Ilex paraguariensis aqueous extract (mate) is an antioxidant-rich beverage widely consumed in South American countries. Here we questioned whether mate could reduce the progression of atherosclerosis in 1% cholesterol-fed rabbits. New Zealand White male rabbits (n = 32) were divided into four groups: control (C, n = 5), control-mate (CM, n = 5), hypercholesterolemic (HC, n = 11) and hypercholesterolemic-mate (HCM, n = 11). The daily water and mate extract consumption was approximately 400 ml. After 2 months of treatment, mate intake did not change the lipid profile or hepatic cholesterol content of control or hypercholesterolemic rabbits (p < 0.05). However, the atherosclerotic lesion area was considerably smaller in the hypercholesterolemic-mate group (HCM, 35.4% vs. HC, 60.1%; p < 0.05). In addition, the aortic cholesterol content was around half that of the HC group (HCM, 36.8 vs. HC, 73.9 microg/mg of protein, p < 0.05). In spite of this, the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in the atherosclerotic aorta, liver and serum, and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes in liver and aorta did not differ among groups (p > 0.05). The results showed that Ilex paraguariensis extract can inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits, although it did not decrease the serum cholesterol or aortic TBARS and antioxidant enzymes.

Albendazole (ABZ) and mebendazole (MBZ) are two benzimidazole-derived drugs that show remarkable antihelmintic activity and are widely used in the treatment and control of helminths. Some antihelmintic drugs seem to act through the deleterious generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS, respectively) to which helminths have no, or relatively low, antioxidant defences (AD), when compared to aerobic organisms. The main objective of the present study consisted of the evaluation of the effect of both drugs on the AD and on some oxidative stress indicators in the host liver. Adult, male, Wistar rats were treated with ABZ or MBZ at doses of 40 mg/kg for different periods of time (2, 4, 8 and 10 days). After treatment, the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione S-transferase, as well as the concentrations of TBARS, reduced glutathione, oxidized glutathione and total glutathione, were evaluated in rat hepatocytes. The serum nitrogen monoxide, usually known as nitric oxide (NO) levels, was also measured. The results showed that both drugs provoked an oxidative stress condition, demonstrated through the elevation of TBARS contents and through the decrease of some AD. Moreover, ABZ showed to be a strong ROS and RNS generator while MBZ showed a low and transient effect on ROS generation. It is suggested that MBZ could be the first-choice drug in the treatment of helminthiasis because it shares a similar therapeutic indication with ABZ, and because it causes only a mild oxidative stress to the host.

Roux-en-Y bypass gastroplasty led to decreased proinflammatory parameters together with increased nutritional antioxidants, catalase, and TBARS, and decreased GSH 6 months after surgery.

RYGB followed by a daily vitamin supplement apparently attenuated pro-inflammatory and oxidative stress markers 1 year after surgery, but additional antioxidant supplementation appears necessary.

Acidic mine waters have a marked influence on the surrounding environment and pose a serious threat through long-term environmental degradation. Therefore, it is important to improve and monitor water quality with the aim of decreasing the hazard presented by this effluent emission. The aim of this work was to evaluate the remediation of mining wastewater effluents by chitosan microspheres using biomarkers of exposure and effect. DNA damage (Comet assay) and several biomarkers of oxidative stress, such as lipoperoxidation levels (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities, and contents of reduced glutathione (GSH), were measured in blood and liver of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed for 7, 15, and 30 days to dechlorinated tap water, 10% coal mining wastewater (CMW), and coal mining wastewater treated with chitosan microspheres (RCM). The results indicate that hepatic TBARS levels were significantly higher in fish exposed to CMW after 7, 15, and 30 days (100%, 86%, and 63%, respectively), and after remediation there was no significant difference in relation to the control group. Hepatic GSH concentrations were lower than control values for CMW after 7 and 15 days of exposure (34% decrease at both times), and this concentration was normalized by treatment with chitosan. SOD showed increased activity in liver after 15 and 30 days of exposure, 30% and 36%, respectively, and in fish exposed to RCM there was no change in this activity compared with the control group. Increased CAT activity in liver was observed during all experimental periods in fish exposed to CMW (46%, 50%, and 56% at 7, 15, and 30 days, respectively) compared with the control or treated-water groups. The highest increase in hepatic GST activity (106%) was observed only in fish exposed to CMW for 30 days. There was an increase in DNA damage in liver (50% at 7 and 15 days) and blood (79%, 77%, and 48% at 7, 15, and 30 days, respectively) after exposure to CMW. In contrast, the fish exposed to wastewater treated with chitosan microspheres exhibited DNA fragmentation indexes similar to the control group. The results obtained indicate the use of oxidative stress biomarkers as useful tools for the toxicity evaluation of coal mining effluents and also suggest that chitosan microspheres may be used as an alternative approach for remediation of coal mining wastewaters.

