Ficus natalensis extract alleviates Cadmium chloride-induced testicular disruptions in albino rats.

BACKGROUND: Cadmium is a potential environmental pollutant with worldwide health problems. Many Ficus species are reported to have an extensive diversity of traditional uses, among them the treatment of reproductive toxicity. OBJECTIVES: This study set out to evaluate the effect of Ficus natalensis extract on the testicular impairments induced by cadmium chloride (CdCl2) and investigated the potential mechanisms associated with its treatment. METHODS: Thus, 40 male albino rats were categorized into 4 groups (n = 10); group I (control), group II (cadmium-treated group) orally received 5 mg/kg/day CdCl2 for one month, group III (cadmium + Ficus natalensis extract) orally received 5 mg/kg/day CdCl2 for one month plus 200 mg/kg/day Ficus natalensis extract for another month, and group IV (cadmium + reference drug (mesterolone) orally received 5 mg/kg/day CdCl2 for one month plus 4.16 mg/kg/day mesterolone for another month. RESULTS: At the end of experiment, CdCl2 administration markedly induced histological and histo-morphometric changes with a substantial (p < 0.05) decrease in the sperm count, sperm motility, serum TAC, serum testosterone, downregulation in the mRNA expression levels of testicular 17ß-HSD and StAR, in addition to a significant increase in serum TNF-α and testicular MDA level compared to the control group. Conversely, the treatment with Ficus natalensis methanolic extract as well as the reference drug significantly ameliorated the above-mentioned adverse effects induced by CdCl2. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that Ficus natalensis extract can attenuate the CdCl2-induced testicular impairments via inhibiting the oxidative cell damage and inflammation that contributed to CdCl2 toxicity.

Characterization of antioxidant activity of extract from Artemisia vulgaris.

Recent investigations have shown that the antioxidant properties of plants could be correlated with oxidative stress defense and different human diseases. In this respect flavonoids and other polyphenolic compounds have gained the greatest attention. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Artemisia vulgaris. The plant extract was tested for DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl, 2-picryl hydrazyl) radical scavenging, nitric oxide radical scavenging, reducing power assays, total phenol, flavonoid and flavonol content. Determination of serum ascorbic acid level, blood glutathione level and superoxide dismutase activity in rats treated with 100 mg/Kg of Artemisia vulgaris extract. The extract exhibited scavenging potential with IC50 value of 11.4 micro g/ ml for DPPH, the value were found to close to those of standard rutin (10 micro g/ ml).On the other hand Artemisia vulgaris extract exhibited nitric oxide scavenging activity with IC50 value 125 mg/ ml. The reducing power of the extract depends on the amount of extract. The content of phenolic compounds (mg/g) in aqueous extract was found 19 +/- 0.16 mg/g plant extract and expressed in gallic acid equivalents (GAE). The flavonoidal and flavonol contents were found to be 7.96 +/- 0.76 and 3.4 +/- 0.0 respectively mg/g plant extract in rutin equivalent. The treatment of rats with aqueous extract of Artemisia vulgaris resulted in a significant increase in blood glutathione level, superoxide dismutase activity and serum ascorbic acid level as compared to their corresponding controls. The results obtained in the present study indicate that aqueous extract of Artemisia vulgaris is a potential source of natural antioxidants.

Free serum testosterone level in male rats treated with Tribulus alatus extracts.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of Tribulus alatus extracts on free serum testosterone in male rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Free serum testosterone level was measured in male rats treated with alcoholic extracts of the aerial part without fruits, fruits of Tribulus alatus and their fractions. RESULTS: All tested extracts showed significant increase in the level of free serum testosterone when compared to that of corresponding control, p < 0.05. Statistical comparison of all groups revealed that the maximum level was found in groups treated with chloroformic and ethanolic fractions of fruits extract. CONCLUSION: Tribulus alatus extract appears to possess aphrodisiac activity due to its androgen increasing property.

Free serum testosterone level in male rats treated with tribulus alatus extracts

OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of Tribulus alatus extracts on free serum testosterone in male rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Free serum testosterone level was measured in male rats treated with alcoholic extracts of the aerial part without fruits, fruits of Tribulus alatus and their fractions. RESULTS: All tested extracts showed significant increase in the level of free serum testosterone when compared to that of corresponding control, p < 0.05. Statistical comparison of all groups revealed that the maximum level was found in groups treated with chloroformic and ethanolic fractions of fruits extract. CONCLUSION: Tribulus alatus extract appears to possess aphrodisiac activity due to its androgen increasing property.

Effect of Fascioliasis on the pharmacokinetic parameters of triclabendazole in human subjects.

OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical efficacy of Triclabendazole (TCBZ) on Egyptian patients infected with Fasciola and understand the effect of Fascioliasis on the pharmacokinetics of TCBZ. METHODS: The pharmacokinetics of TCBZ administered as a single oral dose (10 mg/kg) was investigated in both infected and parasite--free Egyptian subjects. After oral administration, TCBZ is metabolized to a sulphone and sulfoxide derivatives. The latter is responsible for the fasciolicidal activity of TCBZ, and it could be used as a marker of drug bioavailability. Blood samples were collected following the oral administration, and TCBZ sulfoxide plasma concentrations were determined by a sensitive and specific HPLC method. RESULTS: Pharmacokinetic parameters (Cmax, AUC0-48, t1/2 and tmax) for TCBZ sulfoxide were calculated. In patients; the mean Cmax was 9.11 +/- 1.3 microg/ml, the mean AUC(0-48) was 91 +/- 10.5 microg h ml(-1), the mean t1/2 was 7.4 +/- 0.6 h, and the tmax was 3.0 +/- 0.4 h. In normal subjects, the mean Cmax was 8.48 +/- 0.92 microg/ml, the mean AUC(0-48) was 85 +/- 6.55 microg h ml(-1), the mean t1/2 was 6.2 +/- 0.357 h, and the tmax was 3 +/- 0.4 h. No significant difference could be detected in the patients as compared to normal subjects, which would suggest that Fascioliasis does not affect any of the studied parameters. No eggs in faeces could be detected following TCBZ treatment. Also, most of the clinical investigations showed significant decline back to the normal ranges post-treatment which indicates complete curing and high TCBZ efficacy. CONCLUSION: Fasioliasis as an infective condition widely spread in Egypt has no significant effect on the pharmacokinetic parameters of the orally administered TCBZ and at the same time it is very effective against the parasite which strongly and safely suggests the use of this medication for the treatment of this infection.