Serum glutathione peroxidase, xanthine oxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities and malondialdehyde levels in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Oxidative stress has been hypothesized to play a major role in the development of PD in various studies. This study assessed to investigate oxidative and anti-oxidative status in PD patients. We evaluated oxidant/antioxidant status by measuring serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, xanthine oxidase (XO) activities, and activities of antioxidant enzymes, namely, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The study included 29 patients with PD and 32 healthy subjects as controls. Comparison of oxidative parameters in the patient and control groups revealed significantly higher GSH-Px and XO activities in the patient group. Serum MDA and SOD activities in PD patients were not significantly different from the controls. MDA was negatively correlated with duration of the PD and positively with age of onset. There was a negative correlation between SOD and Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage. According to these results, we suggest that oxidative stress may contribute to the development of PD.

Antioxidative-oxidative balance in epilepsy patients on antiepileptic therapy: a prospective case-control study.

Oxidative stress has been implicated in various disorders, including epilepsy. The aim of this study was to investigate the oxidant and antioxidant status of patients with epilepsy using antiepileptic drugs regularly and to compare them with healthy subjects. We investigated serum catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and xanthine oxidase (XO) levels in 58 epilepsy patients and 25 healthy controls. Patients were divided into polytherapy (n = 17) and monotherapy (n = 41) groups, and antioxidant status was compared between the two groups and controls. There was no significant difference between the patient and control groups in terms of age or gender (p > 0.05). The mean duration of illness in the patients was 14.8 years, and the mean duration of treatment was 11.4 years. Comparison of the patient and control groups in terms of oxidative stress and antioxidant defence parameters revealed significantly higher MDA, GSH-Px, XO and lower level of CAT, SOD levels (p < 0.05). There were no differences in CAT, MDA, GSH-Px or SOD levels between the monotherapy and polytherapy groups; but the XO level was higher in the monotherapy group (p < 0.05). Although the XO level was decreased by polytherapy, it was higher than in controls. Our study found significantly low level of antioxidants in patients with epilepsy as compared to control. Thus, antiepileptic treatment did not improve oxidative stress parameters. Furthermore, our results show that polytherapy does not change the situation as compared with monotherapy. Antioxidant replacement therapy may benefit these patients.

Oxidative and nitrosative stress in serum of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the common neurodegenerative disorders. Oxidative stress is considered as a contributing factor to the development of PD. The present study aims to investigate serum oxidative stress status in patients with PD. Oxidative stress was assessed by measuring serum nitric oxide levels, lipid hydroperoxide concentrations, and nitric oxide synthase activity. In addition, total serum antioxidant capacity (TAC) was evaluated using the serum 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging method in 32 patient with Parkinson's disease and 32 control subjects. Our results indicated that serum nitric oxide and lipid hydroperoxide levels were significantly lower in patients with PD than controls. Moreover, nitric oxide levels were found to be negatively correlated with Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). However, no statistical difference was observed in total serum antioxidant capacities and nitric oxide synthase activities between patients and controls. The present study indicates that although antioxidant capacity was not changed, lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) level was found decreased. This might show pre-oxidative process in these patients. In addition, decreased nitric oxide (NO) level and negative correlation observed between NO level and disease rating scale implicated a role for NO in the disease process.

Hesperidin, a Citrus Flavonoid, Has the Ameliorative Effects Against Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) in a C57BL/J6 Mouse Model.

The aim of this study was determined the effects of Hesperidin (HP) on neuronal damage in brain tissue caused by Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an established model of multiple sclerosis in C57BL/J6 mice. To explore 40 mice were equally divided into four groups: (1) Control, (2) EAE, (3) HP, and (4) HP + EAE. 14 days after induction of EAE with MOG35-55 and pertussis toxin, the mice treated with HP at the doses of 50 mg/kg/day for 7 days subcutaneously. To our results HP treatment prevents the oxidative stress caused by EAE via a decrease in lipid peroxidations and increase in elements of the antioxidant defense systems in brain tissue. Also, EAE elevate the IL-17, express the pro-inflammatory cytokines, and caspase-3-like immunreactivity, show apoptosis, staining in EAE mice brain and increased the incidence of histopathological damage. However, immonohistochemical and histological changes were reversed with HP. Moreover, elevated TNF-α and IL-1ß levels, a result of EAE, were decreased in serum and neurological deficits as clinical signs were reversed with HP treatment in EAE mice, given HP. In conclusion, HP treatment effectively prevents oxidative, immunological and histological damage in the brain caused by EAE. It was thought that the beneficial effects of HP are likely a result of its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Serum oxidant and antioxidant status of patients with chronic tension-type headache: possible effects of medical treatment.

