Alleviation of Aluminum-Induced Oxidative Stress, Trace Element, and Mineral Levels in Rat Tissues Protective Role of Pomegranate Juice (Punica Granatum L.).

The present investigation examined the impact of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) juice on trace elements, minerals, and oxidative stress in relation to the potential harm inflicted by aluminum chloride (AlCl3) in rats. Rats were split into four groups at random for this purpose: control (C), pomegranate juice (PJ), aluminum chloride (A), and PJ + A. For 30 days, PJ was orally administered by gavage at a rate of 4 mL/kg every other day, whereas AlCl3 was administered intraperitoneally at 8.3 mg/kg. Spectrophotometric analysis was used to measure the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) enzyme activity in various tissues. In addition, high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS FAAS) was used to determine the amounts of the elements Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ca, and Mg in the tissues. It was discovered that when PJ therapy was applied to all tissues, the antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT activity increased, the GSH level rose, and the MDA level, a sign of lipid peroxidation, decreased. Al and Ca levels increased in the A group relative to the C group in all tissues, whereas they decreased in the A + PJ group relative to the A group. Group A exhibited a proportionate increase in Fe levels in the liver and renal tissues compared with group C. Furthermore, the A group's brain tissue had a higher Fe level than the C group's. The A + PJ group's brain tissue had a lower Fe level than the A group's. Our findings demonstrate that PJ therapy greatly decreased Al buildup and oxidative stress in tissues while controlling variations in trace element levels. In addition, it is concluded that PJ might have value as a strong chelating agent to prevent Al poisoning.

Phytochemical Content of Malus floribunda: In Vitro and Molecular Docking Studies.

Malus floribunda Siebold ex Van Houtte is a plant planted for landscaping, and its sour and red fruits have been seen to be frequently used in the treatment of diabetes, making vinegar marmalade, and producing natural food dyes. Apart from these usage areas of this plant, it is aimed at determining the phytochemical content. For this purpose, plant parts (fruit, leaf, and branch) were examined. The antioxidant capacity (vitamins A, E, and C, lycopene, beta-carotene, total phenolic and flavonoid amounts, and DPPH radical scavenging effect), antimicrobial activity (agar well diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration-MIC), and GC-MS contents of plant parts were determined. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), spectrophotometers, and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) methods were used in the study. It was determined that M. floribunda fruit is rich in lycopene, beta-carotene, and antioxidant vitamins and contains many biomolecules. In addition, it was concluded that the extracts of different parts of the plant have antimicrobial activity. This study has revealed the idea that this plant, whose phytochemical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial content has been determined, can be used as a bioactive substance equivalent to antibiotics in medicine, the food industry, and human nutrition. In addition, it is expected that the study will contribute to the plant literature. Molecular docking studies were performed to evaluate the binding interactions between the compound and human peroxiredoxin 5 and S. aureus. Both in vitro and in silico results indicated that synthesized extracts could act as potent antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.

Macro- and trace elements in plants from Mauritania and risk assessment.

This study aimed to determine the content of elemental levels of eight plants species originating from Mauritania and used as medicinal plant and to assess their risk for human health. The range of elemental content in the studied plant parts of these plant species were 0.51-16.1 mg/g for Ca, 2.63-6.49 mg/g for Mg, 11.2-201 µg/g for Al, 6.5-28.2 µg/g for Zn, 5.6-453 µg/g for Fe, 1.1-6.4 µg/g for Ni, 11.0-302 µg/g for Mn and 0.7-9.0 µg/g for Cu. The Cr, Pb, Cd and Co levels were below the limits of detection in all samples. The estimated weekly intake (EWI) and target hazard quotient (THQ) were calculated. Except for Al the THQ values were below 1, so it could be concluded that these plant species have low probability of causing non-cancer health problems for the consumer.

Use of sulfuric acid-carbonization materials from grape pulp for the removal of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)): mechanism and characterization.

This study investigated the reduction of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) with sulfur dioxide (SO2) and adsorption of Cr(VI) onto dried grape pulp carbonized with sulfuric acid. Cr(VI) reduction capacities of SO2 were determined. The filtrate was titrated with NaOH solution after shaking and filtering the carbonized material to retain unreacted sulfuric acid (H2SO4). Simple washing recovered 25-38% of the experimental acid at low concentrations. The carbonized material was washed twice with distilled water and then dried at 105 °C and weighed. The carbonized material had a yield of 56.6% (grape pulp/sulfuric acid ratios of 1:2), and the lower the H2SO4 content, the better the yield, suggesting that the higher the acid content, the lower the Cr(VI) content per unit grape pulp. Cr(VI) reduction capacities were 219.5, 195.3, and 190.9 mg Cr(VI)/g-H2SO4 for the grape pulp/sulfuric acid ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3, respectively. Novelty statement: A carbonaceous material was obtained from grape pulp by carbonizing with concentrated sulfuric acid. The main objective of this study was to evaluate gas, liquid, and solid products or co-products obtained during carbonization process for hexavalent chromium treatment in aqueous solutions. In this context, (a) hexavalent chromium reduction capability of the gas evolved during carbonization was determined, (b) characterization of unreacted acid recovered by washing the carbonized product left after carbonization step was done, (c) carbonaceous adsorbent obtained was characterized and (d) hexavalent chromium adsorption characteristics of carbonaceous material obtained was determined.HIGHLIGHTSReduction and adsorption mechanisms of hexavalent chromium were investigated.A waste recycling method was proposed.The effects of sulfuric acid on carbonization were assessed.The structures and chemical compositions of a carbonized material were evaluated.The carbonized material is a cost-effective porous adsorbent for a clean environment.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocal in protein levels as an acute appendicitis biomarker in children.

