Dietary administration of Bacillus subtilis improves the health parameters and regulates the gene expression in mice receiving zearalenone-contaminated diet.

The biodegradation of mycotoxins has become a specific, efficient, and environmentally protective way to reduce the adverse effects of mycotoxins in both foods and feeds. In the current study, the effectiveness of dietary administration of Bacillus subtilis on health parameters and regulated gene expression in mice receiving zearalenone zearalenone-contaminated diet was explored. In this trial, a total of twenty-four white balb/c mice were randomly assigned to three treatments. Dietary treatments were as follows: T1: The control (fed non-zearalenone-contaminated diet), T2: fed zearalenone-contaminated diet, T3: fed zearalenone-contaminated diet + Bacillus subtilis ARKA-S-3 (1 × 109 cfu/kg) for 28 days. The results showed, B. subtilis notably degraded zearalenone in cultured media during 18 h incubation (p < 0.05). It significantly improved average daily weight gain and feed intake. Dietary B. subtilis notably reduced the adverse effects of zearalenone on serum antioxidant indices (GSH-Px, SOD, ) and saved mice from oxidative stress. Also, treatments with B. subtilis improved morphometric characteristics of the ileum ((Villus Height (µm), Villus Width (µm), and Crypt Depth (µm)) in the mice received zearalenone-contaminated diet (p < 0.05). The molecular analysis illustrated that B. subtilis has also improved the mRNA expression levels and antioxidant-related gene expression of SOD and CAT in the jejunum tissue. Moreover, it alleviated the IL-2 and IFN-γ gene profiling in the jejunum tissue. These findings illustrate that dietary administration of B. subtilis by having a degraded effect on zearalenone, possesses a protective effect on the health parameters and gene expression regulation in mice receiving a zearalenone-contaminated diet.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized using Hyssopus Officinalis L. Extract Induced oxidative stress and changes the expression of key genes involved in inflammatory and antioxidant Systems.

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in the synthesis of bioactive nanoparticles resulted in the discovery and introduction of new bioactive nanoparticles to the pharmaceutical industry. In this regard, this research is aimed to synthesize the zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using Hyssopus officinalis L. extract and to evaluate the safety of nanoparticles using Balb/C mice. METHODS: Forty male mice were divided into four groups and received 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of ZnO-NPs for thirty days. At the end of the experiment, blood sugar, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (A.S.T.), and alanine aminotransferase (A.L.T.) were determined. Furthermore, histopathological and oxidative stress biomarker analyses in liver and kidney tissues were performed. The changes in the major inflammatory- and antioxidant-related genes were determined. RESULTS: The results showed that blood sugar and creatinine reduced significantly (P < 0.05) when 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg ZnO-NPs were supplemented to the diet. The serum ALT and AST and lipid peroxidation in the liver and kidney tissues were increased significantly (p < 0.05) when 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg ZnO-NPs were supplemented to the diet. Supplementation of ZnO-NPs suppressed the expression of antioxidant-related genes (SOD and CAT) and up-regulated the inflammatory biomarkers (iNOS and TNF- α). The concentration of 200 mg/Kg nanoparticles indicated cellular degeneration and necrosis in the liver and kidney tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, it can be concluded that supplementation of ZnO-NPs synthesized using Hyssopus Officinalis L. extract in this study at 50 mg/kg or higher concentrations might be toxic to the mice.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized using Hyssopus Officinalis L. Extract Induced oxidative stress and changes the expression of key genes involved in inflammatory and antioxidant Systems

