Photooxidative Damage Research Articles

Protective effects of the antioxidant extract collected from Styela clava tunics on UV radiation-induced skin aging in hairless mice

Ultraviolet(UV) radiation is considered a primary cause of skin damage, which is characterized by deep wrinkles, roughness, laxity and pigmentation through oxidative stress and oxidative photodamage. To examine the therapeutic effects of ethanol extract of Styelaclava tunics(EtSCT) on UV radiation-induced skin aging in hairless mice, alterations in skin phenotype, histological structures, inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum(ER) stress, oxidative conditions and toxicity were investigated during 13weeks of UV irradiation and topical application of EtSCT. EtSCT showed high reducing power (3.1%), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) radical scavenging activity (92.7%) and NO scavenging activity (15.6%) due to its high total flavonoids (15.3mg/ml) and total phenolics (36.8mg/ml). The topical application of EtSCT suppressed photoaging of the skin of UV-irradiated mice, and this was demonstrated by the inhibition of wrinkle formation, the suppression of the erythema index as well as the prevention of transepidermal water loss. Additionally, the epidermal thickness and adipocytes number were recovered to a similar level as that in the no radiation group in the UV+EtSCT‑treated groups compared with the UV+vehicle‑treated group, and the expression of collagenI increased. The attenuation of mitogen‑activated protein kinase and ERstress signaling pathways activated by reactive oxygen species was also detected in the UV+EtSCT‑treated group. Inflammatory responses including the infiltration of mast cells, CD31expression and interleukin-6 secretion were significantly lower in the UV+EtSCT-treated groups. Moreover, the concentration of malondialdehyde was reduced and the activity of superoxide dismutase was effectively recovered in the UV+EtSCT-treated groups compared with that in the vehicle-treated groups. Liver and kidney toxicity factors were maintained at a constant level. These results suggest that EtSCT has the potential for use as therapeutic drug which protects against skin aging by regulating the skin morphology, histopathological structures, ER stress, inflammation and oxidative conditions.

Orange protein has a role in phytoene synthase stabilization in sweetpotato.

Carotenoids have essential roles in light-harvesting processes and protecting the photosynthetic machinery from photo-oxidative damage. Phytoene synthase (PSY) and Orange (Or) are key plant proteins for carotenoid biosynthesis and accumulation. We previously isolated the sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) Or gene (IbOr), which is involved in carotenoid accumulation and salt stress tolerance. The molecular mechanism underlying IbOr regulation of carotenoid accumulation was unknown. Here, we show that IbOr has an essential role in regulating IbPSY stability via its holdase chaperone activity both in vitro and in vivo. This protection results in carotenoid accumulation and abiotic stress tolerance. IbOr transcript levels increase in sweetpotato stem, root, and calli after exposure to heat stress. IbOr is localized in the nucleus and chloroplasts, but interacts with IbPSY only in chloroplasts. After exposure to heat stress, IbOr predominantly localizes in chloroplasts. IbOr overexpression in transgenic sweetpotato and Arabidopsis conferred enhanced tolerance to heat and oxidative stress. These results indicate that IbOr holdase chaperone activity protects IbPSY stability, which leads to carotenoid accumulation, and confers enhanced heat and oxidative stress tolerance in plants. This study provides evidence that IbOr functions as a molecular chaperone, and suggests a novel mechanism regulating carotenoid accumulation and stress tolerance in plants.

Piceatannol protects ARPE-19 cells against vitamin A dimer-mediated photo-oxidative damage through activation of Nrf2/NQO1 signalling

Piceatannol, abundant in grapes and red wine, may prevent photo-oxidative damage to the eyes. During the aging process, dimers of dietary vitamin A accumulate in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and photo-oxidation of these dimers causes RPE death. This death is associated with age-related retinal degenerative disease and blindness. In this study, we investigated the underlying mechanism of photo-oxidation-induced apoptotic inhibition using piceatannol. To mimic Vitamin A dimer-mediated photo-oxidation, ARPE-19 cells with accumulated vitamin A dimers were used as a model to study apoptosis. Cells were either pretreated with piceatannol or untreated and exposed to blue light-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress). Apoptosis was then measured and piceatannol was noted to inhibit apoptosis and ER stress. The mechanism by which this protective effect of piceatannol occurs is through the nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/NAD(P)H quinine oxidoreductase 1(NQO1) pathway, which is likely due to activation of Akt signalling.

