Environmental factors affecting flavonoid accumulation in plants Poligonum weyrichii growing in Murmansk region

Cardiovascular diseases caused by free radical oxidation processes are taking the lion’s share in the structure of the overall morbidity, mortality and disability amongst the adult population in Murmansk region. The need for developing new health-saving technologies, as well as import substitution in the pharmacological sphere necessitate the search for new natural and effective sources. Weyrich’s knotweed (Poligonum weyrichii Fr. Schmidt.) growing in Murmansk region is a promising source of flavonoid compounds for the production of adaptogenic drugs. Our pilot study was conducted to evaluate the flavonoid content and the ecological dependencies of their accumulation in the tissues of the inflorescences, the leaves of the upper and middle layers and in the rhizomes during the growing season in two nearly adjacent areas which differ in climatic conditions. We used wild-growing (in both areas) and cultivated (only one location) plants. The study revealed that the content of flavonoids in the leaves and inflorescences of the Weyrich’s knotweed growing on the territories of the industrially developed central part of the Murmansk region can exceed 5.0% by weight of the dried tissue. The obtained data indicate that the leaves (up to 3.4%) and inflorescences (up to 5.6%) differ by the highest content of these compounds at the beginning or in the second half of the growing season, respectively, and the deterioration of external conditions stimulates their synthesis. Taking into account the high biomass of Weyrich’s knotweed plants, their high growth rate and resistance under extreme conditions, they can be considered as a promising pharmacologically valuable plant for the Murmansk region. The possibilities and prospects of using the P. weyrichii plants as the main plant for the regional production of adaptogenic drugs are discussed.

Lipid oxidation, pre-slaughter animal stress and meat packaging: Can dietary supplementation of vitamin E and plant extracts come to the rescue?

Normand cull-cows received a diet enriched in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), known to enhance nutritional quality, but to decrease beef lipid stability. Half of the cows received a supplementation of vitamin E and plant extracts rich in polyphenols during the finishing period. Half of each feeding group was slaughtered under limited, the others under added stress conditions. Longissimus thoracis (LT) and Semitendinosus (ST) were evaluated after storage under air, or 70% O₂/30% CO₂ or vacuum conditions. Irrespectively of diet, pre-slaughter stress i) increased post-mortem malondialdehyde (MDA) formation except in vacuum-stored meat, ii) decreased vitamin A levels in the LT, iii) decreased vitamin E levels in meat stored in 70% O₂/30% CO₂ and total anti-oxidant status in vacuum stored meat. Effects were global; dietary supplementation with vitamin E and plant extracts was associated with lower MDA levels and MetMb percentage and higher levels of vitamin A and E.

Preparation of Progressive Antibacterial LDPE Surface via Active Biomolecule Deposition Approach

The use of polymers in all aspects of daily life is increasing considerably, so there is high demand for polymers with specific properties. Polymers with antibacterial properties are highly needed in the food and medical industries. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is widely used in various industries, especially in food packaging, because it has suitable mechanical and safety properties. Nevertheless, the hydrophobicity of its surface makes it vulnerable to microbial attack and culturing. To enhance antimicrobial activity, a progressive surface modification of LDPE using the antimicrobial agent grafting process was applied. LDPE was first exposed to nonthermal radio-frequency (RF) plasma treatment to activate its surface. This led to the creation of reactive species on the LDPE surface, resulting in the ability to graft antibacterial agents, such as ascorbic acid (ASA), commonly known as vitamin C. ASA is a well-known antioxidant that is used as a food preservative, is essential to biological systems, and is found to be reactive against a number of microorganisms and bacteria. The antimicrobial effect of grafted LDPE with ASA was tested against two strong kinds of bacteria, namely, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), with positive results. Surface analyses were performed thoroughly using contact angle measurements and peel tests to measure the wettability or surface free energy and adhesion properties after each modification step. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to analyze the surface morphology or topography changes of LDPE caused by plasma treatment and ASA grafting. Surface chemistry was studied by measuring the functional groups and elements introduced to the surface after plasma treatment and ASA grafting, using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). These results showed wettability, adhesion, and roughness changes in the LDPE surface after plasma treatment, as well as after ASA grafting. This is a positive indicator of the ability of ASA to be grafted onto polymeric materials using plasma pretreatment, resulting in enhanced antibacterial activity.

Antioxidant Therapies for Neuroprotection-A Review

Although moderate concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are crucial for various physiological processes within the human body, their overproduction leads to oxidative stress, defined as the imbalance between the production and accumulation of ROS and the ability of the body to neutralize and eliminate them. In the brain, oxidative stress exhibits significant effects, due to its increased metabolical activity and limited cellular regeneration. Thus, oxidative stress is a major factor in the progressive loss of neurons structures and functions, leading to the development of severe neurodegenerative disorders. In this context, recent years have witnessed tremendous advancements in the field of antioxidant therapies, with a special emphasis for neuroprotection. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the oxidative stress and antioxidant defense mechanisms and to present the most recent studies on antioxidant therapies for neuroprotection.

