Parameters Of Antioxidant Defense System Research Articles

Physiological and biochemical in vivo study of polyphenols and 20-hydroxyecdisone from quinoa grains effect on resistance to physical exercise in Wistar rats

Increasing the ability of the human body to adapt to physical stress is relevant from the standpoint of using foods for special uses containing functional food ingredients (FFI) with effectiveness proven in vivo. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of FFI from Chenopodium quinoa grains with a high content of polyphenols and phytoecdysteroids on the physical endurance of male Wistar rats. Material and methods. The experiment was carried out during 36 days using 50 weaned male Wistar rats. The animals were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=12): Control, Run and Run-FFI. Rats of the Control and Run groups received a standard semisynthetic diet during the experiment. Rats of the Run-FFI group received a semi-synthetic diet with the addition of FFI in an amount of 0.055±0.003%, containing phytoecdysteroids (50.4±0.6 mg/g) and polyphenols (212.0±2.0 mg/g). During the experiment, the rats were assessed for their neuromotor function (grip strength of front paws), memory, and behavioral reactions in the "Elevated Plus Maze" (EPM), "Conditioned Passive Avoidance Reflex" (CPAR) and "Open Field" (OF) tests. Once a week, animals from the Run and Run-FFI groups were subjected to moderate physical load on a "Treadmill". On the 36th day of the experiment, the animals of these groups were subjected to exhausting physical load. Immediately after running, the animals were placed in metabolic cages to collect daily urine. At the end of the experiment, the content of corticosterone, the activity of catalase, indicators of protein, lipid and mineral metabolism, indexes of the liver functional state and antioxidant defense system parameters were analyzed in the blood serum; the level of prostaglandin E2 and dopamine were determined in daily urine. Results. Physiological tests (CRAR, OF) showed that weekly exercise increased anxiety in laboratory animals. The FFI introduction into the diet led to normalization of the assessed parameters (EPM). As a result of 36-day consumption of FFI against the background of physical loads, a significant decrease by 22% in the main stress marker, corticosterone, was revealed in the blood of rats, as well as significant increase by 23% in the stress inhibitor - prostaglandin E2 urinary excretion, compared with animals of the Run group to the level not differed from the indicators of the control animals. There were no differences in endurance performance between the Run and Run-FFI groups on the results of the exhaustive exercise. Consumption of FFI prevented the formation of excess ammonia, significantly reducing the level of urea in the blood and normalizing its excretion to control levels in the urine, which was increased in the Run group by 19%. Conclusion. The results obtained demonstrated the adaptogenic properties of the developed FFI in response to stress caused by weekly moderate and acute exhaustive physical activity. The obtained data on the biological effect of the developed FPI on the adaptive potential of laboratory animals will serve as an experimental basis for its inclusion in the composition of specialized foods.

Effects of pinealectomy and crocin treatment on rats with isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction

The present study aimed to analyze the effects of pinealectomy and crocin treatment in isoproterenol-induced myocardial damage. Seventy rats were divided into seven groups: control, sham control, pinealectomy (PNX), isoproterenol (ISO; 85 mg/kg on the 29th and 30th days of the experiment, subcutaneous injection), PNX + ISO, PNX + crocin (50 mg/kg/day for 30 days, intragastric administration), and PNX + ISO + crocin. PNX procedure was performed on the first day of the study. A significant increase was observed in serum cardiac damage markers (CK-MB, Troponin I) after ISO administration. ISO administration led to a significant increase in cardiac oxidative stress parameters, such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and total oxidant status (TOS), while it led to a decrease in antioxidant defense system parameters, such as reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant status (TAS) when compared to control groups. Elevated MDA and TOS levels were observed, while reduced SOD and CAT activities, and decreased GSH and TAS levels were observed in the group that underwent PNX and ISO administration when compared to the PNX group. Furthermore, in the PNX + ISO + Crocin group, SOD and CAT activities, and GSH and TAS levels ameliorated and MDA and TOS levels were reduced with the crocin treatment when compared to the PNX + ISO group. Also, marked increases were observed in serum cardiac markers, histopathological and immunohistochemical findings after the crocin treatment. All findings demonstrated that crocin could be employed as a cardioprotective agent due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties.

