Malonyldialdehyde Content Research Articles

Approach to assessing the drought resistance of grapes on model intact leaves

On the one hand, water scarcity poses challenges to the growth, development, longevity and resistance of grapes to diseases and low temperatures, on the other hand, however, it is necessary to obtain a high-quality harvest. Under the conditions of increasing continentality of the climate, it is of great importance to breed the cultivars characterised by effective fruiting without damaging the grape plant under drought conditions. Identifying characteristics of drought resistance in grapes is a challenging task, given the size of the plants, the extended development period, the absence of a specific criterion for drought resistance and the labour-intensive and time-consuming nature of the exploratory analysis. This study proposes the use of intact leaves from a specific grape variety placed in controlled environmental conditions as a model system. The paper assesses the applicability of intact grape leaves as a reliable model for evaluating drought resistance in the cultivar. It compares variations in physiological parameters—electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll stability index, and malonyldialdehyde content—observed in intact leaves under the influence of sorbitol and in leaf discs under the influence of polyethylene glycol with different concentrations and exposure times. The variations of physiological parameters in grape leaves subjected to controlled soil drought were used as a reference standard. In two independent experiments in 2022-2023, exposure to simulated intense soil drought for three weeks revealed cultivar differences in the ratio of electrolyte leakage and chlorophyll stability index in the test and control cultivars. Similar results were obtained in an experiment on intact grape leaves placed in a 10 % sorbitol solution for 3 hours. It was established that the cultivars ‘Morozko’, ‘Kutuzovsky’ and ‘Dostoiny’ exhibit higher drought resistance compared to the V. vinifera varieties ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ and ‘Barkhatny’. This approach can be used as a preliminary method for determining the drought resistance of grape cultivars, independently or in combination with fi eld studies.

Effects of dietary chloroquine on fish growth, hepatic intermediary metabolism, antioxidant and inflammatory responses in turbot

Autophagy is a conserved cellular self-digestion process and is essential for individual growth, cellular metabolism and inflammatory responses. It was responsive to starvation, pathogens infection and environmental stress. However, the information on the regulation of autophagy in fish hepatic intermediary metabolism, antioxidant system, and immune responses were limited. In the present study, turbot with inhibited autophagy flux was built by dietary chloroquine. The hepatic metabolic response, antioxidant enzymes and immune responses were explored. Results showed that dietary chloroquine induced the expression of Beclin 1, SQSTM and LC-3II, and effectively inhibited autophagy flux. Autophagy dysfunction depressed fish growth and feed utilization, while it induced clusters of liver lipid droplets. The genes involved in lipolysis and fatty acid β-oxidation, as well as the lipogenesis-related genes in chloroquine group were depressed. The phosphorylation of AMPK was activated in chloroquine group, and the genes involved in glycolysis were induced. The hepatic content of malonyldialdehyde and the activities of SOD and CAT were induced when autophagy was inhibited. The content of Complement 3, Complement 4 and Immunoglobulin M, as well as the activity of lysozyme in plasma were depressed in chloroquine group. Dietary chloroquine induced the expression of toll-like receptors and stimulated the expression of myd88 and nf-κb p65, as well as the pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tnf-α and il-1β. The expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine tgf-β was depressed in the chloroquine group. Our results would extend the knowledge on the role of autophagy in teleost and assist in improving fishery production.

Effects of Raising or Lowering Molybdenum Status on Outcome of Acute Infection with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis in Mature Rats

