Effect of Camellia sinensis, Hypericum perforatum and Urtica dioica on kidney and liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats.

This study is aimed to investigate the effects of Camellia sinensis (CS), Hypericum perforatum (HP) and Urtica dioica (UD) in kidney and liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats. Highly toxic CCl4 which is used as a solvent in industry comprises experimental toxicity in rats and is widely used in hepatotoxicity and other tissue injury models. The purpose of this investigation is to monitor blood and various tissues by biochemical and histopathological analysis for preventive effects of CS, HP and UD on oxidative stress induced by administration of CCl4 and to enlighten the probable mechanism. Fifty eight rats were divided into five groups; sham group (Group 1, untreated animals), control CCl4 treated group (Group 2), HP extract-treated group (Group 3), UD extract-treated group (Group 4), CS extract-treated group (Group 5). All rats were anaesthetized at the end of the experiment and the blood was collected from each rat. Afterwards, tissue specimens were obtained. The tissue specimens were immersed in 10% formaldehyde for 24 hours. After routine tissue processing, the liver, kidney and stomach were sectioned in 5µm thickness, stained in hematoxylin and eosin. The histological study was performed by using light microscope. The serum marker enzymes were found to be significantly increased in CCl4-induced liver and kidney damage when compared with the sham group (p<0.05). However, treatment with CS, HP, and UD extracts resulted in decreased activity of serum enzymes. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were decreased by 20.51±0.95, 27.98±1.58, and 32.39±3.1 nmol/g wet weight protein in kidney homogenates and 16.65±1.75, 17.22±0.71 and 18.92±71 nmol/g wet weight protein in liver homogenates in CS, HP and UD treated groups, respectively. Our results have shown that additive antioxidants like CS, HP and UD will aid in diminishing these deviations in cases of liver and kidney dysfunction.

The evaluation of antioxidant and anticancer effects of Lepidium Sativum Subsp Spinescens L. methanol extract on cancer cells.

In recent years, there is an increased research interest for plants which are natural sources of antioxidants. Lepidium sativum Subsp spinescens L., commonly found in South West Asia, is a plant known as a healthy nutritional source containing bio-molecules that carry anti-hypertensive, hypoglycemic, anti-asthmatic, antispasmodic, hepato-protective, chemoprotective, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. In this study, we aimed to investigate the antioxidant content and activity of Lepidium sativum Subsp spinescens L. methanol extract on cancer cells. Methanol extract of dried Lepidium sativum Subsp spinescens L. was prepared. Total amount of phenolic compounds was determined by Slinkard and Singleton method using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Total flavonoid amount was determined according to Zhishen method. Antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated by CUPRAC and ABTS radical scavenging activity assays. Cytotoxic effects of the plant extract on colon and endometrium cancer cells, and human peripheral lymphocyte cells were investigated in vitro by MTT and neutral red assays. Furthermore, the plant extract was investigated for necrotic effects by LDH assay; apoptotic activity by DNA ladder fragmentation, ELISA and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining; and genotoxic effect by comet assay methods. Methanol extract of Lepidium sativum Subsp spinescens L. was found to have a high content of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. The extract showed significant antioxidant activity and also cytotoxic activity on colon and endometrium cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Apoptotic activity and genotoxic effects were significantly increased, especially with 200 µg/ml concentrations at 48 hours incubation. In conclusion, it was determined that the extract evaluated in this study could be a natural source of antioxidants. Further molecular studies explaining chemo-preventive and chemotherapeutic effects on cancer cells are required to support anticancer efficacy of the plant.