Carotenoids as Potential Antioxidant Agents in Stroke Prevention: A Systematic Review

Effects of fermentation on the structures of yellow compounds in citrus pomace

To enhance the stability and light resistance of the yellow compounds in citrus pomace, our study successfully isolated and purified five compounds using ultrasonic-assisted extraction and column chromatography. The identified compounds include methyl linoleate, (2-ethyl)hexyl phthalate, 1,3-distearoyl-2-oleoylglycerol, 6,6-ditetradecyl-6,7-dihydroxazepin-2(3H)-one, and n-octadeca-17-enoic acid. The monomers extracted from fresh pomace, compounds 1 and 2, exhibit structural similarities to flavonoids and carotenoids. In contrast, the polymers isolated from fermented pomace, compounds 3, 4, and 5, share structural units with the fresh pomace compounds, indicating the transformation to stable polymeric forms. This suggests that the microbial fermentation process not only enhances the value of citrus pomace, but also provides a promising pathway for the synthesis of natural antioxidant yellow pigments with far-reaching theoretical and practical significance.

Current understanding and future directions of cruciferous vegetables and their phytochemicals to combat neurological diseases

Neurological disorders incidences are increasing drastically due to complex pathophysiology, and the nonavailability of disease-modifying agents. Several attempts have been made to identify new potential chemicals to combat these neurological abnormalities. At present, complete abolishment of neurological diseases is not attainable except for symptomatic relief. However, dietary recommendations to help brain development or improvement have increased over the years. In recent times, cruciferous vegetables and their phytochemicals have been identified from preclinical and clinical investigations as potential neuroprotective agents. The present review highlights the beneficial effects and molecular mechanisms of phytochemicals such as indole-3-carbinol, diindolylmethane, sulforaphane, kaempferol, selenium, lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamins of cruciferous vegetables against neurological diseases including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, Huntington's disease, autism spectra disorders, anxiety, depression, and pain. Most of these cruciferous phytochemicals protect the brain by eliciting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. Regular dietary intake of cruciferous vegetables may benefit the prevention and treatment of neurological diseases. The present review suggests that there is a lacuna in identifying the clinical efficacy of these phytochemicals. Therefore, high-quality future studies should firmly establish the efficacy of the above-mentioned cruciferous phytochemicals in clinical settings.

Association between ischemic heart disease and dietary intake of lycopene: a case-control study

Aim

The effect of dietary lycopene on ischemic heart disease (IHD) is not clear. Hence, this study aimed to determine the association between dietary lycopene and IHD.

Methods

This case-control study was conducted on 443 patients with physician confirmed diagnosis of IHD as the case group and 443 healthy individuals as the control group. Data on demographic, medical history, anthropometric, and physical activity of the participants were collected. Food intake was evaluated using a 237-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The dietary intake of lycopene was assessed using Nutritionist IV software.

Results

A negative association was found between IHD and lycopene (OR: 0.98, CI 95%: 0.963-0.996, p = 0.02). The results remained significant after adjustment for age and sex, additional adjustment for dietary intake of calorie and fat, further adjustments for BMI, and additional adjustment for smoking, drinking alcohol, and physical activity. The risk of IHD in people with the highest quartile of dietary intake of lycopene was significantly lower than those with the lowest quartile (OR = 0.67, CI 95%: 0.46-0.97, p = 0.036).

Conclusion

There was a significant inverse relationship between intake of lycopene and IHD. Further prospective studies in different populations are required to elucidate the roles of lycopene against IHD.

The Influence of Lifestyle on High-Density Lipoprotein Concentration among Mexican Emerging Adults

Previous studies have highlighted the role of lifestyle on HDL-C concentrations in adults. To our knowledge, the health and nutritional status of emerging adults have been understudied. The present study aimed to explore the most important lifestyle factors, including micronutrient intake adequacy and the percentage of energy from food processing, according to HDL-C concentrations in emerging adults. In this context, a cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 261 Mexican emerging adults who were apparently healthy. Lifestyle factors were collected through a structured survey and the prevalence of micronutrient intake inadequacy was estimated using the estimated average requirement cut-point method. The percentage of energy from ultra-processed foods was assessed using the NOVA system. HDL-C was determined using the enzymatic colorimetric method. Statistical analyses were conducted in SPSS. The results revealed that lifestyle factors do not differ according to HDL-C status. The participants showed a poor nutritional diet that was energy-dense and micronutrient-inadequate. Nearly half of their energy came from processed and ultra-processed foods. Most participants did not meet the recommendations for key nutrients (ϖ3 fatty acids and phytosterols) that promote a healthy lipid status. In conclusion, regardless of their HDL-C levels, emerging adults exhibited lifestyle-related risk factors. The persistence of these findings over time could contribute to the development of metabolic disorders in the future. It is crucial to increase understanding and to develop effective nutritional interventions during this critical phase of life.

