Antioxidant Nutraceuticals Research Articles

Antioxidant Nutraceutical approach to Ewing Sarcoma: Where is the Trap?

Nutraceutical antioxidant supplementation in cancer is a controversial and questionable subject, as potential drug-nutrient interactions can affect cancer treatment. Between 13% and 87% of patients with cancer uses antioxidant supplements, often at higher doses compared to those recommended [1,2].

Prevention of Oxidative Stress-induced Metabolic Aberrations in the Neural Retina by Caffeine

Oxyradical-induced damage to the retina has been implicated as one of the contributing factors in the pathogenesis of vision-impairing diseases such as diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is hypothesized that caffeine, a nutraceutical antioxidant, will be effective in preventing metabolic aberrations in the neural retina exposed to oxygen radicals. This hypothesis is based on our previous studies demonstrating its effectiveness in preventing oxidative damage to the lens, and in protecting the neural retina against UV-A- and peroxide-induced biochemical damage. Bovine neural retinas were incubated in medium 199 at 37°C for 6 hours. Xanthine (XA)-xanthine oxidase (XO) were used to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Incubations were conducted in 3 groups- control, experimental (with XA+XO), and caffeine group (XA + XO+ 5mM caffeine). Retinas were then processed for determining protein, lactate and pyruvate concentrations. Lactate concentration in the controls was 2.62±0.43mM/mg protein, decreasing to 1.04±0.3 mM/mg protein in the presence of XA+XO. Its level in the caffeine group was significantly higher, 2.44±0.65 mM/mg protein, close to the controls. Pyruvate concentration in the controls was 0.16±0.05mM/mg protein, which declined significantly with XA+XO to 0.066±0.02 mM/mg protein. Such decrease was substantially prevented in the caffeine group, wherein its concentration was 0.156±0.03mM/mg protein. Caffeine was thus found to be highly effective in preventing metabolic aberrations, due to its ability to scavenge oxyradicals and thereby possibly prevent inactivation of key enzymes. Such effect of caffeine in maintaining metabolism of the neural retina exposed to ROS has been shown for the first time.

Therapeutic effect of vitamin B3 on hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and DNA damage in alloxan induced diabetic rat model.

Evidences in the form of experimental analysis and scientific investigations suggest that oxidative stress embody an imperative role in the onset and progression of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Aberrant elevation in levels of free radicals, as observed upon disease onset, and the subsequent reduction in anti-oxidant defenses is pernicious to metabolic enzymes and cellular organelles. Niacin (Vitamin B3) is an essential nutrient for humans and is considered to be an important food additive for animals too. This research was conducted to examine the effect of nutraceutical antioxidant on diabetic environment. This important member of Vitamin B complex is a forerunner of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and also nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), both of them serving as coenzymes for several metabolic enzymes. This study reports the effects of niacin supplementation in alloxan induced diabetic rats divided into five groups. Diabetes induced rats were further treated with niacin at two doses (10 and 15 mg /kg body weight) and compared with a control set of diabetes without treatment. Niacin treatment showed recovery in almost all parameters in a dose reliant pattern. A notable decline in oxidative stress parameters with reductions in fasting blood glucose levels was observed. Histological studies reveal damage recovery in the liver as well as kidney tissues. A notable amount of recovery was observed in cellular DNA damage. As a deduction, it is advocated that dietary niacin supplementation might help in reducing problems associated with diabetes. A probable mechanism pertaining to the action of niacin is proposed as well.

Oxidative stress: role of physical exercise and antioxidant nutraceuticals in adulthood and aging.

Physical exercise is considered to be one of the beneficial factors of a proper lifestyle and is nowadays seen as an indispensable element for good health, able to lower the risk of disorders of the cardiovascular, endocrine and osteomuscular apparatus, immune system diseases and the onset of potential neoplasms. A moderate and programmed physical exercise has often been reported to be therapeutic both in the adulthood and in aging, since capable to promote fitness. Regular exercise alleviates the negative effects caused by free radicals and offers many health benefits, including reduced risk of all-cause mortality, sarcopenia in the skeletal muscle, chronic disease, and premature death in elderly people. However, physical performance is also known to induce oxidative stress, inflammation, and muscle fatigue. Many efforts have been carried out to identify micronutrients and natural compounds, also known as nutraceuticals, able to prevent or attenuate the exercise-induced oxidative stress and inflammation.The aim of this review is to discuss the benefits deriving from a constant physical activity and by the intake of antioxidant compounds to protect the body from oxidative stress. The attention will be focused mainly on three natural antioxidants, which are quercetin, resveratrol and curcumin. Their properties and activity will be described, as well as their benefits on physical activity and on aging, which is expected to increase through the years and can get favorable benefits from a constant exercise activity.

