A new approach on the regulation of NF-κB and Bax protein signaling pathway activation by royal jelly in fluoride-induced pancreas damage in rats.

Forty-two healthy adult male rats (Wistar albino, n = 42, 8 weeks old, starting weights 200-250 g) employed in this study were subdivided into six groups randomly with seven rats per group as follows: (i) Control group: received standard diet; (ii) RJ group: received standard diet supplemented with royal jelly; (iii) F50 group: received standard diet supplemented with fluoride (50 mg/kg BW); (iv) F100 group: received standard diet supplemented with fluoride (100 mg/kg BW); (v) F50 +RJ group: received standard diet supplemented with fluoride (50 mg/kg BW) and royal jelly; (iv) F100 +RJ group: received standard diet supplemented with fluoride (100 mg/kg BW) and royal jelly. The study continued for a total of eight weeks. Western blot analysis was conducted to determine the post-translational expression levels of NF-κB, Bax, Bcl-2, TNF-α, Caspase-3 and Caspase-6 proteins in pancreas tissue. The pancreatic tissue was subjected to histopathological evaluation. Furthermore, MDA, GSH and CAT activities were examined by spectrophotometric analyzes. Our findings demonstrate that, compared to the control and RJ groups, Bcl-2 protein expression was augmented and, conversely, Caspase-6, Caspase-3 and Bax protein levels were decreased upon fluoride treatment. A statistically significant increase in TNF-α and NF-κB protein expressions was observed in the groups with fluoride-induced damage compared to the control and RJ groups. The MDA levels were increased in all fluoride-treated rats compared to those in the control and RJ groups, whereas the CAT and GSH activities were reduced in all rats with fluoride- induced damage. Although there was not a great difference between the groups regarding histopathological findings, there was a tendency to decrease in the rate of damage upon royal jelly treatment.

Royal jelly regulates the caspase, Bax and COX-2, TNF-α protein pathways in the fluoride exposed lung damage in rats.

The study was carried out on 42 male rats divided into six groups with 7 rats in each group: two control groups, two injury groups and two treatment groups. One of the control groups received a basal diet while the other one was fed a basal diet supplemented with royal jelly (RJ) (100 mg/kg). The two injury groups were given 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg fluoride, respectively. The two treatment groups exposed to 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg fluoride were both fed basal diets with RJ (100 mg/kg). Lungs were taken for histopathological examination. Spectrophotometric analysis was utilized to determine Malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) activities, and Western blotting technique was used to evaluate the levels of specific proteins. On one hand, our experiments revealed that RJ caused decreased MDA levels, and downregulation of COX-2, Bcl-2, GSK3 and TNF-α protein expressions. On the other hand, rolay jelly caused augmented GSH and CAT activities, as well as upregulated Bax, BDNF, caspase-3, caspase-6, caspase-9 protein expressions in rats injuried by the fluoride exposure. The results suggest that the application of RJ was very likely to have a healing effect on the degenerative changes seen in the examined tissue.

Anti-oxidant effects of pomegranate juice on Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell growth.

BACKGROUND: Pomegranate juice has a number of positive effects on both human and animal subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four groups were used in this study. i: Control group, ii: H2O2 group, iii: Pomegranate juice (PJ) group and iv: PJ + H2O2 group. Following the sterilization method for pomegranate juice (10%) and H2O2 (6% v/v), Saccharomyces cerevisiae cultures were added and the cultivation incubated at 35°C for 72 hours. Fatty acids and vitamin concentrations were measured using HPLC and GC and the total protein bands profile were determined by SDS-PAGE. RESULTS: According to our results statistically significant differences have been determined among the study groups in terms of fatty acids and vitamin (p<0,05). Fatty acid synthesis, vitamin control and cell density increased in groups to which PJ was given in comparison with the control group (p<0,05). Pomegranate juice increased vitamins, fatty acids and total protein expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in comparison with the control. CONCLUSION: Pomegranate juice has a positive effect on fatty acid, vitamin and protein synthesis by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Accordingly, we believe that it has significantly decreased oxidative damage thereby making a positive impact on yeast development.

Milk thistle impedes the development of carbontetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats through suppression of bcl-2 and regulating caspase pathway.

AIM: The objective of this study was to examine whether MT plays a protective role against the damage in the liver by administering carbontetrachloride (CCl4) to rats. MAIN METHOD: 28 male Wistar albino (n=28, 8weeks old) rats have been used in the study. The rats were distributed into 4 groups according to their live weights. The groups were: (i) negative control (NC): normal water consuming group to which no CCl4 and milk thistle (MT) is administered; (ii) positive control (PC): normal water consuming group to which no CCl4 is administered but MT is administered; (iii) CCl4 group: normal water consuming and group to which CCl4 is administered (2ml/kg live weight, ip); and (iv) CCl4+MT group: CCl4 and MT administered group (2ml/kg live weight, ip). Caspase-3, caspase-9, bax, and bcl-2 protein syntheses were examined via western blotting. MDA determination in liver tissue was made using spectrophotometer. KEY FINDINGS: MDA amount has decreased in the CCl4+MT group in comparison to CCl4 group whereas caspase-3 and caspase-9 has increased and bax and bcl-2 has decreased. SIGNIFICANCE: These results show that MT protects the liver against oxidative damage.