Chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of essential oil from the aerial parts of Chuquiraga arcuataHarling grown in the highlands of Ecuador / Composición química, actividades antioxidantes y antimicrobianas del aceite esencial de las partes aéreas de Chuquiraga arcuataHarling cultivado en las tierras altas del Ecuador

Thechemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the essential oil from aerial parts (leaves and flowers) of Chuquiraga arcuataHarling grown in the Ecuadorian Andes were studied. One hundred and twenty-six compounds were identified in the essential oil. Monoterpene hydrocarbons (45.8%) and oxygenated monoterpenes (44.1%) had the major percentages. The most abundant compounds were camphor (21.6%), myrcene (19.5%), and 1,8-cineole (13.4%). Antioxidant activity was examined using DPPH, ABTS,and FRAP assays. The essential oil had a moderate scavenging effect and reduction of ferric ion capacity through FRAP assay. Antimicrobial activity of the essential oil was observed against four pathogenic bacteria and a fungus. The essential oil exhibited activity against all microorganism strains under test, particularly against Candida albicansand Staphylococcus aureuswith MICs of 2.43-12.10 µg/mL.

Se estudió la composición química, actividades antioxidantes y antimicrobianas del aceite esencial procedente de las partes aérea (hojas y flores) de Chuquiraga arcuataHarling cultivadas en los Andes ecuatorianos. Se identificaron 126 compuestos en el aceite esencial. Los hidrocarburos monoterpénicos (45,8%) y los monoterpenos oxigenados (44,1%) tuvieron el mayor porcentaje. Los compuestos más abundantes fueron alcanfor (21,6%), mirceno (19,5%) y 1,8-cineol (13,4%). La actividadantioxidante se examinó mediante ensayos DPPH, ABTS y FRAP. El aceite esencial tuvo un efecto eliminador moderado y una reducción de la capacidad de iones férricos mediante el ensayo FRAP. Se observó actividad antimicrobiana del aceite esencial contra cuatro bacterias y un hongo patógenos. El aceite esencial mostró actividad contra todas las cepas de microorganismos bajo prueba, particularmente contra Candida albicansy Staphylococcus aureuscon CMI de 2,43-12,10 µg/mL.

In-situ forming carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel containing Paeonia suffruticosa Andr. leaf extract for mixed infectious vaginitis treatment by reshaping the micro-biota.

Mixed infectious vaginitis poses a serious threat to female reproductive health due to complex pathogenic factors, a long course and easy recurrence. Currently, antibiotic-based treatment methods are facing a crisis of drug resistance and secondary dysbiosis. Exploring effective drugs for the treatment of mixed vaginitis from Paeonia suffruticosa Andr., a natural traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of medicinal use, is a feasible treatment strategy. P. suffruticosa Andr. leaf extract (PLE) has significant anti-bacterial effects due to its rich content of polyphenols and flavonoids. The polyphenols in peony leaves have the potential to make carboxymethyl chitosan form in situ gel. In the current study, PLE and carboxymethyl chitosan were combined to develop another type of natural anti-bacterial anti-oxidant hydrogel for the treatment of mixed infectious vaginitis. Through a series of characterisations, CP had a three-dimensional network porous structure with good mechanical properties, high water absorption, long retention and a slow-release drug effect. The mixed infectious vaginitis mouse model induced by a mixture of pathogenic bacteria was used to investigate the therapeutic effects of CP in vivo. The appearance of the vagina, H&E colouring of the tissue and inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6) confirm the good anti-vaginal effect of CP. Therefore, CP was expected to become an ideal effective strategy to improve mixed infection vaginitis due to its excellent hydrogel performance and remarkable ability to regulate flora.

Glycerol-driven adaptive evolution for the production of low-molecular-weight Welan gum: Characterization and activity evaluation.

