Antiradical activity of retinal lipids during illumination

A. I. Karaev Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR, Baku. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR S. E. Severin.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 110, No. 7, pp. 50–52, July, 1990.     

中年人群体力活动能耗与血脂水平关系的研究

目的分析体力活动与血脂的关系,为指导合理运动,防治血脂异常提供科学依据。方法招募40～65岁广州市民555例（男188例,女367例）;用一周体力活动调查和三日体力活动记录2种方法调查体力活动情况;采空腹血样测定TC、TG、LDL和HDL。结果活动总能耗低、中、高分别为（748.2±185.5）、（1223.7±138.8）、（1843.5±314.3）kcal/d,运动能耗低、中、高分别为（164.9±96.9）、（504.6±101.7）、（989.2±262.5）kcal/d。按三分位法分3组,控制性别、年龄、BMI后协方差分析TC随活动总能耗的增高而降低,TC、LDL随运动能耗的增高而降低,组间比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。将在职对象（n=201）的工作能耗分为低（691.2±117.1）kcal/d）、中（980.5±81.6）kcal/d）、高（1502.2±355.5）kcal/d）3组,控制性别、年龄、BMI后协方差分析,工作能耗中、高组的TC水平低于能耗低组（P〈0.05）。结论适当增加活动总能耗有利于改善血脂,本研究涉及的工作能耗范围内,中度工作能耗比轻度工作能耗更有利于维持正常血脂。     

In vitro antioxidant activity of extracts from the leaves of Abies pindrow Royle

Traditionally, the leaves of Abies pindrow Royle are employed as an ayurvedic remedy for fever, hypoglycaemic, respiratory and inflammatory conditions. In this study, dichloromethane, methanol and acetone extracts of A. pindrow leaves were analysed for their phytochemical content and in vitro antioxidant activities. The methanol extract exhibited highest antioxidant activity while acetone extract showed presence of relatively high total phenol and flavonoids contents. The present study provides evidence that extracts of Abies pindrow leaves are a potential source of natural antioxidants and could serve as a base for future drugs.     

Free radical oxidation and antioxidant activity in blood plasma and myocardium during long-term dipyridamole treatment

Activation of free radical oxidation and inhibition of antioxidant activity in mouse myocardium after long-term dipyridamole treatment were demonstrated using chemiluminescent techniques. At the same time, dipyridamole 10-fold inhibited free radical oxidation and slightly increased antioxidant activity in the plasma. Dipyridamole-induced platelet disaggregation was accompanied by an increase in platelet count.     

Chemiluminescence assay of the antioxidant state in patients with atherosclerosis

We evaluated antioxidant state of 62 patients with coronary heart disease and 47 patients with obliterating atherosclerosis of lower extremities by peroxide-depend chemiluminescence and inhibition of azo-initiated chemiluminescence and hydrogen peroxide-hemoglobin-luminol chemiluminescence system. The flash amplitude of peroxide-dependent chemiluminescence in the plasma from patients was 32% below the control. Antioxidant activity of the plasma from patients was higher than in healthy individuals by 33 and 27% depending on the type of free radical-generating systems. The increase in antioxidant activity was most pronounced in patients with combined pathology: coronary heart disease complicated by obliterating atherosclerosis. These results explain the decrease in peroxide-dependent chemiluminescence of the plasma and whole blood in patients with atherosclerosis compared to that in healthy individuals.     

Total antioxidant capacity of bovine spontaneously released and retained placenta

Exposure of living organisms to a constant generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulted in the development of antioxidative defence systems which protect cells and tissues against their harmful effects.

The retention of fetal membranes (RFM) in cows is hypothesized to be connected with the imbalance between production and neutralization of ROS.

The efficiency of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidative systems can be detected by the determination of single components of this system or by so-called total antioxidant capacity (TAC). In the present study, total antioxidant capacity was compared with previously measured parameters of antioxidative defence mechanisms in placental tissues of cows with respect to time of fetal membranes expulsion and mode of delivery. Placental samples were divided into: (A) caesarian section before term (272–277 days of pregnancy) without RFM (n = 9), (B) caesarian section before term with RFM (n = 14), (C) caesarian section at term (282–288 days of pregnancy) without RFM (n = 12), (D) caesarian section at term with RFM (n = 16), (E) spontaneous delivery at term without RFM (n = 8), (F) spontaneous delivery at term with RFM (n = 8).

