Assessment the effect of saffron ethanolic extract (Crocus sativus L.) on oxidative damages in aged male rat liver

Using antioxidant nutrients may be a good diet strategy for the prevention of oxidative stress associated to agerelated disease. We assessed the changes in activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide Dismutase-SOD Glutathione-S-Transferase-GST, Catalase-CAT) and the levels of lipid Per-oxidation (Malondialdehyde -MDA) in liver and serum nitric oxide (NO) of rats 2, 10 and 20 months old, and to determine the effect of saffron on the status of selected oxidative stress. The aged rats were given intraperitoneal injection of saffron extract daily for 4-week. Data were analyzed using ANOVA-One way followed by Tukey-Kramer Post-Hoc test for multiple comparisons. The results demonstrated that aging caused significant increase in the levels of serum NO and MDA with a reduction in the activities of SOD, GST and CAT in liver. This study showed that saffron ameliorated increased serum NO and MDA levels and decreased GST activity in liver of 20 months old rats. Therefore, saffron can be effective to protect susceptible aged liver

Effect of cadmium on glucose, lipid profile and oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic and non-diabetic rats

Cadmium (Cd), highly toxic heavy metal, has been considered as a possible risk factor for diabetes and its complications. However, the underlying mechanisms of Cd-induced diabetes are not clear. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of Cd on the oxidative system in the diabetic and non-diabetic rats. Rats were divided into the following groups of 8 animals each: control (C), diabetic (D), Cd-exposed (1 mg/kg/bw) and diabetic-exposed to Cd (1 mg/kg/bw) (D + Cd-exposed) groups. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (intraperitoneally (i.p.)) at a single dose of 60 mg/kg. Cd (i.p.) was administered 3 days after streptozotocin (STZ) administration to the end of the study. After 4-weeks, blood was drawn to determine the changes of glucose, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transfrase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities as well as the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipid profile. The results indicated that Cd exposure aggravated increased blood glucose, MDA, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C as well as decreased GSH levels and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in diabetic rats (p<0.001). These results suggest that Cd exposure deteriorates diabetic effect and its complications in STZ-diabetic model by induction of oxidative stress. Effect of cadmium on glucose, lipid profile and oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic and non-diabetic rats. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319245711_Effect_of_cadmium_on_glucose_lipid_profile_and_oxidative_stress_in_streptozotocin-induced_diabetic_and_non-diabetic_rats [accessed Sep 19, 2017]

Targeted regulation of autophagy using nanoparticles: new insight into cancer therapy

Normal cells depend on autophagy to maintain cellular homeostasis by recycling damaged organelles and misfolded proteins and degrading toxic agents. Similar to apoptosis, targeting autophagy has been under attention in cancer therapy. However, autophagy has both pro-survival and pro-death functions in tumors, and its targeting requires further elucidation. The current review focuses on using nanoparticles for targeting autophagy in cancer treatment. Nanocarriers can deliver autophagy regulators along with chemotherapeutic agents leading to intracellular accumulation in cancer cells and synergistic cancer therapy. Furthermore, genetic tools such as siRNA and shRNA can be used for targeting molecular components that regulate autophagy, such as the ATG12-ATG5-ATG16L1 complex. A number of nanostructures, such as gold and zinc oxide nanoparticles, can be used to enhance oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis and autophagy, reducing cancer progression. Further, using nanoparticles to modulate autophagy potentiates the anti-tumor effects of cisplatin and gefitinib during chemotherapy. Polymeric nanoparticles, lipid-based nanostructures and carbon-based nanomaterials are among other nanoparticles capable of regulating autophagy in cancer cells. Of note, various regulatory components of autophagy such as ATGs, Beclin-1 and LC3-II can be affected by nanomaterials. Based on the role of nanomaterial-induced autophagy as pro-survival or pro-death, further targeting can potentiate the fight against cancer cells