Dietary flaxseed oil supplementation ameliorates the effect of cisplatin on brush border membrane enzymes and antioxidant system in rat intestine

Flaxseed Oil Attenuates Intestinal Damage by Regulating Ferroptosis Signaling Pathway Following LPS Challenge in Piglets

SCOPE

Ferroptosis has been demonstrated to play an important role in various tissue injuries and diseases. Flaxseed oil (FO) has been proven to have benefits for intestinal health. This study aims to explore whether FO relieved lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal injury through modulating ferroptosis signaling pathway.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 120 weaned piglets are fed diets with 3% soybean oil (SO) or 3% FO for 4 weeks. At the end of the trial, 24 piglets selected from two dietary treatment groups are used in a 2 × 2 factorial design with oil treatment (3% SO versus 3% FO) and LPS challenge (saline versus LPS). At 4 h postinjection with LPS, 24 piglets are slaughtered and intestinal samples are collected. FO improves growth performance of pigs. After LPS treatment, FO mitigates intestinal morphological damage and functional damage. Notably, FO reverses the typical ultra-morphology and biochemical indexes of ferroptosis involving glutathione, malondialdehyde, and 4-hydroxynonenal contents. Mechanistically, FO ameliorates the changes on mRNA or protein abundance of key ferroptosis signals including transferrin receptor protein 1 (TFR1), recombinant iron responsive element binding protein 2 (IREB2), FTL, HSPB1, ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1), ferroportin 1 (FPN1), SLC7A11, solute carrier family 3 member 2 (SLC3A2), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), and arachidonate-15-lipoxygenase (ALOX15).

CONCLUSIONS

FO improves growth performance and mitigates intestinal structural and functional damage, which is involved in regulating ferroptosis signaling pathway.

Yohimbine ameliorates liver inflammation and fibrosis by regulating oxidative stress and Wnt/β-catenin pathway

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Chronic liver injury, caused by various aetiologies, causes recurrent tissue damage, culminating in decreased liver regenerative ability and resulting in fibrosis followed by cirrhosis. In this study, the anti-fibrotic activity of Yohimbine hydrochloride (YHC) was investigated using various in vitro models and in vivo models.

METHODS

To assess the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-fibrotic effects of YHC, lipopolysaccharide or TGF-β induced differentiation or lipid-induced oxidative-stress models were employed using HLECs, HSC-LX2, and HepG2 cells. Further, thioacetamide (TAA) induced hepatic inflammation/fibrosis models were utilized to validate the YHC's anti-fibrotic activity in rats.

RESULTS

Inflammation/differentiation experiments in HLECs and HSC-LX2 revealed that YHC treatment significantly (p < 0.001) mitigated the lipopolysaccharide or TGF-β induced upregulation of inflammatory and fibrotic markers expression respectively. In addition, YHC dose-dependently reduced the TGF-β induced migration and palmitic acid-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. Further, TAA administration (5 weeks) in vivo rat model showed increased inflammatory marker levels/expression, oxidative stress, and pathological abnormalities. Additionally, TAA administration (9 weeks) elevated the fibrotic marker expression, collagen deposition in liver tissues, and shortened longevity in rats. Treatment with YHC dose-dependently mitigated the TAA-induced abnormalities in both inflammation and fibrosis models and improved the survival of the rats. Further mechanistic approaches revealed that TAA administration elevated the JNK, Wnt components and β-catenin expression in hepatic stellate cells and animal tissues. Further treatment with YHC significantly modulated the JNK/Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Moreover, the β-catenin nuclear translocation results showed that β-catenin levels were significantly elevated in the nuclear fraction of TAA control samples and reduced in YHC-treated samples.

CONCLUSION

Yohimbine treatment significantly improved inflammation and fibrosis by inhibiting differentiation, oxidative stress, and collagen deposition by partly modulating the JNK/Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These results might serve as a foundation for proposing yohimbine as a potential lead compound for liver fibrosis.

A comprehensive review of the health benefits of flaxseed oil in relation to its chemical composition and comparison with other omega-3-rich oils

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L) is an ancient perennial plant species regarded as a multipurpose plant owing to its richness in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) including α-linolenic acid (ALA). The extensive biochemical analysis of flaxseed resulted in the identification of its bioactive, i.e., lignans with potential application in the improvement of human health. Flaxseed oil, fibers, and lignans exert potential health benefits including reduction of cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, and autoimmune and neurological disorders that have led to the diversification of flaxseed plant applications. This comprehensive review focuses on flaxseed oil as the major product of flaxseed with emphasis on the interrelationship between its chemical composition and biological effects. Effects reviewed include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiulcer, anti-osteoporotic, cardioprotective, metabolic, and neuroprotective. This study provides an overview of flaxseed oil effects with the reported action mechanisms related to its phytochemical composition and in comparison, to other PUFA-rich oils. This study presents the most updated and comprehensive review summarizing flaxseed oil's health benefits for the treatment of various diseases.

