ascorbic-acid and proanthocyanidin

Urinary tract infections (UTI) remain one of the most prevalent and frustrating morbidities for neurogenic bladder patients, and death attributed to urosepsis in the spinal cord injury (SCI) patient is higher when compared to the general population. Risk factors include urinary stasis, high bladder pressures, bladder stones, and catheter use. While classic symptoms of UTI include dysuria, increased frequency and urgency, neurogenic bladder patients present differently with increased spasticity, autonomic dysreflexia, urinary incontinence, and vague pains. Multiple modalities have been assessed for prevention including catheter type, oral supplements, bladder irrigation, detrusor injections and prophylactic antimicrobials. Of these, bladder inoculation with E. coli HU2117, irrigation with iAluRil(®), detrusor injections, and weekly prophylaxis with alternating antibiotics appear to have a positive reduction in UTI but require further study. Ultimately, treatment for symptomatic UTI should account for the varied flora and possible antibiotic resistances including relying on urine cultures to guide antibiotic therapy.

Topics: Administration, Intravesical; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Botulinum Toxins, Type A; Catheter-Related Infections; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Infections; Humans; Immunotherapy, Active; Mannose; Methenamine; Multiple Sclerosis; Neuromuscular Agents; Proanthocyanidins; Probiotics; Recurrence; Spinal Cord Injuries; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic; Urinary Catheterization; Urinary Catheters; Urinary Tract Infections

Liver ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI) is a major problem associated with liver surgery. This study is aimed to compare the preventive effect of an antioxidative nutrient-rich enteral diet (Ao diet) with an ordinal enteral diet (control diet) against liver IRI.. The Ao diet was an ordinary diet comprising polyphenols (catechin and proanthocyanidin) and enhanced levels of vitamins C and E. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed the Ao or control diet for 7 days before ischemic insult for 60 minutes, followed by reperfusion for 6 hours. The levels of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress were evaluated.. After 7 days of pretreatment with the Ao diet, the serum levels of vitamins C and E in mice were markedly elevated. The levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, as well as the scores of liver necrosis caused by ischemia and reperfusion, were significantly lower in the Ao diet group than in the control diet group. The gene expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, such as interleukin-6 and CXCL1, were significantly lower in the Ao diet group. In the liver, the levels of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and SOD2 were significantly higher and the malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower in the Ao diet group. Cell adhesion molecule expression was significantly lower, and neutrophil and macrophage infiltration was less in the Ao diet group.. Antioxidative nutrient supplementation to an ordinary enteral diet may mitigate liver IRI by causing an antioxidant effect and suppressing inflammation.

Topics: Alanine Transaminase; Animals; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Catechin; Diet; Digestive System Surgical Procedures; Enteral Nutrition; Food, Fortified; Ischemia; Liver; Liver Diseases; Male; Malondialdehyde; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Oxidative Stress; Plant Extracts; Proanthocyanidins; Reperfusion Injury; Superoxide Dismutase; Vitamin E

The ascorbic acid, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins content and in vitro antioxidant activity of fresh pulps and seeds of cupuassu, harvested at three different times of the year, and in commercial frozen pulps were evaluated. Lipids, total phenolics contents, and antioxidant activities were the highest in the seeds, followed by fresh and commercial frozen pulps, respectively. The latter also showed a lower content of ascorbic acid (9-13 mg/100 g DW) when compared to fresh pulps (96-111 mg/100 g DW). The 8-O-β-D-glucuronides and the corresponding 3″-sulfates of isoscutellarein (5,7,8,4'-tetrahydroxyflavone), hypolaetin (5,7,8,3',4'-pentahydroxyflavone), and 8-hydroxychrysoeriol (5,7,8,4'-tetrahydroxy-3'-methoxyflavone), also known as hypoaletin 3'-methyl ether, were identified and quantified (31 mg/g DW) in cupuassu seeds. The same flavonoid profile was present in pulps although in much lower concentrations (0.5 to 2 mg/g DW). The two 8-hydroxychrysoeriol glycosides had not been previously reported in cupuasssu. The content of proanthocyanidin oligomers in seeds (23 mg/g DW), mainly of the epicatechin type, and the mean degree of polymerization (5.5) were calculated. No discernible effect of the harvesting period on the evaluated chemical aspects could be identified. Commercial frozen pulps contained a smaller amount of all these compounds than the fresh pulp, suggesting that these compounds were potentially degraded during processing/storage.

