Efficient assay for total antioxidant capacity in human plasma using a 96-well microplate

Enhanced Oxidative Stress and Other Potential Biomarkers for Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetics: Beneficial Effects of the Nutraceutic Supplements

We have studied the global risk of retinopathy in a Mediterranean population of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, according to clinical, biochemical, and lifestyle biomarkers. The effects of the oral supplementation containing antioxidants/omega 3 fatty acids (A/ω3) were also evaluated. Suitable participants were distributed into two main groups: (1) T2DMG (with retinopathy (+DR) or without retinopathy (-DR)) and (2) controls (CG). Participants were randomly assigned (+A/ω3) or not (-A/ω3) to the oral supplementation with a daily pill of Nutrof Omega (R) for 18 months. Data collected including demographics, anthropometrics, characteristics/lifestyle, ophthalmic examination (best corrected visual acuity, ocular fundus photographs, and retinal thickness as assessed by optical coherence tomography), and blood parameters (glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, triglycerides, malondialdehyde, and total antioxidant capacity) were registered, integrated, and statistically processed by the SPSS 15.0 program. Finally, 208 participants (130 diabetics (68 +DR/62 -DR) and 78 controls) completed the follow-up. Blood analyses confirmed that the T2DMG+DR patients had significantly higher oxidative stress (p < 0.05), inflammatory (p < 0.05), and vascular (p < 0.001) risk markers than the T2DMG-DR and the CG. Furthermore, the A/ω3 oral supplementation positively changed the baseline parameters, presumptively by inducing metabolic activation and ameliorating the ocular health after 18 months of supplementation.

ACE Reduces Metabolic Abnormalities in a High-Fat Diet Mouse Model

The medicinal plants Artemisia iwayomogi (A. iwayomogi) and Curcuma longa (C. longa) radix have been used to treat metabolic abnormalities in traditional Korean medicine and traditional Chinese medicine (TKM and TCM). In this study we evaluated the effect of the water extract of a mixture of A. iwayomogi and C. longa (ACE) on high-fat diet-induced metabolic syndrome in a mouse model. Four groups of C57BL/6N male mice (except for the naive group) were fed a high-fat diet freely for 10 weeks. Among these, three groups (except the control group) were administered a high-fat diet supplemented with ACE (100 or 200 mg/kg) or curcumin (50 mg/kg). Body weight, accumulation of adipose tissues in abdomen and size of adipocytes, serum lipid profiles, hepatic steatosis, and oxidative stress markers were analyzed. ACE significantly reduced the body and peritoneal adipose tissue weights, serum lipid profiles (total cholesterol and triglycerides), glucose levels, hepatic lipid accumulation, and oxidative stress markers. ACE normalized lipid synthesis-associated gene expressions (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, PPARγ; fatty acid synthase, FAS; sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c, SREBP-1c; and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, PPARα). The results from this study suggest that ACE has the pharmaceutical potential reducing the metabolic abnormalities in an animal model.

Anti-fatigue effect of Myelophil in a chronic forced exercise mouse model

This study was performed to evaluate the anti-fatigue effects of Myelophil. ICR male mice (10 weeks old) were forced to run for 1 hour, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Each running session was followed by administration of distilled water, Myelophil (50 or 100 mg/kg), or ascorbic acid (100 mg/kg) 1h later. Equal proportions of Astragali Radix and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix were extracted using 30% ethanol, and formulated into Myelophil. To evaluate the anti-fatigue effects of Myelophil, exercise tolerance and forced swimming tests were conducted. Underlying mechanisms, including oxidant-antioxidant balance, inflammatory response, and energy metabolism, were investigated by analyzing skeletal muscle tissues and/or sera. Myelophil significantly increased exercise ability and latency times, and decreased the number of electric shocks and immobility time on exercise tolerance and forced swimming tests compared with control group. Myelophil also significantly ameliorated fatigue-induced alterations in oxidative stress biomarkers, antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant capacity, as measured by multiple assays, including enzyme activity assays and western blotting, as well as alterations in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in skeletal muscle. Furthermore, Myelophil normalized alterations in energy metabolic markers in sera. These findings suggest that Myelophil reduces the effects of chronic fatigue, likely by attenuating oxidative and inflammatory responses and normalizing energy metabolism. Consequently, this study provides evidence for the clinical relevance of Myelophil.

