Redox status impairment in liver and kidney of prematurely senescent mice: effectiveness of DTS phytotherapeutic compound

A phytochemical approach to experimental metabolic syndrome-associated renal damage and oxidative stress

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of DTS-phytocompound on oxidant-antioxidant balance and protein damage in the kidneys of rats administered high doses of fructose. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Group A received a control diet, whereas groups B and C were fed a high-fructose diet (60 g/100 g), the latter with additional DTS (50 mg/kg per day) for 60 days. Lipo- and nitro-peroxidation together with α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression in the glomerular and interstitial tissue of the kidneys were measured after 60 days. Fructose-fed rats showed significantly higher lipoperoxidation, 2,4-dinitrophenol and 3-nitrotyrosine protein adducts, and upregulation of α-SMA in the kidney. DTS significantly decreased such redox unbalance in renal tissue, while partially downregulating α-SMA (p<0.01). These data suggest the potential clinical benefit of DTS in protecting the kidneys from metabolic syndrome-associated changes; gender-related analysis is under way.

Progression of atherosclerotic lesions in the arteries and related gene expression: protective effect of phytonutrients

We investigated the effect of the phytocompound Denshici-to-Chiusei (DTS) on the atherogenesis in apolipoprotein E(-/-)/low-density lipoprotein receptor(-/-) (apoE(-/-)/LDL receptor(-/-)) mice (E0). E0 mice were fed for 16 weeks with: (1) placebo or (2) 25 mg or (3) 50 mg of DTS/day. Aortic lesions were reduced by 38% (p < 0.01) in mice fed 50 mg/day, whereas peritoneal macrophages after both dosages had a 45%-60% lower (p < 0.01) capacity to oxidize LDL and to degrade it. This was associated with reduced LDL-associated lipoperoxides and a 22% inhibition (p < 0.05) in LDL aggregation. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) expression and immunoreactivity in the aortic media increased five-fold, but this was significantly mitigated by DTS (50 mg > 25 mg) (p < 0.05). DTS significantly attenuated inflammatory mechanisms preceding atherogenesis with reduced LDL susceptibility to oxidation-aggregation.

Protective effect of a phytocompound on oxidative stress and DNA fragmentation against paracetamol-induced liver damage

The hepatoprotective potential DTS (1.5 g/kg bw, Denshici-to-Chiusei, Kyotsu Jigyo, Tokyo, Japan) was evaluated against either toxic (1.5 g/kg bw) and sub-toxic (150 mg/kg bw) dosage of paracetamol-induced liver injury in Sprague-Dawley rat. Paracetamol intoxication caused a reduction of serum total protein and increase levels of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotranferase (AST) and serum alanine aminotranferase (ALT) at higher extent in the toxic group. This phenomenon was paralleled by an impaired liver redox status (reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) and increased MDA in both paracetamol-administered groups. Moreover, a marked reduction of ATPase and thiols together with DNA fragmentation occurred in liver tissue. Animals pretreated with DTS showed a marked mitigation of the severity of liver enzyme and of the impaired redox status of the liver. Moreover, DTS partly prevented the DNA fragmentation and the decline of liver tissue ATPase and protein thiol assay as compared with both groups treated with paracetamol alone. Although more detailed studies are awaited to ascertain the detailed mode of action of DTS, it wouls seem to be related to the prevention of formation of the reactive oxygen groups thereby preventing the damage on the hepatocytes and possibly modulating the genes responsible for synthesis of liver antioxidant enzymes thus providing marked DNA protection.<br />

"Accelerating aging" chemotherapy on aged animals: protective effect from nutraceutical modulation

The aim of this study was to test a novel phytocompound in an experimental model of antitumor-induced immunosuppression. Five groups of mice were considered: young (Y) and aged (A) that were given intraperitoneally 10 doses of cyclophosphamide (CPX, 25mg/kg/bw) or CPX plus (150 mg/kg/bw) of the nutraceutical DTS (Denshichi-Tochiu-Sen), and control. After sacrifice, macrophage chemotaxis and serum levels of IFN-gamma, IL-2, and GM-CSF were determined. Liver and urinary bladder were examined histologically, as were the liver and kidney for redox enzymes. CPX significantly decreased macrophage chemotaxis and all cytokines (p < 0.05, A >> Y). DTS restored macrophage function and cytokine concentration (p < 0.001) and partly improved the necro-inflammatory score and substance P receptor expression in the bladder and the redox status in liver and kidney (p < 0.05). Such data suggest that DTS effectively prevents CPX-induced immune suppression and oxidative-inflammatory damage, which are particularly enhanced in aged organisms.