Repro-protective activity of amygdalin and spirulina platensis in niosomes and conventional forms against aluminum chloride-induced testicular challenge in adult rats: role of CYP11A1, StAR, and HSD-3B expressions.

The male reproductive system is negatively influenced by Al exposure. Al represented a considerable hazard to men's reproduction capabilities. Amygdalin (AMG) and spirulina platensis (SP) have been considered to have a strong antioxidant and repro-protective activity; also, targeted drug delivery systems called niosomes improve the distribution of water-soluble medications like amygdalin and spirulina. Current study targeted to determine the effectiveness of AMG and SP against negative reproductive impact resulted by aluminum chloride (AlCl3) toxicity. Sixty adult male albino rats were separated into 6 groups, including the control group, which received distilled water; AlCl3 group, which received AlCl3; AMG+AlCl3 group, which received AlCl3+AMG; AMGLN+AlCl3 group, which received AlCl3+amygdalin-loaded niosomes; SP+AlCl3 group, which received AlCl3+SP; and SPLN+AlCl3 group, which received AlCl3+spirulina-loaded niosomes. All treatments were orally gavaged daily for 5 weeks, and rats were weighed weekly. At the termination of the experiment, some males (three from each group) were used for fertility traits via mating thirty virgin rat females (in a ratio of 1:2 and 2:3 male:female, respectively) followed by recording of birth weights and litter size (number of pups per each female) at birth to assess males' reproductive capability. Other males were euthanized for collection of serum, epididymal semen samples, and tissue samples for biochemical, sperm evaluation, gene expression, and histopathological measurements. There are a considerable number of negative impacts of AlCl3 on male fertility clarified by declined serum testosterone levels; an increased oxidative stress (MDA, TAC); deteriorated semen quality; down-regulation of CYP11A1, StAR, and HSD-3b gene expressions; and testicular tissue degenerative changes. In addition, litter size (number of pups per each female) and birth weights of pups obtained from mated females were affected. AMG and SP treatments, either in niosomal or conventional form, alleviated the AlCl3 negative effects by reducing oxidative stress; increasing testosterone levels; improving semen quality; upregulating of CYP11A1, StAR, and HSD-3b gene expressions; and reducing degenerative changes of testicular tissue. Besides, negative reproductive effect was diminished as observed by changes in the litter size (number of pups per each female) and birth weights of pups obtained from mated females. AMG and SP treatments (either in niosomal or conventional form), ameliorated the AlCl3 negative effects as they possess powerful antioxidant activity, as well as they have the ability to improve the reproductive activity of affected males.

Effectiveness of natural biomaterials in the protection and healing of experimentally induced gastric mucosa Ulcer in rats.

BACKGROUND: A gastric ulcer is a painful lesion of the gastric mucosa that can be debilitating or even fatal. The effectiveness of several plant extracts in the therapy of this illness has been demonstrated in traditional pharmacopoeias. AIM: this study was aimed to see if propolis, ginseng in normal or nano form, and amygdalin might help in preventing the ulcerative effects of absolute ethanol. METHODS: Gastroprotective properties of pretreatments before ethanol gavage in rats were compared to omeprazole. The ulcer and stomach parameters (ulcerated regions) were measured (mm2), ulcer inhibition percentage, the stomachs were assessed macroscopically with gastric biopsy histological examinations. RESULTS: Amygdalin, normal and nano ginseng, nano propolis followed by propolis all showed great efficacy in protecting the cyto-architecture and function of the gastric mucosa. The number of ulcerated sites was greatly reduced, and the percentage of stomach protection was increased. Histopathological examination had confirmed great protective effects of the nanoformulations followed by amygdalin. The protection and healing rate was completed to about 100% in all tested materials while ulcer areas were still partially unhealed in normal propolis and omeprazole. Quantitative assay of the m-RNA levels Enothelin 1(ET-1), leukotriene4 (LT-4), and caspase 3(Cas-3) genes and Histamine were done and revealed significant up-regulations in ethanol group and the maximum protective effect was reported with ginseng nano, moreover the histamine content was significantly decreased with nano- formulated extracts. CONCLUSION: Amygdalin and the nanoformulated ginseng and propolis had exhibited a marked protective effect against the ulcerative toxic effects of ethanol.

