The effect of cesarean delivery on the neonatal gut microbiome in an under-resourced population in the Bronx, NY, USA.

Background: Neonatal and early-life gut microbiome changes are associated with altered cardiometabolic and immune development. In this study, we explored Cesarean delivery effects on the gut microbiome in our high-risk, under-resourced Bronx, NY population.

Results: Fecal samples from the Bronx MomBa Health Study (Bronx MomBa Health Study) were categorized by delivery mode (vaginal/Cesarean) and analyzed via 16 S rRNA gene sequencing at four timepoints over the first two years of life.

Human cord plasma proteomic analysis reveals sexually dimorphic proteins associated with intrauterine growth restriction.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic disease later in life and has been shown to affect female and male offspring differently, but the mechanisms remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify proteomic differences and metabolic risk markers in IUGR male and female neonates when compared to appropriate for gestational age (AGA) babies that will provide a better understanding of IUGR pathogenesis and its associated risks. Our results revealed alterations in IUGR cord plasma proteomes with most of the differentially abundant proteins implicated in peroxisome pathways.

Rodent hair is a Poor biomarker for internal manganese exposure.

Hair is used as a biomarker of manganese (Mn) exposure, yet there is limited evidence to support its utility to quantify internal vs external Mn exposure. C57BL/6 J mice and Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed in two blocks of 3 subcutaneous injections every 3 days starting on day 0 or 20. The control group received two blocks of saline (vehicle); Treatment A received the first block as Mn (50 mg/kg MnCl tetrahydrate), with the second block as either methylmercury (MeHg at 2.

Ameliorating activity of polyphenolic-rich extracts of L. leaves on pancreatic β-cell dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Objectives: To assess the ameliorative activity of polyphenolic-rich extracts of leaves on β-cell dysfunction in type-II diabetes (T2DM).

Methods: Total phenolic and flavonoid contents; α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory actions and qualitative analysis of the bioactive compounds of the polyphenolic-rich extract of leaves were investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Diabetes mellitus (DM) was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg body weight) and the rats were orally given bound phenolic (BPE) and free phenolic extracts (FPE) of (B.

Lead (Pb) exposure induces dopaminergic neurotoxicity in : Involvement of the dopamine transporter.

Lead (Pb) is an environmental neurotoxicant, and has been implicated in several neurological disorders of dopaminergic dysfunction; however, the molecular mechanism of its toxicity has yet to be fully understood. This study investigated the effect of Pb exposure on dopaminergic neurodegeneration and function, as well as expression level of several dopaminergic signaling genes in wild type (N2) and protein kinase C () mutant . Both N2 and mutant worms were exposed to Pb for 1 h.

Effect of Essential Oils from Ginger () and Turmeric () Rhizomes on Some Inflammatory Biomarkers in Cadmium Induced Neurotoxicity in Rats.

Studies have revealed that anti-inflammatory agents could provide beneficial effect in lowering the incidence/progression of neurological diseases. Hence, this study sought to investigate the effect of essential oils from Nigeria ginger and turmeric rhizomes on some cytokines in cadmium induced neurotoxicity. The result revealed that essential oil from ginger and turmeric rhizomes exerts anti-inflammatory effect by preventing alterations of some cytokines/inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-Alpha) levels and inhibits both hippocampus and prefrontal cortex acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities (important enzymes relevant in the management/prevention of neurodegenerative diseases) in Cd treated rats.

In vitro antioxidant activities and inhibitory effects of phenolic extract of (Oliv and Hiern) against key enzymes linked with type II diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer's disease.

The phenolic extract of leaves was investigated to determine the in vitro antioxidant, phenolic profiles, and inhibition of key enzymes relevant to type II diabetes mellitus (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) and Alzheimer's disease (acetylcholinesterase and butrylcholinesterase). The phenolic extract demonstrated significant scavenging abilities against all in vitro antioxidant parameters assessed. Reversed-phase HPLC of the extract revealed the presence of gallic acid, chlorogenic, caffeic acid, rutin, quercetin, and kaempferol.

Nephroprotective Effect of Essential Oils from Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and Turmeric (Curcuma longa) Rhizomes against Cadmium-induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats.

Several studies have shown that cadmium (Cd) induces nephrotoxicity and many plant foods phytochemicals have been found useful but their possible mechanism of action still remains unexplored. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the nephroprotective effect of essential oils from Nigeria ginger and turmeric rhizomes in cadmium-treated rats by examining their effect on renal function biomarkers (creatinine, urea and BUN), inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-Alpha) and renal adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity. The result revealed that essential oils from ginger and turmeric rhizomes exert anti-inflammatory effect by preventing alterations of renal function markers and cytokines (IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-Alpha) levels in Cd-treated rats.

