Ginger and turmeric lipid-solubles attenuate heated oil-induced oxidative stress in the brain via the upregulation of NRF2 and improve cognitive function in rats

Dietary bitter ginger-derived zerumbone improved memory performance during aging through inhibition of the PERK/CHOP-dependent endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway

PERK/CHOP pathway-mediated excessive endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is closely linked to aging-related cognitive impairment (ARCD). Zerumbone (ZB), a naturally occurring sesquiterpene molecule obtained from dietary bitter ginger, has garnered significant interest due to its diverse range of biological properties. It is unclear, though, if ZB can reduce ARCD by preventing ER stress that is dependent on the PERK/CHOP pathway. Here, the PERK-CHOP ER stress pathway was the main focus of an evaluation of the effects and mechanisms of ZB for attenuating ARCD in D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging mice and SH-SY5Y cells. According to our findings, ZB not only greatly decreased neuronal impairment both in vitro and in vivo, but also significantly alleviated learning and memory failure in vivo. ZB significantly reduced the activation of the PERK/CHOP pathway and neuronal apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, exhibiting the down-regulation of GRP78, p-PREK/PERK, and CHOP expression levels, in addition to suppressing oxidative damage (MDA drop and SOD rise). Comparable outcomes were noted in SH-SY5Y cells subjected to severe ER stress caused by TM. On the other hand, 4-PBA, an ER stress inhibitor, considerably reversed these modifications. Remarkably, CCT020312 (a PERK activator) dramatically overrode the inhibitory effects of ZB on the PERK/CHOP pathway and neuronal death in D-gal-induced SH-SY5Y cells. In contrast, GSK2606414 (a PERK inhibitor) significantly increased these effects of ZB. In summary, our results suggested that ZB prevented D-gal-induced cognitive deficits by blocking the PERK/CHOP-dependent ER stress pathway and apoptosis, suggesting that ZB might be a natural sesquiterpene molecule that relieves ARCD.

Reversal of high-fat diet-induced cognitive impairment and oxidative stress in the brain through Zingiber officinale supplementation

Obesity is a significant health concern that is correlated with various adverse health outcomes. Diet-induced obesity (DIO) is associated with impaired cognitive function. Pharmacological treatments for obesity are limited and may have serious adverse effects. Zingiber officinale (ZO) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, in addition to metabolic effects. This study aimed to assess the effects of Zingiber officinale supplementation on cognitive function, anxiety levels, neurotrophin levels, and the inflammatory and oxidative status in the cortex following DIO in mice. Two-month-old male Swiss mice were fed DIO or standard chow for 4 months and subsequently subdivided into the following groups (n = 10 mice/group): (i) control - vehicle (CNT + vehicle); (ii) CNT supplemented with ZO (CNT + ZO); (iii) obese mice (DIO + vehicle); and (iv) obese mice supplemented with ZO (DIO + ZO) (n = 10). Zingiber officinale extract (400 mg/kg/day) was administered for 35 days via oral gavage. The DIO + vehicle group exhibited impaired recognition memory. The CNT + ZO group presented a greater number of crossings in the open field. No difference between the groups was observed in the plus maze test. DIO + vehicle increased the DCFH and carbonylation levels in the cortex. The DIO + vehicle group presented a reduction in catalase activity. The expression of inflammatory or neurotrophin markers in the cerebral cortex was not different. In conclusion, our findings indicate that supplementation with ZO reverses the cognitive impairment in DIO mice and enhances the antioxidant status of the cerebral cortex.

Protective effects of niacin following high fat rich diet: an in-vivo and in-silico study

Niacin had long been understood as an antioxidant. There were reports that high fat diet (HFD) may cause psychological and physical impairments. The present study was aimed to experience the effect of Niacin on % growth rate, cumulative food intake, motor activity and anxiety profile, redox status, 5-HT metabolism and brain histopathology in rats. Rats were administered with Niacin at a dose of 50 mg/ml/kg body weight for 4 weeks following normal diet (ND) and HFD. Behavioral tests were performed after 4 weeks. Animals were sacrificed to collect brain samples. Biochemical, neurochemical and histopathological studies were performed. HFD increased food intake and body weight. The exploratory activity was reduced and anxiety like behavior was observed in HFD treated animals. Activity of antioxidant enzymes was decreased while oxidative stress marker and serotonin metabolism in the brain of rat were increased in HFD treated animals than ND fed rats. Morphology of the brain was also altered by HFD administration. Conversely, Niacin treated animals decreased food intake and % growth rate, increased exploratory activity, produced anxiolytic effects, decreased oxidative stress and increased antioxidant enzyme and 5-HT levels following HFD. Morphology of brain is also normalized by the treatment of Niacin following HFD. In-silico studies showed that Niacin has a potential binding affinity with degradative enzyme of 5-HT i.e. monoamine oxidase (MAO) A and B with an energy of ~ - 4.5 and - 5.0 kcal/mol respectively. In conclusion, the present study showed that Niacin enhanced motor activity, produced anxiolytic effect, and reduced oxidative stress, appetite, growth rate, increased antioxidant enzymes and normalized serotonin system and brain morphology following HFD intake. In-silico studies suggested that increase 5-HT was associated with the binding of MAO with Niacin subsequentially an inhibition of the degradation of monoamine. It is suggested that Niacin has a great antioxidant potential and could be a good therapy for the treatment of HFD induced obesity.

