betalains and Disease-Models--Animal

Over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics are among the most widely prescribed and purchased drugs around the world. Most analgesics, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen, are metabolized in the liver. The hepatocytes are responsible for drug metabolism and detoxification. Cytochrome P450 enzymes are phase I enzymes expressed mainly in hepatocytes and they account for ≈75% of the metabolism of clinically used drugs and other xenobiotics. These metabolic reactions eliminate potentially toxic compounds but, paradoxically, also result in the generation of toxic or carcinogenic metabolites. Cumulative or overdoses of OTC analgesic drugs can induce acute liver failure (ALF) either directly or indirectly after their biotransformation. ALF is the result of massive death of hepatocytes induced by oxidative stress. There is an increased interest in the use of natural dietary products as nutritional supplements and/or medications to prevent or cure many diseases. The therapeutic activity of natural products may be associated with their antioxidant capacity, although additional mechanisms may also play a role (e.g., anti-inflammatory actions). Dietary antioxidants such as flavonoids, betalains and carotenoids play a preventive role against OTC analgesics-induced ALF. In this review, we will summarize the pathobiology of OTC analgesic-induced ALF and the use of natural pigments in its prevention and therapy.

Topics: Analgesics; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Antioxidants; Betalains; Carotenoids; Cell Line, Tumor; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Disease Models, Animal; Flavonoids; Hepatocytes; Humans; Nonprescription Drugs; Oxidative Stress; Phytochemicals; Pigments, Biological; Reactive Oxygen Species

With two compounds first discovered in quinoa, an entire novel family of betalain pigments derived from dopamine is obtained and characterized. Betalains are nitrogenous water-soluble pigments and bioactive molecules with health-promoting effects and nutraceutical potential. It was assumed that all betalains contained betalamic acid as a structural unit derived from l-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA). However, hitherto ignored compounds derived from dopamine have recently been discovered in nature. Here an entire family of betalains is described as decarboxylated pigments where 6-decarboxy-betalamic acid is the chromophoric and structural unit. This paper shows for the first time the production, purification and characterization of color and fluorescent properties of this novel family of pigments. Antioxidant and anti-aging effects of the just discovered betalains were tested in vivo using the animal model Caenorhabditis elegans. Some of them presented extraordinary properties, being glutamic acid-6-decarboxy-betaxanthin the most fluorescent molecule among both families of betalains. Methionine sulfoxide-6-decarboxy-betaxanthin is described as the most potent betalain in the reduction of oxidative stress in vivo in C. elegans (99.5 % at 25 µM) and dopa-6-decarboxy-betaxanthin increased the lifespan of the animal model up to 7.0 % at 25 µM. These results open new research lines in the search for molecules from plants with health-promoting properties and bioactivities.

Topics: Animals; Betalains; Betaxanthins; Caenorhabditis elegans; Coloring Agents; Disease Models, Animal; Dopamine

Global industrialization not only improved the quality life of millions but also paved the way to solving many health problems. One among them is allergic asthma, which affects approximately 20% of the global population. Poor air quality is the major culprit in allergic asthma, which not only affects the individual's health, but also impairs his or her life quality and that of family members. Asthma is a chronic pulmonary inflammatory disease characterized by excess mucus production, airway hyperresponsiveness, and bronchoconstriction. Inhalation of corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, and β-adrenergic agonists is one treatment prescribed to control the symptoms of asthma, but there is still no effective cure. Phytochemicals such as carotenoids, phenolics, alkaloids, and nitrogen and organosulfur compounds are proven to possess immense pharmacological properties. Betalain is one such phytochemical present in plants of the order Caryophyllales. It is a water-soluble nitrogen-based pigment proven to possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antilipidemic, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties. We examined the curative potential of betalain against allergic asthma in a mouse model. Betalain treatment effectively decreased lung weight and infiltration of inflammatory cells in BAL fluid, and lowered IgE, eotaxin, and cytokine levels in asthma-induced mice. It also improved pulmonary mechanics and decreased oxidative stress and nitric oxide levels. Betalain significantly decreased gene expression of TGF-β and its downstream signaling Smad proteins. Lung histology confirmed that betalain protected the lung tissue of mice from ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma. Overall, our results show that betalain is a potent antiallergic drug that effectively protects mice from ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma. With further research, it can be prescribed as a treatment for asthma in humans.

Topics: Allergens; Animals; Anti-Asthmatic Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Asthma; Betalains; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Immunoglobulin E; Lung; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Ovalbumin; Signal Transduction; Smad Proteins; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

Betalain is a natural plant pigment known to elicit various biological activities. However, studies on the protective effect of betalain against heart failure have not reported yet. The experimental model of heart failure was created in Wistar rats using isoproterenol (ISO). The animals were randomly assigned into four groups such as sham-control, ISO-induced heart failure, betalain pretreated before ISO induction (50 mg/kg/day), and betalain drug control group were maintained for 6 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, anti-oxidant enzymes, inflammatory markers, matrix proteins, cardiac-specific markers, and micro RNAs were elucidated using RT-PCR, and ELISA analysis. The results demonstrated that the rats induced with ISO displayed an abnormality in cardiac functions, increased oxidative stress markers (

Topics: Adrenergic beta-Agonists; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Betalains; Biomarkers; Cardiotonic Agents; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Heart Failure; Inflammation Mediators; Isoproterenol; Male; Rats; Rats, Wistar

Evidence demonstrates the pronounced anti-inflammatory activity of a beetroot (Beta vulgaris) dye enriched in betalains obtained using precipitation with ethanol. Herein, we expand upon our previous observations and demonstrate the analgesic and antioxidant effect of betalains. Betalains [10-1000 mg/kg; intraperitoneal route (i.p.)] diminished acetic acid- and PBQ-induced abdominal contortions, and the overt pain-like behaviour induced by complete Freund`s adjuvant (CFA) and formalin (intraplantar; i.pl.) injection. Moreover, betalains (100 mg/kg) administered by various routes [i.p. or subcutaneous (s.c.)] or as a post-treatment reduced carrageenin- or CFA-induced hyperalgesia. Mechanistically, betalains mitigated carrageenin-induced tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, superoxide anion levels, and lipid peroxidation. Betalains also stopped the depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and ferric reducing ability produced by carrageenin, as well as upregulated Nrf2 and Ho1 transcript expression in the plantar tissue of mice. Furthermore, betalains showed hydroxyl radical, 2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical (ABTS

Topics: Analgesics; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Beta vulgaris; Betalains; Carrageenan; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Hyperalgesia; Inflammation; Interleukin-1beta; Lipopolysaccharides; Macrophages; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; NF-kappa B; Oxidative Stress; Pain; Superoxides