A polypyrrole-cotton pad sorbent as micro-solid phase extractor enclosed in tea bag envelope for determination of synthetic antioxidants in non-alcoholic beverage products

A polypyrrole (PPy)-cotton pad sorbent enclosed in tea bag envelope was developed and used in micro-solid phase extraction (µ-SPE) for the determination of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). After extraction, the extract was qualified and quantified by a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Parameters influencing this developed method and the efficiency of µ-SPE were studied and optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the developed method provided good linearity in a concentration range of 0.100-100 µg L^-1 for BHA and 0.050-50 µg L^-1 for BHT, respectively. The limits of detection were 39.27 ± 0.52 ng L^-1 for BHA and 16.96 ± 0.17 ng L^-1 for BHT. Satisfactory relative recoveries of BHA and BHT were achieved in the range from 86.8 ± 1.9 to 117.1 ± 2.3% with acceptable relative standard deviation (RSD) below 8.1%. Good reproducibility was obtained with RSDs < 3.1%, for n = 6. The developed adsorbent is easy to operate, low cost, eco-friendly, reusable, with high extraction efficiency, and was successfully applied in the simultaneous synthetic antioxidant determination of non-alcoholic beverage samples.

Evaluation of the Antioxidant Properties of Carvacrol as a Prospective Replacement for Crude Essential Oils and Synthetic Antioxidants in Food Storage

The phenolic structural analogues of synthetic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in essential oils have been reported to exhibit antioxidant properties. Additionally, their lipophilicity makes them suitable for use in lipid-rich foods. This study evaluated the antioxidant capacity of carvacrol, a monoterpenoid antioxidant compound in the Monodora myristica (Gaertn.) seed essential oil, compared to the seed essential oil and BHT. In vitro studies (ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), metal chelating activity (MCA), and nitric oxide scavenging activity (NOSA)) were conducted to ascertain if the antioxidant capacity of carvacrol was comparable to that of the seed essential oil. The potential binding affinity and molecular interactions between carvacrol and lipoxygenase (LOX) and its homologous model were investigated in silico. The molecular docking was performed using Autodock Vina, and the best poses were subjected to molecular dynamics simulation. The IC₅₀ for MCA and NOSA were: carvacrol 50.29 µL/mL, seed essential oil (SEO) 71.06 µL/mL; and carvacrol 127.61 µL/mL, SEO 165.18 µL/mL, respectively. The LOX model was Ramachandran favoured (97.75%) and the overall quality factor in the ERRAT plot was 95.392. The results of the molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that lipoxygenase has a higher affinity (-22.79 kcal/mol) for carvacrol compared to BHT. In the LOX-BHT and LOX-carvacrol complexes, the root-mean-square deviation (RMSD), root-mean-square fluctuation (RMSF), and the radius of gyration (RoG) were not significantly different, indicating similar molecular interactions. The results obtained from this study suggest that carvacrol exhibits an antioxidant capacity that may be explored as an alternative for crude essential oils and synthetic compounds during the storage of lipid-rich foods.

Protective effects of butylated hydroxytoluene on the initiation of N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in albino rats

Diethylnitrosamine (DEN), a hepatocarcinogen, is found in a variety of smoked and fried foods and was reported to be hepatotoxic in mice. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is a potent antioxidant used in cosmetic formulations and as a food additive and preservative. As a result, BHT was studied as a potential inhibitor in the early stages of diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced HCC. Male Wistar albino rats (n = 24) were equally subdivided. Group 1 was the negative control; Group 2 and 3 administered BHT and DEN, respectively; Group 4 received BHT followed by DEN. Blood samples and rat livers were taken for biochemical and histological investigation. Hepatotoxicity was assessed by increased liver enzymes and HCC indicators, along with reduced antioxidant and pro-apoptotic factors. AFP, AFPL3, GPC3, GSH, SOD, MDA, CASP3 and BAX expression increased significantly after DEN treatment. DEN also reduced GPx, CAT, and CYP2E1 activity, and BCl-2 expression. Moreover, in the hepatic parenchyma, the DEN caused histological alterations. Pretreatment with BHT enhanced antioxidant status while preventing histopathological and most biochemical alterations. BHT pretreatment suppresses DEN-initiated HCC by decreasing oxidative stress, triggering intrinsic mitotic apoptosis, and preventing histopathological changes in liver tissue.

Detection of Synthetic Antioxidants: What Factors Affect the Efficiency in the Chromatographic Analysis and in the Electrochemical Analysis?

Antioxidants are food additives largely employed to inhibit oxidative reactions in foodstuffs rich in oils and fat lipids, extending the shelf life of foodstuffs and inhibiting alterations in color, flavor, smell, and loss of nutritional value. However, various research has demonstrated that the inadequate use of synthetic antioxidants results in environmental and health problems due to the fact that some of these compounds present toxicity, and their presence in the human body, in high concentrations, is related to the development of some cancer types and other diseases. Therefore, the development of analytical methods for identifying and quantifying synthetic antioxidants in foodstuffs is fundamental to quality control and in ensuring consumer food safety. This review describes the recent chromatographic and electrochemical techniques used in the detection of synthetic phenolic antioxidants in foodstuffs, highlighting the main characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of these methods, and specific typical features, which include extraction methods for sample preparation and materials used in the working electrode construction, considering chromatographic and voltammetric methods, since these specific features influence the efficiency in the analysis.

