Punica granatum Peel and Leaf Extracts as Promising Strategies for HSV-1 Treatment.

Punica granatum is a rich source of bioactive compounds which exhibit various biological effects. In this study, pomegranate peel and leaf ethanolic crude extracts (PPE and PLE, respectively) were phytochemically characterized and screened for antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiviral activity. LC-PDA-ESI-MS analysis led to the identification of different compounds, including ellagitannins, flavonoids and phenolic acids. The low IC50 values, obtained by DPPH and FRAP assays, showed a noticeable antioxidant effect of PPE and PLE comparable to the reference standards. Both crude extracts and their main compounds (gallic acid, ellagic acid and punicalagin) were not toxic on Vero cells and exhibited a remarkable inhibitory effect on herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) viral plaques formation. Specifically, PPE inhibited HSV-1 adsorption to the cell surface more than PLE. Indeed, the viral DNA accumulation, the transcription of viral genes and the expression of viral proteins were significantly affected by PPE treatment. Amongst the compounds, punicalagin, which is abundant in PPE crude extract, inhibited HSV-1 replication, reducing viral DNA and transcripts accumulation, as well as proteins of all three phases of the viral replication cascade. In contrast, no antibacterial activity was detected. In conclusion, our findings indicate that Punica granatum peel and leaf extracts, especially punicalagin, could be a promising therapeutic candidate against HSV-1.

Lawsonia inermis essential oil: extraction optimization by RSM, antioxidant activity, lipid peroxydation and antiproliferative effects.

BACKGROUND: The present study was focused on the optimization of yield of the essential oil extraction from leaves of Lawsonia inermis, and the determination of chemical composition, antioxidant activities, and lipid peroxydation and antiproliferative effects. METHODS: Henna essential oil (HeEO) were extracted by hydrodistillation; the identification of the chemical composition were done by GC/MS method. HeEO was analyzed for antioxidant power in: (1) chemical system by the DPPH test, the ABTS test and the total antioxidant activity test; and (2) in biological system by lipid peroxydation tests (MDA and DC) in cells culture. The cytotoxicity effects of HeEO were assessed using MTT assay against Raji and HeLa cell lines. RESULTS: The optimal extraction yield was 6.8 g/100 g d.b. HeEO showed a remarkable anti-oxidant activities including DDPH (42%), ABTS (87%) and the power of ammonium phosphomolybdate (2992 ± 230 mg of HeEO by equivalent to 1 mg of vitamin C in terms of total antioxidant power). CONCLUSION: Beyond notable antioxidant activities of the HeEo, our results showed a significant decrease in the production of ERO in the Raji cell line. The anti-tumor power of the Henna essential oil shows an interesting cytotoxicity effect (IC50 at 0.26 µg/mL for Raji and at 1.43 µg/mL for HeLa) with a total mortality percentage reaching 60%, for both.

Evaluation of the hepatoprotective effect of combination between fermented camel milk and Rosmarinus officinalis leaves extract against CCl4 induced liver toxicity in mice.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity of fermented camel milk with Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris (FCM-LLC) alone, Rosmarinus officinalis extract (R) alone and their combination and to investigate their hepatopreventive effects against CCl4 liver damage in mice. The antioxidant activity in vitro of FMC-LLC supplemented with R exhibited the highest free radical scavenging and ferric reducing power activities. The results showed that the pretreatment with a combination of FMC-LLC and R significantly alleviated the increased levels of hepatic markers and the elevated lipid levels induced by CCl4 in mice. Meanwhile, the enzymatic antioxidants activities (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase) and GSH level in liver significantly were increased while the malondialdehyde level was significantly improved by pretreatment with FMLLC plus R. These data suggest that FCM-LLC in combination with R. officinalis extract possesses better antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity than FMC-LLC alone.

Fermented camel milk by Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris attenuates erythrocytes oxidative stress-induced hematological and immunological damage in CCl4-intoxicated mice.

