Effect of long-term use of Eurycoma Longifolia Jack on the liver

In present years, the use of Eurycoma longifolia Jack (ELJ) has increased dramatically in Southeast Asia especially Malaysia where it is widely used as aphrodisiac and anti-malarial agents. Interestingly, its consumption has become popular in daily life as beverage to enhance energy and stamina especially among males. However, its effect on the safety of vital organs of the body is not studied properly. Hence, the main objective of this study was to determine whether or not long-term use of ELJ has side effects on liver in rats. Three different concentrations of aqueous extract of ELJ were prepared and dissolved in distilled water, a total of thirty two Sprague-Dawley male rats were used and randomly divided into three test groups and control. The three test groups were given different doses (low dose 250 mg/kg bw, medium dose 500 mg /kg bw and high dose 1000 mg/kg bw) of aqueous extract of ELJ, respectively. Control group was given distilled water alone. Doses were given orally and daily for about 5 weeks. After thirty days, animals were sacrificed; whole liver tissues were obtained, fixed in 10 percent formaldehyde solution overnight for histological examination. Histological observations were showed mild to moderate degrees of hemorrhage, hepatocytes degeneration and severe fatty changes in liver tissue of the test groups treated with ELJ with comparable to control. As a conclusion, the long-term daily consumption of ELJ as beverage may cause fatty changes, hemorrhage and hepatocytes degeneration in the liver tissue when taken in large quantity for long time

Supplementation of TGF-Beta3 in low serum media promotes chondrogenesis of BMSCs

ABSTRACT Tissue engineering has emerged as a new promising field that allow in vitro construction of whole transplantable tissue. Recently, bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) fulfil the requirements as appropriate cell source that is renewable for cartilage tissue engineering since they were able to form hyaline-like cartilage in vitro and in vivo when cultured in media supplemented with specific growth factors. This study aimed to examine the potential of BMSCs chondrogenesis in vitro and in vivo. BMSCs were isolated from sheep and divided into a test group and control group. Control group was cultured in medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Test group was cultured in medium supplemented with 1% FBS, 1% ITS, 5ng/mL TGF-ß3, 50ng/mL IGF-1, 40 ng/mL L-proline, 100 nM dexamethasone and 50 μg/mL ascorbic acid-2 phosphate. The experiment was carried out on athymic nude mice. Cell aggregates were formed in test group and indicated the early chondrogenesis in cell culture. Later, cells-fibrin constructs were made and implanted subcutaneously into nude mice for 5 wks, then explanted for histological examination and glycosaminoglycans (GAG) quantification. Test group constructs showed higher cartilage matrix synthesis as confirmed by Safranin O staining and GAG production. These results demonstrated the effectiveness of low serum media supplemented with TGF-ß3 in promoting chondrogenesis in BMSCs. Keywords: bone marrow, cartilage, chondrogenesis, growth factors, low serum media, stem cell

Stem cell based therapy retards the progression of osteoarthritis and promotes repair of meniscus injury of sheep model knee joint

ABSTRACT The aim of this study to determine if intra-articular injection of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (ABMSCs) could repair surgically induced osteoarthritis in sheep model. Eighteen male healthy sheep (weighed 18-20kg) were divided into two test groups and one control group. The control groups were not different from the test groups with respect to age and weight, but the test animals underwent a bone marrow aspira- tion for cell preparation in the same time of osteoarthritis induction. ABMSCs were isolated from sheep bone marrow and divided into two groups, namely test group A; ABMSCs cultured in FD medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), Test group B; ABMSCs were cultured in FD medium supplimented with 1% FBS and 10 ng/ml TGFβ-3 for three weeks. OA was induced by complete excision of the medial meniscus and resection of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Sheep were subjected to exercise for three weeks post OA induction. After 6 weeks post-operation, test groups received direct intra-articular injection of a single dose 10x106 cells suspended in basal medium into injured sheep knee joint. Con- trol animals received basal medium alone. Six weeks post- cel injection, the femoral condyle and the tibial plateau from test and control groups were removed,fixed,photographed, and assessed by two blinded evaluators based on ICRS grading system, decalcified. Specimens were sectioned into 5 µm and stained with H & E and Safranin O. The result demonstrated that Gross observation of femoral condyle and tibia plaetue of the operated knee joint had OA. The severe OA was clearly observed in in control group knee joints. Test group received intra-articular injection of ABMSCs alone showed moderate OA. Interestingly test group B that received intra-articularinjection of TGF-β3 induced ABMSCs showed mild OA. The histological examination showed clear evidence of articular cartilage and menicscus regeneration in test group B of sheep injured knee joint that received TGF-β3 induced ABMSCs when compared with other groups