TAC was measured spectrophotometrically at 593 nm by use of 2,4,6-tri-pyridyl-s-triazine in homogenates of maternal and fetal part of placenta and expressed as μmol/g protein (mean ± S.E.M.).

The values of TAC were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) in the fetal than in maternal part in preterm samples (A – maternal: 27.24 ± 4.17 μmol/g prot, fetal: 63.67 ± 18.16, B – maternal: 49.80 ± 5.11, fetal: 70.96 ± 13.23). The opposite relationship was noticed in term samples. Significantly higher values were observed in retained than in not retained placental tissues (C – maternal: 32.40 ± 6.12, fetal: 16.29 ± 3.97, D – maternal: 48.17 ± 6.91, fetal: 27.92 ± 4.72, E – maternal: 40.55 ± 2.66, fetal: 27.90 ± 1.23, F – maternal: 45.85 ± 6.40, fetal: 43.50 ± 4.61).

Values of TAC are comparable with previously determined single parameters of antioxidative defence mechanisms in placental tissues and may be of clinical importance. Whether they reflect plasma values as well requires further evaluation.     

Evaluation of Compositae sp. plants for antioxidant activity,antiinflammatory, anticancer and antiadipogenic activity in vitro

Aster spathulifolius, Coreopsis drummondii, Chrysanthemum morifolium, Chrysanthemum boreale, Chrysanthemum indicum and Rudbeckia laciniata var. hortensis had 30–70 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dw of the total phenolic contents. Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and reducing powers of tested Compositae plant extract appeared to be linear and consistent with total phenolic/flavonoids compound contents in the same manner with DPPH radical scavenging activity. R. laciniata (200 µg/mL) inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production to approximately 92.8% from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage cells. Although the total phenolic/flavonoids contents and antioxidant activity of R. laciniata is low compared with other Compositae plants, R. laciniata shows the superior inhibitory activity against NO biosynthesis from LPS-induced macrophage cells. For antiobesity activity, C. boreale, C. morifolium and C. drummondii might act to accelerate lipid degradation and to decrease lipid synthesis in 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells, and C. indicum, A. spathulifolius and R. laciniata extract had antiobesity activity to inhibit lipid synthesis in 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells.     

Chronic hyperprolactinemia and plasma lipids in women

Summary Plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) were studied in 15 hyperprolactinemic women who had a prolactin (PRL) adenoma, in comparison to 15 age-matched control women. In the hyperprolactinemic group, plasma lipids were also correlated to age, excess body weight (EBW), plasma PRL, and estradiol-17 (E2). Plasma TC, TG, and LDL-C were similar in both hyperprolactinemic and control women, while plasma HDL-C was significantly lower (P<0.01) in the hyperprolactinemic group. The correlation study showed a significant negative correlation between HDL-C and EBW (r=–0.64;P<0.02) and a slightly significant positive correlation between TG and PRL (r=0.54;P<0.05). The direct effect of PRL on plasma lipids is difficult to establish since many factors influencing lipid metabolism are altered during hyperprolactinemia.Abbreviations EBW excess body weight - E2 estradiol-17 - GH growth hormone - HDL-C high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol - LDL-C low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol - LPL lipoprotein lipase - PRL prolactin - RIA radioimmunoassay - TC total cholesterol - TG triglycerides     

Phenolic content and antioxidant potential of Sarcostigma kleinii Wight. & Arn

The objective of this study was to determine the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts from different parts of Sarcostigma kleinii (leaf, bark and fruit). The bark extract afforded the highest yield (22.78%±2.09%) whilst the lowest yield was obtained from the fruit (12.66%±0.52%) (p<0.05). The leaf extract showed the highest total phenolic ontent (24.40±0.34 mg Gallic acid equivalent (GAE)g extract) and total flavonoid content (68.70±3.37 lg Rutin equivalent (RE) g extract) as well as the best antioxidant activity through all antioxidant assays (p<0.05). These results suggest that methanolic extracts of S. kleinii leaf, bark and fruit may serve as a potential source of natural antioxidants for food and nutraceutical applications.     

