using Sovová’s model. The comparison between the methods proved MAE’s efficiency in all terms compared to SLE. Moreover, SFE was accompanied with the lowest yield and chlorophyll content, yet led to an increased carotenoid content and improved antioxidant activity. Finally, the cosolvent addition significantly improved SFE’s yield and led to the most superior extract.

Synthesis and Characterization of Curcumin Incorporated Multi Component Nano-Scaffold with Enhanced Anti-bacterial and Wound Healing Properties.

Wound healing is one of the major challenges in chronic diseases; the current treatment options are less effective with undesirable side effects and are expensive. Extensive research is carried out to develop cost-effective, natural, biodegradable wound dressings that can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation and prevent bacterial infections. Curcumin has a plethora of therapeutic applications; however, its low solubility limits its clinical use. In this study, curcumin nanoparticles (Cur NP) and curcumin-chitosan nanoparticles (CCNP) were incorporated into the chitosan collagen vanillin scaffold, characterized, and investigated their potential wound healing properties. The nano-scaffolds were prepared by freeze-drying method and were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The drug release, antioxidant, antibacterial, and wound healing properties were assessed by in vitro assays. Cur nano-scaffolds showed particle sizes of 195.9 nm and 110.6 nm for Cur NP+VC and CCNP+VC, respectively. The curcumin encapsulated in the Cur NP+VC and CC+VC nano-scaffolds showed a release profile of > 60% and an improved antioxidant activity of greater than 80%. The nanoscaffolds were antagonistic against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and enhanced wound healing capacity of 85.62 % and 77.05% in the murine cell line. The curcumin nano-scaffold is a biodegradable and effective drug delivery system for topical use that can act as an antioxidant, facilitate wound healing, as well as prevent bacterial infections.

Green subcritical water extraction of Mentha x rotundifolia leaves collected in different annuities

Aim: In this work, the development for the first time of a green and efficient method to obtain bioactive extracts from Mentha x rotundifolia leaves has been investigated. Methods: The efficiency of three techniques [microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), subcritical water extraction (SWE), and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE)] was compared in terms of total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity [1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthioazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays]. Results: Under similar operating conditions, SWE outperformed MAE and UAE for providing M. rotundifolia extracts with improved antioxidant activity. Further in-depth optimization of the SWE method by means of a Box-Behnken experimental design showed 120°C, 5 min, 0.08 g dry sample: 1 mL water and 2 extraction cycles as optimal experimental parameters to provide the maximum yield of phenolics and the highest bioactivity. The application of the developed SWE method to M. rotundifolia leaves collected in different annuities (2014–2017) showed, in general, no significant differences regarding both composition and antioxidant capacity, as expected from plant samples grown in field under drip irrigation conditions. Conclusions: The SWE method here optimized is shown as a sustainable and efficient alternative for providing bioactive M. rotundifolia extracts with application as functional ingredients, natural preservatives, etc. in the food industry, among others.

Enhancement of Polyphenols and Antioxidant Activity in Germinated Black Highland Barley by Ultrasonication.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ultrasonic stress germination (USG) on total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), the phenolic compositions, and antioxidant activities of black highland barley (BHB). The USG processing parameters, polyphenol profile, phenolic compositions, and antioxidant activities were explored after USG. Results showed that the optimal USG parameters were as follows: 350 W ultrasonic pretreatment power, 30 °C ultrasonication temperature, 25 min ultrasonication time, and 64 h germination time. Under these conditions, the total phenolic content (688.84 ± 5.30 mg/100 g) and total flavonoid content (59.23 ± 0.45 mg/100 g) of BHB were increased by 28.55% and 10.15%, respectively, compared to the untreated samples. In addition, the USG treatment could more effectively enrich bound phenolic acids and free flavonoids, among which the content of catechin was significantly increased by USG and was the main characteristic substance. Moreover, the USG treatment could improve the antioxidant activity and had a higher antioxidant potency composite index (APC index) (97.91%) of BHB. These results indicate that USG might be an effective method to enrich polyphenols and improve antioxidant activity in BHB.

