Berberis vulgaris L. extract supplementation exerts regulatory effects on the lifespan and healthspan of Drosophila through its antioxidant activity depending on the sex.

Worldwide the aging population continues to increase, so the concept of healthy longevity medicine has become increasingly significant in modern society. Berberis vulgaris L. fruits serve as a functional food supplement with a high concentration of bioactive compounds, which offer numerous health-promoting benefits. The goal of this study was to investigate the geroprotective effect of Berberis vulgaris L. extract. Here we show that extract of Berberis vulgaris L. can, depending on concentrate, increases lifespan up to 6%, promote healthspan (stress resistance up to 35%, locomotor activity up to 25%, integrity of the intestinal barrier up to 12%, metabolic rate up to 5%) of Drosophila melanogaster (in vitro) and exhibits antioxidant (using red blood cell tests) and antiglycation activity (using glycation of bovine serum albumin) (in vitro). In addition to this, the extract does not exhibit cytotoxic properties in vitro, unlike the well-known polyphenolic compound quercetin. qRT-PCR has revealed the involvement of metabolic, heat shock response and lipid metabolism genes in the observed effects.

Antioxidant Properties and Geroprotective Potential of Wheat Bran Extracts with Increased Content of Anthocyanins.

In recent years, there has been a focus on breeding wheat with high anthocyanin levels in order to improve food quality and human health. The objective of this study was to examine the antioxidant and geroprotective properties of wheat bran extracts using both in vitro and in vivo research methods. Two wheat lines were used: one with uncolored pericarp (anthocyanin-free) and another with colored pericarp (anthocyanin-containing). These lines differed in a specific region of chromosome 2A containing the Pp3/TaMyc1 gene, which regulates anthocyanin production. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed the presence of cyanidin glucoside and cyanidin arabinoside in the anthocyanin-containing wheat bran extract (+AWBE), while no anthocyanins were found in the anthocyanin-free wheat bran extract (-AWBE). The +AWBE showed higher radical scavenging activity (DPPH and ABTS assays) and membrane protective activity (AAPH oxidative hemolysis model) compared to the -AWBE. Both extracts extended the lifespan of female Drosophila, indicating geroprotective properties. This study demonstrates that wheat bran extracts with high anthocyanin levels have antioxidant and geroprotective effects. However, other secondary metabolites in wheat bran can also contribute to its antioxidant and geroprotective potential.

Synthesis and enhanced antioxidant and membrane-protective activity of curcumin@AlOOH nanoparticles.

The ever increasing demand for nanoantioxidants with minimized toxicity dictates the necessity to develop new biocompatible materials. One promising approach is the immobilization of polyphenols on metal (oxy)hydroxide nanoparticles (NPs) that possess the desired chemical and colloidal stability while also allowing to dispose of the antioxidants more safely and effectively. In this paper we modify sol-gel synthesized γ-AlOOH NPs with curcumin molecules. The prepared colloidal systems are hydrosols, stable in acidic, neutral and slightly basic pH values. UV-vis and FTIR spectroscopies suggest that the mechanism of curcumin binding lies in the H-bonding of its functional groups to hydroxyls of pseudoboemite. Modification of AlOOH nanoparticles shifts its isoelectric point from 9.7 to 9.3 due to the weak acidic centers of the polyphenol. Immobilization of curcumin molecules on pseudoboehmite allows to achieve good solubility of the phenol in water and to reduce the level of its hemolytic activity (indicating good biocompatibility). At the same time, it preserves radical scavenging activity and in some experimental designs even enhances antioxidant and membrane-protective activity (enhancement ≥30%) in vitro on cellular and non-cellular models.

Antioxidant Activity of Natural Allylpolyalkoxybenzene Plant Essential Oil Constituents.

Free-radical-scavenging capacity antioxidant and membrane-protective properties of natural and related synthetic allylpolyalkoxybenzenes with different numbers of alkoxy/methoxy groups in the aromatic ring were evaluated using several in vitro models. These included the DPPH assay, inhibition of lipid peroxidation products accumulation, inhibition of H2O2-induced hemolysis, and oxidation of oxyhemoglobin. A synthetic protocol for the synthesis of natural nothoapiol (9) from a parsley seed metabolite, apiol (7), was developed. A structure-activity relationship study revealed that both the methylenedioxy fragment and methoxy groups in the aromatic ring are favorable for antioxidant activity. Hydroxyapiol (14), containing a hydroxy group in the aromatic core, was identified as the most potent compound. The pentaalkoxy-substituted nothoapiol (9) showed antioxidant activity in mouse brain homogenates, whereas in mouse erythrocytes it exhibited a marked pro-oxidant effect. Despite their low free-radical-scavenging capacity, allylpolyalkoxybenzenes can contribute to the total antioxidant potencies of plant essential oils.

Dark and Photoinduced Cytotoxic Activity of the New Chlorophyll-a Derivatives with Oligoethylene Glycol Substituents on the Periphery of Their Macrocycles.

In the present work, we investigated the dark and photoinduced cytotoxic activity of the new chlorophyll-a derivatives which contain the substituents of oligoethylene glycol on the periphery of their macrocycles. These compounds were tested using human cell lines to estimate their potential as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy of cancer. It was shown that all the tested compounds have expressed photoinduced cytotoxic activity in vitro. Detailed study of the biological activity of one of the most perspective compound in this series-pyropheophorbide-a 17-diethylene glycol ester (Compound 21) was performed. This new compound is characterized by lower dark cytotoxicity and higher photoinduced cytotoxicity than previously described in a similar compound (DH-I-180-3) and clinically used PhotolonTM. Using fluorescent microscopy, it was shown that Compound 21 quickly penetrates the cells. Analysis of caspase-3 activity indicated an apoptosis induction 40 min after exposure to red light (λ = 660 nm). The induction of DNA damages and apoptosis was shown using Comet assay. The results of expression analysis of the stress-response genes indicate an activation of the genes which control the cell cycle and detoxification of the free radicals after an exposure of HeLa cells to Compound 21 and to red light. High photodynamic activity of this compound and the ability to oxidize biomolecules was demonstrated on nuclear-free mice erythrocytes. In addition, it was shown that Compound 21 is effectively activated with low energy 700 nm light, which can penetrate deep into the tissue. Thus, Compound 21 is a prospective substance for development of the new drugs for photodynamic therapy of cancer.

Biological consequences of increased natural radiation background for Microtus oeconomus Pall. populations.

The results of long-term investigations (1981-1999) on the state of Microtus oeconomus Pall. (tundra vole) population, living under the increased natural radiation background for a long time (for more than 100 generations), are presented. Population density dynamics, morphophysiological parameters, state of the lipid peroxidation regulatory system in different tissues and the cytogenetic effects in bone marrow cells of animals have been analyzed. It is shown that tundra voles from the studied radioactively contaminated areas differ from those on natural radiation background area for the parameters measured. The results of this long-term investigation show that qualitatively new sub-populations of tundra vole on these areas have evolved, which are able to survive in radioactively contaminated environment.