Molybdate (Mo+) supplements can suppress or enhance nematode infections in ruminants, depending on exposure level, but there have been no investigations in non-ruminants. Three groups of 16 mature rats were each fed a commercial diet and given Mo+ (10mg Mo/l), tungstate (a molybdenum [Mo] antagonist) (MoO4, 350mgW/l) or no supplement (C) via drinking water for 40 days before acute infection with 3,600 Nippostrongylus brasiliensis larvae. Group Mo- also received allopurinol (1g/l), a molybdenoenzyme inhibitor, from 4 days post infection (dpi). Subgroups of four rats from each group were killed at 7-14 dpi. A group of six rats was left untreated and uninfected and subgroups killed 10 or 12 dpi. Infection reduced intakes of food and water but impacts were greatest in group Mo-. Median worm counts in groups C, Mo- and Mo+ were 900, 941 and 510, respectively, at 7 dpi and 9, 40 and 0 (P=0.05) at 10 dpi. Median faecal egg counts were consistently lowest in group Mo+. Worm weight was reduced (P<0.05), worm tissue protease increased and superoxide dismutase activities increased in worm (P<0.01) and host duodenal homogenates (P<0.01) from group Mo+. In group Mo-, liver Mo concentration decreased, duodenal xanthine oxidoreductase activity (DXOR) became totally inhibited and plasma uric acid was barely detectable at 10 dpi. Plasma mast cell protease activity and duodenal malonyldialdehyde concentrations, markers of inflammation, were increased by nematode infection (P<0.001) but unaffected by water treatments. Liver Mo, liver copper (Cu) and plasma Cu concentrations were increased in group Mo+ and plasma Cu concentration was increased in group Mo- suggesting systemic exposure to partially thiolated MoO4 and WO4. Supplementary MoO4 impaired larval establishment and changed parasite biochemistry without affecting the inflammatory response to infection but may have required partial thiolation to do so. Rats did not rely on DXOR activity to expel N. brasiliensis.

Long noncoding RNA ADAMTS9-AS1 represses ferroptosis of endometrial stromal cells by regulating the miR-6516-5p/GPX4 axis in endometriosis

Endometriosis (EMs) is one of the most frequent diseases of reproductive-age women and is characterized by the growth of endometrial tissues beyond the uterus. The enhanced proliferative and migratory potential of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) plays an important role in the progression of EMs. Mounting studies have demonstrated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert an important role in regulating the development and progression of EMs. Given the aberrant expression of lncRNA ADAMTS9-AS1 in ectopic endometrium (ecEM), we investigated the biological effect of ADAMTS9-AS1 on ESC proliferation and migration and explored the underlying mechanism. The current data showed that ADAMTS9-AS1 expression was significantly upregulated in ecEM compared with eutopic endometrium (euEM) in patients with EMs and in a murine model of EMs. Functionally, ADAMTS9-AS1 knockdown in ectopic ESCs (EESCs) decreased cell viability and migration, whereas ADAMTS9-AS1 overexpression in normal ESCs (NESCs) enhanced cell viability and migration. More importantly, the effect of ADAMTS9-AS1 inhibition on decreasing ESC viability was significantly blocked by ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1, a ferroptosis inhibitor), and ADAMTS9-AS1 overexpression repressed erastin (a ferroptosis activator)-induced cell death. Furthermore, the regulatory role of ADAMTS9-AS1 in ferroptosis was defined and evidenced by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) content and decreased expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) after ADAMTS9-AS1 inhibition. Mechanistically, ADAMTS9-AS1 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by sponging miR-6516-5p to derepress the expression of GPX4, the critical repressor of ferroptosis. Taken together, these results demonstrate that upregulated ADAMTS9-AS1 accelerates ESC proliferation and migration by regulating miR-6516-5p/GPX4-dependent ferroptosis and may be a potential target for the treatment of EMs.

Levels of Biological Markers of Nitric Oxide in Serum of Patients with Mandible Fractures.

