BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of a Mediterranean dietary pattern on plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) after 3 years of intervention and the associations with adiposity indexes in a randomized dietary trial (PREDIMED trial) with high cardiovascular risk patients.

SUBJECTS/METHODS: 187 subjects were randomly selected from the PREDIMED-UNAV center after they completed 3-year intervention program. Participants were following a Mediterranean-style diet with high intake of virgin olive oil or high intake of nuts, or a conventional low-fat diet. Adiposity indexes were measured at baseline and at year 3. Plasma TAC was evaluated using a commercially available colorimetric assay kit.

RESULTS: Plasma TAC in the control, olive oil and nuts groups was 2.01+/-0.15, 3.51+/-0.14 and 3.02+/-0.14 mM Trolox, respectively after adjusting for age and sex. The differences between the Mediterranean diet and control groups were statistically significant (P<0.001). Moreover higher levels of TAC were significantly associated with a reduction in body weight after 3 years of intervention among subjects allocated to the virgin olive oil group (B=-1.306; 95% CI=-2.439 to -0.173; P=0.025, after adjusting for age, sex and baseline body mass index).

CONCLUSIONS: Mediterranean diet, especially rich in virgin olive oil, is associated with higher levels of plasma antioxidant capacity. Plasma TAC is related to a reduction in body weight after 3 years of intervention in a high cardiovascular risk population with a Mediterranean-style diet rich in virgin olive oil.

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether 14 days of supplementation with maritime pine extract leading up to and following an exercise test would increase performance and reduce biomarkers associated with muscle damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The study used a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design. Twenty apparently healthy young male participants ingested either 800 mg pine bark extract or placebo for 14 days prior to the first exercise trial and for 2 days postexercise. On the exercise day, participants submitted a pre-exercise blood sample then completed a VOpeak test until volitional failure. A postexercise blood sample was collected 1 hour after completion of exercise. Participants returned at 24 and 48 hours after the exercise testing for measures of muscle pain in the lower body using an algometer. Participants then had a 7-day washout period before beginning to cross over to the alternate treatment. Analysis via ordinal regression demonstrated a significant difference in oxidative stress in the maritime pine extract group compared to placebo (ChiSq = 2.63; p = 0.045). Maritime pine extract was effective at affording protection from oxidative stress postexercise. Further work should be undertaken to evaluate thefindings with other exercise modes or in participants with known metabolic syndrome.

Purpose: Ketogenic diets (KD) can facilitate weight loss, but their effects on skeletal muscle remain equivocal. In this experiment we investigated the effects of two diets on skeletal muscle mitochondrial coupling, mitochondrial complex activity, markers of oxidative stress, and gene expression in sedentary and resistance exercised rats.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (9-10 weeks of age, 300-325 g) were fed isocaloric amounts of either a KD (17 g/day, 5.2 kcal/g, 20.2% protein, 10.3% CHO, 69.5% fat, n = 16) or a Western diet (WD) (20 g/day, 4.5 kcal/g, 15.2% protein, 42.7% CHO, 42.0% fat, n = 16) for 6 weeks. During these 6 weeks animals were either sedentary (SED, n = 8 per diet group) or voluntarily exercised using resistance-loaded running wheels (EXE, n = 8 per diet group). Gastrocnemius was excised and used for mitochondrial isolation and biochemical analyses.

Results: In the presence of a complex II substrate, the respiratory control ratio (RCR) of isolated gastrocnemius mitochondria was higher (p<0.05) in animals fed the KD compared to animals fed the WD. Complex I and IV enzyme activity was higher (p<0.05) in EXE animals regardless of diet. SOD2 protein levels and GLUT4 and PGC1α mRNA expression were higher (p<0.05) in EXE animals regardless of diet.

Conclusion: Our data indicate that skeletal muscle mitochondrial coupling of complex II substrates is more efficient in chronically resistance trained rodents fed a KD. These findings may provide merit for further investigation, perhaps on humans.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether honey supplementation (70g, ninety minutes before each training session) attenuates changes in lymphocyte counts, DNA damage, cytokines, antioxidative and peroxidative biomarkers following moderate-to-intensive exercise training in male road cyclists. Healthy nonprofessional cyclists (n=24, aged 17-26years) were randomly assigned to exercise+supplement (EX+S, n=12) and exercise (EX, n=12) groups for an experimental period of 16weeks. Moderate-to-intensive exercise training increased lymphocytes DNA damage, cytokines and peroxidative biomarkers as well as decreased antioxidative biomarkers in the EX group. These changes were significantly attenuated in the EX+S group. Furthermore, for both groups the observed changes in peroxidative and antioxidative biomarkers could be correlated positively and negatively, respectively, with lymphocyte DNA damage and cytokines. Findings suggest that honey attenuates oxidative stress and lymphocyte DNA damage after exercise, activities that are most likely attributable to its high antioxidant capacity.