Anterior cruciate ligament resection and medial meniscectomy result in multifocal cartilage degenerations

Damage to the meniscus and the anterior cruciate ligament alters the pattern of loading in the knee joint and frequently leads to cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis. This study aimed to evaluate the area of greatest impact after traumatic osteoarthritic induction at the knee joint in sheep model. Osteoarthritis was induced unilaterally at the right hind knee of six sheep by surgical resection of the anterior cruciate ligament and medial meniscus. After 3 weeks recovery period, sheep were exercised once daily by running a 100 meters distance on a hard surface for 3 weeks. Gross and histological assessments were done. Six regions examined were; the patella, patella femoral groove, medial femoral condyle, lateral femoral condyle, medial tibia plateau and lateral tibia plateau. Their mean International Cartilage Repair Society grading was: 2.5±0.42, 3.3±0.17, 2.25±0.38, 1.33±0.25, 2±0.37 and 1.5±0.22 respectively. The control from all samples scored zero at the above regions. The lesions at various regions were significantly higher compared to the control (p < 0.05). Patella femoral groove was significantly higher compare to all other regions except for Patella. Lateral femoral condyle was the least (p < 0.05). Histological staining revealed defined osteoarthritic changes. Total excision of medial meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament followed by exercise regime induced osteoarthritis in the affected knee joint. The changes in pattern of degeneration, affected patella femoral groove the most; followed by the patella and medial femoral condyle, then medial tibia plateau, lateral tibia plateau and lastly the lateral femoral condyle

Effect of long-term use of eurycoma longifolia on the liver

Eurycoma longifolia Jack (ELJ) (Tongkat Ali) is one of the plants of such category. Even though toxicity and safety evaluation studies have been carried out, still a major gap exists in providing scientific base for commercial utilization of the Tongkat Ali’s products with regard to consumer's safety. The water extracts of ELJ has been reported to have a better market value as beverage and capsules1. In our previous study we found that water extract of ELJ caused no damage to hepatocytes in rats when given alone orally for only one week2. The long term consumption of ELJ as beverage among men and women for its vitality during copulation incited us to evaluate its effect on the safety of body organs. However, there is a lack of scientific evidence for such deleterious effects (10). Owing to the lack of published data on the efficacy of long term use of ELJ on some organs, we were prompted to evaluate its effect on the vital organs of the body. In the present study we aimed to determine if long term consumption of ELJ as beverage could have any deleterious effect on the tissues of liver or not

Long-term consumption effect of eurycoma longifolia jack on histopathological changes in the vital organs in rats

Abstract: Introduction: Presently, the use of Eurycoma longifolia Jack (ELJ) (Tongkat Ali) has increased dramatically in Southeast Asia especially Malaysia where it is widely used as aphrodisiac and anti-malarial agent. Interestingly, its consumption has become popular in daily life as beverage to enhance energy and stamina especially among males. However, its effect on the safety of vital organs of the body has not been studied adequately. Hence, the main objective of this study was to determine whether or not long-term consumption of ELJ has side effects on the vital organs such as Pancreas, Liver and Kidney in rats. Materials and methods: Three different concentrations of aqueous extract of ELJ were prepared and dissolved in distilled water. A total of 32 Sprague-Dawley male rats were used and randomly divided into three test groups and control. The test groups were given different doses (low dose 250 mg/kg bw, medium dose 500mg/kg bw and high dose 1000 mg/kg bw) of aqueous extract of ELJ, respectively. Control group was given distilled water alone. Doses were given orally and daily for 5 weeks. After 5 weeks, animals were sacrificed; whole liver tissues were obtained, fixed in 10 percent formaldehyde overnight for histological examination. Result: Histological observations showed mild to moderate degrees of hemorrhage, hepatocytes degeneration and severe fatty changes in liver tissue of the test groups treated with ELJ as compared to control. Conclusion: In conclusion, the long-term daily consumption of ELJ in large quantity as beverage may cause fatty changes, hemorrhage and hepatocytes degeneration in the liver tissue. The Pancreatic tissues on the three groups treated with different concentration doses do not show any fatty changes or inflammation in the treated groups

Effect of long-term use of eurycoma longifolia jack on the pancreas in rats: histological assessment

