In Situ Evaluation of Oxidative Stress in Rat Fatty Liver Induced by a Methionine- and Choline-Deficient Diet

Recent Advances in Betaine: Extraction, Identification, and Bioactive Functions in Human Health

Betaine plays a crucial role in regulating the physiological metabolism of plant fruits and exhibits specific biological activities across animals, plants, and microorganisms. This review highlights that betaine can serve as a nutritional supplement with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties. Specifically, through its antioxidant activity, betaine enhances liver detoxification, reduces cell apoptosis, potentially mitigates the progression of liver fibrosis, and exerts beneficial effects on radiation-induced liver injury. A growing body of research utilizing animal models has indicated that betaine, due to its unique bioactivity, may be integral to both human health and industrial progress. However, there remains a notable scarcity of reviews focusing on the biological synthesis of betaine. This paper presents a comprehensive and up-to-date account of the natural sources and concentrations of betaine, encompassing its biosynthetic pathways, bioactive functions, and potential mechanisms underlying its effects on human health. Special emphasis is placed on the biological effects of betaine in animal therapy as well as its mechanisms influencing human health. Furthermore, recommendations are offered for optimizing the utilization of betaine.

ACAT1 Induces the Differentiation of Glioblastoma Cells by Rewiring Choline Metabolism

Abnormal differentiation of cells is a hallmark of malignancy. Induction of cancer-cell differentiation is emerging as a novel therapeutic strategy with low toxicity in hematological malignances, but whether such treatment can be used in solid tumors is not known. Here, we uncovered a novel function of acetyl coenzyme A acetyltransferase (ACAT1) in regulating the differentiation of glioblastoma (GBM) cells. Inhibition of ACAT1 promoted the differentiation of GBM cells into astrocytes but also delayed tumor growth. Mechanistically, suppression of ACAT1 restored mitochondrial function and led to metabolic "reprogramming" in GBM cells: reduction of fatty-acid oxidation and acetyl-CoA, but an increase in free fatty acids. Importantly, ACAT1 negatively regulated the choline metabolic pathway, which is crucial for the differentiation of GBM cells. Finally, we demonstrated that a naturally available substance, chlorogenic acid (CHA), could inhibit phosphorylation of ACAT1 and so delay GBM progression, CHA is a promising candidate to treat GBM because it could induce the differentiation of cancer cells.

Hyperpolarized [1-13 C] pyruvate MRSI to detect metabolic changes in liver in a methionine and choline-deficient diet rat model of fatty liver disease

PURPOSE

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is an important cause of chronic liver disease. There are limited methods for monitoring metabolic changes during progression to steatohepatitis. Hyperpolarized 13 C MRSI (HP 13 C MRSI) was used to measure metabolic changes in a rodent model of fatty liver disease.

METHODS

Fifteen Wistar rats were placed on a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet for 1-18 weeks. HP 13 C MRSI, T2 -weighted imaging, and fat-fraction measurements were obtained at 3 T. Serum aspartate aminotransaminase, alanine aminotransaminase, and triglycerides were measured. Animals were sacrificed for histology and measurement of tissue lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity.

RESULTS

Animals lost significant weight (13.6% ± 2.34%), an expected characteristic of the MCD diet. Steatosis, inflammation, and mild fibrosis were observed. Liver fat fraction was 31.7% ± 4.5% after 4 weeks and 22.2% ± 4.3% after 9 weeks. Lactate-to-pyruvate and alanine-to-pyruvate ratios decreased significantly over the study course; were negatively correlated with aspartate aminotransaminase and alanine aminotransaminase (r = -[0.39-0.61]); and were positively correlated with triglycerides (r = 0.59-0.60). Despite observed decreases in hyperpolarized lactate signal, LDH activity increased by a factor of 3 in MCD diet-fed animals. Observed decreases in lactate and alanine hyperpolarized signals on the MCD diet stand in contrast to other studies of liver injury, where lactate and alanine increased. Observed hyperpolarized metabolite changes were not explained by alterations in LDH activity, suggesting that changes may reflect co-factor depletion known to occur as a result of oxidative stress in the MCD diet.

