Phytochemical profiling,antioxidant and antiproliferation potential of Euphorbia milii var.: Experimental analysis and in-silico validation

This study was aimed to investigate the anticancer potential of Euphorbia milii (E. milii) using an exquisite combination of phytopharmacological and advanced computational techniques. The chloroform fraction (Em-C) of E. milii methanol extract showed the highest antioxidant activity (IC₅₀: 6.41 ± 0.99 µg/ml) among all studied fractions. Likewise, Em-C also showed significant cytotoxicity (IC₅₀: 11.2 ± 0.8 µg/ml) when compared with that of standard compound 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (IC₅₀: 4.22 ± 0.6 µg/ml) against hepatocarcinoma cell line (HepG2). However, in a human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa), Em-C demonstrated a non-significant difference in cytotoxicity (22.1 ± 0.8 µg/ml) when compared with that of 5-FU (IC₅₀: 6.87 ± 0.5 µg/ml). Furthermore, Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the suppression of HepG2 cells was the consequence of a tremendous decrease in CDK2 and E2F1 protein expression. The GC–MS analysis of Em-C revealed the unique presence of cyclobarbital (CBT) and benzodioxole derivative (BAN) as major constituents. Furthermore, molecular docking of compounds BAN, CBT, and MBT into the binding site of different molecular targets i.e. cyclin dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), thymidylate synthase (TS), caspase 3, BCL2 and topoisomerase II was carried out. Compounds BAN and CBT have demonstrated remarkable binding affinity towards CDK2 and thymidylate synthase, respectively. Molecular dynamic simulation studies have further confirmed the finding of docking analysis, suggesting that CDK2 and TS can act as an attractive molecular target for BAN and CBT, respectively. It can be concluded that these E. milii phytoconstituents (BAN and CBT) may likely be responsible for anti-invasive activity against HepG2 cells.     

How metals directly affect the antioxidant status in the liver and kidney of Oreochromis niloticus? An in vitro study

BackgroundMetals can disturb the integrity of physiological and biochemical mechanisms in fish. Thus components of defense as an antioxidant system are significant biomarkers due to their vital role in coping with metal stress. The aim of the current study is to investigate the direct effects of Cd, Cu, and Zn sublethal exposures (in vitro) on the antioxidant system parameters in the liver and kidney of Nile tilapia.MethodsThe antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH levels were analyzed after in vitro sublethal metal (200 and 400 μg/L Cd, Cu, and Zn) treatments of Oreochromis niloticus liver and kidney supernatants.ResultsMetals even at lower levels caused significant changes in the levels of antioxidant system parameters due to concentration, metal, and tissue type. GSH metabolism parameters were more responsive to the metal effect. TBARS levels and GPX activity were mostly increased while CAT, SOD, rGSH, and GSH/GSSG levels decreased. The kidney was more affected than the liver in vitro conditions. Cu was more effective in the liver whereas it was Zn for the kidney. Cd caused negative correlations among the antioxidant enzymes. Significant correlations were found between enzymes and GSH levels upon Zn and Cu exposures.ConclusionsDirect metal effects may trigger different response trends due to their nature and tissue differences. The current data provide a knowledge about which antioxidant biomarkers can define better the oxidative stress caused by direct metal effect for further studies including in vivo experiments.     

Views on antioxidant mouthwashes as adjunct in periodontal therapy

Clinical decision is often difficult with chlorhexidine mouthwash. The use of antioxidant mouthwashes for the treatment of periodontal disease is in practise. Therefore, it is of interest to collect gleaned information on Antioxidant mouthwashes as periodontal therapy from known literature. Improvement in treatment using antioxidant mouthwashes is reported in several studies. The mouthwash with antioxidants has similar anti-gingivitis, antiplaque and antimicrobial effects as that of chlorhexidine mouthwash.     

Dhanwantaram kashayam,an Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation,reduces oxidative radicals and reverts lipids profile towards normal in diabetic rats

BackgroundHyperglycemia and hyper oxidative stress are indicators of diabetes mellitus which is also accompanied with decreased levels of antioxidant enzymes. While oxidative stress is important in increasing insulin secretion and controlling blood sugar level at the same time excess oxidative stress leads to the destruction of beta cells of pancreas resulting in to low insulin production and hyperglycemia. A balance between the levels of oxidative radicals and insulin production is needed, but is not defined yet. Hyperglycemia also leads to hyperlipidemia which can contribute to various health conditions like cardiovascular diseases.ObjectivesThis study was designed to study the oxidative stress and lipid levels in diabetic rats. This also was designed to elucidate the effect of Dhanwantaram Kashayam, an Ayurvedic polyphenolic derived from plants on lipid metabolism and oxidative radical scavenging in diabetic rats.MethodsRats were made diabetic by injecting streptozotocin. Different enzymes involved in oxidative radical scavenging and lipid profiles including triglycerides, total cholesterol, free fatty acids and phospholipids were estimated using standard methods reported elsewhere.ResultsLevel of antioxidant enzymes were lower in diabetic rats compared to normal controls. Administration of Dhanwantaram Kashayam restored the enzyme activity as well as reduced levels of different lipids in diabetic rats.ConclusionsAdministration of Dhanwantaram Kashayam increased the activity levels of antioxidant enzymes and reduced the levels of total cholesterol, phospholipids and triglycerides. The results of this study point to the possibility of developing Dhanwantaram Kashayam as a dietary supplement which can alleviate the complications associated with diabetes or prevent them altogether.     

