Oxidative stress, aging, antioxidant supplementation and their impact on human health: An overview

Evaluation of the safety and probiotic properties of Limosilactobacillus fermentum BGI-AF16, a uric acid-lowering probiotic strain

Some beneficial microorganisms in the intestine have the potential to degrade uric acid, offering a novel strategy for the prevention of hyperuricemia. In this study, the safety and probiotic potentials of Limosilactobacillus fermentum BGI-AF16 were evaluated by whole genome sequence analysis and in vitro experiments. Based on the gene analysis of antibiotic resistance and virulence factors, L. fermentum BGI-AF16 has been shown to be safe. We identified probiotic-related genes by genome annotation tools and conducted in vitro experiments to evaluate the ability of L. fermentum BGI-AF16 to inhibit pathogenic bacteria, tolerate a simulated gastrointestinal environment, and degrade uric acid. The results from in vitro experiments showed that L. fermentum BGI-AF16 had inhibitory effects on four clinically relevant pathogens and was highly tolerant to the gastrointestinal environment. In addition, L. fermentum BGI-AF16 was able to rapidly degrade uric acid within the first hour, and the strain could degrade 56.36 ± 2.32 % of uric acid by the third hour. The genome of the strain contains genes encoding flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-dependent urate hydroxylase (EC.1.14.13.113), an enzyme that directly metabolizes uric acid. And the strain has a complete uric acid metabolic pathway. These results suggest that L. fermentum BGI-AF16 is a probiotic candidate with significant potential for reducing uric acid level.

Black goji berry anthocyanins extend lifespan and enhance the antioxidant defenses in Caenorhabditis elegans via the JNK-1 and DAF-16/FOXO pathways

BACKGROUND

The black goji berry (Lycium ruthenicum Murr.) is known for its abundance of high-quality natural antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins. Black goji berry anthocyanins (BGA) are receiving increasing attention because of their high safety and beneficial biological activities. Studies have shown that oxidative stress is a key factor affecting aging, whereas antioxidants are critical preventive and delaying strategies.

RESULTS

In the present study, we investigated the potential anti-aging effects and mechanism of BGA using the Caenorhabditis elegans model. We found that BGA prolonged the mean lifespan of nematodes and improve their healthspan, including locomotion, pharyngeal pumping rate and stress resistance. Subsequently, we observed a significant decrease in reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde levels in nematodes after administering BGA. Moreover, BGA enhanced the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase, and elevated the glutathione disulfide/glutathione ratio. We confirmed that BGA exerted excellent antioxidative stress activity in nematodes, which may contribute substantially to its anti-aging effects. The health benefits of BGA in C. elegans might be closely related to petunidin-3-O-glucoside, the most abundant anthocyanin in BGA. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that the JNK-1 and DAF-16/FOXO pathways, rather than the calorie restriction pathway, were responsible for the antioxidant stress and life-prolonging effects of BGA in nematodes.

CONCLUSION

Our research provides a theoretical foundation for studying the anti-aging effect of BGA and a basis for developing black goji berry and its anthocyanins as functional foods with anti-aging and antioxidative stress benefits. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Curculigoside Regulates Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress Against Spinal Cord Injury by Modulating the Nrf-2/NQO-1 Signaling Pathway In Vitro and In Vivo

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe neurological disorder that can lead to paralysis or death. Oxidative stress during SCI is a critical phase causing extensive nerve cell damage and apoptosis, thereby impairing spinal cord healing. Thus, a primary goal of SCI drug therapy is to mitigate oxidative stress. Curculigoside (CUR), a phenolic glucoside extracted from the dried root and rhizome of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn, possesses neuroprotective and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate whether CUR effectively promotes the recovery of spinal cord tissue following SCI and elucidate its mechanism. We employed a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced PC12 cell model and an SCI rat model to observe the effects of CUR on oxidation and apoptosis. The results demonstrated that CUR significantly reduced the expression of apoptosis-related proteins (Bax and Caspase-3), Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI), and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), while increasing the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Moreover, CUR effectively enhanced levels of antioxidants (glutathione [GSH)] and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vitro. Furthermore, CUR facilitated functional recovery through its anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative stress effects on spinal cord tissues in SCI rats. These effects were mediated via the Nrf2/NQO1 signaling pathway. Therefore, our study showed that CUR acted as an anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative stress agent, inhibiting astrocyte activation and promoting neuronal reconstruction and functional recovery. These findings may contribute significantly to the development of SCI treatments and advance the field of SCI drug therapy.

Association between biological aging and cardiovascular health: Combined evidence based on cross-sectional and prospective study

PURPOSE

To examine the relationship between biological aging metrics and cardiovascular health, as well as the mediating effect of sleep duration.

METHOD

We applied the recommended sampling weights to adjust for the complex survey design of NHANES. Using NHANES data, we first employed restricted cubic spline (RCS) and logistic regression models to explore the cross-sectional associations between biological aging metrics, defined by the Klemera-Doubal method biological age (KDM-BA), phenotypic age (PA), homeostatic dysregulation (HD), and allostatic load (AL), and the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and its subtypes. We then used Cox regression, Kaplan-Meier curves, and RCS models to assess the prospective associations between biological aging metrics and all-cause as well as CVD mortality. Further, ROC and DCA models were used to assess the predicting ability of 4 biological aging metrics to cardiovascular health.

RESULT

This study included 7,704 participants. We found that biological aging metrics were strongly linked to the prevalence of CVD and its subtypes, as well as to all-cause and CVD mortality. Sleep duration appeared to moderate these associations. Among the four biological aging metrics, PA was the most effective predictor of CVD prevalence and its subtypes, though none of the metrics accurately predicted mortality.

CONCLUSION

Biological aging metrics were significantly associated with cardiovascular health, while sleep duration may attenuate this relationship. Clinically, PA can be a potential predictor of cardiovascular health.

Protective effects of Colla Corii Asini Collagen Peptides on D-galactose injection combined with UVB irradiation-induced aging in mice

Skin aging, autonomic mobility, memory function and physical deterioration are important features of aging, and effective anti-aging treatments are important in slowing down these processes. The objective of this research was to evaluate the protective effect of Colla Corii Asini (Ejiao) Collagen Peptides (CCACPs) on D-galactose (D-gal) injection combined with UV irradiation-induced senescence in mice. BY-HEALTH collagen oral solution (Bcos) was used as a positive control. Behavioural experiments showed that CCACPs significantly improved voluntary activity, learning memory and exercise endurance in aging mice. Elisa results showed that CCACPs reduced the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and MMP-3 in the skin, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the brain, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and azelaic aminotransferase (AST) in the liver of mice, while increasing the levels of collagen I in the skin and SOD in the brain. RT-qPCR revealed that CCACPs reduced the expression of p16, p19 and p21 genes in the liver and hippocampus, as well as the expression of IL-6 in the skin. Histological analysis of brain hippocampus, liver and skin confirmed the protective effects of CCACPs. The findings indicated that CCACPs may potentially slow the aging effects caused by D-galactose and UVB exposure in mice by reducing cellular senescence and oxidative stress levels. The results of this research provide the scientific basis for continuing to advance the extraction of collagen peptides from Colla Corii Asini as a potential anti-aging therapy.