Background: Nitric oxide is a small gaseous molecule with significant bioactivity. It has been observed that NO may have a dual role dependent on its production and concentrations in the bone microenvironment. The objective of the study was to assess the concentration of total nitric oxide malonyldialdehyde, nitrotyrosine, and asymmetric dimethylarginine in the serum of patients with mandibular fractures and to understand the relationship between these compounds, in order to expand the knowledge base of the role of nitric oxide and its activity indicators in the process of bone fracture healing. Material and Methods: The study included 20 patients with mandibular fractures who were undergoing inpatient and outpatient treatments and a control group of 15 healthy people. Results were analyzed with respect to the measurement time. Total nitric oxide concentration in the blood serum was determined according to the Griess reaction, while the concentration of malonyldialdehyde, nitrotyrosine, and asymmetric dimethylarginine was estimated using the immunoenzymatic method (i.e., enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Results: Before the procedure, as well as on the first day and 2 and 6 weeks after the procedure, higher concentrations of total nitric oxide and lower concentrations of malonyldialdehyde were observed in the blood serum of patients with mandibular fractures compared to the control group. No statistically significant differences were found in nitrotyrosine concentrations in the blood serum of patients throughout the measurement period. However, a significantly higher asymmetric dimethylarginine concentration was observed in the patient serum before the procedure and on the first day of operation as compared with the control group. Analysis of the results observed in patient serum with respect to the number of fractures within the mandible demonstrated the same trend of concentrations for the tested compounds for the entire study group. Conclusions: In summary, our results revealed that the intensity of local processes resulting from mandibular fractures is associated with the concentration of nitric oxide, confirming its significant role, as well as that of its indicators, in the process of bone fracture healing in this patient population.

Activity of glutathione S-transferase and its π isoenzyme in the context of single nucleotide polymorphism in the GSTP1 gene (rs1695) and tobacco smoke exposure in the patients with acute pancreatitis and healthy subjects

Oxidative stress associated with the course of acute pancreatitis (AP) can cause changes in the involvement of antioxidants, which can result in the increased production of free radicals with pro-inflammatory potential. Through its noncatalytic activity, the glutathione S-transferase and its π isoenzyme (GST-π), apart from cellular xenobiotics detoxification, are involved in the regulation of cellular signalling, metabolism and apoptosis. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of SNP rs1695 in the GSTP1 gene on GST and GST-π activity in healthy subjects and patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). The concentration of glutathione (GSH) as an important component of the antioxidant system, necessary for environmental xenobiotics detoxification by GST, and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of oxidative stress induced by inflammation were also assessed. SNP was examined in 39 AP patients and 51 healthy subjects using PCR-RFLP methods. GST activity (in plasma and erythrocyte lysate) and GST-π activity (in erythrocyte lysate) were measured using the spectrophotometric method with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and ethacrynic acid as substrate, respectively. Blood GSH concentration was measured using the Patterson method. Concentrations of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and MDA were measured using commercial tests. In the blood of non-smoking AP patients with GG genotypes for SNP rs1695 in the GSTP1 gene, the lowest GST-π activity was shown. It was accompanied by the lowest hsCRP concentration in this group. In the blood of smoking healthy subjects with AG genotype, a decrease in GST-π activity was noted compared to non-smokers from this group. However, in the blood of smokers with AP, a gradually decreasing GST-π activity was noted in individuals with AA genotype, which was associated with the increasing MDA concentration. It confirms the role of GST-π in the neutralization of oxidative stress induced by the exposure to smoke xenobiotics.

Stability of thylakoid protein complexes and preserving photosynthetic efficiency are crucial for the successful recovery of the halophyte Cakile maritima from high salinity

Plants native to extreme habitats often face changes in environmental conditions such as salinity level and water availability. In response, plants have evolved efficient mechanisms allowing them to survive or recover. In the present work, effects of high salinity and salt-stress release were studied on the halophyte Cakile maritima. Four week-old plants were either cultivated at 0 mM NaCl or 200 mM NaCl. After one month of treatment, plants were further irrigated at either 0 mM NaCl, 200 mM NaCl, or rewatered to 0 mM NaCl (stress release). Upon salt stress, C. maritima plants exhibited reduced biomass production and shoot hydration which were associated with a decrease in the amount of chlorophyll a and b. However, under the same stressful conditions a significant increase of anthocyanin and malonyldialdehyde concentrations was noticed. Salt-stressed plants were able to maintain stable protein complexes of thylakoid membranes. Measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence and P700 redox state showed that PSI was more susceptible for damage by salinity than PSII. PSII machinery was significantly enhanced under saline conditions. All measured parameters were partially restored under salt-stress release conditions. Photoinhibition of PSI was also reversible and C. maritima was able to successfully re-establish PSI machinery indicating the high contribution of chloroplasts in salt tolerance mechanisms of C. maritima. Overall, to overcome high salinity stress, C. maritima sets a cascade of physio-biochemical and molecular pathways. Chloroplasts seem to act as metabolic centers as part of this adaptive process enabling growth restoration in this halophyte following salt stress release.

