A Lower Serum Antioxidant Capacity as a Distinctive Feature for Women with HER2+ Breast Cancer: A Preliminary Study.

The overexpression of HER2 in breast cancer (BC) can contribute to redox imbalance, which is related to damage and structural modification in many biomolecules. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that has investigated the infrared spectrum wavenumbers obtained by ATR-FTIR and their relationship with the levels of redox status markers such as reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), and protein carbonyl among women with HER2+ BC, HER2- BC, and benign breast disease (BBD). The study was conducted with 25 women, 17 of whom were diagnosed with BC (6 HER2+ and 11 HER2-) and 8 with BBD. Our results indicate HER2+ BC cases could be distinguished from HER2- BC and BBD cases by their serum's antioxidant capacity [HER2+ BC vs. HER2- BC (AUC = 0.818; specificity = 81.82%; sensitivity = 66.67%); HER2+ BC vs. BBD (AUC = 0.875; specificity = 75%; sensitivity = 83.33%)]. The changes in biochemical terms that occur in serum as a result of the scarcity of antioxidants are related to a peculiar fingerprint in the infrared spectrum obtained by ATR-FTIR. In the serum of women with BBD, the SOD enzyme level is the highest, and this characteristic allowed us to distinguish them from HER2- BC. Finally, data regarding the serological antioxidant capacity of FRAP and the infrared spectrum by ATR-FTIR will allow us to assess biochemical changes that occur before clinical signs, indicating whether changes in therapy or interventions are necessary.

TiO2 Nanocrystals and Annona crassiflora Polyphenols Used Alone or Mixed Impact Differently on Wound Repair.

Wounds treated with TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) show an improvement in healing time. However, little is known about the parameters that can contribute to this result. On the other hand, the treatment of wounds with polyphenols is widely known. These compounds are found in the peel of Annona crassiflora fruit and have antioxidant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we evaluated the healing effect of TiO2 nanocrystals (TiO2-NCs), polyphenolic fractions obtained from ethanolic extract of A. crassiflora fruit peel (PFAC) and mix (PFAC + TiO2-NCs) on the parameters of wound closure, inflammation, collagen deposition, metalloproteinase activity (MMPs) and angiogenesis. TiO2-NCs and PFAC have activity for wound healing, showed anti-inflammatory action and a shorter wound closure time. These treatments also contributed to increased collagen deposition, while only treatment with TiO2-NCs increased MMP-2 activity, parameters essential for the migration of keratinocytes and for complete restoration of the injured tissue. The combination of PFAC + TiO2-NCs reduced the effectiveness of individual treatments by intensifying the inflammatory process, in addition to delaying wound closure. We conclude that the interaction between the hydroxyl groups of PFAC polyphenols with TiO2-NCs may have contributed to difference in the healing activity of skin wounds.

Alkaloid and acetogenin-rich fraction from Annona crassiflora fruit peel inhibits proliferation and migration of human liver cancer HepG2 cells.

Plant species from Annonaceae are commonly used in traditional medicine to treat various cancer types. This study aimed to investigate the antiproliferative potential of an alkaloid and acetogenin-rich fraction from the fruit peel of Annona crassiflora in HepG2 cells. A liquid-liquid fractionation was carried out on the ethanol extract of A. crassiflora fruit peel in order to obtain an alkaloid and acetogenin-rich fraction (AF-Ac). Cytotoxicity, proliferation and migration were evaluated in the HepG2 cells, as well as the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), vinculin and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression. In addition, intracellular Ca2+ was determined using Fluo4-AM and fluorescence microscopy. First, 9 aporphine alkaloids and 4 acetogenins that had not yet been identified in the fruit peel of A. crassiflora were found in AF-Ac. The treatment with 50 µg/mL AF-Ac reduced HepG2 cell viability, proliferation and migration (p < 0.001), which is in accordance with the reduced expression of PCNA and EGFR levels (p < 0.05). Furthermore, AF-Ac increased intracellular Ca2+ in the HepG2 cells, mobilizing intracellular calcium stores, which might be involved in the anti-migration and anti-proliferation capacities of AF-Ac. Our results support the growth-inhibitory potential of AF-Ac on HepG2 cells and suggest that this effect is triggered, at least in part, by PCNA and EGFR modulation and mobilization of intracellular Ca2+. This study showed biological activities not yet described for A. crassiflora fruit peel, which provide new possibilities for further in vivo studies to assess the antitumoral potential of A. crassiflora, especially its fruit peel.

