Effect of X-radiation on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant systems in rats treated with saponin-containing compounds

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of three saponin-containing plant species extracts (Aesculuc hippocastanum L. seed extract [AHE], Medicago sativa L. extract [MSE] and Spinacia oleracea L. extract [SOE]) on lipid peroxidation and on antioxidant systems in rats exposed to X-rays (XR). The rats were divided into three categories. The first category served as controls and received only a standard diet. The second category served as the radiation group and received 5 and 10 Gy XR dose. The third category (XR+extract-treated) received plant extracts (25.0 or 50.0 mg kg(-1) live weight) and 5 or 10 Gy XR dose. Blood samples were analyzed for their content of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), plasma vitamin C, beta-carotene and retinol. In animals receiving XR, the plasma MDA (P < 0.001) value significantly increased but the level of GSH (P < 0.01), vitamin C (P < 0.001), retinol and beta-carotene (P < 0.001) decreased significantly with increasing XR doses. In the XR+extract-treated groups, the concentrations of MDA increased significantly with increasing radiation but their concentrations decreased significantly with increasing extract concentrations. Plasma concentrations of GSH, beta-carotene, retinol and vitamin C in XR+extract-treated groups decreased significantly with increasing XR dose but their concentrations increased with increasing extract doses. Further, comparison of blood samples of XR+extract-treated groups with those from the control group showed that GSH, beta-carotene, retinol and vitamin C values increased significantly but that MDA values decreased significantly. The results showed that all extracts have enhanced the antioxidant status and decreased the incidence of free radical-induced lipid peroxidation in blood samples of rats exposed to XR. However, the antioxidant effect of AHE-administered animals was more effective than that of MSE- and SOE-administered whole-body XR rats. We conclude that the supplementation with saponin-containing extracts may serve to reinforce the antioxidant systems, thus having protective effect against cell damage by XR.     

Effect of sound wave stress on antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation of Dendrobium candidum

The effect of sound wave stress on important medicinal plant, Dendrobium candidum Wall. ex Lindl, was investigated, including the responses on malondialdehyde (MDA) content, the activities change of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Results were found that the activities of SOD, CAT, POD and APX enhanced totally in different organs of D. candidum, as leaves, stems and roots, in response to the stress. Furthermore there happened similar shift of antioxidant enzymes activities, which increased in the initial stimulation and decreased afterwards. Data showed SOD, CAT, POD and APX activities ascended to max at day 9, 6, 9 and 12 in leaves, at day 9, 6, 12 and 9 in stems, and at day 12, 6, 9 and 9 in roots, respectively. As a lipid peroxidation parameter, MDA content in different organs increased in the beginning, dropped afterward, and increased again in the late. Anyway the total trend was the rise of MDA level compared to the control. It was interesting that the MDA content appeared the lowest levels almost when the antioxidant enzymes activities were up to the highest. Our results demonstrated the different organs of D. candidum might produce accumulation of active oxygen species (AOS) under initial treatment of sound wave stress. Later AOS might start to reduce due to the enhancement of antioxidant enzymes activities treated by the stress. The data revealed that the antioxidant metabolism was to be important in determining the ability of plants to survive in sound stress, and the up regulation of these enzymes activities would help to reduce the build up of AOS, which could protect plant cells from oxidative damage. Moreover, different cell compartments might activate different defensive system to reduce excessive amount of AOS. Finally the mechanism of this action was also discussed simply.     

Protective effects of Ocimum sanctum on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats

The antioxidant effects of Ocimum sanctum in experimental streptozocin-induced diabetic rats was evaluated in this study. Streptozocin, 55?mg?kg(-1) body weight, was injected intraperitoneally once daily for 30 days to induce diabetes mellitus in rats. Streptozocin-induced diabetic rats were orally treated with an aqueous extract of O. sanctum once daily for 30 days. After the experimental period, thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) and antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase were measured. Administration of O. sanctum to streptozocin-induced diabetic rats for 30 days significantly reduced the plasma level of TBARS and improved the status of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, SOD and glutathione peroxidase in vital organs such as the liver and kidney. These results confirmed that the Indian medicinal plant O. sanctum has a protective effect and it may be useful in controlling complications resulting from diabetes.     

