Association between heavy metal exposure and poor working memory and possible mediation effect of antioxidant defenses during aging.

BACKGROUND: Inverse associations have been observed between memory performance and blood concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). Low antioxidant cell activity has also been linked to decline in memory due to aging. However, it has not yet been established whether the heavy metal-memory relationship is mediated by differences in antioxidant activity. METHODS: We examined Cd and Pb levels, as well as oxidative stress parameters, in blood samples from 125 older adults (age range 50-82years). The Counting Span Test (CST) was used to evaluate working memory capacity (WMC). The Monte Carlo Method for Assessing Mediation (MCMAM) was used to analyze the mediation role of antioxidant activity in the heavy metals-memory association. RESULTS: High blood Cd (BCd) concentration alone, and in combination with elevated blood Pb (BPb) concentration, was associated with poor WMC (p≤0.001) and low enzymatic antioxidant defenses (p≥0.006). The variance in WMC accounted for by BCd or by BCd combine with BPb was 20.6% and 18.6%, respectively. The MCMAM revealed that the influence of BCd and BPb concentrations on WMC was mediated by low antioxidant capacity (confidence interval - CI: 0.072 to -0.064 for BCd; CI: -0.062 to -0.045 for BPb). CONCLUSION: These findings showed Pb and Cd blood concentration in older adults, even at levels below the current recommended threshold, was negatively associated with WMC and that this relationship may be partly mediated by low antioxidant defenses. Knowledge on the environmental factors that negatively influence brain and cognition during aging can help inform public policy strategies to prevent and control the adverse effects of environmental contaminant exposure during aging.

4-Nerolidylcatechol induces autophagy in human glioblastoma cells

ABSTRACT Gliomas account for the majority of primary malignant brain tumors and present invasive behavior into adjacent healthy tissue. While 4-NC had previously shown to induce apoptotic cell death in a melanoma model, for the glioma model described in this paper 4-NC is cytotoxic for the cells with the induction of the autophagic pathway. Trypan blue exclusion assay showed that 4-NC was cytotoxic in a dose-dependent manner for A172 and T98G cell lines. IC10 and IC50 values were at 32 µM and 41 µM for A172 and T98G respectively. Inhibition of cell proliferation was observed by total cell counts and by cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry, with cell cycle arrest of A172 and T98G cell lines respectively in the G1/G0 and S phases of the cell cycle. 4-NC induced up-regulation of autophagic pathways, as shown by immunoblotting for LC3-I/II, Real-Time PCR for ATG-7 and Beclin-1 genes, and by fluorescence microscopy observation of autophagic vacuoles in cells transfected with GFP-LC3 and electron microscopy. Glioma cells concomitantly treated with 4-NC and 3-MA, an inhibitor of the autophagic process, are more sensible to cell death, suggesting that autophagy protects the cells from the action of 4-NC.

Applying design of experiments (DOE) to flavonoid extraction from Passiflora alata and P. edulis

The Passifloraceae family is extensively used in native Brazilian folk medicine to treat a wide variety of diseases. The problem of flavonoid extraction from Passiflora was treated by application of design of experiments (DOE), as an experiment with mixture including one categorical process variable. The components of the binary mixture were: ethanol (component A) and water (component B); the categorical process variable: extraction method (factor C) was varied at two levels: (+1) maceration and (-1) percolation. ANOVA suggested a cubic model for P. edulis extraction and a quadratic model for P. alata.These results indicate that the proportion of components A and B in the mixture is the main factor involved in significantly increasing flavonoid extraction. In regard to the extraction methods, no important differences were observed, which indicates that these two traditional extraction methods could be effectively used to extract flavonoids from both medicinal plants. The evaluation of antioxidant activity of the extract by ORAC method showed that P. edulis displays twice as much antioxidant activity as P. alata. Considering that maceration is a simple, rapid and environmentally friendly extraction method, in this study, the optimized conditions for flavonoid extraction from these Passiflora species is maceration with 75% ethanol for P. edulis and 50% ethanol for P. alata.

