Utilización de extractos de avena sativa l. en dermatitis / Utilization of avena sativa l. extract in dermatitis

Los polifenoles (flavonoides y antocianinas) están ampliamente distribuidos entre las diferentes especies vegetales. Estos poseen gran capacidad antioxidante; existiendo correlación positiva entre la actividad antioxidante y los polifenoles totales. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar: 1° El contenido de polifenoles y antocianas totales de semillas, glumelas y extracto acuoso de Avena sativa L. 2° El efecto de la aplicación tópica de extracto acuoso de avena en 45 casos (10 mujeres y 35 hombres, entre 1 y 56 años de edad) con dermatitis atópica, dermatitis de contacto irritativa y dermatitis de contacto alérgica; y 30 controles normales (15 mujeres y 15 hombres, entre 1 y 60 años de edad). Tratamiento: aplicación de compresas del extracto crudo de avena en la piel dañada durante 5 minutos, seguida de la colocación de la biomasa (T°= 33 + 2°C) cubierta por una tela de gasa durante 5 minutos. Dicha biomasa se retira con el extracto de avena líquido. Entre 1 y 36 meses de iniciado el tratamiento se observó remisión de los síntomas cutáneos. El extracto acuoso, la biomasa de Avena sativa L., glumelas y semillas enteras contenían 6.12+0,45, 46,11+0,36, 212,81+0,19 y 286,60+0,50 mg/100 g ác. Gálico, respectivamente, de polifenoles totales.

Polyphenols (flavonoids and anthocyanins) are widely spread among the different vegetables species. They have a big antioxidant capacity. One important correlation exists between the antioxidant activity and the quantity of total polyphenols. The objective of this work was to evaluate: 1- the contents of polyphenols and anthocyanins of whole seeds, glumes and aqueous extract of Avena Sativa L., 2- the effects of topical application of aqueous extract of Avena sativa L. in 45 patients (10 females and 35 males, between 1 and 56 years olds) with Atopic Dermatitis, Contact Irritative Dermatitis and Contact Allergic Dermatitis, and 30 normal controls (15 females and 15 males, between 1 and 60 years olds). Treatment: were applications of compress of aqueous extract Avena Sativa L over the damaged skin for approximately five minutes, immediately after, one must cover with the biomass of oat (T° = 33 + 2 C°) and a clothe for five minutes. The biomass was removed using the Avena Sativa L. acqueous extract. Remissions of the cutaneous symptoms were noticed between 1 and 36 months after the beginning of the treatment. Aqueous extract, Avena Sativa L. biomass, glumes and whole seeds contents were: 6.12+0.45; 46.11+0.36, 212.81+0.19 y 286.60+0.50 mg/100 g gallic ac., respectively, of total polyphenols.

Effect of antioxidant diets on mitochondrial gene expression in rat brain during aging.

Age-related increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is particularly detrimental in postmitotic tissues. Calorie restriction (CR) has been shown to exert beneficial effects, consistent with reduced ROS generation by mitochondria. Many antioxidant compounds also mimic such effects. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) provides thiol groups to glutathione and to mitochondrial respiratory chain proteins; thus, it may counteract both ROS generation and effects. In the present study we investigated, in different rat brain areas during aging (6, 12, and 28 months), the effect of 1-year treatment with CR and dietary supplementation with NAC on the expression of subunit 39 kDa and ND-1 (mitochondrial respiratory complex I), subunit IV (complex IV), subunit alpha of F0F1-ATP synthase (complex V) and of adenine nucleotide translocator, isoform 1 (ANT-1). The observed age-related changes of expression were prevented by the dietary treatments. The present study provides further evidence for the critical role of mitochondria in the aging process.

Redox regulation of heat shock protein expression in aging and neurodegenerative disorders associated with oxidative stress: a nutritional approach.

