Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances Test Research Articles

Abstract PO2-11-10: Can chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy be predicted? Implications for future prevention and treatment of this side-effect

Abstract Background: The pain and sensory abnormalities associated with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) may persist for months or even years after chemotherapy. CIPN has a negative impact on routine activities, functions, and behaviors in the domestic, work, and social lives of cancer patients, adversely affecting the quality of their survivorship. CIPN is a major adverse effect of taxanes and other agents, possibly requiring dose-reduction or early termination of treatment. Taxane-based regimens are first-line treatment in both early-stage and metastatic breast cancer and therefore place numerous women at risk for developing CIPN. Regrettably, taxane-induced neurotoxicity can be arduous to predict, and there are no preventive or curative treatments currently available. Our work aims to assess a predictive tool for identification of patients at high risk of developing neuropathy and the progression of symptoms towards chronic CIPN. We hypothesized that oxidative stress might be a triggering event for the development of CIPN and that changes in glutathione recycling can identify patients at high risk for developing prolonged and severe CIPN. This hypothesis is based on reports in the literature proposing that CIPN is triggered by damage to the myelin sheath, which protects nerves from damage, by drug-induced free radicals in and around the nerves. Damage to myelin, a lipid- and protein rich sheath, by lipid peroxidation can result in loss of signal transmission, false signaling, or signal overload. Prolonged exposure to elevated levels of free radicals might result in structural changes to the nerves. Methods: Cancer patients seeking treatment at the Lankenau Medical Center Cancer center were asked to participate in our Institutional Review Board approved study of adverse effects. In this on-going study, the cohort (Ntotal =352) includes 104 breast cancer patients that are predominantly Caucasian with 14.9% African American. The median age is 56 (range 26 – 82) and 60.9% were treated with a taxane-based regimen. Nearly half the breast cancer group were diagnosed with Stage I disease. All consented patients donated a tube of blood prior to each treatment and filled out the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (RSCL). Blood samples were analyzed for glutathione recycling using the ChemoTox assay (MNT™ Test, MYNARI Biomedical) and lipid peroxidation using a thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) test (Cayman Chemical). All samples were analyzed in duplicate, and results analyzed using GraphPad Prism 8.4.3. Results: Preliminary results from the first 83 breast cancer patients showed African American patients reported a higher rate of NCCN grade 2 and 3 CIPN while Caucasians reported a higher rate of severe, long-lasting CIPN. Our results showed that patients who reported CIPN at later cycles had diminished glutathione recycling capacity already after the first treatment. Drop in recycling capacity had an inverse relationship with lipid peroxidation and grade of CIPN. Both decreased recycling capacity and increase in lipid oxidation were apparent already after the first treatment in patients that reported CIPN after cycle 6-8 or after completion of treatment Discussion: There are many proposed mechanisms for the development of CIPN. One mechanism that is shared by both most agents is damage induced by free radicals released following chemotherapy. We show that patients with reduced ability to neutralize free radicals have elevated and prolonged lipid peroxidation. Both processes precede the development of CIPN by several treatment cycles. Therefore, this test could identify patients that might benefit from other regimens rather than a taxane-based therapy. The test could also aid in the identification of patients for preventive therapy once such agents become available. Citation Format: Alisha Maity, Nolan Metz, Kathryn Fleck, Zonera Ali, Aarthi Shevade, Arezoo Ghaneie, Margaretha Wallon. Can chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy be predicted? Implications for future prevention and treatment of this side-effect [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO2-11-10.

Genomic instability and oxidative stress markers in pregnant women presenting fetal malformation

ObjectivesTo evaluated the oxidative stress and genomic instability in the peripheral blood of pregnant women with fetal malformation (PWFM), pregnant women (PW) and non-pregnant women (NPW). MethodsProtein carbonyl test (CP), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances test (TBARS), catalase enzyme activity (CAT), micronucleus assay with blocking cell cytokinesis - cytome (CBMN - cyt) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay were performed. Fetal karyotype and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in combination with ultrasound, were assessed to allow the diagnosis of fetal malformation. ResultsAn increase in CP, CAT and micronucleus was observed in the third trimester of pregnancy of PW compared to NPW. PWFM presented similar parameter analysis to PW, as well as in the comparison of the second trimesters of this groups. PWFM in the third gestational trimester showed a reduction in CP, nucleoplasmic bridge (NPB) and CAT compared to the same gestational period of PW. Considering the complete sample, participants who usually drank coffee daily had an increased frequency of nuclear buds (NBUD); CAT was decreased in whites compared to other ethnic groups. ConclusionsPregnancy is a physiological process that can lead to changes in oxidative stress markers and genomic instability through its course and compared to non-pregnant women.