Tension-type headache (TTH) is one of the most common and costly primary types of headache in clinical practice, with an unknown etiology. This study assessed to investigate oxidative and antioxidative status in patients with chronic tension-type headache (CTTH), and to evaluate possible effect of medical treatment. The study included 41 CTTH patients and 19 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects without headache as controls. The CTTH group comprised 20 patients receiving treatment and 21 untreated patients. We evaluated oxidant/antioxidant status by measuring serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and activities of antioxidant enzymes, namely glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT). Comparison of oxidative parameters in the patient and control groups revealed significantly lower CAT activities and higher MDA level and GSH-Px activities in the patient group. In the CTTH group, serum CAT activities were found to be significantly decreased in patient groups, while serum MDA levels and GSH-Px activities were found to be higher in the untreated CTTH patients. These findings suggest that oxidative stress is increased in the patients with CTTH, and medical treatment abolishes the stress in part. It has been concluded that antioxidant support might be helpful for the patients with CTTH to prevent oxidant stress and peroxidation damages further.

Decreased antioxidant status in migraine patients with brain white matter hyperintensities.

Migraine patients have an increased risk to develop deep white matter hyperintensities (WMH) than the general population. Oxidative stress is believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of migraine. The present study was undertaken to assess oxidant/antioxidant balance of migraineurs with and without WMH. We hypothesized that increased oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant response may play a role in the pathophysiology of WMH in migraineurs. The study included 32 patients in the migraine group and 17 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects without headache in the control group. The migraine group comprised 18 with WMH and 14 without WMH. We evaluated oxidative status with malondialdehyde (MDA) and to determine the activities of antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase (CAT) in serum of migraineurs and controls. Comparison of the patient and control groups for oxidative parameters revealed significantly lower level of CAT and higher level of MDA in the patient group. Two-way comparison for CAT and MDA of the migraine with and without WMH and the controls revealed that CAT serum level significantly decreased in migraine patients with WMH than migraine patients without WMH and controls. In this preliminary study, we demonstrated that the levels of CAT were decreased in migraine patients with WMH compared to patients without WMH and controls. These findings suggest that decreased antioxidant response may play a role in the pathophysiology of WMH in migraineurs. Besides, our results encourage the new treatment and follow-up options based on antioxidant systems.

Hepatic oxidant/antioxidant status in cholesterol-fed rabbits: Effects of garlic extract.

AIM: The investigation of oxidant/antioxidant status in hepatic tissues from cholesterol-fed rabbits and the establishment of possible protective effects of aqueous garlic extract on cholesterol-induced hepatic steatosis. METHODS: Twenty-two of 31 white New Zealand rabbits were given cholesterol (0.5 g/kg/day) for 4 months. Seven of them were then killed (cholesterol group). The remaining 15 animals were divided into two groups. Seven were fed on a normal laboratory diet (normal diet group) and the others (extract group) on a normal diet plus garlic extract (1.5 ml/kg/day) for an additional 3 months. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) enzyme activities, antioxidant potential (AOP) value, malondialdehyde (MDA), cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the liver tissues and total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in serum samples were measured. An histological evaluation was also done. RESULTS: An impaired antioxidant system, reduced antioxidant defence potential and increased peroxidation were found in hepatic steatotic tissues from cholesterol-fed animals. Treatment with garlic extract caused a significant increase in antioxidant potential and partly eliminated peroxidation damage in the hepatic tissue. Additionally, the extract caused significant reductions in the cholesterol levels of blood and hepatic tissues. The histological evaluations were in accordance with these results. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that cholesterol-induced steatosis leads to a weakened antioxidant defence system and causes peroxidation in the hepatic tissue. Treatment with garlic extract may contribute to significant amelioration in the hepatic steatosis and peroxidation processes.

Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis may be associated with high endothelin-1.

AIM: We aimed to find out if there was any difference of the endothelin-1 (ET-1) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels between osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic healthy postmenopausal women and whether there were any associations between ET-1 and ADMA levels and bone mineral density (BMD). METHODS: A total of 75 healthy postmenopausal women were enrolled in the study. BMD was measured at lumbar spine (LS) and femur neck (FN). Serum ET-1 and ADMA levels were measured by ELISA. In this population, 41 (54%) women had BMD t-scores > or = 2.5 at the LS and/or FN defined as osteoporosis and 34 (46%) of them had normal BMDs (non-osteoporotic group). RESULTS: The mean value of ET-1 serum level in patients was 0.42 +/- 0.30, 0.28 +/- 0.12 fmol/ml in osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic groups, respectively (p = 0.018). In non-osteoporotic group, there was an only significant positive correlation was found between BMD (g/cm(2)) and total t-scores at the lumbar region and ET-1 level. In osteoporotic group, no correlation was found between BMD and total t-scores and ET-1 levels. Serum ADMA level was not significantly different between osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic postmenopausal women (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: ET-1 may be a physiologic regulator in non-osteoporotic healthy postmenopausal women. Osteoporotic postmenopausal women had higher ET-1 levels than non-osteoporotic postmenopausal women. ADMA seems not to have effect on bone in postmenopausal women.

Effects of garlic extract consumption on blood lipid and oxidant/antioxidant parameters in humans with high blood cholesterol.

Effects of garlic extract supplementation on blood lipid profile and oxidant/antioxidant status were investigated in volunteer subjects with high blood cholesterol. A total of 23 volunteer subjects with high blood cholesterol (>5.98 mmol/L) participated in the study. Of them, 13 patients were evaluated as a hypertensive group and the others a normotensive group. Before (first sample) and after (second sample) garlic extract consumption for 4 months, routine blood analyses including lipid parameters and liver and kidney function tests were performed. Additionally, blood oxidant (malondialdehyde [MDA], oxidation resistance [OR]), and antioxidant (antioxidant potential [AOP], nonenzymatic superoxide radical scavenger activity [NSSA]) parameters were measured. Serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterols, and triglyceride levels were found to be significantly lowered, but HDL high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level increased after the extract use. The total:HDL cholesterol ratio was also found to be significantly decreased after the extract use. There were no meaningful differences with regard to other routine biochemical parameters. Additionally, blood AOP, OR, and NSSA values were found increased and MDA level decreased in the second samples relative to the first ones. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were also found to be significantly lowered after extract supplementation in the hypertensive group, but no similar changes were observed in the normotensive group. We conclude that garlic extract supplementation improves blood lipid profile, strengthens blood antioxidant potential, and causes significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressures. It also leads to a decrease in the level of oxidation product (MDA) in the blood samples, which demonstrates reduced oxidation reactions in the body.

Effects of garlic extract consumption on plasma and erythrocyte antioxidant parameters in atherosclerotic patients.

Effects of ingesting garlic extract on plasma and erythrocyte antioxidant parameters of atherosclerotic patients were investigated in this study. Eleven patients with atherosclerosis participated in the study. They ingested a dose of 1 ml/kg body weight of garlic extract daily for 6 months (study period). Before and after this period, fasting blood samples were obtained, and oxidant (malondialdehyde, MDA and xanthine oxidase, XO) and antioxidant (superoxide dismutase, SOD and glutathione peroxidase, GSH-Px) parameters were studied in plasma and erythrocytes obtained from the patients. Blood samples obtained from 11 healthy subjects served as the controls. Plasma XO activity and MDA levels were higher, but plasma and erythrocyte GSH-Px activities were lower, in patients with atherosclerosis relative to those of the control group. Our results showed that ingestion of garlic extract leads to significantly lowered plasma and erythrocyte MDA levels in the patients even in the absence of changes in antioxidant enzyme activities. Our results also demonstrated the presence of oxidant stress in blood samples from patients with atherosclerosis, but ingesting garlic extract prevented oxidation reactions by eliminating this oxidant stress. Thus, it is possible that reduced peroxidation processes may play a part in some of the beneficial effects of garlic in atherosclerotic diseases.