Modulatory Efficiency of LP/LF Nano-Combination on Neurochemical and Behavioural Retardations in the Brain of Induced-Epileptic Rats.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Epilepsy is one of the normal neurological problems that came about because of strange electrical movements and prompt serious and far-reaching cell misfortune in the mind. This study aimed to investigate if a nano-Chitosan formulation loaded with bovine milk lactoperoxidase (LPO) and lactoferrin (LF) could prevent Lithium Chloride/Pilocarpine-induced epilepsy in rats or not. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Adult male rats (200-250 g) were partitioned into four groups (8 animals each) as follows: Group (1) Normal rats served as control group and received saline orally, group (2) Normal rats ingested with a daily oral dose of LPO and LF-NPS formulation at 50 mg kg¹, group (3) Pilocarpine-induced epileptic rats and group (4) Epilepsy-modeled rats were treated with LPO+LF NPs (50 mg/kg/day, orally) for 6 weeks. <b>Results:</b> The results revealed that the administration of LPO+LF-NPs markedly improved the induced-epilepsy disorders, this was monitored from the significant reduction in the values of caspase-3, TNF-α, IL-1ß, CD4⁺, MDA and NO coupled with remarkable raise in AchE-ase, dopamine, serotonin, SOD and GPx, CAT and GSH values in both brain regions. <b>Conclusion:</b> This study supported the anti-epilepsy features of LPO+LF-NPS against Lithium Chloride/Pilocarpine-induced epilepsy in rats through the improvement of the immune response, reduction of inflammation and restoration of the impaired oxidative stress status.

The Antioxidant and Antitumor Efficiency of Litophyton sp. Extract in DMH-Induced Colon Cancer in Male Rats.

One of the most common tumors to cause death worldwide is colon cancer. This study aims to investigate the antitumor potency of Litophyton sp. methanolic extract (LME) against DMH-induced colon cancer in adult male rats. Group (1) normal rats served as the control, group (2) normal rats were ip-injected with LME at a dose of 100 µg/kg/day, group (3) DMH-induced colon cancer animals, and group (4) colon cancer-modeled animals were treated with LME (100 µg/kg/day) for six weeks. The results revealed that injection of LME markedly regenerated the colon cancer pathophysiological disorders; this was monitored from the significant reduction in the values of serum biomarkers (CEA, CA19.9, AFP), cytokines (TNF-α and IL1ß), and biochemical measurements (ALAT, ASAT, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, and triglycerides) matched significant increase of apoptotic biomarkers (CD4+); similarly, colon DNA fragmentation, MDA, and NO levels were down-regulated. In contrast, a remarkable upregulation in colon SOD, GPx, GSH, and CAT levels was noted. Moreover, the colon histopathological architecture showed obvious regenerations. Chromatography of LME resulted in the purification of two polyhydroxylated steroids (1 and 2) with potential cytotoxic activities. LME performed therapeutic potential colon tumorigenesis; therefore, LME may have a promising chemo-preventive feature against colon cancer, probably via enhancement of the apoptosis pathway, improvement of the immune response, reduction of inflammation, or/and restoration of the impaired oxidative stress.

The Anti-Diabetic Effect of Some Plant Extracts Against Streptozotocin - Induced Diabetes Type 2 in Male Albino Rats.

