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The study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil from dried seeds of Xylopia aethiopica. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. The essential oil yield was 1.35%. Forty-nine compounds were identified in the essential oil with 1,8-cineole (16.3%), β-pinene (14.8%), trans-pinocarveol (9.1%), myrtenol (8.3%), α-pinene (5.9%), and terpinen-4-ol (5.6%) as major components. The antimicrobial activity of this essential oil was studied using disk diffusion and broth microdilution methods on four bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and one fungus (Candida albicans). The essential oil exhibited excellent activity against S. aureus, E. faecalis, and C. albicans and moderate activity against E. coli. Among all strains tested, C. albicans showed the best sensitivity with a MIC of 50 mg/mL. The antioxidant activity was examined using a DPPH-free radical scavenging assay. The essential oil of X. aethiopica showed low antioxidant activity (IC50 = 784.604 ± 0.320 mg/mL) compared to that of ascorbic acid and the reference compound (IC50 = 0.163 ± 0.003 mg/mL). The results indicate that consumption of X. aethiopica seeds can reduce the virulence of food-borne pathogens and their resistance to antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy via intravitreal injection is an effective treatment for patients with abnormal ocular neovascularization, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME). However, prolonged and frequent anti-VEGF treatment is associated with a risk of local and systemic adverse events, including geographic atrophy, cerebrovascular disease, and death. Furthermore, some patients do not adequately respond to anti-VEGF therapy. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a transcription factor that controls the expression of hypoxia-responsive genes involved in angiogenesis, inflammation, and metabolism. The HIF/VEGF pathway plays an important role in neovascularization, and the inhibition of HIF activation could be an effective biomolecular target for neovascular diseases. The demand for disease prevention or treatment using functional foods such as superfoods has increased in recent years. Few reports to date have focused on the antineovascular effects of superfoods in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). In light of the growing demand for functional foods, we aimed to find novel HIF inhibitors from superfoods worked in RPE cells, which could be an adjuvant for anti-VEGF therapy. Methods. Seven superfoods were examined to identify novel HIF inhibitor candidates using luciferase assay screening. We used the human RPE cell line ARPE-19 and fetal human RPE (fhRPE) to investigate the biomolecular actions of novel HIF inhibitors using quantitative PCR and western blotting. Results. Under CoCl2-induced pseudohypoxic condition and 1% oxygen hypoxic incubation, camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) showed HIF inhibitory effects determined by luciferase assays. Camu-camu downregulated HIF-1α and VEGFA mRNA expressions in a concentration-dependent manner. Camu-camu also inhibited HIF-1α protein expressions, and its inhibitory effect was greater than that of vitamin C, which is present at high levels in camu-camu. Conclusion. The camu-camu extract suppressed the activation of HIF and VEGF in RPE cells. This could assist anti-VEGF therapy in patients with abnormal ocular neovascularization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baobab (Adansonia digitata L) is a large tree species growing in semiarid and arid lowlands of Ethiopia and other places. The plant is valued by natives for its contributions as a cash crop and livelihood tree. Previous studies using samples from different countries have documented their phytochemical profiles and nutritional and health benefits. This study explored the phytochemical constituents and biological activities of fruit pulp extracts of baobab collected from Tekeze Valley, Tigrai, Ethiopia. To this end, qualitative phytochemical screening tests, quantitative phytochemical analyses, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis were carried out using aqueous extract. Analyses of antioxidant activities were also conducted with aqueous- and methanol-extracts using of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO), and hydroxyl (OH) radical scavenging activity assays. The qualitative screening tests showed the presence of flavonoids, phenols, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids. Quantitative analyses of these phytochemicals at 25, 50, and 100 g/mL aqueous extract resulted in 0.0252 to 0.1000% yields. Yields of flavonoids, phenols, and saponins were higher at 50 g/mL extract, while that of tannins and terpenoids were higher at 100 g/mL. GC-MS analysis resulted in 15 predominant compounds including (1,2bis(trimethylsilyl)benzene (13.17%), 2-methyl-7-phenylindole (11.75%), 2-ethylacridine (10.11%), and benz[b]-1,4-oxazepine-4(5H)-thione,2,3-dihydro-2,8-dimethyl (10.11%). Aqueous and methanol extracts showed concentration-dependent antioxidant activities. In all the assays and concentrations, the antioxidant activities of both extracts were lower than that of the ascorbic acid standard. At equal extract concentrations (e.g., 100 and 250 μg/mL), methanol extract had higher antioxidant activities than aqueous extract. The findings can encourage future initiatives towards large-scale research for compiling a complete phytochemical profile of the fruit pulp of the Ethiopian baobab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Podocarpus gracilis is an evergreen, dioecious tree found in Ethiopia and other African nations. It can reach a height of 60 meters. Without any scientific validation, ethnobotanical studies conducted in Ethiopia revealed that the Podocarpus gracilis plant's leaf is consumed orally to treat diabetes mellitus. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the in vivo blood glucose level lowering, lipid-lowering, and in vitro-free radical scavenging responses of Podocarpus gracilis leaf extract and fractions on experimental mice induced with diabetes. Methods. The in vitro antioxidant activity of PGC (Podocarpus gracilis) leaf extract was assessed by using a diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The oral glucose-loaded, normoglycemic, and streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic mouse models were employed. In the STZ-induced mice model, the leaf extract and solvent fractions activity on serum lipid and weight were also measured. The extract and fractions were tested at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg dosages. One-way ANOVA was used to determine the statistical significance of BGL (blood glucose level) changes within and between groups, and Tukey's post hoc multiple comparisons were then performed. Results. In the acute toxicity study of Podocarpus gracilis leaf extract and fractions, there was no evidence of animal mortality at the maximum dose of 2 g/kg during the observation period. The extract-treated group with normoglycemia revealed a significant lowering in BGL at the 4-hour mark of 27.4% (p < 0.001) and 25.2% (p < 0.01) at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, respectively, compared to that in negative control. In the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) model, only 400 mg/kg treated groups at 120 min after exposure showed a BGL reduction of 31.17% which was statistically significant (p < 0.05) in comparison to the negative control. In the single-dose STZ-induced model, eighth-hour BGL measurements from CE 100, CE 200, CE 400, and GLC5 showed drops in BGL of 43.1%, 44.1%, 45%, and 47.3% from baseline fasting BGL values. In the repeated streptozotocin (STZ)-induced model, at all doses of leaf extract and fractions, the fasting BGL was significantly (p < 0.001) reduced. Moreover, the leaf extract and solvent fractions have shown a significant (p < 0.001) reduction of serum lipids such as LDL, TC, and VLDL, and at the same time, it increases HDL at 14 days with body weight gained. In the test for antioxidant activity, the half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for leaf extract and the standard medication (ascorbic acid) were 8.2 μg/ml and 3.3 μg/ml, respectively. The IC50 value denotes the concentration of the sample required to scavenge 50% DPPH radicals. Conclusion. The 80% hydromethanolic leaf extract and fractions of Podocarpus gracilis exhibited blood glucose lowering, lipid-lowering activity in normoglycemic, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) mode, and STZ-induced diabetic mice with weight gains. There is scientific support for the alleged traditional use as an antidiabetic, lipid-lowering, and antioxidant activity. The results need to be confirmed by future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperuricemia and its complications are severe risks to human health. Dietary intervention is considered an essential part of the management of hyperuricemia. Studies have reported that the intake of antioxidants has a positive effect on hyperuricemia. Here, we collected data from 8761 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for this analysis. Daily intakes of vitamins A, C, and E; manganese; selenium; and zinc were calculated as the composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI). The participants were divided into four groups (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4) according to the CDAI. Univariate analysis was used to assess the association of covariates with hyperuricemia. The association between the CDAI and hyperuricemia was evaluated using multinomial logistic regression, and its stability was determined by stratified analysis. Our results revealed that the CDAI has a significant negative association with hyperuricemia (Q2: 0.81 (0.69, 0.95); Q3: 0.75 (0.62, 0.90); Q4: 