[The use of antioxidants in combination therapy of chronic prostatitis].

Currently, the significance of the chronic prostatitis (CP) is undoubted. Oxidative stress is considered as one of the standard mechanisms of cellular damage that is associated with inflammatory diseases such as CP. When choosing the combination therapy for this group of patients, a correction of oxidative stress is pathogenetically justified. Literature data about the pathogenetic feasibility and prospects of using a biologically active complex containing flavonoids and carotenoids quercetin, lycopene and naringin as part of the combination treatment of patients with CP are presented in the article. Considering the various effects of the biologically active complex Querceprost, containing quercetin, lycopene and naringin, among which antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory are of greatest importance, as well as taking into account the synergistic effect of flavonoids and carotenoids, we suggest that Querceprost is promising component of combination treatment of patients with CP.

Lycopene from tomatoes and tomato products exerts renoprotective effects by ameliorating oxidative stress, apoptosis, pyroptosis, fibrosis, and inflammatory injury in calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis: the underlying mechanisms.

Several mechanisms underlying nephrolithiasis, one of the most common urological diseases, involve calcium oxalate formation, including oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions, fibrosis, pyroptosis, and apoptosis. Although lycopene has strong antioxidant activity, its protective effects against CaOx-induced injury have not yet been reported. This study aimed to systematically investigate the protective effects of lycopene and explore its mechanisms and molecular targets. Crystal deposition, renal function, oxidative stress, inflammatory response, fibrosis, pyroptosis, and apoptosis were assessed to evaluate the renoprotective effects of lycopene against crystal formation in a CaOx rat model and oxalate-stimulated NRK-52E and HK-2 cells. Lycopene markedly ameliorated crystal deposition, restored renal function, and suppressed kidney injury by reducing oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and pyroptosis in the rats. In cell models, lycopene pretreatment reversed reactive oxygen species increase, apoptotic damage, intracellular lactate dehydrogenase release, cytotoxicity, pyroptosis, and extracellular matrix deposition. Network pharmacology and proteomic analyses were performed to identify lycopene target proteins under CaOx-exposed conditions, and the results showed that Trappc4 might be a pivotal target gene for lycopene, as identified by cellular thermal shift assay and surface plasmon resonance analyses. Based on molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, alanine scanning mutagenesis, and saturation mutagenesis, we observed that lycopene directly interacts with Trappc4 via hydrophobic bonds, which may be attributed to the PHE4 and PHE142 residues, preventing ERK1/2 or elevating AMPK signaling pathway phosphorylation events. In conclusion, lycopene might ameliorate oxalate-induced renal tubular epithelial cell injury via the Trappc4/ERK1/2/AMPK pathway, indicating its potential for the treatment of nephrolithiasis.

The assessment of dietary carotenoid intake of the Cardio-Med FFQ using food records and biomarkers in an Australian cardiology cohort: a pilot validation.

Dietary carotenoids are associated with lower risk of CHD. Assessment of dietary carotenoid intake using questionnaires can be susceptible to measurement error. Consequently, there is a need to validate data collected from FFQs which measure carotenoid intake. This study aimed to assess the performance of the Cardio-Med Survey Tool (CMST)-FFQ-version 2 (v2) as a measure of dietary carotenoid intake over 12-months against plasma carotenoids biomarkers and 7-Day Food Records (7DFR) in an Australian cardiology cohort. Dietary carotenoid intakes (ß- and α-carotene, lycopene, ß-cryptoxanthin and lutein/zeaxanthin) were assessed using the 105-item CMST-FFQ-v2 and compared to intakes measured by 7DFR and plasma carotenoid concentrations. Correlation coefficients were calculated between each dietary method, and validity coefficients (VCs) were calculated between each dietary method and theoretical true intake using the 'methods of triads'. Thirty-nine participants aged 37-77 years with CHD participated in the cross-sectional study. The correlation between FFQ and plasma carotenoids were largest and significant for ß-carotene (0.39, p=0.01), total carotenoids (0.37, p=0.02) and ß-cryptoxanthin (0.33, p=0.04), with weakest correlations observed for α-carotene (0.21, p=0.21) and lycopene (0.21, p=0.21). The FFQ VCs were moderate (0.3-0.6) or larger for all measured carotenoids. The strongest were observed for total carotenoids (0.61) and ß-carotene (0.59), while the weakest were observed for α-carotene (0.33) and lycopene (0.37). In conclusion, the CMST-FFQ-v2 measured dietary carotenoids intakes with moderate confidence for most carotenoids, however, there was less confidence in ability to measure α-carotene and lycopene intake, thus further research is warranted using a larger sample.