Oxidative stress has been implicated in mechanisms leading to neuronal cell injury in various pathological states of the brain. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive disorder with cognitive and memory decline, speech loss, personality changes and synapse loss. Many approaches have been undertaken to understand AD, but the heterogeneity of the etiologic factors makes it difficult to define the clinically most important factor determining the onset and progression of the disease. However, increasing evidence indicates that factors such as oxidative stress and disturbed protein metabolism and their interaction in a vicious cycle are central to AD pathogenesis. Brains of AD patients undergo many changes, such as disruption of protein synthesis and degradation, classically associated with the heat shock response, which is one form of stress response. Heat shock proteins are proteins serving as molecular chaperones involved in the protection of cells from various forms of stress.Recently, the involvement of the heme oxygenase (HO) pathway in anti-degenerative mechanisms operating in AD has received considerable attention, as it has been demonstrated that the expression of HO is closely related to that of amyloid precursor protein (APP). HO induction occurs together with the induction of other HSPs during various physiopathological conditions. The vasoactive molecule carbon monoxide and the potent antioxidant bilirubin, products of HO-catalyzed reaction, represent a protective system potentially active against brain oxidative injury. Given the broad cytoprotective properties of the heat shock response there is now strong interest in discovering and developing pharmacological agents capable of inducing the heat shock response. Increasing interest has been focused on identifying dietary compounds that can inhibit, retard or reverse the multi-stage pathophysiological events underlying AD pathology. Alzheimer's disease, in fact, involves a chronic inflammatory response associated with both brain injury and beta-amyloid associated pathology. All of the above evidence suggests that stimulation of various repair pathways by mild stress has significant effects on delaying the onset of various age-associated alterations in cells, tissues and organisms. Spice and herbs contain phenolic substances with potent antioxidative and chemopreventive properties, and it is generally assumed that the phenol moiety is responsible for the antioxidant activity. In particular, curcumin, a powerful antioxidant derived from the curry spice turmeric, has emerged as a strong inducer of the heat shock response. In light of this finding, curcumin supplementation has been recently considered as an alternative, nutritional approach to reduce oxidative damage and amyloid pathology associated with AD. Here we review the importance of the heme oxygenase pathway in brain stress tolerance and its significance as an antidegenerative mechanism potentially important in AD pathogenesis. These findings have offered new perspectives in medicine and pharmacology, as molecules inducing this defense mechanism appear to be possible candidates for novel cytoprotective strategies. In particular, manipulation of endogenous cellular defense mechanisms such as the heat shock response, through nutritional antioxidants or pharmacological compounds, represents an innovative approach to therapeutic intervention in diseases causing tissue damage, such as neurodegeneration. Consistent with this notion, maintenance or recovery of the activity of vitagenes, such as the HO gene, conceivably may delay the aging process and decrease the occurrence of age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester and curcumin: a novel class of heme oxygenase-1 inducers.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a redox-sensitive inducible protein that provides efficient cytoprotection against oxidative stress. Curcumin, a polyphenolic natural compound that possesses anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties, has been reported recently to induce potently HO-1 expression in vascular endothelial cells (Free Rad Biol Med 28:1303-1312, 2000). Here, we extend our previous findings by showing that caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), another plant-derived phenolic agent, markedly increases heme oxygenase activity and HO-1 protein in astrocytes. The effect seems to be related to the peculiar chemical structures of curcumin and CAPE, because analogous antioxidants containing only portions of these two molecules were totally ineffective. At a final concentration of 30 microM, both curcumin and CAPE maximally up-regulated heme oxygenase activity while promoting marked cytotoxicity at higher concentrations (50-100 microM). Similar results were obtained with Curcumin-95, a mixture of curcuminoids commonly used as a dietary supplement. Incubation of astrocytes with curcumin or CAPE at concentrations that promoted maximal heme oxygenase activity resulted in an early increase in reduced glutathione followed by a significant elevation in oxidized glutathione contents. A curcumin-mediated increase in heme oxygenase activity was not affected by the glutathione precursor and thiol donor N-acetyl-L-cysteine. These data suggest that regulation of HO-1 expression by polyphenolic compounds is evoked by a distinctive mechanism which is not necessarily linked to changes in glutathione but might depend on redox signals sustained by specific and targeted sulfydryl groups. This study identifies a novel class of natural substances that could be used for therapeutic purposes as potent inducers of HO-1 in the protection of tissues against inflammatory and neurodegenerative conditions.