Topics: Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Flavonoids; Fruit; Malvaceae; Plant Extracts; Proanthocyanidins; Seeds

Increasing demand for more jujube (Ziziphus jujube Mill.) production requires understanding the specific fertilization needs of jujube trees. This study was conducted to compare fruit yields, phenolic profiles and antioxidant activity of jujube in response to different fertilizers. Application of organic fertilizer appeared to enhance the phenolics and antioxidant activity accumulation of jujubes, compared to conventional fertilized jujubes. Amongst inorganic fertilizers, supplemental potassium as an individual nutrient improved the accumulation of phenolics in jujubes. Our results demonstrate that phenolics levels and antioxidant activity of jujube can be manipulated through fertilizer management and tracked by following proanthocyanidin concentrations. In a practical production context, the combination of organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers such as more supplemental individual potassium, and less supplemental individual nitrogen and phosphorus, might be the best management combination for achieving higher phenolic concentration, stronger antioxidant activity and a good harvest.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Benzothiazoles; Biphenyl Compounds; Fertilizers; Flavonoids; Free Radical Scavengers; Free Radicals; Fruit; Oxidation-Reduction; Phenols; Picrates; Proanthocyanidins; Sulfonic Acids; Ziziphus

In the present study, the root extract of Rhus oxyacantha contained 25.33 mg of catechin equivalent per mg of fresh wt and was found rich in proanthocyanidins compared to vine shoot, grape pips and leaves. The chromatographic analysis of the extract suggested the presence of (+) catechin, (-) epicatechin -3-O-gallate as well as proanthocyanidinic oligomers and polymers. Root cortex inhibited the ascorbic acid oxidation by dioxygen. It also prevented DDT-induced thymocytes death in a dose-dependent manner. The results suggested antioxidant property of root extract of Rhus oxyacantha which could be ascribed to its free radical scavenging nature.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Male; Oxidation-Reduction; Plant Extracts; Plant Roots; Proanthocyanidins; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Rhus; Thymus Gland

Fifteen individual proanthocyanidin aglycones and 19 glycosides, together with a complex mixture of chromatographically non-separated tetra- to octameric proanthocyanidin glycosides were detected--the non-separated glycosides being novel natural products--and characterised from dog rose hips using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS). Along with these phenolics, a 50% aqueous ethanol extract of rose hips was found to contain high levels of Vitamin C. A simple and rapid HPLC method assisted by diode array detection for the estimation of the total concentration of proanthocyanidin aglycones and glycosides, as well as Vitamin C, in rose hip extracts was developed.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Glycosides; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Proanthocyanidins; Rosa; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Antioxidants such as vitamins C and E have been reported to inhibit the progression of ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced pigmentation in the skin of hairless mice. However, little is known of the lightening effect of proanthocyanidin, a powerful polyphenolic antioxidant, on UV-induced pigmentation of the skin. We investigated the lightening effect of oral administration of a proanthocyanidin-rich grape seed extract (GSE) using guinea pigs with UV-induced pigmentation. These pigmented guinea pigs were fed diets containing 1% GSE or 1% vitamin C (w/w) for 8 weeks. GSE-feeding had an apparent lightening effect on the guinea pigs' pigmented skin. Histologic evaluation demonstrated a decrease in the number of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA)-positive melanocytes as well as 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)-positive, Ki-67-positive, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive melanin-containing cells in the basal epidermal layer of the UV-irradiated skin in GSE-fed guinea pigs. In contrast, these parameters did not change in the skin of vitamin C-fed or control guinea pigs. GSE inhibited the activity of mushroom tyrosinase and also inhibited melanogenesis without inhibiting the growth of cultured B16 mouse melanoma cells. In conclusion, we demonstrated that oral administration of GSE is effective in lightening the UV-induced pigmentation of guinea pig skin. This effect may be related to the inhibition of melanin synthesis by tyrosinase in melanocytes and the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related proliferation of melanocytes.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Deoxyadenosines; Dihydroxyphenylalanine; Guinea Pigs; Ki-67 Antigen; Melanocytes; Melanoma; Mice; Monophenol Monooxygenase; Proanthocyanidins; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; Reactive Oxygen Species; Skin; Skin Pigmentation; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Ultraviolet Rays; Vitis

