Curcuma Oil: Reduces Early Accumulation of Oxidative Product and is Anti-apoptogenic in Transient Focal Ischemia in Rat Brain

Turmeric is a source of numerous aromatic compounds isolated from powdered rhizomes of Curcuma longa Linn. The constituents are present as volatile oil, the Curcuma oil (C.oil), semi-solid oleoresins and non-volatile compounds such as curcumin. A rapidly expanding body of data provides evidence of the anti-cancer action of Curcumin, and most importantly in the present context, its neuroprotective activity. Almost nothing is known about such activity of C.oil. We report that C.oil (500 mg Kg⁻¹ i.p.) 15 min before 2 h middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) followed by 24 h reflow in rats significantly diminished infarct volume, improved neurological deficit and counteracted oxidative stress. The percent ischemic lesion volume on diffusion-weighted imaging was significantly attenuated. Mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species, peroxynitrite levels, caspase-3 activities leading to delayed neuronal death were significantly inhibited after treatment with C.oil. These results suggest that the neuroprotective activity of C.oil against cerebral ischemia is associated with its antioxidant activities and further; there is attenuation of delayed neuronal death via a caspase-dependent pathway. C.oil appears to be a promising agent not only for the treatment of cerebral stroke, but also for the treatment of other disorders associated with oxidative stress. An erratum to this article can be found at     

维生素E对三氯乙烯急性染毒大鼠肝脏脂质过氧化与抗氧化酶的影响

本文观察了用抗氧化剂维生素E预处理后,三氯乙烯(3000mg/kg B-W-) 一次性经口染毒24h 大鼠肝脏的超氧化物歧化酶、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶等抗氧化酶活力及丙二醛含量的变化,结果表明三氯乙烯染毒组肝脏中丙二醛含量、超氧化物歧化酶活力及血清谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶活力均高于对照组(P< 0-01) ;而维生素E干预组的丙二醛含量、超氧化物歧化酶活力及血清谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶活力均分别低于三氯乙烯染毒组(P< 0-01) ,说明三氯乙烯急性染毒可引起肝脏脂质过氧化反应及肝损害,肝脏超氧化物歧化酶活力升高可能是机体受自由基及脂质过氧化反应刺激而诱导产生的一种适应性反应,维生素E对三氯乙烯所致的肝损害有一定的保护作用。     

Adaptations of the antioxidant system in erythrocytes of trained adult rats: impact of intermittent hypobaric-hypoxia at two altitudes

We have investigated the effects of daily exposure to intermittent hypobaric-hypoxia to two simulated altitudes (5700 m and 6300 m) in adult male rats that had been regularly swim trained in normoxia at sea level prior to exposures. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) along with the oxidative stress (OS) indices, malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl content were measured in erythrocytes and their membranes. Hemoglobin increased in the trained animals exposed to 5700 m and in untrained rats exposed to 6300 m. Osmotic fragility in terms of hemolysis increased in altitude exposed animals. SOD increased in those exposed to 6300 m, while CAT increased in trained rats exposed to 5700 m and to 6300 m unlike in untrained rats where CAT increased only at 6300 m. GSH-Px showed varying degrees of elevation in all animals exposed to both altitudes. Erythrocyte membranes showed significant elevations in malondialdehyde (MDA) at 6300 m, while elevated protein carbonyls were noticeable at both altitudes in whole cells and membranes. These results suggest a positively associated elevation in protein oxidation with altitude in trained rats. At 5700 m, animals were less stressed, unlike at 6300 m, as seen from the magnitude of elevations in the OS indices and from the responses of the antioxidant enzymes.     

Dehydroepiandrosterone ameliorates H2O2-induced Leydig cells oxidation damage and apoptosis through inhibition of ROS production and activation of PI3K/Akt pathways

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is widely used as a nutritional supplement, and administration of DHEA produces a number of beneficial effects in the elderly. Many researchers have suggested that DHEA exerts it function after conversion into more biologically active hormones in peripheral target cells. The actions of DHEA in Leydig cells, a major target cell of DHEA biotransformation in males, are not clear. The present study found that DHEA increased cell viability and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde contents in H₂O₂-induced Leydig cells. DHEA significantly increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase, and decreased the DNA damage in H₂O₂-induced Leydig cells. Apoptosis was significant decreased in H₂O₂-induced Leydig cells after DHEA treatment. DHEA inhibited the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and the upregulation of the caspase-3 protein level induced by H₂O₂ in Leydig cells. DHEA also reversed the decrease in PI3K and p-Akt protein levels induced by H₂O₂. These data showed that DHEA could ameliorate H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage by increasing anti-oxidative enzyme activities, which resulted in reduced ROS content, and decreased apoptosis, mainly by preventing the loss of ΔΨm and inhibiting caspase-3 protein levels via activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. These results increase our understanding of the molecular mechanism of the anti-ageing effect of DHEA.     