Through adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) of Sphingomonas sp. ATCC 31555, fermentation for production of low-molecular-weight welan gum (LMW-WG) was performed using glycerol as sole carbon source. During ALE, GPC-MALS analysis revealed a gradual decrease in WG molecular weight with the increase of adaptation cycles, accompanied by changes in solution conformation. LMW-WG was purified and structurally analyzed using GPC-MALS, monosaccharide composition analysis, infrared spectroscopy, NMR analysis, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Subsequently, LMW-WG obtains hydration, transparency, antioxidant activity, and rheological properties. Finally, an in vitro simulation colon reactor was used to evaluate potential prebiotic properties of LMW-WG as dietary fiber. Compared with WG produced using sucrose as substrate, LMW-WG exhibited a fourfold reduction in molecular weight while maintaining moderate viscosity. Structurally, L-Rha nearly completely replaced L-Man. Furthermore, LMW-WG demonstrated excellent hydration, antioxidant activity, and high transparency. It also exhibited resistance to saliva and gastrointestinal digestion, showcasing a favorable colonization effect on Bifidobacterium, making it a promising symbiotic agent.

A squalene analog 4,4'-diapophytofluene from coconut leaves having antioxidant and anti-senescence potentialities toward human fibroblasts and keratinocytes.

Coconut (Cocos nucifera) leaves, an unutilized resource, enriched with valuable bioactive compounds. Spectral analysis of purified pentane fraction of coconut leaves revealed the presence of a squalene analog named 4,4'-diapophytofluene or in short 4,4'-DPE (C30H46). Pure squalene standard (PSQ) showed cytotoxicity after 8 µg/ml concentration whereas 4,4'-DPE exhibited no cytotoxic effects up to 16 µg/ml concentration. On senescence-induced WI38 cells, 4,4'-DPE displayed better percentage of cell viability (164.5% at 24 h, 159.4% at 48 h and 148% at 72 h) compared to PSQ and BSQ (bio-source squalene) with same time duration. Similar trend of result was found in HaCaT cells. SA-ß-gal assay showed that number of ß-galactosidase positive cells were significantly decreased in senescent cells (WI38 and HaCaT) after treated with 4,4'-DPE than PSQ, BSQ. Percentage of ROS was increased to 60% in WI38 cells after olaparib treatment. When PSQ, BSQ and 4,4'-DPE were applied separately on these oxidative-stress-induced cells for 48 h, the overall percentage of ROS was decreased to 39.3%, 45.6% and 19.3% respectively. This 4,4'-DPE was found to be more effective in inhibiting senescence by removing ROS as compared to squalene. Therefore, this 4,4'-DPE would be new potent senotherapeutic agent for pharmaceuticals and dermatological products.

Formulation of quinoa oil-alginate loaded nanoemulsion and its anticancer efficacy as a therapy for chemically induced breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Quinoa seeds (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) have gained interest due to their naturally occurring phytochemicals and antioxidants. They possess potent anticancer properties against human colorectal cancer. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fatty acids in quinoa oil were studied using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Rats were used to test the acute oral toxicity of the nanoemulsion loaded with sodium alginate. The DPPH radical scavenging method was employed to assess the nanoemulsion's ability to scavenge free radicals. It was examined the in vivo anticancer potential of quinoa oil nanoemulsion on rats with breast cancer induced by 7, 12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene (DMBA). DMBA-breast cancer models received daily quinoa oil nanoemulsions for 30 days. The anticancer effect of the nanoemulsion was assessed by measuring ROS, protein carbonyl, gene expression of anti-oncogenes, and histopathological analysis. Supplying quinoa oil nanoemulsion significantly reduced the increase in serum ROS and PC levels induced in breast cancer tissue. The expression levels of antioncogenes in breast cancer tissue were decreased by the quinoa oil nanoemulsion. Nanoemulsions also improved the cellular morphology of breast tumors. CONCLUSION: The study results indicate that quinoa oil nanoemulsion has anticancer activity against breast cancer, effectively modulating oxidative stress markers, anti-oncogene expressions, and tissue architecture. It can be inferred from the results that quinoa oil nanoemulsion is a chemoprotective medication that may hinder breast cancer progression in rats.