Dual Role of Stratum Corneum Carotenes/Lycopene Against the Development of Chemotherapy-induced PPE in Patients With Cancer.

Palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia (PPE) is a common side effect of chemotherapy treatment in patients with cancer. The exact pathophysiologic mechanisms of the development of PPE remain unclear. Here, we report two important physiological functions of carotenoids without hydroxyl groups (α-carotene, ß-carotene, γ-carotene, ξ-carotene, lycopene, phytoene, phytofluene and their isomers) in the stratum corneum (SC) of glabrous skin: The powerful antioxidant protection of the integrity of the SC components against the destructive action of free radicals and maintaining the skin barrier function by the creation of an orthorhombic organization of intercellular lipids within lamellae using carotenoids as a skeleton. The dual protective role of carotenoids without hydroxyl groups is important for both healthy skin and, in the authors' opinion, for the skin of chemotherapy-treated patients against the development of PPE, as the chemotherapy-induced reduction of the carotenoid concentration in the stratum corneum considerably weakens the skin resistance to cytotoxic and other adverse reactions.

Comparing lycopene's impact on mortality in adults with or without obesity.

Objective: Given lycopene's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, we investigated its mortality impact in individuals with and without obesity, confirming distinct effects. Methods: This study analyzes the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2003-2006 and 2017-2018, linking lycopene levels to all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Using various statistical methods, three models are sequentially adjusted for confounders, investigating the lycopene-outcome relationship. Results: We studied 11 737 adults for 162 months and found 1537 all-cause deaths (13.1%) and 443 cardiovascular deaths (3.8%). For those without obesity, serum lycopene had an "L" shape relationship with all-cause mortality, being harmful at very low levels but protective above a certain threshold. It consistently protects against cardiovascular mortality. In individuals with obesity, the relationship with all-cause mortality formed a "U" shape, with increased risk at very low and very high lycopene levels and protection in the middle range. Cardiovascular mortality showed a similar pattern in individuals with obesity. Interestingly, dietary lycopene intake had protective effects in both groups. Conclusion: This study reveals that lycopene exhibits distinct associations with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in populations with or without obesity, emphasizing the importance of considering individual health profiles when assessing its benefits.

Lycopene Alleviates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Steatohepatitis through Inhibition of the ASK1-JNK Signaling Pathway.

Lycopene has been proven to alleviate nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), but the precise mechanisms are inadequately elucidated. In this study, we found a previously unknown regulatory effect of lycopene on the apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) signaling pathway in both in vivo and in vitro models. Lycopene supplementation (3 and 6 mg/kg/day) exhibited a significant reduction in lipid accumulation, inflammation, and fibrosis of the liver in mice fed with a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet or a methionine-choline-deficient diet. RNA sequencing uncovered that the mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathway, which is closely associated with inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, was significantly downregulated by lycopene. Furthermore, we found lycopene ameliorated ER swelling and decreased the expression levels of ER stress markers (i.e., immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein, C/EBP homologous protein, and X-box binding protein 1s). Especially, the inositol-requiring enzyme 1α involved in the ASK1 phosphorylation was inhibited by lycopene, resulting in the decline of the subsequent c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling cascade. ASK1 inhibitor DQOP-1 eliminated the lycopene-induced inhibition of the ASK1-JNK pathway in oleic acid and palmitic acid-induced HepG2 cells. Molecular docking further indicated hydrophobic interactions between lycopene and ASK1. Collectively, our research indicates that lycopene can alleviate ER stress and attenuate inflammation cascades and lipid accumulation by inhibiting the ASK1-JNK pathway.

The Association between Circulating Carotenoids and Risk of Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies.

