Plant extracts are rich in various bioactive compounds exerting antioxidants effects, such as phenolics, catechins, flavonoids, quercetin, anthocyanin, tocopherol, rutin, chlorogenic acid, lycopene, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, vitamin C, protocatechuic acid, vitamin E, carotenoids, β-carotene, myricetin, kaempferol, carnosine, zeaxanthin, sesamol, rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, and carnosol. The extraction processing protocols such as solvent, time, temperature, and plant powder should be optimized to obtain the optimum yield with the maximum concentration of active ingredients. The application of novel green extraction technologies has improved extraction yields with a high concentration of active compounds, heat-labile compounds at a lower environmental cost, in a short duration, and with efficient utilization of the solvent. The application of various combinations of extraction technologies has proved to exert a synergistic effect or to act as an adjunct. There is a need for proper identification, segregation, and purification of the active ingredients in plant extracts for their efficient utilization in the meat industry, as natural antioxidants. The present review has critically analyzed the conventional and green extraction technologies in extracting bioactive compounds from plant biomass and their utilization in meat as natural antioxidants.
The present study aims to examine the protective effect of Justicia tranquebariesis on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced oxidative stress and hepatic fibrosis. Male Wister albino rats (150⁻200 g) were divided into five groups. Group 1 was normal control. Group 2 was J. tranquebariensis (400 mg/kg bw/p.o.)-treated control. Group 3 was TAA (100 mg/kg bw/s.c.)-treated control. Groups 4 and 5 were orally administered with the leaf extract of J. tranquebariensis (400 mg/kg bw) and silymarin (50 mg/kg bw) daily for 10 days with a subsequent administration of a single dose of TAA (100 mg/kg/s.c.). Blood and livers were collected and assayed for various antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx, GST, GSH, and GR). Treatment with J. tranquebariensis significantly reduced liver TBARS and enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes in TAA-induced fibrosis rats. Concurrently, pretreatment with J. tranquebariensis significantly reduced the elevated liver markers (AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, and TB) in the blood. In addition, J. tranquebariensis- and silymarin- administered rats demonstrated the restoration of normal liver histology and reduction in fibronectin and collagen deposition. Based on these findings, J. tranquebariensis has potent liver protective functions and can alleviate thioacetamide-induced oxidative stress, hepatic fibrosis and possible engross mechanisms connected to antioxidant potential.
The objective of the present study was to investigate the antiradical and xanthine oxidase inhibitory effects of Averrhoa bilimbi leaves. Hence, crude methanolic leaves extract and its resultant fractions, namely hexane, chloroform, and n-butanol were evaluated for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity. The active constituents were tentatively identified through LC-QTOF-MS/MS and molecular docking approaches. The n-butanol fraction of A. bilimbi crude methanolic leaves extract displayed significant DPPH radical scavenging effect with IC50 (4.14 ± 0.21 μg/mL) (p < 0.05), as well as xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity with IC50 (64.84 ± 3.93 μg/mL) (p < 0.05). Afzelechin 3-O-alpha-l-rhamnopyranoside and cucumerin A were tentatively identified as possible metabolites that contribute to the antioxidant activity of the n-butanol fraction.
Pepper of the Capsicum species is a common ingredient in various food preparations by different cultures worldwide. The Capsicum is recognised by its five main domesticated species, namely Capsicum annuum, C. baccatum, C. chinense, C. frutescens and C. pubescens. The genetic diversity in Capsicum offers fruits in wide ranges of morphology and carotenoid profile. Carotenoids enhance the value of pepper from a nutritional standpoint, despite being commonly prized for the pharmacologically active pungent capsaicinoids. Carotenoids of pepper comprise mainly of the unique, powerful and highly stable capsanthin and capsoroubin, together with β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin and violaxanthin. These carotenoids are present at diverse profile and varying levels, biosynthetically connected to the fruit maturity stages. This review describes the health-promoting functional attributes of the carotenoids that are mainly associated with their excellent role as lipophilic antioxidants. Capsicum as a great source of carotenoids is discussed in the aspects of main domesticated species, biosynthesis, pigment profile, antioxidant activity and safety. Findings from a number of in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies provided appreciable evidence on the protective effects of pepper's carotenoids against degenerative diseases. Hence, pepper with its functional carotenoids might be recommended in health-promoting and disease preventing strategies.
Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) is traditionally cultivated as a valuable source of fibers and nutrients. Multiple studies also demonstrated antimicrobial, anti-proliferative, phytotoxic and insecticide effects of the essential oil from hemp female inflorescences. On the other side, only a few studies explored the potential pharmacological application of polar extracts from inflorescences. In the present study, we investigated the water extract from inflorescences of industrial hemp Futura 75 variety, from phytochemical and pharmacological point of view. The water extract was assayed for phenolic compound content, radical scavenger/reducing, chelating and anti-tyrosinase effects. Through an ex vivo model of toxicity induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on isolated rat colon and liver, we explored the extract effects on serotonin, dopamine and kynurenine pathways and the production of prostaglandin (PG)E2. Anti-proliferative effects were also evaluated against human colon cancer HCT116 cell line. Additionally, antimycotic effects were investigated against Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton interdigitale, Microsporum gypseum. Finally, in silico studies, including bioinformatics, network pharmacology and docking approaches were conducted in order to predict the putative targets underlying the observed pharmacological and microbiological effects. Futura 75 water extract was able to blunt LPS-induced reduction of serotonin and increase of dopamine and kynurenine turnover, in rat colon. Additionally, the reduction of PGE2 levels was observed in both colon and liver specimens, as well. The extract inhibited the HCT116 cell viability, the growth of T. rubrum and T. interdigitale and the activity of tyrosinase, in vitro, whereas in silico studies highlighting the inhibitions of cyclooxygenase-1 (induced by carvacrol), carbonic anhydrase IX (induced by chlorogenic acid and gallic acid) and lanosterol 14-α-demethylase (induced by rutin) further support the observed pharmacological and antimycotic effects. The present findings suggest female inflorescences from industrial hemp as high quality by-products, thus representing promising sources of nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals against inflammatory and infectious diseases.
Royal jelly (RJ) has been shown to contribute its positive effects upon imbalance in the reproductive system. However, it remains unknown as to whether RJ has an anti-androgenic effect on reproductive parameters in a polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) animal model. Composition of RJ was assessed by phytochemical screening and the LC-MS method. Forty immature female rats (3 weeks, 40-50 g) were randomly divided into five groups (n = 8 per group), i.e., control, testosterone (T), T+100RJ (100 mg/kg/day), T+200RJ (200 mg/kg/day RJ), and T+400RJ (400 mg/kg/day RJ) groups. Hyperandrogenism was induced by daily subcutaneous injection of T propionate for 3 weeks, followed by oral RJ for 4 weeks. The T+200RJ group had a significantly higher follicle-stimulating hormone level, and significantly lower luteinizing hormone, testosterone, and estradiol levels in comparison to the T group. Malondialdehyde level and glutathione peroxidase activity were significantly lower, while total antioxidant capacity level was significantly higher in the T+200RJ group compared to the T group. Histologically, the T+200RJ group showed recovery of various stages of ovarian follicular development. RJ at 200 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks significantly improved reproductive parameters in PCOS rats partly due to its anti-androgenic effect through antioxidant action and probably due to modulation on estrogenic activity, which needs further study to evaluate its exact mechanism of action.
Osteoporosis, or bone loss, is a disease that affects many women globally. As life expectancy increases, the risk of osteoporosis in women also increases, too, and this will create a burden on the healthcare and economic sectors of a country. Osteoporosis was once thought to be a disease that would occur only after menopause. However, many studies have shown that osteoporosis may develop even in the perimenopausal stage. Due to the erratic levels of estrogen and progesterone during the perimenopausal stage, studies suggest that women are exposed to the risk of developing osteoporosis even at this stage. The erratic hormonal changes result in the production of proinflammatory mediators and cause oxidative stress, which leads to the progressive loss of bone-building activities. Tocotrienols, members of vitamin E, have many health-promoting properties. Due to their powerful anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, tocotrienols have shown positive anti-osteoporotic properties in post-menopausal studies. Hence, we propose here that tocotrienols could also possibly alleviate perimenopausal osteoporosis by discussing in this review the connection between inflammatory mediators produced during perimenopause and the risk of osteoporosis. Tocotrienols could potentially be an anti-osteoporotic agent, but due to their low bioavailability, they have not been as effective as they could be. Several approaches have been evaluated to overcome this issue, as presented in this review. As the anti-osteoporotic effects of tocotrienols were mostly studied in post-menopausal models, we hope that this review could pave the way for more research to be done to evaluate their effect on peri-menopausal models so as to reduce the risk of osteoporosis from an earlier stage.
