Mult Scler Relat Disord
March 2023
Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is the most common clinical course of multiple sclerosis (MS), characterized by a chronic inflammatory state and elevated levels of oxidative markers. Food supplements with potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective effects have been tested as possible adjuvants in the treatment of MS. In this sense, this pilot study was carried out with the aim of verifying whether a minimum daily dose of a guarana, selenium and l-carnitine (GSC) based multi supplement, mixed in cappuccino-type coffee, administered for 12 weeks to 28 patients with RRMS could differentially modulate oxidative blood markers (lipoperoxidation, protein carbonylation and DNA oxidation) and inflammatory blood markers (protein levels of cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-10, gene expression of these cytokines, and NLRP3 and CASP-1 molecules, and C-reactive protein levels).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNutraceuticals have been the focus of numerous research in recent years and accumulating data support their use for promoting some health benefits. Several nutraceuticals have been widely studied as supplements due to their functional properties ameliorating symptoms associated with neurological disorders, such as oxidative stress and chronic inflammatory states. This seems to be the case of some fruits and seeds from the Amazon Biome consumed since the pre-Columbian period that could have potential beneficial impact on the human nervous system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe exposure to environmental stressors, such as organophosphate (OP) pesticides, has been associated with the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is the worldwide most used OP pesticide and one of the most hazardous pesticides as it can cross the blood-brain barrier. Since studies evaluating the effects of CPF on brain immune cells are scarce, this research investigated the oxidative and inflammatory responses of CPF exposure in murine microglial cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEye diseases have a negative impact on the eyesight quality of the world population. The age-related macular degeneration (AMD) draws special attention since it is a chronic disorder characterized by oxidative and inflammatory damage to the retinal epithelial pigment, which triggers progressive vision loss. In the Brazilian Amazon, is an Amazonian fruit () used by riverside communities in traditional medicine to treat a number of ailments These communities have recently shown to have increased longevity and reduced prevalence of age-related morbidity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAluminum (Al) is ubiquitously present in the environment and known to be a neurotoxin for humans. The trivalent free Al anion (Al) can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), accumulate in the brain, and elicit harmful effects to the central nervous system (CNS) cells. Thus, evidence has suggested that Al increases the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSuperoxide-hydrogen peroxide (S-HP), triggered by Val16Ala-SOD2 human polymorphism, may influence the risk of depression. Therefore, it is plausible that higher basal S-anion levels and chronic inflammatory states associated with the VV-SOD2 genotype can negatively modulate the stress response associated with resilience in various species, from primitive species to humans. To test this hypothesis, Eisenia fetida earthworms were exposed for 24 h to 30 nM rotenone, which causes mitochondrial dysfunction by generating high S-anion levels (known as the "VV-like phenotype"), and 10 μM porphyrin, a SOD2-like compound, which generates elevated HP levels (known as the "AA-like phenotype").
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomed Pharmacother
November 2020
Quetiapine is an antipsychotic drug that is used to treat psychiatric and neurological disorders. Despite its efficiency and low-toxicity, quetiapine administration has been associated with undesirable side effects such as the development of low-grade inflammatory disorders and neutropenia states. As the liver rapidly metabolizes quetiapine to metabolites, the non-metabolized part of this molecule might play a role in immune alterations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe role of caffeinated beverages on efficiency of acute inflammatory responses is not yet fully understood. This study analyzed the effect of five hot water extracts, coffee (CO), black/green tea (BT/GT), yerba mate (YM), and guarana (GU) on inflammatory modulation of non-activated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), yeast-activated human neutrophils, and granulocytic coelomocytes from Eisenia fetida earthworm. Based on preliminary tests, a concentration of 10 μg/mL was chosen for subsequent assays, as at this concentration, the extracts exhibited antioxidant, genoprotective, and non-cytotoxic properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMancozeb (MZ), chlorothalonil (CT), and thiophanate methyl (TM) are pesticides commonly used in agriculture due to their efficacy, low acute toxicity to mammals, and short environmental persistence. Although the toxic effects of these pesticides have been previously reported, studies regarding their influence on the immune system are limited. As such, this study focused on the immunomodulatory effect of MZ, CT, and TM pesticides on macrophage cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCutaneous melanoma (CM) is an extremely aggressive cancer presenting low survival and high mortality. The vast majority of patients affected by this disease does not respond or show resistance to the chemotherapeutic drugs, which makes the treatment ineffective. In this sense, the necessity for the development of new agents to assist in CM therapy is extremely important.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe produced a new chemical compound based on methylxanthines and polyphenols (CCMP) present in the chemical matrix of guaraná (Paullinia cupana), a seed extract with antioxidant properties. After supplementation with the standard extract of resveratrol, a well documented antioxidant found in other plant sources, we investigated whether this resveratrol-enriched compound could improve sperm viability and modulate differentially reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in thawed sperm. Sperm samples obtained from healthy young donors were treated with different concentrations of guaraná extract (0.
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