Carotenoids appear to have anticancer effects. Prospective evidence for the relation between serum carotenoids and breast cancer is controversial. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the link between circulating carotenoids and the risk of breast cancer. We performed a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to 30 November, 2022. Prospective studies on adults aged ≥18 y that have reported risk estimates for the association between circulating carotenoids and breast cancer risk were considered. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A random-effects model was used for combining studies' risk estimates. Dose-response relations were explored through a 1-stage random-effects model. Fifteen publications (17 nested case-control studies and 1 cohort study) with 20,188 participants and 7608 cases were included. We observed an inverse association between the highest level of circulating total carotenoids (relative risk [RR]: 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62, 0.93; n = 8), α-carotene (RR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.68, 0.87; n = 13), ß-carotene (RR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.65, 0.98; n = 15), ß-cryptoxanthin (RR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74, 0.96; n = 11), lycopene (RR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.76, 0.98; n = 13), and lutein (RR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.93; n = 6) and the risk of breast cancer compared with the lowest level. Additionally, each 10 µg/dL of total carotenoids, α-carotene, ß-carotene, and ß-cryptoxanthin was associated with 2%, 22%, 4%, and 10% lower risk of breast cancer, respectively. This relationship was stronger at lower levels of total carotenoids and ß-cryptoxanthin. The certainty of evidence was rated from very low to low. Most studies were performed among Western nations, which should be acknowledged for extrapolation of findings. Total circulating carotenoids, α-carotene, ß-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein seem to be related to a decreased risk of breast cancer. Our findings could have practical importance for public health. This study was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42023434983.

A phase I study of docetaxel plus synthetic lycopene in metastatic prostate cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Our preclinical studies showed that lycopene enhanced the anti-prostate cancer efficacy of docetaxel in animal models. A phase I trial (NCT0149519) was conducted to identify an optimum dose of synthetic lycopene in combination with docetaxel (and androgen blockade [androgen deprivation therapy, ADT]), and to evaluate its effect on the safety and pharmacokinetics of docetaxel in men with metastatic prostate cancer. METHODS: Subjects were treated with 21-day cycles of 75 mg/m2 docetaxel (and ADT), plus lycopene at 30, 90 or 150 mg/day. A Bayesian model averaging continual reassessment method was used to guide dose escalation. Pharmacokinetics of docetaxel and multiple correlative studies were carried out. RESULTS: Twenty-four participants were enrolled, 18 in a dose escalation cohort to define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and six in a pharmacokinetic cohort. Docetaxel/ADT plus 150 mg/day synthetic lycopene resulted in dose-limiting toxicity (pulmonary embolus) in one out of 12 participants with an estimated probability of .106 and thus was chosen as the MTD. Lycopene increased the AUCinf and Cmax of plasma docetaxel by 9.5% and 15.1%, respectively. Correlative studies showed dose-related changes in circulating endothelial cells and vascular endothelial growth factor A, and reduction in insulin-like growth factor 1R phosphorylation, associated with lycopene therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of docetaxel/ADT and synthetic lycopene has low toxicity and favourable pharmacokinetics. The effects of lycopene on biomarkers provide additional support for the toxicity-dependent MTD definition. HIGHLIGHTS: The maximum tolerated dose was identified as 150 mg/day of lycopene in combination with docetaxel/ADT for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer patients. Small increases in plasma exposure to docetaxel were observed with lycopene co-administration. Mechanistically significant effects were seen on angiogenesis and insulin-like growth factor 1 signalling by lycopene co-administration with docetaxel/ADT.

Lycopene prevents cell death in NRK-52E cells by inhibition of high glucose-activated DNA damage and apoptotic, autophagic, and necrotic pathways.

This study aims to investigate the effects of lycopene on apoptotic, autophagic, and necrotic pathways, oxidative status, and DNA damage in diabetic nephropathy at the molecular level. The sample of the study includes seven groups: lycopene (L), high glucose (G), high glucose + lycopene (GL), and control (C) groups tested at 12 and 24 h. The expression levels of genes in oxidative, apoptotic, autophagic, and necrotic cell death pathways are determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. The comet assay method is used for the analysis of DNA damage. It is observed that adding lycopene to high glucose for protective purposes reduces the expression of genes related to apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis, as well as the DNA damage index, compared to cells given high glucose alone. Lycopene can be a safe and effective alternative agent.

Chemical Profile and Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Rosa canina L. Dried Fruit Commercially Available in Serbia.