0.65 (0.51, 0.82); P < 0.01). The results of stratified analysis emphasize that this association between CDAI and hyperuricemia is stable. In conclusion, this study suggested a negative association between the CDAI and hyperuricemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. HIV-1 infection in cell culture is typically characterized by certain cytopathic effects such as vacuolization of cells and development of syncytia, which further lead to cell death. In addition, the majority of drugs during HIV treatment exhibit serious adverse effects in patients, apart from their beneficial role. During the screening of cytoprotective agents to protect the cells from HIV-1-associated cell death and also drug-associated toxicity, antioxidants from a natural source are assumed to be a choice. A well-known antioxidant, ethyl gallate (EG), was selected for cytoprotection studies which have already been proven as an anti-HIV agent. Objective. The main objective of the study was to explore the cytoprotective potential of EG against HIV-1-induced cytopathic effect and antiretroviral drug toxicity. Methods. DPPH free radical scavenging assay was performed with EG to find the effective concentration for antioxidant activity. HIV-1infection-associated cytopathic effects and further rescue by EG were studied in MT-2 lymphocytes by the microscopic method and XTT cytopathic assays. The cellular toxicity of different antiretroviral drugs in different cell lines and the consequent cytoprotective effectiveness of EG were investigated using an MTT cell viability assay. Results. Like ascorbic acid, EG exhibited promising antioxidant activity. HIV-1 infection of MT2 cells induces cell death often referred to as the cytopathic effect. In addition, the usage of antiretroviral drugs also causes severe adverse effects like cytotoxicity. In this context, EG was tested for its cytoprotective properties against HIV-1-induced cytopathic effect and drug-mediated cellular toxicity. EG reclaimed back the MT2 cells from HIV-1-induced cell death. Antiretroviral drugs, such as ritonavir, efavirinz, AZT, and nevirapine, were tested for their toxicity and induced more cell death at higher concentrations in different tissue models such as the liver (THLE-3), lung (AEpiCM), colorectal (HT-29), and brain (U87 MG). Pretreated cells with EG were rescued from the toxic doses of ART. Conclusion. EG was found to be exhibited cytoprotection not only from HIV-1-linked cell death but also from the chemotoxicity of antiretroviral drugs. Evidently, EG could be a cytoprotective supplement in the management of AIDS along with its enormous antioxidant benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teff [Eragrostis tef (Zuccagni) Trotter] is a cereal grain originating in Ethiopia as a staple food for millions of people. Its grain is a gluten-free superfood and got acceptance as a medicinal ingredient. Therefore, it is worthwhile to determine the antioxidative activities and L-ascorbic acid contents of teff grain and its baked food (injera). This study aimed to determine the ascorbic acid contents and antioxidant activities in the aqueous extract of the white and brown teff grains and their injera samples using iodimetric titration and UV-Vis spectrophotometric methods, respectively. The ascorbic acid contents in the white and brown teff ranged from 67.9–112.6 mg/100 g and 69.2–117.2 mg/100 g, respectively, and those in injera of the selected teff samples ranged from 30.5–32.9 mg/100 g and 37.3–43.0 mg/100 g, respectively. The antioxidant activities ranged from 1.26–7.04 μmol AAE/g for the white teff grains, 1.44–6.29 μmol AAE/g for the brown teff grains, 1.81–2.47 μmol AAE/g for white teff injera, and 3.89–4.86 μmol AAE/g for the brown teff injera samples. Findings of the present study have revealed that white teff and brown teff grains and their injera were found to have a higher content of ascorbic acid than commonly consumed grains and vegetables. No significant difference (α = 0.05) has been observed between the two varieties of teff grains with respect to the ascorbic acid content and antioxidant activities. However, there was a statistically significant difference (α = 0.05) in the ascorbic acid content and antioxidant activities between the teff grains and their injera samples. Therefore, this study indicated that teff grains and injera are rich in ascorbic acid content and antioxidant activities as compared to other cereal grains and are very crucial for human nutrition and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most often utilized nanoparticles (NPs) in several technologies is zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs. However, these NPs are said to have harmful effects on the reproductive system. Thus, we designed this study to specify the potential preventive activity of vitamins (Vits) A, C, and E, as antioxidants, against toxicity of ZnO NPs in the testes of rats. A total of 54 Wistar rats were arranged in 9 groups of 6 and then orally received water (control 1), olive oil (control 2), Vit A (1000 IU/kg), Vit C (200 mg/kg), Vit E (100 IU/kg), ZnO (200 mg/kg), ZnO+Vit A, ZnO+Vit C, and ZnO+Vit E. To determine the amount of testicular injury, sperm analysis and histological evaluation were performed. In addition, oxidative stress status was examined using colorimetric and qRT-PCR methods. Our findings suggest that ZnO NPs cause adverse effects on sperm parameters and testicular histology. Furthermore, oxidative biomarkers (malondialdehyde and total oxidant capacity) were enhanced in the ZnO group. By contrast, the gene expression and activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx, and CAT) noted a remarkable decrease in the ZnO group regarding control (p < 0.05). However, oxidative markers were remarkably mitigated after combined treatment of ZnO NPs and Vits A, C, or E compared to the rats given ZnO NPs (p < 0.05). Additionally, compared to the ZnO NP group, the rats receiving Vits+ZnO NPs exhibit increased antioxidant enzyme activity and mRNA expression (p < 0.05). The findings demonstrate the abovementioned Vits' ameliorative effects on toxicity incurred by ZnO NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the interaction within a liposome-based drug delivery system in silico. Results confirmed that phospholipids, cholesterol, beta-carotene, and vitamin C in the liposome structures interact noncovalently. The formation of noncovalent interactions indicates that the liposomal structures from phospholipid molecules will not result in chemical changes to the drug or any molecules encapsulated within. Noncovalent interactions formed include (i) moderate-strength hydrogen bonds with interaction energies ranging from −73.6434 kJ·mol−1 to −45.6734 kJ·mol−1 and bond lengths ranging from 1.731 Å to 1.827 Å and (ii) van der Waals interactions (induced dipole-induced dipole and induced dipole-dipole interactions) with interaction energies ranging from −4.4735 kJ·mol−1 to −1.5840 kJ·mol−1 and bond lengths ranging from 3.192 Å to 3.742 Å. The studies for several phospholipids with short hydrocarbon chains show that changes in chain length have almost no effect on interaction energy, bond length, and partial atomic charge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) protein is an essential contributor to the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). KRAS G12D and G12V mutant tumours are significant challenges in cancer therapy due to high resistance to the treatment. Objective. To determine how effective is the ATO/D-VC combination in suppression of PDAC the mouse transgenic model. This study investigated the antitumour effect of a novel combination of arsenic trioxide (ATO) and D-ascorbic acid isomer (D-VC). Such a combination can be used to treat KRAS mutant cancer by inducing catastrophic oxidative stress. Methods. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of ATO and D-VC on xenograft models—AK192 cells transplanted into mice. Previously, it has been shown that a high concentration of Vitamin C (VC) selectively can kill the cells expressing KRAS. Results. The results of this study demonstrated that the combination of VC with a low dose of the oxidizing drug ATO led to the enhancement of the therapeutic effect. These findings suggest that the combined treatment using ATO and D-VC is a promising approach to overcome the limitation of drug selectivity and efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin C (VC) plays an essential role in fish physiological function and normal growth. However, its effects and requirement of coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch (Walbaum, 1792) are still unknown. Based on the influences on growth, serum biochemical parameters, and antioxidative ability, an assessment of dietary VC requirement for coho salmon postsmolts (183.19 ± 1.91 g) was conducted with a ten-week feeding trial. Seven isonitrogenous (45.66% protein) and isolipidic (10.76% lipid) diets were formulated to include graded VC concentrations of 1.8, 10.9, 50.8, 100.5, 197.3, 293.8, and 586.7 mg/kg, respectively. Results showed that VC markedly improved the growth performance indexes and liver VC concentration, enhanced the hepatic and serum antioxidant activities, and increased the contents of serum alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and total cholesterol (TC) whereas decreased the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities, and triglyceride (TG) level. Polynomial analysis showed that the optimal VC levels in the diet of coho salmon postsmolts were 188.10, 190.68, 224.68, 132.83, 156.57, 170.12, 171.00, 185.50, 142.77, and 93.08 mg/kg on the basis of specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), liver VC concentration, catalase (CAT), hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and serum total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC), AKP, AST, and ALT activities, respectively. The dietary VC requirement was in the range of 93.08–224.68 mg/kg for optimum growth performance, serum enzyme activities, and antioxidant capacity of coho salmon postsmolts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic diseases that is known to cause structural and functional ocular complications. In the human cornea, DM-related complications affect the epithelium, stroma, and nerves. Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) are a family of proton-linked plasma membrane transporters that carry monocarboxylates across plasma membranes. In the context of corneal health and disease, their role, presence, and function are largely undetermined and solely focused on the most common MCT isoforms, 1 through 4. In this study, we investigated the regulation of MCT1, 2, 4, 5, 8, and 10, in corneal DM, using established 3D self-assembled extracellular matrix (ECM) in vitro models. Primary stromal corneal fibroblasts were isolated from healthy (HCFs), type I (T1DMs), and type II (T2DMs) DM donors. Monoculture 3D constructs were created by stimulating stromal cells on transwells with stable vitamin C for two or four weeks. Coculture 3D constructs were created by adding SH-SY5Y neurons at two different densities, 12 k and 500 k, on top of the monocultures. Our data showed significant upregulation of MCT1 at 4 weeks for HCF, T1DM, and T2DM monocultures, as well as the 500 k nerve cocultures. MCT8 was significantly upregulated in HCF and T1DM monocultures and all of the 500 k nerve cocultures. Further, MCT10 was only expressed at 4 weeks for all cocultures and was limited to HCFs and T1DMs in monocultures. Immunofluorescence analysis showed cytoplasmic MCT expression for all cell types and significant downregulation of both MCT2 and MCT4 in HCFs, when compared to T1DMs and T2DMs. Herein, we reveal the existence and modulation of MCTs in the human diabetic cornea in vitro. Changes appeared dependent on neuronal density, suggesting that MCTs are very likely critical to the neuronal defects observed in diabetic keratopathy/neuropathy. Further studies are warranted in order to fully delineate the role of MCTs in corneal diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Peelu (Salvadora oleoides Decne.) fruit is well known for its nutritional and medicinal values. The current study analyzed the chemical composition of Salvadora oleoides fruit. Fresh Peelu fruits were harvested, and physicochemical properties, proximate composition, macro- and micronutrients, and phytochemical properties were determined. Moreover, ethanol and methanol fruit extract was analyzed for physicochemical properties. The Peelu fruit seemed to be a potential source of essential macro- ((nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg)) and micronutrients (zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu)). The fruit had significant biochemical properties (total soluble solids (TSS), total acidity (TA), and TSS : TA ratio) with appreciable moisture, crude fiber, and ash contents. The fruit extracts demonstrated significantly higher antioxidants and phenolics, ascorbic acid contents, and carotenoids. Phytochemical screening of fruit revealed the presence of coumarins, flavonoids, phlobatannins, tannins, and terpenoids. Physicochemical and sensory evaluation of extracts indicated its potential for further in vivo study trials. The Peelu fruit was found to be a good source of mineral nutrients, proximate contents, vitamins (ascorbic acid and carotenoid), phytochemicals (total phenolic sand antioxidant contents), and pharmaceutically important metabolites that can be used as functional drink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomaterials are increasingly being used in pharmaceutical industry to treat a variety of disorders and diseases. Hence, the aim of this research was to evaluate their antioxidant and anticancer activity of presynthesized and characterized plant-based AgNPs against ferric, DPPH, H2O2, and ABTS free radicals and MCF-7 cell line. Interestingly, the antioxidants assay results revealed that the increased concentration (100 μg mL-1) of AgNPs has remarkable antioxidant ability on ferric (78.20%), DPPH (89.61%), H2O2 (82.34%), and ABTS (67.95%) free radicals. These scavenging activities were almost close to the free radicals scavenging ability of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Similarly, test AgNPs showed considerable cytotoxicity (83.15%) against MCF-7 cell line, and it was partially comparable with the cytotoxicity activity (91.35%) of positive control (Doxorubicin). These findings indicate that plant-mediated AgNPs have significant antioxidant and anticancer activity, and thus may be considered for biomedical applications pending the results of some in vivo experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cashew plant is an allogamous plant that produces two types of fruits: the nut and the cashew apple. The present study was conducted to perform a comparison of proximate and phytonutrient compositions of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) nuts and apples from different geographical areas of Burkina Faso. For this purpose, 60 samples of apples and kernels were collected from the three main cashew cultivation areas. The nutritional potential of cashew nuts and apples produced was evaluated to enhance their food processing. Protein, carbohydrates, lipids, dietary fibers, ascorbic acid, tannins, anthocyanins, chlorophyll, lycopene, and β-carotene contents were assessed. The results revealed high contents of lipids (50.42 ± 2.3 g/100 gDW), proteins (22.32 + − 1.8 g/100 gDW), and starch (12.05 ± 1.27 g/100 g DW) in almonds. Apples, on the other hand, are rich in lipids, ascorbic acid (387.45 ± 17.4 mg/100 g), soluble sugars (387.45 ± 17.4 mg/100 g,), and pigments (lycopene, anthocyanin, β-carotene, and chlorophyll). In summary, almonds may be suitable as a source of lipids and related products. Apples can be used as natural antioxidants and produce juices. All of these data are important clues for cashew by-product processing. These results obtained provide a scientific basis for their food and economical valorization of cashew fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moringa oleifera and strawberry are cultivated extensively worldwide and are divinely blessed with an enormous amount of nutritional and medicinal constituents, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, potassium, and phenolic antioxidants that play a pivotal role in treating, confining, and preventing diabetes and many kinds of cancer. The focus of the study is to develop different samples of highly acceptable ready to serve (RTS) Moringa strawberry juice blend by underutilizing Moringa and strawberry juice in different proportions. Moringa oleifera's bitter taste and green color steeply limits its acceptability and counter this drawback utilized with strawberry juice. The physicochemical analysis of blended juice was performed to investigate the suitability and keeping quality of the juice mixture. The collected data signify that pH titratable acidity (TA) and total soluble solids (TSS) the slight modification after the inclusion of Moringa juice extract and throughout the storage. The Moringa treatment positively improved the total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant, and vitamin C from 12 to 49.17 mg GAE/100g, 61.41 to 87.69%, and 64.03 to 86.65 mg/100 mL, respectively, but there was a slight decline in antioxidant quantity while stored under refrigerated conditions for one month. An assimilative trend was noticed in TPC and vitamin C, which collapsed from 49.17–36.32 mg GAE to 86.65–79.19 mg, respectively. In accordance with sensory analysis T2 (90% strawberry juice and 10% Moringa extract), the juice blend was rated best in context to flavor, color, and taste. This juice blend proved to be greatly effective especially for children suffering from malnutrition as well as women to counter with its appreciable number of nutritional constituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melon breeding is directed at improving the quality of the fruit needed to meet consumers' demands. The assessment of hybrid melon candidates on important characteristics (vitamin A, vitamin C, and TSS) at five maturity stages is needed to get hybrid melon varieties with good fruit quality and determine the right harvest time. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic parameters of vitamin A, vitamin C, and TSS contents of D-612 × PK-669 and PK-361 × PK-165 crossings at five stages of maturity. The study used a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with eight genotypes as treatment and three replications, so there were 24 experimental units. The eight melon genotypes were G1 = D-612 × PK-669, G2 = PK-669 × D-612, G3 = D-612, G4 = PK-669, G5 = PK-361 × PK-165, G6 = PK-165 × PK-361, G7 = PK-361, and G8 = PK-165. The content of vitamin A, vitamin C, and TSS was observed at five maturity stages, namely, at 55 DAP, 60 DAP, 65 DAP, 70 DAP, and 75 DAP. The right harvest time for the eight genotypes tested was maturity stage 4 (70 DAP) because it had the highest vitamin A, vitamin C, and TSS contents compared to other maturity stages. The inheritance of vitamin A and C content was not affected by the maternal effect, while TSS was influenced by the maternal effect. The vitamin A, vitamin C, and TSS content characteristics had higher phenotypic diversity coefficients than genetic diversity coefficients, while heritability values in the broad sense for the three melon genotypic characteristics ranged from 0.613 to 0.968. Crosses of PK-165 × PK-361 can be used to assemble hybrid melon varieties that have high vitamin A, vitamin C, and TSS contents because they have positive values for heterosis and heterobeltiosis for the three characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. This study performed a meta-analysis to explore the clinical