Protective effect of tea polyphenols on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury via suppressing the activation of TLR4/NF-κB p65 signal pathway

Tea polyphenols (TP) was investigated in rats for its protective effect on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (RIRI). Rats were randomized into groups as follows: (I) sham group (n = 10); (II) RIRI group (n = 10); (III) RIRI + TP (100 mg/kg) group (n = 5); (IV) RIRI + TP (200 mg/kg) group (n = 5); (V) RIRI + TP+ Astragalus mongholicus aqueous extract (AMAE) (300 mg/kg + 100 mg/kg) group (n = 5). For the IRI + TP groups, rats were orally given with tea polyphenols (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight) once daily 10 days before induction of ischemia, followed by renal IRI. For the sham group and RIRI group, rats were orally given with equal volume of saline once daily 10 days before induction of ischemia, followed by renal IRI. Results showed that tea polyphenol pretreatment significantly suppressed ROS level and MDA release. On the other hand, in rats subjected to ischemia–reperfusion, the activities of endogenous antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) showed recovery, whereas the levels of urea nitrogen and serum creatinine were reduced by administration of tea polyphenols orally for 10 days prior to ischemia–reperfusion. Moreover, tea polyphenol pretreatment significantly decreased TLR4 and NF-κB p65 protein expression levels in RIRI rats. At the same time, tea polyphenol pretreatment attenuated the increased level of serum IL-1β, IL-6, ICAM-1 and TNF-α, and enhanced IL-10 production in RIRI rats. Furthermore, tea polyphenol pretreatment significantly decreased renal epithelial tubular cell apoptosis induced by renal ischemia/reperfusion, alleviating renal ischemia/reperfusion injury. These results cumulatively indicate that tea polyphenol pretreatment could suppress the TLR4/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway, protecting renal tubular epithelial cells against ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis, which implies that antioxidants may be a potential and effective agent for prevention of the ischemic/reperfusion injury through the suppression extrinsic apoptotic signal pathway induced by TLR4/NF-κB p65 signal pathway. Moreover, supplement of AMAE can increased renal protection effect of TP.     

纳米硒通过抗氧化应激调节大脑NO含量改善睡眠剥夺小鼠认知功能

研究了纳米硒对睡眠剥夺(SD)小鼠(Mus musculus)认知功能的影响,并探讨其作用机制。将120只雄性昆明小鼠随机分成两批,第一批24只分为3组:对照组(NC)、亚硒酸钠组(SE)和纳米硒组(NS),分别给予硒浓度为4μg/ml的亚硒酸钠和纳米硒溶液每只0.5ml/d,NC组给等体积蒸馏水,连续30d,第31天测定SE和NS两组小鼠的血硒及全血GSH-Px活性,评价两种硒源的生物利用性;第二批96只分为4组:对照组(N-SeC),纳米硒低、中、高剂量组(L、M、H),L、M和H组分别给予硒浓度为2μg/ml、4μg/ml、8μg/ml的纳米硒溶液每只0.5ml/d,N-SeC组给予同体积蒸馏水,连续30d。第二批小鼠每组又各自分为4小组:SD对照组(SDC)及SD18h、SD36h、SD54h组,采用单平台水环境法(SPM)制作小鼠SD模型。在SD后,N-SeC、L、M和H组利用Y-型迷宫试验测定认知能力,同时测定小鼠大脑GSH-Px、NO、MDA含量。结果表明,纳米硒对GSH-Px活性的提高优于传统硒源亚硒酸钠,但血硒无显著差异;与SDC组比较,SD降低了小鼠的认知能力及大脑GSH-Px活性,提高了NO和MDA含量;与N-SeC比较,纳米硒使SD小鼠的认知功能得到改善,大脑GSH-Px活性提高,MDA和NO含量下降。上述结果表明,纳米硒能够改善SD小鼠的认知功能,这可能与其提高大脑GSH-Px活性并降低了自由基对大脑神经的损害有关。     

