The Antimicrobial and Wound Healing Potential of Opuntia ficus indica L. inermis Extracted Oil from Tunisia.

INTRODUCTION: Opuntia ficus indica L. inermis (OFI) is used in traditional medicine pharmacopeia for its richness in natural bioactive compounds. It has been proven to be effective in the improvement of the healing of laser-induced skin burns. The aim of the present study was to investigate the wound healing effect of OFI extracted oil on full-thickness skin wound. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The OFI seeds were firstly isolated from mature prickly pears, washed, dried, and then cold-pressed. The antimicrobial activities of OFI seed oil were estimated in vitro against bacteria, yeast, and fungi. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimal Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were calculated. Skin wound healing was investigated using an excisional wound healing model in rats. The skin wounds of three experimental groups of rats were topically treated once/day with saline solution (control group), 0.15 mg/mm2 of a reference drug Esth'Elle Pharma Cicaplaie cream (reference group), and 0.6 µl/mm2 of OFI seed oil (OFI oil group). The healing process was monitored daily and the percentage of wound contraction was calculated. A histological study was carried on skin biopsies. RESULTS: The extracted oil has shown an interesting antimicrobial effect on Enterobacter cloacae, antiyeast effect against Candida parapsilosis and Candida sake, and antifungal activity against three opportunistic cutaneous molds (Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Fusarium). Moreover, OFI oil has shown a good wound healing effect. It prevents cutaneous infections and reduces the reepithelialization phase. CONCLUSION: OFI extracted oil has in vitro antimicrobial/fungal properties and in vivo wound healing activity. It seems to be efficient in the treatment of cutaneous infections and the promoting of the scarring process.

Hepatic oxidative stress in pigmented P23H rhodopsin transgenic rats with progressive retinal degeneration.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) comprises a group of inherited retinal degenerative conditions characterized by primary degeneration of the rod photoreceptors. Increased oxidative damage is observed in the retina, aqueous humor, and plasma of RP animal models and patients. The hepatic oxidative status may also be affected in RP due to oxidative damage influencing soluble macromolecules exiting the retina or to alterations in the melanopsin system resulting in chronic circadian desynchronization that negatively alters the oxidative stress defense system. P23H rats were crossed with pigmented Long Evans rats to produce offspring exhibiting the clinical conditions of RP. We measured hepatic malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxyalkenal concentrations as oxidative stress markers; nitrite level as a total nitrosative damage marker; total antioxidant capacity; and the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione S-transferase. Retinal visual function was assessed based on optomotor and electroretinogram responses. P23H transgenic rats exhibited diminished visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and electroretinographic responses according to the level of retinal degeneration. P23H rats at 30 days of age already demonstrated only 47% of the hepatic total antioxidant capacity of wild-type animals. Hepatic catalase and SOD activities were also reduced in P23H rats after 120 days, but we detected no difference in glutathione S-transferase activity. P23H rats had increased hepatic oxidative and nitrosative damage markers. GSH/GSSG ratio showed a significant diminution in P23H rats at P120 compared to WT. We conclude that the liver is under increased oxidative stress in P23H rats. Further studies are required, however, to clarify the contribution of systemic oxidative damage to the pathogenesis of RP.

Effects of Nitrite Addition to IGL-1 Solution on Rat Liver Preservation.

BACKGROUND The ability of nitrite to provide protection following ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) has been demonstrated, but its mechanism is still poorly understood. This study aimed to determine the optimal nitrite concentration to add into Institut Georges Lopez (IGL-1) storage solution and to assess its effect on antioxidant enzymes and autophagy. MATERIAL AND METHODS Livers from Sprague-Dawley rats were conserved in IGL-1 for 24 hours at 4°C or in IGL-1 enriched with nitrite at 50, 500 and 1,000 nM, respectively, before being perfused ex-vivo at 37 °C for 120 minutes. Sham livers were perfused ex vivo without cold preservation. RESULTS All biological and functional parameters of the preserved livers were significantly impaired as compared to shams. Interestingly, the supplementation of nitrite to IGL-1 protected the liver from I/R injury. Among the doses of nitrite evaluated, the 50 nM was proved efficient: it significantly reduced cytolysis, mitochondrial damage, and lipid peroxidation, and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activity) and hepatic function parameters (portal resistance, bile flow, and bromosulfophthalein clearance). In addition, increased levels of the autophagy parameters were observed when 50 nM of nitrite were added to IGL-1 solution, but this effect disappeared completely with higher concentrations of nitrite. CONCLUSIONS It seems that 50 nM of nitrite added to IGL-1 is the optimal concentration able to maintain cell integrity and hepatic function through autophagy induction and oxidative stress prevention.