Potential Role of Natural Antioxidants in Countering Reperfusion Injury in Acute Myocardial Infarction and Ischemic Stroke

Stroke and acute myocardial infarction are leading causes of mortality worldwide. The latter accounts for approximately 9 million deaths annually. In turn, ischemic stroke is a significant contributor to adult physical disability globally. While reperfusion is crucial for tissue recovery, it can paradoxically exacerbate damage through oxidative stress (OS), inflammation, and cell death. Therefore, it is imperative to explore diverse approaches aimed at minimizing ischemia/reperfusion injury to enhance clinical outcomes. OS primarily arises from an excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or decreased endogenous antioxidant potential. Natural antioxidant compounds can counteract the injury mechanisms linked to ROS. While promising preclinical results, based on monotherapies, account for protective effects against tissue injury by ROS, translating these models into human applications has yielded controversial evidence. However, since the wide spectrum of antioxidants having diverse chemical characteristics offers varied biological actions on cell signaling pathways, multitherapy has emerged as a valuable therapeutic resource. Moreover, the combination of antioxidants in multitherapy holds significant potential for synergistic effects. This study was designed with the aim of providing an updated overview of natural antioxidants suitable for preventing myocardial and cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injuries.

Revisiting carotenoids as dietary antioxidants for human health and disease prevention

Humans are unique indiscriminate carotenoid accumulators, so the human body accumulates a wide range of dietary carotenoids of different types and to varying concentrations. Carotenoids were once recognized as physiological antioxidants because of their ability to quench singlet molecular oxygen (1O2). In the 1990s, large-scale intervention studies failed to demonstrate that supplementary β-carotene intake reduces the incidence of lung cancer, although its antioxidant activity was supposed to contribute to the prevention of oxidative stress-induced carcinogenesis. Nevertheless, the antioxidant activity of carotenoids has attracted renewed attention as the pathophysiological role of 1O2 has emerged, and as the ability of dietary carotenoids to induce antioxidant enzymes has been revealed. This review focuses on six major carotenoids from fruit and vegetables and revisits their physiological functions as biological antioxidants from the standpoint of health promotion and disease prevention. β-Carotene 9',10'-oxygenase-derived oxidative metabolites trigger increases in the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Lutein and zeaxanthin selectively accumulate in human macular cells to protect against light-induced macular impairment by acting as antioxidants. Lycopene accumulates exclusively and to high concentrations in the testis, where its antioxidant activity may help to eliminate oxidative damage. Dietary carotenoids appear to exert their antioxidant activity in photo-irradiated skin after their persistent deposition in the skin. An acceptable level of dietary carotenoids for disease prevention should be established because they can have deleterious effects as prooxidants if they accumulate to excess levels. Finally, it is expected that the reason why humans are indiscriminate carotenoid accumulators will be understood soon.

Point-of-Care Detection of Antioxidant in Agarose-Based Test Strip through Antietching of Au@Ag Nanostars

Antioxidants are crucial for human health, and the detection of antioxidants can provide valuable information for disease diagnosis and health management. In this work, we report a plasmonic sensing approach for the determination of antioxidants based on their antietching capacity toward plasmonic nanoparticles. The Ag shell of core-shell Au@Ag nanostars can be etched by chloroauric acid (HAuCl₄), whereas antioxidants can interact with HAuCl₄, which prevents the surface etching of Au@Ag nanostars. We modulate the thickness of the Ag shell and morphology of the nanostructures, showing that the core-shell nanostars with the smallest thickness of Ag shell have the best etching sensitivity. Owing to the extraordinary surface plasmon resonance (SPR) property of Au@Ag nanostars, the antietching effect of antioxidants can induce a significant change in both the SPR spectrum and the color of solution, facilitating both the quantitative detection and naked-eye readout. This antietching strategy enables the determination of antioxidants such as cystine and gallic acid with a linear range of 0.1-10 μM. The core-shell Au@Ag nanostars are further immobilized in agarose gels to fabricate test strips, which can display different color changes in the presence of HAuCl₄ from 0 to 1000 μM. The agarose-based test strip is also capable of detecting antioxidants in real samples, which allows naked-eye readout and quantitative detection by a smartphone.

Oxidation‑reduction potential parameters worsen following intraarterial therapy in patients with reduced collateral circulation and middle cerebral artery occlusions

Collateral circulation is important for cerebral perfusion in acute ischemic strokes. Monitoring the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) may be useful to assess collateral status or treatment efficacy. The objectives of the present study were to determine if the ORP was associated with collateral circulation status in middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusions and to identify patterns in the ORP and the collateral circulation status among patients treated with intraarterial therapy (IAT) over time. The present pilot study was nested within a prospective cohort study measuring the ORP of the peripheral venous plasma of stroke patients. The population included in the present study were patients with MCA (M1/M2) occlusions. Two ORP parameters were examined: Static ORP (sORP; mV), indicating oxidative stress, and capacity ORP (cORP; µC), indicating antioxidant reserves. Collateral status was retrospectively graded using Miteff's system as good (grade 1) or reduced (grade 2/3). Comparisons were made between collateral status groups (reduced vs. good collaterals) in all patients, within a subset including only patients who received IAT, and between thrombolysis in cerebral infraction scale score (TICI) groups (0-2a vs. 2b/3). The Fisher's exact test, Student's t-test and Wilcoxon tests were used (α<0.20). The 19 patients were categorized based on their collaterals: Good collaterals (53%) and reduced collaterals (47%). The baseline characteristics were similar with the exception that the patients with good collaterals had a lower international normalized ratio (P=0.12) and were more likely to have a stroke on the left side (P=0.18) or to have a mismatch (P=0.05). The admission sORP values were comparable (169.5 vs. 164.2 mV; P=0.65), as was admission cORP (P=0.73). When considering only the patients who received IAT (n=12), admission sORP (P=0.69) and cORP (P=0.90) were also statistically similar. On day 2, after IAT, both groups experienced a worsening in ORP measures; however, the patients with good collaterals had a significantly lower sORP (169.4 vs. 203.5 mV; P=0.02) and a higher cORP (0.2 vs. 0.1 µC; P=0.002) compared with the patients with reduced collaterals. Neither sORP nor cORP were significantly different between TICI score groups on admission or on day 2. Upon discharge, patients with a TICI of 2b-3 had a significantly better sORP (P=0.03) and cORP (P=0.12) compared with those with a TICI of 0-2a. In conclusion, upon patient admission, the ORP parameters were not significantly different between the collateral circulation status groups for MCA occlusions. The ORP parameters worsened after IAT regardless of the collateral circulation status; however, after IAT, on day 2, patients with good collaterals experienced less oxidative stress (sORP) and had higher antioxidant reserves (cORP) than patients with reduced collaterals.