CHANGES IN OXIDATIVE STRESS BIOMARKERS IN THE FIRST-EPISODE PSYCHOSIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

The literature has shown that oxidative stress markers can indicate the degree of disease severity in untreated patients with schizophrenia. There is evidence that the excessive production of free radicals or the installation of oxidative stress can be evidenced at the time of the first-episode psychosis (FEP). Were used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Guidelines to conduct a systematic literature search to detect studies comparing oxidative stress markers in FEP patients and healthy controls (HC). Twenty-one studies were obtained for inclusion in this systematic review, comprising an overall sample of 415 FEP and 392 HC for CAT (6 studies), 1293 FEP and 1279 HC for SOD (15 studies), 500 FEP and 529 HC for GPx (9 studies), 218 FEP and 228 HC for GSH (5 estudies), and 814 FEP and 852 HC for lipid peroxidation (12 studies). By analyzing the standardized mean differences, no significant differences were found between FEP and HC groups in any of the antioxidant defense system parameters assessed, despite favoring a decrease in activity of both the antioxidant and non-enzymatic enzyme systems. Lipid peroxidation levels showed a significant increase for the FEP group compared to the HC group (p < 0.0001). Heterogeneity among studies was high, with I2 values > 90%. Sensitivity analyzes were performed to obtain more homogeneous results. Significant differences were obtained for serum/plasma SOD (p < 0.0001) and lipid peroxidation (p < 0.0001) in the FEP group compared to the HC group, but still containing high heterogeneity. These results suggest that the oxidative stress biomarkers could be used to indicate the degree for the severity of the disease in untreated patients with schizophrenia.

Short-term cold stress affects physiological and biochemical traits of pistachio rootstocks

The current study evaluated the physiological response of four seven-month-old pistachio rootstocks (Badami, Ghazvini, UCB-1 and Kaleh-Ghouchi) under a four-day cold stress treatment. Our results showed that total chlorophyll (TChl) and total carotenoid (TCar) decreased dramatically under cold stress. On the contrary, antioxidant enzyme system including ascorbate peroxidase (APX), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), catalase (CAT) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense system parameters including proline (PRO), total free amino acids (TFAAs) and total soluble carbohydrates (TSC) increased with the induction of cold stress. Similarly, electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA), other aldehydes (OLD), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (oxidative stress parameters) elevated in response to the cold stress, while, total soluble protein (TSP) decreased, significantly. Antioxidant enzyme activity was positively correlated with TSP, but negatively correlated with oxidative stress parameters. Bi-plot and cluster analyses revealed that Badami rootstock was the most tolerant to cold stress, followed by UCB-1, Ghazvini and Keleh-Ghouchi.

The role of antioxidant system dysfunction in the course of gastroesophageal reflux disease in young patients with autoimmune thyroiditis

Objective — to determine the state of the antioxidant defense system by studying the total antioxidant activity and indicators of the glutathione system in young patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT).
 Materials and methods. The study involved 120 patients with GERD and AIT (mean age — 21.9 ± 2.7 уears) and 45 subjects with isolated GERD (mean age — 21.2 ± 2.4 уears). All the investigated patients were the students of higher educational institutions. The general antioxidant activity was investigated as the aggregate indicator of the first phase of antioxidant defense and the state of the glutathione link of the antioxidant system (the activity of glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase and reduced glutathione).
 Results. It has been established that in patients with isolated GERD the total antioxidant activity of blood serum was significantly lower in comparison with the control group and was significantly suppressed with the addition of AIT.
 The decreased synthesis of glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase and reduced glutathione was reveled at the comorbid pathologies, as well as dependence of these parameters from the morphological forms of the esophageal mucous lesions: the most intensive alterations were observed at the erosive form of the disease.
 Conclusions. The combination of GERD and AIT was accompanied by the changes in the antioxidant defense system parameters. This was manifested in the inhibition of the indicator of the total antioxidant activity and the enzymatic component of the second phase of the system — the glutathione link. These changes were dependent on the morphological form of the esophageal lesions.

