Correlations between serum hdyrogen peroxide level, oxidative damage indices and biochemical markers in end stage renal disease patients

Introduction: Hydrogen peroxide is an important intermediate ofendogenous free radical activity which could lead to the generation of more potent free radicals that cause macromolecular damage. An imbalance between the excessive generation of pro-oxidant(free radicals) and insufficient antioxidant defence leads to oxidative stress and this event is marked in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. The objective of this study is to assess the correlation between serum hydrogen peroxide level and oxidative damage indices as well as several biochemical markers in ESRD patients. Methods: Fasting blood samples were collected from patients (n=106) attending the University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur. The control subjects mainly comprised healthy blood donors with no known clinical/biochemical abnormality. The serum and plasrna were separated and the levels of hydrogen peroxide, oxidative damage indices (pentosidine, advanced oxidation protein products, malonaldehyde) and biochemical parameters (albumin, creatinine, fenitin, triglyceride, low density lipoproteins and total cholesterol) were estimated according to established rnethods. Results: Levels of hydrogen peroxide and the oxidative damage indices were significantly higher in the patients compared to healthy subjects. A strong positive correlation was present between hydrogen peroxide and the oxidative indices(r>0.80, p<0.001). Hydrogen peroxide was positively (weak) associated with the biochemical parameters except for albumin levels which showed a negative correlation with hydrogen peroxide levels in these patients (r: -0.40, p< 0.01). Conclusion: Serum hydrogen peroxide strongly correlates with oxidative damage indices and could serve as an additional marker of oxidative stress in end stage renal disease

In vitro antiviral activity of medicinal mushroom Ganoderma neo-japonicum Imazeki against enteroviruses that caused hand, foot and mouth disease

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious viral disease that predominantly affects children younger than 5 years old. HFMD is primarily caused by enterovirus A71 (EVA71) and coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16). However, coxsackievirus A10 (CV-A10) and coxsackievirus A6 (CV-A6) are being increasingly reported as the predominant causative of HFMD outbreaks worldwide since the past decade. To date, there are still no licensed multivalent vaccines or antiviral drugs targeting enteroviruses that cause HFMD, despite HFMD outbreaks are still being frequently reported, especially in Asia-Pacific countries. The high rate of transmission, morbidity and potential neurological complications of HFMD is indeed making the development of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs/agents against these enteroviruses a compelling need. In this study, we have investigated the in vitro antiviral effect of 4 Ganoderma neo-japonicum Imazeki (GNJI) crude extracts (S1-S4) against EV-A71, CV-A16, CV-A10 and CV-A6. GNJI is a medicinal mushroom that can be found growing saprophytically on decaying bamboo clumps in Malaysian forests. The antiviral effects of this medicinal mushroom were determined using cytopathic inhibition and virus titration assays. The S2 (1.25 mg/ml) hot aqueous extract demonstrated the highest broad-spectrum antiviral activity against all tested enteroviruses in human primary oral fibroblast cells. Replication of EV-A71, CV-A16 and CVA10 were effectively inhibited at 2 hours post-infection (hpi) to 72 hpi, except for CV-A6 which was only at 2 hpi. S2 also has virucidal activity against EV-A71. Polysaccharides isolated and purified from crude hot aqueous extract demonstrated similar antiviral activity as S2, suggesting that polysaccharides could be one of the active compounds responsible for the antiviral activity shown by S2. To our knowledge, this study demonstrates for the first time the ability of GNJI to inhibit enterovirus infection and replication. Thus, GNJI is potential to be further developed as an antiviral agent against enteroviruses that caused HFMD

Antilipolytic action of hesperetin in rat adipocytes

10.1055/s-2006-959749Planta Medica596508-512PLME

Inhibitory effects of flavonoids on several venom hyaluronidases

Experientia4711-121196-1200EXPE

Protective effects of tannic acid and related natural compounds on Crotalus adamenteus subcutaneous poisoning in mice

Pharmacology and Toxicology724-5290-295PHTO

Customized Cooking Methods Enhance Antioxidant, Antiglycemic, and Insulin-Like Properties of Momordica charantia and Moringa oleifera

The current study compares antioxidant activities, total phenolic content (TPC), vitamin C content, and antiglycemic properties of Momordica charantia (small bitter gourd) and Moringa oleifera (drumstick leaves) before and after subjecting to boiling and microwave heating for different durations. Both cooking methods enhanced the antioxidant activity and vitamin C content in the vegetables studied when cooked for five minutes and these properties declined when the cooking time was prolonged to 20 minutes. Cooking also retained or slightly improved the α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition activity of the vegetables; however, it reduced the ability of the vegetable extracts to inhibit α-amylase enzyme activity. The antioxidant activities were positively correlated with the TPC and vitamin C content in the vegetable extracts tested. The present study also evaluated the insulin-like properties (stimulation of adipogenesis) of selected vegetable extracts (five minutes microwaved). 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with small bitter gourd extract significantly stimulated lipogenesis (in the absence of insulin) compared to drumstick leaves. Thus, the finding of this study negates the belief that cooking will reduce the nutritional value of the vegetables and also suggested that appropriate cooking method and duration for different vegetables could be selected to improve or preserve their nutritional value

