Use of Arctium lappa Extract Against Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

AbstractBackgroundSevere destructive hepatic injuries can be induced by acetaminophen overdose and may lead to acute hepatic failure.ObjectiveTo investigate the ameliorative effects of Arctium lappa root extract on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity.MethodsRats were divided into 4 groups: normal control group, Arctium lappa extract group, acetaminophen-injected group, and acetaminophen treated with Arctium lappa extract group.ResultsThe treatment with Arctium lappa extract reduced serum alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase in the acetaminophen group when compared with the control group. DNA fragments in the acetaminophen-injected group were also significantly increased (P < 0.05). The comet assay revealed increased detaching tail length and DNA concentration during the hepatic toxicity in the acetaminophen group. The malondialdehyde content was inhibited by Arctium lappa treatment (12.97±0.89 nmol/mg) when compared with the acetaminophen-treated-only group (12.97±0.89 nmol/mg). Histopathologic examination revealed that acetaminophen administration produced hepatic cell necrosis, infiltrate of lymphocytes, and vacuolation that were associated with the acetaminophen-treated animal group, but the degree of acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity was mediated by treatment with Arctium lappa extract.ConclusionsArctium lappa can prevent most of the hepatic tissue damage caused by acetaminophen overdose in rats

Hepatoprotective Effect of Royal Jelly Against Cisplatin-Induced Biochemical, Oxidative Stress, Anti-Oxidants And Histopathological Abnormalities

The study aimed to evaluate the changes of liver functions, oxidative stress, anti-oxidants and histopathological investigations in Cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity and the royal jelly ameliorative effects. The forty male mice were divided into 4 groups. The first group was control, Group II: animals were received royal jelly (150 mg/kg), Group III: animals were received cisplatin (3.5 mg/kg body weight of Cisplatin once every 2 days), group IV: animals were received the royal jelly + Cisplatin, for 10 days. At the end of experiment Blood was collected and analyzed for blood alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Albumin. The Liver samples were stored for the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant and catalase (CAT) activities and another hepatic tissues were processed for histopathology. Cisplatin given to mice induced a marked hepatic injuries, characterized with a significant increase in serum ALT, AST and MDA and lower albumin, total antioxidant, and CAT activities. In the groups that were administered royal jelly in association with cisplatin, improvement was observed in oxidative stress parameter (MDA), other hepatic biochemical parameters, and histopathological examinations with royal jelly being more effective. The results obtained suggested that royal jelly significantly attenuated the cisplatin-hepatotoxicity, because it act as free radical scavenger and lipid peroxidation inhibitor. Keywords: Cisplatin; Royal jelly; Antioxidants; Hepatotoxicit

The pharmaceutical efferct of date palm fruit extract (Phoenix dactylifera L.) against amitraz-induced infertility in male rats

The present study was aimed to investigate the potential protective effect of aqueous extracts of the flesh of dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.) against amitraz-induced infertility in male rats.  100 male Sprague-Dawley rats (120-150 g) were used. The animals were randomly divided into 4 groups  as follows:  Group 1, control animals were given free access to food and water, group 2 received dates extract (1/10 w/v) , group 3   received 1/20 of LD50 amitraz and group 4 received dates extract and the same dose of amitraz as in group 3. Infertility was investigated by examining sperm count, viability, and motility. Estimated levels of testosterone, estradiol and histopathological analysis were also done. The present results showed significant decrease in sperms count,  motility and viability in  group III rats that received  amitraz (P&lt;0.001), increased  percentage of sperm cell abnormalities and decreased serum estradiol and testosterone hormones to 49.8+3.2 and 1.5±0.20 ng/dL versus 56.7+2.4 and 3.3 ±0.37 ng/dL respectively  compared with control. Histopathological examination of the testes also showed marked degeneration of spermatogenic cells associated with interstitial necrosis and blood vessel congestion. Spermatogenic cells and cellular debris were present in the seminiferous tubules lumen associated with moderate degeneration of spermatogenic cells lining of some seminiferous tubules with interstitial diffuse edema. The current results documented that date palm fruit extract possessed an anti-oxidant and anti-infertility effect. We concluded  that amitraz-induced testis damage in rats can be ameliorated by administration of date palm fruit extract. Keywords: Amitraz, dates palm, testis, testosterone, infertility

Acylated Ghrelin Renders Chemosensitive Ovarian Cancer Cells Resistant to Cisplatin Chemotherapy via Activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Survival Pathway

This study investigated the effect of acylated synthetic ghrelin (AG) on the survival and proliferation of human chemosensitive ovarian cancer cells (A2780) and explored some mechanisms of action with a focus on the p53 apoptotic pathway and PI3K/Akt and NF-κB survival pathways. Human A2780 ovarian cancer cells were cultured with or without AG treatment in the presence or absence of cisplatin. In some cases, cisplatin+AG-treated cells were pre-incubated either with [D-Lys3]-GHRP-6, a ghrelin receptor antagonist, or with LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor. mRNA of ghrelin receptors(GHS-R1a and GHS-R1b), as well as, protein levels of GHS-R1a, were expressed abundantly in A2780 cells. AG treatment did not affect the mRNA and protein levels of GHS-R1a and GHS-R1b in both control and Cis-treated cells. However, while AG treatment had no effect on control cell viability, it significantly increased cell viability and proliferation and inhibited cell death in Cis-treated cells. In both control and Cis-treated cells, AG treatment significantly increased PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling and enhanced the nuclear accumulation of NF-κB. Concomitantly, in both control and Cis-treated cells, AG significantly lowered the protein levels of p53, p-p53 (Ser16), PUMA, cytochrome C, and cleaved caspase-3. Interestingly, pre-incubating the cells with either [D-Lys3]-GHRP-6 or LY294002 completely abolished the above-mentioned effect of AG in both control and Cis-treated cells. In conclusion, the findings of this study show that AG promotes cell survival of the OC cells and renders them resistat to Cis therapy, an effect that is mediated by the activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR and activation of NF-κB, and requires GHS-R1a