Capsaicin prevents ethanol-induced teratogenicity in cultured mouse whole embryos

Effect of Postnatal Epigallocatechin-Gallate Treatment on Cardiac Function in Mice Prenatally Exposed to Alcohol

Prenatal alcohol exposure affects the cardiovascular health of the offspring. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) may be a protective agent against it, but no data are available regarding its impact on cardiac dysfunction. We investigated the presence of cardiac alterations in mice prenatally exposed to alcohol and the effect of postnatal EGCG treatment on cardiac function and related biochemical pathways. C57BL/6J pregnant mice received 1.5 g/kg/day (Mediterranean pattern), 4.5 g/kg/day (binge pattern) of ethanol, or maltodextrin until Day 19 of pregnancy. Post-delivery, treatment groups received EGCG-supplemented water. At post-natal Day 60, functional echocardiographies were performed. Heart biomarkers of apoptosis, oxidative stress, and cardiac damage were analyzed by Western blot. BNP and Hif1α increased and Nrf2 decreased in mice prenatally exposed to the Mediterranean alcohol pattern. Bcl-2 was downregulated in the binge PAE drinking pattern. Troponin I, glutathione peroxidase, and Bax increased in both ethanol exposure patterns. Prenatal alcohol exposure led to cardiac dysfunction in exposed mice, evidenced by a reduced ejection fraction, left ventricle posterior wall thickness at diastole, and Tei index. EGCG postnatal therapy restored the physiological levels of these biomarkers and improved cardiac dysfunction. These findings suggest that postnatal EGCG treatment attenuates the cardiac damage caused by prenatal alcohol exposure in the offspring.

Natural capsicum extract replacing chlortetracycline enhances performance via improving digestive enzyme activities, antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory function, and gut health in weaned pigs

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of natural capsicum extract (NCE, containing 2% natural capsaicin, the rest is carrier) replacing chlortetracycline (CTC) on performance, digestive enzyme activities, antioxidant capacity, inflammatory cytokines, and gut health in weaned pigs. A total of 108 weaned pigs (Duroc × [Landrace × Yorkshire], initial body weight = 8.68 ± 1.34 kg; weaned on d 28) were randomly allotted into 3 treatments with 6 replicate pens per treatment (3 barrows and 3 gilts per pen). The treatments include a corn-soybean meal basal diet as a control group (CON), a CTC group (basal diet + CTC at 75 mg/kg), and a NCE group (basal diet + NEC at 80 mg/kg). Compared with CON and CTC, NCE had increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain in phase 2 (d 15 to 28) and overall (d 1 to 28), and higher (P < 0.05) apparent total tract digestibility of gross energy, dry matter, crude protein, and organic matter in phase 1 (d 1 to 14). These pigs also had increased (P < 0.05) pancrelipase activity in pancreas, α-amylase, lipase and protease activities in the jejunal mucosa, and lipase activity in the ileal mucosa on d 28. Moreover, NCE had increased (P < 0.05) the contents of growth hormone, β-endorphin, 5-hydroxytryptamine, total antioxidant capacity, total superoxide dismutase, catalase, and IL-10, as well as decreased (P < 0.05) contents of malondialdehyde, tumor nuclear factor-α, interferon-γ, and interleukin-6 in serum on d 28 compared with CON and CTC. NCE showed higher (P < 0.05) propionic acid, butyric acid and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) contents, and increased (P < 0.05) relative abundance of Faecalibacterium in colon, as well as higher (P < 0.05) propionic acid and total volatile fatty acids in cecum on d 28 compared with CON. In conclusion, NCE replacing CTC could enhance performance via improving digestive enzyme activities, antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory function, gut VFA composition and microbiota community in weaned pigs, and it could be used as a potential target for the development of feed additives.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with capsaicin and their oxidation resistance in meat preservation

In this work, capsaicin (CAP) was loaded into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with grain diameters of 50 nm, 100 nm and 400 nm by free diffusion to obtain the support materials Cap@MSN-50, Cap@MSN-100 and Cap@MSN-400, respectively. The loading capacity was separately calculated as 854.77, 713.86 and 649.09 (mg/g Cap/MSN) by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. An IFFM-E flow injection chemiluminescent analyzer was used for the slow-release experiment, which demonstrated that the MSN release of CAP proceeded with a slow-release effect and MSNs with a smaller grain diameter had a higher rate of slow release and stronger oxidation resistance. The prepared materials were used to maintain the freshness of ground beef by modified atmosphere packaging. After more than 5 days of storage, Cap@MSN-50 retained better oxidation resistance than CAP. The results show that loading CAP into mesoporous nanomaterials has the potential application value for long-term preservation and oxidation prevention of some foods.