Role of biological control agents and physical treatments in maintaining the quality of fresh and minimally-processed fruit and vegetables

Fruit and vegetables are an important part of human diets and provide multiple health benefits. However, due to the short shelf-life of fresh and minimally-processed fruit and vegetables, significant losses occur throughout the food distribution chain. Shelf-life extension requires preserving both the quality and safety of food products. The quality of fruit and vegetables, either fresh or fresh-cut, depends on many factors and can be determined by analytical or sensory evaluation methods. Among the various technologies used to maintain the quality and increase shelf-life of fresh and minimally-processed fruit and vegetables, biological control is a promising approach. Biological control refers to postharvest control of pathogens using microbial cultures. With respect to application of biological control for increasing the shelf-life of food, the term biopreservation is favored, although the approach is identical. The methods for screening and development of biocontrol agents differ greatly according to their intended application, but the efficacy of all current approaches following scale-up to commercial conditions is recognized as insufficient. The combination of biological and physical methods to maintain quality has the potential to overcome the limitations of current approaches. This review compares biocontrol and biopreservation approaches, alone and in combination with physical methods. The recent increase in the use of meta-omics approaches and other innovative technologies, has led to the emergence of new strategies to increase the shelf-life of fruit and vegetables, which are also discussed herein.

Novel mitochondrial complex I-inhibiting peptides restrain NADH dehydrogenase activity

The emergence of drug-resistant fungal pathogens is becoming increasingly serious due to overuse of antifungals. Antimicrobial peptides have potent activity against a broad spectrum of pathogens, including fungi, and are considered a potential new class of antifungals. In this study, we examined the activities of the newly designed peptides P-113Du and P-113Tri, together with their parental peptide P-113, against the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. The results showed that these peptides inhibit mitochondrial complex I, specifically NADH dehydrogenase, of the electron transport chain. Moreover, P-113Du and P-113Tri also block alternative NADH dehydrogenases. Currently, most inhibitors of the mitochondrial complex I are small molecules or artificially-designed antibodies. Here, we demonstrated novel functions of antimicrobial peptides in inhibiting the mitochondrial complex I of C. albicans, providing insight in the development of new antifungal agents.

Organogermanium suppresses cell death due to oxidative stress in normal human dermal fibroblasts

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are very harmful to dermal cells, and it is thus important to develop cosmetics that protect the skin from ROS and other stimuli. Repagermanium is a synthetic water-soluble organogermanium polymer, and in this study, we attempted to visualize the incorporation of germanium into normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) using isotope microscopy. In addition, the content of 3-(trihydroxygermyl)propanoic acid (THGP), a hydrolyzed monomer of repagermanium, in NHDFs was determined through liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and the dose-dependent incorporation of THGP was confirmed. We then evaluated the preventive effects of THGP against ROS-induced NHDF death and confirmed the observed preventive effects through gene profiling and expression analysis. The addition of 0.59–5.9 mM THGP reduced cell death resulting from ROS damage caused by the reaction between xanthine oxidase and hypoxanthine and the direct addition of H₂O₂. Furthermore, this study provides the first demonstration that the effect of THGP was not due to the direct scavenging of ROS, which indicates that the mechanism of THGP differs from that of general antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid. The gene profiling and expression analysis showed that THGP suppressed the expression of the nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 2 (NR4A2) gene, which is related to cell death, and the interleukin 6 (IL6) and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2 (CXCL2) genes, which are related to the inflammatory response. Furthermore, the production of IL6 induced by H₂O₂ was suppressed by the THGP treatment. Our data suggest that the preventive effect of THGP against ROS-induced cell death is not due to antioxidant enzymes or ROS scavenging.

Subcritical Water Extraction of Antioxidants from Curculigo latifolia Root

This study aims to extract antioxidant compounds from Curculigo latifolia root by subcritical water extraction (SWE). The influence of extraction temperature and time on the antioxidant activity of C. latifolia root extract was investigated in terms of extraction yield, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), 2, 2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. The highest extraction yield (36.5%), TPC (92.55 mg GAE/g), TFC (13.26 mg RE/g), and antioxidant activities by ABTS (66.8 mg trolox equivalent/g sample) and DPPH (128.7 mg trolox equivalent/g sample) were detected at 180°C and 30 minutes extraction time. Based on the results, the optimum condition was selected at 180°C and 30 minutes of extraction. The sample was screened by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis where the phenolic compounds detected were structured based on their [M-H]-peak. The detected phenolic compounds were monobenzone, hydroquinone, phloridzin, pomiferin, mundulone, scandenin, and dimethyl caffeic acid. According to these findings, SWE is a promising, environmentally friendly, and efficient technology in the exploitation of natural products for the development of food and nutraceutical commodities.

Assessment of Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Extracts of Dendrobium crepidatum

Dendrobium crepidatum is an epiphytic orchid found in south Asia including Nepal and China. This orchid species is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of cancer, diabetes, cataracts, and fever. The objectives of the present research were to assess the antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of its stem’s extracts with the identification of bioactive secondary metabolites. The antioxidant and cytotoxic activities were evaluated using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays, respectively, and compounds were identified using GC–MS (gas chromatography and mass spectrometry). Ethanol and acetone extracts scavenged 94.69 ± 0.10% and 93.41 ± 0.86% of DPPH free radicals, respectively. They showed 50% inhibition of DPPH free radicals (IC₅₀) at concentrations of 73.90 µg/mL and 99.44 µg/mL, which were found to be statistically similar to that of ascorbic acid (control). Chloroform extract inhibited the growth of 81.49 ± 0.43% of HeLa (human cervical carcinoma) cells and hexane extract inhibited the growth of 76.45 ± 4.26% of U251 (human glioblastoma) cells at 800 µg/mL concentration. These extracts showed 50% inhibition of cell growth (IC₅₀) toward both the HeLa and U251 cell lines at their high concentrations, which were found statistically significantly different from that of cisplatin drug (control). The above extracts showed antioxidant and cytotoxic properties, potentially due to the presence of tetracosane, triacontane, stigmasterol, and some phenol derivatives (2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, 2-methoxy-5-(1-propenyl)-phenol, p-mesyloxyphenol, and 2,6-dimethoxy-4-(2-propenyl)-phenol). This study explores the potential of this orchid in alternative medicine toward the development of drugs from its medicinally active compounds.

