Effect of Aqueous Extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra on the Biochemical Changes Induced by Cadmium Chloride in Rats.

Twenty four rats were divided into four groups (6 rats/group): 1-control group; 2-licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) extract: rats administered with an oral dose of licorice (3 mg/ml/kg/day) using stomach tube for 4 weeks; 3-cadmium chloride group: rats administered with an oral dose of CdCl2 (10 mg/kg/day) using stomach tube for 4 weeks; and 4-licorice extract + CdCl2 group: rats administered orally with both licorice (3 mg/ml/kg/day) and CdCl2 (10 mg/kg/day) using stomach tube for 4 weeks. Administration of CdCl2 induced significant increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), paraoxonase-1 (proxon-1), caspase-3 (casp-3) activities, and significant decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities, and glutathione (GSH) content in hepatic tissue. Significant increase in TBARS and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and significant decrease in SOD, CAT activities, and GSH content in renal tissue were recorded. Significant increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities, urea, creatinine, and significant decrease in butyryl choline esterase (BChE), total triiodothyronine (T3), and total thyroxin (T4) were recorded in serum. Histological investigation of renal cells showed vacuolations of endothelium lining glomerular tuffs and vacuolations of epithelium lining renal tubules. Investigation of ovarian tissue showed dilatation of interstitial blood vessels and congestion of multiple corpus luteum in CdCl2-treated rats. Significant improvements in the biochemical and histological changes were observed in CdCl2 + licorice extract group. It could be concluded that licorice extract alleviates the hazardous effects of cadmium chloride, which may be attributed to its antioxidant properties.

Role of ethanolic extract of Morus alba leaves on some biochemical and hematological alterations in irradiated male rats.

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to evaluate the protective role of "Morus alba Linn (Family: Moraceae) commonly known as mulberry" leaves extract against hazardous effects of gamma rays in male rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty six male albino rats were divided into six groups (six rats/group); (1) control group received 1 ml distilled water, (2) low dose of extract (100 mg/kg) group treated daily with low oral dose of ethanolic extract of mulberry leaves (100 mg/kg body weight (b.wt.)) for 21 consecutive days, (3) high dose of extract (200 mg/kg) group treated daily with high oral dose of ethanolic extract of mulberry leaves (200 mg/kg b.wt.) for the same period, (4) irradiated group rats were subjected to whole body gamma irradiation at a shot dose of 7 Gy, (5) low dose of extract + irradiated group treated daily with low oral dose of ethanolic extract of mulberry leaves (100 mg/kg b.wt.) for 21 consecutive days then rats were exposed to gamma irradiation at a single dose of 7 Gy, (6) high dose of extract + irradiation group treated daily with high oral dose of ethanolic extract of mulberry leaves (200 mg/kg b.wt.) for 21 consecutive days then rats were exposed to gamma irradiation at a single dose of 7 Gy. Rats were sacrificed 1, 7, 15 days post gamma irradiation in all groups. Blood samples were taken at three intervals time in the six groups. RESULTS: The results showed that whole body irradiation of rats induced significant decrease (p < 0.05) in red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit percentage (HCT%), platelet, white blood cells (WBCs), lymphocytes, neutrophils, serum glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) and insulin. The data also showed significant increase (p < 0.05) in serum total lipids, phospholipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), and plasma glucose. Administration of mulberry leaves extract, either low or high concentrations to rats prior to irradiation caused significant improvement in the studied parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Mulberry leaves extract prior to exposure to gamma irradiation has radio protector against hazardous effect of irradiation in male rats.

Protective Effect of Origanum Oil on Alterations of Some Trace Elements and Antioxidant Levels Induced by Mercuric Chloride in Male Rats.

In the current study, 48 male rats were classified into four groups (12 rats/group): 1-control group received 1 ml distilled water, 2-origanum oil group treated daily with oral dose of origanum oil (5 mg/kg) for 30 and 60 days, 3-mercuric chloride group treated daily with oral dose of mercuric chloride (4 mg/kg) for 30 and 60 days, and 4-origanum oil + mercuric chloride group treated with both origanum oil and mercuric chloride (5 and 4 mg/kg, respectively) for 30 and 60 days. All treatments were carried out by stomach tube. The results showed that administration of mercuric chloride induced significant increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and decrease in glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and super oxide dismutase (SOD) in testis and spleen tissues. The data also showed significant increase in tumor necrossis factor-α (TNF-α), 8-hydroxy deoxyguanosine (8-OHDG), acid phosphatase (ACP), urea, and creatinine. Furthermore, significant decreases in serum zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and testosterone in mercuric chloride group were recorded. The histological examination of testis and spleen tissues showed some degenerative changes while significant improvement in the antioxidant levels, biochemical, trace elements, and histological changes were observed in mercuric chloride group treated with origanum oil. It could be concluded that origanum oil through its antioxidant potential may possess health promoting properties and could protect cells from oxidative damage induced by mercuric chloride.

Ginkgo biloba extract alleviates oxidative stress and some neurotransmitters changes induced by aluminum chloride in rats.

In the present study, twenty four adult male albino rats were classified into four groups. The control group received normal diet and water; the second group was treated daily with oral dose of Ginkgo biloba (200 mg/kg body weight [b.wt]) for 3 mo; the third group was treated daily with oral dose of aluminum chloride (10 mg/kg b.wt) for 3 mo; and the fourth group was treated with both Ginkgo biloba and aluminum chloride (200 and 10 mg/kg b.wt, respectively) using a stomach tube for 3 mo. The results showed that administration of AlCl3 to rats induced significant increase (P < 0.05) in thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and decrease (P < 0.05) in glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase in brain and testis homogenates. The data also showed significant decrease (P < 0.05) in noradrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin (5-HT) levels in brain tissue. The rats administered AlCl3 showed significant decrease (P < 0.05) in serum zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu), significant increase (P < 0.05) in serum iron (Fe), and non-significant decrease in magnesium (Mg). Furthermore, significant increase (P < 0.05) in serum alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase and significant decrease (P < 0.05) in testosterone were recorded. The histologic examination showed some degenerative changes in both brain and testis tissues while significant improvement in biochemical and histologic changes were observed in the aluminum chloride plus Ginkgo biloba group. It could be concluded that the protective effect of Ginkgo biloba may be attributed to its antioxidant properties.