Integrative expressional regulation of TaHKT2;1, TaNa+/H+ vacuolar antiporter, and TaSOS1 genes improve salt tolerance in gamma-ray induced bread wheat mutants

Soil salinity is one of the most significant environmental constraints to global agricultural productivity. To meet the nutritional needs of the growing population, cereals such as wheat, which are essential for dietary products but also sensitive to salinity, must be improved to be either more resilient or less susceptible to salt stress. The main objective of this study was to examine the responses of advanced mutant lines to salt stress. Five-advanced mutant wheat lines, which were previously found to be drought tolerant, were grown under 150 mM NaCl stress conditions to see how they responded to salt stress conditions. They were generated via 200 Gy gamma-ray applications to the Sagittario commercial cultivar. The results show that the content of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), chlorophyll, and electrolyte leakage % did not change significantly. Mutant lines showed higher antioxidant defense system parameters (SOD, CAT, POX, and GR). Similarly, the amount of proline involved in intracellular homeostasis was higher in all mutants. Under saline stress, the expression of Triticum aestivum Salt Overly Sensitive 1 (TaSOS1) increased in all mutant lines, the expression of Triticum aestivum High-Affinity Potassium ion Transporter 2;1 (TaHKT2;1) increased in all except in mutant line 5, and the expression of Triticum aestivum Sodium ion / Hydrogen ion vacuolar antiporter (TaNa+/H+ vacuolar antiporter) increased in all except in mutant line 3. Synergetic interaction in the expression of the genes involved in signal transduction resulted in more intracellular K+. Overall, these results suggest that mutants’ responses to salinity stress is related to an ability to accumulate K+ in cells with synergetic expressional regulation of TaHKT2;1, TaNa+/H+ vacuolar antiporter, and TaSOS1 genes, in addition to responses of antioxidant enzyme activities and the accumulation of proline.

Hepatoprotective ability of tetramethylpyrazine produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

Tetramethylpyrazine (TTMP), an important aroma compound, was produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens XJB-104 with distillers’ grains as raw material. The yield of TTMP under optimized fermentation procedure was 3176.52 mg/L. TTMP in the fermentation broth was purified and the purity (> 99%) was measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the hepatoprotective activity of TTMP in ethanol–water system was evaluated by biochemical indicators of liver injury, parameters of antioxidant defense system and inflammatory response, and liver histopathological assessment in mice. Ethanol treatment increased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase, suggesting liver damage. Both high and low dose of TTMP significantly decreased levels of these indicators. Furthermore, the reduction in the activities or concentrations of superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde in liver tissue caused by ethanol was significantly alleviated by TTMP. Increased inflammatory cytokines including transcription factor, tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1beta, interleukin, macrophage chemoattractant protein, inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase were also suppressed by TTMP treatment. It is concluded that TTMP in ethanol–water system has potential liver-protective activity, especially when ethanol is consumed at low doses for short periods of time.

Role of Oxidant/Antioxidant Status in the Pathogenesis of Iron-Deficiency Anemia: Case Study on Children of Qalyubiyya and Minoufiya Governorates, Egypt