Aflatoxin compromises development of the preimplantation bovine embryo through mechanisms independent of reactive oxygen production

Aflatoxin is a potent carcinogen often found in animal feedstuffs. Although it reportedly impairs development of the preimplantation pig embryo, it is not known whether it adversely affects development of the preimplantation bovine embryo. We conducted 3 experiments to investigate this possibility and determine whether deleterious effects of aflatoxin were caused by increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Experiments were conducted with embryos produced in vitro and cultured after fertilization with various concentrations of aflatoxin. For experiment 1, embryos were treated with 0 (control), 40, 400, or 4,000 µg/L of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁). Treatment at all concentrations of AFB₁ tended to reduce cleavage rate, with the 2 highest concentrations having significant effects. As compared with the control, 40 µg/L AFB₁ reduced the percentage of oocytes becoming blastocysts and the percentage of cleaved embryos becoming blastocysts (19.7 vs. 8.1% and 30.3 vs. 14.3%, respectively). Complete inhibition of blastocyst formation occurred at concentrations of 400 and 4,000 µg/L of AFB₁. Experiments 2 and 3 involved a 2 × 2 factorial design with effects of AFB₁ (0 and 40 µg/L), the antioxidant Trolox (6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid, a water-soluble analog of vitamin E; 0 and 5 µM), and their interaction on production of ROS in putative zygotes (experiment 2) and development to the blastocyst stage (experiment 3). Production of ROS was increased by AFB₁, and this effect was reversed by Trolox. However, Trolox did not prevent the reduction in development to the blastocyst stage caused by AFB₁. Thus, the anti-developmental effects of AFB₁ are not caused solely by increased ROS production. Rather, other underlying mechanisms exist for the adverse effects of aflatoxin on embryonic development. Overall, results indicate the potential for feeding aflatoxin-contaminated feed to cause embryonic loss in cattle.

Hydroxytyrosol encapsulated in biocompatible water-in-oil microemulsions: How the structure affects in vitro absorption

Over the last years, the incorporation of natural antioxidants in food and pharmaceutical formulations has gained attention, delaying or preventing oxidation phenomena in the final products. In order to take full advantage of their properties, protection in special microenvironments is of great importance. The unique features of the natural phenolic compound hydroxytyrosol (HT) - including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and cardioprotective properties - have been studied to clarify its mechanism of action. In the present study novel biocompatible water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsions were developed as hosts for HT and subsequently examined for their absorption profile following their oral uptake. The absorption of HT in solution was compared with the encapsulated one in vitro, using a coculture model (Caco-2/TC7 and HT29-MTX cell lines). The systems were structurally characterized by means of Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) techniques. The diameter of the micelles remained unaltered after the incorporation of 678 ppm of HT but the interfacial properties were slightly affected, indicating the involvement of the HT molecules in the surfactant monolayer. EPR was used towards a lipophilic stable free radial, namely galvinoxyl, indicating a high scavenging activity of the systems and encapsulated HT. Finally, after the biocompatibility study of the microemulsions the intestinal absorption of the encapsulated HT was compared with its aqueous solution in vitro. The higher the surfactants' concentration in the system the lower the HT concentration that penetrated the constructed epithelium, indicating the involvement of the amphiphiles in the antioxidant's absorption and its entrapment in the mucus layer.

Chondroitin: a natural biomarker with immense biomedical applications

Naturally extracted glycosaminoglycan chondroitin sulphate is the reactive product of N-acetylgalactosamine and d-glucuronic acid. Chondroitin sulfate (CS) extracted from Scophthalmus maximus, H. scabra, E. fraudatrix, M. magnum, and H. mexicana has shown remarkable anticoagulant, articular cartilage repair, corneal lesion healing, antidiabetic, and antiproliferative effects. Also, platinum and strontium nanoparticles of chondroitin sulfate are effective in osteoarthritis and exert anti-HSV2 and anti-angiogenic properties. A combination of chondroitin sulfate and RNA lipolexes demonstrates gene silencing effects in liver fibrosis. Chondroitin sulfate has also been used as a carrier for loxoprofen hydrogel preparation. Oligosaccharides of chondroitin sulfate showed effective inhibition of bovine testicular hyaluronidase enzyme as an antibacterial agent during pregnancy. Monoclonal antibody-recognized chondroitin sulfate A was effectively used to treat ameloblastoma. Selenium-chondroitin sulfate nanoparticles demonstrated positive effects in therapy of Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) and osteoarthritis.

Benefits of curcumin in brain disorders

Curcumin is widely consumed in Asia either as turmeric directly or as one of the culinary ingredients in food recipes. The benefits of curcumin in different organ systems have been reported extensively in several neurological diseases and cancer. Curcumin has got its global recognition because of its strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antimicrobial activities. Additionally, it is used in diabetes and arthritis as well as in hepatic, renal, and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, there is growing attention on usage of curcumin to prevent or delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. This review summarizes available data from several recent studies on curcumin in various neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Huntington's disease, Prions disease, stroke, Down's syndrome, autism, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, anxiety, depression, and aging. Recent advancements toward increasing the therapeutic efficacy of curcuma/curcumin formulation and the novel delivery strategies employed to overcome its minimal bioavailability and toxicity studies have also been discussed. This review also summarizes the ongoing clinical trials on curcumin for different neurodegenerative diseases and patent details of curcuma/curcumin in India.

