The effects of polyvinyl alcohol-coated selenium nanoparticles on memory impairment in rats.

Some mineral elements exert beneficial neuroprotection, especially in the form of nanoparticles. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-coated SeNPs (PVA-SeNPs) on Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a rat model of AD. Twenty-eight rats were randomly divided into four groups of seven rats: control, Alz, Alz + Se, and Alz + Se-PV groups. PVA-SeNPs and SeNPs were chemically synthesized and orally administrated (0.4 mg/kg) to the AD rats for one month. AD was induced by an intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The memory function was assessed by the novel object recognition (NOR) and passive avoidance learning (PAL) tests. The expression of hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and stress oxidative markers (MDA and TAC), and the number of amyloid-beta (Aß) plaques were assessed using ELISA kits, biochemical methods, and Congo red staining, respectively. The results of the behavioral tests showed that the discrimination index in the NOR test increased in the Alz + PVA-SeNPs group compared to the Alz group. Memory performance in the PAL task improved in the PVA-SeNPs and SeNPs groups compared to the Alz group. The level of the BDNF in both of the Alz treatment groups (PVA-SeNPs and SeNPs) showed a significant increase compared to the Alz group. MDA levels and Aß plaques decreased in both NPs-treated Alz groups, while TAC levels decreased in all Alz groups. PVA-SeNPs were more effective than SeNPs in the improvement of the cognition deficit. The results suggest that PVA-SeNPs improve the cognition and memory deficit induced by an ICV injection of STZ through a decrease in the number of Aß plaques and malondialdehyde levels and an increase in the BDNF levels.

Chitosan-coated Selenium nanoparticles enhance the efficiency of stem cells in the neuroprotection of streptozotocin-induced neurotoxicity in male rats.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the common neurodegenerative diseases characterized by memory impairment. The protective effects of stem cell-based therapy have been reported in AD. In this study, it was assumed that Chitosan-coated Selenium nanoparticles (ChSeNPs) increase the efficiency of stem cells in the attenuation of neurotoxicity in the rat AD model. The AD model was induced using Streptozotocin (STZ) and treated by the adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) and SeNPs/ChSeNPs (0.4 mg/kg). Passive avoidance learning and recognition memory were assessed using shuttle box and novel object recognition tasks. The amyloid-beta deposition, the injected cells' homing and survival, antioxidant capacity, and BDNF concentration were evaluated using the histological, biochemical, and ELISA methods. The results showed that the combined administration of ChSeNPs and AMSCs is more effective in increasing the step-through latency and discrimination index than administering SeNPs and stem cells. Combined therapy caused a significant increase in antioxidant capacity that ChSeNPs was more effective than SeNPs, while AMSCs beside SeNPs had a greater effect on BDNF levels compared to conventional treatment of nanoparticles or AMSCs alone. Ultimately, the homing and survival of the transplanted AMSCs were greater in the group that received both stem cells and ChSeNPs. Taken together, it seems that the administration of ChSeNPs enhances the efficiency of transplanted stem cells in decreasing the neurotoxicity induced by STZ through an increase in the antioxidant capacity.

Protective Effect of Opuntia dillenii Haw Fruit against Lead Acetate-Induced Hepatotoxicity: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.

Lead is one of the most common environmental contaminants in the Earth's crust, which induces a wide range of humans biochemical changes. Previous studies showed that Opuntia dillenii (OD) fruit possesses several antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study evaluates OD fruit hydroalcoholic extract (OHAE) hepatoprotective effects against lead acetate- (Pb-) induced toxicity in both animal and cellular models. Male rats were grouped as follows: control, Pb (25 mg/kg/d i.p.), and groups 3 and 4 received OHAE at 100 and 200 mg/kg/d + Pb (25 mg/kg/d i.p.), for ten days of the experiment. Thereafter, we evaluated the levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), catalase (CAT) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum, and liver histopathology. Additionally, the cell study was also done using the HepG2 cell line for measuring the direct effects of the extract on cell viability, oxidative stress MDA, and glutathione (GSH) and inflammation tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) following the Pb-induced cytotoxicity. Pb significantly increased the serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, and MDA and liver histopathological scores but notably decreased CAT activity compared to the control group (p < 0.001 for all cases). OHAE (100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly reduced the levels of serum liver enzyme activities and MDA as well as histopathological scores while it significantly increased CAT activity compared to the Pb group (p < 0.001-0.05 for all cases). OHAE (20, 40, and 80 µg/ml) concentration dependently and significantly reduced the levels of MDA and TNF-α, while it increased the levels of GSH and cell viability in comparison to the Pb group (p < 0.001-0.05 for all cases). These data suggest that OHAE may have hepatoprotective effects against Pb-induced liver toxicity both in vitro and in vivo by its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Administration of Selenium Nanoparticles Reverses Streptozotocin-Induced Neurotoxicity in the male rats.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease associated with deposition of amyloid-beta and the increased oxidative stress. High free radical scavenging ability of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) has been acknowledged, so in the present study, the effects of treatment with SeNPs on Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced neurotoxicity were evaluated in the male rats. Learning and memory impairment was induced by intraventricular injection of STZ. Following induction of memory impairment, the rats received 0.4 mg/kg of SeNPs daily for one month. Memory function, antioxidant capacity, and deposition of Amyloid ß (Aß) were assessed using the shuttle box task, biochemical methods, and Congo red staining. Injection of STZ caused memory impairment, a decrease in the level of total thiol group (TTG), and an increase in the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and deposition of Aß. Administration of SeNPs reversed the neurotoxicity induced by STZ. It seems that SeNPs likely had neuroprotective effects on the animal model of Alzheimer's disease through increasing antioxidants҆ capacity.