The Role of Cell Proliferation and Extracellular Matrix Accumulation Induced by Food Additive Butylated Hydroxytoluene in Uterine Leiomyoma

Leiomyoma is the most common benign uterine tumor in reproductive-age women. Increasing numbers of studies are focusing on the effects of environmental exposure on the incidence and progression of tumors. One major step taken in the food industry is the addition of food preservatives to maintain freshness. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is a synthetic phenolic antioxidant, which is widely used as an additive to develop fat-soluble characteristics, as well as in cosmetics and rubber. Previous studies also highlighted that BHT may be related to increased fibrosis capacity and carcinogenic effects. In this study, we explored the effects of the commonly used food additive BHT on leiomyoma progression, and the related mechanism. The exposure of the ELT-3 leiomyoma cell line to BHT for 48 h increased the proliferative effect. Since leiomyoma progression is related to increases in extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), BHT could effectively increase ECM-related protein expression, as well as MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein expression. This increase in ECM, in response to BHT, may be linked to the activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Through PI3K inhibition, BHT’s effect on leiomyoma progression could be partially modulated. These results suggest the harmful effect of BHT exposure on leiomyoma progression may relate to PI3K modulation. However, an in vivo study is necessary to confirm these findings.

Addition of a blend of essential oils (cloves, rosemary and oregano) and vitamin E to replace conventional chemical antioxidants in dog feed: effects on food quality and health of beagles

This study aimed to produce dog food containing natural antioxidants (blend of essential oils and vitamin E) to replace synthetic antioxidants and determine the effects on food conservation and animal health sequentially. The foods were produced in a commercial factory, and the antioxidants were added at the oil bath stage. Ten adult beagle dogs were used, divided into two treatments; control treatment (CON; synthetic antioxidant feed [butylhydroxytoluene]) and test treatment (NAT; natural antioxidant feed; blend of essential oils from clove, rosemary, oregano, and vitamin E). The dogs were weighed at the beginning and end of each experimental period, and there were no treatment effects for body weight. In both treatments, food conservation efficiency was observed, demonstrating the feasibility of using natural sources as antioxidants in dog food because chemical and oxidative variables did not differ regardless of the antioxidant used during production. The animals' metabolic and haematological variables were not influenced by the treatments; however, a reduction in the number of lymphocytes was observed over time only in the dogs of the NAT group. There was also a day effect for total leukocyte, neutrophil and erythrocyte counts only in NAT animals, which means a significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in the variables on d 28. There was an effect of the treatment and an interaction treatment x day for the total bacterial count, whereas a decrease in the bacterial count (p < 0.05) was observed in NAT dogs' faeces on day 28. Dogs fed the NAT diet had lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) (p ≤ 0.05) to minimise oxidative stress. In group NAT, the NPSH and glutathione S-transferase levels were increased, which may explain the decrease in ROS levels. It was concluded that natural antioxidants in dog feed, in addition to promoting feed conservation, stimulate levels of systemic antioxidants and minimise the impacts caused by free radicals in the dogs' blood.

A comparison of cell death mechanisms of antioxidants, butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and the chemically similar butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are widely used as antioxidants. Toxicity of BHA and BHT has been reported under in vitro and in vivo experimental conditions. However, the mechanism of BHA-induced toxic effects in cells is unclear. In this study, the cytotoxic effects of BHA and differences in cell death mechanism for BHA and BHT were investigated in rat thymocytes by flow cytometric analysis using a fluorescent probe. We observed a significant increase in propidium iodide fluorescence in the population of cells treated with 100 μM and 300 μM BHA (dead cells). Thymocytes treated with 100 µM BHA showed increased intracellular Ca2+ and Zn2+ levels and depolarized cell membranes. BHA (30-100 µM) decreased non-protein thiol content of cells, indicating decreased glutathione content. Co-stimulation with 100 µM BHA and 300 µM H2O2 acted synergistically to increase cell lethality. Moreover, BHA significantly increased caspase-3 activity and the number of annexin-V-positive cells in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating apoptosis. However, BHT reduced caspase-3 activity and increased the number of annexin-V-negative dead cells, indicating non-apoptotic cell death. Our results reveal the toxicity of BHA could be attributed to increased levels of intracellular Ca2+ and Zn2+, resulting in an increased vulnerability of rat thymocytes to oxidative stress. In addition, we demonstrate that whereas BHA induced apoptosis, BHT induced non-apoptotic cell death in rat thymocytes. Therefore, these results may support the safety of BHA, but also demonstrate the importance of performing toxicity evaluation at the cellular level besides the tissue level.