Soybean isoflavone ameliorates cognitive impairment, neuroinflammation, and amyloid β accumulation in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease

Oxidative stress and neuroinflammatory changes appear to be the early events involved in AD's development and progression. The present study was designed to assess the effect of soybean isoflavone extract (SIFE) against colchicine-induced cognitive dysfunction and oxidative stress in male rats.Fifty adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups: control, ACSF-treated group, soybean isoflavones (SIF)-treated group, colchicine (COL)-treated group, and SIF + COL-treated group. We found that an intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of a single dose of colchicine (7.5 μg/rat bilaterally) resulted in learning deficits in rats subjected to the Morris water maze task associated with marked oxidative damage and decreased acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) activity. In addition, COL caused significant increase in amyloid beta peptide 1-42 (β, amyloid 1-42) interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and TNF-α genes expression in the brain, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in cortical astrocytes in the brain cortex.Treatment with SIFE (80 mg/kg b.wt) daily for 14 days followed by a single dose of COL significantly reduced the elevated oxidative stress parameters and restored the reduced antioxidant activities. Besides, the administration of SIFE reversed the overproduction of β, amyloid 1-42, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and GFAP in the brain. The obtained results were confirmed by histological observations that clearly indicate a neuroprotective effect of SIF against AD.

The roles of reactive oxygen species and antioxidants in cryopreservation

Cryopreservation has facilitated advancement of biological research by allowing the storage of cells over prolonged periods of time. While cryopreservation at extremely low temperatures would render cells metabolically inactive, cells suffer insults during the freezing and thawing process. Among such insults, the generation of supra-physiological levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) could impair cellular functions and survival. Antioxidants are potential additives that were reported to partially or completely reverse freeze-thaw stress-associated impairments. This review aims to discuss the potential sources of cryopreservation-induced ROS and the effectiveness of antioxidant administration when used individually or in combination.

Obtainment of an enriched fraction of Inga edulis: identification using UPLC-DAD-MS/MS and photochemopreventive screening

Inga edulis is a fruit tree native from Central and South America. Different species of Inga have demonstrated high polyphenolic content and high antioxidant capacity. The oxidative stress significantly contributes to the development of several chronicle diseases, particularly age-related diseases. Therefore, photochemoprevention is an emerging interest in the use of naturally occurring antioxidants for their therapeutic use. A partial purification of the extract was carried out onto macroporous resin and the main components of I. edulis leaf extract and fraction were identified using UPLC-DAD-MS/MS as epicatechin, apigenin C-di-hexoside, myricetin-O-hexose-deoxyhexose, myricetin-O-deoxyhexose and vicenin-2, which was identified for the first time in I. edulis. Both extract and fraction presented high antioxidant capacity, the fraction exhibiting higher polyphenol and flavonoid contents and higher content of vicenin-2, suggesting that the fractioning process effectively resulted in the partial purification of the extract. The cytotoxicity and photostability were assessed in L929 fibroblast cells to evaluate whether I. edulis extract and fraction were suitable for topical application. The UVA and UVB irradiated extract and fraction did not decrease the antioxidant capacity and cell viability of L929 fibroblasts, demonstrating the photostability of the samples. The fractioning process successfully purified and enriched I. edulis extract, and both the extract and fraction are potential candidates to be safely incorporated in topical photochemopreventive formulations.

Detoxification of poly(methyl methacrylate) bone cement by natural antioxidant intervention

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cement is the most widely used grouting material in the joint arthroplasties and vertebroplasties. The present investigation has been carried out to scavenge the radicals and monomer by addition of an antioxidant to minimize the toxicity of bone cement (BC). The in silico studies were employed to determine the potent natural antioxidant at physiological conditions. The antioxidant methionine demonstrated a strong binding affinity with free radicals and methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer than cysteine. The designated amount of methionine was optimized by various assay methods and >2% methionine shows strong scavenging capacity in BC. Moreover, the antioxidant-loaded BC (ABC) demonstrated similar handling, physicochemical and mechanical properties to pristine bone cement. Significantly, the developed formulation shows superior biological characteristics such as cell proliferation (2 ± 1 BC and 6 ± 1 ABC), adhesion (0.32 ± 0.02 BC and 0.54 ± 0.01 ABC), and cell viability (81 ± 2% BC and 93 ± 1% ABC) toward human osteoblast-like cells (MG-63). Therefore, the novel antioxidant bone cement is a potential candidate for various orthopedic applications to eliminate the adverse effects, related to residual toxic radical and monomer in bone cement.

In Situ Immobilized Silver Nanoparticles on Rubia tinctorum Extract-Coated Ultrasmall Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: An Efficient Nanocatalyst with Magnetic Recyclability for Synthesis of Propargylamines by A3 Coupling Reaction

This research suggests a green method for synthesizing hybrid magnetic nanocomposites that can be used as a reductant and a stabilizing agent for immobilizing metal nanoparticles (NPs). The central idea is the modification of magnetic NPs using Rubia tinctorum extract, which consists of numerous carbonyl and phenolic hydroxyl functional groups to increase adsorption of metals and chelate silver ions, and decrease the adsorption of silver ions by Ag NPs, in situ. Thus, the suggested catalyst preparation process does not require toxic reagents, additional reductants, and intricate instruments. To show the effectiveness of the plant extract in reducing and immobilizing Ag NPs, the structural, morphological, and physicochemical features of the particles are studied using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, X-ray diffraction analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. One of the advantages of the suggested method is to reduce the size of the magnetic NPs from 15-20 to 2-5 nm, in the presence of the extract. Additionally, the prepared Fe3O4@R. tinctorum/Ag nanocatalyst is demonstrated to exhibit a very high activity in the catalysis of the three-component reaction of aldehydes, amines, and alkynes (A3 coupling) with good to high yields of diverse propargylamines. Moreover, the nanocatalyst can be recovered several times with no considerable leaching or loss of performance.

