Myricitrin protects against peroxynitrite-mediated DNA damage and cytotoxicity in astrocytes

Peroxynitrite, a potent oxidising and nitrating species, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. This study was undertaken to investigate the protective effect of myricitrin on peroxynitrite-mediated toxicity and the underlying mechanism. Our results showed that the presence of myricitrin was found to significantly inhibit peroxynitrite-mediated DNA damage. EPR spectroscopy demonstrated that myricitrin potently diminished the DMPO-hydroxyl radical adduct signal from peroxynitrite. Further study showed that glutathione (GSH) depletion caused by peroxynitrite can be effectively prevented by pre-incubation of astrocytes with myricitrin. Moreover, co-incubation of astrocytes with myricitrin and buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) eliminated the myricitrin-induced GSH increase. In contrast, co-incubation of myricitrin with BSO slightly protected astrocytes against cytotoxicity and DNA damage mediated by peroxynitrite. These results revealed that myricitrin can protect against peroxynitrite-induced DNA damage and cytotoxicity, which might have implications for myricitrin-mediated neuroprotection.     

Goat milk during iron repletion improves bone turnover impaired by severe iron deficiency

The effect of goat or cow milk-based diets, with either normal Fe content or an Fe overload, on bone turnover and the mineralization process was studied in control and anemic rats during chronic Fe repletion. One hundred eighty male Wistar rats were studied during a pre-experimental period of 40 d in which they were randomly divided into 2 groups, a control group receiving the AIN-93G diet with normal Fe content (45 mg/kg of diet) and the Fe-deficient group receiving the AIN-93G diet with low Fe content (5 mg/kg of diet) for 40 d. After the pre-experimental period, the rats were fed for 10, 30, or 50 d with goat or cow milk-based diets with a normal Fe content (45 mg/kg of diet) or an Fe overload (450 mg/kg of diet). In anemic rats, goat milk with normal Fe content increased levels of the biomarker of bone formation N-terminal propeptides of type I procollagen and diminished parathyroid hormone levels after only 10 d of supplying this diet, indicating the beginning of restoration of the bone demineralization induced by the anemia, which was not observed with cow milk. After 30 d of supplying the milk-based diets with normal Fe content or an Fe overload, biomarkers of bone formation and bone resorption were not different between control and anemic rats, indicating that the bone demineralization induced by the Fe-deficiency anemia had recovered, although the process of stabilization of bone turnover began earlier in the animals fed goat milk. In addition, a higher Ca deposit was observed in femur, which positively affects bone mineralization, as well as an increase of Fe in sternum, which indicates that the hematopoietic process essentially recovered earlier on the goat milk diet compared with the cow milk diet.     

Sesame lignan sesamol protects against aspirin-induced gastric mucosal damage in rats

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used to control pain, fever, and various inflammatory diseases; however, they have been identified as gastro-toxic. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of aspirin plus sesamol on gastric mucosa in rats. Rats were given oral aspirin (30 mg/kg/d) and oral sesamol (ranging from 0 to 30 mg/kg/day) for 5 weeks, after which their gastric mucosal integrity, oxidative stress, inflammation, and neutrophil infiltration were assessed 6 h after gastric surgery. Sesamol dose-dependently decreased aspirin-induced gastric haemorrhage and mucosal ulceration, and significantly reduced (a) gastric mucosal lipid peroxidation, (b) nitric oxide production, (c) gastric mucosal proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin 1-β levels), and (d) the activity of gastric mucosal myeloperoxidase compared with aspirin-alone groups. We hypothesize that aspirin plus sesamol decreases aspirin-induced gastro-toxicity by inhibiting neutrophil infiltration and subsequent gastric mucosal inflammation and oxidative stress in rats.     

