Hepatoprotective activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, captopril and enalapril, against paraquat toxicity

Paraquat is a highly toxic herbicide that is used in most countries without restriction. The cytotoxic action of paraquat is mediated by reactive radicals that are products of its metabolic reduction in cells. It has already been hypothesized that some angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (e.g., captopril and enalapril) could show antioxidant and radical scavenging activity through their structural thiol groups, increasing antioxidant enzymes production or nitric oxide synthesis. In this study the hepatoprotective effect of captopril and enalapril against paraquat induced oxidative stress cytotoxicity was evaluated in isolated rat hepatocyte. Subtoxic concentrations of captopril (0.2 mM) and enalapril (0.2 mM) significantly (p < 0.05) protected the hepatocytes against paraquat (2 mM) induced oxidative stress cytotoxicity markers including: cell lysis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, lipid peroxidation, glutathione depletion, mitochondrial membrane potential decrease, lysosomal membrane oxidative damage and cellular proteolysis. Moreover, we showed that non-thiol enalapril acts as well as thiol containing captopril at inhibiting oxidative stress cytotoxicity markers. Finally, our results support the hypothesis that it is the increase in nitric oxide synthesis and not the presence of the thiol group that accounts for the antioxidant activity of ACE inhibitors.     

In vitro effect of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha on canine neutrophil apoptosis

Neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes: PMNs) are essential for the host defense against various infections and are often injurious to the host, causing inflammatory diseases where tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is suggested to play an important role. Since an effect of TNF-alpha on canine PMN apoptosis has not been studied, canine PMNs were stimulated with recombinant human (rh)TNF-alpha in the present study to investigate the effect of TNF-alpha on canine PMN apoptosis. PMN apoptosis and function to produce ROS were assessed by flow cytometry. Delayed apoptosis was observed in the PMNs treated with rhTNF-alpha at 100 ng/ml, accompanied by retention of capability to produce ROS. However, PMN apoptosis was accelerated by rhTNF-alpha combined with cycloheximide. Therefore, it is indicated that TNF-alpha is able to activate anti- and pro-apoptotic pathways in PMNs and that the inhibition of PMN apoptosis by TNF-alpha requires protein synthesis in the PMNs.     

Effect of antioxidant supplementation on free radical scavenging system and immune response in lindane treated scabies patients

The scabicide, lindane induces oxidative stress and immunological alterations. The present study was undertaken to assess the ameliorative effects of antioxidant supplementation in lindane treated scabies patients. Scabies patients were treated with either 1% lindane or 1% lindane along with antioxidant (Lycored or Vitamin-E). Oxidative stress and immunological parameters were evaluated in blood samples and compared with healthy controls. Lindane caused a significant increase in malonedialdehyde (MDA) levels and decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), which was attenuated by anti-oxidant therapy. The IL-1α levels were significantly enhanced in scabies patients per se and remained unaffected after lindane/anti-oxidant treatment. The TNF-α and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction levels were not significantly different in all the groups. Topical application of lindane induces significant free radical generation and may cause immunological alterations which can be reversed by antioxidant therapy.     

Antioxidant role of propolis extract against oxidative damage of testicular tissue induced by insecticide chlorpyrifos in rats

Pesticides induce oxidative stress leading to generate free radicals and alternate the antioxidant or oxygen free radical scavenging enzyme system. This study was conducted to investigate the oral toxicity of chlorpyrifos toward male rat and the oxidative stress of the sub-lethal dose (9 mg/kg; 1/25 LD₅₀) on the lipid peroxidation level (LPO), reduced glutathione content (GSH) and antioxidant enzymes; catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities of testicular tissue. Also, the protective effects of propolis extract (50 mg/kg b.w.) alone or in combination with chlorpyrifos were investigated. The oral administration of chlorpyrifos significantly caused elevation in LPO level by 1.79-fold as compared to control. The activities of antioxidant enzymes including CAT, SOD, GPx and GST were decreased significantly (23.66%, 27.75%, 29.13% and 11.52%) as well as the level of GSH decreased by 21.97% in testicular tissue as compared to control animals. Co-administration of propolis extract with chlorpyrifos or alone in male rats decreased LPO level, normalized CAT, SOD GPx and GST activities, while GSH content was increased in testicular tissue. We conclude that propolis extract significantly reduces chlorpyrifos-induced oxidative stress in rat testis and the protective effect of the pre-treatment with propolis extract as attenuating agent could be due to its antioxidant properties.     

植物细胞内ROS的种类及其产生部位

文中对植物细胞内活性氧(ROS)的种类进行了介绍,并综述了细胞内ROS的产生途径.     

