Ameliorative potential of Raphanus Sativus cv. Sango sprout juice in obese rats maintained with high fat diet or switched to regular diet.

Ameliorative potential of Raphanus sativus cv. Sango sprout juice in obese rats maintained with high fat diet or switched to regular diet F. Vivarelli1, D. Canistro1, A. Sapone1, G.R. De Nicola2, C. Babot Marquillas1, R. Iori2, F. Gentilini3, M. Paolini1 1Dept. of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126, Bologna, Italy 2Industrial Crop Research Centre, Agricultural Research Council, (CRA-CIN), Via di Corticella, 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy 3Dept. of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy Obesity is a worldwide epidemic characterized not only by excessive fat deposition but also by systemic low grade of inflammation and high oxidative stress. Despite much progress has been achieved in recent years, current pharmacological approaches for long-term therapy offer modest benefits for most patients. The present study evaluated the ameliorative effect of Raphanus sativus Sango sprout juice (SSJ), a Brassica extraordinarily rich in anthocyanins (AC) and isothiocyanates (ITCs), in a non-genetic model of obesity (high fat diet-HFD induced). Rats were fed with HFD or regular diet (RD); after 10-weeks, the HFD animals were assigned to four experimental units and the interventional period was 28 days long: 1) HFD-RD, the diet switched from HFD to RD and received the vehicle only; 2) HFD+SSJ and 3) HFD-RD+SSJ, treated with 75 mg/kg b.w. of SSJ; 4) HFD and 5) RD vehicle only, controls. Our model of obesity showed hyperlipidaemia as well as a marked increase of body and liver weight. The transition from HFD to RD, as expected, led to a significant loss of excess weight (-9.83 g; p<0.01) accompanied by a total cholesterol (TC) fall (-12%; p<0.01). SSJ provoked a decrement of TC in HFD animals, comparable to that observed in HFD-RD group and a body weight (BW) loss (-5.14 g; p<0.01) associated with a reduction of daily food intake (-2 g; p<0.01). When SSJ was associated with RD, all marks were significantly improved compared with HFD control group, and notably, BW loss was significantly higher (-23.29 g; p<0.05). Obese animals showed an impairment of antioxidant hepatic machinery. Catalase, NAD(P)H:quinone reductase, oxidised glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly down-regulated (ranging from 20% to 28% loss; p<0.01). HFD increased the lipid peroxidation status measured as malonildialdehyde (MDA) levels (up to 21%; p<0.01), and depleted the cellular store of glutathione (GSH) (17% loss; p<0.01). The suspension of HFD in favour of RD, resulted in a complete recovery of hepatic enzymatic capability with the exception of NAD(P)H:quinone reductase. The improvement obtained with SSJ involved all tested enzymes, while combining SSJ with RD, NAD(P)H:quinone reductase and glutathione peroxidase significantly (p<0.01) exceed the values recorded for HFD-RD group. In HFD-RD+SSJ, MDA levels fell markedly (up to 36% loss, p<0.01); moreover, they appeared significantly (p<0.01) lower than those obtained in HFD-RD group. The shift from HFD to RD determined an increase of GSH content (up to 19%; p<0.05). The association of SSJ intervention further improved (p<0.01) the achievement gained with the conversion of the diet. HFD impaired UDPGT (~30% loss; p<0.01). Either SSJ treatment or the transition to a RD resulted in a significant up regulation of UDPGT (43% and 32% respectively compared with HFD; p<0.01). SSJ administration improved the effect recorded for HFD-RD with an increase by a further 43% p<0.01. HFD determined an up-regulation in almost each cytochrome P450 isoforms tested, CYP2E1, CYP1A2 and CYP3A1/2 were the most affected; the substitution from HFD to RD did not substantially affect CYPs, while, SSJ alone, or when administrated with RD regimen, resulted in a downregulation to baseline values. Pulled together, these data suggest that SSJ could be a promising antioxidant and anti-obesity agent, opening up to applications for the management of obesity correlated diseases

Effetti del germoglio di Raphanus Sativus CV Sango in un modello animale di obesità

