Chemical Characterization, Free Radical Scavenging, and Cellular Antioxidant Properties of the Egadi Island Endemic Guss Leaf Extract.

The genus is an important source of food in the Mediterranean diet with documented nutritional and medicinal properties. However, few studies have investigated the phytochemical composition and the biological activity of wild Sicilian taxa. Thus, we aimed to study the chemical profile and the antioxidant potential, in vitro and in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.

Motor dysfunction of the gut in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: A review.

Background: Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe type of hereditary, neuromuscular disorder caused by a mutation in the dystrophin gene resulting in the absence or production of truncated dystrophin protein. Conventionally, clinical descriptions of the disorder focus principally on striated muscle defects; however, DMD manifestations involving gastrointestinal (GI) smooth muscle have been reported, even if not rigorously studied.

Purpose: The objective of the present review is to offer a comprehensive perspective on the existing knowledge concerning GI manifestations in DMD, focusing the attention on evidence in DMD patients and mdx mice.

Anionic Methacrylate Copolymer Microparticles for the Delivery of Myo-Inositol Produced by Spray-Drying: In Vitro and In Vivo Bioavailability.

In this study, a new micro delivery system based on an anionic methacrylate copolymer, able to improve the biological response of myo-inositol by daily oral administration, was manufactured by spray-drying. It has an ideal dose form for oral administration, with an experimental drug loading (DL)% of 14% and a regulated particle size of less than 15 µm. The new formulation features an improvement on traditional formulations used as a chronic therapy for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Industrial-produced lemon nanovesicles ameliorate experimental colitis-associated damages in rats via the activation of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant responses and microbiota modification.

Plant-derived nanovesicles (PDNVs) have recently emerged as natural delivery systems of biofunctional compounds toward mammalian cells. Considering their already described composition, anti-inflammatory properties, stability, and low toxicity, PDNVs offer a promising path for developing new preventive strategies for several inflammatory diseases, among which the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this study, we explore the protective effects of industrially produced lemon vesicles (iLNVs) in a rat model of IBD.

Vascularized versus Free Nerve Grafts: An Experimental Study on Rats.

Background: Vascularized nerve grafts (VNGs) have been proposed as a superior alternative to free nerve grafts (FNGs) for complex nerve defects. A greater regenerative potential has been suggested by clinical and experimental studies, but conclusive evidence is still lacking.

Methods: In this experimental study, 10 adult male Wistar rats received a non-vascularized orthotopic sciatic nerve graft on their right side, and a vascularized orthotopic sciatic nerve graft nerve on their left side.

Readthrough Approach Using NV Translational Readthrough-Inducing Drugs (TRIDs): A Study of the Possible Off-Target Effects on Natural Termination Codons (NTCs) on TP53 and Housekeeping Gene Expression.

Nonsense mutations cause several genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, β-thalassemia, and Shwachman-Diamond syndrome. These mutations induce the formation of a premature termination codon (PTC) inside the mRNA sequence, resulting in the synthesis of truncated polypeptides. Nonsense suppression therapy mediated by translational readthrough-inducing drugs (TRIDs) is a promising approach to correct these genetic defects.

Inhibitory effect and underlying mechanism of essential oil of Prangos ferulacea Lindl (L.) on spontaneous and induced uterine contractions in non-pregnant rats.

Evidence suggests the use of natural compounds as support in the management of uterine contractility disorders. We recently demonstrated that the essential oil of Apiacea Prangos ferulacea (L.) (Prangoil) modulates intestinal smooth muscle contractility.

Investigating the Inhibition of FTSJ1, a Tryptophan tRNA-Specific 2'-O-Methyltransferase by NV TRIDs, as a Mechanism of Readthrough in Nonsense Mutated CFTR.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive genetic disease caused by mutations in the CFTR gene, coding for the CFTR chloride channel. About 10% of the CFTR gene mutations are "stop" mutations that generate a premature termination codon (PTC), thus synthesizing a truncated CFTR protein. A way to bypass PTC relies on ribosome readthrough, which is the ribosome's capacity to skip a PTC, thus generating a full-length protein.

Chemical Characterization and Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Activity Evaluation of the Ethanol Extract from the Bulbs of Collected in Sicily.

L., belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family, is a species that grows on beaches and coastal sand dunes mainly on both sides of the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea, the Middle East, and up to the Caucasus region. It has been largely investigated due to its several interesting biological properties.

Step-by-Step Regeneration of Tentacles after Injury in -Morphological and Structural Cell Analyses.

Benthic marine invertebrates, such as corals, are often subjected to injury caused by several sources. Here, the differences and characteristics in injured and health tissues in terms of cellular components are shown through a histological investigation of the soft coral at 0 h, 6 h, 24 h, and 7 days after injury caused by tentacle amputation. In addition, a new tool was used for the first time in invertebrates, positron emission tomography, in order to investigate the events that occur during regeneration within a longer time period (0 h, 24 h, and 14 days after the tentacles were cut).

Essential oil of Sicilian Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl. and its major component, β-ocimen, affect contractility in rat small and large intestine.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl is an Apiaceae plant, widely used in traditional medicine. Recently, chemical composition and biological activities of its essential oil (Prangroil) have been reported, but there are no studies on possible effects on intestinal contractility.