CONCLUSION

HP 13 C MRSI can noninvasively measure metabolic changes in the MCD model of chronic liver disease.

Deletion of hepatic small heterodimer partner ameliorates development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice

Small heterodimer partner (SHP, Nr0b2) is an orphan nuclear receptor that regulates bile acid, lipid, and glucose metabolism. Shp-/- mice are resistant to diet-induced obesity and hepatic steatosis. In this study, we explored the potential role of SHP in the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). A 6-month Western diet (WD) regimen was used to induce NASH. Shp deletion protected mice from NASH progression by inhibiting inflammatory and fibrotic genes, oxidative stress, and macrophage infiltration. WD feeding disrupted the ultrastructure of hepatic mitochondria in WT mice but not in Shp-/- mice. In ApoE-/- mice, Shp deletion also effectively ameliorated hepatic inflammation after a 1 week WD regimen without an apparent antisteatotic effect. Moreover, Shp-/- mice resisted fibrogenesis induced by a methionine- and choline-deficient diet. Notably, the observed protection against NASH was recapitulated in liver-specific Shp-/- mice fed either the WD or methionine- and choline-deficient diet. Hepatic cholesterol was consistently reduced in the studied mouse models with Shp deletion. Our data suggest that Shp deficiency ameliorates NASH development likely by modulating hepatic cholesterol metabolism and inflammation.

Blood-derived lysophospholipid sustains hepatic phospholipids and fat storage necessary for hepatoprotection in overnutrition

The liver has a high demand for phosphatidylcholine (PC), particularly in overnutrition, where reduced phospholipid levels have been implicated in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Whether other pathways exist in addition to de novo PC synthesis that contribute to hepatic PC pools remains unknown. Here, we identified the lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) transporter major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2A (Mfsd2a) as critical for maintaining hepatic phospholipid pools. Hepatic Mfsd2a expression was induced in patients having NAFLD and in mice in response to dietary fat via glucocorticoid receptor action. Mfsd2a liver-specific deficiency in mice (L2aKO) led to a robust nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-like (NASH-like) phenotype within just 2 weeks of dietary fat challenge associated with reduced hepatic phospholipids containing linoleic acid. Reducing dietary choline intake in L2aKO mice exacerbated liver pathology and deficiency of liver phospholipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Treating hepatocytes with LPCs containing oleate and linoleate, two abundant blood-derived LPCs, specifically induced lipid droplet biogenesis and contributed to phospholipid pools, while LPC containing the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) promoted lipid droplet formation and suppressed lipogenesis. This study revealed that PUFA-containing LPCs drive hepatic lipid droplet formation, suppress lipogenesis, and sustain hepatic phospholipid pools - processes that are critical for protecting the liver from excess dietary fat.

Engineered Fenofibrate as Oxidation-Sensitive Nanoparticles with ROS Scavenging and PPARα-Activating Bioactivity to Ameliorate Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in western countries and China. Fenofibrate (FNB) can activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) to increase fatty acid oxidation and ameliorate NAFLD. However, the application of FNB is limited in clinic due to its poor water solubility and low oral bioavailability. In this study, FNB-loaded nanoparticles (FNB-NP) based on a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive peroxalate ester derived from vitamin E (OVE) and an amphiphilic conjugate 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy(poly(ethylene glycol))-2000] (DSPE-PEG) were developed to enhance the preventive effects of FNB against NAFLD. In in vitro studies, FNB-NP displayed a high encapsulation efficiency of 97.25 ± 0.6% and a drug loading efficiency of 29.67 ± 0.1%, with a size of 197.0 ± 0.2 nm. FNB released from FNB-NP was dramatically accelerated in the medium with high H₂O₂ concentrations. Moreover, FNB-NP exhibited well storage stability and plasma stability. In pharmacokinetic (PK) studies, FNB-NP, compared with FNB crude drug, significantly increased the AUC_0→t and AUC_0→∞ of the plasma FNB acid by 3.3- and 3.4-fold, respectively. In pharmacodynamics (PD) studies, compared with an equal dose of FNB crude drug, FNB-NP more significantly reduced hepatic lipid deposition via facilitating FNB release in the liver and further upregulating PPARα expression in NAFLD mice. Meanwhile, oxidative stress in NAFLD was significantly suppressed after FNB-NP administration, suggesting that OVE plays a synergistic effect on antioxidation. Therefore, ROS-sensitive FNB delivery formulations FNB-NP enhance the preventive effects of FNB against NAFLD and could be further studied as a promising drug for the treatment of NAFLD in clinic.

