The protective effects of the Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide against acrylamide-induced inflammation and oxidative damage in rats

Effects of Plant Polysaccharides Combined with Boric Acid on Digestive Function, Immune Function, Harmful Gas and Heavy Metal Contents in Faeces of Fatteners

The experiment aimed to investigate the effects of plant polysaccharides combined with boric acid on digestive function, immune function and harmful gas and heavy metal contents in the faeces of fatteners. For this study, 90 healthy crossbred fatteners were selected and randomly divided into five groups: the control group was fed with a basal diet (Con); experimental group I was fed with basal diet + 40 mg/kg boric acid (BA); experimental group II was fed with basal diet + 40 mg/kg boric acid + 400 mg/kg Astragalus polysaccharides (BA+APS); experimental group III was fed with basal diet + 40 mg/kg boric acid + 200 mg/kg Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (BA+GLP); and experimental group IV was fed with basal diet + 40 mg/kg boric acid + 500 mg/kg Echinacea polysaccharides (BA+EPS). Compared with Con, the average daily gain (ADG), the trypsin activities in the duodenum and jejunum, the IL-2 levels in the spleen, the T-AOC activities and GSH-Px contents in the lymph node of fattening were increased in the BA group (p < 0.05), but malondialdehyde content in the lymph and spleen, and the contents of NH3, H2S, Hg, Cu, Fe and Zn in the feces and urine were decreased (p < 0.05). Compared with the BA, the ADG, gain-to-feed ratio (G/F), the trypsin and maltase activities in the duodenum and jejunum were increased in the BA+APS (p < 0.05), and the T-SOD activities in the spleen and T-AOC activities in the lymph node were also increased (p < 0.05), but the H2S level was decreased in the feces and urine (p < 0.05). Compared with the BA, the ADG, G/F and the trypsin and maltase activities in the duodenum were increased in the BA+GLP and BA+EPS (p < 0.05), the activities of maltase and lipase in the duodenum of fatteners in the BA+GLP and the activities of trypsin, maltase and lipase in the BA+EPS were increased (p < 0.05). Gathering everything together, our findings reveal that the combined addition of boric acid and plant polysaccharides in the diet of fatteners synergistically improved their growth performance and immune status. That may be achieved by regulating the activity of intestinal digestive enzymes, improving the antioxidant function and then promoting the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Furthermore, the above results reduce the emission of harmful gases and heavy metals in feces and urine.

Updated Progress on Polysaccharides with Anti-Diabetic Effects through the Regulation of Gut Microbiota: Sources, Mechanisms, and Structure-Activity Relationships

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common chronic metabolic disease worldwide. The disturbance of the gut microbiota has a complex influence on the development of DM. Polysaccharides are one type of the most important natural components with anti-diabetic effects. Gut microbiota can participate in the fermentation of polysaccharides, and through this, polysaccharides regulate the gut microbiota and improve DM. This review begins by a summary of the sources, anti-diabetic effects and the gut microbiota regulation functions of natural polysaccharides. Then, the mechanisms of polysaccharides in regulating the gut microbiota to exert anti-diabetic effects and the structure-activity relationship are summarized. It is found that polysaccharides from plants, fungi, and marine organisms show great hypoglycemic activities and the gut microbiota regulation functions. The mechanisms mainly include repairing the gut burrier, reshaping gut microbiota composition, changing the metabolites, regulating anti-inflammatory activity and immune function, and regulating the signal pathways. Structural characteristics of polysaccharides, such as monosaccharide composition, molecular weight, and type of glycosidic linkage, show great influence on the anti-diabetic activity of polysaccharides. This review provides a reference for the exploration and development of the anti-diabetic effects of polysaccharides.