OBJECTIVE: Appendicitis is very commonly encountered in emergency clinics. There is an urgent need for early and accurate predictive biomarkers of appendicitis in order to save lives, because currently-available biomarkers are imprecise and their delayed response impairs the ability of emergency doctors and pediatric surgeons to provide timely and potentially effective therapies. This study was performed to determine whether changes in the blood levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) can help to diagnose acute appendicitis in children and distinguish acute appendicitis from abdominal pain. METHODS: Sixty children were enrolled and divided into three groups, with 20 patients per group: Group 1 (patients with appendicitis), Group 2 (patients with abdominal pain) and Group 3 (control). Blood NGAL levels were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: The basal average serum NGAL levels were 8.2 ng/ml for Group 1, 3.9 ng/ml for Group 2, and 3.3 ng/ml for Group 3. Twenty-four and 72 h after surgery the levels were 5.1 and 2.8 ng/ml, respectively, in Group 1, 2.9 and 2.8 ng/ml in Group 2, and 2.6, 2.7 ng/ml in Group 3. Setting the cut-off point to 7 generated an area under the receiving operating curve (ROC) curve at 95 % confidence interval with 77.3 % sensitivity and 97.4 % specificity. CONCLUSION: These data indicate a significant difference in NGAL values between basal and postoperative measurements in appendicitis patients (p < 0.05). The ROC curve results showed that NGAL is a promising novel biomarker for the differential diagnosis of acute appendicitis from abdominal pain.

Simultaneous preconcentration and determination of Ni and Pb in water samples by solid-phase extraction and flame Atomic absorption spectrometry.

An analytical method for the preconcentration of nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb) in water samples on polystyrene-graft-ethylmethacrylate copolymer resin has been developed. The determinations of metal ions were performed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The experimental parameters, such as solution pH, sample flow rate, type and concentration of eluent, and amount of resin, were optimized for the preconcentration and recovery of Ni and Pb ions. Adsorbed ions on the resin were eluted by 6 mL of 2 M HNO3. Under optimized conditions, the LOD was found to be 0.92 and 1.44 microg/L for Ni and Pb ions, respectively. The accuracy of the proposed procedure was tested by recovery studies and analysis of a standard reference material (GBW 08301, river sediment). The method was successfully applied to water samples.

Solid-phase extraction and separation procedure for trace aluminum in water samples and its determination by high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS FAAS).

In the present study, a separation/preconcentration procedure for determination of aluminum in water samples has been developed by using a new atomic absorption spectrometer concept with a high-intensity xenon short-arc lamp as continuum radiation source, a high-resolution double-echelle monochromator, and a charge-coupled device array detector. Sample solution pH, sample volume, flow rate of sample solution, volume, and concentration of eluent for solid-phase extraction of Al chelates with 4-[(dicyanomethyl)diazenyl] benzoic acid on polymeric resin (Duolite XAD-761) have been investigated. The adsorbed aluminum on resin was eluted with 5 mL of 2 mol L(-1) HNO(3) and its concentration was determined by high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS FAAS). Under the optimal conditions, limit of detection obtained with HR-CS FAAS and Line Source FAAS (LS-FAAS) were 0.49 µg L(-1) and 3.91 µg L(-1), respectively. The accuracy of the procedure was confirmed by analyzing certified materials (NIST SRM 1643e, Trace elements in water) and spiked real samples. The developed procedure was successfully applied to water samples.

Development of a new enrichment method for simultaneous determination of copper and zinc in water samples.

In the present study, an enrichment and separation method for the simultaneous determination of trace amounts of Cu and Zn in water samples was developed. Copper and Zn ions found in water matrix in trace amounts were preconcentrated on Duolite XAD 761 resin without using any chelating agent and determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometer (FAAS). Experimental parameters such as pH, concentration of metal ions, amount of resin, and sample volume for quantitative determination of Cu and Zn ions were optimized. The elution process was performed by using 5 ml of 2 mol/L HCl solution. The preconcentration factors for Cu and Zn were found to be 160 and 200, respectively. Under optimized conditions, limit of detection for Cu and Zn were 2.46 and 3.54 µg/L, respectively. The Langmuir adsorption model was applied to describe the equilibrium isotherm. The Langmuir monolayer adsorption capacity of resin was estimated as 31.2 and 17.7 mg/g for Cu and Zn, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to determine the Cu and Zn content of various water samples.

The effect of lipoic acid on macro and trace metal levels in living tissues exposed to oxidative stress.

Environmental pollution resulting from fast-paced industrialization, various chemicals used in agriculture, additives in food, smoking and use of alcohol, radiation, some viruses and poor dietary habits all have currently increased the incidence and types of cancer. Polycyclic hydrocarbons are an example of this type of carcinogens. Living things are exposed to this free radical-increasing substance due to various reasons. Oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species has an important place in the etiology of cancer, which develops in relation to many factors. Injury caused by cancer in the organism may affect other organs, as well as the tumors organs and tissues. In addition, it is known that some changes take place in the content of macro and trace elements due to cancer in the organism. Our study is intended to explore the protective role of alpha-lipoic acid, which has antioxidant characteristics in living tissues exposed to oxidative stress, in the macro and trace element levels.