Differential Roles of Carotenes and Xanthophylls in Photosystem I Photoprotection.

Carotenes and their oxygenated derivatives, xanthophylls, are structural elements of the photosynthetic apparatus and contribute to increasing both the light-harvesting and photoprotective capacity of the photosystems. β-Carotene is present in both the core complexes and light-harvesting system (LHCI) of Photosystem (PS) I, while xanthophylls lutein and violaxanthin bind exclusively to its antenna moiety; another xanthophyll, zeaxanthin, which protects chloroplasts against photooxidative damage, binds to the LHCI complexes under conditions of excess light. We functionally dissected various components of the xanthophyll- and carotene-dependent photoprotection mechanism of PSI by analyzing two Arabidopsis mutants: szl1 plants, with a carotene content lower than that of the wild type, and npq1, with suppressed zeaxanthin formation. When exposed to excess light, the szl1 genotype displayed PSI photoinhibition stronger than that of wild-type plants, while removing zeaxanthin had no such effect. The PSI-LHCI complex purified from szl1 was more photosensitive than the corresponding wild-type and npq1 complexes, as is evident from its faster photobleaching and increased rate of singlet oxygen release, suggesting that β-carotene is crucial in controlling chlorophyll triplet formation. Accordingly, fluorescence-detected magnetic resonance analysis showed an increase in the amplitude of signals assigned to chlorophyll triplets in β-carotene-depleted complexes. When PSI was fractioned into its functional moieties, it was revealed that the boost in the rate of singlet oxygen release caused by β-carotene depletion was greater in LHCI than in the core complex. We conclude that PSI-LHCI complex-bound β-carotene elicits a protective response, consisting of a reduction in the yield of harmful triplet excited states, while accumulation of zeaxanthin plays a minor role in restoring phototolerance.

Inflammasome priming increases retinal pigment epithelial cell susceptibility to lipofuscin phototoxicity by changing the cell death mechanism from apoptosis to pyroptosis

Progressive death of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells is a hallmark of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in all developed countries. Photooxidative damage and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome have been suggested as contributing factors to this process. We investigated the effects of inflammasome activation on oxidative damage-induced RPE cell death. In primary human RPE cells and ARPE-19 cells, lipofuscin accumulated following incubation with oxidatively modified photoreceptor outer segments. Oxidative stress was induced by blue light irradiation (dominant wavelength: 448nm, irradiance: 0.8mW/cm2, duration: 3 to 6h) of lipofuscin-loaded cells and resulted in cell death by apoptosis. Prior inflammasome priming by IL-1α or complement activation product C5a altered the cell death mechanism to pyroptosis and resulted in a significant increase of the phototoxic effect. Following IL-1α priming, viability 24h after irradiation was reduced in primary RPE cells and ARPE-19 cells from 65.3% and 56.7% to 22.6% (p=0.003) and 5.1% (p=0.0002), respectively. Inflammasome-mediated IL-1β release occurred only in association with pyroptotic cell lysis. Inflammasome priming by conditioned media of pyroptotic cells likewise increased cell death. Suppression of inflammasome activation by inhibition of caspase-1 or cathepsins B and L significantly reduced cell death in primed cells. In summary, inflammasome priming by IL-1α, C5a, or conditioned media of pyroptotic cells increases RPE cell susceptibility to photooxidative damage-mediated cell death and changes the mechanism of induced cell death from apoptosis to pyroptosis. This process may contribute to RPE degeneration in AMD and provide new targets for intervention.

Dissipation of excess excitation energy of the needle leaves in Pinus trees during cold winters.