Liver lipopolysaccharide binding protein prevents hepatic inflammation in physiological and pathological non-obesogenic conditions

Lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) knockout mice models are protected against the deleterious effects of major acute inflammation but its possible physiological role has been less well studied. We aimed to evaluate the impact of liver LBP downregulation (using nanoparticles containing siRNA- Lbp) on liver steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis during a standard chow diet (STD), and in pathological non-obesogenic conditions, under a methionine and choline deficient diet (MCD, 5 weeks). Under STD, liver Lbp gene knockdown led to a significant increase in gene expression markers of liver inflammation (Itgax, Tlr4, Ccr2, Ccl2 and Tnf), liver injury (Krt18 and Crp), fibrosis (Col4a1, Col1a2 and Tgfb1), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress (Atf6, Hspa5 and Eif2ak3) and protein carbonyl levels. As expected, the MCD increased hepatocyte vacuolation, liver inflammation and fibrosis markers, also increasing liver Lbp mRNA. In this model, liver Lbp gene knockdown resulted in a pronounced worsening of the markers of liver inflammation (also including CD68 and MPO activity), fibrosis, ER stress and protein carbonyl levels, all indicative of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) progression. At cellular level, Lbp gene knockdown also increased expression of the proinflammatory mediators (Il6, Ccl2), and markers of fibrosis (Col1a1, Tgfb1) and protein carbonyl levels. In agreement with these findings, liver LBP mRNA in humans positively correlated with markers of liver damage (circulating hsCRP, ALT activity, liver CRP and KRT18 gene expression), and with a network of genes involved in liver inflammation, innate and adaptive immune system, endoplasmic reticulum stress and neutrophil degranulation (all with q-value<0.05). In conclusion, current findings suggest that a significant downregulation in liver LBP levels promotes liver oxidative stress and inflammation, aggravating NASH progression, in physiological and pathological non-obesogenic conditions.

Mitochondrial function and nutrient sensing pathways in ageing: enhancing longevity through dietary interventions

Ageing is accompanied by alterations in several biochemical processes, highly influenced by its environment. It is controlled by the interactions at various levels of biological hierarchy. To maintain homeostasis, a number of nutrient sensors respond to the nutritional status of the cell and control its energy metabolism. Mitochondrial physiology is influenced by the energy status of the cell. The alterations in mitochondrial physiology and the network of nutrient sensors result in mitochondrial damage leading to age related metabolic degeneration and diseases. Calorie restriction (CR) has proved to be as the most successful intervention to achieve the goal of longevity and healthspan. CR elicits a hormetic response and regulates metabolism by modulating these networks. In this review, the authors summarize the interdependent relationship between mitochondrial physiology and nutrient sensors during the ageing process and their role in regulating metabolism.

Preventive Effect of Gamma-Oryzanol on Physiopathological Process Related to Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Animals Submitted to High Sugar/Fat Diet

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the main cause of liver disease. The physiopathological processes involved in the disease are metabolic syndrome (MetS) components (central obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes, hypertension), genetic, and dietary factors, including unsaturated fats and sweetened beverages, which are able to lead to inflammation and oxidative stress, conditions associated with progression and severity of NAFLD. Gamma-oryzanol (γOz) is a nutraceutical obtained from rice brain oil with many benefits to health, from immunological to metabolic. The aim of this study is to test the preventive effect of γOz on the physiopathological process related to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in animals submitted to high sugar/fat diet. Male Wistar rats (±187 g) were randomly divided into four experimental groups to receive: control diet (C, n = 6), control diet plus γOz (C + γOz, n = 6), high sugar/fat diet (HSF, n = 6), or high sugar/fat diet plus γOz (HSF + γOz, n = 6) during 30 weeks. HSF groups also received water plus sucrose (25%). γOz was added to diets to reach 0.5% of final concentration. The HSF group presented MetS, liver inflammation and oxidative stress, and micro and macrovesicular steatosis. HSF plus γOz was protected against these changes. It is possible to conclude that gamma-oryzanol was effective in modulating the physiopathological process related to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in animals submitted to a high sugar/fat diet.