Therapeutic effects of curcumin on sepsis and mechanisms of action: A systematic review of preclinical studies

Sepsis is a complex disease that begins with an infectious disorder and causes excessive immune responses. Curcumin is considered as an active component of turmeric that can improve the condition in sepsis due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched. Searching was not limited to a specific publication period. Only English-language original articles, which had examined the effect of curcumin on sepsis, were included. At first, 1,098 articles were totally found, and 209 articles were selected after excluding duplicated data; 46 articles were remained due to the curcumin effects on sepsis. These included 23 in vitro studies and 23 animal studies. Our results showed that curcumin and various analogs of curcumin can have an inhibitory effect on sepsis-induced complications. Curcumin has the ability to inhibit the inflammatory, oxidative coagulation factors, and regulation of immune responses in sepsis. Despite the promising evidence of the therapeutic effects of curcumin on the sepsis complication, further studies seem necessary to investigate its effect and possible mechanisms of action in human studies.

Antioxidant properties of Aloe vera components: a DFT theoretical evaluation

Prediction of the antioxidant activity of three Aloe vera components (aloesone, aloe-emodin, and isoeleutheol) was performed based on density functional theory calculations using the B3LYP hybrid functional and the 6-311++ G** basis set. Calculation of highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), lowest occupied molecular orbital (LUMO), and E_gap revealed that aloe-emodin has the lowest E_gap value, indicating good antioxidant activity. Also in terms of electron affinity, softness, electrophilicity, and chemical potential, aloe-emodin is a potent structure with potential high radical scavenging activity. Calculation of the ionisation potential revealed that isoeleutherol likely also possesses a high degree of antiradical scavenging. To study the conjugating system of the radicals, density plots of HOMO, natural bond orbital analyses, and spin density plots were used. According to calculations, the isoeleutherol radical is more delocalised and the most stable radical. Calculated proton affinity values revealed that the most probable antioxidant mechanism is sequential proton loss-electron transfer. Our results were compared with available experimental data. Published experimental data were found to correlate well with our theoretical predictions. These results support the usefulness of theoretical calculations not only for identifying potentially useful structures of studied compounds but also for predicting their relative activity.

Oxidative Stress and Advanced Lipoxidation and Glycation End Products (ALEs and AGEs) in Aging and Age-Related Diseases

Oxidative stress is a consequence of the use of oxygen in aerobic respiration by living organisms and is denoted as a persistent condition of an imbalance between the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the ability of the endogenous antioxidant system (AOS) to detoxify them. The oxidative stress theory has been confirmed in many animal studies, which demonstrated that the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and biomolecular stability and integrity is crucial for cellular longevity and successful aging. Mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired protein homeostasis (proteostasis) network, alteration in the activities of transcription factors such as Nrf2 and NF-κB, and disturbances in the protein quality control machinery that includes molecular chaperones, ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), and autophagy/lysosome pathway have been observed during aging and age-related chronic diseases. The accumulation of ROS under oxidative stress conditions results in the induction of lipid peroxidation and glycoxidation reactions, which leads to the elevated endogenous production of reactive aldehydes and their derivatives such as glyoxal, methylglyoxal (MG), malonic dialdehyde (MDA), and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) giving rise to advanced lipoxidation and glycation end products (ALEs and AGEs, respectively). Both ALEs and AGEs play key roles in cellular response to oxidative stress stimuli through the regulation of a variety of cell signaling pathways. However, elevated ALE and AGE production leads to protein cross-linking and aggregation resulting in an alteration in cell signaling and functioning which causes cell damage and death. This is implicated in aging and various age-related chronic pathologies such as inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, atherosclerosis, and vascular complications of diabetes mellitus. In the present review, we discuss experimental data evidencing the impairment in cellular functions caused by AGE/ALE accumulation under oxidative stress conditions. We focused on the implications of ALEs/AGEs in aging and age-related diseases to demonstrate that the identification of cellular dysfunctions involved in disease initiation and progression can serve as a basis for the discovery of relevant therapeutic agents.

Metal-Organic Framework Loaded by Rhodamine B As a Novel Chemiluminescence System for the Paper-Based Analytical Devices and Its Application for Total Phenolic Content Determination in Food Samples

Herein, a novel paper-based chemiluminescence (CL) device has been reported for the estimation of total phenolic content of food samples. The CL system implemented on the paper was based on a hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-rhodamine b (RhoB)-cobalt metal organic framework (CoMOF) reaction. It was found that the reaction of H₂O₂ with RhoB molecules, loaded into the nanopores of CoMOF (R@CoMOF), can produce an intensive CL emission. The experiments on the paper indicated that in the presence of CoMOF, the CL emission was greatly increased. In addition to this strong catalyzing effect, application of CoMOF on the paper improved the stability of the CL system for several days. As a useful analytical application for the obtained paper-based CL device (PCD), it was examined for the detection of phenolic antioxidants. It was observed that the addition of 5 μL of phenolic compounds (PC) on the paper containing the CL reagents can remarkably decrease the CL intensity. This effect was applied to design a simple analytical assay for PC. After the optimization process, the best sensitivity was obtained for gallic acid, quercetin, catechin, kaempferol, and caffeic acid with detection limits of 0.98, 1.36, 1.48, 1.81, and 2.55 ng mL^-1, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSD%) were also less than 5%. This study is the first report on the practical application of PCD using a nanomaterial assisted CL reaction. It is simple, portable, and low-cost and consumes a very low amount of reagents and sample solution. The device was successfully applied in the investigation of total antioxidant capacity of molasses and honey samples.