Circulating antioxidant vitamins and copper in Azorean coronary artery disease patients under preventive medication – A case study

Background and aimOxidative stress and inflammation are conditions that are deeply involved in atherosclerosis and consequent coronary artery disease (CAD). Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the relationship among circulating antioxidant vitamins (C, A, E), copper, and other pro- or antioxidant/inflammation markers in patients with and without CAD under preventive medication.Subjects and methods174 Azorean subjects symptomatic for CAD (age 56 ± 9y; 68 % men) submitted to coronary angiography were split into 2 groups: one formed by CAD patients (≥50 % stenosis in at least one major coronary vessel) and the other by non-CAD patients (<50 % stenosis). Both groups were age-, sex- and BMI-matched. Plasma levels of vitamins or copper were measured by HPLC and AAS, respectively.Results and conclusionsLower vitamin C levels were observed in CAD patients (mainly in women, who exhibited a high rate of diabetes mellitus) as compared to the non-CAD ones. Also, CAD patients (mainly men) exhibited significantly higher concentrations of plasma copper than their non-CAD counterparts (1.17 ± 0.3 mg/L vs. 1.09 ± 0.3 mg/L, p = 0.030). In bivariate analysis, plasma copper levels were positively associated with serum LDL-cholesterol (r=0.22; p = 0.004) and chiefly with C-reactive protein (r=0.40; p < 0.001). Furthermore, they were significantly lower in recurrent vs. non recurrent CAD patients (1.07±0.2 vs. 1.24±0.3 mg/L, p = 0.004). ROC analysis showed that plasma copper, whenever >1.06 mg/L, was an independent risk factor for CAD in primary prevention for men, which suggests that its levels can fluctuate with medical therapy (such as anti-inflammatory), thus indicating that copper is not a reliable marker for CAD. Moreover, plasma copper concentration was not associated with CAD severity. Yet, results do suggest that, even within its reference concentration range, it could be useful as an acute inflammation marker in CAD management.     

Effect of glutamic acid foliar applications on lettuce under water stress

The yield and quality of leafy vegetables can be compromised by reduced water availability. Glutamic acid is involved in different biological processes and among them it plays an important role in chlorophyll and proline biosynthesis. The aim of this work was to evaluate the possible efficacy of glutamic acid in counteracting water stress in romaine lettuce. Lettuce plants were grown in pots filled with substrate and subjected to water deprivation. A glutamic acid solution (1.9 mM) was applied as foliar treatment, both in stressed and non-stressed plants. The effect of the treatment was evaluated at different time points during the experiment in order to evaluate changes at a molecular, physiological, biochemical and agronomic level. Yield was reduced by 35% in stressed plants, while no significant changes in quality parameters were observed, except for nitrate content, which increased under water stress. At a molecular level, the expression of genes encoding for ROS scavenging enzymes was monitored but, apparently, glutamic acid did not significantly prevent the water stress response. Slightly positive effects deriving from glutamic acid application were found for nitrate and proline contents, suggesting that a possible mode of action of glutamic acid would involve a role for these molecules. Further studies are required, also on other crop species, for confirming these results. Different concentrations and application modes should be also tested.     

Seasonal trends in morpho-physiological attributes and bioactive content of Valeriana jatamansi Jones under full sunlight and shade conditions

Valeriana jatamansi Jones, an important medicinal herb of the Himalayan region, is an essential source of many therapeutic compounds and is traded/consumed in very high volume. The hypothesis of this study was that different seasons and light conditions may affect the content of medicinally valuable components with changes in the morpho-physiological attributes of the plant. Growing plants under suitable light conditions and harvesting of appropriate plant parts in optimum season is crucial for harnessing the full potential of the crop. Thus, the study was carried out to determine the seasonal response of V. jatamansi plants (genetically identical plants of same age) in terms of growth and phytochemical content under two different light conditions (full sunlight and 50% shade). During all seasons, growth parameters (plant height, leaf number, leaf area, relative water content, plant biomass) and the principle bioactive compounds (valerenic acid) were higher under shade conditions, while total flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities were higher under full sunlight conditions. HPLC analysis revealed that valerenic acid and most of the phenolic content were higher during summer season, especially in leaf part of the plant. The study suggested harvesting of V. jatamansi plants (especially leaf), during summer season to harness high quality raw material and to prevent loss of belowground parts. This strategy can be adopted by farmers for large scale cultivation of species.Supplementary InformationThe online version of this article contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-021-00944-0     

