Protective effects of grape seed and skin extract against high-fat-diet-induced lipotoxicity in rat lung

The Effects of High-Fat Diet and Flaxseed Oil-Enriched Diet on the Lung Parenchyma of Obese Mice

Omega-3 (ω3) fatty acids are widely investigated for their anti-inflammatory potential, however, there is little evidence regarding their action in the lung parenchyma in the context of obesity. The objective is to investigate the effects of flaxseed oil (FS), rich in α-linolenic (C18:3 - ω3), on the lungs of obese mice. Mice were fed a high-fat diet (HF) for 8 weeks to induce obesity. Subsequently, a part of these animals received HF containing FS oil for another 8 weeks. The HF consumption induced weight gain and hyperglycemia. The lung parenchyma shows a complete fatty acids profile, compared to the control group (CT). In the lung parenchyma, FS increases the ω3 content and, notwithstanding a reduction in the interleukins (IL) IL1β and IL18 contents compared to HF. However, FS promoted increased alveolar spaces, followed by MCP1 (Monocytes Chemoattractant Protein-1) positive cell infiltration and a dramatic reduction in the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL10. Despite reducing the pulmonary inflammatory response, the consumption of a food source of ω3 was associated with alterations in the lipid profile and histoarchitecture of the lung parenchyma, which can lead to the development of pulmonary complications. This study brings an alert against the indiscriminate use of ω3 supplements, warranting caution.

The experience of shared decision-making for people with asthma: A systematic review and metasynthesis of qualitative studies

OBJECTIVES

To identify, describe and synthesise the views and experiences of adults living with asthma regarding shared decision-making (SDM) in the existing qualitative literature METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search of 10 databases (list databases) from inception until September 2023. Screening was performed according to inclusion criteria. Tools from the Joanna Briggs lnstitute were utilised for the purposes of data extraction and synthesis in this study. The data extraction process in this study employed the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation Model of Behaviour (COM-B model) as a framework, and a pragmatic meta-aggregative approach was employed to synthesise the collected results.

RESULTS

Nineteen studies were included in the metasynthesis. Three synthesised themes were identified: the capability of people living with asthma, the opportunities of people living with asthma in SDM, and the motivation of the people living with asthma in SDM.

CONCLUSIONS

We have identified specific factors influencing people living with asthma engaging in SDM. The findings of this study can serve as a basis for the implementation of SDM in people living with asthma and provide insights for the development of their SDM training programs. The ConQual score for the synthesised findings was rated as low. To enhance confidence, future studies should address dependability and credibility factors.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

This review contemplates the implementation of SDM from the perspective of people living with asthma, with the aim of providing patient-centred services for them. The results of this review can benefit the implementation of SDM and facilitate information sharing. It offers guidance for SDM skills training among adults living with asthma, fosters a better doctor-patient relationship and facilitates consensus in treatment decisions, thereby enabling personalised and tailored medical care.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Three nursing graduate students participated in the data extraction and integration process, with two students having extensive clinical experience that provided valuable insights for the integration.

Hesperidin Attenuates Hypothyroidism-Induced Lung Damage in Adult Albino Rats by Modulating Oxidative Stress, Nuclear Factor Kappa-B Pathway, Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen and Inflammatory Cytokines