BACKGROUND: One of the widely spread disorders is Diabetes mellitus, especially type 2 (T2DM). T2DM is attributed to the change in life style and stress. A possible strategy to block dietary carbohydrate absorption is regulation of postprandial blood glucose level as well, the use of some natural plant extracts with inhibitory effect against carbohydrate digestive enzymes such as alpha- amylase and fewer side effects than synthetic drugs. This study was conducted to investigate the anti-diabetic effect of Cinnamon and Saussurea extract, individually, on blood glucose, lipid profile, insulin, interleukin1-beta and weight loss in diabetic rats treated with Streptozotocin (STZ). METHODS: The experiment was performed on 60 Wistar male rats; the experimental study include 6 groups (10 rats each): (I) normal rats, (II) Streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats, (III) normal rats orally received (200 mg/kg/day) Saussurea ethanolic extract (SEE) for consecutive 4 weeks, (IV) normal rats orally received (100mg/kg/day) Cinnamon aqueous extract (CAE) for consecutive 4 weeks, (V) Streptozotocin -treated rats received SEE orally (200mg /kg/ day) for consecutive 4 weeks, and (VI) Streptozotocin -treated rats received CAE orally (100mg /kg/ day) for consecutive 4 weeks. RESULTS: The results of the following study revealed that SEE has more anti-diabetic effect against Streptozotocin treatment than CAE due to the high α-amylase inhibition potential and higher phenolic content. Also, GC-MS analysis of SEE exhibited higher concentrations of phenolic compounds such as: dehydrocostus lactone, azuleno, eicosa-pentaenoic acid and linoelaidic acid that revealed anti-diabetic, anti-lipidemic and anti-inflammatory activities, while CAE showed the presence of cinnamic and quinic acids. Injection of STZ resulted in a decline in the insulin, high density lipoprotein and body weight values matched with the increase in glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol, triglycerides and interleukin1- ß (IL-1ß). The administration of extracts of SEE and CAE into STZ-treated rats separately resulted in a decline in the elevated levels of blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides and improving serum HDL-Cholesterol and body weight. CONCLUSION: Both tested herbal extracts performed anti-diabetic effect that mainly could be mechanized via the α-amylase- inhibitory potentials due to the high phenolic and flavonoids content.

Protective Effect of DPPD on Mercury Chloride-Induced Hepatorenal Toxicity in Rats.

Mercury is a global environmental pollutant, accumulating mainly in the kidney and liver inducing hepatorenal toxicity, oxidative stress, and tissue damage. Oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance between free radicals' production and cellular antioxidant defense systems. In the present study, we investigated the effect of N N'-diphenyl-1, 4-phenylenediamine (DPPD) antioxidant activity against mercury chloride- (HgCl2-) induced renal and hepatic toxicity. Thirty adult female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three equal groups: the first group was injected with saline only and served as a control, the second group was injected with HgCl2, and the third group received DPPD + HgCl2 rats injected with HgCl2 without treatment showing a significant increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea, creatinine, and uric acids compared to control. Moreover, the second group showed a significant reduction in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH)) in addition to a marked increase in the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, histopathological alterations, collagen deposition, CD8%, CD4%, and TGF-ß% in kidney and liver tissues compared with the control group. Treatment with DPPD showed significant recovery (p ≤ 0.001) in all previous parameters and histopathological examination. In conclusion, we suggested that DPPD may have a promising antioxidant capacity, gives it the applicability to be used as a prophylactic agent against mercury-induced hepatorenal cytotoxicity in the future.

Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Synergizes Sorafenib Anticancer Efficacy with Minimizing Its Cytotoxicity.

Cancer, as a group, represents the most important cause of death worldwide. Unfortunately, the available therapeutic approaches of cancer including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy are unsatisfactory and represent a great challenge as many patients have cancer recurrence and severe side effects. Methotrexate (MTX) is a well-established (antineoplastic or cytotoxic) chemotherapy and immunosuppressant drug used to treat different types of cancer, but its usage requires high doses causing severe side effects. Therefore, we need a novel drug with high antitumor efficacy in addition to safety. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the antitumor efficacy of zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO-NPs) and sorafenib alone or in combination on solid Ehrlich carcinoma (SEC) in mice. Sixty adult female Swiss-albino mice were divided equally into 6 groups as follows: control, SEC, MTX, ZnO-NPs, sorafenib, and ZnO-NPs+sorafenib; all treatments continued for 4 weeks. ZnO-NPs were characterized by TEM, zeta potential, and SEM mapping. Data showed that ZnO-NPs synergized with sorafenib as a combination therapy to execute more effective and safer anticancer activity compared to monotherapy as showed by a significant reduction (P < 0.001) in tumor weight, tumor cell viability, and cancer tissue glutathione amount as well as by significant increase (P < 0.001) in tumor growth inhibition rate, DNA fragmentation, reactive oxygen species generation, the release of cytochrome c, and expression of the apoptotic gene caspase-3 in the tumor tissues with minimal changes in the liver, renal, and hematological parameters. Therefore, we suggest that ZnO-NPs might be a safe candidate in combination with sorafenib as a more potent anticancer. The safety of this combined treatment may allow its use in clinical trials.