Reactive Oxygen Species in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Implications in Pathogenesis and Treatment Strategies

Neurodegenerative diseases are debilitating disorders which compromise motor or cognitive functions and are rapidly becoming a global communal disorder with over 46.8 million people suffering dementia worldwide. Aetiological studies have showed that people who are exposed to agricultural, occupational and environmental toxic chemicals that can interfere and degenerate dopaminergic neurons are prone to developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson Disease. The complex pathogenesis of the neurodegenerative diseases remains largely unknown; however, mounting evidence suggests that oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, protein misfolding, and apoptosis are the hallmarks of the diseases. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are chemically reactive molecules that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. ROS play a critical role as high levels of oxidative stress are commonly observed in the brain of patients with neurodegenerative disorders. This chapter focus on the sources of ROS in the brain, its involvement in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and possible ways to mitigate its damaging effects in the affected brain

Neurological Complications in COVID-19: Implications on International Health Security and Possible Interventions of Phytochemicals

Global health security or international health security (IHS) includes any natural or man-made phenomenon that challenged human health and well-being including emerging infectious diseases such as the current global pandemic: COVID-19. Since the sudden outburst of COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, many COVID-19 patients have exhibited neurological symptoms and signs. Till now, there is no known effective established drug against the highly contagious COVID-19 infection despite the frightening associated mortality rate. This chapter aims to present the mechanism of action of coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the clinical neurological manifestations displayed by COVID-19 patients, impact on the global health system and present phytochemicals with neuroprotective ability that can offer beneficial effects against COVID-19 mediated neuropathology. Reports from COVID-19 clinical studies, case reports, and other related literature were evaluated. Neurological complications of COVID-19 include anosmia, acute cerebrovascular disease, acute disseminated post-infectious encephalomyelitis, encephalitis, etc. Also, SARS-CoV-2 соuld be a neurotropic vіruѕ due to its iѕоlаtіоn from сеrеbrоѕріnаl fluіd. Multірlе nеurоlоgісаl dаmаgе displayed by COVID-19 patients might be due to hyperinflammation associated with SARS-CoV-2 infections. Kolaviron, resveratrol, vernodalin, vernodalol, and apigenin are natural phytochemicals with proven anti-inflammatory and therapeutic properties that could extenuate the adverse effects of COVID-19. The phytochemicals have been documented to suppress JNK and MAPK pathways which are essential in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. They also showed significant inhibitory activities against SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Taken together, these phytochemicals may offer neuroprotective benefits against COVID-19 mediated neuropathology and suppress the burden of the pandemic on IHS

Assessing the ability of polysaccharides extracted from date palm fruit to salvage Wistar rats from cisplatin-linked hepatic damage

Background: Cisplatin is a platinum-based chemotherapeutic drug utilized in the treatment of many solid-tissue cancers; it is associated with several organ toxicities. For ages, Phoenix Dactylifera, known as the '' large jujube '' or '' dà zǎo,'' in Chinese traditional medicine, has been employed for several medicinal applications. The present study assesses the role of Date Fruit Polysaccharides (DFP) in cisplatin-induced liver injury Method: Rats were intraperitoneally treated with a single therapeutic dose of cisplatin (5 mg/kg body weight) and then orally treated daily with or without 50/100 mg/kg body weight of DFP for 7 successive days.The salvaging effects of DFP were assessed on Cisplatin-induced hepatic damage, by investigating the hepatic function markers, oxidative stress, and pro-inflammatory biomarkers, with histopathological assessment of the liver morphology by hematoxylin/eosin stain. To elucidate the contents, functional groups, and antioxidative potentials of DFP, chromatographic, spectroscopic, and in vitro antioxidative assays were analysed. Results: Exposure to a single dose of cisplatin led to a considerable escalation in the tested hepatic function biomarkers (ALP and ALT), with an associated upsurge in levels/activities of malondialdehyde, cytokines, myeloperoxidase and a significant drop in the level of GSH (P < 0.05) in the liver as compared to the control. Moreover, there is also an obvious decline in antioxidant enzymes (catalase, SOD and GPx) activities. Contrarily, post-treatment with DFP significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited the heightened hepatic function markers, lipid peroxidation, inflammation, and oxidative stress dose-dependently. Analysis of chemical constituents, functional groups, and in vitro activities demonstrated important monosaccharides and antioxidative properties of DFP. Conclusion: This study shows the ability of DFP to serve as a probable salvaging agent in hepatic damage associated with cisplatin treatment