Protective Effects of Dietary Capsaicin on the Initiation Step of a Two-Stage Hepatocarcinogenesis Rat Model

Capsaicin (CPS), an ingredient of Capsicum plants, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antitumoral properties. The mechanisms of CPS on hepatocarcinogenesis preclinical bioassays are not described. Thus, the protective effects CPS were evaluated in the early stages of chemically-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. Male Wistar rats received diet containing 0.01% or 0.02% CPS for 3 weeks. Afterwards, animals received a dose of hepatocarcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DEN, 100 mg/kg body weight). From weeks 4-12, groups had their diet replaced by a 0.05% phenobarbital supplemented one to promote DEN-induced preneoplastic lesions. Animals were euthanized 24 h after DEN administration (n = 5/group) or at week 12 (n = 9/group). The estimated CPS intake in rats resembled human consumption. At the end of week 3, dietary 0.02% CPS attenuated DEN-induced oxidative damage and, consequently, hepatocyte necrosis by reducing serum alanine aminotransferase levels, liver CD68-positive macrophages, lipid peroxidation, while increasing antioxidant glutathione system. Additionally, 0.02% CPS upregulated vanilloid Trpv1 receptor and anti-inflammatory epoxygenase Cyp2j4 genes in the liver. Ultimately, previous 0.02% CPS intake decreased the number of GST-P-positive preneoplastic lesions at week 12. Thus, CPS attenuated preneoplastic lesion development, primarily by diminishing DEN-induced oxidative liver injury. Findings indicate that CPS is a promising chemopreventive agent when administered after and during the early stages of hepatocarcinogenesis.

Fetal oxidative stress mechanisms of neurodevelopmental deficits and exacerbation by ethanol and methamphetamine

In utero exposure of mouse progeny to alcohol (ethanol, EtOH) and methamphetamine (METH) causes substantial postnatal neurodevelopmental deficits. One emerging pathogenic mechanism underlying these deficits involves fetal brain production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that alter signal transduction, and/or oxidatively damage cellular macromolecules like lipids, proteins, and DNA, the latter leading to altered gene expression, likely via non-mutagenic mechanisms. Even physiological levels of fetal ROS production can be pathogenic in biochemically predisposed progeny, and ROS formation can be enhanced by drugs like EtOH and METH, via activation/induction of ROS-producing NADPH oxidases (NOX), drug bioactivation to free radical intermediates by prostaglandin H synthases (PHS), and other mechanisms. Antioxidative enzymes, like catalase in the fetal brain, while low, provide critical protection. Oxidatively damaged DNA is normally rapidly repaired, and fetal deficiencies in several DNA repair proteins, including oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (OGG1) and breast cancer protein 1 (BRCA1), enhance the risk of drug-initiated postnatal neurodevelopmental deficits, and in some cases deficits in untreated progeny, the latter of which may be relevant to conditions like autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Risk is further regulated by fetal nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a ROS-sensing protein that upregulates an array of proteins, including antioxidative enzymes and DNA repair proteins. Imbalances between conceptal pathways for ROS formation, versus those for ROS detoxification and DNA repair, are important determinants of risk. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 108:108-130, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

In vivo protective effects of dietary curcumin and capsaicin against alcohol-induced oxidative stress

BALB/c mice were exposed to chronic alcohol-induced oxidative stress by intragastric administration of excessive ethanol (5 g/kg body weight) during the 24-week period. Curcumin (0.016%) or capsaicin (0.014%) containing diets were fed with or without ethanol treatment in four groups. There was no statistically significant difference in the behavioral test between all groups during the experimental period. Only one alcohol-treated mouse fed a normal diet showed a behavioral disorder and died before the raising period was completed. There were no effects on the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase in the brain. However, curcumin or capsaicin treatment prevented alcohol-induced decline in brain weight. Furthermore, the levels of malondialdehyde and phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide were significantly reduced in the brain tissue extract. The findings of this study demonstrated and confirmed the antioxidant effect of curcumin and capsaicin against alcohol-induced oxidative stress, and they suggest a direction for further studies.

Advances in the development of novel antioxidant therapies as an approach for fetal alcohol syndrome prevention

Ethanol is the most common human teratogen, and its consumption during pregnancy can produce a wide range of abnormalities in infants known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The major characteristics of FASD can be divided into: (i) growth retardation, (ii) craniofacial abnormalities, and (iii) central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction. FASD is the most common cause of nongenetic mental retardation in Western countries. Although the underlying molecular mechanisms of ethanol neurotoxicity are not completely determined, the induction of oxidative stress is believed to be one central process linked to the development of the disease. Currently, there is no known effective strategy for prevention (other than alcohol avoidance) or treatment. In the present review we will provide the state of art in the evidence for the use of antioxidants as a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment using whole-embryo and culture cells models of FASD. We conclude that the imbalance of the intracellular redox state contributes to the pathogenesis observed in FASD models, and we suggest that antioxidant therapy can be considered a new efficient strategy to mitigate the effects of prenatal ethanol exposure.