Inhibiting mitochondrial inflammation through Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 pathway: A mechanism of alpinetin attenuated aging-associated cognitive impairment

Mitochondrial inflammation triggered by abnormal mitochondrial division and regulated by the Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 pathway is correlated with the progression of aging-associated cognitive impairment (AACI). Alpinetin is a novel flavonoid derived from Zingiberaceae that has many bioactivities such as antiinflammation and anti-oxidation. However, whether alpinetin alleviates AACI by suppressing Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 pathway-inhibited mitochondrial inflammation is still unknown. In the present study, D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging mice and BV-2 cells were used, and the effects of alpinetin on learning and memory function, neuroprotection and activation of the Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 pathway were investigated. Our data indicated that alpinetin significantly alleviated cognitive dysfunction and neuronal damage in the CA1 and CA3 regions of D-gal-treated mice. Moreover, D-gal-induced microglial activation was markedly reduced by alpinetin by inhibiting the Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 pathway-suppressed mitochondrial inflammation, down-regulating the levels of p-Drp1 (s616), VDAC, NLRP3, ASC, Cleaved-caspase 1, IL-18, and IL-1β, and up-regulating the expression of HK1. Furthermore, after Drp1 inhibition by Mdivi-1 in vitro, the inhibitory effect of alpinetin on Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 pathway was more evident. In summary, the current results implied that alpinetin attenuated aging-related cognitive deficits by inhibiting the Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 pathway and suppressing mitochondrial inflammation, suggesting that the inhibition of the Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 pathway is one of the mechanisms by which alpinetin attenuates AACI.

Ameliorating Effect of Combined Cinnamon and Ginger Oils against the Neurotoxicity of Nicotine Administration on the Prefrontal Cortex of Adult Albino Rats: Immunohistochemical and Ultrastructural Study

Background: Nicotine is the active alkaloid in cigarettes. It was reported that tobacco smoking has many hazards; one of these hazards is the effect on the cognitive function of the prefrontal cortex. The aim of our study is to investigate the antioxidant effects of ginger, cinnamon oils, and their combination on morphological changes in the prefrontal cortex that were induced by nicotine. Materials and methods: Fifty adult male albino rats were divided into five groups: group I (control group), group II (nicotine), group III (nicotine + cinnamon), group IV (nicotine + ginger), and group V (nicotine + cinnamon + ginger). The coronal sections from the anterior part of the rat brain at the site of prefrontal cortex were examined by light microscope for (H&E and immunohistochemical staining with TNF-α and GFAP), while the ultrastructure morphology was examined by transmission electron microscopy. Levels of the oxidative stress markers (MDA, GSH) in the rats’ brain tissue homogenate were biochemically assessed. Results: Compared to the control group, the rats that were treated with nicotine (group II) showed a significant oxidative stress in the form of marked elevation of MDA and decrease in GSH, apoptotic changes especially in the pyramidal cells in the form of neuronal cell degeneration and pyknosis, and an elevation in the inflammatory marker TNF-α and GFAP expressions. These changes were observed to a lesser degree in rat group (III) and group (IV), while there was a marked improvement achieved by the combined usage of cinnamon and ginger oils, together compared to the nicotine group. Conclusions: Ginger and cinnamon are powerful antioxidants which ameliorate the degenerative and oxidative effects produced by nicotine on a rat’s prefrontal cortex.

Intestinal and Hepatic Uptake of Dietary Peroxidized Lipids and Their Decomposition Products, and Their Subsequent Effects on Apolipoprotein A1 and Paraoxonase1

Both pro- and antiatherosclerotic effects have been ascribed to dietary peroxidized lipids. Confusion on the role of peroxidized lipids in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is punctuated by a lack of understanding regarding the metabolic fate and potential physiological effects of dietary peroxidized lipids and their decomposition products. This study sought to determine the metabolic fate and physiological ramifications of 13-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HPODE) and 13-HODE (13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid) supplementation in intestinal and hepatic cell lines, as well as any effects resulting from 13-HPODE or 13-HODE degradation products. In the presence of Caco-2 cells, 13-HPODE was rapidly reduced to 13-HODE. Upon entering the cell, 13-HODE appears to undergo decomposition, followed by esterification. Moreover, 13-HPODE undergoes autodecomposition to produce aldehydes such as 9-oxononanoic acid (9-ONA). Results indicate that 9-ONA was oxidized to azelaic acid (AzA) rapidly in cell culture media, but AzA was poorly absorbed by intestinal cells and remained detectable in cell culture media for up to 18 h. An increased apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) secretion was observed in Caco-2 cells in the presence of 13-HPODE, 9-ONA, and AzA, whereas such induction was not observed in HepG2 cells. However, 13-HPODE treatments suppressed paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity, suggesting the induction of ApoA1 secretion by 13-HPODE may not represent functional high-density lipoprotein (HDL) capable of reducing oxidative stress. Alternatively, AzA induced both ApoA1 secretion and PON1 activity while suppressing ApoB secretion in differentiated Caco-2 cells but not in HepG2. These results suggest oxidation of 9-ONA to AzA might be an important phenomenon, resulting in the accumulation of potentially beneficial dietary peroxidized lipid-derived aldehydes.