The analysis of the suitability of using waste from the production of planting material for apple trees to obtain natural anthocyanin dyes

The analysis of the content of pigments in the stems of clonal apple rootstocks bred by Michurinsky State Agrarian University showed a high content of anthocyanins (more than 200 mg/100 g for rootstock 54-118). When determining the qualitative composition, it was revealed that anthocyanins in the stems of the rootstocks are represented by three groups, while there are differences in the shape of the rootstocks. As a source of pigment production, it is necessary to select rootstocks with a high endogenous synthesis of anthocyanins (i.e. red-leaved forms 54-118, 57-491, 98-7-77, etc.), during the cultivation of which, in addition to the main product—detachable rooted cuttings-one can additionally receive from 3 to 10 kg of anthocyanin dyes from 1 hectare of mother plant.

Serotonin after β-Adrenoreceptors’ Exposition: New Approaches for Personalized Data in Breast Cancer Cells

Serotonin is an important monoamine in the human body, playing crucial roles, such as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Previously, our group reported that β-adrenergic drugs (ICI 118,551, isoprenaline, and propranolol) influence the proliferation of breast cancer cells (MCF-7 cells) and their inherent production of adrenaline. Thus, we aimed to investigate the production of serotonin in MCF-7 cells, clarifying if there is a relationship between this production and the viability of the cells. To address this question, briefly, we treated the MCF-7 cells with ICI 118,551, isoprenaline, and propranolol, and evaluated cellular viability and serotonin production by using MTT, Sulforhodamine B (SRB) and Neutral Red (NR) assays, and HPLC-ECD analysis, respectively. Our results demonstrate that isoprenaline promotes the most pronounced endogenous synthesis of serotonin, about 3.5-fold greater than control cells. Propranolol treatment also increased the synthesis of serotonin (when compared to control). On the other hand, treatment with the drug ICI 118,551 promoted a lower endogenous synthesis of serotonin, about 1.1-fold less than what was observed in the control. Together, these results reveal that MCF-7 cells can produce serotonin, and the drugs propranolol, isoprenaline and ICI 118,551 influence this endogenous production. For the first time, after modulation of the β-adrenergic system, a pronounced cellular growth can be related to higher consumption of serotonin by the cells, resulting in decreased levels of serotonin in cell media, indicative of the importance of serotonin in the growth of MCF-7 cells.

Contemporary aspects of cholesterol metabolism in cattle.

The literature review presents the current understanding of cholesterol metabolism occurring under physiological conditions. The homeostasis of cholesterol in the body is determined by its endogenous synthesis, the transition to the cell from plasma as part of low-densitylipoproteins( LDL), the release of their cells as part of high-density lipoproteins (HDL). The molecular-genetic mechanisms of regulation of cholesterol homeostasis are described in detail. The genes for cholesterol biosynthesis in major multicellular animals were inherited from their last common eukaryotic ancestor and are evolutionarily conserved for cholesterol biosynthesis. Non-coding variants of singlenucleotide polymorphisms can significantly contribute to the phenotypic variability of cholesterol, and missense variants that lead to the replacement of amino acids in proteins can have a significant effect on the phenotypic variability. The modern aspects of cholesterol homeostasis in cattle are formed and sufficiently fully presented. During absence of exogenous intake, the balance of cholesterol in cattle is maintained by endogenous synthesis, occurring mainly in the liver, the intake of lipoproteins, as well as reverse transport mechanisms. This review gives an idea that the stability of homeostasis can be achieved only with the complex interaction of all systems (transport, enzyme, receptor) involved in this process. The analysis of the latest scientific works concerning the problem of the content and regulation of cholesterol in cow’s milk is presented. Significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms localized in the ACAT2, LDLR, DGAT, and AGPAT1 genes involved in the exchange of cholesterol in the liver or its transport and associated with the level of cholesterol in milk are described. Part of the review is devoted to cholesterol deficiency syndrome in Holstein cattle (HCD). Modern data on the prevalence, molecular and genetic basis, clinical and laboratory manifestations of the syndrome are presented.

Inositols Depletion and Resistance: Principal Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies

Inositols are natural molecules involved in several biochemical and metabolic functions in different organs and tissues. The term “inositols” refers to five natural stereoisomers, among which myo-Inositol (myo-Ins) is the most abundant one. Several mechanisms contribute to regulate cellular and tissue homeostasis of myo-Ins levels, including its endogenous synthesis and catabolism, transmembrane transport, intestinal adsorption and renal excretion. Alterations in these mechanisms can lead to a reduction of inositols levels, exposing patient to several pathological conditions, such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), hypothyroidism, hormonal and metabolic imbalances, like weight gain, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. Indeed, myo-Ins is involved in different physiological processes as a key player in signal pathways, including reproductive, hormonal, and metabolic modulation. Genetic mutations in genes codifying for proteins of myo-Ins synthesis and transport, competitive processes with structurally similar molecules, and the administration of specific drugs that cause a central depletion of myo-Ins as a therapeutic outcome, can lead to a reduction of inositols levels. A deeper knowledge of the main mechanisms involved in cellular inositols depletion may add new insights for developing tailored therapeutic approaches and shaping the dosages and the route of administration, with the aim to develop efficacious and safe approaches counteracting inositols depletion-induced pathological events.

