ObjectivesIron overload is now recognized as a health problem in industrialized countries, as excessive iron is highly toxic for liver and spleen. The potential use of curcumin as an iron chelator has not been clearly identified experimentally in iron overload condition. Here, we evaluate the efficacy of curcumin to alleviate iron overload-induced hepatic and splenic abnormalities and to gain insight into the underlying mechanisms.Design and MethodsThree groups of male adult rats were treated as follows: control rats, rats treated with iron in a drinking water for 2 months followed by either vehicle or curcumin treatment for 2 more months. Thereafter, we studied the effects of curcumin on iron overload-induced lipid peroxidation and anti-oxidant depletion.ResultsTreatment of iron-overloaded rats with curcumin resulted in marked decreases in iron accumulation within liver and spleen. Iron-overloaded rats had significant increases in malonyldialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide (NO) in liver and spleen when compared to control group. The effects of iron overload on lipid peroxidation and NO levels were significantly reduced by the intervention treatment with curcumin (P<0.05). Furthermore, the endogenous anti-oxidant activities/levels in liver and spleen were also significantly decreased in chronic iron overload and administration of curcumin restored the decrease in the hepatic and splenic antioxidant activities/levels.ConclusionOur study suggests that curcumin may represent a new horizon in managing iron overload-induced toxicity as well as in pathological diseases characterized by hepatic iron accumulation such as thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, and myelodysplastic syndromes possibly via iron chelation, reduced oxidative stress derived lipid peroxidation and improving the body endogenous antioxidant defense mechanism.

Species of the marine red algae Laurencia, are known to exhibit bromine and chlorine-containing C 15 nonterpenoid metabolites.1) Among these, are the unusual cyclic ethers, with a pentadec-3-en-1-yne carbon skeleton. The isolation of trans and cis-laurediols from L. nipponica indicated an evidence that, cyclic ether enynes were raised from linear C 15 acetylenic polyenes, through oxidation and cyclization processes.2) Several maneonenes (halogenated cyclic ether enyne) were isolated from the genus Laurencia, 3-9) the fundamental differences between them is either geometry (through C 3 -C 4 and/or C 12 -C 13 ) and/or stereochemical configuration (C 5 , C 6 and C 11 ).Apoptosis is a programmed form of cell death by which unwanted cells are removed from the body without causing inflammation.10) This contrasts with necrosis, which involves direct damage to cells and is associated with inflammation. 11)Apoptosis may be an alternative and better method by which cells, such as neutrophils, are removed from an inflamed site.12) An organism must also remove senescent, damaged, or abnormal cells that could interfere with organ function or develop into tumors.In the present investigations, we describe the isolation and structural elucidation of three new (cyclic ether enynes) 1, 2 and 3 along with one known isomer 4 5-7) obtained from the petroleum ether extract of the red alga L. obtusa. Results and DiscussionThe petroleum ether extract of the air dried algal material was fractionated on aluminum oxide column using a stepped gradient of hexane and ether. The fractions were examined by spot TLC chromatography and spray reagent methanolsulfuric acid (50%) to give four compounds (1-4).The spectral data of these four compounds (Table 1) showed their very close structural relationship and strongly suggested that they belong to the C 15 acetogenins. The structure of known (12E)-cis-maneonene-A (4) was established by comparing its physical and spectral data with literature. 5-7)Compound 1, was isolated as pale yellow oil. High resolution-electron ionization-mass spectra (HR-EI-MS) established the molecular formula C 15 H 16 BrClO 2 , implying 7 degrees of unsaturation. EI-MS exhibited a characteristic molecular-ion cluster at m/z 342/344/346 in a ratio 2 : 3 : 1, which clearly indicated the presence of one Br and one Cl atoms. The presence of acetylenic group, vinyl ether stretching, and two C-O functionalities were deduced from IR absorptions at n max 3286, 1687, 1126, and 1190 cm Ϫ1 , respectively. Hence, both oxygen atoms could be involved in ether links. The 13 C-NMR and distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer (DEPT) experiments allowed the determination of 1 methyl, 2 methylene, 9 methine and 3 quaternary carbon atoms. Moreover, 13 C-NMR and heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) spectra displayed resonance for four carbons bearing oxygen, three of these were demonstrated by the signals at d C 78.2, 79.4, and 82.9; while the fourth is of vinyl ether carbon at d C 152.0.The presence of a terminal conjugate...

Background:Macroalgae can be viewed as a potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory sources owing to their capability of producing compounds for its protection from environmental factors such as heat, pollution, stress, oxygen concentration, and UV radiations.Objective:To isolate major compounds which are mainly responsible for the pharmacological activity of brown alga under investigation, Sargassum sp.Materials and Methods:Algal material was air dried, extracted with a mixture of organic solvents, and fractionated with different adsorbents. The structures of obtained pure compounds were elucidated with different spectroscopic techniques, and two pure materials were tested for protection of DNA from damage, antioxidant, antitumor, and cytotoxicity.Results:Four pure compounds were obtained, of which fucosterol (1) and fucoxanthin (4) were tested; it was found that fucoxanthin has strong antioxidant and cytotoxicity against breast cancer (MCF-7) with IC50 = 11.5 μg/ml.Conclusion:The naturally highly conjugated safe compound fucoxanthin could be used as antioxidant and as an antitumor compound.

Cardiovascular diseases are the first cause of death worldwide. Among different heart malfunctions, heart valve failure due to calcification is still a challenging problem. While drug-dependent treatment for the early stage calcification could slow down its progression, heart valve replacement is inevitable in the late stages. Currently, heart valve replacements involve mainly two types of substitutes: mechanical and biological heart valves. Despite their significant advantages in restoring the cardiac function, both types of valves suffered from serious drawbacks in the long term. On the one hand, the mechanical one showed non-physiological hemodynamics and the need for the chronic anticoagulation therapy. On the other hand, the biological one showed stenosis and/or regurgitation due to calcification. Nowadays, new promising heart valve substitutes have emerged, known as decellularized tissue-engineered heart valves (dTEHV). Decellularized tissues of different types have been widely tested in bioprosthetic and tissue-engineered valves because of their superior biomechanics, biocompatibility, and biomimetic material composition. Such advantages allow successful cell attachment, growth and function leading finally to a living regenerative valvular tissue in vivo. Yet, there are no comprehensive studies that are covering the performance of dTEHV scaffolds in terms of their efficiency for the calcification problem. In this review article, we sought to answer the question of whether decellularized heart valves calcify or not. Also, which factors make them calcify and which ones lower and/or prevent their calcification. In addition, the review discussed the possible mechanisms for dTEHV calcification in comparison to the calcification in the native and bioprosthetic heart valves. For this purpose, we did a retrospective study for all the published work of decellularized heart valves. Only animal and clinical studies were included in this review. Those animal and clinical studies were further subcategorized into 4 categories for each depending on the effect of decellularization on calcification. Due to the complex nature of calcification in heart valves, other in vitro and in silico studies were not included. Finally, we compared the different results and summed up all the solid findings of whether decellularized heart valves calcify or not. Based on our review, the selection of the proper heart valve tissue sources (no immunological provoking residues), decellularization technique (no damaged exposed residues of the decellularized tissues, no remnants of dead cells, no remnants of decellularizing agents) and implantation techniques (avoiding suturing during the surgical implantation) could provide a perfect anticalcification potential even without in vitro cell seeding or additional scaffold treatment.