The aim of this work was to give as much information as possible on Rosa canina dried fruit that is commercially available in Serbia. In order to provide the chemical composition, the UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MS method was employed for both polar and non-polar extracts of samples obtained with a solvent mixture consisting of hexane, acetone, and ethanol in a volume ratio of 2:1:1, respectively, and 0.05% (w/v) butylated hydroxytoluene. In addition, the total content levels of lycopene, ß-carotene, total polyphenols, and flavonoids were determined by means of UV-vis spectrophotometry. The antioxidant activity was tested by applying four different methods: ABTS, DPPH, FRAP, and CUPRAC. Overall, nine compounds were identified. The results of chemical composition analysis were used as the basis for the interpretation of the calculated results for the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. The obtained results for R. canina dried fruit extract are as follows: ß-carotene-7.25 [mg/100 g fruit weight]; lycopene-2.34 (mg/100 g FW); total polyphenol content (TPC)-2980 [mg GAE/kg FW]; total flavonoid content (TFC)-1454 [mg CE/kg FW]; antioxidant activity-ABTS 12.3 [µmol/100 g FW], DPPH 6.84, FRAP 52.04, and CUPRAC 15,425; and antimicrobial activity-Staphylococcus aureus MIC/MMC 4/0 [mg∙mL-1], Enterococcus faecalis 4/0, Bacillus cereus 4/0, Escherichia coli 4/0, Salmonella enteritidis 4/4, Enteroabacter aerogenes 4/0, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2/0, and Candida albicans 2/0.

Postprandial Micronutrient Variability and Bioavailability: An Interventional Meal Study in Young vs. Old Participants.

This study explores age- and time-dependent variations in postprandial micronutrient absorption after a micronutrient-rich intervention meal within the Biomiel (bioavailability of micronutrients in elderly) study. Comprising 43 healthy participants, the study compares young (n = 21; mean age 26.90 years) and old (n = 22; mean age 66.77 years) men and women, analyzing baseline concentrations and six-hour postprandial dynamics of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), iodine (I), free zinc (fZn), vitamin C, retinol, lycopene, ß-carotene, α-tocopherol, and γ-tocopherol, along with 25(OH) vitamin D (quantified only at baseline). Methodologically, quantifications in serum or plasma were performed at baseline and also at 90, 180, 270, and 360 min postprandially. Results reveal higher baseline serum Zn and plasma lycopene concentrations in the young group, whereas Cu, Se, Cu/Zn ratio, 25(OH) vitamin D, α-tocopherol, and γ-tocopherol were higher in old participants. Postprandial variability of Zn, vitamin C, and lycopene showed a strong time-dependency. Age-related differences in postprandial metabolism were observed for Se, Cu, and I. Nevertheless, most of the variance was explained by individuality. Despite some limitations, this study provides insights into postprandial micronutrient metabolism (in serum/plasma), emphasizing the need for further research for a comprehensive understanding of this complex field. Our discoveries offer valuable insights for designing targeted interventions to address and mitigate micronutrient deficiencies in older adults, fostering optimal health and well-being across the lifespan.

Lycopene Ameliorated DSS-Induced Colitis by Improving Epithelial Barrier Functions and Inhibiting the Escherichia coli Adhesion in Mice.

Adherent-invasive Escherichia coli plays an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. Blocking the adhesion of E. coli to intestinal epithelial cells appears to be useful for attenuating inflammatory bowel disease. Lycopene has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. The aim of this study was to test the intervention effect of lycopene on colitis in mice and to investigate the possible mechanism through which lycopene affects the adhesion of E. coli to intestinal epithelial cells. Lycopene (12 mg/kg BW) attenuated dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, decreased the proportion of E. coli, and activated the NLR family pyrin domain containing 12 and inactivated nuclear factor kappa B pathways. Furthermore, lycopene inhibited the adhesion of E. coli O157:H7 to Caco-2 cells by blocking the interaction between E. coli O157:H7 and integrin ß1. Lycopene ameliorated DSS-induced colitis by improving epithelial barrier functions and inhibiting E. coli adhesion. Overall, these results show that lycopene may be a promising component for the prevention and treatment of colitis.

Protective Role of Lycopene in Subjects with Liver Disease: NUTRIHEP Study.

