Formation of Acetylene Dicarboxylic Acid and Its Esters with 2-Butyne-1,4-diol from 2-Butyne-1,4-diol by Fusarium merismoides B11

Several kinds of compounds were formed by Fusarium merismoides Bll when the fungus was grown in the medium containing 2-butyne-1,4-diol as the sole source of carbon. Four of these compounds were isolated by thin-layer chromatography and identified as acetylene dicarboxylic acid, an ester of acetylene dicarboxylic acid with 2-butyne-1,4-diol, an acetylated derivative of the ester, and cis-aconitic acid.     

Nephroprotective potential of Quercus infectoria galls against experimentally induced diabetic nephropathy in rats through inhibition of renal oxidative stress and TGF-β

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of death in diabetic patients and the current treatment options available have a limited significance. The insect galls of Quercus infectoria are traditionally important in the treatment of numerous diseases including diabetes. Hence, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Q. infectoria gall extract (QIGE) against experimental DN. Type 2 diabetes was induced by feeding rats with a high-fat diet (HFD) initially for 5 weeks, followed by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 35?mg/kg?bw/day). QIGE was administered to the rats orally at doses of 100 and 200?mg/kg?bw/day, respectively. At the end of the experimental period, various glycemic and renal function parameters were evaluated in the serum, urine and kidney tissues. The QIGE treatment significantly (p?p?via the inhibition of hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and renal TGF-β expression and is, therefore, a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of diabetic complications, especially DN.     

Aerobic exercise can modulate the underlying mechanisms involved in the development of diabetic complications

Diabetes mellitus is a highly prevalent metabolic disorder that affects many molecular pathways, causing a shift from a physiologic to a pathophysiologic state. Alterations in the molecular pathways promote diabetic complications and, thus, many medical and nonmedical therapies have been directed at preventing these complications. Despite the beneficial effects on moderating glycemic control, medical therapies may also have unfavorable side effects. This makes nonmedical therapeutic approaches more attractive due to lower pharmacological side effects of these strategies compared to medical agents. Aerobic exercise is now considered as a major nonmedical strategy that can promote beneficial and protective effects to counteract the development of diabetic complications via attenuation of the major molecular mechanisms involved in diabetes.     

中草药干预糖尿病肾病炎症的作用

随着糖尿病发病率逐年升高,糖尿病肾病成为导致慢性肾脏疾病和终末期肾脏疾病的主要原因。而目前控制血糖及抑制肾素-血管紧张素系统的药物治疗,并不能有效防止糖尿病肾病进展。近年来发现,慢性低水平炎症和免疫系统激活在糖尿病性肾病的发生及发展中起着至关重要的作用。明确糖尿病肾病进展中的炎症机制将有助于确定新的潜在靶点及研发抗炎治疗策略。越来越多的证据表明,中药治疗可以有效改善糖尿病性肾病的高血糖和蛋白尿,并能延缓其进展成为终末期肾病。糖尿病肾病动物实验和体外研究证实中药复方、中草药提取物和中药单体具有调节炎症介质的作用。本文旨在归纳总结文献中与糖尿病肾病肾损伤相关的炎症分子和途径,并探讨中草药靶向抗炎治疗糖尿病肾病的作用。     

Effects of crocin in reducing DNA damage,inflammation, and oxidative stress in multiple sclerosis patients: A double‐blind,randomized, and placebo‐controlled trial

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the nerve cells, resulting in neurological disorders. Oxidative stress, free radicals, and neuritis have important roles in MS pathogenesis. Here, we aim to evaluate the effect of crocin on inflammatory markers, oxidative damage, and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage in the blood of patients with MS. A total of 40 patients were divided into two groups, drug and placebo‐treated groups, using random assignment. Participants of the intervention and control groups received two crocin capsules or placebo per day for 28 days, respectively. Findings revealed a significant decrease in the level of important pathogenic factors in MS, including lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, tumor necrosis factor‐alpha, and interleukin 17 as well as a significant increase in the total antioxidant capacity in the serum of patients treated with crocin compared with the placebo group. Our results suggest the beneficial and therapeutic effects of crocin in MS.     