Iron- deficiency anemia (IDA) is anemia due to insufficient iron. It is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide affecting people of all ages in both developed and developing countries. The present study aims to investigate the role of oxidative/antioxidant status in the pathogenesis of IDA through a case study on children of Qalyubiyya and Minoufiya Governorates, Egypt. 119 with IDA and 150 healthy control, boys and girls, infants and young children, aged zero months to 6 years, were selected for the study from Rural Health Units and Maternity and Child Care Centers, Qalyubiyya and Minoufiya Governorates, Egypt. Based on hematological and biochemical analysis, the mean hemoglobin (Hb) level, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), reticulocyte hemoglobin content, serum iron and serum ferritin were significantly lower in infants and young children with IDA than healthy control. The opposite direction was observed for the red blood cell distribution width (RDW). The antioxidant defense system parameters including [enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, GSH-Px; glutathione reductase, GSH-Rd; superoxide dismutase, SOD and catalase, CAT) activities and none-enzymatic levels (glutathione, GSH and vitamins A, C and E)] of infants and young children with IDA were significantly (P≤0.05) lower. While the oxidative stress parameters thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS and nitric oxide, NO2 were significantly higher than the control group. In conclusion, oxidant/antioxidant status may play a role in the Pathogenesis of Iron-Deficiency Anemia.

Oral Nigella sativa oil and thymoquinone administration ameliorates the effect of long-term cisplatin treatment on the enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism, brush border membrane, and antioxidant defense in rat intestine.

We have previously shown that oral administration of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) ameliorates the deleterious gastrointestinal effects of cisplatin (CP), administered as a single dose. Since a typical clinical CP dosing regimen involves multiple cycles of CP administration in lower doses, in the present study we investigate the protective efficacy of NSO and its major bioactive constituent, thymoquinone (TQ), against multiple-dose CP treatment-induced deleterious biochemical and histological changes in rat intestine. Rats were divided into six groups, viz., control, CP, CP+NSO, CP+TQ, NSO, and TQ. Animals in CP+NSO and CP+TQ groups were pre-administered NSO (2ml/kg bwt, orally) and TQ (1.5mg/kg bwt, orally), respectively, daily for 14days and were then treated with five repeated doses of CP (3mg/kg bwt, i.p.), every fourth day for 20days while still receiving NSO/TQ. CP treatment alone led to a significant decline in specific activities of brush border membrane (BBM) enzymes while NSO or TQ administration to CP-treated rats significantly prevented the decline in BBM enzyme activities in the isolated brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) as well as in mucosal homogenates. Furthermore, both NSO and TQ administration markedly ameliorated CP-induced alterations on carbohydrate metabolism enzymes and the enzymatic and non-enzymatic parameters of antioxidant defense system in the intestinal mucosa. However, NSO appeared to be more efficacious than TQ in protecting against CP-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction. Histopathological findings corroborated the biochemical results. Thus, NSO and TQ may prove clinically useful in amelioration of the intestinal toxicity associated with long-term CP chemotherapy.

Oxidative cost of interspecific hybridization: a case study of two Triturus species and their hybrids.

Oxidative stress has most recently been suggested as one of the possible mechanisms responsible for reduced fitness of hybrids. To explore possible oxidative cost of hybridization, we examined anti-oxidant defence system parameters (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, glutathione, SH groups), their interconnectedness (index of integration) and levels of oxidative damage [concentrations of lipid peroxides, TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances)] in laboratory-reared newt species, Triturus macedonicus and T. ivanbureschi, and their hybrid. Our results showed that parental species differed in anti-oxidant defence system parameters, but not in the levels of integration of the whole system and oxidative damage. Individuals of T. ivanbureschi had higher activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase and concentrations of glutathione. Hybrid individuals of crested newts displayed higher levels of the anti-oxidant defence system (higher superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase activities and concentrations of SH groups), and a lower overall correlation of anti-oxidant system (lower index of integration) in comparison with both parental species, suggesting that they may possess a less efficient anti-oxidant defence system and a higher investment in maintaining oxidative balance. The higher investment in the anti-oxidant system could divert limited resources away from other functions and affect further hybrid fitness. The presented findings contribute to a better understanding of the anti-oxidant defence system of crested newts and their interspecies differences, and support the hypothesis that oxidative stress is one of the costs of interspecific hybridization.