In recent years, the use of Eurycoma longifolia Jack (ELJ) (Tongkat Ali) has spread dramatically in Southeast Asia especially Malaysia where it is widely used as aphrodisiac and anti-malarial agents. Interestingly, its consumption has become popular in daily life as beverage to enhance energy and stamina especially among males. However, its effect on the safety of vital organs of the body is not studied properly. Hence, the main objective of this study was to determine whether or not long-term use of ELJ has side effects on pancreas in rats. Three different concentrations of aqueous extract of ELJ were prepared and dissolved in distilled water, a total of thirty two Sprague-Dawley male rats were used and randomly divided into three test groups and control. The three test groups were given different doses (low dose 250 mg/kg bw, medium dose 500 mg /kg bw and high dose 1000 mg/kg bw) of aqueous extract of ELJ, respectively. Control group was given distilled water alone. Doses were given orally, daily for about 5 weeks. After 5 weeks, animals were sacrificed; whole pancreas tissues were obtained, fixed in 10 percent formaldehyde solution overnight for histological examination. Histological observations showed no signs of hemorrhage, fatty changes and normal pancreatic tissues in the three test groups when compared to normal. As a conclusion, the daily consumption of ELJ as beverage has no side effect on pancreatic tissue when taken in small quantity for long duration

Effect of eurycoma longifolia on the testosterone level in adult male rats

Background: aqueous extract of the roots of Eurycoma longifolia (EL) have long been used as an enhancer of male sexual performance. However, data from studies in both human males and experimental male animals on the blood testosterone level in those given the EL extract orally were at best insufficiently conclusive. Methodology: sixty-four middle age healthy male rats were acclimatized, then randomized into six treated groups and control. The first three treated groups received orally, low (50mg/kg bw), medium (100mg/kg bw) and high doses (200mg/kg bw) of the EL extract for 15 only. The other 3 treated groups continued receiving treatment for 30 days. By the end of each of the study periods, blood samples were collected and the animals were euthanized, dissected, testicles obtained,weighed, and processed for histological examination. Results: The average relative testicular weight in the high and medium dose treated animals was higher than that in the low dose and control groups. Rats which received medium and high oral doses of EL water extract showed increase of spermatogenesis, mature spermatozoa, Sertoli and Leydig cells. The serum testosterone levels were higher among animals that received the medium and high doses for 15days and 30days. Conclusion: The aqueous extract of EL at the medium and high lebel doses demonstrated similar enhancing effect on serum testosterone levels and testicular spermatogenesis. Our findings suggest that the optimal measured effects of EL treatment in adult male rats is the medium dose of 100mg/kg BW given for 15 or 30 days

Medial meniscectomy and anterior cruciate ligament resection result in osteoarthritis in a sheep model

Abstract Objective: This study aims to induce surgical osteoarthritis in a sheep model by excision of the medial meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament of the knee joint. Methods: Osteoarthritis (OA) was induced unilaterally in the knee joint of five adult male sheep by total excision of the medial meniscus and resection of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). After a recovery period of 3 weeks, all animals were exercised once daily by running on a hard surface for a distance of 100 meters. Following that the animals were allowed free movement in a confined environment. The animals were sacrificed six weeks after operation. The femoral condyle and the proximal tibial plateau of operated and none operated legs were remove. The interior part of the knee joint was graded according to ICRS grading system. Histological evaluation done by Haematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) and Safranin-O staining. Result: The ICRS grading clearly showed define OA changes as compared to control. H&E staining demonstrated a deep defect on the study area with evidence of inflammation. Safranin-O staining showed absence of cartilage layer. Conclusion: Total excision of meniscus and ACL results in surgically induced osteoarthritis within a short period of time (six weeks) in a sheep model. This study hopes to open new horizons in evaluating treatment for osteoarthritis especially in the area of cell and tissue based therapy. Keywords: Osteoarthritis, Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Medial Meniscus; Sheep; Tissue Engineerin

Growth medium with low serum and transforming growth factor beta 3 promotes better chondrogenesis of bone marrow-derived stem cells in vitro and in vivo

Adult mesenchymal stem cells are candidate cells for cartilage tissue engineering due to their ability to undergo chondrogenic differentiation after extensive expansion, and induced with growth factors.1 Sustained delivery of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß)3 induces differentiation of human bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) into chondrocytes.2 Bone marrowderived stem cells undergo chondrogenesis in a variety of culture conditions, and the addition of TGF-ßs has generally enhanced chondrogenesis regardless of culture method.3 "echondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs induced by growth factors, such as TGF-ß3, and insulin like growth factor (IGF)-1 can inhibit the instability of the chondrocyte phenotype, promote extracellular matrix secretion, and maintain cartilage matrix macromolecules during chondrogenesis.4 "e shift from TGF-ß3 to IGF-I at week 3 resulted in a significant increase of cartilage-like extracellular matrix.5 "is study aimed to examine the effect of TGF-ß3 and TGF-ß2 on BMSCs chondrogenesis in vitro and in vivo