Induction of heat shock protein synthesis in human skin fibroblasts in response to oxidative stress: regulation by a natural antioxidant from rosemary extract.

Reactive oxygen species have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the severe connective tissue damage present in several photodermatologic disorders, including drug-induced phototoxicity, porphyrias and photoaging. Oxidative stress has been shown to alter the expression of mammalian antioxidant enzymes and to enhance numerous transcription factors, including nuclear factor-kappa B, stress-activated protein kinase and heat shock factor. The latter represents the transcription factor for the synthesis of cytoprotective proteins called heat shock proteins. In this study, we investigated the role of oxidative stress and sulfdryl (SH) groups in the induction of HSP70 in human skin fibroblasts and the effect of antioxidants. We found that significant HSP70 induction occurred after exposure to HOOH and this was associated with marked perturbation in protein and nonprotein SH groups and with a considerable increase in protein carbonyl levels. Treatment with a natural antioxidant from rosemary extract provided notable protection against stress-induced modifications of cellular SH and carbonyl content, maintaining functional levels of cytoprotective heat shock protein 70. Our results point to the possible involvement of redox mechanisms in the heat shock signal transduction pathway, which may play an important regulatory role in the genetic mechanisms of tolerance to oxidative stress. Exogenous supplementation of an antioxidant hydrophilic extract from rosemary could have cosmetic benefits and may represent an efficient tool to minimize free radical-induced skin damage.

Regulation of heat shock protein synthesis in human skin fibroblasts in response to oxidative stress: role of vitamin E.

Skin plays an important role in protection against oxidative stressors such as ultraviolet radiation, ozone and chemicals. Chronic sun exposure causes degenerative changes in the skin that are recognized as photoaging. Oxidative stress has been shown to alter the expression of mammalian antioxidant enzymes as well as to enhance numerous transcription factors, including nuclear factor kappaB, stress-activated protein kinase and heat shock factor This latter is the transcription factor for the synthesis of heat shock proteins, which have been known to protect against a wide variety of toxic conditions, including extreme temperatures, oxidative stress and cytotoxic drugs. In this study we investigated the role of oxidative stress in the induction of heat shock protein (HSP) 70 in human skin fibroblasts and the effect of vitamin E. We found that significant HSP70 induction occurred after exposure to HOOH and that this was associated with a significant perturbation in protein and nonprotein sulfhydryl groups, and with a significant increase in protein carbonyl levels. Treatment with vitamin E conferred significant protection against stress-induced modifications of cellular sulfhydryl and carbonyl content, while maintaining functional levels of cytoprotective HSP70. Our results point to the possible involvement of redox mechanisms in the heat shock signal transduction pathway, which may play an important regulatory role in the genetic mechanisms of tolerance to oxidative stress. Exogenous antioxidant supplementation with vitamin E could have cosmetic benefits and may be an efficient tool to mitigate the consequences of free radical-induced skin damage.

Metabolismo y crecimiento de ratas Sprague-Dawley con una dieta suplementada con Spirulina Platensis (Cyanobacteria) / Growth and metabolism of Sprague-Dawley rats with Spirulina Platensis (Cyanobacteria) supplement diet