Computational analysis of Urolithin A as a potential compound for anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neurodegenerative pathways

Urolithin A, an active precursor derived from the metabolism of ellagitanins in rats and humans, is known for its potential health benefits, including stimulating mitophagy and promoting muscular skeletal function. While experimental studies have demonstrated Urolithin A's potential to enhance cellular health, the detailed molecular interactions through which Urolithin A exerts its effects are not fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory, antioxidation and neuroprotective abilities of Urolithin A in selected targets using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation methods. Molecular docking studies revealed the strong affinity for receptors involved in inflammation activities, including human p38 MAP kinase (4DLI) with -10.1 kcal/mol interacting with SER252, LYS249, and ASP294 residues. The binding energy in the 5KIR target was -8.6 kcal/mol, interacting with GLN203 through hydrogen bond, and lastly, 1A9U with an affinity of -6.8 with no hydrogen bond formed with Urolithin A and interacts with van der Waals interactions. In oxidant targets, the influence of Urolithin was observed in 1OG5 with -7.9 kcal/mol interacting with GLN185, PHE447. For the 1M17 target, the binding affinity was -7.7 kcal/mol interacting with THR95 residue and 1ZXM target at -7.4 kcal/mol interacting with TYR36, TYR216, and LEU234 residues. The neuroprotective ability of urolithin A was observed in selected targets for acetylcholinesterase; the binding energy was -9.7 kcal/mol interacting with van der Waals and π interactions; for the 1GQR target, the binding energy was -9.9 kcal/mol interacting with van der Waals and π interactions and for β-amylase (1iyt) the binding energy was -5.5 forming hydrogen bond with SER8, GLN15 residues. Molecular Dynamics simulations at 100 ns of Urolithin A compared with reference 4DLI. The Urolithin A-4DLI complex exhibited greater stability than the reference receptor, as confirmed by RMSD, RMSF, Radius of Gyration, Hydrogen bond, and SASA analyses.

Assessment of Opuntia ficus-indica supplementation on enhancing antioxidant levels

Opuntia ficus-indica (OFi) is a major fruit source prevalent in semiarid and arid regions across various countries worldwide. It is widely recognised for its potential health benefits; however, most studies investigating its effects have been limited to pre-clinical models, highlighting the need for further validation through clinical trials. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of OFi supplementation in enhancing antioxidant levels. Fifty healthy participants, aged 18 years and older, including males and females, received a daily OFi supplement of 1500 mg for 3 months. These findings revealed a significant 48.1% increase in salivary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (P < 0.001), indicating improved antioxidant activity. Simultaneously, oxidative stress biomarkers showed substantial reductions: malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased by 28.3%, nitrotyrosine (3-NT) decreased by 51.5%, and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) decreased by 59.8% (P < 0.001). Furthermore, participants reported a 20.1% improvement (P < 0.001) in Visual Analogue Scales (VAS), reflecting a notable enhancement in overall well-being. In conclusion, OFi exhibited promising efficacy in elevating antioxidant levels and mitigating oxidative stress. These findings suggest its potential as an adjuvant therapy for managing chronic conditions associated with oxidative stress.

Targeting Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Cerebral Ischemia: Advances in Pharmacological Interventions

The study of mitochondrial dysfunction has become increasingly pivotal in elucidating the pathophysiology of various cerebral pathologies, particularly neurodegenerative disorders. Mitochondria are essential for cellular energy metabolism, regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), calcium homeostasis, and the execution of apoptotic processes. Disruptions in mitochondrial function, driven by factors such as oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, and altered ion balance, lead to neuronal death and contribute to cognitive impairments in several brain diseases. Mitochondrial dysfunction can arise from genetic mutations, ischemic events, hypoxia, and other environmental factors. This article highlights the critical role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases and discusses the need for targeted therapeutic strategies to attenuate cellular damage, restore mitochondrial function, and enhance neuroprotection.

Current advances on the phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control and applications of Anoectochilus roxburghii

Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. (AR) is a perennial herb that has long been used as medicinal and edible plant. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), AR is utilized to treat various diseases including hyperuricemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancers and inflammatory diseases. Recent advances in the discovery and isolation of bio-active compounds have unveils the main medicinal ingredients, such as quercetin, kinsenoside and rhamnazin. Pharmacological studies further demonstrated its activities, containing anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and antihyperlipidemia effects. The processed AR products have various commercial applications in functional foods and cosmetics. AR has been used to prepare soup, drinkbeverage, jelly, face masks, soap, etc. However, despite the abundant medicinal value, it hasn't been included in the 2020 Chinese Pharmacopoeia up to now. There is also no consistent evaluation standard across provinces. This seriously affects the safety and the efficacy of TCM prescriptions, not to mention the development question. This review summarizes recent research on AR in phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control and applications, raises the corresponding solutions to provide references and potential directions for further studies.

Unraveling the Role of the Human Gut Microbiome in Health and Diseases

The human gut is a complex ecosystem that supports billions of living species, including bacteria, viruses, archaea, phages, fungi, and unicellular eukaryotes. Bacteria give genes and enzymes for microbial and host-produced compounds, establishing a symbiotic link between the external environment and the host at both the gut and systemic levels. The gut microbiome, which is primarily made up of commensal bacteria, is critical for maintaining the healthy host's immune system, aiding digestion, synthesizing essential nutrients, and protecting against pathogenic bacteria, as well as influencing endocrine, neural, humoral, and immunological functions and metabolic pathways. Qualitative, quantitative, and/or topographic shifts can alter the gut microbiome, resulting in dysbiosis and microbial dysfunction, which can contribute to a variety of noncommunicable illnesses, including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, and irritable bowel syndrome. While most evidence to date is observational and does not establish direct causation, ongoing clinical trials and advanced genomic techniques are steadily enhancing our understanding of these intricate interactions. This review will explore key aspects of the relationship between gut microbiota, eubiosis, and dysbiosis in human health and disease, highlighting emerging strategies for microbiome engineering as potential therapeutic approaches for various conditions.

Review of Codonopsis Radix biological activities: A plant of traditional Chinese tonic

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Codonopsis Radix, commonly known as Dangshen in Chinese, is frequently used to treat deficiencies of spleen and lung Qi, gastrointestinal discomfort, fatigue, asthmatic breathing, sallow complexion, lack of strength, shortness of breath, deficiencies of both Qi and blood, as well as impairments to both Qi and body fluids in suboptimal health status.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review systematically expounds on the modern pharmacological studies related to the use of Codonopsis Radix in invigorating Qi and nourishing the body in recent years. The aim is to provide theoretical research and reference for the in-depth and systematic exploration and development of the applications of Codonopsis Radix in the fields of food and medicine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study employs "Codonopsis Radix," "Codonopsis," and "Dangshen" as keywords to gather pertinent information on Codonopsis Radix medicine through electronic searches of classical literature and databases such as PubMed, Elsevier, Google Scholar, Wiley, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and Baidu Scholar.

