Apoptotic Effect of Phycocyanin on HT-29 Colon Cancer through Activation of Caspase Enzymes and P53 Cell Signaling Pathway
Impact of Sodium Benzoate on Motor Coordination, Cerebellar Purkinje Cell Layer, and Oxidative Stress in Wistar Rats’ Brain
Evaluating the Anti-fertility Potentials of 3-Monochloropropane-1, 2-diol (Alpha-Chlorohydrin) and Testosterone in Adult Male Wild Nile Grass Rats (Arvicanthis niloticus) for Rodent Control
Alginate Lyase from Streptomyces olivaceus is a Safe and Effective Antibiofilm in Male Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus)
Exposure of Parental Rats to Mercury Chloride during Progenesis Affects the CNS Parameters of the Adult Offspring
Impact of Sodium Metabisulfite on Oxidative Stress, Hormones, and Reproductive Tissue in Female Wistar Rats
Background: Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease, which is treated effectively with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drugs. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of the extracts of Viola odorata and Cassia fistula on the acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. Methods: We determined the total contents of phenols, alkaloids, saponins, and tannins in the plants’ extracts. Further, we used 28 male Wistar rats in four groups of seven each. Colitis was induced in the experimental groups by the intra-rectal administration of 1% acetic acid. Distilled water was used in the sham group. After induction of colitis, the control group received distilled water, the sham group received normal saline, the standard group received 360 mg/kg oral sulfasalazine, and the experimental group received the combined extracts at 200 mg/kg orally. The severity of colitis was assessed in all animal groups. Results: The phytochemical assays showed that both extracts contained alkaloid and saponin. Also, the V. odorata extract contained tannin while C. fistula had anthraquinone. Acetic acid increased the thickness of the colonic epithelial layer and caused edema, cell necrosis, and increased myeloperoxidase enzyme in the colon tissues. The inflammation, colon weight per unit area, and macroscopic scores in the group treated with the combined extracts were reduced more than that in the standard group. The extracts reduced the activity in the experimental group. However, sulfasalazine resulted in a better healing of the colitis. Conclusion: The combined extracts at 200 mg/kg effectively reduced the colitis induced by acetic acid in the rats.
Background: Mushroom poisoning is a major health condition with a wide range of clinical and paraclinical features. This study aimed at evaluating the frequency of clinical and paraclinical manifestations of mushroom poisoning in patients referred to Shahid Rahimi Hospital in Khorramabad, Iran, over a one-year period (2018-2019). Methods: The data collected were associated with the clinical manifestations, age, sex, seasons, type of mushrooms, patients’ residence, latent phase, clinical and laboratory findings, length of hospital stay, interventions and the treatments. The underlying diseases were also recorded. After data collection, they were entered into SPSS software, version 18 and analyzed statistically. Results: 124 patients with a mean age of 36.65 years old were recruited into the study, 73 of whom were male and 51 female. The mean duration of the hospital stay was 2.19 days. The mean time elapsed between the consumption and the symptoms development was 4.42 hours. Similarly, the duration between the consumption and referral to the hospital was 4.72 hours. Most cases occurred in the spring (91.1%). The most common clinical signs in the poisoned subjects were nausea and vomiting (81.5%). The most therapeutic medications were Livergol (48.4%) and Atropin (33.1%), and most subjects had consumed mushrooms grown in the nature (79.8%). One person died because of the poisoning (0.8%). Conclusion: A large majority of the patients developed nausea and vomiting, whom were treated with drugs, but one patient died. People should be aware of, warned againt, and educated about the types of mushrooms before consumption.
Background: Diabetes is one of the most prevalent endocrine disorders in humans, and its first-line medication is metformin. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR–γ) agonists are the adjuncts to metformin. Bavachinin is a PPAR pan-agonist with fewer side effects than metformin" into PPAR–γ agonists. In this study, the synergistic effects of metformin and Bavachinin were investigated on type II diabetic rats. Methods: After four weeks of a high fat and glucose diet, type II diabetes was induced in 28 male Wistar rats, using injection of streptozotocin and nicotinamide. The animals were distributed into five groups of seven each: 1) Normal control (N), 2) Diabetic control (D), 3) Diabetic rats receiving metformin (DM), 4) Bavachinin (DB), and 5) Metformin plus Bavachinin (DMB). Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-β), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) were obtained. Results: The OGTT results in DM, DB, and DMB groups were significantly improved compared to that of D group. The FBG levels were significantly lower in DMB than in DB, DM, and D groups. The FINS levels of DMB were significantly less than those of DB, DM, and D groups. The HOMA-IR and HOMA-β were comparable between DMB and N groups. The ISI improved significantly in DMB compared to those in DM, DB, and D groups. Conclusion: Bavachinin may be used combined with metformin for the treatment of type II diabetes at lower doses of metformin, thus having fewer side effects.