The importance of antioxidants and place in today's scientific and technological studies

Antioxidants have become scientifically interesting compounds due to their many benefits such as anti-aging and anti-inflammatory. Today, it is still used in many areas. In food technology, antioxidants are added to many foodstuffs in order to enrich the foods and eliminate the problems. Therefore, studies to determine the antioxidant activities of natural foods and their components are also continuing rapidly. Antioxidants have also been replaced in the encapsulation studies used for the preservation and stabilization of food components. Of course, preservation of foods is as important as their production. The latest packaging techniques for food preservation are edible films and coatings. The protective function of edible films and coatings can be improved by the addition of antioxidants. Unlike these, studies on plants and animals have been investigated in vivo in terms of how the antioxidant activity changes as a result of metabolic activities. The role of antioxidant enzymes in these studies is quite large. Many results have been found for the elimination of diseases by either in vivo or in vitro studies regarding antioxidants. Thus, the importance of antioxidants increased with the use in pharmacology, cosmetics and medicine. In this study, we tried to bring a current perspective to antioxidants played an active role in many fields by combining the technological applications and scientific studies of antioxidants. In order to further customize the issue, we have done this especially for the food and health field and we have tried to emphasize the importance of antioxidants in this way.

Advances in dermatology using DNA aptamer "Aptamin C" innovation: Oxidative stress prevention and effect maximization of vitamin C through antioxidation

BACKGROUND

Vitamin C (also known as L-ascorbic acid) plays a critical role in reactive oxygen species (ROS) reduction and cell regeneration by protecting cell from oxidative stress. Although vitamin C is widely used in cosmetic and therapeutic markets, there is considerable evidence that vitamin C easily undergoes oxidation by air, pH, temperature, and UV light upon storage. This deficiency of vitamin C decreases its potency as an antioxidant and reduces the shelf-life of products containing vitamin C as its ingredient. To overcome the deficiency of vitamin C, we have developed Aptamin C, an innovative DNA aptamer maximizing the antioxidant efficacy of vitamin C by binding to the reduced form of vitamin C and delaying its oxidation.

METHODS

Binding of Aptamin C with vitamin C was determined using ITC analysis. ITC experiment was performed 0.2 mmol/L vitamin C that was injected 25 times in 2 µL aliquots into the 1.8 mL sample cell containing the Aptamin C at a concentration of 0.02 mmol/L. The data were fitted to a one-site binding isotherm using with origin program for ITC v.5.0.

RESULTS

To investigate the effect of Aptamin C and vitamin C complex in human skins, both in vitro and clinical tests were performed. We observed that the complex of Aptamin C and vitamin C was significantly effective in wrinkle improvement, whitening effect, and hydration increase. In the clinical test, subjects treated with the complex showed dramatic improvement in skin irritation and itching. No adverse reaction was presented by Aptamin C complex in the test.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, these results showed that Aptamin C, an innovative novel compound, should potentially be served as a key cosmeceutical ingredient for a range of skin conditions.

Comparative Examination of Antioxidant Capacity and Fingerprinting of Unfractionated Extracts from Different Plant Parts of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) Grown under Greenhouse Conditions

Integrated surveys of metabolic profiles and antioxidant capacity from Chenopodium quinoa have been limited and have particularly focused on an examination of seeds and leaves. According to this, the main aim of the present study was to address an evaluation of the antioxidant activity of crude ethanolic extracts from different plant parts (leaves, stems, roots, flowers, and seeds) harvested at different times during growth and processed by two distinct drying methods: Air-drying and freeze-drying. In order to characterize the resulting extracts, the total content of phenolics (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC) was then measured through the Folin–Ciocalteu method, while antioxidant capacity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^•) free radical scavenging and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods. Parallel to this evaluation, extracts were profiled by LC-DAD-ESI-MS. Data analysis was supported by statistics. Most of the extracts obtained from freeze-dried samples showed higher TPC values ranging from 6.02 to 43.47 milligram of gallic acid equivalents per gram of plant material and a TFC between 1.30 and 12.26 milligram of quercetin equivalents per gram of plant material. After statistical analysis, a low correlation between TPC and TFC values was observed regarding antioxidant capacity from DPPH and FRAP measurements of both drying methods. A multivariate analysis showed that antioxidant components and antioxidant capacity in C. quinoa changed during growth and between plant parts and drying methods. These changes need to be taken into consideration when comparing the production/accumulation of beneficial bioactive compounds in this pseudocereal.

Chalcones and Flavanones Bearing Hydroxyl and/or Methoxyl Groups: Synthesis and Biological Assessments

Chalcones and flavanones are isomeric structures and also classes of natural products, belonging to the flavonoid family. Moreover, their wide range of biological activities makes them key scaffolds for the synthesis of new and more efficient drugs. In this work, the synthesis of hydroxy and/or methoxychalcones was studied using less common bases, such as sodium hydride (NaH) and lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (LiHMDS), in the aldol condensation. The results show that the use of NaH was more effective for the synthesis of 2′-hydroxychalcone derivatives, while LiHMDS led to the synthesis of polyhydroxylated chalcones in a one-pot process. During this study, it was also possible to establish the conditions that favor their isomerization into flavanones, allowing at the same time the synthesis of hydroxy and/or methoxyflavanones. The chalcones and flavanones obtained were evaluated to disclose their antioxidant, anticholinesterasic, antibacterial and antitumor activities. 2′,4′,4-Trihydroxychalcone was the most active compound in terms of antioxidant, anti-butyrylcholinesterase (IC50 26.55 ± 0.55 μg/mL, similar to control drug donepezil, IC50 28.94 ± 1.76 μg/mL) and antimicrobial activity. 4′,7-Dihydroxyflavanone presented dual inhibition, that is, the ability to inhibit both cholinesterases. 4′-Hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxyflavanone and 2′-hydroxy-4-methoxychalcone were the compounds with the best antitumor activity. The substitution pattern and the biological assay results allowed the establishment of some structure/activity relationships.