efficacy of creatine phosphate sodium (CPS) and/or vitamin C for viral myocarditis (VMC) in children, to provide guidance for its clinical treatment. Methods. A literature search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases to obtain published clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on CPS and/or vitamin C for VMC in children, with a time span from 2013 to 2022. Relevant data was extracted and meta-analysis was performed using the statistical software Stata 16.0. Results. A total of 723 studies were retrieved and 19 studies were finally included for meta-analysis, with a total of 1,957 patients. The meta-analysis results showed that the observation group (conventional treatment + CPS and/or vitamin C) was superior to the control group (conventional treatment alone) in treatment effective rate (OR = 3.60 , 95% CI (2.55, 5.07), and P < 0.001). Additionally, the observation group had lower levels of cardiac troponin-I (SMD = − 2.63, 95% CI (− 3.51, − 1.76), and P < 0.001), creatine kinase isoenzyme (SMD = − 2.78 , 95% CI (− 3.53, − 2.03), and P < 0.001), lactate dehydrogenase (SMD = − 1.95 , 95% CI (− 2.49, − 1.42), and P < 0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (SMD = − 0.87 , 95% CI (− 1.84, 0.09), and P = 0.076), tumor necrosis factor-α (SMD = − 3.90 , 95% CI (− 4.47, − 3.06), and P < 0.001), and higher superoxide dismutase levels (SMD = 2.48 , 95% CI (1.64, 3.33), and P < 0.001). Except aspartate aminotransferase, there were significant differences between the two groups in the other parameters. Conclusion. CPS and/or vitamin C treatment could greatly improve the treatment, protect myocardial function, and relieve inflammatory response in children with VMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habb-e-Suranjan (HES), an Unani formulation, has been studied for its anti-inflammatory properties in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. HES is recommended for arthritis, gout, and joint pain. The current endeavor is an attempt to put it to the test and verify its efficacy scientifically. It was tested for DPPH, hydroxyl, and nitric oxide scavenging activities. It was shown that HES had the greatest TAC and FRAC values when compared to catechin and ascorbic acid. HES exhibited DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity that was dose-dependent. Incubation of sodium nitroprusside solutions in PBS at 25°C for 150 min resulted in the production of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide production was effectively decreased by HES. Anti-inflammatory medications boosted the migration of PMN cells toward the chemoattractant FMLP in an agarose experiment of PMN chemotaxis. In carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, in the HES-treated group, paw thickness was 3.021 ± 0.084 at t = 0 , but it showed an increase in paw inflammation after one hour, i.e., 3.195 ± 0.082 cm which again showed a decrease in paw thickness up to 4th hour, i.e., 3.018 ± 0.078 , 2.98 ± 0.032 , and 2.684 ± 0.061 at t = 2 , 3, and 4, respectively. It showed again getting back to the normal thickness of paw at t = 24 hrs, i.e., 3.029 ± 0.118 cm. It is concluded that the formulation is potent enough and can be used effectively for the treatment of inflammation and associated health issues. Moreover, there is much scope to evaluate its effectiveness using different in vitro and in vivo models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Critically ill patients have an increased requirement for vitamin C in sepsis and these patients have low levels of vitamin C. The researchers validated the efficacy of high-dose vitamin C intravenous infusion (IVI) in patients with sepsis requiring mechanical ventilation. Methods. Forty patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups (20 each) in a 1 : 1 ratio in accordance with the vitamin C treatment regimen: Group I (GI): patients received 1.5 g/6 h vitamin C in 50 ml of dextrose 5% in water (D5W) IVI over 30 minutes for 4 consecutive days; Group II (GII): patients received 100 mg vitamin C/day as a first single dose in 50 ml of D5W IVI over 30 minutes and the other three subsequent doses were 50 ml of plain D5W IVI over 30 minutes for 4 consecutive days. Primary outcomes were the change in sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score at day 7, the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and the plasma vitamin C level. The glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, duration of vasopressor therapy, and 28-day mortality were secondary outcomes. Results. The change in SOFA score at day 7 showed a significant difference between GI and GII (p < 0.001). The incidence of early VAP was significantly lower in GI (p = 0.044). Vitamin C levels showed a significant rise in GI at day 1 and day 4 (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001 , respectively). GPX activity of day 4 and day 7 was significantly higher in GI (p = 0.005 and p = 0.014 , respectively). CRP levels of day 4 and day 7 were significantly higher in GII (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001 , respectively). There was a significant difference in 28-day mortality (p = 0.038) and duration of vasopressor therapy (p = 0.033) in GI compared to GII. Conclusion. The early use of high-dose vitamin C intravenous infusion in patients with sepsis requiring mechanical ventilation in combination with the standard treatment for sepsis lowered the incidence of VAP, increased the antioxidant status, and improved the illness severity. Trial Registration. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT04029675). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study is aimed at investigating the clinical efficacy of anisodamine combined with chlorpromazine on intractable hiccups after stroke. Methods. 150 patients admitted to Affiliated Hospital of the Hebei University of Engineering from 2017 to 2021 were selected as the research objects, all of which received the computed tomography (CT) examination. During CT examination, intelligent algorithms were used to segment the images. An unsupervised multilayer image threshold segmentation algorithm was proposed by using Kullback-Leibler (K-L) divergence and the modified particle swarm optimization (MPSO) algorithm. All patients were divided into three groups, with each group of 50 patients. Patients in the control group (group A) took the calcium tablets, vitamin C tablets, and vitamin B1 tablets orally. Patients in the control group (group B) received the acupoint injection of anisodamine, and those in the observation group (group C) received the acupoint injection of anisodamine combined with chlorpromazine. The therapeutic effect and patient satisfaction of the three groups were compared. Results. The two-dimensional (2D) K-L divergence was applied for the multilayer segmentation of images, which was helpful to obtain accurate images. The MPSO algorithm was adopted to reduce the computational complexity. The total efficiency of group C was 98%, that of group B was 56%, and that of group A was 22%. The total efficiency and satisfaction rate of group C were signally better than those of group A and group B (P < 0.05). Conclusion. The combination of 2D K-L divergence and MPSO algorithm could improve the accuracy of multilayer image segmentation and CT imaging. Acupoint injection of anisodamine combined with chlorpromazine had better efficacy than the injection of anisodamine alone for the treatment of intractable hiccups after stroke, with high safety and clinical promotion value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lowering blood pressure effect of vitamin C (VC) has been evaluated in various models. As VC has a fast degradation rate in the body after consumption, a study of the frequency-dependent manner of VC is essential for the sustained antihypertension effect of VC. In this study, we investigated the frequency and dose dependency of vitamin C (VC) on blood pressure reduction in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Wistar–Kyoto rats (WKYs) and SHRs were orally administered tap water or VC (250, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/60 kg/day). Blood pressures were measured using the tail-cuff method, and thoracic aortas, liver, and blood were harvested from sacrificed rats after 8 weeks to measure angiotensinogen, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and total nitric oxide (NOx) concentration. VC decreased blood pressure from the fourth week with no significant differences between doses. The twice-a-day administration of VC decreased blood pressure from the second week, and the blood pressure in these groups was close to that of the WKY group in the eighth week. Treatment with once a day VC decreased ACE I production which was further significantly reduced in twice a day groups. Angiotensinogen and eNOS production were increased upon VC treatment but were not significant among groups. The NOx content was decreased by VC treatment. These results suggest that VC lowers blood pressure in SHRs by directly targeting ACE I production in a frequency-dependent manner and may improve endothelial function depending on the frequency of administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ototoxic hearing loss results from hair cell death via reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and consequent apoptosis. We investigated the effects of vitamin C (VC) on neomycin-induced HEI-OC1 cell damage, as well as the mechanism of inhibition. HEI-OC1 cells were treated with neomycin or with vitamin C (VC). The results indicated that VC had a protective effect on neomycin-induced HEI-OC1 cell death. Mechanistically, VC decreased neomycin-induced ROS generation, suppressed cell death, and increased cell viability. VC inhibited neomycin-induced apoptosis, ameliorated neomycin reduced antiapoptotic Bcl-2 expression, and suppressed neomycin increased expression of