The occurrence of worsening pulmonary function has been connected to hypothyroidism (HPO). Hesperidin (HES) was suggested to have antioxidant, anti-proliferative, and anti-inflammatory potential. Our study's objective was to determine whether HES could reduce carbimazole (CBZ)-induced lung injury more effectively than Eltroxin (ELT) in adult male albino rats or not. At random, 32 rats were distributed into four groups: Group I: normal control, to induce HPO, the remaining three groups were given CBZ (20 mg/kg/day) dissolved in distilled water for 1 week. They were then split up into three groups. Group II: orally administered CBZ (20 mg/kg b.w in water/day), Group III: HES (200 mg/kg/day) dissolved in 1% carboxymethyl-cellulose + CBZ treated, and Group IV: ELT (0.045 mg/kg/day) dissolved in distilled water + CBZ treated. All treatments were delivered for 12 weeks. Blood was collected to assess thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid hormones (THs). Lung injury was evaluated based on the pulmonary content of interleukin (IL)-35, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), along with the estimation of lipid peroxidation, catalase, glutathione levels, superoxide dismutase, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). The histological, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical study of nuclear factor Kappa-B (NF-κB) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), together with estimating the proliferation of cells using Antigen Ki-67 in lung tissue were performed. HES and ELT primarily suppressed variable lung damage mechanisms by suppressing TSH, the NF-κB/TNF-α pathway, iNOS, lipid peroxidation, Ki-67, and inflammatory mediators. On the other hand, they improved THs, antioxidant parameters, and the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. HES and ELT exhibited an ameliorative effect that was reflected in the histopathological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural results. These results indicate that HES is a pneumoprotective agent that could be a promising treatment for oxidative stress, inflammation, and proliferation.

The Protective Role of Grape Seed in Obesity and Lipid Profile: An Updated Narrative Overview of Preclinical and Clinical Studies

Obesity and dyslipidemia are common disorders universally. According to the acquired outcomes of recent studies, dietary supplementations which have great content of phenolic compounds exert protective effects against obesity and dyslipidemia. Grape [Vitis vinifera] seeds are considered attractive sources of phenolic compounds with anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effects. There are also various experimental studies describing hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-aging, cardioprotective, and anti-carcinogenic effects of polyphenols isolated from grape seed, highlighting the therapeutic and biological aspects of proanthocyanidins. The present review article first discusses pharmacological, botanical, toxicological, and phytochemical characteristics of Vitis vinifera seeds and afterward designates the protective properties which are attributed to the intake of grape seeds in obesity and hyperlipidemia. Overall valuable and updated findings of this study display that polyphenol of grape seeds has meaningful impacts on the regulation of lipid profile levels and management of obesity.

Evaluation of the Anti-Obesity Effect of Zeaxanthin and Exercise in HFD-Induced Obese Rats

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic associated with many health problems. One of the new trends in health care is the emphasis on regular exercise and a healthy diet. Zeaxanthin (Zea) is a carotenoid with many beneficial effects on human health. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the combination of Zea and exercise had therapeutic effects on obesity induced by an HFD in rats. Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups of twelve: rats fed a standard diet; rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD); rats fed an HFD with Zea; rats fed an HFD with Exc; and rats fed an HFD with both Zea and Exc. To induce obesity, rats were fed an HFD for twelve weeks. Then, Zea and exercise were introduced with the HFD for five weeks. The results showed that the HFD significantly increased visceral adipose tissue, oxidative stress, and inflammation biomarkers and reduced insulin, high-density lipoprotein, and antioxidant parameters. Treatments with Zea, Exc, and Zea plus Exc reduced body weight gain, triacylglycerol, glucose, total cholesterol, and nitric oxide levels and significantly increased catalase and insulin compared with the HFD group. This study demonstrated that Zea administration and Exc performance appeared to effectively alleviate the metabolic alterations induced by an HFD. Furthermore, Zea and Exc together had a better effect than either intervention alone.

Network analysis-based strategy to investigate the protective effect of cepharanthine on rat acute respiratory distress syndrome

