The consumption of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) effectively alleviates type 2 diabetes symptoms in spontaneous diabetic rats

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is described by various beneficial effects as it contains several bioactive substances characterized by antioxidant effects. These effects are closely related to the reduction of oxidative stress that is involved in the development of the disease. One such diseases is Diabetes mellitus, the prevalence of which is growing and is associated primarily with diet, lack of exercise and/or genetics. This study intends to examine the effects of sea buckthorn and metformin on body weight, water and feed intake, glycaemia, insulinemia, sorbitol accumulation and cataract development in Zucker diabetic fatty rats, which represent an animal model of type 2 Diabetes mellitus, as well as to characterize the individual content of bioactive substances and the antioxidant activity of sea buckthorn. Particular concentrations were applied (500 and 1000 mg.kg-1 body weight of sea buckthorn, and combinations with 150 mg.kg-1 body weight of metformin) by gastric gavage. The total antioxidant capacity and bioactive compounds were determined by spectrophotometric analysis. The best results of the study showed suppression of hyperglycaemia, water intake, decreased sorbitol levels in the lens of the eyes after sea buckthorn treatment. Determination of bioactive compounds showed significantly higher values in dry berries when compared to fresh berries of sea buckthorn and high total antioxidant capacity. Our results represent an interest in sea buckthorn and its potential use in the treatment of Diabetes mellitus as well as other experimental studies.

SHORT REVIEW ON PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF POLYPHENOLS AGAINST DISORDERS CAUSED BY BISPHENOLS

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have recently attracted the interest of public health organizations, motivating substantial research to identify their effect on human health. Dysfunctions in endocrine system activities can raise the risk of a wide range of disorders, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and reproductive disorders. Given that bisphenol A (BPA) and other bisphenols are considered to raise the risk of these disorders primarily through activating oxidative and inflammatory pathways, it has been hypothesized that dietary substances with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities may mitigate their negative effects. Polyphenols have been analyzed for their capacity to protect against the negative effects of BPA and phthalates since they are some of the most well-established substances with such properties. Given the importance of defining the relationship between bisphenols and human health and discovering approaches to combat the harmful effects they may cause, this review will summarize the evidence on dietary exposure to bisphenols, how they influence disease risk, the basis for and available research on how polyphenols mitigate their adverse effects, gaps in knowledge, and future research suggestions.

The protective effect of stilbenes resveratrol and pterostilbene individually and combined with mycotoxin citrinin in human adenocarcinoma HT-29 cell line in vitro

This study was focused to determine an individual and combined effect of mycotoxin citrinin (CIT) and two compounds of the stilbene family- resveratrol (RES) and his dimethyl ether analogue pterostilbene (PTE) which have many health benefits. As a model the human adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29 was used which may exhibits the properties of small intestine cells. Viability, plasma membrane integrity, lysosomal functionality, intracellular production of superoxide anions and superoxide dismutase activity were examined. The results indicate that concentrations of 50 and 100 μg/mL of the tested compounds were cytotoxic in mostly monitored parameters and probably caused apoptosis. HT-29 cells were more sensitive to PTE than to RES with a higher antioxidant effect of PTE than RES, which may be caused by its chemical structure. Both stilbenes at medium doses act as effective superoxide anions scavengers leading to reduction of oxidative stress and consequent cell damage. The nontoxic concentration of RES (25 µg/mL) protects the HT-29 cell line faced to the toxicity of CIT at 25 µg/mL by increasing viability of cells and by reducing the superoxide production induced by CIT concentrations of 12.5 µg/mL and 25 µg/mL.

Low dose exposure of patulin and protective effect of epicatechin on blood cells in vitro

In the present study, we aimed to assess antioxidant status in erythrocytes in vitro after patulin (PAT) and epicatechin exposure by measuring antioxidant enzymes (superoxide-dismutase - SOD, glutathione peroxidase - GPx and catalase - CAT) and parameters associated with oxidative stress (malondialdehyde - MDA and ROS). We also investigated the effect of PAT on viability and count of lymphocytes and lymphocyte subpopulations in rabbit blood in vitro. Whole blood of rabbits was used for analysis of antioxidant changes in rabbit erythrocytes after epicatechin and PAT treatment (separately or in combination, at concentrations of 0.2; 2; 20; 200 µg mL^-1 of epicatechin and 0.5; 5; 10 µg mL^-1 of PAT). Whole blood of rabbits was also used for analysis of count and viability of lymphocytes after PAT treatment at concentrations of 10; 25 and 50 µg mL^-1. Results from our experiment confirmed the ability of epicatechin to protect cells against oxidative stress and lipoperoxidation. Our findings indicate that mycotoxin PAT in low concentrations did not affect the activity of antioxidant enzymes in erythrocytes of rabbits significantly. Only slight non-significant changes in lymphocytes count after treatment with low doses of PAT in rabbit blood were observed.

Potential toxicity of cyanogenic glycoside amygdalin and bitter apricot seed in rabbits-Health status evaluation

Amygdalin is one of the most studied secondary metabolites of Prunus genus. It is a cyanogenic glycoside which was initially obtained from the bitter almonds seeds and is a major component of the seeds of plants, such as apricots, almonds, peaches, apples and other rosaceous plants. The views of scientists on the use of amygdalin have been contradictory for many years, partly because toxicokinetics and metabolism of amygdalin still have not been adequately explored. The present in vivo study was designed to reveal whether pure amygdalin intramuscularly injected or apricot seeds oral consumption induce changes in overall health status of rabbit as a biological model. A total of 60 adult rabbits were randomly divided into five groups. The control group received no amygdalin while the two experimental groups E1 and E2 received a daily intramuscular injection of amygdalin at doses 0.6 and 3.0 mg/kg bw. The experimental groups E3 and E4 were fed crushed bitter apricot seeds (Prunus armeniaca L.), at doses 60 and 300 mg/kg bw, mixed with commercial feed for rabbits. Blood collection was carried out after 14 days. Biochemical, haematological and antioxidant enzymes activity analysis were performed and statistically evaluated. A short-term amygdalin administration had negligible impact on biochemical parameters-mainly level of urea, bilirubin, cholesterol. Haematological profile of rabbits was influenced very slightly-non-significant platelet count and platelet percentage increase, erythrocytes count and haemoglobin decrease. SOD activity of rabbits decreased significantly (p > 0.05) after apricot seeds consumption (102.3 U/ml) in comparison to control (117.4 U/ml). Differences might be connected to diverse metabolism by different administration routes and at the same time by the presence of other substances in apricot seeds (phytosterols, polyphenols, fatty acids). However, a short-term consumption had only slight effect on health status of rabbits and at recommended doses did not represent risk for their health.