Changes in Lipid Profile, Liver Enzymes and Inflammatory Factors Following Oral Supplementation with Propolis in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Objective: Nutritional ingredients with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties such as flavonoids and phenolic acids have been reported in propolis. The present study investigated the effect of propolis supplements on lipid metabolism, liver enzymes, and inflammatory factors in patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials and methods: This clinical trial was performed in a double-blind randomized manner with two parallel intervention (n = 30) and placebo (n = 30) groups. Each group received a capsule (propolis or placebo) of 500 mg 3 times a day for 8 weeks. The lipid profile, liver enzymes, and inflammatory factors were measured at the beginning and end of the study. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS software. Results: The mean of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels decreased significantly at the end of the study in the intervention group (p < 0.05). Also, the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) level increased significantly in this group (p < 0.05). Propolis supplementation significantly decreased C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) (p < 0.05). Also, propolis decreased the mean of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels, but it was not significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Propolis supplementation can be helpful as a dietary supplement in patients with type 2 diabetes by improving status of lipid profile and inflammatory factors in diabetic patients

La conservazione preventiva del patrimonio librario come possibile alternativa al restauro tradizionale

The present paper focuses on the close relation between library collections and their preservation environment, aiming, in particular, at highlighting the importance of promoting and sustaining the monitoring. The paper proposes some simple and ready-to-use technologies – smart monitoring – to prevent future damages

Novel synthesis of siligraphene/tungstates (g-SiC/AWO) with promoted transportation of photogenerated charge carriers via direct Z-scheme heterojunctions

Abstract We developed here the efficient photocatalysts for the removal of high concentrations of tetracycline under visible light by immobilizing the AWO (A = Ag, Bi, Na) nanocrystals on the surface of siligraphene (g-SiC) nanosheets. The g-SiC/AWO composites was synthesized by magnesiothermic synthesis of g-SiC and sonochemical immobilization of tungstates. These new heterojunctions of g-SiC/tungstates show superior photocatalytic activities in the degradation of high concentrations of tetracycline and 97, 98, and 94% of tetracycline were removed by using low amounts of g-SiC/Ag2WO4, g-SiC/Bi2WO6, and g-SiC/Na2WO4 catalysts, respectively. Based on band structures, the band gaps reduce and the photocatalytic activities were extremely enhanced due to the shortening of electron transfer distance through the Z-scheme mechanism. Also, the graphenic structure of g-SiC is another parameter that was effective in improving photocatalytic performance by increasing the electron transfer and decreasing the rate of electron–hole recombination. Furthermore, the π back-bonding of g-SiC with metal atoms increases the electron–hole separation to enhance the photocatalytic activity. Interestingly, g-SiC composites (g-SiC/AWO) showed much higher photocatalytic properties compared to graphene composites (gr/AWO) and can remove the tetracycline even at dark by producing the oxygenated radicals via adsorption of oxygen on the positive charge of Si atoms in siligraphene structure

A Novel N-Doped Nanoporous Bio-Graphene Synthesized from Pistacia lentiscus Gum and Its Nanocomposite with WO3 Nanoparticles: Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity

This paper reports the synthesis of a new nitrogen-doped porous bio-graphene (NPBG) with a specific biomorphic structure, using Pistacia lentiscus as a natural carbon source containing nitrogen that also acts as a bio-template. The obtained NPBG demonstrated the unique feature of doped nitrogen with a 3D nanoporous structure. Next, a WO3/N-doped porous bio-graphene nanocomposite (WO3/NPBG-NC) was synthesized, and the products were characterized using XPS, SEM, TEM, FT-IR, EDX, XRD, and Raman analyses. The presence of nitrogen doped in the structure of the bio-graphene (BG) was confirmed to be pyridinic-N and pyrrolic-N with N1 peaks at 398.3 eV and 400.5 eV, respectively. The photocatalytic degradation of the anionic azo dyes and drugs was investigated, and the results indicated that the obtained NPBG with a high surface area (151.98 m2/g), unique electronic properties, and modified surface improved the adsorption and photocatalytic properties in combination with WO3 nanoparticles (WO3-NPs) as an effective visible-light-driven photocatalyst. The synthesized WO3/NPBG-NC with a surface area of 226.92 m2/g displayed lower bandgap and higher electron transfer compared with blank WO3-NPs, leading to an increase in the photocatalytic performance through the enhancement of the separation of charge and a reduction in the recombination rate. At the optimum conditions of 0.015 g of the nanocomposite, a contact time of 15 min, and 100 mg/L of dyes, the removal percentages were 100%, 99.8%, and 98% for methyl red (MR), Congo red (CR), and methyl orange (MO), respectively. In the case of the drugs, 99% and 87% of tetracycline and acetaminophen, respectively, at a concentration of 10 mg/L, were removed after 20 min

Propolis supplementation improves glycemic and antioxidant status in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Abstract Objectives: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has risen dramatically in recent years. There are many different safe therapies used for diabetes and also number of natural supplements that can be used to manage diabetes. We assessed the effect of oral propolis supplementation on blood glucose, insulin resistance and antioxidant status in type 2 diabetes. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial for 8-week. Sixty two patients with type 2 diabetes (30-55 years of age) were randomly assigned in two group, propolis (n = 31) and placebo (n = 31). Patients were given doses of 500 mg, three times a day (1500 mg), of propolis or placebo three time a day. The fasting blood sugar (FBS), two-hour postprandial glucose (2-hp), insulin, insulin resistance (IR), hemoglobin A(1)c (HbA(1)c), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured at the beginning and end of the study. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: After two month, FBS, 2-hp, insulin, IR, HbA(1)c was significantly decreased in patients treated with propolis compared with placebo group (p < 0.05). Additionally intake of propolis significantly increased the blood levels of TAC and activity of GPx and SOD (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Propolis treatment can be helpful as a diet supplement in patients with type 2 diabetes through improvement in glycemic status, reduction in insulin resistance and amelioration in antioxidant status. This supplement without side effects can increase the effectiveness of prescribing drugs in diabetes. Keywords Author Keywords:Propolis; Glycemic status; Insulin resistance; Antioxidant; Type 2 diabetes KeyWords Plus:INSULIN-RESISTANCE; OXIDATIVE STRESS; RATS; MELLITUS; DISEAS