Chlorella vulgaris modulates hydrogen peroxide-induced dna damage and telomere shortening of human fibroblasts derived from different aged individuals

The objective of this study was to investigate the modulatory effect of Chlorella vulgaris on cultured fibroblast cells derived from young and old aged individuals focusing on DNA damage, telomere length and telomerase activity. Dose-response test of the algal extract on cells in both age groups revealed that optimum viability was observed at a concentration of 50 μg/ml. Results obtained showed that Chlorella vulgaris exhibited protective effects against H2O2-induced oxidative stress as shown by the reduction in damaged DNA caused by H2O2 treatment (

Fatty acids composition of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris can be modulated by varying carbon dioxide concentration in outdoor culture

Varying culture methods of Chlorella vulgaris (CV) has been associated with different nutrient composition. The aim of this study was to investigate the fatty acid contents and other nutrients of CV subjected to various culturing conditions. We found that CV cultured under 24 h light and 10% CO2 showed the best growth rates and contained higher lipid, protein and moisture contents compared to other culture conditions. Interestingly, the content of fatty acids of CV was dependent on the amount of CO2. Fatty acid analysis of CV by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed the presence of cis-10-pentadecanoic acid (C15:1), palmitic acid (C16:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1), heptadecanoic acid (C17:0), stearic acid (C18:0), oleic acid (C18:1n9c), linoleic acid (C18:2n6c), linolenic acids (C18:3n3) and arachidic acid (C20:0). Remarkably, polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acids) are found in abundance compared to other fatty acids in CV. The concentrations of palmitic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids increased when the amount of carbon dioxide was raised from 1 to 10% under both culture conditions (12 and 24 h light). This study shows the possibility of modifying lipid contents in freshwater microalgae by varying the amount of carbon dioxide and light.Key words: Chlorella vulgaris, microalgae, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, carbon dioxide

Tocotrienol-rich fraction supplementation modulates antioxidant enzymes activity and reduces DNA damage in APPswe/PS1dE9 Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by deterioration of the brain functions that result in impairment of memory, cognition and behavioural functions. Oxidative stress is well known to be one of the causative factors for AD. Thus this disease is potentially modulated by natural antioxidants such as vitamin E. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) supplementation on antioxidant enzymes and DNA damage using APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic mouse model of AD. Animals were supplemented with TRF (200 mg/kg) or alpha-tocopherol (αT) (200 mg/kg) for six months starting from nine months old. We found that superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in AD mouse was decreased by supplementation of TRF and αT as compared with AD control mouse with no significant differences in glutathione peroxidise (GPx) activity in all groups. TRF supplementation significantly increased catalase (CAT) activity. The level of DNA damage of AD mouse shows significant decrease with supplementation of TRF and αT. In conclusion, TRF was able to modulate antioxidant enzymes activity and decreased the level of DNA damage of AD transgenic mouse model

5-Azacytidine Is Insufficient For Cardiogenesis In Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adipose tissue is a source of multipotent adult stem cells and it has the ability to differentiate into several types of cell lineages such as neuron cells, osteogenic cells and adipogenic cells. Several reports have shown adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) have the ability to undergo cardiomyogenesis. Studies have shown 5-azacytidine can successfully drive stem cells such as bone marrow derived stem cells to differentiate into cardiomyogenic cells. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect 5-azacytidine on the cardiogenic ability of ASCs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The cardiogenic potential of ASCs was analysed by studying the morphological changes after induction, the changes in the cardiogenic genes expression i.e. GATA4, MLC-2v, MLC-2a, NKX2.5, β-MHC, α-MHC, Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), Connexin 43, Cardiac Troponin C, Cardiac Troponin I and myocyte enhancer factor (MEF2C) and the changes of embryonic stem cells genes expression at P5 and P10 using quantitative PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our results showed that the induced ASCs did not show significant morphological difference compared to the non-induced ASCs. While quantitative PCR data indicated that most cardiogenic genes and stemness genes expression level decreased after induction at P5 and P10.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>5-azacytidine is insufficient for the cardiogenic induction of the ASCs.</p

Antioxidant enzyme activity and malondialdehyde levels can be modulated by Piper betle, tocotrienol rich fraction and Chlorella vulgaris in aging C57BL/6 mice

