Iridoid glycoside Aucubin protects against nonylphenol-induced testicular damage in male rats via modulation of steroidogenic and apoptotic signaling.

Aucubin (AU) is one of the widespread compounds belonging to the group of iridoid glycosides, which possesses numerous beneficial properties. Nonylphenol (NP), is a synthetic environmental toxicant that has the potential to cause male infertility through excessive production of reactive oxygen species. In the current study, the remedial potential of Aucubin was assessed against NP-generated testicular damage in male rats. Animals were distributed into four groups and treated for 56 days in this study. Control-group (0.1% DMSO + food), NP group (100 µg/kg), NP + AU group (100 µg/kg + 5 mg/kg) and AU group (5 mg/kg). NP exposure significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the activity of antioxidant enzymes i.e., glutathione reductase, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and total protein content (TPC), whereas the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was enhanced substantially (p < 0.05). Treatment with AU substantially (p < 0.05) recovered activities of antioxidant enzymes, TPC, ROS, and TBARS levels. Moreover, decrease in the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), plasma testosterone, sperm count, motility, sperm membrane integrity, and the number of spermatocytes of different stages along with the level of steroidogenic enzymes i.e., 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17ß-HSD), 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD), and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) by NP administration were recovered to control values by AU treatment. However, AU mitigated the sperm abnormalities (head/midpiece/tail), the number of dead sperms, and proapoptotic proteins i.e., Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), caspase-9, and caspase-3 that were increased by NP. Besides, AU treatment recovered the NP-induced potential histopathological alterations in the testicular tissues such as the height of epithelium, seminiferous tubules diameter as well as the height of tunica propria. Overall, NP-induced toxicity was effectively recuperated by the AU administration. These results indicate that AU might be considered as a potential protective agent against testicular damage. The observed protection may be due to its antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory and androgenic potential.

Hepatoprotective role of vitexin against cadmium-induced liver damage in male rats: A biochemical, inflammatory, apoptotic and histopathological investigation.

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the potent occupational and environmental toxicants, which induces oxidative stress to the multiple organs of the body, including liver. The present investigation was planned to evaluate the protective role of vitexin against Cd-prompted hepatotoxicity in rats. 24 male rats were divided into 4 groups viz. control, Cd-induced group (5 mg/kg), Cd + vitexin-treated group (2 mg/kg + 30 mg/kg), and vitexin-treated group (30 mg/kg). After 30 days of treatment, it was indicated that Cd escalated the level of liver function enzymes namely alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as well as total bilirubin. Whereas the levels of albumin and total proteins were decreased in the rats. Additionally, it reduced the enzymatic activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GSR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), in addition to glutathione (GSH) content, whereas levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were escalated. Furthermore, level of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as well as the activity of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were increased. Besides, the level of Bax, caspase-9 and caspase-3 were elevated, while the Bcl-2 level was reduced following the Cd intoxication. Histopathological observation revealed significant hepatic tissue damage in Cd-administered rats. However, treatment of rats with vitexin significantly (p < 0.05) improved the Cd-induced disruptions in biochemical parameters as well as histological damages. Therefore, it is concluded that vitexin could be used as a therapeutic agent to counter the Cd-generated hepatic toxicity in rats owing to its anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory potential.

The attitudes and behaviors of students, staff and faculty towards smoke-free and tobacco-free campus policies in North American universities: A narrative review.

INTRODUCTION: In Canada, a series of recent public health policies and interventions have successfully led to a decline in national tobacco use rates. However, tobacco use among young adults remains high and the tobacco industry continues to place a strong marketing emphasis towards young adults on university campuses. In response, many universities across Canada are beginning to adopt smoke-free or tobacco-free campus policies. While the effectiveness of smoke-free and tobaccofree campus policies has been demonstrated in several countries, little is known about the attitudinal responses of university students, faculty and staff towards these policies. As such, we conducted a review of the literature to summarize the findings of studies conducted in North America regarding the attitudes and beliefs of campus community members towards smoke-free or tobacco-free campus policies. METHODS: Using a pre-defined search strategy and Boolean string, we searched three databases for published articles pertaining to the research question. Only primary and peer-reviewed articles of studies conducted on North American university campuses were eligible for inclusion. Studies included for review were those published in English within the last five years. All studies included in the review contained outcome measurements related to the attitudes and behaviors of faculty, staff and students towards smoke-free and/or tobacco-free campus policies. RESULTS: A total of 11 articles were included for analysis and result synthesis. Recent research indicates that individuals' attitudes and beliefs towards smoke-free or tobacco-free campus policies are influenced by social norms, smoking status, secondhand smoke exposure, and sociodemographics. CONCLUSIONS: This literature review provides timely information for universities in the process of developing or implementing a smoke-free campus policy. The attitudes and beliefs of university students, faculty and staff can determine success and compliance to newly implemented smoke-free campus policies.