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Introduction: Seeds of Securigera securidaca (L.) Degen & Dorfl are rich in flavonoids and phenolic acids which have potent biological effects. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of S. securidaca seeds (HESS) alone, and in combination with a standard drug, glibenclamide (GB) on paraoxonase1 (PON1) activity, lipid profile and peroxidation, and cardiovascular risk indices in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Methods: Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into eight equal groups and orally treated with various doses of HESS (100, 200, 400 mg/kg) alone and in combination with GB (5 mg/kg) for 35 consecutive days. After blood sampling, lipid profile including triglyceride (TG), cholesterol, high, low and very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C, LDL-C, and VLDL-C), as well as serum PON1 activity, were assessed. Malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were also measured. Several indices of cardiovascular risk and the correlation between PON1 activity and these indices were calculated based on the obtained results from the lipid profile. Results: Induction of diabetes could dramatically alter all of the parameters mentioned above, and the lower dose of HESS (100 mg/kg) was not effective in restoring the parameters. However, the higher doses (200 and 400 mg/kg) alone and in combination with GB could significantly improve lipid profile, restore PON1 activity, and decrease cardiovascular risk indices, MDA, as well. However, neither HESS nor GB could significantly reduce TNF-a and hs-CRP. A significant negative correlation also was detected between PON1 activity and cardiovascular risk indices. Conclusion: Conclusively, HESS can be considered as a potent antihyperlipidemic agent with remarkable cardioprotective effects and can potentiate the antidiabetic effects of GB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Seeds of Securigera securidaca (L.) Degen & Dorfl are rich in flavonoids and phenolic acids which have potent biological effects. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of S. securidaca seeds (HESS) alone, and in combination with a standard drug, glibenclamide (GB) on paraoxonase1 (PON1) activity, lipid profile and peroxidation, and cardiovascular risk indices in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Methods: Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into eight equal groups and orally treated with various doses of HESS (100, 200, 400 mg/kg) alone and in combination with GB (5 mg/kg) for 35 consecutive days. After blood sampling, lipid profile including triglyceride (TG), cholesterol, high, low and very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C, LDL-C, and VLDL-C), as well as serum PON1 activity, were assessed. Malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were also measured. Several indices of cardiovascular risk and the correlation between PON1 activity and these indices were calculated based on the obtained results from the lipid profile. Results: Induction of diabetes could dramatically alter all of the parameters mentioned above, and the lower dose of HESS (100 mg/kg) was not effective in restoring the parameters. However, the higher doses (200 and 400 mg/kg) alone and in combination with GB could significantly improve lipid profile, restore PON1 activity, and decrease cardiovascular risk indices, MDA, as well. However, neither HESS nor GB could significantly reduce TNF-α and hs-CRP. A significant negative correlation also was detected between PON1 activity and cardiovascular risk indices. Conclusion: conclusively, HESS can be considered as a potent antihyperlipidemic agent with remarkable cardioprotective effects and can potentiate the antidiabetic effects of GB., (© 2020 The Author(s).)

The gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) offers a means for rapid, high-yield, and economical production of recombinant proteins. Here, a protocol for optimization of parameters involved in bacterial expression conditions is described. L-Asparaginase (ASNase II) was chosen as a model protein for our experiments. ASNase II gene (ansB) was cloned into the pAED4 plasmid and transformed into E. coli BL21pLysS (DE3)-competent cells. It was assumed that high cell density and high copy number of recombinant plasmid in the bacteria host could result in very high production of the recombinant protein. Circumstances for the overproduction of recombinant ASNase II including cell growth conditions, isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) level, ampicillin (Amp) concentration before and during IPTG induction, and cell density were optimized. Regarding the final optimization, overexpression of ASNase II was assessed on a large scale in LB medium. Periplasmic ASNase II was extracted using an alkaline lysis method. The extracted protein was purified by one-step DEAE-Sepharose fast-flow chromatography. ASNase II activity was considered an index for the protein expression. Applying the optimized practical protocol, protein production was significantly enhanced in comparison to the traditional IPTG induction method in the absence of a fermentor and can be applied for overexpression of other recombinant proteins.

Purpose: It was proposed that total thiols (tSH) as powerful reducing agents and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OX-LDL) may be associated with development of choroidal neovascularization in exudative age-related macular degeneration (E-ARMD)., Methods: In a case-control study, 45 patients with E-ARMD were compared with 45 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. The levels of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) and OX-LDL as oxidant agents, and of tSH and glutathione (GSH) as antioxidant markers, were estimated in E-ARMD patients and controls., Results: The levels of Hcy (15.4±7.2 μM versus 10.7±3.7 μM; p=0.001) and OX-LDL (52.2±13.8 U/l versus 37.8±10.8 U/l; p=0.001) were statistically higher, while GSH (1.10±0.97 μM versus 2.09±1.04 μM; p=0.001) and tSH (0.31±0.06 mM versus 0.35±0.05 mM; p=0.001) were statistically lower, in the patients with E-ARMD than in the control group, respectively. The plasma OX-LDL concentration also exhibited a positive and significant correlation with Hcy (r=0.719, p=0.001) in patients with E-ARMD., Conclusions: Lower GSH and tSH as antioxidant and higher Hcy levels as oxidant agents in E-ARMD patients may have resulted in an oxidative environment that was associated with OX-LDL. Further studies with more cases are required to confirm the hypothesis.