RESULTS

From previous studies, activities such as immune system modulation, gastrointestinal motility regulation, cardiac function revitalization, lung function improvement, blood circulation enhancement, aging process deceleration, learning and memory augmentation, fatigue resistance enhancement, and liver and kidney damage protection of Codonopsis Radix have been reported. Recognized as an important medicine and food homologous traditional Chinese herbal remedy for supplementing deficiencies, its mode of action is multi-elemental, multi-systemic, multi-organ, multi-mechanistic, and multi-targeted. Furthermore, the benefits of its tonic surpass its therapeutic value, establishing it as an extraordinary preventive and therapeutic medicine.

CONCLUSIONS

With its long history of traditional applications and the revelations of contemporary pharmacological research, Codonopsis Radix exhibits great potential as both a therapeutic agent and a dietary supplement for further research in medicine, nutrition, and healthcare.

Precision nutrition impact on metabolic health and quality of life in aging population after a 3-month intervention: A randomized intervention

OBJECTIVES

Innovative precision dietary procedures are required to promote healthy aging. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a personalised strategy based on the inclusion of individualised foods and digital tools on overall health status and quality of life within a follow-up of 3 months in older adults with overweight or obesity.

METHODS

127 men and women aged between 50 and 80 years with overweight/obesity participated in the study-between January 2020 and September 2020 at the Center for Nutrition Research-University of Navarra and IMDEA-ALIMENTACIÓN-and were randomly assigned to a usual-care group (standard recommendations) or precision group (precision nutrition strategy based on the inclusion of individualised foods and a mobile application). Anthropometry, body fat percentage, biochemical parameters, diet, and quality of life (SF-36 Health Survey) were assessed at baseline and after 3 months.

RESULTS

Both strategies were found to improve overall metabolic health; however, the precision approach demonstrated significantly better outcomes. The precision strategy reduced body weight at 3 months (-4.3 kg; p < 0.001) with significant improvements in body fat percentage, blood pressure and general metabolic health (glycated haemoglobin; alanine aminotransferase; aspartate aminotransferase; hepatic steatosis index) in comparison with the standard recommendations. The precision approach significantly enhanced the quality of life (SF-36) of individuals, with additional improvements in emotional well-being (p = 0.024) and vitality (p = 0.008). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was significantly associated with a higher quality of life and vitality.

CONCLUSION

These results support the benefit of precision nutrition approaches for promoting healthy aging and emotional well-being, enhancing the quality of life in aging populations, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comprehensive Strategies for Metabolic Syndrome: How Nutrition, Dietary Polyphenols, Physical Activity, and Lifestyle Modifications Address Diabesity, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Neurodegenerative Conditions

Several hallmarks of metabolic syndrome, such as dysregulation in the glucose and lipid metabolism, endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, low-to-medium systemic inflammation, and intestinal microbiota dysbiosis, represent a pathological bridge between metabolic syndrome and diabesity, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative disorders. This review aims to highlight some therapeutic strategies against metabolic syndrome involving integrative approaches to improve lifestyle and daily diet. The beneficial effects of foods containing antioxidant polyphenols, intestinal microbiota control, and physical activity were also considered. We comprehensively examined a large body of published articles involving basic, animal, and human studie, as well as recent guidelines. As a result, dietary polyphenols from natural plant-based antioxidants and adherence to the Mediterranean diet, along with physical exercise, are promising complementary therapies to delay or prevent the onset of metabolic syndrome and counteract diabesity and cardiovascular diseases, as well as to protect against neurodegenerative disorders and cognitive decline. Modulation of the intestinal microbiota reduces the risks associated with MS, improves diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and exerts neuroprotective action. Despite several studies, the estimation of dietary polyphenol intake is inconclusive and requires further evidence. Lifestyle interventions involving physical activity and reduced calorie intake can improve metabolic outcomes.

Evaluation on the traditional safe use of Kochiae Fructus oriented by antioxidant properties and oral safety of its ethanolic extract

Kochiae Fructus (KF) is a traditional Chinese medicine, which has been used to delay aging and treat inflammation, such as rubella, eczema, cutaneous pruritus, etc. In order to fully understand the traditional medicinal value of KF, we evaluated the antioxidant properties and oral safety of its ethanolic extract. Considering flavonoids and phenolics in medicinal plants generally have strong antioxidant activity, we firstly detected the total flavonoids and phenolics contents of KFEE and its fractions. Secondly, we evaluated the antioxidant activities of KFEE and its fractions. Finally, we evaluated the oral safety of KFEE by the acute and 28-day subacute toxicities. The n-butanol fraction (ENBF) possessed the highest phenolics and flavonoids with values of 77.30 ± 3.17 mg gallic acid equivalents/g and 228.81 ± 7.56 mg rutin equivalents/g, respectively. The results of antioxidant tests showed that ENBF possessed potent antioxidant ability. Among them, the high antioxidation capacity observed in ENBF could be attributed to its rich content of flavonoids and phenolics. The results of toxicological studies showed that the LD50 value of KFEE was 6000 mg/kg BW, and the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of KFEE was 600 mg/kg BW. According to the standards of the American Academy of Sciences for the classification of toxic substances, KFEE can be classified as practically non-toxic substance, which provided valuable evidence for the oral safety of KF as a natural aging delay medicine.

Effects of puerarin as a feed additive on the laying performance, egg quality, endocrine hormones, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal morphology of aged laying hens

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of puerarin (Pue), a phytoestrogen, on the production performance, egg quality, endocrine hormones, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal morphology in aged laying hens. A total of 180 Hy-Line Brown hens aged 480 d were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 45 per group) and fed 0, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg of Pue (Con, L-Pue, M-Pue, and H-Pue, respectively) during a 42-d experiment. Compared with the Con treatment, supplementation with H-Pue improved laying performance and egg quality by significantly increasing egg production, average egg weight, albumen height, yolk weight, and Haugh unit (P < 0.05) while decreasing the feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). A diet supplemented with H-Pue significantly decreasing serum total triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (P < 0.05), and significantly increasing serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and progesterone (P < 0.05). Antioxidant activity was improved by significantly increasing the activity of total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase and catalase but decreasing malondialdehyde levels in serum, jejunum, and ileum (P < 0.05), and superoxide dismutase activity exhibited a significantly increase in the jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05). Villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (P < 0.05) were significantly increased in the jejunum and ileum. In the jejunal and ileal mucosa, the three treatment groups increased the mRNA expression levels of Claudin-1 and Claudin-2 compared with Con (P < 0.05), and no significant effect was observed on the expression of Occludin and ZO-1. The results showed that dietary supplementation with Pue could improve the laying performance, egg quality, antioxidant capacity, hormonal profile, and intestinal morphology of aged laying hens.

Unlocking the Therapeutic Potential of a Manila Clam-Derived Antioxidant Peptide: Insights into Mechanisms of Action and Cytoprotective Effects against Oxidative Stress

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated in various pathological conditions due to their ability to induce oxidative damage to cellular components. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant properties of a peptide isolated from the hydrolysate of Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) muscle. Purification steps yielded RPTE2-2-4, exhibiting potent scavenging activities against DPPH•, HO•, and O2•-, akin to Vitamin C. Structural analysis showed that the isolated peptide, LFKKNLLTL, exhibited characteristics associated with antioxidant activity, including a short peptide length and the presence of aromatic and hydrophobic amino acid residues. Moreover, our study demonstrated the cytoprotective effects of the peptide against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. Pretreatment with the peptide resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in intracellular ROS levels and elevation of glutathione (GSH) levels, indicating its ability to modulate cellular defense mechanisms against oxidative damage. Furthermore, the peptide stimulated the expression of the cytoprotective enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), further reinforcing its antioxidant properties. Overall, our findings highlight the potential of the Manila clam-derived peptide as a natural antioxidant agent with therapeutic implications for oxidative stress-related diseases. Further investigation into its mechanisms of action and in vivo efficacy is warranted to validate its therapeutic potential.