Live or let die: Neuroprotective and anti-cancer effects of nutraceutical antioxidants.

Diet sources are closely involved in the pathogenesis of diverse neuropsychiatric disorders and cancers, in addition to inherited factors. Currently, natural products or nutraceuticals (commonly called medical foods) are increasingly employed for adjunctive therapy of these patients. However, the potential molecular mechanisms of the nutrient efficacy remain elusive. In this review, we summarized the neuroprotective and anti-cancer mechanisms of nutraceuticals. It was concluded that the nutraceuticals exerted neuroprotection and suppressed tumor growth possibly through the differential modulations of redox homeostasis. In addition, the balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and ROS elimination was manipulated by multiple molecular mechanisms, including cell signaling pathways, inflammation, transcriptional regulation and epigenetic modulation, which were involved in the therapeutic potential of nutraceutical antioxidants against neurological diseases and cancers. We specifically proposed that ROS scavenging was integral in the neuroprotective potential of nutraceuticals, while alternation of ROS level (either increase or decrease) or disruption of redox homeostasis (ROS addiction) constituted the anti-cancer property of these compounds. We also hypothesized that ROS-associated ferroptosis, a novel type of lipid ROS-dependent regulatory cell death, was likely to be a critical mechanism for the nutraceutical antioxidants. Targeting ferroptosis is advantageous to develop new nutraceuticals with more effective and lower adverse reactions for curing patients with neuropsychiatric diseases or carcinomas.

Purification and antioxidant activity of phycocyanin from Synechococcus sp. R42DM isolated from industrially polluted site

The cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. R42DM, isolated from an industrially polluted site Vatva, Gujarat, India was recognized to produce phycocyanin (PC) as major phycobiliprotein. In present study, the combinatorial approach of chemical and physical methods i.e. Triton-X 100 treatment and ultra-sonication was designed for extraction of PC. From cell extract, the intact and functional-PC was purified up to purity 4.03 by ammonium sulphate fractionation and ion-exchange chromatography. The PC displayed considerable in vitro antioxidant and radical-scavenging activity. This PC was further noticed to scavenge intracellular-ROS and to increase tolerance against thermal and oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans. Moreover, the PC was noticed to improve the physiological behaviour and longevity of C. elegans. In addition, the PC showed remarkable stability under physico-chemical stressors, which is desirable for their use in biomedical applications. In conclusion, present paper added up evidence in support of the prospective use of PC as an antioxidant nutraceutical.

The effects of antioxidants on ocular blood flow in patients with glaucoma.

To investigate the effects of an antioxidant dietary supplement that includes Ginkgo biloba, on retinal and retrobulbar blood flow in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG). Forty-five patients with confirmed OAG were enroled in a randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled cross-over study. Baseline and postadministration measurements of intraocular pressure (IOP), ocular perfusion pressure (OPP), retrobulbar blood flow, and retinal capillary blood flow were non-invasively measured (ultrasound and laser Doppler modalities, respectively) before and one month after antioxidant nutraceuticals and placebo administration. Changes in measurements between the active supplement and placebo arms were evaluated using paired t-tests, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Antioxidant supplementation produced a statistically significant increase in peak systolic and/or end diastolic blood flow velocities in all retrobulbar blood vessels compared to placebo. Vascular resistance was also reduced in central retinal and nasal short posterior ciliary arteries following antioxidant administration. Additionally, antioxidant supplementation increased superior and inferior temporal retinal capillary mean blood flow and the ratio of active to non-active retina capillaries compared to placebo. One-month oral administration of antioxidants produced increases in biomarkers of ocular blood flow within retinal and retrobulbar vascular beds in patients with OAG.

