Anti- and pro-oxidative effects of flavonoids on metal-induced lipid hydroperoxide-dependent lipid peroxidation in cultured hepatocytes loaded with alpha-linolenic acid

Lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH)-dependent lipid peroxidation was induced in alpha-linolenic acid (LNA)-loaded hepatocytes by adding Fe, Cu, V, or Cd ions at concentrations from 20 to 500 microM. The effects of structurally related flavonoids at concentrations from 10 to 500 microM on the lipid peroxidation were examined. The results with regard to each flavonoid subclass are as follows: (i) Flavonols such as myricetin, quercetin, fisetin, and kaempferol, but not morin, showed dose-dependent antioxidative activity against metal-induced lipid peroxidation at all metal concentrations. Myricetin, quercetin, and fisetin were the most effective antioxidants, although their efficacies depended on the metal ion. Kaempferol and morin had antioxidative activity equal to the other flavonols in the presence of Cu ions, but were much less effective for the other three metal ions. (ii) Flavones, luteolin, apigenin, and chrysin were antioxidative at low Fe concentrations, but were pro-oxidative at high Fe concentrations. Luteolin exhibited antioxidative activity similar to that of catechol-containing flavonols in the presence of the other three metal ions. Apigenin and chrysin also acted as pro-oxidants with V or with all metal ions, respectively. (iii) Taxifolin, a flavanone, also showed both anti- and prooxidative activity, depending on Fe concentrations, but with other metal showed only antioxidative activity ions. (iv) Epigallocatechin, a flavanol, was antioxidative with all metal ions, and its activity was similar to that of catechol-containing flavonols. The various effects of flavonoids on metal-induced lipid peroxidation in LNA-loaded hepatocytes is discussed with regard to the change in redox potential of flavonoid-metal complexes.     

Involvement of lipid peroxidation and organic peroxides in UVA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression

Ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation causes human skin aging and skin cancer at least partially through the activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). MMP-1, the interstitial collagenase, is responsible for the degradation of collagen and is involved in tumor progression in human skin. The present study uses human skin fibroblast cells (FEK4) to investigate the involvement of lipid peroxidation and the role of peroxides as possible mediators in MMP-1 activation by UVA. Preincubation with the antioxidants butylated hydroxytoluene and Trolox reduced UVA-dependent MMP-1 upregulation, suggesting that peroxidation of membrane lipids is involved. Blocking the iron-driven generation of lipid peroxides and hydroxyl radicals by different iron chelators led to a decrease in UVA-induced MMP-1 mRNA accumulation. Moreover, modulation of glutathione peroxidase activity by use of the specific inhibitor mercaptosuccinate (MS) or by the depletion of glutathione (using buthionine-S, R-sulfoximine, BSO), enhanced the UVA-dependent MMP-1 response. Finally, UVA irradiation generated a significant increase in intracellular peroxide levels which is augmented by pretreatment of the cells with BSO or MS. Our results demonstrate that lipid peroxidation and the production of peroxides are important events in the signalling pathway of MMP-1 activation by UVA.     

Roles of catalase and cytochrome C in hydroperoxide-dependent lipid peroxidation and chemiluminescence in rat heart and kidney mitochondria