Aloysia triphylla infusion protects rats against dextran sulfate sodium-induced colonic damage

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel diseases consist of uncontrolled intestinal inflammation leading to mucosal disruption. Polyphenols are micronutrients with antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties and may play an interesting role in the prevention of intestinal inflammation. Lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla (L'Herit.) Britton, Verbenaceae) infusion is a popular herbal drink rich in polyphenols. This study evaluated the protective effects of lemon verbena infusion consumption on the development of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)‐induced colitis in rats. The infusion was given to rats as a drink providing 82 µmol polyphenols day^?1 for 21 days. Colitis was induced with 40 g l^?1 DSS in the drink for the last 7 days. RESULTS: Lemon verbena infusion treatment restored body weight gain and prevented colonic shortening. Despite no protective effect on myeloperoxidase activity, A. triphylla infusion limited histological colonic alterations. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that lemon verbena infusion partially protects rats against DSS‐induced inflammation. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Calcium-supplemented goat milk does not interfere with iron absorption in rats with anaemia induced by dietary iron depletion

The short-term effects of Ca-supplemented goat or cow milk on the nutritive utilization of Fe were evaluated in a metabolic balance study of rats with nutritional ferropenic anaemia (NFA). Control and Fe-deficient rats were fed for 14 d with goat or cow milk diets containing high-Ca content (10,000 mg/kg diet). The consumption of diets containing high levels of Ca for 14 d had no adverse effects on Fe absorption when the goat milk-based diet was provided, whereas for the cow milk-based diet, there was a significant fall in the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of Fe. Moreover, the ADC and Fe retention/intake ratio (R/I) were higher in the anaemic rats fed the goat milk diet than among those fed the cow milk diet. These results suggest that despite a high dietary Ca content, goat milk minimizes Ca–Fe interactions and has no adverse effects on Fe absorption in rats with NFA.     

Antioxidant activity in sugarcane juice and its protective role against radiation induced DNA damage

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) juice is widely consumed by people of the tropics and subtropics. It has been used to cure jaundice and liver-related disorders in Indian systems of medicine. Its possible mechanism of action was examined in terms of antioxidant availability. The assays involved different levels of antioxidant action such as oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), radical scavenging abilities using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH); 2,2′-azobis-3-ethyl benzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS); ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP); and protection of membranes examined by inhibition of lipid peroxidation. In addition, the content of phenols and total flavonoids were measured. The aqueous extracts of three varieties of sugarcane were studied. These varieties showed good antioxidant properties and were also able to protect against radiation induced DNA damage in pBR322 plasmid DNA and Escherishia coli cultures. In conclusion, the study reveals that the ability of sugarcane juice to scavenge free radicals, reduce iron complex and inhibit lipid peroxidation, may explain possible mechanisms by which sugarcane juice exhibits its beneficial effects in relation to its reported health benefits.     

Bioavailability of iron in goat milk compared with cow milk fed to anemic rats

Bioavailabilities of iron from dehydrated whole and skim goat milk were investigated using iron-deficient rats. Hemoglobin regeneration efficiencies were determined as the percent conversion of dietary iron into hemoglobin. The respective hemoglobin regeneration efficiencies for groups fed whole goat milk, whole cow milk, skim goat milk, and skim cow milk were 50.6, 13.1, 26.0, and 13.0%, indicating that iron bioavailability of goat milk was greater than cow milk. However, rats fed each milk had negative net increases in hemoglobin concentrations, implying that the iron contents of each milk were not adequate. For animals consuming whole goat milk supplemented with ferrous sulfate, the slope relating hemoglobin iron gained versus iron intake was .95. Respective bioavailabilities relative to ferrous sulfate were 54, 14, 28, and 14% for the four sources of milk. Iron bioavailability of goat milk is superior to cow milk when fed to anemic rats.     

Dietary selenium protects against acute toxicity of T-2 toxin in rats

The efficacy of dietary selenium (Se) supplementation on acute toxicity of T-2 toxin was investigated. Wistar male rats were divided into six groups with 15 rats in each and fed for 6 weeks ad libitum a semi-synthetic diet containing either 0.03 (groups 1 and 2), 0.5 (groups 3 and 4) or 2.5 mg Se/kg (groups 5 and 6). By the end of the experiment the rats in groups 2, 4 and 6 were administered once per os 3.8 mg/kg body weight T-2 toxin, while the animals in groups 1, 3 and 5 received equal doses of the solvent. Twenty-four hours after administration of the toxin the surviving rats were sacrificed and the liver microsomes isolated and determined for activities of enzymes relating to xenobiotics metabolism and Se. The results showed that feeding the rats 2.5 mg Se/kg diet increased the deethylation rate of 7-ethoxycoumarin by 42% and slightly decreased (20%) glutathione-S-transferase activity. Twenty-four hours after the administration of T-2 toxin the lethality percentages in groups 2, 4 and 6 were 47%, 27% and 20%, respectively. Furthermore, administration of T-2 toxin to group 6 rats resulted in a significant decrease in the level of cytochrome P-450 and 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylase activity (to 78% and 51%, respectively) compared to the control group. At the same time a 72% increase in the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity and of 61% in epoxide hydrolase activity compared to the control group was found. Similarly, although somewhat smaller, changes were seen in the group 4 rats receiving 0.5 mg Se/kg diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Fermented soy‐powder milk with Lactobacillus plantarum P1201 protects against high‐fat diet‐induced obesity

