Search

Medicinal plants are a valuable reservoir of novel pharmacologically active compounds. ROS and free radicals are primary contributors to oxidative stress, a condition associated with the onset of degenerative diseases such as cancer, coronary heart disease, and vascular disease. In this study, we used different spectrophotometry methods to demonstrate the antioxidant properties of 6 Allium extracts: Allium fistulosum; Allium ursinum; Allium cepa: Arieș red cultivar of A. cepa, and white variety of A. cepa; Allium sativum; and Allium senescens subsp. montanum. HPLC–MS determined the chemical composition of the extracts. Among the tested extracts, the Arieș red cultivar of A. cepa stands out as having the best antioxidant activity, probably due to the high content of polyphenols and alliin (12.67 µg/mL and 3565 ng/mL, respectively). The results obtained in this study show that Allium extracts have antioxidant activity, but also free radical scavenging capabilities. Also, their interactions with cytochrome c and hemoglobin can be the basis of future studies to create treatments for oxidative stress-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pleiotropic effects of Lamium species are extensively utilized for treating urinary bladder injuries and infections and addressing blood hypertension or liver toxicities. Despite widespread Lamium consumption in animals and humans, its impact on brain biochemical parameters remains unexplored. In our study, we demonstrated the regenerative effect of L. album L. in a rat model of restraint stress, commonly employed to investigate neuropsychological stress. Following extract administration, there was a reduction in stress hormones (corticosterone, adrenaline), inflammation (TNFα), and oxidative stress. These neuroregenerative effects may be attributed to Lamium's phytochemical composition, particularly its iridoids and luteolin content, which appear to mimic the action of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). These findings suggest the potential use of L. album as a neuroregenerative adjuvant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epilobium hirsutum L., commonly known as hairy willowherb, is a perennial herbaceous plant native to Europe and Asia. In Romania, the Epilobium genus includes 17 species that are used in folk medicine for various purposes. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antitumor potential of the optimized extract of Epilobium hirsutum (EH) in animal models. The first study investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of EH optimized extract and the model used was carrageenan-induced paw inflammation. Wistar rats were divided into three groups: negative control, positive control treated with indomethacin, and a group treated with the extract. Oxidative stress markers, cytokine levels, and protein expressions were assessed. The extract demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties comparable to those of the control group. In the second study, the antitumor effects of the extract were assessed using the tumor model of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. Swiss albino mice with Ehrlich ascites were divided into four groups: negative, positive treated with cyclophosphamide (Cph), Group 3 treated with Cph and EH optimized extract, and Group 4 treated with extract alone. Samples from the ascites fluid, liver, and heart were analyzed to evaluate oxidative stress, inflammation, and cancer markers. The extract showed a reduction in tumor-associated inflammation and oxidative stress. Overall, the EH optimized extract exhibited promising anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects in the animal models studied. These findings suggest its potential as a natural adjuvant therapeutic agent for addressing inflammation and oxidative stress induced by different pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is known as the primary and most common cause of dementia in the middle-aged and elderly population worldwide. Chemical analyses of B. pendula leaf extract (BPE), performed using spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods (LC/MS), revealed high amounts of polyphenol carboxylic acids (gallic, chlorogenic, caffeic, trans-p-coumaric, ferulic, and salicylic acids), as well as flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, naringenin, hyperoside, quercetin, and quercitrin). Four groups of Wistar rats were used in this experiment (n = 7/group): control (untreated), Aβ1-42 (2 μg/rat intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.), Aβ1-42 + BPE (200 mg/Kg b.w.), and DMSO (10 μL/rat). On the first day, one dose of Aβ1-42 was intracerebroventricularly administered to animals in groups 2 and 3. Subsequently, BPE was orally administered for the next 15 days to group 3. On the 16th day, behavioral tests were performed. Biomarkers of brain oxidative stress Malondialdehyde (MDA), (Peroxidase (PRx), Catalase (CAT), and Superoxid dismutase (SOD) and inflammation (cytokines: tumor necrosis factor -α (TNF-α), Interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX 2)) in plasma and hippocampus homogenates were assessed. Various protein expressions (Phospho-Tau (Ser404) (pTau Ser 404), Phospho-Tau (Ser396) (pTau Ser 396), synaptophysin, and the Nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB) signaling pathway) were analyzed using Western blot and immunohistochemistry in the hippocampus. The results show that BPE diminished lipid peroxidation and neuroinflammation, modulated specific protein expression, enhanced the antioxidant capacity, and improved spontaneous alternation behavior, suggesting that it has beneficial effects in AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai, Educatio Artis Gymnasticae is the property of Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania 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.)

The article titled "Evaluating Hepatic Toxicity of Chitosan and Chitosan-Functionalized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in a Rat Model of Peripheral Nerve Injury -- Relevance for Rehabilitation Medicine" by Nadina Liana Pop et al. was published in the Balneo & PRM Research Journal in June 2024. The study examines the potential liver toxicity of chitosan and chitosan-functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles in a rat model of peripheral nerve injury. The authors aim to determine the relevance of these findings for rehabilitation medicine. The article provides the necessary references and contact information for further exploration. [Extracted from the article]

