Comparative study of nickel oxide and nickel oxide nanoparticles on oxidative damage, apoptosis and histopathological alterations in rat lung tissues.

BACKGROUND: Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiONPs) are used as industrial photoelectric and recording materials, catalysts, and sensors. It has been increasingly used in many industrial sectors. Lungs are the important biological barrier that comes into contact with nanomaterials in the inhaled air. This study aimed to compare the effects of nickel oxide (NiO) microparticles and NiONPs on rat lung tissues in different dose administrations, such as oral, intraperitoneal, and intravenous. METHODS: The mature male Wistar rats (n = 42) were divided into seven groups with six animals: Group I (control), Group II NiO gavage (150 mg/kg), Group III NiO intraperitoneally (20 mg/kg), Group IV NiO intravenously (1 mg/kg), Group V NiONP gavage (150 mg/kg), Group VI NiONP intraperitoneal (20 mg/kg), and Group VII NiONP intravenous (1 mg/kg) for 21 days. Oxidative stress (MDA, CAT, SOD, GPx, and GST), apoptotic marker (p53) gene expression, and histopathological changes were determined comparatively. RESULTS: Our data showed that NiO and NiONPs caused an exposure-related increase in the incidence of alveolar/bronchiolar pathological changes, oxidative damage, and p53 gene expression in male rats. Intravenous exposure to NiONPs produces statistically (p < 0.05) more oxidative damage and histopathological changes than exposure to NIO. It also induces higher upregulation of the pro-apoptotic p53 gene. CONCLUSION: NiO and NiONPs induce oxidative damage, histopathological alterations and p53 gene expression in rat lungs. Thus, exposure to NiO and NiONPs, especially intravenously, may indicate more toxicity and carcinogenicity.

Biofilm control strategies in the light of biofilm-forming microorganisms.

Biofilm is a complex consortium of microorganisms attached to biotic or abiotic surfaces and live in self-produced or acquired extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs). EPSs are mainly formed by lipids, polysaccharides, proteins, and extracellular DNAs. The adherence to the surface of microbial communities is seen in food, medical, dental, industrial, and environmental fields. Biofilm development in food processing areas challenges food hygiene, and human health. In addition, bacterial attachment and biofilm formation on medical implants inside human tissue can cause multiple critical chronic infections. More than 30 years of international research on the mechanisms of biofilm formation have been underway to address concerns about bacterial biofilm infections. Antibiofilm strategies contain cold atmospheric plasma, nanotechnological, phage-based, antimicrobial peptides, and quorum sensing inhibition. In the last years, the studies on environmentally-friendly techniques such as essential oils and bacteriophages have been intensified to reduce microbial growth. However, the mechanisms of the biofilm matrix formation are still unclear. This review aims to discuss the latest antibiofilm therapeutic strategies against biofilm-forming bacteria.

Does memantine show chemopreventive effect against mice 4T1 breast tumor model?

BACKGROUND: Cancer cells express higher levels of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. In this study, we aimed to use memantine as a potential blocker to inhibit the action of the NMDA receptor in cancer cells in vivo in order to investigate the potential chemopreventive effect of memantine in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice. METHODS: To determine the potential chemopreventive effect of the compound, mice weights, tumor volumes, spleen IL-6, and tumor DNA methylation levels were investigated. A total of 26 Balb/c female mice were allocated into three groups. G1 (n = 6): tumor control group, G2 (n = 10): low dose (5mg/kg) memantine group, G3: high dose (10 mg/kg) memantine group (n = 10). G1 was inoculated with 4T1 cells without any memantine treatment. G2 and G3 were pretreated with 5 and 10 mg/kg memantine daily intraperitoneal (ip) injection (weekend off) for 10 days, respectively. Both G2 and G3 were subdivided into two groups as G2a (n = 4) and G3a (n = 4): tumor free groups and G2b (n = 6) and G3b (n = 6) tumor bearing groups. RESULTS: Our results revealed that G3: high dose (10 mg/kg) memantine group, significantly (p = 0.0248) reduced the tumor volumes. We found that spleen IL-6 levels were significantly higher in memantine pretreated tumor free group p = 0.0204 ) We also found that high dose memantine treated tumor free group (G3a) has significantly lower genome-wide DNA methylation levels when compared to tumor control group (G1) p = 0.0012. DISCUSSION: To the best of our knowledge, it is the first study that highlights a potential chemopreventive effect of memantine in vivo in the mouse 4T1 breast tumor model. But further investigations should be carried out to explore the chemopreventive mechanism of action for memantine in cancer.

Association between calcitriol and paricalcitol with oxidative stress in patients with hemodialysis.

