Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that occurs in all areas of the environment, including the food chain. In the body, it causes oxidative stress by producing free radicals that are harmful to the cells. Grape seed extract (GSE) contains a wide range of biologically active components that help to neutralize the adverse effects of free radicals. In this study, the effects of GSE prepared form semi-resistant grapevine cultivar Cerason, which is rich in phenolics, on biochemical markers of brown rats exposed to the effects of cadmium were monitored. GSE increased the plasma antioxidant activity and, in the kidneys and the liver, Cd content was significantly lowered by GSE co-administration. Accordingly, the increase in creatinine content and alanine aminotransferase activity and the decrease of catalase and superoxide dismutase activities caused by cadmium were slowed down by GSE co-administration. The results of this work reveal that grape seed extract offers a protective effect against the intake of heavy metals into the organism.

• Keywords
• antioxidants, biochemical markers, cadmium, grape seed extract, protective effect, rattus norvegicus,
• MeSH
• Alanine Transaminase blood   MeSH
• Antioxidants analysis   MeSH
• Aspartate Aminotransferases blood   MeSH
• Biomarkers metabolism   MeSH
• Grape Seed Extract pharmacology   MeSH
• Phytochemicals analysis   MeSH
• Liver drug effects   enzymology   metabolism   MeSH
• Cadmium blood   MeSH
• Catalase metabolism   MeSH
• Creatinine blood   MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Kidney drug effects   metabolism   MeSH
• Metallothionein metabolism   MeSH
• Urea blood   MeSH
• Rats, Wistar MeSH
• Seeds chemistry   MeSH
• Superoxide Dismutase metabolism   MeSH
• Health * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rats MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Alanine Transaminase MeSH
• Antioxidants MeSH
• Aspartate Aminotransferases MeSH
• Biomarkers MeSH
• Grape Seed Extract MeSH
• Phytochemicals MeSH
• Cadmium MeSH
• Catalase MeSH
• Creatinine MeSH
• Metallothionein MeSH
• Urea MeSH
• Superoxide Dismutase MeSH

Prostate cancer cells control energy metabolism by chelating intracellular zinc. Thus, zinc delivery has been a popular therapeutic approach for prostate cancer. Here, we propose the use of the membrane-penetrating peptide Novicidin connected to zinc-Schiff base as a carrier vehicle for the delivery of zinc to prostate cells. Mass spectrometry, electrochemistry and spectrophotometry confirmed the formation/stability of this complex and provided insight regarding the availability of zinc for complex interactions. This delivery system showed minor toxicity in normal PNT1A cells and high potency towards PC3 tumor cells. The complex preferentially penetrated PC3 tumor cells in contrast to confinement to the membranes of PNT1A. Furthermore, zinc uptake was confirmed in both cell lines. Molecular analysis was used to confirm the activation of zinc stress (e.g., ZnT-1) and apoptosis (e.g., CASP-1). Our results strongly suggest that the zinc-Schiff base-Novicidin complex has great potential as a novel anticancer drug.

• MeSH
• Apoptosis drug effects   MeSH
• Gene Expression drug effects   MeSH
• Microscopy, Fluorescence MeSH
• Caspase 1 metabolism   MeSH
• Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides chemistry   MeSH
• Coordination Complexes chemistry   pharmacology   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Molecular Conformation MeSH
• Cell Line, Tumor MeSH
• Prostatic Neoplasms drug therapy   MeSH
• Cation Transport Proteins metabolism   MeSH
• Antineoplastic Agents chemistry   pharmacology   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Schiff Bases chemistry   MeSH
• Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization MeSH
• Zinc chemistry   metabolism   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Caspase 1 MeSH
• Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides MeSH
• Coordination Complexes MeSH
• novicidin MeSH Browser
• Cation Transport Proteins MeSH
• Antineoplastic Agents MeSH
• Schiff Bases MeSH
• SLC30A1 protein, human MeSH Browser
• Zinc MeSH