Effects of a Short-Term Lipopolysaccharides Challenge on Mouse Brain and Liver Peroxisomal Antioxidant and β-oxidative Functions: Protective Action of Argan Oil

Antioxidant Effects of Argan Oil and Olive Oil against Iron-Induced Oxidative Stress: In Vivo and In Vitro Approaches

Recently, the study of the protective powers of medicinal plants has become the focus of several studies. Attention has been focused on the identification of new molecules with antioxidant and chelating properties to counter reactive oxygen species (ROS) involved as key elements in several pathologies. Considerable attention is given to argan oil (AO) and olive oil (OO) due to their particular composition and preventive properties. Our study aimed to determine the content of AO and OO on phenolic compounds, chlorophylls, and carotenoid pigments and their antioxidant potential by FRAP and DPPH tests. Thus, several metallic elements can induce oxidative stress, as a consequence of the formation of ROS. Iron is one of these metal ions, which participates in the generation of free radicals, especially OH from H2O2 via the Fenton reaction, initiating oxidative stress. To study the antioxidant potential of AO and OO, we evaluated their preventives effects against oxidative stress induced by ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) in the protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis and mice. Then, we evaluated the activities of the enzymatic (superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx)) and metabolite markers (lipid peroxidation (MDA) and glutathione (GSH)) of the antioxidant balance. The results of the antioxidant compounds show that both oils contain phenolic compounds and pigments. Moreover, AO and OO exhibit antioxidant potential across FRAP and DPPH assays. On the other hand, the results in Tetrahymena pyriformis and mice show a variation in the level of iron-changed SOD and GPx activities and MDA and GSH levels. By contrast, treating Tetrahymena pyriformis and mice with argan and olive oils shows significant prevention in the SOD and GPx activities. These results reveal that the iron-changed ROS imbalance can be counteracted by AO and OO, which is probably related to their composition, especially their high content of polyphenols, sterols, and tocopherols, which is underlined by their antioxidant activities.

Two Argan Oil Phytosterols, Schottenol and Spinasterol, Attenuate Oxidative Stress and Restore LPS-Dysregulated Peroxisomal Functions in Acox1-/- and Wild-Type BV-2 Microglial Cells

Oxidative stress and inflammation are the key players in neuroinflammation, in which microglia dysfunction plays a central role. Previous studies suggest that argan oil attenuates oxidative stress, inflammation, and peroxisome dysfunction in mouse brains. In this study, we explored the effects of two major argan oil (AO) phytosterols, Schottenol (Schot) and Spinasterol (Spina), on oxidative stress, inflammation, and peroxisomal dysfunction in two murine microglial BV-2 cell lines, wild-ype (Wt) and Acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (Acox1)-deficient cells challenged with LPS treatment. Herein, we used an MTT test to reveal no cytotoxicity for both phytosterols with concentrations up to 5 µM. In the LPS-activated microglial cells, cotreatment with each of these phytosterols caused a significant decrease in intracellular ROS production and the NO level released in the culture medium. Additionally, Schot and Spina were able to attenuate the LPS-dependent strong induction of Il-1β and Tnf-α mRNA levels, as well as the iNos gene and protein expression in both Wt and Acox1-/- microglial cells. On the other hand, LPS treatment impacted both the peroxisomal antioxidant capacity and the fatty acid oxidation pathway. However, both Schot and Spina treatments enhanced ACOX1 activity in the Wt BV-2 cells and normalized the catalase activity in both Wt and Acox1-/- microglial cells. These data suggest that Schot and Spina can protect cells from oxidative stress and inflammation and their harmful consequences for peroxisomal functions and the homeostasis of microglial cells. Collectively, our work provides a compelling argument for the protective mechanisms of two major argan oil phytosterols against LPS-induced brain neuroinflammation.