Objective: Hydroxytyrosol (HT) is a polyphenol with a wide range of biological activities. Excessive drinking can lead to oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver, which usually develop into alcohol liver disease (ALD). At present, there is no specific drug to treat ALD. In this paper, the protection effect of HT on ALD and the underline mechanism were studied.Methods: HepG2 cells were exposed to ethanol in vitro and C57BL/6J mice were fed with a Lieber-DeCarli ethanol liquid diet in vivo.Results: triglyceride (TG) level in serum and the expression of fatty acid synthase (FASN) were reduced significantly by the treatment with HT The acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity was increased, the serum level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was decreased, catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) were increased, suggesting that HT may reduce its oxidative damage to the body by promoting alcohol metabolism. Furthermore, according to the mRNA levels of tnf-α, il-6 and il-1β, HT inhibited ethanol-induced inflammation significantly. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of HT may be related to suppress the STAT3/iNOS pathway.Dissussion: Our study showed that HT could ameliorate ethanol-induced hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress and inflammation and provide a new candidate for the prevention and treatment of ALD.

Melatonin is the main neuroendocrine product in the pineal gland. Melatonin can regulate circadian rhythm-related physiological processes. Evidence indicates an important role of melatonin in hair follicles, skin, and gut. There appears to be a close association between melatonin and skin disorders. In this review, we focus on the latest research of the biochemical activities of melatonin (especially in the skin) and its promising clinical applications.

Hexavalent chromium, toxic heavy metal, among the top-rated environmental contaminants, is declared a potent endocrine disruptor in humans and animals. The present study was planned to find harmful effects on the reproductive system caused by Cr (VI) and the ameliorative effect of Nigella sativa and Nigella sativa-mediated AgNP on male mice (Mus musculus). In the present study, known infertility medicine, clomiphene citrate is also used as a positive control. The main objective of the present study was to assess the ameliorative potential of oral administration of a dose of 50 mg/kg BW clomiphene citrate (control), AgNP via chemical synthesis, Nigella sativa seed extract, and Nigella sativa-mediated AgNP against the Cr (VI) at the dose of 1.5 mg/kg BW from K2Cr2O7 orally induced toxicity over eight weeks on the reproductive performance of male albino mice. Nigella sativa mediated AgNPs were characterized by UV, SEM, FTIR, and XRD. The histological analysis, smear study, antioxidant capacity test, and hormone analysis were conducted by blood samples of albino mice. Cr exposed groups showed a significant decrease in sperm head breadth (5.29 ± 0.54 µ) and length (19.54 ± 1.18 µ), middle piece length, tail length, LH (1.65 ± 0.15 ng/mL), testosterone (2.63 ± 0.29 ng/mL), SOD (61.40 ± 2.48 mmol/mL), CAT (87.40 ± 6.01 mmol/mL), GSH (1.54 ± 0.09 µmol/mL), and no of spermatogonia (1.22 ± 0.25), and spermatocytes (2.33 ± 0.943). However, FSH level (160.00 ± 4.98 ng/mL), seminiferous tubule CSA (1094.69 ± 49.76 mm2), size of spermatogonia (41.30 ± 1.24 µ), and spermatocytes (26.07 ± 1.34 µ) were significantly increased. Administration of Nigella sativa and Nigella sativa-mediated AgNPs reduced the toxicity.

UNASSIGNED: Sepsis is a severe global health problem, with high morbidity and mortality. In sepsis, one of the main affected organs is the liver. Hepatic alterations characterize a negative prognostic. Omega-3 fatty acids (ω3), eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid, are part of the main families of polyunsaturated fatty acids. ω3 has been used in studies as sepsis treatment and as a treatment for non-alcoholic liver disease.
UNASSIGNED: We aimed to evaluate the effects of treatment with fish oil (FO) rich in ω3 on liver changes and damage resulting from experimental sepsis.
UNASSIGNED: A model of severe sepsis in Wistar rats was used. Oxidative stress in the liver tissue was evaluated by means of tests of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, 2,7-dihydrodichlorofluorescein diacetate , catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, in the serum TBARS, DCF, thiols and, to assess liver dysfunction, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Hepatic tissue damage was evaluated using H&E histology.
UNASSIGNED: In assessments of oxidative stress in liver tissue, a protective effect was observed in the tests of TBARS, DCF, CAT, and GPx, when compared the sepsis versus sepsis+ω3 groups. Regarding the oxidative stress in serum, a protective effect of treatment with ω3 was observed in the TBARS, DCF, and thiols assays, in the comparison between the sepsis and sepsis+ω3 groups. ω3 had also a beneficial effect on biochemical parameters in serum in the analysis of ALT, creatinine, urea, and lactate, observed in the comparison between the sepsis and sepsis+ω3 groups.
UNASSIGNED: The results suggest ω3 as a liver protector during sepsis with an antioxidant effect, alleviating injuries and dysfunctions.

