Effect of diet supplemented with African Star Apple Fruit Pulp on purinergic, cholinergic and monoaminergic enzymes, TNF-α expression and redox imbalance in the brain of hypertensive rats.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether diet supplemented with African star apple fruit pulp (FP) can mitigate the effect of high blood pressure on brain neurochemicals, histopathology and expression of genes linked with neuroinflammation. METHODS: Rats were administered with cyclosporine (25 mg/kg.bw) to induce hypertension and were fed with or without FP supplemented diet. Purinergic (Nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases [NTPdase] and adenosine deaminase [ADA]) cholinergic (acetylcholinesterase [AChE]) and monoaminergic (monoamine oxidase-B) enzymes were assessed in treated and untreated hypertensive rats' brains. Oxidative stress biomarkers (catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, thiols, reactive oxygen species [ROS] and malondialdehyde [MDA]), as well as AChE, tumour necrosis factor and receptor (TNF-α and TNF-α-R) expression, were also determined. RESULTS: FP supplemented diet significantly reduced NTPdase and ADA activities and increased Na+/K+-ATPase activities in hypertensive rats' brains compared to the untreated group. Furthermore, FP reduced acetylcholinesterase and monoamine oxidase-B activities compared to the hypertensive group. Redox imbalance was observed in hypertensive rats with inhibition of antioxidant enzymes and high levels of ROS and MDA. However, FP supplemented diet improved antioxidant enzymes, reduced ROS and MDA production in the brain of hypertensive rats. High blood pressure also triggered upregulation of AChE, TNF-α and TNF-α-R while feeding with FP supplemented diet downregulated the genes. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the neuroprotective role of FP supplemented diet against alterations in neurochemicals associated with Alzheimer's disease, oxidative stress-induced neuronal damage and expression of genes linked with neuroinflammation. Moreover, studies on animal behaviour and human subjects are required to confirm these beneficial effects.

Synergistic cardioprotective ability of co-administration of Moringa supplemented diets and acarbose in diabetic cardiomyopathy involves attenuation of cholinergic, purinergic, monoaminergic, renin-angiotensin system, and antioxidant pathways.

One of the major complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) is diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) due to the multifaceted therapy involved. Here, we evaluated the combinatorial effect of Moringa leaf (ML) and seed (MS) supplemented diets plus acarbose (ACA) on cardiac acetylcholinesterase (AChE), adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), adenosine deaminase (ADA), monoamine oxidase (MAO), arginase, angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), and thiols levels. The diets and ACA (25 mg/kg) were administered for 14 days. The fasting blood glucose level (FBGL), cardiac AChE, ATPase, ADA, MAO, arginase, ACE, LDH activities, and TBARS and thiol levels were determined. Relative to the normal rats, the biomarkers were significantly increased in DM rats but were suppressed significantly in the diets plus ACA-treated rats while improving antioxidant status, with the 4% Moringa plus ACA proving outstanding compared to individual ML/MS and ACA. In addition, ML-supplemented diets with/without ACA had better effects compared to MS with/without ACA, respectively. In conclusion, the combination of ML/MS supplemented diets and ACA synergistically modulates the tested biochemicals. However, the effect on blood vessels and the nerves that control the heart, stiffness of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, fibrosis, cell signaling abnormalities, related gene expression, clinical trials, and echocardiology studies should be further investigated to affirm this claim. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Moringa oleifera has been a vocal appetite in mitigating cardiovascular disease induced by diabetes, but the formulation of a medicinal diet as an ameliorative route of attention to the pathology is fairly addressed, not talking of its combination with the synthetic antidiabetic drug, such as ACA. Based on this experiment, it is imperative to explore such an idea. This research shows that co-administration of moringa leaf/seed formulated diets plus ACA exhibits a synergistic effect in DCM management. However, further research is needed in this field of experiment.

Effect of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) nut-supplemented diet on steroidogenic enzymes, hormonal and oxidative imbalances, and sperm parameters in cisplatin-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats.

