Protective effect of quercetin and thymoquinone against genotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by ZnO nanoparticles in the Wistar rat model.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are increasingly used in a variety of consumer and other commercial products. Hence, man faces the risk of exposure to ZnO-NPs and the consequent adverse health effects. Mitigation/prevention of such effects using natural products has drawn the attention of scientists. Therefore, the aim of the present study has been to find the toxic effects associated with exposure to ZnO-NPs, and the protective role of the phytochemicals thymoquinone (TQ) and quercetin (QCT) in the rat model. ZnO-NPs were administered to male Wistar rats through oral route; TQ / QCT was concurrently administered through intra-peritoneal route. The response in the animal was analyzed adopting chromosomal aberration test, micronucleus test, and comet assay of bone marrow cells to assess the genotoxicity, and biochemical assays of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), lipid peroxidation (LPO), total extractable protein of liver, and reduced glutathione (GSH) of liver homogenate to monitor the changes in the antioxidant defense mechanism in response to the oxidative stress. Treatment of 300 mg/kg body weight (bw) of ZnO-NPs produced adverse effects on all aspects analyzed viz., structural chromosomal aberrations, micronuclei formation, DNA damage, SOD, catalase, lipid peroxidation, GSH, and extractable total protein of liver. Co-treatment of TQ / QCT offered protection against the toxicity induced by ZnO-NPs. The most optimum doses of TQ and QCT that offered the best protection were 18 mg/kg bw and 500 mg/kg bw, respectively. The study reveals that TQ / QCT supplementation is beneficial in the context of toxic effects of ZnO-NPs.

Observations on Dag-like defect of spermatozoa induced by treatment of the phytotherapeutic Quassia amara/quassin in the mouse model.

Gross alterations in the morphology of spermatozoa, teratozoospermia, invariably render them incapable of fertilisation. One of the contributory factors to teratozoospermia is failure of spermatozoon to shed the cytoplasmic droplet even after their arrival at epididymis. Quassia amara and quassin are of medicinal value with special reference to malaria. Nevertheless, there are also reports implicating Quassia/quassin in male reproductive toxicity. We were interested in finding if its therapeutic application would jeopardise male fertility. So, we tested it for male reproductive toxicity by analysing, among other aspects, abnormal sperm morphologies, and made a systematic analysis of the spermatozoa of treated mice before they are spermiated and until they arrive at the cauda epididymis. The spermatozoa not only failed to shed the cytoplasmic droplet during epididymal transit but swell to a very large size and were angulated, resulting in Dag-like defect or lasso shape. A link between cytoplasmic droplet that was retained and lasso shape of tail was indicated. This article traces the structural changes in spermatozoa that lead to angulation, flexion and coiling of the tail, caused due to retention of cytoplasmic droplet, and explains one of the mechanisms of toxicant-induced teratozoospermia.

Upregulation of Cyp19a1 and PPAR-γ in ovarian steroidogenic pathway by Ficus religiosa: A potential cure for polycystic ovary syndrome.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Quite a few plants are in use to treat female infertility and associated problems. Availing the cues from traditional knowledge, phytochemical studies and ethnopharmacological evidences, the aphrodisiac plant Ficus religiosa (F. religiosa) is widely in use to cure infertility in women. For instance, the juice of leaf and aerial root of F. religiosa is reported to normalize the dysregulated menstrual cycle in women. Besides, it is believed that regular circumambulation of F. religiosa during the early hours of the morning helps women in alleviating infertility which could be attributed to the potential phytovolatiles released from F. religiosa. However, the evidences for therapeutic potential of F. religiosa in treating female infertility are arbitrary and mostly anecdotal. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was aimed at examining if extracts of fresh and/or dry leaf of F. religiosa would cure polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in the rat model. METHODS: Rats were divided into seven groups; control (Group I), PCOS-induced (P.O, Letrozole -1 mg/kg BW for 21 days) and untreated (Group II), PCOS-induced and treated with the leaf extracts of F. religiosa (Groups III-VI), and, PCOS-induced and treated with pioglitazone (Group VII). The estrous intervals, body and organ weights (ovary and uterus), and serum hormones (testosterone, luteinizing hormone [LH], estrogen, and progesterone) were measured, and the expression of Cyp19a1 (aromatase), and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) were assessed in the experimental rats. The levels of 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD), 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17ß-HSD), and antioxidants (MDA, GSH, GPx, SOD, and CAT) were also quantified. Besides, the putative volatile compounds in the esterified leaf extracts were identified using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). RESULTS: Letrozole treatment induced irregular estrous and altered weight of organs and hormonal milieu, which were reverted to normal in leaf extracts-treated PCOS-induced rats. Remarkably, fresh leaf treatment up-regulated Cyp19a1and PPAR-γ and increased the levels of 3ß-HSD and 17ß-HSD. We found 3-acetoxy-3-hydroxy-propionic acid in fresh and dry leaf extracts, which we attribute to efficacy of the extracts in alleviating PCOS. CONCLUSION: Put together, our findings suggest the leaves of F. religiosa as potential in alleviating PCOS, mainly due to the presence of putative volatile molecules. Further screening of the leaves of F. religiosa is recommended to identify other key molecules and to develop a systematic therapeutic intervention for PCOS.

Protective effect of dietary curcumin in Anabas testudineus (Bloch) with a special note on DNA fragmentation assay on hepatocytes and micronucleus assay on erythrocytes in vivo.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the safety of long-term dietary curcumin at doses 0.5 and 1% in Anabas testudineus employing hematological and cytological techniques. The fish were fed with curcumin-supplemented feed for 6 months. Fine blood smears were prepared and subjected to three different staining techniques. The erythrocyte micronucleus frequency (MN) and the cytometric measurements of erythrocytes were determined. Blood from the control and treated fish was subjected to the assessment of several hematological parameters. Also, DNA fragmentation assay on hepatocytes was conducted. The results showed that hemoglobin content, RBC count and hematocrit increased in the curcumin-fed fish compared to control, whereas WBC count, platelet count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were unaffected. WBC/RBC ratio was lower in the case of curcumin-treated fish. The cytometric measurements revealed no change in the erythrocytes and their nuclei after curcumin treatment. DNA fragmentation assay revealed intact DNA in curcumin-fed group, ruling out the possibility of curcumin-induced DNA damage. The positive control group showed a significant increase in MN frequency compared to negative control and curcumin-fed groups. In fact, the MN frequency decreased in 1% curcumin-fed group compared to the negative control and 0.5% curcumin groups. All these indicated a state of well-being of the curcumin-treated fish. Therefore, it is concluded that curcumin could be used as a safe feed ingredient to improve the growth of finfish in aquaculture.

In vivo protective effect of dietary curcumin in fish Anabas testudineus (Bloch).

The present study describes, for the first time, the protective effect of natural curcumin in vivo in a lower vertebrate, a teleost, Anabas testudineus (Bloch). Two doses of curcumin 0.5 and 1% were supplemented in the 40% protein feed and fed to fish for the periods, 2 and 8 weeks. The antioxidant status, protein content, and the tissue structure in experimental fish were examined after the short-term and long-term feeding. In all the curcumin fed groups, the lipid peroxidation product, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances content either decreased or unaffected. The glutathione content increased while the antioxidant enzyme activity pattern varied with time and dose. The histological analysis also confirmed the safety of curcumin retaining the normal arrangement of hepatocytes, hepatopancreas, macrophage-melanocyte centers in Anabas. The improved antioxidant status and protein content suggest a favorable effect for curcumin in cultured fish.