Fermented camel by Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris has been recently discovered to protect against the toxic effect of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), but its beneficial effects in the presence of oxidative stress in the erythrocytes have not been established. In the present study, 28 mice were randomly divided into four groups: control group; CCl4 group: intoxicated by a single intraperitoneal injection (ip) of CCl4; group FCM-LLC + CCl4: pretreated with FCM-LLC daily during 14 days, and received a single dose of CCl4. FCM-LLC group received FCM-LLC alone. The occurrence of oxidative stress in erythrocytes was evidenced by an increase in lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl, and changes in antioxidant enzyme activities and non-enzymatic antioxidant. The oxidative injury induced by CCl4 in the erythrocytes was confirmed by modifications in hematological parameters and decreases in protein, albumin, and globulin content in the serum of intoxicated mice. Therefore, CCl4 caused a significant decrease in immunotoxic indices, including immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (Ig M), and immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels, and an increase of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) level. Meanwhile, FCM-LLC effectively restored the parameters cited above to near-normal values. It can be suggested that fermented camel milk could regulate deviant physiological effects induced by CCl4 which is due to its powerful antioxidant and immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory capacity.

Fermented camel milk prevents carbon tetrachloride induced acute injury in kidney of mice.

Fermented milk is known to possess potent antioxidant activity. The present study was undertaken to assess the preventive effect of fermented camel milk (FCM) prepared using lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris against CCl4 induced kidney damage in mice. Nephrotoxicity was induced in mice by a single dose of CCl4 (10 ml/kg 0·3% olive oil, ip). Female mice were pretreated daily with FCM for 15 d. Renal damage was associated with an increase in oxidative stress parameters (lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl and changes in antioxidant enzyme activities and non-enzymatic antioxidant) and nephropathology markers.The renal injury induced by CCl4 was confirmed by the histological study of the CCl4-intoxicated mice. Pretreatment with FCM significantly prevented renal dysfunction by reducing oxidative stress, while mice recovered normal kidney histology. Moreover, FCM prevented toxicity biomarker changes by reducing creatinine, urea, uric acid, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and electrolytes levels in plasma. These data indicate that FCM is efficient in inhibiting oxidative stress induced by CCl4, and suggests that the administration of this milk may be helpful in the prevention of kidney damage.

Beneficial effects of fermented camel milk by lactococcus lactis subsp cremoris on cardiotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride in mice.

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a xenobiotic present in the environment, can cause harmful effects on human health. In the present study, we attempted to elucidate the cardiopreventive potential of the fermented camel milk by lactococcus lactis subsp cremoris (FCM-LLC) against the toxic effects of acute exposure to CCl4 on heart tissue of mice. Twenty-eight mice's were divided into four groups of seven each: group (C) served as control; group (FCM-LLC) received only 100mgL of FCM-LLC/kg body weight daily for 15days; group (CCl4) was administered by a single dose of CCl4 (10mL/kg in 0.3% olive oil, i.p) at day 14 and group (FCM-LLC+CCl4) pretreated with FCM-LLC and received a single dose of CCl4 on day 14. The exposure to a single dose of CCl4 caused cardiotoxicity expressed by an increase in lipid peroxidation (TBARS), protein carbonyls (PC) levels and in antioxidant markers (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), gluthathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH) and Vitamin C levels) in the CCl4-treated group when compared with the untreated group. Furthermore, treatment with CCl4 significantly elevated the cardiac toxicity markers while increasing of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase MB (CKMB) and Troponin I activities. The pre-treatment of experimental mice's with FCM-LLC has allowed an improvement through lowering oxidative stress and attenuating cardiac toxicity. These modifications were further evident through histopathological aspects of the heart. Overall, the present data provide evidence of the beneficial effects of fermented camel milk by lactococcus lactis subsp creemoris clearly revealed through the reduction of the CCl4 induced heart oxidative damages.

Cardiopreventive effects of camel milk against carbon tetrachloride induced oxidative stress, biochemical and histological alterations in mice.

