Obesity, a major health problem worldwide, is associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors, such as dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, and hypertension. We investigated the antioxidative capacity of the ethanol extract of propolis (EEP) and its effect on the lipid profile, the hepatorenal function, and the atherogenic indices in mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). EEP (50 mg/kg) was given orally to mice for 30 days. After the treatments, levels of the serum total triglyceride and cholesterol, the high density lipoprotein (HDL-c) and low density lipoprotein (LDL-c) cholesterols, the serum enzymes, and the metabolites were measured, and atherogenic indices [atherogenic index of plasma (AIP); cardiac risk ratio (CRR); cardioprotective index (CPI); atherogenic coefficient (AC)] were calculated and compared with the antioxidant, the reducing power, the radical-scavenging, and the chelating activity of EEP. The HFD diet with EEP significantly reduced the negative lipid profile and lowered AIP, CRR, and AC and increased CPI in animals on a HFD. In addition, EEP reduced the weight of mice and lipid accumulation in the liver, and it had significant in vitro antioxidative activities. The EEP possesses anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant activity and exhibits protective action on the cardiovascular system and hepatorenal functions. Our results contribute towards the validation of the traditional use of propolis as a food supplement in aiding hyperlipidemic disorders.

Nutrition is an important factor that influences bone metabolism, the endocrine and/or paracrine system, and bone-active mineral elements homeostasis. We studied antiosteoporotic effects of grape seed proanthocyanidins extract, icariin or alendronate (ALN) in retinoic acid-induced (13cRA) bone loss in rats. Proanthocyanidins and icariin have beneficial effects on bone health; they have improved the bone weight reduction, the length and the diameter of the bone, calcium, and phosphorus content in bone ash, bone mineral density (BMD), the biochemical markers of bone turnover and uterus atrophy induced by 13cRA. All results suggest that proanthocyanidins and icariin reverse osteoporosis in 13cRA rats by stimulating bone formation or regulating bone resorption by their antioxidative and estrogenic-like activity without toxic side-effects observed in ALN treatment.

Diabetic dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia contribute to excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, leading to deleterious complications, such as nephropathy, atherosclerosis and cardiac dysfunction, and target major organs in the body. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of caffeic acid (CA) on mouse weight and survival, serum level of fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum lipid parameters and atherogenic indices, oxidative damage in blood, liver and kidney tissue, pathophysiological changes and their function markers in healthy and alloxan-induced type 1 diabetic mice. Diabetes was induced in mice with a single intravenous injection of alloxan (75 mg kg−1). Two days later, CA (50 mg kg−1) was given intraperitoneally for seven days in diabetic mice. Diabetes affected glucose level, lipid profile, hematological and biochemical parameters, induced DNA damage and apoptotic/necrotic death in whole blood cells, liver and kidney, leading to weight loss and a decreased lifespan. CA treatment of diabetic mice revealed a protective effect on the liver and kidney, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties and high protection against atherogenic outcomes. The obtained results suggest that CA is a safe and potent agent against diabetes that acts as an effective antioxidant in reducing serum glucose, lipid profile and atherogenic indices, leading to increased lifespan in mice.

Quercetin (QU), a hyperthermic sensitizer, when combined with cisplatin (CP) affects tumor growth. To determine the effects of QU and CP and their interactions, multimodal treatment in vitro and in vivo models under physiological and hyperthermic conditions was performed. In vitro, different sensitivity of T24 and UMUC human bladder cancer cells was observed after short-term exposure to QU (2 h) and CP (1 h). Effects of both compounds were investigated at low and high micromolar concentrations (1 and 50 µM, respectively) under both thermal conditions. QU acted in additive or synergistic manner in combination with CP between physiological condition and hyperthermia. As determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, short-term application of QU and CP reduced cell viability. Clonal assay also indicated that combined treatment with QU and CP is lethal to bladder cancer cells in both conditions. In vivo, CP (5 or 10 mg kg−1) and QU (50 mg kg−1) acted synergistically with hyperthermia (43 °C) and inhibited tumor growth, activated immune effectors and increased mice survival. Our results demonstrate that combined treatment with CP and QU may increase death of tumor cells in physiological and hyperthermic conditions which could be clinically relevant in locoregional chemotherapy.

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