Antioxidant activity of whole grain Qingke (Tibetan Hordeum vulgare L.) toward oxidative stress in d-galactose induced mouse model

Influence of physicochemical changes and aggregation behavior induced by ultrasound irradiation on the antioxidant effect of highland barley β-glucan

The effect of ultrasonic treatment on the structure, morphology and antioxidant activity of highland barley β-glucan (HBG) was investigated. Ultrasonic treatment for 30 min was demonstrated to improve the aqueous solubility of HBG, leading to a decrease in turbidity. Meanwhile, moderate ultrasound was found to obviously reduce the particle size distribution of HBG, and transform the entangled HBG molecules into flexible and extended chains, which reaggregated to form larger aggregates under long-time ultrasonication. The in vitro antioxidant capacity of HBG treated by ultrasonic first increased and then decreased compared to native HBG. Congo red complexation analysis indicated the existence of helix structure in HBG, which was untwisted after ultrasonic treatment. Furthermore, ultrasound treatment influenced the glucopyranose on HBG, which weakened the intramolecular hydrogen bond of HBG. The microscopic morphology showed that the spherical aggregates in native HBG solution were disaggregated and the untangled HBG chains reaggregated with excessive ultrasonication.

Highland Barley Tea Polyphenols Extract Alleviates Skeletal Muscle Fibrosis in Mice by Reducing Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Cell Senescence

The tea of roasted Highland barley is a cereal-based drink rich in polyphenols. A model of skeletal muscle senescence and fibrosis was constructed using d-galactose-induced C2C12 myotubes, and Highland barley tea Polyphenols (HBP) were extracted for the intervention. We found that HBP effectively alleviated oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis induced by d-galactose-induced skeletal muscle senescence. Also, HBP treatment significantly down-regulated pro-fibrotic genes, inflammation, and oxidative stress levels in a contusion model of senescent mice. Reduced levels of SIRT3 protein was found to be an essential factor in skeletal muscle senescence and fibrosis in both cellular and animal models, while HBP treatment significantly increased SIRT3 protein levels and viability in skeletal muscle. The ability of HBP to mitigate skeletal muscle fibrosis and oxidative stress was significantly reduced after SIRT3 silencing. Together, these results suggest that HBP intervention can significantly alleviate aging-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and skeletal muscle fibrosis, with the activation of SIRT3 as the underlying mechanism of action.

Rice β-Glucosidase 4 (Os1βGlu4) Regulates the Hull Pigmentation via Accumulation of Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid (SA) is a stress hormone synthesized in phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and the branching acid pathway. SA has two interconvertible forms in plants: SAG (SA O-β-glucoside) and SA (free form). The molecular mechanism of conversion of SA to SAG had been reported previously. However, which genes regulate SAG to SA remained unknown. Here, we report a cytoplasmic β-glucosidase (β-Glu) which participates in the SA pathway and is involved in the brown hull pigmentation in rice grain. In the current study, an EMS-generated mutant brown hull 1 (bh1) displayed decreased contents of SA in hulls, a lower photosynthesis rate, and high-temperature sensitivity compared to the wild type (WT). A plaque-like phenotype (brown pigmentation) was present on the hulls of bh1, which causes a significant decrease in the seed setting rate. Genetic analysis revealed a mutation in LOC_Os01g67220, which encodes a cytoplasmic Os1βGlu4. The knock-out lines displayed the phenotype of brown pigmentation on hulls and decreased seed setting rate comparable with bh1. Overexpression and complementation lines of Os1βGlu4 restored the phenotype of hulls and normal seed setting rate comparable with WT. Subcellular localization revealed that the protein of Os1βGlu4 was localized in the cytoplasm. In contrast to WT, bh1 could not hydrolyze SAG into SA in vivo. Together, our results revealed the novel role of Os1βGlu4 in the accumulation of flavonoids in hulls by regulating the level of free SA in the cellular pool.

Flavonoid-Rich Extract of Paeonia lactiflora Petals Alleviate d-Galactose-Induced Oxidative Stress and Restore Gut Microbiota in ICR Mice

This study was aimed to investigate the antioxidant effect of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. petal flavonoids extract (PPF) on d-galactose (d-gal)-induced ICR mice. In this study, sixty male ICR mice were randomly divided into six groups during an 8 weeks experimental period, including normal control (NC) group, d-gal group, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) group, low, medium, and high dose PPF groups (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg/day). The results showed that intragastric administration with PPF significantly reverses the atrophy of the visceral organs of oxidative damage mice in a dose-dependent relationship. PPF indicated the antioxidant capacity to decrease the malondialdehyde (MDA) level and improve the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) as well as glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). In addition, PPF treatment reversed gut microbiota dysbiosis by increasing the relative abundance of Lactobacillaceae. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the body's oxidative stress markers were directly related to changes in gut microbiota. These findings reveal firstly that PPF could alleviate d-Gal-induced oxidative stress and modulate gut microbiota balance.