Fermented soy‐powder milk (FSPM) with Lactobacillus plantarum P1201 contains more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and isoflavone aglycones compared with unfermented soy‐powder milk (UFSPM). In this study, the antiobesity effect of FSPM was investigated in a high‐fat diet (HFD)‐induced obesity model. Results showed that FSPM reduced the weight of body, body weight gain, liver and mesenteric white adipose tissue by 10.7%, 17.7%, 32.8% and 24.1%, respectively, compared with the HFD group. Meanwhile, FSPM suppressed the HFD‐induced increase of serum parameters such as total and low‐density lipoprotein, cholesterol, alanine transaminase, glucose and c‐peptide. To investigate how FSPM ameliorated obesity, several lipid metabolism and inflammation‐related genes in liver were analysed. FSPM significantly ameliorated HFD‐induced hepatic steatosis by down‐regulating peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma, lipoprotein lipase, fatty acid synthase, acetyl CoA carboxylase, adipocyte fatty acid‐binding protein, tumour necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1 beta. Our results showed FSPM can protect against HFD‐induced obesity.     

Pear pomace water extract suppresses hepatic lipid peroxidation and protects against liver damage in rats fed a high fat/cholesterol diet

Food Science and Biotechnology - The protective effect of pear pomace water extract (PPWE) against hepatic lipid peroxidation was investigated in rats fed a 41% kcal fat diet containing 0.21%...     

普鲁士蓝光度法测定奶粉中的铁

提出了一种新的测定奶粉中铁的方法,探索了在酸性介质中,Fe(Ⅲ)与亚铁氰化钾生成普鲁士蓝(PB)反应测定铁的操作条件。结果表明,在pH为2左右配合物最为稳定,最大吸收波长为700nm。Fe(Ⅲ)浓度在0～2.5μg/mL的范围内服从比尔定律,回归方程为:Y=0.0067x-0.0113,相关系数r=0.9987,表观摩尔吸光系数ε=9.83×103mol·L-1·cm-1,Sandell灵敏度为0.0057μg·cm-2,变异系数为0.87%,回收率在96%～103%之间。本法具有操作简便、快速、准确的特点,并且,一般可不经掩蔽干扰离子,直接用于奶粉中铁的测定,结果令人满意。     

Extract of fermented barley attenuates chronic alcohol induced liver damage by increasing antioxidative activities

Chronic consumption of alcohol leads to liver disorders primarily as hepatosteatosis, and increase of oxidative stress. The abundance of these reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a result of ethanol (ethyl alcohol) oxidation by alcohol dehydrogenase and cytochrome p450 2E1 (CYP2E1). In order to address this problem with natural substance, the high polyphenol content of barley has been numerously cited to provide excellent antioxidative effect. In this study, we investigated the effect of fermented barley extract (FBE) in chronic ethanol fed female Wistar rats. We obtained significant decrease of plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities in the FBE supplemented group. Further examinations revealed that FBE induces substantial improvement in hepatic gene expressions of key anti-oxidative genes, reinforced by its increase of enzymatic activities and subsequent suppression of oxidative stress. Thus we have demonstrated a novel approach for the use of barley as supplements to attenuate chronic alcohol consumption.     

牛蒡提取物对刀豆蛋白A诱导肝损伤小鼠的保护作用

目的:研究牛蒡提取物对刀豆蛋白A(Con A)诱导肝损伤小鼠的保护作用并探讨其可能的作用机制.方法:小鼠尾静脉注射Con A建立肝损伤模型.计算小鼠肝脏、脾脏和胸腺指数,测定血清中谷丙转氨酶(ALT)和谷草转氨酶(AST)和肝组织中肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)和一氧化氮(NO)的含量.观察肝组织病理学变化.结果:牛蒡皮乙醇提取物(PA)显著改善肝损伤小鼠的肝脏和胸腺指数(p＜0.05);降低血清中ALT、AST活性和肝组织匀浆中TNF-α、NO的含量(p＜0.01);肝脏病变明显减轻.去皮牛蒡根水提物(MA)未表现出护肝作用.结论:牛蒡皮乙醇提取物(PA)对Con A诱导肝损伤小鼠具有保护作用,其作用机制可能与抑制T淋巴细胞的活化和相关炎症因子的释放相关.     

