Antioxidant therapy for hepatic diseases: a double-edged sword

Environmental Toxins and Oxidative Stress: The Link to Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a leading global health concern, responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality. In recent years, as our understanding of the multifaceted nature of CVDs has increased, it has become increasingly evident that traditional risk factors alone do not account for the entirety of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Environmental toxins, a heterogeneous group of substances ubiquitous in our surroundings, have now entered the spotlight as offenders in the development and progression of CVDs. Environmental toxins include heavy metals, air pollutants, pesticides, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, among others. Upon exposure, they can elicit oxidative stress, a condition characterized by an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body's ability to detoxify and repair the resulting damage. Oxidative stress triggers a cascade of events, including inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, lipid peroxidation, and vascular remodeling, which can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, hypertension, and other cardiovascular pathologies. This article delves into the molecular mechanisms underpinning oxidative stress-mediated cardiovascular damage induced by environmental toxins, emphasizing the role of specific toxins in this process. Further research is necessary to understand how individual susceptibility and genotype influence the impact of environmental toxins on oxidative stress and the risk of CVD.

Polysaccharides with antioxidant activity: Extraction, beneficial roles, biological mechanisms, structure-function relationships, and future perspectives: A review

Polysaccharides are valuable macromolecules due to their multiple bioactivities, safety, and a wide range of sources. Recently, a series of polysaccharides with antioxidant activity have been intensively reported. In this review, the latest advances in polysaccharides with antioxidant activity have been reviewed, primarily based on the investigations of polysaccharides regarding advanced extraction methods, roles in oxidative stress-related diseases, intracellular signaling pathways associated with antioxidant responses, activating pathways in the gut, structure-function relationships, and methods to improve antioxidant activity. The summarized information highlighted that much work needs to be conducted, from laboratory to industry, to understand and fully utilize the antioxidant potential of polysaccharides. Finally, future perspectives, including scaling-up of advanced extraction methods, standardizing the protocols for assessing and screening polysaccharides, bridging gaps on the biological mechanisms underlying antioxidant activity, performing clinical trials, and elucidating structure-antioxidant relationships, have been addressed. The information present in this review will be helpful to the scientific community when studying on polysaccharides with antioxidant potential and provides research directions for a better understanding of the polysaccharides and promotes their successful applications in functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Bioactive Formulation and Bulk Allopurinol and Lycopene Estimation by UV Spectroscopy

BACKGROUND

This study developed a UV spectrophotometric method for quantifying allopurinol and lycopene in both bulk and dosage forms, aiming for simplicity and practicality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The method was developed and validated using methanol and lycopene in phosphate buffer saline at various pH levels (7.4, 6.8, 1.2, 5.5). Validation parameters included linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of quantification (LOQ), and limit of detection (LOD) according to ICH standards.

RESULTS

The method demonstrated high sensitivity and linearity over a concentration range of 4-20 μg/ml, adhering to Beer's law. The LOQ and LOD were 2-18 μg/ml and 2-6 μg/ml, respectively. Optimal absorbance wavelengths were 251 nm for lycopene and 471 nm for allopurinol. Calibration curves showed a high correlation coefficient (0.9994), indicating a strong linear relationship.

CONCLUSION

The developed UV spectrophotometric method is effective, interference-free, and suitable for routine quality control, providing reliable measurements for allopurinol and lycopene.