Photochemical Elimination of Endocrine Disrupting Chemical (EDC) by ZnO Nanoparticles, Synthesized by Gel Combustion.

Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles prepared by gel combustion synthesis using cassava pearl starch have been characterized by various microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. The particle size averaged around 45 nm, revealed zincite structure, hexagonal, agglomerated morphology and possessed an excellent photocatalytic activity in sunlight. Contrary to the existing literature survey, this photocatalyst possessed a band gap of 2.7 eV, causing an extended absorption towards broader range of the solar spectrum, thus making it an excellent visible light-activated photocatalyst. Photocatalytic activity was investigated on one of the highly resistant, most-focused endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) benzophenone-3 (BP-3), which is used in personnel care products. The observations reveal a near complete photooxidative degradation of BP-3. A reaction mechanism for the photooxidative pathway was proposed based on the isolated intermediates.

Investigation of in vitro and in vivo antioxidant potential of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside.

The present study was designed to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo ameliorative antioxidant potential of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG). In vitro antioxidant activity of synthetic SDG was carried out using DPPH, reducing power potency, and DNA protection assays. Wistar albino rats weighing 180-220 g were used for in vivo studies and liver damage was induced in the experimental animals by a single intraperitoneal (I.P.) injection of CCl(4) (2 g/kg b.w.). Intoxicated animals were treated orally with synthetic SDG at (12.5 and 25 mg/kg b.w.) and Silymarin (25 mg/kg) for 14 consecutive days. The levels of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), and lipid peroxidase (LPO) were measured in liver and kidney homogenates. The synthetic SDG exerts high in vitro antioxidant potency as it could scavenge DPPH at a IC(50) value of 78.9 µg/ml and has dose-dependent reducing power potency and protected DNA at 0.5 mg/ml concentration. Oral administration of synthetic SDG at 12.5 and 25 mg/kg b.w. showed significant protection compared to Silymarin (25 mg/kg) and the activities of CAT, SOD, and POX were markedly increased (P < 0.05), whereas LPO significantly decreased (P < 0.001) in a dose-dependent manner in liver and kidney in both pre- and post-treatment groups when compared to toxin-treated group. The results of in vitro and in vivo investigations revealed that synthetic SDG at 25 mg/kg b.w. is associated with beneficial changes in hepatic enzyme activities and thereby plays a key role in the prevention of oxidative damage in immunologic system.

Antioxidant potentials of flaxseed by in vivo model.

The present study reports the antioxidant activity of flaxseed as measured by feeding weanling albino rats with 5.0% and 10.0% of flaxseed (constituting approximately 0.75 and 1.5 g kg(-)(1)) for 14 days followed by challenging animals with 2.0 g kg(-)(1) b.w. CCl(4) as toxin. Activity was assessed by measuring hepatic marker enzymes like catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase and comparing with those from the normal group and from a group receiving toxin without flaxseed. Treatment of CCl(4) at dose of 2.0 g kg(-)(1) b.w. decreased the activities of various antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase by 35.6%, 47.76%, and 53.0%, respectively, compared to the control group, and the lipid peroxidation value increased nearly 1.2-fold compared to that of the group treated with toxin without flaxseed. Pretreatment of rats with 5.0% flaxseed followed by CCl(4) treatment caused restoration of catalase, SOD, and peroxidase by 39.7%, 181.42%, and 123.7%, respectively, as compared to control. The group treated with 10.0% flaxseed has shown the restoration of 95.02%, 182.31%, and 136.0% of catalase, SOD, and peroxidase. In the case of the group treated with toxin without flaxseed, the level of superoxide dismutase and the catalse value decreased 91.4% and 55.33%, respectively, in comparison with the control group. These results clearly indicate the beneficial effect of flaxseed components as an antioxidant as seen by restoration of hepatic enzymes, which were varied from normal to one due to toxicity induced by toxin (CCl(4)). Owing to this property, the flaxseed known for its functional properties can be further extended to exploit its possible application for various health benefits as nutraceuticals and food ingredient.

In vivo antioxidant activity of carotenoids from Dunaliella salina--a green microalga.

Dunaliella salina a green marine alga is known for its carotenoid accumulation, having various applications in the health and nutritional products. The purpose of present study was to evaluate the ability of D. salina algal powder extract to protect against oxidative stress In vivo using animal models. Treatment of albino Wistar strain rats with 125 microg/kg and 250 microg/kg b.w. showed significant protection when compared to toxin treated (CCl4) group. Since beta-carotene is major constituent of Dunaliella the results were also compared with group treated with 250 microg/kg b.w (p.o.) synthetic all trans beta-carotene. Treatment of CCl4 at dose of 2.0 g/kg b.w. decreased the activities of various antioxidant enzymes like catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase by 45.9%, 56% and 54% respectively compared to control group and lipid peroxidation value increased nearly 2 folds. Pretreatment of rats with 125 microg carotenoid followed by CCl4 treatment caused restoration of catalase, SOD and peroxidase by 25.24%, 23.75 and 61.15% respectively as compared to control. The group treated with 250 microg/kg has shown the restoration of 53.5%, 57.7 and 90.64% of catalase, SOD and peroxidase, respectively. This group has shown 75.0% restoration of peroxidation compared to control group of animals. The above enzyme activities were not significantly restored in group treated with synthetic all trans beta-carotene, which showed 7.5%, 23.8% restore in catalase and peroxidase content. The level of superoxide dismutase remained same and lipid peroxidation value decreased only by 23% in synthetic all trans beta-carotene treated group in comparison with control group. These results clearly indicate the beneficial effect of algal carotenoid compared to synthetic carotene as antioxidant. Owing to this property, the algae Dunaliella can be further extended to exploit, its possible application for various health benefits as nutraceuticals and food additive.