A recent report (Radi et al., J. Biol. Chem. 266:22028–22034, 1991) showed that rat heart mitochondria contain catalase. The protective role of mitochondrial catalase was tested by exposing heart or kidney mitochondria and mitoplasts to two oxidants (H₂O₂) or tert-butyl hydroperoxide, t-BOOH), estimating lipid peroxidation (as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, TBARS) and overall oxidative stress (as chemiluminescence). Additional controls included heart and kidney preparations from aminotriazole-treated (catalase-depleted) rats. Both oxidants increased TBARS in catalase-free preparations to similar extents over their respective controls (between 200 to 350%). In catalase-containing preparations, H₂O₂ lipid peroxidation increased by only 40 to 96% over controls. Similar qualitative results were obtained when measuring chemiluminescence. The catalytic role of cytochrome c in mitochondrial lipid peroxidation was investigated by exposing either control or cytochrome-c-depleted kidney mitoplasts (catalase free) to either H₂O₂ or t-BOOH. Hydrogen-peroxide-dependent mitochondrial lipid peroxidation varied with cytochrome c concentrations, remaining close to controls when cytochrome c concentration decreased by 66%, even though there was no catalase present. Tert-butyl hydroperoxide-dependent lipid peroxidation was less affected by cytochrome c remaining 2.3-fold above controls under the same conditions, suggesting that organic peroxides are more likely to remain in the less polar membrane environment being decomposed by heme or nonheme iron imbedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Chemiluminescence was less affected by cytochrome c depletion. Comparing control and cytochrome-c-deficient mitochondria, chemiluminescence was 1.7-fold and 2.8-fold higher when control preparations were challenged with t-BOOH or H₂O₂, respectively.     

Protective effect of curcumin on γ-radiation induced DNA damage and lipid peroxidation in cultured human lymphocytes

The present work is aimed at evaluating the radioprotective effect of curcumin, a naturally occurring phenolic compound on γ-radiation induced toxicity. The cellular changes were estimated by using lipid peroxidative indices like thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), the antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH). The DNA damage was analysed by using cytokinesis blocked micronucleus assay and dicentric aberration (DC). The γ-radiation at different doses (1, 2 and 4 Gy) were found to significantly increase micronuclei (MN), DC frequencies and TBARS level whereas the levels of GSH and antioxidant enzymes were significantly decreased. The maximum damage to lymphocytes was observed at 4 Gy irradiation. Curcumin pretreatment (1, 5 and 10 μg/ml) significantly decreased the frequency of MN and DC. The levels of TBARS decreased and activities of SOD, CAT and GPx significantly increased along with GSH levels. At 1 Gy irradiation all the concentrations of curcumin (1, 5 and 10 μg/ml) significantly protected the lymphocytes from radiation damage. At 2 Gy irradiation, 5 and 10 μg/ml of curcumin showed significant radioprotection. Since the highest damage was observed at 4 Gy irradiation both 1 and 5 μg/ml of curcumin pretreatment were not sufficient to protect the lymphocytes from radiation damage but 10 μg/ml of curcumin significantly protected the cultured lymphocytes from radiation damage. Thus, pretreatment with curcumin gives protection to lymphocytes against γ-radiation induced cellular damage.     

Prooxidant activity of β-carotene under 100% oxygen pressure in rat liver microsomes

The effects of the partial pressure of oxygen (pO₂ on antioxidant efficiency of β-carotene in inhibiting 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) (AAPH)-induced lipid peroxidation are investigated in rat liver microsomal membranes. The rate of peroxyl radicals generated by thermolysis of AAPH at 37°C is markedly higher at 150 than 760 mm Hg pO₂. At 150 mm Hg pO₂ β-carotene acts as an antioxidant, inhibiting 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) (AAPH)-induced Malondialdehyde (MDA) formation. At 760 mm Hg pO₂, it loses its antioxidant activity and shows a prooxidant effect, increasing lipid peroxidation products, -Tocopherol prevents the prooxidant effect of β-carotene in a dose-dependent manner. Our data provide the first evidence of a prooxidant effect of β-carotene under 100% oxygen pressure in a biological membrane model and point out the existence of cooperative interactions between β-carotene and -tocopherol.     

Pantothenic acid and its derivatives protect ehrlich ascites tumor cells against lipid peroxidation