Antitumor activity and phenolic profile of Melissa officinalis extract against human gastric adenocarcinoma cells.

Gastric cancer remains a global health concern, driving the exploration of natural products with anticancer potential. This study investigated the antiproliferative activity and chemical composition of a 70% ethanolic extract from Melissa officinalis L. against human gastric cancer cells. The extract was prepared and evaluated for total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity and flavonoid content. The MTT test checked how well it stopped the growth of human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) and normal dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells. Data analysis (SPSS Statistics) determined viable cell percentages and performed regression analysis (p<0.05). The extract exhibited significant antiproliferative activity against AGS cells compared to normal cells (p<0.05), with decreasing IC50 values (564.3, 258.0 and 122.5 µg/ml) over 24, 48 and 72 hours. It also displayed antioxidant activity (IC50=16.8±1.41µg/ml) and contained substantial phenolics (225.76±4.1 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (22.36±2.6 mg RUT/g). This study suggests the 70% ethanolic extract of M. officinalis effectively suppresses AGS cell growth and possesses promising antioxidant properties, highlighting its potential as a natural source of anticancer and antioxidant agents, deserving further investigation.

Antioxidant potentials of extracts from different parts of Clinacanthus nutans (Burm. f.) Lindau.

The research aimed to explore the antioxidant potential of extracts from different parts of Clinacanthus nutans growing in Vietnam, a member of the Acanthaceae family. The plant's roots, stem and leaves were extracted using 96% ethanol. The antioxidant actions of these extracts were evaluated by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) assay on thin-layer plates and 96 well plates. The extract with the most potent activity was applied for distribution extraction with solvents with different polarities, including dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and water. Dry column vacuum chromatography was utilized to obtain the most antioxidant-potent extract fractions. The stem extract had the lowest IC50 value of 6.85µg/mL, showing the most potent antioxidant activity. The ethyl acetate fraction from the stem extract expressed the lowest IC50 value of 9.67µg/mL. Meanwhile, fraction 5, separated from the ethyl acetate fraction of the stem extract, had the lowest IC50 value of 9.89µg/mL. In conclusion, the extracts from different parts of Clinacanthus nutans all expressed antioxidant action at different levels, in which the stem extract, the ethyl acetate fraction and fraction 5 from the ethyl acetate fraction displayed the most effective actions. These findings highlight the promising potential of Clinacanthus nutans in treating oxidative stress-associated diseases, inspiring further research and exploration in this area.

Effects of hydroxytyrosol on post-thaw quality of rooster sperm.

Semen cryopreservation is one of the most important reproduction techniques in the livestock and poultry industry. Cryopreservation induces cold stress, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress causing structural and biochemical damages in sperm. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the hydroxytyrosol (HT), as an antioxidant, at the concentrations of 0, 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL on post-thaw semen quality metrics in rooster. Semen samples were collected twice a week from 10 roosters (29 weeks), processed and frozen according to experimental groups. Different quality parameters, including total motility, progressive motility, viability, morphology, membrane integrity, and malondialdehyde were measured after thawing. Results showed that 25 and 50 µg/mL of HT produced the highest percentage of total motility (51.01 ± 2.19 and 50.15 ± 2.19, respectively) and progressive motility (35.74 ± 1.34 and 35.15 ± 1.34, respectively), membrane integrity (48.00 ± 2.18 and 46.75 ± 2.18, respectively) as well as viability (53.00 ± 2.17 and 52.50 ± 2.17, respectively) compared with the other groups (p < .05). The group with 25 µg/mL of HT showed the lowest significant (p < .05) MDA concentration (1.81 ± 0.25). Our results showed that the effect of HT was not dose-dependent and optimum concentration of HT could improve functional parameters of rooster sperm after freezing-thawing. These findings suggest that HT may have protective effects on the rooster sperm during the freezing-thawing process.

