MARC1 p.A165T variant is associated with decreased markers of liver injury and enhanced antioxidant capacity in autoimmune hepatitis

The clinical picture of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) varies markedly between patients, potentially due to genetic modifiers. The aim of this study was to evaluate genetic variants previously associated with fatty liver as potential modulators of the AIH phenotype. The study cohort comprised 313 non-transplanted adults with AIH. In all patients, the MARC1 (rs2642438), HSD17B13 (rs72613567), PNPLA3 (rs738409), TM6SF2 (rs58542926), and MBOAT7 (rs641738) variants were genotyped using TaqMan assays. Mitochondrial damage markers in serum were analyzed in relation to the MARC1 variant. Carriers of the protective MARC1 allele had lower ALT and AST (both P < 0.05). In patients treated for AIH for ≥ 6 months, MARC1 correlated with reduced AST, ALP, GGT (all P ≤ 0.01), and lower APRI (P = 0.02). Patients carrying the protective MARC1 genotype had higher total antioxidant activity (P < 0.01) and catalase levels (P = 0.02) in serum. The PNPLA3 risk variant was associated with higher MELD (P = 0.02) in treated patients, whereas MBOAT7 increased the odds for liver cancer (OR = 3.71). None of the variants modulated the risk of death or transplantation. In conclusion, the MARC1 polymorphism has protective effects in AIH. Genotyping of MARC1, PNPLA3, and MBOAT7 polymorphisms might help to stratify patients with AIH.

Determination of total phenolic, flavonoids and antioxidant activity in Calligonum polygonoides L. from Thar Desert

Aim: The aim of the study was Identification and quantification of phenolic compounds, total flavonoides content and antioxidant potential of flower buds, foliages, bark and root of a perennial herb, Calligonum polygonoides (Phog) of Thar Desert. Methodology: The methanolic extracts of different plant parts of C. polygonoides were subjected to LC-MS/MS (Waters Acquity UPLC-PDA, TQD) analysis for phenolic identification and spectrophotometric assay of total phenolic and flavonoids content and total antioxidant activity was estimated. Results: A total of 15 phenolic compounds were identified and quantified, among which gallic acid content was abundant, followed by catechin. Besides these, the other major phenolic compounds detected in different plant parts were vanillic, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, coumeric acid, catechol, vanillic acid, epicatechin and syringic acid. Extremely higher values were recorded for total phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant capacity. The values for phenol, flavonoids and total antioxidant activity in bark extracts were higher than that of clove extract. Interpretation: The identified phenolic compounds possess high antioxidant potential. These results provide scientific evidence for use of C. polygonoides as safe natural antioxidant compounds in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industry.

Comparison of serum calcium, magnesium level and total antioxidant activity in pregnant women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus

Introduction and Aim:Pregnancy is a normal physiological state during which women experience a lot of internal bodily changes. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a complication of pregnancy which is characterized by hyperglycemia due to an error in carbohydrate metabolism. During pregnancy changes in metabolism may induce oxidant stress and it may increase in GDM. The present study was done to compare serum calcium, magnesium and total antioxidant activity in pregnant women with and without hyperglycemia. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted for a period of one year. Total 67 participants were included and their serum samples were analyzed for serum calcium magnesium and total antioxidant activity. Among these 29 were GDM (43%) and 38 were non-GDM (57%). All study subjects were on supplementation of calcium, iron and folic acid. Results: In our study, there were no significant difference in serum calcium, magnesium and antioxidant activity between GDM and non GDM women. Conclusion: Calcium, magnesium and antioxidant activitywere maintained well both in pregnant women GDM and non GDM, this may be due to beneficial effect of calcium, iron, folic acid supplementation.

Physiochemical Responses of the Kernel Quality, Total Phenols and Antioxidant Enzymes of Walnut in Different Forms to the Low-Temperature Storage

Fresh walnut is obtaining high attention due to its pleasant taste and health benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of storage temperatures (0 °C and −20 °C) on the kernel quality, total phenols, and antioxidant enzyme activities of walnuts in three forms (fresh kernels, walnuts with green husk, and walnuts with shell). For a short storage within 3 months at 0 °C, the results revealed that walnuts with green husk provided a better walnut kernel quality resulting from its lower acid value and peroxide value, together with a higher total phenol content and total antioxidant activity, compared with other forms of walnuts. In comparison, frozen storage at −20 °C for a long duration (up to 10 months), found that walnuts with shell showed advantages in improving the kernel quality (fatty acid content, total phenols, and total antioxidant activity) and antioxidant enzyme (peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) activities in the kernels, leading to an acceptable range of acid value and peroxide value, compared with other forms of walnuts. Thus, frozen storage at −20 °C showed a potential application in maintaining the walnut kernel quality, especially the walnuts with shell.

An Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity of a Methanolic Extract of Cucumis melo L. Fruit (F1 Hybrid)

Cucumis melo L. (C. melo) is a fruit with many medicinal properties and is consumed in various countries. It is utilised for chronic eczema and to treat minor burns and scrapes. The present study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant activity of a methanolic extract of Cucumis melo Linn (MECM). A coarse powder prepared from the fruit and seeds was extracted with methanol (absolute) by a hot continuous percolation process in accordance with the standard protocols. All the extracts were estimated for potential antioxidant activities with tests such as an estimation of total antioxidant activity, hydroxyl radical and nitric oxide scavenging activity and reducing power ability. The qualitative analysis of the methanolic extract of C. melo fruit showed the presence of various phytochemical constituents such as carbohydrates, alkaloids, sterols, phenolic compounds, terpenes and flavonoids. The total antioxidant activity of concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 µg were tested and observed to be 3.3 ± 0.1732, 6.867 ± 0.5457 and 13.63 ± 0.8295 µg of ascorbic acid, respectively. The results also showed significant nitric oxide and DPPH scavenging activities as well as a reducing power activity of MECM. Thus, our results suggest that MECM may serve as a putative source of natural antioxidants for therapeutic and nutraceutical applications.

Determination of Biochemical Composition and Pigment Content in Legume and Cereal Microgreens

Background: Legumes and cereals microgreens are consumed both in healthy nutrition and as a natural food against many degenerative diseases due to their rich bioactive content. The research was carried out to determine the biochemical contents of 5 legumes and 7 cereals. Methods: The research was conducted in Van Yuzuncu Yıl University Field Crops Department Laboratory in 2020, in a controlled growing environment, according to the completely randomized experimental design. Total antioxidant activity, total phenolic, total flavonoid and total ascorbic acid contents and total Chlorophyll, Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b and Carotenoid contents and correlation between them were determined. Result: The differences between the means of all traits were found to be significant. The biochemical contents of cereals were 1.6-7 times higher than legumes. There was no big difference between the pigment values. In legumes, Bilensoy alfalfa had the highest total antioxidat activity and total flavonoid content, Uzbek lentil total phenolic content and Goynuk bean had the highest Total ascorbic acid. In cereals, Kirklar oat had the highest total antioxidat activity, total phenolic, total flavonoid and total ascorbic acid contents, while Larende barley had the lowest values (except total ascorbic acid content). While total Chlorophyll and Chlorophyll a amounts were highest in Kirklar barley and lowest in Uzbek lentils, the opposite situation occurred in Chlorophyll b and Carotenoid amounts. There was no significant correlation between biochemical parameters in legumes. There was a positive and significant correlation between total phenolic content with total antioxidant activity and between total ascorbic acid with total fenolic content in cereals. There were positive and significant correlations between all pigment parameters in both legumes and cereals.

Efficacy of Leu-Ile-Lys tripeptide in the correction of experimental urate nephrolithiasis