Preincubation of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells at 22 or 32°C, but not at 0°C, with pantothenic acid, 4′-phosphopantothenic acid, pantothenol, or pantethine reduced lipid peroxidation (measured by production of thiobarbituric acid-reactive compounds) induced by the Fenton reaction (Fe²⁺ + H₂O₂) and partly protected the plasma membrane against the leakiness to cytoplasmic proteins produced by the same reagent. Pantothenic acid and its derivatives did not inhibit (Fe²⁺ + H₂O₂)-induced peroxidation of phospholipid multilamellar vesicles, thus indicating that their effect on the cells was not due to the scavenging mechanism. Homopantothenic acid and its 4′-phosphate ester (which are not precursors of CoA) neither protected Ehrlich ascites tumor cells against lipid peroxidation nor prevented plasma membrane leakiness under the same conditions. Incubation of the cells with pantothenic acid, 4′-phosphopantothenic acid, pantothenol, or pantethine significantly increased the amount of cellular CoA and potentiated incorporation of added palmitate into phospholipids and cholesterol esters. It is concluded that pantothenic acid and its related compounds protect the plasma membrane of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells against the damage by oxygen free radicals due to increasing cellular level of CoA. The latter compound may act by diminishing propagation of lipid peroxidation and promoting repair mechanisms, mainly the synthesis of phospholipids.     

Effects of magnesium and iron on lipid peroxidation in cultured hepatocytes

In primary cultures of rat hepatocytes, the effects of extracellular Mg²⁺ and Fe on lipid peroxidation (LPO) as measured by means of malondialdehyde (MDA) formation were investigated.Incubation of hepatocytes at decreasing extracellular Mg²⁺ concentration enhanced LPO, depending on extracellular Fe. About 96% of MDA accumulated in the culture medium. Addition of desferrioxamine prevented LPO.Additionally, the formation of oxygen free radicals was determined by fluorescence reduction of cis-parinaric acid. With this method, an immediate decay of fluorescence was found after addition of Fe²⁺. Fluorescence reduction was completely prevented by desferrioxamine, indicating the function of extracellular Fe. This mechanism may operate additionally to the increase in intracellular Fe and intracellular formation of oxygen free radicals during Mg deficiencyin vivo.     

Paracetamol-stimulated lipid peroxidation in isolated rat and mouse hepatocytes

Treatment of isolated hepatocytes from 3-methylcholanthrene induced rats with 1 mM paracetamol has been found to greatly decrease cellular reduced glutathione (GSH) content and to promote lipid peroxidation, evaluated as malonaldehyde (MDA) production and conjugated diene absorbance. A similar dosing of hepatocytes from phenobarbital-induced or normal rats is ineffective in that respect. On the other hand, the aspecific stimulation of the cytochrome P-450-mediated paracetamol activation due to acetone addition further increases GSH depletion as well as MDA production.Isolated hepatocytes with basal low GSH content are also more susceptible to paracetamol-induced lipid peroxidation, indicating that the rate of the drug metabolism and the cellular GSH content are critical factors in the determination of such peroxidative attack.In isolated mouse liver cells paracetamol does not require preliminary cytochrome P-450 induction to stimulate MDA formation, even at concentrations ineffective in rat cells.However, 5 mM paracetamol, despite a great depletion of cellular GSH content, does not promote MDA formation either in the rat or in the mouse hepatocytes. This effect may be due to the ability of paracetamol to scavenge lipid peroxides under defined conditions, as tested in various lipid peroxidizing systems.Membrane leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is evident in paracetamol treated cells undergoing lipid peroxidation, but not when MDA formation is inhibited by high doses of the drug or by addition of antioxidants such as α-tocopherol and diphenylphenylenediamine (DPPD).Nevertheless in these conditions the covalent binding of activated paracetamol metabolites is not affected, suggesting that lipid peroxidation might play a role in the pathogenesis of liver damage following paracetamol overdose.     

The influence of antioxidants in the thiyl radical induced lipid peroxidation and geometrical isomerization in micelles of linoleic acid

Abstract

The biomimetic model of micelles of linoleic acid containing 2-mercaptoethanol and the antioxidant was examined under gamma irradiation up to 400?Gy in aerobic or deoxygenated conditions where thiyl radicals are the main reactive species. Lipid peroxidation was retarded by ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol, whereas this process was strongly inhibited by resveratrol as effectively as the ascorbic acid/α-tocopherol mixture. Furthermore, antioxidants have a much stronger inhibitory effect on the peroxidation in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol, and at the same time show protective properties of the double bond, decreasing the cis–trans isomerization. Under anaerobic conditions, cis–trans isomerization occurred and antioxidants efficiency increased along the series: resveratrol < α-tocopherol?<?ascorbic acid. This result is explained taking into account the double bond localization in the hydrophobic core of the micelle and the need of co-localization of the antioxidant in order to get an anti-isomerizing activity and protection of the natural lipid geometry.     