SIRT1/P53 in retinal pigment epithelial cells in diabetic retinopathy: a gene co-expression analysis and He-Ying-Qing-Re formula treatment

Objective

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a severe diabetic complication that leads to severe visual impairment or blindness. He-Ying-Qing-Re formula (HF), a traditional Chinese medicinal concoction, has been identified as an efficient therapy for DR with retinal vascular dysfunction for decades and has been experimentally reported to ameliorate retinal conditions in diabetic mice. This study endeavors to explore the therapeutic potential of HF with key ingredients in DR and its underlying novel mechanisms.

Methods

Co-expression gene modules and hub genes were calculated by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) based on transcriptome sequencing data from high-glucose-treated adult retinal pigment epithelial cell line-19 (ARPE-19). The chromatographic fingerprint of HF was established by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). The molecular affinity of the herbal compound was measured by molecular docking. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured by a DCFDA/H2DCFDA assay. Apoptosis was detected using the TUNEL Assay Kit, while ELISA, Western blot, and real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used for detecting the cytokine, protein, and mRNA expressions, respectively.

Results

Key compounds in HF were identified as luteolin, paeoniflorin, and nobiletin. For WGCNA, ME-salmon ("protein deacetylation") was negatively correlated with ME-purple ("oxidative impairment") in high-glucose-treated ARPE-19. Luteolin has a high affinity for SIRT1 and P53, as indicated by molecular docking. Luteolin has a hypoglycemic effect on type I diabetic mice. Moreover, HF and luteolin suppress oxidative stress production (ROS and MDA), inflammatory factor expression (IL-6, TNF-α, IL1-β, and MCP-1), and apoptosis, as shown in the in vivo and in vitro experiments. Concurrently, treatment with HF and luteolin led to an upregulation of SIRT1 and a corresponding downregulation of P53.

Conclusion

Using HF and its active compound luteolin as therapeutic agents offers a promising approach to diabetic retinopathy treatment. It primarily suppressed protein acetylation and oxidative stress via the SIRT1/P53 pathway in retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Cyclocodon lancifolius fruit prolongs the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans via antioxidation and regulation of purine metabolism

Cyclocodon lancifolius fruit is a promising commercial fruit with antioxidant activity and is rich in polyphenolic compounds. In this study, the anti-aging activity of C. lancifolius fruit extract (CF) on Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) was evaluated by observing the longevity, stress response, reproduction, oscillation, lipofuscin, and antioxidant enzymes of worms. Moreover, the effects and potential mechanisms of CF on delaying C. elegans senescence at the mRNA and metabolite levels were investigated. The results showed that CF treatment significantly increased the lifespan and stress resistance, decreased the levels of lipofuscin and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and improved the antioxidant system of C. elegans. The extension of the lifespan of C. elegans was remarkably correlated with the upregulation of mtl-1 and Hsp-16.2, along with the downregulation of age-1, daf-2, and akt-1. Metabolomics analysis revealed that purine metabolism is a key regulatory pathway for CF to exert anti-aging effects. The present study suggests that C. lancifolius fruit has potential for use as a functional food to enhance antioxidant capacity and delay aging.

Euonymus alatus Leaf Extract Attenuates Effects of Aging on Oxidative Stress, Neuroinflammation, and Cognitive Impairment

Our study aimed to explore the impact and mechanism of Euonymus alatus leaf extract on age-dependent oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and progressive memory impairments in aged mice. Twenty-four-month-old mice received EA-L3 (300 mg/kg/day) or the reference drug, donepezil (DPZ, 5 mg/kg/day), for 6 weeks, and learning and memory functions were detected using the Passive Avoidance Test (PAT). As expected, cognitive function deficits were detected in aged mice compared with young mice, and these deficits were significantly mitigated by dietary treatments with EA-L3. In parallel, it upregulated the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and subsequently activated the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/cAMP response element-binding (CREB) signaling in the mouse hippocampus and scopolamine-induced B35 and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. EA-L3 showed strong anti-inflammatory effects with decreased NF-κBp65, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), increased interleukin (IL)-10, and doublecortin (DCX) protein expression in the hippocampus of aged mice. Similar results were also confirmed in LPS-induced BV-2 microglia and neuroblastoma cells upon treatment with EA-L3 extract. In addition, EA-L3 notably dose-dependently decreased ROS in BV2 cells after exposure to LPS. Taken together, EA-L3 might be used as a dietary supplement to alleviate oxidative stress, the deterioration of hippocampal-based memory tasks, and neuroinflammation in elderly people.

Protective Effect of Curcumin on D-Galactose-Induced Senescence and Oxidative Stress in LLC-PK1 and HK-2 Cells

D-galactose has been widely used as an inducer of cellular senescence and pathophysiological processes related to aging because it induces oxidative stress. On the other hand, the consumption of antioxidants such as curcumin can be an effective strategy to prevent phenotypes related to the enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as aging and senescence. This study aimed to evaluate the potential protective effect of curcumin on senescence and oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress induced by D-galactose treatment in Lilly Laboratories Culture-Porcine Kidney 1 (LLC-PK1) and human kidney 2 (HK-2) proximal tubule cell lines from pig and human, respectively. For senescence induction, cells were treated with 300 mM D-galactose for 120 h and, to evaluate the protective effect of the antioxidant, cells were treated with 5 µM curcumin for 24 h and subsequently treated with curcumin + D-galactose for 120 h. In LLC-PK1 cells, curcumin treatment decreased by 20% the number of cells positive for senescence-associated (SA)-β-D-galactosidase staining and by 25% the expression of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and increased by 40% lamin B1 expression. In HK-2 cells, curcumin treatment increased by 60% the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA, 50% Klotho levels, and 175% catalase activity. In both cell lines, this antioxidant decreased the production of ROS (20% decrease for LLC-PK1 and 10 to 20% for HK-2). These data suggest that curcumin treatment has a moderate protective effect on D-galactose-induced senescence in LLC-PK1 and HK-2 cells.