Butylated Hydroxytoluene Induced Resistance Against Botryosphaeria dothidea in Apple Fruit

Apple ring rot caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea is an important disease in China, which leads to serious economic losses during storage. Plant activators are compounds that induce resistance against pathogen infection and are considered as a promising alternative strategy to traditional chemical treatment. In the present study, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a potential plant activator, was evaluated for its induced resistance against B. dothidea in postharvest apple fruits. The physiological and molecular mechanisms involved in induced resistance were also explored. The results showed that BHT treatment could trigger strong resistance in apple fruits against B. dothidea, and the optimum concentration was 200 μmol L^–1 by immersion of fruits. BHT treatment significantly increased the activities of four defensive enzymes and alleviated lipid peroxidation by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities. In addition, salicylic acid (SA) content was enhanced by BHT treatment as well as the expression of three SA biosynthesis-related genes (MdSID2, MdPAD4, and MdEDS1) and two defense genes (MdPR1 and MdPR5). Our results suggest that BHT-conferred resistance against B. dothidea might be mainly through increasing the activities of defense-related enzymes and activating SA signaling pathway, which may provide an alternative strategy to control apple ring rot in postharvest fruits.

Detection of presymptomatic Alzheimer's disease through breath biomarkers

Introduction

Novel sensors were developed to detect exhaled volatile organic compounds to aid in the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment associated with early stage Alzheimer's disease (AD). The sensors were sensitive to a rat model that combined the human apolipoprotein E (APOE)4 gene with aging and the Western diet.

Methods

Gas sensors fabricated from molecularly imprinted polymer-graphene were engineered to react with alkanes and small fatty acids associated with lipid peroxidation. With a detection sensitivity in parts per trillion the sensors were tested against the breath of wild-type and APOE4 male rats. Resting state BOLD functional connectivity was used to assess hippocampal function.

Results

Only APOE4 rats, and not wild-type controls, tested positive to several small hydrocarbons and presented with reduced functional coupling in hippocampal circuitry.

Discussion

These results are proof-of-concept toward the development of sensors that can be used as breath detectors in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of presymptomatic AD.

Computational Methods for the Identification of Molecular Targets of Toxic Food Additives. Butylated Hydroxytoluene as a Case Study

Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is one of the most commonly used synthetic antioxidants in food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and petrochemical products. BHT is considered safe for human health; however, its widespread use together with the potential toxicological effects have increased consumers concern about the use of this synthetic food additive. In addition, the estimated daily intake of BHT has been demonstrated to exceed the recommended acceptable threshold. In the present work, using BHT as a case study, the usefulness of computational techniques, such as reverse screening and molecular docking, in identifying protein-ligand interactions of food additives at the bases of their toxicological effects has been probed. The computational methods here employed have been useful for the identification of several potential unknown targets of BHT, suggesting a possible explanation for its toxic effects. In silico analyses can be employed to identify new macromolecular targets of synthetic food additives and to explore their functional mechanisms or side effects. Noteworthy, this could be important for the cases in which there is an evident lack of experimental studies, as is the case for BHT.

Butylated hydroxytoluene protects bull sperm surface protein-P25b in different extenders following cryopreservation

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different concentration of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on sperm membrane surface protein "P25b" from cryopreserved bull semen in either lecithin based Bioxcell^® (BX) or two egg-yolk based extenders, tris-egg yolk (TEY), and citrate-egg yolk (CEY).

Materials and Methods

Forty-five semen samples, 15 each were extended with either BX, TEY, or CEY extender which contained different concentrations (0.0 - control, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 3.0 mM/mL) of BHT. The extended semen samples were frozen at a concentration of 20×10⁶/mL in 0.25 mL straws and stored in liquid nitrogen for 2weeks. The frozen samples were thereafter thawed, proteins extracted and analyzed for quantities of protein P25b through direct sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gel densitometry. Peptides were confirmed by Western blotting (WB).

Results

Results showed that supplementation of BHT improved (p<0.05) quantity of protein P25b at concentrations of 0.5mM/mL for BX and at 1.0 mM/mL for TEY and CE when compared with the controls and other treatments.

Conclusion

BHT supplementation at 0.5 in BX and 1.0 mM/mL in TEY and CEY has protected bull sperm fertility marker protein P25b in frozen-thawed bull sperm.

Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) Inhibits PIN1 Exocytosis From BFA Compartments in Arabidopsis Roots

The activity of polarly localized PIN-FORMED (PIN) auxin efflux carriers contributes to the formation of auxin gradients which guide plant growth, development, and tropic responses. Both the localization and abundance of PIN proteins in the plasma membrane depend on the regulation of PIN trafficking through endocytosis and exocytosis and are influenced by many external and internal stimuli, such as reactive oxygen species, auxin transport inhibitors, flavonoids and plant hormones. Here, we investigated the regulation of endosomal PIN cycling by using a Brefeldin A (BFA) assay to study the effect of a phenolic antioxidant ionol, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), on the endocytosis and exocytosis of PIN1 and PIN2. BHT is one of the most widely used antioxidants in the food and feed industries, and as such is commonly released into the environment; however, the effect of BHT on plants remains poorly characterized. Preincubation of Arabidopsis seedlings with BHT before BFA treatment strongly enhanced the internalization of PIN1 into BFA compartments. After the simultaneous application of BHT and NAA, the NAA effect dominated PIN internalization suggesting the BHT effect occurred downstream to that of NAA. Washing seedlings with BHT after BFA treatment prevented the release of PIN1 from BFA compartments back to the plasma membrane, indicating that BHT application inhibited PIN1 exocytosis. Overall rates of PIN2 internalization were less pronounced than those of PIN1 in seedlings pre-incubated with BHT before BFA treatment, and PIN2 exocytosis was not inhibited by BHT, indicating a specific activity of BHT on PIN1 exocytosis. Comparison of BHT activity with other potential stimuli of PIN1 and PIN2 trafficking [e.g., H2O2 (ROS), salt stress, reduced glutathione (GSH), dithiothreitol (DTT), and flavonoids] showed that BHT has a new activity distinct from the activities of other regulators of PIN trafficking. The findings support BHT as a potentially interesting pharmacological tool for dissecting PIN trafficking and auxin transport.

Entomopathogenic nematodes increase predation success by inducing cadaver volatiles that attract healthy herbivores

Herbivore natural enemies protect plants by regulating herbivore populations. Whether they can alter the behavior of their prey to increase predation success is unknown. We investigate if and how infection by the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora changes the behavior of healthy larvae of the western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera), a major pest of maize. We found that nematode-infected rootworm cadavers are attractive to rootworm larvae, and that this behavior increases nematode reproductive success. Nematode-infected rootworms release distinct volatile bouquets, including the unusual volatile butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). BHT alone attracts rootworms, and increases nematode reproductive success. A screen of different nematode and herbivore species shows that attraction of healthy hosts to nematode-infected cadavers is widespread and likely involves species-specific volatile cues. This study reveals a new facet of the biology of herbivore natural enemies that boosts their predation success by increasing the probability of host encounters.

Antioxidant Properties of Solenostemma argel Effervescent Tablets

OBJECTIVE

In the present study, Solenostemma argel effervescent tablets were prepared from Argel methanolic extract.

METHODS

The tablets were examined for their ability to impede carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced lipid peroxidation in mice liver. The antioxidant activities of the enzymes; super-oxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GS-PX) along with malondialdehyde level were tested in liver tissues.

RESULTS

The obtained results indicated that the antioxidant enzyme activities were remarkably reduced while the level of Malondialdehyde (MDA), which shows lipid peroxidation, and the activity of alanine aminotransferase (a liver function test) were remarkably intensified following intra-peritoneal i.p injection with the single sub-lethal hepatotoxic dose of CCl4 compared to the control. A necrotic lesion in the liver of mice injected with CCl4 was observed by the histopathological examination. The damaging influence of CCl4 was improved by the retreatment with Argel or BHT, which could also be observed in the normal appearance of the liver tissue.

CONCLUSION

In this study, it was concluded that S. Argel and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) could be effective by decreasing lipid peroxidation and increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Therefore, Argel might be applied as a hepatoprotective agent without any side effects.

Phenoxide and alkoxide complexes of Mg, Al and Zn, and their use for the ring-opening polymerization of ℇ-caprolactone with initiators of different natures

A new packing polymorph of bis(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenolato-κO)bis(tetrahydrofuran-κO)magnesium, [Mg(C₁₅H₂₃O)₂(C₄H₈O)₂] or Mg(BHT)₂(THF)₂, (BHT is the 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoxide anion and THF is tetrahydrofuran), (1), has the same space group (P2₁) as the previously reported modification [Nifant'ev et al. (2017d). Dalton Trans. 46, 12132-12146], but contains three crystallographically independent molecules instead of one. The structure of (1) exhibits rotational disorder of the tert-butyl groups and positional disorder of a THF ligand. The complex of bis(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenolato-κO)bis(μ₂-ethyl glycolato-κ²O,O':κO)dimethyldialuminium, [Al₂(CH₃)₂(C₄H₇O₃)₂(C₁₅H₂₃O)₂] or [(BHT)AlMe(OCH₂COOEt)]₂, (2), is a dimer located on an inversion centre and has an Al₂O₂ rhomboid core. The 2-ethoxy-2-oxoethanolate ligand (OCH₂COOEt) displays a μ₂-κ²O,O':κO semi-bridging coordination mode, forming a five-membered heteronuclear Al-O-C-C-O ring. The same ligand exhibits positional disorder of the terminal methyl group. The redetermined structure of the heptanuclear complex octakis(μ₃-benzyloxo-κO:κO:κO)hexaethylheptazinc, [Zn₇(C₂H₅)₆(C₇H₇O)₈] or [Zn₇(OCH₂Ph)₈Et₆], (3), possesses a bicubic Zn₇O₈ core located at an inversion centre and demonstrates positional disorder of one crystallographically independent phenyl group. Cambridge Structural Database surveys are given for complexes structurally analogous to (2) and (3). Complexes (2) and (3), as well as derivatives of (1), are of interest as catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization of ℇ-caprolactone, and polymerization results are reported.

