Natural Dietary Pigments:Potential Mediators against Hepatic Damage Induced by Over-The-Counter Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Drugs

Over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics are among the most widely prescribed and purchased drugs around the world. Most analgesics, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen, are metabolized in the liver. The hepatocytes are responsible for drug metabolism and detoxification. Cytochrome P450 enzymes are phase I enzymes expressed mainly in hepatocytes and they account for ≈75% of the metabolism of clinically used drugs and other xenobiotics. These metabolic reactions eliminate potentially toxic compounds but, paradoxically, also result in the generation of toxic or carcinogenic metabolites. Cumulative or overdoses of OTC analgesic drugs can induce acute liver failure (ALF) either directly or indirectly after their biotransformation. ALF is the result of massive death of hepatocytes induced by oxidative stress. There is an increased interest in the use of natural dietary products as nutritional supplements and/or medications to prevent or cure many diseases. The therapeutic activity of natural products may be associated with their antioxidant capacity, although additional mechanisms may also play a role (e.g., anti-inflammatory actions). Dietary antioxidants such as flavonoids, betalains and carotenoids play a preventive role against OTC analgesics-induced ALF. In this review, we will summarize the pathobiology of OTC analgesic-induced ALF and the use of natural pigments in its prevention and therapy

Betacyanins, major components in Opuntia red-purple fruits, protect against acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure

Acetaminophen (APAP) misuse or overdose is the most important cause of drug-induced acute liver failure. Overdoses of acetaminophen induce oxidative stress and liver injury by the electrophilic metabolite N-acetyl-pbenzoquinone imine (NAPQI). Plant-based medicine has been used for centuries against diseases or intoxications due to their biological activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic value of Opuntia robusta and Opuntia streptacantha fruit extracts against acetaminophen-induced liver damage and to identify the major biocomponents on them. Opuntia fruit extracts were obtained by peeling and squeezing each specie, followed by lyophilization. HPLC was used to characterize the extracts. The effect of the extracts against acetaminophen induced acute liver injury was evaluated both in vivo and in vitro using biochemical, molecular and histological determinations. The results showed that betacyanins are the main components in the analyzed Opuntia fruit extracts, with betanin as the highest concentration. Therapeutic treatments with Opuntia extracts reduced biochemical, molecular and histological markers of liver (in vivo) and hepatocyte (in vitro) injury. Opuntia extracts reduced the APAP-increased expression of the stress-related gene Gadd45b. Furthermore, Opuntia extracts exerted diverse effects on the antioxidant related genes Sod2, Gclc and Hmox1, independent of their ROSscavenging ability. Therefore, betacyanins as betanin from Opuntia robusta and Opuntia streptacantha fruits are promising nutraceutical compounds against oxidative liver damage

Penaeus vannamei challenged with a Vibrio parahaemolyticus AHPND strain shows hepatopancreatic microbiota imbalance

White shrimp, Penaeus vannamei, farming represents one of the most important aquaculture activities in the world with a high growth rate. However, intensification processes induce negative side effects on the health of the organism, associated with a dysbiosis phenomenon. Consequently, illnesses, mainly attributable to Vibrio genus bacteria, have been reported in shrimp ponds. Studying the diversity and ecology of the associated bacteria in aquaculture systems is essential to prevent and control diseases. Therefore, the present study analyzes the bacterial load and microbial population variation in P. vannamei hepatopancreases infected with a pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus strain (so-called CVP2) associated with acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) under controlled conditions. The results showed an important change in the microbial community structure of the P. vannamei hepatopancreas. Furthermore, the presence of the Vibrio genus considerably increased and clearly dominated compared with the control. Dysbiosis of the hepatopancreatic microbiota and constrictions in the hepatopancreatic tubules (characteristic signs of in the early stage of AHPND) could be observed before the visible manifestation of the disease

Regeneration Analysis of Bone Char Used in Water Defluoridation: Chemical Desorption Route, Surface Chemistry Analysis and Modeling