Cisplatin (CP) is a chemotherapeutic/anticancer drug culpable in sperm and testicular damage, but the use of dietary patterns has been reported to averse this effect. To date, no report on the use of roasted cashew nut-supplemented diets (RCNSD) against chemotherapy-induced testicular damage has been presented. In this study, the effect of 10% and 20% RCNSD on reproductive hormones, sperm parameters, testicular and epididymal antioxidant status, and steroidogenic enzymes activities in CP-induced rats were determined. Interestingly, these parameters were boosted, but with a decrement in radical species level in the testes/epididymis of CP-induced rats fed with RCNSD as against the untreated CP-induced rats. The modulatory effect of RCNSD on the tested reproductive parameters in studied tissues could be among the mechanism of action, by which RCNSD mitigates andrological toxicity. Hence, RCNSD could be harnessed as a functional food/nutraceutical agent for alleviating the andrological toxicity of CP-induced male reproduction. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Consumption of cashew nuts has been a great benefit to human health, as a result of its richness in nutritional constituents including biologically active amino acids, tocopherols, fatty acids, polyphenols, and selenium, among others. Cashew nuts are mostly consumed fried/roasted, with yoghurt, as a paste, or used as an ingredient in confectionery products. The folkloric use of cashew nuts in the management of cardiovascular diseases, male reproductive disorders, and diabetes has been reported. In this study, the ability of roasted cashew nut-supplemented diets to modulate reproductive hormones, sperm parameters, testicular and epididymal antioxidant status, and steroidogenic enzymes activities in CP-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats was revealed, thus, indicating its possible use, clinically, in the management of reproductive toxicity induced by cancer drugs.

Beetroot supplemented diet exhibit anti-amnesic effect via modulation of cholinesterases, purinergic enzymes, monoamine oxidase and attenuation of redox imbalance in the brain of scopolamine treated male rats.

OBJECTIVES: Beta vulgaris, commonly known as beetroot, is a vegetable that contains red pigment and rich in betalains, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. This study was designed to assess the effect of beetroot supplemented diet (BRSD) on cognitive function and altered neurochemicals associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the brain of rats treated with scopolamine (SCOP). METHODS: Rats were fed with BRSD (2 and 4%) for 14 days and administered with 2 mg/kg of SCOP intraperitoneally on the last day. Morris water Maze and Y-maze tests were performed to assess cognitive function. Purinergic enzymes [ectonucleotidase (NTPdase) and adenosine deaminase (ADA)], monoamine oxidase (MAO), and angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) activities were determined in rat brain tissues. Furthermore, catalase activity, total thiol (T-SH) and non-protein thiol (NP-SH) levels were also assessed. Beetroot was characterized using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the structure-activity relationship between the constituents and target enzymes was assessed. RESULTS: BRSD improved cognitive function by increasing memory index in SCOP treated rats. An increase in NTPdase, ADA, MAO, and ACE activities were observed in the brain of rats treated with SCOP. However, the activities of these enzymes were significantly lower after treatment with BRSD. Treatment with BRSD triggered a significant increase in catalase activity, T-SH and NP-SH levels in SCOP-treated rats. Catechin, 6,7-benzocoumarin, gentisin, 5,7-dimethoxyflavone, and vulgaxanthin I was identified in beetroots. DISCUSSION: The result suggests that beetroot could prevent cognitive dysfunction in SCOP-treated rats, and enhance memory function, via modulation of purinergic enzymes, MAO and ACE activities, and neuronal antioxidant status.

Effects of berberine on cholinesterases and monoamine oxidase activities, and antioxidant status in the brain of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVES: Several studies had been conducted to examine the link between diabetes and diabetes encephalopathy. This study was conducted to examine the potency of berberine (BER) on the restoration of impaired neurochemicals in the brain of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Wistar rats. METHODS: Fifty-six (56) adult rats weighing between 200 and 230 g were randomly divided into seven groups (n=8) as follows; Group I is normal control; Groups II and III were normal rats treated with 50 and 100 mg/kg respectively; Group IV-VII were STZ-induced rats, but Groups V-VII were treated with acarbose (25 mg/kg), 50 and 100 mg/kg of BER, respectively. RESULTS: The result of the study showed that untreated STZ-induced diabetic rats have increased acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), monoamine oxidase (MAO) activities, and malonylaldehyde (MDA) level, with concomitant decrease of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, and glutathione (GSH) level. However, daily treatment with 50 and 100 mg/kg BER and ACA significantly reversed these effects. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study clearly indicated that BER possesses neuro-protective and antioxidative potentials and normalize neurochemical impairment distort by diabetes.

Euphorbia-Derived Natural Products with Potential for Use in Health Maintenance.

Euphorbia genus (Euphorbiaceae family), which is the third largest genus of angiosperm plants comprising ca. 2000 recognized species, is used all over the world in traditional medicine, especially in the traditional Chinese medicine. Members of this taxa are promptly recognizable by their specialized inflorescences and latex. In this review, an overview of Euphorbia-derived natural products such as essential oils, extracts, and pure compounds, active in a broad range of biological activities, and with potential usages in health maintenance, is described. The chemical composition of essential oils from Euphorbia species revealed the presence of more than 80 phytochemicals, mainly oxygenated sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons, while Euphorbia extracts contain secondary metabolites such as sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, sterols, flavonoids, and other polyphenols. The extracts and secondary metabolites from Euphorbia plants may act as active principles of medicines for the treatment of many human ailments, mainly inflammation, cancer, and microbial infections. Besides, Euphorbia-derived products have great potential as a source of bioactive extracts and pure compounds, which can be used to promote longevity with more health.