Background: There is a high prevalence of intentional paraquat poisoning especially for suicide reported from many part of the world, with its negative effects on the lungs, kidneys, heart, and digestive system. This study was planned, aimed at investigating the efficacy of sucralfate in the treatment of oral paraquat poisoning with respect to its clinical outcomes. Methods: A randomized double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 70 patients, suffering from oral paraquat poisoning. These patients were divided into two groups of 35 each. Subsequently, gastric lavage was performed for each patient in the control and treatment groups with 5g sucralfate mixed in tap water in the treatment group, but with tap water alone in the controls. The patients’ hemodynamic and laboratory parameters were evaluated and recorded, on admission and the hospital discharge dates. In addition, the patients’ final clinical outcome, including survival or death was also recorded. Results: The results of the present study revealed that the patients’ hemodynamic parameters, coagulation factors, renal and liver laboratory findings did not differ significantly between the two groups (P>0.05). Moreover, 45.7% and 31.4% of the patients died in the control and treatment groups, respectively (P>0.05). Conclusions: The sucralfate administration did not have a significant effect on the patients’ hemodynamic and laboratory parameters. The survival of patients in the treatment group was slightly higher than those in the control group. Also the patients in the treatment group had less pulmonary and renal complications in the long-term than those in the control group.
Background: Rhabdomyolysis is caused by the release of enzymes from skeletal muscles into the blood, which leads to systemic complications with diverse etiologies. This study evaluated the serum aminotransferases in patients with rhabdomyolysis following acute intoxication with either psychotropic drugs or other chemical agents. Methods: This study randomly recruited 140 patients suffering from rhabdomyolysis. They were divided into two groups affected by either psychotropic drugs or chemical agents. Rhabdomyolysis was defined as having serum creatine kinase (CK) levels greater than 250 U/L, based on the poisoning severity score. Results: On day 1, the CK/AST correlation was significantly stronger in the psychotropic than the chemical group (P=0.0009). On day 5, patients in the psychotropic group had significantly higher AST (P=0.0138) and ALT (P=0.0129) than those poisoned with other chemicals. The difference in the strength of the CK/ALT correlation between the two groups was insignificant. Between the two groups, the differences between the CK levels and the following serum parameters were insignificant: Alkaline phosphatase; gamma-glutamyl transferase; prothrombin time; total bilirubin; and albumin. Conclusion: The elevated aminotransferases in patients with rhabdomyolysis due to acute psychotropic toxicity might have resulted from the skeletal muscle injury rather than hepatotoxicity. In rhabdomyolysis patients poisoned with other chemicals, the elevated serum aminotransferases are likely due to liver toxicity arising from the consumed substances. These patients are likely to manifest clinically severe long-term multi-organ failure. Intoxications with typical agents, such as herbicides, petroleum distillates, and corrosives were responsible for the rhabdomyolysis in the second group.
Background: Microbial infections and the resistance to antibacterial drugs are on the rise, and scientists are in search of the safest and most effective approach to overcome them. Medicinal plants are potentially effective against many microorganisms. Therefore, this study was planned to examine the antibacterial properties and cytotoxicity of the extracts of Allium sativum and Myrtus communis against bacteria that cause nosocomial infections. Methods: A. sativum and M. communis were collected from the northern regions of Iran during the spring. After preparing the hydroalcoholic extracts of A. sativum and M. communis, the minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC & MBC) were determined. The cytotoxicity of the extracts was asseyed in normal cells and Hu02 fibroblast cell line. Results: The MIC and MBC of A. sativum (62.5 mg/mL) against Salmonella enterica were similar. Also, the MIC of A. sativum and M. communis against Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were similar (62.5 & 15.6 mg/mL), respectively. The viability percentage of skin fibroblasts after treatment for 48 hours with the extract of A. sativum was significantly higher than that of M. communis. Conclusion: Both extracts from A. sativum and M. communis demonstrated good antimicrobial properties. Based on the results, the safe antibacterial potential of the extracts may be used as alternative agents to fight against nosocomial bacterial infections.