L-Arginine may have therapeutic value in the management of sickle cell disease and diabetes mellitus. There is very little information on the interaction of GLUT 1 and L-Arginine in sickle cell disease subjects. This study compared the blood levels of Glut 1, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting insulin (FIns) in non-sickle cell anaemia (HbAA) and sickle cell anaemia (HbSS) subjects in the steady state before and following L-Arginine supplementation (1 g/day for 6 weeks). Nitric oxide metabolites, (NOX), catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were also measured in each group of subjects. Correlation coefficients between change (Δ) in Glut 1 and change (Δ) in FBG, Fins, NOX and antioxidant enzymes respectively were calculated. Before supplementation, Glut 1, NOX, GPX and CAT were significantly higher in HbAA subjects while FIns, FBG and MDA were higher in HbSS subjects. In both groups, supplementation significantly increased NOX, Glut 1 and antioxidant enzymes but decreased MDA. Supplementation increased FIns in HbAA but decreased FBG and FIns in HbSS subjects. In both groups of subjects, ΔGLUT 1 correlated positively with ΔNOX, antioxidant enzymes and Δ[R] but negatively with ΔMDA. ΔGLUT 1 correlated negatively with ΔFBG and ΔFins in HbSS but positively in HbAA. Study thus showed that in the steady state HbSS subjects had lower GLUT 1 but elevated FBG and Fins levels than HbAA subjects. Additionally, L-Arginine increased GLUT I and antioxidant enzymes but decreased Fins, FBG and MDA in HbSS subjects.

Nitrogen modified atmosphere was an effective way to control pest infestation in grains. In this study, the quality changes of rice during nitrogen modified atmosphere packaging storage (N2-MAPS) were monitored. An un-targeted metabolomics method was used to detect the rice metabolites and explore the mechanism of N2-MAPS for delaying rice deterioration. In this study, two rice species were studied under N2-MAPS and conventional storage at 30 °C for 150 days. The quality changes of rice during storage were monitored. The results showed that N2-MAPS could retard the increase of fatty acid value and amylose content, and defer the decrease of enzyme activities. And N2-MAPS had no significant influence on texture characteristics of rice. The metabolomics results suggested some metabolites and pathways were affected by N2-MAPS and revealed that N2-MAPS could protect rice cells from oxidative damage, maintain cell integrity and stability by regulating the metabolism to delay the rice deterioration.

Reports about the impact of Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) hepatotoxicity on coagulation profile have been inconsistent. Multiple investigators have however demonstrated the effectiveness of silymarin in the resolution of anomalies induced by CCl4, although the effect of silymarin on the impact of CCl4 hepatotoxicity, especially coagulation profile and osmotic fragility have not been investigated. The liver, the primary site for the secretion of coagulation proteins, can become impaired in CCl4 hepatotoxicity, and silymarin reportedly increases hepatic protein synthesis as part of its hepatoprotective mechanism. This study assessed the effect of silymarin on blood coagulation profile and erythrocyte osmotic fragility in CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Twenty male Wistar rats were allocated into four groups (n = 5) at random, namely: Control, CCl4 given CCl4 (1 ml/kg) administered intraperitoneally twice a week, Silymarin (S) given silymarin (100 mg/kg/day) orally, and S+CCl4 given silymarin (100 mg/kg/day) orally and (1 ml/kg) CCl4 one hour after, intraperitoneally twice a week for a duration of four weeks. Results showed protraction of activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time, increased erythrocyte osmotic fragility, liver damage, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in rats given CCl4. Silymarin attenuated most of these effects as observed from comparison between CCl4 and S+CCl4 rats. The findings of this study suggests that pretreatment with silymarin attenuated disruption in coagulation profile and erythrocyte osmotic fragility in CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats.