Background: The pathophysiological basis of chronic kidney disease and its complications, including cardiovascular disease, are associated with chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. We investigated the effects of active vitamin D (calcitriol) and synthetic vitamin D analog (paricalcitol) on oxidative stress in hemodialysis patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was composed of 83 patients with a minimum hemodialysis vintage of one year. Patients with a history of any infection, malignancy, and chronic inflammatory disease were excluded. Oxidative markers (total oxidant and antioxidant status) and inflammation markers (C-reactive protein and interleukin-6) were analyzed. Results: A total of 47% (39/83) patients were using active or analog vitamin D. Total antioxidant status was significantly higher in patients with using active or analog vitamin D than those who did not use (p = 0.006). Whereas, total oxidant status and oxidative stress index were significantly higher in patients with not using vitamin D when compared with the patients who were using vitamin D preparation (p = 0.005 and p = 0.004, respectively). On the other hand, total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, and oxidative stress index were similar between patients who used active vitamin D or vitamin D analog (p = 0.6; p = 0.4 and p = 0.7, respectively). Conclusion: The use of active or selective vitamin D analog in these patients decreases total oxidant status and increases total antioxidant status. Also, paricalcitol is as effective as calcitriol in decreasing total oxidant status and increasing total antioxidant status in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Comparative Study of Inhibitory Potential of Dietary Phytochemicals Against Quorum Sensing Activity of and Biofilm Formation by Chromobacterium violaceum 12472, and Swimming and Swarming Behaviour of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1.

Quorum sensing (QS) and biofilm formation are important mechanisms related to antibiotic resistance of many pathogens. Alternative treatments are needed to prevent recurrent or chronic infections caused by multi-resistant pathogens. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate and compare the inhibitory potential of the dietary phytochemicals: curcumin, quercetin, apigenin, pyrogallol, gallic acid and luteolin against QS of and biofilm formation by Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472 and the swimming and swarming abilities of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Anti-QS potential of the phytochemicals was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively using C. violaceum via the disk diffusion assay based on violacein pigment inhibition at the subminimal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 46.87 to 750 µg/mL. The results of anti-QS and antibiofilm activities on C. violaceum demonstrated that all the phytochemicals except pyrogallol and gallic acid inhibited violacein production (from (11.0±0.1) to (88.2±0.1) %) in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the biofilm formation was also significantly inhibited (p<0.05) in the presence of all the phytochemicals ((1.38±0.08)-(84.2±0.2) %). In the present study, the results revealed that quercetin, curcumin, apigenin and luteolin could be promising QS and biofilm inhibitory agents against the C. violaceum 12472 biosensor system. Our findings also suggest that all the phytochemicals, especially curcumin, quercetin and pyrogallol, might be anti-pathogenic agents against P. aeruginosa PAO1 infections due to the ability to control QS. However, more comprehensive studies at the molecular level, explaining their anti-QS mechanisms, need to be conducted to confirm these results and identify the genes involved.

In vitro anti-oxidant, cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects of Achillea teretifolia Willd extracts on human prostate cancer cell lines.

BACKGROUND: The majority of Achillea species are the most important native economic plants of Anatolia. They include highly bioactive compounds, so they have therapeutic applications. OBJECTIVE: In the present study, the aim was to investigate in vitro anti-oxidant, cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects of Achillea teretifolia Willd extracts (Turkish name: Beyaz civanperÇemi). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-oxidant potential of the extracts was analyzed by the free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and total phenolic content methods. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was used to detect cytotoxicity of the extracts onhuman prostate cancer cell lines (DU145 and PC-3) and human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cells. mRNA expression levels of pro-apoptotic (bax, caspase-3) and anti-apoptotic (bcl-2) genes were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The results showed that extracts exhibited a remarkable DPPH scavenging activity, and total phenolic content of the methanol extract was higher than that of the water extract. As time and concentration were increased, the methanol extract exhibited a more powerful cytotoxic effect on prostate cancer cells. In prostate cancer cells, the levels of mRNA expression of the bax and caspase-3 genes were significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05), whereas the expression of bcl-2 was down-regulated (P < 0.05). In HGF cells, there were no cytotoxic effect and apoptosis induction triggered by the extracts. CONCLUSION: The methanol extract had more powerful anti-oxidant, cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects than the water extract. The extracts could be good anti-oxidant sources, and they might include anti-cancer compounds triggering the cytotoxicity and the apoptosis on prostate cancer cells.

