Pathological Overview and Antioxidant Status of Thyme on H2O2-induced Spleen Tissues Damage

Objectives: To study the preventive effect of Thymus algeriensis essential oil (TAS) against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced spleen toxicity in rats. Materials and Methods: Rats were treated with Hydrophobic fractions of Thymus algeriensis (180 mg/kg body weight, n=6), H2O2 (0.1, 1 mmol/L body weight, n=6) and the exposure to both drugs orally for 15 days. Histological examination was performed and the levels of biochemical parameters and lipid peroxides were determined. Results: In spleen tissue protein, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione (GST, GPx and GSH) levels were increased significantly (P<0.05) in the essential oil pretreated rats when compared to H2O2. TAS decreased the intracellular malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in spleen tissues. Vascular congestion was seen in spleen of high dose H2O2-treated rats and normal architecture of tissues was observed in other groups. Conclusion: The biochemical parameters and histopathology examination support the cytoprotective effect of Thyme which could be attributed to terpenes.

Evaluation of in vitro enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant properites of leaf extract from Alpinia Purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants of leaf extract from Alpinia purpurata.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One gram of fresh leaf of Alpinia purpurata was grinded in 2 mL of 50% ethanol and centrifuged at 10,000×g at 4°C for 10 min. The supernatant obtained was used within 4 h for various enzymatic antioxidants assays like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), ascorbate oxidase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and non-enzymatic antioxidants such as vitamin C, total reduced glutathione (TRG) and lipid peroxidation (LPO).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The leaf extract of Alpinia purpurata possess antioxidants like vitamin C 472.92±6.80 μg/mg protein, GST 372.11±5.70 μmol of 1-chloro 2,4 dinitrobenzene (CDNB)-reduced glutathione (GSH) conjugate formed/min/mg protein, GPx 281.69±6.43 μg of glutathione oxidized/min/mg protein, peroxidases 173.12±9.40 μmol/g tissue, TRG 75.27±3.55 μg/mg protein, SOD 58.03±2.11 U/mg protein, CAT 46.70±2.35 μmol of H2O2 consumed/min/mg protein in high amount whereas ascorbate oxidase 17.41±2.46 U/g tissue, LPO 2.71±0.14 nmol/L of malondialdehyde formed/min/mg protein and PPO 1.14±0.11 μmol/g tissue in moderate amount.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Alpinia purpurata has the potential to scavenge the free radicals and protect against oxidative stress causing diseases. In future, Alpinia purpurata may serve as a good pharmacotherapeutic agent.</p>

Estado redox materno en el tercer trimestre de la gestación y su relación con el flujo útero-placentario / Maternal redox state in the third trimester of pregnancy and its relationship with uteroplacental flow

Introducción: durante la gestación el óxido nítrico liberado por las células endoteliales de las arterias uterinas y la vasculatura umbilical promueve la vasodilatación y facilitan el flujo sanguíneo al feto. Los factores prooxidantes pueden, por el contrario, causar disfunción endotelial y comprometer el flujo útero-placentario. Objetivo: determinar la relación entre el estado redox materno en el tercer trimestre de la gestación y el flujo útero-placentario. Métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional analítico, que incluyó a 65 gestantes de las áreas de salud del municipio Bayamo, en el período comprendido desde diciembre de 2011 hasta abril de 2012. Se midió el índice de pulsatilidad promedio de las arterias uterinas y de la arteria umbilical por flujometría doppler, así como, biomarcadores del estado redox en sangre materna: se midió el Potencial Reductor Férrico del suero, la concentración sérica del malondialdehído más el 4-hidroxinonenal, de la vitamina C, la albúmina, el ácido úrico y la de glutatión reducido eritrocitario. Resultados: la mayoría de los índices de pulsatilidad promedio de las arterias uterinas y el de la umbilical se encontraron entre el percentil 95 y 50 para la edad gestacional. Los valores del malondialdehído más el 4-hidroxinonenal como indicadores de daño oxidativo fueron bajos, mientras que se detectaron altos valores de la vitamina C, del glutatión reducido y de la actividad de la enzima superóxido dismutasa. Las concentraciones de la vitamina C se asociaron de manera directa y significativa con el índice de pulsatilidad promedio de las arterias uterinas. Conclusiones: se concluye que el comportamiento de los biomarcadores del estado redox se corresponde con un adecuado estado antioxidante y con el estado del flujo útero-placentario, no obstante, a que solo las concentraciones de la vitamina C se asociaron con este.

