Berberine mitigates methotrexate-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in the cerebrum of rats

Berberine is a natural isoquinoline alkaloid with multiple beneficial therapeutic effects. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of berberine against methotrexate (MTX)-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain of rats. Rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of MTX (20 mg/kg) and orally administered 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg body weight berberine for 7 days. MTX-induced rats showed significantly increased lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide levels in the cerebrum. Treatment of the MTXinduced rats with berberine produced a significant decrease in cerebral levels of lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide. In addition, berberine induced a significant increase in reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase in the cerebrum of MTX-induced rats. Rats received MTX showed a significant up-regulation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) expression in the cerebrum, an effect that was significantly reversed following treatment with berberine. In conclusion, berberine protects against MTXinduced neurotoxicity through attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation, and boosting the antioxidant defenses

Potential protective effects of rosemary extract, against aspartame induced hepatotoxicity in male rats

The present study seeks to evaluate the possible protective effects of aqueous rosemary extract against aspartame overdose-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Three groups of rats were treated orally one time /2 days for twelve weeks: first group was regarded as control, the second group was given aspartame at a dose level of 1000 mg/kg b.wt, and the third was given aspartame with the same previous dose and rosemary at a dose level of 125mg/kg b.wt. Our results showed that pretreatment with rosemary extract, produced a highly significant decrease in the elevated  levels of hepatic lipid peroxidation and serum tumor necoresis factor, and the activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase (P <0.01) in serum. Rosemary extract also induced a highly significant increase in serum albumin level (P < 0.01), restored the activities of antioxidant enzymes and limited histological changes of liver induced by aspartame.Key Words: Aspartame, Rosemary extract, Toxicity, Overdose and Oxidative stress