CHEMO-PROTECTIVE EFFECT ON HEPATO-RENAL TOXCICITY AND CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF LIPOIDAL MATTER OF ATRIPLEX LINDLEYI MOQ

Objective: Bromobenzene (BB) is frequently encountered in table-ready foods as contaminant residues. Therefore, the present study is designed to evaluate the petroleum ether extract of Atriplex lindleyi to attenuate the hepato-renal injury induced by BB exposure and study its cytotoxic activity against different human cell line as well as to describe the chemical composition of the petroleum ether extract. Methods: The phytochemical study of petroleum ether extract was implemented using both GC/MS and column chromatography analysis. The isolated compounds were identified using different spectroscopic analysis. Hepato-renal assay, rats were intraperitonealy injected bromobenzene at a dose 460 mg/kg BW. The petroleum ether extract as well as Hepaticum were administrated orally twice a week for three consecutive weeks with a dose 150 & 100 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Liver marker enzymes, liver function indices and kidney function tests were estimated. The cytotoxic activity of, petroleum ether extract was assessed by the mitochondrial dependent reduction of MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide). Results: Forty two compounds as well as sixteen fatty acids were identified in unsaponifiable and saponifiable fractions, respectively. Unsaponifiable fraction constituted of hydrocarbons (73.39% of total unsaponifiable matter), alcoholic (0.88%) and steroidal compounds (2.22%). Furthermore, column chromatography of petroleum ether extract afforded nonsterol tritrepenoids; olean-12-en-3,11-dione (1), β-amyrenone (2), erythrodiol I (3), Lupeol (4) as well as sterol triterpenoids; cholesterol (5) and mixture of β-sitosterol and stigmasterol (6). Compounds 1, 3 and 5 are first reported from Atriplex lindleyi. In addition, GC/MS analysis of the main fraction isolated from column chromatography revealed phytol as a major component. Drastic changes were observed after BB intoxication in liver function parameters; kidney disorder indices and certain oxidative stress markers. Treatment with petroleum ether extract improved all biochemical parameters under investigation as well as the histopathology of liver and kidney. Petroleum ether extract showed growth inhibition of HepG2 and MCF7 human cells by 44.8 and 29.9%, respectively at 100 µg/ml. Conclusion: The petroleum ether extract of A. lindleyi contains bioactive compounds exhibiting hepato-renal protection and cytotoxic activity

Zingiber officinale acts as a nutraceutical agent against liver fibrosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background/objective</p> <p><it>Zingiber officinale </it>Roscoe (ginger) (<it>Zingiberaceae</it>) has been cultivated for thousands of years both as a spice and for medicinal purposes. Ginger rhizomes successive extracts (petroleum ether, chloroform and ethanol) were examined against liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The evaluation was done through measuring antioxidant parameters; glutathione (GSH), total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Liver marker enzymes; succinate and lactate dehydrogenases (SDH and LDH), glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase), acid phosphatase (AP), 5'- nucleotidase (5'NT) and liver function enzymes; aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST and ALT) as well as cholestatic markers; alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin were estimated. Liver histopathological analysis and collagen content were also evaluated. Treatments with the selected extracts significantly increased GSH, SOD, SDH, LDH, G-6-Pase, AP and 5'NT. However, MDA, AST, ALT ALP, GGT and total bilirubin were significantly decreased.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Extracts of ginger, particularly the ethanol one resulted in an attractive candidate for the treatment of liver fibrosis induced by CCl₄. Further studies are required in order to identify the molecules responsible of the pharmacological activity.</p

FLAVONOIDS FROM SUGAR BEET LEAVES AS HEPATOPROTECTIVE AGENT

Objective: This work was designed to investigate the activity of Beta vulgaris (B. vulgaris) extract against hepatotoxicity induced by (carbon tetrachloride) CC14 in male rats.Methods: Hepatoprotective study was performed on rats, divided into different groups; control healthy rats, the group received B. vulgaris extract, intoxicated rats by CC14, CCl4 group treated with alcoholic leaves extract, and CCl4 intoxicated rats treated with silymarin. The evaluation was done through measuring liver function indices and oxidative stress markers.Results: The activities of Alanine Transferase (ALT), Aspartate Transferase (AST), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) increased by 187.07, 52.37, 50.58, and 94.59% respectively in CCl4 group from control. Supplementation of beet extract decreased this elevation to 10.83, 26.43, 17.07 and 37.21% for the previous parameters respectively. The values obtained of the enzymes activity return nearly to that of control values, also a histopathological investigation of liver confirmed the results obtained.Conclusion: Beet showed a remarkable anti-hepatotoxic activity against CC14 induced hepatic damageKeywords: B. vulgaris, Hepatoprotective, Flavonoids, Liver function, Antioxidant enzyme, Histopatholog

ANTIOXIDANT AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF JUSTICIA SPICIGERA ETHYL ACETATE FRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ITS ANTHOCYANIN CONTENT