The Antioxidant Effect of Burdock Extract on the Oxidative Stability of Lard and Goose Fat during Heat Treatment.

Concerns regarding product quality and nutrition are raised due to the effects of high temperatures on frying fats. The aim of this research was to examine the effects of temperature and burdock extract addition in relation to quality parameters for dietary lard and goose fat exposed to heating. In order to monitor quality changes, animal fats and 0.01% additivated fats were heated at different temperatures (110, 130, 150, 170, 190, and 210 °C for 30 min). Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances test (TBARS), peroxide value (PV), iodine value (IV), acid value (AV), saponification value (SV), total polar compounds (TPoC), total phenolic content (TPC), fatty acid (FA) content, and microscopic examination were established in order to quantify the level of oxidative rancidity. Heating temperature and additivation had a significant (p < 0.001) effect on peroxide value. In all fats, values of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances significantly (p < 0.001) increased with heating temperature, but values decreased when burdock extract was added in a proportion of 0.01%. Positive correlations were found between AV and PV for lard (r = 0.98; p < 0.001) and goose fat (r = 0.96; p < 0.001). The heating temperature had a significant effect on total MUFAs in both lard and goose fat (mostly in non-additivated fat). Statistical analysis of the data showed that the addition of burdock extract at a concentration of 0.01% significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the installation of oxidation process in alimentary fats heated at different temperatures. Animal fats were well protected from oxidation by burdock extract, which demonstrated its efficacy as an antioxidant; it may be used to monitor the fats oxidation and to estimate their shelf-life stability.

Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Fruits as a Potential Lipid-Lowering Therapy: Effect on High-Fat Diet and Triton-WR-1339-Induced Hyperlipidemic Rats

The present study was designed to establish the phenolic profile and explore the potential lipid-lowering effect of two Moroccan date fruit varieties (Majhoul and Bousrdoun). HPLC-DAD has been used for phenolic profiling. Lipid peroxidation was measured in terms of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) by using egg yolk homogenate as lipid-rich media. The anti-hyperlipidemic effect of the methanolic extract was examined using both models Triton-WR-1339 and chronic high-fat-diet-induced hyperlipemic rats. Further, the serum lipid profile was determined. The HPLC-DAD analysis revealed the presence of seven phenolic acids and three flavonoids, of which gallic, caffeic acids and rutin were found to be the most abundant compounds. The gathered results indicate that rats treated with both varieties showed a significant decrease in serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels as well as an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels compared with Triton and high-fat diet controls. Moreover, a significant decrease in body weight was observed in the date-treated groups when compared to the hyperlipidemic control group. A thiobarbituric acid reactive substances test showed that these extracts significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation. Bousrdoun, which showed the highest lipid-lowering effects, is the one that displayed the greatest inhibition of lipid peroxidation and contains the largest amount of caffeic, p-coumaric, gallic, vanillic acids, rutin and luteolin. Accordingly, dates could be used as a potential functional food, which may be used to prevent lipid disorders and oxidation.

Impacts of Nano-Gelatin Coating Containing Thymol and Nisin on Chemical Quality Indices of Rainbow Trout Fillets Stored at 4°C