Photooxidative damage to the needle leaves of evergreen trees results from the absorption of excess excitation energy. Efficient dissipation of this energy is essential to prevent photodamage. In this study, we determined the fluorescence transients, absorption spectra, chlorophyll contents, chlorophyll a/b ratios, and relative membrane permeabilities of needle leaves of Pinus koraiensis, Pinus tabulaeformis, and Pinus armandi in both cold winter and summer. We observed a dramatic decrease in the maximum fluorescence (F m) and substantial absorption of light energy in winter leaves of all three species. The F m decline was not correlated with a decrease in light absorption or with changes in chlorophyll content and chlorophyll a/b ratio. The results suggested that the winter leaves dissipated a large amount of excess energy as heat. Because the cold winter leaves had lost normal physiological function, the heat dissipation depended solely on changes in the photosystem II supercomplex rather than the xanthophyll cycle. These findings imply that more attention should be paid to heat dissipation via changes in the photosystem complex structure during the growing season.

Photodynamic therapy as an antifungal treatment.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves the systemic or topical application of a photosensitizer (PS), alongside the selective illumination of the target lesion with light of an appropriate wavelength, in order to promote localized oxidative photodamage and subsequent cell death. Numerous studies have demonstrated that PDT is highly effective in the destruction of fungi in vitro. The mechanism underlying the effects of PDT results from the photons of visible light of an appropriate wavelength interacting with the intracellular molecules of the PS. Reactive species are produced as a result of the oxidative stress caused by the interaction between the visible light and the biological tissue. At present, no antifungal treatment based on PDT has been licensed. However, antifungal PDT is emerging as an area of interest for research.

Paradoxical effects of temperature and solar irradiance on the photodegradation state of killed phytoplankton.

The aim of this paper was to study the effects of temperature and irradiance on the photodegradation state of killed phytoplankton cells. For this purpose, killed cells of the diatom Chaetoceros neogracilis RCC2022 were irradiated (photosynthetically active radiation) at 36 and 446J·s(-1) ·m(-2) (for the same cumulative dose of irradiation energy) and at two temperatures (7°C and 17°C). Analyses of specific lipid tracers (fatty acids and sterols) revealed that low temperatures and irradiances increased photooxidative damages of monounsaturated lipids (i.e., palmitoleic acid, cholesterol and campesterol). The high efficiency of type II photosensitized degradation processes was attributed to: (i) the relative preservation of the sensitizer (chlorophyll) at low irradiances allowing a longer production of singlet oxygen and (ii) the slow diffusion rate of singlet oxygen through membranes at low temperatures inducing more damages. Conversely, high temperatures and irradiances induced (i) a rapid degradation of the photosensitizer and a loss of singlet oxygen by diffusion outside the membranes (limiting type II photosensitized oxidation), and (ii) intense autoxidation processes degrading unsaturated cell lipids and oxidation products used as photodegradation tracers. Our results may explain the paradoxical relationship observed insitu between latitude and photodegradation state of phytoplankton cells.

Phytochrome and retrograde signalling pathways converge to antagonistically regulate a light-induced transcriptional network.

Plastid-to-nucleus retrograde signals emitted by dysfunctional chloroplasts impact photomorphogenic development, but the molecular link between retrograde- and photosensory-receptor signalling has remained unclear. Here, we show that the phytochrome and retrograde signalling (RS) pathways converge antagonistically to regulate the expression of the nuclear-encoded transcription factor GLK1, a key regulator of a light-induced transcriptional network central to photomorphogenesis. GLK1 gene transcription is directly repressed by PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR (PIF)-class bHLH transcription factors in darkness, but light-activated phytochrome reverses this activity, thereby inducing expression. Conversely, we show that retrograde signals repress this induction by a mechanism independent of PIF mediation. Collectively, our data indicate that light at moderate levels acts through the plant's nuclear-localized sensory-photoreceptor system to induce appropriate photomorphogenic development, but at excessive levels, sensed through the separate plastid-localized RS system, acts to suppress such development, thus providing a mechanism for protection against photo-oxidative damage by minimizing the tissue exposure to deleterious radiation.