Exploring the biocompatibility and healing activity of actinobacterial-enhanced reduced nano-graphene oxide in in vitro and in vivo model and induce bone regeneration through modulation of OPG/RANKL/RUNX2/ALP pathways.

BACKGROUND: The development of cost-effective, simple, environment-friendly biographene is an area of interest. To accomplish environmentally safe, benign culturing that has advantages over other methods to reduce the graphene oxide (GO), extracellular metabolites from actinobacteria associated with mushrooms were used for the first time. METHODS: Bactericidal effect of GO against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, antioxidant activity, and hydroxyapatite-like bone layer formation, gene expression analysis and appropriate biodegradation of the microbe-mediated synthesis of graphene was studied. RESULTS: Isolated extracellular contents Streptomyces achromogenes sub sp rubradiris reduced nano-GO to graphene (rGO), which was further examined by spectrometry and suggested an efficient conversion and significant reduction in the intensity of all oxygen-containing moieties and shifted crystalline peaks. Electron microscopic results also suggested the reduction of GO layer. In addition, absence of significant toxicity in MG-63 cell line, intentional free radical scavenging prowess, liver and kidney histopathology, and Wistar rat bone regeneration through modulation of OPG/RANKL/RUNX2/ALP pathways show the feasibility of the prepared nano GO. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates the successful synthesis of biographene from actinobacterial extracellular metabolites, its potential biomedical applications, and its promising role in addressing health and environmental concerns.

Digestion of whey peptide induces antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactivity on glial cells: Sequences identification and structural activity analysis.

Whey derived peptides have shown potential activity improving brain function in pathological condition. However, there is little information about their mechanism of action on glial cells, which have important immune functions in brain. Astrocytes and microglia are essential in inflammatory and oxidative defense that take place in neurodegenerative disease. In this work we evaluate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential bioactivity of whey peptide in glial cells. Peptides were formed during simulated gastrointestinal digestion (Infogest protocol), and low molecular weight (<5kDA) peptides (WPHf) attenuated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by hydrogen peroxide stimulus in both cells in dose-dependent manner. WPHf induced an increase in the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) content and prevented GSH reduction induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) stimulus in astrocytes cells in a cell specific form. An increase in cytokine mRNA expression (TNFα and IL6) and nitric oxide secretion induced by LPS was attenuated by WPHf pre-treatment in both cells. The inflammatory pathway was dependent on NFκB activation. Bioactive peptide ranking analysis showed positive correlation with hydrophobicity and negative correlation with high molecular weights. The sequence identification revealed 19 peptides cross-referred with bioactive database. Whey peptides were rich in leucine, valine and tyrosine in the C-terminal region and lysine in the N-terminal region. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of whey peptides were assessed in glia cells and its mechanisms of action were related, such as modulation of antioxidant enzymes and anti-inflammatory pathways. Features of the peptide structure, such as molecular size, hydrophobicity and types of amino acids present in the terminal region are associated to bioactivity.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from goji berries: Optimization, bioactivity, and intestinal permeability assessment.

Lycium barbarum L. berries have a remarkable chemical composition and extensive biological activities, being a valuable component of health and nutraceutical practices. Nevertheless, a deep insight on the intestinal permeation of the pro-healthy bioactive compounds is urgently needed to predict the real effects on human body. This study attempted, for the first time, to optimize the Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) of goji berries using a Response Surface Methodology approach and establish the intestinal permeation of the principal pro-healthy compounds. The optimal extraction conditions were a solid:liquid ratio of 8.75 % for 56.21 min, using an intensity of 59.05 W/m2. The optimal extract displayed a remarkable antioxidant capacity, with LC/DAD-ESI-MS analysis unveiled a diverse phytochemical profile, encompassing different compounds (e.g. glu-lycibarbarspermidine F, 2-glu-kukoamine, rutin, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid). The intestinal co-culture model demonstrated that glu-lycibarbarspermidine F (isomer 2) (73.70 %), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (52.66 %), and isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside (49.31 %) traversed the intestinal cell layer, exerting beneficial health-promoting effects.