The Antioxidant Activity and Protection of Probiotic Bacteria in the In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion of a Blueberry Juice and Whey Protein Fermentation System

Blueberries have received great attention due to the health effects of their bioactive compounds, such as antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-obesity properties. Probiotics also have these health-promoting benefits. However, these biological activities may be affected by the processs of gastrointestinal digestion, which decreases their functionality. This study aimed to use a more convenient method to improve the blueberries’ antioxidant activity and protective effects on probiotic cells by fermentation with whey protein, and to explore the possible mechanisms underlying these effects. This result showed that the total phenolic content, anthocyanin content, reducing power, DPPH radical scavenging capacity, and probiotic cells’ survival in a blueberry juice and whey protein fermentation system were enhanced in a model of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The bioactive compounds in blueberry juice interacted with whey protein, as shown through FTIR. The stability of phenolic compounds was enhanced, and the release of functional compounds in the mixture fermentation system was delayed through CLSM. Interactions between bioactive compounds in blueberries, whey protein, and bacterial surface proteins, glycoproteins or polysaccharides during fermentation were studied by SDS-PAGE. Thus, the stability of bioactive activities in the mixed system after fermentation was strengthened by the interaction. The mixed fermentation system has promising potential for improving antioxidant activity and protecting probiotic cells.

The increased antioxidant action of HDL is independent of HDL cholesterol plasma levels in triple-negative breast cancer.

The association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) with the incidence and progression of breast cancer (BC) is controversial. HDL removes excess cholesterol from cells and acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. BC is a heterogeneous disease, and its molecular classification is important in the prediction of clinical and therapeutic evolution. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents higher malignancy, lower therapeutic response, and survival rate. In the present investigation, the composition and antioxidant activity of isolated HDL was assessed in women with TNBC compared to controls. Twenty-seven women with a recent diagnosis of TNBC, without prior treatment, and 27 healthy women (control group) paired by age and body mass index (BMI) were included in the study. HDL and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were isolated from plasma by discontinuous density gradient ultracentrifugation. Plasma lipid profile and HDL composition (total cholesterol, TC; triglycerides, TG; HDLc; phospholipids, PL) were determined by enzymatic colorimetric methods. ApoB and apo A-I were quantified by immunoturbidimetry. The antioxidant activity of HDL was determined by measuring the lag time phase for LDL oxidation and the maximal rate of conjugated dienes formation in LDL incubated with copper sulfate solution. The absorbance (234 nm) was monitored at 37°C, for 4 h, at 3 min intervals. The control group was similar to the TNBC concerning menopausal status, concentrations, and ratios of plasma lipids. The composition of the HDL particle in TC, TG, PL, and apo A-I was also similar between the groups. The ability of HDL to retard LDL oxidation was 22% greater in the TNBC group as compared to the control and positively correlated with apoA-I in HDL. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of HDL was greater in the advanced stages of TNBC (stages III and IV) compared to the control group. The maximum rate of formation of conjugated dienes was similar between groups and the clinical stages of the disease. The results highlight the role of HDL as an antioxidant defense in TNBC independently of HDLc plasma levels. The improved antioxidant activity of HDL, reflected by retardation in LDL oxidation, could contribute to limiting oxidative and inflammatory stress in advanced stages of TNBC.

Accumulation of Proline in Plants under Contaminated Soils-Are We on the Same Page?

Agricultural soil degradation is occurring at unprecedented rates, not only as an indirect effect of climate change (CC) but also due to intensified agricultural practices which affect soil properties and biodiversity. Therefore, understanding the impacts of CC and soil degradation on plant physiology is crucial for the sustainable development of mitigation strategies to prevent crop productivity losses. The amino acid proline has long been recognized for playing distinct roles in plant cells undergoing osmotic stress. Due to its osmoprotectant and redox-buffering ability, a positive correlation between proline accumulation and plants' tolerance to abiotic stress has been pointed out in numerous reviews. Indeed, proline quantification is used systematically by plant physiologists as an indicator of the degree of tolerance and a measurement of the antioxidant potential in plants under stressful conditions. Moreover, the exogenous application of proline has been shown to increase resilience to several stress factors, including those related to soil degradation such as salinity and exposure to metals and xenobiotics. However, recent data from several studies often refer to proline accumulation as a signal of stress sensitivity with no clear correlation with improved antioxidant activity or higher stress tolerance, including when proline is used exogenously as a stress reliever. Nevertheless, endogenous proline levels are strongly modified by these stresses, proving its involvement in plant responses. Hence, one main question arises-is proline augmentation always a sign of improved stress resilience? From this perspective, the present review aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the implications of proline accumulation in plants under abiotic stress induced by soil degradation factors, reinforcing the idea that proline quantification should not be employed as a sole indicator of stress sensitivity or resilience but rather complemented with further biochemical and physiological endpoints.