Lipid peroxidation of kidney of the turtle Mauremys reevesii caused by cadmium

This research was designed to investigate lipid peroxidation of the kidney of turtle (Mauremys reevesii) caused by cadmium. Turtles were injected intraperitoneally with cadmium at the concentration of 0 (control), 7.5, 15, and 30 mg/kg, and 5 turtles were taken from each group after exposure for 1 week (1 w), 2 weeks (2 w), and 3 weeks (3 w). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities as well as glutathione (GSH) and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) contents in the homogenate of kidney tissue were analyzed. The results demonstrated that a short time of low dose of cadmium could stimulate the increase of SOD activity in the kidney of turtles, but a long time of high dose of cadmium could induce the decrease of SOD activity in the kidney of turtles. Cadmium could decrease CAT activity and GSH content in turtle kidney, but increased MDA content in turtle kidney. There were some other effects on the turtles, such as depression and diarrhea. The experimental results indicate that cadmium causes temporary oxidative stress on the kidney of turtles.

Anti-Varroa Efficiency of Coumaphos and Its Influence on Oxidative Stress and Survival of Honey Bees

Abstract Apart from the efficiency of coumaphos against Varroa mites, its impact on the oxidative status and survival of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) was assessed. The research was conducted on hives from the same apiary, equalised regarding the number of bees, brood area and food storage. Based on Varroa infestation the hives were allotted to two groups: non-infested (N) and infested (I). Both groups were either treated (T) – NT and IT, or untreated (U) – NU and IU. The treatment of infested bees was controlled with a follow-up treatment with amitraz. The efficiency of coumaphos was 96-97%. This organophosphate had a negligible effect on bee survival, but it significantly affected their oxidative status: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities, and the concentrations of malonyl dialdehyde (MDA). Coumaphos significantly (p˂0.0001) decreased SOD activity in non-infested bees, but increased it in those infested. By contrast, both CAT and GST activities, as well as MDA concentrations significantly increased (from p˂0.05 to p˂0.0001) after treatment in all groups, with the exception of IT, where it declined. Coumaphos in non-infested hives caused oxidative stress per se, not unlike varroa in infested colonies. However, in infested colonies it decreased oxidative stress, owing to its efficacy against Varroa mites and contributed to the recovery of bee colonies. In spite of its certain downsides, coumaphos remains an effective anti-varroa substance, but should be used with precaution, not to add to the effects of environmental factors which may cause red-ox misbalance.

Onion dry scales extract induce resistance against bacterial wilt in eggplant through improving polyamines and antioxidant metabolism

Abstract Nowadays there is an urgent need for using the natural resistance elicitors due to the numerous problems caused by the chemical ones and these natural elicitors can be used in organic agriculture. This study examines the ability of onion dry scale extract to enhance the resistance in eggplant against bacterial wilt. This evaluation was performed through studying the change in polyamines and antioxidant metabolism in two groups of eggplant seedling (the first treated with prepared onion dry scale extract and the other non-treated) are infected with Ralstonia solanacearum. The onion dry scales extract enhanced the polyamines content. In treated infected (TI) plants the polyamine oxidase (PAO) activity significantly increased only on the 7th day after infection. On the 14th day after infection, the PAO activity and H2O2 significantly decreased. In the TI group, the activity of the antioxidant enzymes significantly increased in the two stages, consequently, the lipid peroxidation decreased in the TI group, which appeared in decreasing the activity of lipoxygenase activity at the 14th day after infection and decreasing the content of malonyl dialdehyde. Moreover, exogenous application of onion dry scales extract completely suppressed the percentage of dead plants due to wilt disease 14 days after sowing in non-sprayed plants in comparison with the sprayed plants being 84.37%. The study confirmed that onion dry scales extract spray can be considered as an organic method for fighting bacterial wilt in eggplant through the improvement of polyamine metabolism and the antioxidant machinery.