Ziziphus abyssinica root bark is widely used in folk medicine to manage liver diseases, particularly, jaundice but its effect on paracetamol-induced liver toxicity (PILT) has not yet been validated. This study explored the ameliorative effect of ethanolic root bark extract of Ziziphus abyssinica (ZAE) against PILT in rats. The flavonoid and phenolic content of ZAE was evaluated using Folin-Ciocalteau and aluminium trichloride colorimetric methods, respectively. Antioxidant activity of ZAE was determined in vitro by evaluating its ferrous reducing antioxidant capacity (FRAC) as well as DPPH and nitic oxide (NO) radicals scavenging activities. Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to six groups (n = 6) and administered with normal saline (10 mL/kg, p.o.), N-acetylcysteine (50 mg/kg, i.p.) and ZAE (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg, p.o.) respectively for seven days after which they received paracetamol (PCM, 3000 mg/kg, p.o.). Animals were sacrificed 48 h after paracetamol administration under light anaesthesia and assessed for liver toxicity and oxidative stress. Total flavonoid and phenolic contents of ZAE were 1313.425 µg/mL quercetin equivalence and 268.31 µg/mL gallic acid equivalence respectively. ZAE exhibited marked FRAC as well as DPPH and NO radical scavenging activities with IC50s of 80.41 ± 1.56, 67.56 ± 1.11 and 7.11 ± 1.48 μg/mL respectively. ZAE and N-acetylcysteine significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the paracetamol-mediated elevation of serum total bilirubin, proteins and activity of liver enzymes (AST, ALP, and ALT). Similarly, ZAE increased hepatic glutathione, total thiols and catalase activity of the paracetamol intoxicated rats. Morphological changes associated with the paracetamol hepatotoxicity were also ameliorated by ZAE. Overall, the hepatoprotective effect of ZAE may be related to its antioxidant property.

Diclofenac (DIC) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) which is known to induce oxidative stress. Dithiocarbamates are compounds with proven antioxidant effect. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant capacity of diisopropyldithiocarbamates sodium salt (a synthetized compound) (Na(i-Pr2dtc)) against diclofenac-induced toxicity in the testes of male Wistar albino rats. The animals were assigned into six groups of six rats each. Group 1 (control) received corn oil, Groups 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 received DIC (100 mg/kg), DIC and (Na(i-Pr2dtc) (30 mg/kg), DIC and vitamin E (30 mg/kg), (Na(i-Pr2dtc) (30 mg/kg) and vitamin E only respectively. Our findings show that treatment with DIC significantly reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity by 42% compared to normal control (NC) animals. In DIC treated group, Na(i-Pr2dtc) caused a 17% elevation of catalase (CAT) activity compared to DIC only group. Reduced glutathione level was significantly reduced in DIC only treated group when compared with DIC and VIT E treated group. Photomicrographs of testis from Na(i-Pr2dtc) treated rats showed normal seminiferous epithelium with no lesions. In conclusion, Na(i-Pr2dtc) has antioxidant properties.

UNASSIGNED: Tourniquet-induced ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) has been related to postoperative muscle atrophy through mechanisms involving protein synthesis/breakdown, cellular metabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) could protect skeletal muscle against I/R injury. This study aims to determine the underlying mechanisms of IPC and its effect on muscle strength after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
UNASSIGNED: Twenty-four TKA patients were randomized to receive either sham IPC or IPC (3 cycles of 5-min ischemia followed by 5-min reperfusion). Vastus medialis muscle biopsies were collected at 30 ​min after tourniquet (TQ) inflation and the onset of reperfusion. Western blot analysis was performed in muscle protein for 4-HNE, SOD2, TNF-ɑ, IL-6, p-Drp1ser616, Drp1, Mfn1, Mfn2, Opa1, PGC-1ɑ, ETC complex I-V, cytochrome c, cleaved caspase-3, and caspase-3. Clinical outcomes including isokinetic muscle strength and quality of life were evaluated pre- and postoperatively.
UNASSIGNED: IPC significantly increased Mfn2 (2.0 ​± ​0.2 vs 1.2 ​± ​0.1, p ​= ​0.001) and Opa1 (2.9 ​± ​0.3 vs 1.9 ​± ​0.2, p ​= ​0.005) proteins expression at the onset of reperfusion, compared to the ischemic phase. There were no differences in 4-HNE, SOD2, TNF-ɑ, IL-6, p-Drp1ser616/Drp1, Mfn1, PGC-1ɑ, ETC complex I-V, cytochrome c, and cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 expression between the ischemic and reperfusion periods, or between the groups. Clinically, postoperative peak torque for knee extension significantly reduced in the sham IPC group (-16.6 [-29.5, -3.6] N.m, p ​= ​0.020), while that in the IPC group was preserved (-4.7 [-25.3, 16.0] N.m, p ​= ​0.617).
UNASSIGNED: In TKA with TQ application, IPC preserved postoperative quadriceps strength and prevented TQ-induced I/R injury partly by enhancing mitochondrial fusion proteins in the skeletal muscle.
UNASSIGNED: Mitochondrial fusion is a potential underlying mechanism of IPC in preventing skeletal muscle I/R injury. IPC applied before TQ-induced I/R preserved postoperative quadriceps muscle strength after TKA.