Oxidative stress, free radicals and antioxidants: potential crosstalk in the pathophysiology of human diseases

Introduction: Free radicals are reactive oxygen species that constantly circulate through the body and occur as a side effect of many reactions that take place in the human body. Under normal conditions, they are removed from the body by antioxidant processes. If these natural mechanisms are disrupted, radicals accumulate in excess and contribute to the development of many diseases. Methodology: Relevant recent information on oxidative stress, free radicals, reactive oxidative species, and natural and synthetic antioxidants was collected by researching electronic databases such as PubMed / Medline, Web of Science, and Science Direct. Results: According to the analysed studies, this comprehensive review provided a recent update on oxidative stress, free radicals and antioxidants and their impact on the pathophysiology of human diseases. Discussion: To counteract the condition of oxidative stress, synthetic antioxidants must be provided from external sources to supplement the antioxidant defense mechanism internally. Because of their therapeutic potential and natural origin, medicinal plants have been reported as the main source of natural antioxidants phytocompounds. Some non-enzymatic phytocompounds such as flavonoids, polyphenols, and glutathione, along with some vitamins have been reported to possess strong antioxidant activities in vivo and in vitro studies. Thus, the present review describes, in brief, the overview of oxidative stress-directed cellular damage and the unction of dietary antioxidants in the management of different diseases. The therapeutic limitations in correlating the antioxidant activity of foods to human health were also discussed.

Salvia miltiorrhiza Alleviates Memory Deficit Induced by Ischemic Brain Injury in a Transient MCAO Mouse Model by Inhibiting Ferroptosis

Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) has been used in oriental medicine for its neuroprotective effects against cardiovascular diseases and ischemic stroke. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic mechanism underlying the effects of SM on stroke using a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) mouse model. Our results showed that SM administration significantly attenuated acute brain injury, including brain infarction and neurological deficits, 3 days after tMCAO. This was confirmed by our magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study, which revealed a reduction in brain infarction with SM administration, as well as our magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) study, which demonstrated the restoration of brain metabolites, including taurine, total creatine, and glutamate. The neuroprotective effects of SM were associated with the reduction in gliosis and upregulation of inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), along with the upregulation of phosphorylated STAT3 in post-ischemic brains. SM also reduced the levels of 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and malondialdehyde (MDA), which are markers of lipid peroxidation, induced by oxidative stress upregulation in the penumbra of the tMCAO mouse brain. SM administration attenuated ischemic neuronal injury by inhibiting ferroptosis. Additionally, post-ischemic brain synaptic loss and neuronal loss were alleviated by SM administration, as demonstrated by Western blot and Nissl staining. Moreover, daily administration of SM for 28 days after tMCAO significantly reduced neurological deficits and improved survival rates in tMCAO mice. SM administration also resulted in improvement in post-stroke cognitive impairment, as measured by the novel object recognition and passive avoidance tests in tMCAO mice. Our findings suggest that SM provides neuroprotection against ischemic stroke and has potential as a therapeutic agent.

Astaxanthin attenuates cigarette smoking-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in a sirtuin 1-dependent manner

Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation play key roles in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Astaxanthin (AXT) is a keto-carotenoid with a variety of biological functions, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects This study aimed to explore the protective role and underlying mechanism of AXT in the pathogenesis of COPD. In this study, we found AXT alleviated pulmonary emphysema in a CS-exposed mouse model and regulated the expression of MMP-9/TIMP-1. And, AXT attenuates CSE-induced small airway fibrosis. Meanwhile, AXT inhibited Nrf2-modulated oxidative stress and the p65 NF-κB-regulated inflammatory pathway in both the mouse model and CSE-treated HBE cells. Mechanistically, AXT could directly bind to SIRT1 (the binding energy of the complex was -8.8 kcal/mol) and regulate the deacetylation activity of SIRT1. Finally, by activating SIRT1 deacetylation, AXT deacetylated Nrf2 and contributed to its action of reducing oxidative stress by generating antioxidant enzymes, and inhibiting p65 NF-κB transcriptional activity to suppress the inflammatory response. Our results show that treatment with AXT significantly reverses the oxidative stress and inflammation induced by cigarette smoke both in vivo and in vitro in a sirtuin 1-dependent manner.