RP-HPLC–DAD-ESI-TOF–MS based strategy for new insights into the qualitative and quantitative phenolic profile in Tunisian industrial Citrus Limon by-product and their antioxidant activity

Citrus by-products are an important source of bioactive constituents, such as organic acids and phenolic compounds, with health promoting and nutritive properties. To increase our knowledge about this topic, the aim of the present study was to undertake a comprehensive characterization and quantification of major bioactive compounds in Citrus limon by-product dried powder (CBP) proceeding from a Tunisian company using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) coupled to electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF–MS) operating in negative ion mode. Physicochemical properties and the antioxidant activity of CBP were also assessed. As a result, 38 phenolic compounds including 6 phenolic acid derivatives, and 32 flavonoids were characterized and quantified. This work was complemented by the detection of 2 organic acids. To the best of our knowledge, 6 phenolic compounds have not previously been recorded in CBP. In this regard, the main flavonoids in CBP were the flavanones hesperetin 7-O-rutinoside, eriodictyol 7-O-rutinoside, and hesperetin 7-O-neohesperidoside followed by the flavones diosmin. Moreover, the dimer of caffeic acid-O-hexoside was the major phenolic acid. In addition, these results suggested that the extract obtained from CBP had an interesting antioxidant activity comparable with synthetic antioxidants and showed also high amounts of dietary fiber, protein, total sugars, and carotenoids. Finally, the results obtained in this work confirmed that the CBP is a good source of bioactive compounds and the isolation of antioxidant nutraceuticals could be an advantageous way to revalorize these by-products for potential use as dietary additives in functional foods and cosmetics as well as in pharmaceutical industry.

Topical applied nutraceutical antioxidant formulation reduces ocular oxidative stress

Background: Oral nutraceutical antioxidants have shown disappointing clinical results in reducing oxidation-induced age-related cataract and other ocular diseases. Based on the hypothesis that nutraceuticals do not adequately reach the lens by oral administration, we have developed a unique topical antioxidant formulation whose active ingredients have the reported ability to reduce oxidative stress through free radical scavenging and chelating activity. This topical nutraceutical formulation was designed to mimic the in vivo activity of multifunctional antioxidants, compounds which are being developed in our laboratory to independently scavenge free radicals and selectively bind redox metals. A comparison of the efficacy of this topical nutraceutical to multifunctional antioxidants in laboratory animal models of oxidation-induced lens changes, retinal changes, and dry eye is reviewed. Although it is less potent than the small molecule multifunctional antioxidants that will require FDA approval, the topical nutraceutical formulation beneficially reduces ocular oxidative stress. These studies suggest that this topical antioxidant may fill an unmet therapeutic need by providing a nutraceutical that beneficially reduces the effects of oxidation on age-related ocular diseases. Keywords: oxidative stress, nutraceutical antioxidants, age-related ocular diseases, dry eye, cataracts, retinal degeneration

Analysis of Closely Related Antioxidant Nutraceuticals Using the Green Analytical Methodology of ANN and Smart Spectrophotometric Methods.

Two new, simple, and specific green analytical methods are proposed: zero-crossing first-derivative and chemometric-based spectrophotometric artificial neural network (ANN). The proposed methods were used for the simultaneous estimation of two closely related antioxidant nutraceuticals, coenzyme Q10 (Q10) and vitamin E, in their mixtures and pharmaceutical preparations. The first method is based on the handling of spectrophotometric data with the first-derivative technique, in which both nutraceuticals were determined in ethanol, each at the zero crossing of the other. The amplitudes of the first-derivative spectra for Q10 and vitamin E were recorded at 285 and 235 nm respectively, and correlated with their concentrations. The linearity ranges of Q10 and vitamin E were 10-60 and 5.6-70 μg⋅mL-1, respectively. The second method, ANN, is a multivariate calibration method and it was developed and applied for the simultaneous determination of both analytes. A training set of 90 different synthetic mixtures containing Q10 and vitamin E in the ranges of 0-100 and 0-556 μg⋅mL-1, respectively, was prepared in ethanol. The absorption spectra of the training set were recorded in the spectral region of 230-300 nm. By relating the concentration sets (x-block) with their corresponding absorption data (y-block), gradient-descent back-propagation ANN calibration could be computed. To validate the proposed network, a set of 45 synthetic mixtures of the two drugs was used. Both proposed methods were successfully applied for the assay of Q10 and vitamin E in their laboratory-prepared mixtures and in their pharmaceutical tablets with excellent recovery. These methods offer advantages over other methods because of low-cost equipment, time-saving measures, and environmentally friendly materials. In addition, no chemical separation prior to analysis was needed. The ANN method was superior to the derivative technique because ANN can determine both drugs under nonlinear experimental conditions. Consequently, ANN would be the method of choice in the routine analysis of Q10 and vitamin E tablets. No interference from common pharmaceutical additives was observed. Student's t-test and the F-test were used to compare the two methods. No significant difference was recorded.

