Quercetin is a naturally existing plant pigment belonging to the flavonoid group; it is contained in a wide range of vegetables and fruits. The accumulated evidence points to the potential uses of ...quercetin in protection of some disease conditions. Lead is one of the highly toxicant heavy metals that are widely spread in the environment and implicated in a wide spectrum of industries. No previous study has been reported to evaluate the effect of quercetin on lead toxicity. Therefore, the present study was conducted to elucidate some aspects of quercetin bioactivities in regard to its ability to combat the oxidative stress induced by lead toxicity. For this purpose, a total of sixty male Wistar rats were randomly and equally divided into three groups of 20 animals each; untreated control animals (group 1), lead-exposed animals (group 2; exposed to lead daily by oral gavage at the dose of 80 mg/Kg b.w.), and group 3 of animals, which were exposed to lead and daily received quercetin (10 h gap time between lead exposure and the receiving of quercetin) by oral gavage at the dose of 350 mg/Kg b.w. The experiment period was 8 weeks. All the assayed hematological and biochemical parameters of animals exposed to lead were significantly altered compared with the untreated control levels. Animals exposed to lead (group 2) exhibited significant decrements of the erythrocytic and total leucocytic counts, hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume percent, total proteins, albumin and globulin. These animals also disclosed significantly decreased levels of antioxidant markers including total thiols, catalase and glutathione. On the other hand, these animals demonstrated significant increments in the levels of bilirubin, urea, creatinine, BUN, serum enzymes, H
O
and MDA. Animals exposed to lead and given quercetin (group 3) exhibited improvement of these parameters, which were brought back at varying degrees toward the untreated control levels. Basing on the improvements of the assayed hematological and biochemical parameters, it was concluded that quercetin as a dietary supplement can act efficiently as an antioxidant to counteract the oxidative stress induced by lead toxicity and to maintain the oxidant antioxidant balance.
A sedentary lifestyle or lack of physical activity increases the risk of different diseases, including obesity, diabetes, heart diseases, certain types of cancers, and some neurological diseases. ...Physical exercise helps improve quality of life and reduces the risk of many diseases. Irisin, a hormone induced by exercise, is a fragmented product of FNDC5 (a cell membrane protein) and acts as a linkage between muscles and other tissues. Over the past decade, it has become clear that irisin is a molecular mimic of exercise and shows various beneficial effects, such as browning of adipocytes, modulation of metabolic processes, regulation of bone metabolism, and functioning of the nervous system. Irisin has a role in carcinogenesis; numerous studies have shown its impact on migration, invasion, and proliferation of cancer cells. The receptor of irisin is not completely known; however, in some tissues it probably acts via a specific class of integrin receptors. Here, we review research from the past decade that has identified irisin as a potential therapeutic agent in the prevention or treatment of various metabolic-related and other diseases. This article delineates structural and biochemical aspects of irisin and provides an insight into the role of irisin in different pathological conditions.
The present investigation assessed the anticancer potential and chemical profile of the polyherbal formulation (PHF6) against human breast cancer cells. The plants (Alchemilla vulgaris, Cichorium ...pumilum, Crataegus azarolus, Eruca sativa, Ferula hermonis, and Hypericum triquetrifolium) were combined in equal quantities and extracted using soxhlet apparatus. The total polyphenolic (TPC) of the hexane and chloroform extract of PHF6 were 3.11 ± 0.004 and 7.88 ± 0.004 µg/mL (as gallic acid equivalent), respectively. The radical scavenging activity (RSA) values for the hexane and chloroform extract were 35.1 % ±0.01 and 36.9 % ±0.06, respectively. For hexane extract, the IC50 values were found to be 82.8 and 48.7 µg/mL against MCF-7ER(+)/PR(+) and MDA MB-231ER(−)/PR(−), respectively. Similarly, the IC50 value of chloroform extract was 44.4 µg/mL against both cell lines. The MDA MB-231ER(−)/PR(−) cells stained with DAPI post-treatment with hexane and chloroform extract showed cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, and chromatin condensation. Moreover, GC–MS screening of the PHF6 revealed several compounds with different reported biological activities, such as phytol and octadecanoic acid. PHF6 showed promising anticancer activity against cancer cells tested, thus deserving more clinical studies in the future.