The mechanisms by which resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-stilbene) imparts neural effects is not well understood. We previously demonstrated that, depending upon the concentration of resveratrol and the cell type, this compound exerts anti-or pro-oxidant effects. In the present study, we investigated the effects of resveratrol on H(2)O(2)-mediated genotoxicity in C6 astroglial cells (I - 1mM H(2)O(2)/30 min or II - 0.1mM H(2)O(2)/6h), evaluated by micronucleus assay, lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and membrane integrity. H(2)O(2) increased micronuclei to 1.5 (I) and 1.7-fold (II), compared to control cells. This DNA damage was prevented (I) or partially prevented (II) by resveratrol. Oxidative insult also increased TBARS, 52% in I and 38% in II, P<0.05. These effects were prevented by resveratrol in I and increased in II (70% of increase). Present data contribute to the understanding of resveratrol effects under oxidative stress damage.

Numerous methods have been used to minimize the cardiotoxic effects of the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin (DOX), and most have had limited success. Chronic endurance exercise has been shown to protect against DOX cardiotoxicity, but little is known regarding the effects of acute exercise on DOX-induced cardiac dysfunction.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a single bout of acute endurance exercise on the cardiac dysfunction associated with DOX treatment.

METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats either performed an acute exercise bout on a motorized treadmill for 60 minutes at a maximal speed of 25 m/min with a 5% grade (EX) or remained sedentary (SED) 24 hours before receiving either a 15-mg/kg DOX bolus dose or saline (SAL). Cardiac function was then analyzed 5 days post injection using a Langendorff isolated perfused heart model. In addition, myocardial lipid peroxidation was analyzed as an indicator of oxidative stress.

RESULTS: Doxorubicin treatment alone (SED+DOX) promoted a significant decline in end-systolic pressure (-35%), left ventricular developed pressure (-59%), and the maximal rate of left ventricular pressure development (-43%) as well as a 45% increase in lipid peroxidation products when compared with SED+SAL (P<.05). Acute exercise 24 hours before DOX treatment, however, had a cardioprotective effect, as end-systolic pressure, left ventricular developed pressure, and the maximal rate of left ventricular pressure development were significantly higher in EX+DOX compared with SED+DOX (P<.05) and EX+DOX had similar levels of lipid peroxidation products as SED+SAL

CONCLUSIONS: An acute exercise bout performed 24 hours before DOX treatment protected against cardiac dysfunction, and this exercise-induced cardioprotection may partly be explained by a reduction in the generation of reactive oxygen species.

The present study evaluates the protective effects of an antioxidant-rich extract of(NAOE) in abnormalities associated with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in rats. HPTLC of NAOE revealed the presence of 13 total antioxidants, 14 flavonoids, and 10 phenolic acids. Rats administered with fructose (20% /) in drinking water for 45 days to induce abnormalities of MetS received NAOE (200 and 400 mg/kg, po), the standard drug gemfibrozil (60 mg/kg, po), aerobic exercise (AE), and a combination of NAOE 400 mg/kg and AE (NAOEAE) daily for 45 days. All treatments significantly altered the lipid profile and attenuated the fructose-elevated levels of uric acid, C-reactive protein, homocysteine, and marker enzymes (AST, LDH, and CK-MB) in serum and malondialdehyde in the heart and restored the fructose-depleted levels of glutathione and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase). A significant decrease in blood glucose and insulin levels decreased insulin resistance, and improved glucose tolerance was observed in the treatment animals when compared with the fructose-fed animals. The best mitigation of MetS was shown by the NAOEAE treatment indicating that regular exercise along with adequate consumption of antioxidant-rich foods such as spinach in diet can help control MetS.

The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of resveratrol, an active ingredient found in grapes and other plant products, in ameliorating oxidative stress. Oxidative stress was induced by addition of Fe2+ and t-butyl hydroperoxide to the cultured PC12 cell medium. Resveratrol, vitamins C and/or E, were added to the cell culture medium during oxidative stress. The combination of resveratrol and vitamins C and/or E was more effective in protecting the cell than was any of these three antioxidants alone.