Inhibition of copper-induced lipid peroxidation by sinapic acid and its derivatives in correlation to their effect on the membrane structural properties

The efficiencies of sinapic acid and its derivatives syringic acid, syringaldehyde, three sinapoyl esters (ethyl, propyl, butyl sinapates), 4-vinylsyringol and sinapine were investigated for prevention of lipid peroxidation in correlation with their interactions with model lipid membrane systems. Significant antioxidant activities of propyl and butyl sinapates were seen by fluorimetric assay in phosphatidylcholine liposomes as model membrane using C11-BODIPY^581/591 lipophilic fluorescent probe. The sinapic acid esters also had the highest impact on membrane structural properties, as observed by differential scanning calorimetry and fluorescence polarisation measurements. The greatest protection of phospholipids from peroxidation by these esters correlated well with their polarity and insertion into the lipid bilayer.     

Effects of a Novel, Low-Molecular Weight Inhibitor of Lipid Peroxidation on Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury in Isolated Rat Hearts and in Cultured Cardiomyocytes

We investigated the effect of H290/51, a novel, low-molecular-weight inhibitor of lipid peroxidation, on cardiac ischemia–reperfusion injury. Lactate dehydrogenase (LD) release from cultured cardiomyocytes exposed to 1 h hypoxia and 4 h reoxygenation was measured after pretreatment with different concentrations of H290/51. In another series, Langendorff-perfused rat hearts were exposed to 30 min global ischemia and 60 min reperfusion (n = minimum 10 in each group): 1. Control ischemia–reperfusion. 2. Vehicle throughout the experiment. 3. Vehicle during stabilization, and H290/51 (10⁻⁶ mol/l) during reperfusion. 4. H290/51 throughout the experiments. During reoxygenation of isolated cardiomyocytes, H290/51 dose dependently inhibited LD release with an pIC₅₀ value of 7.2 ± 0.4 (mean ± SEM), with 10⁻⁶ mol/l as the lowest efficient concentration. In isolated hearts ischemia–reperfusion induced severe reperfusion arrhythmias, reduced left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and coronary flow (CF), and increased LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). LD activity in the effluent increased. H290/51 throughout perfusion (group 4) reduced the occurrence of severe reperfusion arrhythmias (p < .0001), attenuated the decrease of LVDP (p < .008), and CF (p < .006), the increase of LVEDP (p < .008), and the release of LD (p < .002). Tissue contents of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances did not increase during reperfusion in controls, but was reduced in group 4 (p < .004). H290/51 given only during reperfusion (group 3) tended to improve cardiac function, but significantly so only for increase of CF (p < .01). The lipid peroxidation inhibitor H290/51 attenuated cardiac injury induced by ischemia–reperfusion.     

Micronucleus frequency and lipid peroxidation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Allium sativum</Emphasis> root tip cells treated with gibberellic acid and cadmium

Gibberellic acid (GA₃) is a very potent hormone whose natural occurrence in plants controls their development. Cadmium is a particularly dangerous pollutant due to its high toxicity and great solubility in water. In this study, the effect of GA₃ on Allium sativum root tip cells was investigated in the presence of cadmium. A. sativum root tip cells were exposed to CdNO₃ (50, 100, 200 μM), GA₃ (10-3 M), both CdNO₃ and GA₃. Cytogenetic analyses were performed as micronucleus (MN) assay and mitotic index (MI). Lipid peroxidation analysis was also performed in A. sativum root tip cells for determination of membrane damage. MN exhibited a dose-dependent increase in Cd treatments in A. sativum. GA₃ significantly reduced the effect of Cd on the MN frequency. MN was observed in GA₃ and GA₃ + 50 μm Cd treatments at very low frequency. MI slightly decreased in GA₃ and GA₃ + Cd treatments. MI decreased more in high concentrations of Cd than combined GA₃ + Cd treatments. The high concentrations of cadmium induce MN, lipid peroxidation and lead to genotoxicity in A. sativum. Current work reveals that the effect of Cd on genotoxicity can be partially restored with GA₃ application.     