Network pharmacology and experimental study of phenolic acids in salvia miltiorrhiza bung in preventing ischemic stroke

At present, the preventive effect of ischemic stroke is not ideal, and the preventive drugs are limited. Danshen, the dried root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge, is a common medicinal herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine, which has been used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases for many years. Phenolic Acids extracted from danshen, which showed multiple biological activities, have been developed as an injection for the treatment of ischemic stroke. However, its preventive effect on ischemic stroke has not been fully reported. The current study aimed to identify the potential active phenolic acids for the prevention of ischemic stroke and explore its mechanism using network pharmacology and experimental analyses. The targets of phenolic acids and ischemic stroke were obtained from public databases. Network pharmacology predicted that 35 kinds of phenolic acids had 201 core targets with ischemic stroke. The core prevention targets of ischemic stroke include IL-6, AKT1, VEGFA, etc. The signaling pathways involved in core targets include AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, and cAMP signaling pathways, etc. Then, the antiplatelet effect of phenolic acids was screened by in vitro antiplatelet experiment. Our results showed that phenolic acids have a good inhibitory effect on ADP-induced platelet aggregation and salvianolic acid A had a good antiplatelet effect. We further demonstrated that SAA preventive administration reduced neurobehavioral scores, decreased infarct size, and protected tight junction proteins in autologous thrombus stroke model. These studies not only shed light on the potential mechanisms of phenolic acids active components on ischemic stroke, but also provided theoretical and experimental information for the development of new medicines from Danshen for the prevention of ischemic stroke. In addition, our results suggest that SAA has the potential to be a candidate for ischemic stroke prevention drug.

Protective Effect of Beta-Carotene against Myeloperoxidase- Mediated Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Rat Ischemic Brain Injury

Oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction play critical roles in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in the brain. β-carotene (βCAR) is a naturally occurring pigment present in fruits and vegetables that expresses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This study was conducted to investigate the involvement of Bcl2/Bax and NF-κB signaling pathways in the potential protective role of βCAR against brain injury in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model. A focal brain ischemia model was created for 2 h, followed by reperfusion. Rats were given 10 and 20 mg/kg of βCAR for 7 days orally before induction of ischemia, at the start of reperfusion, and 3 days after ischemia. Scores of neurological deficit were rated 24 h after induction of ischemia. Motor coordination and spontaneous coordinate activities were assessed using rotarod and activity cage, respectively. After 2 h of the last dose, the animals were killed and their brains were extracted for further examinations. The results of the study show that βCAR diminished the score of neurological deficits and ameliorated motor coordination, balance, and locomotor activity in the I/R control group. Further, βCAR resulted in diminution of malondialdehyde (MDA) and augmentation of reduced glutathione (GSH) contents, as well as the elevation of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities in the brain homogenates of I/R rats. βCAR treatment significantly reduced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) brain content and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and ameliorated the histological alterations in the brain tissues. βCAR significantly suppressed Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and caspase-3 expression, as well as upregulated B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) expression, suggesting a neuroprotective potential via downregulating NF-kB and protecting the rat brain against the I/R-associated apoptotic injury.

Association between Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity of Antioxidant Vitamins and the Risk of Stroke among US Adults

The intake of antioxidant vitamins can scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative stress, which may be beneficial for stroke. However, the relationship between total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of antioxidant vitamins and stroke is controversial. This study aims to investigate the association between dietary TAC and the risk of stroke in US adults. This study included participants over 20 years old from the 2001-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Data from two 24 h dietary recalls were used to estimate the usual intake of antioxidant vitamins. TAC was calculated by the vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity reference values of individual antioxidant vitamins. Survey-weighted generalized linear models were performed to evaluate the relationship between TAC and the risk of stroke. A restricted cubic spline regression model was used to investigate the dose-response association. A total of 37,045 participants was involved, of whom 1391 suffered a stroke. Compared with the first tertile, the participants in the second tertile of TAC showed a lower risk of stroke (OR = 0.788, 95% CI: 0.662, 0.936) after adjusting for potential risk factors. The dose-response analysis showed a gradual increase in the risk of stroke as TAC decreases. Subgroups analyses indicated that this association was primarily in the population of those aged over 60 years old, who were female, consumed alcohol, were a former smoker and inactive. The sensitivity analysis presented consistent results. These results suggest that deficiency of dietary TAC was associated with an increased risk of stroke, particularly in populations with underlying oxidative stress injury.

Effect of Lycopene Supplementation on Some Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Markers of Endothelial Function in Iranian Patients with Ischemic Heart Failure: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Aim

This study aimed to explore if supplementary lycopene tablets may help heart failure (HF) patients improve their lipid profile, BP, and the flow-mediated dilation (FMD) index for endothelial function.

Methods

Fifty patients with ischemic HF with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the lycopene group which received 25 mg lycopene tablets once a day for 8 weeks and the control group which received placebo tablets containing starch once a day for 8 weeks.

Results

Our results showed that after two months, the amount of triglyceride (TG) and FMD improved significantly compared to the control, TG decreased (219.27 vs. 234.24), and the mean of FMD increased (5.68 vs. 2.95). Other variables, including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density cholesterol (HDL-C), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), showed no improvement. Also, only SBP and FMD showed intragroup improvement in the intervention group. In the intervention group, only SBP and FMD exhibited intragroup improvement.