Combined with Network Analysis (NA) and in vivo experimental methods, we explored and verified the mechanism of Cepharanthine (CEP) involved in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Potential targets of CEP were searched using the SwissTargetPrediction database. The pathogenic genes related to ARDS were obtained using the DisGeNET database. A protein-protein interaction network of common target genes of disease-compound was subsequently built and visualised. Functional enrichment analysis was performed through the Enrichr database. Finally, for in vivo experimental verification, we established an oleic acid-induced ARDS rat model, mainly through histological evaluation and the ELISA method to evaluate both the protective effect of CEP on ARDS and its effect on inflammation. A total of 100 genes were found to be CEP targeted genes, while 153 genes were found to be associated with ARDS. The PPI network was used to illustrate the link and purpose of the genes associated with CEP and ARDS, which contained 238 nodes and 2,333 links. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that inflammatory response and its related signalling pathways were closely associated with CEP-mediated ARDS treatment. Thus, a key CEP–gene–pathway-ARDS network was constructed through network analysis, including 152 nodes (5 targets and 6 pathways) and 744 links. The results of in vivo experiments showed that CEP could alleviate histopathological changes and pulmonary edema related to ARDS, in addition to reducing neutrophil infiltration and secretion of inflammatory cytokines, whilst increasing serum contents of ResolvinD1 and ResolvinE1. Thus, these effects enhance the anti-inflammatory responses. Thus, our results show that CEP can treat oleic acid-induced ARDS in rats via ResolvinE1 and ResolvinD1 signalling pathways that promote inflammation resolution, providing a new avenue to explore for the clinical treatment of ARDS.

Grape seed flour (GSF) extends longevity by improving multi-organ dysfunction and age-associated oxidative stress and inflammation in healthy rat

According to the free radical theory of aging, accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within mitochondria throughout lifespan leads to impairment of the main biological macromolecules as DNA, lipids and proteins, which might be at the basis of premature aging. One way to test experimentally such a hypothesis consists in intervention studies using antioxidant nutrients aimed at limiting or inhibiting ROS production that should be able to reduce the aging rate and disease pathogenesis. Grape seed flour (GSF) contains high level of phytochemicals among which bioactive polyphenols exhibit numerous biological properties and beneficial health effects as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, multi-organ (heart, liver, kidney, and brain among others) protective. The present study aimed at testing the ability of high dosing GSF (4 g/kg bw) used as a nutritional supplement to slow down aging and prolong lifespan of Wistar rats when administered from early life (one month-old animals) till their natural death. Data clearly show that high dose GSF extends organism longevity and healthspan by improving multi-organ damages, systemic fuelling metabolism declines, and alleviated oxidative stress and inflammation in aging rats. Our data support the extending longevity effect of grape polyphenols especially when used as high dosing nutritional supplement or as natural medicine whose appropriate galenic form as solid lipid nanoformulation, is currently under investigation.

Lipotoxicity suppresses the synthesis of growth hormone in pituitary somatotrophs via endoplasmic reticulum stress

Lipotoxicity has been shown to cause dysfunction of many organs and tissues. However, it is unclear whether lipotoxicity is harmful to the somatotrophs, a kind of cell that synthesize growth hormone (GH) in the pituitary. In this study, we performed an epidemiological study, serum levels of triglyceride (TG) and GH showed a negative correlation, even after adjustment for potential confounders. In an animal study, male Sprague‐Dawley rats were fed a high‐fat diet (HFD) or a control diet for 28 weeks. HFD rats showed impaired GH synthesis, resulting in a decrease in circulating GH levels. The expression of pituitary Pit‐1, a key transcription factor of GH, was inhibited. We found that the inositol‐requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α) pathway of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was triggered in HFD rat pituitary glands and palmitic acid‐treated GH3 cells, respectively. On the contrary, applying 4‐phenyl butyric acid (4‐PBA) to alleviate ER stress or 4µ8c to specifically block the IRE1α pathway attenuated the impairment of both Pit‐1 and GH expression. In conclusion, we demonstrated that lipotoxicity directly inhibits the synthesis of GH, probably by reducing Pit‐1 expression. The IRE1α signaling pathway of ER stress may play an important role in this process.

Efficacy of a Novel Herbal Formulation (F2) on the Management of Obesity: In Vitro and In Vivo Study

Background

Currently, obesity and its comorbidities have become a serious threat to human health necessitating urgent development of safe and effective therapy for their management.