The Protective Effects of Glycyrrhetinic Acid and Chrysin against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rat Ovaries

Objective To evaluate the protective effects of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) and chrysin (CH) on experimental ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat ovaries using tissue oxidative stress marker levels, hormone levels, and histopathological scores. Methods Sixty healthy rats were randomly divided into six equal groups: control, I/R, I/R + CH (50 mg/kg/day), I/R + GA (100 mg/kg/day), CH (50 mg/kg/day), and GA (100 mg/kg/day). Biochemical, hormonal, and histopathological evaluations were performed on blood and tissue samples 14 days after CH and GA treatment. Results The antioxidant defense system parameters were significantly higher in the ovarian tissues of the I/R + CH and I/R + GA groups than in those of the I/R group. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels were significantly reduced, and serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels were significantly increased in rats treated with CH and GA compared with those in the I/R group. Additionally, the histopathological scores of the I/R + CH and I/R + GA groups were significantly improved compared with those of the I/R group. Conclusions The significant improvements in tissue oxidative stress parameters, serum hormone levels, and histological scores observed in this study indicate that treatment with CH or GA may be a conservative approach to prevent I/R injury in adnexal torsion cases after the ovarian detorsion procedure.

Determination of Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) Levels in Kangal Dogs with Maternal Cannibalism

Oxidative stress, which plays an active role in the pathogenesis of various diseases, continues to be relevant in assessing the condition changes such as aggression. Some of Kangal dogs have been found to eat their own puppies during their first 24 hours following birth, as a case called maternal cannibalism. The present study aims to determine the levels of serum malondialdehyde (MDA), which is a product of lipid peroxidation, and serum glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes, which are the parameters of antioxidant defense system, and total protein and albumin levels and to show their relationship with cannibalism. The study material consists of blood and blood serum of 30 Kangal dog breed in total, 15 of which have maternal cannibalism and 15 haven‘t observed maternal cannibalism as a control group. Glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde levels were investigated by means of spectrophotometric method in blood serum of these animals. The difference between the mean values of total protein, GPx, SOD, MDA and albumin was statistically significant in the results obtained. These findings conclude that oxidative stress and antioxidative metabolism plays a role in the pathogenesis of cannibalism in dogs.

Antioxidant defense system parameters in isolated fish hepatocytes exposed to bisphenol A - Effect of vitamin C.

In this study, isolated hepatocytes of pearl mullet (Alburnus tarichi) were exposed to bisphenol A (BPA) at concentrations of 25, 50, 100, and 200 μM for 24 h. Moreover, an in vitro antioxidant concentration of vitamin C (50 μM) was administrated to the culture medium along with the BPA exposures. Next, the antioxidant defense system parameters were analyzed. According to the results, the highest concentration of BPA (200 μM) proved to be severely toxic for the cells. The increased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), the fluctuated activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and the decreased content of reduced glutathione (GSH) were compared to the control group after the BPA exposures. Vitamin C co-administration was found to cause further increases in the SOD, GPx, and GST activities in some of the experimental groups and vitamin C could not restore the GSH content. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were observed to be unaffected in all exposure groups. These results show that BPA causes alterations in the antioxidant defenses of the isolated fish hepatocytes. In addition, vitamin C co-administration along with BPA was found to be non-protective against BPA-induced oxidative stress, consequently, aggravated a negative BPA impact.

The protective effect of an aqueous extract from <i>Smilax excelsa</i> l. against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats

Background: Because reactive oxygen species (ros) contribute to the pathogenesis of various acute and chronic liver diseases, dietary antioxidants and drugs from herbal origins have been proved to be beneficial as therapeutic agents in reversing hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect of an aqueous extract from smilax excelsa l. Shoots and leaves against acute ccl4-induced liver injury as well as the changes in antioxidative defense system in female wistar albino rats. Materials and Methods: S. Excelsa extract was administered orally in doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, once daily for 9 days. Acute hepatic toxicity was induced by intraperitoneal injection of ccl4 (1 ml/kg) on the 10th day. 24 h after ccl4 intoxication, biochemical and histopathological analyses were undertaken on sera and liver tissues. Results: Ccl4 challenge caused significant increases in the activities of liver enzymes as well as the levels of bilirubin, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide, while total serum protein levels and antioxidant defense system parameters were reduced significantly compared to the normal group. Administration of s. Excelsa extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg resulted in a suppression of ccl4-induced lipid peroxidation and altered oxidative stress parameters to nearly normal values in comparison to ccl4-treated rats. Nevertheless the extract did not reduce the extent of ccl4-induced mild liver injury, as seen by the histopathology of liver damage. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that s. Excelsa could protect the liver tissues against ccl4-induced oxidative stress probably by increasing antioxidative defense activities.

