Assay for lipid peroxides in animal tissues by thiobarbituric acid reaction

Molecules of InterestCarnosic acid

Cancer cells display enhanced growth rates and a resistance to apoptosis. The ability of cancer cells to evade homeostasis and proliferate uncontrollably while avoiding programmed cell death/apoptosis is acquired through mutations to key signaling molecules, which regulate pathways involved in cell proliferation and survival. Compounds of plant origin, including food components, have attracted scientific attention for use as agents for cancer prevention and treatment. The exploration into natural products offers great opportunity to evaluate new anticancer agents as well as understand novel and potentially relevant mechanisms of action. Rosemary extract has been reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and anticancer properties. Rosemary extract contains many polyphenols with carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid found in highest concentrations. The present review summarizes the existing in vitro and in vivo studies focusing on the anticancer effects of rosemary extract and the rosemary extract polyphenols carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid, and their effects on key signaling molecules.

Anticancer Effects of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) Extract and Rosemary Extract Polyphenols

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a non-persistent anthropic and environmentally ubiquitous compound widely employed and detected in many consumer products and food items; thus, human exposure is prolonged. Over the last ten years, many studies have examined the underlying molecular mechanisms of BPA toxicity and revealed links among BPA-induced oxidative stress, male and female reproductive defects, and human disease. Because of its hormone-like feature, BPA shows tissue effects on specific hormone receptors in target cells, triggering noxious cellular responses associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. As a metabolic and endocrine disruptor, BPA impairs redox homeostasis via the increase of oxidative mediators and the reduction of antioxidant enzymes, causing mitochondrial dysfunction, alteration in cell signaling pathways, and induction of apoptosis. This review aims to examine the scenery of the current BPA literature on understanding how the induction of oxidative stress can be considered the "fil rouge" of BPA's toxic mechanisms of action with pleiotropic outcomes on reproduction. Here, we focus on the protective effects of five classes of antioxidants-vitamins and co-factors, natural products (herbals and phytochemicals), melatonin, selenium, and methyl donors (used alone or in combination)-that have been found useful to counteract BPA toxicity in male and female reproductive functions.

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/9/5/405/pdf

Oxidative Stress and BPA Toxicity: An Antioxidant Approach for Male and Female Reproductive Dysfunction.

Alternative treatments for neoplastic diseases with new drugs are necessary because the clinical effectiveness of chemotherapy is often reduced by collateral effects. Several natural substances of plant origin have been demonstrated to be successful in the prevention and treatment of numerous tumors. Rosmarinus officinalis L. is a herb that is cultivated in diverse areas of the world. There is increasing attention being directed towards the pharmaceutical capacities of rosemary, utilized for its anti-inflammatory, anti-infective or anticancer action. The antitumor effect of rosemary has been related to diverse mechanisms, such as the antioxidant effect, antiangiogenic properties, epigenetic actions, regulation of the immune response and anti-inflammatory response, modification of specific metabolic pathways, and increased expression of onco-suppressor genes. In this review, we aim to report the results of preclinical studies dealing with the anticancer effects of rosemary, the molecular mechanisms related to these actions, and the interactions between rosemary and anticancer drugs. The prospect of utilizing rosemary as an agent in the treatment of different neoplastic diseases is discussed. However, although the use of rosemary in the therapy of neoplasms constitutes a fascinating field of study, large and controlled studies must be conducted to definitively clarify the real impact of this substance in clinical practice.

/pdf/anticancer-activity-of-rosmarinus-officinalis-l-mechanisms-1jr85ke8pi.pdf

Anticancer Activity of Rosmarinus officinalis L.: Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Potentials.

The present study has investigated the modulating effect of carnosic acid on the expression pattern of cell proliferative (proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) cyclin D1 and a transcription factor c-fos), apoptotic (p53, Bcl-2, Bax caspase -3 and 9), inflammatory (Nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX- 2) and angiogenic (vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) markers during 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis. Oral tumors were developed in the hamsters buccal pouches by painting with 0.5% DMBA in liquid paraffin three times a week for 14 weeks. Hundred per cent tumour formation (well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma) accompanied by deregulation in the above mentioned molecular markers was noticed in hamsters treated with DMBA alone (tumour bearing hamsters). Oral administration of carnosic acid at dose of 10mg/kg bw to hamsters treated with DMBA not only completely prevented the tumour formation, but also corrected the abnormalities in the expression pattern of molecular markers. The present study suggests that carnosic acid might have inhibited the tumour formation by exerting anti-cell-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic and apoptotic potential during DMBA-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis.

