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Understanding the Metabolomics of Medicinal Plants under Environmental Pollution
Published in Azamal Husen, Environmental Pollution and Medicinal Plants, 2022
Prachi Sao, Rahat Parveen, Aryan Khattri, Shubhra Sharma, Neha Tiwari, Sachidanand Singh
Inside the cell, the concentration of Cd rises, and Cd binds directly to the phytochelatin synthase enzyme, activating it and stimulating phytochelatin production from Glutathione (GSH). The Cd-PCs complexes are then generated and delivered to the vacuole via tonoplast via ABC transporters. The Cd-PCs complex dissociates once it enters vacuoles. PC can be eliminated by the hydrolase enzyme found in vacuoles, or it can be restored to the cytosol. Metallothionein, like PCs, has metal-binding sites. Metallothioneins (MTs) are formed as a result of mRNA translation. An increase in heavy metal content increases the expression of the MTs gene. When MTs attach to cadmium, it detoxifies and maintains cytosolic homeostasis. Furthermore, MTs induce GSH production, which is vital in phytochelatins. Only a few heavy metals are important micronutrients for human health. In a recent study, Ocimumbasilicum was found to be suitable for phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soil, which was enhanced when the plants were given different types of fertilizers (Zahedifar et al., 2015). According to Rai et al. (2004), Ocimumtenuiflorum L. can withstand phytotoxicity of Cr by modifying multiple metabolic pathways ever, both of which are harmful to cells when present at excessive levels. Table 11.2 lists some examples of plants whose metabolic processes can aid in heavy metal removal.
Preclinical Antidepressant-Like Effects of Terpenes, Polyphenolics, and Other Non-Flavonoid Phytochemicals
Published in Scott Mendelson, Herbal Treatment of Major Depression, 2019
Eugenol has antidepressant effects in mice, as demonstrated by the forced swim and tail suspension tests. These effects may have been due in part to increases in hippocampal levels of BDNF and metallothionein-III.72 Metallothionein-III is a brain-specific member of the metallothionein family of metal-binding proteins. It is abundant in glutamatergic neurons that release zinc from their synaptic terminals, such as hippocampal pyramidal neurons and dentate granule cells. MT-III may be an important regulator of zinc in the nervous system, and its absence has been implicated in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.73 The protein has come under investigation as playing a role in MDD as a possible contributor to disrupted zinc metabolism that itself has been associated with MDD.74
Chemical Factors
Published in Michael J. Kennish, Ecology of Estuaries Physical and Chemical Aspects, 2019
While some trace metals are essential to nutrition and growth of marine organisms inhabiting coastal and estuarine waters (e.g., Co, Cu, Mn, and Zn), others are potentially toxic (e.g., Ag, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb).131 As imparted by Engel and Brouwer,131 trace metals such as cadmium, copper, mercury, and zinc are bound to metallothioneins in most organisms. Metallothionein, a low-molecular-weight, sulfur-containing metal-binding protein, and metallothionein-like proteins have been implicated in trace-metal detoxification processes. Engel and Brouwer131 confirm the involvement of metallothionein in the sequestration of elevated levels of trace metals, but hypothesize that their primary function is in regulating normal metal metabolism of marine and estuarine organisms.