Disruption of intestinal epithelial permeability in the Co-culture system of Caco-2/HT29-MTX cells exposed individually or simultaneously to acrylamide and ochratoxin A

Mycotoxins and thermal processing hazards are common contaminants in various foods and cause severe problems in terms of food safety and health. Combined use of acrylamide (AA) and ochratoxin A (OTA) would result in more significant intestinal toxicity than either toxin alone, but the underlying mechanisms behind this poor outcome remain unclear. Herein, we established the co-culture system of Caco-2/HT29-MTX cells for simulating a real intestinal environment that is more sensitive to AA and OTA, and showed that the combination of AA and OTA could up-regulate permeability of the intestine via increasing LY permeabilization, and decreasing TEER, then induce oxidative stress imbalance (GSH, SOD, MDA, and ROS) and inflammatory system disorder (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, and IL-6), thereby leading a rapid decline in cell viability. Western blot, PAS- and AB-staining revealed that AA and OTA showed a synergistic effect on the intestine mainly through the disruption of tight junctions (TJs) and a mucus layer. Furthermore, based on correlation analysis, oxidative stress was more relevant to the mucus layer and TJs. Therefore, our findings provide a better evaluation model and a potential mechanism for further determining or preventing the combined toxicity caused by AA and OTA.

Fried food consumption, genetic risk, and incident obesity: a prospective study

Background and aims: Genetic and dietary factors contribute to adiposity risk, but little evidence supports genetic personalization of fried food intake recommendations for the management of obesity. This study aimed to assess the associations between fried food consumption and adiposity incidence and whether the associations were modified by an individual's genotype. Methods: We included 27 427 participants who had dietary data assessed by a validated 24 h dietary recall and available anthropometric information from the UK Biobank study. The genetic risk score (GRS) was calculated using 940 BMI associated variants. Results: With an average of 8.1 years of follow-up, 1472 and 2893 participants were defined as having overall obesity and abdominal obesity, respectively. Individuals in the highest categories of fried food consumption were positively associated with the risk of obesity (HR = 1.31; 95% CI 1.10-1.56) and abdominal obesity (HR = 1.27; 95% CI 1.12-1.45) compared with the lowest categories. Moreover, fried food consumption had a significant interatction with obesity GRS for abdominal obesity risk (P interaction = 0.016). Fried food intake was associated with a higher abdominal obesity risk (HR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.25-2.00) among participants with a lower genetic risk. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that fried food consumption had a higher abdominal obesity risk among individuals with a lower genetic risk, suggesting the restriction of fried food intake for this group of people.

From a toxin to an obesogen: a review of potential obesogenic roles of acrylamide with a mechanistic approach

Obesity and obesity-related disorders such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver have become a global health problem. It is well known that the primary cause of obesity is positive energy balance. In addition, obesity is the consequence of complex gene and environment interactions that result in excess calorie intake being stored as fat. However, it has been revealed that there are other factors contributing to the worsening of obesity. The presence of nontraditional risk factors, such as environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals, has recently been associated with obesity and comorbidities caused by obesity. The aim of this review was to examine the evidence and potential mechanisms for acrylamide having endocrine-disrupting properties contributing to obesity and obesity-related comorbidities. Recent studies have suggested that exposure to environmental endocrine-disrupting obesogens may be a risk factor contributing to the current obesity epidemic, and that one of these obesogens is acrylamide, an environmental and industrial compound produced by food processing, particularly the processing of foods such as potato chips, and coffee. In addition to the known harmful effects of acrylamide in humans and experimental animals, such as neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity, acrylamide also has an obesogenic effect. It has been shown in the literature to a limited extent that acrylamide may disrupt energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, adipogenesis, adipocyte differentiation, and various signaling pathways, and may exacerbate the disturbances in metabolic and biochemical parameters observed as a result of obesity. Acrylamide exerts its main potential obesogenic effects through body weight increase, worsening of the levels of obesity-related blood biomarkers, and induction of adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis. Additional mechanisms may be discovered. Further experimental studies and prospective cohorts are needed, both to supplement existing knowledge about acrylamide and its effects, and to clarify its established relationship with obesity and its comorbidities.

Structural characterization, anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activity of intracellular polysaccharide from Armillaria luteo-virens