Cytotoxic, cytoprotective and antioxidant effects of isolated phenolic compounds from fresh ginger

Twenty-nine phenolic compounds were isolated from the root bark of fresh (Yunnan) ginger and their structures fully characterized. Selected compounds were divided into structural categories and twelve compounds subjected to in-vitro assays including DPPH radical scavenging, xanthine-oxidase inhibition, monoamine oxidase inhibition, rat-brain homogenate lipid peroxidation, and rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cell and primary liver cell viability to determine their antioxidant and cytoprotective properties. Isolated compounds were also tested against nine human tumor cell lines to characterize anticancer potency. Several diarylheptanoids and epoxidic diarylheptanoids were effective DPPH radical scavengers and moderately effective at inhibiting xanthine oxidase. An enone–dione analog of 6-shogaol (compound 2) was isolated and identified to be most effective at protecting PC12 cells from H₂O₂-induced damage. Almost all tested compounds inhibited lipid peroxidation. Three compounds, 6-shogaol, 10-gingerol and an enone-diarylheptanoid analog of curcumin (compound 6) were identified to be cytotoxic in cell lines tested, with KB and HL60 cells most susceptible to 6-shogaol and the curcumin analog with IC₅₀ < 10 μM. QSAR analysis revealed cytotoxicity was related to compound lipophilicity and chemical reactivity. In conclusion, we observed distinct compounds in fresh ginger to have biological activities relevant in diseases associated with reactive oxygen species.     

PrP106—126诱导小胶质细胞BV-2抗氧化性能的变化

小胶质细胞活化是朊病的病理学特征之一。朊蛋白多肽PrP106—126具神经毒性,是研究异常腕蛋白（PrPSc）的理想工具。为探讨PrP106—126对小胶质细胞氧化压力的影响。本研究以小胶质细胞BV-2为细胞模型,PrP106—126作用48h,应用MTT和流式细胞仪检测细胞的活化情况,应用分子探针技术对细胞的氧化压力（reactiveoxygenspecies,ROs）进行检测,并通过荧光定量RT—PCR对与R0s相关的酶的mRNA表达进行了测定。结果表明PrPl06—126显著促进小胶质细胞BV-2的活化,并提高胞内的ROS水平;定量RT—PCR显示,PrP106—126显著降低细胞S0D-1（P〈0．01）表达水平、提高胞内Cat（P〈0．01）的表达水平;对Grx、Trx-1、和Trx-2mRNA的表达水平有升高的趋势,但未达到显著水平（P〉0．05）,对SOd-2、GPx、GR无显著性影响（P〉0．05）。从分子水平初步阐明小胶质细胞ROS升高的机理。     

球磨生物炭的性质及其对大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌的毒性效应研究

为研究球磨生物炭的微生物毒性效应,采用元素分析、比表面积分析(BET)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)及傅立叶红外(FTIR)表征等手段研究了500℃裂解小麦秸秆生物炭(BC)和球磨生物炭(BM)的性质,采用毒性暴露实验分析了不同浓度(0、10、20、50、100、200 mg·L~(-1))下两种生物炭对大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)ATCC 25922和金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)ATCC 25923的毒性效应。结果表明:BC的比表面积为98 m~2·g~(-1),而BM的比表面积提升到309 m~2·g~(-1),球磨可以增加生物炭中含氧官能团的数量;在0.9%NaCl溶液中,添加10 mg·L~(-1)的BM时,S.aureus存活率为90.1%,E.coli存活率为98.2%。当浓度增大到200 mg·L~(-1)时,S.aureus的存活率降低为23.5%,E.coli的存活率仍可达91.8%;而在LB培养基中,BM浓度为200 mg·L~(-1)时,S.aureus的存活率增加到58.1%;相同条件下,BM对微生物的毒性显著强于BC,这可能与粒子大小差异相关。而BM对革兰氏阳性菌S.aureus的毒性显著强于革兰氏阴性菌E.coli,这可能与E.coli产生的胞外聚合物(EPS)有关;添加活性氧自由基(ROS)消除剂N-乙酰半胱氨酸(NAC)发现,氧化损伤是造成S.aureus细胞死亡的主要原因,但是纳米颗粒对细胞的机械碰撞等其他因素也有可能是BM产生毒性的原因。研究表明BM对微生物具有一定的环境毒性效应,因此在BM使用过程中应注意其可能的环境影响。     

外源海藻糖调节西瓜细胞渗透胁迫抗性的研究

为探究外源海藻糖对渗透胁迫下西瓜细胞生长的影响,本研究以西瓜悬浮培养细胞为试材,测定外源海藻糖预处理后,渗透胁迫对西瓜悬浮培养细胞生长量、细胞外pH、细胞内ROS（活性氧簇）相对含量和微管骨架的影响。结果表明：渗透胁迫下西瓜细胞的生长量明显受到抑制,并且渗透胁迫可诱导西瓜悬浮培养细胞质外体碱化,ROS迸发,细胞微管骨架发生解聚;外源添加海藻糖可在一定程度上缓解渗透胁迫对西瓜悬浮细胞生长量的抑制作用,调节pH、ROS表达水平、并维持微管骨架结构的完整性。以上研究结果表明渗透胁迫下,海藻糖对西瓜细胞具有维持细胞生长、保护亚细胞结构并调节抗性反应的功能。     

植物谷胱甘肽应答非生物胁迫的分子机制

谷胱甘肽(GSH)是一种普遍存在于植物中的抗氧化剂,在维持组织抗氧化防御和调节氧化还原敏感信号转导中起着关键作用。深入研究GSH在非生物胁迫中的作用,对从分子水平揭示植物GSH积累的调控机制具有重要意义。本研究从植物GSH代谢途径及其相关酶、GSH在植物应激反应中的调节、GSH参与植物激素代谢等方面进行综述,并对谷胱甘肽在植物生长发育、与其它信号通路间交互作用的研究前景进行展望,以期为植物谷胱甘肽代谢以及其在非生物胁迫方面的研究提供一定的理论参考。