proapoptotic Bax, caspase-3 cleavage and caspase-8. TUNEL labeling demonstrated that VC blocked neomycin-induced apoptosis. Further study revealed that the effect of VC on neomycin-induced hair cell death was through interference with JNK activation and p38 phosphorylation. These results indicate that VC via suppressed ROS generation, which inhibited cell death by counteracting apoptotic signaling induced by neomycin in cells. Hence, VC is a potential candidate for protection agent against neomycin-induced HEI-OC1 cell ototoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychotria densinervia hydro-ethanolic leaf extract (PHELE) and bark extract (PHEBE) were evaluated for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and inhibition of digestive enzymes activities. The antioxidant activity was characterized by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) assays. The anti-inflammatory activity was characterized by protein denaturation and antiproteinase tests, while the inhibition of the enzymes was assessed using α-amylase, α-glucosidase, lipase, and cholesterol esterase activities. PHELE presented low (p < 0.001) IC50 (59.09 ± 5.97 μg/ml) for DPPH compared with ascorbic acid (71.78 ± 6.37 μg/ml) and PHEBE (115.40 ± 1.21 μg/ml). The IC50 of PHELE (262.4 ± 4.46 μg/ml) and PHEBE (354.2 ± 1.97 μg/ml) was higher (p < 0.001) than that of catechin (33.48 ± 2.02 μg/ml) for ABTS. PHELE had high (p < 0.001) FRAP (341.73 ± 21.70 mg CE/g) than PHEBE (150.30 ± 0.32 mg CE/g). PHELE presented (p < 0.001) high TPC (270.05 ± 7.53 mg CE/g) and TFC (23.43 ± 0.032 mg CE/g) than PHEBE (TPC: 138.89 ± 0.91 and TFC: 20.06 ± 0.032 mg CE/g). PHELE showed antiprotein denaturation with IC50 (257.0 ± 7.51 μg/ml) (p < 0.001) and antiproteinase activity (74.37 ± 1.10 μg/ml) lower than PHEBE (316.1 ± 6.02 μg/ml and 177.6 ± 0.50 μg/ml), respectively. Orlistat inhibited lipase (p < 0.001) activity with IC50 (37.11 ± 4.39 μg/ml) lower than PHELE and PHEBE (50.57 ± 2.89 μg/ml and 62.88 ± 1.74 μg/ml, respectively). PHELE inhibited cholesterol esterase with IC50 (34.75 ± 3.87 μg/ml) lower than orlistat (54.61 ± 2.56) and PHEBE (80.14 ± 1.71 μg/ml). PHELE inhibited α-amylase IC50 (6.07 ± 4.05 μg/ml) lower than PHEBE (19.69 ± 6.27 μg/ml) and acarbose (20.01 ± 2.84 μg/ml). Acarbose inhibited α-glucosidase (p < 0.001) activity with IC50 (4.11 ± 3.47 μg/ml) lower than PHELE (24.41 ± 2.84 μg/ml) and PHEBE (38.81 ± 2.46 μg/ml). PHELE presented better antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and enzyme inhibition activity than PHEBE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a low-cost, sensitive, and efficient voltammetric method based on anthraquinone modified carbon paste electrode was developed for determination of ascorbic acid in cabbage samples. After cyclic voltammetry was used to investigate the electrochemical behavior of ascorbic acid and to study dependence of oxidative peak current on scan rate and pH, square wave voltammetric method was developed for direct determination of ascorbic acid in cabbage samples. In contrast to the unmodified carbon paste electrode, a remarkable enhancement in oxidative peak current at anthraquinone modified carbon paste electrode confirmed electrocatalytic property of the modifier towards oxidation of ascorbic acid. A better correlation coefficient for the dependence of peak current on the square root of scan rate ( R 2 = 0.9963) than on the scan rate ( R 2 = 0.9781) indicated that the oxidation of ascorbic acid at anthraquinone modified carbon paste electrode is predominantly governed by diffusion-controlled process. Square wave amplitude, square wave step potential, and square wave frequency are optimized for the investigation of AA in cabbage. The optimized values are 30 mV, 7 mV, and 35 Hz, respectively. Under the optimized method and solution parameters, an excellent linear response was observed between square wave voltammetric peak current of AQMCPE and concentration of ascorbic acid in the range 5 × 10 − 5 to 4 × 10 − 3 M with a better correlation coefficient ( R 2 = 0.9993) and detection limit (LOD = 1.84 × 10 − 6 M). The ascorbic acid content of the three cabbage samples from three different cabbage growing areas was found in the range 3.686 ± 0.026 – 8.298 ± 0.011 mg/g of powdered cabbage. Excellent recovery results between 95.042 and 96.139% for spiked ascorbic acid in cabbage samples confirmed the potential applicability of the developed method based on AQMCPE for the determination of ascorbic acid in real samples like cabbage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is the main cause of liver damage mediated by the excretion of toxic active drug metabolites. Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin C have potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects that could offer protection against oxidative stress and liver damage. This study evaluated the hepatoprotective effect of omega-3 and vitamin C alone as well as in a combined form in methotrexate- (MTX-) induced acute liver injury in mice. Male ICR mice of seven groups (7 mice per group) were used. Groups 1 (control group) and 2 (MTX) received 0.9% saline/day (po) for 9 days. Groups 3 and 4 received 100 and 200 mg/kg bw/day omega-3 (po), respectively, for 9 days. Groups 5 and 6 received 100 and 200 mg/kg bw/day vitamin C (po), respectively, for 9 days, while group 7 received omega-3 (100 mg/kg bw/day) and vitamin C (100 mg/kg bw/day) (po) for 9 days. All animals in groups 2 to 7 received 20 mg/kg/day MTX (I.P.) once on the 10th day. Our results revealed that MTX significantly induced the elevation of transaminases, alkaline phosphates (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and malonaldehyde (MDA) while depleting the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) when compared to the control group. Treatment with omega-3 fatty acids or vitamin C significantly attenuated the antioxidants and biochemical alterations in a dose-independent manner. Our molecular docking study of ligand-receptor interaction revealed that both ascorbic acid and omega-3 docked well to the binding cavity of LDH with high binding affinities of –5.20 and –4.50 kcal/mol, respectively. The histopathological features were also improved by treatment with omega-3 and vitamin C. The combined form of omega-3 and vitamin C showed a remarkable improvement in the liver enzymes, oxidative stress biomarkers, and the histopathological architecture of the mice. Conclusively, the combination of omega-3 and vitamin C demonstrated a synergistic therapeutic effect against MTX-intoxicated mice, hence representing a potential novel strategy for the management of drug-induced liver disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balanites aegyptiaca L. Delile (B. aegyptiaca) is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of memory impairment. This work aims to evaluate the antioxidant and anticholinesterase potential of BA fruit pulp extract on excitotoxicity induced by monosodium glutamate (MSG). MSG was administered 30 minutes after treatment with B. aegyptiaca aqueous fruit pulp extract (50, 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) and vitamin C (100 mg/kg) for 30 days. The negative control group received only MSG, while the control group was given distilled water daily. Behavioral tests parameters (using the novel object recognition, Y-maze, and Barnes maze tests), oxidative stress biomarkers (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and catalase), nitric oxide, and acetylcholinesterase activity and hippocampal architecture were evaluated. Results obtained revealed that different doses of B. aegyptiaca significantly reversed the deleterious effect of MSG on memory. This was displayed by a significant (p < 0.05) increment in the percentage of spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze test and a significant (p < 0.001) increase in discrimination index in novel object recognition observed with 500 mg/kg extract dose. Moreover, the extract (250 and 500 mg/kg doses) significantly (p < 0.001) increased direct search strategy and significantly decreased (p < 0.01) the time taken to find the target hole in the Barnes maze. A modulation of hyperactivity was observed after administration of all extract doses compared to the negative control group in the open arena. Furthermore, the highest dose of the extract caused a significant (p < 0.001) improvement in antioxidant enzymes activity, associated with a significant (p < 0.001) decrement in nitric oxide and malondialdehyde concentrations and a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in acetylcholinesterase activity. Treatment with the extract also restored normal hippocampal cell architecture. B. aegyptiaca fruit pulp extract could thus confer neuroprotection through its antioxidant and anticholinesterase potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the infection and treatment of the SARS-CoV-2 viral infection, age and comorbidities play a major role in the successful management of COVID-19. The nutritional status changes which occur in the body vary with the age and underlying conditions and has a vital role in the functioning of the immune system and cellular membrane integrity, thus minimizing the vulnerability to the infection. Considering the data already published by eminent researchers, a few micronutrients have shown outstanding results as supportive therapies in the treatment of viral infections. Micronutrient like zinc improves the membrane barrier integrity, has anti-inflammatory activity, and is involved in antibody production. Vitamin A supports the phagocytic activity of macrophages, while vitamin C reduces the worsening of respiratory tract infections by restoring the dysfunctional epithelial barrier of the lungs. Vitamin D, vitamin E, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acid metabolites play a major role in immunomodulation and in the inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine production. Magnesium is involved in the synthesis of antibodies, while copper, vitamin B12, and folate have significant effects on immune cells. A few researchers suggest that iron supplementation has reduced the risk of acquiring respiratory tract infections in children. As the age of the patient increases, the need for micronutrients increases, thus leading to an imbalanced nutritional status which in turn increases the risk and fatality of the infections. The use of micronutrients in modulating the inflammatory, immune responses, and the epithelial barrier integrity is explored during the treatment of viral infections for faster recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune system disorders and increased inflammation in the male reproductive system can lead to fetal risk in the early stages of development and implantation. Antioxidants such as vitamin C can play a protective role against sperm inflammatory reactions. