Modulatory Effect of Chaetomorpha gracilis on Erythrocytes Functions and Metabolic Disorders in Mice Fed a High-cholesterol Diet.

The current study was carried out to estimate the protective effect of methanolic extract of Chaetomorpha gracilis (MECG) against High Cholesterol Diet (HCD) induced erythrocyte damage in mice. The results of the in vitro assay showed that MECG have higher antioxidant capacities in the DPPH, TAC, ABTS, NBT, NO. inhibition assays. The HPLC analysis confirmed that this potential antioxidant seems to be due to the active compounds, in particular polyphenols, flavonoids. HCD promoted oxidative stress with a rise the level of malonaldehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) levels and a significant decrease of the Vitamin C content, as well the antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. In addition, HCD treatment caused significant lipid profile disorders via increase the cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL levels and reduction HDL-Ch level. A statistically significant decrease of Mg2+ and Ca2+ ATPase activities accompanied with a severe damage in the erythrocytes structure and hematological parameters alterations were also noted in hypercholesterolemic mice. Pre-treatment with MECG significantly restored biochemical markers and pathological lesions. It can be suggest that supplementation of MECG displays high potential to quench free radicals and attenuates high cholesterol diet induced erythrocytes oxidative stress and related damages.

Antioxidant and hepatopreventive effects of Cassia angustifolia extract against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

The present study aimed to investigate the preventive effects of methanol fraction from Cassia angustifolia leaf extract (MECA), associated with its phytochemical content, on CCl4-induced hepatic toxicity in adult rats. In the controls, CCl4 induced an increase of serum biochemical parameters and triggered oxidative stress in the liver. MECA caused significant reductions in CCl4-elevated levels of hepatic markers, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein and increased the level of high-density lipoprotein compared to the CCl4 group. Moreover, pretreatment with the MECA produced significant reductions in lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) and protein carbonyl level in liver tissues as compared with the untreated group. The formation of pathological hepatic lesions was strongly prevented by MECA. Overall, this study suggests that administration of MECA has a high potential to quench free radicals and alleviate CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

The preventive effect of aqueous extract of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) leaves against the nephrotoxicity of carbon tetrachloride in mice.

The present study aimed to evaluate the performance effect of aqueous extract of Rosmarinus officinalis (AERO) against the kidney toxicity induced by CCl4 in mice. The results showed that the renal damage induced by CCl4 was associated with a rise in oxidative stress monitored by a significant increase of TBARS and PCO levels (+89% and +136% respectively, p < .001) and a significant decrease of GSH level (-68%, p < .001) and antioxidants enzymes such as SOD, CAT, and GPX activities (-41.7%, -47.8%, and -50.5%; p < .001, respectively). Also, the nephropathology parameters including creatinine, BUN, and urea (+68.9%, +47%, +48·6% respectively, p < .05) were remarkably increased. These findings were substantiated by histological study. Pretreatment with Rosemary extract significantly attenuated the CCl4 related toxic effects via more than one mechanism such as the inhibition of lipid peroxidation, the stimulation of the synthesis of cellular antioxidants, the decrease of the biomarker kidney and the correction of the kidney structure. We can conclude that the Rosemary is efficient in the prevention of kidney function against CCl4 toxicity.

Protective effect of essential oil of Cinnamomum verum bark on hepatic and renal toxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats.

The inner bark of cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) is widely used as a spice. Cinnamon plants are also a valuable source of essential oil used for medicinal purposes. The present study aimed to investigate the composition and in vitro antioxidant activity of essential oil of C. verum bark (CvEO) and its protective effects in vivo on CCl4-induced hepatic and renal toxicity in rats. Groups of animals were pretreated for 7 days with CvEO (70 or 100 mg/kg body weight) or received no treatment and on day 7 a single dose of CCl4 was used to induce oxidative stress. Twenty-four hours after CCl4 administration, the animals were euthanized. In the untreated group, CCl4 induced an increase in serum biochemical parameters and triggered oxidative stress in both liver and kidneys. CvEO (100 mg/kg) caused significant reductions in CCl4-elevated levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, urea, and creatinine and increased the level of high-density lipoprotein compared with the untreated group. Moreover, pretreatment with CvEO at doses of 70 and 100 mg/kg before administration of CCl4 produced significant reductions in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and protein carbonyl levels in liver and kidney tissues compared with the untreated group. The formation of pathological hepatic and kidney lesions induced by the administration of CCl4 was strongly prevented by CvEO at a dose of 100 mg/kg. Overall, this study suggests that administration of CvEO has high potential to quench free radicals and alleviate CCl4-induced hepatorenal toxicity in rats.

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.

Effects of Spirulina platensis on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant defenses, and tissue damage in kidney of alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes causes free radicals overproduction, which contributes to the development of diabetic nephropathy. In modern medicine, no satisfactory therapy is available to cure diabetes mellitus. In that context, we investigated the potential therapeutic action of spirulina-enriched diet on renal impairment and oxidative stress in diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by a single subcutaneous injection of alloxan (120 mg·kg-1) in rats. Following alloxan treatment, male Wistar rats were fed daily with 5% spirulina-enriched diet or treated with insulin (0.5 IU·rat-1) for 3 weeks. Diabetes was associated with hyperglycemia, increase in renal oxidative parameters (lipid peroxidation, thiobarbituric-acid reactive substances, protein carbonyl and advanced oxidation protein products levels, changes in antioxidant enzyme activities), and nephropathology markers. The renal injury induced by alloxan was confirmed by histological study of the diabetic rat kidney. Treatment with spirulina or insulin significantly ameliorated renal dysfunction by reducing oxidative stress, while rats recovered normal kidney histology. Overall, this study indicates that spirulina is efficient in inhibiting hyperglycemia and oxidative stress induced by diabetes, and suggests that the administration of this alga may be helpful in the prevention of diabetic complications. This amelioration was even more pronounced than that caused by insulin injection.

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.

Immunomodulatory and antioxidant protective effect of Sarcocornia perennis L. (swampfire) in lead intoxicated rat.

Lead (Pb) is a very toxic metal present in the environment, causing disturbances of several functions. Preventive or curative effects of halophytic plants against these disorders may be a promising and safe therapeutic strategy. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate in vivo immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects of Sarcocornia perennis extract (Sp) against lead toxicity in rats. Groups of six animals each were treated with plant extract (via food), 6 g/L lead acetate (via drinking water) or a combination of both. At the end of the three-week period, rat exposure to lead caused reduction of liver weight but an increase of that of kidney. Moreover, lead intoxication-induced oxidative stress manifested by significant increases of inflammatory cytokines (except IL-10) and lipid peroxidation (TBARS), compared with the control group. Meanwhile, interleukin-10 (IL-10) and glutathione levels (GSH), as well as antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), were decreased. Considering liver and renal markers, lead treatment induced a significant increase in the activities of aminotransferases (AST, ALT), and in the levels of urea, creatinine and phosphorous, whereas total plasma protein, albumin and calcium levels were significantly decreased. S. perennis extract alone did not induce any significant changes in hepatic or renal markers, whereas the antioxidant markers were significantly increased. S. perennis supplementation significantly reduced the lead-induced elevation of serum IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ and TBARS but increased the IL-10 and antioxidant enzyme activities. Overall, plant components ameliorated hepatorenal damages caused by lead.

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.