Bioactive Compounds in Moringa oleifera: Mechanisms of Action, Focus on Their Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) is a tropical tree native to Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan; it is cultivated for its nutritious leaves, pods, and seeds. This scientific study was conducted to outline the anti-inflammatory properties and mechanisms of action of bioactive compounds from M. oleifera. The existing research has found that the plant is used in traditional medicine due to its bioactive compounds, including phytochemicals: flavonoids and polyphenols. The compounds are thought to exert their anti-inflammatory effects due to: (1) inhibition of pro-inflammatory enzymes: quercetin and kaempferol inhibit the pro-inflammatory enzymes (cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase); (2) regulation of cytokine production: isothiocyanates modulate signaling pathways involved in inflammation, such as the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) pathway; isothiocyanates inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor α) and IL-1β (interleukin-1β); and (3) antioxidant activity: M. oleifera contains flavonoids, polyphenols, known to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. The review includes M. oleifera's effects on cardiovascular protection, anti-hypertensive activities, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This research could prove valuable for exploring the pharmacological potential of M. oleifera and contributing to the prospects of developing effective medicines for the benefit of human health.

[Research progress in pharmacological effectsand mechanism of Fel Ursi against cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases]

Fel Ursi is a dried product obtained from the gallbladder of Ursidae animals, such as Selenarctos thibetanus or Ursus arctos, through gallbladder surgery for bile drainage. It is one of the rare animal medicinal materials in China and is known for its therapeutic effects, including clearing heat, removing toxins, extinguishing wind, relieving spasms, clearing the liver, and improving vision. Research has also found that Fel Ursi has pharmacological effects against cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant stress properties. Recently, numerous studies have confirmed the close relationship between cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and the gut microbiota as well as gut metabolites. Fel Ursi contains bile acid components that may have bidirectional regulatory effects on the gut microbiota and gut metabolites. This aspect could represent a potential therapeutic pathway for Fel Ursi in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. This article comprehensively summarized relevant literature in China and abroad, reviewed the research progress on the pharmacological effects of Fel Ursi against cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and explored the impact of Fel Ursi on gut microbiota and gut metabolites, thereby aiming to provide references for further in-depth research and clinical application of Fel Ursi.

Zinc defends against Parthanatos and promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury through SIRT3-mediated anti-oxidative stress and mitophagy

INTRODUCTION

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a central nervous system injury that is primarily traumatic and manifests as motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunction below the level of damage. Our previous studies confirmed the ability of zinc to protect mitochondria, protect neurons and promote spinal cord recovery. However, the role of zinc in Parthanatos is unknown.

AIM

We investigated the effects of zinc in Parthanatos from oxidative stress and mitophagy. We elucidated the role of SIRT3 in providing new ideas for treating spinal cord injury.

THE RESULTS

Zinc protected SCI mice by regulating Parthanatos. On the one hand, zinc eliminated ROS directly through SIRT3 deacetylation targeting SOD2 to alleviate Parthanatos. On the other hand, zinc eliminated ROS indirectly through SIRT3-mediated promotion of mitophagy to alleviate Parthanatos.

CONCLUSION

Zinc defends against Parthanatos and promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury through SIRT3-mediated anti-oxidative stress and mitophagy.

Therapeutic Potential of Biochanin A in Herpes Simplex Keratitis

Herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) is a blinding eye disease that is initiated by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Resistance to acyclovir (ACV) and the side effects of corticosteroid drugs have become concerning issues, so it is crucial to develop new antivirals for treating HSK. In this study, we report that biochanin A (BCA), a naturally occurring flavonoid compound, provides multifaceted protective effects with anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress and anti-apoptotic activities to alleviate HSK. The results show that BCA significantly inhibited HSV-1 replication in vitro and further proved that BCA principally influenced the early stage of virus infection. We reveal that BCA downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory factors triggered by HSV-1, including TNF-α, RANTES, IL-1β and IL-6. Furthermore, BCA treatment alleviated oxidative stress and apoptotic arising from HSV-1 infection. Lastly, we induced HSK in male C57BL/6 mice and treated them with either BCA or phosphate buffer solution (PBS) eye drops. We observed the ocular surface lesions; determined the virus load in the tear fluid, corneas as well as trigeminal ganglions (TGs); and detected the levels of inflammation and apoptosis in the corneas simultaneously. These results show that BCA inhibits HSV-1 and alleviates the corneal lesion degree. Our study illustrates that BCA is a promising therapeutic approach for application in treating HSK.