Solanum nigrum L. berries extract ameliorated the alcoholic liver injury by regulating gut microbiota, lipid metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

Solanum nigrum L. (SN) berry is an edible berry containing abundant polyphenols and bioactive compounds, which possess antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. However, the effects of SN on alcohol-induced biochemical changes in the enterohepatic axis remain unclear. In the current study, a chronic ethanol-fed mice ALD model was used to test the protective mechanisms of SN berries. Microbiota composition was determined via 16S rRNA sequencing, we found that SN berries extract (SNE) improved intestinal imbalance by reducing the Firmicutes to Bacteroides ratio, restoring the abundance of Akkermansia microbiota, and reducing the abundance of Allobaculum and Shigella. SNE restored the intestinal short-chain fatty acids content. In addition, liver transcriptome data analysis revealed that SNE primarily affected the genes involved in lipid metabolism and inflammatory responses. Furthermore, SNE ameliorated hepatic steatosis in alcohol-fed mice by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPAR-α). SNE reduced the expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor-88 (MyD88) nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), which can indicate that SNE mainly adjusted LPS/TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway to reduce liver inflammation. SNE enhanced hepatic antioxidant capacity by regulating NRF2-related protein expression. SNE alleviates alcoholic liver injury by regulating of gut microbiota, lipid metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress. This study may provide a reference for the development and utilization of SN resources.

The mechanism of resveratrol stabilization and degradation by synergistic interactions between constituent proteins of whey protein.

Whey protein isolate (WPI) is mainly composed of ß-lactoglobulin (ß-LG), α-lactalbumin (α-LA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). The aim of this study was to compare and analyze the influence of WPI and its three main constituent proteins, as well as proportionally reconstituted WPI (R-WPI) on resveratrol. It was found that the storage stability of resveratrol was protected by WPI, not affected by R-WPI, but reduced by individual whey proteins at 45°C for 30 days. The rank of accelerated degradation of resveratrol by individual whey proteins was BSA > α-LA > ß-LG. The antioxidant activity, localization of resveratrol and oxidation of carrier proteins were determined by ABTS, H2O2 assay, synchronous fluorescence, carbonyl and circular dichroism. The non-covalent interactions and disulfide bonds between constituent proteins improved the antioxidant activity of the R-WPI-resveratrol complex, the oxidation stability of the carrier and the solvent shielding effect on resveratrol, which synergistically inhibited the degradation of resveratrol in R-WPI system. The results gave insight into elucidating the interaction mechanism of resveratrol with protein carriers.

A transparent p-coumaric acid-grafted-chitosan coating with antimicrobial, antioxidant and antifogging properties for fruit packaging applications.

The study aimed to develop a novel, transparent and non-toxic coating with antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antifogging properties. The p-coumaric acid-grafted chitosan (CS-PCA) was synthesized via a carbodiimide coupling reaction and then characterized. The CS-PCA coatings were further prepared using the casting method. The CS-PCA coatings obtained exhibited excellent transparency, UV-light barrier ability, and antifogging properties, as confirmed by spectroscopy and antifogging tests. The CS-PCA coatings showed stronger antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial properties against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Botrytis cinerea compared to CS. The multifunctional coatings were further coated on the polyethylene cling film and their effectiveness was confirmed through a strawberry preservation test. The decay of the strawberries was reduced by CS-PCA coated film at room temperature.

Protein fraction from Sesbania virgata (Cav.) Pers. seeds exhibit antioxidant and antifungal activities.

