The present study was designed to evaluate the oxidative stress as well as the therapeutic effect of Agaricus blazei Muril (A. Blazei) in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.
We used 25 Wistar rats, and DM was induced by injecting streptozotocin (70 mg/Kg i.p.). Agaricus blazei Muril was administered daily starting 40 days after disease onset. A. Blazei was tested as an aqueous extract for its phytochemical composition, and its antioxidant activity in vitro was also evaluated. Lipoperoxidation (LPO), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were measured in the pulmonary tissue, as well as the presence of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), through immunohistochemistry. An anatomopathologic study was also performed.
Phytochemical screening of A. Blazei detected the presence of alkaloids and saponins. The extract exhibited a significant antioxidant activity in the DPPH-scavenging and the hipoxanthine/xanthine oxidase assays. Pulmonary LPO increased in diabetic animals (0.43 ± 0.09; P < .001) as compared to the control group (0.18 ± 0.02), followed by a reduction in the A. Blazei-treated group (0.33 ± 0.04; P < .05). iNOS was found increased in the lung in diabetic rats and reduced in the A. Blazei-treated group. The pulmonary tissue in diabetic rats showed oxidative alterations related to the streptozotocin treatment. The A. Blazei treatment effectively reduced the oxidative stress and contributed to tissue recovery.
Aims: Eupatorium laevigatum Lam. is commonly used as anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antirheumatic, and in the treatment of colds and ulcers. The present study aimed to characterize the active fractions of the aerial parts of E. laevigatum, isolate its major constituents and to evaluate its cytotoxic effects against human tumor cells. Methodology: Phytochemical analysis of the aerial parts of E. laevigatum detected the presence of flavonoids, saponins and coumarins. Nuclear magnetic resonance with carbon and hydrogen determined that coumarin to be scopoletin. The human cancer cell lines HT-29, NCI-H460, MCF-7 and RXF-393 were used to evaluate cytotoxicity through the sulforodamine B assay as well the evaluation of oxidative damage through the thiobarbituric acid reactive species assay.
Short Research ArticleResults: Our study has shown that E. laevigatum crude extract and chloroform, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions are not cytotoxic in the concentrations used (up to 100 µg/mL), but the coumarin scopoletin isolated from the aerial parts of E. laevigatum presented a cytotoxic effect against NCI-H460 and RXF-393 cells (IC 50 value of 19.1 and 23.3 µg/mL, respectively). Scopoletin did not show any oxidative effect.
Conclusion:The coumarin scopoletin can be found in E. laevigatum and this compound induces cytotoxicity in NCI-H460 and RXF-393 cell lines. Moreover, it is suggested that the cytotoxic effect of scopoletin is no related to oxidative damage.
The present study investigated the effects of a moderate-intensity soccer training session on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidant capacity in athletes along with the biomarkers creatine kinase and transaminases for lesions in muscle and liver cells. Twenty-two male soccer players participated in this study. Blood samples were collected 5 min before and after a moderate-intensity game simulation. The results showed a decrease in the concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH) from an elevation in the production of ROS that maintained the redox homeostasis. Although the session promoted an elevated energy demand, observed by an increase in lactate and glucose levels, damage to muscle and/or liver cells was only suggested by a significant elevation in the levels of alanine transaminase (ALT). Of the two biomarkers analysed, the results suggest that measurements of the ALT levels could be adopted as a method to monitor recovery in athletes.
ResumoO monitoramento da qualidade do ar tornou-se algo essencial nos grandes centros urbanos do mundo, devido as emissões, tanto de fontes fixas quanto de fontes móveis. No caso do Rio de Janeiro, o maior problema está associado às fontes móveis, devido a composição dos combustíveis, tecnologias dos motores e a idade da frota circulante na cidade. Uma das grandes dificuldades encontradas está relacionada aos dados de inventários de fontes não atualizadas que contribuiriam para melhores avaliações. Assim, este trabalho buscou por meio de análises estatísticas e das concentrações médias de Material Particulado (MP 10 ) e de Dióxido de Enxofre (SO 2 ) registrados nas Estações Centro, São Cristóvão e Tijuca no período entre 2000 -2006 e 2010 -2014 compreender a qualidade destes dados, e assim correlacionar estes fatos com as atualizações nas tecnologias dos combustíveis e veículos que circulam na cidade. Os resultados apontam que houve ao longo do período de tempo uma certa diminuição nas concentrações dos poluentes estudados. Porém destacamos o Dióxido de Enxofre que apresentou uma redução em cerca de 40% em sua média anual, possivelmente pelas melhorias implementadas nos combustíveis.
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