Green synthesis of Ce2O3 NPs and determination of its antioxidant activity

In this study, the authors presented synthesis of ceria nanoparticles (NPs) by the bio-reduction method and their antioxidative activity. Aqueous extract of Euphorbia (Euphorbia amygdaloides) was used as reducing and stabilising agents. They used aqueous extract of Euphorbia (E. amygdaloides) as reducing and stabilising agent. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy was used to monitor the quantitative formation of ceria NPs. They also addressed the characteristics of the obtained ceria NPs using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmitting electron microscope (TEM). The synthesised cerium (III) oxide (Ce2O3) NPs were initially noted through visual colour change from colourless pale yellow cerium (III) to light yellow cerium (IV) and further confirmed the band at 345 nm employing UV-vis spectroscopy. The average diameter of the prepared NPs was about 8.6-10.5 nm. In addition, the synthesised Ce2O3 NPs were tested for antioxidant and anti-bacterial activities using ferric reducing antioxidant power, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity, ferrous ions chelating activity, superoxide the anion radical scavenging and 2, 2'-azinobis 3-ethylbenzothiazol to-6-sulphonic acid scavenging activity. It could be concluded that Euphorbia (E. amygdaloides) extract can be used efficiently in the production of potential antioxidant and anti-bacterial Ce2O3 NPs for commercial applications.

Rational Design and Synthesis of New, High Efficiency, Multipotent Schiff Base-1,2,4-triazole Antioxidants Bearing Butylated Hydroxytoluene Moieties

A new series of multipotent antioxidants (MPAOs), namely Schiff base-1,2,4-triazoles attached to the oxygen-derived free radical scavenging moiety butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were designed and subsequently synthesized. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) of the designed antioxidants was established alongside the prediction of activity spectra for substances (PASS). The antioxidant activities of the synthesized compounds 4-10 were tested by the DPPH bioassay. The synthesized compounds 4-10 inhibited stable DPPH free radicals at a level that is 10(-4) M more than the well-known standard antioxidant BHT. Compounds 8-10 with para-substituents were less active than compounds 4 and 5 with trimethoxy substituents compared to those with a second BHT moiety (compounds 6 and 7). With an IC50 of 46.13 ± 0.31 µM, compound 6 exhibited the most promising in vitro inhibition at 89%. Therefore, novel MPAOs containing active triazole rings, thioethers, Schiff bases, and BHT moieties are suggested as potential antioxidants for inhibiting oxidative stress processes and scavenging free radicals, hence, this combination of functions is anticipated to play a vital role in repairing cellular damage, preventing various human diseases and in medical therapeutic applications.

Effect of supplementation of butylated hydroxytoluene on post-thaw sperm viability, motility and membrane integrity of Hariana bulls

AIM

This study was aimed to see the beneficial effect of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) as a semen additive of Hariana bull semen.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was carried out in Hariana bulls. Twenty-four ejaculates from two bulls were used for this study. Each ejaculate was extended with standard glycerolated egg yolk tris extender and supplemented with BHT at two concentrations as 0.5 mM (T1) and 1.0 mM (T2). After dilution, equilibration and 24 h of cryopreservation, the samples were analyzed for progressive motility, sperm viability and membrane integrity.

RESULTS

Progressive motility, sperm viability and sperm membrane integrity were significantly (p<0.05) increased in the samples fortified with BHT as compared to the control during the process of cryopreservation and thawing. The BHT concentration of 1 mM revealed better results as compared to 0.5 mM.

CONCLUSION

Addition of 1.0 mM BHT was found better in cryopreservation of Hariana bull semen compared to 0.5 mM BHT and control samples. The addition of BHT has improved the sperm quality by acting as an antioxidant thereby reducing the lipid peroxidation of the sperms.

Phosphorus deficiency enhances aluminum tolerance of rice (Oryza sativa) by changing the physicochemical characteristics of root plasma membranes and cell walls

The negative charge at the root surface is mainly derived from the phosphate group of phospholipids in plasma membranes (PMs) and the carboxyl group of pectins in cell walls, which are usually neutralized by calcium (Ca) ions contributing to maintain the root integrity. The major toxic effect of aluminum (Al) in plants is the inhibition of root elongation due to Al binding tightly to these negative sites in exchange for Ca. Because phospholipid and pectin concentrations decrease in roots of some plant species under phosphorus (P)-limiting conditions, we hypothesized that rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings grown under P-limiting conditions would demonstrate enhanced Al tolerance because of their fewer sites on their roots. For pretreatment, rice seedlings were grown in a culture solution with (+P) or without (-P) P. Thereafter, the seedlings were transferred to a solution with or without Al, and the lipid, pectin, hemicellulose, and mineral concentrations as well as Al tolerance were then determined. Furthermore, the low-Ca tolerance of P-pretreated seedlings was investigated under different pH conditions. The concentrations of phospholipids and pectins in the roots of rice receiving -P pretreatment were lower than those receiving +P pretreatment. As expected, seedlings receiving the -P pretreatment showed enhanced Al tolerance, accompanied by the decrease in Al accumulation in their roots and shoots. This low P-induced enhanced Al tolerance was not explained by enhanced antioxidant activities or organic acid secretion from roots but by the decrease in phospholipid and pectin concentrations in the roots. In addition, low-Ca tolerance of the roots was enhanced by the -P pretreatment under low pH conditions. This low P-induced enhancement of low-Ca tolerance may be related to the lower Ca requirement to maintain PM and cell wall structures in roots of rice with fewer phospholipids and pectins.