Conclusions

It can be concluded that supplementing with lycopene can enhance endothelial function and reduce the TG levels in ischemic HFrEF patients. However, it had no positive effect on BP, TC, LDL-C, or HDL-C. Trial Registration. This clinical trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials with IRCT registration number: IRCT20210614051574N4.

Environmental Pollutants and Oxidative Stress in Terrestrial and Aquatic Organisms: Examination of the Total Picture and Implications for Human Health

There is current great international concern about the contribution of environmental pollution to the global burden of disease particularly in the developing, low- and medium-income countries. Industrial activities, urbanization, developmental projects as well as various increased anthropogenic activities involving the improper generation, management and disposal of pollutants have rendered today's environment highly polluted with various pollutants. These pollutants include toxic metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides and diesel exhaust particles most of which appear to be ubiquitous as well as have long-term environmental persistence with a wide range of toxicities such as oxidative stress among others. Oxidative stress, which may arise from increased production of damaging free radicals emanating from increased pollutant burden and depressed bioavailability of antioxidant defenses causes altered biochemical and physiological mechanisms and has been implicated in all known human pathologies most of which are chronic. Oxidative stress also affects both flora and fauna and plants are very important components of the terrestrial environment and significant contributors of nutrients for both man and animals. It is also remarkable that the aquatic environment in which sea animals and creatures are resident is also highly polluted, leading to aquatic stress that may affect the survival of the aquatic animals, sharing in the oxidative stress. These altered terrestrial and aquatic environments have an overarching effect on human health. Antioxidants neutralize the damaging free radicals thus, they play important protective roles in the onset, progression and severity of the unmitigated generation of pollutants that ultimately manifest as oxidative stress. Consequently, human health as well as that of aquatic and terrestrial organisms may be protected from environmental pollution by mitigating oxidative stress and employing the principles of nutritional medicine, essentially based on antioxidants derived mainly from plants, which serve as the panacea of the vicious state of environmental pollutants consequently, the health of the population. Understanding the total picture of oxidative stress and integrating the terrestrial and aquatic effects of environmental pollutants are central to sustainable health of the population and appear to require multi-sectoral collaborations from diverse disciplinary perspectives; basically the environmental, agricultural and health sectors.

Bioactive Flavonoids Icaritin and Icariin Protect against Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion-Associated Apoptosis and Extracellular Matrix Accumulation in an Ischemic Stroke Mouse Model

Stroke, which is the second leading cause of mortality in the world, is urgently needed to explore the medical strategies for ischemic stroke treatment. Both icariin (ICA) and icaritin (ICT) are the major active flavonoids extracted from Herba epimedii that have been regarded as the neuroprotective agents in disease models. In this study, we aimed to investigate and compare the neuroprotective effects of ICA and ICT in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mouse model. Male ICR mice were pretreated with both ICA and ICT, which ameliorated body weight loss, neurological injury, infarct volume, and pathological change in acute ischemic stroke mice. Furthermore, administration of both ICA and ICT could also protect against neuronal cell apoptotic death, oxidative and nitrosative stress, lipid peroxidation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation in the brains. The neuroprotective effects of ICT are slightly better than that of ICA in acute cerebral ischemic stroke mice. These results suggest that pretreatment with both ICA and ICT improves the neuronal cell apoptosis and responses of oxidative/nitrosative stress and counteracts the ECM accumulation in the brains of acute cerebral ischemic stroke mice. Both ICA and ICT treatment may serve as a useful therapeutic strategy for acute ischemic stroke.

Differences in the prevention and control of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases

At present, the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases (CAVDs) has made initial advancements, although the prevention and control of cerebrovascular diseases (CEVDs) has not yet achieved the desired progress. In this paper, we review the prevention and control of CEVDs and CAVDs, and analyze the differences in prevention effects, and the pathological and physiological structures pertaining to CEVDs and CAVDs. Combined with the different effects of low-dose aspirin in the primary prevention of CEVDs and CAVDs by meta-analysis, aspirin plays a more important role in the primary prevention of CAVDs than CEVDs. We recognize the misunderstandings and blind spots concerning prevention and control of CEVDs, which can be summarized as follows: (1) CEVDs and CAVDs can be controlled by the same methods and drugs; (2) considering the same pathological factors for cardiovascular diseases; (3) a lack of understanding of the particularity of CEVDs; (4) a focus on platelets and neglect of cerebrovascular protection. In summary, our research clarifies the differences in the prevention measures and drugs used for CEVDs and CAVDs. Of particular concern is the serious lack of preventive drugs for CEVDs in clinical use. An ideal drug for the prevention of CEVDs should have protective effects on the blood, the vascular endothelium, the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and other related factors. Our review aims to highlight several issues in the current prevention of CEVDs and CAVDs, and to provide an optimized plan for preventive drug discovery.