Armillaria luteo-virens (A. luteo-virens) is a kind of edible fungus mainly exists in Qinghai-Tibet of China, but at present only very few studies focus on the bioactivities of its polysaccharides. This study aimed to purify and characterize the structure features of a novel intracellular polysaccharide (ALP-A) derived from A. luteo-virens and explore its potential anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activities. Through systematic separation and purification, we obtained a homogeneous ALP-A with an average molecular weight of 23693Da. Structural analysis indicated that ALP-A was mainly composed of glucose and mannose with a molar ratio of 6.02:1. The repeating unit of ALP-A was →4) -α-D-Glcp-(1→ backbone with α-Glcp-(1→ and α-Manp-(6→ side chains which branched at O-2 position. The anti-tumor assays in vivo suggested that ALP-A could effectively restrain S180 solid tumor growth, protect immune organs and promote the secretion of cytokines (IL2, IL6 and TNF-α) in serum. Besides, in vitro immunomodulatory assays indicated that ALP-A could improve proliferation, phagocytic capacity and raise the level of NO and cytokines in Raw264.7 cells. These results demonstrate that ALP-A which possess potential antitumor and immunomodulatory abilities can be developed as a new functional food.

Therapeutic role of boron on acrylamide-induced nephrotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and testicular toxicity in rats: Effects on Nrf2/Keap-1 signaling pathway and oxidative stress

BACKGROUND

Acrylamide (ACR) is a heat-related carcinogen used in cooking some foods as well as in other thermal treatments. The present study aims to investigate the possible protective effect of boron (BA) against ACR-induced toxicity of kidney, brain, heart, testis, and bladder tissues in rats.

METHODS

Rats have been divided into 5 equal groups: Control (saline), ACR (38.27 mg/kg), BA (20 mg/kg), BA+ ACR (10 mg/kg + ACR), and BA+ ACR (20 mg/kg BA+ACR). Kidney tissue from rats was collected and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. In addition, the kidneys of these animals, as well as the brain, heart, testes, and bladder tissues were examined for possible histological changes. Total Nrf2 and Keap-1 protein expression in kidney, heart, and testis tissues was examined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

While significant increases in MDA levels were observed in the kidneys of rats receiving ACR alone, significant decreases in antioxidant markers (SOD and GSH) were observed. Besides, kidney, brain, heart, and testicular tissues were analyzed and damage was observed in the groups receiving ACR. However, no significant histologic changes were noted in the bladder tissue. Both dosages of BA in combination with ACR improved the changes in ACR-induced antioxidant tissue parameters. Despite the fact that MDA levels were decreased with these two dosages, histological structural abnormalities were found to be greatly improved.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that BA has a strong protective effect on ACR-induced multi-organ toxicity. The study results show that BA could be a potential element to reduce ACR toxicity to which we are often exposed.

Single-chemical and mixture effects of multiple volatile organic compounds exposure on liver injury and risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a representative general adult population

Evidence on liver injury and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) exposure is insufficient. A cross-sectional study including 3011 US adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was conducted to explore the associations of urinary exposure biomarkers (EBs) for 13 VOCs (toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, styrene, acrylamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, acrolein, crotonaldehyde, 1,3-butadiene, acrylonitrile, cyanide, propylene oxide, and 1-bromopropane) with liver injury biomarkers and the risk of NAFLD by performing single-chemical (survey weight regression) and mixture (Bayesian kernel machine regression [BKMR] and weighted quantile sum [WQS]) analyses. We found significant positive associations of EBs for toluene and 1-bromopropane with alanine aminotransferase (ALT), EBs for toluene, crotonaldehyde, and 1,3-butadiene with asparate aminotransferase (AST), EBs for 1,3-butadiene and cyanide with alkaline phosphatase (ALP), EBs for xylene and cyanide with hepamet fibrosis score (HFS), EBs for the total 13 VOCs (except propylene oxide) with United States fatty liver index (USFLI), and EBs for xylene, N,N-dimethylformamide, acrolein, crotonaldehyde, and acrylonitrile with NALFD; and significant inverse associations of EBs for ethylbenzene, styrene, acrylamide, acrolein, crotonaldehyde, 1,3-butadiene, acrylonitrile, cyanide, and propylene oxide with total bilirubin, EBs for ethylbenzene, styrene, acrylamide, acrolein, 1,3-butadiene, acrylonitrile, and cyanide with albumin (ALB), EBs for ethylbenzene, styrene, acrylamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, acrolein, crotonaldehyde, 1,3-butadiene, acrylonitrile, cyanide, and propylene oxide with total protein (TP), and EB for 1-bromopropane with AST/ALT (all P-FDR<0.05). In BKMR and WQS, the mixture of VOC-EBs was significantly positively associated with ALT, AST, ALP, HFS, USFLI, and the risk of NAFLD, while significantly inversely associated with TBIL, ALB, TP, and AST/ALT. VOCs exposure was associated with liver injury and increased risk of NAFLD in US adults. These findings highlight that great attention should be paid to the potential risk of liver health damage from VOCs exposure.