Significance of Levocarnitine Treatment in Dialysis Patients

Carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid derivative that is involved in the transport of long-chain fatty acids to the mitochondrial matrix. There, these substrates undergo β-oxidation, producing energy. The major sources of carnitine are dietary intake, although carnitine is also endogenously synthesized in the liver and kidney. However, in patients on dialysis, serum carnitine levels progressively fall due to restricted dietary intake and deprivation of endogenous synthesis in the kidney. Furthermore, serum-free carnitine is removed by hemodialysis treatment because the molecular weight of carnitine is small (161 Da) and its protein binding rates are very low. Therefore, the dialysis procedure is a major cause of carnitine deficiency in patients undergoing hemodialysis. This deficiency may contribute to several clinical disorders in such patients. Symptoms of dialysis-related carnitine deficiency include erythropoiesis-stimulating agent-resistant anemia, myopathy, muscle weakness, and intradialytic muscle cramps and hypotension. However, levocarnitine administration might replenish the free carnitine and help to increase carnitine levels in muscle. This article reviews the previous research into levocarnitine therapy in patients on maintenance dialysis for the treatment of renal anemia, cardiac dysfunction, dyslipidemia, and muscle and dialytic symptoms, and it examines the efficacy of the therapeutic approach and related issues.

L-Citrulline: A Non-Essential Amino Acid with Important Roles in Human Health

L-Arginine (Arg) has been widely used due to its functional properties as a substrate for nitric oxide (NO) generation. However, L-citrulline (CIT), whose main natural source is watermelon, is a non-essential amino acid but which has important health potential. This review provides a comprehensive approach to different studies of the endogenous synthesis of CIT, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics as well as its ergogenic effect in exercise performance. The novel aspect of this paper focuses on the different effects of CIT, citrulline malate and CIT from natural sources such as watermelon on several topics, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, cancer, and exercise performance. CIT from watermelon could be a natural food-sourced substitute for pharmacological products and therefore the consumption of this fruit is promoted.

The formation of microbiots in the body of primates and the provision of their diets with a balanced ratio of macro- and micronutrients

This article presents studies of the formation of symbiotic primitive microbionts and the balancing of macro- and micronutrients of their feeds. To date, more than 20 thousand diverse physiologically active macro- and micronutrients have been isolated and characterized from feed and food products. For a long time, it was believed that the only source of a large number of nutrients is only feed and food. However, experiments convincingly showed that the symbiotic intestinal microflora also takes an active part in the endogenous synthesis and recycling of many macro- and micronutrients. At the same time, the use of the probiotic complex Bactistatin and fish meal did not adversely affect the hematological and biochemical parameters of the blood of experimental monkeys, all indicators were within the physiological norm. And testing the experiment on a larger population, under conditions of enclosure, allowed to establish a reduction in the cost of feed and nutrients in experimental primates and to prove the economic feasibility of using the studied ingredients from the point of view of profitability of feed production and primate content.

Comparative efficiency of three gasotransmitters (nitric oxide, hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide): Analysis on the model of red blood cell micro rheological responses

BACKGROUND: It is now known regulatory effect of gaseous mediators in many bodily functions. These mediators include nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). However, detailed data on the regulatory role of each of these gasotransmitters (GTs) are still not sufficiently studied. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate on models of microrheological behaviour of intact red blood cells and their recovered ghosts of cellular responses to all three known gasotransmitters: NO, H2S, and CO. METHODS: In experiments with intact red blood cells (RBCs) and their recovered ghosts (filled with an isotonic solution of known viscosity), deformability (RBCD) and aggregation (RBCA) were recorded after incubation of cells with GT donors or stimulators of their endogenous synthesis. RESULTS: It was found that all three GT donors moderately increased the deformability of both intact RBCs and their recovered ghosts (by 5–10%, p < 0.05). In addition GT donors and substrates of their endogenous synthesis significantly reduced RBCA, from 20 to 37%(p < 0.01). Experiments with inhibition of soluble guanylate cyclase (s-GC) almost completely eliminated the RBCD increasing effect of GT donors CONCLUSION: In present study it was demonstrated that all three known gaseous mediators: NO, CO and H2S cause moderate statistically significant positive alterations in RBC deformability as well as a noticeable decrease in RBC aggregation. This was confirmed both in experiments with gasotransmitter donors and stimulators of GT endogenous synthesis. In addition, the data obtained suggest that RBC microrheological responses to the actions of all three GTs are associated with activation of the guanylate cyclase signalling cascade.