Chronic exposure to 2,2'-azobis-2-amidinopropane that induces intestinal damage and oxidative stress in larvae of Drosophila melanogaster

Embryonic development is exceptionally susceptible to pathogenic, chemistry and mechanical stressors as they can disrupt homeostasis, causing damage and impacted viability. Oxidative stress has the capacity to induce alterations and reshape the environment. However, the specific impacts of these oxidative stress-induced damages in the gastrointestinal tract of Drosophila melanogaster larvae have been minimally explored. This study used 2,2-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH), a free radical generator, to investigate oxidative stress effects on Drosophila embryo development. The results showed that exposing Drosophila eggs to 30 mM AAPH during 1st instar larva, 2nd instar larva and 3rd instar larva stages significantly reduced hatching rates and pupal generation. It increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes and increased oxidative damage to proteins and MDA content, indicating severe oxidative stress. Morphological changes in 3rd individuals included decreased brush borders in enterocytes and reduced lipid vacuoles in trophocytes, essential fat bodies for insect metabolism. Immunostaining revealed elevated cleaved caspase 3, an apoptosis marker. This evidence validates the impact of oxidative stress toxicity and cell apoptosis following exposure, offering insights into comprehending the chemically induced effects of oxidative stress by AAPH on animal development.

HDL levels modulate the impact of type 2 diabetes susceptibility alleles in older adults

BACKGROUND

Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is influenced by genetic, environmental, and ageing factors. Ageing pathways exacerbate metabolic diseases. This study aimed to examine both clinical and genetic factors of T2D in older adults.

METHODS

A total of 2,909 genotyped patients were enrolled in this study. Genome Wide Association Study was conducted, comparing T2D patients to non-diabetic older adults aged ≥ 60, ≥ 65, or ≥ 70 years, respectively. Binomial logistic regressions were applied to examine the association between T2D and various risk factors. Stepwise logistic regression was conducted to explore the impact of low HDL (HDL < 40 mg/dl) on the relationship between the genetic variants and T2D. A further validation step using data from the UK Biobank with 53,779 subjects was performed.

RESULTS

The association of T2D with both low HDL and family history of T2D increased with the age of control groups. T2D susceptibility variants (rs7756992, rs4712523 and rs10946403) were associated with T2D, more significantly with increased age of the control group. These variants had stronger effects on T2D risk when combined with low HDL cholesterol levels, especially in older control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings highlight a critical role of age, genetic predisposition, and HDL levels in T2D risk. The findings suggest that individuals over 70 years who have high HDL levels without the T2D susceptibility alleles may be at the lowest risk of developing T2D. These insights can inform tailored preventive strategies for older adults, enhancing personalized T2D risk assessments and interventions.

The synergistic effect of nanocurcumin and donepezil on Alzheimer's via PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway modulating

Alzheimer's disease (AD) hallmarks include amyloid-βeta (Aβ) and tau proteins aggregates, neurite degeneration, microglial activation with cognitive impairment. Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B/Glycogen synthase kinase-3-beta (PI3K/AKT/GSK-3) pathway is essential for neuroprotection, cell survival and proliferation by blocking apoptosis. This study aimed to assess protective role of nanocurcumin (NCMN) as strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent with elucidating its synergistic effects with Donepezil as acetylcholinesterase inhibitor on AD in rats via modulating PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway. The experiment was performed on 70 male Wistar albino rats divided into seven groups (control, NCMN, Donepezil, AD-model, Donepezil co-treatment, NCMN only co-treatment, and NCMN+Donepezil combined treatment). Behavioral and biochemical investigations as cholinesterase activity, oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, nitric oxide, superoxidedismutase, and catalase), tumor necrosis factor-alpha, Tau, β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE-1), Phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten), mitogen-activated protein kinase-1 (MAPK-1), Glycogen synthase kinase-3-beta (GSK-3β) and toll-like receptor-4 were evaluated. Treatment with NCMN improved memory, locomotion, neuronal differentiation by activating PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway. These results were confirmed by histological studies in hippocampus.

Association of composite dietary antioxidant index and muscle mass in individuals with metabolic associated fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND

There is mounting evidence indicating the association between oxidative stress and the detrimental effect it poses on muscle mass. However, the crucial interplay between the Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (CDAI), a key metric of antioxidant-rich diets, and the occurrence of muscle loss has remained largely unexplored. Hence, in this study, we aim to investigate the potential relationship between CDAI and muscle loss METHODS: This cross-sectional investigation harnessed data sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2017 and 2018) to meticulously scrutinize the correlation between the CDAI and the occurrence of muscle loss. To unravel this intricate relationship, we engaged in multivariate weighted logistic regression analysis and employed smooth curve fitting techniques. Additionally, subgroup analyses were meticulously performed.

RESULTS

A total of 956 participants, with an average age of 42.15 years, were included in the final analysis, of which 52.19 % were males. Notably, the prevalence of low muscle mass among the study population was observed to be 15.48 %. The utilization of smooth curve fitting analysis underscored a nearly linear association between the CDAI and the presence of low muscle mass. Employing multivariate weighted logistic regression analysis, it was determined that the odds ratio (OR) between CDAI and low muscle mass was 0.88 (95 % [CI], 0.73-0.95). Through subgroup analyses, we further validated that CDAI independently mitigated the risk of muscle loss.

CONCLUSION

Higher CDAI levels were found to be associated with an reduced risk of low muscle mass in adults with metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).

Inflammatory markers and physical frailty: towards clinical application

Global population aging poses a tremendous burden on the health care system worldwide. Frailty is associated with decreased physical reserve and is considered an important indicator of adverse events in the older population. Therefore, there is growing interest in the early diagnosis and intervention of frailty, but the cellular mechanisms responsible for frailty are still not completely understood. Chronic inflammation is related to decreased physical function and increased disease risk. Additionally, multiple human and animal studies suggest that inflammation probably plays the largest role in contributing to frailty. Some inflammatory markers have been proposed to predict physical frailty. However, there are still large gaps in knowledge related to the clinical application of these markers in frail patients. Therefore, understanding the biological processes and identifying recognized and reliable markers are urgent and pivotal tasks for geriatricians. In the present review, we broadly summarize the inflammatory markers that may have potential diagnostic and therapeutic use, thereby translating them into health care for older people with frailty in the near future.

Association of antioxidants use with the risk of dementia among community-dwelling adults in the United Kingdom biobank

Background

Data regarding the association between antioxidant supplementation and incident dementia are limited.

Methods

We included 494,632 adults (54.5% females) aged 40-71 years at baseline from the United Kingdom Biobank in the final analysis. Incident dementia was ascertained using hospital inpatient and death records up to January 2021.

Results

Over a median follow-up of 11.9 years, 7,128 new cases of all-cause dementia, 2,772 cases of Alzheimer's disease, and 1,397 cases of vascular dementia were recorded. The hazard ratio (95% CI) for incident dementia associated with zinc supplementation was 0.84 (0.74-0.96), and the association remained significant after adjusting for all confounders (0.84 (0.74-0.96)). In the full model, zinc supplementation was associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease [HR (95% CI): 0.71 (0.57-0.88)]. There was no significant association between zinc supplementation and the risk of vascular dementia. No significant associations with incident dementia were observed for other antioxidant supplementation. The association between zinc supplementation and incident dementia was significant among individuals with [HR (95% CI): 0.34 (0.15-0.77)] and without cataract [0.87 (0.77-0.99)] but it was stronger among those with cataract (p value for interaction = 0.0271).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that zinc supplementation may help reduce the risk of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease in middle-aged or older adults, especially among those with cataracts.

Composite dietary antioxidant index associated with delayed biological aging: a population-based study

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to explore the potential correlation between the composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI) and biological aging, addressing the insufficient epidemiological evidence in this area.