Background: Seafood such as fish is an integral part of human nutrition and an excellent source of protein. However, their short shelf life is quite challenging for the food industry. Objectives: This study was carried out to investigate the effects of nano-gelatin coating embedded with thymol and nisin on the chemical quality indices of rainbow trout fillets during 16 days of storage at 4°C. Methods: The fillets were randomly divided into six groups, including control (C), gelatin (G), nano-gelatin (NG), nano-gelatin + thymol (NG-T), nano-gelatin + nisin (NG-N), and nano-gelatin + nisin and thymol (NG-T-N). The chemical quality of fish samples was assessed by performing pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), peroxide value (PV), free fatty acid (FFA), and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) analyses every four days. Results: The results revealed the stunning effect of nisin and thymol addition to the nano-gelatin coating on all chemical quality indices. Besides, PV, TBARS, and FFA analyses showed that nano-gelatin containing thymol significantly decreased lipid oxidation in fish fillet samples (P &lt; 0.05). The lowest amounts of PV (8.33 meq oxygen/kg oil), TBARS, and FFA were recorded for NG-T-N. The best results in the TBARS test (P &lt; 0.05) were observed in NG-T-N, followed by NG-T (1.45 and 1.69 mg of malonaldehyde/kg of tissue, respectively), and similar results were recorded for FFA analysis. On day 16, the lowest amounts of TVB-N were measured for NG-T-N, followed by NG-N and NG-T (26.13, 29.86, and 38.26 mg N/100 g, respectively). Both nisin and thymol reduced the TVB-N and increased the shelf life, and the best results were observed in groups treated with nisin and thymol simultaneously. However, the application of gelatin and nano-gelatin coating without nisin and thymol was ineffective in improving the chemical quality of samples, and they must be used with nisin and/or thymol. Conclusions: Gelatin nanogel embedded with thymol and nisin can be utilized to enhance the chemical quality and shelf life of fish fillets.

Melatonin as a Smart Protector of Pregnancy in Dairy Cows.

The experimental objective was to examine the role of melatonin and its pathways in the maintenance of pregnancy in lactating dairy cows. Blood samples were collected at days 0, 16 and 32 after timed AI from cows (n = 200) in order to consider plasma melatonin concentrations and to conduct AOPP (advanced oxidation products of proteins) and TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) tests. Luminal endometrial cells were collected at day 16 using a Cytobrush in all cows to determine mRNA expressions of melatonin receptor 1 (MT1), mouse double minute 2 (MDM2), MDM2 binding protein (MTBP), BCL2-associated X, apoptosis Regulator (BAX), p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA, gene symbol BBC3), mucin 1 (MUC1) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Plasma concentrations of melatonin were significantly greater in pregnant cows diagnosed pregnant at day 16 who sustained pregnancy to day 32 compared to nonpregnant cows at day 16, or pregnant at day 16 and who lost embryos by days 32. Concentrations of AOPP and TBARS were greater in nonpregnant cows at day 16 or pregnant at day 16 and who lost embryos by days 32 compared to those diagnosed pregnant at day 16 and who sustained pregnancy to day 32. In pregnant cows, endometrial mRNA expressions of MDM2, MTBP, MTR1 and LIF were higher compared to pregnant–embryo-loss cows (p < 0.05). In contrast, mRNA expressions of BBC3 and MUC1 were greater at day 16 in pregnant–embryo-loss cows compared to pregnant cows (p < 0.05). In conclusion, melatonin status is a modulator of embryo well-being and maintenance of pregnancy in lactating dairy cows.

Qualitative attributes of meat from Teramana goat kids, an Italian native breed of the Abruzzo region.

ObjectiveThe aim of this work was the characterization of the qualitative aspects of meat obtained from Teramana goats, an Italian indigenous breed of the Abruzzo region. Specifically, the study included a comparison with meat samples deriving from Saanen goat kids reared in the same environment and applying the same feeding protocol.MethodsUpon reaching about 7 months of age the animals were slaughtered and samples of muscle tissue were collected to be analyzed. Specifically, meat samples were subjected to evaluations of the physical parameters, including color and the meat ability to retain water, in addition to chemical evaluations that were focused to the determination of the total lipids amount, fatty acids composition, lipid oxidation, and volatile profile.ResultsThe meat samples obtained from the indigenous breed showed a less intense reddish color and no significant variations for the muscle tissue tendency to retain water, both regarding fresh and cooked meat. Several differences were instead observed in the fatty acid profile. The Teramana samples were richer in saturated fatty acids (p<0.01) and interestingly showed higher concentrations of rumenic acid (p<0.05), a conjugate of linoleic acid that has been associated with important health benefits for the consumers. Another important finding for these meat samples was the marked resistance to oxidative events, as evidenced by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances-test (p<0.05) and by the characterization of the volatile profile that highlighted a strong reduction in the relative percentage of hexanal (p<0.05), commonly associated to lipid oxidation and the development of unpleasant aromatic notes.ConclusionThe collected data, therefore appeared useful for the valorization of the food product derived from the Teramana goat, although no sensory information has been collected to define the degree of acceptability by the consumers.