Introduction: during gestational stage, nitric oxide released by placenta endothelial cells, uterine arteries, and umbilical vasculature promote vasodilatation and facilitate blood flow to the fetus. Pro-oxidant factors may, however, cause endothelial dysfunction and compromise the uterus-placentary flow. Objective: to determine the relationship between maternal redox status in the 3rd. trimester of pregnancy and uterus-placental flow. Methods: a prospective observational study was performed; it included 65 pregnant women from Bayamo municipality from December 2011 to April 2012. The average pulsatility index of the uterine arteries and umbilical artery using Doppler flowmetry, as well as redox status biomarkers in maternal blood were measured: Ferric reducing potencial, Serum malondialdehyde plus 4-hydroxynonenal, vitamin C, albumin, uric acid, and erythrocyte reduced glutathione concentration were measured. Total extracellular superoxide dismutase and catalase activity were also measured. Results: most of the average pulsatility index of the uterine and cord arteries was found between the 95 and 50 percentile for gestational age. Malondialdehyde values plus 4-hydroxynonenal were low, whereas high values were detected from vitamin C, reduced glutathione and the superoxide dismutase enzyme activity. Vitamin C concentrations were directly and significantly associated with mean pulsatility index of the uterine arteries. Conclusions: the behavior of redox status biomarkers corresponds to an adequate antioxidant status and the state of, however, only the concentrations of vitamin C were associated with uterus-placental flow.

Effect of acute exposure of N, N-Dimethylformamide, an industrial solvent on lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in liver and kidney of rats.

N, N-Dimethylformamide (DMF), an industrial solvent widely used throughout the world is a known toxic compound. Here, we studied the effects of acute exposure of DMF on liver and kidney in rats. Rats were treated intraperitoneally with a single dose of DMF (1.5 g/kg) for 24 and 48 h. Hepatic and nephrotoxicity was confirmed based on the significant increase in the serum levels of aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase, g-glutamyl transferase, urea, creatinine and electrolytes. Oxidative stress was assessed by determining the levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and antioxidants in liver and kidney. The LPO levels were elevated in both the tissues upon DMF exposure, whereas the activities of enzymatic antioxidants SOD, CAT and Gpx and non-enzymatic antioxidants (glutathione and vitamin C) were declined. The hepatic- and nephrotoxicity was further confirmed by the increasing incidence of inflammation in the histopathological studies. The findings indicate that acute exposure of DMF results in oxidative stress, antioxidant deficiency, attenuating liver and kidney marker enzymes, resulting in tissue inflammation and damage.

In Vitro Evaluation of the Anticancer Effect of Methanolic Extract of Alstonia scholaris Leaves on Mammary Carcinoma.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer associated death among women worldwide. Current cancer treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. However, since these conventional methods often have undesirable side effects,new focus towards the use of plant extract to treating cancer with eliminating the side effects. The objective of present study is to asses the anticancer effect of leaves of Alstonia scholaris, using the cytosolic marker enzymes like Aspartate transaminase (AST),Acid phosphatase(ACP) , Alkaline phosphatase(ALP), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Gamma - glutamyl transferase(γ– GT), and 5'-nuclcotidase(5'-NT) in vitro over breast cancer tissue. These are key enzymes in the metabolic pathways and these are the target for the drugs used in chemotherapy. An elevated level of enzyme concentration signals the presence of malignancy .The effect of leaves of Alstonia scholaris is also assessed by studying the effect of non-enzymatic antioxidants like vitamin A, E, C in vitro over breast cancer tissue. The present study revealed the leaves of methanolic extracts of Alstonia scholaris on cancer cells/tumor cells in vitro has been justified by its cytotoxic effect and anti proliferative effect.