Chemical basis for the disparate neuroprotective effects of the anthocyanins, callistephin and kuromanin, against nitrosative stress

Oxidative and nitrosative stress are major factors in neuronal cell death underlying neurodegenerative disease. Thus, supplementation of antioxidant defenses may be an effective therapeutic strategy for diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. In this regard, treatment with nutraceutical antioxidants has garnered increasing attention; however, the differential neuroprotective effects of structurally similar nutraceuticals, which may affect their suitability as therapeutic agents, has not been directly examined. In this study we compare the ability of two anthocyanins, callistephin (pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside) and kuromanin (cyanidin-3-O-glucoside) to protect cerebellar granule neurons from damage induced by either oxidative or nitrosative stress. These anthocyanins differ by the presence of a single hydroxyl group on the B-ring of kuromanin, forming a catechol moiety. While both compounds protected neurons from oxidative stress induced by glutamate excitotoxicity, a stark contrast was observed under conditions of nitrosative stress. Only kuromanin displayed the capacity to defend neurons from nitric oxide (NO)-induced apoptosis. This protective effect was blocked by addition of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase, indicating that the neuroprotective mechanism is superoxide dependent. Based on these observations, we suggest a unique mechanism by which slight structural variances, specifically the absence or presence of a catechol moiety, lend kuromanin the unique ability to generate superoxide, which acts as a scavenger of NO. These findings indicate that kuromanin and compounds that share similar chemical characteristics may be more effective therapeutic agents for treating neurodegenerative diseases than callistephin and related (non-catechol) compounds.

IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND GC-MS ANALYSIS OF THE ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF TERMINALIA BELLERICA ROXB (BAHEDA)

Objective: To investigate the antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract of Terminalia bellerica fruit pulp (TBFP), seed (TBS) and bark (TBB), and identification of phytochemical constituents of said extracts.Methods: The antioxidant potential of T. bellerica (TB) parts was evaluated by free radical scavenging activity (FRSA), superoxide anion radical scavenging activity (SARSA), hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (HRSA) and compared with reference standard quercetin. Lipid peroxidation (LPO), ferric thiocyanate activity (FTC) and reducing power (RP) of the plant extracts were also examined. The phytochemical constituents of said extracts have been quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) method.Results: Ethanolic extract of TBFP exhibited high phenolic content (254.33) followed by TBS (227.33) and TBB (185) mg/g of GAE. TBFP showed lowest IC50 for FRSA (62 µg/ml), SARSA (39 µg/ml) and HRSA (27 µg/ml) and highest RP (3.39 ascorbic acid equivalents/ml). TBB showed lowest IC50 for LPO (48 µg/ml) whereas TBS showed lowest IC50 for FTC (109 µg/ml). Predominant phyto-compounds present in TB extracts were quinic acid, gallic acid, ethyl galate, 9, 12 octadecadienoic acid and glucopyranose in varying concentrations as analyzed by GC-MS.Conclusion: On the basis of correlation of antioxidant studies with total phenolic content (TPC) and GC-MS analysis of different part of TB, it may be concluded that high concentration of total phenolics and other bioactive phytochemicals of TB extracts make it a potential source of nutraceutical antioxidants.

Effect of Two Natural Antioxidant Intervention on Plasma Vitamin C, E, and β-Carotene Concentrations of Apparently Healthy Adults in Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria

Immunologic functions particularly cell-mediated immunity declines with age, contributing to the increased incidence of infectious diseases in the elderly. The study looked at vitamin C, vitamin E, and β-carotene levels in plasma of 150 healthy adults of 96 men and 54 women aged between 30 and 74 years. The subjects were randomly grouped into three at baseline for further dietary studies, The antioxidant dietary supplements were either 1 capsule per day of antioxidant nutraceutical (Forever living product) (containing vitamin E 10 mg, vitamin C 60mg and β-carotene 2000 mcg of vitamin A, or cheap affordable indigenous antioxidant functional foods of equivalent vitamin composition of oranges, carrots, and soybean or bottled water, and the first dose was dispensed and followed up for six months. The result showed that the vit C, E and β-carotene concentration of antioxidant treated groups were positively influenced than the placebo group (Grp 1 (AT-P)6m. Grp 3 (AT-F)6mwas affected more positively than the antioxidant Grp 2 (AT-N)6m. Vitamin C, E, and β-carotene concentrations of the elderly are beyond reference/normal range of blood plasma. Plasma Vitamin C and β-carotene concentration of the female was higher than the male. The vitamin E concentration in blood plasma of male is higher compare to female.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cancer: Role of antioxidative nutraceuticals