Protective effect of vitamin E on spinal cord injury by compression and concurrent lipid peroxidation

Studies were made on the influence of vitamin E on the effects of compression injury of the spinal cord associated with ischemia in rats. The motor disturbance induced by spinal cord injury was greatly reduced by vitamin E supplementation. After injury, the spinal cord evoked potentials showed greater recovery of both amplitude and latency in the vitamin E-supplemented group than in the control group. Spinal cord blood flow was promptly restored and remained normal after injury in the vitamin E-supplemented group, but was significantly decreased from 3 h after injury in the control group. Thiobarbituric acid (TBA)—reactive substances in the spinal cord was immediately increased by compression injury in both groups, and after injury it persisted at a high value for 24 h in the control group, but decreased within 1 h in the vitamin E-supplemented group. Pathological examination of the spinal cord showed less damage, such as bleeding and edema, in the vitamin E-supplemented group than in the control group. Vitamin E may have protective effects on the spinal cord by inhibiting damage induced by lipid peroxidation and/or by sustaining the blood flow by maintaining the normal metabolism of arachidonic acid.     

Ferric ion-induced lipid peroxidation in erythrocyte membranes: effects of phytic acid and butylated hydroxytoluene

Ferric ion was found to stimulate the peroxidation of erythrocyte membrane lipids, causing a biphasic and concentration-dependent increase in the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Ascorbic acid and reduced glutathione were able to enhance this lipid peroxidation, presumably by facilitating the reduction of ferric ion. Iron chelators, such as phytic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and uric acid, and the chain-reaction-terminating antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene suppressed the ferric ion-induced peroxidation by actions not likely related to hydroxyl radical scavenging. The effectiveness of phytic acid, a naturally occurring antioxidant, in the inhibition of iron-dependent lipid peroxidation suggests its possible therapeutic application as a non-toxic iron chelator for ameliorating the extent of oxy-radical-induced tissue damage.Abbreviations BHT Butylated Hydroxytoluene - EDTA Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid - GSH Reduced Glutathione - TBA 2-Thiobarbituric Acid - TBARS 2-Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances     

The effect of α-tocopherol transfer protein gene disruption on Trypanosoma congolense infection in mice

At present 15 to 20 million people are estimated to be infected with pathogenic trypanosome parasites worldwide, mainly in developing countries. There are a number of factors that affect the severity of trypanosomiasis, including the nutritional status of the host. However, the relationship between micronutrient levels and trypanosomiasis outcome has yet to be reported in detail. Here, we demonstrate that the inhibition of α-tocopherol transfer protein, a determinant of the vitamin E concentration in host circulation, confers resistance to Trypanosoma congolense infection, evidently owing to oxidative damage to parasite DNA. These results suggest that transient inhibition of α-tocopherol transfer gene activity could possibly be exploited as a strategy for both the prevention and the treatment of trypanosomiasis.     

Protective effects of lazaroid U74389F (16-desmethyl tirilazad) on endrin-induced lipid peroxidation and DNA damage in brain and liver and regional distribution of catalase activity in rat brain