METHODS

Participants meeting eligibility criteria were selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) conducted between 2001 and 2018. CDAI was determined based on dietary antioxidants obtained from 24-hour dietary recalls. Biological age was determined using PhenoAge algorithms incorporating various clinical features. Weighted multiple models were employed to investigate and assess the association between CDAI and biological age.

RESULTS

Analysis of the CDAI quartile revealed disparities in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, educational level, marital status, poverty, dietary calories intakes, smoking, drinking status, BMI, physical activity, and PhenoAge. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, a significant inverse relationship was found between CDAI and Phenotypic Age, with each standard deviation increase in CDAI score correlating with a 0.18-year decrease in Phenotypic Age. These negative correlations between CDAI and PhenoAge advancement were observed regardless of age, gender, physical activity status, smoking status, and body mass index.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate a positive relationship between higher CDAI scores and delayed biological aging. These results have significant implications for public health initiatives aimed at promoting healthy aging through dietary interventions.

[Frailty: Prevention]

The Frailty syndrome is usually related to the aging process and chronological age, but it is not an inevitable consequence of it - at least until the final phase of life. Primary care interventions that promote physical activity and nutrition can prevent the progression from pre-frailty to frailty. This article presents the current state of knowledge on primary and secondary prevention of frailty.

Metabolic Syndrome: A Narrative Review from the Oxidative Stress to the Management of Related Diseases

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a growing disorder affecting thousands of people worldwide, especially in industrialised countries, increasing mortality. Oxidative stress, hyperglycaemia, insulin resistance, inflammation, dysbiosis, abdominal obesity, atherogenic dyslipidaemia and hypertension are important factors linked to MS clusters of different pathologies, such as diabesity, cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders. All biochemical changes observed in MS, such as dysregulation in the glucose and lipid metabolism, immune response, endothelial cell function and intestinal microbiota, promote pathological bridges between metabolic syndrome, diabesity and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. This review aims to summarise metabolic syndrome's involvement in diabesity and highlight the link between MS and cardiovascular and neurological diseases. A better understanding of MS could promote a novel strategic approach to reduce MS comorbidities.

AAPH-induced oxidative damage reduced anion exchanger 1 (SLC4A1/AE1) activity in human red blood cells: protective effect of an anthocyanin-rich extract

Introduction: During their lifespan in the bloodstream, red blood cells (RBCs) are exposed to multiple stressors, including increased oxidative stress, which can affect their morphology and function, thereby contributing to disease. Aim: This investigation aimed to explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms related to oxidative stress underlying anion exchanger 1 activity (band 3, SLC4A1/AE1) in human RBCs. To achieve this aim, the relationship between RBC morphology and functional and metabolic activity has been explored. Moreover, the potential protective effect of an anthocyanin-enriched fraction extracted from Callistemon citrinus flowers was studied. Methods: Cellular morphology, parameters of oxidative stress, as well as the anion exchange capability of band 3 have been analyzed in RBCs treated for 1 h with 50 mM of the pro-oxidant 2,2'-azobis (2-methylpropionamide)-dihydrochloride (AAPH). Before or after the oxidative insult, subsets of cells were exposed to 0.01 μg/mL of an anthocyanin-enriched fraction for 1 h. Results: Exposure to AAPH caused oxidative stress, exhaustion of reduced glutathione, and over-activation of the endogenous antioxidant machinery, resulting in morphological alterations of RBCs, specifically the formation of acanthocytes, increased lipid peroxidation and oxidation of proteins, as well as abnormal distribution and hyper-phosphorylation of band 3. Expected, oxidative stress was also associated with a decreased band 3 ion transport activity and an increase of oxidized haemoglobin, which led to abnormal clustering of band 3. Exposure of cells to the anthocyanin-enriched fraction prior to, but not after, oxidative stress efficiently counteracted oxidative stress-related alterations. Importantly, protection of band3 function from oxidative stress could only be achieved in intact cells and not in RBC ghosts. Conclusion: These findings contribute a) to clarify oxidative stress-related physiological and biochemical alterations in human RBCs, b) propose anthocyanins as natural antioxidants to neutralize oxidative stress-related modifications, and 3) suggest that cell integrity, and therefore a cytosolic component, is required to reverse oxidative stress-related pathophysiological derangements in human mature RBCs.

Campomanesia adamantium O Berg. fruit, native to Brazil, can protect against oxidative stress and promote longevity

Campomanesia adamantium O. Berg. is a fruit tree species native to the Brazilian Cerrado biome whose fruits are consumed raw by the population. The present study determined the chemical composition of the C. adamantium fruit pulp (FPCA) and investigated its in vitro antioxidant potential and its biological effects in a Caenorhabditis elegans model. The chemical profile obtained by LC-DAD-MS identified 27 compounds, including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and organic carboxylic acids, in addition to antioxidant lipophilic pigments and ascorbic acid. The in vitro antioxidant activity was analysed by the radical scavenging method. In vivo, FPCA showed no acute reproductive or locomotor toxicity. It promoted protection against thermal and oxidative stress and increased the lifespan of C. elegans. It also upregulated the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase and activated the transcription factor DAF-16. These results provide unprecedented in vitro and in vivo evidence for the potential functional use of FPCA in the prevention of oxidative stress and promotion of longevity.

Coenzyme Q10 and nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase: Sentinels for mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide signaling

Mitochondria use hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a mitokine for cell communication. H2O2 output for signaling depends on its rate of production and degradation, both of which are strongly affected by the redox state of the coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) pool and NADPH availability. Here, we propose the CoQ pool and nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT) have evolved to be central modalities for mitochondrial H2O2 signaling. Both factors play opposing yet equally important roles in dictating H2O2 availability because they are connected to one another by two central parameters in bioenergetics: electron supply and Δp. The CoQ pool is the central point of convergence for electrons from various dehydrogenases and the electron transport chain (ETC). The increase in Δp creates a significant amount of protonic backpressure on mitochondria to promote H2O2 genesis through CoQ pool reduction. These same factors also drive the activity of NNT, which uses electrons and the Δp to eliminate H2O2. In this way, electron supply and the magnitude of the Δp manifests as a redox connection between the two sentinels, CoQ and NNT, which serve as opposing yet equally important forces required for budgeting H2O2. Taken together, CoQ and NNT are sentinels linked through mitochondrial bioenergetics to manage H2O2 availability for interorganelle and intercellular redox signaling.

Polystyrene nanoplastics induce haematotoxicity with cell oxeiptosis and senescence involved in C57BL/6J mice

Nanoplastics (NPs) has become a worrying serious environmental problem. However, the toxicological effects and mechanisms of NPs on hematopoiesis are still unknown. To this end, male C57BL/6J mice were directly exposed to the serial concentration gradient of polystyrene NPs (PSNPs, 0, 30, 60, and 120 μg d), respectively, for 42 days by intragastric administration. Results show that PSNPs were clearly visible in bone tissues, meanwhile, induced the count of major blood indicators (WBC, RBC, and LYM) decreased. H&E staining displayed that exposed to PSNPs can cause hematopoietic damage of BM and extramedullary hematopoiesis in spleen. Flow cytometry result show that the proportion of LSK represented a dose-dependent significantly decreased after PSNPs exposure. Further research found that PSNPs can cause the systemic oxidative stress occurs manifested as MDA accumulated. In addition, as the dose of PSNPs increased, the fluorescence intensity of Keap1 and p53 in femur sections gradually increased, meanwhile, the expression of cell oxeiptosis signal pathway Keap1/PGAM5/AIFM1 and the cell senescence signal pathway p53/p21 was all increased, markedly. Overall, our study demonstrated that PSNPs exposure caused oxidative stress, potentially resulting in cell oxeiptosis and senescence to develop haematotoxicity in C57BL/6J mice.