The Effect of Frying Process on the Level of Malondialdehyde in Different Meat Products

Background: Frying is one of the popular cooking methods for the preparation of food especially meat products. However, this process has some adverse effects, such as lipid oxidation that results in deterioration and rancidity of food during preparation and storage. Malondialdehyde (MDA) as a secondary product of oxidation is commonly used as an index of rancidity in food products. However, the level of MDA produced during the frying process varies depending on the type of food.&#x0D; Methods: This study was performed to evaluate the levels of MDA before and after the frying process in different products, including chicken, fish, pan kebab, beef, sausage, and hamburger. Also, the effect of meat content in hamburger was evaluated on the MDA level. The spectrophotometric thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) test was used to determine MDA in the food products.&#x0D; Results: The concentration of MDA in the products increased significantly (P &lt; 0.01) after frying in oil. The highest amount of MDA between the products was detected in fried fish (1.24 µM/g). By increasing the percentage of meat in hamburgers, the content of MDA increased in this product. In the hamburger containing 90% of meat, the MDA level was significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher than others (0.98 µM/g).&#x0D; Conclusion: The results of the present study can provide proper knowledge about the levels of lipid peroxidation and the safety of different fried meat products.

Microencapsulated and Lyophilized Propolis Co-Product Extract as Antioxidant Synthetic Replacer on Traditional Brazilian Starch Biscuit.

The residue from commercial propolis extraction may have significant antioxidant power in food technology. However, among the challenges for using the propolis co-product as an inhibitor of lipid oxidation (LO) in baked goods is maintaining its bioactive compounds. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the propolis co-product extracts’ capability to reduce LO in starch biscuit formulated with canola oil and stored for 45 days at 25 °C. Two co-product extracts were prepared: microencapsulated propolis co-product (MECP) (with maltodextrin) and lyophilized propolis co-product (LFCP), which were subjected to analysis of their total phenolic content and antioxidant activity (AA). Relevant antioxidant activity was observed using the methods of analysis employed. The spray-drying microencapsulation process showed an efficiency of 63%. The LO in the biscuits was determined by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) test and fatty acid composition by gas chromatography analysis. Palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoelaidic, linoleic, and α-linolenic acids were found in biscuits at constant concentrations throughout the storage period. In addition, there was a reduction in malondialdehyde values with the addition of both propolis co-product extracts. Therefore, the propolis co-product extracts could be utilized as a natural antioxidant to reduce lipid oxidation in fatty starch biscuit.

Enriching table eggs with omega-3 fatty acids by using ground flaxseed or a combination of flax cake and flaxseed oil in the diet of laying hens

The purpose of the study was to investigate the potential of feeding laying hens with ground flax, a combination of flax cake and flax oil in the production of eggs enriched with omega-3 fatty acids. The experiment was set up using 192 laying hens divided into 4 groups: the control group; a group fed with flaxseed cake (10%) + flaxseed oil (2%); a group fed with 5% ground flax, and a group fed with 10% ground flax. Each group had 8 cages housing 6 laying hens, that is, a total of 48 laying hens per group. The Haugh unit values, fat content, Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values, yolk color parameters and yolk fat content were measured at the end of 5th and 10th weeks of the trial. The results of this study showed that omega-3 enriched dietary treatments had an impact on the results obtained for the amount of total fat in the yolk, and the results of the TBARS test. The results presented show that the average amounts of alpha linoleic (ALA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) fatty acids in egg yolk were influenced by the nutritional treatments, i.e. the laying hens that were fed with mixtures enriched with 5% and 10% ground flaxseed, as well as 10% flaxseed cake + 2% flaxseed oil, had significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher amounts of ALA and DHA in their egg yolk compared to the laying hens in the control group.

Production, antioxidant characterization and application of active starch-based films containing essential oils for beef packaging

The objective of this work was to study the antioxidant activity of biodegradable and active packaging containing essential oils. Seven types of active packaging were produced. In beef, lipid oxidation was measured using the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance test (TBARS); a microbiological analysis in beef was performed for Salmonella spp., coagulate positive Staphylococcus spp., Clostridium sulphite reducer and E. coli; the measurements were carried out on days 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 in triplicate. All packaging had exhibited antioxidant capacities and acted as an antioxidant in meat. The packages containing clove exhibited the highest total phenolic and antioxidant capacity (P &lt; 0.05), and when used in beef were most effective against lipid oxidation. The use of oregano, clove and rosemary incorporated in active biodegradable starch based reduced microbial development and acted effectively against rancidity by maintaining the quality of meat stored under refrigerated conditions for 15 days.