Materials and Methods

In this research, a novel polyherbal formulation (F2) was prepared by mixing specific proportions of royal jelly and lemon juice with ethanol extracts of Orostachys japonicus, Rhus verniciflua, and Geranium thunbergii. The antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH and ABTS assay methods. The antiobesity potential of the F2 was assessed in vitro using 3T3-L1 fibroblast and in vivo using a high-fat diet (HFD) fed C57BL/6J mice model. F2 was administered in mice at the dose of 23 mg/kg and 46 mg/kg, twice daily by oral gavage. A well-accepted antiobesity agent, Garcinia cambogia (GC), at 200 mg/kg was used as a positive control.

Results

F2 was observed to exhibit synergistic antiadipogenic activity in 3T3-L1 cells. This inhibition was reinforced by the downregulation of specific adipogenic transcription factors. Furthermore, F2 was also found to reduce mice body weight gain, food efficiency ratio, fasting blood glucose level, fat deposition into the liver, and mass of white adipose tissue. F2 also played a role in the excretion of fat consumed by the mice. For most of the assays performed, the F2 (46 mg/kg) was comparable to the positive control GC (200 mg/kg). In addition, potential and synergistic antioxidant activity was observed on F2.

Conclusion

The results revealed that the formulation F2 exhibited potential antiobesity activity through the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation, dietary fat absorption, and reduction of free fatty acids deposition in tissues.

Physiological responses and expression of sugar associated genes in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) exposed to osmotic stress

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is the major food legume crop in Tunisia. However, its growth and yield is strongly affected by water-limited environments. In this study, osmotic stress exhibited a negative effect on Bachar and Badii cultivar. Nevertheless, the deteriorating effects of osmotic stress were relatively low on studied parameters of Bachar due to its better efficiency to reduce oxidative damage by increasing enzymatic activities such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), accumulation of total chlorophyll (Chlt), soluble sugars and leaf relative water content (RWC). GC-MS analysis determined a total of 11 soluble carbohydrates induced by osmotic stress and differentially accumulated in the both cultivars. Bachar showed elevated levels of mannose, glucose, galactose, ribose, rhamnose and myo-inositol which might help to maintain osmotic adjustment, membranes and proteins protection from the damaging effect of reactive oxygen species. Sugar metabolism related genes (VfNINV3, VfPHS2, VfFRK4, VfHXK1, VfGPI1, VfSTP1.1, VfpGlcT1.1, VfSTP5.1, VfpGlcT1.2, VfSWEET2.1, VfVINV2, VfSUS1, VfPGM1, VfSUT1.1, VfGPT1, VfSPS1, VfSPP1, VfPHS1, VfSUT4.1 and VfTMT1.1) were differentially expressed in both cultivars demonstrating their important roles in sugar accumulation. Most of these genes were upregulated in the leaves of Bachar under moderate and severe stress, which could lead to increase glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle in order to accelerate energy production, necessary to increase osmotic regulation and consequently enhancing the osmotic stress tolerance in that cultivar. Overall, sugars accumulation ability can be used as a useful indicator for the osmotic stress tolerant potential in faba bean breeding programs.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at (10.1007/s12298-021-00935-1).

The Great Healing Potential Hidden in Plant Preparations of Antioxidant Properties: A Return to Nature?

The application of chemicals in industry and agriculture has contributed to environmental pollution and exposure of living organisms to harmful factors. The development of new pharmaceutical agents enabled successful therapy of various diseases, but their administration may be connected with side effects. Oxidative stress has been found to be involved into etiology of numerous diseases as well as harmful action of drugs and chemicals. For some time, plant origin substances have been studied as potential protective agents alleviating toxicity of various substances and symptoms of diseases. The aim of the current review was to present the diversity of the research performed during the last five years on animal models. The outcomes showed a huge protective potential inherent in plant preparations, including alleviating prooxidative processes, strengthening antioxidant defence, ameliorating immune parameters, and reversing histopathological changes. In many cases, plant origin substances were proved to be comparable or even better than standard drugs. Such findings let us suggest that in the future the plant preparations could make adjuvants or a replacement for pharmaceutical agents. However, the detailed research regarding dose and way of administration as well as the per se effects needs to be performed. In many studies, the last issue was not studied, and in some cases, the deleterious effects have been observed.

