Antioxidative effect of Periplaneta americana extract on dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis through activation of the Nrf2 signal

Discovery of metabolite from the insect-derived endophytic Penicillium chrysogenum and their COX-2 inhibitory activity

Three new N-alkylated amino acid derivatives, penichrysoamides A-C (1-3), along with a new citric acid derivative, penichrysoacid A (4), a new chromanone lactone penichrysoacid B (5), and a new amide derivative, penichrysoamide D (6), as well as seven known benzamide derivatives (7-13), were isolated from the endophytic fungus Penicillium chrysogenum derived from the insect Periplaneta americana. The structures of these compounds, including their absolute configurations, were elucidated using spectroscopic and computational techniques. Biological evaluation revealed that compounds 8-13 exhibited significant COX-2 inhibitory activity, with IC50 values ranging from 275 nM to 1350 nM.

Antioxidant Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: How Far Have We Come and How Close Are We?

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) pose a growing public health challenge with unclear etiology and limited efficacy of traditional pharmacological treatments. Alternative therapies, particularly antioxidants, have gained scientific interest. This systematic review analyzed studies from MEDLINE, Cochrane, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Scopus using keywords like "Inflammatory Bowel Diseases" and "Antioxidants." Initially, 925 publications were identified, and after applying inclusion/exclusion criteria-covering studies from July 2015 to June 2024 using murine models or clinical trials in humans and evaluating natural or synthetic substances affecting oxidative stress markers-368 articles were included. This comprised 344 animal studies and 24 human studies. The most investigated antioxidants were polyphenols and active compounds from medicinal plants (n = 242; 70.3%). The review found a strong link between oxidative stress and inflammation in IBD, especially in studies on nuclear factor kappa B and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 pathways. However, it remains unclear whether inflammation or oxidative stress occurs first in IBD. Lipid peroxidation was the most studied oxidative damage, followed by DNA damage. Protein damage was rarely investigated. The relationship between antioxidants and the gut microbiota was examined in 103 animal studies. Human studies evaluating oxidative stress markers were scarce, reflecting a major research gap in IBD treatment. PROSPERO registration: CDR42022335357 and CRD42022304540.

Antioxidants in Male and Animal Reproduction: Applications and Critical Issues

The Special Issue "Antioxidants in Male Human and Animal Reproduction: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies", published by Antioxidants and led by us (https://www [...].

Eucommia ulmoides extract regulates oxidative stress to maintain calcium homeostasis and improve diabetic osteoporosis

Diabetic osteoporosis (DOP) is a secondary disease that severely affects the health and quality of life of patients with diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to explore the bone protective effect of aqueous extract of Eucommia ulmoides (EUL) in DOP mice. DOP mice were established using a high-sugar, high-fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg for three consecutive days), and the EUL aqueous extract (2.5 g/kg/day) was orally administered for 6 weeks. The serum levels of oxidative stress-related factors, calcium, and phosphorus were assessed using biochemical assays. The osteoprotective effect of EUL was assessed using micro-computer tomography, three-point bending assay, histological analysis, and immunoblotting. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were performed to detect the expression levels of calcium transport channel factors in the kidney and small intestine tissues. Furthermore, the expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the femur, kidney, and small intestine tissues were detected using western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. EUL aqueous extract reduced blood glucose levels, increased body weight, and relieved symptoms in DOP mice (p < .05). It also increased bone mineral density, improved the bone microstructure, decreased the number of femoral osteoclasts, and increased the expression of femoral Runx2 and Bmp2 in DOP mice (p < .01). After 6 weeks of EUL aqueous extract administration, serum levels of SOD, CTA, calcium, and phosphorus were upregulated, whereas MDA levels were decreased (p < .01). The aqueous EUL extract also upregulated the expression of TRPV5, PMCA-1b, and CaBP-9 k in the kidney and small intestine of DOP mice (p < .01). Furthermore, the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the kidney, small intestine, and femur tissues was increased (p < .01). EUL aqueous extract reduced blood glucose levels in DOP mice and regulated oxidative stress through the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, thereby maintaining calcium homeostasis and ultimately improving bone quality. Our study suggested that EUL aqueous extract may be effective in the treatment of DOP.

Brassinosteroids biosynthetic gene MdBR6OX2 regulates salt stress tolerance in both apple and Arabidopsis

Salt stress is a critical limiting factor for fruit yield and quality of apples. Brassinosteroids (BRs) play an important role in response to abiotic stresses. In the present study, application of 2,4- Epicastasterone on seedlings of Malus 'M9T337' and Malus domestica 'Gala3' alleviated the physiological effects, such as growth inhibition and leaf yellowing, induced by salt stress. Further analysis revealed that treatment with NaCl induced expression of genes involved in BR biosynthesis in 'M9T337' and 'Gala3'. Among which, the expression of BR biosynthetic gene MdBR6OX2 showed a three-fold upregulation upon salt treatment, suggesting its potential role in response to salt stress in apple. MdBR6OX2, belonging to the CYP450 family, contains a signal peptide region and a P450 domain. Expression patterns analysis showed that the expression of MdBR6OX2 can be significantly induced by different abiotic stresses. Overexpressing MdBR6OX2 enhanced the tolerance of apple callis to salt stress, and the contents of endogenous BR-related compounds, such as Typhastero (TY), Castasterone (CS) and Brassinolide (BL) were significantly increased in transgenic calli compared with that of wild-type. Extopic expression of MdBR6OX2 enhanced tolerance to salt stress in Arabidopsis. Genes associated with salt stress were significantly up-regulated, and the contents of BR-related compounds were significantly elevated under salt stress. Our data revealed that BR-biosynthetic gene MdBR6OX2 positively regulates salt stress tolerance in both apple calli and Arabidopsis.

Polygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharides reshape the gut microbiota to ameliorate dextran sodium sulfate-induced ulcerative colitis in mice

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized inflammatory imbalance, intestinal epithelial mucosal damage, and dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. Polygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharides (PCPs) can regulate gut microbiota and inflammation. Here, the different doses of PCPs were administered to dextran sodium sulfate-induced UC mice, and the effects of the whole PCPs were compared with those of the fractionated fractions PCP-1 (19.9 kDa) and PCP-2 (71.6 and 4.2 kDa). Additionally, an antibiotic cocktail was administered to UC mice to deplete the gut microbiota, and PCPs were subsequently administered to elucidate the potential role of the gut microbiota in these mice. The results revealed that PCP treatment significantly optimized the lost weight and shortened colon, restored the balance of inflammation, mitigated oxidative stress, and restored intestinal epithelial mucosal damage. And, the PCPs exhibited superior efficacy in ameliorating these symptoms compared with PCP-1 and PCP-2. However, depletion of the gut microbiota diminished the therapeutic effects of PCPs in UC mice. Furthermore, fecal transplantation from PCP-treated UC mice to new UC-afflicted mice produced therapeutic effects similar to PCP treatment. So, PCPs significantly ameliorated the symptoms, inflammation, oxidative stress, and intestinal mucosal damage in UC mice, and gut microbiota partially mediated these effects.

Ento-A alleviates DSS-induced experimental colitis in mice by remolding intestinal microbiota to regulate SCFAs metabolism and the Th17 signaling pathway

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by changes in the metabolism of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), dysregulation of gut microbiota, and an imbalance of Treg/Th17. Herein, we explore the effects of the Ento-A (an alcohol extract of Periplaneta americana L.) on a mouse model of UC. First, a chronic and recurrent UC model was constructed in BALB/c mice by 2.2% DSS administration. UC mice were continuously treated for 14 days with Ento-A (50, 100, 200 mg/kg, i.g.) or a negative control. Ento-A alleviated many of the pathological changes observed in UC mice, such as body weight loss, disease activity index, changes in colon length, and colonic mucosal damage index. Ento-A also decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17A, and TNF-α), increased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and TGF-β1) and repaired the intestinal mucosal barrier. Additionally, Ento-A regulated the proportions of Th17 cells, and Treg cells in mesenteric lymph nodes harvested from treated mice (as assessed by Flow cytometry), and the expression levels of IL-17A and Foxp3 in colon (as assessed by immunohistochemistry). 16 S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that Ento-A regulated gut microbiota. GC-MS analysis demonstrated that Ento-A also restored SCFAs content in the intestinal tract. Finally, transcriptomic analysis revealed that Ento-A regulated the IL-17 signaling pathway. In summary, Ento-A regulates the diversity and abundance of intestinal flora in UC mice, enhancing the secretion of SCFAs, subsequently regulating the IL-17 signaling pathway, and ultimately repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier.

ATR induces hepatic lipid metabolism disorder in rats by activating IRE1α/XBP1 signaling pathway

Atrazine (ATR) is a widely used herbicide and due to its persistence in environment and bioaccumulation, it can cause harmful impacts on human health. ATR exposure can lead to disorders of lipid metabolism in the liver, but its underlying mechanism is still unclear. 40 eight-week-old rats were given different doses of ATR (0, 0.5, 5 and 50 mg/kg/d) for 90 days. The liver tissue and serum were collected for histological observation and biochemical analysis. The levels of lipid and oxidative stress were assessed using colorimetry. Changes in MMP and ROS of liver cells were observed through flow cytometry. The expression of mRNA and protein was detected using Real-Time PCR and western blot. The results showed that TC and HDL-C levels in both the liver and serum were increased in the ATR-treated groups. The levels of MDA were accumulated, while the levels of SOD and GSH were depleted in the liver with ATR exposure. The expression of liver lipid metabolism related genes (SCD1, DGAT2, ACC1, PPARγ) was elevated. The liver ERS was activated and the gene expression of IRE1α/XBP1 signal pathway and GRP78, GRP94 in the liver was increased. There was a correlation between the levels of ERS and the levels of lipid metabolism. These results suggested that ATR can activate ERS and promote the expression of IRE1α/XBP1 signaling pathway, and further lead to lipid metabolism disorders in rat liver. This study can provide valuable insights as a reference for the prevention and control of hazards associated with agricultural residues.