Grape seed extract proanthocyanidin antagonizes aristolochic acid I-induced liver injury in rats by activating PI3K-AKT pathway

Proanthocyanidin alleviates testicular torsion/detorsion-induced ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Testicular torsion is an urological emergency and can lead to ischemia damage and testicular loss if not diagnosed in time. Proanthocyanidin is reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The current study aimed to examine the possible effects of proanthocyanidin (P) on the testis in torsion/detorsion (T/D)-induced testicular ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Forty rats were divided into four groups (n=10 for each): sham-operated (sham), I/R, I/R + P100 (100 mg/kg, 30 min before torsion), and I/R + P200 (200 mg/kg, 30 min before torsion). Testicular T/D was performed on the left testicle by 3 hours of torsion at 720° clockwise, followed by 3 hours of detorsion. In the I/R group, an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and a decrease in glutathione (GSH), vitamin C (Vit C), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) values were determined compared to the sham group (p<0.001). Moreover, an increase in the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax), a decrease in the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were detected in the I/R group (p<0.001). Histopathologically, it was determined that the Johnsen and Cosentino scores of the testicles were irregular in the I/R group (p<0.001). Proanthocyanidin treatment caused a decrease in MDA, cleaved caspase-3 and Bax levels and an increase in GSH, Vit C, GPx, G6PD, Bcl-2 and PCNA values. Additionally, Johnsen and Cosentino rearranged the scores. The present findings revealed the protective and curative effects of proanthocyanidin in organ damage due to testicular torsion/detorsion-induced ischemia/reperfusion with their antioxidative and antiapoptotic properties.

Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract alleviates inflammation in experimental colitis mice by inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a complex inflammatory disease of colorectum that induces abnormal immune responses and severely affects the quality of life of the patients. Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions in many inflammatory diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of GSPE in UC using a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced mouse UC model and a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage model. In this study, we found that the GSPE markedly prevented DSS-induced weight loss and colon length shortening in UC mice. Further investigations showed that GSPE significantly attenuated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, and elevated the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in the colon tissues and serum of DSS-induced colitis mice by suppressing NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, LPS-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells was also reversed by GSPE. Taken together, our results confirm that GSPE can ameliorate inflammatory response in experimental colitis via inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway. This study advances the research progress on a potentially effective therapeutic strategy for inflammatory bowel diseases.

Curcumin alleviates zearalenone-induced liver injury in mice by scavenging reactive oxygen species and inhibiting mitochondrial apoptosis pathway

Curcumin (CUR) is a compound extracted from turmeric that has a variety of functions including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. As an estrogen-like mycotoxin, zearalenone (ZEN) not only attacks the reproductive system, but also has toxic effects on the liver. However, whether CUR can alleviate ZEN-induced liver injury remains unclear. This paper aims to investigate the protective effect of CUR against ZEN-induced liver injury in mice and explore the molecular mechanism involved. BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control (CON) group, CUR group (200 mg/kg b. w. CUR), ZEN group (40 mg/kg b. w. ZEN) and CUR+ZEN group (200 mg/kg b. w. CUR+40 mg/kg b. w. ZEN). 28 d after ZEN exposure and CUR treatment, blood and liver samples were collected for subsequent testing. The results showed that CUR reversed ZEN-induced hepatocyte swelling and necrosis in mice. It significantly reduced the serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in mice (p < 0.05). In addition, CUR significantly reduced hepatic ROS, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide and apoptosis levels in mice (p < 0.05). Quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot results showed that CUR significantly reduced the expression of Bax and Caspase3, and reversed the increase of Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO1 expression in the liver of mice induced by ZEN (p < 0.05). In conclusion, CUR alleviated ZEN-induced liver injury in mice by scavenging ROS and inhibiting the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.

Supplementation with grape seed extract, onion peel extract, or rosemary extract in the diet alleviates growth inhibition, liver damage, and oxidative stress induced by diquat in Lohmann chicks

The present study aimed to assess the impact of grape seed extract (GSE), onion peel extract (OPE), and rosemary extract (ROE) on Diquat-induced growth restriction and oxidative stress in Lohmann chicks. A total of 200 chicks were randomly assigned to 5 diets: the positive control (PC) group, the negative control (NC) group, GSE group, OPE group, and ROE group. During the first 7 d of trial, compared with NC and PC groups, the GSE group enhanced average daily feed intake (ADFI). From day 8-21, diquat injection resulted in reduced growth performance, increased platelet volume distribution width (PWD), malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, and activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in chick serum; it also decreased total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLB) concentration, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in chick serum; furthermore, it increased MDA concentration while decreasing GST activities in liver. The NC group exhibited lower average daily gain (ADG) than other groups. Compared with NC group, GSE group reduced ALT activities, MDA levels, and red cell distribution width (RDW), and PDW concentration; it also increased SOD, GST activities. The ROE group lowered ALT activities and MDA concentration. The OPE group decreased ALT activities, and MDA levels, RDW, and PDW concentration, and increased SOD activities of chicks. These results suggest that supplementing antioxidants in diets alleviated oxidative stress in chicks challenged by improving antioxidant capacity and liver function.

Arctium lappa L. root polysaccharides ameliorate CCl4-induced acute liver injury by suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis

In this study, water-soluble polysaccharides purified from burdock root were used to intervene in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury (ALI) of BRL3A hepatocytes and rats. Our results indicated that CCl4 significantly inhibited hepatocyte viability and upregulated the expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), and the pro-apoptotic protein Bax. However, Arctium lappa L. root polysaccharides (ALP) could effectively ameliorate liver function and histopathology, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers. In addition, ALP reduced the expression of apoptotic markers and promoted the proliferation of damaged hepatocytes. In conclusion, ALP possesses a hepatoprotective effect mediated by attenuating oxidative damage, inflammation and apoptosis in ALI.

Aflatoxin B1 triggers apoptosis in rabbit hepatocytes via mediating oxidative stress and switching on the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is considered the most toxic carcinogenic compound, and exposure to AFB1 is highly associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different doses of AFB1 on growth performance and the liver of rabbits, as well as explore its underlying mechanisms. A total of eighty 30-day-old meat rabbits were randomly divided into four treatments. The control group was fed a pollution-free diet, while the AFL, AFM, and AFH groups were fed contaminated diets containing 13 μg/kg, 19 μg/kg, and 25 μg/kg of AFB1, respectively. The results showed that AFB1 had detrimental effects on the production performance of rabbits, resulting in decreased weight gain. Additionally, AFB1 exposure was associated with increased activity of Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), as well as decreased levels of total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) in the serum. AFB1 induced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) while inhibiting the activity of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activity in liver tissues. AFB1 decreased the mRNA transcription and protein expression of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone-1 (NQO-1). AFB1 not only decreased the contents of cytochrome P4501A2 (CYP1A2), cytochrome P4502A6 (CYP2A6) and cytochrome P4503A4 (CYP3A4) but also increased the content of AFB1-DNA adducts in the liver. Furthermore, AFB1 enhanced the expression of cytochrome c (cyt-c), caspase-9, caspase-3, and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), while inhibiting the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2). Therefore, we demonstrated that AFB1 triggered apoptosis in rabbit hepatocytes via mediating oxidative stress and switching on the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, and decreased rabbit performance.