Effetti del germoglio di Raphanus Sativus CV Sango in un modello animale di obesità F. Vivarelli1, D. Canistro1, A. Sapone1, C. Babot Marquillas1, G.R. De Nicola2, R. Iori2, I.C. Antonazzo1, F. Gentilini3 e M. Paolini1. 1 Unità di Tossicologia Molecolare, Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italia. 2 Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura, Centro di Ricerca per le Colture Industriali (CRA-CIN), 40128 Bologna, Italia. 3 Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Bologna, Italia. L’Organizzazione Mondiale della Sanità (OMS) ha riconosciuto l’obesità come un’epidemia globale, che costituisce uno dei principali problemi concernenti la salute pubblica, essendo un importante fattore di rischio per varie malattie croniche, come il diabete mellito di tipo 2, malattie cardiovascolari, patologie endocrine e tumori. Evidenze scientifiche sostengono l’ipotesi che alcuni alimenti o derivati abbiano effetti benefici sulla salute e, ad oggi, la corretta nutrizione è considerata un valido strumento di prevenzione per numerose patologiche. E’ noto, come l’obesità influenzi lo status ossidativo, determinando un’anomala produzione di specie reattive dell’ossigeno (ROS), condizione che frequentemente viene esacerbata da una deplezione delle comuni difese antiossidanti a livello cellulare. Diversi vegetali appartenenti alla famiglia delle Brassicaceae, contenenti elevate concentrazioni di glucosinolati (GLs) e isotiocianati (ITCs), hanno attirato l’interesse della comunità scientifica per le loro proprietà ipolipemizzanti e antiossidanti, come evidenziato dal crescente numero di studi preclinici ed epidemiologici. Scopo di questo lavoro è stato quello di indagare gli effetti del succo di germoglio di Raphanus Sativus Sango (SSJ), una Brassicacea straordinariamente ricca in antocianine (AC) e GLs, in un modello animale non genetico di obesità. La patologia è stata indotta sottoponendo ratti del ceppo Sprague Dawley a una dieta iperlipidica (HFD) per 10 settimane consecutive; al gruppo di controllo è stata assegnata una dieta standard (RD). Tre differenti dosaggi (15, 75 o 150 mg/kg p.c.) di SSJ sono stati somministrati per os per 28 giorni consecutivi; durante la fase di intervento, ai relativi gruppi di controllo (HFD e RD) è stato somministrato un volume equivalente del veicolo (acqua). I risultati mostrano una significativa riduzione del peso corporeo nei gruppi trattati con il dosaggio più basso (body weight gain = -0.29 g, p<0.05) e intermedio (body weight gain = -5.14 g, p<0.01) rispetto al gruppo di controllo HFD. Una modesta flessione nel consumo giornaliero di cibo è stata registrata per gli animali trattati con 15 mg/kg p.c. o 75 mg/kg p.c. (p<0.01). Parallelemente è stata osservata una riduzione dei livelli di colesterolo totale (TC) rispetto al gruppo di controllo HFD; i gruppi sperimentali trattati con 15 o 75 mg/kg p.c. hanno mostrato, rispettivamente, una riduzione del 9% (p<0.05) e 11% (p<0.01). Gli effetti della dieta HFD sulle attività degli enzimi epatici del drug-metabolism e antiossidanti, si sono tradotti in una generalizzata up-regulation a carico degli enzimi di Fase I (p<0.01), quindi in un’inattivazione della UDP-glucuronil-transferasi-UGT (30%; p<0.01) e degli enzimi antiossidanti (catalasi-CAT, NADPH: chinone reduttasi-CRE, glutatione reduttasi-GLR e superossido dismutasi-SOD). In particolare, sono state registrate riduzioni del 20% per gli enzimi CAT, CRE e SOD, e di circa il 28% per la GLR (p<0.01). La somministrazione di SSJ, ha provocato un significativo aumento dell’attività degli enzimi antiossidanti testati rispetto al controllo HFD (p<0.01); ripristinando i valori rilevati per il gruppo RD. SSJ ha mostrato una buona capacità nel contrastare l’induzione a carico degli enzimi di Fase I indotta dalla dieta HFD, in particolare, 75 mg/kg p.c. SSJ ha determinato ad un calo del 13% della NDPH-citocromo P450 reduttasi (p<0.01), una riduzione del 36% della demetilazione dell’amminopirina (p<0.01), ed un abbattimento di oltre il 55% della dealchilazione della pentossiresorufina, associata principalmente all’isoforme CYP2B1/2 (p<0.01). L’UGT ha evidenziato una significativa induzione rispetto al gruppo di controllo HFD (43%; p<0.01). Il succo di germoglio di Raphanus Sativus Sango si è dimostrato efficace nel contrastare gli effetti deleteri di una dieta HFD, e potrebbe essere considerato come strategia alimentare nel trattamento dell’obesità