The preventive effect of Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute colitis in mice by modulating gut microbial communities

Acute colitis is characterised by an unpredictable onset and causes intestinal flora imbalance together with microbial migration, which leads to complex parenteral diseases. Dexamethasone, a classic drug, has side effects, so it is necessary to use natural products without side effects to prevent enteritis. Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide (GPS) is an α-d-pyranoid polysaccharide with anti-inflammatory effects; however, its anti-inflammatory mechanism in the colon remains unknown. This study investigated whether GPS reduces the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response in acute colitis. The results revealed that GPS attenuated the upregulation of tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 in the serum and colon tissues and significantly reduced the malondialdehyde content in colon tissues. In addition, the 400 mg/kg GPS group showed higher relative expressions of occludin, claudin-1, and zona occludens-1 in colon tissues and lower concentrations of diamine oxidase, D-lactate, and endotoxin in the serum than the LPS group did, indicating that GPS improved the physical and chemical barrier functions of colon tissues. GPS increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Akkermansia, whereas pathogenic bacteria, such as Oscillospira and Ruminococcus were inhibited. Our findings indicate that GPS can effectively prevent LPS-induced acute colitis and exert beneficial effects on the intestinal health.

Therapeutic role of melatonin on acrylamide-induced hepatotoxicity in pinealectomized rats: Effects on oxidative stress, NF-κB signaling pathway, and hepatocellular proliferation

Acrylamide (AA) is formed in some foods by the cooking process at high temperatures, and it could be a carcinogen in humans and rodents. The purpose of the current study was to reveal the possible protective effects of melatonin against AA-induced hepatic oxidative stress, hepatic inflammation, and hepatocellular proliferation in pinealectomized rats. Hence, the sham and pinealectomized rats were consecutively given AA alone (25 mg/kg) or with melatonin (10 mg/kg) for 21 days. Melatonin acts as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic agent and introduces as a therapeutic strategy for AA-induced hepatotoxicity. Melatonin supplementation reduced AA-caused liver damage by decreasing the serum AST, ALT, and ALP levels. Melatonin raised the activities of SOD and CAT and levels of GSH and suppressed hepatic inflammation (TNF-α) and hepatic oxidative stress in liver tissues. Moreover, histopathological alterations and the disturbances in immunohistochemical expression of NF-κB and Ki67 were improved after melatonin treatment in AA-induced hepatotoxicity. Overall, our results demonstrate that melatonin supplementation exhibits adequate hepatoprotective effects against hepatotoxicity of AA on pinealectomized rat liver architecture and the tissue function through the equilibration of oxidant/antioxidant status, the regulation of cell proliferation and the suppression of the release of proinflammatory cytokines.

Acrylamide in food: Occurrence, metabolism, molecular toxicity mechanism and detoxification by phytochemicals

Acrylamide (ACR) is a common pollutant formed during food thermal processing such as frying, baking and roasting. ACR and its metabolites can cause various negative effects on organisms. To date, there have been some reviews summarizing the formation, absorption, detection and prevention of ACR, but there is no systematic summary on the mechanism of ACR-induced toxicity. In the past five years, the molecular mechanism for ACR-induced toxicity has been further explored and the detoxification of ACR by phytochemicals has been partly achieved. This review summarizes the ACR level in foods and its metabolic pathways, as well as highlights the mechanisms underlying ACR-induced toxicity and ACR detoxification by phytochemicals. It appears that oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy, biochemical metabolism and gut microbiota disturbance are involved in various ACR-induced toxicities. In addition, the effects and possible action mechanisms of phytochemicals, including polyphenols, quinones, alkaloids, terpenoids, as well as vitamins and their analogs on ACR-induced toxicities are also discussed. This review provides potential therapeutic targets and strategies for addressing various ACR-induced toxicities in the future.

Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Protecting IEC-6 Cells from Acrylamide-Induced Tight Junction Damage by Ganoderma atrum Polysaccharide

SCOPE

The previous in vivo studies show Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide (PSG-F₂ ) has a protective effect against the acrylamide (AA)-induced intestinal oxidative damage in rats. Now, this study aims to explore the protective mechanism with IEC-6 cell model.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Based on RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq), the study screens MAPK signaling pathway as one of the most crucial pathways for pretreatment with PSG-F₂   against AA-induced damage in IEC-6 cells. In total, six key MAPK signaling pathway-related proteins (p-P38/P38, p-ERK/ERK, and p-JNK/JNK), and three tight junction key proteins (Zonula Occludens protein-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin) are detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence, which verify the RNA-Seq data. Moreover, PD98059 interference inhibits critical proteins in the MAPK signaling pathway, thus uncovering the precise molecular mechanisms of MAPK/ERK signaling pathway involve in the protective effects of PSG-F₂ against AA-induced intestinal barrier damage.

CONCLUSION

These findings confirm that PSG-F₂ can be used as a daily dietary supplement to protect the intestinal cells from damage caused by thermal processing hazards AA.

Effects of kiwi fruit (Actinidia chinensis) polysaccharides on metabolites and gut microbiota of acrylamide-induced mice

Introduction

Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) has rich nutritious and medicinal properties. It is widely consumed worldwide for the intervention of metabolism disorders, however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Acrylamide, a well-known toxic ingredient, mainly forms in high-temperature processed carbohydrate-rich food and causes disorders of gut microbiota and systemic metabolism.

Methods

This study explored the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of kiwifruit polysaccharides against acrylamide-induced disorders of gut microbiota and systemic metabolism by measuring the changes of gut microbiota and serum metabolites in mice.

Results

The results showed that kiwifruit polysaccharides remarkably alleviated acrylamide-induced toxicity in mice by improving their body features, histopathologic morphology of the liver, and decreased activities of liver function enzymes. Furthermore, the treatment restored the healthy gut microbiota of mice by improving the microbial diversity and abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus. Metabolomics analysis revealed the positive effects of kiwifruit polysaccharides mainly occurred through amino and bile acid-related metabolism pathways including nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism. Additionally, correlation analysis indicated that Lactobacillus exhibited a highly significant correlation with critical metabolites of bile acid metabolism.

Discussion

Concisely, kiwifruit polysaccharides may protect against acrylamide-induced toxicity by regulating gut microbiota and metabolism.

The protective effect of Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide on intestinal barrier function damage induced by acrylamide in mice through TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB based on the iTRAQ analysis

The potential mechanism for the protective effect of Ganoderma atrum (G. atrum) polysaccharide (PSG-1) on acrylamide (AA) induced intestinal damage in mice was explored. Results showed that PSG-1 pretreatment prevented AA-induced injury by decreasing intestinal permeability and serum D-lactate acid (D-Lac) levels and increasing the number of small intestinal goblet cells and IgA secreting cells. In addition, PSG-1 pretreatment effectively reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) level and raised superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) activities in the intestine. Furthermore, PSG-1 administration decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory factors including IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6, while the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 was elevated. Meanwhile, PSG-1 could increase the performance of tight junction (TJ) proteins such as Occludin, Claudin-1 and ZO-1. Moreover, according to the isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) and Western blot results, PSG-1 could reduce AA-induced intestinal injury through TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Overall, the present study suggested that PSG-1 protected intestinal permeability and barrier function in mice via reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, and effectively prevented AA-induced intestinal injury in mice.

The role of Bax/Bcl-2 and Nrf2-Keap-1 signaling pathways in mediating the protective effect of boric acid on acrylamide-induced acute liver injury in rats

INTRODUCTION

This study aims to investigate whether boric acid (BA) can protect rats from acrylamide (AA)-induced acute liver injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

AA was used to induce acute liver injury. Thirty rats were divided into five group including Group 1 (saline), Group 2 (AA), Group 3 (20 mg/kg BA), Group 4 (10 mg/kg BA+AA) and Group 5 (20 mg/kg BA+AA). Their blood and liver were harvested to be kept for analysis. Liver function enzyme activities were performed by spectrophotometric method. Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and malondialdehyde levels were determined by colorimetric method. The in-silico studies were performed using the "blind docking" method.