Evaluation of anti-Alzheimer activity of Echinacea purpurea extracts in aluminum chloride-induced neurotoxicity in rat model.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the neurodegenerative illnesses that impair individual life & increase the demand for caregivers with no available curative medication right now. Therefore, there is a growing concern about employing herbal medicine to limit AD progression & improve patients' life quality, thus potentiating its add-on therapy. In addition, herbs are cost-effective & accessible with nearly no side effects. In the same vein, our study aimed to investigate the potency of Echinacea purpurea (EP) flower extracts to ameliorate the neurodegenerative effect of Aluminum chloride (AlCl3) in a rat model. Moreover, mechanistic studies, including impact on the cholinesterase activity, redox status, inflammatory mediators, behavior performance, glucose level & histopathology, were carried on. Our results showed that 250 mg/kg of Aqueous (AQ) & Alcoholic (AL) extracts of EP inhibited cholinesterase, restored oxidative balance, down-regulated IL-6 & TNF-α cytokines & improved behavior performance in vivo that was reflected in the brain picture by decreasing neuronal degeneration & amyloid plaques in cerebral cortex & hippocampus. The potency of both extracts was compared to reference drugs & AlCl3 positive control group. The AQ extract showed greater potency against COX-1, COX-2 & α-amylase in vitro, while the AL extract was more potent against cholinesterase in vitro, inflammatory cytokines, behavior & pathological improvement in vivo. Conclusively EP overcame AlCl3-induced neurobehavioral toxicity in the rat model via different pathways, which support its regular administration to postpone progressive neural damage in AD patients.

In-depth hepatoprotective mechanistic study of Phyllanthus niruri: In vitro and in vivo studies and its chemical characterization.

Phyllanthus niruri L. is a widespread tropical plant which is used in Ayurvedic system for liver and kidney ailments. The present study aims at specifying the most active hepatoprotective extract of P. niruri and applying a bio-guided protocol to identify the active compounds responsible for this effect. P. niruri aerial parts were extracted separately with water, 50%, 70% and 80% ethanol. The cytoprotective activity of the extracts was evaluated against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in clone-9 and Hepg2 cells. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the aqueous extract (AE) was accomplished for the isolation of the active compounds. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging method and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The in vivo hepatoprotective activity of AE was evaluated in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats at different doses after determination of its LD50. Pretreatment of clone-9 and Hepg2 with different concentrations of AE (1, 0.1, 0.01 mg/ml) had significantly reduced the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) against CCl4 injures, and restored the activity of the natural antioxidants; glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) towards normalization. Fractionation of AE gave four fractions (I-IV). Fractions I, II, and IV showed a significant in vitro hepatoprotective activity. Purification of I, II and IV yielded seven compounds; corilagin C1, isocorilagin C2, brevifolin C3, quercetin C4, kaempferol rhamnoside C5, gallic acid C6, and brevifolin carboxylic acid C7. Compounds C1, C2, C5, and C7 showed the highest (p< 0.001) hepatoprotective potency, while C3, C4, and C6 exhibited a moderate (p< 0.001) activity. The AE exhibited strong antioxidant DPPH (IC50 11.6 ± 2 µg/ml) and FRAP (79.352 ± 2.88 mM Ferrous equivalents) activity. In vivo administration of AE in rats (25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) caused normalization of AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total cholesterol (TC), triglycyrides (TG), total bilirubin (TB), glucose, total proteins (TP), urea and creatinine levels which were elevated by CCl4. AE also decreased TNF-α, NF-KB, IL-6, IL-8, IL10 and COX-2 expression, and significantly antagonizes the effect of CCl4 on the antioxidant enzymes SOD, catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GSP). The histopathological study also supported the hepatoprotective effect of AE. P. niruri isolates exhibited a potent hepatoprotective activity against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in clone-9 and Hepg2 cell lines through reduction of lipid peroxidation and maintaining glutathione in its reduced form. This is attributable to their phenolic nature and hence antioxidative potential.

Nano-engineered delivery systems for cancer imaging and therapy: Recent advances, future direction and patent evaluation.

Cancer is the second highest cause of death worldwide. Several therapeutic approaches, such as conventional chemotherapy, antibodies and small molecule inhibitors and nanotherapeutics have been employed in battling cancer. Amongst them, nanotheranostics is an example of successful personalized medicine bearing dual role of early diagnosis and therapy to cancer patients. In this review, we have focused on various types of theranostic polymer and metal nanoparticles for their role in cancer therapy and imaging concerning their limitation, future application such as dendritic cell cancer vaccination, gene delivery, T-cell activation and immune modulation. Also, some of the recorded patent applications and clinical trials have been illustrated. The impact of the biological microenvironment on the biodistribution and accumulation of nanoparticles have been discussed.