THE PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF AN AQUEOUS EXTRACT FROM SMILAX EXCELSA L. AGAINST CARBON TETRACHLORIDE-INDUCED LIVER INJURY IN RATS

Background: Because reactive oxygen species (ros) contribute to the pathogenesis of various acute and chronic liver diseases,
 dietary antioxidants and drugs from herbal origins have been proved to be beneficial as therapeutic agents in reversing hepatotoxicity
 and oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect of an aqueous extract from smilax excelsa l.
 Shoots and leaves against acute ccl4-induced liver injury as well as the changes in antioxidative defense system in female wistar
 albino rats.
 Materials and Methods: S. Excelsa extract was administered orally in doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, once daily for
 9 days. Acute hepatic toxicity was induced by intraperitoneal injection of ccl4 (1 ml/kg) on the 10th day. 24 h after ccl4 intoxication,
 biochemical and histopathological analyses were undertaken on sera and liver tissues.
 Results: Ccl4 challenge caused significant increases in the activities of liver enzymes as well as the levels of bilirubin,
 malondialdehyde and nitric oxide, while total serum protein levels and antioxidant defense system parameters were reduced
 significantly compared to the normal group. Administration of s. Excelsa extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg resulted in a suppression of
 ccl4-induced lipid peroxidation and altered oxidative stress parameters to nearly normal values in comparison to ccl4-treated rats.
 Nevertheless the extract did not reduce the extent of ccl4-induced mild liver injury, as seen by the histopathology of liver damage.
 Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that s. Excelsa could protect the liver tissues against ccl4-induced oxidative stress
 probably by increasing antioxidative defense activities.

PATHOGENETIC ASPECTS OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS IN NEWBORN INFANTS WITH HYPOXIC DEFEATS

Summary. The problem of hypoxia is extremely important for pathophysiologists and clinicians in terms of mechanisms of various pathological conditions. Present research is devoted to the pathogenesis of hypoxic damage of cardiovascular system in newborn infants. The data of paraclinical investigation were analysed statistically, using the multivariate correlation. For the patients were performed complex biochemical blood parameters, such as: serum levels of total protein, bilirubin, glucose, urea, creatinine; alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase-MB, creatine kinase, troponin-I; some indicators of free radical oxidation, malonic aldehyde levels in erythrocytes and oxidative modification of proteins in blood plasma; parameters of antioxidant defense system, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in erythrocytes, ceruloplasmin level, HS-groups, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, γ-glutamyltransferase. It was revealed, that severity of cardiovascular system damage directly correlates with the severity of general condition of newborns with perinatal pathology. The results of multivariate correlation analysis confirmed, that myocardial injury of newborns is caused by hypoxic cellular energy defficiency, metabolic disorders, imbalance of oxidative and antioxidant systems, which results in reduced activity of cardiomyocytes and damage of them.

Effects of phenol on ovarian P450arom gene expression and aromatase activity in vivo and antioxidant metabolism in common carp Cyprinus carpio.