Exposure to radio-frequency electromagnetic waves alters acetylcholinesterase gene expression, exploratory and motor coordination-linked behaviour in male rats.

Humans in modern society are exposed to an ever-increasing number of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and some studies have demonstrated that these waves can alter brain function but the mechanism still remains unclear. Hence, this study sought to investigate the effect of 2.5 Ghz band radio-frequency electromagnetic waves (RF-EMF) exposure on cerebral cortex acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and their mRNA expression level as well as locomotor function and anxiety-linked behaviour in male rats.

C. elegans as a model in developmental neurotoxicology.

Due to many advantages Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has become a preferred model of choice in many fields, including neurodevelopmental toxicity studies. This review discusses the benefits of using C.

Chromatographic fingerprint analysis, antioxidant properties, and inhibition of cholinergic enzymes (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase) of phenolic extracts from Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O'Rorke) Baill bark.

Background: Irvingia gabonensis stem bark is a medicinal plant used in most parts of Africa to manage a number of ailments including neurodegenerative diseases that occur without scientific basis. This work characterized the phenolic composition, evaluated the cholinergic enzymes (acetylcholinesterase, AChE and butyrylcholinesterase, BChE) inhibition, and assessed the antioxidant activity of phenolic extracts from I. gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O'Rorke) Baill bark.

Curcumin inhibits adenosine deaminase and arginase activities in cadmium-induced renal toxicity in rat kidney.

In this study, the effect of enzymes involved in degradation of renal adenosine and l-arginine was investigated in rats exposed to cadmium (Cd) and treated with curcumin, the principal active phytochemical in turmeric rhizome. Animals were divided into six groups (n = 6): saline/vehicle, saline/curcumin 12.5 mg/kg, saline/curcumin 25 mg/kg, Cd/vehicle, Cd/curcumin 12.

Curcumin-supplemented diets improve antioxidant enzymes and alter acetylcholinesterase genes expression level in Drosophila melanogaster model.

Curcumin, a bioactive polyphenolic compound in turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizomes has been shown to exert anti-aging properties with limited scientific basis. Hence, this study sought to examine the antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activities of curcumin-supplemented diets as well as their molecular effect on superoxide dismutase (SOD) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) genes expression level associated with lifespan extension in Drosophila melanogaster model. In this experiment, D.

Curcumin administration suppress acetylcholinesterase gene expression in cadmium treated rats.

Curcumin, the main polyphenolic component of turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizomes have been reported to exert anticholinesterase potential with limited information on how they regulate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gene expression. Hence, this study sought to evaluate the effect of curcumin on cerebral cortex acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and their mRNA gene expression level in cadmium (Cd)-treated rats. Furthermore, in vitro effect of different concentrations of curcumin (1-5μg/mL) on rat cerebral cortex AChE activity was assessed.

Effect of Cadmium Stress on Non-enzymatic Antioxidant and Nitric Oxide Levels in Two Varieties of Maize (Zea mays).

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most toxic heavy metals that inhibit physiological processes of plants. Hence, the present study sought to investigate the effect of cadmium-contaminated seeds from two varieties of maize (Zea mays) on non-enzymatic antioxidant and nitric oxide levels. Seeds of yellow and white maize were exposed to different concentrations of Cd (0, 1, 3 and 5 ppm) for two weeks.

Anti-amnestic Effect of Curcumin in Combination with Donepezil, an Anticholinesterase Drug: Involvement of Cholinergic System.

Recently, combination therapy involving cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitor with other neuroprotective agents has shown better desirable effect in the management/prevention of dementia but limited information is available on their effect with dietary polyphenols. Hence, this study sought to assess the combined pretreatment effect of curcumin, the major polyphenolic compound of turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizomes, with donepezil, a cholinesterase inhibitor, on cognitive function in scopolamine-induced memory impairment in rats. Rats were pretreated with curcumin (50 mg/kg) and/or donepezil (2.

Polyphenolic compositions and angiotensin-I-converting enzyme inhibitory properties of common green leafy vegetables: A comparative study.

This study compared the phenolic compositions of common green leafy vegetable extracts from (VA), (TO), (TT), and (AH) and their effects on the angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) and cisplatin-induced malonylaldehyde (MDA) production in an isolated rat kidney homogenate. HPLC confirmed the presence of phenolic compounds in the extracts. Furthermore, all extracts inhibited ACE activity dosedependently; however, the extract from VA exhibited the highest ACE activity while TT exhibited the least.