Aim. To study the effect of the Leu-Ile-Lys (leucine-isoleucine-lysine) tripeptide on the course of experimental urate nephrolithiasis. Methods. The experiment was carried out on 23 male Wistar rats weighing 200220 grams that were divided into a control (n=8, modeling of urate nephrolithiasis) and an experimental (n=15, modeling of urate nephrolithiasis + administration of Leu-Ile-Lys tripeptide) groups. The tripeptide was administered intragastrically through a tube at a dose of 11.5 mg/kg. Daily urine was collected on a weekly basis, and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was determined. After three weeks of the experiment, the animals were euthanized, and kidneys were removed to determine the parameters of free radical oxidation [concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TARS), total pro-oxidant and total antioxidant activity, the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX)] and conduct a morphological study in which the number and area of calculi and the condition of the renal tissues were determined. Statistical data processing was performed using the Statistica 12.0 software. We used the MannWhitney U test, the Wilcoxon signed rank test. The results are presented as median with the 25th and 75th percentiles. The differences were considered significant at p 0.05. Results. In the kidneys of the rats of the experimental group, the number of deposits decreased twofold, as compared with the control group (1.60.2 and 3.20.4, respectively, p=0.001). Lactate dehydrogenase activity in the urine of rats increased from 0.10 (0.06; 0.21) units/mg of creatinine per day initially to 0.75 (0.44; 1.07) units/mg creatinine per day on day 21 (p=0.012) in the control group, and from 0.10 (0.06; 0.12) units/mg creatinine per day to 0.45 (0.34; 0.71) units/mg creatinine per day on 21st day (p=0.003) in the experimental group. The concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the experimental group was 1.2 times lower than that of the control group: 4.2 (3.9; 4.6) mol and 5.1 (4.7; 5.5) mol, respectively (p 0.001). In addition, in the kidneys of the rats of the experimental group, the total antioxidant activity was 1.3 times higher than in control: 70.4 (65.4; 74.1)% and 53.8 (33.3; 62.2)% respectively (p 0.001). Superoxide dismutase activity in the experimental group was 1.5 times higher than in the control group: 12.4 (11.0; 13.2)% against 8.1 (6.4; 13.1)% (p=0.016). Catalase activity in the experimental group was 1.2 times higher than in the control group: 31.1 (26.4; 36.1)% against 25.1 (20.3; 27.1)% (p=0.005). Conclusion. The Leu-Ile-Lys tripeptide has a litholytic effect, manifested in a statistically significant decrease in the activity of oxidative stress markers (p 0,001) and a twofold decrease in the average amount of uric acid kidney stones (p 0,001).

Sexual dimorphism, metabolic, and oxidative stress markers of African catfish (Clarias garepinus and Heterobranchus longifilis) broodstock in Southwest Nigeria

Background Sexual dimorphism in metabolic and oxidative stress markers of Clarias gariepinus and Heterobranchus longifilis found in southwest Nigeria was investigated. C. garepinus and H. longifilis broodstock weighing 2.54 ± 0.12 and 2.11 ± 0.15 kg consisting of 20 males and females each per species were sourced from southwest Nigeria. Fishes conditioned conditioning for breeding, blood samples were collected, and serum obtained to assess metabolic and oxidative stress indices using standard procedures. Results The results obtained show that serum albumin, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, alanine aminotransferase, and total antioxidant activity of Clarias garepinus were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than Heterobranchus longifilis. Superoxide dismutase of males was significantly (p < 0.05) superior to females in both species. The total antioxidant activity of males was significantly (p < 0.05) superior to females in Heterobranchus longifilis. Serum catalase, glutathione peroxidase and lipid peroxidation were not affected by sex and species differences. Superoxide dismutase activity and some non-enzyme antioxidants could account for superior total antioxidant activity in males despite similar lipid peroxidation. Conclusion Catfish broodstocks of Heterobranchus longifilis possess superior total antioxidant activity than Clarias gariepinus owing to its superior non-enzyme antioxidants fraction. In both clariid species, males have better antioxidant defence than females.

Effect of high-voltage power lines electromagnetic field on growth and development of green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Relevance. High voltage electric power transmission lines (HVEPTL) cover a fairly large area of agricultural land all over the world. Investigations of electromagnetic field effect on growth and development of plants are held in various countries. The reaction of individual plant species and even varieties to the electromagnetic field manifests itself in different ways. The network of HVEPTL is growing steadily in our region as well. Nevertheless, information about the effect of the electromagnetic field on bean plants is rather scares. The aim of the present work was to evaluate HVEPTL effect on the growth and development of vegetable beans, depending on the intensity of the electromagnetic field.Material and Methods. The work was achieved on green beans Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Sakfit, Pagoda, MBZ 556, Arishka cvs) grown in conditions of different electromagnetic field values under HVEPTL. Biometrical parameters, plant productivity, yield, dry matter, photosynthetic pigments content, ascorbic acid, total antioxidant activity and total phenolics were determined.Results. In the ranges of electric field values from (5-10) to (400-440) B/m and magnetic field from 0 to 0.53 μT a beneficial effect of electromagnetic field on accumulation of leaves photosynthetic pigments (15-65% increase of chlorophyll а and 6-52% increase of chlorophyll b), polyphenol content (increase up to 17%), antioxidant activity (1-15% increase), and dry matter content (2,5-11% increase) and beans ascorbic acid levels (12-28% increase) were registered. Accordingy, increased plants growth, development and productivity were demonstrated. Peculiarities of beans plants grown under HVEPTL included decrease leaves carotene levels at electric field level of 60-100 B/m (70 m form HVEPTL), and lack of correlation between chlorophyll and carotene in leaves and total antioxidant activity and phenolics content at the stage of technical ripening.