Sea grapes extract improves blood glucose, total cholesterol, and PGC-1α in rats fed on cholesterol- and fat-enriched diet

Background: Sea grapes or  Caulerpa racemosa have a lot of phytochemical content, especially unsaturated fatty acids that are beneficial for health. This study aims to evaluate the effects of sea grapes extract on blood glucose levels, total cholesterol-, and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator (PGC)-1α in male Wistar rats, which were given per-oral (p.o.) cholesterol- and carbohydrates fat-enriched diets (CFED). Methods: Forty male Wistar albino rats weighing between 200 - 250 g were used for this study. Animals were randomly distributed into four groups of ten animals each. Group A served as control (received standard dry pellet diet). Rats in group B were fed on CFED for 4 weeks.  Groups C and D were fed on CFED and were administered 150 and 450 mg/kg of  sea grapes extract (p.o.), respectively. Results: Group C rats indicated a blood glucose reduction and an increase in PGC-1α serum, in comparison to group D (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between group C and D in blood cholesterol reduction (high dose of the extract did not have significant effects) (p=0.222), and both groups had the same effect in lowering total cholesterol in rats.  Conclusion: Sea grapes extract is proven to improve blood glucose, total cholesterol, and PGC-1α levels in rats fed with CFED.

Sea grapes extract improves blood glucose, total cholesterol, and PGC-1α in rats fed on cholesterol- and fat-enriched diet

Background: Sea grapes or  Caulerpa racemosa have a lot of phytochemical content, especially unsaturated fatty acids that are beneficial for health. This study aims to evaluate the effects of sea grapes extract on blood glucose levels, total cholesterol-, and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator (PGC)-1α in male Wistar rats, which were given per-oral (p.o.) cholesterol- and carbohydrates fat-enriched diets (CFED). Methods: Forty male Wistar albino rats weighing between 200 - 250 g were used for this study. Animals were randomly distributed into four groups of ten animals each. Group A served as control (received standard dry pellet diet). Rats in group B were fed on CFED for 4 weeks.  Groups C and D were fed on CFED and were administered 150 and 450 mg/kg of  sea grapes extract (p.o.), respectively. Results: Group C rats indicated a blood glucose reduction and an increase in PGC-1α serum, in comparison to group D (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between group C and D in blood cholesterol reduction (high dose of the extract did not have significant effects) (p=0.222), and both groups had the same effect in lowering total cholesterol in rats.  Conclusion: Sea grapes extract is proven to improve blood glucose, total cholesterol, and PGC-1α levels in rats fed with CFED.

Accurate and Precise Protocol to Estimate the Activity of Peroxiredoxin Enzyme

BACKGROUND

Accurate estimation of Prx activity poses many complications and interferences. The present protocol is free of interference and provides an effective alternative for the assessment of peroxide with high sensitivity. The assay can be used in clinical pathology laboratories since it is simple, rapid, and inexpensive. The systematic reagent consisted of AFS/ASA which acted as a sensitive probe for peroxide.

METHODS

Prx activity was estimated by incubating samples in suitable concentrations of 1,4-dithio-DL-threitol (DTT) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or t-Butyl hydroperoxide (t-BOOH), as the substrates. The enzymatic reaction was inhibited after incubation with a working reagent containing ammonium ferrous sulfate (AFS) and aminosalicylic acid (ASA).

RESULTS

Residual peroxide reacted with the working solution to form a brown-colored ferriaminosalicylate (FAS) complex with a maximum absorbance (λmax) of 425 nm. This protocol used sodium azide (NaN3) to eliminate catalase interference and avoided using high concentrations of strong acid to inhibit the Prx reaction.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that the new protocol produced the same efficacy as the reference method since a strong correlation coefficient of comparison (r> 0.99) was found between both the FAS and ferrithiocyanate method.