Schisandra B, a representative lignan from Schisandra chinensis, improves cisplatin-induced toxicity: An in vitro study

Schisandrin B (Scheme B) is the most abundant and active lignan monomer isolated from Schisandra chinensis. At present, most reports focus on its cardioprotective and hepatoprotective effects, however, the related reports on gastrointestinal protective effects are still limited. The study aims to evaluate the protective effect of Scheme B on cisplatin-induced rat intestinal crypt epithelial (IEC-6) cell injury and the possible molecular mechanisms. The results showed that Scheme B at 2.5, 5 and 10 μM could inhibit dose-dependently the reduction of cell activity induced by cisplatin exposure at 1 μM, decrease the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), while increasing glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) to alleviate oxidative stress injury in IEC-6 cell lines. Meanwhile, Scheme B could relieve cisplatin-induced apoptosis by regulating PI3K/AKT and the downstream caspase signaling pathway. The results from flow cytometry analysis and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) staining also demonstrated the anti-apoptosis effect of Scheme B. Furthermore, Scheme B was found to reduce the inflammation associated with cell damage by evaluating the protein expressions of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Importantly, Wnt/β-catenin, as a functional signaling pathway that drives intestinal self-recovery, was also in part regulated by Scheme B. In conclusion, Scheme B might alleviate cisplatin-induced IEC-6 cell damage by inhibiting oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, and repairing intestinal barrier function. The present research provides a strong evidence that Scheme B may be a useful modulator in cisplatin-induced intestinal toxicity.

Arabinogalactan derived from Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen. Alleviates cisplatin-induced acute intestinal injury in vitro and in vivo through IRE1α/JNK axis mediated apoptotic signaling pathways

Many dietary polysaccharides have been shown to protect against various harmful external stimuli by protecting the integrity of the intestinal barrier. Arabinogalactan (AG) is a high molecular weight polysaccharide composed of arabinose and galactose, which has good immunomodulatory, antioxidant and intestinal conditioning activities. Gastrointestinal injury caused by cisplatin (CP) is an inevitable damage during CP chemotherapy. This research explored the ameliorative effect of AG on cisplatin-induced intestinal toxicity and its possible molecular targets and mechanisms. The results showed that AG (200, 400 mg/kg) could significantly reverse the intestinal histopathological changes and oxidative stress injury caused by CP. Meantime, AG could target the IRE1α/JNK axis to inhibit the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and block the apoptotic cascade, thus reducing intestinal damage. In vitro, AG (10, 20, and 40 μg/mL) could regulate the IRE1α/JNK axis, inhibit apoptosis, and restore the antioxidant defense system damaged by CP to play a protective role in the intestine. In addition, 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA), a specific inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum stress, was used to verify that AG also affected protein expression levels by regulating the IRE1α/JNK pathway-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling pathway, thereby alleviating CP-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction. Therefore, AG may be a potential drug to prevent CP-induced intestinal damage.

Dihydromyricetin Reverses Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Fibrosis Through Inhibiting NF-κB-Mediated Inflammation and TGF-β1-Regulated of PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

As a natural active substance, dihydromyricetin (DHM) has been proven to have good hepatoprotective activity. However, the therapeutic effect of DHM on liver fibrosis, which has become a liver disease threatening the health of people around the world, has not been studied to date. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of DHM as a new nutritional supplement on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis. The liver fibrosis model was established by intraperitoneal injection of TAA (200 mg/kg, every 3 days) for 8 weeks, and oral administration of DHM (20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg, daily) after 4 weeks of TAA-induced liver fibrosis. The results showed that DHM treatment significantly inhibited the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (37.81 ± 7.62 U/L) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (55.18 ± 10.94 U/L) in serum of liver fibrosis mice, and increased the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) while reversed the level of malondialdehyde (MDA). In addition, histopathological examination illustrated that TAA induced the inflammatory infiltration, apoptosis and fibroatherosclerotic deposition in liver, which was further confirmed by western-blot and immunofluorescence staining. Moreover, DHM inhibited hepatocyte apoptosis by regulating the phosphorylation level of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase-B (AKT) and its downstream apoptotic protein family. Interestingly, immunofluorescence staining showed that DHM treatment significantly inhibited alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), which was a marker of hepatic stellate cell activation, and regulated the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF-β1). Importantly, supplementation with DHM significantly inhibited the release of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway and pro-inflammatory factors in liver tissue induced by TAA, and improved liver fiber diseases, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and recombinant rat IL-1β (IL-1β). In conclusion, the evidence of this study revealed that DHM is a potential hepatoprotective and health factor, and which also provides the possibility for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Alone and in Combination with Proprietary Chromium Complex on Endothelial Function in Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group Clinical Study

