Zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized using Hyssopus Officinalis L. Extract Induced oxidative stress and changes the expression of key genes involved in inflammatory and antioxidant Systems

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in the synthesis of bioactive nanoparticles resulted in the discovery and introduction of new bioactive nanoparticles to the pharmaceutical industry. In this regard, this research is aimed to synthesize the zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using Hyssopus officinalis L. extract and to evaluate the safety of nanoparticles using Balb/C mice. METHODS: Forty male mice were divided into four groups and received 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of ZnO-NPs for thirty days. At the end of the experiment, blood sugar, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (A.S.T.), and alanine aminotransferase (A.L.T.) were determined. Furthermore, histopathological and oxidative stress biomarker analyses in liver and kidney tissues were performed. The changes in the major inflammatory- and antioxidant-related genes were determined. RESULTS: The results showed that blood sugar and creatinine reduced significantly (P < 0.05) when 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg ZnO-NPs were supplemented to the diet. The serum ALT and AST and lipid peroxidation in the liver and kidney tissues were increased significantly (p < 0.05) when 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg ZnO-NPs were supplemented to the diet. Supplementation of ZnO-NPs suppressed the expression of antioxidant-related genes (SOD and CAT) and up-regulated the inflammatory biomarkers (iNOS and TNF- α). The concentration of 200 mg/Kg nanoparticles indicated cellular degeneration and necrosis in the liver and kidney tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, it can be concluded that supplementation of ZnO-NPs synthesized using Hyssopus Officinalis L. extract in this study at 50 mg/kg or higher concentrations might be toxic to the mice.

Changes of essential oil, photosynthetic pigments, and morphological characteristics of hyssop [Hyssopus officinalis L.] at different harvesting time

Background: Hyssop [Hyssopus officinalis L.] is herbaceous perennial plants of Lamiaceae family grown in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Northern Africa

Objective: In this research, the effect of harvesting time was studied on essential oil, photosynthetic pigment, and some morphological characteristics of hyssop

Methods: A Field experiment was carried out during 2015/2016 at the Research farm of Payam Noor University of Marand, Iran. The experimental design was laid out as randomized complete block design with three replicates. The three harvesting time [pre-flowering, beginning of flowering and full flowering stages] were arranged in experimental plots

Results: Results indicated that the percentage of essential oil varied for 0.459 to 0.618 in different stage of plant growth. Hyssop essential oil yields increased with time and the highest value of measured traits included plant high, stem diameter, number of secondary and flowering branches, dry weight, chlorophyll [a, b and total], carotenoid, total anthocyanins and total flavonoids was obtained for collected plants in full flowering stage

Conclusion: Overall, the harvesting in full flowering stage was the best time in respect of essential oils content and morphological characteristics in hyssop