Effects of total saponins from Panacis majoris Rhizoma and its degradation products on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

Ethnopharmacological relevancePanacis majoris Rhizoma, which is a member of herbal medicine, is known for many years to remove blood stasis, promote blood circulation, and enrich the blood. The active ingredients of this plant are mainly attributed to saponins. Aim of the studyThe total saponins from Panacis majoris Rhizoma (TSPJ), and the degradation products of TSPJ (DTSPJ), were designed in this study to compare the protective effects on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, and the aim of this approach is to discover more effective agents for the treatment of ischemic heart diseases. We analyzed the main constituents of TSPJ and DTSPJ, aiming to make clear which saponins played important roles in this protective effect, and also investigated the possible mechanisms. Materials and methodsDTSPJ was prepared by the method of alkaline hydrolysis. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used to analyze the main chemical constituents of TSPJ and DTSPJ, which were isolated by chromatographic techniques and identified by comparison with the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) data in reported literature. Male Wistar rats were randomized to sham-operated group, ischemia-reperfusion group, three TSPJ (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) groups, three DTSPJ (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) groups, and isosorbide dinitrate tablet (5.0 mg/kg) group. The rats in all groups were intragastrically administrated once per day for three successive days. The establishment of the model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury was used the following method: firstly, the left coronary artery of experimental rat was ligated for 30 min and then reperfused for 120 min. Then the myocardial infarct size, hemorheological and biochemical parameters, whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, platelet adhesion rate, platelet aggregation and histopathology changes were assessed. ResultsFive C3,C28-bidesmosidic oleanane-type saponins and ginsenoside Rd were the main constituents of TSPJ, and their total content in TSPJ was 79.2 %. The main constituents of DTSPJ were five C3-monodesmosidic oleanane-type saponins and ginsenoside Rd, and their total content in DTSPJ was 72.6 %. The HPLC analysis revealed that the five C3,C28-bidesmosidic oleanane-type saponins in TSPJ were completely turned into five C3-monodesmosidic oleanane-type saponins in DTSPJ through the method of alkaline hydrolysis, but ginsenoside Rd remained unchanged. Both TSPJ and DTSPJ could significantly reduced myocardial infarct size, and improved heart function, and lowered the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase isoenzymes (CK-MB), and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) content, as well as the levels of whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, platelet adhesion rate, and platelet aggregation; on the contrary, both the level of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were notablely increased. The results of histopathological examination further supported the cardioprotective effects of TSPJ and DTSPJ. ConclusionBoth TSPJ and DTSPJ can guard cardiomyocytes against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. The underlying mechanisms may be closely related to its enhancing anti-oxidative properties, modifying blood viscosity, and inhibiting platelet aggregation and platelet adhesion. As a whole, the protection of DTSPJ against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury was a little stronger than those of TSPJ. The results display the prospect of DTSPJ as a drug candidate for treating ischemic heart disease.

Priming improves germination and seed reserve utilization, growth, antioxidant responses and membrane stability at early seedling stage of Saudi sorghum varieties under drought stress