Beneficial Effects of Betaine: A Comprehensive Review

Medicinal herbs and many food ingredients possess favorable biological properties that contribute to their therapeutic activities. One such natural product is betaine, a stable, nontoxic natural substance that is present in animals, plants, and microorganisms. Betaine is also endogenously synthesized through the metabolism of choline or exogenously consumed through dietary intake. Betaine mainly functions as (i) an osmolyte and (ii) a methyl-group donor. This review describes the major physiological effects of betaine in whole-body health and its ability to protect against both liver- as well as non-liver-related diseases and conditions. Betaine's role in preventing/attenuating both alcohol-induced and metabolic-associated liver diseases has been well studied and is extensively reviewed here. Several studies show that betaine protects against the development of alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis, apoptosis, and accumulation of damaged proteins. Additionally, it can significantly prevent/attenuate progressive liver injury by preserving gut integrity and adipose function. The protective effects are primarily associated with the regulation of methionine metabolism through removing homocysteine and maintaining cellular SAM:SAH ratios. Similarly, betaine prevents metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and its progression. In addition, betaine has a neuroprotective role, preserves myocardial function, and prevents pancreatic steatosis. Betaine also attenuates oxidant stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, inflammation, and cancer development. To conclude, betaine exerts significant therapeutic and biological effects that are potentially beneficial for alleviating a diverse number of human diseases and conditions.

Palmitate and pyruvate carbon flux in response to choline and methionine in bovine neonatal hepatocytes

Choline and methionine may serve unique functions to alter hepatic energy metabolism. Our objective was to trace carbon flux through pathways of oxidation and glucose metabolism in bovine hepatocytes exposed to increasing concentrations of choline chloride (CC) and D,L-methionine (DLM). Primary hepatocytes were isolated from 4 Holstein calves and maintained for 24 h before treatment with CC (0, 10, 100, 1000 μmol/L) and DLM (0, 100, 300 μmol/L) in a factorial design. After 21 h, [1-¹⁴C]C16:0 or [2-¹⁴C]pyruvate was added to measure complete and incomplete oxidation, and cellular glycogen. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), cellular triglyceride (TG), and glucose and ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) export were quantified. Exported very-low density lipoprotein particles were isolated for untargeted lipidomics and to quantify TG. Interactions between CC and DLM, and contrasts for CC (0 vs. [10, 100, 1000 μmol/L] and linear and quadratic contrast 10, 100, 1000 μmol/L) and DLM (0 vs. [100, 300 μmol/L] and 100 vs. 300 μmol/L) were evaluated. Presence of CC increased complete oxidation of [1-¹⁴C]C16:0 and decreased BHB export. Glucose export was decreased, but cellular glycogen was increased by the presence of CC and increasing CC. Presence of CC decreased ROS and marginally decreased cellular TG. No interactions between CC and DLM were detected for these outcomes. These data suggest a hepato-protective role for CC to limit ROS and cellular TG accumulation, and to alter hepatic energy metabolism to support complete oxidation of FA and glycogen storage regardless of Met supply.

Glucose metabolism is differentially altered by choline and methionine in bovine neonatal hepatocytes

