Ameliorative impacts of sinapic acid against mercuric chloride-induced renal toxicity: role of antioxidants and inflammatory cytokines.

Because of their beneficial properties, natural products, especially medicinal plants, are becoming increasingly popular worldwide and play a significant role in research. This study was aimed to evaluate the nephroprotective effect of sinapic acid against mercuric chloride-induced renal toxicity in mice. The mice were allocated to four groups named a normal group (G1), model group (G2; received HgCl2, 1 mg/kg bw), treatments groups (G3 and G4: received 50 and 100 mg/kg bw of sinapic acid together with HgCl2). Mice received HgCl2 remarkably showed alteration in all examined biochemical biomarkers (urea, creatinine, and bilirubin), and induced alteration in blood cell picture and anemia. HgCl2 intoxication decreased both systemic and renal antioxidant activity and induced over all oxidative stress as indicated by alteration in inflammation and oxidative stress associated markers. HgCl2 affected renal histology with leukocytic and inflammatory cell infiltration, fibrosis and tubular necrosis. Administration of sinapic acid (50 and 100 mg/kg bw) markedly restored the HgCl2-induced oxidative stress (serum and renal: MDA, GSH, CAT, SOD, and T-AOC), proinflammatory cytokines (serum and renal: TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, and PGE2) and restored the changes on biochemical markers, and hematological parameters (hemoglobin, erythrocytes, platelets, and leukocytes). Taken together, the results of the present study disclose that sinapic acid has the potential to attenuate HgCl2-induced renal toxicity and may be an ideal choice against mercury poisoning.

Screening impacts of Tilmicosin-induced hepatic and renal toxicity in rats: protection by Rhodiola rosea extract through the involvement of oxidative stress, antioxidants, and inflammatory cytokines biomarkers.

Tilmicosin (TIL) is a semisynthetic macrolide antibiotic with a broad spectrum of activity derived from tylosin. TIL is effective in the treatment of bovine and ovine respiratory diseases caused by different microbes. In parallel, Rhodiola rosea (RHO) is a popular herbal remedy because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities. The experiment lasted for 12 days. Depending on the experimental group, the animals received either distilled water or RHO root extract dissolved in distilled water for 12 days through a stomach tube, and the single subcutaneous injection on day 6 of the experiment of either 500 µL of 0.9% NaCl or TIL dissolved in 500 µL 0.9% NaCl. Samples and blood were collected for serum analysis, gene expression, and immunohistochemistry screening at liver and kidney levels. TIL injection increased serum levels of hepatic and renal markers (ALP, ALT, AST, TC, TG, creatinine, and urea) with decreased total proteins. In parallel, TIL induced hepatic and renal oxidative stress as there was an increase in malondialdehyde levels, with a decrease in catalase and reduced glutathione activities. Of interest, pre-administration of RHO inhibited TIL-induced increase in hepato-renal markers, decreased oxidative stress, and increased liver and kidney antioxidant activities. Quantitative RT-PCR showed that TIL increased the liver's HSP70 (heat shock protein), NFkB, and TNF-α mRNA expression. Moreover, TIL upregulated the expression of desmin, nestin, and vimentin expression in the kidney. The upregulated genes were decreased significantly in the protective group that received RHO. Serum inflammatory cytokines and genes of inflammatory markers were affected in liver tissues (HSP70, NFkB, and TNF-α) and kidney tissues (desmin, nestin, and vimentin)-TIL-induced hepatic vacuolation and congestion together with glomerular atrophy. The immunoreactivity of PCNA and HMGB1 was examined immunohistochemically. At cellular levels, PCNA was decreased while HMGB1 immunoreactivity was increased in TIL-injected rats, which was improved by pre-administration of RHO. RHO administration protected the altered changes in liver and renal histology. Current findings support the possible use of RHO to shield the liver and kidney from the negative effects of tilmicosin.

Protective impacts of Artemisia annua against hepatic toxicity induced by gentamicin.

The current study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effects of Artemisia annua (RA) extract on hepatic toxicity induced by gentamicin injection mice. Sixteen mice were divided into four groups; the control group received saline, the second group received 1% A. annua (RA) extract, third group injected 80 mg/kg gentamicin (GEN) intraperitoneally. The protective group treated with a combination of GEN and A. annua. All mice were treated for consecutive 15 days. Results confirmed that hepatic biomarkers (GPT, GCT, GOT, IL-6 and IL-1ß), all were altered after gentamycin injection. The histological analysis confirmed that gentamycin injected mice showed portal vein congestion, micro and macro steatosis, and nuclear pyknosis of hepatocytes. The protective group showed intact central vein with less microsteatosis of some hepatocytes. Immunochemistry analysis confirmed that the immunoreactivity of COX-2 gene showed negative impact in examined groups. Unlike, NF-κB gene exhibited diffuse positive expression in the gentamicin group. TGF-ß1 immunoreactivity was mild positive in control and highly upregulated in gentamicin treated mice, all were normalized after RA administration. In conclusion, RA showed a beneficial impact against gentamycin induced hepatic toxicity at cellular and biochemical levels by regulating proteins and inflammatory markers associated with liver activity.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Moringa Oil on Rats under Fungicide Toxicity.

