Effect of feeding lipids recovered from fish processing waste by lactic acid fermentation and enzymatic hydrolysis on antioxidant and membrane bound enzymes in rats

Fish oil recovered from fresh water fish visceral waste (FVW-FO) through lactic acid fermentation (FO-LAF) and enzymatic hydrolysis (FO-EH) were fed to rats to study their influence on lipid peroxidation and activities of antioxidant and membrane bound enzyme in liver, heart and brain. Feeding of FO-LAF and FO-EH resulted in increase (P < 0.05) in lipid peroxides level in serum, liver, brain and heart tissues compared to ground nut oil (control). Activity of catalase (40-235 %) and superoxide dismutase (17-143 %) also increased (P < 0.05) with incremental level of EPA + DHA in diet. The increase was similar to cod liver oil fed rats at same concentration of EPA + DHA. FO-LAF and FO-EH increased (P < 0.05) the Na(+)K(+) ATPase activity in liver and brain microsomes, Ca(+)Mg(+) ATPase in heart microsome and acetylcholine esterase in brain microsomes when fed with 5 % EPA + DHA. There was also significant change in fatty acid composition and cholesterol/phospholipid ratio in microsomes of rat fed with FVW-FO. Feeding FVW-FO recovered by biotechnological approaches enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes in tissues, modulates the activities of membrane bound enzymes and improved the fatty acid composition in microsomes of tissues similar to CLO. Utilization of these processing wastes for the production of valuable biofunctional products can reduce the mounting economic values of fish oil and minimize the environmental pollution problems.

Role of different vehicles in carotenoids delivery and their influence on cell viability, cell cycle progression, and induction of apoptosis in HeLa cells

The objective of the present study was to determine the role of different vehicles in carotenoids delivery and their influence on cell viability, cell cycle progression and induction of apoptosis in HeLa cells. Cells (5 × 10(3)) were treated with different concentrations (25-100 µM) of β-carotene (BC) or lutein (L) or astaxanthin (AST) dissolved in 0.5% of tetrahydrofuran (THF), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and fetal bovine serum (FBS), respectively. The effect of delivery vehicle on carotenoids uptake, cytotoxicity, oxidative status, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis was examined after 48 h of incubation. The results shown that, cell viability reduced significantly in a dose- and time-dependent manner irrespective of carotenoid delivered in vehicles. Cellular uptake of BC delivered in THF was higher by 49.1, 29.7% and L delivered through THF was higher by 41.7 and 37.5% than DMSO and FBS, respectively. While, AST delivered through DMSO was higher by 36.1 and 43.7% than the THF and FBS, respectively. In case of cells treated either with BC or L delivered through THF and AST in DMSO decreased the glutathione and increased the malondialdehyde levels. The net increase in the G 2/M phase percentage of cell cycle progression was observed in carotenoid-treated cells. The % induction of apoptosis by BC or L delivered with THF and AST in DMSO was higher than other treated groups. In conclusion, choice of suitable vehicle for specific carotenoids delivery is essential that in turn may influence on cell proliferation and cell-based assays.

Would a Massive Intra-abdominal Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor with Growth into the Inguinal Canal and Scrotum Preclude Surgical Option? A Case Report and Review of Literature

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are rare spindle-cell sarcomas derived from Schwann cells or pluripotent cells of the neural crest accounting for less than 10 % of all soft tissue sarcomas. They arise from major or minor peripheral nerve fibers or their sheaths. The World Health Organization coined the term MPNST for tumors of neurogenic origin with similar biological behavior replacing all the previous heterogeneous and, often, confusing nomenclature including malignant schwannoma, malignant neurilemmoma, and neurofibrosarcoma. The retroperitoneum and the lower extremities are the most common sites, but MPNST may arise anywhere in the body. Its location in the retroperitoneum in a patient without neurofibromatosis is an exceedingly rare occurrence. Imaging is routinely performed to assess the extent of the disease and to plan surgical resection. Surgical resection is the first line of therapy, ideally with total removal of the tumor. Owing to a high risk of recurrence with incomplete resection, postoperative irradiation and chemotherapy are necessary; however, they are often used as adjuvant therapy even if the tumor is completely resected.

Acute and subacute toxicity assessment of lutein in lutein-deficient mice

Dietary lutein consumption is lower than the actual recommended allowances to prevent macular degeneration; thus dietary lutein supplements have been recommended. This study aimed to investigate potential adverse effect of lutein from Tagetes erecta in lutein-deficient (LD) male mice. Preliminary acute toxicity study revealed that the LD50 exceeded the highest dose of 10000 mg/kg BW. In a subacute study, male mice were gavaged with 0, 100, 1000 mg/kg BW/day for a period of 4 wk. Plasma lutein levels increased dose dependently (P < 0.01) after acute and subacute feeding of lutein in LD mice. Compared to the control (peanut oil without lutein) group, no treatment-related toxicologically significant effects of lutein were prominent in clinical observation, ophthalmic examinations, body, and organ weights. Further, no toxicologically significant findings were eminent in hematological, histopathological, and other clinical chemistry parameters. In the oral subacute toxicity study, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for lutein in LD mice was determined as 1000 mg/kg/day, the highest dose tested.