The present studywas undertaken to assess the bioaccumulation potential of cadmium in liver, kidney, gills and muscles of freshwater fish, Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and the changes in oxidative stress indices in liver and kidney with or without simultaneous treatment with waterborne vitamin C and rosemary leaf extract. Adult tilapia were divided into seven groups. Six groups were exposed to sublethal concentrations of Cd, three groups to 5 ppm, while other three to 10 ppm. Two groups from each of the Cd exposed groups were treated with Vitamin C (5ppm) and rosemary leaf extract (2.5 ppm) for a period of 21 days. Cadmium concentration in liver, kidneys and gills was significantly higher in the cadmium exposed groups being invariably high in the groups exposed to 10 ppm CdCl2.H2O.Treatment with Vitamin C and rosemary leaf extract significantly reduced cadmium concentration in comparison to non-treated Cd exposed groups. Treatment with Vitamin C and rosemary leaf extract significantly reduced oxidative stress in Cd exposed fish as evidenced from lower concentration of lipid peroxides and reduced activity of catalase and higher activity of superoxide dismutase in liver and kidney as compared to control fish. Reduction in Cd induced oxidative stress and bioaccumulation was comparable between the two antioxidant treatments, Vitamin C and rosemary leaf extract. The key findings suggest that both the antioxidants used showed ameliorative potential to reduce tissue accumulation of Cd and associated oxidative stress in fresh water fish, Nile tilapia.

Chronic exposure of pancreatic beta-cells to supraphysiologic glucose causes adverse beta-cell dysfunction. Thus, the present study was aimed to investigate the hypothesis that oral administration of resveratrol attenuates hyperglycemia, proinflammatory cytokines and antioxidant competence and protects beta-cell ultrastructure in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats. Oral administration of resveratrol (5 mg/kg body weight) to diabetic rats for 30 days showed a significant decline in the levels of blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, NF-kappaB p65 unit and nitric oxide (NO) with concomitant elevation in plasma insulin. Further, resveratrol treated diabetic rats elicited a notable attenuation in the levels of lipid peroxides, hydroperoxides and protein carbonyls in both plasma and pancreatic tissues. The diminished activities of pancreatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) as well as the decreased levels of plasma ceruloplasmin, vitamin C, vitamin E and reduced glutathione (GSH) in diabetic rats were reverted to near normalcy by resveratrol administration. Based on histological and ultrastructural observations, it is first-time reported that the oral administration of resveratrol may effectively rescue beta-cells from oxidative damage without affecting their function and structural integrity. The results of the present investigation demonstrated that resveratrol exhibits significant antidiabetic potential by attenuating hyperglycemia, enhancing insulin secretion and antioxidant competence in pancreatic beta-cells of diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND:Low-grade chronic inflammation in overweight subjects is thought to play an important role in disease development.

OBJECTIVE:It was hypothesized that specific dietary components are able to reduce low-grade inflammation as well as metabolic and oxidative stress.

DESIGN:Dietary products [resveratrol, green tea extract, alpha-tocopherol, vitamin C, n-3 (omega-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids, and tomato extract] selected for their evidence-based antiinflammatory properties were combined and given as supplements to 36 healthy overweight men with mildly elevated plasma C-reactive protein concentrations in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study with treatment periods of 5 wk. Inflammatory and oxidative stress defense markers were quantified in plasma and urine. Furthermore, 120 plasma proteins, 274 plasma metabolites (lipids, free fatty acids, and polar compounds), and the transcriptomes of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and adipose tissue were quantified.

RESULTS:Plasma adiponectin concentrations increased by 7%, whereas C-reactive protein (principal inflammation marker) was unchanged. However, a multitude of subtle changes were detected by an integrated analysis of the "omics" data, which indicated modulated inflammation of adipose tissue, improved endothelial function, affected oxidative stress, and increased liver fatty acid oxidation.

CONCLUSION:An intervention with selected dietary products affected inflammatory processes, oxidative stress, and metabolism in humans, as shown by large-scale profiling of genes, proteins, and metabolites in plasma, urine, and adipose tissue. This trial was registered at clinical trials.gov as NCT00655798.