The role of cannabidiol in aging

Aging is usually considered a key risk factor associated with multiple diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Furthermore, the burden of age-related diseases has become a global challenge. It is of great significance to search for drugs to extend lifespan and healthspan. Cannabidiol (CBD), a natural nontoxic phytocannabinoid, has been regarded as a potential candidate drug for antiaging. An increasing number of studies have suggested that CBD could benefit healthy longevity. Herein, we summarized the effect of CBD on aging and analyzed the possible mechanism. All these conclusions may provide a perspective for further study of CBD on aging.

The Effects and Regulatory Mechanism of Casein-Derived Peptide VLPVPQK in Alleviating Insulin Resistance of HepG2 Cells

The liver plays a key role in keeping the homeostasis of glucose and lipid metabolism. Insulin resistance of the liver induced by extra glucose and lipid ingestion contributes greatly to chronic metabolic disease, which is greatly threatening to human health. The small peptide, VLPVPQK, originating from casein hydrolysates of milk, shows various health-promoting functions. However, the effects of VLPVPQK on metabolic disorders of the liver are still not fully understood. Therefore, in the present study, the effects and regulatory mechanism of VLPVPQK on insulin-resistant HepG2 cells was further investigated. The results showed that VLPVPQK exerted strong scavenging capacities against various free radicals, including oxygen radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and cellular reactive oxygen species. In addition, supplementation of VLPVPQK (62.5, 125, and 250 μM) significantly reversed the high glucose and fat (30 mM glucose and 0.2 mM palmitic acid) induced decrement of glucose uptake in HepG2 cells without affecting cell viability. Furthermore, VLPVPQK intervention affected the transcriptomic profiling of the cells. The differentially expressed (DE) genes (FDR < 0.05, and absolute fold change (FC) > 1.5) between VLPVPQK and the model group were mostly enriched in the carbohydrate metabolism-related KEGG pathways. Interestingly, the expression of two core genes (HKDC1 and G6PC1) involved in the above pathways was dramatically elevated after VLPVPQK intervention, which played a key role in regulating glucose metabolism. Furthermore, supplementation of VLPVPQK reversed the high glucose and fat-induced depression of AKR1B10. Overall, VLPVPQK could alleviate the metabolic disorder of hepatocytes by elevating the glucose uptake and eliminating the ROS, while the HKDC1 and AKR1B10 genes might be the potential target genes and play important roles in the process.

Adding New Scientific Evidences on the Pharmaceutical Properties of Pelargonium quercetorum Agnew Extracts by Using In Vitro and In Silico Approaches

Pelargonium quercetorum is a medicinal plant traditionally used for treating intestinal worms. In the present study, the chemical composition and bio-pharmacological properties of P. quercetorum extracts were investigated. Enzyme inhibition and scavenging/reducing properties of water, methanol, and ethyl acetate extracts were assayed. The extracts were also studied in an ex vivo experimental model of colon inflammation, and in this context the gene expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) were assayed. Additionally, in colon cancer HCT116 cells, the gene expression of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M (melastatin) member 8 (TRPM8), possibly involved in colon carcinogenesis, was conducted as well. The extracts showed a different qualitative and quantitative content of phytochemicals, with water and methanol extracts being richer in total phenols and flavonoids, among which are flavonol glycosides and hydroxycinnamic acids. This could explain, at least in part, the higher antioxidant effects shown by methanol and water extracts, compared with ethyl acetate extract. By contrast, the ethyl acetate was more effective as cytotoxic agent against colon cancer cells, and this could be related, albeit partially, to the content of thymol and to its putative ability to downregulate TRPM8 gene expression. Additionally, the ethyl acetate extract was effective in inhibiting the gene expression of COX-2 and TNFα in isolated colon tissue exposed to LPS. Overall, the present results support future studies for investigating protective effects against gut inflammatory diseases.

Comparison of chemical compositions, antioxidant activities, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities between coffee flowers and leaves as potential novel foods

This study aimed to compare chemical compositions, antioxidant activities, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of coffee flowers (ACF) and coffee leaves (ACL) with green coffee beans (ACGB) of Coffea Arabica L. The chemical compositions were determined by employing high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) techniques. Antioxidant effects of the components were evaluated using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities were also evaluated. The coffee sample extracts contained a total of 214 components identified by HPLC-MS and belonged to 12 classes (such as nucleotides and amino acids and their derivatives, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, benzene, phenylpropanoids, and lipids.), where phenylpropanoids were the dominant component (>30%). The contents of flavonoids, alkaloids, saccharides, and carboxylic acid and its derivatives in ACF and ACL varied significantly (p < .05) compared to similar components in ACGB. Meanwhile, 30 differentially changed chemical compositions (variable importance in projection [VIP] > 1, p < .01 and fold change [FC] > 4, or <0.25), that determine the difference in characteristics, were confirmed in the three coffee samples. Furthermore, among 25 volatile chemical components identified by GC-MS, caffeine, n-hexadecanoic acid, 2,2'-methylenebis[6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl-phenol], and quinic acid were common in these samples with caffeine being the highest in percentage. In addition, ACL showed the significantly highest (p < .05) DPPH radical scavenging capacity with IC50 value of 0.491 ± 0.148 mg/ml, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity with inhibition ratio 25.18 ± 2.96%, whereas ACF showed the significantly highest (p < .05) ABTS radical scavenging activity with 36.413 ± 1.523 mmol trolox/g Ex. The results suggested that ACL and ACF had potential values as novel foods in the future.

In vitro enzymatic evaluation of some pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives: Design, synthesis, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-Alzheimer, and anti-arthritic activities with molecular modeling simulation

The strategy of utilizing nitrogen compounds in various biological applications has recently emerged as a powerful approach to exploring novel classes of therapeutics to face the challenge of diseases. A series of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-based compounds 3a-l and 5a-f were prepared by the direct cyclo-condensation reaction of 5-amino-1H-pyrazoles 1a, b with 2-(arylidene)malononitriles and 3-(dimethylamino)-1-aryl-prop-2-en-1-ones, respectively. The structures of the new pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine compounds were confirmed via spectroscopic techniques. The in vitro biological activities of all pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines 3a-l and 5a-f were evaluated by assaying total antioxidant capacity, iron-reducing power, the scavenging activity against 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals, anti-diabetic, anti-Alzheimer, and anti-arthritic biological activities. All compounds displayed good to potent bioactivity, and three compounds 3g, 3h, and 3l displayed the most active derivatives. Among these derivatives, compound 3l exhibited the highest antioxidant (total antioxidant capacity [TAC] = 83.09 mg gallic acid/g; iron-reducing power [IRP] = 47.93 µg/ml) and free radicals scavenging activities with (DPPH = 18.77 µg/ml; ABTS = 40.44%) compared with ascorbic acid (DPPH = 4.28 µg/ml; ABTS = 38.84%). Furthermore, compound 3l demonstrated the strongest inhibition of α-amylase with a percent inhibition of 72.91 ± 0.14 compared to acarbose = 67.92 ± 0.09%. Similarly, it displayed acetylcholinesterase inhibition of 62.80 ± 0.06%. However, compound 3i showed a significantly higher inhibition percentage for protein denaturation and proteinase at 20.66 ± 0.00 and 26.42 ± 0.06%, respectively. Additionally, some in silico ADMET properties were predicted and studied. Finally, molecular docking simulation was performed inside the active site of α-amylase and acetylcholinesterase to study their interactions.

