Chemiluminescence response induced by mesenteric ischaemia/reperfusion: effect of antioxidative compounds ex vivo

Ischaemia and reperfusion (I/R) play an important role in human pathophysiology as they occur in many clinical conditions and are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Interruption of blood supply rapidly damages metabolically active tissues. Restoration of blood flow after a period of ischaemia may further worsen cell injury due to an increased formation of free radicals. The aim of our work was to assess macroscopically the extent of intestinal pathological changes caused by mesenteric I/R, and to study free radical production by luminol enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) of ileal samples. In further experiments, the antioxidative activity of the drugs tested was evaluated spectrophotometrically by the use of the DPPH radical. We studied the potential protective ex vivo effect of the plant origin compound arbutin as well as of the pyridoindole stobadine and its derivative SMe1EC2. I/R induced pronounced haemorrhagic intestinal injury accompanied by increase of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAGA) activity. Compared to sham operated (control) rats, there was only a slight increase of CL response after I/R, probably in association with neutrophil increase, indicated by enhanced MPO activity. All compounds significantly reduced the peak values of CL responses of the ileal samples ex vivo, thus reducing the I/R induced increase of free radical production. The antioxidants studied showed a similar inhibitory effect on the CL response influenced by mesenteric I/R. If proved in vivo, these compounds would represent potentially useful therapeutic antioxidants

Pycnogenol® and Ginkgo biloba extract: effect on peroxynitrite-oxidized sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase

The effect of two natural standardized plant extracts, Pycnogenol® and EGb 761, on sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) activity and posttranslational modifications induced by peroxynitrite was investigated to assess their possible protective role. EGb 761 was found to have a protective effect on SERCA activity in the concentration range of 5–40 µg/ml. On the other hand, Pycnogenol® caused a decrease of SERCA activity at concentrations of 25 µg/ml. EGb 761 did not prevent protein carbonyl formation upon oxidation with peroxynitrite. On the contrary, Pycnogenol® at the concentrations of 5 and 10 µg/ml significantly decreased the level of protein carbonyls by 44% and 54%, respectively. Neither Pycnogenol® nor EGb 761 exerted a protective effect against thiol group oxidation.The plant extracts studied modulated peroxynitrite-injured SERCA activity by different ways and failed to correlate with posttranslational modifications. Their effect seems to be associated with their ability to change SERCA conformation rather than by their antioxidant capacity

Protection of the vascular endothelium in experimental situations

One of the factors proposed as mediators of vascular dysfunction observed in diabetes is the increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This provides support for the use of antioxidants as early and appropriate pharmacological intervention in the development of late diabetic complications. In streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats we observed endothelial dysfuction manifested by reduced endothelium-dependent response to acetylcholine of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and aorta, as well as by increased endothelaemia. Changes in endothelium-dependent relaxation of SMA were induced by injury of the nitric oxide radical (·NO)-signalling pathway since the endothelium-derived hyperpolarising factor (EDHF)-component of relaxation was not impaired by diabetes. The endothelial dysfunction was accompanied by decreased ·NO bioavailabity as a consequence of reduced activity of eNOS rather than its reduced expression. The results obtained using the chemiluminiscence method (CL) argue for increased oxidative stress and increased ROS production. The enzyme NAD(P)H-oxidase problably participates in ROS production in the later phases of diabetes. Oxidative stress was also connected with decreased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) in the early phase of diabetes. After 10 weeks of diabetes, adaptational mechanisms probably took place because GSH levels were not changed compared to controls. Antioxidant properties of SMe1EC2 found in vitro were partly confirmed in vivo. Administration of SMe1EC2 protected endothelial function. It significantly decreased endothelaemia of diabetic rats and improved endothelium-dependent relaxation of arteries, slightly decreased ROS-production and increased bioavailability of ·NO in the aorta. Further studies with higher doses of SMe1EC2 may clarify the mechanism of its endothelium-protective effect in vivo

Worldwide diversity of endophytic fungi and insects associated with dormant tree twigs

International trade in plants and climate change are two of the main factors causing damaging tree pests (i.e. fungi and insects) to spread into new areas. To mitigate these risks, a large-scale assessment of tree-associated fungi and insects is needed. We present records of endophytic fungi and insects in twigs of 17 angiosperm and gymnosperm genera, from 51 locations in 32 countries worldwide. Endophytic fungi were characterized by high-throughput sequencing of 352 samples from 145 tree species in 28 countries. Insects were reared from 227 samples of 109 tree species in 18 countries and sorted into taxonomic orders and feeding guilds. Herbivorous insects were grouped into morphospecies and were identified using molecular and morphological approaches. This dataset reveals the diversity of tree-associated taxa, as it contains 12,721 fungal Amplicon Sequence Variants and 208 herbivorous insect morphospecies, sampled across broad geographic and climatic gradients and for many tree species. This dataset will facilitate applied and fundamental studies on the distribution of fungal endophytes and insects in trees