The present study was designed to examine the preventive effects of camel milk (CM) against the toxic effects of acute exposure to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) on the heart tissue of mice. Administration of a single dose of CCl4 caused cardio toxicity as monitored by an increase in lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), protein carbonyl level and antioxidant markers (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione and vitamin C) in the heart tissue. Moreover, CCl4 caused a distinguished rise of plasma aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, troponin I, and creatine kinase activities. Furthermore, CM ameliorated biochemical and histological parameters as compared to CCl4-treated group. Overall, this study indicates that CM is efficient in inhibiting oxidative stress induced by CCl4 and suggests that the administration of this milk may be helpful in the prevention of cardio-toxicity complications.

Evaluation of Tunisian milk quality in dairy herds: Inter-relationship between chemical, physical and hygienic criteria.

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the global milk quality in Tunisian dairy herds. Samples of milk were analyzed for chemical, physical and hygienic parameters. Milk total solids, fat content and density were consistently correlated and one of them can be used as a chemical indicator of milk quality. The somatic cell count value of 689 × 10(3) /mL was higher than the recommended threshold. All milk samples were positive for the major pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. These hygienic parameters were related more closely with chloride content, minerals and electrical conductivity, which allows them to be used as indicators of mammary gland infection. It was concluded that milk producers have at hand rapid and easy tools for assessing the overall quality of milk.

Analysis of raw milk quality at reception and during cold storage: combined effects of somatic cell counts and psychrotrophic bacteria on lipolysis.

The objective of the article was to analyze the influence of psychrotrophic bacteria counts (PBCs) and somatic cell counts (SCCs) on the extent of lipolysis in bulk samples of cow's milk at reception and during cold storage. Samples of milk were analyzed on the day of sampling and subsequently during cold storage. The acidity, fat, density, chloride content, electrical conductivity (EC), bulk milk SCCs (BMSCC), and PBC values were analyzed on the day of sampling and the levels of acidity, EC, SCC, and PBC were analyzed during cold storage at 4 °C for 72 h. The SCC value 869 × 10(3) mL(-1) was higher than the recommended threshold. Lipolysis level at sampling day was related more closely with SCC than with PBC. There was no significant correlation between milk acidity and PBC among others parameters, while the milk mean density was only significant (P < 0.01) correlated with the fat content. The EC and chloride content were consistently correlated (P < 0.001) with BMSCC that allowed them to be used as indicators of mammary gland infection. The milk acidity, EC, PBC, and lipolysis levels increased in relation to the storage time at 4 °C. The lipolysis level during storage was in closer relation to the SCC, but not relation to the PBC. Effects of SCC and PBC on lipolysis decreased throughout the chilling period. It was concluded that initial lipolysis level and intrinsic milk lipoprotein lipase appear more effective than SCC and PBC on the development of lipolysis during storage.

Total and differential bulk cow milk somatic cell counts and their relation with antioxidant factors.

In the present study, the relationship between total bulk milk somatic cell counts (BMSCC), differential BMSCC (macrophage, lymphocyte, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes), and antioxidant enzymes was investigated. Forty-three samples of bulk milk were selected randomly from eight dairy farms in the region of Sfax (Tunisia) in winter, from November 2005 to February 2006. Bulk milk samples were analyzed for antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, SOD and GSHPx activity and differential SCC. After that, milks were allotted according to their total SCC to: group 1, bulk milk with SCC below 1000x10(3) ml(-1); group 2, bulk milk with SCC from 1000x10(3) to 1500x10(3) ml(-1); group 3, bulk milk with SCC above 1500x10(3) ml(-1). BMSCC levels ranged from 400x10(3) to nearly 4000x10(3) ml(-1). Lymphocytes were the predominant cell type in all groups, but their proportion declined with the total BMSCC. Catalase and GSHPx activities were found to be significantly (P<0.001) correlated with total BMSCC and with the PMN population. In contrast, a weak correlation between the activity of the SOD and total or differential bulk milk somatic cells was observed. It has been suggested that milk cells, especially PMN, could generate a situation of oxidative stress in the mammary gland. Specifically, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals were probably the most important reactive oxygen metabolites released by PMN.