Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including atherosclerosis and fatty liver diseases, and consequently the role of antioxidants in the prevention and treatment of such diseases has received much attention. In particular, the effects of vitamin E, the most important lipophilic radical-scavenging antioxidant, have been investigated extensively. Many in vitro, animal, and epidemiological studies have reported positive results, but large-scale randomized controlled intervention studies and meta-analyses have produced inconsistent and often disappointing results. In the present review article, the role and action of vitamin E are discussed, with consideration of the factors that determine the outcome of vitamin E treatment. Vitamin E should benefit subjects experiencing oxidative stress due to free radicals when administered at the correct time and for an appropriate duration.
Animals ; Antioxidants/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation/*drug effects ; Oxidative Stress/*drug effects ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; Vitamin E/adverse effects/*therapeutic use

OBJECTIVE: To quantify phytochemicals using liquid chromatography and mass spectroscopy (LCMS) analysis and explore the therapeutic effect of Aesculus hippocastanum L. (AH) seeds ethanolic extract against gastric ulcers in rats. METHODS: Preliminary phytochemical testing and LCMS analysis were performed according to standard methods. For treatment, the animals were divided into 7 groups including normal control, ulcer control, self-healing, AH seeds low and high doses, ranitidine and per se groups. Rats were orally administered with 10 mg/kg of indomethacin, excluding the normal control group (which received 1% carboxy methyl cellulose) and the per se group (received 200 mg/kg AH seeds extract). The test group rats were then given 2 doses of AH seeds extract (100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively), while the standard group was given ranitidine (50 mg/kg). On the 11th day, rats in all groups were sacrificed, and their stomach was isolated to calculate the ulcer index, and other parameters such as blood prostaglandin (PGE₂), tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malonyldialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH). All isolated stomach tissues were analyzed for histopathological findings. RESULTS: The phytochemical examination shows that the AH seeds contain alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phenolic components, and glycosides. LCMS analysis confirms the presence of quercetin and rutin. The AH seeds extract showed significant improvement in gastric mucosa conditions after indomethacin-induced gastric lesions (P<0.01). Further marked improvement in blood PGE₂ and antioxidant enzymes, SOD, CAT, MDA and GSH, were observed compared with self-healing and untreated ulcer-induced groups (P<0.01). Histopathology results confirmed that AH seeds extract improved the mucosal layer and gastric epithelial membrane in treated groups compared to untreated ulcer-induced groups. CONCLUSIONS LCMS report confirms the presence of quercetin and rutin in AH seeds ethanolic extract. The therapeutic effect of AH seeds extract against indomethacin-induced ulcer in rat model indicated the regenerated membrane integrity, with improved cellular functions and mucus thickness. Further, improved antioxidant enzyme level would help to reduce PGE₂ biosynthesis.
Rats ; Animals ; Stomach Ulcer/pathology* ; Antioxidants/therapeutic use* ; Ranitidine/adverse effects* ; Aesculus ; Ulcer/drug therapy* ; Quercetin ; Plant Extracts/chemistry* ; Indomethacin/therapeutic use* ; Glutathione ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Rutin/adverse effects* ; Prostaglandins/adverse effects* ; Phytochemicals/therapeutic use*

MS14 is a natural herbal-marine drug, which has shown to slow down or halt the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). This drug consists of 90% Penaeus latisculatus, 5% Apium graveolens, and 5% Hypericum perforatum L. Preclinically, the effects of MS14 have mostly been examined in an animal model of multiple sclerosis called experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). Clinical studies of the effects of MS14 in MS patients also showed that it could improve the patients' quality of life. MS14 is a safe drug in MS patients and might also be effective in the treatment of other neurodegenerative disorders with the same mechanisms.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antioxidants ; therapeutic use ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Iran ; Medicine, Traditional ; Mice ; Multiple Sclerosis ; drug therapy ; Plant Extracts ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Seawater ; chemistry ; Tissue Extracts ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

