The Modulatory Bioeffects of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Polyphenols on Metabolic Disorders: Understanding Their Preventive Role against Metabolic Syndrome.

Modern research achievements support the health-promoting effects of natural products and diets rich in polyphenols. Pomegranate (PG) (Punica granatum L.) contains a considerable number of bioactive compounds that exert a broad spectrum of beneficial biological activities, including antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antiobesity, and atheroprotective properties. In this context, the reviewed literature shows that PG intake might reduce insulin resistance, cytokine levels, redox gene expression, blood pressure elevation, vascular injuries, and lipoprotein oxidative modifications. The lipid parameter corrective capabilities of PG-ellagitannins have also been extensively reported to be significantly effective in reducing hyperlipidemia (TC, LDL-C, VLDL-C, and TAGs), while increasing plasma HDL-C concentrations and improving the TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios. The health benefits of pomegranate consumption seem to be acheived through the amelioration of adipose tissue endocrine function, fatty acid utilization, GLUT receptor expression, paraoxonase activity enhancement, and the modulation of PPAR and NF-κB. While the results from animal experiments are promising, human findings published in this field are inconsistent and are still limited in several aspects. The present review aims to discuss and provide a critical analysis of PG's bioeffects on the components of metabolic syndrome, type-2 diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia, as well as on certain cardiovascular-related diseases. Additionally, a brief overview of the pharmacokinetic properties, safety, and bioavailability of PG-ellagitannins is included.

A SCARE-compliant case report of recurrent meningioma in a 75-year-old patient after 10 years of surgical resection.

Meningiomas are intracranial extracerebral tumors derived from arachnoid cells of the neural crest. They represent ∼20% of primary intracranial tumors and are seen as more common in elderly patients and women. Recurrence of meningioma can be observed during the early years after surgical treatment, but their occurrence within 10 years is rare. Case presentation: In this report, the authors discuss a case of a 75-year-old patient with a recurrence of a frontal meningioma after 10 years of successful surgical resection. Our patient was a female who presented amnesia and memory lapses associated with several weeks of progressive heaviness of the lower limbs accompanied by speech heaviness, intense headaches, asthenia, consciousness disorder, and tonic-clonic convulsive seizures for 10 days. The patient had previously been treated for a benign meningioma by surgical excision. Imaging was performed, and recurrent frontal meningioma was retained as a final diagnosis. The patient underwent a successful total resection of her frontal tumor. Clinical discussion: Recurrent tumors after complete surgical removal of meningiomas are rare and may be associated with microscopic residues. The more radical the surgery, the lower the risk of observing a recurrence. Adjuvant radiotherapy can be proposed, but the evidence is still lacking. Careful follow-up of all patients with or without complete surgical resection is therefore recommended. Conclusion: This case illustrates the importance of suspecting recurrence of meningioma in adult patients after successful surgical excision, even after 10 years of free disease. Clinicians should be aware of long-term meningioma recurrence in this population, and imaging is key for a positive diagnosis.

Sub-acute toxicity of graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles in male mice after intraperitoneal injection: Behavioral study and histopathological evaluation.

Graphene oxide (GO) is a graphene derivative used for numerous applications in which biomedical uses are significant. However, for this application, the security of GO is doubtful. In this work, we synthesized this nanoparticle to assess its toxicity in male mice. In addition, we studied the effects of this nanomaterial on behavior by administering GO intraperitoneally to mice at different doses (2 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg) for five days. Subsequently, we performed biochemical analyses of blood serum and measured peroxidase and malondialdehyde (MDA) activity. Then, we performed histological sections to evaluate the brain's and liver's pathological and morphological changes. The data showed that the open field tests did not alter the locomotor activity. Furthermore, the elevated cross-maze tests showed no anxiety effect in the GO doses in the animals. The biochemical analyses indicated that GO influenced the level of biochemical parameters. Although, the oxidative stress assay showed an increase in peroxidase and MDA activity after GO intoxication. However, histopathological analysis of liver sections showed that GO caused liver inflammation, whereas, at the brain level, GO did not affect neuronal cells. The results indicate that GO caused toxic effects and that its toxicity could be mediated by oxidative stress.

Antioxidant Effect of Moroccan Pomegranate (Punica granatum L. Sefri Variety) Extracts Rich in Punicalagin against the Oxidative Stress Process.

Natural antioxidants products are widely distributed in food and medicinal plants. These natural antioxidants, especially polyphenols, exhibit a wide range of biological activities including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-atherosclerosis activities. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a rich source of polyphenolic components. The purpose of this study was to characterize the phenolic composition and flavonoids and anthocyanin content of different parts (peel and aril) of the Sefri variety of pomegranate. Our results showed that Peel extract was richer in these compounds than that of the Arils, especially in Punicalagin (A and B). DPPH free radical scavenging, reducing power (FRAP), ß-carotene bleaching, and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assays revealed a greater dose-dependent activity of pomegranate peel phenolic extract (PPPE) compared to pomegranate aril phenolic extract (PAPE). PPPE was also more potent than PAPE concerning its ability to inhibit conjugated diene formation and to reduce α-tocopherol disappearance induced by CuSO4-mediated LDL peroxidation. Interestingly, both extracts (PPPE and PAPE) significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation and the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in stressed J82 human bladder cancer cells. These results reflect the protective effects that this Moroccan variety of pomegranate can provide against the development of metabolic disorder, cancer, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease. Given these properties, further studies should be undertaken to investigate possible applications of Sefri pomegranate extracts in the fields of food preservation and health supplements.