Flavonoids in prevention of diseases with respect to modulation of Ca-pump function

Flavonoids, natural phenolic compounds, are known as agents with strong antioxidant properties. In many diseases associated with oxidative/nitrosative stress and aging they provide multiple biological health benefits. Ca2+-ATPases belong to the main calcium regulating proteins involved in the balance of calcium homeostasis, which is impaired in oxidative/nitrosative stress and related diseases or aging. The mechanisms of Ca2+-ATPases dysfunction are discussed, focusing on cystein oxidation and tyrosine nitration. Flavonoids act not only as antioxidants but are also able to bind directly to Ca2+-ATPases, thus changing their conformation, which results in modulation of enzyme activity

Pigmentos lipossolúveis e hidrossolúveis em plantas de salvínia sob toxicidade por cromo

Devido à intensa utilização industrial, o cromo é considerado um importante poluente ambiental. O presente trabalho objetivou determinar os teores de pigmentos hidro e lipossolúveis em plantas de salvínia expostas a concentrações crescentes de Cr, visando estabelecer parâmetros bioquímicos para utilização dessa macrófita em programas de biomonitoramento e/ou fitorremediação da poluição causada por esse poluente metálico em ambientes aquáticos. As plantas foram submetidas a concentrações crescentes de Cr e avaliadas após quatro, seis e dez dias de tratamento. Os resultados dos ensaios permitiram concluir que plantas de salvínia sob condições de estresse por Cr apresentam reduções nas concentrações das clorofilas a, b e total e, em contraste, aumentos nas concentrações de antocianinas totais. Embora a concentração de carotenoides totais não tenha sido alterada em resposta ao Cr, as variações nas concentrações dos demais pigmentos lipossolúveis e dos pigmentos hidrossolúveis observadas nas folhas das plantas de salvínia podem ser utilizadas como parâmetros bioquímicos de biomonitoramento da poluição causada por esse elemento metálico em ambientes aquáticos.Due to widespread industrial use, chromium is considered a serious environmental pollutant. This study aimed to determine the content of hydrosoluble and liposoluble pigments in salvinia plants exposed to increasing concentrations of Cr, to establish biochemical parameters for the use of macrophyta in pollution bio-monitoring programs and/or phyto-remediation in aquatic environments by this pollutant metal. The plants were exposed to increasing concentrations of Cr and evaluated after four, six, and ten days of treatment. The test results showed that salvinia plants under stress conditions for Cr exhibit decreases in the concentrations of chlorophylls a, b, and total, and, in contrast, increases in anthocyanin concentrations. Although the concentration of carotenoids has not been altered in response to Cr, the variations in the concentrations of other liposoluble and hydrosoluble pigments found in salvinia plant leaves can be used as biochemical parameters for biomonitoring of pollution caused by this metallic element in aquatic environments

Towards Farm-Oriented Open Data in Europe: the Scope and Pilots of the European Project "FOODIE"

The different groups of stakeholders involved in the agricultural activities have to manage many different and heterogeneous sources of information that need to be combined in order to make economically and environmentally sound decisions, which include (among others) the definition of policies (subsidies, standardisation and regulation, national strategies for rural development, climate change), development of sustainable agriculture, harvest timing and yield estimation, crop damages detection, etc. The European project called “Farm-Oriented Open Data in Europe” with abbreviation "FOODIE", funded between years 2014 and 2017 addresses the above mentioned issues. This paper describes the scope of the project with emphasis on its pilots. The Czech pilot is then analysed in detail including its three scenarios: Improving efficiency of transport in agriculture, Telematics of farm machinery and Monitoring of in-field variability for site specific crop management

Does Zinc Overdose in Rat Diet Alter Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn Concentrations in a Tapeworm Host?

We evaluated Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations in the bone, muscle, testes, intestine, liver, kidneys and tapeworm parasites Hymenolepis diminuta of rats from four groups: 12 animals given zinc lactate (120 mg/rat and week) in feed mixture (M0 group); six animals given zinc lactate (120 mg/rat and week) in feed mixture and infected with tapeworms (MT group); six control animals fed a standard mixture of ST-1 for rats (00 group); and six control animals fed a standard mixture of ST-1 for rats and infected with tapeworms (0T group). The experiment was conducted over a six-week period. In our study, tapeworm presence decreased element concentrations in the majority of rat tissues. Tapeworms accumulated higher levels of zinc and manganese than did the majority of host tissues; however, they accumulated very little iron and copper in comparison to the host tissues. Zinc overdosing increased manganese concentrations in rat tissues; zinc overdosing also seemed to protect the liver from absorption of Fe by tapeworms