Anthocyanins extract from bilberry enhances the therapeutic effect of pollen of Brassica napus L. on stress-provoked benign prostatic hyperplasia in restrained mice

Clinical research has revealed that stressed men are susceptible to develop benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In this study, restraint-stress mice model was employed to mimic the physiological conditions of the population that was susceptible to develop BPH. Male mice were subjected to restraint stress after being subcutaneously injected with testosterone propionate (TP) for 14 d. Results demonstrated that TP-induced BPH was significantly aggravated by restraint stress, as manifested by increases of prostate index, serum testosterone level, and prostate 5α-reductase (5AR) and serum acid phosphatase (ACP) activities. These findings were further supported by results of prostate pathological examination. However, we found that anthocyanins extract (AE) from bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) had additive effect with pollen of Brassica napus L. (PBN), a widely used folk remedy for BPH in traditional Chinese medicine, on stress-provoked BPH in mice. The mechanism was associated with the protective effects of AE against stress-induced oxidative damage, as indicated by decreased lipid peroxidation level, increased oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and glutathione (GSH) content, along with elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities. Our results proved that stress-induced oxidative damage promoted the development and aggravation of BPH, while antioxidative defense contributed to the amelioration of BPH.     

Dietary Monascus adlay supplements facilitate suppression of cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary endoplasmic reticulum stress,autophagy, apoptosis and emphysema-related PLGF in the rat

Cigarette smoke (CS) exposure may cause oxidative stress in the lung, leading to cell death and long-term injury. Monascus adlay (MA) with antioxidant components produced by inoculating adlay (Cois lachrymal-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) with Monascus purpureus may protect lung against CS-induced lung injuries in rats. MA and lovastatin had higher antioxidant activities than either M. purpureus or adlay. CS exposure caused significant lung damage, as evidenced by higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), neutrophil infiltration, dityrosine and 4-HNE, as well as lower levels of Mn-superoxide dismutase and catalase expression. Lung tissues with CS exposure had higher levels of ER stress, apoptosis, autophagy and emphysema-related placenta growth factor (PlGF) expressions. All CS-induced injuries were significantly suppressed by MA supplements. MA would be a beneficial nutritional therapy to ameliorate CS-induced lung injury via preserving antioxidant defense mechanisms, decreasing oxidative stress and inhibiting ER stress, autophagy, apoptosis and emphysema-related risk factor.     

Resveratrol,human health and winemaking perspectives

Resveratrol, (3, 5, 4′-trihydroxystilbene) is a non-flavonoid polyphenol stilbene synthesized by plants when damaged by infectious diseases or ionizing radiation. Although present in more than seventy plant species, grapes and wine are the major dietary contributors of resveratrol, responsible for 98% of the daily intake. In 1992, Renaud and De Lorgeril first linked wine polyphenols, including resveratrol, to the potential health benefits ascribed to regular and moderate wine consumption (the so called “French Paradox”). Since then, resveratrol has received increasing scientific interest, leading to research on its biological actions, and to a large number of published papers, which have been collected and discussed in this review. The relatively low amounts of resveratrol measured in wine following moderate consumption, however, may be insufficient to mitigate biological damage, such as that due to oxidative stress. On this basis, the authors also highlight the importance of viticulture and the winemaking process to enhance resveratrol concentrations in wine in order to bolster potential health benefits.     

The green tea polyphenol (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits amyloid-β evoked fibril formation and neuronal cell death in vitro

Alzheimer’s disease is associated with amyloid-β plaques eliciting neuronal oxidative stress. Many naturally occurring compounds have antioxidant properties, but it is unclear if this alone protects against amyloid-β exposure. This study investigated the protective effects of selected bioactive compounds against amyloid-β and pro-oxidant-evoked neurotoxicity in PC12 cells. Neither resveratrol, (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, cyanidin rutinoside or grape skin extract protected PC12 cells against H₂O₂ or tert butyl hydroperoxide toxicity. Amyloid-β resulted in a concentration-dependent reduction in PC12 cell viability that was unaffected by resveratrol or cyanidin rutinoside pre-treatment. By contrast, (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate and grape skin extract significantly reduced amyloid-β-evoked neurotoxicity (by 40%). Only (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate was directly able to inhibit amyloid-β aggregate and fibril formation. These results suggest that (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate protects neuronal cells by disrupting amyloid-β fibril formation; bioactive polyphenols which disrupt fibril aggregation may confer additional neuroprotection when compared against antioxidant activity alone.     

In vivo protective effects of quercetin against sodium fluoride-induced oxidative stress in the hepatic tissue

The protective effects of quercetin against sodium fluoride induced oxidative stress were examined in rat’s liver. Rats were divided into five groups. The first group served as normal group that was treated with standard diet. The second group was intoxicated with sodium fluoride (600 ppm) through drinking water for 1 week. The third, fourth and fifth groups were treated with quercetin at a dose of 10 and 20 mg/kg and vitamin C (as the positive control) at a dose of 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally for 1 week before sodium fluoride intoxication, respectively. After 1 week, activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, level of reduced glutathione and lipid peroxidation end product were determined in the homogenates of rat liver. The results of the present study suggested that quercetin protects rat liver from sodium fluoride induced oxidative stress, probably via its antioxidant activity.     

