Oxidative stress is the condition arising from imbalance between toxic reactive oxygen species and antioxidant systems. It is believed that increased oxidative stress may be relevant to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In this way, the main markers of the lipid peroxidation processes include 4-hydroxynonenal and malondialdehyde. On the other side, the potential toxicity of free radicals is counteracted by a number of cytoprotective antioxidant enzymes that limit the damage, such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. However, the reports regarding the status of oxidative stress markers schizophrenia are very inconsistent, with various authors stating both increased and decreased activities of the main antioxidant enzymes, while others did not observe any significant modifications, as compared to control groups. Similar aspects were also reported in the case of the lipid peroxidation markers, although in here the contradictions are much more reduced than in the case of the antioxidant defences. It is generally believed that the equivocal results mentioned above may be due to different tissues studies, different species or the administrated treatment and the duration of the disease/treatment. In this context, in the present paper we were interested to review some studies regarding the oxidative stress status in patients and animal models of schizophrenia, by referring mainly to antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation markers.

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Free radicals between health and disease.

Oxidative stress in schizophrenia - focusing on the main markers

This study reports the first proteomic-based identification and characterization of oxidized proteins in human plasma. The study was conducted by isolating carbonylated proteins from the plasma of male subjects (age 32−36) with avidin affinity chromatography subsequent to biotinylation of carbonyl groups with biotin hydrazide and sodium cyanoborohydride reduction of the resulting Schiff’s bases. Avidin selected proteins were digested with trypsin, and the peptide fragments were separated by C18 reversed phase chromatography and identified and characterized by both electrospray ionization and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. Approximately 0.2% of the total protein in plasma was selected with this method. Sixty-five high, medium, and low abundance proteins were identified, the majority appearing in all subjects. An interesting feature of the oxidized proteins isolated was that in addition to carbonylation they often bore other types of oxidative modification. Twenty-four oxidat...

Profiling carbonylated proteins in human plasma.

Black pepper is a source of effective antioxidants. It contains several powerful antioxidants and is thus one of the most important spices for preventing and curtailing oxidative stress. There is considerable interest in the development of a drug-delivery systems that would result in the selective delivery of antioxidants to tissues in sufficient concentrations to ameliorate oxidant-induced tissue injuries. Liposomes are biocompatible, biodegradable and nontoxic artificial phospholipid vesicles that offer the possibility of carrying hydrophilic, hydrophobic and amphiphilic molecules. This article focuses on the use of liposomes for the delivery of antioxidants in the prevention or treatment of pathological conditions related to oxidative stress. Liposome formulations of piperine were analyzed with various spectroscopic methods. The formulation with the highest entrapment efficiency (90.5%) was formulated with an L-α-phosphatidylcholine dipalmitoyl (DPPC):piperine, 30:1 molar ratio, and total lipid count of 19.47 mg/ml in the final liposomal preparation. The liposome formulation was found to be stable after storage at 4 °C, protected from light, for a minimum of 3 weeks. The incremental process of piperine penetration through the phospholipid membrane was analyzed using the FT-IR, UV-Vis and NMR methods. Temperature stability studies carried out at 37 °C showed the highest percentage of piperine release in the first 3 h of incubation.

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In vitro spectroscopic study of piperine-encapsulated nanosize liposomes.

This review will discuss some of the antioxidant assays and biomarkers/measurements used to assess the effect of dietary components on ameliorating in vivo oxidative stress. Although the development of dietary antioxidants has become a major component of the dietary supplement market, this review will focus on foods (primarily fruits and vegetables) and their impact on biomarkers of oxidative stress and the ultimate appearance of disease states. Data is reviewed demonstrating the importance of consumption of dietary antioxidants along with meals to prevent postprandial oxidative stress. Epidemiology studies have demonstrated the relationships between dietary antioxidant intake in the form of polyphenolic type compounds and health outcomes. However, additional research is needed in order to clearly define the mechanism(s) of action of the polyphenolics and whether their effects are direct or indirect in nature.

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Diet Antioxidant Capacity: Relationships to Oxidative Stress and Health

Considering the relevance of oxidative stress in aging and antioxidant properties of oxytocin, which we previously demonstrated, we studied the effects of intraperitoneal oxytocin administration (10 mg/kg body mass for 12 days) on enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and also on malonic dialdehyde (MDA) level in the brain temporal lobe of aged (2-year-old) Wistar rats. In these rats, oxytocin treatment provided a significantly lower SOD enzymatic activity, somewhat greater GPx activity, and significantly lower MDA concentration, when compared to the respective indices in aged control rats. It is concluded that, due to its antioxidant effect, oxytocin can be considered a candidate for the development of a new therapeutic modality in aging and in related neuropsychiatric disorders.

Free radicals between health and disease.

Citations

Oxidative stress in schizophrenia - focusing on the main markers

Profiling carbonylated proteins in human plasma.

In vitro spectroscopic study of piperine-encapsulated nanosize liposomes.

Diet Antioxidant Capacity: Relationships to Oxidative Stress and Health

Effects of Oxytocin Administration on Oxidative Markers in the Temporal Lobe of Aged Rats

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