Huge quantities of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) leaves (OPL) are generated as agricultural biomass from oil palm plantations. OPL are known to contain significant amounts of flavonoids. For maximal exploitation of these valuable antioxidant compounds, an innovative and sustainable extraction method employing natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES) combined with ultrasonic assisted extraction was developed. Various NaDES composed of choline chloride as the hydrogen bond donor (HBD) and 1,2 propanediol (PD), 1,4 butanediol (BD), glycerol (GLY), glucose (GLU), maltose (MAL), and lactic acid (LA) as the hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) were synthesized. The influence of these compositions, the methods of their synthesis, molar ratios, and water contents on their capacity to extract flavonoids from OPL was evaluated. Based on the results, it was found that methods which incorporate a heating step produced NaDES with the best capacity to extract OPL flavonoids. These thermal methods combined with molar ratios of 1:3 or 1:4 and water contents of 17 to 50% were found to be the optimal conditions for preparing NaDES, specifically when applied to the PD, BD, and GLY NaDES. Subsequently, UHPLC-UV/PDA-MS/MS analysis revealed NaDES extracts recovered by macroporous adsorption resin XAD7HP were able to optimally extract at least twelve luteolin and apigenin derivatives in OPL NaDES extracts prepared from glycerol and 1,4-butanediol demonstrated better and comparable efficiency as aqueous methanol in extracting flavonoids from OPL. The in vitro studies of antioxidant and wound healing properties supported these findings by exhibiting good free radical scavenging, cell proliferation, and migration activities. Additionally, the NaDES extracts also showed non-cytotoxicity effects at 1000 µg/mL and below on 3T3 fibroblast cells. Results of the study showed that NaDES could be a promising eco-friendly green solvent to extract bioactive OPL flavonoids that have great potential for applications as wound healing agents.
Corn silk (CS) is an agro-by-product from corn cultivation. It is used in folk medicines in some countries, besides being commercialized as health-promoting supplements and beverages. Unlike CS-derived natural products, their bioactive peptides, particularly antioxidant peptides, are understudied. This study aimed to purify, identify and characterize antioxidant peptides from trypsin-hydrolyzed CS proteins. Purification was accomplished by membrane ultrafiltration, gel filtration chromatography, and strong-cation-exchange solid-phase extraction, guided by 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt radical cation (ABTS•+) scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and lipid peroxidation inhibition assays. De novo sequencing identified 29 peptides (6-14 residues; 633-1518 Da). The peptides consisted of 33-86% hydrophobic and 10-67% basic residues. Molecular docking found MCFHHHFHK, VHFNKGKKR, and PVVWAAKR having the strongest affinity (-4.7 to -4.8 kcal/mol) to ABTS•+, via hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. Potential cellular mechanisms of the peptides were supported by their interactions with modulators of intracellular oxidant status: Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1, myeloperoxidase, and xanthine oxidase. NDGPSR (Asn-Asp-Gly-Pro-Ser-Arg), the most promising peptide, showed stable binding to all three cellular targets, besides exhibiting low toxicity, low allergenicity, and cell-penetrating potential. Overall, CS peptides have potential application as natural antioxidant additives and functional food ingredients.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a pathological accumulation of hepatic lipid closely linked with many metabolic disorders, oxidative stress and inflammation. We aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of bee bread on oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters in MAFLD rats. Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into four groups (n = 7/group): normal control (NC), high-fat diet (HFD), bee bread (HFD + Bb, HFD + 0.5 g/kg/day bee bread) and orlistat (HFD + Or, HFD + 10 mg/kg/day orlistat) groups. After 12 weeks, the HFD group demonstrated significantly higher body weight gain, serum levels of lipids (TG, TC, LDL), liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP) and adiponectin, liver lipids (TG, TC) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Furthermore, the HFD group showed significantly decreased antioxidant enzyme activities (GPx, GST, GR, SOD, CAT) and GSH level, and increased liver oxidative stress (TBARS, NO), translocation of Nrf2 to the nucleus, Keap1 expression and inflammation (TNF-α, NF-κβ, MCP-1) together with histopathological alterations (steatosis, hepatocyte hypertrophy, inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen deposition), which indicated the presence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis. Bee bread significantly attenuated all these changes exerted by HFD feeding. In conclusion, our results suggest that bee bread might have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-steatotic and anti-fibrotic effects that are beneficial in protecting liver progression towards NASH and fibrosis.