Integration of molecular docking, molecular dynamics and network pharmacology to explore the multi-target pharmacology of fenugreek against diabetes

Fenugreek is an ancient herb that has been used for centuries to treat diabetes. However, how the fenugreek-derived chemical compounds work in treating diabetes remains unclarified. Herein, we integrate molecular docking and network pharmacology to elucidate the active constituents and potential mechanisms of fenugreek against diabetes. First, 19 active compounds from fenugreek and 71 key diabetes-related targets were identified through network pharmacology analysis. Then, molecular docking and simulations results suggest diosgenin, luteolin and quercetin against diabetes via regulation of the genes ESR1, CAV1, VEGFA, TP53, CAT, AKT1, IL6 and IL1. These compounds and genes may be key factors of fenugreek in treating diabetes. Cells results demonstrate that fenugreek has good biological safety and can effectively improve the glucose consumption of IR-HepG2 cells. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the anti-diabetic effect of fenugreek was regulated by the AGE-RAGE and NF-κB signalling pathways. It is mainly associated with anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory response and β-cell protection. Our study identified the active constituents and potential signalling pathways involved in the anti-diabetic effect of fenugreek. These findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding the mechanism of the anti-diabetic effect of fenugreek. Finally, this study may help for developing anti-diabetic dietary supplements or drugs based on fenugreek.

Review on the protective mechanism of astragaloside IV against cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular disease is a global health problem. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is a saponin compound extracted from the roots of the Chinese herb Astragalus. Over the past few decades, AS-IV has been shown to possess various pharmacological properties. It can protect the myocardium through antioxidative stress, anti-inflammatory effects, regulation of calcium homeostasis, improvement of myocardial energy metabolism, anti-apoptosis, anti-cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, anti-myocardial fibrosis, regulation of myocardial autophagy, and improvement of myocardial microcirculation. AS-IV exerts protective effects on blood vessels. For example, it can protect vascular endothelial cells through antioxidative stress and anti-inflammatory pathways, relax blood vessels, stabilize atherosclerotic plaques, and inhibit the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells. Thus, the bioavailability of AS-IV is low. Toxicology indicates that AS-IV is safe, but should be used cautiously in pregnant women. In this paper, we review the mechanisms of AS-IV prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in recent years to provide a reference for future research and drug development.

Low-Molecular-Weight Chondroitin Sulfates Alleviate Simulated Microgravity-Induced Oxidative Stress and Bone Loss in Mice

(1) Background: Many studies have shown that microgravity experienced by astronauts or long-term bedridden patients results in increased oxidative stress and bone loss. Low-molecular-weight chondroitin sulfates (LMWCSs) prepared from intact chondroitin sulfate (CS) have been demonstrated to possess good antioxidant and osteogenic activities in vitro. This study aimed to assess the antioxidant activity of the LMWCSs in vivo and evaluate their potential in preventing microgravity-induced bone loss. (2) Methods: we used hind limb suspension (HLS) mice to simulate microgravity in vivo. We investigated the effects of LMWCSs against oxidative stress damage and bone loss in HLS mice and compared the findings with those of CS and a non-treatment group. (3) Results: LMWCSs reduced the HLS-induced oxidative stress level, prevented HLS-induced alterations in bone microstructure and mechanical strength, and reversed changes in bone metabolism indicators in HLS mice. Additionally, LMWCSs downregulated the mRNA expression levels of antioxidant enzyme- and osteogenic-related genes in HLS mice. The results showed that overall effect of LMWCSs was better than that of CS. (4) Conclusions: LMWCSs protect against the bone loss caused by simulated microgravity, which may be related to their ability to reduce oxidative stress. LMWCSs can be envisaged as potential antioxidants and bone loss protective agents in microgravity.

Bioactive Compounds as Inhibitors of Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Dysfunctions via Regulation of Cellular Redox Balance and Histone Acetylation State

Bioactive compounds (BCs) are known to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties by regulating the cellular redox balance and histone acetylation state. BCs can control chronic oxidative states caused by dietary stress, i.e., alcohol, high-fat, or high-glycemic diet, and adjust the redox balance to recover physiological conditions. Unique functions of BCs to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) can resolve the redox imbalance due to the excessive generation of ROS. The ability of BCs to regulate the histone acetylation state contributes to the activation of transcription factors involved in immunity and metabolism against dietary stress. The protective properties of BCs are mainly ascribed to the roles of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2). As a histone deacetylase (HDAC), SIRT1 modulates the cellular redox balance and histone acetylation state by mediating ROS generation, regulating nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)/NADH ratio, and activating NRF2 in metabolic progression. In this study, the unique functions of BCs against diet-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysfunction have been considered by focusing on the cellular redox balance and histone acetylation state. This work may provide evidence for the development of effective therapeutic agents from BCs.

