Chronic ozone exposure alters the secondary metabolite profile, antioxidant potential, anti-inflammatory property, and quality of red pepper fruit from Capsicum baccatum.

Tropospheric ozone (O3) background concentrations have increased since pre-industrial times, reaching phytotoxic concentrations in many regions globally. However, the effect of high O3 concentrations on quality of fruit and vegetables remains unknown. Here, we evaluated whether O3 pollution alters the quality of Capsicum baccatum peppers by changing the secondary compound profiles and biological activity of the fruit.

In Vitro Neuroprotective Effect of Shikimic Acid Against Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Stress.

Shikimic acid (SA), originally extracted from Illicium verum Hook. fil., is an indispensable starting material for the synthesis of the antiviral drug Oseltamivir (Tamiflu(®)) with very limited number of studies regarding its biological effects in vitro.

Effects of chronic elevated ozone concentration on the redox state and fruit yield of red pepper plant Capsicum baccatum.

Ozone (O3) is one of the most harmful air pollutants to crops, contributing to high losses on crop yield. Tropospheric O3 background concentrations have increased since pre-industrial times reaching phytotoxic concentrations in many world regions. Capsicum peppers are the second most traded spice in the world, but few studies concerning the O3 effects in this genus are known.

Coal and tire burning mixtures containing ultrafine and nanoparticulate materials induce oxidative stress and inflammatory activation in macrophages.

Ultra-fine and nano-particulate materials resulting from mixtures of coal and non-coal fuels combustion for power generation release to the air components with toxic potential. We evaluated toxicological and inflammatory effects at cellular level that could be induced by ultrafine/nanoparticles-containing ashes from burning mixtures of coal and tires from an American power plant. Coal fly ashes (CFA) samples from the combustion of high-S coal and tire-derived fuel, the latter about 2-3% of the total fuel feed, in a 100-MW cyclone utility boiler, were suspended in the cell culture medium of RAW 264.

Exposure to elevated ozone levels differentially affects the antioxidant capacity and the redox homeostasis of two subtropical Phaseolus vulgaris L. varieties.

Ozone (O3) has become one of the most toxic air pollutants to plants worldwide. However, investigations on O3 impacts on crops health and productivity in South America countries are still scarce. The present study analyzed the differences on the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant system in foliar tissue of two subtropical Phaseolus vulgaris varieties exposed to high O3 concentration.

Retinol induces morphological alterations and proliferative focus formation through free radical-mediated activation of multiple signaling pathways.

Aim: Toxicity of retinol (vitamin A) has been previously associated with apoptosis and/or cell malignant transformation. Thus, we investigated the pathways involved in the induction of proliferation, deformation and proliferative focus formation by retinol in cultured Sertoli cells of rats.

Methods: Sertoli cells were isolated from immature rats and cultured.

Vitamin A (retinol) up-regulates the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) through p38 and Akt oxidant-dependent activation.

Retinol (vitamin A) is believed to exert preventive/protective effects against malignant, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases by acting as an antioxidant. However, later clinical and experimental data show a pro-oxidant action of retinol and other retinoids at specific conditions. The receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) is a pattern recognition receptor, being activated by different ligands such as S100 proteins, HMGB1 (amphoterin), β-amyloid peptide and advanced glycation endproducts (AGE).

Antinociceptive action and redox properties of citronellal, an essential oil present in lemongrass.

Citronellal (CT) is a monoterpenoid and the major constituent of the mixture of terpenoids that give the citronella oil its lemon scent. Citronella oil is widely used around the world for various purposes and is mainly obtained from plants of the Cymbopogon genus, which are known as "lemongrass." Considering these plants have been used worldwide for various medicinal purposes, the interest of researchers to understand the biological activities of monoterpenoids related to the Cymbopogon genus has been increasing.

Redox properties and cytoprotective actions of atranorin, a lichen secondary metabolite.

Atranorin (ATR) is a lichenic secondary metabolite with potential uses in pharmacology. Antinociceptive and antiinflammatory actions have been reported, and the use of atranorin-enriched lichen extracts in folk medicine is widespread. Nonetheless, very few data on ATR biological actions are available.

The glutathione antioxidant system as a biomarker suite for the assessment of heavy metal exposure and effect in the grey mangrove, Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh.

Alterations in the glutathione antioxidant system and lipid peroxidation in Avicennia marina were studied under laboratory and field conditions. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was found to respond to Zn exposure, and a significant positive relationship between leaf Zn concentration and GPx activity was observed after 96 h and 8 weeks. Lipid hydroperoxides increased proportionally with increasing leaf Zn concentration after 2 and 8 weeks, while no changes in total glutathione were observed.

Retinol up-regulates the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) by increasing intracellular reactive species.

Retinol (vitamin A) and other retinoids have been suggested to exert an important antioxidant function in biological systems, besides their more established role as regulators of cell growth and differentiation. On the other hand, many authors have recently observed pro-oxidant activities of vitamin A and other retinoids in vitro and in vivo, resulting in cell death and/or transformation associated to increased oxidative damage. However, the mechanisms by which retinol causes oxidative stress are still not fully understood.