Relationship of electrochemical oxidation of catechins on their antioxidant activity in microsomal lipid peroxidation.

The oxidation potentials of catechins were measured by employing flow-through column electrolysis. The oxidation potentials of catechins were shown to depend on their structures. At the same time, the antioxidant activity of catechins on NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes was evaluated. Catechins showed a 50% inhibition of lipid peroxidation in the concentration range of 10-51 microM. Among those studied, galloylated catechins exhibited stronger antioxidant activities than those of nongalloylated catechins. A quantitative relationship has been obtained to describe the antioxidant activity of catechins: log IC50 (microM)= 1.56+2.49E1/2 (V)-0.29 logP (r=0.907), where IC50 represents the concentration for 50% inhibition of lipid peroxidation, E1/2 represents the half-wave potential of the first oxidation wave, and P represents the octanol/water partition coefficient. This relationship suggested two important characteristics determining catechin antioxidant activity, namely the ease of oxidation and the lipophilicity.     

Effect of tea catechins on the structure of lipid membrane and beta-ray induced lipid peroxidation

Inhibiting effect of four tea catechins, (−)-epicatechin (EC), (−)-epicatechin gallate (ECG), (−)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), on the lipid peroxidation induced by β-ray in tritiated water was examined using a spin probe method. 16-Doxylstearic acid (16NS) was incorporated into the liposome prepared from egg yolk phosphatidylcholine and the rate of the decrease of ESR intensity of 16NS was used as a measure of the inhibiting effect. In the low concentration region below 10⁻⁵M, catechins showed their inhibitions on the lipid peroxidation according to the order of ECG>EGCG>EC>EGC. This result was explained by a model that the initiator of the peroxidation is the hydroxyl radical (·OH) and the catechins adsorbed on the lipid membrane surface acting as scavengers of ·OH. In the high concentration range, however, the effect was diverse and it decreased with the increase of it in the case of EGCG. EGCG in this range was considered to enter into the interior of the membrane and break the structure, which causes the decrease of 16NS. Observation with transmission electron microscope (TEM) revealed that the size of the liposome became larger with the increasing concentration of EGCG and finally it was broken into fragments, showing that EGCG broadened the area of the liposome as expected from the result of ESR.     

Analysis of aromatic amines in cigarette smoke

A method for the analysis of o-toluidine, o-anisidine, 2-naphthylamine, and 4-aminobiphenyl in cigarette mainstream smoke has been developed, which combines the sensitivity of their pentafluoropropionyl (PFP) derivatives in negative ion chemical ionization (NICI) mode with the selectivity of the gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) technique. The use of four deuterated analogues as internal standards along with the application of the standard addition method results in accurate and precise results; the interday precision for the aromatic amines was 3-10% and the accuracy ranged from 97-100%. This method was applied to two American-blend University of Kentucky reference cigarettes, eight American-blend market cigarettes, a bright (flue-cured) tobacco cigarette, and an electrically heated cigarette smoking system (EHCSS). For the American-blend cigarettes there was a linear correlation between aromatic amine yields and mainstream smoke 'tar' ('tar' = total particulate matter - (nicotine + water)), whereas the bright tobacco cigarette and the EHCSS demonstrated significantly lower aromatic amine yields on an equal 'tar' basis. The results support the hypothesis that the nitrogen content of the tobacco, and above all the cigarette combustion temperature, are determining factors for the yields of aromatic amines in smoke.     

