Ameliorative effects of thymoquinone on the caspase 3, kidney function and oxidative stress tartrazine-induced nephrotoxicity.

First in the literature this study aimed to investigate the effects of Tartrazine, a common industrial food dye, on kidney and whether Thymoquinone has a protective effect in tartrazine-induced nephrotoxicity. The study conducted on the rats bred at Inönü University Experimental Animals Production and Research Center. Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, where each group included 8 rats: control, Tartrazine, Thymoquinone, and Tartrazine + Thymoquinone groups. The experiments continued for 3 weeks and then, kidney tissues and blood samples were collected from the rats under anesthesia. Malondialdehyde (MDA), super oxidized dismutase (SOD), total oxidant status (TOS), increase in Oxidative stress index (OSI), glutathione (GSH), Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), Total antioxidant status (TAS) levels decreased in the kidney tissues collected from the tartrazine group. Serum Bun and Creatinine levels increased in the tartrazine group. Tartrazine administration damaged and degenerated the glomeruli and cortical distal tubes in the histopathology of kidney tissues, also different degrees of inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in the renal cortex and medulla. Thymoquinone and tartrazine administration improved both biochemical and histopathological parameters. Tartrazine administration induced nephrotoxicity. This could be observed with the increase in oxidant capacity and the deterioration of kidney functions. Thymoquinone was observed to demonstrate strong antioxidant properties. Thymoquinone could be used primarily as a protective agent against Tartrazine-induced toxicity.

High-fat and carbohydrate diet caused chronic kidney damage by disrupting kidney function, caspase-3, oxidative stress and inflammation.

The study aimed to compare the effects of a diet rich in fat, carbohydrates and protein on rat kidneys. The study was conducted on 40 Wistar albino rats bred at Inönü University Faculty of Medicine after the approval of the ethics committee. Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: Control group, and the groups where the animals were fed with high carbohydrate, fat and protein rich feed. After the applications, the rat kidney tissues were removed by laparoscopy under anesthesia and blood samples were collected. 13 weeks long fat-rich and carbohydrate feed application had negative effects on oxidant-antioxidant balance, oxidative stress index, inflammation markers, kidney functions tests, histopathology and immunohistochemistry caspase-3 findings in rat kidney tissues, especially in the carbohydrate group when compared to the controls. Protein-rich feed, there were no significant difference in biochemical and histopathology compared to the control group. Fat and carbohydrate rich feed led to an increase in oxidative stress in rat kidney tissues. Oxidative stress led to nephrotoxicity, which in turn led to chronic kidney tissue damages. A more balanced and protein-rich diet instead of excessive sugar and fatty food intake could be suggested to prevent chronic kidney damage.

Effect of Melatonin on Increasing the Effectiveness of Liver Preservation Solution.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Various tissue preservation solutions are used during the removal of the organ and during transplantation to protect the normal histological and biochemical characteristics of tissue while performing a successful liver transplant. In our study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of intraperitoneal melatonin administration on liver preservation damage before transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our study, the histological and biochemical characteristics of University of Wisconsin+melatonin group rats treated with melatonin 45 minutes before hepatectomy were compared between serum physiologic group and University of Wisconsin group. RESULTS: When hematoxylin and eosin staining was evaluated in terms of hydropic degeneration, sinusoidal dilatation, and hepatocyte necrosis, there was no statistically significant difference. Caspase 3 immunohistochemical staining showed a significant increase in Caspase 3 immunoreactivity positivity at the 12th-hour University of Wisconsin group compared to University of Wisconsin+melatonin group. As a result of biochemical analysis, the malondialdehyde and total oxidant status levels in the University of Wisconsin+melatonin group decreased significantly compared to the University of Wisconsin group. When the reduced glutathione activity and total antioxidant capacity level were compared, a significant increase was observed in the University of Wisconsin+melatonin group compared to the University of Wisconsin group at the 12th hour. It was also found that aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase levels decreased significantly in the University of Wisconsin+melatonin 12th-hour group compared to the University of Wisconsin 12th hour and control group. CONCLUSION: When the findings were evaluated, intraperitoneal administration of melatonin, a cytoprotective antioxidant, was found to play an effective role in preserving immunohistochemical and biochemical properties of liver tissue integrity and hepatocytes in University of Wisconsin solution.

