Antioxidant properties of the red alga Asparagopsis taxiformis collected on the North West Algerian coast.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the total phenolic and lipid content, fatty acids profiles and in vitro antioxidant activities of aqueous and solvent extracts of the red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis, through six different investigations. The present study demonstrated that phenol contents (mg gallic acid/g dry weight) were highest in the aqueous and methanolic extracts, followed by the ethanolic, hydroethanolic and hydromethanolic extracts. The lowest phenol contents were identified in the three remaining extracts: Butanolic, petroleum ether and acetone extracts. Furthermore, the total lipid content of the algae powder amounted to 2.85% of dry weight. The fatty acid methyl ester profiles analysed by gas-liquid chromatography represented indicated that fatty acids comprised 91.0±0.3% of total algae lipids. The saturated to unsaturated fatty acid contents amounted to 23.2±0.1 and 67.9±0.4% respectively. C13:0 (tridecanoate), C15:0 (pentadecanoate) and C17:0 (heptadecanoate) represented 47.4% of the total saturated fatty acids. Notably, the two most abundant unsaturated fatty acids, C15:1 (pentadecenoate) and C18:2 (octadecadienoate) represented 13.4 and 11.4% respectively, of the total unsaturated fatty acid content. Furthermore, the results of the antioxidant screening performed at 1.0 mg/ml, revealed that aqueous and methanolic extracts exhibited higher inhibition against superoxide and nitric oxide radicals and excellent radical scavenging activity [with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values 5.1 and 15.0 µg/ml, respectively], demonstrating improved antioxidant behavior when compared with standard ascorbic acid (which has an IC50 value of 3.7 µg/ml). Scavenging activity of the aqueous and methanolic extracts exhibited a strong peroxidation inhibition against linoleic acid emulsion system at a concentration of 300 µg/ml in comparison to the butylated hydroxyltoluene. Although all the studied extracts exhibited ferric reducing power, the aqueous and methanolic extracts had greater hydrogen donating ability. By contrast, hydromethanolic, ethanolic, hydroethanolic, butanolic, acetone and petroleum ether extracts exhibited weak antioxidant behavior. The antioxidant activity of potent seaweed species identified in the current study means that as well as being used as a functional food, they may be developed as novel pharmaceutical compounds and may be used as anti-ageing agents.

Globularia alypum aqueous extract decreases hypertriglyceridemia and ameliorates oxidative status of the muscle, kidney, and heart in rats fed a high-fructose diet.

Fructose is widely used as a food ingredient and has potential to increase oxidative stress. Moreover, the beneficial health effects of plant polyphenols are frequently attributed to their potent antioxidant effects. We hypothesized that administration of Globularia alypum (Ga) aqueous extract would reduce metabolic disorders and oxidative stress induced in rats fed a high-fructose diet. Male Wistar rats (n = 24) weighing 242 ± 13 g were divided into 4 groups and fed, during 14 week, diets containing 20% casein and 61% cornstarch (control diet, or C) or fructose (F), and Ga supplementation (0.5%; CGa and FGa). Compared with control group, rats fed a high-fructose diet increased plasma triglycerides (TG; +48%) and very low-density lipoprotein-TG (+45%) levels. In addition, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were increased in the liver (+31%), heart (+55%), and muscle (+58%). Moreover, activities of superoxide dismutase in the liver and heart, catalase in liver and glutathione peroxidase in the heart were diminished. In the FGa group, a hypertriglyceridemic effect was observed concomitantly with a low level of TG in very low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein 2, compared with the F group. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance concentrations were reduced in the kidney (-42%)and muscle (-76%), and antioxidant enzymes activity was increased for superoxide dismutase in the muscle (+81%) and heart (+28%), and for glutathione peroxidase, in the kidney (+70%) and heart (+30%). In conclusion, the Ga extract has a beneficial effect on plasma TG and gives a promising perspective for hypertriglyceridemia treatment. Moreover, in the muscle and kidney, Ga is effective by lowering lipid peroxidation and improves antioxidant enzymes.

