Protective Effect of Blackcurrant on Liver Cell Membrane of Rats Intoxicated with Ethanol

Chronic ethanol intoxication oxidative stress participates in the development of many diseases. Nutrition and the interaction of food nutrients with ethanol metabolism may modulate alcohol toxicity. One such compound is blackcurrant, which also has antioxidant abilities. We investigated the effect of blackcurrant as an antioxidant on the composition and electrical charge of liver cell membranes in ethanol-intoxicated rats. Qualitative and quantitative phospholipid composition and the presence of integral membrane proteins were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Electrophoresis was used to determine the surface charge density of the rat liver cell membranes. Ethanol intoxication is characterized by changes in cell metabolism that alter the structure and function of cell membrane components. Ethanol increased phospholipid levels and altered the level of integral proteins as determined by decreased phenylalanine, cysteine, and lysine. Ethanol significantly enhanced changes in the surface charge density of the liver cell membranes. Administration of blackcurrant to rats intoxicated with ethanol significantly protected lipids and proteins against oxidative modifications. It is possible that the beneficial effect of blackcurrant is connected with its abilities to scavenge free radicals and to chelate metal ions

Characterization of the Cell Membrane During Cancer Transformation

Abstract: The electric properties of the plasma membrane is an indicator of cell condition. The simple, and highly effective, normal-phase (NP) and reversed-phase (RP) high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods assess phospholipid and free unsaturated fatty acid content, respectively. Herein we focus on changes in phospholipid content [phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylethanoloamine (PE), phosphatidylcholine (PC)] and free unsaturated fatty acid content [arachidonic acid (AA), linoleic acid (LA), α-linolenic acid (ALA), palmitoleic acid (PA)] in the plasma membranes of non-metastatic colorectal cancer cells (pT3 stage, G2 grade). Surface charge density of normal and tumor large intestine tissue was measured by electrophoresis. The surface charge density as a function of pH, acidic (C TA ) and basic (C TB-) functional group concentrations and their average association constants with hydrogen (K AH ) or hydroxyl (K BOH-) ions were evaluated. Cancer transformation was accompanied by an increase in total phospholipids as well as and increase in C TA , C TB and K BOH whereas the content of free fatty acids and K AH decreased compared with unchanged tumor cells

The Differential Effect of Cannabidiol on the Composition and Physicochemical Properties of Keratinocyte and Fibroblast Membranes from Psoriatic Patients and Healthy People

The development of psoriasis is accompanied by oxidative stress, which can modify the components of skin cells. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cannabidiol (CBD), an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytocannabinoid, on the composition and physicochemical properties of the membranes of healthy and psoriatic keratinocytes and fibroblasts exposed to ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. In psoriasis-altered cells, decreased levels of the main groups of phospholipids and increased levels of sialic acid and malondialdehyde (MDA), a lipid peroxidation product, as well as negative charge of cell membranes compared to non-diseased cells, were found. On the other hand, UVA/B radiation increased the levels of phospholipids and MDA in both groups of cells. Moreover, psoriatic cells were characterized by lower levels of sialic acid and negative charge of cell membranes, while non-diseased cells showed the opposite response. The CBD treatment intensified some of the changes (phospholipid content and membrane charge) caused by the radiation of psoriatic cells, while it prevented these changes in the cells of healthy people. The results of this study indicate that CBD can prevent structural and functional changes to the membranes of healthy skin cells during phototherapy for psoriasis

Protective effect of green tea on electric properties of rat erythrocyte membrane during ethanol intoxication

Abstract: Food ingredients, such as, ethanol that is metabolized with reactive aldehyde and free radicals formation can modify cell membrane components and its physicochemical properties. The destructive action of free radicals can be neutralized by administration of antioxidants, especially natural ones like green tea. For this reason, the purpose of this work was to determine the effect of green tea on concentration of ionizable groups, amount of phospholipids and level of lipid peroxidation products of erythrocyte membrane of rats, chronically intoxicated with ethanol. The surface charge density as a pH function used for the above calculations was measured by electrophoresis. Qualitative and quantitative composition of phospholipids in the membrane was determined by HPLC, while the extent of lipid peroxidation was determined by spectrophotometric measurement of the level of lipid peroxidation products as thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS). It was shown that ethanol intoxication caused an increase in the above parameters. Green tea significantly prevented changes caused by ethanol. The authors proposed the theoretical description for the experimental curves