A review on plant-based rutin extraction methods and its pharmacological activities

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Rutin is a common dietary flavonoid that is widely consumed from plant-derived beverages and foods as traditional and folkloric medicine worldwide. Rutin is believed to exhibit significant pharmacological activities, including anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-diabetic, anti-adipogenic, neuroprotective and hormone therapy. Till date, over 130 registered therapeutic medicinal preparations are containing rutin in their formulations. This article aims to critically review the extraction methods for plant-based rutin and its pharmacological activities. This review provides comprehensive data on the performance of rutin extraction methods and the extent of its pharmacological activities using various in vitro and in vivo experimental models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Literatures including journals, patents, books and leaflets reporting on rutin from natural resources are systematically reviewed, particularly in the aspect of its extraction methods and biological activities. Factors affecting the efficiency of rutin extraction such as extraction temperature, duration and solvent to sample ratio are presented based on the findings of previous studies. The observed biological activities followed by clear explanation are also provided accordingly.

RESULTS

The biological activities of rutin varied largely dependent on the geographical and plant origins. The complexity of natural rutin has impeded the development of rutin derived drugs. The detail mechanism of rutin in human body after consumption is still unclear. Therefore, studies are intensively carried out both in vitro and in vivo for the better understanding of the underlying mechanism. The studies are not limited to the pharmacological properties, but also on the extraction methods of rutin. Many studies have focused on the optimization of extraction method to increase the extraction yield of rutin. Currently, the performances of modern extraction approaches have also been compared to the conventional heat reflux method as a benchmark.

CONCLUSION

There are various extraction methods for plant-based rutin ranging from conventional method up to the use of modern techniques such as ultrasound, mechanochemical, microwave, infrared and pressurized assisted methods. However, proper comparison between the methods is very difficult because of the variance in plant origin and extraction conditions. It is important to optimize the extraction method in order to produce high yield and acceptable purity of rutin with a reasonable cost. Even though rutin has been proven to be effective in numerous pharmacological activities, the dosage and toxicity of rutin for such activities are still unknown. Future research should relate the dosage and toxicity of rutin for the ethnobotanical claims based on the underlying mechanisms.

Spectroscopic studies on the antioxidant activity of p-coumaric acid

p-coumaric acid (4-hydroxycinnamic acid), a phenolic acid, is a hydroxyl derivative of cinnamic acid. It decreases low density lipoprotein (LDL) peroxidation and reduces the risk of stomach cancer. In vitro radical scavenging and antioxidant capacity of p-coumaric acid were clarified using different analytical methodologies such as total antioxidant activity determination by ferric thiocyanate, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl free radical (DPPH) scavenging, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity and superoxide anion radical scavenging, ferrous ions (Fe(2+)) chelating activity and ferric ions (Fe(3+)) reducing ability. p-Coumaric acid inhibited 71.2% lipid peroxidation of a linoleic acid emulsion at 45μg/mL concentration. On the other hand, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid displayed 66.8%, 69.8%, 64.5% and 59.7% inhibition on the peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion at the same concentration, respectively. In addition, p-coumaric acid had an effective DPPH scavenging, ABTS(+) scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, ferric ions (Fe(3+)) reducing power and ferrous ions (Fe(2+)) chelating activities. Also, those various antioxidant activities were compared to BHA, BHT, α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid as references antioxidant compounds. These results suggested that p-coumaric acid can be used in the pharmacological and food industry because of these properties.

Up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 contributes to the amelioration of aluminum-induced oxidative stress in Medicago sativa