The combined effect of Sango sprout juice and caloric restriction on metabolic disorders and gut microbiota composition in an obesity model

The main purpose of this study was to compare the benefits of SSJ supplementation in obese rats with those achieved only by switching the alimentary regimen from high-fat (HFD) to the regular one (RD) in liver, ileum and prostate. Furthermore, changings in caecal chime microbiota were investigated. SSJ was administered to rats in combination with a RD (HFD-RD + SSJ). The switch from HFD to RD led to a weight loss of almost 9.8 g, and the total cholesterol was found to be significantly lower. In the HFD-RD + SSJ group, all values were improved compared with the HFD control, and the weight decrement was higher (−23.29 g) with respect to HFD-RD. HFD led to a widespread increment of oxidative stress (OS) markers in liver, ileum and prostate. SSJ has shown to improve the results achieved by the suspension of HFD and it has proven effective wherever the only switch in diet regimen failed

High-resolution Hg chemostratigraphy: A contribution to the distinction of chemical fingerprints of the Deccan volcanism and Cretaceous–Paleogene Boundary impact event

There is a renewed interest in volcanism as the major trigger for dramatic climatic changes at the Cretaceous–Paleogene transition (KTB), which were accompanied by a decrease in biodiversity and mass extinction. We have used Hg contents as proxy for volcanic activity at the classical localities of Gubbio (Italy) and Stevns Klint (Denmark) where the KTB layer is easily recognizable, and at a near-complete succession exposed at the Bajada del Jagüel locality in the Neuquén Basin, Argentina. These three localities display similar δ13Ccarb trends with markedly negative excursion at the KTB layer. Bulk-rock oxygen isotopes yielded similar pathways across the KTB layers in these localities and, if considered near-primary, the negative δ18O excursion at the KTB in Gubbio and Bajada del Jagüel suggest warming temperatures during this transition, whereas the negative excursion immediately followed by positive one at Stevns Klint points to a cycle of warm followed by colder climate. At Stevns Klint, Hg contents reach 250 ng g− 1 within the KTB layer (Fiskeler Member) and 45 ng.g− 1 at 1.5 m above that, while within the Scaglia Rossa Formation at Gubbio, three Hg peaks across the KTB are observed, one of them within the KTB layer (5.3 ng g− 1). Hg shows several peaks across the KTB in the Neuquén Basin, with up to 400 ng g− 1 in the Jagüel Formation. The phenomena that caused dramatic changes at the KTB probably expelled huge amounts of Hg into the atmosphere as recorded by these high Hg levels. A co-variation between Hg and Al2O3 in the studied sections suggest that Hg is adsorbed onto clays. Hg concentrations and also Hg isotopes are perhaps a powerful tool in the assessment of the role of volcanic activity during extreme climatic and biotic events, and in assessing the role of meteorite impact versus volcanism as the predominant cause of past global catastrophes and mass extinction.Fil: Sial, A. N.. Universidade Federal Rural Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Chen, Jiubin. Chinese Academy Of Sciences; República de ChinaFil: Lacerda, L. D.. Federal University of Ceará. Institute of Marine Sciences; BrasilFil: Peralta, Silvio Heriberto. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales. Instituto de Geologia "Dr. Emiliano Aparicio"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Juan. Centro de Investigaciones de la Geosfera y Biosfera; ArgentinaFil: Gaucher, Claudio. Universidad de la Republica. Facultad de Química y Facultad de Ciencias; UruguayFil: Frei, R.. University of Copenhagen. Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management; Dinamarca. Nordic Center for Earth Evolution; DinamarcaFil: Cirilli, S.. Università degli Studi di Perugia. Dipartimento di Fisica e Geologia; ItaliaFil: Ferreira, Valderez P.. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Marquillas, Rosa Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Cátedra de Geología Argentina y Sudamericana; ArgentinaFil: Barbosa, J. A.. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Pereira, N. S.. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Belmino, I. K. C. . Federal University of Ceará. Institute of Marine Sciences; Brasi