The relationship between dietary antioxidant intake and physical activity rate with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): A case - Control study

INTRODUCTION

Although dietary intakes, especially micronutrients, can be associated with the severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), investigations on the amount of vitamins and antioxidants consumption and their relationship with NAFLD are very limited and incomplete. Therefore, we decided to investigate the relationship between antioxidant compounds intake and physical activity rate with NAFLD.

METHODS

In this study, 200 patients with NAFLD for the case group and 400 healthy subjects for the control group were selected. Patients were diagnosed as NAFLD after giving blood tests and performing Ultrasonography by a radiology specialist. Dietary intakes were evaluated through a validated 168-items semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Physical activity rate was estimated by a validated short form of International Physical Activity Questionnaire (Short IPAQ).

RESULTS

The study population was between 20 and 60 years old and 46% of them were women. Weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, WHR, and BMI in the cases were higher than the controls. Physical activity comparisons showed that controls had higher physical activity rate than cases. Mean consumption of vitamins C, A, D and alpha-tocopherol in case group was less than the other group. After adjustment for all potential confounder, subjects who were in highest tertile of vitamin A intake -in comparison to those in the lowest tertile of intake-decreased risk of NAFLD (OR = 0.40, 95%CI: 0.30-0.55). The same finding was obtained for vitamin D; [Top category vs. bottom category of vitamin D of intake (OR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.20-0.61)].

CONCLUSIONS

We found that more intakes of vitamins A and D are related to lower risk of NAFLD in this group of Iranian adults. Physical activity rate in cases was less than the controls. Further prospective studies are required to confirm causal association between antioxidant compounds intake and NAFLD.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking studies of novel 3,5-disubstituted 2,4-thiazolidinediones derivatives

A series of thirteen novel 2,4-thiazolidinedione derivatives were synthesized through three step reaction procedure. The title compounds were synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation at the 5th position of the 2,4-thiazolidinedione ring. Various physicochemical and spectral studies were conducted to characterize the synthesized derivatives including- IR, Mass, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and elemental analysis. The derivatives were screened for in vivo anti diabetic, in vivo anti-inflammatory and in vitro free radical scavenging activities by carrageenan induced rat paw edema method, alloxan induced diabetes in wistar rats method and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) method respectively. Some of the derivatives emerged out as potent antidiabetic, anti inflammatory and free radical scavenging agents. Molecular docking was carried out to investigate some possible structural insights into the potential binding patterns of the most potent anti-diabetic molecules NB7,NB12 and NB13 with the active sites of target PPARγ (PDB ID: 2PRG) using MOE software. Dichloro derivative compound NB-7 has shown great potential in the present study as it not only has maximum antidiabetic activity but also possess excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential.

Organoruthenium(II) complexes attenuate stress in Caenorhabditis elegans through regulating antioxidant machinery

The 1:1 stoichiometric reactions of 3-methoxy salicylaldehyde-4(N)-substituted thiosemicarbazones (H₂L^1-4) with [RuCpCl(PPh₃)₂] was carried out in methanol. The obtained complexes (1-4) were characterized by analytical, IR, absorption and ¹H NMR spectroscopic studies. The structures of ligand [H₂-3MSal-etsc] (H₂L³) and complex [RuCp(Msal-etsc) (PPh₃)] (3), were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The interaction of the ruthenium(II) complexes (1-4) with calfthymus DNA (CT-DNA) has been explored by absorption and emission titration methods. Based on the observations, an intercalative binding mode of DNA has been proposed. The protein binding abilities of the new complexes were monitored by quenching the tryptophan and tyrosine residues of BSA, as model protein. From the studies, it was found that the new ruthenium metallacycles exhibited better affinity than their precursors. The free radical scavenging assay suggests that all complexes effectively scavenged the DPPH radicals as compared to that of standard control ascorbic acid and scavenging activities of complexes are in the order of 4 > 2 > 3 > 1. In addition, ruthenium(II) complexes (2-4) also exhibited an excellent in vivo antioxidant activity as it was able to increase the survival of worms exposed to lethal oxidative and thermal stresses possibly through reducing the intracellular ROS levels. It was interesting to note that complexes 2-4 failed to increase the lifespan of mev-1 mutant worms having shortened lifespan due to the over production of free radicals. This data confirmed that complexes 2-4 conferred stress resistance in C. elegans, but they also require an endogenous detoxification mechanism for doing so. The genetic and reporter gene expression analysis revealed that complexes 2-4 maintained the intracellular redox status and offered stress protection through transactivation of antioxidant defence machinery genes gst-4 and sod-3 which are directly regulated by SKN-1 and DAF-16 transcription factors, respectively. Altogether, our results suggested that complexes 2-4 might play a crucial role in stress modulation and they perhaps exert almost similar effects in higher models, which is an important issue to be validated in future.

Antioxidant and in vivo genoprotective effects of phenolic compounds identified from an endophytic Cladosporium velox and their relationship with its host plant Tinospora cordifolia

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd. Hook. f. & Thomson; family: Menispermaceae), has a long history of use in various traditional medicinal systems including "Ayurveda". It is reported to possess anticancer, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, and antiinflammatory activities. T. cordifolia has also been well documented for production of various bioactive metabolites and their antioxidant activity, but the microorganisms associated with it have been least explored for the same properties.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Aim of the present study was to evaluate antioxidant and in vivo genoprotective potential of phenolic compounds produced by an endophytic fungus Cladosporium velox TN-9S isolated from T. cordifolia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The isolate of C. velox TN-9S was cultivated in malt extract medium and extracted with ethyl acetate. Total phenol content was determined by Folin Ciocalteu reagent. The antioxidant activity was measured in terms of DPPH and FRAP assay. The in vivo genoprotective activity was assessed using fish Channa punctatus as model. Identification of phenolic compounds was carried out using RP-HPLC. The fungal extract was evaluated for biosafety using Salmonella typhimurium His^- strain and CHO cell lines for mutagenicity and cytotoxicity, respectively.