Profile and use of licit psychotropic substances in the former Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaër Region (Morocco): the case of tiflet city.

INTRODUCTION: Psychopharmacology today faces serious challenges, especially related inappropriate drug choices, abuse and resulting side effects. The aim of this pharmacy based study in the City of Tiflet was to profile the prescription and usage patterns of psychotropic drugs. METHODS: This study was conducted in the pharmacies of the City of Tiflet (Morocco). Descriptive statistics of 5125 prescriptions collected from 21 pharmacies were analysed, and summarized as means, percentages and proportions where appropriate. RESULTS: The patterns of psychotropic drugs use were similar, compared to Western Countries, especially for anxiolytics/hypnotics, neuroleptics and anti-depressants. A poor monitoring of the treatment, and the lack of control of its side effects were major concerns. General practitioners ranked first among doctors who prescribed psychotropic drugs (48.5%), followed by psychiatrists (41.7%), and the rest of the prescriptions come from other specialists (neurologists, cardiologists, gynaecologists…). Among psychotropic drugs, anxiolytics dominated prescriptions (52.0%), followed by neuroleptics (29.0%) and anti-depressants (19.0%). Men consumed more psychotropic drugs than women (51.8% against 48.2% respectively). CONCLUSION: Anxiolytics/hypnotics constitute the main class of psychotropic drugs prescribed in the Tiflet City, followed by neuroleptics and anti-depressants. Nearly half of the population currently receive prescribed psychotropic drugs from general practitioners. Psychiatrists are less involved in the prescription and monitoring of these patients. This could predispose the population to addiction, drug misuse, intoxication, and at times, misdiagnosis of serious psychiatric illnesses. Our study highlights the urgency of reinforcing psychotropic prescription regulation and monitoring in Tiflet city.

Expression of retinoic acid receptors and retinoid X receptors in normal and vitamin A deficient adult rat brain.

The importance of retinoic acid and retinoid X receptors (RARs and RXRs) in the metabolism and functioning of the nervous tissue is well documented, but few data are available about the differences on their distribution in males and females, as well as about the possible changes in a vitamin A deficient state (VAD). Therefore, the aim of this study has been to use immunohistochemistry to determine the cellular localization of RARs (α, ß, γ) and RXR (α, ß, γ) in brain areas in the normal and vitamin A deficient rat, in both males and females. RARα and ß isotypes were detected in practically all the male brain areas whereas immunostaining was weak or absent in the female brain except RARα. RXRγ was absent in the female brain, while it was observed in some regions in the male. RXRß and γ were the most abundant receptors in both sexes, but RXRα were hardly detected in female brain, but were detected more frequently in male. With a vitamin A-free diet, RARs expression was increased in males, but not in females. In the male brain of VAD rats, RXRα expression was increased in some zones and diminished in others. RXRß and γ expression was decreased in the male brain, but increased or was not modified in those areas of the female brain in which it was observed. These findings indicate that the brain management of retinoic acid differs between males and females, also leading to differences in their response to VAD diet in terms of receptor expression.

Effect of vitamin A deficiency on retinol and retinyl esters contents in rat brain.

In the present study, the pattern of vitamin A (retinol and retinyl esters) contents in discrete brain areas was investigated in Wistar rats (both sexes of 10-12 weeks old) fed on vitamin A deficient diet. The animals were placed on standard laboratory diet for the control animals and a vitamin A deficient diet for the experimental animals for 20 weeks. At the end of this period, brain retinol and retinyl esters contents from control and vitamin A deficient diet animals were measured by HPLC. Retinol was the predominant form of retinoids in male rat brains (77 to 92% of total retinol) and retinyl esters were the predominant form in female brain rats (4 to 44% of total retinol). The abundant ester in both sexes was the retinyl linoleate. Olfactory bulb and the midbrain contained the highest quantities of retinol and retinyl esters in both sexes. On the other hand, the vitamin A deficient diet significantly decreased the retinoid contents in male brain, in olfactory bulb (-30.7%), hindbrain (-46.2%) and increased it in forebrain (84.3%) and midbrain (2.2%). Total retinol was decreased in olfactory bulb (-38.7%), forebrain (-44.5%) and midbrain (-30.7%) and increased in hindbrain (23.4%) of vitamin A deficient female rats. In conclusion, retinol and retinyl esters were the brain compounds heterogeneously distributed throughout the brain areas in both the sexes and were significantly affected by vitamin A deficiency status as well.