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that include hypertension, central obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia and is strongly associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and all-cause mortality. Early diagnosis is important to employ lifestyle and risk factor modification. Existing therapies are limited. Studies report positive effect of omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3FA) on symptoms of metabolic syndrome. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of ω-3FA alone and in combination with proprietary chromium complex (PCC) on endothelial function in subjects with metabolic syndrome. In this randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study, subjects were enrolled into the study after ethics committee (EC) approval and informed consent. Eligible subjects were randomized to receive ω-3FA concentrate 2000 mg (Group A-18 subjects), ω-3FA concentrate 2000 mg + PCC200 mcg (Group B-19 subjects), and ω-3FA concentrate 2000 mg + PCC400 mcg (Group C-21 subjects) daily for 12 weeks. Endothelial dysfunction as measured by reflection index (RI), biomarkers of oxidative stress (NO, MDA, and glutathione), and inflammation (hsCRP, endothelin-1, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1) were evaluated at baseline, 4, and 12 weeks. Lipid-profile and platelet-aggregation tests were performed at baseline and 12 weeks. Adverse drug reactions were recorded. Compliance was assessed by pill count method. GraphPad Prism8 was used for statistical analysis. Significant changes were seen from 4 weeks onwards in all the parameters evaluated. Significant improvement in RI% (mean ± SD = -2.56 ± 0.77 to -3.27 ± 0.67-group A, -2.33 ± 0.76 to 4.72 ± 0.79-group B; -2.39 ± 1.13 to 6.46 ± 1.00-group C) was seen at 12 weeks. Significant improvement in biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation was seen with all the treatment groups. Similarly, significant improvement in lipid profile was seen in group B and group C, while group A showed change in HDL, VLDL, and TG. Group C demonstrated the best response in the parameters evaluated. Three patients in group C reported gastrointestinal adverse events, which resolved spontaneously; none stopped the therapy. So, the addition of PCC to ω-3FA may prove to have beneficial effect in reducing cardiovascular morbidity in MetS patients.

D-methionine alleviates cisplatin-induced mucositis by restoring the gut microbiota structure and improving intestinal inflammation

Background

There are close links between chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis and microbiota dysbiosis. Previous studies indicated that D-methionine was an excellent candidate for a chemopreventive agent. Here, we investigated the effects of D-methionine on cisplatin-induced mucositis.

Materials and methods

Male Wistar rats (176-200 g, 6 weeks old) were given cisplatin (5 mg/kg) and treated with D-methionine (300 mg/kg). Histopathological, digestive enzymes activity, oxidative/antioxidant status, proinflammatory/anti-inflammatory cytokines in intestinal tissues were measured. Next-generation sequencing technologies were also performed to investigate the gut microbial ecology.

Results

D-methionine administration increased villus length and crypt depth and improved digestive enzyme (leucine aminopeptidase, sucrose and alkaline phosphatase) activities in the brush-border membrane of cisplatin-treated rats (p < 0.05). Furthermore, D-methionine significantly attenuated oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction and increased interleukin-10 levels in cisplatin-induced intestinal mucositis (p < 0.05). Cisplatin administration resulted in high relative abundances of Deferribacteres and Proteobacteria and a low diversity of the microbiota when compared with control groups, D-methionine only and cisplatin plus D-methionine. Cisplatin markedly increased comparative abundances of Bacteroides caccae, Escherichia coli, Mucispirillum schaedleri, Bacteroides uniformis and Desulfovibrio C21-c20, while Lactobacillus was almost completely depleted, compared with the control group. There were higher abundances of Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae, and Clostridium butyrium in cisplatin plus D-methionine rats than in cisplatin rats. D-methionine treatment alone significantly increased the number of Lactobacillus reuteri.

Conclusion

D-methionine protects against cisplatin-induced intestinal damage through antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. By enhancing growth of beneficial bacteria (Lachnospiraceae and Lactobacillus), D-methionine attenuates gut microbiome imbalance caused by cisplatin and maintains gut homeostasis.

Cisplatin-induced gastrointestinal toxicity: An update on possible mechanisms and on available gastroprotective strategies

Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum [II], CP) is most widely prescribed in chemotherapy and efficaciously treats diverse human cancers, with remission rates > 90% in testicular cancers. However, clinical use of CP is associated with numerous untoward side effects, in particular, at the gastrointestinal level that reduces the therapeutic efficacy of CP and often results in withdrawal of its clinical usage in long term cancer chemotherapy. Substantial strides have been made to identify effective protective strategies against CP-induced nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and ototoxicity. Unfortunately, very limited studies have focused on CP-induced gastrointestinal toxicity and advances in developing potent gastroprotective strategies/agents are still lacking. The current article reviews the metabolism and pharmacokinetics of CP, mechanisms underlying CP-induced gastrointestinal toxicity and lastly displays the potential approaches including plant-derived agents (phytochemicals) utilized to counteract CP-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction. Furthermore, the gastroprotective agents described in the experimental literature have shown partial protection against CP-induced intestinal damage. This stresses the need to ascertain new information on the underlying mechanism and to discover novel combinatorial strategies for the abrogation of CP-induced gastrointestinal toxicity.