The traditional drug Gongjin-Dan ameliorates chronic fatigue in a forced-stress mouse exercise model

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Gongjin-Dan is a representative traditional Oriental medicine herbal drug that has been used to treat chronic fatigue symptoms for several hundred years. We evaluated the anti-fatigue effects of Gongjin-Dan and the underlying mechanisms in a chronic forced exercise mouse model.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Balb/C male mice underwent an extreme treadmill-based running stress (1-h, 5 days/week), and daily oral administration of distilled water, Gongjin-Dan (100, 200, or 400 mg/kg), or ascorbic acid (100 mg/kg) for 28 days. The anti-fatigue effects of Gongjin-Dan were evaluated with behavioral tests (exercise tolerance and swimming tests), and the corresponding mechanisms were investigated based on oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokine and stress hormone levels in skeletal muscle, sera, and brain tissue.

RESULTS

Gongjin-Dan significantly increased exercise tolerance and latency times but reduced the number of electric shocks and immobilization time on the treadmill running and swimming tests, compared with the control group. Gongjin-Dan also significantly ameliorated alterations in oxidative stress-related biomarkers (reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde), inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, and interferon-γ) and glycogen and L-lactate levels in skeletal muscle, compared with those in the control group. Moreover, Gongjin-Dan considerably normalized the forced running stress-induced changes in serum corticosterone and adrenaline levels, as well as brain serotonin level. These antioxidant and anti-stress effects of Gongjin-Dan were supported by the results of Western blotting (4-hydroxynonenal and heme oxygenase-1) and the gene expression levels (serotonin receptor and serotonin transporter).

CONCLUSION

These results support the clinical relevance of Gongjin-Dan regarding anti-chronic fatigue properties. The underlying mechanisms involve attenuation of oxidative and inflammatory reactions in muscle and regulation of the stress response through the hypothalmo-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Hippocampal memory enhancing activity of pine needle extract against scopolamine-induced amnesia in a mouse model

We evaluated the neuropharmacological effects of 30% ethanolic pine needle extract (PNE) on memory impairment caused by scopolamine injection in mice hippocampus. Mice were orally pretreated with PNE (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) or tacrine (10 mg/kg) for 7 days, and scopolamine (2 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally, 30 min before the Morris water maze task on first day. To evaluate memory function, the Morris water maze task was performed for 5 days consecutively. Scopolamine increased the escape latency and cumulative path-length but decreases the time spent in target quadrant, which were ameliorated by pretreatment with PNE. Oxidant-antioxidant balance, acetylcholinesterase activity, neurogenesis and their connecting pathway were abnormally altered by scopolamine in hippocampus and/or sera, while those alterations were recovered by pretreatment with PNE. As lipid peroxidation, 4HNE-positive stained cells were ameliorated in hippocampus pretreated with PNE. Pretreatment with PNE increased the proliferating cells and immature neurons against hippocampal neurogenesis suppressed by scopolamine, which was confirmed by ki67- and DCX-positive stained cells. The expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (pCREB) in both protein and gene were facilitated by PNE pretreatment. These findings suggest that PNE could be a potent neuropharmacological drug against amnesia, and its possible mechanism might be modulating cholinergic activity via CREB-BDNF pathway.

Identification of phenolic compounds in polyphenols-rich extract of Malaysian cocoa powder using the HPLC-UV-ESI-MS/MS and probing their antioxidant properties

The antioxidant components of cocoa powder, which is rich in polyphenols, were isolated using column chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. Polyphenolic compounds were then characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography/Ultraviolet and electronspray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-UV-/ESI-MS-MS). As a result, five phenolic compounds were detected. In this study we also investigated scavenging or the total antioxidant capacity (%) of cocoa polyphenol (CP) fractionated from cocoa powder extract. 114.0 mg/g of gallic acid -equivalent phenolics and 94.3 mg/g catechin- equivalent flavonoids were quantified in this extract. Their free radical-scavenging activity was assessed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) assay, β-carotene bleaching test, and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity (OX). Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was further assessed against the myoglobin-induced oxidation of 6-hydroxy-2, 5, 7, 8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (ABTS) and expressed as Trolox equivalent. A high correlation between TAC and phenolic contents indicated that phenolic compounds from cocoa were a major contributor of antioxidant activity (0.967 ≤ r ≤ 1.00). CP extract had significantly (P < 0.05) potential antioxidant activities with various concentrations. These results suggest that Polyphenols-rich cocoa extract possess prominent medical properties and can be exploited as natural drug to treat free radical associated diseases.