OBJECTIVE: Hydroxyl radical and hypochlorite anion formed at the wound site from superoxide anion produced by activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are considered important factors in impaired wound healing. Superoxide anion may also react with nitric oxide produced by macrophages to form peroxynitrite, a third strong oxidant that damages surrounding tissue. In order to select honey for use in wound-healing products, different samples were compared for their capacity to reduce levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vitro. METHOD: Honey samples were tested in assays for inhibition of ROS production by activated human PMNs, antioxidant activity (scavenging of superoxide anion in a cell-free system) and inhibition of human complement (reducing levels of ROS by limiting formation of complement factors that attract and stimulate PMNs). For buckwheat honey (NewYork, US), moisture and free acid content were determined by refractive index measurement and potentiometric titration respectively. Honey constituents other than sugars were investigated by thin layer chromatography, using natural product reagent to detect phenolic compounds. Constituents with antioxidant properties were detected by spraying the chromatogram with DPPH. RESULTS: Although most honey samples were shown to be active, significant differences were observed, with the highly active honey exceeding the activities of samples with minor effects by factors of 4 to 30. Most pronounced activities were found for American buckwheat honey from the state of NewYork. Phenolic constituents of buckwheat honey were shown to have antioxidant activity. CONCLUSION: As buckwheat honey was most effective in reducing ROS levels, it was selected for use in wound-healing products. The major antioxidant properties in buckwheat honey derive from its phenolic constituents, which are present in relatively large amounts. Its phenolic compounds may also exert antibacterial activity, whereas its low pH and high free acid content may assist wound healing.

Background:is a medicinal plant called rosemary, largely used in the Mediterranean diet for many decades ago.

Objective:The aim of the present study was to investigate the polyphenolic content, the antioxidant activity, and the antiproliferative effect against human prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP) of carnosol and carnosic acid as bioactive compounds contained ingrowing in Morocco.

Materials and Methods:Polyphenolic content ofethanolic extract was studied using colorimetric assay. Carnosol and carnosic acid contained inextract were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antiproliferative effect of the studied extracts on LNCaP was evaluated by WST-1 bioassay, and the antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH assay.

Results:The extracts ofshowed an important polyphenolic content ranging from 74.15 g·GAE/mg to 146.63 g·GAE/mg. The percentage of carnosol and carnosic acid in rosemary crops ranges from 11.7 to 17.3% and 1.09% to 3%, respectively. The extracts ofexhibited a promoting antioxidant activity with ICranging from 0.236 mg/mL to 0.176 mg/mL. Regarding the antiproliferative effect, the WST-1 assay revealed that all the tested extracts reduced notably the cell viability with ICvalues ranging from 14.15 to 15. 04 g/mL.

Conclusion:In the current work, carnosol and carnosic acid exhibit antioxidant and antiproliferative activities in a concentration-dependent manner.

Aerobic training is related to an increase in blood oxidation markers. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant capacity of Lippia citriodora extracts (PLX(®) ) on plasma and blood cell oxidative status of university students beginning a 21 days aerobic training routine (3 days/week). Using a double-blind design, 15 male athletes (21 ± 2.1 years) were assigned to a group consuming 1.8 g/day of the plant extract (PLX(®) -group) or a placebo (PLB-group). Two blood extractions were performed at day 0 and 21, from which lymphocytes, erythrocytes and plasma were isolated. Several circulating parameters, antioxidant enzyme activities and oxidative stress markers were measured. The PLX(®) -group displayed an increased HDL-cholesterol, a modest decrease in erythrocyte number and an increased circulating urea. Activation of glutathione (GSH)-reductase was observed in erythrocytes and lymphocytes of PLX(®) -group, accompanied by lower levels of oxidative stress markers, such as malondialdehyde and protein carbonyls in plasma. The antioxidant action exerted by PLX(®) on GSH-reductase seems to be post-translational and mainly due to verbascoside, a phenylpropanoid that represents 10% (w/w) of extract content. In conclusion, PLX(®) shows antioxidant properties that could play an important role in modulating GSH-reductase activity in lymphocytes and erythrocytes and protecting plasma from exercise oxidative damage.

The present study was aimed to explore the effect of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) on tissue lipid peroxidation, enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants in rats fed a high-fat diet. Thirty male Wistar rats (95-115 g) were divided into 5 groups. They were fed standard pellet diet, high-fat diet (20% coconut oil, 2% cholesterol and 0.125% bile salts), high-fat diet plus black pepper (0.25 g or 0.5 g/kg body weight), high-fat diet plus piperine (0.02 g/kg body weight) for a period of 10 weeks. Significantly elevated levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), conjugated dienes (CD) and significantly lowered activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in the liver, heart, kidney, intestine and aorta were observed in rats fed the high fat diet as compared to the control rats. Simultaneous supplementation with black pepper or piperine lowered TBARS and CD levels and maintained SOD, CAT, GPx, GST, and GSH levels to near those of control rats. The data indicate that supplementation with black pepper or the active principle of black pepper, piperine, can reduce high-fat diet induced oxidative stress to the cells.