Synergistic effects of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and selenium nanoparticles on streptozotocin-induced memory impairment in the rat.

AIMS: Memory impairment is determined to be the most well-known symptom of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although cell therapy seems is an efficient therapeutic strategy to attenuate the AD-related memory impairment, transplanted cells have a short lifespan and do not survive long term in the recipient animals. Herein, we investigated whether the combination therapy of Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and stem cells attenuates the neurotoxicity in an AD animal model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) were transplanted in the AD model. In addition to cell injections, the animals also received oral administration of SeNPs (0.4 mg/kg) for one month. Recognition memory, cell survival, and BDNF concentration were assessed using the novel object recognition task, immunofluorescence, and ELISA methods. KEY FINDINGS: Our results showed that the combined therapy was more effective in increasing the discrimination index than the administering SeNPs or AMSCs alone. Moreover, SeNPs and stem cells together had the greatest effects in reducing the deposition of Aß and increasing the concentration of BDNF. Ultimately, the survival and proliferation of transplanted cells were more in the group that received stem cells besides SeNPs. SIGNIFICANCE: Taken together, it seems that the transplantation of MSCs combined with SeNPs could achieve better results in the neuroprotection in the AD model than a conventional treatment of SeNPs or stem cells alone.

Evaluation of the Effects of Peritoneal Lavage with Rosmarinus officinalis Extract against the Prevention of Postsurgical-Induced Peritoneal Adhesion.

Postoperative adhesions are regarded as the major complication following abdominal surgery. Rosmarinus officinalis has shown antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, we aimed to assess the influence of 70% v/v hydro-ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of R. officinalis against postoperative abdominal adhesions in a rat model. Forty-eight male Wistar rats (190 ± 20 g) were divided into six groups of eight: group 1 = normal group, without any surgical procedures, group 2 = control group, group 3 = vehicle group, and groups 3, 4, and 5 = experimental groups receiving 2 mL of 4, 2, or 1% w/v R. officinalis treatment. Adhesion levels were macroscopically examined. Additionally, the levels of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6, interleukin-1ß, and TNF-α), growth factors (transforming growth factor-ß1, and vascular endothelial growth factor), oxidative (NO, nitric oxide and MDA, malondialdehyde), and antioxidative (GSH, glutathione) factors were evaluated. Our results revealed that the adhesion score, interleukin-6, interleukin-1ß, TNF-α, transforming growth factor-ß1, vascular endothelial growth factor, NO, and MDA levels were significantly increased in the vehicle group, while the GSH level was diminished. R. officinalis treatment notably ameliorated the adhesion score following postoperative abdominal adhesions compared with the vehicle group. Our results also revealed that R. officinalis markedly reduced inflammatory cytokines, oxidative factors, fibrosis, and angiogenesis biomarkers, whereas it increased the antioxidative factor. Therefore, R. officinalis may be a potential candidate for the management of postoperative peritoneal adhesion.

Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Oxidant Activity of Portulaca oleracea Extract on LPS-Induced Rat Lung Injury.

Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are classified as two lung complications arising from various conditions such as sepsis, trauma, and lung inflammation. Previous studies have shown that the extract of the leaves of Portulaca oleracea (PO) possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities. In the present study, the effects of PO (50⁻200 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (Dexa; 1.5 mg/kg) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI were investigated. Subsequentially, the lung wet/dry ratio; white blood cells (WBC); levels of nitric oxide (NO); myeloperoxidase (MPO); malondialdehyde (MDA); thiol groups formation; super oxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities; and levels of interleukin (IL)-1ß, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-6, IL-10, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß in the broncho alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were evaluated in order to demonstrate the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of PO. Our results show that PO suppresses lung inflammation by the reduction of IL-ß, IL-6, TNF-α, PGE2, and TGF-ß, as well as by the increase of IL-10 levels. We also found that PO improves the level of WBC, MPO, and MDA, as well as thiol group formation and SOD and CAT activities, compared with the LPS group. The results of our investigation also show that PO significantly decreased the lung wet/dry ratio as an index of interstitial edema. Taken together, our findings reveal that PO extract dose-dependently displays anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity against LPS-induced rat ALI, paving the way for rational use of PO as a protective agent against lung-related inflammatory disease.

Zingiber Officinale Alters 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-Induced Neurotoxicity in Rat Brain.

OBJECTIVE: The spice Zingiber officinale or ginger possesses antioxidant activity and neuroprotective effects. The effects of this traditional herbal medicine on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) induced neurotoxicity have not yet been studied. The present study considers the effects of Zingiber officinale on MDMA-induced spatial memory impairment and apoptosis in the hippocampus of male rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, 21 adult male Sprague Dawley rats (200-250 g) were classified into three groups (control, MDMA, and MDMA plus ginger). The groups were intraperitoneally administered 10 mg/kg MDMA, 10 mg/kg MDMA plus 100 mg/kg ginger extract, or 1 cc/kg normal saline as the control solution for one week (n=7 per group). Learning memory was assessed by Morris water maze (MWM) after the last administration. Finally, the brains were removed to study the cell number in the cornu ammonis (CA1) hippocampus by light microscope, Bcl-2 by immunoblotting, and Bax expression by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Data was analyzed using SPSS 16 software and a one-way ANOVA test. RESULTS: Escape latency and traveled distances decreased significantly in the MDMA plus ginger group relative to the MDMA group (p<0.001). Cell number increased in the MDMA plus ginger group in comparison to the MDMA group. Down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bax were observed in the MDMA plus ginger group in comparison to the MDMA group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that ginger consumption may lead to an improvement of MDMA-induced neurotoxicity.