BACKGROUND: Liver diseases are constantly increasing throughout the world and are often associated with other diseases, but above all they are caused by improper diet. Adherence to a diet with abundant vegetables has now been widely demonstrated to be important in combating this pathological condition. The aim of this study was to explore the protective role of lycopene (LYC) extracts from cooked and fresh tomato. METHODS: The study cohort included 969 participants assessed in the NUTRIHEP cohort (2005-2006) and the associated follow-up (2014-2016), divided into two groups, based on liver condition: NAFLD, or AFLD and FLD. RESULTS: The results indicated a statistical significance of LYC consumption, showing a protective role against liver disease, the best concentration being 9.50 mg/die, with an RR value of 0.59, p = 0.01, 0.39 to 0.90 at 95% C.I., and RRR = 0.40, p = 0.002, 0.22 to 0.71 at 95% C.I. CONCLUSIONS: The protective role of LYC extracts from tomato has not been amply demonstrated in humans. We conclude that this is one of the few papers in the literature to evaluate the protective effect of LYC against liver disease, as well as how this molecule could be used in future possible treatments. Utilizing lycopene as a supplement alone or in combination with other foods could be useful for developing treatments with reduced contraindications.

Lycopene inhibits apoptosis of mouse spermatocytes in varicocele via miR-23a/b-induced downregulation of PROK2.

Context The varicocele is the leading cause of male infertility and can impair sperm quality and testicular function through various mechanisms. In our previous study, we found that lycopene could attenuate hypoxia-induced testicular injury. Aims To illustrate the detailed mechanism of lycopene on spermatocytes. Methods The effect of lycopene on GC-2 cells under hypoxia were detected by flow cytometry and western blot assay. miR-seq was used to determine miRNA expression in varicocele rat model testes. The function of miR-23a/b were determined by flow cytometry and western blot assay. Key results We demonstrate that lycopene could alleviate hypoxia-induced GC-2 cell apoptosis and could elevate miR-23a/b expression of the hypoxia model in vivo and in vitro . The miR-23a and -23b mimics could reduce the hypoxia-induced GC-2 cell apoptosis. Both miR-23a and -23b could directly bind with prokineticin 2 (PROK2) mRNA and downregulate its expression. Conclusions Lycopene could attenuate hypoxia-induced spermatocyte injury through the miR-23a/b-PROK2 pathway. Implications Lycopene may be an effective treatment for varicocele to improve testicular impairment.

Photogeneration and quenching of singlet molecular oxygen by bacterial C40 carotenoids with long chain of conjugated double bonds.

Measurement of photosensitized luminescence of singlet oxygen has been applied to studies of singlet oxygen generation and quenching by C40 carotenoids (neurosporene, lycopene, rhodopin, and spirilloxanthin) with long chain of conjugated double bonds (CDB) using hexafluorobenzene as a solvent. It has been found that neurosporene, lycopene, and rhodopin are capable of the low efficient singlet oxygen generation in aerated solutions upon photoexcitation in the spectral region of their main absorption maxima. The quantum yield of this process was estimated to be (1.5-3.0) × 10-2. This value is near the singlet oxygen yields in solutions of ζ-carotene (7 CDB) and phytoene (3 CDB) and many-fold smaller than in solutions of phytofluene (5 CDB) (Ashikhmin et al. Biochemistry (Mosc) 85:773-780, https://doi.org/10.1134/S0006297920070056 , 2020, Biochemistry (Mosc) 87:1169-1178, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1134/S00062979221001082022 ). Photogeneration of singlet oxygen was not observed in spirilloxanthin solutions. A correlation was found between the singlet oxygen yields and the quantum yields and lifetimes of the fluorescence of the carotenoid molecules. All carotenoids were shown to be strong physical quenchers of singlet oxygen. The rate constants of 1O2 quenching by the carotenoids with long chain of CDB (9-13) were close to the rate constant of the diffusion-limited reactions ≈1010 M-1 s-1, being many-fold greater than the rate constants of 1O2 quenching by the carotenoids with the short chain of CDB (3-7) phytoene, phytofluene, and ζ-carotene studied in prior papers of our group (Ashikhmin et al. 2020, 2022). To our knowledge, the quenching rate constants of rhodopin and spirilloxanthin have been obtained in this paper for the first time. The mechanisms of 1O2 photogeneration by carotenoids in solution and in the LH2 complexes of photosynthetic cells, as well as the efficiencies of their protective action are discussed.