High concentrations of fluoride (F−) in drinking water represent a public health threat, and consequently, effective and sustainable methods are required to improve the water quality, mainly in developing and low-income countries. This study focused on the thermodynamics of fluoride adsorption on bone char regenerated with NaOH for water defluoridation. A detailed analysis of the number of fluoride adsorption/desorption cycles, their impact on the performance and surface chemistry of bone char using different NaOH concentrations, and modeling of the adsorption mechanism using statistical physics theory was carried out. The results showed that 0.075 mol/L NaOH was effective in recuperating the defluoridation properties of bone char with a regeneration efficiency higher than 90% during five adsorption/desorption cycles. Bone char regeneration efficiency decreased up to 64% after ten adsorption/desorption cycles with a maximum fluoride adsorption capacity of 0.18 mmol/g. NaOH restored the bone char surface properties for ligand exchange of the fluoride anions via the hydroxyapatite functionalities contained in this adsorbent. It was calculated that around 0.25–0.46 mmol/g hydroxyapatite ligand exchange sites of regenerated bone char samples could be involved in the fluoride adsorption, which was also expected to be a mono-ligand mechanism. The reduction in defluoridation properties of bone char during the regeneration cycles was attributed to the decrease in the ligand exchange capacity as well as the deactivation and blocking of some functional groups of hydroxyapatite, which limited their participation in consecutive adsorption processes. This study contributes to the optimization of the recycling and reuse of bone char for fluoride removal from water to reduce the operating defluoridation costs, thus enhancing the application of this technology in low-income areas where fluorinated water represents a threat to public health

Hepatoprotective Effect of Opuntia robusta Fruit Biocomponents in a Rat Model of Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Fibrosis

Liver fibrosis is a chronic disease associated with oxidative stress that has a great impact on the population mortality. Due to their antioxidant capacity, we evaluated the protective effect of Opuntia robusta fruit (Or) on liver fibrosis. A nutraceutical characterization of Or was performed and a model of fibrosis was induced with thioacetamide (TAA) in Wistar rats. Aminotransferases, reduced glutathione (GSH) and histopathology were evaluated. Or contained 436.5 ± 57 mg of Betacyanins equivalents/L., 793 mg of catechin equivalents (CAE)/100 g for flavonoids, 1118 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g for total phenols, 141.14 mg/100 g for vitamin C and 429.9 μg/100 g for vitamin E. The antioxidant capacity of Or was: 2.27 mmol of Trolox® equivalents (TE)/L (DPPH), 62.2 ± 5.0 μmol TE/g (ABTS•+), 80.2 ± 11.7 μmol TE/g (FRAP), 247.9 ± 15.6 µmol TE/g (AAPH) and 15.0% of H2O2 elimination. An increase (p < 0.05) of aminotransferases and a decrease (p < 0.05) of hepatic GSH was observed in the TAA group compared to the control and the concomitant groups. Histopathology showed changes in the normal architecture of the liver treated with TAA compared to the concomitant treatments. Or contains bioactive components with antioxidant capacity, which can reduce fibrotic liver damage

Molecular and Antioxidant Characterization of <i>Opuntia robusta</i> Fruit Extract and Its Protective Effect against Diclofenac-Induced Acute Liver Injury in an In Vivo Rat Model

A molecular characterization of the main phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of Opuntia robusta (OR) fruit extract was carried out, as well as an evaluation of its hepatoprotective effect against diclofenac (DF)-induced acute liver injury was evaluated. Phenols, flavonoids and betalains were quantified, and antioxidant characterization was performed by means of the ABTS•+, DPPH and FRAP assays. UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS was used to identify the main biocompounds present in OR fruit extract was carried out via. In the in vivo model, groups of rats were treated prophylactically with the OR fruit extract, betanin and N-acteylcysteine followed by a single dose of DF. Biochemical markers of oxidative stress (MDA and GSH) and relative gene expression of the inducible antioxidant response (Nrf2, Sod2, Hmox1, Nqo1 and Gclc), cell death (Casp3) and DNA repair (Gadd45a) were analyzed. Western blot analysis was performed to measure protein levels of Nrf2 and immunohistochemical analysis was used to assess caspase-3 activity in the experimental groups. In our study, the OR fruit extract showed strong antioxidant and cytoprotective capacity due to the presence of bioactive compounds, such as betalain and phenols. We conclude that OR fruit extract or selected components can be used clinically to support patients with acute liver injury