Salivary and Plasmatic Antioxidant Profile following Continuous, Resistance, and High-Intensity Interval Exercise: Preliminary Study.

The increase in antioxidant responses promoted by regular physical activity is strongly associated with the attenuation of chronic oxidative stress and physiological mechanisms related to exercise adaptation. The aim of this work was to evaluate and compare how different exercise protocols (HIIE: high-intensity interval exercise, CE: continuous exercise, and RE: resistance exercise) may alter salivary and plasmatic antioxidants and salivary markers of exercise intensity and nitric oxide. Thirteen healthy, trained male subjects were submitted to the three exercise protocols. Blood and saliva samples were collected at the points preexercise, postexercise, and 3 hours postexercise. Antioxidants (total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, and levels of reduced glutathione and uric acid), markers of exercise intensity (salivary total protein and amylase activity), and salivary nitric oxide were evaluated. As a result, all exercise protocols increased the markers of exercise intensity and nitric oxide. Antioxidant response was increased after exercise, and it was found that a single HIIE session exerts a similar pattern of antioxidant response compared to CE, in plasma and saliva samples, while RE presented minor alterations. We suggest that HIIE may lead to alterations in antioxidants and consequently to the physiological processes related to redox, similar to the CE, with the advantage of being performed in a shorter time. In addition, the antioxidant profile of saliva samples showed to be very similar to that of plasma, suggesting that saliva may be an alternative and noninvasive tool in sports medicine for the study of antioxidants in different physical exercise protocols.

Potential Benefits of Nitrate Supplementation on Antioxidant Defense System and Blood Pressure Responses after Exercise Performance.

Nitrate (NO3 -) supplementation is associated with exercise performance, oxygen uptake, blood flow, and blood pressure improvement, and it can act as an antioxidant agent. This study evaluated the effects of sodium nitrate supplementation on oxidative stress markers and blood pressure responses after aerobic exercise performance in physically active males. Fourteen subjects aged 22 ± 3 years and with a BMI of 23 ± 1 kg/m2 were submitted to four exercise tests in intervals of 5 days. Nitrate supplementation (NO session) and placebo supplementation (PL session) were acute (AC) and over a period of 5 days (FD) in random order with a crossover design. Saliva was collected at basal (0'); 60 min after supplementation (60'); immediately after exercise (90'); and 15, 30, and 60 min after the test (105', 120', and 150'). The NO session had higher concentrations (P < 0.05) of salivary nitrite in both AC and FD treatments when compared with the PL session. There was a reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) only after FD in the NO session. Furthermore, uric acid and total antioxidant capacity (FRAP) salivary concentrations increased, while SOD activity and TBARS levels decreased after FD but not after AC in the NO session. The results suggest that nitrate supplemented over a period of 5 days reduced SBP and indirectly acted as an antioxidant in healthy nonsedentary young men.

Peel of araticum fruit (Annona crassiflora Mart.) as a source of antioxidant compounds with α-amylase, α-glucosidase and glycation inhibitory activities.

Annona crassiflora Mart., whose fruit is popularly known as araticum, is a member of the Annonaceae family found in the Brazilian Cerrado. Although this plant has several medicinal uses, its bioactive molecules are not fully understood. A bioguided assay was performed to identify the main bioactive compounds of A. crassiflora fruit peel from the ethanol extract fractions with antioxidant capacity and α-amylase, α-glucosidase and glycation inhibitory activities. Ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions showed, respectively, higher antioxidant capacity (DPPH IC50 1.5±0.1 and 0.8±0.1µgmL-1, ORAC 3355±164 and 2714±79µmoltroloxeq/g, and FRAP 888±16 and 921±9µmoltroloxeq/g) and inhibitory activities against α-amylase (IC50 4.5±0.8 and 1.7±0.3µgmL-1), α-glucosidase (IC50 554.5±158.6 and 787.8±140.6µgmL-1) and glycation (IC50 14.3±3.3 and 16.0±4.2µgmL-1), and lower cytotoxicity, compared to the other fractions and crude ethanol extract. The HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis identified various biomolecules known as potent antioxidants, such as chlorogenic acid, (epi)catechin, procyanidins, caffeoyl-hexosides, quercetin-glucosides and kaempferol. The fruit peel of A. crassiflora, a specie from Cerrado, the Brazilian Savanna, provided a source of antioxidant compounds with properties to block carbohydrate digestive enzymes and formation of glycation products. Thus, there is potential to use the by-products of araticum in order to identify and isolate phytochemicals for application in nutraceutical supplements, food additives and pharmaceuticals products.