Modulation of antioxidant status in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male Wistar rats following intake of red palm oil and/or rooibos

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of red palm oil (RPO), rooibos tea extract (RTE) and their combined treatment (RPO + RTE) on antioxidant status in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

METHODS

Diabetes mellitus was induced by a single administration of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) and the rats were treated for 7 weeks. Antioxidant enzymes [catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD)], antioxidant capacity [trolox equivalence antioxidant capacity (TEAC), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC)] as well as total protein, albumin, globulin, total glutathione, conjugated diene and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were investigated.

RESULTS

Treatment with RPO, RTE and RPO + RTE significantly (p>0.05) improved liver SOD and plasma ORAC in the diabetic rats. Similarly, diabetic rats treated with RTE and RPO + RTE enhanced liver GPx. A significant (P<0.05) increase in the plasma TBARS in the diabetic control group was observed when compared with the normal control group. Treatment of diabetic rats with RTE and RPO + RTE reduced plasma TBARS to a level not significantly different at P<0.05 from the normal control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The results revealed the anti-oxidative potentials of red palm oil, rooibos and their combination in diabetic conditions and hence, they could be useful in the management of diabetes and its complications.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Terminalia chebula against t-BHP-Induced Acute Liver Injury in C57/BL6 Mice

We aimed to identify the hepatoprotective effects of Terminalia chebula water extract (TCW) and its corresponding pharmacological actions using C57/BL6 mice model of tert-butylhydroperoxide-(t-BHP-) induced acute liver injury. Mice were orally administered with TCW (0, 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg) or gallic acid (100 mg/kg) for 5 days before t-BHP (2.5 mM/kg) injection. Liver enzymes, histopathology, oxidative stress parameters, antioxidant components, and inflammatory cytokines were examined 18 h after t-BHP injection. t-BHP injection caused dramatic elevation of serum AST, ALT, and LDH level, while TCW pretreatment notably attenuated these elevations. Inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were notably increased in hepatic tissues, and then these were efficiently attenuated by TCW pretreatment. t-BHP injection notably increased malondialdehyde, total reactive oxygen species, and nitric oxide in the liver tissue, while it markedly dropped the antioxidant activities including total antioxidant capacity, total glutathione contents, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. TCW pretreatment remarkably ameliorated these alterations, and these effects were relevant to gene expressions. Histopathological examinations supported the above findings. Collectively, these findings well prove that TCW beneficially prevents acute and severe liver injury and clarify its corresponding mechanisms involved in the inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines.

Ethanolic extract of Astragali radix and Salviae radix prohibits oxidative brain injury by psycho-emotional stress in whisker removal rat model

Myelophil, an ethanolic extract of Astragali Radix and Salviae Radix, has been clinically used to treat chronic fatigue and stress related disorders in South Korea. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of Myelophil on a whisker removal-induced psycho-emotional stress model. SD rats were subjected to whisker removal after oral administration of Myelophil or ascorbic acid for consecutive 4 days. Whisker removal considerably increased total reactive oxygen species in serum levels as well as cerebral cortex and hippocampal regions in brain tissues. Lipidperoxidation levels were also increased in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus regions, and brain tissue injuries as shown in histopathology and immunohistochemistry. However, Myelophil significantly ameliorated these alterations, and depletion of glutathione contents in both cerebral cortex and hippocampus regions respectively. Serum levels of corticosterone and adrenaline were notably altered after whisker removal stress, whereas these abnormalities were significantly normalized by pre-treatment with Myelophil. The NF-κB was notably activated in both cerebral cortex and hippocampus after whisker removal stress, while it was efficiently blocked by pre-treatment with Myelophil. Myelophil also significantly normalizes alterations of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and interferon-γ in both gene expressions and protein levels. These results suggest that Myelophil has protective effects on brain damages in psycho-emotional stress, and the underlying mechanisms involve regulation of inflammatory proteins, especially NF-κB modulation.

Ethanol extract of Astragali Radix and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, Myelophil, exerts anti-amnesic effect in a mouse model of scopolamine-induced memory deficits

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Myelophil, a combination of extracts taken from Astragali Radix and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, is a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of chronic fatigue-associated disorders. Here we examined the ability of Myelophil to alleviate memory impairment in a mouse model. We aimed to investigate whether Myelophil has the pharmacological effects on memory deficits associated with brain dysfunctions using an animal model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ten week-old male C57BL/6N mice were pretreated with Myelophil (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg), or tacrine (10 mg/kg) for 7 days, and then intraperitoneally injected with scopolamine (1 mg/kg). Memory-related behaviors were evaluated using the Morris water maze for 5 days. Levels of biomarkers of oxidative stress, antioxidant activity, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) were measured in brain tissues.