Proteiniphilum and Methanothrix harundinacea became dominant acetate utilizers in a methanogenic reactor operated under strong ammonia stress

Microorganisms in anaerobic digestion (AD) are easily affected by ammonia, especially acetoclastic methanogens. Thus, in ammonia-suppressed AD systems, acetate degradation is reported to be carried out mainly by the cooperation of syntrophic acetate oxidizers and hydrogenotrophic methanogens. Previous studies have revealed ammonia inhibition on microbial flora by AD performance, but the effect mechanism of ammonia on microbial metabolism remains poorly understood. In this study, we constructed a mesophilic chemostat fed with acetate as the sole carbon source, gradually increased the total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentration from 1 g L^-1 to 6 g L^-1, and employed the 16S rRNA gene, metagenomics, and metatranscriptomics analysis to characterize the microbial community structure and metabolic behavior. The results showed that even at the TAN of 6 g L^-1 (pH 7.5), the methanogenesis kept normal, the biogas production was approximately 92% of that at TAN of 1 g L^-1 and the acetate degradation ratio reached 99%, suggesting the strong TAN tolerance of the microbial community enriched. 16S rRNA gene analysis suggested that the microbial community structure changed along with the TAN concentration. Methanothrix predominated in methanogens all the time, in which the dominant species was gradually replaced from M. soehngenii to M. harundinacea with the increased TAN. Dominant bacterial species also changed and Proteiniphilum showed a significant positive correlation with increased TAN. Meta-omics analysis showed that the absolute dominant microorganisms at TAN of 6 g L^-1 were M. harundinacea and Proteiniphilum, both of which highly expressed genes for anti-oxidative stress. M. harundinacea and the second dominant methanogen Methanosarcina highly expressed both acetate cleavage and CO₂ reduction pathways, suggesting the possibility that these two pathways contributed to methanogenesis together. Proteiniphilum and some other species in Firmicutes and Synergistetes were likely acetate oxidizers in the community as they highly expressed genes for syntrophic acetate oxidization, H₂ generation, and electron transfer. These results suggested that Proteiniphilum as well as M. harundinacea have strong ammonia tolerance and played critical roles in acetate degradation under ammonia-suppressed conditions. The achievements of the study would contribute to the regulation and management of the AD process.

Underutilized legumes, Cajanus cajan and Glycine max may bring about antisickling effect in sickle cell disease by modulation of redox homeostasis in sickled erythrocytes and alteration of its functional chemistry

The antisickling and anti-oxidative effect of the Cajanus cajan, Glycine max, and their blends were investigated in sickled erythrocytes. The powdered samples were analyzed for their nutritional and anti-nutritional constituents. Their aqueous extracts were analyzed for in vitro antioxidant activities. The extracts were incubated with sickled erythrocytes at 37°C for 6 hours and the antisickling effect examined via microscopic analysis. The blend was the most active and its incubated cells were subjected to anti-oxidative analysis which covers for GSH, SOD, catalase, and lipid peroxidation (LPO). Chemical functional group of the treated cells was analyzed with FTIR spectroscopy. The in silico binding of the predominant amino acid to hemoglobin was also investigated. An increased concentration of leucine was observed in the blend compared to that of C. cajan and G. max, respectively. Vitamins C, B6, and B9 were the only vitamins observed in the blend. Phytate and oxalate were present in all samples. All extracts displayed significant (p < .05) scavenging activities. Treatment with the blend exacerbated SOD and catalase activities as well as the GSH level, while suppressing LPO. FTIR analysis of the treated cells showed the presence of hydrophobic functional groups. Leucine was the predominant amino acid, and it showed a potent molecular interaction with HIS-87 residue of the alpha chain of 1HCO. C. cajan and G. max blend inhibited sickling activities of sickle erythrocytes, while concomitantly exacerbating their endogenous antioxidant enzymes activity and modification of the functional chemistry. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Cajanus cajan and Glycine max are among the common underutilized legumes in Nigeria. Aside their nutritional properties, these legumes have been used from time immemorial for the treatment and management of various ailments. Sickle cell anemia is a class of hemoglobinopathy common in Sub-Saharan Africa. There have been concerns about its treatment owing to the increasing scourge of the disease coupled to the financial burden of its management. This study reports the ability of the potentials of the legumes to prevent sickling activities of sickled erythrocytes and the possible biochemical mechanism involved.

Oxidative Stress Following Intracerebral Hemorrhage: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Targets

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a highly fatal disease with mortality rate of approximately 50%. Oxidative stress (OS) is a prominent cause of brain injury in ICH. Important sources of reactive oxygen species after hemorrhage are mitochondria dysfunction, degradated products of erythrocytes, excitotoxic glutamate, activated microglia and infiltrated neutrophils. OS harms the central nervous system after ICH mainly through impacting inflammation, killing brain cells and exacerbating damage of the blood brain barrier. This review discusses the sources and the possible molecular mechanisms of OS in producing brain injury in ICH, and anti-OS strategies to ameliorate the devastation of ICH.