Choline and methionine serve essential roles in the liver that may interact with glucose metabolism. Our objectives were to quantify glucose export, cellular glycogen, and expression of genes controlling oxidation and gluconeogenesis in primary bovine neonatal hepatocytes exposed to increasing concentrations of choline chloride (CC) and D,L-methionine (DLM) with or without fatty acids (FA). Primary hepatocytes isolated from 3 Holstein calves were maintained as monolayer cultures for 24 h before treatment with CC (61, 128, 2028, 4528 μmol/L) and DLM (16, 30, 100, 300 μmol/L) with or without a 1 mmol/L FA cocktail in a factorial design. After 24 h, media was harvested to quantify glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), and cells harvested to quantify glycogen, DNA, and gene expression. No interactions between CC and DLM were detected. The potential two-way interaction between CC or DLM and FA was partitioned into three contrasts when P ≤ 0.20: linear without FA, linear with FA, difference of slope. Fatty acids did not affect glucose or cellular glycogen but increased pyruvate carboxylase (PC), cytosolic and mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCKc, PEPCKm), and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) expression. Increasing CC decreased glucose but increased cellular glycogen. Expression of PC and PEPCKc was increased by CC during FA treatment. Increasing DLM did not affect metabolites or PC expression, although PEPCKc was marginally decreased. Methionine did not affect G6PC, while CC had a marginal quadratic effect on G6PC. Oxidative and gluconeogenic enzymes appear to respond to FA in primary bovine neonatal hepatocytes. Increased PC and PEPCKc by CC during FA treatment suggest increased gluconeogenic capacity. Changes in G6PC may have shifted glucose-6-phosphate towards cellular glycogen; however, subsequent examination of G6PC protein is needed. Unaltered PC and marginally decreased PEPCKc suggest increased oxidative capacity with DLM, although BHB export was unaltered. The differential regulation supports unique effects of CC and DLM within bovine hepatocytes.

Mitochondria and Reactive Oxygen Species in Aging and Age-Related Diseases

Aging has been linked to several degenerative processes that, through the accumulation of molecular and cellular damage, can progressively lead to cell dysfunction and organ failure. Human aging is linked with a higher risk for individuals to develop cancer, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and metabolic disorders. The understanding of the molecular basis of aging and associated diseases has been one major challenge of scientific research over the last decades. Mitochondria, the center of oxidative metabolism and principal site of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, are crucial both in health and in pathogenesis of many diseases. Redox signaling is important for the modulation of cell functions and several studies indicate a dual role for ROS in cell physiology. In fact, high concentrations of ROS are pathogenic and can cause severe damage to cell and organelle membranes, DNA, and proteins. On the other hand, moderate amounts of ROS are essential for the maintenance of several biological processes, including gene expression. In this review, we provide an update regarding the key roles of ROS-mitochondria cross talk in different fundamental physiological or pathological situations accompanying aging and highlighting that mitochondrial ROS may be a decisive target in clinical practice.

Betaine in Inflammation: Mechanistic Aspects and Applications

Betaine is known as trimethylglycine and is widely distributed in animals, plants, and microorganisms. Betaine is known to function physiologically as an important osmoprotectant and methyl group donor. Accumulating evidence has shown that betaine has anti-inflammatory functions in numerous diseases. Mechanistically, betaine ameliorates sulfur amino acid metabolism against oxidative stress, inhibits nuclear factor-κB activity and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, regulates energy metabolism, and mitigates endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis. Consequently, betaine has beneficial actions in several human diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease.

Butein protects the nonalcoholic fatty liver through mitochondrial reactive oxygen species attenuation in rats

One of the worldwide metabolic health dilemma is nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD). Researchers are searching effective drug to manage NAFLD patients. One of the best way to manage the metabolic imperfection is through natural principal isolated from different sources. Butein, a natural compound known to have numerous pharmacological application. In the current study we assessed the therapeutic effect of butein administration on liver function tests, oxidative stress, antioxidants, lipid abnormalities, serum inflammatory cytokines, and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species levels, in rats with methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet induced NAFLD. Male Wistar rats were treated with MCD diet with/without butein (200 mg/kg body wt. orally) for 6 weeks. The protective effect of butein, were evident from decreased transaminase activities, restoration of albumin, globulin, albumin/globulin ratio, and oxidants in serum (P < 0.01), further it improved liver antioxidant status (P < 0.01). Butein significantly lowered lipid profile parameters (P < 0.01), suppressed inflammatory cytokines (P < 0.01), and improved liver histology. Further to understand the possible mechanism behind the hepatoprotective and lipid lowering effect of butein, the activities of heme oxygenase (HO1), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured. We found that butein supplementation significantly decreased the activity of HO1 (P < 0.001), and increased the activity of MPO (P < 0.001). Furthermore butein attenuated mitochondrial ROS produced in NAFLD condition. Present study shows that butein supplementation restore liver function by altering liver oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, vital defensive enzyme activities, and mitochondrial ROS. In summary, butein has remarkable potential to develop effective hepato-protective drug. © 2018 BioFactors, 44(3):289-298, 2018.

