Dexamethasone (Dex), a potent anti-inflammatory/immunosuppressive agent, has been shown to induce oxidative stress. Betulinic acid (BA) is a pentacyclic lupane triterpene with a potent antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the ameliorative effect and underlying mechanisms of BA on Dex-induced oxidative damage. Mice were pretreated with BA orally (0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg) daily for 14 days, and then a single dose of Dex (25 mg/kg body weight) was administered intraperitoneally 8 h after the last administration of BA to induce oxidative stress. BA pretreatment significantly alleviated Dex-induced changes of blood biochemical indices, increased the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the ability of inhibiting hydroxyl radical (AIHR), reduced the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum. Moreover, BA pretreatment enhanced the T-AOC, AIHR and the activity of peroxidase (POD) in liver, spleen and thymus. Concomitant with these biochemical parameters, BA pretreatment significantly reduced gene and protein expressions of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (P38 MAPK) in the lymphatic organs of Dex-treated mice. BA was found to effectively attenuate Dex-induced oxidative damage. These protective effects may be mediated in part through the JNK-P38 MAPK signaling transduction pathway and BA may be a potential therapeutic agent due to its anti-oxidative properties.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2018.04.073 | DOI Listing |
Histol Histopathol
January 2025
Department of Neurology, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang Jiangsu, PR China.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a limb movement disorder caused by the degeneration of brain neurons and seriously affects the quality of life of the elderly. However, the current drugs are symptomatic treatments that cannot prevent or delay the development of the disease. Targeted therapy for pathogenesis may be the direction of development in the future.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStroke
January 2025
Wolfson Centre for the Prevention of Stroke and Dementia, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, United Kingdom. (D.M.K., P.M.R.).
Cardiovascular diseases such as stroke are a major cause of morbidity and mortality for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The underlying mechanisms connecting CKD and cardiovascular disease are yet to be fully elucidated, but inflammation is proposed to play an important role based on genetic association studies, studies of inflammatory biomarkers, and clinical trials of anti-inflammatory drug targets. There are multiple sources of both endogenous and exogenous inflammation in CKD, including increased production and decreased clearance of proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, metabolic acidosis, chronic and recurrent infections, dialysis access, changes in adipose tissue metabolism, and disruptions in intestinal microbiota.
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January 2025
Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
This study aims to reveal the potential molecular mechanisms of modified Gegen Qinlian decoction (MGQD) in relieving ulcerative colitis (UC). C57BL/6J mice were used to establish experimental colitis via dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Body weight, disease activity index (DAI), spleen weight, colon length, and histopathologic features were measured to evaluate the therapeutic effects of MGQD on mice with UC.
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January 2025
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, South China Institute of Large Animal Models for Biomedicine, School of Pharmacy and Food Engineering, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China.
Increasing evidence has demonstrated that oxidative stress impairs oocyte maturation and embryonic development. Conventionally, antioxidants have been applied systems to improve oocyte maturation and blastocyst rates. Formononetin (FMN) is a flavonoid that has been shown to have various pharmacological effects, including antioxidants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRegen Biomater
December 2024
Guangxi Engineering Center in Biomedical Material for Tissue and Organ Regeneration, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Regenerative Medicine and Medical BioResource Development and Application Co-constructed By the Province and Ministry, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China.
Injury caused by excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) may lead to susceptibility to bacterial infection and sustained inflammatory response, which are the major factors impeding diabetic wound healing. By utilizing optimal anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial biomaterials for multifunctional wound dressings is critical in clinical applications. In this study, a novel electrospun PLGA/MoS@Pd nanofiber membrane was synthesized by encapsulating antioxidant and near-infrared (NIR) responsive MOS@Pd nanozymes in PLGA nanofibers to form a multifunctional dressing for diabetic wound repair.
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