Objective: The antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of ethyl acetate (EA) fraction of the dried aerial part of Justicia spicigera were evaluated and the characterization of its anthocyanin content was done. Methods: Hepatic fibrosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats. The ethyl acetate fraction was obtained by successive liquid/liquid fractionation of the crude cold ethanolic extract and the pigments were characterized by HPLC technique. The in vitro studies were carried out through evaluation of the EA fraction on the attenuation of 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals. The in vivo biological evaluation was done in CCl4 injured rats through determination of liver function indices, oxidative stress markers and the histopathological picture of the treated liver.Results: The phenolic content in the EA fraction was 42.94 mg/g. Twelve anthocyanins were identified, the major of which are peonidin 3, 5-diglucoside (64.30%), malvidin 3, 5-diglucoside (10.59%) and petunidin 3,5-diglucoside (4.71%). Treatment of CCl4 intoxicated rats with EA fraction recorded improvement in the liver function indices and oxidative stress markers. The histopathological observations confirmed our results.Conclusion: The ethyl acetate fraction of the dried aerial part of Justicia spicigera recorded antioxidant and hepato protective activities.Â

ASSESSMENT OF SAPONIN RICH FRACTION FROM BALANITES AEGYPTIACA (L.) FRUITS AS ANTI SCHISTOMIASIS, ANTI-OXIDANT, ANTIMUTAGENIC AGENTS AND IN VITRO PRODUCTION OF SAPONINS FOR DRUG MANUFACTURE

Saponin rich fraction of Balanites fruits (SRF) was administered orally at a dose of 250 mg/kg to schistosoma infected mice. Treatment with SRF showed amelioration signs in all biomarkers that confirmed by significant reduction in oogram, ova count and worm burden. Histopathological examination showed extensive reduction in granuloma sizes after 6 weeks treatment. Our results showed time dependant inhibition in the DNA damage induced in infected mice after treatment. Saponins were also successfully synthesized by callus cultures using Murashige and Skoog media. NMR analysis illustrated the presence of 4 major saponins of furostanol type from both fruits of natural plant and calli. Thus, SRF of B.aegyptiaca fruits possesses antischistomiasis activity. Antioxidant and antimutagenic activities could be considered as possible mechanisms of action. Additionally, Balanites aegyptiaca saponins could be produced in continuous manner using in vitro cultures as future vision for drug production to overcome scarce of active metabolites and endangered plant

The Protective Properties of the Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats Mediated by Anti-Apoptotic and Upregulation of Antioxidant Genes Expression Effects

The strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) has been extensively used to treat a wide range of ailments in many cultures. The present study was aimed at evaluating the hepatoprotective effect of strawberry juice on experimentally induced liver injury in rats. To this end, rats were introperitoneally injected with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) with or without strawberry juice supplementation for 12 weeks and the hepatoprotective effect of strawberry was assessed by measuring serum liver enzyme markers, hepatic tissue redox status and apoptotic markers with various techniques including biochemistry, ELISA, quantitative PCR assays and histochemistry. The hepatoprotective effect of the strawberry was evident by preventing CCl4-induced increase in liver enzymes levels. Determination of oxidative balance showed that strawberry treatment significantly blunted CCl4-induced increase in oxidative stress markers and decrease in enzymatic and non-enzymatic molecules in hepatic tissue. Furthermore, strawberry supplementation enhanced the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, and restrained the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and caspase-3 with a marked reduction in collagen areas in hepatic tissue. These findings demonstrated that strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) juice possessed antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and anti-fibrotic properties, probably mediated by the presence of polyphenols and flavonoids compounds

Screening fungal endophytes derived from under-explored Egyptian marine habitats for antimicrobial and antioxidant properties in factionalised textiles

Marine endophytic fungi from under-explored locations are a promising source for the discovery of new bioactivities. Different endophytic fungi were isolated from plants and marine organisms collected from Wadi El-Natrun saline lakes and the Red Sea near Hurghada, Egypt. The isolated strains were grown on three different media, and their ethyl acetate crude extracts were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against a panel of pathogenic bacteria and fungi as well as their antioxidant properties. Results showed that most of the 32 fungal isolates initially obtained possessed antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The most potent antimicrobial extracts were applied to three different cellulose containing fabrics to add new multifunctional properties such as ultraviolet protection and antimicrobial functionality. For textile safety, the toxicity profile of the selected fungal extract was evaluated on human fibroblasts. The 21 strains displaying bioactivity were identified on molecular basis and selected for chemical screening and dereplication, which was carried out by analysis of the MS/MS data using the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) platform. The obtained molecular network revealed molecular families of compounds commonly produced by fungal strains, and in combination with manual dereplication, further previously reported metabolites were identified as well as potentially new derivatives

SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity are associated with genetic variants affecting gene expression in a variety of tissues

Variability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity between individuals is partly due to genetic factors. Here, we identify 4 genomic loci with suggestive associations for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and 19 for COVID-19 disease severity. Four of these 23 loci likely have an ethnicity-specific component. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals in 11 loci colocalize with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) associated with the expression of 20 genes in 62 tissues/cell types (range: 1:43 tissues/gene), including lung, brain, heart, muscle, and skin as well as the digestive system and immune system. We perform genetic fine mapping to compute 99% credible SNP sets, which identify 10 GWAS loci that have eight or fewer SNPs in the credible set, including three loci with one single likely causal SNP. Our study suggests that the diverse symptoms and disease severity of COVID-19 observed between individuals is associated with variants across the genome, affecting gene expression levels in a wide variety of tissue types