In this study, it is to compare the effectiveness of prevention against and treatment of doxorubicin (DOX) induced cardiotoxicity by dexrazoxane and schisandrin B (Sch B) in rats. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into the following 6 groups: normal saline group, DOX group, DOX+DEX group, DOX+Sch B (80 mg x kg(-1)) group, DOX+Sch B (40 mg x kg(-1)) group and DOX+Sch B (20 mg x kg(-1)) group. The results showed that Sch B could combat the increase of myocardial enzymes in peripheral blood, decrease of the enzyme activity of myocardial tissue antioxidant enzymes and disorders of systolic and diastolic function of heart in rats intravenously injected with doxorubicin (15 mg x kg(-1)). Sch B was better than DEX in protecting rat against DOX-induced the symptoms. Sch B could protect rat against DOX-induced acute cardiomyopathy and has clinical potential applications.
Animals ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; adverse effects ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Cardiomyopathies ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Cardiotoxicity ; drug therapy ; Cyclooctanes ; therapeutic use ; Dexrazoxane ; therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin ; adverse effects ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Lignans ; therapeutic use ; Myocardium ; enzymology ; Polycyclic Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Increased generation of ROS causes the lipid oxidation of the membrane of spermatozoa, but antioxidant vitamins play an important role in reproduction and help clear away ROS and protect the sperm membrane from lipid oxidation. This review focused on the effect of antioxidant vitamins on male reproduction and in the treatment of male infertility.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Ascorbic Acid ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; adverse effects ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; Vitamin A ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Vitamin E ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo examine the protective effects of wasp (Vespa magnifica) honeycomb extract (WCE) against gastric lesions in rats induced by 60% acidified ethanol, and evaluate its capacity to suppress oxidative stress in the gastric tissue.

METHODSWistar rats were subjected to intragastric administration of 60% acidified ethanol to induce gastric lesions following an 8-day oral pretreatment with WCE at 0, 25, 100 and 150 mg/kg or with saline. The levels of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and total antioxidant capacity in the gastric tissues were determined.

RESULTSOral administration of 25, 100 and 150 mg/kg WCE prior to 60% acidified ethanol administration significantly inhibited the formation of gastric lesions (with a reduction by 44.2%-87.1%), decreased the mucosal MPO activity (by 16.4%-56.6%) and increased the total antioxidant capacity of the gastric tissue (by 0.5, 1.47 and 1.83 folds, respectively) in a dose-dependent manner. At a high concentration (above 1 mg/ml), WCE also exhibited a stronger DPPH radical scavenging activity than butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT).

CONCLUSIONThe ethanol extract of wasp honeycombs can suppress the formation of acidified ethanol-induced gastric lesions by reducing free radical oxidation and neutrophils infiltration in the gastric tissue in rats.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Ethanol ; adverse effects ; Female ; Honey ; Male ; Materia Medica ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stomach Ulcer ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Wasps ; chemistry

To evaluate the effect of chlorogenic acid supplementation in patients with retinitis pigmentosa, we evaluated objective change in visual function with multifocal electroretinography, along with visual acuity, visual field, standard electroretinography, and contrast sensitivity. Eighteen patients diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa were enrolled in this prospective, non-comparative, single-arm study. Multifocal electroretinography, best-corrected visual acuity in Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters, total point score on visual field examination with Humphrey Field Analyzer II, electroretinography, and contrast sensitivity were measured and repeated after 3 months supplementation with chlorogenic acid. The amplitude of ring 5 was significantly higher on multifocal electroretinography after 3 months of chlorogenic acid supplementation (7.2 +/- 9.5 vs 8.3 +/- 10.8 nV/deg2, mean +/- standard deviation, P = 0.022). There were no significant changes in the best-corrected visual acuity, total point score on Humphrey Field Analyzer, 30 Hz flicker amplitude on standard electroretinography, or contrast sensitivity. Chlorogenic acid may have a beneficial effect on the peripheral area at the margins of retinal degeneration, and should be considered as an anti-oxidant for the management of retinitis pigmentosa.
Adult ; Antioxidants/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Chlorogenic Acid/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Dietary Supplements/adverse effects ; Electroretinography/*drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Prospective Studies ; Retina/physiopathology ; Retinitis Pigmentosa/*drug therapy ; Vision, Ocular/*drug effects ; Visual Acuity/*drug effects ; Visual Fields/drug effects ; Young Adult

Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is the most common complication of the radiotherapy for thoracic tumor. It can lower the ratio of local control and seriously affect the patients' quality of life. At present, the clinical management of RILI is not more than the use of glucocorticoid and anti-inflammatory agent for symptomatic treatments. These treatments do not have any preventive effect but cause much side reactions. In this paper, we review the data from the contigency researches on the mechanism of RILI, from the researches on gene therapy and stem cell-therapy, and we dicuss the more safe, more stable and more efficacious treatment of RILI.
Antioxidants ; therapeutic use ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Lung Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Radiation Injuries ; etiology ; therapy ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; etiology ; therapy ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; adverse effects

Idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (iOAT) affects approximately 30% of all infertile men. This mini-review discussed recent data in this field. Age, non-inflammatory functional alterations in post-testicular organs, infective agents (Chlamydia trachomatis, herpes virus and adeno-associated viruses), alterations in gamete genome, mitochondrial alterations, environmental pollutants and "subtle" hormonal alterations are all considered possible causes of iOAT. Increase of reactive oxygen species in tubules and in seminal plasma and of apoptosis are reputed to affect sperm concentration, motility and morphology. iOAT is commonly diagnosed by exclusion, nevertheless spectral traces of the main testicular artery may be used as a diagnostic tool for iOAT. The following can be considered therapies for iOAT: 1) tamoxifen citrate (20 mg/d) + testosterone undecanoate (120 mg/d) (pregnancy rate per couple/month [prcm]: 3.8%); 2) folic acid (66 mg/d) + zinc sulfate (5 mg/d); 3) L-carnitine (2 g/d) alone or in combination with acetyl-L-carnitine (1 g/d) (prcm: 2.3%); and 4) both carnitines = one 30 mg cinnoxicam suppository every 4 days (prcm: 8.5%). Alpha-blocking drugs improved sperm concentration but not morphology, motility or pregnancy rate. Tranilast (300 mg/d) increased sperm parameters and pregnancy rates in an initial uncontrolled study. Its efficacy on sperm concentration (but not on sperm motility, morphology or prcm) was confirmed in subsequent published reports. The efficacy of tamoxifen + testosterone undecanoate, tamoxifen alone, and recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone is still a matter for discussion.
Acetylcarnitine ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Autoimmunity ; Chlamydia Infections ; complications ; Chlamydia trachomatis ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Environmental Pollutants ; adverse effects ; Folic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human ; therapeutic use ; Genitalia, Male ; pathology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; complications ; Male ; Oligospermia ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; adverse effects ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; immunology ; Tamoxifen ; therapeutic use ; Zinc Sulfate ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo study the abnormal reactions of a series of free radicals and the oxidative damages induced by free radical abnormal reactions in the bodies of patients with chronic glomerulonephritis.

METHODSEighty chronic glomerulonephritis patients (CGNP) and eighty healthy adult volunteers (HAV) were enrolled in a random control study, in which concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) in plasma, lipoperoxides (LPO) in plasma and in erythrocytes, and vitamin C (VC), vitamin E (VE) and beta-carotene (beta-CAR) in plasma as well as activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in erythrocytes were determined with spectrophotometric assays.

RESULTSCompared with the average values of the above biochemical parameters in the HAV group, the average values of NO in plasma, and LPO in plasma and erythrocytes in the CGNP group were significantly increased (P = 0.0001), while those of VC, VE and beta-CAR in plasma as well as those of SOD, CAT and GPX in erythrocytes in the CGNP group were significantly decreased (P = 0.0001). Pearson product-moment correlation analysis showed that with increase of the concentration of blood creatinine as well as prolongation of the course of disease in the CGNP, the concentrations of NO in plasma, and LPO in plasma and erythrocytes in the CGNP increased gradually, while the concentrations of VC, VE and beta-CAR in plasma as well as the activities of SOD, CAT and GPX in erythrocytes in the CGNP decreased gradually (P = 0.002454-0.000001). The relative risk ratio (RR) of the above biochemical parameters reflecting oxidative damages in the bodies of CGNP ranged from 6.061 to 72.429. The reliability coefficient (alpha) that the above biochemical parameters were used to reflect the oxidative damages of the CGNP was 0.8137, standardized item alpha = 0.9728, Hotelling's T-Squared = 1135680.191, F = 53274.6478, P = 0.000001.

CONCLUSIONSThe findings in this study show that in the bodies of CGNP a series of free radical chain reactions result in severe pathological aggravation and induce oxidative damages in their bodies. Therefore, suitable dose of antioxidants should be supplemented to them so as to alleviate oxidative damages in their bodies.

Adult ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Catalase ; pharmacology ; Chronic Disease ; Erythrocytes ; enzymology ; Female ; Free Radicals ; adverse effects ; Glomerulonephritis ; physiopathology ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; Superoxide Dismutase ; pharmacology