Anti-inflammatory effects of resolvins in diabetic nephropathy: Mechanistic pathways

The incidence of diabetes mellitus is growing rapidly. The exact pathophysiology of diabetes is unclear, but there is increasing evidence of the role of the inflammatory response in both developing diabetes as well as its complications. Resolvins are naturally occurring polyunsaturated fatty acids that are found in fish oil and sea food that have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory actions in several tissues including the kidneys. The pathways by which resolvins exert this anti-inflammatory effect are unclear. In this review we discuss the evidence showing that resolvins can suppress inflammatory responses via at least five molecular mechanisms through inhibition of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein 3 inflammasome, inhibition of nuclear factor κB molecular pathways, improvement of oxidative stress, modulation of nitric oxide synthesis/release and prevention of local and systemic leukocytosis. Complete understanding of these molecular pathways is important as this may lead to the development of new effective therapeutic strategies for diabetes and diabetic nephropathy.     

Narrative review of the effects of antidiabetic drugs on albuminuria

Diabetes mellitus is the most prevalent metabolic disorder worldwide. Glycemic control is the main focus of antidiabetic therapy. However, there are data suggesting that some antidiabetic drugs may have intrinsic beneficial renal effects and protect against the development and progression of albuminuria, thus minimizing the risk of diabetic nephropathy. These pharmacological agents can suppress upstream molecular pathways involved in the pathophysiology of diabetes-induced renal dysfunction such as oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and apoptosis. In this narrative review, the pathophysiology of albuminuria in patients with diabetic nephropathy is discussed. Furthermore, the renoprotective effects of antidiabetic drugs, focusing on albuminuria, are reviewed.     

淫羊藿总黄酮对实验性糖尿病大鼠肾脏保护作用

目的：研究淫羊藿总黄酮（TFE）对链脲佐菌素（STZ）致糖尿病大鼠肾脏损伤的影响,并初步探讨其可能的作用机制。方法：健康雄性SD大鼠一次性尾静脉注射STZ（40 mg/kg）建立糖尿病模型。动物随机分成3组（n=10）：对照组、模型组和TFE组（100 mg/kg,i.g.）。12周后,处死大鼠。测定空腹血糖,肾脏脏器系数,血清尿素氮（BUN）、肌酐（Cr）含量;测定肾组织中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性和丙二醛（MDA）含量;Masson染色观察肾组织胶原纤维增生;免疫组化测定转化生长因子β1（TGF-β1）蛋白的表达。结果：与对照组比较,模型组肾脏脏器系数增大、肾功能下降、肾组织抗氧化能力降低;病理学可见肾小球、肾小管间质纤维化;同时TGF-β1蛋白表达水平上调。TFE组明显改善上述指标。结论：TFE对STZ致糖尿病大鼠肾脏损伤有明显的改善作用,其作用机制可能与抗氧化作用和抑制TGF-β1蛋白表达有关。     

格列齐特对糖尿病大鼠心肌的保护作用及其机制*

目的: 观察格列齐特对糖尿病大鼠心肌保护作用及其可能的机制。方法: 将60只健康SD大鼠随机分为正常组(NC,n=10),造模组(n=50)给予高糖高脂饲料4周后,腹腔注射STZ(45 mg/kg)建立糖尿病大鼠模型,随机抽取以FBG≥16.7 mmol/L作为糖尿病模型建立成功。将造模成功的38只糖尿病大鼠随机分为模型组(MC,n=9)、格列齐特组(Glic,80 mg/kg,n=10)、格列本脲组(Glib,2.5 mg/kg,n=10)、法舒地尔组(Fas,10 mg/kg,n=9);NC组和MC组灌胃等容积蒸馏水,Glic组和Glib组灌胃给药,Fas组采用腹腔注射。各组大鼠每天给药一次,每周记录体质量及空腹血糖(FBG),持续8周。实验结束时取血并测定心脏质量,计算心脏质量指数(HWI);测定各组糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)、总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、高密度脂蛋白(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL-C)含量以及血清丙二醛(MDA)水平和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性;通过HE和Masson染色,观察心肌病理变化和组织胶原纤维水平;TUNEL染色观察并计算心肌细胞凋亡率;Western blot法检测心肌组织中RhoA、ROCK1、eNOS、Bcl-2和Bax蛋白表达。结果: 与NC组比较,MC组FBG、HWI、HbA1c、TC、TG、LDL-C、MDA水平,心肌组织胶原沉积和心肌细胞凋亡率以及心肌组织中RhoA、ROCK1、Bax蛋白明显升高,SOD活性及HDL-C、eNOS、Bcl-2和体重显著降低(P＜0.01);与MC组相比,Glic组FBG、HWI、HbA1c、TC、TG、LDL-C和MDA等指标明显下降,心肌组织胶原沉积及心肌细胞凋亡减轻,心肌组织RhoA、ROCK1、Bax蛋白表达下调(P＜0.01或P＜0.05),大鼠体重和血清中SOD活性,HDL-C升高,eNOS、Bcl-2蛋白水平升高(P＜0.01或P＜0.05)。与Glic组相比,Glib组与Fas组体重、血脂、FBG、HWI、MDA以及心肌纤维化和心肌细胞凋亡水平升高,SOD和Bcl-2降低,Glib组心肌组织RhoA、ROCK1、Bax蛋白表达上调(P＜0.01或P＜0.05)。结论: 格列齐特可改善糖尿病大鼠心肌损伤并减轻心肌细胞凋亡水平,其机制可能与降低血糖,改善氧化应激状态,调控RhoA/ROCK1/eNOS信号通路有关。     