Background: Sertraline is prescribed mainly for the treatment of patients with depression. However, this drug is known to have toxic effects on the male germ cells. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the ameliorative effects of curcumin on the sertraline-induced male reproductive toxicity. Methods: Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of eight each. The first group served as the control and received only tap water orally. The second group was given sertraline orally at 20 mg/kg. The third group received sertraline at the same dose plus an oral dose of curcumin at 100 mg/kg. The fourth group served as a positive control, which was given curcumin at 100 mg/kg. All treatments were given once daily over 42 consecutive days. Results: Sertraline exerted testicular toxicity mainly by triggering oxidative stress, resulting in adverse degenerative and atrophic alterations in the seminiferous tubules. Further, the rats’ testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels in the serum declined significantly in the sertraline group compared to those of the controls. Curcumin combined with sertraline, mitigated almost all of the histological abnormalities and significantly inhibited the oxidative stress by restoring the antioxidant levels in the testicular tissue. Also, in the combined group, the serum testosterone level significantly increased compared to that of the controls. Lastly, curcumin alone had no adverse effect on any of the examined parameters, similarly to the controls. Conclusion: We found that curcumin played an ameliorative role in the sertraline-mediated testicular injury in male Wistar rats through its considerable anti-oxidant property.
Background: Celosia leptostachya belongs to Amaranthaceae plant family. Its leaves are used traditionally in the treatment of conditions, such as convulsion, eye infection and most notably to cure snakebites. This study investigated the inhibiting effect of the extract of C. leptostachya leaves against cobra snake venom in mice. Methods: We used 36 albino mice of mixed gender, weighing 20-25 g. They were divided into six groups of six rats each. Each rat was pre-treated with 0.4 mg/kg of cobra snake venom, and was subsequently given a graded dose of zero, 50, 100, 150, 200, or 250 mg/kg of the ethanol extract of C. leptostachya leaves. The animals were monitored for the survival rate. Various inhibition assays were performed to estimate the activities of acetyl cholinesterase, protease and adenosine triphosphatase of cobra venom, in the presence of 100-300 µg of the plant extract. Results: The extract inhibited the effects of cobra venom significantly after the intraperitoneal injection of the venom and extract at 20 minutes intervals. The results demonstrated that 100% of the mice survived if they received 100-250 mg/kg of the extract while only 83.3% survived with the extract at 50 mg/kg. The extract inhibited the venom’s acetyl cholinesterase, protease and adenosine triphosphatase. The inhibition occurred at higher percentages if the extract was given at 300 mg/kg. Conclusion: The plant extract significantly inhibited the snake venom, and its acetyl cholinesterase, protease and adenosine triphosphatase that mediated the venom’s toxicity.
Background: Environmental pollutants, such as plastic-derived substances Bisphenol-A and Dibutyl phthalate have been linked to an increase in the occurrence of human health hazards, including dysmetabolic syndrome, i.e., insulin resistance, and organ toxicity.In this syndrome, concurrent risk factors can give rise to cardiovascular disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.This study aimed to investigate the toxic effects of certain plastic compounds against kidneys and liver, and the potential protective role of rutin in rat.Rutin is a natural anti-inflammatory supplement that improves blood circulation and metabolic functions, lowers cholesterol and reduce arthritis pain.Methods: Eighteen rats were divided randomly into three groups of six each and were treated for 28 days as follows: 1) Control (0.1% DMSO); 2) Bisphenol-A and Dibutyl phthalate, and 3) Bisphenol-A, Dibutyl phthalate and rutin.At the completion of the experimental period, the rats' hepatic and renal toxicity biomarkers, redox status and lipid profile were measured.Results: Based the experimental findings, the toxicity of plastic substances increased in gammaglutamyl transferase, urea, renal MDA and significant reductions in SOD and CAT activities, compared to those of the controls.The total plasma cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels increased.The hepatic total cholesterol, LDL, FFA, TG levels increased.The HDL decreased while the total cholesterol, TG and LDL levels increased in the kidney.However, these biochemical alterations improved significantly by administering rutin supplement to the rats that were pretreated with the plastic compounds.Conclusions: Flavonoid, rutin, demonstrated hepato-renal protective effect against the toxic effects of plastic compounds.