RESULTS

Administration AA to rats, biochemical parameters, liver histology, and expression levels of apoptotic markers were negatively affected. However, after the administration of BA, the altered biochemical parameters, liver histology, and expression levels of apoptotic markers were reversed. Moreover, the mechanisms of AA-induced deterioration in the levels of SOD, CAT, and Nrf2-Keap-1 and the mechanisms of the protective effect of BA against these deteriorations were explained by in silico studies.

CONCLUSION

Thus, the present study could explain the interactions between AA and thiol-containing amino acid residues of Keap-1, the effect of BA on these interactions, and the biochemical toxicity caused by the AA. In this sense, this work is the first of its kind in the literature. Based on the biochemical, histopathological, and in silico results, it can be suggested that BA has the potential to be used as a protective agent against AA-induced liver injury.

Neuroprotection by melatonin against acrylamide-induced brain damage in pinealectomized rats

The current study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of exogenous melatonin against acrylamide (ACR)-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory and apoptotic responses in the brain tissues in pinealectomized rats (PINX). ACR is a toxic chemical carcinogen that occurs owing to the preparation of carbohydrate-rich foods at high temperatures or other thermal processes. The rats who underwent pinealectomy and sham pinealectomy were exposed to ACR (25 mg/kg b.w., orally) alone or with exogenous melatonin (10 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) for 21 consecutive days. Alterations of brain oxidant/antioxidant status, dopamine (DA), Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF) inflammatory mediator and apoptosis during exposure to ACR in pinealectomized rats were more than without pinealectomized rats. Histopathological changes were more in brain tissue of pinealectomized rats after ACR administration. Exogenous melatonin treatment in ACR -exposed rats following pinealectomy increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and improved brain total antioxidant status (TAS) compared to PINX+ACR. Moreover, melatonin suppressed lipid peroxidation, inflammatory pathways and apoptosis in ACR-intoxicated brain tissues. In addition, after exposure to ACR on pinealectomized rats, melatonin treatment ameliorated BDNF and DA levels in brain tissues. Furthermore, exogenous melatonin intervention in ACR-intoxicated rats significantly rescued the architecture of neuronal tissues. In summary, the present study, for the first time, suggested that exogenous melatonin treatment could reduce oxidative damage by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes, inhibiting lipid peroxidation and inflammation, and improving histopathological alterations in the brain tissue of pinealectomized rats after ACR administration.

Protective Effect of Lycium ruthenicum Polyphenols on Oxidative Stress against Acrylamide Induced Liver Injury in Rats

Acrylamide (ACR) is formed during tobacco and carbohydrate-rich food heating and is widely applied in many industries, with a range of toxic effects. The antioxidant properties of Lycium ruthenicum polyphenols (LRP) have been established before. This study aimed to research the protective effect of LRP against ACR-induced liver injury in SD rats. Rats were divided into six groups: Control, ACR (40 mg/kg/day, i.g.), LRP (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day, i.g.) plus ACR, and LRP groups. After 19 days, we evaluated oxidative status and mitochondrial functions in the rat’s liver. The results showed that glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels increased after LRP pretreatment. In contrast, each intervention group reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to the ACR group. Meanwhile, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), liver mitochondrial ATPase activity, mRNA expression of mitochondrial complex I, III, and expression of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream proteins were all increased. This study suggested that LRP could reduce ACR-induced liver injury through potent antioxidant activity. LRP is recommended as oxidative stress reliever against hepatotoxicity.

Acute Treatment with Nicotinamide Riboside Chloride Reduces Hippocampal Damage and Preserves the Cognitive Function of Mice with Ischemic Injury

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a critical cosubstrate for enzymes involved in supplying energy to the brain. Nicotinamide riboside (NR), an NAD⁺ precursor, emerges as a neuroprotective factor after chronic brain insults. However, researchers have not determined whether it improves cognition after acute ischemia. In the present study, mice with middle cerebral artery occlusion were treated with NR chloride (NRC, 300 mg/kg, IP., 20 min after reperfusion). The results of the Morris water maze test revealed better recovery of learning and memory function in the NRC-treated group. Acute NRC treatment decreased hippocampal infarct volume, reduced neuronal loss and apoptosis in the hippocampus. Western blot and high-performance liquid chromatography assays of hippocampal tissues revealed that the activation of Sirtin-1 and adenosine 5' monophosphate-activated protein kinase was increased, the NAD content was elevated, and the production of adenosine triphosphate was strengthened by NRC. Collectively, acute NRC treatment increased the energy supply, reduced the neuronal loss and apoptosis, protected the hippocampus and ultimately promoted the recovery of cognitive function after brain ischemia.