Ergothioneine and its prospects as an anti-ageing compound

Healthy ageing is a crucial process that needs to be highlighted as it affects the quality of lifespan. An increase in oxidative stress along with ageing is the major factor related to the age-associated diseases, especially neurodegenerative disorders. An antioxidant-rich diet has been proven to play a significant role in the ageing process. Targeting ageing mechanisms could be a worthwhile approach to improving health standards. Ergothioneine (EGT), a hydrophilic compound with specific transporter known as OCTN1, has been shown to exert anti-ageing properties. In addition to its antioxidant effect, EGT has been reported to have anti-senescence, anti-inflammatory and anti-neurodegenerative properties. This review aims to define the pivotal role of EGT in major signalling pathways in ageing such as insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signalling (IIS), sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) and mammalian target of rapamycin complex (mTOR) pathways. The review further discusses evidence of EGT on neurodegeneration in its therapeutic context in various model organisms, providing new insights into improving health. In conclusion, an ergothioneine-rich diet may be beneficial in preventing age-related diseases, resulting in a healthy ageing population.

Asparagus cochinchinensis: A review of its botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and applications

Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. (A. cochinchinensis) is a traditional herbal medicine that is used to treat constipation, fever, pneumonia, stomachache, tracheitis, rhinitis, cataract, acne, urticaria. More than 90 compounds have been identified from different structural types in A. cochinchinensis, including steroidal saponins, C21-steroides, lignans, polysaccharides, amino acids, etc. These bioactive ingredients make A. cochinchinensis remarkable for its pharmacological effects on anti-asthma, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, anti-tumor, improving Alzheimer’s disease, neuroprotection, gut health-promoting and so on. Moreover, A. cochinchinensis also plays an important role in food, health product, cosmetic, and other fields. This review focused on the research publications of A. cochinchinensis and aimed to summarize the advances in the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and applications which will provide reference for the further studies and applications of A. cochinchinensis.

Anti-Aging Effect of Agrocybe aegerita Polysaccharide through Regulation of Oxidative Stress and Gut Microbiota

Polysaccharides extracted from Agrocybe aegerita (AAPS) have various physiological effects. In this study, we used the naturally aging Drosophila melanogaster and D-galactose-induced aging mice as animal models to study the anti-aging effects of AAPS via the alleviation of oxidative stress and regulation of gut microbiota. Results showed that AAPS could significantly prolong lifespan and alleviate oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂ of Drosophila melanogaster. In addition, AAPS significantly increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes in Drosophila melanogaster and mice, and reduced the content of MDA. Furthermore, AAPS reshaped the disordered intestinal flora, increased the abundance ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes, and increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus. Our results demonstrated that AAPS had good antioxidant and potential anti-aging effects in vivo.

Resveratrol Analogues as Dual Inhibitors of Monoamine Oxidase B and Carbonic Anhydrase VII: A New Multi-Target Combination for Neurodegenerative Diseases?

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are described as multifactorial and progressive syndromes with compromised cognitive and behavioral functions. The multi-target-directed ligand (MTDL) strategy is a promising paradigm in drug discovery, potentially leading to new opportunities to manage such complex diseases. Here, we studied the dual ability of a set of resveratrol (RSV) analogs to inhibit two important targets involved in neurodegeneration. The stilbenols 1−9 were tested as inhibitors of the human monoamine oxidases (MAOs) and carbonic anhydrases (CAs). The studied compounds displayed moderate to excellent in vitro enzyme inhibitory activity against both enzymes at micromolar/nanomolar concentrations. Among them, the best compound 4 displayed potent and selective inhibition against the MAO-B isoform (IC50 MAO-A 0.43 µM vs. IC50 MAO-B 0.01 µM) with respect to the parent compound resveratrol (IC50 MAO-A 13.5 µM vs. IC50 MAO-B > 100 µM). It also demonstrated a selective inhibition activity against hCA VII (KI 0.7 µM vs. KI 4.3 µM for RSV). To evaluate the plausible binding mode of 1−9 within the two enzymes, molecular docking and dynamics studies were performed, revealing specific and significant interactions in the active sites of both targets. The new compounds are of pharmacological interest in view of their considerably reduced toxicity previously observed, their physicochemical and pharmacokinetic profiles, and their dual inhibitory ability. Compound 4 is noteworthy as a promising lead in the development of MAO and CA inhibitors with therapeutic potential in neuroprotection.

Identification and Development of an Age-Related Classification and Signature to Predict Prognosis and Immune Landscape in Osteosarcoma

Background. In childhood and adolescence, the prevailing bone tumor is osteosarcoma associated with frequent recurrence and lung metastasis. This research focused on predicting the survival and immune landscape of osteosarcoma by developing a prognostic signature and establishing aging-related genes (ARGs) subtypes. Methods. The training group comprised of the transcriptomic and associated clinical data of 84 patients with osteosarcoma accessed at the TARGET database and the validation group consisted of 53 patients from GSE21257. The aging-related subtypes were identified using unsupervised consensus clustering analysis. The ARG signature was developed utilizing multivariate Cox analysis and LASSO regression. The prognostic value was assessed using the univariate and multivariate Cox analyses, Kaplan-Meier plotter, time-dependent ROC curve, and nomogram. The functional enrichment analyses were performed by GSEA, GO, and KEGG analysis, while the ssGSEA, ESTIMATE, and CIBERSORT analyses were conducted to reveal the immune landscape in osteosarcoma. Results. The two clusters of osteosarcoma patients formed based on 543 ARGs, depicted a considerable difference in the tumor microenvironment, and the overall survival and immune cell infiltration rate varied as well. Among these, the selected 23 ARGs were utilized for the construction of an efficient predictive prognostic signature for the overall survival prediction. The testing in the validation group of osteosarcoma patients confirmed the status of the high-risk score as an independent indicator for poor prognosis, which was already identified as such using the univariate and multivariate Cox analyses. Furthermore, the ARG signature could distinguish different immune-related functions, infiltration status of immune cells, and tumor microenvironment, as well as predict the immunotherapy response of osteosarcoma patients. Conclusion. The aging-related subtypes were identified and a prognostic signature was developed in this research, which determined different prognoses and allowed for treatment of osteosarcoma patients to be tailored. Additionally, the immunotherapeutic response of individuals with osteosarcoma could also be predicted by the ARG signature.