Protective Effect of An-Gong-Niu-Huang Wan Pre-treatment Against Experimental Cerebral Ischemia Injury via Regulating GSK-3β/HO-1 Pathway

An-Gong-Niu-Huang Wan (AGNHW), a famous formula in traditional Chinese medicine, has been clinically used for centuries for treating cerebral diseases, but the protective effects of pre-treatment with AGNHW on cerebral ischemia have not yet been reported. The present study aimed to test such protective effects and elucidate the underlying mechanisms on cerebral ischemia in rats by phenotypic approaches (i.e. including the neurological functional score, cerebral infarct area, neuron apoptosis, and brain oxidative stress status) and target-based approaches (i.e. involving the GSK-3β/HO-1 pathway). AGNHW was administered orally at the doses of 386.26, 772.52, and 1545.04 mg/kg respectively for 7 days to male Sprague-Dawley rats and then cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 1.5 h. Pre-treatment with AGNHW significantly ameliorated ischemic damage to the brain in a dose-dependent manner, including reduction of the neurological deficit score and infarct area. AGNHW pre-treatment increased the number of Nissl⁺ cells, NeuN⁺ and DCX⁺ cells, and decreased the number of Tunel⁺ cells. Moreover, AGNHW reversed the up-regulation of ROS and MDA induced by cerebral ischemia. AGNHW pre-treatment increased the expression of p-GSK-3β(Ser9)/GSK-3β (glycogen synthase kinase-3β) ratio and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). These results firstly revealed that short-term pre-treatment of AGNHW could significantly protect the rats from injury caused by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, which support further clinical studies for disease prevention. The in vivo protective effect of AGNWH pre-treatment could be associated with its antioxidant properties by the activation of GSK-3β-mediated HO-1 pathway.

The Effect of Light on Antioxidant Properties and Metabolic Profile of Chia Microgreens

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) is a one-year plant known as a source of nutrients that can be consumed in the diet in the form of seeds or sprouts. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of illumination for 24 and 48 h on dark-grown chia microgreens. Total antioxidant capacity was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, along with the total phenolics, ascorbic acid and cellulose content, and chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to evaluate the biochemical composition and elucidate the changes in compound structures between dark-grown and illuminated chia microgreens. Analysis of the results showed that illumination significantly increased the content of all measured bioactive compounds as well as antioxidative capacity, especially 48 h after exposure to light. FTIR analyses supported structural and molecular changes in chia microgreens grown under different light regimes. Our results suggest that illumination has a positive effect on the antioxidant potential of chia microgreens, which may present a valuable addition to the human diet.

Effect of herbal antioxidant-rich formula on improvement of antioxidant defense system and heat shock protein-70 expression in recreational female athletes: A randomized controlled trial

Background:

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of natural antioxidant formula (blend of herbs: ginger root, cinnamon bark and raw almond fruit powder, rosemary leaf powder, and honey) on oxidative status, antioxidant enzyme activity, and relative heat shock protein (HSP-70) expression in recreational female athletes.

Materials and Methods:

Eighteen female participants trained for 4 weeks and randomly received either antioxidant formula (FormEX) (n = 8) or placebo (PlcEX) (n = 10) in a randomized controlled trial. Blood samples were obtained 1-h before, 1 h and 24 h postexercise to measure malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidases (GPx), and HSP70 mRNA expression. Data analysis was performed using 2 (treatment = grouping factor) ×6 (time = within-factor) repeated measurements analysis of variance or generalized estimating equations (GEE) test. We used the independent t-test to evaluate any significant differences for real-time polymerase chain reaction data.

Results:

Antioxidant formula increased the relative HSP-70 mRNA expression more than Plc-EX group in all time points (P = 0.001). The time main effect was significant with regard to TAC and SOD concentrations (P = 0.001 and 0.002, respectively). However, there were no statistically significant differences between groups for TAC, SOD, and MDA (P = 0.25, 0.06, and 0.38, respectively). Neither the time main effect for MDA nor time and intervention interaction was not statistically significant for MDA, TAC, and SOD (P = 0.19, 0.13, and 0.10, respectively). GEE results for GPx showed that there were no significant differences between the groups (P = 0.11).

Conclusion:

The results presented herein revealed that natural antioxidant rich formula had variable effects on oxidative status. However, in contrast to many antioxidant supplements, this formulation increases the HSP-70 mRNA expression which might improve the antioxidant ability of cells in the long-term period and exercise-induced adaptation.

Effect of lycopene supplementation on cardiovascular parameters and markers of inflammation and oxidation in patients with coronary vascular disease

Oxidative stress and antioxidant deficiency play a pivotal role in initiation, development, and outcomes of cardiovascular disease. Pharmacokinetic parameters as well as the impact of highly bioavailable lycopene on cardiovascular variables, markers of inflammation and oxidation were investigated during a 30-day clinical trial in patients with coronary vascular disease. The patients were randomized into two major groups and were supplemented with a single 7 mg daily dose of lycopene ingested either in the form of lactolycopene (68 patients) or in the form of lycosome-formulated GA lycopene (74 patients). The endpoints included cardiovascular function parameters, serum lipids, and four markers of oxidative stress and inflammation. Ingestion of lycosome-formulated lycopene increased serum lycopene levels by 2.9- and 4.3-fold, respectively, after 2 and 4 weeks of the trial, whereas supplementation with lactolycopene upregulated serum lycopene by half-fold only after 4 weeks of ingestion. Lycosome formulation of lycopene resulted by the end of the trial in a threefold reduction in Chlamydia pneumoniae IgG and reduction to the same degree of the inflammatory oxidative damage marker. The decrease in oxidized LDL caused by lycosome-formulated lycopene was fivefold. Moreover, supplementation with lycosome-formulated lycopene was accompanied by a significant increase in tissue oxygenation and flow-mediated dilation by the end of the observational period. In contrast, lactolycopene did not cause any significant changes in the parameters studied. Therefore, enhanced bioavailability of lycopene promotes its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions and endorses a positive effect of lycopene on cardiovascular system.