Background: The present study was carried out to test the antioxidant activity of lactoferrin as a dietary supplement to alleviate the effects of oxidative stress induced by mercury toxicity. ...Hematological and biochemical assays were employed to evaluate the ameliorating effects of lactoferrin. Methods: Sixty male Wistar rats were allotted randomly and equally into three groups; animals in Group 1 served as untreated control, animals in Group 2 were administered orally with mercuric chloride (HgCl 2 ) at the dose of 6 mg/kg bw/day, and animals in Group 3 were administered with HgCl 2 at the same dose and orally dosed with lactoferrin (400 mg/kg bw/day). Hematological indices (erythrocytic and total leukocytic counts, hemoglobin concentration%, and packed cell volume, (PCV%), and biochemical parameters (serum and homogenates of liver and kidney tissues) were assessed in all animals. Serum and tissue homogenate levels of total thiols, glutathione (GSH), catalase, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) represented the antioxidant markers. The oxidation markers were represented by H 2 O 2 and malondialdehyde (MDA). Results: Compared to the untreated control group, animals in Group 2 (administered with HgCl 2 ) exhibited significantly increased levels of serum enzymes (alanine transferase (ALT), aspertate transferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase), urea, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, H 2 O 2 , and MDA. These animals showed significantly decreased levels of erythrocytic and total leukocytic counts, hemoglobin concentration, PCV%, total proteins, total thiols, GSH, catalase, and TAC. The hematological and biochemical changes were comparatively reversed toward the control levels in animals of Group 3 (administered with HgCl 2 and orally dosed with lactoferrin). The reversed levels of hematological and biochemical parameters were significantly different compared to Group 2. Conclusions: Based on the encountered amelioration of the assayed hematological and biochemical parameters in animals treated with HgCl 2 and given lactoferrin, it could be concluded that lactoferrin as a dietary supplement might function as an efficient antioxidant to alleviate the oxidative stress induced by mercury toxicity.
Semiconductor synthesis and applications are of increasing interest worldwide. A simple non‐autoclave method was developed to synthesize bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) nanoparticles and nanocomposites of ...BiOI/carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in propylene glycol as a solvent. The as‐prepared BiOI and its CNFs‐composites were characterized by powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy‐energy X‐ray‐dispersive spectroscopy (SEM‐EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), Nitrogen adsorption‐desorption‐isotherm, and UV‐vis diffuse reflectance spectra. The XRD pattern confirmed that BiOI nanomaterial was prepared successfully by the developed method. SEM and TEM analysis revealed the BiOI in its pure and composites forms possessing rose‐like nanosheets built with BiOI nanoparticles. The addition of CNFs to the BiOI in increasing mass percentage enhanced the optical properties of the BiOI‐semiconductor. The obtained results confirmed that the short‐time refluxing method prepared BiOI and BiOI/CNFs composites successfully, with the advantage of eliminating the time and energy‐consuming step of autoclave digestion. Nevertheless, the nanomaterial‘s anticancer activity was revealed when tested against breast and liver cancer cell lines and measured at 540 nm.
L. seeds are traditionally used to treat diabetes and its complications (inflammation and formation of reactive oxygen species) around the world. The present study investigates the antidiabetic, ...anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of the polyphenol fraction of
seeds (PCS). Diabetic mice were orally administered with PCS (25 and 50 mg/kg b.w.) for 28 days. Oral glucose tolerance (OGTT) was also evaluated along with the anti-inflammatory effect, assessed by measuring paw edema development induced with carrageenan in Wistar rat and the antioxidant activity assessed using two tests (β-carotene discoloration and DPPH). Treatment of diabetic mice with PCS for four weeks managed their high fasting blood glucose levels, improved their overall health, also revealed an excellent antihyperlipidemic activity. The OGTT result showed a potent antihyperglycemic activity, and following the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, the PCS exhibited a perfect activity. LC-MS/MS result revealed the presence of 9 polyphenols. This modest work indicates that the PCS have an important antidiabetic, antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effect that can be well established treatment of diabetes and its complications.
In this study, nitrogen-nitrogen bonds containing compounds such as hydrazine derivatives are examined. There are relatively few hydrazine molecules in nature, but some have been isolated from ...plants, marine organisms and microorganisms. Thus, hydrazine molecules are widely used in the manufacture of synthetic catalysts, agriculture chemicals, pesticides, and also cause irreversible pollution to air, water, and soil. Hydrazine compounds were evaluated via larvicidal profile in a stagnant water system. According to the above observation, new 1H-pyrazolo3,4-bpyridin-3(2H)-one derivatives can be synthesized via catalyst free green chemistry approach.A range of FT-IR spectroscopic measures, 1H and 13C NMR, as well as mass spectra, were used to characterize the compounds (2a-e). The compound 2e was more potent (95,6% mortality, LD50: 20.1 µg/ mL) against Culex quinquefasciatus than natural pyrazolidine derivatives. Therefore, the objective of this study, prospered with a few of the pyrzolopyridine hydrazine models, which are demonstrated to be low toxic environmentally safe and high potential larvicidal profile.
