Rumex nervosus could alleviate streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in rats by activating Nrf2 signaling

This study tested the protective effect of Rumex nervous (R. nervosus) methanol extract against streptozotocin (STZ)-mediated type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM)-induced nephropathy in rats and examined if this protection involves activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor-2 (Nrf2). Rats were divided into control, R. nervous (300 mg), STZ (T1DM), STZ + R. nervosus (100, 200, or 300 mg/kg), and STZ + R. nervosus (300 mg/kg) + brusatol (an Nrf2 inhibitor). With no effect on fasting glucose and insulin levels, R. nervosus methanol extract preserved kidney histological structure and alterations kidney function markers (e.g. albumin, creatinine, and urine volume) in the STZ-diabetic rats. R. nervosus also reduced levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukine-6 (IL-6), nuclear levels of the nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB), and mRNA of caspase-3 and Bax in the kidneys of these diabetic rats. Concomitantly, it stimulated renal mRNA levels of Bcl2 and Nrf2, cytoplasmic and nuclear levels of Nrf2, and levels of glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). All these effects were dose-dependent, with the maximum effect seen with the 300 mg/kg dose, all prevented by brusatol. Also, these effects occurred without any alteration in the transcription of the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (keap-1). Similar effects on levels of GSH, SOD, CAT, and NF-κB, as well as expression of Nrf2, were also observed in the kidney of control + R. nervous-treated rats. In conclusion, R. nervosus prevents diabetic nephropathy in rats by upregulating and activating Nrf2.

Partial Purification and Characterization of Exo-Polygalacturonase Produced by Penicillium oxalicum AUMC 4153

Pectinase enzymes are important industrial enzymes having considerable applications in several industries, especially in food processing. Pectinases contribute 25% of global food enzyme sales. Therefore, the demand for a commercial enzyme with desirable characteristics and low production costs has become one of the great targets. Hence, this study aims to produce exo-polygalacturonase (exo-PG) using local fungal isolate Penicillium oxalicum AUMC 4153 by utilizing sugar beet manufacturing waste (sugar beet pulp) as a sole raw carbon source under shaken submerged fermentation, which is purified and characterized to optimize enzyme biochemical properties for industrial application. The purity of the obtained exo-PG was increased by about 28-fold, and the final enzyme yield was 57%. The partially purified enzyme was active at a broad range of temperatures (30–60 °C). The optimum temperature and pH for the purified exo-PG activity were 50 °C and pH 5. The enzyme was stable at a range of pH 3 to 6 and temperature 30–50 °C for 210 min. The values for K_m and V_max were 0.67 mg/mL, with polygalacturonic acid as substrate and 6.13 µmole galacturonic acid/min/mg protein, respectively. It can be concluded that purified exo-PG production by P. oxalicum grown on sugar beet waste is a promising effective method for useful applications.

Utilization of agro-industrial orange peel and sugar beet pulp wastes for fungal endo- polygalacturonase production

The pectinase enzymes are involved in several industrial applications, and industrial waste is one of the largest environmental pollutants, so this study aims to Endo-polygalacturonase (endo-PG) producing using Aspergillus niger AUMC 4156, Penicillium oxalicum AUMC 4153 and P. variotii AUMC 4149 by using some agro-industrial wastes (dried orange peel and sugar beet pulp) as a sole raw carbon source for degradation these waste in the process of urban wastes disposal. The fermentation process was carried out as a submerged culture technique under both shaken and static culture conditions. A. niger AUMC 4156 was the most promising producer of endo-PG under static conditions while P. oxalicum AUMC 4153 was the highest producer of endo-PG under shaken conditions. Sugar beet pulp proved to be the most preferable to orange peel as the only source of carbon in both shaken and static cultures. The medium that encompassing orange peel as a single carbon source afforded the highest protein content with all tested fungal strains in stirred and static cultures in comparison with sugar beet pulp. The highest activity of endo-polygalacuronase that produced using A. niger AUMC 4156 and P. oxalicum AUMC 4153 was achieved by using sugar beet pulp at 3% concentration under static cultures, meanwhile maximal enzyme activity produced by both fungal strains required 2% sugar beet pulp under shaken cultures. Sugar beet pulp showed promised potential as a good inducer for endo-polygalacturoase production, and enzymes production depended on fungal strains, culture medium, and submerged fermentation conditions.