SERUM HOMOCYSTEINE, FOLATE, VITAMIN B12 LEVELS AND OXIDATIVE LIPID AND PROTEIN DAMAGE MARKERS IN DEPRESSIVE PATIENTS. THE EFFECT OF SERTRALINE TREATMENT

Previous studies have supported an association between low levels folate, vitamin B12 levels and elevated homocysteine levels as possible predictors of depression. Hyperhomocysteinemia induces free radical production, leading to alteration of oxidative lipid and protein modifications. Vitamin supplementation or antidepressants may reduce risk factors underlying depression. The aims of this study were to determine serum levels of protein carbonylation, lipid peroxidation, homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B12 in depressive patients and to compare them with healthy controls; and to investigate the effects of sertraline (50 mg/day) treatment during 45 days. 23 depressed patients and 23 healthy controls participated in this study. Serum protein carbonylation was determined by spectrophotometric measurement of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrason formation. Malondialdehyde levels were determined by spectrophotometric measurement of colour which was the reaction between thiobarbituric acid and malonclialdehyde. Serum homocysteine levels were measured by HPLC, and vitamin B12 and folate levels - by radioimmunoassay. There was no remarkable difference in protein carbonylation, malondialdehyde formation, homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folate levels between healthy control group and depressed patients. Sertraline treatment caused a significant decrease in malondialdehyde levels. The findings suggest that sertraline treatment caused decreasing in oxidative stress by lowering lipid peroxidation in depressed patients

Synthesis, molecular modeling, in vivo study, and anticancer activity of 1,2,4-triazole containing hydrazide–hydrazones derived from (S)-naproxen

PubMed ID: 31115928A new series of 1,2,4-triazole containing hydrazide–hydrazones derived from (S)-naproxen (7a–m) was synthesized in this study. The structures of these compounds were characterized by spectral (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C-NMR, and high-resolution electron ionization mass spectrometry) methods. Furthermore, molecular modeling of these compounds was studied on human methionine aminopeptidase-2. All synthesized compounds were screened for anticancer activity against three prostate cancer cell lines (PC3, DU-145, and LNCaP) using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium colorimetric method. Compound 7a showed the best activity against the PC3, DU-145 and LNCaP cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 26.0, 34.5, and 48.8 µM, respectively. Compounds 7b, 7k, and 7m showed anticancer activity against cancer cell lines PC3 and DU-145 with IC50 values of 43.0, 36.5, 29.3 µM and 49.8, 49.1, 31.6 µM, respectively. Compounds 7f and 7g showed anticancer activity against PC3 cells with IC50 values of 43.4 and 34.5 µM, respectively. To assess the biodistribution in mice of IRDye800, dye-labeled compound 7a or 100 µM of free dye was injected intravenously into the mice's tail. In vivo images were taken with in vivo imaging system spectrum device at 60, 120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 min after injection. At the end of 360 min, ex vivo studies were carried out to determine in which organs the dye was accumulated in the urogenital system. Ex vivo studies showed that the accumulation of compound 7a in the prostate is greater than that of the free dye, and it is concluded that compound 7a may be promising for the treatment of prostate cancer. © 2019 Deutsche Pharmazeutische GesellschaftTürkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştirma Kurumu: 215S009, 117S435 215S009, 117S435Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu, Grant/Award Numbers: 215S009, 117S435; The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey -- This study was supported by The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), Research Fund Project Number: 215S009 (for synthesis, modeling, and anticancer activity)-117S435 (for in vivo procedure). The authors are grateful to Jürgen Gross from the Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, for his generous help in obtaining HR-EI and DART-MS mass spectra of the synthesized compounds. -

Hypoglycemic effect of <it>Carica papaya</it> leaves in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Traditional plant treatment for diabetes has shown a surging interest in the last few decades. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the hypoglycemic effect of the aqueous extract of <it>C. papaya</it> leaves in diabetic rats. Several studies have reported that some parts of the <it>C. papaya</it> plant exert hypoglycemic effects in both animals and humans.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Diabetes was induced in rats by intraperitoneal administration of 60 mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ). The aqueous extract of <it>C. papaya</it> was administered in three different doses (0.75, 1.5 and 3 g/100 mL) as drinking water to both diabetic and non-diabetic animals during 4 weeks.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The aqueous extract of <it>Carica papaya</it> (0.75 g and 1.5 g/100 mL) significantly decreased blood glucose levels (p<0.05) in diabetic rats. It also decreased cholesterol, triacylglycerol and amino-transferases blood levels. Low plasma insulin levels did not change after treatment in diabetic rats, but they significantly increased in non-diabetic animals. Pancreatic islet cells were normal in non-diabetic treated animals, whereas in diabetic treated rats, <it>C. papaya</it> could help islet regeneration manifested as preservation of cell size. In the liver of diabetic treated rats, <it>C. papaya</it> prevented hepatocyte disruption, as well as accumulation of glycogen and lipids. Finally, an antioxidant effect of <it>C. papaya</it> extract was also detected in diabetic rats.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study showed that the aqueous extract of <it>C. papaya</it> exerted a hypoglycemic and antioxidant effect; it also improved the lipid profile in diabetic rats. In addition, the leaf extract positively affected integrity and function of both liver and pancreas.</p