Pharmacologic Application Potentials of Sulfated Polysaccharide from Marine Algae

With the advent of exploration in finding new sources for treating different diseases, one possible natural source is from marine algae. Having an array of potential benefits, researchers are interested in the components which comprise one of these activities. This can lead to the isolation of active compounds with biological activities, such as antioxidation of free radicals, anti-inflammation, antiproliferation of cancer cells, and anticoagulant to name a few. One of the compounds that are isolated from marine algae are sulfated polysaccharides (SPs). SPs are complex heterogenous natural polymers with an abundance found in different species of marine algae. Marine algae are known to be one of the most important sources of SPs, and depending on the species, its chemical structure varies. This variety has important physical and chemical components and functions which has gained the attention of researchers as this contributes to the many facets of its pharmacologic activity. In this review, recent pharmacologic application potentials and updates on the use of SPs from marine algae are discussed.

Electrochemical behavior, structural, morphological, Calf Thymus-DNA interaction and in-vitro antimicrobial studies of synthesized Schiff base transition metal complexes

New tetradentate Schiff base transition metal complexes have been derived from salicylidene-4-imino-2,3-dimethyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolin-5-one and histidine were characterized by CHN analysis, magnetic susceptibility measurements, molar conductance, FAB-MS, IR, ¹H-NMR, UV, CV, EPR, Fluorescence emission, AFM and Powder XRD techniques. AFM images and Powder XRD data endure that the complexes are nano-size grains with polycrystalline structure. The spectral evidences showed that all the metal chelates are square planar geometry except [VOL] complex which exist square-pyramidal geometry. Electrochemical data (CV) for [CuL] and [VOL] complexes in acetonitrile solution indicates that the redox potential of metal ions is affected by the coordinated ligand. Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectra of [CuL] and [VOL] complexes were well coinciding with proposed geometries and other reported complexes. CT-DNA interaction studies of [CuL] complex reveals that an intercalation binding mode occurs between complex and DNA base pairs. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of complexes has been tested against the growth of some fungal and bacterial species persist that chelates have better control than ligand.

Anti-inflammatory effects of flavonoids

Inflammation plays a key role in diseases such as diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Diet can influence different stages of inflammation and can have an important impact on several inflammatory diseases. Increasing scientific evidence has shown that polyphenolic compounds, such as flavonoids, which are found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, or cocoa, can have anti-inflammatory properties. Recent studies have demonstrated that flavonoids can inhibit regulatory enzymes or transcription factors important for controlling mediators involved in inflammation. Flavonoids are also known as potent antioxidants with the potential to attenuate tissue damage or fibrosis. Consequently, numerous studies in vitro and in animal models have found that flavonoids have the potential to inhibit the onset and development of inflammatory diseases. In the present review, we focused in flavonoids, the most abundant polyphenols in the diet, to give an overview of the most recent scientific knowledge about their impact on different inflammatory diseases.

Intraocular Oxygen and Antioxidant Status: New Insights on the Effect of Vitrectomy and Glaucoma Pathogenesis

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate correlations of partial pressure of oxygen (pO₂) in the ocular anterior segment of human eyes and aqueous humor antioxidant levels of ascorbate (AsA) and total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP) with glaucoma and vitreous status.

METHODS

This prospective, cross-sectional study stratified patients (n = 288 eyes) by lens and vitreous status and the presence of primary open-angle glaucoma for statistical analyses. Intraocular pO₂ concentrations were measured using a fiberoptic probe in patients at the beginning of planned glaucoma and/or cataract surgery. Aqueous humor specimens were obtained for antioxidant analysis of AsA and TRAP.

RESULTS

Following prior pars plana vitrectomy, pO₂ levels were significantly higher than in the reference group of cataract surgery in the anterior chamber angle (16.2 ± 5.0 vs. 13.0 ± 3.9 mm Hg; P = .0171) and in the posterior chamber (7.6 ± 3.1 vs. 3.9 ± 2.7 mm Hg; P < .0001). AsA and TRAP levels were significantly lower (1.1 ± 0.4 vs. 1.4 ± 0.5 mM, respectively; 403.3 ±116.5 vs. 479.0 ± 146.7 Trolox units, respectively; P = .004 and P = .024, respectively) in patients after vitrectomy. In patients with an intact vitreous, neither pO₂ nor antioxidant status correlated with lens status or glaucoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased pO₂ and antioxidant depletion following vitrectomy suggests an alteration of the intraocular oxidant-antioxidant balance. Our study links physiologic factors such as increased pO₂ in the anterior chamber angle and the posterior chamber to decreased antioxidant levels in aqueous humor following vitrectomy. Oxidative stress/damage to the trabecular meshwork in such post-vitrectomy cases may contribute to intraocular pressure elevation and increased risk of glaucoma. NOTE: Publication of this article is sponsored by the American Ophthalmological Society.

The Role of Peroxiredoxin Family in Cancer Signaling

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are antioxidant enzymes that protect cells from oxidative stress by reducing intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In mammalian cells, the six Prx isoforms are ubiquitously expressed in diverse intracellular locations. They are involved in the regulation of various physiological processes including cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, immune response and metabolism as well as intracellular ROS homeostasis. Although there are increasing evidences that Prxs are involved in carcinogenesis of many cancers, their role in cancer is controversial. The ROS levels in cancer cells are increased compared to normal cells, thus promoting cancer development. Nevertheless, for various cancer types, an overexpression of Prxs has been found to be associated with poor patient prognosis, and an increasing number of studies have reported that tumorigenesis is either facilitated or inhibited by regulation of cancer-associated signaling pathways. This review summarizes Prx isoforms and their basic functions, the relationship between the expression level and the physiological role of Prxs in cancer cells, and their roles in regulating cancer-associated signaling pathways.