RESULTS

Scopolamine treatment increased the escape latency time and shortened time spent in the target quadrant; these effects were ameliorated by pretreatment with Myelophil. Scopolamine-induced changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialehyde (MDA), and AChE activity were significantly attenuated in mice pretreated with Myelophil. Recovery of antioxidant capacities, including total glutathione (GSH) content, and the activities of GSH-reductase, GSH-S-transferase, and catalase was also evident in Myelophil-treated mice. The strongest effects were seen for ERK and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor 1 (mAChR1) at both the protein and gene expression levels, with significant amelioration of expression levels in the Myelophil pretreatment group.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that Myelophil confers anti-amnesic properties in a mouse model of memory impairment, driven in part by the modulation of cholinergic activity.

Anti-atherosclerosis and hyperlipidemia effects of herbal mixture, Artemisia iwayomogi Kitamura and Curcuma longa Linne, in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLGICAL RELEVANCE

Artemisiaiwayomogi Kitamura and Curcuma longa Linne. (ACE) has been popularly used to treat atherosclerosis as well as hyperlipidemia in the Asian countries.

OBJECTIVE

Antiatherosclerotic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects of ACE were evaluated at protein and gene expression level by using apoE(-/-) mice.

METHOD

Apoprotein E deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice were randomly divided into five groups and fed freely Western diet (WD) which contained ACE (50, 100 and 200mg/kg) or curcumin (50mg/kg). The C57/BLJ mice were used as normal and which were fed the WD. After 10 weeks of being fed the WD, the atherosclerosis related mediators and hyperlipidemia induced hepatic steatosis were analyzed in serum, aorta tissue or hepatic tissues.

RESULTS

Ten-week feeding of WD considerably increased the serum lipid profiles including total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride, TC/HDL ratio and glucose, and also elevated the total reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α; and interlukin-6, IL-6) in the serum levels. ACE treatment significantly resolved these alterations. The aortic lesion formation was significantly decreased as were lipid formations by ACE treatment. Moreover, ACE not only caused significant decreases of the lipid drops on the hepatic tissues, but also restored the antioxidant components. The gene expression levels including SREBP-1c, FAS, SCD-1, PPAR-α, CPT-1, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in hepatic tissue were altered by Western diet fed in apoE(-/-) mice, while ACE treatment significantly normalized those alterations.

CONCLUSIONS

The ACE treatment is beneficial for atherosclerosis in arterial area and hyperlipidemia induced hepatic tissue steatosis.

Chunggan extract (CGX), methionine-and choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced hepatosteatosis and oxidative stress in C57BL/6 mice

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Chunggan extract (CGX) in an animal model of hepatosteatosis. The C57BL/6N mice were fed either methionine- and choline-sufficient (MCS) diet (n = 10) or a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet (n = 50) for 4 weeks, and then they were treated orally with CGX (100 or 200 mg/kg), ursodeoxycholic acid (80 mg/kg, as a positive control), or distilled water (DW, MCS diet group, and MCD diet group) for the final 2 weeks (once per day). The MCD diet induced severe hepatic injury with the typical features of hepatosteatosis in both serum and hepatic tissues. CGX treatment significantly attenuated these alterations in the serum levels including triglyceride (TG), aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin. Moreover, CGX also efficiently prevented from the hepatic TG accumulation in the hepatic tissue, evidenced by histopathological findings, compared with the MCD diet. In addition, CGX treatment significantly ameliorated the excessive oxidative stress and antioxidant markers in the serum as well as the hepatic levels of reactive oxygen species, the levels of malondialdehyde, the protein carbonyl, and total antioxidant capacity, and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase. In conclusion, our results indicate the experimental relevance of CGX for potential clinical application in patients with hepatosteatotic disorders and a possible mechanism related to its antioxidant properties.