Analysis of pyridines in mainstream cigarette smoke

A new technique has been developed for the quantitative analysis of pyridines in mainstream cigarette smoke using a GC-MS technique. For analysis, 10 cigarettes are smoked using conditions based on US Federal Trade Commission recommendations. The smoke is collected in a water trap and analyzed using a GC-MS technique. A standard or a fast GC separation can be applied for the analysis. The standard separation was followed by MS detection using selected ion monitoring (SIM) acquisition on a quadrupole instrument. The fast GC was followed by MS detection with total ion acquisition on a time-of-flight instrument. The levels of pyridine depend on the type of cigarette: for a full flavor cigarette pyridine is as high as 18.0 microg/cigarette (cig.). and for an ultra light cigarette is about 3.0 microg/cig. Substituted pyridines vary between 5.0 microg/cig. to 0.1 microg/cig. for a full flavor cigarette, and between 0.2 microg/cig. and a few ng/cig. for an ultra light cigarette. The reproducibility of the technique is very good, with less than 7-8% RSD in both separation procedures for most of the analyzed compounds.     

Effect of cigarette smoke on the measured equivalent volume activity of222Rn in air

The effect of cigarette smoke in air on the increase of the measured equivalent volume activity of²²²Rn is demonstrated. After introduction of the smoke from one cigarette into 1 m³ of air, this value increased up to ten times as shown by the method of sucking air through a filter.     

Analysis of cigarette smoke by an online thermal desorption system and multidimensional GC-MS

Single puffs of cigarette smoke with a wide continuous range of volatility are directly analyzed using a new system. The system consists of a smoking machine, an online thermal desorption system (TDS), and a multidimensional gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (MDGC-MS) system. The online TDS with the smoking machine collects the single-puff cigarette smoke with glass beads as the cryogenic adsorbent. The MDGC is composed of three capillary columns, Poraplot Q, and DB-WAX for separation and a deactivated capillary column for pressure balance, which enables simultaneous separation of the two different phases. The smoke desorbed from the TDS is divided into vapor and semivolatile phases and analyzed individually with each column by the MDGC. Thus, the system enables the overall analysis of the two phases simultaneously, including acetaldehyde and 1,4-benzenediol. This system also provides more appropriate analysis for compounds crossing the two phases such as toluene and pyridine. For the approach of introducing internal standards, a gas mixture of toluene-d(8) and o-xylene-d(10) is applied and the compounds are detected in the vapor and semivolatile phases, respectively.     

Sampling and determination of hydrogen cyanide in cigarette smoke

A method for sampling and determination of hydrogen cyanide in cigarette smoke is described. Cigarette smoke is filtered through a glass fiber filter paper, and only gaseous compounds, such as hydrogen cyanide, are collected in a dilute sodium hydroxide solution. The cyanide is determined spectrophotometrically at 550 nm by the isonicotinic acid–pyrazolone method. Maximum absorbance is achieved within 10 min at room temperature, and remains constant for about 20 min. Beer’s law is obeyed in the range 0.04∼0.80 μg mL^–1 cyanide, with a molar absorptivity of 3.48 × 10⁴ L mol^–1 cm^–1. Received: 30 November 1998 / Revised: 21 April 1999 / Accepted: 30 April 1999     

Sampling and determination of hydrogen cyanide in cigarette smoke

A method for sampling and determination of hydrogen cyanide in cigarette smoke is described. Cigarette smoke is filtered through a glass fiber filter paper, and only gaseous compounds, such as hydrogen cyanide, are collected in a dilute sodium hydroxide solution. The cyanide is determined spectrophotometrically at 550 nm by the isonicotinic acid–pyrazolone method. Maximum absorbance is achieved within 10 min at room temperature, and remains constant for about 20 min. Beer’s law is obeyed in the range 0.04∼0.80 μg mL^–1 cyanide, with a molar absorptivity of 3.48 × 10⁴ L mol^–1 cm^–1. Received: 30 November 1998 / Revised: 21 April 1999 / Accepted: 30 April 1999     

