Peroxisome enzyme modification and oxidative stress in rat by hypolipidemic and antiinflammatory drugs

Changes in the activities of two peroxisomal enzymes (catalase and thiolase), some parameters related to oxidative situations, such as conjugated dienes, zinc, iron, copper and superoxide dismutase after the administration of two known peroxisome proliferators (clofibrate and acetylsalicylic acid), and two drugs pharmacologically related to the former (probucol and diflunisal) have been studied in male Wistar rats. Administration of the drugs was made by p.o. for 15 days. After the treatment the rats were killed, their livers and brains were taken out, and their blood was collected. Peroxisomes were purified by differential centrifugation followed by ultracentrifugation. Total RNA was also extracted and the acyl CoA oxidase mRNA expression was studied. Clofibrate was inactive on both enzymes studied in liver and diflunisal in brain. However, the acyl CoA oxidase mRNA expression increased by clofibrate treatment. Results are justified by the liposolubility and protein-binding properties of the drugs. Otherwise, the present results show the existente of an increased lipid peroxidation, lower value of superoxide dismutase, and variable results for zinc, copper and iron trace elements. These data evidence an oxidative stress situation in plasma of rats treated with these drugs, probably as a consequence of an increase in some β-oxidation enzymes, which brings about an overproduction of H2O2

Peroxisome enzyme modification and oxidative stress in rat by hypolipidemic and antiinflammatory drugs

Changes in the activities of two peroxisomal enzymes (catalase and thiolase), some parameters related to oxidative situations, such as conjugated dienes, zinc, iron, copper and superoxide dismutase after the administration of two known peroxisome proliferators (clofibrate and acetylsalicylic acid), and two drugs pharmacologically related to the former (probucol and diflunisal) have been studied in male Wistar rats. Administration of the drugs was made by p.o. for 15 days. After the treatment the rats were killed, their livers and brains were taken out, and their blood was collected. Peroxisomes were purified by differential centrifugation followed by ultracentrifugation. Total RNA was also extracted and the acyl CoA oxidase mRNA expression was studied. Clofibrate was inactive on both enzymes studied in liver and diflunisal in brain. However, the acyl CoA oxidase mRNA expression increased by clofibrate treatment. Results are justified by the liposolubility and protein-binding properties of the drugs. Otherwise, the present results show the existente of an increased lipid peroxidation, lower value of superoxide dismutase, and variable results for zinc, copper and iron trace elements. These data evidence an oxidative stress situation in plasma of rats treated with these drugs, probably as a consequence of an increase in some β-oxidation enzymes, which brings about an overproduction of H2O2

Characterization of Novel Selected Microalgae for Antioxidant Activity and Polyphenols, Amino Acids, and Carbohydrates

The biochemical composition of three novel selected microalgae strains (Chlorophyta) was evaluated to confirm their potential possibilities as new sustainably produced biomass with nutritional, functional, and/or biomedical properties. Extracts from cultured Pseudopediastrum boryanum, Chloromonas cf. reticulata, and Chloroidium saccharophilum exhibited higher radical scavenging activity of DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) when compared to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), but lower than butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Total phenolic compounds and amino acids were determined by newly developed RP-HPLC methods. Total phenolic contents, as µg g−1 of dry biomass, reached 27.1 for C. cf. reticulata, 26.4 for P. boryanum, and 55.8 for C. saccharophilum. Percentages of total analysed amino acids were 24.3, 32.1, and 18.5% of dry biomass, respectively, presenting high values for essential amino acids reaching 54.1, 72.6, and 61.2%, respectively. Glutamic acid was the most abundant free amino acid in all microalgae samples, followed by proline and lysine in C. saccharophilum and P. boryanum, and methionine and lysine in C. reticulata. Soluble carbohydrates in aqueous extracts ranged from 39.6 for C. saccharophilum to 49.3% for C. reticulata, increasing values to 45.1 for C. saccharophilum and 52.7% for P. boryanum in acid hydrolysates of dried biomass. Results confirmed the potential possibilities of these microalgae strains

New antagonist agents of neuropeptide y receptors

In the CNS, NPY has been implicated in obesity and feeding, endocrine function and metabolism. Potent and selective rNPY antagonists will be able to probe the merits of this approach for the treatment of obesity. We report the synthesis and preliminary evaluation of some hydrazide derivatives as antagonists of rNPY

The Effects of Plants on Pollutant Removal, Clogging, and Bacterial Community Structure in Palm Mulch-Based Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands

In this study, the effects of plants on the performance and bacterial community structure of palm mulch-based vertical flow constructed wetlands was studied. The wetlands were built in August 2013; one of them was planted with Canna indica and Xanthosoma sp., and the other one was not planted and used as a control. The experimental period started in September 2014 and finished in June 2015. The influent was domestic wastewater, and the average hydraulic surface loading was 208 L/m2d, and those of COD, BOD, and TSS were 77, 57, and 19 g/m2d, respectively. Although the bed without plants initially performed better, the first symptoms of clogging appeared in December 2014, and then, its performance started to fail. Afterwards, the wetland with plants provided better removals. The terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of Enterococci and Escherichia coli in the effluents suggests that a reduction in their biodiversity was caused by the presence of the plants. Thus, it can be concluded that the plants helped achieve better removals, delay clogging, and reduce Enterococci and E. coli biodiversity in the effluents

New antagonist agents of Neuropeptide Y receptors

In the CNS, NPY has been implicated in obesity and feeding, endocrine function and metabolism. Potent and selective rNPY antagonists mill be able to probe the merits of this approach for the treatment of obesity. We report the synthesis and preliminary evaluation of some hydrazide derivatives as antagonists of rNPY