RESULTS

The total phenolic content in the ethyl acetate extract of the fungus was determined to be 730μg gallic acid equivalent/mL. The extract evinced significant antioxidant activity with IC₅₀ value of 22.5µg/mL in DPPH scavenging assay. The phenolic extract showed good in vivo genoprotective activity against the genetic damage induced in fish C. punctatus after treatment with a non-ionic surfactant 4-nonylphenol. RP-HPLC analysis revealed the presence of peaks corresponding to various phenolic compounds in the extract. Mutagenicity and cytotoxicity results revealed the extract to be nonmutagenic and non cytotoxic in nature.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate the potential of an endophytic C. velox isolated from T. cordifolia as a producer of phenolic compounds with antioxidant and genoprotective activities which could be exploited in pharmaceutical industry. The ability of endophytes to produce similar compounds as the host, is also revealed in the present study.

A review on the role of nutraceuticals as simple as se(2+) to complex organic molecules such as glycyrrhizin that prevent as well as cure diseases

Nutraceuticals are nutritional medicines which are present in edible food items. Most of them are antioxidants with various other biological properties viz, anti inflammatory, anti atherogenic, anticancer, anti viral, anti aging properties etc. They are as simple as minerals like Se(2+) to complex organic molecules such as glycyrrhizin (Ca(2+), K(+) salts of glycyrrhizic acid). They can prevent as well as cure various diseases. Most of the medical people are not aware of the importance of the nutraceuticals as such matters are not part of their text books. Many still think that vitamins are the major nutritional medicines. Actually other dietary principles like terpenes, carotenes, phytosterols, polyphenols, flavanoids, di and poly sulphides, their sulfoxides and their precursor amino acids are necessary to scavenge free radicals in the body which are reactive oxygen species to protect and maintain the vitamin levels in the body. They down regulate the activities of those enzymes which are increased in diseases and they increase those that remove oxidants and detoxify carcinogens. They are immune boosters too. Recently glucosinolates, non toxic alkaloids, certain proteins and even fiber are included in the list of nutraceuticals.

Lycopene: redress for prostate cancer

Lycopene, a carotenoid is what that gives red colour to some fruits like pomegranate, tomato, papaya etc... People with a sound diet of lycopene may have a less risk of cancers especially prostate cancer which is most impedent for the males of age 40-50 years. So, in countries of north America and Europe food contains much of the lycopene supplements. In accordance with the American journal of epidemiology 2002 studies implies that men with crushed serum lycopene levels are more divulged to prostate cancer and those with sound diet of lycopene have a less risk of prostate cancer. In a care study conveyed by The British journal of urology, men with prostate cancer are subjected to surgery and the tumour is detonated. Amongst the men half a set were supplemented with lycopene supplements and half were not. Those subjected with lycopene supplements have less bone pains and live longer than those not supplemented. This paints a picture about importance of lycopene in treatment of prostate cancer. This article evokes the importance of lycopene and its way of destroying the cancer. Lycopene reduces the risk of cancer by diverging its effect on the plasma Insulin like growth factor, on Connexins , and the most acceptable one, by quench of free radicals.

Polyphenols from Ginkgo biloba

By Sephadex LH-20 gel chromatography of an extract from Gingko biloba leaves, polymeric proanthocyanidins were eluted after the fractions of flavonol glycosides and biflavone glycosides. A purified proanthocyanidin polymer accounted for 86.6% of the total proanthocyanidins, and for 37.7% of the total antioxidant activity of this leaf extract. For structure elucidation, the polymer was submitted to acidic depolymerization in the presence of phloroglucinol. The structures of the resulting flavan-3-ols and phloroglucinol adducts were determined on the basis of 1D-and reverse 2D-NMR (HSQC, HMBC) spectra of their peracetylated derivatives, MALDI-TOF-MS and CD-spectroscopy. The observations resulting from the degradation with phloroglucinol were confirmed by ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy of the polymer. The mean molecular weight of the polymeric fraction was estimated to be 9–10 flavan-3-ol-units.

Invitro antioxidant activity of selected antiasthmatic herbal constituents

Asthmatic patients are more subjected to continuous oxidative stress. Roosting the antioxidant defenses of asthma patient could be beneficial as it may help thwart symptoms of the lung disease and asthma. Considering these facts different plant extracts and phytoconstituents with proven anti asthmatic property had been subjected to antioxidant study at various combinations using Diphenyl Vicryl Hydrazyl radical scavenging method, Hydrogen Peroxide radical scavenging method, Nitric oxide radical inhibition method, ABTS radical scavenging method and Lipid peroxidation assay method.All the selected herbal based constituents and extracts at different combination showed a potent antioxidant activiy by Nitric oxide radical inhibition activiy method followed by ABTS method. The present finding suggests that the selected plant based anti asthmatic constituents namely Coleus extract (10% Forskolin), Piper longum extract (20% Piperine), CurcuminC3Complex (60% Curcumin), Vasaka (30% Vasicinone), Forskolin (95%), Pperine (98%), Curcumin C3 Complex (98.5%) and Vasicinone (75%) could be utilised in alternate anti asthmatic therapy, since they play a vital role in scavenging Nitric oxide which could prevent the bronchial inflammation in asthmatic patients.