Many essential oils are known to possess an antioxidant activity and antifungal properties and therefore they potentially act as antimycotic agents. Essential oil of clove (Eugenia caryophyllata) was isolated by hydrodistillation. The chemical composition of the essential oil was analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. The antioxidant effect of the tested oil was evaluated by measuring its 2,2-diphenyl-l-1-picrylhydrazil radical scavenging ability and the antiradical dose required to cause a 50% inhibition (IC50) was recorded. The antifungal activity of essential oils was evaluated against 53 human pathogenic yeasts using a disc paper diffusion method. Our results show that the major components present in the clove bund oil were eugenol (88.6%), eugenyl acetate (5.6%), beta-caryophyllene (1.4%) and 2-heptanone (0.9%). The tested essential oil exhibited a very strong radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 0.2 microg ml-1) when compared with the synthetic antioxidant (tert-butylated hydroxytoluene, IC50 = 11.5 microg ml-1). On the other hand, this species displayed an important antifungal effect against the tested strains. It is clear that clove oil shows powerful antifungal activity; and it can be used as an easily accessible source of natural antioxidants and in pharmaceutical applications.

Our objectives were to investigate the chemical composition, nutritive value and antioxidant activity potentials of Terfezia boudieri Chatin collected from different areas from Southeast of Turkey. The amounts of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, crude fibre, moisture and ash were 34.00-65.00 (kcal/100 g), 1.40-2.73, 0.86-1.71, 4.84-11.60, 80.86-90.33 (g/100 g, f.w.) and 1.02-1.98 g/100 g dry mass, respectively. Fatty acids and amino acids analyses revealed that linoleic acid and glutamic acid were, respectively the most abundant. Among the essential amino acids leucine was the highest amount and this was followed by threonine. Magnesium was themost abundant element with a concentration value of 182.30 mg/100 g dry mass. T. boudieri exhibited excellent antioxidant activity when compared with standard compounds. In total antioxidant and chelating effect on ferrous ions activity T. boudieri showed the highest activity against the standards. Additionally, at all studied tests antioxidant activity of the mushroom increased with increasing concentration. The total phenolic content of T. boudieri was found as 8.45 mg/g.

Poria cocos Wolf is a popular traditional medicinal plant that has invigorating activity. Water-soluble polysaccharides (PCPs) are its main active components. In this study, four different methods were used to extract PCPs, which include hot water extraction (PCP-H), ultrasonic-assisted extraction (PCP-U), enzyme-assisted extraction (PCP-E) and microwave-assisted extraction (PCP-M). Their chemical compositions and structure characterizations were compared. In vitro antioxidant activities were studied on the basis of DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical, reducing power and metal chelating ability. The results showed that PCPs were composed of mannose, glucose, galactose, and arabinose, and had typical IR spectra characteristics of polysaccharides. Compared with other PCPs, PCP-M had lower neutral sugar content, higher mannose content and higher uronic acid content. The molecular weight were determined as PCP-E<pcp-m<pcp-u

BACKGROUND:This study was designed to test the hypothesis that antioxidant Vitamin C prevents the impairment of endothelial function during prolonged sitting.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:Eleven men (24.2± 4.4 yrs) participated in 2 randomized 3-h sitting trials. In the sitting without vitamin C (SIT) and the sitting with vitamin C (VIT) trial, participants were seated for 3 h without moving their legs. Additionally, in the VIT trial, participants ingested 2 vitamin C tablets (1 g and 500 mg) at 30min and 1 h 30 min, respectively. Superficial femoral artery (SFA) flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was measured hourly for 3 h.

RESULTS:By a 1-way ANOVA, there was a significant decline in FMD during 3 h of SIT (p<0.001). Simultaneously, there was a significant decline in antegrade (p=0.04) and mean (0.037) shear rates. For the SIT and VIT trials by a 2-way (trial x time) repeated measures ANOVA, there was a significant interaction (p=0.001). Pairwise testing revealed significant between-SFA FMD in the SIT and VIT trial at each hour after baseline, showing that VIT prevented the decline in FMD 1 h (p=0.009), 2 h (p=0.016), and 3 h (p=0.004). There was no difference in the shear rates between SIT and VIT trials (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:Three hours of sitting resulted in impaired SFA FMD. Antioxidant Vitamin C prevented the decline in SFA FMD, suggesting that oxidative stress may contribute to the impairment in endothelial function during sitting.