Taify Pomegranate Juice (TPJ) Abrogates Acrylamide-Induced Oxidative Stress Through the Regulation of Antioxidant Activity, Inflammation, and Apoptosis-Associated Genes

Acrylamide (ACR) has various effects on biological systems, including oxidative stress and its associated metabolic disorders. Previous research reports that plants growing at high altitude have a different profile of antioxidants. In the current report, the Taify pomegranate juice (TPJ) of the Taify pomegranate growing at the Taif region (high altitude), Saudi Arabia, was investigated for its protective activity from ACR-induced oxidative stress. Rats were treated with ACR, TPJ, or TPJ+ACR, and various assays, including blood chemistry, liver function biomarkers, gene expression of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, oxidative stress regulatory genes, inflammation biomarkers, and apoptosis, were estimated using biochemical, real-time PCR, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analysis. TPJ showed a protective function of ACR-induced alteration of AST, ALT, GGT, urea, total proteins, albumin, MDA, and NO. It also increased the level of the endogenous antioxidative enzymes, including SOD, catalase, and GSH. It showed anti-inflammatory activity by reduction the TNF-α, IL-6 secretion and the enhancing of IL-10 levels. At the gene expression level, TPJ upregulated the expression of endogenous antioxidant genes (SOD and catalase) and of antioxidant-regulating genes Nrf2 and HO-1; downregulated the expression of inflammatory genes TGF-β1, COX2, and the apoptotic gene caspase-3; and upregulated the expression of antiapoptotic gene Bcl2. At the histological level, TPJ showed a protective effect from the ACR-induced hepatic histological damage. Results of this study conclude that TPJ has a protective effect from ACR-induced oxidative stress and its associated metabolic alterations through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

The Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Apoptotic and Antioxidant Effects of a Pomegranate-Peel Extract against Acrylamide-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

The Acrylamide is a toxic compound generated under oxidative stress arising from intracellular ROS production and induced toxicity. It is frequently used in industry and generated through the heating of tobacco and foods high in carbohydrates. The exact mechanism of its toxicity is still unclear. In this study, an extract of the peels of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), a nutritious and visually appealing fruit with a diverse bioactive profile, was examined for its potential anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. A total of 40 adult male Wistar rats were allocated into four groups of 10 rats each: Group 1 was a negative-control group (CNT) and received normal saline; Group 2 was a positive-control acrylamide group and received acrylamide orally at a dose of 20 mg/kg/bw; in Group 3, the rats were supplemented with pomegranate-peel extract (P.P; 150 mg/kg/bw) orally on a daily basis for 3 weeks, administered simultaneously with the acrylamide treatment described for Group 2; Group 4 was a protective group, and the animals received the pomegranate-peel extract and acrylamide as stated for Groups 2 and 3, with the pomegranate-peel extract (P.P. extract) administered 1 week earlier than the acrylamide. The results indicate that acrylamide exposure increased the serum levels of AST, ALT, creatinine, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-6 in an extraordinary manner. In addition, it increased the lipid peroxidation marker malondialdehyde (MDA) and simultaneously weakened antioxidant biomarker activities (SOD, GSH, and catalase) and reduced the levels of interleukin-10. The pomegranate-peel extract was shown to reduce the inflammatory blood markers of interleukin-1 beta and IL-6. Glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and interleukin-10 were all significantly elevated in comparison to the acrylamide-treatment group as a result of the significant reduction in MDA levels induced by the P.P extract. In addition, the pomegranate-peel extract normalized the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), and caspase-3 levels, with a significant upregulation of the mRNA expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), nuclear factor erythroid 2 (Nrf2), and Bcl-2. Therefore, these data reveal that pomegranate peel has anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, free-radical-scavenging, and powerful antioxidant activity that protects against acrylamide toxicity.

