Effects of curcumin administration on Nesfatin-1 levels in blood, brain and fat tissues of diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the efficacy of curcumin administration on blood glucose levels and its relationship with nesfatin-1 levels in blood brain and adipose tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 28 male rats were divided into four groups: control group, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) group, control plus curcumin group and type 2DM plus curcumin group. After fifteen days, blood samples were collected from sacrificed rats. Nesftain-1 levels were analysed from blood, brain, and fat tissues of rats in all groups. RESULTS: Nesfatin-1 level was found to be significantly lower in blood, brain and fat tissues of type 2 DM rats compared to the control group. A significant decrease in fasting blood glucose levels was observed in the curcumin administration group compared to type 2 DM group. Improvement of fasting blood glucose level was accompanied by improvement of nesfatin-1 levels in blood, brain, and fat tissues. CONCLUSIONS: As expected, curcumin administration caused significant improvement in fasting blood glucose levels. However, for the first time, we found marked improvements in nesfatin-1 levels in blood, brain, and fat tissues of type 2 DM rats. Thus, considering the crucial role of nesfatin-1 in regulation of glucose metabolism, it is logical to expect an interactive relationship between curcumin and nesfatin-1.

Potential of Laurencia obtusa as a substrate for the development of a probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Laurencia obtusa (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) has tremendous nutritional value, being high in proteins, oligosaccharides, vitamins, essential minerals, and fatty acids, and it is a rich source of amino acids and trace elements. In this study, L. obtusa was extracted and subjected to phenolic, sugar and flavonoid analyses.The fatty acid, vitamin and phytosterol contents in Saccharomyces cerevisiae were evaluated when it was incubated with L. obtusa dry biomass. The fatty acids in the lipid extract were analysed after converting them into methyl esters using gas chromatography, and vitamin concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). According to the achieved results, the total fatty acid levels and vitamin contents of the S. cerevisiae prepared with algal extract increased at different rates. Our results showed that α-tocopherol decreased in the group in which the S. cerevisiae was added the algal extract. When compared to the control group, ergesterol increased in the group in which L. obtusa extract was added. Additionally, when compared to the control group in which L. obtusa extract was added, stearic acid (18:0), oleic acid (18:1) and linoleic acid (18:2) increased in the other groups. Palmitoleic acid (16:1) increased in the L. obtusa culture medium, but palmitic acid decreased in the L. obtusa culture medium. In conclusion, it was determined that the L. obtusa extract added to the development medium of S. cerevisiae caused differences in the synthesis of some vitamins and fatty acids.

Investigation of the irisin, preptin and adropin levels in the blood serum of Alburnus tarichi.

Irisin, preptin and adropin are three newly discovered peptides that play critical roles in regulating energy homeostasis in various vertebrates.The purposes of this study were to measure the serum concentrations of preptin, adropin and irisin in the Alburnus tarichi and to investigate the relationship of these peptides to the weight, gender and length of this the fish, which will provide useful information for future biotechnology purposes aimed at improvements in aquaculture production. This study used 12 adult A. tarichi (6 female and 6 male) obtained from Van Lake (Van, Turkey). The serum irisin, preptin and adropin levels were measured using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit to determine correlations between the levels of these three hormones and fish body weight and length.  No statistically significant correlations were detected between the serum irisin, adropin and preptin levels and A. tarichi body weight (p = 0.921, r = -0.031; p = 0.08, r = 0.519; p = 0.461, r = -0.235, respectively) or length (p = 0.901, r = -0.040; p = 0.105, r = 0.490; p = 0.236, r = -0.369, respectively).Thus, serum levels of these hormones are independent of fish gender, body weight and length.