Sesbania virgata (Cav.) Pers. seeds are protein sources with health and environmental benefits. In this research, proteins with lectin activity were identified in a protein fraction from S. virgata seeds (PFLA), as well its antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials, in addition to cytotoxic effects. To obtain PFLA, seed flour was homogenized in Glycine-NaOH (100 mM; pH 9.0; NaCl 150 mM) and precipitated in ammonium sulfate. PFLA concentrates bioactive lectins (32 HU/mL, 480 HU/gFa, 18.862 HU/mgP) and essential amino acids (13.36 g/100g protein). PFLA exerts antioxidant activity, acting as a promising metal chelating agent (~77% of activity). Analyzes of cell culture assay results suggest that antioxidant activity of PFLA may be associated with the recruitment of essential molecules to prevent the metabolic impairment of cells exposed to oxidative stress. PFLA (256 - 512 µg/mL) also exhibits antifungal activity, inhibiting the growth of Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Penicillium citrinum. Cytotoxic analysis indicates a tendency of low interference in the proliferation of 3T3 and HepG2 cells in the range of PFLA concentrations with biological activity. These findings support the notion that PFLA is a promising adjuvant to be applied in current policies on the management of metal ion chelation and fungal infections.

Preliminary evaluation of the toxicological, antioxidant and antitumor activities promoted by the compounds 2,4-dihydroxy-benzylidene-thiosemicarbazones an in silico, in vitro and in vivo study.

Thiosemicarbazones are promising classes of compounds with antitumor activity. For this study, six 2,4-dihydroxy-benzylidene-thiosemicarbazones compounds were synthesized. These compounds were submitted to different assays in silico, in vitro and in vivo to evaluate the toxicological, antioxidant and antitumor effects. The in silico results were evaluated by the SwissADME and pkCSM platforms and showed that all compounds had good oral bioavailability profiles. The in vitro and in vivo toxicity assays showed that the compounds showed low cytotoxicity against different normal cells and did not promote hemolytic effects. The single dose acute toxicity test (2000 mg/kg) showed that none of the compounds were toxic to mice. In in vitro antioxidant activity assays, the compounds showed moderate to low activity, with PB17 standing out for the ABTS radical capture assay. The in vivo antioxidant activity highlighted the compounds 1, 6 and 8 that promoted a significant increase in the concentration of liver antioxidant enzymes. Finally, all compounds showed promising antitumor activity against different cell lines, especially MCF-7 and DU145 lines, in addition, they inhibited the growth of sarcoma 180 at concentrations lower than 50 mg/kg. These results showed that the evaluated compounds can be considered as potential antitumor agents.

The roles of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds.

Phenolic compounds are a group of non-essential dietary compounds that are widely recognized for their beneficial health effects, primarily due to their bioactive properties. These compounds which found in a variety of plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains are known to possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic properties. However, the health effects of these compounds depend on their bioaccessibility and bioavailability. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the use of probiotics for promoting human health. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a yeast with potential probiotic properties and beneficial health effects. Biosorption of phenolic compounds on Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell walls improves their bioaccessibility. This characteristic has also allowed the use of this yeast as a biosorbent in the biosorption process due to its low cost, safety, and easy availability. S. cerevisiae enhances the bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds as a delivery system under in vitro digestion conditions. The reason for this phenomenon is the protective effects of yeast on various phenolic compounds under digestion conditions. This article shows the role of S. cerevisiae yeast on the bioaccessibility of various phenolic compounds and contributes to our understanding of the potential impact of yeasts in human health.

Physicochemical properties of active films of rose essential oil produced using soy protein isolate-polyphenol conjugates for cherry tomato preservation.

Soy protein isolate (SPI)-polyphenol conjugates were produced by grafting SPI individually with curcumin, naringenin, and catechin. The resulting conjugates showed better emulsifying properties and were used to develop active films containing rose essential oil. The effect of conjugation on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of these emulsion-based films was evaluated. The results showed that the barrier and mechanical properties of the films were improved when the SPI-polyphenol conjugates were used to emulsify the essential oil; in particular, the SPI-curcumin conjugate showed significant improvement. The improvements on the water vapor and oxygen barrier properties in the films were attributed to the formation of compact structure. Emulsion-based films stabilized by SPI-polyphenol conjugates showed antioxidant and antibacterial activities. They also demonstrated an ability to extend the shelf life of cherry tomatoes, as indicated by better preservation of weight, firmness, and ascorbic acid content.