Physical and oxidative stability of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions in the presence of protein (peptide): Characteristics analysis and bioinformatics prediction

The physical and oxidative stability of soybean protein hydrolysate-stabilized oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions created via limited hydrolysis using Alcalase (15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min) was investigated. The extracted emulsion protein exhibited significantly lower surface hydrophobicity, higher antioxidant properties, and a greater proportion of β-sheet and α-helix structures than soybean protein isolate. The physical stability of the emulsions was characterized by particle size, zeta-potential, rheological property, and multiple light scattering. The emulsion obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis for 90 min (90 min-E) had the highest physical stability, showing the smallest droplet size, uniform droplet distribution, lowest zeta-potential, lowest Turbiscan stability index, and larger G′ and G″ values. It also exhibited the highest oxidative stability, as evidenced by the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances test. Due to the good physical and oxidative stability of 90 min-E, LC-MS/MS analysis and bioinformatic tools (Chou−Fasman secondary structure prediction and the BIOPEP database) were conducted on the protein extracted from 90 min-E. These data provided insight into the mechanism of emulsion-stabilizing action by the emulsion protein (peptide) and identified potential bioactive peptides. This new strategy of producing stable O/W emulsions will likely expand its application to nutrient components or effective wall materials.

Sperm filtration as an alternative technique for seminal plasma separation in boars

The present study aimed to evaluate the filtration for separating seminal plasma of boars’ ejaculate by means of sperm viability and the occurrence of hyperactivation and lipid peroxidation in fresh semen and after cooling for up to 96 hours. The ejaculate of eight healthy boars of different breeds was collected and the gelatinous portion was separated and discarded. In the laboratory, the semen was fractioned into three aliquots (groups G1, G2 and G3) as follows: G1: semen with plasma diluted in BTS (TOTAL BTS); G2: semen centrifuged at 600G/10’ (BTS CEN); and G3: semen filtered with the Sperm-filter® following dilution of the retained cells with BTS (BTS FIL). The analyses were performed at three moments: with fresh samples (D0) and after 48 (D2) and 96 hours (D4) of cooling at 17ºC. The kinetic evaluation was performed using the CASA system, which provided data for the classification of sperm hyperactivity. For lipid stress analysis, the TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance) test was performed. The variance analysis test was conducted to compare the results between the groups and moments analyzed. The results showed better total motility values (%) for G1 at D0 (67.9, P= 0.001), D2 (36.6, P= 0.004) and D4 (26.1, P= 0.003). The occurrence of hyperactivity was observed in G2 and G3 at moments D2 and D4. In addition, TBARS showed higher peroxidation levels for G1 at D0 (8.1 mM MDA/ml, P= 0.01), D2 (7.4 mM MDA/ml, P= 0.02), and D4 (6.41mMol MDA/ml, P= 0.008) when compared to G2 and G3. Since the filtration method did not demonstrate any damage to the sperm viability, the study concluded that sperm filtration is an accessible and valid tool to replace centrifugation.

Effects of pectin and tomato paste as a natural antioxidant on inhibition of lipid oxidation and production of functional chicken breast sausage

In this study antioxidant effects of pectin and tomato paste (TP) on lipid oxidation and production of functional chicken breast sausage during refrigerated storage for 14 days were evaluated. Raw chicken sausage samples were enriched with different levels of TP containing 0, 1, 2 and 10% and 1% pectin, and peroxide value (PV), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and sensory attributes were evaluated periodically for 14 days of storage at 4 °C. Although after 1 day of storage TP treatments at level of 1% did not exert any antioxidant effects on TBARS, PV varied for all treatments except control and remained lower than 8 meq O2/kg throughout the storage time. During refrigerated storage, formation of lipid oxidation products increased from 2.8 to 15.2 meq O2/ kg for PV and 0.064 to 0.38 mg malondialdehyde (MDA)/kg in the TBARS test, respectively. At the end of storage time, the PV and MDA value in chicken sausage treated with 1%, 2% and 10% TP decreased by 51 and 19%, 73 and 69%, and 71 and 82% (P <0.05), respectively. The results of sensory evaluation showed that panelists preferred functional sausage containing 2% of TP and higher levels of TP altered the visual appearance of product.