Promising interaction between nanoencapsulated lutein with low molecular weight chitosan: characterization and bioavailability of lutein in vitro and in vivo

This study aims to develop water-soluble low molecular weight chitosan (LMWC) nanoencapsules with lutein to improve its bioavailability. Lutein-LMWC nanoencapsules were prepared, characterized and bioavailability was studied in vitro and in vivo with lutein in mixed micelles (control). The particle size ranged between 80-600 nm, which was confirmed by Atomic Force Microscope. The interaction between LMWC and lutein in nanocencapsules by (1)H and (13)C NMR showed the essentiality of water molecules to hold the lutein between LMWC chains of nanoparticle with a reversible weak bond. Bioavailability of lutein (200 μM) in vitro showed that lutein-LMWC nanoencapsules was significantly higher (27.7%) than control. Postprandial lutein level in the plasma (54.5%), liver (53.9%) and eyes (62.8%) of mice fed on nanoencapsulated lutein were higher than the control. LMWC may serve as novel carrier for enhancing the lutein bioavailability and can be suggested as the better dietary compound in food and pharmaceutical applications.

Retinol-deficient rats can convert a pharmacological dose of astaxanthin to retinol: antioxidant potential of astaxanthin, lutein, and β-carotene

Retinol (ROH) and provitamin-A carotenoids are recommended to treat ROH deficiency. Xanthophyll carotenoids, being potent antioxidants, can modulate health disorders. We hypothesize that nonprovitamin-A carotenoids may yield ROH and suppress lipid peroxidation under ROH deficiency. This study aimed to (i) study the possible bioconversion of astaxanthin and lutein to ROH similar to β-carotene and (ii) determine the antioxidant potential of these carotenoids with reference to Na+/K+-ATPase, antioxidant molecules, and lipid peroxidation (Lpx) induced by ROH deficiency in rats. ROH deficiency was induced in rats (n = 5 per group) by feeding a diet devoid of ROH. Retinol-deficient (RD) rats were gavaged with astaxanthin, lutein, β-carotene, or peanut oil alone (RD group) for 7 days. Results show that the RD group had lowered plasma ROH levels (0.3 µmol/L), whereas ROH rose in astaxanthin and β-carotene groups (4.9 and 5.7 µmol/L, respectively), which was supported by enhanced (69% and 70%) intestinal β-carotene 15,15′-monooxygenase activity. Astaxanthin, lutein, and β-carotene lowered Lpx by 45%, 41%, and 40% (plasma), respectively, and 59%, 64%, and 60% (liver), respectively, compared with the RD group. Lowered Na+/K+-ATPase and enhanced superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione-S-transferase activities support the lowered Lpx. To conclude, this report confirms that astaxanthin is converted into β-carotene and ROH in ROH-deficient rats, and the antioxidant potential of carotenoids was in the order astaxanthin > lutein > β-carotene.

Characterization of microalgal carotenoids by mass spectrometry and their bioavailability and antioxidant properties elucidated in rat model

Of the total carotenoids in respective algal samples, beta-carotene in Spirulina platensis was 69.5%, astaxanthin and its esters in Haematococcus pluvialis was 81.38%, and lutein in Botryococcus braunii was 74.6%. The carotenoids were characterized by mass spectrometry. A time-course study of carotenoids in rats after administration of microalgal biomass showed peak levels in plasma, liver, and eyes at 2, 4, and 6 h, respectively. Beta-carotene accumulation in Spirulina-fed rats was maximum in eye tissues at 6 h. Similarly, levels of astaxanthin and lutein in Haematococcus- and Botryococcus-fed rats were also maximal in eye tissues. Astaxanthin from H. pluvialis showed better bioavailability than beta-carotene and lutein. The antioxidant enzymes, catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and TBARS were significantly high in plasma at 2 h and in liver at 4 h, evidently offering protection from free radicals. This study implies that microalgae can be a good source of carotenoids of high bioavailability and nutraceutical value.

Antioxidant and cytotoxic effect of oxidized lutein in human cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa)

This study investigated the antioxidant and cytotoxic effect of oxidized lutein using human cervical carcinoma cell lines (HeLa). Liposome contained phosphatidylcholine (20 micromol) in Tris-HCl buffer and lutein (200 micromol) was exposed to sunlight for 100 min. Photo-oxidized lutein products were characterized by LC-MS (APCI(+)) and studied for their antioxidant property and apoptosis in terms of cell viability, glutathione and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Photo-oxidized lutein fragmented ions were identified as 523 (M+ + H+-3CH3), 476 (M+ + H+-6CH3), 551 (M+ + H+-H2O) and its isomers as 13-Z lutein, 13'-Z lutein, 13-Z zeaxanthin, all-E zeaxanthin, 9-Z lutein, 9'-Z lutein. Free radical scavenging activity of oxidized lutein was higher by 45.9% (IC(50), 3.71 microg) than lutein (IC(50), 5.28 microg). Oxidized lutein lowered the lipid peroxidation by 20.7% than lutein. The viability of HeLa cells, glutathione and MDA levels were decreased by 64%, 40% and 18% than lutein. To conclude, oxidized lutein may be highly reactive, since oxidation results in radical ions, which can combine with similar reactive oxidative species that could lead to higher antioxidant effect. This may be true in this study that antioxidant property of oxidized lutein was higher than lutein that correlates with free radical scavenging activity and cytotoxic effects on HeLa cells.