Investigation of the effect of quercetin in an experimental oxygen-induced retinopathy model

Aim: Investigation of the effect of intraperitoneal (IP) quercetin and bevacizumab on oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model in rats. Methods: In the study, 28 newborn rats were used. The OIR model was performed with the 50/10% oxygen technique. The study consisted of four groups as a control group (Group I) and OIR groups (Group II, III, and IV). IP injection applied to all groups on the postnatal day (PND) 14. Groups I and II were performed 0.9% NaCl, Group III was performed IP bevacizumab, and Group IV was performed IP quercetin. All animals were sacrificed on PND 18. Results: Based on the data obtained from immunohistochemical and histopathological examinations, the number of vascular endothelial cell (VEC), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were significantly reduced in Group III and IV compared to Group II. VECs levels were 0±0, 32.69±5.77, 2.92±0.63, and 3.64±0.36 in Group I, Group II, Group III, and Group IV, respectively (p<0.001). Likewise, VEGF values were 0.15±0.01, 7.57±1.80, 2.45±0.45, and 2.46±0.49, respectively (p<0.001). As well as TNF-α values were 0.06±0.01, 8.22±2.24, 2.32±0.32, and 2.29±0.26 in Group I, Group II, Group III, and Group IV, respectively (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between Group III and Group IV in terms of VEC, VEGF and TNF-α values (range of p values was 0.96-1.00). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that quercetin administration significantly reduced the VEC number and suppressed VEGF and TNF-α. Quercetin's anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenesis effect was found to be similar to bevacizumab

Is there a relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome and the FABP1 gene rs2197076 single nucleotide polymorphism?

Aim: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifactorial, endocrine, and metabolic disorder seen in 10%-20% of women of reproductive age. Due to the close relationship observed between the increased risk of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance and the polymorphism of the fatty acid binding protein 1 (FABP1) gene rs2197076 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), we investigated the frequency of the FABP1 gene rs2197076 SNP in patients with PCOS. Methods: This is a prospective case-control study. The study included 151 women—75 patients with PCOS and 76 healthy women. A real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for the FABP1 rs2197076 polymorphism. Additionally, biochemical and hormonal levels of the patients were studied. Results: Menstrual irregularities, the body mass index (BMI), hirsutism scores, the luteinizing hormone / follicular stimulating hormone ratio, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and testosterone levels were significantly higher in the PCOS group than in the control. There was no significant difference between the PCOS and control groups in terms of FABP1 rs2197076 genotype distribution and FABP1 rs2197076 allele frequency distribution. Conclusion: There was no increase in the genotype distribution and allelic frequency of the FABP1 gene rs2197076 SNP in PCOS patients. Further studies are needed on this subject

Quercetin- and caffeic acid-functionalized chitosan-capped colloidal silver nanoparticles: one-pot synthesis, characterization, and anticancer and antibacterial activities

The presented study comprises the one-pot synthesis and the characterization of quercetin- and caffeic acid-functionalized chitosan-capped colloidal silver nanoparticles (Ch/Q- and Ch/CA-Ag NPs), and their antibacterial and anticancer activities. The formation of Ch/Q- and Ch/CA-Ag NPs has been confirmed by ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The characteristic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption band has been found at 417 and 424 nm for Ch/Q- and Ch/CA-Ag NPs, respectively. The formation of a chitosan shell comprising quercetin and caffeic acid, which surround the colloidal core Ag NPs, was confirmed by UV–vis, and FTIR analyses, and monitored by TEM microscopy. The size of nanoparticles has been determined as 11.2 and 10.3 nm for Ch/Q- and Ch/CA-Ag, respectively. The anticancer activity of Ch/Q- and Ch/CA-Ag NPs has been evaluated against U-118 MG (human glioblastoma) and ARPE-19 (human retinal pigment epithelium) cells. Both NPs showed anticancer activity, but Ch/Q-Ag NPs seemed to be more effective on cancer cell lines (U-118 MG) in comparison to healthy ones (ARPE-19). Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of Ch/Q- and Ch/CA-Ag NPs against Gram-negative (P. aeruginosa and E. coli) and Gram-positive (S. aureus and S. epidermidis) bacteria was determined, and dose-dependent antibacterial effects were found