Influence of eugenol on oxidative stress biomarkers in the liver of carrageenan-induced arthritis rats.

Background Eugenol is the foremost constituent of clove oil and widely distributed in many plants. It possesses many pharmaceutical applications, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumorigenic properties, among others. This study evaluates the influence of eugenol on oxidative stress biomarkers in the liver of carrageenan-induced arthritis (CIA) rats. Methods Sixty albino rats were randomly divided into 10 (n=6) groups. Group I is the control group that received saline solution orally. Groups II and VII rats received 2.5 mg/kg of eugenol orally (EUG-2.5). Rats in groups III/VIII and IV/IX received 5 and 10 mg/kg of eugenol orally (EUG-5 and EUG-10), respectively. Groups V and X received 0.2 mg/kg of dexamethasone (DEX-0.2) orally. Groups VI to X were injected with 1% carrageenan intra-articularly. Behavioral studies were conducted after 21 days of treatment. Thereafter, the animals were sacrificed, and the livers were isolated and used for biochemical analysis. Results Reduced body weight in arthritic rats was recorded compared to normal controls. Reduced tibiofemoral joint edema and increased spontaneous movement were observed in CIA rats with decreased superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase, and GSH S-transferase activities compared with the normal control group. Increased endogenous enzyme activities and decreased elevated lipid peroxidation were also observed after eugenol treatment. Conclusion Eugenol ameliorates carrageenan-induced oxidative stress in the liver of arthritic rats.

Modulatory effect of quercetin and its glycosylated form on key enzymes and antioxidant status in rats penile tissue of paroxetine-induced erectile dysfunction.

This study sought to compare the effects of quercetin and rutin on some enzymes linked to erectile function as well as antioxidant status in penile tissue of paroxetine - induced erectile dysfunction in rats. Animals were randomly divided into twelve groups: normal control (NC), sildenafil (SD), quercetin (QA) (25 and 50 mg/kg), rutin (RU) (25 and 50 mg/kg), PAR (10 mg/kg); PAR + SD; PAR + QA, PAR + RU (25 and 50 mg/kg). After 14 days' treatment, phosphodiesterase-5' (PDE-5'), arginase, adenosine deaminase (ADA), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) activities as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) and non-protein thiol levels were determined in rat penile tissues. Elevated levels of PDE-5', arginase, AChE, ADA and ACE activities and MDA were observed in PAR-induced rats with concomitant decrease in non-protein thiol levels when compared to the NC group. However, treatment with SD, QA and RU significantly reduced the activities of AChE, PDE-5', arginase, ADA and ACE and MDA levels and elevated non-protein thiol levels in penile tissues of PAR-induced rats. Furthermore, administration of QA and RU in PAR-induced rats modulated the key enzymes relevant to erection, improved antioxidant status and could be potential functional food ingredients and nutraceuticals in the prevention and/or management of erectile dysfunction.

African crocus (Curculigo pilosa) and wonderful kola (Buchholzia coriacea) seeds modulate critical enzymes relevant to erectile dysfunction and oxidative stress.

Background The seeds of African crocus (AC) (Curculigo pilosa) and wonderful kola (WK) (Buchholzia coriacea) are commonly used in folklore medicine in managing erectile dysfunction (ED) without the full understanding of the possible mechanism of actions. This study investigated and compared the effects of aqueous extracts from the seeds of AC and WK on arginase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities and some pro-oxidant [FeSO4 and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)]-induced lipid peroxidation in rat penile homogenate in vitro. Method Aqueous extracts of AC and WK were prepared, and their effects on arginase and AChE activities as well as FeSO4- and SNP-induced lipid peroxidation in rat penile homogenate were assessed. Furthermore, phenolic constituents of the extract were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD). Results Both extracts exhibited concentration-dependent inhibition on arginase (AC, IC50=0.05 mg/mL; WK, IC50=0.22 mg/mL) and AChE (AC, IC50=0.68 mg/mL; WK, IC50=0.28 mg/mL) activities. The extracts also inhibited FeSO4- and SNP-induced lipid peroxidation in rat penile homogenate. HPLC-DAD analysis revealed the presence of phenolic acids (gallic, caffeic, ellagic and coumaric acids) and flavonoids (catechin, quercetin and apigenin) in AC and WK. AC had higher arginase inhibitory and antioxidative activities but lower AChE inhibitory properties when compared with WK. Conclusions These effects could explain the possible mechanistic actions of the seeds in the management/treatment of ED and could be as a result of individual and/or synergistic effect of the constituent phenolic compounds of the seeds.

