Protective effects of silymarin on methotrexate-induced damages in rat testes

Abstract The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of silymarin (SMN), an antioxidant, on methotrexate (MTX)-induced damage in rat testes. Thirty-two Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups (n = 8): control, MTX (20 mg/kg, i.p. on days 1 and 5), SMN (200 mg/kg, orally), and MTX + SMN (20 mg/kg, i.p. on days 1 and 5 and SMN 200 mg/kg orally) groups. At the end of the 6-week trial period, histopathological, immunohistochemical, biochemical, and spermatological analyses were performed on testes tissues. Histopathologically, MTX-induced damage, including depletion of germ cell and loos of spermatozoa, was significantly improved with SMN treatment. Immunohistochemically, the immunoreactivity of glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) and manganese superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) were detected more intensely in the MTX + SMN group than in the MTX group. Biochemical examinations revealed that SMN supplementation decreased the lipid peroxidation and increased enzymatic antioxidants in the SMN-treated rats. Spermatologically, significant differences were found in the density, motility, dead-to-live sperm ratio, and abnormal sperm rate in the MTX + SMN group compared to the MTX group. In conclusion, SMN seems to have protective effects as an antioxidant against MTX-induced damage in rat testes.

Antidiabetic properties of lyophilized extract of acorn (Quercus brantii Lindl.) on experimentally STZ-induced diabetic rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Acorn obtained from the Quercus brantii Lindl. (QB) tree has been used in Turkish folk medicine. Some studies have reported as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, antitumoural of QB properties previously. however, its effect on the management of type diabetic 2 and oxidative stress complications is still unexplored. The aims of our study were the evaluation of the protective effect and antioxidant role of acorn lyophilized seed plant extract against STZ-induced diabetic complications as oxidative stress, hepatotoxicity and nephropathy, lipidemia and serum biomarkers of diabetes (SBD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In-vivo studies were performed on STZ-induced diabetic rats Experiment was designed as I [Normal Control (NC)], II [Diabetes mellitus (DM)], III [DM+Acarbose (20mg/kg b.w) (DM+AC-20)], IV [DM+QB (100mg/kg b.w) (DM+QB-100)], V [DM+QB (250 mg/kg b.w) (DM+QB-250)] and VI [DM+QB (500 mg/kg b.w) (DM+QB-500)] groups. RESULTS: This study showed that the biochemical analysis showed a considerable increase in the HRDB, DB, LP, MDA and fluctuated ADSC in the II group as compared to that of control group whereas, AC and the plant lyophilized seed plant extract supplementations diet restored the STZ-induced diabetic complications towards the control. α-glycosidase activity in DM group showed statistically significant increase with respect to control group in small intestine. Moreover, in accordance with the effects of seed extract; in diabetic rat groups to whom acorn seed extract and acarbose were given, the levels of almost all the concerned parameters were reached to the ones measured at control group. As a result, it was concluded that acorn seed extract had certain healing effects on many complications caused by diabetes.

The antioxidant role of Sideritis caesarea infusion against TCA toxicity in rats.

Sideritis caesarea (SC) Duman, Aytac & Baser is a member of the Lamiaceae family. The present study was designed to investigate the antioxidant properties of the aerial parts of island green tea SC against TCA effects in rats. Biomarkers selected for monitoring antioxidant capacity were the activities of glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase, catalase (CAT), GSH level and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in various organs of rats. Three experimental groups, A (untreated = control), B (only TCA-treated) and C (TCA+SC-treated), were studied. At the end of the 50 d experiment, the MDA content in tissues increased significantly in group B, whereas no significant changes were observed in group C as compared with that of the control group. Antioxidant enzyme activities such as SOD and CAT increased significantly in the brain, liver and kidneys of group B but decreased significantly in group C as compared with group B. The GSH level and GR activity increased significantly in the brain and liver of group C as compared with the control and TCA-exposed rats. Hence, the study reveals that the constituents present in SC impart protection against chemical-induced oxidative injury that may result in the development of cancer.