Seeds of three sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.) varieties from Southwest Saudi Arabia were used to investigate the potential of osmopriming with polyethylene glycol (PEG 8000) to improve germination performance, seed reserve utilization and early seedling growth and drought stress tolerance. The primed (PS) and unprimed (UPS) seeds of the three sorghum varieties were germinated for 8 days under increasing PEG-induced osmotic stress. The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design, in a factorial arrangement, with three sorghum cultivars (‘Zaydia’, ‘Shahbi’ and ‘Ahmar’) and four osmotic potentials (0.0; -0.4; -0.8 and -1.2 MPa) with four replicates of 50 seeds each. The results showed that drought stress affected seed germination and seedling emergence and establishment, but increased the activity of the antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT). The strongest inhibition of germination and growth occurred at the highest PEG concentration and a significant difference was noticeable between the studied varieties. We confirmed also that seed osmopriming improved seed germination performance, seedling growth and enhanced the CAT activities while reduced malonyldialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and electrolyte leakage (EL) in the drought-stressed seedlings. Seed priming have enhanced also the α-amylase and total proteases activities in all varieties. The largest increase of these hydrolysing enzymes was shown in ‘Ahmar’. Furthermore, the PEG priming lead to improvement of the weight of utilized (mobilized) seed reserve (WUSR), seed reserve depletion percentage (SRDP) and total seedling dry weight (SLDW) of sorghum seedlings under water stress conditions. Still, the highest values or all three parameters were found in the ‘Ahmar’ variety. Under increasing drought stress conditions, ‘Ahmar’ showed the highest yield stability index (YSI) and the least EL and MDA contents in comparison to the other two varieties during the seedling establishment stage. Therefore, the former variety can tolerate better a rigorous water stress condition. ‘Zaydia’ appears to be the most vulnerable to drought stress. Thus, the use of species or varieties with eminent seed metabolic quality is an advantageous trait in drought-prone regions.

Physiological and transcriptomic analysis of ‘Whangkeumbae’ pear core browning during low-temperature storage

Core browning of ‘Whangkeumbae’ pear has become an urgent problem in the Chinese pear industry, which often appears after several months of low-temperature storage. However, little is known regarding the crosstalk between physiology and molecular mechanisms regulating the core browning process of the pear. In this study, the physiological and genetic responses of the core were identified during storage. The results showed that the malonyldialdehyde (MDA) content, electrolyte leakage, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content and superoxide anion (O2·−) production rate progressively increased during the browning process. Polyphenoloxidase (PPO), phospholipase D (PLD) and lipoxygenase (LOX) activity initially slightly increased but then sharply increased during the later storage stage. A total of 33,265 unigenes was generated via high-throughput sequencing, and 5121 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. These DEGs were functionally annotated and some core browning-related DEGs involved in the redox reaction, membrane lipid metabolism and enzymatic browning were also determined. We found that the changes in the gene expression accorded with the physiological variation, indicating the close crosstalk between physiological and genetic response during storage. Our study provides a basis for future research on the core browning mechanism during pear storage.

Overfeeding influence on antioxidant capacity of serum, liver, gut, and breast muscle in Gang Goose and Tianfu Meat Goose

Summary This study was conducted to research the effect of overfeeding on antioxidant capacity of serum, liver, gut, and breast muscle in Gang Goose and Tianfu Meat Goose. Fifty-five Gang Geese and 55 Tianfu Meat Geese were separated respectively into a control group and an overfed group randomly (15 birds in control group, 40 birds in overfed group); all birds were slaughtered after overfeeding for 3 wk. After overfeeding, the concentration of triglyceride, insulin, and glucose increased in serum (P 0.05). The activities of total glutathione peroxidase (TGP), superoxide dismutase, and catalase (CAT) in serum of the control group were higher than those in the overfed group (P 0.05). The malonyldialdehyde content of intestine in the overfed group was higher than that in the control group (P

A Whole-Food-Based Health Product (A-F Betafood®) Improves Gallbladder Function in Humans at Risk of Gallbladder Insufficiency: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

A-F Betafood® is a whole food-based health product. The product contains phytonutrients and bioactives with antioxidant properties that may support gallbladder and liver function. Herein, we investigated the efficacy of A-F Betafood® on gallbladder and liver function. In this randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel study fifty overweight but otherwise healthy adults received A-F Betafood® or placebo for 12 weeks. Gallbladder function as assessed by gallbladder volume, ejection fraction (GBEF), ejection rate, wall thickness and liver function determined via aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase, and high-sensitivity c-reactive protein analysis at baseline and week 12 were the primary outcomes. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, and oxidative stress markers including oxidized low-density lipoprotein, tumor necrosis factor-α, adiponectin and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) were assessed as secondary outcomes. A-F Betafood®-supplementation significantly reduced gallbladder wall thickness (p = 0.049) by 9% compared to placebo from baseline to week 12. The A-F Betafood® group alone had significant improvements in gallbladder volume (32%; p = 0.044) and GBEF (19%; p = 0.047) at week 12. There were no changes in liver function, oxidative stress markers or blood lipid concentrations, though MDA concentrations decreased in both groups. Our findings demonstrate A-F Betafood®-supplementation significantly improves measures of gallbladder function and support healthy gallbladder function in the individuals with gall bladder condition.