Hepatoprotective effect of Handaeri-gomchi (Ligularia fischeri var. spiciformis Nakai) extract against chronic alcohol-induced liver damage in rats

Handaeri-gomchi (Ligularia fischeri var. spiciformis Nakai) (LF) is well known as a medicinal plant in Korea, especially to treat a variety of human disease including hepatic function failure. In this study, we examined the activity of LF extract against the liver injuries and oxidative stress by chronic alcohol in Spargue-Dawley rats. Severe liver damage caused by alcohol intake with increasing activity of hepatic markers was decreased in the group of rats fed LF extract. The results were confirmed through hematoxylin and eosin staining. Antioxidative capacity was decreased by alcohol but it was recovered by LF extract. Elevated indicators of oxidative stress by chronic alcohol were diminished in the group of LF extract. Furthermore, LF extracts increased antioxidative capacity and the activity of antioxidant enzymes. In conclusion, LF extract has a protective effect against chronic alcohol hepatotoxicity, suggesting it could be developed as a functional food or medicine for protection of liver disease.     

Toxicological analysis of the chronic consumption of diheptanoin and triheptanoin in rats

The aim of this study was to synthesise glycerol esters from heptanoic acid and to evaluate the toxicity of their chronic consumption in rats. The synthesised product (64% triheptanoin, 34% diheptanoin and 2% monoheptanoin) was called experimental oil. Newly weaned male Wistar rats ( n  = 3 × 10) were fed with control diet AIN-93, control with 30% substitution of soybean oil with experimental oil (TAGC₇ 30%) or control with substitution of 50% (TAGC₇ 50%), for 9 months. The experimental oil did not affect the growth, lipid digestibility or hepatic and renal function, and the lipid profile serum analysis. Additionally, it exhibited a hepato-protector effect in group TAGC₇ 50%. In conclusion, the chronic consumption of di- and triheptanoin was not toxic in rats, suggesting that they may be used in the treatment of disorders in which more easily digestible lipids are required.     

Goat milk feeding causes an increase in biliary secretion of cholesterol and a decrease in plasma cholesterol levels in rats

The hypocholesterolemic effect of goat milk with respect to cow milk observed in a previous study led us to examine the influence of goat and cow milk in the diet on certain aspects of biliary physiology in normal rats. The fat content in all diets was 10% but the lipid quality was varied: the standard diet was based on virgin olive oil, and the other 2 diets included fat obtained from lyophilized cow milk and goat milk. We characterized the bile secretion, including biliary phospholipid, cholesterol, and bile acid outputs, the interrelation between bile acids and bile lipids, and the lithogenic index. The consumption of goat milk in the diet, compared with that of cow milk, caused an increase in the biliary secretion of cholesterol together with a decrease in plasma cholesterol concentration, whereas values for bile phospholipids, biliary acid concentrations, and the lithogenic index remained normal. Moreover, consumption of this type of milk decreased plasma triglyceride concentration and therefore had a positive effect, similar to that of olive oil (standard diet), on the lipid metabolism; hence, it may be recommended for consumption by the general population.     

Photoelectrochemical DNA sensor for the rapid detection of DNA damage induced by styrene oxide and the Fenton reaction