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin C on the expression of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine genes in the male partners of couples with recurrent pregnancy loss. In this randomized clinical trial, twenty male partners of couples with RPL were examined for sperm parameters and expression profile of some inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine genes before and after treatment with vitamin C. There was a statistically significant higher rate of normal morphology and sperm concentration in each patient before and after treatment with vitamin C p ≤ 0.05 . The mRNA levels of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were significantly decreased in the sperm of patients after treatment with vitamin C compared to before treatment. In contrast, the gene expression levels of interleukin 4 and transforming growth factor-beta showed a significant increase in the sperm of patients after treatment with vitamin C. Oral daily administration of vitamin C may be effective in the fertility potential of male partners of couples with RPL not only through the improvement of the sperm parameters but also by modulating the expression profile of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory genes. Further studies on protein levels are needed to clarify the role of TNF-⍺ and IFN-γ as a prognostic value in evaluating the recurrent abortion risk in infertile male partners. This trial is registered with IRCT20180312039059N1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone tissue provides support and protection to different organs and tissues. Aging and different diseases can cause a decrease in the rate of bone regeneration or incomplete healing; thus, tissue-engineered substitutes can be an acceptable alternative to traditional therapies. In the present work, we have developed an in vitro osteogenic differentiation model based on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), to first analyse the influence of the culture media and the origin of the cells on the efficiency of this process and secondly to extrapolate it to a 3D environment to evaluate its possible application in bone regeneration therapies. Two osteogenic culture media were used (one commercial from Stemcell Technologies and a second supplemented with dexamethasone, ascorbic acid, glycerol-2-phosphate, and BMP-2), with human cells of a mesenchymal phenotype from two different origins: adipose tissue (hADSCs) and dental pulp (hDPSCs). The expression of osteogenic markers in 2D cultures was evaluated in several culture periods by means of the immunofluorescence technique and real-time gene expression analysis, taking as reference MG-63 cells of osteogenic origin. The same strategy was extrapolated to a 3D environment of polylactic acid (PLA), with a 3% alginate hydrogel. The expression of osteogenic markers was detected in both hADSCs and hDPSCs, cultured in either 2D or 3D environments. However, the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs was obtained based on the culture medium and the cell origin used, since higher osteogenic marker levels were found when hADSCs were cultured with medium supplemented with BMP-2. Furthermore, the 3D culture used was suitable for cell survival and osteogenic induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. There are still controversies about the curative effect of vitamin C in treating HIE, and its mechanism of action is not entirely clear. This study is designed to explore the potential molecular mechanism of vitamin C in treating neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Methods. The effect targets of vitamin C and the pathogenic targets of neonatal HIE were obtained via retrieval of public databases to screen out the molecular targets of vitamin C acting on neonatal HIE. Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotations and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed on the main targets. Vitamin C and the optimum target structural components are subjected to molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation analysis via computer software so as to verify their binding activity and stability. Result. Based on 16 overlapping targets of vitamin C and HIE, seven main targets were identified in this study. According to GO and KEGG analysis, molecular functions (top 25 items) and signal pathways (21 items) related to inflammatory reaction, immune response, and cell transcriptional control may be potential pathways for vitamin C to treat neonatal HIE. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were adopted to definitively determine the 4 optimum core target spots. Conclusion. The efficacy of vitamin C on HIE is involved in the immunoregulation and inflammation-related functional processes and signal pathways. These molecular mechanisms, including core targets, will contribute to the clinical practice of neonatal HIE in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and low-cost and highly calibrated probe sonication method was used to prepare bismuth oxide nanoparticles (Bi2O3 NPs). The formation of a well-crystalline sample at the end of the product has been further calcined at 600°C for 2 hrs. The powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns of the NPs substantiated the monoclinic structure (space group P21/c), and the average crystallite size was found to be 60 nm, which was also confirmed by transmission electron microscopic (TEM) studies. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images depicted highly porous Bi2O3 NPs with little agglomeration. Utilizing diffused reflectance spectra (DRS) data, the energy bandgap ( E g ) value of 3.3 eV was deduced for Bi2O3 NPs, and their semiconductor behavior has been confirmed. Two dyes, methylene blue (MB) and acid green (AG) were utilized for degradation studies using Bi2O3 NPs under UV light irradiation (from 0 to 120 min). The photocatalytic degradation was found to be maximum for MB (93.45%) and AR (97.80%) dyes. Cyclic voltammetric (CV) and sensor studies using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were performed. The specific capacitance value of 25.5 Fg-1 was deduced from the cyclic voltammograms of the Bi2O3 electrode in 0.1 N HCl with a scan rate of 10 to 50 mV/s. From the obtained EIS data, the Bi2O3 electrode showed pseudocapacitive characteristics. The prepared electrodes also exhibited high sensitivity towards the detection of ascorbic acid and lead. Hence, sonochemically synthesized Bi2O3 NPs are possibly hopeful for excellent photocatalytic and electrochemical sensing of biomolecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pomegranate peel extract is rich of interesting bioactive chemicals, principally phenolic compounds, which have shown antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidative properties. The aim of this work was to improve extract' bioactivity through the adsorption on calcium carbonate nanocrystals. Nanocrystals revealed as efficient tools for extract adsorption reaching 50% of loading efficiency. Controlled release of the contained metabolites under acidic pH has been found, as it was confirmed by quantitative assay and qualitative study through NMR analysis. Specific functionality of inorganic nanocarriers could be also tuned by biopolymeric coating. The resulting coated nanoformulations showed a great antimicrobial activity against B. cinerea fungus preventing strawberries disease better than a commercial fungicide. Furthermore, nanoformulations demonstrated a good antiproliferative activity in neuroblastoma and breast cancer cells carrying out a higher cytotoxic effect respect to free extract, confirming a crucial role of nanocarriers. Finally, pomegranate peel extract showed a very high radical scavenging ability, equal to ascorbic acid. Antioxidant activity, measured also in intracellular environment, highlighted a protective action of extract-adsorbed nanocrystals twice than free extract, providing a possible application for new nutraceutical formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Antioxidants attracted long-standing attention as promising preventive agents worldwide. Previous observational studies have reported that circulating antioxidants are associated with reduced mortality; however, randomized clinical trials indicate neutral or harmful impacts. The association of long-term circulating antioxidant exposure with longevity is still unclear. Objectives. We aim to determine whether long-term circulating antioxidant exposure is causally associated with longevity in the general population using the two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design. Methods. Genetic instruments for circulating antioxidants (ascorbate, lycopene, selenium, beta-carotene, and retinol) and antioxidant metabolites (ascorbate, alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, and retinol) were identified from the largest up-to-date genome-wide