Effect of dietary modifications on the cholesterol level and selected indicators of oxidative processes in rats with mammary cancer

AbstractIntroductionPomegranate (Punica granatum, Punicaceae) seed oil (PSO) and bitter melon (Momordica charantia, Cucurbitaceae) water extract (BME), used for centuries in folk medicine, are now available as popular dietary supplements, used i.e. in prevention of diet-related metabolic diseases and cancer. It is suggested that their mechanism of action may involve modifications of oxidative processes. However, information regarding these effects is inadequate.AimThis study aimed to evaluate the influence of supplementation of rats’ diet with PSO and BME, administered separately or jointly, on cholesterol and its oxidative derivatives, malonyldialdehyde (MDA) and tocopherols content in livers, in terms of cancerous process. Sprague-Dawley female rats (n = 96) were fed control diet (CON and CONplus) or experimental diets supplemented with 0.15 ml PSO/day (G and Gplus), 1% BME ad libitum (M and Mplus) and PSO and BME jointly (GM and GMplus). Breast cancer was induced by administration of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) in the amount of 80 mg/kg body weight in the 50th day of life. After 21 weeks of supplementation livers, as main organs responsible for lipids metabolism, were subjected to either GC-TOFMS (cholesterol and oxysterols) or UPLC-PDA (tocopherols and MDA) chromatographic analyzes.Results and discussionBoth dietary supplements and DMBA administration resulted in significant increase of total cholesterol content. In contrast, levels of two of four determined oxysterols: 7α - hydroxycholesterol and cholesterol β-epoxide were the lowest in groups supplemented with PSO and exposed to DMBA. Significant differences in tocopherol content were demonstrated for two of four detected compounds: g-tocopherol and α-tocopheryl acetate. The level of g-tocopherol in G group was significantly higher in relation to Mplus and Gplus groups. In case of α -tocopheryl acetate, differences were observed between two control groups (CON and CONplus), but its content in CONplus group was significantly higher. In physiological state applied supplements reduced MDA levels in livers, whereas in pathological conditions PSO significantly increased MDA content in hepatic tissue of Gplus and GMplus groups.ConclusionsThe obtained results indicate that applied dietary supplementation, as well as cancerous process, can modify the levels of cholesterol and intensity of oxidative processes. It seems, that oxidative stress, associated with cancer development, modifies the intensity of oxidative processes in livers to a greater extent than examined dietary supplements.* This work was partially supported by National Science Centre, Poland (grant number 2018/02/X/NZ9/01770)

Exendin-4 Protects Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells from H2O2-Induced Oxidative Damage via Activation of NRF2 Signaling

Aims: Oxidative damage plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Exendin-4 (EX4), a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, possesses several pharmacological functions, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. However, the effects and mechanism of EX4 on oxidative stress in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the protective mechanism of EX4 on human RPE cells subjected to oxidative stress. Methods: Human RPE ARPE-19 cells were treated with H₂O₂ to induce oxidative damage. Cell viability was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 and lactate dehydrogenase assay. Levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), malonyldialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH) were measured using commercial kits. The expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 (NRF2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1) was measured using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay and western blot, respectively. Results: H₂O₂ significantly induced oxidative stress to reduce viability of RPE cells and increased intracellular ROS generation. EX4 significantly ameliorated H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage by reducing intracellular ROS generation, decreasing MDA concentration, and increasing antioxidant enzymes activities (SOD and GSH). In addition, EX4 markedly increased expression of NRF2, HO-1, and NQO-1 and significantly improved protein expression of NRF2 and HO-1 in H₂O₂-treated ARPE-19 cells, caused by increased nuclear NRF2 protein expression. NRF2 knockdown by targeted siRNA alleviated EX4-mediated HO-1 expression and significantly nullified EX4-mediated RPE cell protection against H₂O₂. Conclusions: EX4 attenuated oxidative damage induced by H₂O₂ in ARPE-19 cells through the activation of the NRF2 signaling pathway. The findings suggested that EX4 may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of AMD.

