Medicinal evaluation and molecular docking study of osajin as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic agent against sepsis-associated acute kidney injury in rats.

Despite efforts to find effective drugs for sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI), mortality rates in patients with SA-AKI have not decreased. Our study evaluated the protective effects of isoflavone osajin (OSJ) on SA-AKI in rats by targeting inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, which represent the cornerstones in the pathophysiological mechanism of SA-AKI. Polymicrobial sepsis was induced in rats via the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) technique. Markers of oxidative stress were evaluated in kidney tissues using biochemical methods. The expression of interleukin-33 (IL-33), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), caspase-3, and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) was evaluated as indicators of inflammation, DNA damage, apoptosis, and SA-AKI respectively in the kidney tissues using immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent detection methods. The CLP technique significantly (p < 0.001) increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels and significantly (p < 0.001) decreased the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in kidney tissues. In the renal tissues, strong expression of IL-33, 8-OHdG, caspase-3, and KIM-1 was observed with severe degeneration and necrosis in the tubular epithelium and intense interstitial nephritis. In contrast, the administration of OSJ significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the level of LPO, markedly improved biomarkers of antioxidant status, decreased the levels of serum creatinine and urea, lowered the expression of IL-33, 8-OHdG, caspase-3, and KIM-1 and alleviated changes in renal histopathology. A promising binding score was found via a molecular docking investigation of the OSJ-binding mode with mouse IL-33 (PDB Code: 5VI4). Therefore, OSJ protects against SA-AKI by suppressing the IL-33/LPO/8-OHdG/caspase-3 pathway and improving the antioxidant system.

The Protection Potential of Antioxidant Vitamins Against Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: a Rat Trial.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a fatal disease that includes inflammation formed by septic and non-septic causes. Reactive oxygen radicals (ROS) play a key role in ARDS pathophysiology and constitute the base of damage process. Antioxidant vitamins are used for inhibiting hazardous effects of radicals. Therefore, effects of antioxidant vitamins such as α-lipoic acid (ALA), vitamin E (VITE), and C (VITC) were investigated on oleic acid (OA)-induced ARDS rat model. Furthermore, high and low dose of methylprednisolone (HDMP, LDMP) was used for comparing effects of the vitamins. In this study, 42 male rats were divided to seven groups named control, OA, ALA, VITE, VITC, LDMP, and HDMP. OA was intravenously administered to all groups except control group and other compounds were orally administered (ALA, VITE, and VITC: 100 mg/kg, LDMP: 5 mg/kg, HDMP: 50 mg/kg) after OA injections. OA increased MDA level in lung tissue and TNF-α and IL-1ß cytokine levels in serum. ALA, VITE, VITC, and both dose of MP significantly decreased the cytokine levels. Although OA reduced SOD, CAT, and GSH levels in lung tissue, the vitamins and LDMP markedly enhanced the levels except for HDMP. Furthermore, OA showed thickening in bronchi and alveolar septum, hyperemia in vessels, and inflammatory cell infiltrations in lung tissue histopathological examinations. Antioxidant vitamins may be useful for premedication of ARDS and similar disorders. However, methylprednisolone was not found sufficient for being a therapeutic agent for ARDS.

Natural product inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase I and II isoenzymes: osajin and pomiferin.

The aim of this study is to purify carbonic anhydrase I and II isoenzymes from human erythrocyte, isolate two natural products osajin (OSJ) and pomiferin (PMF) from Maclura pomifera fruits, and evaluate the in vitro effect of these natural metabolites on these isoenzymes. These natural products may be used as starting points for drug discovery (like drugs used in several therapeutic applications, including antiglaucoma activity). For the purification procedure, the Sepharose-4B-l-tyrosine-sulphonamide affinity chromatography was used. Column chromatography and thin layer chromatography methods were used for isolation of OSJ and PMF from M. pomifera fruits and their chemical structures were elucidated by IR, 1D, and 2D NMR methods. We compared inhibitory effects of these natural products with inhibitory effects of phenolic compounds and found that these products demonstrated average inhibition effects. We thought that this study will give inspiration to scientists interested in this issue.

Neurotoxic effects of nickel chloride in the rainbow trout brain: Assessment of c-Fos activity, antioxidant responses, acetylcholinesterase activity, and histopathological changes.

The aim of this study was to determine the biochemical, immunohistochemical, and histopathological effects of nickel chloride (Ni) in the rainbow trout brain. Fish were exposed to Ni concentrations (1 mg/L and 2 mg/L) for 21 days. At the end of the experimental period, brain tissues were taken from all fish for c-Fos activity and histopathological examination and determination of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and glutathione (GSH) levels. Our results showed that Ni treatment caused a significant increase in the brain SOD activity and in LPO and GSH levels (p < 0.05), but it significantly decreased AChE and CAT enzyme activities (p < 0.05). Strong induction in c-Fos was observed in some cerebral and cerebellar regions of fish exposed to Ni concentrations when compared with the control group. However, c-Fos activity was decreased in necrotic Purkinje cells. Brain tissues were characterized by demyelination and necrotic changes. These results suggested that Ni treatment causes oxidative stress, changes in c-Fos activity, and histopathological damage in the fish brain.