Curcumin protects against failure to generate a transmembrane potential and protein aggregation of rat liver mitochondria induced by tert- butylhydroperoxides.

Curcumin, an active ingredient of curcuma plant has been thought to be beneficial in the treatment of liver diseases. In the previous studies, we have shown the protective effects of curcumin against lipid peroxidation and swelling of the rat liver mitochondrial preparation induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BuOOH). In the present study, the administration of t-BuOOH of 90 µM caused the mitochondria failed to generate a transmembrane potential (ψm). Of 3 doses of curcumin administered (0.5 µM, 2.5 µM dan 5.0 µM) the maximum protective effect against failure to generate a transmembrane potential caused by t-BuOOH was obtained by 2.5 µM of curcumin (79.13 + 6.28%). Further, curcumin of 1000 µM could prevent protein aggregation formation caused by t-BuOOH in the electrophoretogram. This study shows the protective effects of curcumin against damaged of energy production system and protein of the mitochondria caused by t-BuOOH.

Lipid peroxides level in the Indonesian elderly.

A cross-sectional study was done to see the possible association of plasma lipid peroxides in the elderly with age and other factors. Plasma lipid peroxides is a product of free radical reactions which according to the latest theory of aging is the cause of aging process. Lipid peroxides were also found high in coronary heart disease. Four hundred forty relatively healthy elderly, age 55-85 years, were randomly chosen from free living elderly under guidance of health care centers (PUSKESMAS) in Jakarta. Anamnesis and physical examination were done in the morning in the health centers. Blood samples were taken in fasting conditions, plasma lipids and lipid peroxides were measured according to standard methods. There was an age difference of lipid peroxides level in the elderly, which increased with age up to 70 years old. Elderly 70 years old and over had low plasma lipid peroxides. The level was not related to high plasma lipids. Higher level was found when more chronic degenerative diseases were found.

Oxidant and antioxidant status of police officer in the city and rural area.

This study was designed to investigate the biochemical alteration in human caused by free radical accumulation due to air pollution. The policemen recruited were 60 country policemen consisting of 30 non smokers (group I) and 30 smokers (group II); 30 smoking policemen with administrative work in Jakarta (group III) and 30 smoking traffic policemen from Jakarta (group IV). Our results show that the plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) contents of groups I, II, III, IV, respectively were : 3.34 ± 0.81 umol/l; 4.28 ± 0.77 umol/l; 5.20 ± 0.66 umol/l and 5.12 ± 0.78 umol/l which were statistically different (p < 0.01) among each others, except between groups III and IV. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) of the groups respectively, were: 16.75 ± 9.80 U/mg protein; 22.83 ± 6.82 U/mg protein; 26.10 ± 8.50 U/mg protein and 26.90 ± 9.34 U/mg protein, which were statistically different (p < 0.05) between group I vs the other groups. The catalase activity of the groups respectively were : 106.25 ± 47.47 U/mg protein; 118.84 ± 42.73 U/mg protein; 119.83 ± 35.35 U/mg protein and 145.57 ± 61.85 U/mg protein. The statistical difference (p < 0.05) was found between group I & IV. Administration of vitamins C (500 mg) and E (300 mg) daily for 30 days to the policemen with high oxidant stress caused a decreased in the activities of SOD from 27.34 ± 10.05 U/mg protein to 16.91 ± 6.51 U/mg protein (p < 0.05) and catalase from 134.29 ± 53.28 U/mg protein to 67.07 ± 25.26 U/mg protein (p < 0.05). This study shows us that the oxidant status of city policemen was higher than that of rural policemen and that a combination of vitamins C & E could reduce the oxidant stress to a certain extent.

Acute eye irritation study of a mixture of glyphosate isopropylamine salt and 2,4 D-isopropylamine.

This is an acute irritation study of the eye of a mixture of herbicides containing 240 g/l of glyphosate isopropylamine and 2,4 D-isopropylamine in the rabbits. This study was conducted according the methods as dercribed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Our results show that the combination of the herbicides causes mild conjunctivitis, mild chemosis, eye discharge and corneal injury. The ocular alteration, however, was reversible in nature.

Identification of C5+ extraband of butyrylcholinesterase and two protein bands cathodic to it.

Electrophoresis of human plasma yields 4 butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) protein bands, i.e. C1, C2, C3, C4 and in some individuals also an extraband C5+. In addition to that other protein bands called "S" bands are also invariably detected. In order to know whether the C5+ and the "S" bands are related to the BChE protein, we have carried out immunological and peptide mapping studies on these proteins. The immunology approach was done by raising polyclonal antibodies against each protein bands (S1, S2, C4 and C5+) and reacted to the plasma protein bands transferred on nitrocellulose papers. Individual raised antibodies recognized all protein bands studied including the C4, an isozyme of BChE, indicating that the protein bands contain similar epitopes. Several protein bands cathodic to S1 also reacted with the antibodies, suggesting that they are probably fractions of the BChE protein, as well. When individual protein bands were digested with S. aureus V8 toxin and α-chymotrypsin, they revealed a striking similarity in peptide pattern among each other. These studies indicate that the S1, S2 and C5+ protein bands belong to the BChE protein.