Salicylic Acid Attenuates Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats

Gentamicin (GM) is a widely used antibiotic against serious and life-threatening infections, but its usefulness is limited by the development of nephrotoxicity. The present study was designed to determine the protective effect of salicylic acid (SA) in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Quantitative evaluation of gentamicin-induced structural alterations and degree of functional alterations in the kidneys were performed by histopathological and biochemical analyses in order to determine potential beneficial effects of SA coadministration with gentamicin. Gentamicin was observed to cause a severe nephrotoxicity which was evidenced by an elevation of serum urea and creatinine levels. The significant increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and protein carbonyl groups indicated that GM-induced tissue injury was mediated through oxidative reactions. On the other hand, simultaneous SA administration protected kidney tissue against the oxidative damage and the nephrotoxic effect caused by GM treatment. Exposure to GM caused necrosis of tubular epithelial cells. Necrosis of tubules was found to be prevented by SA pretreatment. The results from our study indicate that SA supplement attenuates oxidative-stress associated renal injury by reducing oxygen free radicals and lipid peroxidation in gentamicin-treated rats

SELENIUM EFFECT UPON THE RATS' HEMATOPOIESIS IN THE SUBACUTE BENZENE INTOXICATION

The antioxidants (selenium, vitamins C and E) stabilize the cell membrane andprotect the cells from the action of free radicals. On the other hand, the antioxidantsreduce the effects of chemical and physical agenls. Bcsidcs, selenium has animportant role in Transporting electrons in the mitochondria and il is necessary for iheglulathione peroxidase function in the protection from apoplhosis. Benzene is auniversal solvent and has a wide application in chemical industry. Its toxicity ismanifested in the damages done to the central nervous syslem, liver, kidneys andhematopoiesis system. Tn this experiment the Wistar rats were used that wereclassified in three experimental groups regarding the quantity of the receivedselenium. Each group comprised ten animals of both sexes and after two weeks'treatment by selenium of 4,8 and 16 mcg, the animals had received benzene byinlraperiloneal administration in the dose of 1,2 ml/kg of the body weight. Thecounting of the shaped blood elements was done after the selenium pretreatment andafter the benzene intoxication. The obtained results poinl to increased number of alithe blood elements after the selenium pretreatment while after benzene adminislrationthere was a drastic drop of the number of erylhrocyles and leukocytes alongwith moderate lhrombocylopenia. After the sacrifice, Ihe hematopoiesis organs weretaken. The hislological findings of the bone marrow show the emergence ofdisturbances, especially of the red sort cells as well as an obvious fat degeneration which is particularly conspicuous in the second and third groups of animals. Therewas also some damage done to the spleen, especially of its red pulp along with thepresence of a greater number of fresh erythrocytes in the second and third groups.Only the changes were more drastic in the third group. The obtained results show thatselenium in higher concentrations increases the number of erytrocytes andleukocytes which proves that it stimulates highly-proliferating cells of the bonemarrow. However, after the intoxication by a sub lethal benzene dose there was a dropof the cells of red and white color but these values are within the normal limits. Thispoints to the fact that the emergence of death is not in any direct correlation with thedisturbances in the hematopoiesis, but death was caused by the damage done to someother vital organs. Despite the fact that selenium prevents the cells' damage, in thisčaše its protective effect manifested itself only when it was given in small doses sincethere was no death in this group of animals

INFLUENCE OF METHYL AND ISOPROPYL N-METHYL ANTHRANILATES ON CARBON TETRACHLORIDE-INDUCED CHANGES IN RAT LIVER AND KIDNEY MORPHOLOGY AND FUNCTION

The aim of the present study was to examine potential protective effects of methyl N-methylanthranilate (M) and isopropyl N-methylanthranilate (I) in a rat model of acute intoxication with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) by tracking the changes in liver and kidney tissues morphology and function. Serum transaminases, bilirubin, creatinine and urea in serum were significantly elevated in CCl4 alone treated animals. A pretreatment with M and I prior to the administration of CCl4 significantly prevented the increase of serum levels of liver damage markers, whereas only M prevented decreased kidney function. The histopathological evaluation of the liver and kidney of the animals also revealed that M and I reduced the incidence of both liver and kidney lesions. Our experiments showed that both M and I possess protective effect in CCl4-induced liver and kidney damage in rats. The results are of interest due to the presence of natural or synthetic M in the human diet

Liberal <Berlin>

Callistemon citrinus (Myrtaceae) is a shrub native to Australia. Its flowers have been used as indigenous food among the aboriginal Australians. Numerous diseases, such as bacterial, fungal, viral and parasite infections have traditionally been treated with this plant. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses of the flower and leaf extracts of C citrinus revealed the presence of a major constituent, a phloroglucinol, dihydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-3-methylbutan-1-one (1) (up to 382.2 mg per 1 g of the flower extracts). Compound 1 was for the first time identified in this genus. This phloroglucinol exhibited potent antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, this compound displayed strong in vitro antioxidant activity which could be easily connected with both anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects. Thus, compound 1, as a plant constituent present in the diet of Aboriginal people, that helps with inflammation and pain, could have given them a better chance of survival in harsh conditions of the environment. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Marrubiin Inhibits Peritoneal Inflammatory Response Induced by Carrageenan Application in C57 Mice

Marrubiin is a diterpene with a long history of a wide range of biological activities. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effects of marrubiin were investigated using several in vitro and in vivo assays. Marrubiin inhibited carrageenan-induced peritoneal inflammation by preventing inflammatory cell infiltration and peritoneal mast cell degranulation. The anti-inflammatory activity was further demonstrated by monitoring a set of biochemical parameters, showing that the peritoneal fluid of animals treated with marrubiin had lower levels of proteins and lower myeloperoxidase activity compared with the fluid of animals that were not treated. Marrubiin exerted the most pronounced cytotoxic activity towards peripheral mononuclear cells, being the main contributors to peritoneal inflammation. Additionally, a moderate lipoxygenase inhibition activity of marrubiin was observed