Methionine Sulfoxide Reductases Are Related to Arsenic Trioxide-Induced Oxidative Stress in Mouse Liver.

Arsenic trioxide (ATO), a trivalent arsenic compound, is known to disrupt redox homeostasis. Methionine sulfoxide reductases (Msrs), a group of antioxidant proteins, convert methionine sulfoxide back to methionine in living organisms exposed to oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of ATO on oxidative stress and the expressions of Msrs in mouse liver. Sixty male mice were randomly divided into six equal groups: one control group and five groups that received ATO treatment (0.3, 1, 3, 6, and 9mg/kg, respectively). After a 4-week treatment, livers specimens were collected and assayed for malonyldialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. In addition, the mRNA expressions of SOD-1 and HO-1 and the mRNA and protein expressions of Msrs were also determined. Results showed that the T-AOC activity, SOD activity, and SOD-1 mRNA expression were significantly decreased (P < 0.01), while the GSH-Px level, MDA content, and HO-1 mRNA expression were significantly increased in mice treated with ATO compared with control. Levels of MsrB2 mRNA and MsrA protein were significantly increased by ATO treatment, except in the highest dose group. There were no significant changes in MsrB3 mRNA level. ATO, at 1 or 3mg/kg, increased MsrB1 expression. Modifications in MsrA protein level were consistent with changes in mRNA levels. Collectively, our results suggest that ATO induced oxidative stress and then led to the variations in Msrs activity in mouse liver.

Improved cadmium resistance and removal capacity in Pichia kudriavzevii A16 by sucrose preincubation.

Removal of heavy metals from food material by growing micro-organisms is limited by the toxicity to cells. In this study, different preincubation treatments were investigated to analyze their effects on cadmium resistance and removal ability of Pichia kudriavzevii A16 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae CICC1211. Sucrose preincubation improved the cadmium resistance of both yeast cells and increased the cadmium-removal rate of P. kudriavzevii A16. An evident decrease of intracellular and cell-surface cadmium accumulation was observed after sucrose preincubation, which may be the primary reason responsible for the improved cadmium resistance. Flow cytometry assay showed that sucrose significantly reduced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell death rate of both yeasts under cadmium compared with those normally cultured cells. Under cadmium stress, the content of both protein carbonyls and malonyldialdehyde were also reduced by the addition of sucrose, the results were in accordance with the tendency of ROS, exhibiting a defending function of sucrose. Osmotic regulators as proline and trehalose were increased by sucrose preincubation in P. kudriavzevii A16 in the presence of cadmium. The results suggested that sucrose preincubation could be applied to improve cadmium resistance and removal rate of yeasts.

Mitigation of chromium toxicity in Arabidopsis thaliana by sulfur supplementation

Chromium (Cr) contamination of soil and water has become a severe threat to human health. In this study, a series of experiments were conducted to examine the ameliorative effects of Cr toxicity, by exogenous 100 μM sodium sulfate. Our team has examined the plant growth, Cr content, chlorophyll, antioxidant index and soluble protein content, before and after the addition of sodium sulfate. The results showed that the addition of sulfur (S) can reduce the enrichment of Cr and the content of malonyldialdehyde (MDA) under Cr stress. After addition of S in the culture solution, the biomass and roots length of Arabidopsis thaliana increased under Cr stress. Furthermore, the content of chlorophyll, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and soluble protein increased with the addition of sulfur. Transmission electron microscope observation point to that the chloroplasts can be damaged in leaf. All data demonstrate that S supplementation should help to alleviate the negative effects caused by both Cr(III) and Cr(VI) on Arabidopsis thaliana.