Spirulina plantesis es una cyanobacteria cuya biomasa posee un alto contenido en proteínas, vitaminas y ácidos grasos que justifica su uso como suplemento en la dieta. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar los efectos de la ingestión de S. platensis sobre el crecimiento, morfología y metabolismo en ratas Sprague-Dawley. 12 ratas hembras de 21 días de edad recibieron diarimente por sonda gástrica 2,0 ml de agua sin (control, N=6) o con 300mg S. platensis seca- pulverizada ( tratadas, N= 6), alimento comercial para roedores y agua ad libitum, durante 50 díaS. Los parámetros evaluados fueron: igesta de alimento comercial/día, peso corporal, ancho de cabeza, largo de la cola (semanalmente). Los animales fueron sacrificados, y se pesaron: hipófisis, hígado, riñones derecho e izquierdo, ciego, ovarios derecho e izquierdo, cuerpo uterino, páncreas, bazo y estómago. Se midio el ancho y largo de los pelos de la región externa de la oreja. La sangre se obtuvo por punción cardíaca; en elksuero se midieron, HDL, LDL y colesterol total, aspartato amino transferasa- GOT (AST), colinesterasa (ChE), y glutamil transferasa (y GT), fosfatasa alcalina, uremia, actividad de la enzima ALA-D y el contenido de pòrfirinas totales en hígado y pelos. Las ratas alimentadas con S. platensis no mostraron diferencias significativas en el crecimiento durante el tratamiento. Semanalmente, el peso corporal, ancho de cabeza y largo de cola no mostraron diferencias entre los tratamientos. El peso del ciego de los tratados (6,6583 +- 0,4209g) fue mayor (p<0,001) que los controles (5,0879 +- 0,9037g). No se observaron diferencias de peso en otros órganos. Los niveles de HDL, LDL y colesteroi total, GOT (AST), ChE, GT y uremia no mostraron diferencias entre tratadas y Control...

Metabolismo y crecimiento de ratas Sprague-Dawley con una dieta suplementada con Spirulina Platensis (Cyanobacteria) / Growth and metabolism of Sprague-Dawley rats with Spirulina Platensis (Cyanobacteria) supplement diet

Spirulina plantesis es una cyanobacteria cuya biomasa posee un alto contenido en proteínas, vitaminas y ácidos grasos que justifica su uso como suplemento en la dieta. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar los efectos de la ingestión de S. platensis sobre el crecimiento, morfología y metabolismo en ratas Sprague-Dawley. 12 ratas hembras de 21 días de edad recibieron diarimente por sonda gástrica 2,0 ml de agua sin (control, N=6) o con 300mg S. platensis seca- pulverizada ( tratadas, N= 6), alimento comercial para roedores y agua ad libitum, durante 50 díaS. Los parámetros evaluados fueron: igesta de alimento comercial/día, peso corporal, ancho de cabeza, largo de la cola (semanalmente). Los animales fueron sacrificados, y se pesaron: hipófisis, hígado, riñones derecho e izquierdo, ciego, ovarios derecho e izquierdo, cuerpo uterino, páncreas, bazo y estómago. Se midio el ancho y largo de los pelos de la región externa de la oreja. La sangre se obtuvo por punción cardíaca; en elksuero se midieron, HDL, LDL y colesterol total, aspartato amino transferasa- GOT (AST), colinesterasa (ChE), y glutamil transferasa (y GT), fosfatasa alcalina, uremia, actividad de la enzima ALA-D y el contenido de pòrfirinas totales en hígado y pelos. Las ratas alimentadas con S. platensis no mostraron diferencias significativas en el crecimiento durante el tratamiento. Semanalmente, el peso corporal, ancho de cabeza y largo de cola no mostraron diferencias entre los tratamientos. El peso del ciego de los tratados (6,6583 +- 0,4209g) fue mayor (p<0,001) que los controles (5,0879 +- 0,9037g). No se observaron diferencias de peso en otros órganos. Los niveles de HDL, LDL y colesteroi total, GOT (AST), ChE, GT y uremia no mostraron diferencias entre tratadas y Control...(AU)

Age-related changes of ribonuclease activities in various regions of the rat central nervous system.

Acid (pH 5.5), free, and latent alkaline (pH 7.4) RNases were assayed in homogenates of temporal cortex, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and cervicothoracic segments of spinal cord of rats at three different ages (5, 14, and 25 months old). Free alkaline RNase activity was lower (two- to fivefold) than the acid activity. Both free and inhibitor-bound alkaline RNases remained unchanged with age in all CNS regions examined. This result also indirectly indicates no change of RNase-inhibitor complex throughout aging. In contrast, the acid RNase activity showed a significant increase during aging in all tissues, with exception of the hypothalamus. Because this enzyme is localized mainly in the lysosomes, this result might be due to an increased lysosomal activity and/or to the release of hydrolases into the cytoplasm from these organelles, undergoing shrinkage and degeneration in aged animals.