Cyanidin‐3‐glucoside and its phenolic acid metabolites attenuate visible light‐induced retinal degeneration in vivo via activation of Nrf2/HO‐1 pathway and NF‐κB suppression

Cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) is a major anthocyanin in berries and a potential nutritional supplement for preventing retinal degeneration. However, the protective mechanism of C3G and its metabolites, protocatechuic acid (PCA) and ferulic acid (FA), remain unclear. The molecular mechanisms of C3G and its metabolites against retinal photooxidative damage in vivo are investigated. Pigmented rabbits were orally administered C3G, PCA, and FA (0.11mmol/kg/day) for 3 weeks. Electroretinography, histological analysis, and TUNEL assay showed that C3G and its metabolites attenuated retinal cell apoptosis. The expression of oxidative stress markers were upregulated after light exposure but attenuated by C3G and FA, which may be attributed to the elevated secretion and expression of heme oxygenase (HO-1) and nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2). C3G, PCA, and FA attenuated the secretion or expression of inflammation-related genes; FA suppressed nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation. The treatments attenuated the light-induced changes on certain apoptotic proteins and angiogenesis-related cytokines. C3G and FA reduced light-induced retinal oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway. FA attenuated the light-induced retinal inflammation by suppressing NF-κB activation. C3G and its metabolites attenuated the photooxidation-induced apoptosis and angiogenesis in the retina.

Protective Effect of Proanthocyanidins from Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae Rhamnoides L.) Seed against Visible Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration in Vivo.

Dietary proanthocyanidins (PACs) as health-protective agents have become an important area of human nutrition research because of their potent bioactivities. We investigated the retinoprotective effects of PACs from sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) seed against visible light-induced retinal degeneration in vivo. Pigmented rabbits were orally administered sea buckthorn seed PACs (50 and 100 mg/kg/day) for 14 consecutive days of pre-illumination and seven consecutive days of post-illumination. Retinal function was quantified via electroretinography 7 days after light exposure. Retinal damage was evaluated by measuring the thickness of the full-thickness retina and outer nuclear layer 7 days after light exposure. Sea buckthorn seed PACs significantly attenuated the destruction of electroretinograms and maintained the retinal structure. Increased retinal photooxidative damage was expressed by the depletion of glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities, the decrease of total antioxidant capacity level and the increase of malondialdehyde level. Light exposure induced a significant increase of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6) and angiogenesis (VEGF) levels in retina. Light exposure upregulated the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and caspase-3 and downregulated the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. However, sea buckthorn seed PACs ameliorated these changes induced by light exposure. Sea buckthorn seed PACs mediated the protective effect against light-induced retinal degeneration via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic mechanisms.

Effects of exogenous β-carotene, a chemical scavenger of singlet oxygen, on the millisecond rise of chlorophyll a fluorescence of cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942.

Singlet-excited oxygen (1O 2* ) has been recognized as the most destructive member of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are formed during oxygenic photosynthesis by plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. ROS and 1O 2* are known to damage protein and phospholipid structures and to impair photosynthetic electron transport and de novo protein synthesis. Partial protection is afforded to photosynthetic organism by the β-carotene (β-Car) molecules which accompany chlorophyll (Chl) a in the pigment-protein complexes of Photosystem II (PS II). In this paper, we studied the effects of exogenously added β-Car on the initial kinetic rise of Chl a fluorescence (10-1000μs, the OJ segment) from the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC7942. We show that the added β-Car enhances Chl a fluorescence when it is excited at an intensity of 3000μmol photons m-2 s-1 but not when excited at 1000μmol photons m-2 s-1. Since β-Car is an efficient scavenger of 1O 2* , as well as a quencher of 3Chl a * (precursor of 1O 2* ), both of which are more abundant at higher excitations, we assume that the higher Chl a fluorescence in its presence signifies a protective effect against photo-oxidative damages of Chl proteins. The protective effect of added β-Car is not observed in O2-depleted cell suspensions. Lastly, in contrast to β-Car, a water-insoluble molecule, a water-soluble scavenger of 1O 2* , histidine, provides no protection to Chl proteins during the same time period (10-1000μs).