Rapid and sensitive detection methods are in urgent demand for the screening of an overwhelming number of existing and new chemicals as potential DNA-damaging agents. In this study, two photoelectrochemistry-based DNA sensor configurations were employed in the detection of DNA damage caused by styrene oxide and Fe2+/H2O2. The organic compound and heavy metal represent genotoxic chemicals possessing two major damaging mechanisms, DNA adduct formation and DNA oxidation. In the first sensor configuration, a ruthenium tris(bipyridine)-labeled avidin film and a double-stranded calf thymus DNA (ds-DNA) film were assembled successively on tin oxide nanoparticle film electrodes. Photogenerated Ru(III) oxidized guanidine and adenosine bases in DNA and gave rise to photocurrent. DNA damage was detected after the reaction of the DNA film with either styrene oxide or Fe2+/H2O2, which exposed more DNA bases for photooxidation and resulted in increased photocurrent. In the second configuration, an unlabeled avidin film and a ds-DNA film were assembled on the semiconductor electrode. A DNA intercalator, Ru(bpy)2(dppz)2+ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a: 2',3'-c]phenazine), was employed as the photoelectrochemical signal reporter. After the chemical reaction with the damaging agents, the DNA film bound less Ru(bpy)2(dppz)2+, accompanied by a drop in photocurrent. Both sensors were used to follow the reaction course in styrene oxide and Fenton reagents and produced similar results. According to the data, damage of the DNA film was complete in 1 h in Fenton reagents and in 3 h in styrene oxide. In addition, the Fenton reaction induced much more severe damage than styrene oxide. The results demonstrate for the first time that the photoelectrochemical DNA sensor can detect both DNA adduct formation and DNA oxidation. It has the potential of becoming a screening tool for the rapid assessment of the genotoxicity of existing and new chemicals.     

Photoelectrochemical sensor for the rapid detection of in situ DNA damage induced by enzyme-catalyzed fenton reaction

Photoelectrochemical sensors were developed for the rapid detection of oxidative DNA damage induced by Fe2+ and H2O2 generated in situ by the enzyme glucose oxidase. The sensor is a multilayer film prepared on a tin oxide nanoparticle electrode by layer-by-layer self-assembly and is composed of separate layers of a photoelectrochemical indicator, DNA, and glucose oxidase. The enzyme catalyzes the formation of H2O2 in the presence of glucose, which then reacts with Fe2+ and generates hydroxyl radicals by the Fenton reaction. The radicals attack DNA in the sensor film, mimicking metal toxicity pathways in vivo. The DNA damage is detected by monitoring the change of photocurrent of the indicator. In one sensor configuration, a DNA intercalator, Ru(bpy)2(dppz)2+ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine), was employed as the photoelectrochemical indicator. The damaged DNA on the sensor bound less Ru(bpy)2(dppz)2+ than the intact DNA, resulting in a drop in photocurrent. In another configuration, ruthenium tris(bipyridine) was used as the indicator and was immobilized on the electrode underneath the DNA layer. After oxidative damage, the DNA bases became more accessible to photoelectrochemical oxidation than the intact DNA, producing a rise in photocurrent. Both sensors displayed substantial photocurrent change after incubation in Fe2+/glucose in a time-dependent manner. And the detection limit of the first sensor was less than 50 microM. The results were verified independently by fluorescence and gel electrophoresis experiments. When fully integrated with cell-mimicking components, the photoelectrochemical DNA sensor has the potential to become a rapid, high-throughput, and inexpensive screening tool for chemical genotoxicity.     

Calcium-enriched goats' milk aids recovery of iron status better than calcium-enriched cows' milk, in rats with nutritional ferropenic anaemia

Ca-Fe interactions are known, but no studies are available about the effects of Ca-enriched goat or cow milk on Fe status in nutritional ferropenic anaemia (NFA). To examine this matter, control and Fe-deficient rats were fed for 14 d with goat or cow milk diets containing either normal or high Ca content (5000 or 10,000 mg/kg diet), and different indices and parameters related to iron status were measured. The apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) and the Fe retention/intake (R/I) ratio were higher in control and anaemic rats fed goat milk diet (G diet), despite high-Ca content. Ca enrichment decreased Fe stores in liver and sternum in anaemic rats fed cow milk diet (C diet), however G diet did not modify Fe content in the organs studied in control and anaemic rats. In anaemic rats, Ca-supplementation decreased haematocrit, but platelets and serum Fe were not affected, however, in control rats platelets increased except for Ca-enriched G diet, this fact reveals that Ca-Fe interaction is minimized with G diet. Serum ferritin was always higher in rats fed G vs. C diet, both in control and anaemic rats fed either normal or Ca-enriched diets. Ca-supplementation decreased ferritin levels in control and anaemic rats fed C diet and also, though to a lesser extent, in those given the G diet. This indicates that with this G diet there is a better recovery of body Fe stores in anaemic rats, despite Ca-supplementation. In this study it is noteworthy that despite high Ca content, a goat milk diet resulted in minimal Ca-Fe interactions and did not adversely affect Fe status in rats with NFA.