Antimicrobial activity against periodontopathogenic bacteria, antioxidant and cytotoxic effects of various extracts from endemic Thermopsis turcica.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the in vitro antimicrobial potential of Thermopsis turcica Kit Tan, Vural & Küçüködük against periodontopathogenic bacteria, its antioxidant activity and cytotoxic effect on various cancer cell lines. METHODS: In vitro antimicrobial activities of ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate (EtAc), n-hexane and water extracts of Thermopsis turcica herb against periodontopathogenic bacteria, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans ATCC 29523 and Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC 33277 were tested by agar well diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC). Antioxidant properties of the extracts were evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical scavenging activity and ß-carotene bleaching methods. Amounts of phenolic contents of the extracts were also analysed by using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Additionally, cytotoxic activity of the extracts on androgen-insensitive prostate cancer, androgen-sensitive prostate cancer, chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute promyelocytic leukemia human cancer cell lines were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Human gingival fibroblast cells were used as a control. RESULTS: Our data showed that EtAc extract had the highest antimicrobial effect on Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (MIC: 1.562 mg/mL, MBC: 3.124 mg/mL) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (MIC: 0.781 mg/mL, MBC: 1.562 mg/mL). In antioxidant assays, EtAc extract exhibited also the highest radical scavenging activity [IC50=(30.0±0.3) µg/mL] and the highest inhibition [(74.35±0.30)%] against lineloic acide oxidation. The amount of phenolic content of it was also the highest [(162.5±1.2) µg/mg gallic acid]. In cytotoxic assay, only ethanol [IC50=(80.00±1.21) µg/mL] and EtAc extract [IC50=(70.0±0.9) µg/mL] were toxic on acute promyelocytic leukemia cells at 20-100 µg/mL (P<0.05). However, no toxic effect was observed on human gingival fibroblast cells. CONCLUSIONS: According to our findings, owing to its antioxidant and cytotoxic potential, EtAc extract might include anticancer agents for acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Olive leaf extracts protect cardiomyocytes against 4-hydroxynonenal-induced toxicity in vitro: comparison with oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, and quercetin.

Olive (Olea europaea) leaf, an important traditional herbal medicine, displays cardioprotection that may be related to the cellular redox modulating effects of its polyphenolic constituents. This study was undertaken to investigate the protective effect of the ethanolic and methanolic extracts of olive leaves compared to the effects of oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, and quercetin as a positive standard in a carbonyl compound (4-hydroxynonenal)-induced model of oxidative damage to rat cardiomyocytes (H9c2). Cell viability was detected by the MTT assay; reactive oxygen species production was assessed by the 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate method, and the mitochondrial membrane potential was determined using a JC-1 dye kit. Phospho-Hsp27 (Ser82), phospho-MAPKAPK-2 (Thr334), phospho-c-Jun (Ser73), cleaved-caspase-3 (cl-CASP3) (Asp175), and phospho-SAPK/JNK (Thr183/Tyr185) were measured by Western blotting. The ethanolic and methanolic extracts of olive leaves inhibited 4-hydroxynonenal-induced apoptosis, characterized by increased reactive oxygen species production, impaired viability (LD50: 25 µM), mitochondrial dysfunction, and activation of pro-apoptotic cl-CASP3. The ethanolic and methanolic extracts of olive leaves also inhibited 4-hydroxynonenal-induced phosphorylation of stress-activated transcription factors, and the effects of extracts on p-SAPK/JNK, p-Hsp27, and p-MAPKAPK-2 were found to be concentration-dependent and comparable with oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, and quercetin. While the methanolic extract downregulated 4-hydroxynonenal-induced p-MAPKAPK-2 and p-c-Jun more than the ethanolic extract, it exerted a less inhibitory effect than the ethanolic extract on 4-hydroxynonenal-induced p-SAPK/JNK and p-Hsp27. cl-CASP3 and p-Hsp27 were attenuated, especially by quercetin. Experiments showed a predominant reactive oxygen species inhibitory and mitochondrial protecting ability at a concentration of 1-10 µg/mL of each extract, oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, and quercetin. The ethanolic extract of olive leaves, which contains larger amounts of oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, verbascoside, luteolin, and quercetin (by HPLC) than the methanolic one, has more protecting ability on cardiomyocyte viability than the methanolic extract or each phenolic compound against 4-hydroxynonenal-induced carbonyl stress and toxicity.

Natural products and the aging process.

Abstract Literature surveys show that the most of the research that have been conducted on the effect of herbal remedies on many tissue pathologies, including metabolic disturbances, cardiovascular decline, neurodegeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy and skin inflammation, all lead to an accelerated aging process. The increased carbonylation of proteins (carbonyl stress) disturbing their function has been indicated as an underlying mechanism of cellular senescence and age-related diseases. Because it is also linked to the carbonyl stress, aging chronic disease and inflammation plays an important role in understanding the clinical implications of cellular stress response and relevant markers. Greater knowledge of the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in several pathologies associated with aging would provide a better understanding to help us to develop suitable strategies, use specific targets to mitigate the effect of human aging, prevent particularly chronic degenerative diseases and improve quality of life. However, research is lacking on the herbal compounds affecting cellular aging signaling as well as studies regarding the action mechanism(s) of natural products in prevention of the age-related disease. This review provides leads for identifying new medicinal agents or potential phytochemical drugs from plant sources for the prevention or delaying cellular aging processes and the treatment of some disorders related with accelerated body aging.