Effect of free and nano-encapsulated curcumin on treatment and energetic metabolism of gerbils infected by Listeria monocytogenes.

Bacterial infections require special care since the indiscriminate use of antibiotics to treat them has been linked to the emergence of resistant strains. In this sense, phytoterapeutic alternatives such as curcumin and its nanocapsules have emerged as a promising supplement in optimizing availability of bioactives and reducing the development of antimicrobial resistance. Thus, the aim of this study was to verify the effects of pure and nanoencapsulated curcumin in the treatment of experimental listeriosis in gerbils regarding many aspects including antibacterial effect, antioxidant mechanisms involved and the energetic metabolism. Four groups were used containing 6 animals each: T0 (control), T1 (infected), T2 (infected and treated with free curcumin - dose of 30 mg/kg/day) and T3 (infected and treated with nanocapsules containing curcumin - a dose of 3 mg/kg/day). Treated animals received curcumin for 6 consecutive days starting 24 h after Listeria monocytogenes infection. All animals were euthanized on the 12th day after L. monocytogenes infection. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) identified L. monocytogenes DNA in the spleens of all animals of the T1 group, as well as T2 (2 out of 6) and T3 (5 out of 6). The weight of the spleens confirmed the infection, since it was larger in the T1 group, differing statistically from T0, and similarly to T2 and T3. Hepatic histopathological examination showed mild infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages, except for the T3 group (only 1/6). In the liver, the pyruvate kinase activity was higher in T1 and T2 compared to T0 and T3. The adenylate kinase activity did not differ between groups. The Na+/K+ATPase activity was lower in T1 group compared to T0 and T3. Lipoperoxidation was lower in the T3 group compared to groups T0, T1 and T2. The antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals was higher in T1, T2 and T3 groups compared to T0. In conclusion, free curcumin showed potent antibacterial effects; however, the nanoencapsulated form was able to minimize the effects caused by L. monocytogenes regarding tissue injury, changes on enzymes of the energetic metabolism, in addition to an antioxidant effect against lipoperoxidation.

Molecular mechanisms of anti-hyperglycemic effects of Costus speciosus extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the mechanisms of the anti-hyperglycemic effect of Costus speciosus (C. speciosus) root ethanolic extracts (CSREt) by assessing its action on insulin synthesis and glucose catabolic enzyme gene expression and activities in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. METHODS: This study was carried out at the Biochemical Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt between July and August 2013. Sixty male albino rats (120 +/- 20 g weight, and 6 months old) were used and divided into 6 groups (n=10). Two groups served as diabetic and nondiabetic controls. Four groups of STZ diabetic animals were given oral C. speciosus (CSREt) in doses of 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight, and 600 µg/kg body weight of the standard drug glibenclamide for 4 weeks. RESULTS: The CSREt 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight induced a decrease in blood glucose and an increase in serum insulin level, glucokinase (GK), aldolase, pyruvate kinase (PK), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and glycogen synthase activities  in addition to a higher expression level of insulin, insulin receptor A (IRA), GK, PK, SDH, and glucose transporting protein. CONCLUSION: The C. speciosus has anti-hyperglycemic activity. It induces insulin secretion and release from cells, as well as stimulates the tissue's insulin sensitivity leading to an increase of the tissues' glucose uptake, storage, and oxidation.

Suppression of hepatic fatty acid synthase by feeding alpha-linolenic acid rich perilla oil lowers plasma triacylglycerol level in rats.

This study was performed to determine the effects of dietary perilla oil, a n-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) source, on hepatic lipogenesis as a possible mechanism of lowering triacylglycerol (TG) levels. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained for a 3-hour feeding protocol and fed one of five semipurified diets as follows: 1% (w/w) corn oil control diet, or one of four diets supplemented with 10% each of beef tallow, corn oil, perilla oil, and fish oil. Two separate experiments were performed to compare the effects of feeding periods, 4 weeks and 4 days. Hepatic and plasma TG levels were decreased in rats fed perilla oil and fish oil diets, compared with corn oil and beef tallow diets. The activities of hepatic lipogenic enzymes such as fatty acid synthase (FAS), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and malic enzyme were suppressed in the fish oil, perilla oil, and corn oil-fed groups, and the effect was the most significant in the fish oil-fed group. Also, the activities of glycolytic enzymes, glucokinase, and L-pyruvate kinase showed the similar trend as that of lipogenic enzymes. The activity of FAS, the key regulatory enzyme in lipogenesis, was positively correlated with hepatic and plasma TG levels and reduced significantly in the perilla oil-fed group compared with corn oil-fed group. In addition, the FAS activity was negatively correlated with the hepatic microsomal content of EPA and DHA. In conclusion, suppression of FAS plays a significant role in the hypolipidemic effects observed in rats fed ALA rich perilla oil and these effects were associated with the increase of hepatic microsomal EPA and DHA contents.

Pyruvate kinase deficiency in an alpha-thalassemia family: first case report in Thailand.

In Thailand, the most common cause of chronic hemolytic anemia is thalassemia hemoglobinopathy. We report here a 10-year-old girl with pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency who was initially diagnosed to have Hb H disease, like her sister. The patient had a history of neonatal jaundice which required blood exchange transfusion twice and phototherapy. She became anemic and regular blood transfusion was required since the age of 2 1/2 months. She was very anemic compared to her sister and was transfusion dependent. Besides, she never had red cell inclusion bodies, thus re-evaluation was performed. The diagnosis of red cell pyruvate kinase deficiency and the exclusion of Hb H disease was achieved after cessation of blood transfusion for 3 months. The family study also confirmed the diagnosis. The patient is now on high transfusion and iron chelation. She is doing well with mild splenomegaly.