Attenuation Effect of Salvianolic Acid B on Testicular Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats

During testicular ischemia-reperfusion, overproduction of reactive oxygen species is associated with testicular injury. We injected hydrogen peroxide (a representative of reactive oxygen species) into normal testis via the testicular artery. The experiment demonstrates that reactive oxygen species can cause spermatogenic injury. Salvianolic acid B, the most abundant bioactive component in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, has been reported to possess a potent antioxidant activity. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of salvianolic acid B on testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat testicular torsion-detorsion model. Rats were randomly separated into three groups, including 20 rats in each group: control group with sham operation, testicular ischemia-reperfusion group, and testicular ischemia-reperfusion + salvianolic acid B-treated group. In the testicular ischemia-reperfusion group, left testicular torsion of 720° for 2 hours was induced, and then testicular detorsion was carried out. Rats in the salvianolic acid B-treated group additionally had salvianolic acid B administered intravenously at detorsion. At 4 hours after detorsion, testes of 10 rats from each group were collected to analyze the protein expression of xanthine oxidase which catalyzes generation of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde concentration (an indirect indicator of reactive oxygen species). At 3 months after detorsion, testes of the remaining 10 rats from each group were collected to analyze spermatogenesis. Compared with the control group, xanthine oxidase protein expression and malondialdehyde concentration in ipsilateral testes of testicular ischemia-reperfusion group increased significantly, while spermatogenesis decreased significantly. In the salvianolic acid B-treated group, xanthine oxidase protein expression and malondialdehyde concentration in ipsilateral testes decreased significantly, while spermatogenesis increased significantly, compared with the testicular ischemia-reperfusion group. These results suggest that salvianolic acid B can attenuate testicular torsion/detorsion-induced ischemia/reperfusion injury by downregulating the xanthine oxidase protein expression to inhibit reactive oxygen species formation.

Urate-lowering drugs in the treatment of gout: The unknown about the known

The main direction of drug therapy for gout and other diseases associated with hyperuricemia is the long-term use of drugs aimed at correcting the level of uric acid. However, in addition to the urate-lowering effect, these drugs may have other beneficial pleiotropic effects. The article will discuss the additional effects of xanthine oxidase inhibitors, as well as drugs used to treat gout-related diseases that have urate-lowering effects.

Ibogaine Has Sex-Specific Plasma Bioavailability, Histopathological and Redox/Antioxidant Effects in Rat Liver and Kidneys: A Study on Females

Ibogaine induces rapid changes in cellular energetics followed by the elevation of antioxidant activities. As shown earlier in male rats, ibogaine treatment with both 1 and 20 mg/kg b.w. per os led to significant glycogenolytic activity in the liver. In this work, female rats treated with the same doses of ibogaine per os displayed lower liver glycogenolytic activity relative to males, dilatation of the central vein and branches of the portal vein, and increased concentration of thiols 6 h after treatment. These changes were followed by increased catalase activity and lipid peroxidation, and decreased xanthine oxidase activity after 24 h. In kidneys, mild histopathological changes were found in all treated animals, accompanied by a decrease of glutathione reductase (after 6 and 24 h at both doses) and an increase of catalase (6 h) and xanthine oxidase activity (6 and 24 h). Ibogaine did not affect antioxidant enzymes activity in erythrocytes. Bioavailability of ibogaine was two to three times higher in females than males, with similar kinetic profiles. Compared to previous results in males, ibogaine showed sex specific effect at the level of antioxidant cellular system. Effects of ibogaine in rats are sex- and tissue-specific, and also dose- and time-dependent.

Evaluation of Antioxidant and Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitory Potential of Methanolic Leaf Extract of Stevia rebaudiana

Background: Stevia rebaudiana is a shrub-like plant that belongs to the sunflower family and is commonly referred as stevia.It is 1000 times sweeter than sugar even at a very low concentration. Xanthine oxidase is an enzyme that generates oxygen species and catalyzes the production of uric acid from purine metabolism.Overproduction of uric acid results in a clinical condition called gout. The aim of this study is to explore the phytochemicals, antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory potential of methanolic leaf extract of stevia rebaudiana. Methods: Methanolic leaf extract of Stevia rebaudiana was prepared by the Hot Percolation method. Phytochemical screening was done to analyse the presence of various phytochemicals. The leaf extract was tested for its antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory potentials. The data were analyzed statistically by a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan’s multiple range test was used to see the statistical significance among the groups. The results with the p<0.05 level were considered to be statistically significant. Results: It was observed that the methanolic leaf extract of Stevia rebaudiana has significant antioxidant potential (Ic50 of = 310 μg/ml) as well as xanthine oxidase inhibitory potentials(Ic50 of = 270 μg/ml) and the activity increased in a dose dependent manner as compared to that of standard (Vitamin C and Allopurinol respectively). Conclusion: The study proves the antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory efficacy of Stevia rebaudiana and throws light on the prospects of drug formation against oxidant activity and gout formation.

Antioxidant and Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitory Potential of Aqueous Extract of Ferula Asafoetida

Background: Ferula asafoetida is a dried latex that is exuded from rhizome or taproot species. Organosulfides are primarily responsible for flavour and odour of asafoetida.Ferula asafoetida is a natural medicine good for asthma and bronchitis. is also used to relieve stomach gas, digestive issues. It is usually added while cooking to hormonise the sweet, sour, salty, spicy taste of the food. Increased activity of xanthine oxidase is involved in the medical condition known as gout, which is characterized by hyperuricemia that leads to deposition of uric acid in the joints resulting in painful inflammation. Aim: To analyse the anti-oxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory potential of aqueous extract of Ferula asafoetida. Materials and Methods: Preparation of the aqueous seed extract of Ferula asafoetida done by hot percolation method. Phytochemical screening, in vitro antioxidant activity and xanthine oxidase inhibitory potential was done by standard procedures. The data were analyzed statistically by a one - way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan’s multiple range test was used to see the statistical significance among the groups. The results with the p<0.05 level were considered to be statistically significant. Results: The phytochemical screening revealed that the extract is rich in phytoconstituents. DPPH radical scavenging activity established the potent in vitro antioxidant activity (p<0.05) of Ferula asafoetida extract. The extract was also efficient in inhibiting the activity of xanthine oxidase enzyme (p<0.05) in a concentration dependent manner. Discussion: The extract has potent antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory potential, although the activities are less compared to the standard drug. Conclusion: The Ferula asafoetida extract can be used to treat gout and to combat various other disorders associated with xanthine oxidase activity.