Curcumin improves episodic memory in cadmium induced memory impairment through inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and adenosine deaminase activities in a rat model.

Curcumin, the main polyphenolic component of turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizomes has been reported to exert cognitive enhancing potential with limited scientific basis. Hence, this study sought to evaluate the effect of curcumin on cerebral cortex acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities in cadmium (Cd)-induced memory impairment in rats. Animals were divided into six groups (n = 6): saline/vehicle, saline/curcumin 12.

Local salt substitutes "Obu-otoyo" activate acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase and induce lipid peroxidation in rat brain.

Evidence has shown that ingestion of heavy metals can lead to neurodegenerative diseases. This study aimed to investigate the neurotoxic potential of salt substitutes (Obu-Otoyo); salt A (made by burning palm kernel shaft then soaked in water overnight and the extract from the resulting residue is used as the salt substitute) and salt B (an unrefined salt mined from a local site at Ilobu town, Osun-State, Nigeria) by assessing their effect on some key enzymes linked with neurodegenerative disease [acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activities] as well as on malondialdehyde (MDA) content of the rat brain. Salt substitutes were fed to normal rats as dietary inclusion at doses of 0.

Dietary Supplementation of Ginger and Turmeric Rhizomes Modulates Platelets Ectonucleotidase and Adenosine Deaminase Activities in Normotensive and Hypertensive Rats.

Hypertension is associated with platelet alterations that could contribute to the development of cardiovascular complications. Several studies have reported antiplatelet aggregation properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) with limited scientific basis. Hence, this study assessed the effect of dietary supplementation of these rhizomes on platelet ectonucleotidase and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities in Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (l-NAME) induced hypertensive rats.

Effect of Two Ginger Varieties on Arginase Activity in Hypercholesterolemic Rats.

Recently, ginger has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as an herbal therapy for treating several cardiovascular diseases, however, information on its mechanism of action is limited. The present study assessed the effect of two ginger varieties (Zingiber officinale and Curcuma longa) on the arginase activity, atherogenic index, levels of liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs), and plasma lipids in rats fed with a high-cholesterol (2%) diet for 14 days. Following the treatment period, it was found that feeding a high-cholesterol diet to rats caused significant (p < 0.

Effect of Ginger and Turmeric Rhizomes on Inflammatory Cytokines Levels and Enzyme Activities of Cholinergic and Purinergic Systems in Hypertensive Rats.

Inflammation exerts a crucial pathogenic role in the development of hypertension. Hence, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) on enzyme activities of purinergic and cholinergic systems as well as inflammatory cytokine levels in Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride-induced hypertensive rats. The rats were divided into seven groups (n = 10); groups 1-3 included normotensive control rats, hypertensive (Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride) rats, and hypertensive control rats treated with atenolol (an antihypertensive drug), while groups 4 and 5 included normotensive and hypertensive (Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride) rats treated with 4 % supplementation of turmeric, respectively, and groups 6 and 7 included normotensive and hypertensive rats treated with 4 % supplementation of ginger, respectively.

Dietary supplementation of ginger and turmeric improves reproductive function in hypertensive male rats.

Ginger [ Roscoe (Zingiberaceae)] and turmeric [ Linn (Zingiberaceae)] rhizomes have been reportedly used in folk medicine for the treatment of hypertension. However, the prevention of its complication such as male infertility remains unexplored. Hence, the aim of the present study was to investigate the preventive effects of ginger and turmeric rhizomes on some biomarkers of male reproductive function in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats.

Anticholinesterase and Antioxidative Properties of Aqueous Extract of Cola acuminata Seed In Vitro.

Background. Cola acuminata seed, a commonly used stimulant in Nigeria, has been reportedly used for the management of neurodegenerative diseases in folklore without scientific basis. This study sought to investigate the anticholinesterase and antioxidant properties of aqueous extracts from C.

Inhibition of key enzymes linked to type 2 diabetes and sodium nitroprusside induced lipid peroxidation in rats' pancreas by phenolic extracts of avocado pear leaves and fruit.

Persea americana fruit and leaves had been known in folk medicine for their anti-diabetic prowess. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the inhibitory effect of phenolic extract from avocado pear (Persea americana) leaves and fruits on some key enzymes linked to type 2 diabetes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase); and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) induced lipid peroxidation in rats' pancreas in vitro. The phenolic extracts of Persea americana fruit and leaves were extracted using methanol and 1M HCl (1:1 v/v).