Preventive and curative effects of grape seed powder on stroke using in vitro and in vivo models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion

Stroke is a worldwide concern. Many studies pointed out relevant preventive effect of grape seed powder (GSP) against deleterious brain ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, but curative effect has been scarcely approached. The present work aimed at studying the preventive and curative effect of GSP against stroke using in-vitro and in-vivo models. Primary neuron-astrocyte cocultures were used to evaluate in-vitro GSP protective and curative effect on oxygen-glucose-deprivation (OGD). A murine I/R model, in which GSP was administered as delayed post stroke drug, to evaluate its potential clinically translatable therapy was used and behavioral tests were conducted after 15 days. Ultra-structure of hippocampus dentate gyrus using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) was also undertaken. GSP prevented OGD-induced toxicity and cell death in a dose dependent manner and was neuroprotective as assessed by sustained cell viability (70 % ±1 for OGD + GSP and 37 % ±2 for OGD) and modulated cytokines and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. GSP also promoted behavioral outcomes by increasing step-down inhibitory time from 17s±4 to 50s±11 and rat overall activities by improving scores in open field test to near control level. Furthermore, GSP protected hippocampus dentate gyrus area from I/R-induced drastic alterations as assessed by reduced autophagic vacuoles.

Grape Seed Extract Alleviates Dexamethasone-Induced Hyperlipidemia, Lipid Peroxidation, and Hematological Alteration in Rats

The ameliorative effects of dietary natural compounds have drawn increasing attention. Dietary antioxidant is considered a common practice adopted in traditional and alternative medicine. The current study was considered to assess the ameliorative effect of grape seed extract on dexamethasone-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Rats were injected with dexamethasone, (0.1 mg/kg; i.m.), three times per week, for 30 days. The other groups; dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg) and grape seed extract at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg were given orally to rats, respectively. Dexamethasone treatment resulted in a significant elevation in liver function markers activities, lipid profile, and hematological alterations; also, a remarkable increase in hepatic lipid peroxidation marker whereas decreased antioxidant activities in rats. However, administration of grape seed extract resulted in a reversal of dexamethasone-induced lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme activities, liver function markers and lipid profile, and hematological alterations. Moreover, grape seed extract demonstrated preventive action against dexamethasone-induced histopathological changes in rat liver tissues. In conclusion, grape seed extract exhibited a protective effect in rats against oxidative stress, hyperlipidemia and hematological alterations induced by dexamethasone.

Anti-obesity effects of Diospyros lotus leaf extract in mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity

Diospyros (D.) lotus has been demonstrated to have antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory properties. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of D. lotus leaf water extract (DLE) on high‑fat diet (HFD)‑induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice. The present study first investigated the effect of DLE on the lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) contents in 3T3‑L1 cells, and the results revealed that treatment with DLE suppressed the lipid accumulation and TG level. Subsequently, the anti‑obesity effects of DLE were investigated in vivo. Oral administration of DLE reduced the body weight gain, food efficiency ratio, and liver and visceral fat weight in mice fed with a HFD. DLE administration in these mice also reduced TG, total cholesterol, low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, insulin and leptin levels, as well as the atherogenic index. Furthermore, DLE administration decreased hepatic steatosis, as well as serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase levels in mice fed with HFD. It was further observed that treatment of the HFD‑fed mice with DLE prevented lipid peroxidation, while it recovered glutathione depletion and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. In conclusion, the current study suggests that the anti‑obesity effect of DLE may provide positive insights as a potential functional food ingredient for the prevention of obesity.