Cry1Ab蛋白在拟环纹豹蛛体内的富集及对其体内酶活性的影响

用Cry1Ab蛋白处理的果蝇喂养拟环纹豹蛛Pardosa pseudoannulata,在第1d、3d、5d、7d、9d、11d用酶联免疫（ELISA）检测技术测定实验组和对照组拟环纹豹蛛体内Cry1Ab蛋白含量,运用紫外分光光度法检测拟环纹豹蛛体内超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH—Px）、乙酰胆碱酯酶（AChE）的活性,探讨拟环纹豹蛛体内Cw1Ab蛋白的富集作用与其体内3种酶活性的关系。结果表明,从第ld至第7dC~IAb蛋F1在拟环纹豹蛛体内均具富集作用（P〈0．05）,到第7d的时候达到最高值,达极显著差异（p〈0．01）,然后逐渐降低,但仍显著高于对照（p〈0．05）。SOD酶活性总体趋势是降低的,在第7d达到最低;用Cry1Ab蛋白处理拟环纹豹蛛后其体内的AChE和GSH—Px酶活性随饲养时间的延长而增加,并均高于对照组（p〈0．05）。该研究征明Cry1Ab蛋白在拟环纹豹蛛体内具有富集效应,并且其体内Cry1Ab蛋白对其体内GSH—Px、AChE具铂一定诱导作用,对SOD酶具有一定程度的抑制作用。     

硒元素对平菇菌丝体GSH-Px、SOD及MDA的影响

于培养基中加入一定量的亚硒酸钠溶液 ,分别测定了 2个品种平菇菌丝体内GSH Px、SOD活性及MDA含量。结果表明 :3 0、60mg/L组菌丝体内GSH Px、SOD活性极显著升高 (P <0 .0 1 )而MDA含量明显降低 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,随着硒水平的升高 ,GSH Px、SOD活性呈下降趋势而MDA含量则显著升高 (P <0 .0 5 )。因此 ,在培养富硒平菇菌丝体时应适当考虑培养基的硒浓度。     

硒性白内障大鼠模型晶状体中GR和GSH-Px的表达

 为探讨硒性白内障大鼠晶状体中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶 (GSH Px)和谷胱甘肽还原酶 (GR)的活性调节在硒性白内障形成中的作用及调节方式 ,采用半定量RT PCR方法 ,比较正常晶状体、核中心混浊晶状体 (核白 )和完全混浊晶状体 (全白 )中GSH Px和GR的mRNA水平及酶活性的变化 .研究发现 ,核白晶状体中 2种酶的活性和mRNA水平均升高 ,其中酶活性的升高幅度小于mRNA水平 .随着白内障的发展 ,2种酶的活性和mRNA水平均逐渐下降 .至晶状体全白时 ,2种酶的活性均显著低于正常 ;全白时GR的mRNA水平降至正常 ,GSH Px的mRNA水平则仍高于正常 .结果表明 ,硒性白内障形成与细胞内GSH Px和GR的活性调节密切相关 ,GSH Px和GR的活性调节可能主要发生在转录水平     

Intracellular superoxide dismutase,catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities and membrane lipid peroxide levels in Fusarium acuminatum upon environmental changes in a defined medium

The variations of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities and lipid peroxide (LPO) levels in Fusarium acuminatum, an aerobic filamentous fungus, were investigated depending on the carbon and nitrogen sources during the incubation period. Fungus was cultivated in growing medium containing either maltose or saccharose in 5-25 g/L concentration range as a carbon source and either glycine or peptone in 5-35 g/L concentration range as a nitrogen source at 28 degrees C and 100 rpm. The observed highest SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities were 31.2+/-0.655, 62.5+/-5.23, and 1.52+/-0.0122 IU/mg in the presence of 20 g/L maltose and 73.96+/-1.48, 74.46+/-2.94, 3.48+/-0.083 IU/mg in the 15 g/L glycine-containing medium at 16 days, respectively. At the same time, the minimum LPO level was observed at 20 g/L maltose and 15 g/L glycine compared with the other carbon and nitrogen sources. The results showed a negative correlation between antioxidant enzyme activities and membrane LPO levels in F. acuminatum cells.