Relationship between short telomere length and stroke: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Several epidemiological studies had been carried out in different population cohorts to estimate the relationship between the shortened telomere length and stroke. However, the results still remained dispute. Consequently, we conducted this meta-analysis to estimate the relationship between them.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were systematically searched for related articles to evaluate the association between "stroke" and "telomere length. STATA 12.0 software was used to perform the meta-analysis. The Cochran Q test and inconsistency index (I) were used to assess the heterogeneity. Begg funnel plot and Egger test were used to assess publication bias.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis was composed of 11 studies, consisting of 25,340 participants. We found a significant relationship between shortened telomere length and stroke (OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.13-2.0; P = .005); however, in the prospective and retrospective study subgroup, we did not find a statistical significant relationship between shortened telomere length and stroke (the prospective subgroup: OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1-1.98; P = .051) (the retrospective subgroup: OR: 1.89, 95% CI: 0.96-3.72; P = .067).

Astaxanthin, a xanthophyll carotenoid, prevents development of dextran sulphate sodium-induced murine colitis

Astaxanthin is a xanthophyll carotenoid, which possesses strong scavenging effect on reactive oxygen species. In this study, we examined the effect of astaxanthin on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Experimental colitis was induced by the oral administration of 4% w/v DSS in tap water in C57BL/6J mice. Astaxanthin was mixed with a normal rodent diet (0.02 or 0.04%). Astaxanthin significantly ameliorated DSS-induced body weight loss and reduced the disease activity index. The ameliorating effects was observed in a dose-dependent manner. Immunochemical analyses showed that astaxanthin markedly suppressed DSS-induced histological inflammatory changes (inflammatory cell infiltration, edematous changes and goblet cell depletion). Plasma levels of malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine were significantly reduced by the administration of 0.04% astaxanthin. Astaxanthin significantly suppressed the mucosal mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-36α and IL-36γ. Astaxanthin blocked the DSS-induced translocation of NF-κB p65 and AP-1 (c-Jun) into the nucleus of mucosal epithelial cells, and also suppressed DSS-induced mucosal activation of MAPKs (ERK1/2, p38 and JNK). In conclusion, astaxanthin prevented the development of DSS-induced colitis via the direct suppression of NF-κB, AP-1 and MAPK activation. These findings suggest that astaxanthin is a novel candidate as a therapeutic option for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Accumulation of carotenoids in a novel citrus cultivar 'Seinannohikari' during the fruit maturation

In the present study, carotenoid metabolism was investigated in the fruits of a novel citrus cultivar, 'Seinannohikari' (Citrus spp.). During the maturation, β,β-xanthophylls were accumulated rapidly with β-cryptoxanthin being the dominant carotenoid compound in the flavedo and juice sacs of 'Seinannohikari'. In the juice sacs of mature fruits, 'Seinannohikari' accumulated high amount of carotenoids, especially β-cryptoxanthin. The content of β-cryptoxanthin in the juice sacs of 'Seinannohikari' was approximately 2.5 times of that in 'Miyagawa-wase' (Citrus unshiu), which is one of its parental cultivars, at the mature stage. Gene expression results showed that the massive accumulation of β-cryptoxanthin might be attributed to the higher expression of carotenoid biosynthetic genes (CitPSY, CitPDS, CitZDS, CitLCYb2, CitHYb, and CitZEP), and lower expression of carotenoid catabolic genes (CitNCED2 and CitNCED3) in the juice sacs of 'Seinannohikari'.

Mitochondria and Reactive Oxygen Species in Aging and Age-Related Diseases

Aging has been linked to several degenerative processes that, through the accumulation of molecular and cellular damage, can progressively lead to cell dysfunction and organ failure. Human aging is linked with a higher risk for individuals to develop cancer, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and metabolic disorders. The understanding of the molecular basis of aging and associated diseases has been one major challenge of scientific research over the last decades. Mitochondria, the center of oxidative metabolism and principal site of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, are crucial both in health and in pathogenesis of many diseases. Redox signaling is important for the modulation of cell functions and several studies indicate a dual role for ROS in cell physiology. In fact, high concentrations of ROS are pathogenic and can cause severe damage to cell and organelle membranes, DNA, and proteins. On the other hand, moderate amounts of ROS are essential for the maintenance of several biological processes, including gene expression. In this review, we provide an update regarding the key roles of ROS-mitochondria cross talk in different fundamental physiological or pathological situations accompanying aging and highlighting that mitochondrial ROS may be a decisive target in clinical practice.

Association with Monoclonal Antibody Promotes Intracellular Delivery of Lycopene

Incubation of B10.MLM cells, a cell line of alveolar macrophages, with lycopene, a carotenoid, leads to an increase of lycopene content in their microsomal fraction. That increase was higher and developed faster when the cells were incubated with immune complexes formed by lycopene and mAb 6B9 (L-6B9 mAb), a monoclonal hapten-specific antibody raised against lycopene, as compared with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-dissolved lycopene (DMSO-L). Moreover, incubation of B10.MLM cells with L-6B9 mAb complexes was accompanied by more efficient accumulation of lipid droplets in the cultured cells and more significant inhibition of mRNA for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme (HMG-CoA) reductase, a rate-limiting enzyme of cholesterol biosynthesis known to be targeted by lycopene. Additionally, there was a better inhibition of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in B10.MLM cells infected with the pathogen and incubated thereafter with L-6B9 mAb complexes as compared with DMSO-L. Altogether, the results suggest that association with monoclonal antibody promotes intracellular delivery of lycopene in cultured cells possibly through Fc-receptor mediated uptake.

