Recovery of Natural Antioxidants from Fruit Juice Industry Residuals by Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction and Response Surface Methodology

Fruit processing industries produce by-products that are good sources of natural antioxidants. These residuals are non-toxic and available in large quantities. A central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM) were used to optimize experimental conditions. The processing variables were solvent type, solvent to solid ratio, ethanol concentration, temperature, and time. The responses were total phenolic content (TPC), scavenging activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, and yield. The optimal conditions were 70% ethanol— water mixture as a food grade solvent, temperature of 35 °C and extraction time 60 min for obtaining extracts with maximum of total phenolic content. Predicted values for total phenolic content in pear, apricot, and peach were 24.7, 19.3, and 10.4 mg gallic acid equivalents per 100 g fruit residual, respectively

The Effect of Silybinin on the Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) in the Olfactory Ensheathing Cells under Normal and High Glucose Conditions

Background and Aim: Diabetes is a metabolic disease with high blood sugar levels. Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are able to express various growth factors and integrin-linked kinase (ILK) plays an important role in regulating various processes of cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of silybinin on the expression of vascular-endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and ILK under normal and high glucose conditions in OECs. Materials and Methods: In this study, OECs were extracted from the olfactory mucosa of neonatal rats and cultured. Low (1,5M) and high (50,75 µM) concentrations of silybinin were added to the cell culture media under normal and high glucose conditions. At the end of the study, we measured the expression of VEGF and ILK proteins using western blot technique. Data were analyzed by ANOVA test. Results: Under high glucose conditions, low concentrations of silybinin maintained expression and at high concentrations silybinin caused a dose-dependent decrease in ILK significantly. However, under high glucose conditions, low concentrations of silybinin significantly decreased expression of VEGF but high concentrations of silybinin caused a significant dose-dependent increase in VEGF expression. Conclusion: High glucose condition increased ILK and VEGF expression in the OECs, and treatment with lower concentrations of silybinin maintained ILK expression and decreased VEGF expression. Therefore, it seems that lower concentrations of silybinin can be effective in protecting cells from cytotoxicity due to diabetes hyperglycemia by stabilizing ILK and reducing VEGF levels. © 2018 the Author (s)

Evaluating Chondroitin Sulfate and Dermatan Sulfate Expression in Glial Scar to Determine Appropriate Intervention Time in Rats

Introduction: The proteoglycans of the extracellular matrix increases in the glial scar during spinal cord injury and significantly affects the inhibition of axonal regeneration. Methods: The results of injury therapies are limited due to the lack of identifying a timely therapeutic intervention. The present study aimed to investigate the glial scar Chondroitin Sulfate (CS) and Dermatan Sulfate (DS) levels at different post-injury times to determine the appropriate time for therapeutic intervention. Results: By this experimental study, 72 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 12 groups, as follows: control, sham, injured animals at 1, 2, 4, and 8 days, as well as 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks post-injury. The animals in the injured groups were contused in the T10 segment of the spinal cord. The motor function of animals was assessed using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) test. Besides, the histological assessment was performed using Luxol Fast Blue and Bielshovisky Staining. The CS and DS levels of lesions were measured using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. Conclusion: The motor function assessment indicated a relative recovery over time. Histological results confirmed some regeneration in the injury site at 20 weeks post-injury. The ELISA results demonstrated a much higher level of DS than that of CS in the glial scar. Considering high levels of DS, compared to CS in the glial scar and its reduction from second weeks after SCI onwards, the second week after SCI seems to be the best time for therapeutic interventions in terms of scar permeability