Endrin, a poly-halogenated cyclic hydrocarbon, induces hepatic lipid peroxidation, modulates calcium homeostasis, decreases membrane fluidity, and increases nuclear DNA damage. Little information is available on the neurotoxicity of endrin. The effects of endrin on lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and regional distribution of catalase activity were assessed in rat brain and liver 24 h following an acute oral dose of 4.5 mg endrin/kg. Lipid peroxidation associated with whole brain mitochondria increased 2.4-fold, whereas microsomal lipid peroxidation increased 2.8-fold following endrin administration. Lipid peroxidation also increased 2.0-fold both in hepatic mitochondria and microsomes. Catalase activity decreased 24% in the hypothalamus, 23% in the cortex, 38% in the cerebellum, and 11% in the brain stem in response to endrin. A 4.3-fold increase in brain nuclear DNA-single strand breaks (SSB) was observed in endrin-treated rats. Pretreatment of rats intraperitoneally with the lazaroid U74389F (16-desmethyl tirilazad) (10 mg/kg in two doses) attenuated the biochemical consequences of endrin-induced oxidative stress. The administration of U74389F in citrate buffer (pH 3.8) provided better protection than administering the lazaroid in corn oil, decreasing endrin-induced lipid peroxidation by 50–80% and DNA-SSB by approximately 72% in liver and 85% in brain, while ameliorating the suppressed catalase activity. The data suggest an involvement of an oxidative stress in the neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity induced by endrin, which can be attenuated by the lazaroid U74389F.     

The Free Radical Scavenger, α-Lipoic Acid, Protects Against Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Gerbils

-Lipoic acid (thioctic acid) was tested for its neuroprotective activity in a Mongolian gerbil model of forebrain ischemia/reperfusion. Adult gerbils were treated for 7 days with two intraperitoneal injections per day of -lipoic acid (20 mg/kg), vehicle or saline and on the 7th day the animals were subjected to 5 min of forebrain ischemia. Ischemic injury was assessed by monitoring the increases in locomotor activity and from the extent of damage to the CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cell layer after 5 days of recovery. By both criteria, -lipoic acid was neuroprotective against ischemia/reperfusion evoked cerebral injury.     

A 4-oxo-2(E)-nonenal-derived glutathione adduct from 15-lipoxygenase-1-mediated oxidation of cytosolic and esterified arachidonic acid

15(S)-Hydroperoxy-[5Z,8Z,11Z,13E]-eicosatetraenoic acid (15(S)-HpETE) undergoes homolytic decomposition to bifunctional electrophiles such as 4-oxo-2(E)-nonenal. 4-Oxo-2(E)-nonenal reacts with glutathione to form a thiadiazabicyclo-4-oxo-2(E)-nonenal–glutathione adduct (TOG). Therefore, this endogenous glutathione adduct can serve as a specific biomarker of lipid hydroperoxide-mediated 4-oxo-2(E)-nonenal formation. A monocyte/macrophage cell line was generated to constitutively express human 15-lipoxygenase-1. In these cells, TOG was formed from 15(S)-HpETE-derived 4-oxo-2(E)-nonenal in a nonlinear dose-dependent manner upon arachidonic acid treatment. The lipoxygenase inhibitor cinnamyl-3,4-dihydroxy-α-cyanocinnamate abolished arachidonic acid-mediated TOG formation. The calcium ionophore A23187 was also used to induce the formation of 15(S)-HpETE from esterified arachidonic acid present in the membrane lipids. In the 15-lipoxygenase-1-expressing cells, the calcium ionophore A23187 significantly increased TOG levels compared with mock-transfected cells. This was due to the 15-lipoxygenase-mediated formation of 15(S)-HpETE in the forms of free fatty acid and esterified lipids, which was subsequently converted to 4-oxo-2(E)-nonenal. The increase in TOG formation was again abrogated by pretreatment with cinnamyl-3,4-dihydroxy-α-cyanocinnamate. Only 8.7% 15(S)-HETE (both the free fatty acid and its esterified form in the cell membrane) was formed after ionophore A23187 stimulation compared with that formed after the addition of arachidonic acid. In contrast, the TOG levels after treatment with ionophore A23187 or arachidonic acid were comparable. Thus, it is likely that esterified 15(S)-HpETE underwent homolytic decomposition to 4-oxo-2(E)-nonenal more efficiently than the free 15(S)-HpETE that was formed in the cytosol.     