Facile synthesis of copolymerized cellulose grafted hydrogel doped calcium oxide nanocomposites with improved antioxidant activity for anti-arthritic and controlled release of doxorubicin for anti-cancer evaluation

The combination treatment is considered an approach to attaining synergistic impact while minimizing applied dosage. Hydrogels are analogous to the tissue environment attributed to hydrophilic and porous structure. Despite extensive study in biological and biotechnological domains, their restricted mechanical strength and limited functionalities impede their potential uses. Emerging strategies are centred on research and developing nanocomposite hydrogels to combat these issues. Herein, we prepared copolymerized hydrogel by grafting poly-acrylic acid P(AA) onto cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and adding CNC-g-PAA as dopant (2 and 4 wt%) in calcium oxide (CaO) nanoparticles to generate an effective hydrogel doped nanocomposite (NCH) (CNC-g-PAA/CaO) for biomedical applications such as anti-arthritic, anti-cancer, and antibacterial investigations alongside their comprehensive characterization. CNC-g-PAA/CaO (4 %), compared to other samples, had a substantially higher antioxidant potential (72.21 %). Doxorubicin, a potential chemotherapeutic drug, was then effectively loaded into NCH (99 %) via electrostatic interaction, and pH-triggered based release was found to be >57.9 % in 24 h. Furthermore, molecular docking investigation against targeted protein Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and in vitro cytotoxicity study verified the improved antitumor effectiveness of CNC-g-PAA and CNC-g-PAA/CaO. These outcomes indicated that hydrogels might serve as potential delivery vehicles for innovative multifunctional biomedical applications.

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 40 regulates piglet performance, antioxidant capacity, immune status and gut microbiota.

Probiotics can improve animal growth performance and intestinal health. Bacillus species, Lactobacillus species, Bifidobacterium species, yeast etc. are the common types of probiotics. However, understanding the effects of probiotics on the immune status and gut microbiota of weaning piglets and how the probiotics exert their impact are still limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 40 (BA40) on the performance, immune status and gut microbiota of piglets. A total of 12 litters of newborn piglets were randomly divided into 3 groups. Piglets in control group were orally dosed with phosphate buffered saline; BA40 group and probiotics group were orally gavaged with resuspension BA40 and a probiotics product, respectively. The results showed that BA40 treatment significantly decreased (P<0.05) the diarrhea incidence (from d 5 to 40), diamine oxidase, D-lactate, interleukin (IL)-1β and interferon-γ concentrations compared with control group and probiotics group. Meanwhile BA40 dramatically increased the total antioxidant capacity, IL-10 and secretoryimmunoglobulin-A concentrations in contrast to control group. For the microbial composition, BA40 modulated the microbiota by improving the abundance of Bacteroides, Phascolarctobacterium (producing short-chain fatty acids) and Desulfovibrio and reducing the proliferation of pathogens (Streptococcus, Tyzzerella, Vellionella and paraeggerthella). Meanwhile, a metabolic function prediction explained that carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism enriched in BA40 group in contrast to control group and probiotics group. For correlation analysis, the results demonstrated that BA40-enriched Phascolarctobacterium and Desulfovibrio provide insights into strategies for elevating the health status and performance of weaned piglets. Altogether, BA40 exerted stronger ability in decreasing diarrhea incidence and improved antioxidant activity, gut barrier function and immune status of piglets than the other treatments. Our study provided the experimental and theoretical basis for the application of BA40 in pig production.

Solubility and Antioxidant Activity of 1,2-Dihydro-2-Methyl-2-Phenyl-3H-Indole-3-One-1-Oxyl Hosted at Randomly Methylated-Βétacyclodextrin: A Computational Investigation

In this work, the mechanism of the formation of a radical from 1,2-dihydro-2-methyl-2-phenyl-3H-indole-3-one-1-oxyl has been studied theoretically by the B3LYP/6-31G(d) method as well as the global descriptors of its reactivity have been calculated. The formation of an inclusion complex (stoichiometry 1:1) between the radical form of 1,2-dihydro-2-methyl-2-phenyl-3H-indole-3-one-1-oxyl and the randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin was also studied by B3LYP-D3/6-31G(d) method. The results obtained show that the formation of the radical is ensured by the HAT mechanism according to the BDE energies obtained in vacuum and in water. Formation of the inclusion complex according to the two models C1 and C2 leads to an increase in solubility and improve antioxidant activity of 1,2-dihydro-2-methyl-2-phenyl-3H-indole-3-one-1-oxyl radical which is agreed well with experimental results. Finally, intermolecular interaction such us H-bonds and van Der Waals interactions are the major contribution of inclusion complex stability.