Goat mastitis has become one of the most frequently diagnosed conditions in goat farms, with significant economic impact on the dairy industry. Inflammation of the mammary gland poses serious consequences on milk composition, with changes regarding biochemical parameters and oxidative stress markers. The aim of this paper is to present the most recent knowledge on the main biochemical changes that occur in the mastitic milk, as well as the overall effect of the oxidative and nitrosative stress on milk components, focusing on both enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant markers. Mastitis in goats is responsible for a decrease in milk production, change in protein content with pronounced casein hydrolysis, and reduction in lactose concentration and milk fat. Milk enzymatic activity also undergoes changes, regarding indigenous enzymes and those involved in milk synthesis. Furthermore, during mastitis, both the electrical conductivity and the milk somatic cell count are increased. Intramammary infections are associated with a reduced milk antioxidant capacity and changes in catalase, lactoperoxidase, glutathione peroxidase or superoxide dismutase activity, as well as reduced antioxidant vitamin content. Mastitis is also correlated with an increase in the concentration of nitric oxide, nitrite, nitrate and other oxidation compounds, leading to the occurrence of nitrosative stress.

Environmental iodine deficiency continues to be a significant public health problem worldwide. On the other hand, iodide excess results principally from the use of iodine-containing medicinal preparations or radiographic contrast media. For this reason we intended to explore iodide excess impairment on prooxidant/antioxidant balance of the thyroid gland, hepatic tissue and in blood and the effect of selenium administration on oxidative stress markers under the same circumstances. Experiments were performed for 10 days with white, male, Wistar rats, as follows: group 1: control-normal iodine supply group; 2: high iodine diet, group; 3: high iodine diet and selenium; group 4: high iodine diet and Carbimasole. Oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxides were determined in thyroid gland, hepatic tissue and in blood. Measuring H+ donor ability of the sera and catalase activity in thyroid gland and in hepatic tissue assessed antioxidant defense. Iodide excess had prooxidant effects, leading to an increased lipid peroxides level and catalase activity in target tissues and in blood and to a decreased H+ donor ability of the sera. Selenium supplementation had opposite effects. Present data allow us to conclude that the alterations due to iodide excess in thyroid gland, hepatic tissue and in blood are mediated through oxidative stress.

Open Access Agricultural Journals published by Institute of Agricultural Economics and Information

Cornus mas L. is characterized by an increased quantity of bioactive compounds, namely polyphenols, monoterpenes, organic acids, vitamin C and lipophilic compounds such as carotenoids, being anciently used in the treatment of various diseases. This paper’s objectives were to characterize the phytochemical profile of Cornus mas L. fruits and to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytoprotective effects on renal cells exposed to gentamicin. As such, two ethanolic extracts were obtained. The resulting extracts were used to assess the total polyphenols, flavonoids and carotenoids through spectral and chromatographic methods. The antioxidant capacity was assessed using DPPH and FRAP assays. Due to the high content of phenolic compounds analyzed in fruits and the results obtained regarding antioxidant capacity, we decided to further use the ethanolic extract to investigate the in vitro antimicrobial and cytoprotective effects on renal cells stressed with gentamicin. The antimicrobial activity was assessed using agar well diffusion and broth microdilution methods, with great results regarding Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The cytotoxic activity was assessed using MTT and Annexin-V assays. According to the findings, extract-treated cells had a higher cell viability. However, at high concentrations, viability was shown to decline, most likely due to the extract and gentamicin’s additive effects.

Syringa vulgaris L. (common lilac) is one of the most popular ornamental species, but also a promising not comprehensively studied source of bioactive compounds with important therapeutic potential. Our study was designed to characterize the chemical composition and to assess the antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of ethanolic extracts obtained from S. vulgaris L. flowers, leaves, bark, and fruit. The chemical profile of the ethanolic extracts was investigated using chromatographic (HPLC-DAD-ESI⁺, GC-MS) and spectral (UV-Vis, FT-IR) methods, while the protective effect against free radicals was evaluated in vitro by different chemical assays (DPPH, FRAP, CUPRAC). The cytotoxic activity was tested on two tumoral cell lines, HeLa, B16F10, using the MTT assay. Significant amounts of free or glycosylated chemical components belonging to various therapeutically important structural classes, such as phenyl-propanoids (syringin, acteoside, echinacoside), flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol derivatives) and secoiridoids (secologanoside, oleuropein, 10-hydroxy oleuropein, demethyloleuropein, syringalactone A, nuzhenide, lingstroside) were obtained for the flowers, leaves and bark extracts, respectively. Furthermore, MTT tests pointed out a significant cytotoxic potential expressed in a non-dose-dependent manner toward the tumoral lines. The performed methods underlined that S. vulgaris extracts, in particular belonging to flowers and leaves, represent valuable sources of compounds with antioxidant and antitumoral potential.