Beneficial effects of curcumin nano-emulsion on spermatogenesis and reproductive performance in male rats under protein deficient diet model: enhancement of sperm motility, conservancy of testicular tissue integrity, cell energy and seminal plasma amino acids content

Background

Malnutrition resulting from protein and calorie deficiency continues to be a major concern worldwide especially in developing countries. Specific deficiencies in the protein intake can adversely influence reproductive performance. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of curcumin and curcumin nano-emulsion on protein deficient diet (PDD)-induced testicular atrophy, troubled spermatogenesis and decreased reproductive performance in male rats.

Methods

Juvenile rats were fed the protein deficient diet (PDD) for 75 days. Starting from day 60 the rats were divided into 4 groups and given the corresponding treatments for the last 15 days orally and daily as follows: 1st group; curcumin group (C) received 50 mg/kg curcumin p.o. 2^ndgroup; curcumin nano-form low dose group (NCL) received 2.5 mg/kg nano-curcumin. 3rd group; curcumin nano-form high dose group (NCH) received 5 mg/kg nano-curcumin. 4th group served as malnutrition group (PDD group) receiving the protein deficient diet daily for 75 days and received distilled water ingestions (5 ml/kg p.o) daily for the last 15 days of the experiment. A normal control group was kept under the same conditions for the whole experiment and received normal diet according to nutrition requirement center daily for 75 days and received distilled water ingestions (5 ml/kg p.o) daily for the last 15 days of the experiment.

Results

PDD induced significant (P < 0.05) reduction in serum testosterone level, sperm motility, testicular GSH, CAT, SOD, testicular cell energy (ATP, ADP and AMP), essential and non-essential amino acids in seminal plasma, an increase in testicular MDA, NOx, GSSG and 8-OHDG. Data was confirmed by histological examination and revealed pathological alteration in the PDD group. Ingestion of curcumin (50 mg/kg) and curcumin nano-emulsion (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) showed significant (P< 0.05) amelioration effects against PDD-induced disrupted reproductive performance as well as biochemical and pathological alterations and the overall results of the nano-emulsion (5 mg/kg) were comparable to curcumin (50 mg/kg).

Conclusions

The present study suggests that administration of curcumin nano-emulsion as a daily supplement would be beneficial in malnutrition- induced troubled male reproductive performance and spermatogenesis cases.

Effects of Obesity on Pro-Oxidative Conditions and DNA Damage in Liver of DMBA-Induced Mammary Carcinogenesis Models

The prevalence of the overweight and obesity is on the rise worldwide. Obesity can increase the risk of certain cancers and liver steatosis development. Previously, we reported that obesity increased liver steatosis in a mammary tumor model, but little is known about the effects of obesity in the liver in regard to global DNA methylation, DNA damage, and oxidative/nitrosative stress. Using a mammary tumor model, we investigated the effects of obesity on oxidative stress and DNA reaction. Five-week-old lean and obese female rats were used. At 50 days of age, all rats received 7,12-dimethylbenz(α)anthracene (DMBA) and were sacrificed 155 days later. HPLC with electrochemical and ultraviolet detection and LC-MS were used. Obesity caused higher (p < 0.0004) methionine levels, had no effect (p < 0.055) on SAM levels, caused lower (p < 0.0005) SAH levels, caused higher (p < 0.0005) SAM/SAH ratios, and increased (p < 0.02) global DNA methylation. Levels of free reduced GSH were not significantly lower (p < 0.08), but free oxidized GSSG was higher (p < 0.002) in obese rats. The GSH/GSSG ratio was lower (p < 0.0001), and oxidized guanosine was higher (p < 0.002) in DNA of obese rats compared to lean rats. Obesity caused significant oxidative/nitrosative stress, oxidative DNA damage, and change of DNA methylation pattern in the liver, and these changes may contribute to the development of liver steatosis in breast cancer models.