Phenolic Extracts from Clerodendrum volubile Leaves Inhibit Cholinergic and Monoaminergic Enzymes Relevant to the Management of Some Neurodegenerative Diseases.

This study investigated the inhibitory effects of phenolic-rich extracts from Clerodendrum volubile leaves on cholinergic [acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)] and monoaminergic [monoamine oxidase (MAO)] enzymes' activities and pro-oxidants [Fe2+ and quinolinic acid-(QA)] induced lipid peroxidation in rats brain homogenates in vitro. Free phenolic extracts (FPE) and bound phenolic extracts (BPE) were obtained via solvent extraction, and the total phenol and flavonoid contents were evaluated. The phenolic constituents of the extracts were also determined using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Our findings revealed that FPE had higher AChE (2.06 µg/mL), BChE (2.79 µg/mL), and MAO (2.81 µg/mL) inhibitory effects than BPE [AChE, 2.80 µg/mL; BChE, 3.40 µg/mL; MAO, 3.39 µg/mL]. Furthermore, FPE also had significantly (P < 0.05) higher inhibitory effects on Fe2+ and QA-induced lipid peroxidation compared to BPE. FPE (162.61 mg GAE/g) had higher total phenol content than BPE. However, BPE (18.65 mg QE/g) had significantly higher total flavonoid content than FPE (13.32 mg QE/g). Phenolic acids (such as gallic acid, catechin, chlorogenic, caffeic, ellagic, p-Coumaric acids) and flavonoids (catechins, rutin and quercetin) were present in both extracts. This study revealed that the enzymes' inhibitory activities and antioxidant potentials of phenolic-rich extracts from C. volubile could be part of the mechanism of actions behind its use for memory/cognitive function as obtained in folklore. However, FPE exhibited significantly higher enzymes, inhibitory and antioxidant potentials than BPE.

Alteration of starch hydrolyzing enzyme inhibitory properties, antioxidant activities, and phenolic profile of clove buds (Syzygium aromaticum L.) by cooking duration.

This study assessed the effect of cooking duration on starch hydrolyzing enzyme (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) activities, antioxidant (1,1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl [DPPH*], hydroxyl [OH*] radicals scavenging abilities and reducing power) properties, and phenolic profile of clove buds. Clove buds (raw) were cooked for 10 (SC 10) and 20 min (SC 20) and subsequently, their effects were assessed on enzyme activities, antioxidant properties, and phenolic profile. Inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities and radicals scavenging abilities were altered by cooking in the trend; raw < SC 10 > SC 20, with IC 50 values ranging from 0.25 to 0.52 mg/mL and 0.10 to 1.50 mg/mL respectively. HPLC phenolic profile of the clove buds revealed significant (P < 0.05) changes in the amount of chlorogenic acid, quercitrin, quercetin, and kaempferol at different cooking duration. Thus, cooking duration may alter the phenolic compositions and nutraceutical potentials of clove bud by activation and/or deactivation of redox-active metabolites.

Essential Oil from Clove Bud (Eugenia aromatica Kuntze) Inhibit Key Enzymes Relevant to the Management of Type-2 Diabetes and Some Pro-oxidant Induced Lipid Peroxidation in Rats Pancreas in vitro.

The inhibition of enzymes involved in the breakdown of carbohydrates is considered a therapeutic approach to the management of type-2 diabetes. This study sought to investigate the effects of essential oil from clove bud on α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities. Essential oil from clove bud was extracted by hydrodistillation, dried with anhydrous Na2SO4 and characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The effects of the essential oil on α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities were investigated. The antioxidant properties of the oil and the inhibition of Fe(2+) and sodium nitroprusside-induced malondialdehyde (MDA) production in rats pancreas homogenate were also carried out. The essential oil inhibited α-amylase (EC50=88.9 µl/L) and α-glucosidase (EC50=71.94 µl/L) activities in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the essential oil inhibited Fe(2+) and SNP-induced MDA production and exhibited antioxidant activities through their NO*, OH*, scavenging and Fe(2+)- chelating abilities. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the essential oil were 12.95 mg/g and 6.62 mg/g respectively. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of α-pinene, ß-pinene, neral, geranial, gamma terpinene, cis-ocimene, allo ocimene, 1,8-cineole, linalool, borneol, myrcene and pinene-2-ol in significant amounts. Furthermore, the essential oils exhibited antioxidant activities as typified by hydroxyl (OH) and nitric oxide (NO)] radicals scavenging and Fe(2+)-chelating abilities. The inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities, inhibition of pro-oxidant induced lipid peroxidation in rat pancreas and antioxidant activities could be possible mechanisms for the use of the essential oil in the management and prevention of oxidative stress induced type-2 diabetes.