Therapeutic Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extracts from the Ancient Apple Mela Rosa dei Monti Sibillini in Transient Global Ischemia in Rats

The Mela Rosa dei Monti Sibillini is an ancient apple variety cultivated by Romans in the foothills of the Sibillini Mountains, central Italy, showing potential as a source of nutraceuticals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of the hydroalcoholic extracts from the peel (APE) and pulp (APP) of this fruit in an animal model of transient global ischemia. Chemical constituents were analyzed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-MSⁿ) indicating several polyphenols such as B-type procyanidins, quercetin derivatives and hydroxycinnamic acids as the main bioactive components. Acute pre-treatment of extracts (30 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly decreased the brain levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β (p < 0.01) and TNF-α (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01 for APE and APP, respectively), the expression of caspase-3 (p < 0.01, For APE) and MDA (p < 0.05), a lipid peroxidation biomarker in rats. Both extracts restricted the pathological changes of the brain induced by ischemic stroke in hematoxylin and eosin assay. Moreover, they improved the scores of behavioral tests in grid-walking and modified neurological severity scores (mNSS) tests. In conclusion, these results proved this ancient Italian apple is a source of nutraceuticals able to protect/prevent damage from brain ischemia.

Scutellarin protects against diabetic cardiomyopathy via inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory response in mice

BACKGROUND

Scutellarin (Scu) shows both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The study investigates cardioprotective effects of Scu in mice with type 1 diabetes and the underlying molecular mechanism.

METHODS

Streptozotocin (STZ) was used to induce diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) in C57BL/6 mice by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.). Normal and diabetic mice were divided into 6 groups: control, diabetic model group (DM), DM + Scu (5 mg/kg), DM + Scu (10 mg/kg), DM + Scu (20 mg/kg), DM + pioglitazone (Pio) (10 mg/kg). Scu was administered to the mice intraperitoneally and Pio was administrated by oral. Mice in control and DM groups were simply treated normal saline. Four weeks later, myocardial function, myocardial fibrosis, the levels inflammatory factors and oxidative stress were detected.

RESULTS

Scu improved cardiac function and reduced heart injury in diabetic mice, which was indicated by increasing Left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume (LVVd), fractional shortening (FS), and ejection fraction (EF) levels and decreased pathological changes of heart. Scu inhibited the level of myocardial fibrosis by reducing the release of inflammatory cytokines and increasing activities of antioxidant enzymes. Further study showed that Scu inhibited the activation of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor with a pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and activated phospho-protein kinase B (p-AKT), nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase (HO-1).

CONCLUSIONS

Scu protects against DCM in STZ-induced diabetic mice by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory responses and might be a potential therapeutic agent to treat DCM.

Vascular endothelial cell-secreted exosomes facilitate osteoarthritis pathogenesis by promoting chondrocyte apoptosis

Exosomes are major mediators of cell-to-cell communication, and are involved in many physiological and pathological processes. Recently, the roles of exosomes in osteoarthritis (OA) and their therapeutic potential have received increasing attention. Exosomes derived from vascular endothelial cells have been confirmed to participate in the occurrence and development of numerous diseases; however, their effects in OA have not been reported. Here, we demonstrated the roles of exosomes secreted by vascular endothelial cells in the development of OA. Through in vivo and in vitro experiments, we demonstrated that exosomes derived from vascular endothelial cells decreased the ability of chondrocytes to resist oxidative stress by inhibiting autophagy and p21 expression, thereby increasing the cellular ROS content and inducing apoptosis. These findings indicate that exosomes derived from vascular endothelial cells promote the progression of OA, thus, providing new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of OA.

The Protective Effects of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma in Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CI/RI) is a complex pathological process that often occurs secondary to trauma, surgery, and shock. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a subunit of the PPAR and is a ligand-activated nuclear transcription factor. After being activated by its ligand, PPARγ can combine with specific DNA response elements to regulate the transcription and expression of genes. It has a wide range of biological functions, such as regulating lipid metabolism, improving insulin sensitivity, modulating anti-tumor mechanisms, and inhibiting inflammation. In recent years, some studies have shown that PPARγ exerts a protective effect during CI/RI. This article aims to summarize the research progress of studies that have investigated the protective effects of PPARγ in CI/RI and the cellular and molecular mechanisms through which these effects are modulated, including inhibition of excitatory amino acid toxicity, reduced Ca2+ overload, anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammation, inhibition of microglial activation, maintain the BBB, promotion of angiogenesis, and neurogenesis and anti-apoptotic processes.

Therapeutic Potential of Centella asiatica and Its Triterpenes: A Review

Centella asiatica (also known as Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. or Gotu kola) is a traditional Chinese medicine with extensive medicinal value, which is commonly used in Southeast Asian countries. This study aimed to summarize the effects of C. asiatica and its main components on neurological diseases, endocrine diseases, skin diseases, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, immune diseases, and gynecological diseases, as well as potential molecular mechanisms, to study the pathological mechanism of these diseases based on the changes at the molecular level. The results showed that C. asiatica and its triterpenoids had extensive beneficial effects on neurological and skin diseases, which were confirmed through clinical studies. They exhibited anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, anti-apoptotic effects, and improvement in mitochondrial function. However, further clinical studies are urgently required due to the low level of evidence and lack of patients.