关键制丝工艺对烟气成分中挥发性成分的影响

采用气相色谱-质谱联用仪(GC-MS)测定了不同制丝工艺参数(松散回潮的热风温度、切丝宽度、HT工作蒸汽流量、烘丝热风温度和排潮风门开度)条件下制成的卷烟样品烟气成分中的挥发性成分。结果表明:酯类物质的释放总量在这些工艺参数条件下存在极显著差异的水平,说明酯类物质的释放总量在5种工艺参数不同条件下的变化是极明显的。综合分析部分致香成分和简单酚类的释放总量,选取样品2与样品4的工艺参数条件进行对比可知较高的松散回潮热风温度和烘丝热风温度更加有利于增加卷烟烟气中挥发性成分的释放量;在增加卷烟香吃味方面样品4的工艺参数条件为最佳生产条件,在该工艺条件下生产出的卷烟样品其烟气成分中致香成分的释放总量最多。     

Real-time assessment of cigarette smoke particle deposition in vitro

Background

Recently, an increased interest in the identification of valuable possibilities for preserving the antioxidant properties of products obtained by thermal processing of fruits rich in bioactive compounds can be noticed. In this regard, an extensive analysis is necessary in terms of thermal processed products behavior in relation to various factors. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect which processing and storage at 20°C has on the antioxidant properties and color quality of low-sugar bilberry jam with different low-methoxyl pectin (LMP) concentrations.

Results

For all measured parameters, it should be noted that thermal processing induced significant alterations reported to the values registered for fresh fruit. Most important losses due to thermal processing were recorded for total monomeric anthocyanins (TMA) (81-84%), followed by L-ascorbic acid (L-AsAc) content (53-58%), total phenolics (TP) content (42-51%) and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) values (36-47%). Moreover, depreciation of the investigated compounds occurred during storage at 20°C. Jam storage for 7 months resulted in severe losses in TMA content in the range 58-72% from the value recorded one day after processing. This coincided with marked increases in polymeric color percent of these products after 7 months of storage. Also, bilberry jam storage for 7 months resulted in a decrease in L-AsAc content of 40-53% from the value recorded one day after processing, 41-57% in TP content and 33-46% from the value recorded one day after processing for FRAP values. By decreasing of LMP concentration in the jam recipe from 1 to 0.3% there has been an increase in losses of investigated compounds.

Conclusion

Overall, the results indicated that bilberry jams can also represent a good source of antioxidant compounds, although compared to the fruit, important losses seem to occur. Practical application of this work is that this kind of information will be very useful in optimizing the jam processing technology and storage conditions, in order to improve the quality of these products.     

Real-time assessment of cigarette smoke particle deposition in vitro

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Recently there has been a rapid increase in approaches to assess the effects of cigarette smoke in vitro. Despite a range of gravimetric and chemical methods, there is a requirement to identify simpler and more reliable methods to quantify in vitro whole smoke dose, to support extrapolation and comparisons to human/in vivo dose. We have previously characterised an in vitro exposure system using a Borgwaldt RM20S smoking machine and a chamber exposing cellular cultures to whole smoke at the air-liquid interface. In this study we demonstrate the utility of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), using this exposure system, to assess real-time cigarette smoke particulate deposition during a 30 minute smoke exposure. Smoke was generated at various dilutions (1:5--1:400, smoke:air) using two cigarette products, 3R4F Kentucky reference and 1 mg commercially available cigarettes. The QCM, integrated into the chamber, assessed particulate deposition and data generated was compared to traditional chemical spectrofluorometric analysis. RESULTS: The QCM chamber was able to detect mass differences between the different products within the nanogram range. 3R4F reference cigarette smoke deposition ranged from 25.75 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN]2.30 mug/cm2 (1:5) to 0.22 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN]0.03 mug/cm2 (1:400). 1 mg cigarette smoke deposition was less and ranged from 1.42 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN]0.26 mug/cm2 (1:5), to 0.13 [PLUS-MINUS SIGN]0.02 mug/cm2 (1:100). Spectrofluorometric analysis demonstrated statistically significant correlation of particulate deposition with the QCM (p < 0.05), and regression R2 value were 97.4 %. The fitted equation for the linear model which describes the relationship is: QCM = [MINUS SIGN]0.6796 + 0.9744 chemical spectrofluorescence CONCLUSIONS: We suggest the QCM is a reliable, effective and simple tool that can be used to quantify smoke particulate deposition in real-time, in vitro and can be used to quantify other aerosols delivered to our chamber for assessment.     