In this report, pharmacological, histochemical and molecular approaches were used to investigate the effect of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) up-regulation on the alleviation of aluminum (Al)-induced oxidative stress in Medicago sativa. Exposure of alfalfa to AlCl3 (0-100 μM) resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of root elongation as well as the enhancement of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content. 1 and 10 μM (in particular) Al(3+) increased alfalfa HO-1 transcript or its protein level, and HO activity in comparison with the decreased changes in 100 μM Al-treated samples. After recuperation, however, TBARS levels in 1 and 10 μM Al-treated alfalfa roots returned to control values, which were accompanied with the higher levels of HO activity. Subsequently, exogenous CO, a byproduct of HO-1, could substitute for the cytoprotective effects of the up-regulation of HO-1 in alfalfa plants upon Al stress, which was confirmed by the alleviation of TBARS and Al accumulation, as well as the histochemical analysis of lipid peroxidation and loss of plasma membrane integrity. Theses results indicated that endogenous CO generated via heme degradation by HO-1 could contribute in a critical manner to its protective effects. Additionally, the pretreatments of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and hemin, an inducer of HO-1, exhibited the similar cytoprotective roles in the alleviation of oxidative stress, both of which were impaired by the potent inhibitor of HO-1, zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP). However, the Al-induced inhibition of root elongation was not influenced by CO, BHT and hemin, respectively. Together, the present results showed up-regulation of HO-1 expression could act as a mechanism of cell protection against oxidative stress induced by Al treatment.

Protective effects of lycopene against methylmercury-induced neurotoxicity in cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a neurotoxin that induces neuronal degeneration in the central nervous system. Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are widely accepted as central pathogenic mechanisms of MeHg-mediated neurotoxicity. Lycopene, a carotenoid compound, is a potent antioxidant with demonstrated neuroprotective properties in several experimental models of oxidative damage. The present study was designed to investigate whether lycopene could provide protective effects against MeHg-induced neurotoxicity in cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). The cultured CGNs were pretreated with different dose of lycopene for 2h, followed by the challenge with 500nM MeHg for 12h. It was found that MeHg exposure caused the loss of cell viability and the LDH release. Furthermore, we demonstrated that MeHg exposure significantly elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species generation and mitochondria-derived superoxide production, caused disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential and opening of mPTP, inhibited mitochondrial complex enzyme activities (complex III and complex IV), reduced ATP generation and decreased mtDNA copy numbers and mtDNA transcript levels. However, each of these oxidative damages was efficiently attenuated by lycopene pretreatment. Collectively, these results suggest that lycopene affords protection against MeHg-induced neurotoxicity in CGNs, and these beneficial effects of lycopene may be attributable to its roles in preventing mitochondrial dysfunction.

High-fat diet induces changes in adipose tissue trans-4-oxo-2-nonenal and trans-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal levels in a depot-specific manner

Protein carbonylation is the covalent modification of proteins by α,β-unsaturated aldehydes produced by nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The most widely studied aldehyde product of lipid peroxidation, trans-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE), is associated with obesity-induced metabolic dysfunction and has demonstrated reactivity toward key proteins involved in cellular function. However, 4-HNE is only one of many lipid peroxidation products and the lipid aldehyde profile in adipose tissue has not been characterized. To further understand the role of oxidative stress in obesity-induced metabolic dysfunction, a novel LC-MS/MS method was developed to evaluate aldehyde products of lipid peroxidation and applied to the analysis of adipose tissue. 4-HNE and trans-4-oxo-2-nonenal (4-ONE) were the most abundant aldehydes present in adipose tissue. In high fat-fed C57Bl/6J and ob/ob mice the levels of lipid peroxidation products were increased 5- to 11-fold in epididymal adipose, unchanged in brown adipose, but decreased in subcutaneous adipose tissue. Epididymal adipose tissue of high fat-fed mice also exhibited increased levels of proteins modified by 4-HNE and 4-ONE, whereas subcutaneous adipose tissue levels of these modifications were decreased. High fat feeding of C57Bl/6J mice resulted in decreased expression of a number of genes linked to antioxidant biology selectively in epididymal adipose tissue. Moreover, TNFα treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes resulted in decreased expression of GSTA4, GPx4, and Prdx3 while upregulating the expression of SOD2. These results suggest that inflammatory cytokines selectively downregulate antioxidant gene expression in visceral adipose tissue, resulting in elevated lipid aldehydes and increased protein carbonylation.

The antioxidant properties of new dimer and two monomers of phenolic acid amides isolated from Limoniastrum guyonianum

Limoniastramide, a new dimer of phenolic acid amide, isolated from Limoniastrum guyonianum, along with two natural monomers N-E-caffeoyl tyramine (1) and N-E-feruloyl tyramine (2), using centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC). Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data analysis. We investigate the antioxidant activities of Limoniastrum amides using various in vitro assays. Results showed that N-E-feruloyl tyramine and N-E-caffeoyl tyramine exhibited the highest DPPH scavenging activity compared to the dimer (IC50=0.5, 0.6 and 6.5μg/ml, respectively). In addition, they have significant capacities to inhibit the bleaching of β-carotene. Limoniastramide presented the best activity with an IC50 value equal to 8μg/ml. Finally, the N-E-caffeoyl tyramine showed the highest reducing power (EC50=26μg/ml) compared to the other molecules. The present study found that L. guyonianum amides have effective in vitro antioxidant and radical scavenging activity which can be used in pharmacological and food industry due to their antioxidant properties.