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in the synthesis of bioactive nanoparticles resulted in the discovery and introduction of new bioactive nanoparticles to the pharmaceutical industry. In this regard, this research is aimed to synthesize the zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using Hyssopus officinalis L. extract and to evaluate the safety of nanoparticles using Balb/C mice. METHODS: Forty male mice were divided into four groups and received 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of ZnO-NPs for thirty days. At the end of the experiment, blood sugar, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (A.S.T.), and alanine aminotransferase (A.L.T.) were determined. Furthermore, histopathological and oxidative stress biomarker analyses in liver and kidney tissues were performed. The changes in the major inflammatory- and antioxidant-related genes were determined. RESULTS: The results showed that blood sugar and creatinine reduced significantly (P < 0.05) when 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg ZnO-NPs were supplemented to the diet. The serum ALT and AST and lipid peroxidation in the liver and kidney tissues were increased significantly (p < 0.05) when 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg ZnO-NPs were supplemented to the diet. Supplementation of ZnO-NPs suppressed the expression of antioxidant-related genes (SOD and CAT) and up-regulated the inflammatory biomarkers (iNOS and TNF- α). The concentration of 200 mg/Kg nanoparticles indicated cellular degeneration and necrosis in the liver and kidney tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, it can be concluded that supplementation of ZnO-NPs synthesized using Hyssopus Officinalis L. extract in this study at 50 mg/kg or higher concentrations might be toxic to the mice.

Phytoconstituents and antioxidant properties among commercial tea (Camellia sinensis L. ) clones of Iran

Background Tea (Camellia sinensis), a well-known beverage is consumed frequently worldwide due to its high antioxidant properties. The present study determines the amount of phytochemicals and antioxidant activities among 12 high yielding tea clones cultivated in Iran. Results Among the 12 clones studied, tea clone Iran 100 had the highest total phenolic content and total flavonoid content with values of 8.44 ± 1.03 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram dry weight and 4.50 ± 0.16 mg rutin equivalents per gram dry weight respectively. High performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis of phenolics and flavonoids in 12 clones revealed the presence of (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin-gallate, (-)-epicatechingallate, gallic acid and caffeine. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay showed the existence of variation in the antioxidant activity ranging from 22.67 to 65.36%. The highest antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 218.24 µg/mL was observed in the leaf extract of the clone Iran 100, while the lowest was found in the clone Iran 482 with IC50 value of 234.44 µg/mL. The antioxidant activity had a positive correlation with total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, (-)-epigallocatechin-gallate, (-)-epicatechingallate and caffeine (0.59 = r = 0.97, P < 0.05). Conclusion From the study it can be concluded that the clone Iran 100 has a superior quality compared to any other clones studied due to occurrence of more phenolic compounds and a greater antioxidant activity. Hence, we recommend the use of tea clone Iran 100 for commercial planting.

Fatty acid composition, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the microwave aqueous extract of three varieties of Labisia pumila Benth.

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the fatty acid profile, anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial activities from the microwave aqueous extract of the leaves of three different varieties of Labisia pumila Benth. RESULTS: The chemical analysis of the extract showed that fatty acids (palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and α-linolenic) acid as the main components in three varieties of L. pumila leaves. Furthermore, the obtained results of the anti-oxidant revealed that L. pumila var. alata contained higher anti-oxidative activities compared to var. pumila and var. lanceolata. However, these values were lower than the tested anti-oxidant standards. On the other hand, the aqueous leaf extracts in all three varieties of L. pumila were also found to inhibit a variable degree of antibacterial activities against eight bacteria (four Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, it was observed the leaves of three varieties of L. pumila exhibited variable patterns of fatty acids and the microwave aqueous extraction possess anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial activities.

Fatty acid composition, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the microwave aqueous extract of three varieties of Labisia pumila Benth

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the fatty acid profile, anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial activities from the microwave aqueous extract of the leaves of three different varieties of Labisia pumila Benth. RESULTS: The chemical analysis of the extract showed that fatty acids (palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and α-linolenic) acid as the main components in three varieties of L. pumila leaves. Furthermore, the obtained results of the anti-oxidant revealed that L. pumila var. alata contained higher anti-oxidative activities compared to var. pumila and var. lanceolata. However, these values were lower than the tested anti-oxidant standards. On the other hand, the aqueous leaf extracts in all three varieties of L. pumila were also found to inhibit a variable degree of antibacterial activities against eight bacteria (four Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, it was observed the leaves of three varieties of L. pumila exhibited variable patterns of fatty acids and the microwave aqueous extraction possess anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial activities.