Vitamin E was first discovered in 1922 as a substance necessary for reproduction. Following this discovery, vitamin E was extensively studied, and it has become widely known as a powerful lipid-soluble antioxidant. There has been increasing interest in the role of vitamin E as an antioxidant, as it has been discovered to lower body cholesterol levels and act as an anticancer agent. Numerous studies have reported that vitamin E exhibits anti-proliferative, anti-survival, pro-apoptotic, and anti-angiogenic effects in cancer, as well as anti-inflammatory activities. There are various reports on the benefits of vitamin E on health in general. However, despite it being initially discovered as a vitamin necessary for reproduction, to date, studies relating to its effects in this area are lacking. Hence, this paper was written with the intention of providing a review of the known roles of vitamin E as an antioxidant in female reproductive health.
Recently, increasing public concern about hygiene has been driving many studies to investigate antimicrobial and antiviral agents. However, the use of any antimicrobial agents must be limited due to their possible toxic or harmful effects. In recent years, due to previous antibiotics' lesser side effects, the use of herbal materials instead of synthetic or chemical drugs is increasing. Herbal materials are found in medicines. Herbs can be used in the form of plant extracts or as their active components. Furthermore, most of the world's populations used herbal materials due to their strong antimicrobial properties and primary healthcare benefits. For example, herbs are an excellent material to replace nanosilver as an antibiotic and antiviral agent. The use of nanosilver involves an ROS-mediated mechanism that might lead to oxidative stress-related cancer, cytotoxicity, and heart diseases. Oxidative stress further leads to increased ROS production and also delays the cellular processes involved in wound healing. Therefore, existing antibiotic drugs can be replaced with biomaterials such as herbal medicine with high antimicrobial, antiviral, and antioxidant activity. This review paper highlights the antibacterial, antiviral, and radical scavenger (antioxidant) properties of herbal materials. Antimicrobial activity, radical scavenger ability, the potential for antimicrobial, antiviral, and anticancer agents, and efficacy in eliminating bacteria and viruses and scavenging free radicals in herbal materials are discussed in this review. The presented herbal antimicrobial agents in this review include clove, portulaca, tribulus, eryngium, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, thyme, pennyroyal, mint, fennel, chamomile, burdock, eucalyptus, primrose, lemon balm, mallow, and garlic, which are all summarized.
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic disturbances, including abdominal obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and hyperglycemia. Adopting a healthier lifestyle and multiple drug-based therapies are current ways to manage MetS, but they have limited efficacy, albeit the prevalence of MetS is rising. Microalgae is a part of the human diet and has also been consumed as a health supplement to improve insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and several components of MetS. These therapeutic effects of microalgae are attributed to the bioactive compounds present in them that exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory effects. Therefore, studies investigating the potential of microalgae in alleviating MetS are becoming more popular, but a review on this topic remains scarce. In this review, we discuss the effects of microalgae, specifically on MetS, by reviewing the evidence from scientific literature covering in vitro and in vivo studies. In addition, we also discuss the underlying mechanisms that modulate the effects of microalgae on MetS, and the limitations and future perspectives of developing microalgae as a health supplement for MetS. Microalgae supplementation is becoming a viable approach in alleviating metabolic disturbances and as a unique addition to the management of MetS.
Vitrification is an important tool to store surplus embryos in assisted reproductive technology (ART). However, vitrification increases oxidative damage and results in decreased viability. Studies have reported that L-glutathione (GSH) supplementation improves the preimplantation development of murine embryos. Glutathione constitutes the major non-protein sulphydryl compound in mammalian cells, which confers protection against oxidative damage. However, the effect of GSH supplementation on embryonic vitrification outcomes has yet to be reported. This study aims to determine whether GSH supplementation in culture media improves in vitro culture and vitrification outcomes, as observed through embryo morphology and preimplantation development. Female BALB/c mice aged 6−8 weeks were superovulated through an intraperitoneal injection of 10 IU of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG), followed by 10 IU of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) 48 h later. The mated mice were euthanized by cervical dislocation 48 h after hCG to harvest embryos. Two-cell embryos were randomly assigned to be cultured in either Group 1 (GSH-free medium), Group 2 (GSH-free medium with vitrification), Group 3 (0.01 mM GSH-supplemented medium), or Group 4 (0.01 mM GSH-supplemented medium with vitrification). Non-vitrified (Groups 1 and 3) and vitrified (Groups 2 and 4) embryos were observed for morphological quality and preimplantation development at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. In the non-vitrified groups, there were significant increases in the number of Grade-1 blastocysts in GSH cultures (p < 0.05). Similarly, in the vitrified groups, GSH supplementation was also seen to significantly increase blastocyst formation. Exogenous GSH supplementation resulted in a significant increase in intracellular GSH, a release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, and a parallel decrease in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in vitrified eight-cell embryos (p < 0.05). GSH supplementation was shown to upregulate Bcl2 expression and downregulate Bax expression in the vitrified preimplantation embryo group. The action of exogenous GSH was concomitant with an increase in the relative abundance of Gpx1 and Sod1. In conclusion, our study demonstrated the novel use and practical applicability of GSH supplementation for improving embryonic cryotolerance via a decrease in ROS levels and the inhibition of apoptotic events by improvement in oxidative status.