Oral cancer has traditionally been treated with surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these therapies. Although cisplatin, a chemotherapy drug, can effectively kill oral cancer ...cells by forming DNA adducts, its clinical use is limited due to adverse effects and chemo-resistance. Therefore, there is a need to develop new, targeted anticancer drugs to complement chemotherapy, allowing for reduced cisplatin doses and minimizing adverse effects. Recent studies have shown that 3,5-Bis (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-N-methyl-4-piperidine (PAC), a new curcumin analog, possesses anticancer properties and could be considered a complementary or alternative therapy. In this study, we aimed to assess the potential complementary effects of PAC in combination with cisplatin for treating oral cancer. We conducted experiments using oral cancer cell lines (Ca9-22) treated with different concentrations of cisplatin (ranging from 0.1 μM to 1 μM), either alone or in conjunction with PAC (2.5 and 5 μM). Cell growth was measured using the MTT assay, while cell cytotoxicity was evaluated using an LDH assay. Propidium iodide and annexin V staining were employed to examine the impact on cell apoptosis. Flow cytometry was used to investigate the effects of the PAC/cisplatin combination on cancer cell autophagy, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. Additionally, a Western Blot analysis was performed to assess the influence of this combination on pro-carcinogenic proteins involved in various signaling pathways. The results demonstrated that PAC enhanced the efficacy of cisplatin in a dose-dependent manner, leading to a significant inhibition of oral cancer cell proliferation. Importantly, treatment with PAC (5 μM) alongside different concentrations of cisplatin reduced the IC50 of cisplatin tenfold. Combining these two agents increased apoptosis by further inducing caspase activity. In addition, the concomitant use of PAC and cisplatin enhances oral cancer cell autophagy, ROS, and MitoSOX production. However, combined PAC with cisplatin inhibits the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), which is a marker for cell viability. Finally, this combination further enhances the inhibition of oral cancer cell migration via the inhibition of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition genes, such as E-cadherin. We demonstrated that the combination of PAC and cisplatin markedly enhanced oral cancer cell death by inducing apoptosis, autophagy, and oxidative stress. The data presented indicate that PAC has the potential to serve as a powerful complementary agent to cisplatin in the treatment of gingival squamous cell carcinomas.
A popular polyherbal formulation prepared from five plants (PHF5) may have anticancer effects. However, there is a lack of adequate scientific evidence. We assessed the anticancer, antioxidant, and ...acute toxicity effects of PHF5. Cancer cells were treated with 0 to 300 μg/mL PHF5 extract. Established assays were used to assess cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and radical scavenging activities. In the acute toxicity study, mice were administered a single oral dose (2,000 mg/kg) of PHF5, and biochemical and histopathological parameters were assessed. The IC
values of PHF5 on LoVo, HepG2, MCF-7, and MDA-MB 231 cells were 71.8, 64.8, 45.3, and 47.3 μg/mL, respectively. Fluorescence staining demonstrated that PHF5 induced MCF-7 cell apoptosis. After 48 h, the percentage of late apoptotic cells increased significantly compared with the control cells (74.16 ± 0.64 vs 3.7 ± 2.05,
< 0.05). No mortality or behavioral alterations were observed in mice treated with a single dose (2,000 mg/kg) of PHF5, indicating that the LD
value exceeded 2,000 mg/kg. However, histopathological changes were observed in the liver tissues. PHF5 has potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of human carcinoma. Further safety data will be necessary before clinical use.
Angiotensin (Ang) II, which is the central effector of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), is one of the principal mediators of vascular dysfunction in hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. ...Proper vascular function is mediated by oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, and autophagy. However, the underlying signaling pathways and the major RAS components involved in this process are still not fully understood. In the present study, the effect of Ang II on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptosis induction, and autophagy in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was investigated. An Annexin V kit was used for the apoptosis analysis, and caspase-3/7 activities were measured with the Caspase-Glo 3/7 Assay Kit. ROS production was measured using a 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate probe whereas detection of autophagy was performed using acridine orange staining. We found that Ang II increases oxidative stress via ROS production, cell apoptosis via caspase 3/7, and the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Interestingly, losartan, being an antagonist of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), has demonstrated the ability to restore autophagy levels to that of the control group subsequent to its induction by Ang II. The latter can thus induce endothelial cell damage, through excessive oxidative stress and defective autophagy-related apoptosis, which can be inhibited by losartan. These findings reinforce the pivotal role played by the Ang II/AT1R axis in the pathogenesis of vascular damage and bolster our knowledge of the role played by ROS/autophagy-related apoptosis via AT1R in the pathogenesis of hypertension and vascular diseases.
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