Zingerone alleviates cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity in rats via its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties

Objectives: Cadmium is an essential industrial metal and acts as an environmental toxicant that is a major cause of kidney diseases. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the possible nephroprotective effects of zingerone (ZGO), a major flavonoid constituent in ginger (Zingiber officinale) dry roots, against cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Methods: In this study, Wistar albino rats [ACUC: HU2020/Z/FMS0120-01] were allocated randomly to 4 groups with seven animals in each group. The control group which received physiological saline; cadmium chloride (CdCl2) treatment group which received CdCl2 at a dose of 6.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.) for 7 consecutive days; zingerone treatment group which received 25 mg/kg of zingerone orally for 7 consecutive days and CdCl2(6.5 mg/kg; i.p.)+ZGO (25 mg/kg; p.o.) treatment group which received CdCl2 and ZGO for 7 consecutive days. Results: Co-administration of ZGO along with CdCl2 resulted in a significant reduction in creatinine and urea levels of serum. Additionally, ZGO significantly diminished the tissue levels of Cd concentration, lipid peroxidation, and nitric oxide and significantly recovered the enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant molecules, namely glutathione, total superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione recycling enzymes peroxidase and reductase, in kidney tissue. Furthermore, ZGO treatment prevented the inflammation produced by CdCl2 by restraining the elevation in the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin1beta). Moreover, ZGO improved histopathological alternations in the kidney by preventing apoptosis cascade in kidney tissue by stimulating Bcl-2 and suppressing Bax and caspase-3. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that ZGO has nephroprotective activity in cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity mostly via modulating of oxidant/antioxidant balance, inflammatory response, and apoptosis.

Optimal Ratio of Rehmanniae Radix and Lilii Bulbus in Baihe Dihuangtang Based on Antidepressant Activity and Its Mechanism / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveBased on the antidepressant activity， the optimal ratio of Rehmanniae Radix and Lilii Bulbus in Baihe Dihuangtang was optimized and its possible mechanism was preliminarily explored. MethodA total of 100 male mice were randomly divided into normal group， model group， Rehmanniae Radix single decoction group， Lilii Bulbus single decoction group， and 5 different ratios of Baihe Dihuangtang group （Rehmanniae Radix-Lilii Bulbus 5∶6， 5∶5 ， 5∶4， 5∶3， 5∶2）， fluoxetine hydrochloride group. Except for the normal group， the remaining 9 groups were treated with chronic unpredictable mild stress method （CUMS） for 21 consecutive days to establish the depression mouse model.The Rehmanniae Radix single decoction group， Lilii Bulbus single decoction group and 5 different ratios of Baihe Dihuangtang group were administered with corresponding drugs at a dose of 2 g·kg-1 respectively， and fluoxetine hydrochloride group was administered fluoxetine hydrochloride at a dose of 0.01 g·kg-1， the normal group and the model group were respectively given an equal volume of normal saline by gavage for 21 consecutive days. The antidepressant effect of Baihe Dihuangtang with different ratios was evaluated by behavioral experiments. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） and tyrosine kinase receptor B （TrkB） in hippocampus. The level of total superoxide dismutase （SOD） in hippocampus was detected by hydroxylamine method. The level of reduced glutathione （GSH） in hippocampus was detected by spectrophotometric method. The levels of glutathione peroxidase （GPX） and glutathione S-transferase （GST） in hippocampus was detected by colorimetric method. The level of malondialdehyde （MDA） in hippocampus was detected by thiobarbituric acid method， and preliminary exploration of its antidepressant mechanism. ResultCUMS caused a significant decrease in the preference rate of sugar water and a significant prolongation of forced swimming and tail suspension immobility time （P<0.01）， while the different ratios of Baihe Dihuangtang and the single decoction of Rehmanniae Radix and Lilii Bulbus were significantly reversed to varying degrees. Abnormalities of the above indicators were observed （P<0.05， P<0.01）， especially when the ratio of 5∶6 had the most obvious effect on the above indicators， Moreover， CUMS caused the hippocampal BDNF and the expression of TrkB， SOD and glutathione antioxidant-related indexes were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and the levels of lipid peroxidation product MDA was significantly increased （P<0.01）. However， the superior ratio of Baihe Dihuangtang （Rehmanniae Radix-Lilii Bulbus 5∶6， 5∶5， 5∶4） and the single decoction of Rehmanniae Radix and Lilii Bulbus significantly reversed the abnormality of the above indicators to varying degrees （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionIn summary， 5 different ratios of Baihe Dihuangtang and the single decoction of Rehmanniae Radix and Lilii Bulbus can produce antidepressant effect， especially when the ratio of 5∶6 had the most obvious effect on the above indicators， and the antidepressant effect gradually weakens with the proportion of Lilii Bulbus in the recipe decreases， and its mechanism may involve enhancing the nutritional level and antioxidant defense ability of hippocampal central nervous system.