Background: The plant Bombax costatum (BC) has been used traditionally in Nigeria for the management of various ailments. The chloroform extract of BC bark was investigated for its potential effects against the induced seizures and depression in rats. Methods: Thirty Wistar rats were divided into five groups of six. Group I received normal saline, group II received pentylenetetrazole (PTZ, 35 mg/kg), group III received diazepam (5 mg/kg) plus PTZ at 35 mg/kg, group IV received 250 mg/kg of the BC extract, and group V received 500 mg/kg of the same extract. The above protocol was repeated on alternate days from the first to twenty 5th days. Results: Tukey’s post hoc test revealed a statistically significant increase in the seizure scores after using PTZ (3.38±0.29, P<0.0001), in contrast to a decrease in the seizures after treatment with the BC extract (250 mg/kg; 2.72±0.25, P=0.0001). The analysis of variance for forced swimming test showed a significant decrease in immobility time if treatment with the extract (250 mg/kg; 125±5.59; P=0.01). The immobility duration increased with the PTZ treatment (163.8±12.03). The brain’s dopamine and serotonin levels under PTZ effect significantly decreased to 140.2±15.66 and 26.38±1.16, respectively, when the rats were treated with the extract at 500 mg/kg. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the BC extract has anticonvulsive and anti-depressive properties, thus it offers neuro-protection against both conditions, induced by PTZ in rats.
Background: Kidneys are the most vulnerable organs with respect to oxidative stress caused by lead poisoning. In this study, renal biomarkers were investigated in rats, exposed to lead after treatment with or without Lactobacillus fermentum. Methods: Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups of five each as follows: a) control, b) lead-exposed, c) Lactobacillus fermentum–treated, and d) rats exposed to lead followed by treatment with L. fermentum. After eight weeks of treatment, the renal biomarkers in blood and antioxidant factors in the kidneys were evaluated. The kidneys were also examined histopathologically for alterations due to lead exposure. Results: In lead-exposed rats, the creatinine, urea, uric acid, malondialdehyde, and tissue lead contents were significantly higher, while catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione levels were lower than those found in the controls. After treatment of lead-exposed rats with L. fermentum, the levels of these factors were significantly lower and the last two factors were higher compared to those of the lead-exposed group. There was no significant change in the level of catalase. The histopathological changes due to lead exposure in these rats decreased after treatment with L. fermentum. Conclusion: The results indicated that L. fermentum reduced the toxic effects of lead on the kidneys, either by potentiating the renal antioxidant system or by removing lead from the treated rats, or both. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the mechanisms by which L. fermentum exerts its anti-lead poisoning effects.
Background: The effect of Astragalus has been recognized in traditional Chinese medicine, and the roots are believed to have anti-cancer properties. This study investigated the effects of the ethanolic extract and polysaccharide fraction of Astragalus ovinus roots on MCF7 cell line. Methods: We used MTT assay to evaluate the cytotoxicity of A. ovinus roots. The status of cell cycle and apoptosis were examined, using flow cytometry. The gene expressions related to the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways (caspases 8 & 9) were also examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The cytotoxicity data showed that the A. ovinus extract inhibited the proliferation of MCF7 cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 of Cisplatin , ethanolic extract and polysaccharides fraction were 22.42, 560.9, and 961.2 in µg/ml, respectively. Also, the cell cycle analysis showed that the ethanolic extract and polysaccharide fractions arrested the cell cycle in the G1 phase. Examination of the apoptotic effects showed that treatment with either the A. ovinus extract or the polysaccharide fraction induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cancer cells. The expression of caspases 8 and 9 genes was inhibited after exposure to either cisplatin or the polysaccharide fraction (PFA). However, treatment with the extract inhibited only the caspase-8 gene expression. Conclusion: The results confirmed that treatment with the extract and polysaccharide fraction caused anti-proliferative effect and apoptosis of MCF-7 cell line. Therefore, it can be concluded that the A. ovinus extract and the polysaccharides have potential therapeutic effects against human breast cancer cells.