Extensive research over the past half a century indicates that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in cancer. Although low levels of ROS can be beneficial, excessive accumulation can promote cancer. One characteristic of cancer cells that distinguishes them from normal cells is their ability to produce increased numbers of ROS and their increased dependence on an antioxidant defense system. ROS are produced as a byproduct intracellularly by mitochondria and other cellular elements and exogenously by pollutants, tobacco, smoke, drugs, xenobiotics, and radiation. ROS modulate various cell signaling pathways, which are primarily mediated through the transcription factors NF-κB and STAT3, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, kinases, growth factors, cytokines and other proteins, and enzymes; these pathways have been linked to cellular transformation, inflammation, tumor survival, proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis of cancer. ROS are also associated with epigenetic changes in genes, which is helpful in diagnosing diseases. This review considers the role of ROS in the various stages of cancer development. Finally, we provide evidence that nutraceuticals derived from Mother Nature are highly effective in eliminating cancer cells.

Nutraceuticals as Chemopreventive and Therapeutic agents in Gut Associated Pathogenesis

Nutraceuticals have gained great insights in recent years due to their therapeutic implications. Secondary metabolites like glutamate, flavonoids, polyphenols and terpenoids are widespread in nature and are part of human diet. Polysaccharides of prebiotic nature are used both as therapeutic and prophylactic agents. These nutraceuticals in recent times have been reported to posses great potential to reduce antigenic and oxidative pressure in the human gut. Antioxidant rich diet is a potential therapeutic agent against reactive oxygen species induced pathogenesis. Epegenetic compounds present in antioxidant and prebiotics rich nutraceuticals mitigate and remove the causative factors associated with pathogenesis. Flavonoids and polyphenols exhibit antioxidant properties and have been recognized as potential gastroprotective agents and epigenetic modulators as well. Triterpenoids such as cucurbitacin is reported to posses anticancer activities. Glutamate is an enteric neurotransmitter that is used in improving neonatal gut function. This review comprehensively summarizes the current knowledge of gut modulating nutraceuticals which ultimately can play its role from prophylaxis of gut to its therapeutics by employing various macro and micro molecular pathways.

High-throughput screening of vitamins and natural antioxidants in nutraceuticals from green tea extracts by liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole orbitrap mass spectrometry

A new analytical method was developed and validated for simultaneous analysis of 52 vitamins and natural antioxidants in nutraceutical products obtained from green tea (Camellia sinensis) extracts. The automated extraction procedure was achieved in a simple disposable pipet extraction. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC Q-Orbitrap) was used for the separation and detection of all the analytes. The method was validated by taking into consideration the guidelines specified in European SANCO/12571/2013 Guideline 2013 and Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The extraction recoveries were in a range of 84.9–112.7%, with coefficient of variation <6.4%. The limits of decision for the analytes were in the range of 0.05–1.91mgkg−1. The detection capabilities for the analytes were in the range of 0.08–3.18mgkg−1. The 52 compounds behave dynamic 0.2–200mgkg−1, with correlation coefficient >0.99. This validated method has been successfully applied on screening of vitamins and natural antioxidants in 136 different commercial nutraceutical products from green tea extracts.

Exemplified screening standardization of potent antioxidant nutraceuticals by principles of design of experiments

Standardization is an essential step in the development of nutraceutical based formulations or products. The objective of the present study was to exemplify screening standardization of the potent antioxidant nutraceuticals (generic), namely curcumin, quercetin, hesperidin, gallic acid, citric acid, L-ascorbic acid, phytic acid and α-tocopherol based on ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) value and also tried to justify the reliability of two different designs of experiments i.e. Plackett–Burman fold-over design and Taguchi L18 in screening related experiments. First screening of antioxidant nutraceutical was performed by Plackett–Burman fold-over design (resolution IV) and the outcome was analysed based on Pareto chart of standardized effect where the quercetin, gallic acid and curcumin have shown p value of <0.05 and the same factors were found to be positive outliner in half normal probability analysis. Further, the results were validated using factorial Taguchi orthogonal array, based on SN ratio (maximum the best response). Both statistical designs have given the same order of potency based on FRAP value as: quercetin > gallic acid > curcumin. Therefore it can be concluded that the statistical design of experiments is reliable in screening related experiments for development of nutraceutical formulations or products.

Radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory effects of the halophyte Spergularia marina Griseb.