Expression of Ascorbate Peroxidase Derived from Cyanidioschyzon merolae in Mammalian Cells

BACKGROUND/AIM

Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) derived from Cyanidioschyzon merolae, a primitive red alga living in high temperature and acidic environments, has greater anti-oxidative capacity than similar peroxidases occurring in other plants. In the present study, we examined whether expression of Cyanidioschyzon merolae-derived APX (cAPX) in mammalian cells increases cellular anti-oxidative capacity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cAPX gene was introduced into the mouse fibroblast-like cell line C3H10T1/2. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or cell viability was assessed after heat, H₂O₂ and acid stimulation.

RESULTS

Heat and H₂O₂ stimulation resulted in ROS production. cAPX-expressing cells were more tolerant to oxidative stress induced by heat, H₂O₂ and acid stimulations than control cells lacking cAPX.

CONCLUSION

Introduction of cAPX increases the anti-oxidative capacity in mammalian cells.

In vitro Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Oxidative Stress Activities of Kushenol C Isolated from the Roots of Sophora flavescens

Kushenol C (KC) is a prenylated flavonoid isolated from the roots of Sophoraflavescens aiton. Little is known about its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress activities. Here, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects of KC in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP)-induced oxidative stress in HaCaT cells. The results demonstrated that KC dose-dependently suppressed the production of inflammatory mediators, including NO, PGE₂, IL-6, IL1β, MCP-1, and IFN-β in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. The study demonstrated that the inhibition of STAT1, STAT6, and NF-κB activations by KC might have been responsible for the inhibition of NO, PGE₂, IL-6, IL1β, MCP-1, and IFN-β in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. KC also upregulated the expression of HO-1 and its activities in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. The upregulation of Nrf2 transcription activities by KC in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages was demonstrated to be responsible for the upregulation of HO-1 expression and its activity in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. In HaCaT cells, KC prevented DNA damage and cell death by upregulating the endogenous antioxidant defense system involving glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase, which prevented reactive oxygen species production from tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP)-induced oxidative stress in HaCaT cells. The upregulated activation of Nrf2 and Akt in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway by KC was demonstrated to be responsible for the anti-oxidative stress activity of KC in HaCaT cells. Collectively, the study suggests that KC can be further investigated as a potential anti-inflammatory candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Impact of intracoronary nicorandil before stent deployment in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

The present study aimed to clarify the effect of bolus intracoronary nicorandil on inflammatory, oxidative and adherent indicators in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This randomized controlled trial (RCT) was performed to detect the inflammation and oxidative stress in intracoronary blood both before and after PCI. In total, 65 consecutive patients undergoing PCI were classified into a nicorandil therapy group (n=32) or a placebo group (n=33). All procedures were performed at Shandong University Qilu Hospital, China, during the period from March, 2016 to May, 2017. Intracoronary blood from patients who received nicorandil therapy during PCI showed no change in soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) concentration (1.86±0.08 vs. 1.90±0.09 ng/ml, P=0.12) but a significant increase was noted in the control group (1.87±0.17 vs. 2.82±0.26 ng/ml, P<0.01). This indicated a relative reduction in sCD40L level after PCI in the nicorandil group. We further demonstrated an increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (29.37±0.81 vs. 31.03±0.60 U/ml, P<0.001) and a reduction in lipid peroxidation (3.84±0.99 vs. 4.23±0.13 U/ml, P=0.001) in the nicorandil group but observed no change in the placebo group. ICAM-1 levels showed no change in the nicorandil group (69.54±6.89 vs. 72.01±8.25 ng/ml, P=0.83) but a significant increase in the control group after PCI in intracoronary blood (56.57±4.96 vs. 76.81±6.88 ng/ml, P=0.002). No changes were found in hs-CRP, TNFα and sVCAM-1 levels in coronary blood for both groups before and after PCI in ACS patients. Our findings demonstrate that intracoronary bolus nicorandil therapy has a significant effect on the inhibition of inflammatory indicators and oxidative stress in patients with ACS during PCI. This suggests a possible medical application of nicorandil for reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

Low-Energy Extracorporeal Shock Wave Ameliorates Streptozotocin Induced Diabetes and Promotes Pancreatic Beta Cells Regeneration in a Rat Model

Traditional therapy for diabetes mellitus has focused on supportive treatment, and is not significant in the promotion of pancreatic beta cells regeneration. We investigated the effect of low- energy extracorporeal shock wave (SW) on a streptozotocin induced diabetes (DM) rat model. Methods: The DM rats were treated with ten sessions of low-energy SW therapy (weekly for ten consecutive weeks) or left untreated. We assessed blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), urine volume, pancreatic islets area, c-peptide, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and insulin production, beta cells number, pancreatic tissue inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1) ten weeks after the completion of treatment. Results: The ten- week low-energy SW therapy regimen significantly reduced blood glucose, HbA1c, and urine volume as well as significantly enhancing pancreatic islets area, c-peptide, GLP-1, and insulin production in the rat model of DM. Moreover, low-energy SW therapy increased the beta cells number in DM rats. This was likely primarily attributed to the fact that low-energy SW therapy reduced pancreatic tissue inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress as well as increasing angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and tissue repair potency. Conclusions: Low-energy SW therapy preserved pancreatic islets function in streptozotocin-induced DM. Low-energy SW therapy may serve as a novel noninvasive and effective treatment of DM.

