Evaluation of the effects of metformin on antioxidant biomarkers and mineral levels in patients with type II diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and arterial hypertension are considered serious public health problems. Several studies have shown that oxidative stress is usually related to the onset of DM and hypertension, as well their associated complications. Moreover, the levels of some minerals are closely related to the pathophysiology of these diseases. Thus, in this study we aimed to evaluate the effect of metformin on the redox profile and mineral levels in the serum of patients with DM type 2 and hypertension. We also tested the effect of metformin on the viability and redox profile of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for 24 h. As expected, we found that patients with type 2 DM and hypertension + type 2 DM had higher fasting glucose and triglyceride levels. As groundbreaking research, we found that both patients DM type 2 and Hypertension + DM type 2 had reduced myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. On the other hand, the levels of total thiols (PSH) and vitamin C were increased. There was no statistical significance for the alterations in mineral levels. In addition, metformin treatment had no cytotoxic effect on PBMCs. Similarly, in patients of both groups, MPO activity was reduced and PSH levels were increased in PBMCs. We have shown that metformin is a drug with a protective effect in patients with DM type 2 against oxidative stress by reducing MPO activity and improving the levels of PSH and antioxidant defenders such as vitamin C. The results of in vitro assays support the antioxidant effect of metformin. Furthermore, we suggest studies to assess the biochemical mechanisms of metformin and how it can be used in a pharmacological therapeutic perspective against oxidative damage.

Gummies candy enriched with Konjac glucomannan reduces hunger intensity and waist circumference of overweight individuals.

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a herbal medicine with benefits in appetite control, body weight and biochemical parameters in overweight individuals. The objective of our work was to evaluate the effect of the consumption of gummy candy enriched with KGM on appetite, to evaluate anthropometric data, biochemical and oxidative stress markers in overweight individuals. Forty-two participants aged 18 to 45 years completed our randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Participants were randomly assigned to consume for fourteen days, 2 candies per day, containing 250 mg of KGM or identical-looking placebo candy with 250 mg of flaxseed meal, shortly after breakfast and dinner. As a result, we observed that there was a reduction in waist circumference and in the intensity of hunger/satisfaction of the participants who consumed KGM for fourteen days, and we believe that a longer consumption time as well as an increase dose of KGM contribute to even more satisfactory body results.

Effect of polycaprolactone nanocapsules loaded with essential oils on biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from bovine mastitis cases

Abstract Bovine infectious mastitis is largely resistant to antibacterial treatment, mainly due to mechanisms of bacterial resistance in the biofilms formed by Staphylococcus aureus. Melaleuca (MEO) and citronella essential oils (CEO) are promising agents for reducing or eliminating biofilms. Free melaleuca oil presented a medium Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 0.625% and a Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of 1.250%, while free citronella oil showed medium MIC and MBC of 0.313%. Thus, free CEO and MEO demonstrate bacteriostatic and bactericidal potential. We generated polymeric nanocapsules containing MEO or CEO and evaluated their efficacy at reducing biofilms formed by S. aureus. Glass and polypropylene spheres were used as test surfaces. To compare the responses of free and encapsulated oils, strains were submitted to 10 different procedures, using free and nanoencapsulated essential oils (EOs) in vitro. We observed no biofilm reduction by MEO, free or nanoencapsulated. However, CEO nanocapsules reduced biofilm formation on glass (p=0.03) and showed a tendency to diminish biofilms on polypropylene (p=0.051). Despite nanoencapsulated CEO reducing biofilms in vitro, the formulation could be improved to modify the CEO component polarity and, including MEO, to obtain more interactions with surfaces and the biofilm matrix