Copper ion / H2O2 oxidation of Cu/Zn-Superoxide dismutase: Implications for enzymatic activity and antioxidant action

Copper ion-catalyzed oxidation of yeast SOD1 (ySOD1) was examined to determine early oxidative modifications, including oxidation of a crucial disulfide bond, and the structural and functional repercussions of these events. The study used distinct oxidative conditions: Cu²⁺/H₂O₂, Cu²⁺/H₂O₂/AscH⁻ and Cu²⁺/H₂O₂/glucose. Capillary electrophoresis experiments and quantification of protein carbonyls indicate that ySOD1 is highly susceptible to oxidative modification and that changes can be detected within 0.1 min of the initiation of the reaction. Oxidation-induced structural perturbations, characterized by circular dichroism, revealed the formation of partially-unfolded ySOD1 species in a dose-dependent manner. Consistent with these structural changes, pyrogallol assay indicates a partial loss of enzymatic activity. ESI-MS analyses showed seven distinct oxidized ySOD1 species under mild oxidation within 0.1 min. LC/MS analysis after proteolytic digestion demonstrated that the copper-coordinating active site histidine residues, His47 and His49, were converted into 2-oxo-histidine. Furthermore, the Cu and Zn bridging residue, His64 is converted into aspartate/asparagine. Importantly, the disulfide-bond Cys58-Cys147 which is critical for the structural and functional integrity of ySOD1 was detected as being oxidized at Cys147. We propose, based on LC/MS analyses, that disulfide-bond oxidation occurs without disulfide bond cleavage. Modifications were also detected at Met85 and five surface-exposed Lys residues. Based on these data we propose that the Cys58-Cys147 bond may act as a sacrificial target for oxidants and protect ySOD1 from oxidative inactivation arising from exposure to Cu²⁺/H₂O₂ and auto-inactivation during extended enzymatic turnover.

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Oxidation of yeast superoxide dismutase (ySOD1) by Cu²⁺/H₂O₂ is examined.

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Rapid modification of His, Met, Cys and Lys residues detected by LC-MS methods.

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Oxidation of active site His residues and partial protein unfolding are early events.

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The Cys58-Cys147 disulfide bond is oxidized and may act as a sacrificial target.

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Excess exogenous Cu²⁺ decreases protein damage and can reverse loss of activity.

Curcumin-Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Markedly Enhanced Cytotoxicity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Curcumin, a natural polyphenol extracted from a perennial herb Curcuma longa has been verified for many physiological activities such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties. The direct use of curcumin cytotoxicity studies are limited due to its unstable chemical structure, low bioavailability, easy oxidation, and degradation by ultraviolet (UV) light etc. Trying to overcome this problem, silica-encapsulated curcumin nanoparticles (SCNP) and chitosan with silica co-encapsulated curcumin nanoparticles (CSCNP) were prepared by silicification and biosilicification methods, respectively, and encapsulated curcumin within it. We investigated the antitumor properties of SCNP and CSCNP on different tumor cell lines. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that both SCNP and CSCNP were almost spherical in shape and the average particle size of CSCNP was 75.0 ± 14.62 nm, and SCNP was 61.7 ± 23.04 nm. The results show that CSCNP has more anti-oxidant activity as compared to curcumin and SCNP. The higher cytotoxicity towards different cancerous cell lines was also observed in CSCNP treated tumor cells. It was noted that the SCNP and CSCNP has a high percentage of IC₅₀ values in Hep G2 cells. The encapsulation of curcumin improved instability, antioxidant activity, and antitumor activity. Our results demonstrated that nanoencapsulation of curcumin with silica and chitosan not only increase curcumin stability but also enhance its cytotoxic activity on hepatocellular carcinoma cells. On the basis of these primary studies, the curcumin-loaded nanoparticles appear to be promising as an innovative therapeutic material for the treatment of tumors.

Spirocyclohexadienones as an Uncommon Scaffold for Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity

BACKGROUND

The most important cause of dementia affecting elderly people is the Alzheimer's disease (AD). Patients affected by this progressive and neurodegenerative disease have severe memory and cognitive function impairments. Some medicines used for treating this disease in the early stages are based on inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. Population aging should contribute to increase the cases of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease, thus requiring the development of new therapeutic entities for the treatment of this disease.

METHODS

The objective of this work is to identify new substances that have spatial structural similarity with donepezil, an efficient commercial drug used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, and to evaluate the capacity of inhibition of these new substances against the enzyme acetylcholinesterase.

RESULTS

Based on a previous results of our group, we prepared a set of 11 spirocyclohexadienones with different substitutions patterns in three steps and overall yield of up to 59%. These compounds were evaluated in vitro against acetylcholinesterase. We found that eight of them are able to inhibit the acetylcholinesterase activity, with IC50 values ranging from 0.12 to 12.67 µM. Molecular docking study indicated that the spirocyclohexadienone, 9e (IC50 = 0.12 µM), a mixedtype AChE inhibitor, showed a good interaction at active site of the enzyme, including the cationic (CAS) and the peripheral site (PAS).

CONCLUSION

We described the first study aimed at investigating the biological properties of spirocyclohexadienones as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Thus, we have identified an inhibitor, which provided valuable insights for further studies aimed at the discovery of more potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.