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Oxidative stress is a unifying feature of several cardiometabolic risk factors, and has been suggested to be implicated in atherogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of supplementation with Heracleum persicum fruit—a common dietary spice—in modulating systemic biomarkers of oxidative stress in subjects undergoing coronary angiography. Twenty-seven subjects with minimal coronary artery disease (CAD; defined as < 50% obstruction in the coronary arteries) were selected for this trial and were randomly allocated to Heracleum persicum hydroalcoholic fruit extract (n = 15; 300 mg/day) or placebo (n = 12) for a period of six months. Patients were visited monthly and asked to report the adverse events during the treatment period. Serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and enzymatic activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were determined at baseline and at the end of trial. Comparison of changes in the evaluated biomarkers of oxidative stress indicated a significantly greater effect of H. persicum extract versus placebo in reducing serum MDA (p =.001), and elevating GSH (p =.001), and TAC (p =.001) concentrations, as well as activities of GPx (p =.001) and CAT (p =.001). The groups were comparable with respect to changes in serum SOD activities during the course of trial (p =.255). The findings of the present randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial clearly support the efficacy of H. persicum fruit extract as a safe antioxidant supplement in subjects with minimal CAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Curcuminoids are natural polyphenols with strong antioxidant capacity and may thus be helpful in the treatment of osteoarthritis. The present randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial investigated the efficacy of curcuminoids in reducing systemic oxidative burden in patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis. Forty patients with mild-to-moderate primary knee osteoarthritis were given curcuminoid capsules (1500 mg/day in 3 divided doses; n = 19) or matched placebo capsules (n = 21) for a period of 6 weeks. Curcuminoids were co-administered with piperine (15 mg/day) in order to improve the bioavailability. Serum activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malonedialdehyde (MDA) were determined spectrophotometrically at baseline and at the end of the treatment period in both groups. Serum activities of SOD as well as GSH and MDA concentrations were comparable between the study groups at baseline (p > 0.05). There was a significant elevation in serum SOD activities (mean change: 2.94 ± 3.73 vs. −0.38 ± 1.33; p < 0.001), a borderline significant elevation in GSH concentrations (mean change: 1.39 ± 2.78 vs. −0.02 ± 1.62; p = 0.064) and a significant reduction in MDA concentrations (mean change: −5.26 ± 4.46 vs. −2.49 ± 3.81; p = 0.044) in the curcuminoids compared with the placebo group. Changes in serum activities of SOD and concentrations of GSH and MDA during the course of trial were significantly correlated. Short-term supplementation with curcuminoids attenuates systemic oxidative stress in patients with osteoarthritis. These antioxidant effects may account for the reported therapeutic effects of curcuminoids in relieving osteoarthritis symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress plays a key role in the development of chronic pulmonary complications of sulfur mustard (SM). Curcuminoids are polyphenols with documented safety and antioxidant activity. The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of short-term supplementation with curcuminoids (co-administered with piperine to enhance the bioavailability of curcuminoids) in alleviating systemic oxidative stress and clinical symptoms, and improvement of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in subjects suffering from chronic pulmonary complications due to SM exposure who are receiving standard respiratory treatments. Eighty-nine subjects were recruited to this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, being randomly allocated to either curcuminoids (1500 mg/day) + piperine (15 mg/day) combination (n = 45) or placebo (n = 44) for a period of 4 weeks. High-resolution computed tomography suggested the diagnosis of bronchiolitis obliterans in all subjects. Efficacy measures were changes in serum levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malonedialdehyde (MDA). The severity and frequency of respiratory symptoms and HRQoL were also assessed using St. George respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and COPD Assessment Test (CAT) indices. Serum levels of GSH were increased whilst those of MDA decreased by the end of trial in both groups. Likewise, there were significant improvements in the total as well as subscale (symptoms, activity and impact) SGRQ and CAT scores in both groups. However, comparison of magnitude of changes revealed a greater effect of curcuminoids-piperine combination compared to placebo in elevating GSH, reducing MDA and improving CAT and SGRQ (total and subscale) scores (p < 0.001). Regarding the promising effects of curcuminoids on the measures of systemic oxidative stress, clinical symptoms and HRQoL, these phytochemicals may be used as safe adjuvants in patients suffering from chronic SM-induced pulmonary complications who are receiving standard treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]