Human Placenta Hydrolysate Promotes Liver Regeneration via Activation of the Cytokine/Growth Factor-Mediated Pathway and Anti-oxidative Effect

Liver regeneration is a very complex process and is regulated by several cytokines and growth factors. It is also known that liver transplantation and the regeneration process cause massive oxidative stress, which interferes with liver regeneration. The placenta is known to contain various physiologically active ingredients such as cytokines, growth factors, and amino acids. In particular, human placenta hydrolysate (hPH) has been found to contain many amino acids. Most of the growth factors found in the placenta are known to be closely related to liver regeneration. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether hPH is effective in promoting liver regeneration in rats undergoing partial hepatectomy. We confirmed that cell proliferation was significantly increased in HepG2 and human primary cells. Hepatocyte proliferation was also promoted in partial hepatectomized rats by hPH treatment. hPH increased liver regeneration rate, double nucleic cell ratio, mitotic cell ratio, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and K_i-67 positive cells in vivo as well as interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Moreover, Kupffer cells secreting IL-6 and TNF-α were activated by hPH treatment. In addition, hPH reduced thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) and significantly increased glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Taken together, these results suggest that hPH promotes liver regeneration by activating cytokines and growth factors associated with liver regeneration and eliminating oxidative stress.

Refluxed Esterification of Fullerene-Conjugated P25 TiO2 Promotes Free Radical Scavenging Capacity and Facilitates Antiaging Potentials in Human Cells

Titanium dioxide nanomaterials have good capability to prevent human cells from damage under UV irradiation. However, some studies indicated that the nanoscale of titanium dioxide could potentially cause harmful effects such as free radical generation under UV irradiation and thereby accelerate the progress of cell aging. Fullerenes can scavenge large amounts of free radicals due to the fact that fullerenes contain enormous amount of π electrons with low lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, but its adverse properties, such as the poor solubility in water, restricted the applicability. In this study, we employed water-soluble carboxylic acid fullerenes (C₆₀-COOH and C₇₀-COOH) as the free radical scavenger and modify onto the surface of titanium dioxide by refluxed esterification (P25/C₆₀-COOH or C₇₀-COOH) technique. The conformation and properties of these nanomaterials were characterized by techniques and equipment such as X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis, scanning electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. We also introduced methylene blue and rhodamine B as indicators to evaluate and demonstrate the scavenging capacity of these nanomaterials. Moreover, we examined the biocompatibility and UV protection capacity of our P25/fullerene composites in human 293T cells, and applied luciferase activity assay to investigate the possible underlying cell protection mechanisms exhibited by these nanomaterials. Our data indicate that both P25/C₆₀-COOH and P25/C₇₀-COOH could protect human cells against UV exposure. P25/C₇₀-COOH exhibits great anti-inflammation capacity, whereas P25/C₆₀-COOH exhibits great anti-oxidative stress and anti-DNA damage capacity. Our results suggest that most of our P25/fullerene composite materials have the ability to reduce free radicals and exhibit high biomedical potential in anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant, and anti-aging applications.

The role of hydrogen in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly. It is often manifested as learning and memory impairment, cognitive function decline, normal social and emotional disorders. However, for this high-risk common disease, there is currently no effective treatment, which has plagued many clinicians. As a new type of medical therapeutic gas, hydrogen has attracted much attention recently. As a recognized reducing gas, hydrogen has shown great anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effect in many cerebral disease models. It can ameliorate neuronal damage, maintain the number of neurons, prolong the lifespan of neurons, and ultimately inhibit disease progression. Therefore, the role and mechanism of hydrogen in the pathological process of Alzheimer’s disease will be discussed in this paper.

Etomidate affects the anti-oxidant pathway to protect retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve transection

Our previous studies revealed that etomidate, a non-barbiturate intravenous anesthetic agent, has protective effects on retinal ganglion cells within 7 days after optic nerve transection. Whether this process is related to anti-oxidative stress is not clear. To reveal its mechanism, we established the optic nerve transection injury model by transecting 1 mm behind the left eyeball of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats received an intraperitoneal injection of etomidate (4 mg/kg) once per day for 7 days. The results showed that etomidate significantly enhanced the number of retinal ganglion cells retrogradely labeled with Fluorogold at 7 days after optic nerve transection. Etomidate also significantly reduced the levels of nitric oxide and malonaldehyde in the retina and increased the level of glutathione at 12 hours after optic nerve transection. Thus, etomidate can protect retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve transection in adult rats by activating an anti-oxidative stress response. The study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee at Air Force Medical University, China (approval No. 20180305) on March 5, 2018.