Biodisponibilidade, distribuição tecidual e atividade antioxidante do extrato hidroetanólico de Ilex paraguariensis hidrolisado e não hidrolisado / Bioavailability, tissue distribution and antioxidant activity of hydrolyzed and non hydrolyzed hydroethanolic extract of Ilex paraguariensis

Ilex paraguariensis (erva mate) é uma planta amplamente usada na América Latina sob a forma de infusão aquosa. Dentre as propriedades atribuídas a esta planta encontra-se a atividade antioxidante que sugere um papel importante desta droga vegetal na prevenção e tratamento de doenças associadas ao estresse oxidativo como a aterosclerose, fotocarcinogênese e fotoenvelhecimento, entre outras. No entanto alguns compostos presentes nesta planta se encontram sob a forma esterificada, o que poderia dificultar a sua adequada absorção. Uma maneira de aumentar a biodisponibilidade de antioxidantes em extratos vegetais é promover a sua hidrólise visando à liberação dos compostos ativos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar comparativamente o extrato hidroetanólico de Ilex paraguariensis antes e após hidrólise enzimática quanto à composição fitoquímica, atividade antioxidante in vitro e in vivo, biodisponibilidade de compostos antioxidantes e distribuição tecidual destes compostos em animais de experimentação. Para tanto o extrato foi obtido por percolação etanol: água (50 por cento v/v) e sua hidrólise realizada por reação enzimática. A caracterização fitoquímica foi realizada por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) e espectrofotometria e a atividade antioxidante dos extratos pelos métodos de DPPH e ORAC. Para os ensaios in vivo os extratos (hidrolisado e não hidrolisado) foram administrados oralmente (por gavage) a ratos Wistar machos em sistema de dose única ou doses repetidas (30 dias). Coletou-se o sangue, pele, fígado e cérebro, analisando-se a concentração dos compostos de interesse e a atividade antioxidante destes tecidos pelo método de ORAC. O extrato apresentou boa atividade antioxidante e conteúdo fenólico, sendo que estes valores não foram significativamente alterados pela hidrólise. No entanto, a hidrólise possibilitou uma maior absorção dos compostos de interesse, aumentando a atividade antioxidante plasmática.

Ilex paraguariensis (yerba mate) is a plant broadly used in Latin America as an aqueous infusion. Among its biological properties is the antioxidant activity, which suggests a important role in prevention and treatment of oxidative stress associated diseases, such as atheroclerosis, photocarcinogenesis and photoaging among other. However some of the compounds responsible for that activity are, in crude plant extract, under esterified form, which could make absorption more difficult. An approach to increase the bioavailability of antioxidants from plant extracts is to submit the extract to hydrolysis in order to release the active compounds. The goal of this work was comparatively evaluate the hydroethanolic extract of Ilex paraguariensis before and after enzimatic hydrolysis concerning phytochemical composition, in vivo and in vitro antioxidant activity, bioavailability and tissue distribution of antioxidant compounds in rats. The extract was obtained by percolation with ethanol:water (50 percent v/v) and the hydrolysis performed by enzymatic reaction. The phytochemical characterization was performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and spectrophotometry and the antioxidant activity by DPPH and ORAC methods. Hydrolyzed and non hydrolyzed extracts were given orally (by gavage) to male Wistar rats in single and multiple dose (30 days) regimen. Blood, skin, liver and brain were removed, and the concentration of antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activity by ORAC method were evaluated. The crude hydroethanolic extract showed antioxidant activity and phenolic content, but these values were not significantly changed by hydrolysis. However the hydrolysis increased the absorption of the compounds and the plasma antioxidant activity.

Maté attenuates DNA damage and carcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine and thermal injury in rat esophagus.

Drinking hot maté has been associated with risk for esophageal cancer in South America. Thus, the aims of this study were to evaluate the modifying effects of maté intake on DNA damage and esophageal carcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and thermal injury (TI) in male Wistar rats. At the initiation phase of carcinogenesis, rats were treated with DEN (8 x 80 mg/kg) and submitted to TI (water at 65 degrees C, 1 ml/rat, instilled into the esophagus). Concomitantly, the animals received maté (2.0%w/v) for 8 weeks. Samples of peripheral blood were collected 4h after the last DEN application for DNA damage analysis. At weeks 8 and 20, samples from esophagus and liver were also collected for histological and immunohistochemical analysis. Maté significantly decreased DNA damage in leukocytes, cell proliferation rates in both esophagus and liver and the number of preneoplastic liver lesions from DEN/TI-treated animals at week 8. A significant lower incidence of esophageal papillomas and liver adenomas and tumor multiplicity was observed in the animals previously treated with maté at week 20. Thus, maté presented protective effects against DNA damage and esophageal and liver carcinogenesis induced by DEN.

Photoprotective effect of Pothomorphe umbellata on UVB radiation-induced biomarkers involved in carcinogenesis of hairless mouse epidermis.

In this study we assessed the protective effect of topical application of Pothomorphe umbellata extract on ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced skin lesion parameters in hairless mouse epidermis. A single dose of UVB irradiation (0.23 kJ/m2) resulted in a significant decrease in thymine dimer-positive cells and apoptotic sunburn cells, with an increase in p53 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells in the epidermis. After 5 weeks (total dose 13.17 kJ/m2) and 15 weeks (total dose 55.51 kJ/m2) of irradiation, P. umbellata treatment inhibited the hyperplasic response and induced an increase in p53-positive cells. These findings suggest that P. umbellata extract affords protection against UVB-induced skin lesions.