Pigments from Filamentous Ascomycetes for Combination Therapy

Filamentous ascomycetes (Neurospora and Monascus) have been studied for a long time because of their production of secondary metabolites such as microbial pigments. The ascomycetes represent an interesting group of compounds with high potential for medicinal applications. Many recent studies have shown their efficacy in the treatment of serious pathological states such as oncological diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and hyperlipidaemia. Nevertheless, the clinical usability of ascomycetes is still limited. However, this problem can be solved by the use of these compounds with combinations of other therapeutic agents. This strategy can suppress their side effects and improve their therapeutic efficacy. Moreover, their co-application can significantly enhance conventional therapies that are used. This review summarizes and discusses the general principles of this approach, introduced and supported by numerous examples. In addition, the prediction of the future potential application of this methodology is included.

Carotenoid supplementation and retinoic acid in immunoglobulin A regulation of the gut microbiota dysbiosis

Dysbiosis, a broad spectrum of imbalance of the gut microbiota, may progress to microbiota dysfunction. Dysbiosis is linked to some human diseases, such as inflammation-related disorders and metabolic syndromes. However, the underlying mechanisms of the pathogenesis of dysbiosis remain elusive. Recent findings suggest that the microbiome and gut immune responses, like immunoglobulin A production, play critical roles in the gut homeostasis and function, and the progression of dysbiosis. In the past two decades, much progress has been made in better understanding of production of immunoglobulin A and its association with commensal microbiota. The present minireview summarizes the recent findings in the gut microbiota dysbiosis and dysfunction of immunoglobulin A induced by the imbalance of pathogenic bacteria and commensal microbiota. We also propose the potentials of dietary carotenoids, such as β-carotene and astaxanthin, in the improvement of the gut immune system maturation and immunoglobulin A production, and the consequent promotion of the gut health. Impact statement The concept of carotenoid metabolism in the gut health has not been well established in the literature. Here, we review and discuss the roles of retinoic acid and carotenoids, including pro-vitamin A carotenoids and xanthophylls in the maturation of the gut immune system and IgA production. This is the first review article about the carotenoid supplements and the metabolites in the regulation of the gut microbiome. We hope this review would provide a new direction for the management of the gut microbiota dysbiosis by application of bioactive carotenoids and the metabolites.

Markers of Hypoxia and Oxidative Stress in Aging Volunteers Ingesting Lycosomal Formulation of Dark Chocolate Containing Astaxanthin

OBJECTIVE

To determine if ingestion of lycosome-formulated dark chocolate (DC) containing astaxanthin (ASTX) improves bioavailability of ASTX and affects markers of hypoxia and oxidative stress in aging individuals.

DESIGN

Randomized, blinded, four-arm, prospective study.

SETTINGS

Lycotec Ltd, Cambridge, United Kingdom and Institute of Cardiology, Saratov, Russian Federation.

PARTICIPANTS

32 healthy individuals aged 60-70 years with confirmed signs of oxidative stress (increased serum levels of oxidized LDL and malonic dialdehyde) randomized into four study groups (8 volunteers each).

INTERVENTION

Volunteers of first group were given orally 10 gr of dark chocolate (DC). Individuals from the second group received 7 mg of astaxanthin (ASTX). Third group of volunteers was supplemented with 10 gr of DC and 7 mg of ASTX ingested simultaneously as two separate formulations. Last group of the individuals was given 10 gr of a lycosomal formulation of DC containing 7 mg of co-crystalized ASTX (L-DC-ASTX), a newly developed highly bioavailable nutraceutical composition of DC containing 2 groups of antioxidants (cocoa flavanols and ASTX). All formulations were given orally, once daily for a month.

MEASUREMENTS

Serum ASTX was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Nitric oxide, malonic dialdehyde and oxidized LDL were quantified spectrophotometrically. Oxygenation parameters were evaluated by near-infrared spectroscopy.

RESULTS

One month ingestion of singular formulation of ASTX lead to a 20 fold buildup in serum ASTX level whereas the 4 week ingestion of L-DC-ASTX formulation was accompanied by more prominent accumulation of ASTX in serum (a 40 fold increase over the basal values) at the same daily dose of ASTX. Both antioxidants taken separately decreased serum levels of oxidized LDL and malonic dialdehyde. However effect of L-DC-ASTX formulation was more prominent. ASTX ingested alone caused a borderline increase (p=0.054) in serum nitric oxide (NO) levels, whereas DC ingestion lead to small but statistically significant increase in serum NO concentration. Higher values of NO level were seen after co-ingestion of DC and ASTX, especially in case of L-DC-ASTX formulation suggesting additive/synergistic effects of DC and ASTX on nitric oxide production. These changes were in agreement with the increase in plasma oxygen transport and tissue oxygen saturation seen in the volunteers supplemented with L-DC-ASTX formulation.

CONCLUSION

The nutraceutical formulation of DC and ASTX with an enhanced bioavailability of ASTX can be efficiently used for the correction of oxidative status in aging individuals.