There is mounting evidence that metabolic syndrome (MetS) contributes to the development of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Honey, which has been used for generations, is high in antioxidants and has been demonstrated to benefit the brain and mental health by reducing oxidative stress and boosting cognitive outcomes. Honey from the stingless bees of Heterotrigona itama has been found to have higher phenolic content compared to other types of honeys. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of stingless bee honey (SBH) supplementation and to compare it with a pure form of antioxidant, caffeic acid (CA), on MetS parameters and inflammatory markers in the brains of MetS-induced rats. A total of 32 male Wistar rats were divided equally into groups of control, high-carbohydrate high-fructose (HCHF) diet (MetS), HCHF + SBH supplemented (1 g/kg) (SBH), and HCHF + CA supplemented (10 mg/kg) (CA) groups. The total duration for SBH and CA supplementation was eight weeks. The HCHF diet was found to promote hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hypertriglyceridemia, and to increase brain TNF-α levels. Supplementation with SBH and CA significantly reversed (p < 0.05) the hyperglycemic and hypertensive effects of the HCHF diet. Although both supplemented groups showed no significant changes to serum HDL or TG, SBH significantly reduced (p < 0.05) brain TNF-α levels and increased (p < 0.05) brain BDNF levels. Immunohistochemistry investigations of neurogenesis (EdU) and apoptosis (TUNEL) on the cornu Ammonis 1 (CA1) and dentate gyrus (DG) areas of the hippocampus showed no changes with SBH and CA supplementation compared to the control. These findings suggest that SBH and CA have the potential to mitigate HCHF-induced MetS effects and possess neuroprotective abilities.
Our previous studies have reported the effect of swietenine (a major bioactive component of Swietenia macrophylla seeds) in reversing and potentiating the effect of metformin in hyperglycemia and hyperlipidaemia in diabetic rats. Moreover, we reported that the anti-inflammatory effect of swietenine is mediated via the activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). This study evaluated the effect of swietenine and its mechanisms in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. The effect was assessed by determining blood biochemical parameters (glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine transaminase (ALT), asparate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA)) and liver biochemical parameters (liver index, cholesterol, and triglycerides). Hepatic lipid accumulation (initial causative factor in NAFLD) was determined by oil-O-red staining. Gene expression (qPCR) and immunohistochemical studies were performed to elucidate the mechanism of swietenine's effect in NAFLD. The critical regulators (genes and proteins) involved in lipogenesis (ACLY, ACC1, FASN, SREBP1c, and ChREBPβ) and oxidative stress (Nrf2, NQO-1 and HO-1) pathways were determined. In mice fed with a high-fat diet followed by streptozotocin injection, the liver cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipids were elevated. These increases were reversed by the oral administration of swietenine, 80 mg/kg body weight, on alternate days for eight weeks. Gene expression and immunohistochemical studies showed that swietenine reversed the elevated levels of crucial enzymes of lipogenesis (ACLY, ACC1 and FASN) and their master transcription factors (SREBP1c and ChREBPβ). Furthermore, swietenine activated the Nrf2 antioxidant defense mechanism, as evidenced by the upregulated levels of Nrf2, NQO-1, and HO-1. It is concluded that swietenine shows beneficial effects in diabetes-induced NAFLD via inhibiting lipogenesis and activating the Nrf2 pathway.
