17 research outputs found
The potential role of mefloquine against Schistosoma mansoni infection by prohibition of hepatic oxidative stress in mice
The present study was designed to assess the relationship between anti-schistosomal effect of the antimalarial drug mefloquine (Mef) and the oxidative stress status of Schistosoma mansoni infected mice. Forty mice were divided into eight groups (5Â mice/group); control (I, II), infected (III, IV), Mef low dosage (200Â mg/kg) (V, VI), and Mef high dosage (400Â mg/kg) (VII, VIII). Mef (200 and 400Â mg/kg) was administered orally as a single dose at days 14 and 35 post infection (PI). All mice were sacrificed after 8Â weeks PI. Oral administration of Mef (200 or 400Â mg/kg) at day 14 or 35 PI reduced the total worm burden by 84%, 78% and 94%, 85.7% respectively. Meanwhile, Mef treatment reduced egg load in the intestine and the liver. Following Mef (200 and 400Â mg/kg) treatment to mice at day 14 or 35 PI, the oogram pattern showed complete disappearance of all immature and mature ova. Treatment of mice with Mef at the two tested doses significantly decreased the activities of ALT, AST, ALP and GGT enzymes as compared to infected untreated group. However, administration of Mef (200 and 400Â mg/kg) at day 14 or 35 PI significantly (PÂ <Â 0.05) decreased the MDA level and increased the levels of GSH and CAT as compared to infected untreated group. In conclusion, Mef is an effective curative anti-schistosomal and anti-oxidative drug as it alleviates the biochemical and the oxidative stress alterations. Also, Mef has schistosomicidal and ovicidal effects
Therapeutic efficacy of chitosan against invasive candidiasis in mice
The prevalence of antibiotic resistance has resulted in the need for new approaches to be developed to combat the previously easily treatable infections. This work aims to evaluate the antifungal and antioxidant effects of the chitosan, as a new alternative or complementary anti-fungal drug, alone or in combination with amphotericin B against a pathogenic Candida albicans in mice. Eighty neutropenic infected mice were randomly assigned into four main groups (20 mice/group). The 1st group was treated with saline, neutropenic infected (NI group) (IPC group, invasive pulmonary candidiasis), the 2nd group was treated with chitosan (ED50) (CE group), the 3rd group was treated with amphotericin B (150Â mg/kg) (AMB group) and the 4th group was treated with chitosan plus amphotericin B (CEÂ +Â AMB group). Treatment was started at 24Â h after fungal inoculation and was administered for 3 consecutive days. All the previous treatments demonstrated notable growth inhibition against a C. albicans isolate as indicated by measuring the mean diameter of the inhibition zone. Compared with IPC group, CE, AMB, and AMBÂ +Â CE-treated animals had 73%, 87%, and 90% reduction in fungal burden, respectively. Furthermore, treatment with CE and/or AMB for 24 and 72Â h significantly decreased MDA, SOD, CAT and NO levels and increased GSH and in the lung tissues as compared with the infected untreated group. In conclusion, CE treatment, with the combination of antifungal therapy, can alleviate oxidative stress and lung injury associated with IPC in neutropenic mice
Therapeutic effect of Sepia ink extract against invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in mice
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a life-threatening disease in immunocompromised patients that requires aggressive therapy. Because of the widespread use of antibiotics, corticosteroids, antitumor drugs, and immunosuppressive drugs, the morbidity of IPA is currently increasing. The ink secretion of molluscan species was identified as one of the novel sources of bioactive compounds. So the present study designed to investigate the antifungal and antioxidant effects of Sepia officinalis ink extract against IPA in mice. Eighty neutropenic infected mice were randomly assigned into four main groups (20 mice/group). The 1st group was treated with saline, neutropenic infected, the 2nd group was treated with ink (200Â mg/kg) and the 3rd group was treated with amphotericin B (150Â mg/kg) and the 4th group was treated with ink plus amphotericin B (Ink 200Â mg/kg and AMB 150Â mg/kg). Treatment was started at 24Â h after fungal inoculation and was administered for 3 consecutive days. The present study demonstrated good in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity of IE against Aspergillus fumigatus. Compared with IPA group; IE-treated, AMB-treated, and AMBÂ +Â IE-treated animals had a 67.80%, 83.41%, and 72.68% reduction in the pulmonary fungal burden, respectively. Treatment with IE and/or AMB for one and three days significantly decreased MDA and increased GSH and SOD levels in the lung tissues as compared with the infected untreated group. In conclusion, the results of our in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrate that IE has therapeutic effect against invasive pulmonary aspergillosis via reducing oxidative stress
Ameliorative effect of the sea cucumber Holothuria arenicola extract against gastric ulcer in rats