Diallyl-disulphide is the effective ingredient of garlic oil that protects primary human osteoblasts from damage due to cigarette smoke

Cigarette consumption negatively affects bone-matter and -stability, partially due to increased oxidative stress. Garlic has been shown to have anti-oxidative properties. Therefore, the intention was to investigate whether garlic oil blend (GOB) reduces cellular damage in human osteoblasts exposed to cigarette smoke medium (CSM). Formation of ROS was rapidly induced in osteoblasts exposed to CSM and their viability decreased in a concentration- and time-dependent manner (EC₅₀ ≈ 0.75 OD₃₂₀). Co-, pre- and post-incubation with GOB significantly improved their viability. Testing both major components of GOB, diallyl-sulphide (DAS) and diallyl-disulphide (DADS), showed that DADS is more efficient. DADS markedly induced the expression of the anti-oxidative enzyme haeme-oxygenase (HO)-1. The HO-1 inhibitor zinc-protoporphyrin reduced the protective effect of all three substances. Summarizing, CSM damages osteoblasts by accumulation of ROS. GOB and especially DADS reduce this damage by scavenging the radicals and by up-regulating HO-1. Thus, a garlic rich diet or dietary supplementation with DADS might improve bone-matter, -stability and even fracture healing in smokers.     

Myricetin modulates streptozotocin–cadmium induced oxidative stress in long term experimental diabetic nephrotoxic rats

Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the development of diabetic nephropathy. The present study was aimed to evaluate the modulatory potential of myricetin on streptozotocin (STZ)–cadmium (Cd) induced oxidative stress in diabetic nephrotoxic rats. Diabetic nephrotoxicity was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of STZ at a dose of (40 mg/kg body weight (b/w)) and Cd as cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) (100 p.p.m.). Myricetin was administered to diabetic nephrotoxic rats by intraperitoneally at 1.0 mg/kg b/w for a period of 12 weeks to assess its effects on fasting plasma glucose, plasma insulin, total haemoglobin, glycosylated haemoglobin, lipid peroxidation products viz., thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), protein carbonyl content (PCO) and non-enzymatic antioxidants namely vitamins C and E and reduced glutathione (GSH) and also enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR). Improvement of antioxidant status in myricetin supplemented diabetic nephrotoxic rats revealed its cellular protective effect. Histopathology of liver and kidney confirmed the protective effects of myricetin in diabetic nephrotoxic rats. The outcome of this study concludes that myricetin could be therapeutic flavonol for regulating oxidative mechanism in STZ–Cd induced diabetic nephrotoxic rats.     

Can phytochemical antioxidant rich foods act as anti-cancer agents?

The search for therapeutic anticancer agents from plant-based foods became the work of numerous researchers when epidemiological studies showed a relationship between the low incidence of cancer and the intake of plant-based foods. These researchers were especially interested in plant-based foods with high antioxidant capacities because of the important role antioxidants have been postulated to play in the prevention and treatment of certain cancers. However, at present there is no conclusive proof that high antioxidant activity is a good indicator of high anticancer activity. This poses a challenge for researchers to directly test this hypothesis and resolve the debate. This review summarized the data on both sides of the debate.     

白藜芦醇生理活性作用研究进展

白藜芦醇存在于多种植物中，研究表明，它具有抗癌、抗血栓、抗过敏、降血脂、抗氧化等多方面功能，本文就其生理活性作用研究进展加以综述。     

白酒对果蝇及小鼠氧化损伤的影响

探讨名优白酒对果蝇和小鼠抗氧化指标及小鼠血清谷草转氨酶(AST)与谷丙转氨酶(ALT)的影响.结果显示,样品酒5%、15%组,肝组织中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)酶活力高于酒精对照组和模型组,差异有统计学意K(P＜0.05).各剂量组羰基蛋白含量较空白组显著升高(P＜0.05).5%样品组AST含量与空白组比较差异无统计学意义,而15%、30%和60%样品组以及30%酒精组与空白组比较AST都明显升高,差异有显著性.30%酒精组较空白组ALT含量高,差异有统计学意义.样品组与空白比较无显著性差异.果蝇酒精对照超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、GSH-Px含量较空白及低剂量样品白酒低,差异有统计学意K(P＜0.05).高荆量(1%,v/v)与酒精对照无显著性差异.表明低剂量的样品白酒可增强小鼠及果蝇的抗氧化能力,而高剂量则促进其氧化损伤.     

Protective effects of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) peel and their bioactive compounds on oxidative stress

Protective effects of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) peel and their bioactive compounds on oxidative stress were investigated. According to HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS/MS analysis, hesperidin (HD), hesperetin (HT), nobiletin (NT), and tangeretin (TT) were present in water extracts of sweet orange peel (WESP). The cytotoxic effect in 0.2 mM t-BHP-induced HepG2 cells was inhibited by WESP and their bioactive compounds. The protective effect of WESP and their bioactive compounds in 0.2 mM t-BHP-induced HepG2 cells may be associated with positive regulation of GSH levels and antioxidant enzymes, decrease in ROS formation and TBARS generation, increase in the mitochondria membrane potential and Bcl-2/Bax ratio, as well as decrease in caspase-3 activation. Overall, WESP displayed a significant cytoprotective effect against oxidative stress, which may be most likely because of the phenolics-related bioactive compounds in WESP, leading to maintenance of the normal redox status of cells.     

DMF在酱油,食醋中的防腐效果研究

将一种新型防腐剂DMF添加到酱油、食醋中,对引起酱油、食醋白花变质的酵母菌群和格兰氏阴性菌群有明显的抑制作用,可以延长酱油、食醋的存放时间而不影响其口感、颜色、体态、香味与成份。证明酱油添加0．010%DMF、食醋添加0．012%DMF,在北方夏季敞开条件下,可以存放1月之久,不白花变质。