Pharmacological insights into Merremia vitifolia (Burm.f.) Hallier f. leaf for its antioxidant, thrombolytic, anti-arthritic and anti-nociceptive potential

Merremia vitifolia (Burm.f.) Hallier f., an ethnomedicinally important plant, used in the tribal areas to treat various ailments including fever, headache, eye inflammation, rheumatism, dysentery, jaundice and urinary diseases. The present study explored the biological efficacy of the aqueous fraction of M. vitifolia leaves (AFMV) through in vitro and in vivo experimental models. The thrombolytic and anti-arthritic effects of AFMV were evaluated by using the clot lysis technique and inhibition of protein denaturation technique, respectively. The anti-nociceptive activity of AFMV was investigated in Swiss Albino mice by acetic acid-induced writhing test and formalin-induced paw licking test. The antioxidant activities of AFMV, including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and total reducing power, were also tested. The qualitative phytochemical assays exhibited AFMV contains secondary metabolites such as alkaloid, carbohydrate, flavonoid, tannin, triterpenoids and phenols. In addition, AFMV showed strong antioxidant effects with the highest scavenging activity (IC₅₀ 146.61 µg/mL) and reducing power was increased with a dose-dependent manner. AFMV also revealed notable clot lysis effect and substantial anti-arthritic activity at higher doses (500 µg/mL) as compared with the control. The results demonstrated a promising reduction of the number of writhing and duration of paw licking in acetic acid-induced writhing test and formalin-induced paw licking test in a dose-dependent manner, respectively. In conclusion, AFMV provides the scientific basis of its folkloric usage, suggesting it as the vital source of dietary supplement.

Protective role of three differently processed corn bran on glucose and lipid concentrations in d-galactose-induced mice model

In this research, the effects of three differently processed corn bran (corn bran soluble hemicellulose (HEM), hemicellulose hydrolyzed by oxalic acid (HOA), Amberlite XAD-2 eluate (XE)) on the changes of glucose and lipid concentrations of d-galactose (d-gal)-induced mice were investigated. The mice were divided into five groups and intragastric administration HEM, HOA, and XE at 200 mg/kg Body Weight (BW) for continuously 6 weeks. Mice were submitted under oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).Then, the serum insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1), serum C-peptide, hepatic glycogen (HG), muscle glycogen (MG), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) of all the mice were detected. As we can see, by inducing with d-gal, the glucose and lipid concentrations of aging mice could be effectively regulated by HEM, HOA, and XE. High degree of esterification feruloylated oligosaccharides has the most obvious effect of regulating glucose and lipid concentrations. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Corn bran has not been fully paid attention owing to the rough taste and the poor water solubility. Actually, corn bran, a renewable resource available in a large quantity, could be a goods source of valuable consumer products. The results of this study indicated that three differently processed corn brans could regulate glucose and lipid concentrations and XE had the most obvious effect of regulating glucose and lipid concentrations. Corn bran could advantage as a new type of environmentally and inexpensive food supplements on reducing blood glucose and lipid concentrations.

Antioxidant Effects of Walnut (Juglans regia L.) Kernel and Walnut Septum Extract in a D-Galactose-Induced Aging Model and in Naturally Aged Rats

Antioxidant dietary intervention is considered a potential strategy in delaying age-related dysfunctions. In this study of 56 days, we assessed the antioxidant effects of walnut kernel (WK) and walnut septum extract (WSE) in a D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging model and in a naturally aged rat model. Young Wistar rats, treated with D-gal (1200 mg/week), and old rats received daily WK or WSE added to the feed. After 8 weeks, blood, liver, and brain samples were collected and hematological, biochemical, oxidative stress biomarkers, histological, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. Moreover, acetylcholinesterase activity was investigated in brain homogenates. The outcomes demonstrated significant improvement in cellular antioxidant activity and/or decrease of reactive oxygen species, advanced glycation end products, nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, or increase of glutathione after WK or WSE intake in both models. Additionally, WSE showed hypoglycemic effect, and both WK and WSE lowered acetylcholinesterase activity. Both diets could protect neurons against the induced senescence and could reverse the pathological conditions in the physiological aged brain. Thus, dietary supplementation with WK or WSE can maintain the liver and brain health and reduce the risk of age-related diseases, as well as delaying the onset of aging processes.