Holothuria arenicola is the most important and abundant sea cucumber species in the Mediterranean Sea on the Egyptian coast. This work aimed to investigate the prophylactic and the curative effects of H. arenicola extract HaE (200 mg/kg) on gastric mucosal damage following indomethacin and cold stress in healthy rats. Sixty-four rats were randomly divided into four main groups. Rats of the first group (8 rats/group) were administered distilled water orally (control group), rats of the second group (8 rats/group) were administered single oral dose of indomethacin (150 mg/kg) and exposed to cold stress (4 ± 1 °C) for 30 min to induce gastric ulcer (GU) model (ulcer group), rats of the third group, prophylactic group (24 rats/group) were treated with HaE and/or ranitidine (RAN) and then exposed to GU and rats of the fourth group, curative group (24 rats/group) were exposed firstly to GU and then treated with HaE and/or RAN. The results clearly indicate that pre-treatment with HaE and/or ranitidine significantly decreases the ulcer index, showing 72.50%, 53.11% and 80.56% ulceration inhibition, respectively. However, post-treatment with HaE and/or ranitidine significantly decreases the ulcer index, showing 51.66%, 62.41% and 67.78% ulceration inhibition, respectively. The results also showed that pre and post-treatment with HaE and/or RAN significantly decreased gastric malondialdehyde (MDA) level and enhanced reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. The results clearly indicate that pre-treatment with HaE is preferable
Antiurolithiatic effect of a polyherbal formulation against sodium oxalate-induced urolithiasis in rats
Abstract Background The present study assesses the role of polyherbal formula (LACTN) against sodium oxalate (NaOx)—stimulated urolithiasis prophylactic and curative. Forty-eight rats were separated into the following regimen’s groups: Groups I, II, III, and IV (prophylactic groups). Group I (control group) received saline as vehicle. Group II (urolithiatic group) received 70 mg NaOx / kg b.wt, i.p. Groups III and IV received LACTN and cystone prophylactic (500 and 750 mg/kg b.wt, respectively) from 1st day to 7th day of urolithiasis induction. Groups V, VI, VII, and VIII (curative groups): these were divided into the prophylactic regimes, but LACTN and cystone were administered from 7th day to 14th day of urolithiasis induction. Results Urolithiatic rats co-/post-treated with LACTN and cystone elevated the urinary volume significantly (P < 0.05). Also, a significant decrease (P < 0.05) was observed in the serum and urine calcium and phosphate concentrations beside the increased magnesium value in urolithiatic rats co-/post-treated with LACTN. LACTN significantly (P < 0.05) ameliorates serum and urine creatinine, urea, and uric acid concentration. Moreover, urolithiatic rats co-/post-treated with LACTN significantly (P < 0.05) diminished MDA and increased GSH, GST, SOD, and CAT compared with urolithiatic rats. Conclusions LACTN has anti-lithogenesis effect that may be due to its ability to remove the already presenting stone and/or to prevent the generation of extra calcium oxalate crystals. This action may be due to its components’ synergetic action that may provide encouraging combined formula to prevent/treat urolithiasis
ANTIULCEROGENIC EFFICACY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF VITIS VINIFERA LEAVES IN RATS
Objective: The ethanolic extract of Vitis vinifera leaves (VVE) (500 mg/kg body weight), ranitidine (50 mg/kg body weight) and both of them were tested for their gastroprotective and curative effects against the incidence of peptic ulcer. Methods: The antiulcer effects of VVE were investigated using a combination of indomethacin and cold-stress for 2h. To ascertain the mechanism of action of VVE, its protective and curative effects were studied on gastric volume, gastric juice acidity, ulcer index and malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), glutathione–S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric oxide (NO) activities of both stomach and duodenum of rats. Moreover, histopathological effects on stomach and duodenum were determined.Results: The antioxidant activity of VVE was demonstrated using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test. VVE was found to reduce the ulcer index, gastric volume and the level of gastric juice acidity. Also, VVE showed gastroprotective and curative activities mainly through improvement of antioxidant status and decreasing lipid peroxidation accompanied with amelioration of both stomach and duodenum architectures.Conclusion: The prophylactic and curative effects of VVE proved to be effective in preventing gastric and duodenal ulceration which may be probably due to its antioxidant and anti-acid secretory effects
Renoprotective effect of Mangifera indica polysaccharides and silymarin against cyclophosphamide toxicity in rats