/pdf/proapoptotic-anti-cell-proliferative-anti-inflammatory-and-2y6ol8sqik.pdf

Proapoptotic, anti-cell proliferative, anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic potential of carnosic acid during 7,12 dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis.

Our aim was to investigate the chemopreventive potential of saffron in DMBA-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis. Assessment was by monitoring the percentage of tumor bearing hamsters, tumor size as well as the status of detoxification agents, lipid peroxidation and antioxidants. Oral squamous cell carcinomas were induced in the buccal pouch of Syrian golden hamsters by painting them with 0.5% DMBA in liquid paraffin three times a week for 14 weeks. We observed 100% oral tumor formation with severe histopathological abnormalities in all the hamsters treated with DMBA alone, activities of phase I and phase II detoxification enzymes, lipid peroxidation and antioxidants being significantly altered. Though oral administration of saffron completely prevented the formation of tumors, we noticed severe hyperplasia and dysplasia in hamsters treated with DMBA, suggesting that tumors might eventually develop. Oral administration of saffron return detoxification enzymes, lipid peroxidation and antioxidants to normal ranges. The chemopreventive potential of saffron thus is likely due to antioxidant properties and modulating effects on detoxification in favour of the excretion of carcinogenic metabolites during DMBA-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis.

Saffron Reduction of 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced Hamster Buccal Pouch Carcinogenesis

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a ubiquitous environmental chemical that produces adverse effect on reproduction system due to its potent estrogenic endocrine disruptive activity. The present study was aimed to investigate the monotonic dose effect of BPA on estrogen synthesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats. For this purpose, we administered three different doses of BPA (10, 50, 100 µg/kg bw/day) into rats and analyzed various biochemical, hormonal, molecular and histological parameters. 10 µg BPA treated rats showed significantly decreased levels of phase I detoxification agents (CYP450, Cyt-b5). Overexpression of eNOS with decreased expression of StAR and steroidogenic enzymes (CYP11A1, aromatase) indicate decreased production of estrogen. Increased levels of serum gonadotropins (FSH, LH) and decreased levels of estradiol suggest mimetic action of BPA and its feedback inhibition. Increased body weight, lipid profile status of 10 µg BPA treated rats and histological analysis of ovary and mammary tissue support the study. Overall, our results suggest that BPA exerts its estrogen mimetic effects in a monotonic manner.

/pdf/monotonic-dose-effect-of-bisphenol-a-an-estrogenic-endocrine-1gr66dtfah.pdf

Monotonic Dose Effect of Bisphenol-A, an Estrogenic Endocrine Disruptor, on Estrogen Synthesis in Female Sprague-Dawley Rats

Chlorogenic acid, the ester of caffeic and quinic acid, has received considerable recent attention due to its multiple biological and pharmacological effects. Chlorogenic acid is found in a number of plants, including Phyllostachys edulis, Calluna vagaries and Hibiscus sabdariffa. It is rich in the eggplant fruits and abundant in coffee beans. Also, its presence is reported in the apple, pears, tomatoes, carrot, potato and blueberries. It is used as an additive in chewing gum, mints and coffee products. The present mini review discusses about its potent pharmacological effects and reported mechanism of action in brief.

Krishnamoorthy Vasudevan

Papers

Proapoptotic, anti-cell proliferative, anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic potential of carnosic acid during 7,12 dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis.

Saffron Reduction of 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced Hamster Buccal Pouch Carcinogenesis

Monotonic Dose Effect of Bisphenol-A, an Estrogenic Endocrine Disruptor, on Estrogen Synthesis in Female Sprague-Dawley Rats

Pharmacological effects of chlorogenic acid: an overview