Myelophil attenuates brain oxidative damage by modulating the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in a chronic cold-stress mouse model

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Myelophil is composed of Astragali Radix and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, according to the long traditional pharmacological practices, and it has been used for patients with chronic fatigue-associated symptoms including concentration problem or memory loss.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical relevance of Myelophil on brain oxidative damage using a chronic cold stress mice model.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Balb/c mice were subjected to cold stress (4°C for 4h) six times per week for 2 weeks with or without oral administration of Myelophil (50, 100, or 200mg/kg), or ascorbic acid (50mg/kg).

RESULTS

Chronic cold stress induced histopathological hippocampal apoptosis with drastically increased serum levels of total reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide, as well as brain lipid peroxidation levels, protein carbonyl, and caspase-3/7 activity. These alterations were significantly ameliorated by Myelophil treatment. Myelophil administration significantly recovered the depleted glutathione and its enzymes, superoxide dismutase activity, and catalase protein and gene expression levels. Serum levels of corticosterone, dopamine, and adrenaline were notably altered by chronic cold stress but were significantly ameliorated by Myelophil treatment. Myelophil also normalized alterations in tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-10 gene expression and protein levels. Chronic cold stress up-regulated gene expression levels of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase and monoamine oxidase-B, and glucocorticoid receptors in the hypothalamus and hippocampus, respectively, whereas Myelophil treatment completely normalized these levels.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that Myelophil has potent pharmaceutical effects against chronic cold-stress-induced brain damage by relieving oxidative stress and inflammation and regulating stress hormones in mice.

Hepatoprotective effect of Amomum xanthoides against dimethylnitrosamine-induced sub-chronic liver injury in a rat model

CONTEXT

Amomum xanthioides Wall. ex Baker (Zingiberaceae) is a tropical medicinal plant that is commonly utilized in the treatment of digestive system disorders in Asia for a long time.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect and related mechanisms of A. xanthoides.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sub-chronic liver injury was induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN, 10 mg/kg, three times per week for 3 weeks, i.p.) in rats. Water extract of A. xanthoides (WAX, 50 and 100 mg/kg) was given once a day for 3 weeks.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

WAX (100 mg/kg) significantly attenuated the DMN-induced excessive release of alanine aminotransferase (123.6 IU/L), aspartate aminotransferase (227.9 IU/L), alkaline phosphatase (820.9 IU/L) and total bilirubin (0.50 g/dL) in serum (p < 0.01), and hydroxyproline (30.5 mg/g tissue) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (53.6 μM/g tissue) contents (p < 0.01) in liver tissue. Furthermore, WAX significantly ameliorated the depletion of total antioxidant capacity (2.54 μM/mg tissue), superoxide dismutase (0.30 U/mg tissue), glutathione (2.10 μM/mg tissue) and catalase (605.0 U/mg tissue) activities (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) in liver tissue. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses indicated that WAX markedly reduced inflammation, necrosis, collagen accumulation and activation of hepatic satellite cells in the liver. Our findings demonstrated that A. xanthoides exerts favorable hepatoprotective effects via positive regulation of the antioxidative system.

Aqueous extract of Artemisia capillaris exerts hepatoprotective action in alcohol-pyrazole-fed rat model

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Artemisia capillaris, also called "InJin" in Korean, has been widely used to treat various hepatic disorders in traditional Oriental medicine.

AIMS

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Artemisia capillaris (aqueous extract, WAC) on alcoholic liver injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Liver injury was induced by oral administration of 30% alcohol (10 mL/kg, twice per day) plus pyrazole (PRZ, 30 mg/kg) with/without WAC (50, 100mg/kg, orally once per day) or silymarin (50mg/kg) for 10 days. The hepatoprotective effects were assessed by observing histopathological changes, hepatic transaminase enzymes, hepatic oxidation and antioxidant parameters, inflammatory cytokines, and alcohol metabolic enzymes in serum and hepatic gene expression level, respectively.

RESULTS

Alcohol-PRZ treatment drastically increased the serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum and liver tissues while these changes were significantly ameliorated by WAC administration (p<0.05 or 0.01). The prominent microvesicular steatosis and mild necrosis in hepatic histopathology were induced by alcohol-PRZ treatment, but notably attenuated by WAC administration. Moreover, the alcohol-PRZ treatment-induced depletions of the antioxidant components including glutathione content, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), reductase (GSH-Rd), catalase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly ameliorated by WAC administration (p<0.05, except GSH-Rd). These results were in accordance with the modulation of NF-E2-related factor (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene expression. Alcohol-PRZ treatment increased the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) in hepatic tissues. However they were significantly normalized by WAC administration (p<0.05 or 0.01). In addition, WAC administration significantly attenuated the alterations of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) level in serum and hepatic gene expressions of ALDH and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH).