Melatonin reduces oxidative stress and improves follicular morphology in feline (Felis catus) vitrified ovarian tissue.

Ovarian tissue vitrification is associated with multiple events that promote accumulation of ROS (reactive oxygen species) which culminate in follicular apoptosis. Thus, this study was aimed at evaluating the role of melatonin in vitrification and culture of feline (Felis catus) ovarian tissue. In phase 1, domestic cat ovaries were fragmented into equal circular pieces of 1.5 mm diameter by 1 mm thickness and divided into four groups (fresh control and 3 treatments). The treatments were exposed to vitrification solutions supplemented with melatonin at 0 M, 10-9 M, and 10-7 M, then vitrified-warmed, histologically evaluated and assayed for ROS. Consequently, phase 2 experiment was designed wherein ovarian fragments were divided into two groups. One group was exposed to vitrification solution without melatonin and the other with 10-7 M melatonin supplementation, then vitrified-warmed and cultured for ten days with fresh ovarian fragments as control prior to assessment for histology, immunohistochemistry (Ki-67, MCM-7 and caspase-3) and ROS. Concentration of ROS was lower (p = 0.0009) in 10-7 M supplemented group in addition to higher proportion of grade 1 follicles. After culture, proportions of intact and activated follicles were higher (p < 0.05) in melatonin supplemented group evidenced by higher expression of Ki-67 and MCM-7. Follicular apoptosis was lower in melatonin supplemented group. In conclusion, melatonin at 10-7 M concentration preserved follicular morphological integrity while reducing ROS concentration in vitrified-warmed feline ovarian tissue. It has also promoted the follicular viability and activation with reduced apoptosis during in vitro culture of vitrified-warmed feline ovarian tissue.

Prolactin is an Endogenous Antioxidant Factor in Astrocytes That Limits Oxidative Stress-Induced Astrocytic Cell Death via the STAT3/NRF2 Signaling Pathway.

Oxidative stress-induced death of neurons and astrocytes contributes to the pathogenesis of numerous neurodegenerative diseases. While significant progress has been made in identifying neuroprotective molecules against neuronal oxidative damage, little is known about their counterparts for astrocytes. Prolactin (PRL), a hormone known to stimulate astroglial proliferation, viability, and cytokine expression, exhibits antioxidant effects in neurons. However, its role in protecting astrocytes from oxidative stress remains unexplored. Here, we investigated the effect of PRL against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative insult in primary cortical astrocyte cultures. Incubation of astrocytes with PRL led to increased enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), resulting in higher total antioxidant capacity. Concomitantly, PRL prevented H2O2-induced cell death, reactive oxygen species accumulation, and protein and lipid oxidation. The protective effect of PRL upon H2O2-induced cell death can be explained by the activation of both signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and NFE2 like bZIP transcription factor 2 (NRF2) transduction cascades. We demonstrated that PRL induced nuclear translocation and transcriptional upregulation of Nrf2, concurrently with the transcriptional upregulation of the NRF2-dependent genes heme oxygenase 1, Sod1, Sod2, and Gpx1. Pharmacological blockade of STAT3 suppressed PRL-induced transcriptional upregulation of Nrf2, Sod1 and Gpx1 mRNA, and SOD and GPX activities. Furthermore, genetic ablation of the PRL receptor increased astroglial susceptibility to H2O2-induced cell death and superoxide accumulation, while diminishing their intrinsic antioxidant capacity. Overall, these findings unveil PRL as a potent antioxidant hormone that protects astrocytes from oxidative insult, which may contribute to brain neuroprotection.