Purified chickpea or lentil proteins impair VLDL metabolism and lipoprotein lipase activity in epididymal fat, but not in muscle, compared to casein, in growing rats.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that the legume proteins have a lowering effect on plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerols (TG) concentrations compared to animal proteins. The protein itself, as well as non-protein constituents, naturally present in legumes may be implicated. AIM OF THE STUDY: The effects of various dietary purified legumes proteins compared to casein, were determined on plasma TG level, VLDL concentration and composition. Moreover, lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in epididymal fat, gastrocnemius and heart was investigated to evaluate in these tissues their capacity to release free fatty acids from their TG substrate and the liver capacity to stock the TG. METHODS: Weaning male Wistar rats were fed ad libitum one of the following diets: 200 g/kg diet of purified proteins of lentil (L), or chickpea (CP) or casein (CAS). At day 28, VLDL were isolated from plasma sample by a single ultracentrifugation flotation. Hepatic lipase and LPL activity in epididymal fat, gastrocnemius and heart were measured by using glycerol tri [9-10(n)-(3)H] oleate emulsion as substrate. RESULTS: Compared with CAS diet, the CP and L protein diets exhibited similar cholesterolemia, but lower triglyceridemia (1.9-fold and 2.5-fold) and VLDL particle number, as measured by their reduced contents of TG and apolipoproteins. CP and L protein diets reduced liver TG and cholesterol by 31 and 45%, respectively compared to CAS diet. Furthermore, LPL activity in adipose tissue of rats fed CP or L was 1.6-fold lower than that of rats fed CAS. There was no significant difference in heart and gastrocnemius LPL activities with the three proteins. In contrast, hepatic lipase activity was higher in rats fed CP and L diets. CONCLUSION: The low food efficiency ratio of purified CP and L proteins related to CAS is associated with decreased plasma VLDL and adipose tissue LPL activity. The low liver TG concomitant with reduced TG and apolipoproteins contents of VLDL confirm that hypotriglyceridemia is essentially due to impaired synthesis, exportation and transport of TG by VLDL which prevent lipid storage in adipose tissue.

Role of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) extract on oxidative stress in ameliorating lead induced haematotoxicity.

Effects of ROS generation have been postulated to be major contributors to lead-exposure related disease. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) on oxidative stress in rats protractedly exposed to lead. Aqueous extract of wormwood plant was administered orally (200 mg x kg(-1) body weight). Plasma vitamin C, E and non-protein thiol concentrations, red blood cells (RBC) thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, reduced glutathione levels and haemolysis test were evaluated. In addition, RBC antioxidant enzymes activities such as superoxide dismutases, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase were also estimated. After 11-weeks, significant decreases of plasma vitamin C, E, non protein-thiol (NP-SH) and RBC-reduced glutathione levels were observed in Pb compared to control group (-32.9%, -57.1%, -53.1%, -33.9%, respectively); superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, uric aminolevulinic acid and haemolysis test significantly increased in Pb compared to control group (+64.3%, +40.3%, +145%, +44.3%, respectively). In our investigation, after 4-weeks of treatment all treated groups did not show any difference compared to the control group, except for glutathione peroxidase and RBC-superoxide dismutase activity (-15.7% and +16.4%, respectively). The findings of this study suggest that wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) extract restored the enzymes activities perturbed by exposure to lead, and had a protective role against lipid peroxidation.

Changes in serum lipids and antioxidant status in west Algerian patients with essential hypertension treated with acebutolol compared to healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a major health problem in both developed and developing countries. It is hypothesized that high blood pressure is associated with loss of balance between peroxidation and antioxidant factors. MATERIAL/METHODS: 40 patients with essential hypertension were studied to ascertain the effects of a selective b1-blocker (acebutolol, 400 mg/day) on serum lipids, antioxidant status, antioxidant enzyme activity in red blood cells (RBC), and membrane fatty acids composition. Each subject was screened by physical examination, ECG, echocardiography, and laboratory tests. The period of observation was 24 weeks, and the data were tested by 2-way ANOVA followed by Bartlett's least significant difference test. RESULTS: At 12 weeks, serum triacylglycerol was more elevated (+26%). At 24 weeks, apolipoprotein A-1 levels remained more elevated (+41%) in hypertensive subjects compared to controls. In hypertensive patients, total antioxidant status and total plasma antioxidant capability were lower at 12 weeks than controls, and increased after 24 weeks of treatment. At 12 weeks, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione reductase activities in erythrocytes remained lower in hypertensive subjects compared to controls (-32%, -40% and -24%, respectively). At 24 weeks, these values were increased compared to those obtained at 12 weeks (+26%, +36% and +37%, respectively). At 12 and 24-weeks, total n-3 and n-6 fatty acids were decreased by 26%, 18% and 29%, 25%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate the beneficial influence of a beta1-blocker (acebutolol) at 24 weeks by its action on serum lipids, antioxidant status and RBC antioxidant enzyme activities.