CONCLUSIONS

These results support the relevance in clinical use of Artemisia capillaris for alcohol-associated hepatic disorders. The underlying mechanisms may involve both enhancement of antioxidant activities and modulation of proinflammatory cytokines.

Antifatigue effects of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

The present study investigated the antifatigue effects of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer in 90 subjects (21 men and 69 women) with idiopathic chronic fatigue (ICF) in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled and parallel designed trial. A bespoke 20% ethanol extract of P. ginseng (1 g or 2 g day(-1)) or a placebo was administered to each group for 4 weeks, and then fatigue severity was monitored using a self-rating numeric scale (NRS) and a visual analogue scale (VAS) as a primary endpoint. Serum levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), total glutathione (GSH) contents and glutathione reductase (GSH-Rd) activity were determined. After 4-week, P. ginseng administration decreased the total NRS score, but they were not statistically significant compared with placebo (P>0.05). Mental NRS score was significantly improved by P. ginseng administrations as 20.4 ± 5.0 to 15.1 ± 6.5 [95% CI 2.3 ~ 8.2] for 1 g and 20.7 ± 6.3 to 13.8 ± 6.2 [95% CI -0.1 ~ 4.2] for 2 g compared with placebo 20.9 ± 4.5 to 18.8 ± 2.9 [95% CI 4.1 ~ 9.9, P<0.01]. Only 2 g P. ginseng significantly reduced the VAS score from 7.3 ± 1.3 to 4.4 ± 1.8 [95% CI 0.7∼1.8] compared with the placebo 7.1 ± 1.0 to 5.8 ± 1.3 [95% CI 2.2 ~ 3.7, P<0.01]. ROS and MDA levels were lowered by P. ginseng compared to placebo. P. ginseng 1 g increased GSH concentration and GSH-Rd activity. Our results provide the first evidence of the antifatigue effects of P. ginseng in patients with ICF, and we submit that these changes in antioxidant properties contribute in part to its mechanism.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) KCT0000048.

Myelophil ameliorates brain oxidative stress in mice subjected to restraint stress

We evaluated the pharmacological effects of Myelophil, a 30% ethanol extract of a mix of Astragali Radix and Salviae Radix, on oxidative stress-induced brain damage in mice caused by restraint stress. C57BL/6 male mice (eight weeks old) underwent daily oral administration of distilled water, Myelophil (25, 50, or 100mg/kg), or ascorbic acid (100mg/kg) 1h before induction of restraint stress, which involved 3h of immobilization per day for 21days. Nitric oxide levels, lipid peroxidation, activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione redox system enzymes), and concentrations of adrenaline, corticosterone, and interferon-γ, were measured in brain tissues and/or sera. Restraint stress-induced increases in nitric oxide levels (serum and brain tissues) and lipid peroxidation (brain tissues) were significantly attenuated by Myelophil treatment. Restraint stress moderately lowered total antioxidant capacity, catalase activity, glutathione content, and the activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase; all these responses were reversed by Myelophil. Myelophil significantly attenuated the elevated serum concentrations of adrenaline and corticosterone and restored serum and brain interferon-γ levels. Moreover, Myelophil normalized expression of the genes encoding monoamine oxidase A, catechol-O-methyltransferase, and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase, which was up-regulated by restraint stress in brain tissues. These results suggest that Myelophil has pharmacological properties protects brain tissues against stress-associated oxidative stress damage, perhaps in part through regulation of stress hormones.

Indirect moxibustion (CV4 and CV8) ameliorates chronic fatigue: a randomized, double-blind, controlled study

OBJECTIVES

The antifatigue effect of indirect moxibustion and its antioxidant properties were investigated.

SUBJECTS AND DESIGN

A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was performed with 44 patients who had idiopathic chronic fatigue. The subjects were treated with a placebo or moxibustion (indirect moxibustion on CV4 and CV8 3 times per week for 4 weeks), and their fatigue severity was monitored using a self-rating numeric scale (NRS) and a visual analog scale (VAS). Serum level of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity, the activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase and total glutathione content, were determined before initial moxibustion therapy and after the 12th moxibustion treatment.