The present study aims to evaluate the possible protective role of polysaccharides extracted from the Egyptian mango Mangifera indica L. (MPS) and silymarin against cyclophosphamide (CP) nephrotoxicity in male albino rats. Male rats were randomly divided into, control group (administered distilled water orally for 10Â days) and MPS (500, 1000Â mg/kg, p.o.) and/or silymarin (150Â mg/kg, p.o.) treated groups for 10Â days. In the last 5Â days of treatment rats were administered CP (150Â mg/kg, i.p). The MPS revealed significant prophylactic effect against kidney injury induced by CP as demonstrated by enhancement of the kidney function via decreasing serum creatinine, urea and uric acid. Treatment of rats with MPS extract and/or silymarin significantly increased the level of reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity while decreased the level of total malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Also, histopathological examinations confirmed the protective efficacy of MPS and/or silymarin against CP nephrotoxicity. In conclusion, the obtained results of the present study support the protective antioxidant role of MPS and/or silymarin against CP-induced kidney disorder in rats
Protective and Curative Effects of the Sea Cucumber Holothuria atra Extract against DMBA-Induced Hepatorenal Diseases in Rats
Oxidative stress is a common mechanism contributing to the initiation and progression of hepatic damage. Hence there is a great demand for the development of agents with potent antioxidant effect. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of Holothuria atra extract (HaE) as an antioxidant against 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene- (DMBA-) induced hepatorenal dysfunction. Experimental animals were divided into two main groups: protective and curative. Each group was then divided into five subgroups pre- or posttreated either with distilled water (DMBA subgroups) or with HaE (200 mg/kg body weight) for seven and fourteen days. Single oral administration of DMBA (15 mg/kg body weight) to Wistar rats resulted in a significant increase in the serum liver enzymes and kidney function’s parameters. DMBA increased level of liver malondialdehyde (MDA), decreased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in the liver tissue, and induced liver histopathological alterations. Pre- or posttreatment with HaE orally for 14 days significantly reversed the hepatorenal alterations induced following DMBA administration. In conclusion, HaE exhibits good hepatoprotective, curative, and antioxidant potential against DMBA-induced hepatorenal dysfunction in rats that might be due to decreased free radical generation
A nano-Liposomal formulation potentiates antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and fibrinolytic activities of Allolobophora caliginosa coelomic fluid: formulation and characterization
Abstract Background Coelomic fluid, a pharmacologically active compound in earthworms, exhibits a range of biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer. However, the biological activities exerted by the coelomic fluid can be restrained by its low bioavailability and stability. Liposomes are progressively utilized as an entrapment system for natural bioactive compounds with poor bioavailability and stability, which could be appropriate for coelomic fluid. Thus, the present study was designed to fabricate, characterize, and evaluate the stability of liposomal formulation for Allolobophora caliginosa coelomic fluid (ACCF) as a natural antioxidant compound. Methods The ACCF-liposomes were developed with a subsequent characterization of their physicochemical attributes. The physical stability, ACCF release behavior, and gastrointestinal stability were evaluated in vitro. The biological activities of ACCF and its liposomal formulation were also determined. Results The liposomal formulation of ACCF had a steady characteristic absorption band at 201 nm and a transmittance of 99.20 ± 0.10%. Its average hydrodynamic particle size was 98 nm, with a PDI of 0.29 ± 0.04 and a negative zeta potential (-38.66 ± 0.33mV). TEM further confirmed the formation of vesicular, spherical nano-liposomes with unilamellar configuration. Additionally, a remarkable entrapment efficiency percent (77.58 ± 0.82%) with a permeability rate equal to 3.20 ± 0.31% and a high retention rate (54.16 ± 2.20%) for ACCF-liposomes were observed. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) result demonstrated that ACCF successfully entrapped inside liposomes. The ACCF-liposomes exhibited a slow and controlled ACCF release in vitro. Regarding stability studies, the liposomal formulation enhanced the stability of ACCF during storage and at different pH. Furthermore, ACCF-liposomes are highly stable in intestinal digestion conditions comparable to gastric digestion. The current study disclosed that liposomal formulation potentiates the biological activities of ACCF, especially antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and thrombolytic activities. Conclusion These promising results offer a novel approach to increasing the bioaccessibility of ACCF, which may be crucial for the development of pharmaceuticals and nutraceutical-enriched functional foods