Processing technology for reducing toxicity of fried Tripterygium wilfordii in Lysimachia christinae decoction / 中国中药杂志

On the basis of the previous work of the research group, the orthogonal design method was further used to optimize the processing technology for reducing toxicity of fried Tripterygium wilfordii in Lysimachia christinae Decoction. A total of 9 processed products of T.wilfordii in L.christinae decoction were prepared by four factors and three levels orthogonal design table. The contents of triptolide in T.wilfordii were determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) before and after processing: 4.27, 3.92, 3.57, 2.75, 2.42, 2.66, 3.51, 1.87, 1.75, 2.03 μg·g~(-1). On this basis, the above processed products were orally given to mice for 28 days. 12 hours after the last administration, food fasting except water was provided, and 24 hours later, the eyeballs were taken for blood and liver tissue. Serum biochemical indexes, liver lipid peroxidation and antioxidant related indexes were detected by kit method. Twenty-eight days after oral administration of raw T.wilfordii, the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and liver malondialdehyde(MDA) in mice increased by 91%(P<0.01), 46%(P<0.05), 73%(P<0.01) and 99%(P<0.01), while the liver antioxidant indexes such as superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione(GSH), glutathione peroxidase(GPX) and glutathione-S transferase(GST) significantly decreased(P<0.01). After administration of the processed products, the above indexes were significantly reversed(P<0.01 or P<0.05). Especially, the processing conditions of A_3B_2C_1D_3 had the best detoxification effect on T.wilfordii, which decreased the high levels of AST, ALT, ALP and MDA by 49%(P<0.01), 32%(P<0.01), 42%(P<0.01), and 17%(P<0.05). Therefore, the best processing conditions for T.wilfordii in L.christinae decoction were A_3B_2C_1D_3, namely "15% mass fraction of L.christinae, 1 h moistening time, 160 ℃ frying temperature, and 9 min frying time".

Factors that influence the redox state in children: An exploratory study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of the redox state via malondialdehyde (MDA) as a lipid peroxidation biomarker and hydrophilic antioxidant capacity (HAC) with dietary, anthropometric, demographic, socio-economic and clinical variables as well as the serum concentrations of vitamins in children aged 20-36 months. This cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2013 to May 2014 and included a total of 100 children. METHODS: The variables studied included anthropometric measurements, dietary intake by the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), socio-demographic features, clinical attributes, serum redox status, and serum vitamin concentrations. RESULTS: Children with a family income above the minimum wage and adequate body mass index (BMI) presented higher HAC. The MDA concentration was higher in children older than 24 months. Breastfeeding for up to 120 days provided greater antioxidant capacity. Children classified in the 2nd tertile for "fruit and vegetables" and "milk and dairy products" consumption showed lower levels of MDA. There was a positive correlation of MDA with serum vitamin A levels. These results show that among children in the 20-36 months age group, family income, breastfeeding, BMI and intake of fruits and vegetables can have an influence on the imbalance of the redox state. CONCLUSION: One strategy to prevent the imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants could be for health professionals to raise awareness among families, as such knowledge could repress/prevent the progression/initiation of several diseases in adult life.