Panax notoginseng Saponins Protect Cerebral Microvascular Endothelial Cells against Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation/Reperfusion-Induced Barrier Dysfunction via Activation of PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 Antioxidant Signaling Pathway

Oxidative stress plays a critical role in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption. Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) possess efficient antioxidant activity and have been used in the treatment of cerebral ischemic stroke in China. In this study, we determined the protective effects of PNS on BBB integrity and investigated the underlying mechanism in cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (bEnd.3) exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R). MTT and LDH release assays revealed that PNS mitigated the OGD/R-induced cell injury in a dose-dependent manner. TEER and paracellular permeability assays demonstrated that PNS alleviated the OGD/R-caused disruption of BBB integrity. Fluorescence probe DCFH-DA showed that PNS suppressed ROS generation in OGD/R-treated cells. Immunofluorescence and western blot analysis indicated that PNS inhibited the degradation of tight junction proteins triggered by OGD/R. Moreover, mechanism investigations suggested that PNS increased the phosphorylation of Akt, the activity of nuclear Nrf2, and the expression of downstream antioxidant enzyme HO-1. All the effects of PNS could be reversed by co-treatment with PI3K inhibitor LY294002. Taken together, these observations suggest that PNS may act as an extrinsic regulator that activates Nrf2 antioxidant signaling depending on PI3K/Akt pathway and protects against OGD/R-induced BBB disruption in vitro.

Strategies and Research Progress of Chinese Medicine in Prevention and Treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) seriously affects the quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This paper reviews the role of Chinese medicine in the main treatment goal of DPN, including protecting pancreatic β-cells, in the use of antioxidation therapy to delay disease progression, and in the endpoint of neural repair and regeneration. We propose that protecting the body from injury caused by high glucose and oxidative stress, and promoting repair and regeneration of nerves should be the research direction for the prevention and treatment of DPN.

[Monoside antagonizes triptolide-induced hepatocyte apoptosis via the anti-oxidative stress pathway]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the protective effect of monoside against triptolide-induced liver injury and explore its molecular mechanism.

METHODS

BALB/C mice treated with gastric lavage with triptolide and monoside, either alone or in combination, were examined for changes of hepatic biochemical parameters using the serological method. The growth inhibition rate of HepG2 cells treated with triptolide or monoside or both was assessed with MTT assay, and the cell morphological changes were observed using laser confocal microscopy; the expressions of the target proteins in the antioxidative stress pathway were detected using flow cytometry and Western blotting.

RESULTS

In BALB/C mice, gastric lavage of triptolide induced obvious hepatic damage. In HepG2 cells, treatment with triptolide significantly inhibited the cell growth, resulting in a cell viability as low as 72.83% at 24 h; triptolide also induced obvious cell apoptosis and cell nucleus deformation, causing an apoptosis rate of 43.1% in the cells at 24 h. Triptolide significantly reduced the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins related with the oxidative stress pathway. Combined treatment with morroniside obviously reversed these changes, resulting in significantly decreased hepatic biochemical parameters and the liver index in BALB/C mice and in significantly lowered cell apoptosis rate, improved cell morphology, and increased Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expressions in HepG2 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Monoside protects against triptolide-induced liver injury possibly by relieving oxidative stress.

Sesquiterpene glucosides from Shenzhou honey peach fruit showed the anti-aging activity in the evaluation system using yeasts

One new (1, SZMT01) and one known (2) anti-aging substances were isolated from Shenzhou honey peach fruit. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and chemical derivatization, and the result reveals that these two compounds are sesquiterpene glucosides. SZMT01 possesses a new glycosylation with an ester linkage at one terminal in an acyclic sesquiterpenoid which is the end of a double bond at another terminal. Both compounds extend the replicative lifespan of K6001 yeast strain at doses of 7.5 and 25 μM. Then, to understand the action mechanism involved, we performed an anti-oxidative experiment on SZMT01. The result revealed that treatment with SZMT01 increased the survival rate of yeast under oxidative stress. Moreover, the lifespans of sod1 and sod2 mutant yeast strains with a K6001 background were not affected by SZMT01. These results demonstrate that anti-oxidative stress performs important roles in anti-aging effects of SZMT01.

Nrf2-ARE signals mediated the anti-oxidative action of electroacupuncture in an MPTP mouse model of Parkinson's disease

Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are early events associated with dopaminergic neuronal degeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD). Previous studies indicated that electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation is effective in protecting dopaminergic neurons from degeneration in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of PD. In this study, we further characterized the effect of EA on MPTP-induced oxidative responses in the mouse dopamine system. We found that subacute administration of MPTP enhanced lipid and protein oxidation and reduced expression of endogenous antioxidant enzymes (such as superoxide dismutase and catalase) in the striatum. MPTP also reduced expression of an antioxidant transcription factor, nuclear factor-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2), and Nrf2-regulated antioxidant enzymes (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate quinone oxidoreductase-1 and heme oxygenase-1) in the striatum and/or midbrain. Using human placental alkaline phosphatase (hPAP) as a reporter of Nrf2-regulated gene expression in hPAP transgenic mice, we found that MPTP suppressed hPAP expression in the striatum and midbrain. Application of EA at an effective frequency (100 Hz) was sufficient to reverse these changes induced by MPTP. In addition, EA reduced microglia activation and astrogliosis in the striatum and midbrain, increased tyrosine hydroxylase levels in the striatum, and improved vertical movement in MPTP mice. These results provide further evidence supporting that EA produces a series of anti-oxidative effects that effectively counteract with the oxidative stress in the nigrostriatal dopamine system induced by MPTP in a mouse model of PD.