Respiratory burst leads polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide anions (O(2)(o-)), hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) which may possess deleterious effects for the organism. Rosa canina fruits are well known to contain a large amount of vitamin C which is antioxidant. This study was focused on the polyphenolics contained in rose hips to evaluate their antioxidative properties. We prepared a rose hip extract deprived of vitamin C. The extract contained mainly phenolics such as proanthocyanidins and flavonoids. We investigated its effects directly against (O(2)(o-)), HOCl and H(2)O(2) and investigated its effects on isolated PMN. For that, in vitro inflammatory conditions were reproduced by stimulating PMN with stimuli having different transductional pathways, in order to determine a possible mechanism of action. The results showed that the extract can inhibit ROS tested in acellular and cellular systems. The IC(50) obtained were 5.73 mg/L, 1.33 mg/L and 2.34 mg/L respectively for (O(2)(o-)), HOCl and H(2)O(2) in acellular experiments. For cellular experiments, the IC(50) were quite similar. Thus, the extract did not present an effect on PMN metabolism. Therefore, the antioxidative effects of Rosa canina are due not only to vitamin C but also to polyphenolics.

Topics: Anthocyanins; Ascorbic Acid; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Flavonoids; Fruit; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide; Hypochlorous Acid; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Male; Neutrophils; Phenols; Plant Extracts; Polymers; Proanthocyanidins; Reactive Oxygen Species; Respiratory Burst; Rosa; Superoxides

Free radicals have been implicated in over a hundred disease conditions in humans, including arthritis, hemorrhagic shock, atherosclerosis, advancing age, ischemia and reperfusion injury of many organs, Alzheimer and Parkinson's disease, gastrointestinal dysfunctions, tumor promotion and carcinogenesis, and AIDS. Antioxidants are potent scavengers of free radicals and serve as inhibitors of neoplastic processes. A large number of synthetic and natural antioxidants have been demonstrated to induce beneficial effects on human health and disease prevention. However, the structure-activity relationship, bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of the antioxidants differ extensively. Oligomeric proanthocyanidins, naturally occurring antioxidants widely available in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, flowers and bark, have been reported to possess a broad spectrum of biological, pharmacological and therapeutic activities against free radicals and oxidative stress. We have assessed the concentration- or dose-dependent free radical scavenging ability of a novel IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) both in vitro and in vivo models, and compared the free radical scavenging ability of GSPE with vitamins C, E and beta-carotene. These experiments demonstrated that GSPE is highly bioavailable and provides significantly greater protection against free radicals and free radical-induced lipid peroxidation and DNA damage than vitamins C, E and beta-carotene. GSPE was also shown to demonstrate cytotoxicity towards human breast, lung and gastric adenocarcinoma cells, while enhancing the growth and viability of normal human gastric mucosal cells. The comparative protective effects of GSPE, vitamins C and E were examined on tobacco-induced oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death in human oral keratinocytes. Oxidative tissue damage was determined by lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation, while apoptotic cell death was assessed by flow cytometry. GSPE provided significantly better protection as compared to vitamins C and E, singly and in combination. GSPE also demonstrated excellent protection against acetaminophen overdose-induced liver and kidney damage by regulating bcl-X(L) gene, DNA damage and presumably by reducing oxidative stress. GSPE demonstrated excellent protection against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and myocardial infarction in rats. GSPE was also shown to upregulate bcl(2) gene and downregulate the oncogene c-myc. Topical application of GS

