A study on the antioxidant activities of some new benzazole derivatives

The in vitro antioxidant properties of some new benzazole derivatives (1-10) such as benzoxazoles, benzimidazoles, and benzothiazoles were determined by their effects on the rat liver microsomal NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation (LP) level, the scavenging of superoxide anion and the stable radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Compounds 1, 2, 4 and 6, showed potent scavenging effect on superoxide radical at 10(-3) M. Compound 8, 5-nitro-2-(phenoxymethyl)benzimidazole, strongly inhibited lipid peroxidation at 10(-3) M concentration.     

In vitro effects of some drugs on catalase purified from human skin

Catalase enzyme (H202: oxidoreductase; E.C. 1.11.1.6) was purified from human skin homogenate using ammonium sulfate precipitation and DEAE-Sephadex A50 ion exchange chromatography at 4 degrees C and some characteristics of the enzyme were investigated. The human skin enzyme, having a specific activity of 1354.5 EU/mg proteins was purified with a yield of 43.13% and 1110-fold. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed a single band for the enzyme. Inhibition by piroxicam, ketoprofen, diclofenac sodium, sulfamethoxazole and nidazole occurred with I50 values of 0.414, 1.29, 1.8, 3.83, and 8.64 mM, respectively.     

Serum IL-18 is increased at early postburn period in moderately burned patients

A severe systemic inflammatory response is usually seen after burn injury. IL-18 enhances the Th1 immune responses in bacterial andviral infections. In order to evaluate the IL-18 serum levels as well as IL-6 and TNF-alpha at the 48th hour postburn, serial serum samples of 8 burned patients were analyzed. 8 moderately burned patients were included into the study. Serum samples were taken at admission at the 48th hour of postburn. IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-alpha serum levels were analyzed. Total mean burned surface area (TBSA) was 24.6 +/- 5.7% and mean BMI (body mass index) was 24.5 +/- 3.4. The patients' age ranged from 17 to 38 (mean 26.3 +/- 7.4) years. An increase in sera IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-alpha was detected at the 48th hour postburn (P < .0001). All patients survived. A marked increase in serum levels of IL-18 as well as the other cytokines evaluated was observed in the moderately burned patients. These three parameters were highly correlated with each other (r > 0.9 and P < .001). This is the first study that shows an increase in serum IL-18 levels at the early postburn period.     

Melatonin analogue new indole hydrazide/hydrazone derivatives with antioxidant behavior: Synthesis and structure–activity relationships

Melatonin (MLT) is a hormone produced in the brain by the pineal gland, from the amino acid tryptophan. It is also an antioxidant hormone with a particular role in the protection of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. In recent years, many physiological properties of MLT have been described resulting in much attention in the development of synthetic compounds possessing the indole ring. Sixteen MLT analogue indole hydrazide/hydrazone derivatives were synthesized and in vitro antioxidant activity was investigated. Most of the compounds showed significantly higher activity than MLT at 10^{? 3} M and 10^{? 4} M concentrations.     

Comparative evaluation of the microplate nitrate reductase assay and the rezasurin microtitre assay for the rapid detection of multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates

The microplate nitrate reductase assay (MNRA) and the rezasurin microtitre assay (REMA) were used for the susceptibility testing of 73 clinical isolates and the results were compared with those that were obtained using the Bactec 460 TB and Bactec MGIT 960 systems. The REMA and the MNRA were performed in 96-well plates. For the REMA, the concentrations of isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF) ranged from 1.0-0.01 μg/mL and 2.0-0.03 μg/mL, respectively. For the MNRA, the INH concentration was between 1.0-0.03 μg/mL and the RIF concentration was between 2.0-0.06 μg/mL. For the MNRA, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and INH/RIF agreement were 100/95.6, 97.6/100, 96.8/100, 100/98 and 98.6/98.6, respectively, and for the REMA, they were 100/91.3, 90.4/100, 88.5/100, 100/96.1 and 94.5/97.2, respectively. Our data suggest that these two rapid, low-cost methods may be inexpensive, alternative assays for the rapid detection of multidrug resistant tuberculosis in low-income countries.     

Silicon increases boron tolerance and reduces oxidative damage of wheat grown in soil with excess boron

The effect of silicon on the growth, boron concentrations, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, lipoxygenase (LOX) activity, proline (PRO) and H₂O₂ accumulation, and the activities of major antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)] and non-enzymatic antioxidants (AA) of wheat grown in soil originally with toxic B concentrations were investigated. Applied of 5.0 and 10.0 mM Si to the B toxic soil significantly increased Si concentration of the wheat and counteracted the deleterious effects of B on shoot growth. The contents of PRO, H₂O₂, MDA, and LOX activity of wheat grown in B toxic soil were significantly reduced by Si treatments. Compared with control plants, the activities of SOD, CAT, APX and content of AA were decreased by applied Si. Based on the present work, it can be concluded that Si alleviates B toxicity of wheat by preventing oxidative membrane damage and also translocation of B from root to shoot and/or soil to plant.