Correlation of Metabolic Syndrome with Redox Homeostasis Biomarkers: Evidence from High-Fat Diet Model in Wistar Rats.

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is an extremely complex disease. A non-balanced diet such as high-fat diet (HFD) induces metabolic dysfunction that could modify redox homeostasis. We here aimed at exploring redox homeostasis in male Wistar rats, following 8 weeks of HFD, correlating the eventual modification of selected biomarkers that could be associated with the clinical manifestations of MetS.

Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Brassicaceae-Derived Phytochemicals: In Vitro and In Vivo Evidence for a Putative Role in the Prevention and Treatment of IBD.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of intestinal disorders, of unknown etiology, characterized by chronic inflammation within the gut. They are gradually becoming critical because of the increasing incidence worldwide and improved diagnosis. Due to the important side effects observed during conventional therapy, natural bioactive components are now under intense investigation for the prevention and treatment of chronic illnesses.

Inhibition of uterine contractility by guanine-based purines in non-pregnant rats.

Growing evidence pointed out that guanine-based purines are able to modulate smooth muscle contractile activity of blood vessels and gastrointestinal tract. Since, so far, possible guanine-based purine modulation of uterine musculature is unknown, the aim of the present study was to investigate in vitro, using organ bath technique, guanosine and guanine effects on spontaneous uterine contraction, and uterine contraction induced by K-depolarization and oxytocin in a non-pregnant rat. Guanosine, but not guanine, reduced the amplitude of spontaneous contraction of the uterine muscle in a dose-dependent manner.

Role of cyclooxygenase pathways in bowel fibrotic remodelling in a murine model of experimental colitis.

Objective: Gut fibrosis occurs under chronic inflammation. This study examined the effects of different cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors on fibrosis in the inflamed colon.

Methods: Colitis was induced by 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (DNBS) in albino male Sprague-Dawley rats.

The multiple roles of dopamine receptor activation in the modulation of gastrointestinal motility and mucosal function.

Dopamine (DA) is a catecholamine regulatory molecule with potential role in physiology and physiopathology of the intestinal tract. Various cellular sources of DA have been indicated as enteric neurons, immune cells, intestinal flora and gastrointestinal epithelium. Moreover, DA is produced by nutritional tyrosine.

Aging modifies receptor expression but not muscular contractile response to angiotensin II in rat jejunum.

The involvement of renin-angiotensin system in the modulation of gut motility and age-related changes in mRNA expression of angiotensin (Ang II) receptors (ATR) are well accepted. We aimed to characterize, in vitro, the contractile responses induced by Ang II, in jejunum from young (3-6 weeks old) and old rats (≥ 1 year old), to evaluate possible functional differences associated to changes in receptor expression. Mechanical responses to Ang II were examined in vitro as changes in isometric tension.

Age-related differences of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic transmission in human colonic smooth muscle.

Background: Enteric neurons undergo to functional changes during aging. We investigated the possible age-associated differences in enteric γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic transmission evaluating function and distribution of GABAergic receptors in human colon.

Methods: Mechanical responses to GABA and GABA receptor agonists on slow phasic contractions were examined in vitro as changes in isometric tension in colonic muscle strips from young (<65 years old) and aged patients (>65 years old).

AphaMax, an Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Aqueous Extract, Exerts Intestinal Protective Effects in Experimental Colitis in Rats.

Background: Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) is a unicellular cyanobacterium considered to be a "superfood" for its complete nutritional profile and beneficial properties. We investigated possible beneficial effects of an AFA extract, commercialized as AphaMax, containing concentrated amount of phycocyanins and phytochrome, in 2,4 dinitrobenzensulfonic acid(DNBS)-induced colitis in rats.

Methods: Effects of preventive oral treatment of AphaMax (20, 50 or 100 mg/kg/day) in colitic rats were assessed and then macroscopic and microscopic analyses were performed to evaluate the inflammation degree.

Opposite effects of dopamine on the mechanical activity of circular and longitudinal muscle of human colon.

Background: Because dopamine (DA) has gained increasing evidence as modulator of gut motility, we aimed to characterize dopaminergic response in human colon, evaluating function and distribution of dopamine receptors in circular vs longitudinal muscle strips.

Methods: Mechanical responses to DA and dopaminergic agonists on slow phasic contractions and on basal tone were examined in vitro as changes in isometric tension. RT-PCR was used to reveal the distribution of dopaminergic receptors.

PD123319, angiotensin II type II receptor antagonist, inhibits oxidative stress and inflammation in 2, 4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in rat and ameliorates colonic contractility.

Angiotensin II, the main effector of renin angiotensin system, plays an important role in the inflammatory process and most of its effects are mediated through the AT1 receptor activation. However, the knowledge about the AT2 receptor involvement in this process is still evolving. We previously found that in an experimental model of colitis, AT2 receptor activation can contribute to the impairment of the muscle contractility in vitro in the course of inflammation.

Preventive effects of guanosine on intestinal inflammation in 2, 4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS)-induced colitis in rats.

Background: Guanosine, a guanine-based purine, is an extracellular signaling molecule exerting anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects in several in vivo and in vitro injury models. We aimed to investigate its protective effects on 2, 4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS)-induced colitis in rat.

Methods: Rats were divided into five groups and colitis was induced by intracolonic instillation of DNBS (15 mg/rat).