Global rewiring of lipid metabolism to produce carotenoid by deleting the transcription factor genes ino2/ino4 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The transcription factor complex INO2 and INO4 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae plays a vital role in lipid biosynthesis by activating multiple genes in the biosynthetic pathways of phospholipid, fatty acid, and sterol. Previous studies have reported conflicting results regarding the effects of ino2 and ino4 gene expression levels on target chemicals. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the influence of different ino2 and ino4 expression levels on carotenoid production (e.g., lycopene), which shares a common precursor, acetyl-CoA, with lipid metabolism. Surprisingly, 2.6- and 1.8-fold increase in lycopene yield in the ino2 and ino4 deletion strains were found, respectively. In contrast, ino2 overexpression did not promote lycopene accumulation. Additionally, there was a decrease in intracellular free fatty acids in the ino2 deletion strain. Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed a significant downregulation of genes related to lipid biosynthesis in the ino2 deletion strain. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing that deletion of transcription factor genes ino2 and ino4 can facilitate lycopene accumulation. These findings hold significant implications for the development of metabolically engineered S. cerevisiae with enhanced carotenoid production.

MAPK/NF-κB signaling mediates atrazine-induced cardiorenal syndrome and antagonism of lycopene.

Atrazine (ATZ) is the most prevalent herbicide that has been widely used in agriculture to control broadleaf weeds and improve crop yield and quality. The heavy use of ATZ has caused serious environmental pollution and toxicity to human health. Lycopene (LYC), is a carotenoid that exhibits numerous health benefits, such as prevention of cardiovascular diseases and nephropathy. However, it remains unclear that whether ATZ causes cardiorenal injury or even cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) and the beneficial role of LYC on it. To test this hypothesis, mice were treated with LYC and/or ATZ for 21 days by oral gavage. This study demonstrated that ATZ exposure caused cardiorenal morphological alterations, and several inflammatory cell infiltrations mediated by activating NF-κB signaling pathways. Interestingly, dysregulation of MAPK signaling pathways and MAPK phosphorylation caused by ATZ have been implicated in cardiorenal diseases. ATZ exposure up-regulated cardiac and renal injury associated biomarkers levels that suggested the occurrence of CRS. However, these all changes were reverted, and the phenomenon of CAR was disappeared by LYC co-treatment. Based on our findings, we postulated a novel mechanism to elucidate pesticide-induced CRS and indicated that LYC can be a preventive and therapeutic agent for treating CRS by targeting MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways.

Effect of salinity on growth and biochemical responses of brinjal varieties: implications for salt tolerance and antioxidant mechanisms.

Salinity poses significant challenges to agricultural productivity, impacting crops' growth, morphology and biochemical parameters. A pot experiment of three months was conducted between February to April 2023 in the Department of Botany, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur. Four brinjal (eggplant) varieties: ICS-BR-1351, HBR-313-D, HBR-314-E, and HBR-334-D were selected and assessed for the effects of salinity on various growth and biochemical attributes. The experiment was completely randomized in design with three replicates each. This study revealed that increased salinity significantly reduced the shoot length, root length, and leaf number across all varieties, with maximum adverse effects observed at a 300mM NaCl concentration. Among the tested varieties, ICS-BR-1351 demonstrated superior performance in most growth parameters, suggesting potential salt tolerance. Biochemically, salinity decreased chlorophyll content across all varieties, with the sharpest decline observed at the highest salt concentration. V4 (HBR-334-D) showed a 57% decrease in chlorophyll followed by V3 (HBR-314-E) at 56%, V2 (HBR-313-D) at 54%, and V1 (ICS-BR-1351) at 33% decrease at maximum salt levels as compared to control. Conversely, carotenoid content increased up to -42.11% in V3 followed by V2 at -81.48%, V4 at -94.11%, and - 233% in V1 at 300mM NaCl stress as compared to respective controls. V3 (HBR-314-E) has the maximum value for carotenoids while V1 has the lowest value for carotenoids as compared to the other three brinjal varieties. In addition to pigments, the study indicated a salinity-induced decrease in total proteins and total soluble sugar, whereas total amino acids and flavonoids increased. Total proteins showed a decrease in V2 (49.46%) followed by V3 (36.44%), V4 (53.42%), and V1 (53.79%) at maximum salt concentration as compared to plants treated with tap water only. Whereas, total soluble sugars showed a decrease of 52.07% in V3, 41.53% in V2, 19.49% in V1, and 18.99% in V4 at the highest salt level. While discussing total amino acid, plants showed a -9.64% increase in V1 as compared to V4 (-31.10%), V2 (-36.62%), and V3 (-22.61%) with high salt levels in comparison with controls. Plant flavonoid content increased in V3 (-15.61%), V2 (-19.03%), V4 (-18.27%) and V1 (-27.85%) at 300mM salt concentration. Notably, salinity elevated the content of anthocyanin, lycopene, malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) across all varieties. Antioxidant enzymes like peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase also increased under salt stress, suggesting an adaptive response to combat oxidative damage. However, V3 (HBR-314-E) has shown an increase in anthocyanin at -80.00%, lycopene at -24.81%, MDA at -168.04%, hydrogen peroxide at -24.22%, POD at -10.71%, CAT as-36.63 and SOD as -99.14% at 300mM NaCl stress as compared to control and other varieties. The enhanced accumulation of antioxidants and other protective compounds suggests an adaptive mechanism in brinjal to combat salt-induced oxidative stress. The salt tolerance of different brinjal varieties was assessed by principal component analysis (PCA), and the order of salt tolerance was V1 (ICS-BR-1351) > V4 (HBR-334-D), > V2 (HBR-313-D) > V3 (HBR-314-E). Among the varieties studied, ICS-BR-1351 demonstrated resilience against saline conditions, potentially offering a promising candidate for saline-prone agricultural areas.