association studies (GWASs). Summary statistics of these instruments with individual survival to the 90th vs. 60th percentile age (11,262 cases and 25,483 controls) and parental lifespan (N = 1,012,240 individuals) were extracted. The causal effect was estimated using the inverse-variance weighted method in the main analysis and complemented by multiple sensitivity analyses to test the robustness of results. Results. We found that genetically determined higher concentration of circulating retinol (vitamin A) metabolite was casually associated with a higher odds of longevity (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02–1.13; P < 0.01) and increased parental lifespan (lifespan years per 10-fold increase: 0.17; 95% CI, 0.07–0.27; P < 0.01). Present evidence did not support a causal impact of circulating ascorbate (vitamin C), tocopherol (vitamin E), lycopene, selenium or beta-carotene on life expectancy. No evidence was identified to show the pleiotropic effects had biased the results. Conclusions. Long-term higher exposure to retinol metabolite is causally associated with longevity in the general population. Future MR analyses could assess the current findings further by utilizing additional genetic variants and greater samples from large-scale GWASs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Myopathy is one of the side effects of lipid-lowering drugs, especially statins and particularly when combined with a fibrate. To diagnose myopathy and determine its severity, the plasma levels of three enzymes, creatine kinase (CK), aldolase, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), are routinely measured. Physical exercise can aggravate the statin-associated muscular disease. The question is whether antioxidants like ascorbic acid (Vit. C) can prevent such myopathy. Methods. In this experiment, a combination of atorvastatin (ATV, 80 mg/kg/day) and gemfibrozil (GMF, 1000 mg/kg/day) orally for 10 days as well as exercise as forced swimming on days 8, 9, and 10 were used to induce myopathy. Ascorbic acid (50 mg/kg/day, orally) was added to ATV/GMF plus exercise regimen throughout the 10 days in the treatment group. Mean blood levels of CK, aldolase, and LDH were measured in addition to swimming tolerance times. Results. There was a significantly higher swimming tolerance time P < 0.05 and lower CK levels P < 0.01 in rats receiving ATV/GMF/Vit. C plus exercise compared with rats not taking Vit. C. LDH and aldolase did not decrease significantly. Conclusion. The results of this study showed that Vit. C can be effective in preventing myopathy caused by fat-lowering drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Vitamin C (Vc) has been found to promote corneal wound healing after alkali burns. However, the specific mechanism and functional modes are still unclear. The present study sought to assess the mechanisms of Vc function on corneal alkali burns. Methods. Eighty BALB/c mice were divided into four groups: a normal group without alkali injury (n = 10), an alkali injury group without any treatment (1-day group, n = 10), a Vc group treated with topical 10% Vc (Vc group, n = 30), and a control group treated with topical sterile water (control group, n = 30). Except in the blank control group, the alkali injuries were induced in one eye of each mouse. The mice in the treatment group were given Vc by topical application (q 1 h for 6 days), while those in the control group were given topical sterile water. The clinical evaluations, including corneal fluorescent staining, corneal opacity, and neovascularization, were assessed on days 1, 4, 7, and 10 using slit-lamp microscopy. Ten mice at each time point were sacrificed. The protein expressions in the corneas of p63, PCNA, CK3, MPO, CD31, and α-SMA were detected by immunohistochemistry to examine the corneal epithelial stem cells, corneal epithelium wound healing, corneal stroma inflammation, neovascularization, and fibrosis. Results. The scores of the corneal epithelium defects, corneal neovascularization, and corneal opacities in the Vc group were significantly decreased compared to the control group on day 10. We found that Vc promoted the activation of the corneal epithelial stem cells as shown by a higher number of p63-positive and PCNA-positive cells and an increased CK3 expression when compared with the control group p < 0.001 . The central corneal re-epithelialization was completed by day 10. Moreover, Vc inhibited MPO, CD31, and α-SMA expressions. These results first indicated that the frequent use of topical Vc in the first 6 days of corneal alkali burns alleviated corneal inflammatory cell infiltration, activated corneal epithelial stem cell activity, and reduced corneal neovascularization and fibrosis within 10 days. Conclusions. The study, therefore, showed the therapeutic benefits of Vc on corneal alkali burns and provided new insight into the mechanisms of Vc regulation on corneal wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gliomas represent solely primary brain cancers of glial cell or neuroepithelial origin. Gliomas are still the most lethal human cancers despite modern innovations in both diagnostic techniques as well as therapeutic regimes. Gliomas have the lowest overall survival rate compared to other cancers 5 years after definitive diagnosis. The dietary intake of vitamin C has protective effect on glioma risk. Vitamin C is an essential compound that plays a vital role in the regulation of lysyl and prolyl hydroxylase activity. Neurons store high levels of vitamin C via sodium dependent-vitamin C transporters (SVCTs) to protect them from oxidative ischemia-reperfusion injury. Vitamin C is a water-soluble enzyme, typically seen as a powerful antioxidant in plants as well as animals. The key function of vitamin C is the inhibition of redox imbalance from reactive oxygen species produced via the stimulation of glutamate receptors. Gliomas absorb vitamin C primarily via its oxidized dehydroascorbate form by means of GLUT 1, 3, and 4 and its reduced form, ascorbate, by SVCT2. Vitamin C is able to preserve prosthetic metal ions like Fe2+ and Cu+ in their reduced forms in several enzymatic reactions as well as scavenge free radicals in order to safeguard tissues from oxidative damage. Therapeutic concentrations of vitamin C are able to trigger H2O2 generation in glioma. High-dose combination of vitamin C and radiation has a much more profound cytotoxic effect on primary glioblastoma multiforme cells compared to normal astrocytes. Control trials are needed to validate the use of vitamin C and standardization of the doses of vitamin C in the treatment of patients with glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to compare the physicochemical parameters, sugar, vitamin C, and phenolic profiles in five genotypes of local indeterminate tunnel tomato hybrid (LITTH) (LITTH-778, LITTH-784, LITTH-786, LITTH-788, and LITTH-790) of natural parthenocarpic tomato (NPT) and normal seeded tomato (NST). Samples were collected from the experimental fields of Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Physical parameters (fruit shape, fruit weight, fruit length, fruit width, number of seeds per fruit, and shelf-life) and chemical composition (moisture, ash, crude fat, crude fiber, total carbohydrate, crude protein, and vitamin C) of NPT and NST were analyzed by reported methods. The methanolic extracts of tomato pulp were prepared by shaking and extracts were assayed for antioxidant activity. Sugar contents and phenolic profile of NPT and NST were estimated using HPLC method. Weight and size of NPT were less and smaller than the NST. Moreover, NPT were seedless with longer shelf-life and had more phenolic and flavonoid contents than the NST. HPLC analysis revealed that chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, and p-coumaric acid were major phenolics in methanol (polar solvent) extracts of NST, and caffeic acid, gallic acid, and p-coumaric acid in NPT extract. NPT contained higher concentration of sugar contents, but lower concentration of vitamin C than NST. In 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay, NPT fruit extracts showed high scavenging activity with the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 22.56 μg/mL compared to NST fruit extracts having IC50 29.49 μg/mL. This study provided useful information for farmers and nutritionists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is a necrotic pancreatic inflammation associated with high mortality rate (up to 70%). Bone marrow (BM) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been investigated in pancreatic cellular regeneration, but still their effects are controversial. Therefore, the present study is aimed at examining the enrichment of the stem cells with ascorbic acid (AA) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and explore their combined action on the expression of the inflammatory cytokines: interleukin 1β (IL 1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and nuclear factor-κβ (NF-κβ). A total of twenty adult male Sprague-Dawley albino rats were divided into four groups: the control group, cerulein group (to induce acute pancreatitis), BM-MSCs group, and combined BM-MSCs with AA and NAC group. Homing and proliferation of stem cells were revealed by the appearance of PKH26-labelled BM-MSCs in the islets of Langerhans. AA and NAC combination with BM-MSCs (group IV) was demonstrated to affect the expression of the inflammatory cytokines: IL 1β, TNF-α, and NF-κβ. In addition, improvement of the biochemical and histological parameters is represented in increasing body weight, normal blood glucose, and insulin levels and regeneration of the islet cells. Immunohistochemical studies showed an increase in proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and decrease in caspase-3 reactions, detected markedly in group IV, after the marked distortion of the classic pancreatic lobular architecture