Cardio-nephrotoxicity mediated by Echis ocellatus venom and its amelioration through kaempferol’s suppressive effect on oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis expression

Abstract Background Echis ocellatus venom toxins have the ability to impact multiple organ systems subsequent to envenomation. Kaempferol have been reported to have several therapeutic benefits. In this study, the therapeutic value of kaempferol was investigated in relation to the cardio-nephrotoxicity in rats resulting from E. ocellatus envenoming. Methods Fifty male wistar rats were allotted unbiased into five groups (n = 10) for this study. Group 1 was the control, while rats in groups 2 to 5 were envenomed with LD50 of E. ocellatus venom (0.22 mg/kg bw; i.p.). Group 2 was not treated after envenomation while groups 3, 4 and 5 were treated with polyvalent antivenom, 4 and 8 mg/kg of kaempferol, respectively. Results E. ocellatus envenomation caused considerable reduction in organ weight and relative organ weight in the envenomed untreated rats. The venom induced intense oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptotic damage to the cardiac and renal tissues accompanied with severe histomorphology in the organ tissues of untreated envenomed rats. In contrast, kaempferol treatment post-envenomation attenuated the venom-induced cardio-nephrotoxic responses in a dose dependent effect. Kaempferol substantially (p < 0.05) decreased malondialdehyde levels while enhancing reduced glutathione levels and superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in the heart and kidney of envenomed treated rats. Treatment of envenomed rats with kaempferol successfully decreased nitric oxide levels and myeloperoxidase activity. Overexpression of apoptotic caspase 3 and caspase 9 in cardiac and renal tissues were suppressed by kaempferol (p < 0.05). The histopathological result supports kaempferol’s ameliorative ability by convalescing the severe morphological alterations of cardiac and renal tissues induced by the venom. Conclusion Findings elucidate the significance of kaempferol as promising agent in the management of cardio-nephrotoxicity resulting from snakebite envenoming

Kaempferol mitigates reproductive dysfunctions induced by Naja nigricollis venom through antioxidant system and anti-inflammatory response in male rats

Abstract Naja nigricollis Venom (NnV) contains complex toxins that affects various vital systems functions after envenoming. The venom toxins have been reported to induce male reproductive disorders in envenomed rats. This present study explored the ameliorative potential of kaempferol on NnV-induced male reproductive toxicity. Fifty male wistar rats were sorted randomly into five groups (n = 10) for this study. Group 1 were noted as the control, while rats in groups 2 to 5 were injected with LD50 of NnV (1.0 mg/kg bw; i.p.). Group 2 was left untreated post envenomation while group 3 was treated with 0.2 ml of polyvalent antivenom. Groups 4 and 5 were treated with 4 and 8 mg/kg of kaempferol, respectively. NnV caused substantial reduction in concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone, testosterone and luteinizing hormone, while sperm motility, volume and counts significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in envenomed untreated rats. The venom enhanced malondialdehyde levels and substantially decreased glutathione levels, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in the testes and epididymis of envenomed untreated rats. Additionally, epididymal and testicular myeloperoxidase activity and nitric oxide levels were elevated which substantiated severe morphological defects noticed in the reproductive organs. However, treatment of envenomed rats with kaempferol normalized the reproductive hormones with significant improvement on sperm functional parameters. Elevated inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in testis and epididymis were suppressed post kaempferol treatment. Severe histopathological lesions in the epididymal and testicular tissues were ameliorated in the envenomed treated groups. Results highlights the significance of kaempferol in mitigating reproductive toxicity induced after snakebite envenoming