Supplementing rabbit diets with butylated hydroxyanisole affects oxidative stress,growth performance,and meat quality

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is a synthetic antioxidant analogous of vitamin E. It is used as a preservative to prevent free radical-mediated oxidation in high-fat foods, and this study's objective was to investigate the effects of BHA on oxidative stress and apoptosis in addition to delineating its efficacy as a growth-promoting feed additive. 60 weaned male rabbits (V-line) were randomly divided into four equal groups: BHA0.0 (control), BHA50, BHA100, and BHA150, administered basal diets with 0.0, 50, 100, and 150 mg BHA/kg of feed for 60 days. Animals were examined for growth performance, markers of oxidative stress and apoptosis, and meat characteristics. Compared to the control group, rabbits receiving BHA-supplemented diets exhibited increases in BW and average daily gain (P < 0.01), where BHA50 and BHA100 groups showed increased muscle content of methionine aspartic acid, serine, and glutamine (P < 0.05). These two groups also exhibited elevated catalase and superoxide dismutase activities and diminished malondialdehyde levels in the liver. Butylated hydroxyanisole upregulated fatty acid synthase gene (FASN), especially in BHA100 animals. Bcl-2-associated X/B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bax/Bcl-2) ratio significantly increased in animals receiving higher doses of BHA, and the weight of the liver significantly increased following BHA treatment. Supplementing growing rabbits with lower doses of dietary BHA may promote growth performance and meat quality via maintaining the redox balance. Hence, the 50–100 mg/kg may be recommended as a safe and still effective feed additive as well as an oxidative stress attenuator.     

Phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of extracts of the peruvian peppertree Schinus areira L. from Chile

The Andean tree Schinus areira L. has multiple traditional uses, from the treatment of bronchitis and rheumatic diseases to menstrual cycle regulation and wound healing. With reported hypotensive, analgesic, antitumoral and anti-inflammatory properties, it acts predominantly against diseases related to oxidative stress. This study focuses on the antioxidant activity and phytochemical profile of the extracts of Schinus areira L.Serial extraction of the fruits was performed both by maceration and by Soxhlet. Total phenols and flavonoids were measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and AlCl₃, respectively. In vitro antioxidant activity was determined by FRAP and DPPH.Results were similar for both extraction methods. Primary metabolites detected included carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids; secondary metabolites included tannins, flavonoids, saponins, steroids and triterpenes. Antioxidant activity was confirmed for ethyl acetate, methanolic and aqueous extracts. The methanolic extract had both the highest polyphenol content (>195 mg GAE/ g dry weight) and the highest antioxidant activity [EC₅₀ > 476 μg/mL; >273 mg AA/g dry weight (DPPH); >301 mg AA/ g dry weight (FRAP)]. The extract does not produce macrophage cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7, which is indicated by an average cytotoxicity of 2% over 24 h.Our study serves as a starting point for future research on the pharmacological properties of Schinus areira L.     

Foliar application of ascorbic acid enhances salinity stress tolerance in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) through modulation of morpho-physio-biochemical attributes,ions uptake,osmo-protectants and stress response genes expression

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a major cereal grain and is known as a halophyte (a halophyte is a salt-tolerant plant that grows in soil or waters of high salinity). We therefore conducted a pot experiment to explore plant growth and biomass, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange attributes, stomatal properties, oxidative stress and antioxidant response and their associated gene expression and absorption of ions in H. Vulgare. The soil used for this analysis was artificially spiked at different salinity concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 150 mM) and different levels of ascorbic acid (AsA) were supplied to plants (0, 30 and 60 mM) shortly after germination of the seed. The results of the present study showed that plant growth and biomass, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange parameters, stomatal properties and ion uptake were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by salinity stress, whereas oxidative stress was induced in plants by generating the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plant cells/tissues compared to plants grown in the control treatment. Initially, the activity of antioxidant enzymes and relative gene expression increased to a saline level of 100 mM, and then decreased significantly (P < 0.05) by increasing the saline level (150 mM) in the soil compared to plants grown at 0 mM of salinity. We also elucidated that negative impact of salt stress in H. vulgare plants can overcome by the exogenous application of AsA, which not only increased morpho-physiological traits but decreased oxidative stress in the plants by increasing activities of enzymatic antioxidants. We have also explained the negative effect of salt stress on H. vulgare can decrease by exogenous application of AsA, which not only improved morpho-physiological characteristics, ions accumulation in the roots and shoots of the plants, but decreased oxidative stress in plants by increasing antioxidant compounds (enzymatic and non-enzymatic). Taken together, recognizing AsA's role in nutrient uptake introduces new possibilities for agricultural use of this compound and provides a valuable basis for improving plant tolerance and adaptability to potential salinity stress adjustment.