[Cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase activity is a sensitive indicator of the antioxidant status of the rat liver and brain].

Several parameters of the cytoplasmic enzymatic antioxidant system of the liver and brain of the rat have been investigated under conditions of immobilization stress and of an antioxidant preparation in the diet of animals. These included superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities and nonspecific NADPH oxidation. Only changes in the activity of SOD both in the liver and brain were revealed. In the liver of animals that receive no preparation, a decrease in the activity of SOD after 30-min immobilization and its restoration after a 360-min immobilization were observed. In the brain, the activity of SOD decreased only in preconditioned animals after 30 and 360 min of exposure to stress. In addition, the activity of SOD in the brain of preconditioned animals, both stressed and unstressed, was lower than in the corresponding groups of control animals. It is probable that, under the conditions of immobilization stress, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and as a consequence the activity of SOD decrease. The intake of an antioxidant preparation under these conditions seems to be not correct.

A succinate-based composition reverses menopausal symptoms without sex hormone replacement therapy.

Menopausal transition is often accompanied by a variety of adverse pathological symptoms, currently treated with hormone replacement therapy, which is associated with a number of health risks. This report investigated the role of a food supplement--a composition of energy-exchange metabolites, with succinate as the main component--for treating menopausal syndrome. We studied the impact of a 4-week succinate-based food composition (SBC) treatment on the estral cycle, and bone mass and calcium content of aging mice. The impact of SBC on hormone levels and on the progression of several neurovegetative and psycho-emotional symptoms was further investigated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study of early menopausal women. Data were collected from questionnaires, Kupperman index scores, Spielberger-Hanin tests, and blood analysis of hormone levels taken at baseline and throughout the 5-week study. A "rejuvenating" effect of SBC on menopausal animals was observed, expressed as restoration of the estral cycle and an increase in the weight and calcium content of bone tissue. Furthermore, in the randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study in menopausal women, SBC-based monotherapy significantly lowered most subjectively evaluated characteristics of menopausal syndrome and increased blood serum levels of estradiol fourfold. This monotherapy also alleviated symptoms of some neurovegetative and psycho-emotional disorders, such as hot flushes, headache, and anxiety. Succinate-based therapy alleviated many biochemical symptoms of menopause in aging mice and early menopausal women, as well as neurovegetative and psycho-emotional disorders in women. Succinate-based therapy appeared to be free of adverse side effects.

[Activity of oil isolated from Amaranth seeds on energetic functions of rat liver mitochondria after adrenaline introduction].

It has been shown that a three-week feeding of rats with oil derived from seeds of amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.) leads to a moderate activation of respiration of coupled and uncoupled rat liver mitochondria (MCh) that oxidize succinate and succinate + glutamate, as well as alpha-ketoglutarate and alpha-ketoglutarate + malonate. In animals receiving the amaranth oil, the injection of adrenaline did not affect the oil-activated respiration of MCh during succinate oxidation; i. e., animals prepared by an oil-enriched diet were resistant to the action of adrenaline, which prevented from possible hyperactivation of mitochondrial functions. In the group of control animals, which received no oil, the injection of adrenaline activated the rate of phosphorylating respiration of MCh during oxidation of succinate or succinate + glutamate: the rate of oxygen uptake in state 3 respiration (by Chance) increased, and the phosphorylation time decreased. The injection of adrenaline did not affect the parameters of respiration of MCh that oxidize a-ketoglutarate; however, in the presence of malonate, the oxidation of alpha-ketoglutarate in state 3 and uncoupled respiration have shown mild but significant increase in response to adrenaline. In animals receiving the amaranth oil, the oil-induced activation of respiration of MCh in response to adrenaline retained but did not increase; however, the phosphorylation time significantly decreased. Thus, concentrated oil of seeds activates the respiration of MCh. In addition, it enhances an energetic function of MCh, which prevents from the hyper-activation of mitochondrial respiration by adrenaline. Therefore an activation of energetic function of MCh by amaranth oil could explain its adaptogenic effect on rats.

[The correction of disorders of the internal body environment in animals and man by the addition of succinic acid to food]. / Korrektsiia narushenii vnutrennei sredy organizma pishchevoi dobavkoi iantarnoi kisloty u zhivotnykh i cheloveka.

Succinic acid is involved in correction of energy metabolism as a powerful source of protons and ATP and as an antioxidant. Some food products contain succinic acid, specifically those, whose preparation involves anaerobic processes, and some berries. However many everyday food products are devoid of succinic acid. The lack of succinic acid in food can be compensated by its use as a food additive. It has been shown that consumption of succinic acid by rats results in a decreased weight increment of adult animals kept on abundant sugar diet. Both therapeutical (higher) and nutritive (lower) doses of succinic acid decrease metabolic acidosis and restore the transaminase activity in patients. The both metabolic parameters indicate correction of energy metabolism.

Adaptogenic and cardioprotective action of Galleria mellonella extract in rats and frogs.

Pharmacological and metabolic effects of Galleria mellonella larvae extract used in Russian folk medicine to treat cardiovascular and senile diseases were studied. It was shown that the extract possesses adaptogenic, cardiotropic, cardioprotective, and hypocoagulant properties. The extract possesses low toxicity and does not cause significant changes in biochemical parameters in the blood serum of laboratory animals. Increase in catecholamine content in the heart and aortic tissues and their decrease in adrenal glands are unfavourable effects of high doses of the extract.

Effect of Galleria mellonella larvae preparation and honeybee products on cell cultures.

1. The action of the extract from larvae of the great wax moth Galleria mellonella L. used in Russian folk medicine was studied. 2. Two active components influencing the growth and morphological differentiation of cells in vitro were found. 3. The presence of these components in the extract was conditioned by consumption of honeybee products by Galleria mellonella larvae. 4. Cytotoxicity of honeybee products was studied.

Metabolites of citric acid cycle, carbohydrate and phosphorus metabolism, and related reactions, redox and phosphorylating states of hepatic tissue, liver mitochondria and cytosol of the pigeon, under normal feeding and natural nocturnal fasting conditions.

1. The metabolite profile of intact pigeon liver differs greatly from that of pigeon liver homogenates or of the isolated perfused pigeon liver. 2. As compared to the rat liver, there are much higher glycerol-3-phosphate, Pi, and malate contents of the pigeon liver, and much lower 6-phosphogluconate, fructose-1,6-diphosphate, phosphoenolpyruvate, ammonium, ATP, and the sum of adenine nucleotides. The other metabolites in livers of both species do not differ significantly. 3. Pigeon liver mitochondria concentrate phosphoenolpyruvate completely, and accumulate lactate against a concentration gradient. There are rather high mitochondrial malate, glutamate, and aspartate, but low mitochondrial alpha-ketoglutarate and adenine nucleotides. 4. Cytosolic Pi concentration is 1,5-fold higher than mitochondrial one in the fed pigeon liver and 4-fold lower than that in the starved liver. Cytosolic phosphorylation potential, and NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH ratios are from 3- to 7-fold lower than those in the rat liver. 5. In contrast to the rat liver, cellular glucose-1-phosphate, glucose-6-phosphate, fructose-1,6-diphosphate, glutamate, alpha-ketoglutarate and aspartate increase in the starved pigeon liver, and glycerol-3-phosphate, phosphoenolpyruvate, Pi, and adenine nucleotides decrease. Cellular and cytosolic phosphorylation potentials rose without any change in cytosolic NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH ratios. 6. It is concluded that pigeon liver differs from mammalian one and therefore it is of special interest for metabolic studies.