Ovarian cyp19a mRNA expression and P450 aromatase activity were measured in vivo in common carp Cyprinus carpio exposed to phenol for 96 h. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and parameters of antioxidant defense system in serum ovary and liver of this fish after long-term phenol exposure were also studied. In vivo exposure of fish to sublethal dose of phenol for 96 h caused marked attenuation of ovarian cyp19a1a gene expression and P450 aromatase activity. Production of ROS like hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals in serum, liver and ovary in fish exposed to phenol for 15 days elevated significantly from day 1 to day 7 with no further significant increase thereafter compared to their respective control values. Total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities in serum and ovary decreased gradually and significantly from day 1 to day 4, which then increased significantly for the rest of the exposure days. Liver SOD activity seemed to be distinctly responsive to phenol. SOD activity in liver of phenol-exposed fish started to increase gradually from day 1 to 4 with no further increase thereafter. Catalase activities in all the tissues showed significant inhibition up to day 4 which then increased gradually and significantly up to day 15 of phenol exposure compared to their respective control values. From our results, it appears that sublethal dose of phenol has the endocrine disruptive potential and effect is mediated via inhibition of ovarian P450arom gene expression and aromatase activity in vivo. Sublethal dose of phenol also caused oxidative stress, and antioxidant systems are very much effective to prevent the damages caused by the generation of ROS.

Route-dependent effects of cadmium/cadmium and magnesium acute treatment on parameters of oxidative stress in rat liver

The study was designed to evaluate and compare the effects of single oral (or) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) cadmium (Cd) administration on parameters of oxidative stress in liver of rats. Furthermore, investigation on protective effects of magnesium (Mg) or and i.p. pretreatment on the same parameters was performed. Wistar rats were administrated oral dose of Cd (30mg Cd/kg b.w.)/Cd+Mg (30mg Cd/kg b.w., 50mg Mg/kg b.w.) or i.p. dose of Cd (1.5mg Cd/kg b.w.)/Cd+Mg (1.5mg Cd/kg b.w., 3mg Mg/kg b.w.) and sacrificed after 24h. In liver homogenates superoxide anion, malondialdehyde, non-protein sulfhydryl groups, total sulfhydryl groups content, and superoxide dismutase activity were determined. Cadmium intoxication caused the increase of superoxide anion and malondialdehyde levels and had negative effect on investigated parameters of antioxidant defense system, except on total sulfhydryl groups. The negative effect was more emphasized after i.p. Cd administration. Oral Mg pretreatment induced more pronounced positive effect than Mg given intraperitoneally that can be attributed, at least partly, to Cd and Mg interactions on the level of GIT. On the basis of the obtained results it can be concluded that both Cd and Cd+Mg effects on parameters of oxidative stress in rats liver are route-dependent.

Assessment of the in-vivo and in-vitro antioxidant potential of Strychnos potatorum Linn. seeds in Freunds adjuvant induced arthritic rats

The Indian system of medicine provides Strychnos potatorum Linn. seeds for the treatment of various ailments like jaundice, bronchitis, diabetes, renal and vesicle calculi, conjunctivitis, chronic diarrhoea, dysentery etc. The present study involves the effect of crude powder (SPP) and aqueous extract (SPE) of S. potatorum Linn seeds on in vivo antioxidant defense system against Freund’s complete adjuvant (FCA) induced arthritis in rats at the dose of 200 mg/kg/p.o for 14 and 28 days and in vitro antioxidant activity against Ferrous thiocyanate (FTC) and Thiobarbiturate (TBA) induced lipid peroxidation. The antioxidant defense system parameters studied in plasma and tissues of arthritic rats were found to be altered significantly. These alterations observed in arthritic rats may be due to the increased oxidative stress in the tissues, which were significantly reduced in SPP and SPE treated arthritic rats. The results reveal that, the drug treatment decreased the LPO levels in plasma and tissues, either by interception of the formation or by scavenging the active oxygen species. The raise in enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidants level may be due to the sparing effect of antioxidant defense system as the drugs SPP and SPE have scavenged the free radicals by various antioxidant phytochemicals like steroids, triterpenes and polyphenolics present in it either by individual or by combined action. In in vitro total antioxidant analysis by FTC and TBA methods, SPE was found to show higher antioxidant activity when compared with SPP. Key words: Strychnos potatorum, enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants, free radical scavenging, lipid peroxidation.