High temperature specifically affects the photoprotective responses of chlorophyllb-deficient wheat mutant lines.

The effects of high temperature on CO2 assimilation rate, processes associated with photosynthetic electron and proton transport, as well as photoprotective responses, were studied in chlorophyll b-deficient mutant lines (ANK-32A and ANK-32B) and wild type (WT) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Despite the low chlorophyll content and chlorophyll a-to-b ratio, the non-stressed mutant plants had the similar level of CO2 assimilation and photosynthetic responses as WT. However, in ANK mutant plants exposed to prolonged high temperature episode (42°C for ~10h), we observed lower CO2 assimilation compared to WT, especially when a high CO2 supply was provided. In all heat-exposed plants, we found approximately the same level of PSII photoinhibition, but the decrease in content of photooxidizable PSI was higher in ANK mutant plants compared to WT. The PSI damage can be well explained by the level of overreduction of PSI acceptor side observed in plants exposed to high temperature, which was, in turn, the result of the insufficient transthylakoid proton gradient associated with low non-photochemical quenching and lack of ability to downregulate the linear electron transport to keep the reduction state of PSI acceptor side low enough. Compared to WT, the ANK mutant lines had lower capacity to drive the cyclic electron transport around PSI in moderate and high light; it confirms the protective role of cyclic electron transport for the protection of PSI against photoinhibition. Our results, however, also suggest that the inactivation of PSI in heat stress conditions can be the protective mechanism against photooxidative damage of chloroplast and cell structures.

Multiple abiotic stress tolerance in Vigna mungo is altered by overexpression of ALDRXV4 gene via reactive carbonyl detoxification.

Vigna mungo (blackgram) is an important leguminous pulse crop, which is grown for its protein rich edible seeds. Drought and salinity are the major abiotic stresses which adversely affect the growth and productivity of crop plants including blackgram. The ALDRXV4 belongs to the aldo-keto reductase superfamily of enzymes that catalyze the reduction of carbonyl metabolites in the cells and plays an important role in the osmoprotection and detoxification of the reactive carbonyl species. In the present study, we developed transgenic plants of V. mungo using Agrobacterium mediated transformation. The transgene integration was confirmed by Southern blot analysis whereas the expression was confirmed by RT-PCR, Western blot and enzyme activity. The T1 generation transgenic plants displayed improved tolerance to various environmental stresses, including drought, salt, methyl viologen and H2O2 induced oxidative stress. The increased aldose reductase activity, higher sorbitol content and less accumulation of the toxic metabolite, methylglyoxal in the transgenic lines under non-stress and stress (drought and salinity) conditions resulted in increased protection through maintenance of better photosynthetic efficiency, higher relative water content and less photooxidative damage. The accumulation of reactive oxygen species was remarkably decreased in the transgenic lines as compared with the wild type plants. This study of engineering multiple stress tolerance in blackgram, is the first report to date and this strategy for trait improvement is proposed to provide a novel germplasm for blackgram production on marginal lands.

UV radiation promotes flavonoid biosynthesis, while negatively affecting the biosynthesis and the de-epoxidation of xanthophylls: Consequence for photoprotection?