Nowadays, comparative neurobiology is in a shadow cone as compared to other aspects of the neurosciences. Studies with experimental models or representative organisms are exposed to erroneous generalizations as the diversity of the class of organisms increases. Thus, the structure of the pigeon's brain is different from the brain of a crow or the brain of a zebra finch, even though they are all birds. The whole brain of Corvus frugilegus was analyzed with a wide variety of histological methods such as Golgi, Golgi-Cox, Hortega, Nissl, H&E, Kluver-Barera, Bielschowsky, and Jones with tissue fixed in neutral formalin, Bouin's liquid, potassium dichromate, silver nitrate, dichromate-potassium chromate-HgCl. Positive immunohistochemical detection was observed for NeuN, CNP, DCX, and PCNA, while other markers were not clearly detected. The ultrastructural examination was performed using transmission electron microscopy. Confocal microscopy was performed with a Nikon AX1 microscope. Data gathered to date suggest that neurons and gliocytes are organized into structural and perhaps functional clusters with a central young motile neuron and 5-12 peripheral glial cells, perhaps some type of oligodendrocyte. The study is still ongoing and more studies will be conducted on the phenotype of neuroglial clusters and their function in the brain of C. frugilegus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PSD-95 is a key scaffolding protein that is localized to the postsynaptic density of excitatory synapses where it regulates a wide variety of receptors, channels, and signaling molecules. PSD-95 specifically accumulates at the excitatory postsynaptic membranes and mediates cell surface ion channel clustering, such as AMPARs/TARPs. Cortical spreading depression is associated with the activation of NMDA receptors, which interact with the postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) that binds to nitric oxide synthase. Escitalopram is a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It is often used to treat depression and is sometimes used for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or panic attacks. Our study was organized in 4 cohorts (Control, Depression, Escitalopram 5mg/kg, Escitalopram 10 mg/kg) Immunohistochemical detection of PSD-95 was performed with PSD-95 monoclonal antibody, HRP-biotinylated secondary antibody, and DAB final reaction on 5 µm thickness coronal brain sections. Interestingly, escitalopram has induced high expression of PSD-95 in thalamic neurons in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, we saw a connection between the PSD-95, escitalopram, and thalamus, which we would like to research deeply and see what other effects might appear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure of the body to stress has different effects on it, depending on the period of stress it was subjected to. While exposure for a short period of time can give the body certain benefits, chronic stress has mostly harmful effects. To prove this fact, Wistar male rats were subjected to repeated restraint stress for 3 and 7 days, 3 hrs/day. These procedures were followed by a series of biochemical, histochemical, and immunohistochemical analyzes to express the hypoxic background produced after the stress exposure. Therefore, the applied techniques and biochemical analyzes for brain tissue or brain lysates (cortical-thalamic area) are as follows: superoxide dismutase, catalase, TBARS, free leucine-like levels, total proteins, glucose, expression of the neuroglobin, and HIF1α as well as glial cells markers GFAP and CNP. As the data shows, the hypoxic background after 7 days of repeated stress exposure was a more severe one, due to the inability of the system to face oxidative stress. These data showed a stress balance reaction of the brain via oxygen sensing reactions and proliferating glial cells, in a time-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress represents the underlying cause of many chronic diseases in human; therefore, the development of potent antioxidant compounds for preventing or treating such conditions is useful. Starting from the good antioxidant and antiradical properties identified for the previously reported Dihydroxy-Phenyl-Thiazol-Hydrazinium chloride (DPTH), we synthesized a congeneric series of phenolic thiazoles. The radical scavenging activity, and the antioxidant and chelation potential were assessed in vitro, a series of quantum descriptors were calculated, and the electrochemical behavior of the synthesized compounds was studied to evaluate the impact on the antioxidant and antiradical activities. In addition, their antibacterial and antifungal properties were evaluated against seven aerobic bacterial strains and a strain of C. albicans, and their cytotoxicity was assessed in vitro. Compounds 5a-b, 7a-b and 8a-b presented remarkable antioxidant and antiradical properties, and compounds 5a-b, 7a and 8a displayed good Cu+2 chelating activity. Compounds 7a and 8a were very active against P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 compared to norfloxacin, and proved less cytotoxic than ascorbic acid against the human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT cells, CLS-300493). Several phenolic compounds from the synthesized series presented excellent antioxidant activity and notable anti-Pseudomonas potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe intricate cooperation between cancer cells and nontumor stromal cells within melanoma microenvironment (MME) enables tumor progression and metastasis. We previously demonstrated that the interplay between tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and melanoma cells can be disrupted by using long-circulating liposomes (LCLs) encapsulating prednisolone phosphate (PLP) (LCL-PLP) that inhibited tumor angiogenesis coordinated by TAMs. In this study, our goal was to improve LCL specificity for protumor macrophages (M2-like (i.e., TAMs) macrophages) and to induce a more precise accumulation at tumor site by loading PLP into IL-13-conjugated liposomes (IL-13-LCL-PLP), since IL-13 receptor is overexpressed in this type of macrophages. The IL-13-LCL-PLP liposomal formulation was obtained by covalent attachment of thiolated IL-13 to maleimide-functionalized LCL-PLP. C57BL/6 mice bearing B16.F10 s.c melanoma tumors were used to investigate the antitumor action of LCL-PLP and IL-13-LCL-PLP. Our results showed that IL-13-LCL-PLP formulation remained stable in biological fluids after 24h and it was preferentially taken up by M2 polarized macrophages. IL-13-LCL-PLP induced strong tumor growth inhibition compared to nonfunctionalized LCL-PLP at the same dose, by altering TAMs-mediated angiogenesis and oxidative stress, limiting resistance to apoptosis and invasive features in MME. These findings suggest IL-13-LCL-PLP might become a promising delivery platform for chemotherapeutic agents in melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]