Unraveling incompatibility between wheat and the fungal pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici through apoplastic proteomics

BACKGROUND

Hemibiotrophic fungal pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici causes severe foliar disease in wheat. However, current knowledge of molecular mechanisms involved in plant resistance to Z. tritici and Z. tritici virulence factors is far from being complete. The present work investigated the proteome of leaf apoplastic fluid with emphasis on both host wheat and Z. tritici during the compatible and incompatible interactions.

RESULTS

The proteomics analysis revealed rapid host responses to the biotrophic growth, including enhanced carbohydrate metabolism, apoplastic defenses and stress, and cell wall reinforcement, might contribute to resistance. Compatibility between the host and the pathogen was associated with inactivated plant apoplastic responses as well as fungal defenses to oxidative stress and perturbation of plant cell wall during the initial biotrophic stage, followed by the strong induction of plant defenses during the necrotrophic stage. To study the role of anti-oxidative stress in Z. tritici pathogenicity in depth, a YAP1 transcription factor regulating antioxidant expression was deleted and showed the contribution to anti-oxidative stress in Z. tritici, but was not required for pathogenicity. This result suggests the functional redundancy of antioxidants in the fungus.

CONCLUSIONS

The data demonstrate that incompatibility is probably resulted from the proteome-level activation of host apoplastic defenses as well as fungal incapability to adapt to stress and interfere with host cell at the biotrophic stage of the interaction.

Development of nitroxide radicals-containing polymer for scavenging reactive oxygen species from cigarette smoke

We developed a nitroxide radicals-containing polymer (NRP), which is composed of poly(4-methylstyrene) possessing nitroxide radicals as a side chain via amine linkage, to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) from cigarette smoke. In this study, the NRP was coated onto cigarette filters and its ROS-scavenging activity from streaming cigarette smoke was evaluated. The intensity of electron spin resonance signals of the NRP in the filter decreased after exposure to cigarette smoke, indicating consumption of nitroxide radicals. To evaluate the ROS-scavenging activity of the NRP-coated filter, the amount of peroxy radicals in an extract of cigarette smoke was measured using UV-visible spectrophotometry and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The absorbance of DPPH at 517 nm decreased with exposure to cigarette smoke. When NRP-coated filters were used, the decrease in the absorbance of DPPH was prevented. In contrast, both poly[4-(cyclohexylamino)methylstyrene]- and poly(acrylic acid)-coated filters, which have no nitroxide radical, did not show any effect, indicating that the nitroxide radicals in the NRP scavenge the ROS in cigarette smoke. As a result, the extract of cigarette smoke passed through the NRP-coated filter has a lower cellular toxicity than smoke passed through poly[4-(cyclohexylamino)methylstyrene]- and poly(acrylic acid)-coated filters. Accordingly, NRP is a promising material for ROS scavenging from cigarette smoke.

Effect of oxidative stress on heme oxygenase-1 expression in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus

The anti-oxidative stress effect of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression is being increasingly studied. However, few studies regarding HO-1 have been conducted in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In the present study, HO-1 expression was compared in peripheral blood mononuclear cells at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy in patients with GDM and healthy females, to investigate the correlation between HO-1 and oxidative stress by calculation of MDA content in the peripheral blood serum (thiobarbituric acid method), tested ROS (flow cytometry method), HO-1mRNA (RT-PCR method), and HO-1 protein (western blotting method) of Mononuclear cells. The results show that the levels of serum malonaldehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), HO-1 mRNA and HO-1 protein expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were higher in the GDM group than in the control group. Correlation analysis showed that the expression levels of HO-1 protein were positively correlated with the HO-1 mRNA expression levels (r=0.680; P=0.000), and the levels of ROS (r=0.572; P=0.000) and MDA (r=0.614; P=0.000). HO-1 mRNA expression levels were found to positively correlate with the levels of MDA (r=0.451; P=0.010) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG; r=0.337; P=0.039). Partial correlation analysis demonstrated that, after removing the effects of body mass index, FPG and 2-h plasma glucose, HO-1 protein expression levels were positively correlated with the levels of HO-1 mRNA expression (r=0.611; P=0.005), ROS (r=0.526; P=0.021) and MDA (r=0.519; P=0.015). These findings indicate that pregnant females with GDM may be protected against oxidative injury due to the induction of adaptive and compensatory expression of HO-1 to guard against oxidative stress induced by high glucose levels.