Pathologic and Immunophenotypic Characterization of Syncytial Giant Cell Variant of Pediatric Hepatocellular Carcinoma. A Distinct Subtype
Published in Fetal and Pediatric Pathology, 2023
Mukul Vij, Jagadeesh Menon, Komalavalli Subbiah, Lexmi Priya Raju, Gowripriya Gowrisankar, Naresh Shanmugum, Ilankumaran Kaliamoorthy, Ashwin Rammohan, Mohamed Rela
Serial sectioning of the explanted liver showed biliary cirrhosis along with a single distinct vague yellowish white tumor nodule measuring 7 mm in the left lobe corresponding to the tumor nodule identified by the CT scan. Multiple cysts with biliary sludge were also noted around hilum. Bright-field microscopy demonstrated distortion of lobular architecture with micronodular cirrhotic transformation (Fig. 1C). The tumor nodule demonstrated round to polygonal cells arranged in sheets demonstrating high nucleo-cytoplasmic ratios, mildly to moderately anisomorphic nuclei, vesicular chromatin, small nucleoli and moderate to abundant f clear to pale eosinophilic cytoplasm (Fig. 1D). There were diffuse syncytial giant cells containing 4 to 10 nuclei (Fig. 2A). Partial tumor capsule, fatty change, intratumoral hematopoiesis, bile production, focal necrosis and stromal infiltration (Fig. 2B) were identified. There was no microvascular or perineural invasion. Immunohistochemistry studies revealed diffuse positivity for Hep-par1, Glypican-3, AFP, and glutamine synthetase (Fig. 3A–D). Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCam) showed diffuse membranous and patchy cytoplasmic expression (Fig. 3E). B-catenin showed membranous expression. CD34 showed patchy sinusoidal expression. Few cells showed nuclear positivity for p53. Metallothionein showed focal nuclear and cytoplasmic expression. Ki67 proliferation index was around 15% (Fig. 3F). CK19 and nestin were negative.
Environmental biomonitoring by snails
Published in Biomarkers, 2021
After heavy metals exposure, MTs concentration within the liver is increasing. These metal ions activated the transcriptional factors of the cell and direct the MT proteins to be assembled in the kidney and hepatic cells of the organism’s body. The exposure of heavy metals leads to the generation of transcripted MT-1 gene and messenger ribonucleic acid in hepatocytes and kidney cells. The rate of metal accumulation in different tissues may affect the synthesis of MTs (Yoshida et al.1979). Metallothioneins help to regulate copper and zinc metabolism by acting as a metallic buffer under certain physiological conditions (Krężel and Maret 2017). Metallothioneins additionally perform its functions in heavy metals homeostasis and toxicity mitigation employing diminishing oxidative stress (Subramanian Vignesh and Deepe 2017). Roles of snails metallothioneins includes: (i) regulating zinc homeostasis and cellular activities (Kocyła et al.2018) (ii) defence against oxidative stress caused by different pollutants exposure by proscribing the impact of hydroxyl and free superoxide radicals by way of scavenging (Baumann et al.2017) (iii) offer protection towards ionizing radiations (Davies 2013) (iv) regulating the intracellular availability of essential and nonessential metals (Roesijadi 1994) (v) maintain transcriptional factors and the metal-dependent activity via specific molecular interactions, binding with precise DNA sequences and to regulate transcriptional mechanism (Zhang et al.2003) (vi) increase metal tolerance potential (Baurand et al.2015).
Gold and silver nanoparticles effects to the earthworm Eisenia fetida – the importance of tissue over soil concentrations
Published in Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 2021
Jean-Paul Bourdineaud, Anamaria Štambuk, Maja Šrut, Sandra Radić Brkanac, Dušica Ivanković, Damir Lisjak, Roberta Sauerborn Klobučar, Zrinka Dragun, Niko Bačić, Göran I. V. Klobučar
Results of metal analysis are expressed as means with the corresponding standard deviations. Significant differences in metal concentrations in earthworm tissues under different conditions were determined using the Mann–Whitney U-test (p < 0.05). Results obtained for metallothionein analysis are expressed as mean ± SD. The statistical differences were assessed by one-way ANOVA and Dunnett’s comparison with a control group (p < 0.05). For oxidative stress, parameter results were expressed as means ± SD while the Comet assay results were calculated based on the mean of each replicate within a treatment group and the data are presented as the mean and corresponding SEM. The statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U-test (p < 0.05). For both quantitative and qualitative qRAPD results, statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U-test (p < 0.05). Significant differences in relative gene expressions in earthworm tissues were determined with the ANOVA on ranks using Tukey’s and Dunn’s tests (p < 0.05). Dose-dependent effects have been analyzed with an ANOVA using a post hoc Duncan test.