Differential effects of hexaconazole and paclobutrazol on biomass, electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant potential of Daucus carota L

The application of triazole fungicides is a common practice in the cultivation of carrot (Daucus carota L.) plants. It is there for seems important to test the changes that are occurring in this food crop under triazoles, the non-traditional plant growth regulators, treatments in order to identify the extent to which it tolerate the fungicide application and thereby make it an economical food crop. A field experiment was conducted to find out the effects of two triazole fungicides (hexaconazole (HEX) and paclobutrazol (PBZ) at 20 mg l⁻¹ plant⁻¹) on the biomass, yield, electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant potential of carrot. The treatments were given to plants on 15, 30 and 45 days after sowing (DAS). The plants were uprooted for analyses of growth and biochemical parameters on 60 DAS. It was found that both HEX and PBZ have significant effects on the growth and biochemical parameters of this plant. Among the triazoles used, PBZ performed best in terms of anthocyanin, protein, amino acid, proline, starch and sugar, contents whereas HEX enhanced carotenoids, fresh weight, dry weight and biomass. There was no significant variation in chlorophyll (‘a’ and ‘b’) contents between the two triazole treated plants, but HEX and PBZ proved best when compared to untreated control plants. HEX and PBZ increased - and β-amylases enzymes activities to a significant level. Out of these two triazoles, PBZ performed best in increasing the starch hydrolyzing enzymes activities. The non-enzymatic antioxidant, reduced glutathione (GSH) and antioxidant enzyme ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were increased under fungicide applications. The data suggests that, the application of triazole fungicides may be a useful tool to increase the tuber quality as well as quantity in carrot plants, apart from their fungicidal properties.     

The photoelectric aerosol sensor as a fast-responding and sensitive detection system for cigarette smoke analysis

Summary The combination of the photoelectric aerosol sensor (PAS) and the time programmed sampling of small aerosol volumes within a cigarette puff allows the quantitative time-resolved determination of photoemitting substances in the aerosol. All photoemitting substances contribute to the measured photoelectric (PE) signal. In this comparative study it is shown that the PAS signal correlates well (r=0.94, n=20) with the BaP content. The benzo-a-pyrene (BaP) amounts of the cigarette smoke aerosol were separately determined by in situ synchronous fluorimetry on TLC plates. The absolute detection limit is about 50 pg.

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Photoelektrischer Aerosolsensor als schnell ansprechendes und empfindliches Detektionssystem zur Analyse von Zigarettenrauch

     

Effect of aclacinomycin on lipid peroxide levels in tissues of mice

We have examined the lipid peroxide levels in aclacinomycin (ACM)-treated mice by using adriamycin (ADR) as a comparative drug. There was no increase in the lipid peroxide level of the heart at either 3h or 4d after ACM administration (15 mg/kg, i.p.), although the level in the heart of ADR-treated mice was elevated to 257% of that in normal mice. The effect of ACM and its glycoside-type metabolites on the increase of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent microsomal lipid peroxidation (in vitro) was weaker than that of ADR. Then, we examined the tissue concentrations of ACM. The AUC0-24h of ACM was the lowest in the heart among the tissues examined, being only 29.3% of that obtained with ADR. However, the concentrations of the glycoside-type metabolites of ACM in all tissues determined were higher than the concentration of ACM. In the heart, the T1/2 and AUC0-24h of ACM glycosides were somewhat higher than those of ADR. In conclusion, ACM and its metabolites do not lead to an increase in lipid peroxide level in the heart of mouse, and the difference in lipid peroxide increment in the mouse heart induced by ADR and ACM is independent of the tissue concentration of the drugs.