There is evidence that UV radiation may detrimentally affect the biosynthesis of carotenoids, particularly de-epoxided xanthophylls, while strongly promoting phenylpropanoid, particularly flavonoid biosynthesis in a range of taxa. Here we tested the hypothesis that mesophyll flavonoids might protect chloroplasts from UV-induced photo-oxidative damage, by partially compensating for the UV-induced depression of xanthophyll biosynthesis. To test this hypothesis we grew two members of the Oleaceae family, Ligustrum vulgare L. and Phillyrea latifolia L., under either partial shading or fully exposed to sunlight, in the presence or in the absence of UV radiation. The examined species, which display very similar flavonoid composition, largely differ in their ability to limit the transmission of UV and visible light through the leaf and, hence, in the accumulation of flavonoids in mesophyll cells. We conducted measurements of photosynthesis, chlorophyll a fluorescence kinetics, the concentrations of individual carotenoids and phenylpropanoids at the level of whole-leaf, as well as the content of epidermal flavonoids. We also performed multispectral fluorescence micro-imaging to unveil the intra-cellular distribution of flavonoids in mesophyll cells. UV radiation decreased the concentration of carotenoids, particularly of xanthophylls, while greatly promoting the accumulation of flavonoids in palisade parenchyma cells. These effects were much greater in L. vulgare than in P. latifolia. UV radiation significantly inhibited the de-epoxidation of xanthophyll cycle pigments, while enhancing the concentration of luteolin, and particularly of quercetin glycosides. Flavonoids accumulated in the vacuole and the chloroplasts in palisade cells proximal to the adaxial epidermis. We hypothesize that flavonoids might complement the photo-protective functions of xanthophylls in the chloroplasts of mesophyll cells exposed to the greatest doses of UV radiation. However, UV radiation might result in adaxial mesophyll cells being less effective in dissipating the excess of radiant energy, e.g., by decreasing their capacity of thermal dissipation of excess visible light in the chloroplast.

Physiological and leaf metabolome changes in the xerohalophyte species Atriplex halimus induced by salinity

Atriplex halimus is a xerohalophyte plant, which could be used as cash crops. This plant was integrated in Tunisian government programs the aim of which is to rehabilitate saline areas and desert. To investigate its strategies involved in salt tolerance, A. halimus was grown hydroponically under controlled conditions with increasing salinity. Plants were harvested and analyzed after 60 days of treatment. The biomass of A. halimus increased by moderate salinity and decreased significantly at high salinity compared to control plants at 400 mM. Despite of the large amounts of Na+ observed in the leaves of Atriplex plants, leaf water contents and leaf succulence kept on increasing in treated plants and decreased over 150 mM NaCl. This confirmed the compartmentation and the efficient contribution of Na+ in the osmotic adjustment. Analysis of the metabolic profiles showed an accumulation of carbohydrates and amino acids. The leaf tissues preferentially stored proline, α alanine and sucrose. Increasing NaCl levels were also accompanied by a significant accumulation of malate in leaves. Involvement of these solutes in osmotic adjustment was considered low. Nevertheless, they seemed to have an important role in controlling photosynthesis which capacity was enhanced by low salinity and decreased with increasing salinity (evaluated by actual photochemical efficiency of photosystem II and chlorophyll contents). The unchanged maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II accompanied by the increase of the non-photochemical quenching, the enhancement of the total antioxidant activity and the decrease of the malondialdehyde contents in leaves showed efficient protection of membranes and photosystem II from photo-oxidative damage. This protection seemed to be attributed to proline and sucrose largely accumulated in leaves treated with salt.

Roles of MPBQ-MT in Promoting α/γ-Tocopherol Production and Photosynthesis under High Light in Lettuce.

2-methyl-6-phytyl-1, 4-benzoquinol methyltransferase (MPBQ-MT) is a vital enzyme catalyzing a key methylation step in both α/γ-tocopherol and plastoquinone biosynthetic pathway. In this study, the gene encoding MPBQ-MT was isolated from lettuce (Lactuca sativa) by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), named LsMT. Overexpression of LsMT in lettuce brought about a significant increase of α- and γ-tocopherol contents with a reduction of phylloquinone (vitamin K1) content, suggesting a competition for a common substrate phytyl diphosphate (PDP) between the two biosynthetic pathways. Besides, overexpression of LsMT significantly increased plastoquinone (PQ) level. The increase of tocopherol and plastoquinone levels by LsMT overexpression conduced to the improvement of plants’ tolerance and photosynthesis under high light stress, by directing excessive light energy toward photosynthetic production rather than toward generation of more photooxidative damage. These findings suggest that the role and function of MPBQ-MT can be further explored for enhancing vitamin E value, strengthening photosynthesis and phototolerance under high light in plants.