RESULTS

The moxibustion group had a significantly lower fatigue severity score compared to the control for both the NRS (p<0.05) and VAS scores (p<0.01). The level of serum MDA was significantly lower in the moxibustion group than in the placebo group (p<0.05), whereas glutathione reductase activity and total glutathione content increased significantly following moxibustion (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results provide clinical evidence for an antifatigue effect of indirect moxibustion at CV4 and CV8 and suggest that the effect is due to the antioxidant properties of moxibustion.

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Myelophil on restraint stress-induced liver injury in BALB/c mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGIC RELEVANCE

Myelophil, an ethanol extract of Astragali Radix and Salviae Radix, has been used for patients with chronic fatigue-associated disorders in traditional Oriental clinics.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to evaluate the pharmacologic effects of Myelophil using a restraint stress-induced liver injury model and to explore the mechanisms underlying these effects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Distilled water or Myelophil (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, or 200 mg/kg) was orally administered to 6-week-old BALB/c male mice once daily for 5 day. The mice were subjected to restraint stress for 6h, and serum levels of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST and ALT, respectively), total reactive oxygen species, and total antioxidant capacity were determined. Hepatic tissue levels of lipid peroxidation, antioxidant activity (as represented by superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione reductase activity), and interleukin-1 were also measured.

RESULTS

Restraint stress induced severe oxidative stress and hepatic injury, as evidenced by marked elevation of serum ALT and AST levels, increased levels of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation activity, and depletion of antioxidant enzyme activities. Myelophil pretreatment significantly attenuated not only the elevation of serum ALT and AST but also the increase in reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation. It also restored a significant fraction of the catalase, glutathione reductase, and peroxidase activity in liver tissues. Myelophil pretreatment also partially normalized the levels of interleukin-1β gene and protein expression.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that Myelophil has potent protective effects against restraint stress-induced liver injury via antioxidant activities, and have relevance to the clinical applications of Myelophil in field of traditional herbal medicine.

Antifibrotic effects of Artemisia capillaris and Artemisia iwayomogi in a carbon tetrachloride-induced chronic hepatic fibrosis animal model

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Artemisia capillaris and Artemisia iwayomogi, both members of the Compositae family, have been indiscriminately used for various liver disorders as traditional hepatotherapeutic medicines in Korea for many years.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this study, the anti-hepatofibrotic effects of Artemisia capillaris and Artemisia iwayomogi were comparatively analyzed using a carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver fibrosis rat model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Hepatic fibrosis was induced via a 10-week course of intraperitoneal CCl(4) injections (50% dissolved in olive oil, 2mL/kg, twice per week). Water extract of Artemisia capillaris (AC) or Artemisia iwayomogi (AI) was orally administered six times per week from the 5th to the 10th week.

RESULTS

AI (50mg/kg) significantly attenuated the CCl(4)-induced excessive release of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum (p<0.05), and hydroxyproline and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in liver tissue (p<0.05). Further, AI markedly ameliorated the depletion of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver tissue (p<0.01). Unexpectedly, AC did not exert any effects on the above parameters. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that AI drastically reduced inflammation, necrosis, fatty infiltration, collagen accumulation, and activation of hepatic satellite cells in liver tissue. These changes were not observed with AC treatment. Several critical genes of fibrosis-related cytokines including transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), platelet-derived growth factor beta (PDGF-β), and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were more prominently downregulated by AI compared to AC treatment.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that AI exerts greater hepatoprotective and anti-fibrotic effects as compared with AC via enhancing antioxidant capacity and downregulating fibrogentic cytokines.

Association between rs4673 (C/T) and rs13306294 (A/G) haplotypes of NAD(P)H oxidase p22phox gene and severity of stenosis in coronary arteries