Topics: Animals; Anthocyanins; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Biological Availability; Cardiovascular Diseases; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Flow Cytometry; Free Radical Scavengers; Free Radicals; Humans; Keratinocytes; Kidney Diseases; Liver Diseases; Neoplasms; Plant Extracts; Proanthocyanidins; Seeds; Vitamin E

We have investigated the effects of a smokeless tobacco extract (STE) on lipid peroxidation, cytochrome c reduction, DNA fragmentation and apoptotic cell death in normal human oral keratinocyte cells, and assessed the protective abilities of selected antioxidants. The cells, isolated and cultured from human oral tissues, were treated with STE (0-300 microl;g/ml) for 24 h. Superoxide anion production was determined by cytochrome c reductase. Oxidative tissue damage was determined by lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation, whereas apoptotic cell death was assessed by flow cytometry. STE-induced fragmentation of genomic DNA was also determined by gel electrophoresis. The comparative protective abilities of vitamin C (75 microM), vitamin E (75 microM), a combination of vitamins C & E (75 microM each), and a novel grape seed proanthocyanidin (IH636) extract (GSPE) (100 microg/ml) against STE induced oxidative stress and tissue damage were also determined. Following treatment of the cells with 300 microg STE/ml 1.5-7.6-fold increases in lipid peroxidation, cytochrome c reduction and DNA fragmentation were observed. The addition of the antioxidants to cells treated with STE provided 10-54% decreases in these parameters. Approximately 9, 29, and 35% increases in apoptotic cell death were observed following treatment with 100, 200, and 300 microg STE/ml, respectively, and 51-85% decreases in apoptotic cell death were observed with the antioxidants. The results demonstrate that STE produces oxidative tissue damage and apoptosis, which can be attenuated by antioxidants including vitamin C, vitamin E, a combination of vitamins C plus E and GSPE. GSPE exhibited better protection against STE than vitamins C and E, singly and in combination.

Topics: Anthocyanins; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Ascorbic Acid; Cells, Cultured; DNA Fragmentation; Female; Humans; Keratinocytes; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Mouth Mucosa; NADH Dehydrogenase; Oxidative Stress; Plants, Toxic; Proanthocyanidins; Rosales; Seeds; Superoxides; Tobacco, Smokeless; Vitamin E

Proanthocyanidins, a group of polyphenolic bioflavonoids, have been reported to exhibit a wide range of biological, pharmacological and chemoprotective properties against oxygen free radicals. We have assessed the concentration-dependent oxygen free radical scavenging abilities of a grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE), vitamin C and vitamin E succinate (VES) as well as superoxide dismutase, catalase and mannitol against biochemically generated superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical using a chemiluminescence assay and cytochrome c reduction. A concentration-dependent inhibition was demonstrated by GSPE. At a 100 mg/l concentration, GSPE exhibited 78-81% inhibition of superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical. Under similar conditions, vitamin C inhibited these two oxygen free radicals by approximately 12-19%, while VES inhibited the two radicals by 36-44%. The combination of superoxide dismutase and catalase inhibited superoxide anion by approximately 83%, while mannitol resulted in an 87% inhibition of hydroxyl radical. The results demonstrate that GSPE is a more potent scavenger of oxygen free radicals as compared to vitamin C and VES.

Topics: Anthocyanins; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Catalase; Cytochrome c Group; Free Radical Scavengers; Fruit; Hydroxyl Radical; In Vitro Techniques; Luminescent Measurements; Mannitol; Plant Extracts; Proanthocyanidins; Seeds; Superoxide Dismutase; Superoxides; Tocopherols; Vitamin E