Ameliorative effects of crocin on the inflammation and oxidative stress-induced kidney damages by experimental periodontitis in rat.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of periodontitis on kidneys and the protective role of crocin in periodontitis-induced kidney damage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethics committee approval was obtained and 30 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups of 10 rats: Control (C), Periodontitis (P), and Periodontitis + Crocin (P + Cr). After the treatments, rat kidney tissues were incised under anesthesia and blood samples were collected. Biochemical and histopathological analyses were conducted on the samples. RESULTS: Malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) increased in P group rat kidney tissues; urea, creatinine, Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) levels increased in the serum; glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were reduced in rat kidney tissues, and renal histopathology deteriorated. In the P + Cr group, we observed improvements in biochemical and histopathological parameters when compared with the P group. CONCLUSION: Periodontitis (P) led to deterioration in oxidative stress parameters and histopathology by increasing the oxidants in kidney tissue. P also led to inflammation in the blood of the rats. Periodontitis + Crocin (P + Cr) administration alleviated the effects of P due to powerful antioxidant anti-inflammatory properties. Cr could be employed as a protective agent in P-induced inflammation and oxidative damage.

Crocin attenuates oxidative and inflammatory stress-related periodontitis in cardiac tissues in rats.

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the supporting tissues around the teeth, causes significant inflammatory and oxidative changes in cardiac tissue. Crocin is the active constituent of Crocus sativus (saffron) which has antioxidant properties and is protective against cardiovascular disturbances. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of crocin on periodontitis-induced oxidative/inflammatory cardiac degeneration in rats in vivo. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, periodontitis group (PD) and periodonditis plus crocin group (PD+Cr). Experimental periodontitis was induced by placing silk ligatures on the maxillary second molar teeth for 30 days. Afterward, crocin (100 mg/kg body weight/day) was administered to the PD+Cr group and saline was administered to the PD group and the control group for 15 days. The subjects were sacrificed on the 45th day. RESULTS: Histological and biochemical analyses demonstrated that inducing periodontitis caused obvious damage to cardiac tissues which was significantly ameliorated by crocin (p < 0.05). Significant improvements in bone resorption parameters (cross-linked C-telopeptide of type I collagen and bone alkaline phosphatase) were also observed in the PD+Cr group (p < 0.05). In addition, crocin caused significant reductions of malondialdehyde levels and total oxidant score while antioxidant levels (glutathione, superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant score, and catalase) were significantly higher in PD+Cr group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that periodontitis may cause oxidative damage in cardiac tissue and crocin improves periodontitis-induced degenerative changes in heart tissue, which is associated with its antioxidant properties.

Vitamin E effects on developmental disorders in fetuses and cognitive dysfunction in adults following acrylamide treatment during pregnancy.

We investigated the effects of acrylamide (AA) and vitamin E treatment during pregnancy on brain tissues of fetuses and on adult rats. Pregnant rats were divided into five groups: control, corn oil, vitamin E, AA, vitamin E +AA. The rats administered AA received10 mg/kg/day and those administered vitamin E received 100 mg/kg/day both by via oral gavage for 20 days. On day 20 of pregnancy, half of the pregnant rats were removed by cesarean section in each group. Morphological development parameters were measured in each fetus and histopathological, biochemical and genetic analyses were conducted on the fetuses. The remaining pregnant rats in each group gave birth to the fetuses vaginally and biochemical, histopathological, genetic and cognitive function tests were conducted when the pups were 8 weeks old. AA administration caused adverse effects on fetus number, fetal weight, crown-rump length, placenta and brain weight. AA negatively affected malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, total oxidant and antioxidant status, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, brain tissue morphology, histopathology error score and gene expression (BDNF/ß-actin mRNA ratio) in fetuses. AA administration caused disruption of biochemical, histopathological and cognitive functions in adult rats. Vitamin E provided protection against neurotoxicity in both fetuses and adult rats. We conclude that exposure to AA during pregnancy should be avoided and adequate amounts of antioxidants, such as vitamin E, should be consumed.

Ameliorative effects of crocin on tartrazine dye-induced pancreatic adverse effects: a biochemical and histological study.

The present study aimed to analyze the impact of tartrazine (T) and crocin (Cr) applications on the pancreas tissues of the Wistar rats. A total of 40 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 10 rats in each group, including the Control, T, Cr, and T + Cr groups. After 3 weeks of application, the pancreatic tissues of the rats were removed under anesthesia and rat blood samples were obtained. Tissues were analyzed with biochemical and histopathological methods. It was determined that T administration increased malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), glucose, triglyceride, LDL, VLDL, and total cholesterol levels. However, it decreased reduced glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant status (TAS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and HDL levels when compared with the other groups. It was observed that Cr administration significantly increased GSH, SOD, CAT, TAS, and HDL levels when compared with the control group. In the T group, histopathological changes were observed in pancreatic tissue, leading to damages in exocrine pancreas and islets of Langerhans and increased caspase-3 immunoreactivity (p ≤ 0.001). Co-administration of Cr and T brought the biochemical and histopathological findings closer to the control group levels. The administration of T induced damage in the pancreas with the administered dose and frequency. Cr can increase the antioxidant capacity in pancreas tissue. Co-administration of T and Cr contributed to the reduction of the toxic effects induced by T. It could be suggested that Cr administration ameliorated T toxicity.

