The protein kinase C inhibitor, staurosporine, inhibited NADPH oxidase activity of human neutrophils activated by phorbol myristate acetate. However, this inhibitor had no effect on either the initiation or the maximal rate of O2- secretion activated by the chemotactic peptide, fMet-Leu-Phe, but resulted in a more rapid termination of oxidant production. Similarly, staurosporine had no effect o...

PURPOSE Eyes with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) demonstrate accumulation of specific deposits and extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules under the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Metalloproteinases (MMP) are crucial regulators of basement membrane and ECM turnover. Accordingly, loss of RPE MMP activity most likely leads to excessive accumulation of collagen and other ECM, a potential m...

We have analyzed the anti- or pro-oxidant effects of the flavonoid quercetin (QU) by evaluating, in U937 cell line, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), superoxide anion reduced glutathione (GSH) content, mitochondrial membrane potential, DNA content, phosphatidylserine exposure on the outer face of the plasma membrane and cell viability. Polychromatic flow cytometry was used to evaluate in the same c...

Free radicals are produced continuously by skeletal muscle fibers. Extracellular release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) derivatives has been demonstrated, but little is known about intracellular oxidant regulation. We used a fluorescent oxidant probe, 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin (DCFH), to assess net oxidant activity in passive muscle fiber bundles isolated from mouse diaph...

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder and it is estimated that its annual incidence rate will continue to increase in the future worldwide. Increased oxidant factors and decreased antioxidant defense are two of the factors resulting in diabetes. In the present study, we aimed to investigate Citrullus Colocynthis pulp effects on oxidant and antioxidant factors of liver in st...

Background and objectives: Dracocephalum species are mentioned in Iranian traditional medicine for enhancement of cognitive performance. In the present study, the acetyl cholinesterase inhibitory and butyryl cholinesterase inhibitory activities as well as the anti-oxidant and anti-tyrosinase effects of three Iranian Dracocephalum species (D. kotschyi,...

Seaweeds have caused an emerging interest in the biomedical area, mainly due to their contents of bioactive substances which show great potential as anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-viral and anti-tumoral drugs. Despite the diversity in quality and quantity of the Mediterranean Tunisian coast flora, with its large contains of marine organisms and seaweeds, most of them have not yet been ...

Aluminum, a non-redox-active metal is, nevertheless, a pro-oxidant both in in vitro preparations and in vivo. It facilitates both superoxide- and iron-driven biological oxidation by mechanisms that remain to be resolved. More than 10 years ago Fridovich and colleagues suggested that the facilitation of superoxide-driven biological oxidation by aluminum was due to an interaction between the meta...