Protective effects and antioxidant mechanism of bamboo leaf flavonoids on hepatocytes injured by CCl4

The protective effects and antioxidant mechanisms of bamboo leaf flavonoids (BLFs) on hepatocytes injured by CCl₄ were studied by establishing models of hepatocyte damage induced by CCl₄ and detecting the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismurase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) content and liver glycogen content. The degree of lesions in liver tissues between model and dosage groups was observed through paraffin sections. Results showed that BLFs significantly inhibit CCl₄-induced liver injury. The ALT and AST activities as well as MDA contents of cells decreased significantly after treatment with BLFs. GSH-Px and SOD activities as well as liver glycogen contents remarkably increased in the flavonoids groups, which exhibited dose-dependent relationships (P < 0.05). The degree of lesions in liver tissues in the BLF groups was microscopically better than that in the model group. BLFs also significantly suppressed hepatocellular injury and death of apoptotic cells. Therefore, BLFs have remarkable protective effects on acute liver injury, which is related to its strong antioxidant capacity to reduce damage in the liver caused by oxidative stress and cell (NCTC-1469) apoptosis. The results of this study provide pharmacological evidence to support the clinical application of BLFs.     

Potential anticancer activity of Acetone extracts of Toona cilliata,Seriphium plumosum and Schkuhria pinnata on HeLa cervical cancer cells

BackgroundCervical cancer is common in women in less developed regions of the world. The plant biomolecules can be employed for synergistic activity with chemo- and radiotherapy. This combinations might result in reduced toxicity and increased efficacy of the treatment regimen.ObjectivesThe anti-HeLa cells activity of the acetone extracts of S. plumosum, T. cilliata and S. pinnata was assessed using different parameters.MethodsSecondary metabolite detection and antioxidant activity quantification were determined using the DPPH and ferric iron reducing assays. HeLa cell growth inhibition and mechanistics were assessed by employing MTT and Annexin-V flous assays.ResultsObservations revealed the presence of phenolic, flavonoids, tannins steroids and coumarins in all the plants extracts. High amount of total phenolic and flavonoid content were detected in S. plumosum and T. cilliata. S. plumosum extract had the best DPPH scavenging activity and ferric reducing powers.ConclusionObservable concentration dependent cell proliferation inhibition by test materials was exhibited. The leaf extracts from T. cilliata, S. plumosum and S. pinnata contain compounds of various polarities with free-radical, antioxidant and anti-cancerous activities that may play a beneficial role in treatment.     

Effect of oestriol succinate on serum lipids

The series comprises 70 women with climacteric symptoms; 14 of them were oophorectomized. The first group of patients received 4 mg of oestriol succinate per day or a placebo in a double-blind experiment. In the second part of the study oophorectomized women were given 8 mg of oestriol succinate per day or 16 mg/day divided into two doses. Serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and serum triglycerides were estimated before drug treatment and after drug administration for three and six months. Administration of 4–16 mg/day of oestriol succinate was without effect on serum total cholesterol. A significant increase of 25–30% in HDL-cholesterol was observed following administration of oestriol succinate (8 mg or 16 mg divided into two doses) with a rising tendency in total triglyceride value.     

Comparison of the antioxidant activity of carnosine in different chemical and biological models

Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 115, N ^o 6, pp. 607–609, June, 1993     

Antibacterial,antioxidant and anticancer activities of biphenyls from Streptomyces sp. BO-07: an endophyte in Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf A.

Strain BO-07 was isolated from the root tissue of Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf A. and identified as Streptomyces sp. on the basis of morphology, chemotaxonomy and 16S rDNA sequencing. The fractionation of the crude extract from strain BO-07 cultures led to the isolation of two biphenyls: 3′-hydroxy-5-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxybiphenyl (1) and 3′-hydroxy-5,5′-dimethoxy-3,4-methylenedioxybiphenyl (2); these compounds and the crude extract had potent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, and antioxidant and anticancer activities. These compounds showed the highest activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25932, Bacillus cereus ATCC7064 and Bacillus subtilis ATCC6633 with a minimum inhibitory concentration value of 0.5?µg/ml and minimum bactericidal concentration of 2–8?µg/ml. Compounds 1 and 2 showed the highest (1, 1diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) DPPH antioxidant activity with a scavenging concentration (SC₅₀) value of 85.84 and 88.26?µg/ml, respectively, and also showed strong cytotoxicity against all the three cancer cell lines (HeLa, HepG2 and Huh7) at an IC₅₀ value of 3.04–20.30?μg/ml. Both the compounds were less toxic on normal cells (L929) than on the investigated cancer cell lines.