Glycaemic control in relation to xanthine oxidase and antioxidant indices in Malaysian Type 2 diabetes patients

Aims Increased oxidative stress and oxidative damage are present in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study was to assess the oxidative stress levels in the three major ethnic groups in Malaysia and to study the association between glycaemic control and oxidant-antioxidant levels in these patients. Methods Oxidative indices and glycaemic control were assessed in 650 Type 2 DM patients and 280 healthy age-matched controls by known established methods. Results Type 2 DM patients had significantly lower levels of antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidant (FRAP) and increased levels of HbA(1c), fasting blood glucose (FBG), malondialdehyde (MDA) and xanthine oxidase (XO) when compared with control: subjects. Markers of oxidative stress were more apparent in Indian patients compared with Malay and Chinese patients. Correlation analysis of oxidant-antioxidant parameters as a function of HbA(1c) in each ethnic group revealed a strong association of HbA(1c) with oxidative indices. Conclusions The present study provides evidence for the possible contribution of XO to oxidative stress and the pathophysiology of diabetes. HbA(1c) remains an important marker of glycaemic control for the management of Type 2 DM, but other confounding factors that predispose or lead to oxidative stress should also be taken into consideration

Solubilized antigen of Blastocystis hominis facilitates the growth of human colorectal cancer cells, HCT116

Blastocystis hominis is one of the most common intestinal protozoan parasites in humans, and reports have shown that blastocystosis is coupled with intestinal disorders. In the past, researchers have developed an in vitro model using B. hominis culture filtrates to investigate its ability in triggering inflammatory cytokine responses and transcription factors in human colonic epithelial cells. Studies have also correlated the inflammation by parasitic infection with cancer. The present study provides evidence of the parasite facilitating cancer cell growth through observing the cytopathic effect, cellular immunomodulation, and apoptotic responses of B. hominis, especially in malignancy. Here we investigated the effect of solubilized antigen from B. hominis on cell viability, using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and human colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT116). The gene expressions of cytokines namely interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma, nuclear factor kappa light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (a gene transcription factor), and proapoptotic genes namely protein 53 and cathepsin B were also studied. Results exhibited favor the fact that antigen from B. hominis, at a certain concentration, could facilitate the growth of HCT116 while having the ability to downregulate immune cell responses (PBMCs). Therefore, there is a vital need to screen colorectal cancer patients for B. hominis infection as it possesses the ability to enhance the tumor growth

Customized cooking method improves total antioxidant activity in selected vegetables

The present study compares water-soluble phenolic content (WPC) and antioxidant activities in Chinese long bean (Vigna unguiculata), bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), water convolvulus (Ipomoea aquatica) and broccoli (Brassica olearacea) prior to and after subjecting to boiling, microwaving and pressure cooking. The total antioxidant activity was increased in cooked water convolvulus, broccoli and bitter gourd, estimated based on the ferric reducing antioxidant power, the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl radical scavenging activity. Pressure cooking did not cause any significant decline in the antioxidant property. Boiling generally improved the overall antioxidant activity in all the vegetables. Correlation analysis suggests that WPC contributed to significant antioxidant activities in these vegetables. Thus, prudence in selecting an appropriate cooking method for different vegetables may improve or preserve their nutritional value

Effects of naringenin on lipogenesis, lipolysis and glucose uptake in rat adipocyte primary culture: a natural antidiabetic agent

The flavonoid naringenin is commonly found in citrus fruits and tomato. The main aim of this study was to assess the in vitro insulin-like effects of naringenin using rat adipocyte primary culture. The adipogenic, lipolytic and glucose uptake activities of naringenin in primary rat adipocytes were assessed using Oil Red O, glycerol, and 2-deoxy-D-2,6-3Hglucose uptake quantitative assays respectively. Naringenin exhibited significant increase of lipogenesis in the presence and absence of insulin in primary rat preadipocytes. At the concentration range of 0.01 - 100 µM, naringenin inhibited 50 % of epinephrine induced lipolysis in rat adipocytes and enhanced insulin's antilipolytic activity. Naringenin (100 µM) stimulated 163 % glucose uptake in rat adipocytes (compared to untreated cells) and this was significantly higher than the insulin mediated glucose uptake at similar concentration. Thus, naringenin may play an important role as an adjuvant and/or alternative to insulin therapy for the management of diabetes mellitus. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR Copyright of Internet Journal of Alternative Medicine is the property of Internet Scientific Publications LLC and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.