Perturbation of pharmacologically relevant polyphenolic compounds in Moringa oleifera against photo-oxidative damages imposed by gamma radiation

Oxidative stress is a physiological state associated with almost all biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. This phenomenon occurs due to imbalances which result from the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Plants, however, have developed sophisticated mechanisms to mitigate the effect of ROS. In this regard, plant polyphenolic metabolites such as flavonoids are known to possess high antioxidant activities. In the current study, changes in the levels of phenolic compounds from Moringa oleifera after gamma radiation treatment were investigated with reverse phase liquid chromatography and mass spectrometric techniques in combination with multivariate data models such as principal component analysis and orthogonal projection to latent structures discriminant analysis. Our results revealed several polyphenolic compounds such as hydroxycinnamoyl derivatives and flavonoid molecules to be down-regulated post-radiation treatment. Interestingly, other flavonoid molecules were found to be up-regulated post-radiation treatment, thereby suggesting a possible compensatory phenomenon. The existence and involvement of structurally similar metabolites (such as regio-isomers of chlorogenic acids) in M. oleifera towards mitigating photo-oxidative damages are in support of the proposed evolutionary existence of a large pool of polyphenolics which contribute to the state of readiness, aptly described as a “better safe than sorry” phenomenon. Our study thus reaffirms the involvement of phenolic compounds as a first line of constitutive/preformed protection against oxidative stress. Furthermore, the obtained data supports M. oleifera as a source of versatile and pharmacologically relevant metabolites that may be exploited for ameliorating the oxidative damages imposed by several metabolic disorders in humans.

Trace metal ions in hair from frequent hair dyers in China and the associated effects on photo-oxidative damage

Human hairs are subject to oxidative modification when exposed to sunlight. In the present study, samples of human hair from Chinese volunteers that included frequent hair dyers and non-dyers were analyzed for metal ions such as iron, copper, magnesium, aluminum, zinc and lead. The generation of hydroxyl radicals during UVA (315–400nm) photoageing was quantified and oxidative damages characterized by proteomic and SEM analysis. It was concluded that high levels of metal ions, particularly those derived from iron and copper, identified in the dyed hairs are associated with enhanced photoformation of hydroxyl radicals and resultant photooxidative damage of the hair. Reactive oxygen species, including hydroxyl radicals, generated via an electron transfer mechanism with hair photosensitizers react with hair proteins. Proteomic analysis of hair samples from frequent hair dyers, regardless of age and gender, showed an almost 1.6 fold increase in the protein oxidative modification levels compared to the undyed samples. As a result, a more pronounced physical damage including fragmentation and cross-linkage of cuticle scales was observed on the surface of dyed hair samples during the photoageing. This work is aimed at better understanding the role of metal ions in dyed hairs and their possible role in photosensitizing hair proteins. The results from this study are anticipated to contribute to the improved development of hair coloring cosmetics and hair care products.

Carotenoids in Microalgae.

Carotenoids are a class of isoprenoids synthesized by all photosynthetic organisms as well as by some non-photosynthetic bacteria and fungi with broad applications in food, feed and cosmetics, and also in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. Microalgae represent an important source of high-value products, which include carotenoids, among others. Carotenoids play key roles in light harvesting and energy transfer during photosynthesis and in the protection of the photosynthetic apparatus against photooxidative damage. Carotenoids are generally divided into carotenes and xanthophyls, but accumulation in microalgae can also be classified as primary (essential for survival) and secondary (by exposure to specific stimuli).In this chapter, we outline the high value carotenoids produced by commercially important microalgae, their production pathways, the improved production rates that can be achieved by genetic engineering as well as their biotechnological applications.