Effect of Casein Tablet Made from Goat Milk Yogurt on Liver Histopathological Profile, Dioxin Residue, and Malondialdehyde level in Broiler Exposed to 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-P-Dioxin

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a toxic compound of organic pollutants that is very persistent in the environment. This compound can accumulate in the body through contaminated food and can cause various adverse effects on human health. The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of casein tablets made from goat milk yogurt on Liver histopathological profile, residual TCDD and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in broiler chicken exposed to 50 ng/mL TCDD. A total of 18 male broiler chickens aged 3 weeks were used in this study and were divided into 3 experimental groups based on a completely randomized design (CRD): 1 (negative control group), 2 (positive control group), 3 (therapeutic group) which were administered by 750 mg of casein from goat milk yogurt for 21 days. TCDD residue and MDA levels in the liver were measured using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances test, respectively. The liver histopathological profile was observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. The results showed that the administration of casein tablets decreased the level of TCDD residue and MDA by 5.75% and 43.74%, respectively. Moreover, the liver histopathological profile of the therapeutic group was better than that of the positive control group. It is suggested that casein tablet made from goat milk yogurt possesses anti-dioxin and antioxidant capacities.

In Vivo Cognitive-Enhancing, Ex Vivo Malondialdehyde-Lowering Activities and Phytochemical Profiles of Aqueous and Methanolic Stem Bark Extracts of Piliostigma thonningii (Schum.).

Cognitive impairment (CI) is among the leading causes of disability in humans. It is estimated that over 35.6 million people are suffering from Alzheimer's disease- (AD-) associated cognitive deficits globally with these statistics projected to rise over 115.4 million by the year 2050. There is no specific etiology for this cognitive impairment; however, various contributing factors including advancing age (>60 years old), oxidative stress, cerebral injuries, infections, neurologic disorders, and cancer have been implicated. Despite various attempts to manage CI, no curative medicines are yet available. The current drugs used to manage symptoms of AD-associated CI including Donepezil and Rivastigmine among others are only palliative rather than therapeutic. Furthermore, these agents have been associated with undesirable side effects. This calls for alternative and complementary approaches aimed at either preventing or reverting AD-related CI in a curative way without causing adverse events. It is estimated that over 80% of the world's population utilize herbal medicines for basic healthcare as it is considered safe, affordable, and easily accessible as opposed to conventional healthcare. Various parts of P. thonningii are used in traditional medicine to manage various conditions including CI. However, empirical and scientific data to validate these uses is lacking. In this study, the Morris water maze (MWM) experiment was adopted to evaluate the cognitive-enhancing effects of the studied plant extracts. The malondialdehyde (MDA) profiles in the brains of experimental mice were determined using the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) test. Moreover, qualitative phytochemical profiling of the studied plant extracts was performed using standard procedures. The results showed remarkable cognitive-enhancing activities which were reflected in significantly shorter transfer latencies, navigation distances, longer time spent in platform quadrant, and lower MDA levels compared with those recorded for the negative control mice (p < 0.05). Phytochemical screening of the studied plant extracts revealed the presence of antioxidant phytocompounds, which may have played key roles in the extracts' potency. Based on the findings herein, P. thonningii extracts, especially the aqueous ones have a promising potential for the management of AD-associated CI. Further studies aimed at isolating and characterizing specific active compounds for CI from P. thonningii are recommended. Additionally, specific mode(s) of action of active principles should be elucidated. Moreover, toxicity studies should be done on the studied plant extracts to ascertain their safety.

Design of Gelatin Pouches for the Preservation of Flaxseed Oil during Storage

Flaxseed oil (FO) is composed mainly of polyunsaturated fatty acids that are very sensitive to oxidation induced by oxygen, temperature, and light. To overcome this problem, gelatin-based films containing glucose are crosslinked via the Maillard reaction (MR) at 120 °C and used for the conception of pouches in which the FO was packaged. The prepared pouches, as well as the oil alone, are incubated at 50 °C for 21 days. The results show that the peroxide index of the oil stored in the gelatin-based pouches is almost stable and decreases on the 21st day. The specific extinction coefficients prove a more pronounced degradation of the non-package oil (control). In addition, the results of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) test reveal higher values in the control, with a tendency to continuously increase up until the 21st day. However, the oil stored in the pouches reveals less TBARs content, decreasing with oxidation time. The non-heated glucose-supplemented pouches showed the best results, suggesting a moderate and gradual development of the MR at 50 °C. The application of pouches based on gelatin films seems to be an effective and interesting tool for protecting FO against lipid oxidation, acting as perfectly biodegradable and sustainable containers for small doses.