was induced by cerulein. It could be concluded that treatment with BM-MSCs combined with antioxidants could provide a promising therapy for acute pancreatitis and improve the degeneration, apoptosis, necrosis, and inflammatory processes of the islets of Langerhans. TNF-α, IL 1β, and NF-κβ are essential biomarkers for the evaluation of MSC regenerative effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ganoderma lucidum has been extensively studied for its valuable medicinal importance. In this study, the artificial cultivation of G. lucidum strain Philippine in different culture media, including sawdust substrate, was performed and optimized on the Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) media. Phytochemical, antibacterial, and antioxidant analyses were performed and compared between the ethanol extracts prepared from two different cultures (fruit from synthetic log culture and mycelia from PDA media culture). Both the 200 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL concentrations of extracts inhibited all the tested bacteria, and the results were promising than the corresponding control using antibiotics. The fruit extract showed higher antioxidant potential (150.6 ± 56.92 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/g extract) than mycelial extract (144.28 ± 81.72 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/g extract). The results indicate that fruiting bodies of G. lucidum cultivated in a complex dust medium possess higher antioxidant properties than mycelia culture, which can be further explored for therapeutic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational and environmental exposure to heavy metals such as arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) by inducing oxidative damage may impair male fertility. However, there is a new view that shows that the nano form of vitamins such as vitamin C, which have antioxidant activity, can be effective in improving this disorder. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of NVC (NVC) on reproductive toxicity caused by the combination of Pb and As on testicular histology, sperm morphology, oxidative stress parameters, and hormonal changes in male rats. In this experimental study, forty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, NVC (200 mg/kg), As (50 ppm sodium arsenate), Pb (500 ppm Pb acetate), As + NVC, and Pb + NVC. FSH, LH, and testosterone levels were measured in serum. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), carbonyl protein, malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was measured in testis. Histological examination and sperm parameters were also evaluated. FSH, LH, and testosterone levels and sperm parameters significantly decreased, and levels of protein carbonyl, MDA, and DNA fragmentation increased in the As and Pb groups, while treatment with NVC could improve them. Histological evaluation and sperm parameters in As and Pb groups showed damage in the process of spermatogenesis and sperm parameters. The treatment with NVC could significantly improve these parameters. The activity of GPx, SOD, and CAT in testis decreased in As and Pb groups, while treatment with NVC could enhance them. It can be concluded that NVC by inhibiting oxidative damage and improving serum level of testosterone, LH, and FSH could overcome As- and Pb-induced reproductive dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of spray drying technology has been widely used for drying and preservation of food products. Though infant milk powder iron fortification is necessary for infants and children, iron fortification is accompanied by some limitations that reduce its quality and oxidation of Fe2+ into Fe3+, causing sensory problems and even a decrease in iron absorption, which does not meet the normal requirements of infant and child body development. To overcome this adverse effect and to improve the bioavailability of iron, a spray drying method was used to simulate the milk powder production process by codrying a mixture of ascorbic acid and ferrous sulfate, where ascorbic acid was uniformly coated on the outer layer of ferrous sulfate. It was demonstrated that ascorbic acid had a very obvious inhibitory effect on the oxidation of ferrous iron and could maintain the stability of ferrous iron in solid and solution for a long time, thus improving the bioavailability of iron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium and represents one of the main public health problems in the world. Among alterations associated with the disease, we highlight the hepatic impairment resulting from the generation of oxidative stress. Studies demonstrate that liver injuries caused by Plasmodium infection are associated with unbalance of the antioxidant system in hepatocytes, although little is known about the role of antioxidant molecules such as glutathione and vitamin C in the evolution of the disease and in the liver injury. To evaluate disease complications, murine models emerge as a valuable tool due to their similarities between the infectious species for human and mice. Herein, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of antioxidants glutathione and vitamin C on the evolution of murine malaria and in the liver damage caused by Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection. Mice were inoculated with parasitized erythrocytes and treated with glutathione and vitamin C, separately, both at 8 mg/kg during 7 consecutive days. Our data showed that during Plasmodium infection, treatment with glutathione promoted significant decrease in the survival of infected mice, accelerating the disease severity. However, treatment with vitamin C promoted an improvement in the clinical outcomes and prolonged the survival curve of infected animals. We also showed that glutathione promoted increase in the parasitemia rate of Plasmodium-infected animals, although treatment with vitamin C has induced significant decrease in parasitemia rates. Furthermore, histological analysis and enzyme biochemical measurement showed that treatment with glutathione exacerbates liver damage while treatment with vitamin C mitigates the hepatic injury induced by the infection. In summary, the current study provided evidences that antioxidant molecules could differently modulate the outcome of malaria disease; while glutathione aggravated the disease outcome and liver injury, the treatment with vitamin C protects the liver from damage and the evolution of the condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoparticle synthesis of the leaf extract Tagetes erecta L. enriched with ascorbic acid and polyphenols has been investigated. The color of the golden yellow extract has changed to pinkish-brown due to the reduction of Ag+ to the colloidal solution of AgNPs and a sharp absorption peak at 420 nm under the UV-Vis spectrophotometer. In addition, the Fourier Transfer Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) estimation was completed in order to recognize and identify the biomolecules present in the extract acting as a reducing and capping agent for the AgNPs. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks at (111), (201), (220), and (311) confirm the presence of monoclinic crystals in the solution. The morphology and size of the particles were provided by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of AgNPs. At a scale of 100 nm, synthesized AgNPs were predominantly spherical with a size range of 7-35 nm. In comparison to 7.39 mg/100 g in AgNPs, aqueous leaf extract was 55.14 mg/100 g higher in ascorbic acid. The phenolic and flavonoid content of extract was 52.54 ± 2.15 mg (GAE/100 g) and 15.43 ± 0.34 mg (QE/mL), and the colloidal AgNP solution was 21.45 ± 1.15 mg (GAE/100 g) and 8.05 ± 2.42 mg (QE/mL), respectively. Phenolic and flavonoid contents play a major role as a reducing agent and reduce the precursor AgNO3 into AgNPs. The DPPH scavenging assay also assessed the antioxidant properties of extract and its derived AgNPs. As compared antioxidant value to aqueous leaf extract (mg/mL), higher percentage inhibition (PI) was found in AgNPs and free-radical scavenging activity of extract and AgNPs were directly linked to their concentrations. Results of this research have discovered a higher potential for free-radical scavenging AgNPs and will help to develop new and more potent antioxidants for the treatment of different diseases caused by oxidative stress; the higher antioxidant properties bearing AgNPs might be used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid: AA) uptake in neurons occurs via the sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter-2 (SVCT2), which is highly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS). During chronic neuroinflammation or infection, CNS levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) are increased. Elevated levels of LPS and TNFα have been associated with neurodegenerative diseases together with reduced levels of AA. However, little is known about the impacts of LPS and TNFα on neuronal AA uptake. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of LPS and TNFα on SVCT2 expression and function using in vitro and in vivo approaches. Treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with either LPS or TNFα inhibited AA uptake. This reduced uptake was associated with a significant decrease in SVCT2 protein and mRNA levels. In vivo exposure to LPS or TNFα also decreased SVCT2 protein and mRNA levels in mouse brains. Both LPS and TNFα decreased SLC23A2 promoter activity. Further, the inhibitory effect of LPS on a minimal SLC23A2 promoter was attenuated when either the binding site for the transcription factor Sp1 was mutated or cells were treated with the NF-κB inhibitor, celastrol. We conclude that inflammatory signals suppress AA uptake by impairing SLC23A2 transcription through opposing regulation of Sp1 and NF-κB factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]