Iron content and degree of lipid peroxidation in liver mitochondria isolated from iron-loaded rats

1.The content of non-heme iron and the degree of lipid peroxidation were measured in liver mitochondria isolated from rats injected with either Jectofer (an iron-sorbitol-citric acid complex) or iron-nitrilotriacetate. 2. The sedimentation profiles of the mitochondria from controls and iron-treated rats as revealed by analytical differential centrifugation, indicated single population of mitochondria with $\text{s}{}_{\mathrm{4,B}}$ values of 13200± 560 S and 14200±590 S for controls and iron-loaded animals, respectively. In contrast, the sedimentation profiles of the acid phosphatase activity and the non-heme iron revealed marked polydispersities with at least three populations of particles for both controls and iron-loaded animals. 3. The mitochondria and iron-rich lysosomes were separated by density-gradient centrifugation in an isotonic medium of Percoll and sucrose. With this technique, the amount of non-heme iron in a mitochondrial fraction by differential centrifugation decreased from 69±28 nmol/mg protein to 5.6±1.1 nmol/mg protein and from 19.3±5.6 nmol/mg protein to 3.3±0.6 nmol/mg protein for Jectofer and iron-nitrilotriacetate injected rats, respectively. For control rats the amount of mitochondrial non-heme iron was about 2.7 nmol/mg protein both before and following density gradient centrifugation. The extra amount of non-heme iron still present in the purified mitochondrial fraction from iron-loaded rats, as compared to controls, was further characterized by the reactivity towards bathophenanthroline sulfonate. The results suggest that the extra iron was due to a small amount of either ferritin or hemosiderin still contaminaning the mitochondrial fraction. The amount of mitochondrial heme iron was the same in iron-loaded rats and controls. 4. The degree of lipid peroxidation in the mitochondria was estimated from the amount of malondialdehyde. The thiobarbituric acid method used for the quantitation of malondialdehyde was modified so that it was insensitive to variable amounts of iron present in the samples. No difference in the degree of lipid peroxidation was observed between the mitochondria from iron-loaded rats and controls. 5. In contrast to recent proposals (Hanstein, E.G. et al. (1981) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 678, 293–299), the present study showed that the amounts of non-heme iron and the degrees of lipid peroxidation are the same in mitochondria isolated from iron-loaded and control animals.     

Influence of treatment of diabetic rats with combinations of pycnogenol, β‐carotene,and α‐lipoic acid on parameters of oxidative stress

Treatment with antioxidants may act more effectively to alter markers of free radical damage in combinations than singly. This study has determined whether treatment with combinations of pycnogenol, β‐carotene, and α‐lipoic acid was more effective at reducing oxidative stress in diabetic rats than treatment with these antioxidants alone. It is not feasible, based on this study, to assume that there are interactive effects that make combinations of these antioxidants more effective than any one alone to combat oxidative stress. Female Sprague‐Dawley rats, normal and streptozotocin‐induced diabetic, were treated (10 mg/kg/day ip for 14 days) with pycnogenol, β‐carotene, pycnogenol + β‐carotene, or pycnogenol + β‐carotene + α‐lipoic acid; controls were untreated. Concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, glutathione and glutathione disulfide, and activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase were measured in liver, kidney, and heart. Four types of effects were observed: (1) treatment with β‐carotene alone either reversed (cardiac glutathione disulfide) or elevated (cardiac glutathione, hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity) levels seen in diabetic animals; (2) β‐carotene alone produced no effect, but pycnogenol both alone and in combinations elevated (renal glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities, hepatic glutathione reductase activity and glutathione disulfide) or depressed (cardiac glutathione disulfide) levels seen in untreated diabetic animals; (3) all treatments with antioxidants, either alone or in combination, either normalized (lipid peroxidation in all tissues), elevated (hepatic GSH, cardiac glutathione peroxidase activity), or had no effect on (activities of hepatic catalase and superoxide dismutase in all tissues) levels seen in diabetic animals; (4) in only one case (cardiac glutathione reductase activity) levels in diabetic animals treated with combinations of antioxidants were normal, but elevated in animals treated with either antioxidant alone. Antioxidant effects seem to be dependent on the nature of the antioxidant used and not on combination effects. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 18:345–352, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20046