Teucrium leucocladum: An Effective Tool for the Treatment of Hyperglycemia, Hyperlipidemia, and Oxidative Stress in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Teucrium leucocladum is among the most used traditional medicinal plants in Palestine, which is used for the treatment of hyperglycemia and colon spasms from ancient times. Therefore, the current investigation aimed for the first time to determine the hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and oxidative stress inhibitory effects of the aerial parts (stem and leaves) of T. leucocladum hydrophilic (water) extract in streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic rats (65 mg/kg), given intraperitoneally at a dose of 100 mg/kg for 21 days. The rats were divided into four groups as control (C), control + T. leucocladum extract (C + TL), diabetes (D), and diabetes + T. leucocladum extract (D + TL). The antioxidant activity was analyzed using in vitro 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and in vivo methods by measuring the plasma and tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels using a colorimetric assay. On the other hand, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme levels, serum paraoxonase (PON), and arylesterase (ARE) enzyme activities were assessed by utilizing standard biochemical kits. Besides, the blood glucose and serum insulin levels were assessed by a glucometer and Rat ELISA Kit, respectively. However, the autoanalyzer was used to evaluate the lipid profile. The diabetic rat group that administered T. leucocladum extract showed the best reduction in the tissue and plasma MDA levels and an increase of insulin-releasing potentials. Besides, the serum PON and ARE activities and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and whole blood glutathione peroxidase enzyme levels were significantly increased in all animals treated with T. leucocladum extract. The current investigation demonstrated that T. leucocladum manifests antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects and also increased the antioxidative defense system and reduced the lipid peroxidation process in experimental diabetic rats.

ATTENUATION OF IRON OVERLOAD AND EFFECT OF ANTIOXIDANTS SUPPLEMENTATION ON OXIDATIVE STRESS IN HOMOZYGOUS β-THALASSEMIA

It has been projected that ferritin and iron yoke in homozygous thalassemic children is coupled with the enhanced free radical formation and blemished in antioxidative defense coordination. Aim: The purpose of the current study was to analyze the consequence of serum iron, erythrocyte catalase, and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (ESOD) in patients with beta-thalassemia major. Method: 60 beta-thalassemia major patients were studied before and after supplementation of A – Z antioxidants for 20 weeks, and status were compared with 60 age and sex-matched healthy normal. Serum Iron estimation was carried out by Ramsay’s Dipyridyl Method. Estimation of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase was done by Kajari Das Method. The levels of Catalase concentration in erythrocytes were analyzed by the Goth method. All the objectives mentioned above were run by using a UV visible Spectrophotometer (Systronix). Results: A marked enhancement was seen in the intensity of serum iron, and superoxide dismutase (p<0.001) with parallel decline was observed in the level of erythrocyte catalase (p<0.001) in homozygous thalassemia patients when compared with healthy subjects. After 20 weeks of regular supplementation of antioxidants A-Z syrup, which consists of multimineral multivitamins, the concentration of catalase was increased whereas iron and ESOD (p<0.001) were reduced significantly when compared with normal and baselines thalassemic patients. Conclusion: Due to multiple blood transfusions, beta-thalassemia major children are at advanced risk due to secondary iron surplus and intense oxidative stress. Such kind of circumstances may be handled with supplementation of antioxidants A-Z syrup with their regular treatment.

Thyroid Hormones and Oxidative Stress

ABSTRACT Thyroid hormones have a pro-oxidant effect and cause increased lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation is an extremely damaging process implicated in many diseases and could be a causative factor, responsible for the varied systemic manifestations of hyperthyroidism, like myopathy and myocardial insufficiency. The activities of antioxidant scavenging enzymes like erythrocyte superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, which prevent lipid peroxidation, are also significantly affected by hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Further, it has been observed in various studies that hypothyroidism does induce changes in free radical scavenging enzymes opposite to those observed in hyperthyroidism. Oxidative injury, therefore, is an important mechanism in the pathophysiology of hyperthyroidism. How to cite this article Kesar V. Thyroid Hormones and Oxidative Stress. Indian J Med Biochem 2017;21(1):58-61.

Plasma Total Antioxidant Capacity and Activities of Blood Glutathione Peroxidase and Superoxide Dismutase Determined in Healthy Dogs by Using Commercially Available Kits

Data on the values of selected blood antioxidant parameters, i.e. total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in healthy dogs, are lacking. There are no published accepted standard reference methods for their determination. The aim of this study was to determine the values of plasma total antioxidant capacity and the activities of whole blood glutathione peroxidase and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase in 30 healthy client-owned dogs (19 females, 11 males). The effect of age and sex on the measured antioxidant parameters was also investigated. Antioxidant parameters were determined with an automated biochemical analyser, using the commercially available Randox kits. No significant difference in age, weight, and antioxidant parameters was determined between females and males. A significant positive effect of age (p = 0.002, r2= 0.284) on superoxide dismutase activity was confirmed. There was no effect of sex on any of the antioxidant parameters measured. However, we observed a tendency of the effect of sex (p = 0.063, r2= 0.118), as well as age (p = 0.073, r2= 0.111), on the activity of glutathione peroxidase. Our results are in part comparable with the results of other studies in which the same types of methods and samples were used to determine antioxidant parameters. In conclusion, the sex and age of dogs should be taken into consideration when planning a study on antioxidant status parameters.

Alterations of Erythrocyte Superoxide Dismutase activity in patients suffering from asthma attacks

Background. Oxidant-antioxidant imbalance may play an important role in the development and progression of bronchial asthma. However, the role of blood antioxidants especially in asthma exacerbation has not been fully discussed. Objective. This study examines a part of the intracellular antioxidant defense mechanism in asthmatic patients admitted to hospital due to severe exacerbation of their disease. Methods. Peripheral blood Erythrocyte Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity was measured in 38 patients (33 men - 5 women, with a mean age of 56±2.8 yrs), using a colorimetric method. On the days of admission and discharge the Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) and the Partial arterial Oxygen pressure (PaO2) were recorded and correlated with SOD activity at the same time. Results. A statistically significant decrease of SOD activity was observed on the day of admission compared to SOD activity on the day of discharge (43.64±31.78 vs. 96.16±54.05 units/ml, p&lt;0.001), suggesting the presence of oxidative stress during an asthma attack. A statistically significant correlation was observed between FEV1 on admission and SOD activity at the same time (r=0.57, p&lt;0.001). Furthermore, SOD activity on admission was correlated with PaO2 on discharge (r=0.55, p&lt;0.001), as well as SOD on discharge with PaO2 on discharge (r=0.53, p=0.001). Conclusions. Decreased systemic erythrocyte SOD activity was observed during asthma attacks. This activity was correlated with severity criteria such as FEV1 and PaO2. Therefore, it seems that measurement of SOD activity could be a useful tool in the evaluation of an asthma attack. The supplementary administration of antioxidants in the future needs further clarification.