CRISPR/Cas9-based toolkit for rapid marker recycling and combinatorial libraries in Komagataella phaffii.

Komagataella phaffii, a nonconventional yeast, is increasingly attractive to researchers owing to its posttranslational modification ability, strict methanol regulatory mechanism, and lack of Crabtree effect. Although CRISPR-based gene editing systems have been established in K. phaffii, there are still some inadequacies compared to the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this study, a redesigned gRNA plasmid carrying red and green fluorescent proteins facilitated plasmid construction and marker recycling, respectively, making marker recycling more convenient and reliable. Subsequently, based on the knockdown of Ku70 and DNA ligase IV, we experimented with integrating multiple DNA fragments at a single locus. A 26.5-kb-long DNA fragment divided into 11 expression cassettes for lycopene synthesis could be successfully integrated into a single locus at one time with a success rate of 57%. A 27-kb-long DNA fragment could also be precisely knocked out with a 50% positive rate in K. phaffii by introducing two DSBs simultaneously. Finally, to explore the feasibility of rapidly balancing the expression intensity of multiple genes in a metabolic pathway, a yeast combinatorial library was successfully constructed in K. phaffii using lycopene as an indicator, and an optimal combination of the metabolic pathway was identified by screening, with a yield titer of up to 182.73 mg/L in shake flask fermentation. KEY POINTS: • Rapid marker recycling based on the visualization of a green fluorescent protein • One-step multifragment integration and large fragment knockout in the genome • A random assembly of multiple DNA elements to create yeast libraries in K. phaffii.

Association between dietary carotenoid intakes and abdominal aortic calcification in adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2014.

OBJECTIVE: Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is an important marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and a predictor of cardiovascular disease. This study aims to explore the association between carotenoid intakes and AAC. METHODS: We included 2889 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Dietary carotenoid intakes were obtained through 24-h dietary recall interviews. Severe AAC was defined as a Kauppila score > 5. The main analysis utilizes logistic and restricted cubic spline models. RESULT: Severe AAC was detected in 378 (13.08%) participants. In fully adjusted models, the odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of α-carotene, ß-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein with zeaxanthin and total carotenoid intakes for individuals with severe AAC were 0.53 (0.23-0.77), 0.39 (0.19-0.80), 0.18 (0.05-0.62), 0.40 (0.20-0.78), 0.53 (0.32-0.88) and 0.38 (0.18-0.77) in the highest versus lowest quartile intake, respectively. Dose-response analyses revealed that all of the carotenoids were associated with decreased risk of severe AAC in a nonlinear trend. Total carotenoid intakes of at least 100ug/kg/day were associated with decreased odds for severe AAC. CONCLUSION: α-carotene, ß-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein with zeaxanthin and total carotenoids were inversely associated with the risk of severe AAC in adults.