Emodin prevents ethanol-induced developmental anomalies in cultured mouse fetus through multiple activities

BACKGROUND

Maternal alcohol ingestion on pregnant period causes fetal alcohol syndrome including psychological and behavioral problems, and developmental abnormality. In this study, we investigated the effect of emodin, an active anthraquinone component found in the roots and bark of the genus Rhamnus (Buckthorn), on ethanol-induced teratogenesis during embryonic organogenesis.

METHODS

We cultured mouse embryos on embryonic day 8.5 for 2 days with ethanol (5 μl/3 ml) and/or emodin (1×10(-5) and 1×10(-4) μg/ml) using a whole embryo culture system and then investigated the developmental evaluation, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and expression patterns of cytoplasmic SOD (SOD1), mitochondrial SOD (SOD2), cytosolic glutathione peroxidase (cGPx), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), caspase 3, and hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α).

RESULTS

Morphological parameters, including growth in yolk sac and fetal head, body length, and development of the central nervous system, circulation system, sensory organs, skeletal system, and limbs in embryos exposed to ethanol were significantly decreased compared to those of the normal control group, but co-treatment with emodin (1 × 10(-5) and 1 × 10(-4) μg/ml) significantly improved these parameters. Furthermore, the reduced levels of SOD activity, and SOD1, SOD2, cGPx, and HIF-1α and the increased gene levels of TNF-α and caspase-3 due to ethanol exposure were significantly restored by cotreatment with emodin. Birth Defects Res (Part B) 98:268-275, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that cotreatment with emodin significantly prevented teratogenesis induced by ethanol, not only by modulating hypoxia and antioxidant enzymes, but also by attenuating the enhanced levels of TNF-α and caspase 3 in cultured embryos. Therefore, emodin may be an effective preventive agent for ethanol-induced teratogenesis.

Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase gene is regulated via an estrogen and estrogen receptor signaling in cultured mouse fetuses

Although it has been suggested that the transcription of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx), an essential antioxidant selenoenzyme, may be affected by the estrogen state in mammals, the direct mechanism underlying the regulation of the PHGPx gene by estrogens in mammalian tissues remains to be clearly elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the expression of the PHGPx mRNA in cultured mouse fetuses (embryonic days 8.5-10.5) exposed to 17β-estradiol (E(2); 0.1, 1, 10, 100, and 1,000 ng/ml); estrogen receptor (ER) agonists [propyl pyrazole triol (PPT, an ERα-selective ligand, 1 μl/ml) and diarylpropionitrile (DPN, an ERβ-selective ligand, 1 μl/ml)]; and/or ER antagonist [ICI 182,780 (ICI, 1 μl/ml)] using a whole embryo culture system. E(2)-alone treatment significantly stimulated the expressions of both ERα and ERβ mRNAs in all the cultured fetuses (p < 0.05), although the ERβ mRNA levels were higher than ERα mRNA. PHGPx mRNA expression was significantly increased in all the fetuses treated with E(2) (1-1,000 ng/ml), PPT, and DPN (p < 0.05). Furthermore, pretreatment with ICI completely blocked the E(2)-induced PHGPx mRNA expression in the fetuses. In addition, the mRNA levels of cytosolic GPx, the other intracellular antioxidant selenoenzyme, did not differ significantly from the controls by an exposure to those agents. These results suggest that the PHGPx gene is regulated via an estrogen and ER signal pathway in the cultured mouse fetus.

Emodin and [6]-gingerol lessen hypoxia-induced embryotoxicities in cultured mouse whole embryos via upregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and intracellular superoxide dismutases

Excess hypoxia during embryonic organogenesis leads to developmental abnormalities and postnatal deficits. To determine whether emodin and [6]-gingerol affects hypoxia-induced anomalies during embryonic organogenesis, we cultured embryonic day 8.5 mouse embryos under hypoxic conditions (5% O(2)) for 2 days with or without emodin (1 × 10(-8) μg/mL), [6]-gingerol (1 × 10(-9) μg/mL), and SOD mimetics MnTBAP (1 × 10(2) nM/mL) and then investigated the developmental changes and expression patterns of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase (SOD1), and mitochondrial SOD (SOD2) in the embryos. Hypoxic conditions induced various developmental anomalies in the growth stages and remarkably low levels of HIF-1α, SOD1 and SOD2 mRNAs, and SOD activity in the embryos; however, these effects were significantly reversed by treatment with emodin, [6]-gingerol, and MnTBAP, respectively. Our findings indicate that antioxidants such as emodin, [6]-gingerol, and MnTBAP lessen hypoxia-induced embryotoxicities via upregulation of HIF-1α and intracellular SODs.