Nowadays the mobilization and conservation of Armenian grapevine genetic resources is becoming global concern and has crucial importance. Armenia is regarded as homeland of viticulture and earliest 'wine culture'. Being studied enough by the methods of ampelography, Armenian grapevine diversity needs to be investigated in accordance with the modern European requirements. In recent years, grape phenolics have been a theme of major scientific and applied interest. These metabolites contribute to grapes and wine sensory properties, such as color, flavor, astringency, and determines the strong antioxidant capacity. The purpose of the presented research was the evaluation of total phenolic content and antioxidant property of forty Armenian aboriginal varieties, interspecific and intraspecific hybrids and wild species with different genetic background and geographic origin. The realized research has revealed a notable difference among the cultivated varieties and wild species in the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity, increased the scientific knowledge about the aboriginal varieties and wild genotypes. Obtained results will support the importance of preserving the biological diversity and favor the reintroduction of grape cultivars and wild genotypes thanks to the present valorization.
Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is a major cause of liver-related disorders and together with cancer-associated fibroblasts can favor liver cancer development by modulating the tumor microenvironment. Advanced HF, characterized by an excess of extracellular matrix (ECM), is mediated by TGF- β1, that activates hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and fibroblasts. A TGF-β1 receptor inhibitor, LY2157299 or Galunisertib (GLY), has shown promising results against chronic liver progression in animal models, and we show that it can be further improved by enhancing GLYs bioavailability through encapsulation in polymeric polygalacturonic-polyacrylic acid nanomicelles (GLY-NMs). GLY-NMs reduced HF in an in vivo rat model of liver fibrosis induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 as shown by the morphological, biochemical, and molecular biology parameters of normal and fibrotic livers . Moreover, GLY-NM was able to induce recovery from HF better than free GLY. Indeed, the encapsulated drug reduces collagen deposition, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation, prevents fatty degeneration and restores the correct lobular architecture of the liver as well as normalizes the serum parameters and expression of the genes involved in the onset of HF. In summary, GLY-NM improved the pharmacological activity of the free TGF- β1 inhibitor in the in vivo HF treatment and thus is a candidate as a novel therapeutic strategy.
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