Padronização e determinação da fotoestabilidade do extrato de folhas de Pothomorphe umbellata L. Miq (pariparoba) e avaliação da inibição in vitro de metaloproteinases 2 e 9 na pele / Standardization and determination of photostability of leaf extracts of Pothomorphe umbellata L. Miq (pariparoba) and evaluation of the inhibition in vitro of metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in skin

A maioria das pesquisas realizadas até hoje sobre os efeitos benéficos da pariparoba (Pothomorphe umbellata L. Miq) foi feita com o extrato da raíz desta espécie, e o seu emprego em larga escala comprometeria a exploração sustentável deste insumo natural. Neste sentido o uso das folhas da pariparoba, ao invés de raízes pela indústria cosmética, não põe em risco a existência da espécie. Neste trabalho foi determinada a concentração de 4-nerolidilcatecol (4-NC) de um extrato de folhas por metodologia analítica validada em nosso laboratório, cujo valor foi cerca de 30 por cento menor que no extrato de raiz, obtido da mesma maneira. Na avaliação de fotoestabilidade do extrato de folhas, uma solução de 0,25 mg/mL não apresentou alterações significativas do perfil espectroscópico após 2 horas de exposição à radiação UVB, demonstrando sua estabilidade. Metaloproteinases (MMPs) são endopeptidases dependentes de zinco, envolvidas na remodelagem da matriz extracelular (MEC), e importantes na formação das rugas típicas do fotoenvelhecimento cutâneo. Também avaliamos, por técnica de zimografia, a capacidade do extrato de folhas de P. umbellata de inibir a atividade de MMPs 2 e 9 in vitro de pele de camundongos sem pêlo. O extrato de folhas (0,1 mg/mL) inibiu em 80 por cento a atividade destas enzimas, conforme avaliação densitométrica.

Most researches that have been done until today about the beneficial effects of pariparoba (Pothomorphe umbellata L. Miq) have been done with root extract of this species, but the use in large scale would compromise the sustainable exploration of this natural resource. In this sense, the utilization of pariparoba leaves, substituting the roots, in the cosmetic industry does not put in risk the existence of the species. In this work the concentration of 4-nerolidylcathecol (4-NC) in leaf extract was determined by the analytical methodology validated in our laboratory. The concentration of 4-NC in leaf extract was around 30 percent less than that of root extract, obtained in the same way. Concerning the study of the photostability of a leaves extract solution containing 4-NC did not demonstrate meaningful alterations in the spectrometry profile after 2 hours of exposure under UVB radiation, showing its stability under this conditions. Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases that are zinc-dependent, involved in remodeling extracellular matrix (ECM), that are important in the appearance of typical photoaging wrinkles. In this work the capacity of leaf extract of P. umbellata to inhibit MMP-2 and 9 activities of hairless mouse skin in vitro by zymography gel was also evaluated. The leaf extract (0,1 mg/mL) inhibit in 80 percent activity of this enzymes, according to the densitometric zymography evaluation.

Simultaneous determination of chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and caffeine in hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of Ilex paraguariensis by HPLC and correlation with antioxidant capacity of the extracts by DPPH· reduction

A new high performance liquid chromatographic method has been established for simultaneous determination of chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and caffeine in hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of Ilex paraguariensis. Analytical curves showed good linear regression in the concentration ranges 0.49-7.8 μg/mL for chlorogenic acid, 0.25-3.9 μg/mL for caffeic acid and 0.244-7.8 μg/mL for caffeine. Reduction of the DPPHÀ radical was used to determine the antioxidant capacity of the extracts. Our method for the simultaneous determination of chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and caffeine was highly sensitive, having lower detection and quantitation limits than other papers that used similar methodology.

Um novo método de cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência foi desenvolvido para a determinação simultânea de ácido clorogênico, ácido caféico e cafeína no extrato hidroalcoólico e aquoso de Ilex paraguariensis. As curvas de calibração mostraram boa regressão linear nas faixas de concentração 0,49-7,8 μg/mL para o ácido clorogênico, 0,25-3,9 μg/mL para ácido caféico e 0,244-7,8 μg/mL para cafeína. A redução do radical DPPHÀ foi usada para determinar a capacidade antioxidante dos extratos. Nosso método para a determinação simultânea de ácido caféico, ácido clorogênico e cafeína foi altamente sensível, possuindo limites de detecção e de quantificação menores do que em outros trabalhos que empregaram metodologias semelhantes.