The present study is designed to evaluate whether pretreatment with moringa would have a protective effect on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis, assessing biochemical and histopathological changes in Wistar male rats. Exposure to TAA induced notable biochemical and histopathological alterations. Liver fibrosis induced by TAA, along with associated biochemical and histological damage, has not been previously investigated in male rats supplemented with moringa oil. The experiment involved forty male rats distributed across four groups, each comprising ten rats. Group 1 served as controls and received intraperitoneal injections of saline solution twice weekly for six weeks. Group 2 rats were injected with 300 mg/kg body weight of TAA (Sigma-Aldrich Corp.) twice weekly for the same duration. Group 3 rats were orally supplemented with moringa oil at 800 mg/kg body weight/day and received intraperitoneal injections of TAA at the same dosage as Group 2 for six weeks. Finally, Group 4 rats were injected with saline solution twice weekly and orally supplemented with moringa oil at 800 mg/kg body weight/day for the same period. At the end of the experiment, we determined body weight and performed liver function analysis. Additionally, we examined the liver histology of the different groups. Results showed that moringa oil treatment protected rat livers from TAA toxicity by improving liver function analysis and preventing liver fibrosis. Moringa oil can be considered a promising agent for protection against TAA toxicity.

Comparative Study on the Influence of Some Medicinal Plants on Diabetes Induced by Streptozotocin in Male Rats.

Medicinal plants have played an important role in the treatment of many diseases. Medicinal plants are believed to be well appropriate with the human body and to produce less side influences than the pharmaceuticals. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has abundant and wide variety of medicinal plants whose therapeutic effects have not been adequately studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the hypoglycemic activities of the extracts of three plant species collected from Albaha region of Saudi Arabia including Olea oleaster (Oleaceae family) leaves (OLE), Juniperus procera (Cupressaceae family) leaves (JLE), and Opuntia ficus-indica (Cactaceae family) stems (OSE) on streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic male rats. The animals were distributed into eight groups. The first group was used as normal control. The second group was diabetic control. Diabetic rats of the third, fourth, and fifth groups were supplemented with OLE, JLE, and OSE, respectively. Normal rats of the sixth, seventh, and eighth groups were treated with OLE, JLE, and OSE, respectively. As expected, the mean of body weight was significantly decreased in rats of the second group. Significant increase in the value of serum glucose and decline of insulin value were observed in rats of the second group. Several alterations of lipid and protein profile and oxidative stress markers were noted in diabetic control rats. Severe histopathological alterations of pancreatic tissues were observed in untreated diabetic rats. The obtained results showed that OLE, JLE, and OSE attenuated the physiological and histopathological alterations. These new data indicate that the attenuation influences of OLE, JLE, and OSE attributed to their antioxidant properties confirmed by oxidative stress markers evaluation.

Protective effect of olive and juniper leaves extracts on nephrotoxicity induced by thioacetamide in male mice.

This study, for the first time, evaluates the effect of olive and juniper leaves extracts and their combination on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced nephrotoxicity in male mice. The experimental mice were divided into eight groups. Group 1 was served as control. Group 2 was exposed to TAA. Group 3 was treated with TAA and olive leaves extract. Group 4 was subjected to TAA and juniper leaves extract. Group 5 was exposed to TAA and olive and juniper leaves extracts. Groups 6, 7 and 8 were treated with olive, juniper, and olive and juniper leaves extracts respectively. In mice treated with only TAA, significant increases of blood urea nitrogen and uric acid were observed after six weeks. Moreover, levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and uric acid were statistically increased in mice administrated with only TAA for twelve weeks. Insignificant alterations in levels of these haematobiochemical parameters were noted in other treated groups after six and twelve weeks. Histopathological evaluations of renal sections from mice treated with only TAA for twelve weeks showed severe damage of the renal corpuscles. Furthermore, the renal sections from mice treated with TAA and olive leaves extract, TAA and juniper leaves extract, TAA and olive and juniper leaves extracts, olive leaves extract, juniper leaves extract, and olive and juniper leaves extracts showed normal structures. In addition, it is conceivable therefore, that these extracts exhibit protective influences against TAA-induced nephrotoxicity, probably mediated through the antioxidative pathway roles.

Effect of Olea oleaster and Juniperus procera leaves extracts on thioacetamide induced hepatic cirrhosis in male albino mice.

The effect of Olea oleaster and Juniperus procera leaves extracts and their combination on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatic cirrhosis were investigated in male albino mice. One hundred sixty mice were used in this study and were randomly distributed into eight groups of 20 each. Mice of group 1 served as controls. Mice of group 2 were treated with TAA. Mice of group 3 were exposed to TAA and supplemented with O. oleaster leaves extracts. Mice of group 4 were treated with TAA and supplemented with J. procera leaves extracts. Mice of group 5 were subjected to TAA and supplemented with O. oleaster and J. procera leaves extracts. Mice of groups 6, 7 and 8 were supplemented with O. oleaster, J. procera, and O. oleaster and J. procera leaves extracts respectively. Administration of TAA for six and twelve weeks resulted in a decline in body weight gain and increased the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin. Histopathological evaluations of hepatic sections from mice treated with TAA showed severe alterations including increase of fibrogenesis processes with structural damage. Treatment of mice with these extracts showed a pronounced attenuation in TAA induced hepatic cirrhosis associated with physiological and histopathological alterations. Finally, this study suggests that the supplementation of these extracts may act as antioxidant agents and could be an excellent adjuvant support in the therapy of hepatic cirrhosis.