In vitro anthelmintic activity of Psidium guajava hydroalcoholic extract against gastro-intestinal sheep nematodes.

Tanniferous plants have been used for ruminants verminosis control and represent a possibility to minimize the pharmacological resistance against conventional antiparasitics. This study aimed to evaluate the antihelminthic activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of stem bark of guava tree (PgHA). It was performed the hatchability and larval migration inhibition assays to evaluate PgHA at the following concentrations 0.62, 1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 mg mL-1 and the control treatments. The total polyphenol, flavonoid and tannin contents were determined by phytochemical analysis, high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, ferric reducing antioxidant power and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances tests. It was also determinated total protein, intracellular H2O2 and antioxidant activity of enzimes: glutathione S-transferase and superoxide dismutase. PgHA was able to inhibit both hatchability and larval migration, but only hatchability inhibition presented dose-dependent pattern. The antioxidant activity was demonstrated by linear regression with IC50 corresponding to 534.02 μg mL-1. The antiparasitic mechanism occurred through pro-oxidative activity by the increase of total proteins, intracellular H2O2 and the lipid peroxidation products, as well as the increase of the enzymes above related. Thus, the PgHA showed antiparasitic activity in vitro.

Increased erythrocyte osmotic fragility in hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism a quite common thyroid disorder is often associated with anemia. Osmotic fragility is altered with an alteration of the thyroid profile. Hypothyroidism induced reduction of membrane cholesterol and compromised the activity of Na+K+ATPase and increased peroxidation of membrane lipids appear to be responsible for damaging the red blood corpuscle (RBC) membranes which alter the permeability of themembrane and thus ionic environment within the cell. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relation between the association of hypothyroidism and RBC membrane lipid peroxidation in the development of increased RBC osmotic fragility. A complete clinical history and biochemical investigations, including thyroid function tests namely, thyroid -stimulating hormone (TSH) and free T4 (fT4), RBC membrane osmotic fragility test by gradient concentration of NaCl, and RBC membrane peroxidation using thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) tests were performed among thirty two hypothyroidism patients and healthy controls. Serum TSH & TBARS in the RBC membrane were significantly higher (P <0.001) than healthy controls which also showed a significant positive correlation (r =0.8, P =0.01) when compared without grouping. Osmotic fragility of RBC was found significantly increased among hypothyroid patients (P <0.001) at NaCl conc. of 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5% & (P <0.05) at NaCl conc. of 0.6%. In conclusion, the results indicated that RBC osmotic fragility increases significantly in hypothyroidism possibility due to increased membrane lipid peroxidation as observed in the study.

Strength training and running elicit different neuroprotective outcomes in a β-amyloid peptide-mediated Alzheimer's disease model

Aerobic exercise induces neuroprotection, but few studies investigated whether strength training has similar potential. Here we examine whether effects of strength training differ from those of running training concerning cognitive symptomatology, oxidative stress and cholinergic status in a model of AD-like cognitive impairment induced by intrahippocampal infusion of a mix of β-amyloid peptides (Aβ) in rats. Male Wistar rats were submitted to 8 weeks of running exercise (RunEx; 40 min sessions at 70% of indirect VO2 max, 3 times/week) or strength exercise (StrEx; 3 sessions/week, 12 repetitions in 8 sets, 2 sets with repetitions at 50%, 2 at 75%, 2 at 90% and 2 at 100% of the maximum load), followed by Aβ infusion in the dorsal hippocampus. Short-term (STM) and long-term (LTM) object recognition (OR) and social recognition (SR) memories were evaluated. Hippocampal oxidative status was determined by quantification of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance test, total antioxidant capacity by ferric reducing/antioxidant power, and acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity (AChE). Aβ infusion impaired STM and LTM and resulted in higher hippocampal oxidative damage and impaired AChE activity. StrEx results in better neuroprotection than RunEx by preventing deficits in OR and SR memories, prevents increases in lipid peroxidation, and decreases in AChE activity. RunEx elicits neuroprotection only for SR memory deficits, prevents increase in ROS and lipid peroxidation, and preserves the total antioxidant capacity. While RunEx effects are related to oxidative status, only StrEx shows potential to also influence the cholinergic system.