The Protective Impact of Salsola imbricata Leaf Extract From Taif Against Acrylamide-Induced Hepatic Inflammation and Oxidative Damage: The Role of Antioxidants, Cytokines, and Apoptosis-Associated Genes

Salsola imbricata is a herbal plant native to Saudi Arabia, known for its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. This study explored the protective effects of an ethanolic leaf extract of Salsola imbricata against the oxidative stress and hepatic injury caused by acrylamide. Rats received intragastric administrations of 20 mg/kg of body weight of acrylamide to induce hepatic injury, or 300 mg/kg of body weight of Salsola ethanolic extract orally for 7 days before acrylamide administration. The treatments were continued for 3 weeks. Blood and liver samples were collected from all the groups, and the following biochemical parameters were tested: serum ALT (alanine aminotransferase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), GGT (gamma glutaryl transferase), urea, albumin, total proteins, catalase, SOD (superoxide dismutase), reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), and MDA (malondialdehyde). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to examine the expression of Nrf2 (Nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2), HO-1 (Hemoxygenase-1), COX-2 (Cyclooxgenase-2), TGF-β1 (transforming growth factor-beta1), Bax, and Bcl2 (B-cell lymphoma 2), which are associated with oxidative stress, fibrosis, apoptosis, and anti-apoptotic effects. The annexin and survivin immunoreactivity were examined at the immunohistochemical level. Pretreatment with the Salsola ethanolic extract reduced the negative impact of acrylamide on ALT, AST, GGT, urea, albumin, and total proteins. The Salsola ethanolic extract reversed acrylamide's effects on serum and tissue antioxidants. Nrf2/HO-1 expression was downregulated, while COX-2 and TGF-β1 were upregulated in the acrylamide-administered group and normalized by the pre-administration of Salsola ethanolic extract to the acrylamide experimental group. The immunoreactivity of annexin and survivin was restored in the experimental group administered Salsola ethanolic extract plus acrylamide. In conclusion, Salsola ethanolic extract inhibits and regulates the side effects induced in the liver by acrylamide. Salsola induced its impacts by regulating inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis-/anti-apoptosis-associated genes at the biochemical, molecular, and cellular levels. Salsola is recommended as oxidative stress relievers against environmental toixicity at high altitude areas.

Protective Effects of Ulva lactuca Polysaccharide Extract on Oxidative Stress and Kidney Injury Induced by D-Galactose in Mice

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are the key factors that cause many diseases in the human body. Polysaccharides from seaweed have been shown to have significant antioxidant activity both in vivo and in vitro. The ameliorative effect of Ulva lactuca polysaccharide extract (UPE) on renal injury induced by oxidative stress was analyzed. As shown by hematoxylin–eosin staining results, UPE can significantly improve the kidney injury induced by D-galactose (D-gal). Additionally, the protective mechanism of UPE on the kidney was explored. The results showed that UPE could decrease the levels of serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum cystatin C (Cys-C), lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, and DNA oxidative damage (8-OHdG) and improve kidney glutathione content. Moreover, UPE significantly increased the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant activity in mice. UPE also decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6. Further investigation into the expression of apoptotic protein caspase-3 showed that UPE decreased the expression of apoptotic protein caspase-3. These results indicate that UPE has a potential therapeutic effect on renal injury caused by oxidative stress, providing a new theoretical basis for the treatment of oxidative damage diseases in the future.

Microencapsulated phages show prolonged stability in gastrointestinal environments and high therapeutic efficiency to treat Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection

Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 bacterial infection causes severe disease in mammals and results in substantial economic losses worldwide. Due to the development of antibiotic resistance, bacteriophage (phage) therapy has become an alternative to control O157:H7 infection. However, the therapeutic effects of phages are frequently disappointing because of their low resistance to the gastrointestinal environment. In this study, to improve the stability of phages in the gastrointestinal tract, E. coli O157:H7 phages were microencapsulated and their in vitro stability and in vivo therapeutic efficiency were investigated. The results showed that compared to free phages, the resistance of microencapsulated phages to simulated gastric fluid and bile salts significantly increased. The microencapsulated phages were efficiently released into simulated intestinal fluid, leading to a better therapeutic effect in rats infected with E. coli O157:H7 compared to the effects of the free phages. In addition, the microencapsulated phages were more stable during storage than the free phages, showing how phage microencapsulation can play an essential role in phage therapy.