Short-Term Oral Quercetin Supplementation Improves Post-exercise Insulin Sensitivity, Antioxidant Capacity and Enhances Subsequent Cycling Time to Exhaustion in Healthy Adults: A Pilot Study

Moringa oleifera leaf extracts improve exercise performance in young male adults: A pilot study

BACKGROUND

Moringa oleifera leaves are rich in bioactive substances.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Moringa oleifera leaf aqueous extract supplements on energy metabolism and antioxidant function in young male adults.

METHODS

Forty-four young male adults (26.3 ± 3.5 years) were randomly assigned to two groups: a supplement group (n = 23) receiving aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaves and a placebo group (n = 21). The supplementation period lasted for 30 days. Baseline measurements were taken at the beginning of the study, and further measurements were taken at the end of the supplementation period. Changes in upper- and lower-body strength, treadmill endurance, and certain blood biochemical parameters were evaluated.

RESULTS

After 30 days of supplementation, participants in the supplement group exhibited enhanced performance in push-ups and treadmill exhaustion tests compared to the placebo group. Levels of glucose, urea, malondialdehyde, and glutathione peroxidase activity in serum were also improved in the supplement group.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that Moringa oleifera leaf aqueous extracts have the potential to improve post-exercise energy metabolism and antioxidant function in young male adults.

Therapeutic potential of natural products in inflammation: underlying molecular mechanisms, clinical outcomes, technological advances, and future perspectives

Chronic inflammation is a common underlying factor in many major diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune disorders, and is responsible for up to 60% of all deaths worldwide. Metformin, statins, and corticosteroids, and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are often given as anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals, however, often have even more debilitating side effects than the illness itself. The natural product-based therapy of inflammation-related diseases has no adverse effects and good beneficial results compared to substitute conventional anti-inflammatory medications. In this review article, we provide a concise overview of present pharmacological treatments, the pathophysiology of inflammation, and the signaling pathways that underlie it. In addition, we focus on the most promising natural products identified as potential anti-inflammatory therapeutic agents. Moreover, preclinical studies and clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of natural products as anti-inflammatory therapeutic agents and their pragmatic applications with promising outcomes are reviewed. In addition, the safety, side effects and technical barriers of natural products are discussed. Furthermore, we also summarized the latest technological advances in the discovery and scientific development of natural products-based medicine.

Biflavonoid quercetin protects against cyclophosphamide-induced organ toxicities via modulation of inflammatory cytokines, brain neurotransmitters, and astrocyte immunoreactivity

BACKGROUND

Cyclophosphamide use has been associated with increased oxidative stress in cells and tissues. Quercetin's antioxidative properties make it of potential benefit in such conditions of oxidative stress.

OBJECTIVE

To assess quercetin's ability to mitigate cyclophosphamide-induced organ toxicities in rats.

METHODS

Sixty rats were assigned into six groups. Groups A and D served as normal and cyclophosphamide control and were fed standard rat chow, groups B and E were fed quercetin supplemented diet (100 mg/kg of feed), while those in groups C and F were fed quercetin at 200 mg/kg of feed. Groups A-C received intraperitoneal (ip) normal saline on days 1 and 2, while D-F received ip cyclophosphamide (150 mg/kg/day on days 1 and 2). On day 21, behavioural tests were carried out, animals were sacrificed and blood samples taken. Organs were processed for histological study.

RESULTS

Quercetin reversed cyclophosphamide-induced decrease in body weight, food intake and total antioxidant capacity, and increase in lipid peroxidation (p = 0.001), It also reversed derangement in levels of liver transaminase, urea, creatinine and proinflammatory cytokines (p = 0.001). Improvement in working-memory and anxiety-related behaviours were also observed. Finally, quercetin reversed alterations in levels of acetylcholine, dopamine and brain-derived neurotropic factor (p = 0.021); while reducing serotonin levels and astrocyte immunoreactivity.

CONCLUSION

Quercetin shows significant ability to protect against cyclophosphamide-induced changes in rats.

Microalgae as a Nutraceutical Tool to Antagonize the Impairment of Redox Status Induced by SNPs: Implications on Insulin Resistance

Microalgae represent a growing innovative source of nutraceuticals such as carotenoids and phenolic compound which are naturally present within these single-celled organisms or can be induced in response to specific growth conditions. The presence of the unfavourable allelic variant in genes involved in the control of oxidative stress, due to one or more SNPs in gene encoding protein involved in the regulation of redox balance, can lead to pathological conditions such as insulin resistance, which, in turn, is directly involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this review we provide an overview of the main SNPs in antioxidant genes involved in the promotion of insulin resistance with a focus on the potential role of microalgae-derived antioxidant molecules as novel nutritional tools to mitigate oxidative stress and improve insulin sensitivity.

Quercetin Abates Aluminum Trioxide Nanoparticles and Lead Acetate Induced Altered Sperm Quality, Testicular Oxidative Damage, and Sexual Hormones Disruption in Male Rats

This study examined the effects of exposure to lead acetate (PbAc) and/or aluminum trioxide nanoparticles (Al₂O₃NPs) on testicular function. Additionally, the probable reproprotective effects of quercetin (QTN) against Al₂O₃NPs and PbAc co-exposure in male Sprague Dawely rats were assessed. Al₂O₃NPs (100 mg/kg b.wt.), PbAc (50 mg/kg b.wt.), and QTN (20 mg/kg b.wt.) were orally administered for 60 days. Then, spermiogram, histopathological examinations of the testis and accessory glands, and immunohistochemical detection of androgen receptors (AR) and tumor necrotic factor alpha (TNF-α) were achieved. Moreover, serum levels of male sex hormones and testicular levels of antioxidant indices were estimated. The results showed that Al₂O₃NP_s and/or PbAc caused significant sperm abnormalities, testicular oxidative stress, and histopathological changes. Furthermore, serum testosterone, LH, and FSH levels significantly decreased, while estradiol levels significantly increased. The Al₂O₃NPs and/or PbAc co-exposed group had more obvious disturbances. Furthermore, QTN co-administration significantly reversed the Al₂O₃NPs and PbAc-induced testicular histopathological alterations, reduced antioxidant defenses, and altered AR and TNF-α immune expression in testicular tissues. Conclusively, Al₂O₃NPs and/or PbAc evoked testicular dysfunction by inducing oxidative injury and inflammation. However, QTN oral dosing effectively mitigated the negative effects of Al₂O₃NPs and PbAc by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation and improving the antioxidant defense system.