Attenuated effects of peptides derived from porcine plasma albumin on in vitro lipid peroxidation in the liver homogenate of mice

Binding Capacities and Antioxidant Activities of Lactobacillus plantarum and Pichia kudriavzevii Against Cadmium and Lead Toxicities

The cadmium and lead binding capacities and antioxidant activities of Lactobacillus plantarum and Pichia kudriavzevii were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Lactic acid bacteria and yeasts obtained from fermenting cassava mash and maize slurry were screened for tolerance to cadmium and lead at 500-1050 mg ml^-1 screened for probiotic potentials and antioxidant activities such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and ferric reducing antioxidant properties. The in vivo studies were carried out in male Wistar rats. The strains identified as Lactobacillus plantarum ML05 and Pichia kudriavzevii FY05 demonstrated the best probiotic potentials and antioxidant activities. Alterations in antioxidant capacities were positive in the treatment groups. The histopathology displayed positive changes in the renal tubules and glomeruli, hypertrophy, with normal capsular spaces without inflammation in the kidney, while the liver sinusoids appear normal in the rats administered with L. plantarum ML05 and P. kudriavzevii FY05 while the infected and not treated showed cell necrosis induced by toxicities. Our results provided new evidence that Lactobacillus plantarum and Pichia kudriavzevii have different biological actions on the heavy metals binding capacities and antioxidant activities in experimental animals. This study suggests that these microorganisms can be considered dietary therapeutics against cadmium and lead toxicities.

Evaluation of the protein and bioactive compound bioaccessibility/bioavailability and cytotoxicity of the extracts obtained from aquaculture and fisheries by-products

Bioavailability, bioaccessibility, bioactivity and cytotoxicity define if a bioactive compound obtained from aquaculture and associated by-products can be assimilated and used for the body in a safe and efficient way. Four models are used to evaluate the bioavailability: in vitro (simulated gastrointestinal digestion using intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cell cultures); ex vivo (gastrointestinal organs or organoids in laboratory conditions); in situ (intestinal perfusion in animals) and in vivo (animal studies and human studies). In vitro models are very effective, predicting in vivo actions since they evaluate multiple conditions regardless physiological effects. However, in vivo systems are essential for the validation of the results. The use of a combined model between human digestion and cell culture-based models would solve these difficulties, allowing valid conclusions. These studies must be completed with the evaluation of cytotoxicity and oxidative stress markers, providing most accurate results regarding the adverse effect on the body. These methods would test the effect of food structure, food composition, dietary factors and the effect of food processing on bioavailability. Further studies should be carried out to establish a standardized method and achieve a balance between the use of in vivo and in vitro systems.

Amelioration of UV radiation-induced photoaging by a combinational sunscreen formulation via aversion of oxidative collagen degradation and promotion of TGF-β-Smad-mediated collagen production

The presence of 40-50% more UV radiation in high altitude areas renders the plethora of sunscreen products available in the market virtually ineffective. In this light of event, four US FDA approved UV filters were combined with melatonin and pumpkin seed oil to produce a broad spectrum sunscreen cream, which is envisaged to provide optimum sunprotection along with enhanced antioxidant activity. The objective of this study is to evaluate the protective effect of the sunscreen cream against UV radiation-induced skin photoaging in adult Wistar albino rats and identify its possible underlying mechanism. Wistar rats were exposed to broad spectrum UV radiation for 28 days. The test group received the sunscreen formulation dermally every day prior to UV radiation. The effects of the formulation against UV induced symptoms; viz. skin thickness and edema, in vivo antioxidant activities, inflammatory cytokines, collagen content, histopathological examination and expression of specific genes established the protective activity of the formulation. The test formulation was able to mitigate the harmful effects of UV radiation by increasing in vivo SOD, GSH-Px, CAT and collagen levels; decreasing skin edema, skin thickness and cytokines like IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and TGF-β1. UV radiation induced changes in histological architecture and arrangement of collagen and elastin fibers were also prevented by the test formulation. Finally, the formulation was able to regulate the expression of COL3A1, COX-2, bFGF, VEGF-C, Smad2, Smad4, Smad7 genes which induced significant photoprotective activity. The sunscreen formulation ameliorated UV induced photoaging by preventing oxidative collagen degradation and augmentation of TGF-β-Smad-mediated collagen production.

Hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects of sardinelle (Sardinella aurita) protein hydrolysate against ethanol-induced oxidative stress in rats

Ethanol consumption-induced oxidative stress that is a major etiological factor has been proven to play important roles in organs' injury. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of fish protein hydrolysate prepared from the heads and viscera of sardinelle (Sardinella aurita) (SPH) against the toxicity of ethanol on the liver and kidney of adult male rats. Animals were divided into four groups of six animals each: group C served as control, group Eth received 30 % ethanol solution at the dose of 3 g/kg body weight, group SPH received only 7.27 mg of SPH/kg body weight, and group Eth-SPH received ethanol and SPH simultaneously at the doses of 30 % and 7.27 mg/kg body weight, respectively. All groups were treated by gavage way for 15 days. Ethanol treatment decreased the defense enzymatic system including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), which increased after the co-administration of SPH. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and toxicity biomarker levels such as aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) and alcaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transaminase (GGT) activities were enhanced after chronic ethanol treatment and reduced by co-treatment with SPH. The histological examination of the liver and kidney confirmed biochemical changes in ethanol-treated rats and demonstrated the protective role of SPH.

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of porcine plasma protein hydrolysates on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats

Porcine plasma protein hydrolysate (PPH) prepared by alcalase for 5 h was fractioned by ultrafiltration. Four fractions, H(1) (MW>10k), H(2) (MW 6-10k), H(3) (MW 3-6k) and H(4) (MW<3k), were obtained. H(4) possessed the highest antioxidant activity as indicated by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance values and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (P<0.01). Male rats were pretreated with H(4) at dose of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of body weight orally once daily for 12 days, then they were treated intraperitoneally with a single dose of CCl(4) (2 mL/kg of body weight). The results showed that oral feeding of H(4) could significantly lower (P<0.01) the serum levels of hepatic enzyme markers (aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase). Compared with the CCl(4)-only treatment group, levels of hepatic superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and total antioxidant capacity were significantly increased, and the malondialdehyde levels were sharply decreased (P<0.01) in rats treated by all doses of PPH fraction H(4). A histological examination of the liver showed that lesions, including necrosis, lymphocyte infiltration and fatty degeneration, were partially healed by treatment with H(4) fractions. These data suggest that in rats, PPH can protect the liver against CCl(4)-induced oxidative damage.

Protective effects of solvent fractions of Mentha spicata (L.) leaves evaluated on 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide induced chromosome damage and apoptosis in mouse bone marrow cells

Spearmint leaves (Mentha spicata L.) contain high levels of antioxidants that are known to protect against both exogenous and endogenous DNA damage. In this study, the protective effects of the hexane fraction (HF), chloroform fraction (CF) and ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) in an ethanol extract from M. spicata were evaluated against 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO) induced chromosome damage and apoptosis in bone marrow cells of Swiss albino mice. Two (EAF; 80 and 160 mg/ kg body weight - bw) or three (HF and CF; 80, 160 and 320 mg/ kg bw) doses of solvent fractions or vehicle control (25% DMSO in water) were administered orally for five consecutive days. Upon the sixth day, 4-NQO was injected intraperitoneally. The animals were killed the following day. Other control groups were comprised of animals treated with either the vehicle control or the various doses of solvent fractions, but with no 4-NQO treatment. 4-NQO induced micro-nucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MnPCEs) in all the test groups. However, pre-treatment of animals with the solvent fractions significantly reduced the 4-NQO-induced MnPCEs as well as the percentage of apoptotic cells. The reduction of both MnPCE and apoptosis was more evident following the pre-treatment of animals with 160 mg/kg bw EAF.