Metabolic profile and biological activities of Lavandula pedunculata subsp. lusitanica (Chaytor) Franco: studies on the essential oil and polar extracts

We investigated the metabolic profile and biological activities of the essential oil and polar extracts of Lavandula pedunculata subsp. lusitanica (Chaytor) Franco collected in south Portugal. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that oxygen-containing monoterpenes was the principal group of compounds identified in the essential oil. Camphor (40.6%) and fenchone (38.0%) were found as the major constituents. High-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) analysis allowed the identification of hydroxycinnamic acids (3-O-caffeoylquinic, 4-O-caffeoylquinic, 5-O-caffeoylquinic and rosmarinic acids) and flavones (luteolin and apigenin) in the polar extracts, with rosmarinic acid being the main compound in most of them. The bioactive compounds from L. pedunculata polar extracts were the most efficient free-radical scavengers, Fe(2+) chelators and inhibitors of malondialdehyde production, while the essential oil was the most active against acetylcholinesterase. Our results reveal that the subspecies of L. pedunculata studied is a potential source of active metabolites with a positive effect on human health.

Development and validation of a reverse phase-liquid chromatographic method for the estimation of butylated hydroxytoluene as antioxidant in paricalcitol hard gelatin capsule formulation dosage form

Introduction:

A novel and simple isocratic reverse phase liquid chromatographic (RP-LC) method was developed for the quantitative determination of antioxidant-butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT) in paricalcitol hard gelatin capsule. In the paricalcitol capsule BHT concentration is very low. This method is precisely able to estimate BHT at low concentration at about 0.0039 μg/mL and to separate BHT from paricalcitol main compound and other oil-based excipients.

Materials and Methods:

The method was developed by using ACE-C18 (250 × 4.6 mm) 5-μm column with mobile phase containing a mixture of solvent A (water) and solvent B (methanol) in the ratio of 5:95 v/v, respectively. The flow rate was 0.8 mL/min with column temperature of 45°C and detection wavelength at 277 nm. The developed method was validated as per ICH guidelines with respect to specificity, linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, accuracy, precision and robustness.

Results:

In the precision study the % RSD for the result of BHT was below 1.5% at target concentration level. The limit of detection, limit of quantification are 0.0013 μg/ mL and 0.0039 μg/mL, respectively and precision at LOQ level (0.0039 μg/mL) was with 6.2% RSD. The method was linear with concentration rage of 0.0039-0.64 μg/ mL with the correlation coefficient greater than 0.999 and % bias at 100% level are within + 2%. The percentage recoveries for BHT were calculated observed from 98.8 to 104.8%.

Conclusion:

The developed method was found to be precise, accurate, linear, selective and robust.

PRODUCTION OF NATURAL BUTYLATED HYDROXYTOLUENE AS AN ANTIOXIDANT BY FRESHWATER PHYTOPLANKTON(1)

Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is one of the synthetic antioxidant agents commonly used for food additives. In the present study, we determined that four freshwater phytoplankton, including a green alga (Botryococcus braunii Kütz.) and three cyanobacteria [Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Wolłosz.) Seenaya et Sabba Raju, Microcystis aeruginosa (Kütz.) and Oscillatoria sp.] were capable of producing this compound. Hexane extracts from all the studied species exhibited various degrees of antioxidative properties when they were tested with the β-carotene-linoleate (β-CL) assay and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical-scavenging assay. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in the crude extracts of M. aeruginosa and B. braunii, which displayed a similar activity to synthetic BHT. Gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis of the purified fractions revealed that the active compound was identical to synthetic BHT. Culturing under various irradiances gave rise to different magnitudes of BHT production in cyanobacterial cells, showing that more BHT was produced in the cells irradiated with a higher light intensity, and its production was irradiance dependent. Moreover, the quantity of cellular BHT displayed a positive correlation with the antioxidative activity of the tested species. The present study confirms the production of BHT in all four of the studied freshwater phytoplankton and suggests that these species constitute a potential source for producing natural BHT.

Nrf2 is essential for protection against acute pulmonary injury in mice

Nrf2 is a member of the "cap 'n' collar" family of transcription factors. These transcription factors bind to the NF-E2 binding sites (GCTGAGTCA) that are essential for the regulation of erythroid-specific genes. Nrf2 is expressed in a wide range of tissues, many of which are sites of expression for phase 2 detoxification genes. Nrf2(-/-) mice are viable and have a normal phenotype under normal laboratory conditions. The NF-E2 binding site is a subset of the antioxidant response elements that have the sequence GCNNNGTCA. The antioxidant response elements are regulatory sequences found on promoters of several phase 2 detoxification genes that are inducible by xenobiotics and antioxidants. We report here that Nrf2(-/-) mice are extremely susceptible to the administration of the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene. With doses of butylated hydroxytoluene that are tolerated by wild-type mice, the Nrf2(-/-) mice succumb from acute respiratory distress syndrome. Gene expression studies show that the expression of several detoxification enzymes is altered in the Nrf2(-/-) mice. The Nrf2(-/-) mice may prove to be a good in vivo model for toxicological studies. As oxidative damage causes DNA breakage, these mice may also be useful for testing carcinogenic agents.