Phagocytic NADH/NADPH oxidase is an important enzyme producing reactive oxygen species within subendothelial space of vessels. Findings have shown that p22phox subunit is an essential element related to the enzyme activity. Since some p22phox polymorphisms are thought to have functional roles in the enzyme thus, we studied the association between rs4673 (C242T) and rs13306294 (A/G) haplotypes and the severity of stenosis in coronary arteries. One hundred eighty-two subjects undergoing coronary angiography were recruited on the base of study design. Patients (n=114) had at least a stenosed coronary artery (>50% stenosis) and subdivided into three subgroups; SVD (n=28), 2VD (n=31) and 3VD (n=55) while controls (n=68) had the normal coronary arteries (<5% stenosis). The direct haplotyping technique of SNPs was performed using ARMS-RFLP-PCR method. Furthermore, alphabet-based tools predicted the changes of secondary structure at the rs4673 position. All haplotypes being proposed theoretically were found in the study population. The distribution of two-allele haplotypes had no significant difference between patients and controls (P=0.1). Although the rs4673 allele frequency was not significant between the groups (P>0.5), chi square test and multinomial regression analysis showed an observed high risk for rs13306294 A allele among patients. The bioinformatics tools predicted that the p22phox secondary structure is not changed due to the substitution of Tyr→His at the rs4673 position. We concluded that the polymorphisms have no allele linkage on the chromosome. In addition, the rs13306294 A allele is a potential factor of stenosis of coronary arteries that increases susceptibility for the extent of disease.

A quantitative evaluation of redox-active compounds in human blood lipids

Endogenous low molecular weight redox active compounds (RACs) comprise antioxidants, pro-oxidants, transition metal cations and metal chelators. Traditional electrochemical methods of measuring RACs are limited to aqueous solutions, thus providing information of only hydrophilic RAC pools. In a large number of diseases associated with oxidative stress and/or with metal toxicity, redox states of hydrophilic as well as hydrophobic compartments are modified, and therefore development of methods for their detection is both necessary and important. The pools of lipid soluble RACs in reduced and oxidized forms in n-hexane extracts obtained from blood plasma, erythrocytes and whole blood of healthy donors were determined by spectrophotometric detection of the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals, which stoichiometrically interacts with hydrogen donors in non polar solutions. Measurements of RACs in extracts before and after treatment with NaBH(4) provided information about the levels of both reduced and oxidized RACs. Vitamin E was also determined using a fluorescence method. The results have shown that vitamin E is the major RAC in blood plasma lipids but not in blood cell lipids, where other phenols and quinones appear to predominate.

Antioxidant effects of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer in healthy subjects: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial

We investigated the antioxidant effects of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer on healthy volunteers. In a double-blind randomized controlled design, 82 participants (21 men and 61 women) who were considered healthy by both objective and subjective health standard were divided into three groups, the control group and the groups received P. ginseng extract (1 or 2g/day) for 4 weeks. Serum level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GSH-Rd), and peroxidase (GSH-Px), and total glutathione content were determined before and after the trial. Administration of P. ginseng led to significant decreases in the levels of serum ROS and MDA. Notably, the total glutathione content and GSH-Rd activity considerably improved in the groups that received 2g of P. ginseng. No significant alterations were observed in TAC, catalase, SOD, and GSH-Px activities. In conclusion, our findings indicate that P. ginseng was shown to have antioxidant property. It enhanced the antioxidant defense mechanism in healthy populations and the results may reinforce the use of P. ginseng as a potential antioxidant supplement.

Eryptosis and oxidative damage in type 2 diabetic mellitus patients with chronic kidney disease

It has been suggested that oxidative stress may participate in the progression of diabetes and its complications. Long-term complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) include retinopathy, atherosclerosis, shortened life span of erythrocytes, nephropathy, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Oxidative damage has been associated with erythrocyte apoptosis induction in other pathological conditions. Our aim was to study the presence of eryptosis and its possible relationship with oxidative damage in patients with T2DM without CKD (T2DM/CKD(-)) and in patients with T2DM and CKD (T2DM/CKD(+)).Oxidative damage of lipids erythrocytes were increased in diabetic patients. The highest lipoperoxidation was found in T2DM/CKD(+). Likewise, the lower plasma total antioxidant capacity, GSH/GSSG ratio, and GSH in erythrocytes were found in T2DM/CKD(+) patients. A negative correlation was found between plasma total antioxidant capacity and oxidative damage. Phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization was measured in erythrocytes to evaluate eryptosis. Annexin binding in erythrocytes of T2DM/CKD(+) patients was higher than in healthy subjects and T2DM/CKD(-) patients. A positive correlation between lipoperoxidation and PS externalization in erythrocytes was found. This work showed that the erythrocytes of diabetic patients have increased oxidative damage, a reduction of antioxidant systems and more erythrocyte PS externalization. The duration of diabetes and the presence of CKD increase both oxidative damage and eryptosis. It is possible that a longer time of evolution induces an increase in erythrocyte oxidative damage and the consumption of blood antioxidant systems, adding to the osmotic stress in CKD and so contributes to an increase in PS externalization in diabetic patients.