As a part of ongoing research to develop antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutraceuticals, an ethanolic extract of Spergularia marina Griseb. was tested for its ability to scavenge radicals and suppress inflammation. The extract was able to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl, and superoxide radicals, respectively, in cell-free environments as well as intracellular radicals in H2O2-stimulated mouse macrophages. Inflammation in mouse macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharides was suppressed by S. marina according to the measurement of nitric oxide generation and expression of inflammatory cytokines, i.e. tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6. The anti-inflammatory effect of S. marina was substantiated by the finding that the expression of the inflammatory modulators, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), was significantly decreased. The chemical composition of S. marina was evaluated by FT-IR analysis of the extract indicating the presence of polyphenols and flavonoids. In conclusion, S. marina is suggested as a novel source for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.

Effectiveness of Antioxidant Nutraceuticals in Attenuating Canonical NF-κB Signaling in Human Skeletal Muscle Resulting From Exercise-Induced Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress is a process that produces cellular damage by oxidation of cellular components such as lipids, protein, and DNA. It is also a regulator of the acute phase inflammatory response, and also involves the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by mitochondrial respiratory activity and from the capillary endothelium in contracting skeletal muscles. Exercise-induced muscle damage is associated with an acute phase inflammatory response. This response results in the production of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-?) which is a mediator of muscle wasting and acts through the stimulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-?B). Skeletal muscle damage and injury becomes evident in many catabolic scenarios and is characterized by proteolysis and muscle wasting. Inflammation and oxidative stress are associated with skeletal muscle wasting in various disease states including cancer cachexia, muscular dystrophy, AIDS, sepsis, etc. Antioxidant supplementation has been suggested to attenuate exercise-induced oxidative stress and the subsequent activation of NF-?B through various mechanisms; however, there is still conflicting evidence and more research needs to be completed to better understand the role of NF-?B signaling in skeletal muscle. Antioxidant supplementation has also been shown to attenuate oxidative stress and the subsequent formation of reactive oxygen nitrogen species (ROS, RONS) in skeletal muscle. As a result, this area requires further research as this process has also been demonstrated to mediate NF-?B signaling. Prior evidence suggests that various nutraceutical supplements seem to play a beneficial role in maintaining muscle mass during periods of heightened inflammation and oxidative stress and possible muscle wasting.

Topical nutraceutical Optixcare EH ameliorates experimental ocular oxidative stress in rats.

Based on the hypothesis that oral nutraceuticals do not adequately reach all ocular tissues in the anterior segment, we evaluated the ability of a 3% concentration of the ingredients in a topical nutraceutical antioxidant formulation called Optixcare Eye Health (Optixcare EH) to ameliorate oxidative stress in rat models of age-related ocular diseases. Diabetes was induced by tail-vein injection of streptozotocin, and the development of cataracts was monitored by slit lamp. Young rats were exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, and the reduction in lens glutathione (GSH) levels and increase in 4-hydroxynonenol (4-HNE) were measured. Oxidative stress in the neural retina was generated by exposure of dark-adapted rats to 1,000 lx of light, and oxidative stress markers were measured. Dry eye was induced in rats by twice daily (b.i.d.) subcutaneous scopolamine injections. Topical Optixcare EH was administered b.i.d. and compared in select experiments to the multifunctional antioxidant JHX-4, the topical aldose reductase inhibitor (ARI) Kinostat™, oral Ocu-GLO™, and the topical ocular comfort agents Optixcare Eye Lube, Optixcare Eye Lube + Hyaluron, and Idrop Vet Plus hyaluronic acid. In diabetic rats, topical ARI treatment prevented cataract formation while the nutraceuticals delayed their development with Optixcare EH>Ocu-GLO. In UV-exposed rats, the reduction of GSH and increase in 4-HNE in the lens were normalized in order JHX-4>Optixcare EH>Ocu-GLO. In the retina, oxidative stress markers were reduced better by oral JHX-4 compared with topical Optixcare EH. In the scopolamine-induced dry-eye rats, tear flow was maintained by Optixcare EH treatment, while none of the comfort agents examined altered tear flow. Topical administration of a 3% concentration of the ingredients in Optixcare EH reduces experimentally induced reactive oxygen species in rats exposed to several sources of ocular oxidative stress. In addition, Optixcare EH maintains tear volume in scopolamine-induced dry eye. This suggests that in the anterior segment, the ingredients in Optixcare EH may have clinical potential against ocular oxidative stress.