The Dual Therapeutic Potential of Ottelione A on Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Hepatic Toxicity in Mice.

BACKGROUND: Some herbal natural products play an important role in protecting organisms from the toxic effect of some xenobiotics. The present study was designed to evaluate the potential therapeutic effects of Ottelione A (OTTE) against carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced toxicity in mice. METHODS: Adult male Swiss albino mice were divided into six groups: group I was used as a normal control received olive oil; group II received DMSO; group III received OTTE; group IV received CCl4 in olive oil, (injected i.p) 3 times/week for 6 weeks; group V received the same CCl4 regimen as group IV followed by OTTE injected for 15 days, and group VI first received OTTE injected for 15 days followed by the same CCl4 regimen as group IV. Some biochemical and histological parameters were investigated. RESULTS: Our results showed that the administration of CCl4 caused hepatotoxicity, as monitored by the significant increase in biochemical parameters concerning the olive oil group. Treatment with OTTE appeare d to be effective against hepatotoxic and liver changes induced by CCl4, as evidenced by the improvement of the same parameters. CONCLUSION: Ottelione A (OTTE) has good antioxidant and therapeutic properties, which can help in preventing CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in both pre-treatment and post-treatment modes.

Bioactive C15 acetogenins from the red alga Laurencia obtusa.

The petroleum ether extract of the red alga Laurencia obtusa afforded three new C(15) acetogenins (cyclic ether enyne): (12Z)-cis-maneonene-D (1), (12E)-cis-maneonene-E (2), and (12Z)-trans-maneonene-C (3), along with one known cis-maneonene-A (4). Blood neutrophils were prepared, cultured, and incubated for 24, 48, and 72 h in medium with and without isolated compounds. Blood neutrophils were prepared, cultured, and incubated for 24, 48 and 72 h in medium with and without the isolated compounds. Both morphology and DNA fragmentation methods assessed the percentage of neutrophils apoptosis in each culture. In the present study, several observations have been made concerning the apoptosis-inducing or inhibiting effect of 1 and 2. Both compounds had no inhibition of apoptosis but apoptosis was enhanced significantly by aging. However, 1 stimulated apoptosis of normal only at the initial 24 h. After that there was no significant difference in apoptosis with or without compound 1, while 2 stimulated apoptosis at all the times. The apoptosis induced by these two compounds was demonstrated by DNA fragmentation assay and microscopic observation. These observations suggest that compounds 1 and 2 may be involved in regulation of programmed death in the initiation and propagation of inflammatory responses.