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activity and the superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and plasma malondialdehyde levels in aging mice and to evaluate how these measures are modulated by potential antioxidants, including the tocotrienol-rich fraction, Piper betle, and Chlorella vulgaris. METHOD: One hundred and twenty male C57BL/6 inbred mice were divided into three age groups: young (6 months old), middle-aged (12 months old), and old (18 months old). Each age group consisted of two control groups (distilled water and olive oil) and three treatment groups: Piper betle (50 mg/kg body weight), tocotrienol-rich fraction (30 mg/kg), and Chlorella vulgaris (50 mg/kg). The duration of treatment for all three age groups was two months. Blood was withdrawn from the orbital sinus to determine the antioxidant enzyme activity and the malondialdehyde level. RESULTS: Piper betle increased the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in the young, middle, and old age groups, respectively, when compared to control. The tocotrienol-rich fraction decreased the superoxide dismutase activity in the middle and the old age groups but had no effect on catalase or glutathione peroxidase activity for all age groups. Chlorella vulgaris had no effect on superoxide dismutase activity for all age groups but increased glutathione peroxidase and decreased catalase activity in the middle and the young age groups, respectively. Chlorella vulgaris reduced lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde levels) in all age groups, but no significant changes were observed with the tocotrienol-rich fraction and the Piper betle treatments. CONCLUSION: We found equivocal age-related changes in erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activity when mice were treated with Piper betle, the tocotrienol-rich fraction, and Chlorella vulgaris. However, Piper betle treatment showed increased antioxidant enzymes activity during aging

Relationship between education and cognitive performance among healthy Malay adults

Higher level of education is associated with better cognitive performance and lower risk of developing dementia. However, the effect of education on cognitive performance varies across different cognitive domains and in different populations. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between education and performance of different cognitive domains among healthy Malay adults. A total of 53 individuals aged 29 to 77 years participated in a battery of neurophysiological tests consisting of Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, digit span, visual reproduction and digit symbol speed test (DSST). Blood test was performed for each participant to obtain their biochemical profile. Educational level was divided into level 1 (PMR), level 2 (SPM), level 3 (STPM), level 4 (Diploma) and level 5 (Degree). Simple linear regression indicated that years of education was positively associated with scores of delayed visual reproduction (b=1.348, p=0.002) and DSST (b=3.257, p=0.012). However, scores of all the tests were not significantly different among different levels of education after controlling for age, gender and blood test profile by ANCOVA. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that MMSE score was associated with red cell distribution width (b=-0.628, p=0.005), age (b=-0.119, p<0.001) and there was interaction between high density lipoprotein (HDL) with age (b=0.047, p<001). MoCA score was associated with age (b=-0.121, p<0.001), gender (male compared to female, b=1.870, p=0.020) and HDL (b=1.681, p=0.047). Age was associated with backward digit span (b=-0098, p<0.001) and immediate visual reproduction (b=-0.348, p<0.001), resp. Delayed visual reproduction was associated with age (b=-0.323, p<0.001) and potassium level (b=-4.471, p=0.016). DSST was associated with age (b=-0.911, p<0.001) and alanine aminotransferase (b=-0.754, p=0.002). The lack of association between educational level and cognitive performance after adjusting for confounders in this study maybe due to multiple factors influencing cognitive performance and further studies with a larger sample size are needed to further identify the factors involved

PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF CHLORELLA VULGARIS ON DNA DAMAGE, OXIDATIVE STRESS, AND LUNG MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN CIGARETTE SMOKE-EXPOSED RATS

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the protective effect of Chlorella vulgaris (ChV), antioxidant-rich unicellular green alga, and in cigarette smoke-exposed rats.Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: Control Group (C), ChV group (300 mg/kg body weight), cigarette smoke-exposed (S) group, and S group treated with ChV (S+ChV). Blood samples were drawn from the orbital sinus on days 0, 15, and 30 for the determination of DNA damage by Comet assay and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) using high-performance liquid chromatography. Rats were killed on day 30, and lung tissue samples were taken for the evaluation of airspace enlargement and number of inflammatory cells.Results: Increased DNA damage (1004.8 au + 329.2, day 15; 1102.7 + 197.8, day 30) and high MDA levels (10.66 + 0.27, day 15; 10.29 + 0.9 day 30) were found in cigarette smoke-exposed rats on days 15 and 30 but were reduced significantly (p&lt;0.05) when treated with ChV (DNA: 482.6 + 223.3, day15; 423.5 + 74.6, day 30 and MDA: 6.1 + 0.6, day15; 6.6 + 2.5, day 30) for both days. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that cigarette smoke-exposed rats had high frequency of airspace enlargement and number of inflammatory cells which were reduced when treated with ChV.Conclusion: ChV has a protective role in cigarette smoke-exposed rats by reducing oxidative DNA damage, MDA levels, lung cells inflammation, and airspace enlargement