Cisplatin is amongst the most potent chemotherapeutic drugs with applications in more than 50% of cancer treatments, but dose-dependent side effects limit its usefulness. Berberis vulgaris L. (B. vulgaris) has a proven role in several therapeutic applications in the traditional medicinal system. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to quantify berberine, a potent alkaloid in the methanolic root extract of B. vulgaris (BvRE). Berberine chloride in BvRE was found to be 10.29% w/w. To assess the prophylactic and curative protective effects of BvRE on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and hyperlipidemia, in vivo toxicity trials were carried out on 25 healthy male albino Wistar rats (130-180 g). Both prophylactic and curative trials included a single dose of cisplatin (4 mg/kg, i.p.) and nine doses of BvRE (500 mg/kg/day, orally). An array of marked toxicity effects appeared in response to cisplatin dosage evident by morphological condition, biochemical analysis of serum (urea, creatinine, total protein, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, total cholesterol, and triglyceride), and organ tissue homogenates (malondialdehyde and catalase). Statistically-significant (p < 0.05) variations were observed in various parameters. Moreover, histological studies of liver and kidney tissues revealed that the protective effect of BvRE effectively minimized and reversed nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, and hyperlipidemic effects caused by cisplatin in both prophylactic and curative groups with relatively promising ameliorative effects in the prophylactic regimen. The in vitro cell viability effect of cisplatin, BvRE, and their combination was determined on HeLa cells using the tetrazolium (MTT) assay. MTT clearly corroborated that HeLa cells appeared to be less sensitive to cisplatin and berberine individually, while the combination of both at the same concentrations resulted in growth inhibition of HeLa cells in a remarkable synergistic way. The present study validated the use of BvRE as a protective agent in combination therapy with cisplatin.
Obesity is a chronic low-grade inflammatory condition that induces the generation of oxidative stress and inflammation. This oxidative stress and inflammation stimulate brain atrophy and some morphological changes in the brain that eventually result in cognitive impairments. However, there is no exact study that has summarized the role of oxidative stress and inflammation in obesity and its impact on cognitive impairments. Thus, the objective of this review is to recapitulate the current role of oxidative stress and inflammation in cognitive decline based on in vivo evidence. A comprehensive search was performed in Nature, Medline and Ovid, ScienceDirect, and PubMed, and the search was limited to the past 10 years of publication. From the search, we identified 27 articles to be further reviewed. The outcome of this study indicates that a greater amount of fat stored in individual adipocytes in obesity induces the formation of reactive oxygen species and inflammation. This will lead to the generation of oxidative stress, which may cause morphological changes in the brain, suppress the endogenous antioxidant system, and promote neuroinflammation and, eventually, neuronal apoptosis. This will impair the normal function of the brain and specific regions that are involved in learning, as well as memory. This shows that obesity has a strong positive correlation with cognitive impairments. Hence, this review summarizes the mechanism of oxidative stress and inflammation that induce memory loss based on animal model evidence. In conclusion, this review may serve as an insight into therapeutic development focusing on oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways to manage an obesity-induced cognitive decline in the future.
Members of genus Pteris have their established role in the traditional herbal medicine system. In the pursuit to identify its biologically active constituents, the specie Pteris cretica L. (P. cretica) was selected for the bioassay-guided isolation. Two new maleates (F9 and CB18) were identified from the chloroform extract and the structures of the isolates were elucidated through their spectroscopic data. The putative targets, that potentially interact with both of these isolates, were identified through reverse docking by using in silico tools PharmMapper and ReverseScreen3D. On the basis of reverse docking results, both isolates were screened for their antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, α-glucosidase (GluE) inhibition and antibacterial activities. Both isolates depicted moderate potential for the selected activities. Furthermore, docking studies of both isolates were also studied to investigate the binding mode with respective targets followed by molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energies. Thereby, the current study embodies the poly-pharmacological potential of P. cretica.
Studies on the oxidative changes in meat-based, low-moisture, ready to eat foods are complicated due to complex food system and slow lipid-protein oxidative deterioration. The current study evaluates the oxidative changes over six months of storage on shredded beef and chicken products (locally known as serunding) for physicochemical analysis, lipid oxidation (conjugated dienes and malondialdehydes) and protein co-oxidation (soluble protein content, amino acid composition, protein carbonyl, tryptophan loss and Schiff base fluorescence) at 25 °C, 40 °C and 60 °C. The lipid stability of chicken serunding was significantly lower than beef serunding, illustrated by higher conjugated dienes content and higher rate of malondialdehyde formation during storage. In terms of protein co-oxidation, chicken serunding with higher polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) experienced more severe oxidation, as seen from lower protein solubility, higher protein carbonyl and Schiff base formation compared to beef serunding. To conclude, chicken serunding demonstrates lower lipid and protein stability and exhibits higher rate of lipid oxidation and protein co-oxidation than beef serunding. These findings provide insights on the progression of lipid oxidation and protein co-oxidation in cooked, shredded meat products and could be extrapolated to minimize possible adverse effects arising from lipid oxidation and protein co-oxidation, on the quality of low-moisture, high-lipid, high-protein foods.