Oral Nigella sativa oil and thymoquinone administration ameliorates the effect of long-term cisplatin treatment on the enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism, brush border membrane, and antioxidant defense in rat intestine

We have previously shown that oral administration of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) ameliorates the deleterious gastrointestinal effects of cisplatin (CP), administered as a single dose. Since a typical clinical CP dosing regimen involves multiple cycles of CP administration in lower doses, in the present study we investigate the protective efficacy of NSO and its major bioactive constituent, thymoquinone (TQ), against multiple-dose CP treatment-induced deleterious biochemical and histological changes in rat intestine. Rats were divided into six groups, viz., control, CP, CP+NSO, CP+TQ, NSO, and TQ. Animals in CP+NSO and CP+TQ groups were pre-administered NSO (2 ml/kg bwt, orally) and TQ (1.5 mg/kg bwt, orally), respectively, daily for 14 days and were then treated with five repeated doses of CP (3 mg/kg bwt, i.p.), every fourth day for 20 days while still receiving NSO/TQ. CP treatment alone led to a significant decline in specific activities of brush border membrane (BBM) enzymes while NSO or TQ administration to CP-treated rats significantly prevented the decline in BBM enzyme activities in the isolated brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) as well as in mucosal homogenates. Furthermore, both NSO and TQ administration markedly ameliorated CP-induced alterations on carbohydrate metabolism enzymes and the enzymatic and non-enzymatic parameters of antioxidant defense system in the intestinal mucosa. However, NSO appeared to be more efficacious than TQ in protecting against CP-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction. Histopathological findings corroborated the biochemical results. Thus, NSO and TQ may prove clinically useful in amelioration of the intestinal toxicity associated with long-term CP chemotherapy.

Omega-3 fatty acids differentially modulate enzymatic anti-oxidant systems in skeletal muscle cells

During physical activity, increased reactive oxygen species production occurs, which can lead to cell damage and in a decline of individual's performance and health. The use of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as a supplement to protect the immune system has been increasing; however, their possible benefit to the anti-oxidant system is not well described. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether the omega-3 fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid) can be beneficial to the anti-oxidant system in cultured skeletal muscle cells. C2C12 myocytes were differentiated and treated with either eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid for 24 h. Superoxide content was quantified using the dihydroethidine oxidation method and superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activity, and expression was quantified. We observed that the docosahexaenoic fatty acids caused an increase in superoxide production. Eicosapentaenoic acid induced catalase activity, while docosahexaenoic acid suppressed superoxide dismutase activity. In addition, we found an increased protein expression of the total manganese superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes when cells were treated with eicosapentaenoic acid. Taken together, these data indicate that the use of eicosapentaenoic acid may present both acute and chronic benefits; however, the treatment with DHA may not be beneficial to muscle cells.

Prevention of renal dysfunction by nutraceuticals prepared from oil rich plant foods

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the protective effect of extracts prepared from avocado, walnut, flaxseed and Eruca sativa seeds in a rat model of kidney dysfunction induced by intraperitoneal cisplatin.

METHODS

Ethanol and petroleum ether extracts mixture was prepared from each plant. Six groups of rats were conducted; control healthy, cisplatin group and four test groups where rats were given daily oral dose of each extract mixture before cisplatin injection. Different biochemical and cytogenetic parameters and kidney histopathology were determined. Acute toxicity was tested for the nutraceuticals. Total phenolic contents, fatty acids (FA) and unsaponifiable matter were assessed in the extracts.

RESULTS

Walnut ethanol extract showed the highest content of total phenolic. FA analysis revealed that all the studied plants were rich in unsaturated FA. Gas-liquid chromatographic investigation of the unsaponifiable matter showed the presence of campesterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol in all the studied plants. Cisplatin treatment induced significant increase in plasma urea, creatinine and malondialdehyde along with significant reduction of plasma albumin, total protein, catalase and total antioxidant as well as reduction in creatinine clearance. Histopathological examination proved the induction of kidney dysfunction. Some sorts of chromosomal aberration and sperm-shape abnormalities were noticed after cisplatin treatment. Administration of extracts mixtures produced improvements in biochemical, histopathological and cytogenetic parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Administration of the studied nutraceuticals proved to possess protective role against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity, chromosomal aberration and abnormal sperms. All studied nutraceuticals showed complete safety.