熊果酸对糖尿病小鼠肾病的保护作用及机制研究

目的：观察熊果酸（UA）对四氧嘧啶诱导的糖尿病小鼠肾病的影响,并探讨其作用机制。方法：昆明种小鼠一次性尾静脉注射四氧嘧啶（70mg／kg）,72h后将血糖高于13．9mmol／L者视为糖尿病模型。随机分为对照组、模型组和uA组（35mg/kg,i．g．）,连续给药8周。测定血糖,肾脏脏器系数,肾组织中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）,丙二醛（MDA）,肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）及白细胞介素-6（IL-6）;HE染色观察肾组织病理变化。结果：模型组血糖、脏器指数升高;肾组织中SOD活力降低,MDA含量明显升高;TNE-α,IL-6表达增多;病理学显示模型组肾脏细胞萎缩,排列不整齐,可见炎症细胞浸润和间质增生,UA组明显改善上述变化。结论：熊果酸对四氧嘧啶致糖尿病小鼠肾脏损伤有明显的改善作用,其机制可能与降血糖,抗氧化作用和抑制炎症因子TNF-α、IL-6有关。     

Antioxidative potential of antidiabetic agents: A possible protective mechanism against vascular complications in diabetic patients

Many vascular complications are related to exposure of tissues to elevated levels of glucose, a condition that promotes oxidative stress. The primary goal of antidiabetic medication is for normalization of blood glucose. However, antidiabetic medications may have antioxidant effects that go beyond their hypoglycemic influences. Therefore, antidiabetic drugs may be doubly beneficial in preventing diabetic complications. Vascular dysfunction due to uncontrolled diabetes is a serious complication of the disease and one which has a severe impact on quality of life. Readjustment of the oxidative balance in subjects with diabetes, and the positive effects thereof is a topic of intense interest at present. In the current review, we highlight the antioxidant effects of antidiabetic medications which may prevent or delay the onset of vascular dysfunction.     

In vitro cell-based assays for evaluation of antioxidant potential of plant-derived products

Several plant-derived compounds have been screened by antioxidant assays, but many of these results are questionable, since they do not evaluate the pharmacologic parameters. In fact, the development of better antioxidants stills a great challenge. In vitro cell-based assays have been employed to assess the antioxidant effect of various compounds at subcellular level. Cell-based assays can also reveal compounds able to enhance the antioxidant pathways, but without direct radical scavenging action (which could not be detected by traditional assays). These methodologies are general of easy implementation and reproducible making them suitable for the early stages of drug discovery. Hydrogen peroxide, a nonradical derivative of oxygen, can be employed as an oxidative agent in these assays due its biochemical properties (presence of all biological systems, solubility) and capacity to induce cell death. Truthfully, if their limitations are understood (such as difference on cell metabolism when in in vitro conditions), these cell-based assays can provide useful information about the pathways involved in the protective effects of phytochemicals against cell death induced by oxidative stress, which can be exploited to develop new therapeutic approaches.     