Thymoquinone protection against 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

We investigated the effects of thymoquinone (TQ) on kidney tissues of Wistar rats with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induced nephrotoxicity. We used 50 rats divided into five groups; control, corn oil, TCDD, TQ, TCDD + TQ. We found that malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in the TCDD treated group increased significantly compared to the other groups, while reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels decreased in the TCDD group. In the TQ treated group, we found that GSH, SOD, CAT, TAS levels increased and MDA, TOS, IL-6 and TNF-α levels decreased compared to the other groups. The effects of TCDD on oxidative stress parameters, inflammatory markers and histological changes were ameliorated by TQ treatment.

Protective effects of melatonin and vitamin E in acetamiprid-induced nephrotoxicity.

Investigation of probable toxic effects of acetamiprid (ACMP) on kidney and comparative analysis of the probable protective effects of vitamin E and melatonin were conducted in the present study. The ethics committee approval was obtained from Inonu University Medical Faculty Ethics Committee. Fifty Balb-c mice were randomly assigned to control, corn oil, ethyl alcohol, ACMP, ACMP + melatonin, ACMP + vitamin E, and ACMP + melatonin + vitamin E groups. At the end of the experiments, rat kidney tissues were incised under anesthesia. Blood samples and kidney tissues were examined. After 21 days of ACMP administration, it was observed that malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), BUN, creatinine, IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α levels, histopathological damage, and Caspase-3 immunoreactivity scores increased, and glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels decreased, and histopathological damages were observed. Melatonin and vitamin E administration led to improvements in oxidative stress parameters, renal functions, inflammatory markers, and histopathological findings. ACMP administration led to nephrotoxicity in rat kidney tissues. Although melatonin and vitamin E administrations were effective on ACMP nephrotoxicity separately, co-administration of both was quite effective. Concomitant use of melatonin and vitamin E could be effective on prevention of toxicity.

The effects of acrylamide and Vitamin E administration during pregnancy on adult rats testis.

Thirty rats, with confirmed pregnancies by vaginal smear, were divided into five groups, each including six rats, as the Control, Corn Oil, Vitamin E, Acrylamide, Vitamin E + Acrylamide groups. The births were monitored on the 21st day to select the male rats, and the selected male rats were decapitated at the end of the 8th week. Oxidant-antioxidant parameters, serum hormone levels and histopathological examinations were performed on testis tissues of the rats. It was found that acrylamide (AA) negatively affected the serum hormone levels (Total Testosterone, Progesterone, FSH, LH, Estradiol), oxidant-antioxidant parameters in the tissues (MDA, GSH, NO, SOD, CAT, TAS, TOS) (p < 0.05) and the histological findings (the Johnson's score, seminiferous tubule diameter, histopathological images), and Vitamin E administration resulted with an increase in the total testosterone, progesterone, FSH, LH, GSH, TAS, NO, SOD, CAT levels (p < 0.05) and an improvement in histopathological findings. Currently, it is almost inevitable to be exposed to food-induced AA toxicity and such toxicity is likely to cause lifelong damage. It was concluded that Vitamin E was able to present a protective effect in the testis tissue against AA toxicity; however, further studies are necessary.

Protective effect of crocin on food azo dye tartrazine-induced hepatic damage by improving biochemical parameters and oxidative stress biomarkers in rats.

The objective of the present study was to demonstrate the protective effect of crocin on the adverse effects of tartrazine on liver. Crocin is a carotenoid and a strong free radical scavenger. Forty rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 10). The first group was the control group (C) and saline solution was administered to this group. The second group (Cr) was administered 50 mg/kg crocin. The third group (T) was administered 500 mg/kg tartrazine. The fourth group (T+Cr) was administered the same doses of both crocin and tartrazine as the previous groups for 21 days. It was determined that tartrazine increased liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and total oxidant status (TOS) levels and catalase (CAT) activity, decreased glutathione (GSH), and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels. Furthermore, tartrazine administration resulted in significant increases in plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities and pathological changes in the liver. When tartrazine administered rats were treated with crocin for 21 days, the biochemical parameters improved, and liver tissues were restored. Thus, it was demonstrated that crocin had protective effects on the adverse effects caused by tartrazine administration.