No abstract

The present findings show that oxidative stress returned 2 years after RYGB. Concentrations of vitamin C, β-carotene, GSH, CAT, and FRAP were decreased, whereas the concentration of TBARS decreased in the first year but increased in the following year, which may be partly explained by the imbalance between antioxidants and pro-oxidants.

Abstract:Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are present in all aerobic organisms, but the seed deterioration processes can increase its production. Oxidative stress caused by higher endogenous ROS may cause irreparable damage to cells, leading to the loss of seed viability. Considering that the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) composes the first enzymatic antioxidant defense mechanism, this study aimed to evaluate zygotic embryos of Araucaria angustifolia recalcitrant seeds during storage regarding changes in SOD activity. Besides, some of the major alterations resulting from oxidative stress, e.g., lipid peroxidation and changes in proteins and DNA integrity were also measured. Approximately, 7 000 seeds were harvested from a population in Southern Brazil and stored for 180 days under laboratory (L, laboratory temperature), refrigeration (R, 5 ± 1 °C) and freezing (F, -18 ± 1 °C) conditions. The analysis of lipid peroxidation through TBARS levels, SOD activity, protein profile by electrophoretic separation, and integrity of genomic DNA were performed at 0, 60, 120, and 180 days of storage. The results revealed an increase in lipid peroxidation and SOD activity, especially during the L storage, a condition in which there was an extensive degradation of proteins. Some proteins (i.e., 45, 32, and 31 kDa) were expressed only in embryos stored under R and F conditions. No damage was observed in the nuclear DNA integrity for the evaluated period of seed storage at R and F conditions. The F samples maintained the biochemical traits of interest throughout the storage period, with the exception of the protein profile. However, such changes are limiting for the maintenance of seed viability. In conclusion, R storage can be indicated to delay the metabolic feature alterations that occur when seeds are exposed to conditions of natural ambient after harvest, extending the conservation period of A. angustifolia seeds. Rev. Biol. Trop. 63 (4): 1185-1196. Epub 2015 December 01.Key words: Brazilian pine, recalcitrant seeds, seed deterioration, oxidative stress, superoxide dismutase.Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Ktze is a native conifer species from the Atlantic Rain Forest (Veloso, Rangel Filho, & Lima, 1991) in South Brazil. In its area of natural occurrence this species is one of the most important trees in ecological, economic, and social aspects (Auler, Reis, Guerra, & Nodari, 2002;Vibrans et al., 2011; Rosenfield & Souza, 2013). Among the trees of tropical origin, many species produce recalcitrant seeds, such as some of the Araucariaceae family (Song, Berjak, Pammenter, Ntuli, & Fu, 2003), including A. angustifolia (Balbuena et al., 2011 FariasSoares, Burrieza, Steiner, & Guerra, 2013), which rapidly germinate after dispersion (Löwe & Dillenburg, 2011).Seeds reach their maximum physiological quality after the completion of reserve substances allocation at physiological maturity time. From this point, the deterioration process begins, when several metabolic changes are apparent. But in recalcitrant seeds there is a patter...