Protective effects of molecular hydrogen on lung injury from lung transplantation

Lung grafts may experience multiple injuries during lung transplantation, such as warm ischaemia, cold ischaemia, and reperfusion injury. These injuries all contribute to primary graft dysfunction, which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation. As a potential selective antioxidant, hydrogen molecule (H₂) protects against post-transplant complications in animal models of multiple organ transplantation. Herein, the authors review the current literature regarding the effects of H₂ on lung injury from lung transplantation. The reviewed studies showed that H₂ improved the outcomes of lung transplantation by decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation at the donor and recipient phases. H₂ is primarily administered via inhalation, drinking hydrogen-rich water, hydrogen-rich saline injection, or a hydrogen-rich water bath. H₂ favorably modulates signal transduction and gene expression, resulting in the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and excess reactive oxygen species production. Although H₂ appears to be a physiological regulatory molecule with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties, its exact mechanisms of action remain elusive. Taken together, accumulating experimental evidence indicates that H₂ can significantly alleviate transplantation-related lung injury, mainly via inhibition of inflammatory cytokine secretion and reduction in oxidative stress through several underlying mechanisms. Further animal experiments and preliminary human clinical trials will lay the foundation for the use of H₂ as a treatment in the clinic.     

The impact of curcumin and its modified formulations on Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major health problem worldwide, with no effective treatment approach. Curcumin is the main ingredient of turmeric traditionally used in Asian medicine. Several experimental studies have indicated the protective effect of curcumin and its novel formulations in AD. Curcumin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neurotrophic activities, proposing a strong potential to prevent neurodegenerative diseases. However, there are no sufficient clinical trials to confirm curcumin use in AD patients. Low bioavailability following oral administration of curcumin limits its usage in human. The present study was designed to gather the effects of curcumin and its modified formulations in human and experimental models of AD.     

Protective and therapeutic effects of resveratrol on acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer

Sprague Dawley rats of both sexes were injected with either saline or RVT (10 mg/kg) either before or after acetic acid ulcer induction and decapitated 3, 5 or 10 days after ulcer. In the saline-treated ulcer groups, macroscopically evident ulcers were observed, while RVT-pretreated or RVT-treated groups had lower macroscopic ulcer scores. Likewise, the microscopic damage scores were lower for the RVT-administered groups. Gastric myeloperoxidase activity, malondialdehyde, collagen and tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels, as well as luminol- and lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence levels that were elevated in the saline-administered ulcer groups, were depressed with both RVT-pretreatment and RVT-treatment. Moreover, depleted glutathione levels in the ulcer groups were increased back to control levels by both pre- and post-treatments of RVT. Results demonstrate that resveratrol has both protective and therapeutic effects on oxidative gastric damage by suppressing pro-inflammatory cascades, including the activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, accumulation of neutrophils and release of oxygen-derived free radicals.     

Investigation of the protective effects of crocin on acrylamide induced small and large intestine damage in rats

We investigated repair of acrylamide (AA) induced damage in intestines by administration of crocin. We used 40 male Wistar rats in four groups of 10 animals: control, AA, crocin, and AA + crocin groups. We investigated biochemical and histological changes to small and large intestine. AA ingestion decreased glutathione (GSH) levels and total antioxidant status (TAS) in the intestine compared to the control group, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, and total oxidant status (TOS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were increased. Villi were shortened and villus degeneration was observed in ileum of the AA group. Degeneration of surface epithelium and Liberkühn crypts were observed in colon sections. GSH and TAS levels increased after administration of AA together with crocin, while SOD and CAT levels and TOS and MDA levels decreased; significant recovery of histological damage also was observed. We found that crocin exhibits protective effects on AA induced small and large intestine damage by inhibiting oxidative stress.     

Protective effects of curcumin on biochemical and molecular changes in sodium arsenite‐induced oxidative damage in embryonic fibroblast cells

The present study was aimed at determining the oxidative damage caused by sodium arsenite in 3T3 fibroblast cells and the possible protective role of curcumin (Cur) against sodium arsenite toxicity. Embryonic fibroblast cells were exposed to sodium arsenite (0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 μM) in the presence and absence of Cur (2.5 μM) for 24 hours. Cell viability, cytotoxicity, lipid peroxidation, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione‐S‐transferase) and expression levels of antioxidant genes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) were measured in embryonic fibroblast cells. Results demonstrated that sodium arsenite directly affects antioxidant enzymes and genes in 3T3 embryonic fibroblast cells and induces oxidative damage by increasing the amount of hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, and lipid peroxidation in the cell. Furthermore, the study indicated that Cur might be a potential ameliorative antioxidant to protect the fibroblast cell toxicity induced by sodium arsenite.