Protective effect of Dunaliella salina-A marine micro alga, against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

This is the first report on the hepatoprotective potentials of marine micro algae Dunaliella species. Dunaliella salina, halotolarent green alga was cultivated in modified autotrophic medium. The alga was subjected to light and nutrient stress in order to accumulate (beta-carotene along with other carotenoids. Such beta-carotene enriched yellow cells were fed to rats by mixing with regular feed at the dose of 2.5 and of 5.0gkg(-1) b.w. for 2 weeks. The degree of hepatoprotection was measured up on challenging animals with toxin (2.0gkg(-1) of carbon tetrachloride) by estimation of biochemical parameters like, serum transaminases (serum aspartate transaminase (S)AST and serum alanine transaminase (S)ALT), serum alkaline phosphatase and total protein. The results were compared to animals on normal diet and with group fed with 100mugkg(-1) b.w. of standard all trans beta-carotene. Among the three test groups the group fed with algae of 5.0gkg(-1) body weight, showed maximum protection. The levels of (S)AST and (S)ALT was found to be 61.3+/-6.4 and 80.7+/-5.6%, against 90.8+/-10.5 and 144.7+/-13.9% in case of standard beta-carotene. The protein contents were increased in case of control to 6.1+/-0.7 and the same was found to be significantly less in case of 5.0gkg(-1)Dunaliella fed group, which shown 5.6+/-0.8% total protein. However, the activity of 2.5gkg(-1) was also significant comparatively (P<0.05). The results indicate that Dunaliella, which contains isomeric forms of beta-carotene can act as good antihepatotoxic when compared to synthetic all trans beta-carotene. Dunaliella has shown the presence of both cis and trans isomeric forms of beta-carotene, where as synthetic compounds contain only trans isomer. Hepatoprotectivity may be due to presence of various isomeric forms of carotene and other oxygenated carotenoids (xanthophylls) in algae.

Comparative evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of carotenoids of microalgae.

The present study deals with evaluation of the hepatotoprotective activity of carotenoids from two well-known microalgae, Spirulina platensis and Dunaliella salina. Carotenoids were extracted in hexane:isopropyl alcohol (1:1 vol/vol) and fed orally in olive oil to Wistar albino rats at a dose of 100 microg/kg of body weight/day (in terms of carotenoids). The degree of hepatoprotection was measured by estimation of biochemical parameters like serum transaminases [serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT)], serum alkaline phosphatase, total albumin, and total protein. The results were compared with those for a control group, a CCl4-induced hepatic damage group, and a group treated with synthetic beta-carotene (all-trans) at the same dose. The protein content of the CCl4-treated group, which received normal diet and a dose of toxin, showed a significant decrease, i.e., 3.92 mg/mL, whereas the protein levels were higher, i.e., 6.96 and 6.32 mg/mL, in the case of the Dunaliella and Spirulina, respectively, carotenoid-treated groups. The CCl4-treated group shown higher activity of transaminases (128.68 units/mL SGPT and 171.52 units/mL SGOT). However, the activity of SGPT was 62.83 units/mL for Dunaliella and 76.83 units/mL for Spirulina, i.e., carotenoids of Dunaliella showed a higher degree of protection. For serum alkaline phosphatase, the standard beta-carotene value was 81.52 units/mL, compared with 84.46 units/mL for the CCl4-treated group; however, natural algal carotenoids yielded 38.45 units/mL (D. salina) and 44.73 units/mL (Spirulina). The total albumin value diminished with CCl4 treatment (2.46 mg/mL); the effect was highest for Dunaliella, followed by the Spirulina carotenoid-treated group. The results clearly indicate that carotenoids from Dunaliella possess better hepatoprotection compared with those from Spirulina. High-performance liquid chromatography of the carotenoids indicated that Spirulina contains only beta-carotene and Dunaliella contains other carotenoids and xanthophyll. The increase in protection with Dunaliella indicates that mixed carotenoids exhibit better biological activity than beta-carotene alone. The results of this study indicate that carotenoids obtained from an algal source have a higher antihepatotoxic effect, compared with synthetic beta-carotene and with beta-carotene alone from a natural source.

Antidiabetic effect of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycaemia. Its complications such as neuropathy, cardiopathy, nephropathy, and micro and macro vascular diseases are believed to be due to the increase in oxidative stress and decrease in the level of antioxidants. The aim of this study was to determine the antihyperglycemic activity of synthetic Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The synthetic SDG in a single-dose (20 mg/kg b.w.) two-day study showed dose-dependent reduction in glucose levels with maximum effect of 64.62% at 48 h post drug treatment (p<0.05), which is comparable to that of the standard drug tolbutamide (20 mg/kg b.w.). In a multi-dose fourteen-day study, lower doses of SDG (5 and 10 mg/kg b.w.) exhibited moderate reduction in glucose levels, lipid profile, restoration of antioxidant enzymes and improvement of the insulin and c-peptide levels which shows the regeneration of ß-cell which secretes insulin. Altered levels of lipids and enzymatic antioxidants were also restored by the SDG to the considerable levels in diabetic rats. Results of the present investigation suggest that diabetes is associated with an increase in oxidative stress as shown by increase in serum malondialdehyde (MDA), decreased levels of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH). Also, diabetes is associated with an increase in serum total cholesterol as well as triglycerides levels and decrease in insulin and c-peptide levels. SDG is effective in retarding the development of diabetic complications. We propose that synthetic SDG exerts anti hyperglycemic effect by preventing the liver from peroxidation damage through inhibition of ROS level mediated increased level of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. And, also maintaining tissue function which results in improving the sensitivity and response of target cells in STZ-induced diabetic rats to insulin.