Ameliorative effect of black grape juice on systemic alterations and mandibular osteoradionecrosis induced by whole brain irradiation in rats.

PURPOSE: Whole brain irradiation (WBI) causes a variety of secondary side-effects including anorexia and bone necrosis. We evaluated the radiomodifying effect of black grape juice (BGJ) on WBI alterations in rats measuring food and water intake, body weight, hemogram, and morphological and histological mandibular parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty male rats (200-250 g) were exposed to eight sessions of cranial X-ray irradiation. The total dose absorbed was 32 Gy delivered over 2 weeks. Four groups were defined: (i) NG: non-irradiated, glucose and fructose solution-supplemented (GFS); (ii) NJ: non-irradiated, BGJ-supplemented; (iii) RG: irradiated, GFS-supplemented; and (iv) RJ: irradiated, BGJ-supplemented. Rats received daily BGJ or GFS dosing by gavage starting 4 days before, continuing during, and ending 4 days after WBI. RESULTS: RJ rats ingested more food and water and showed less body weight loss than RG rats during the irradiation period. Forty days after WBI, irradiated animals started losing weight again compared with controls as a consequence of masticatory hypofunction by mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN). Osteoclastic activity and inflammation were apparent in RG rat mandibles. BGJ was able to attenuate the severity of ORN as well as to improve white and red blood cell counts. CONCLUSIONS: Fractionated whole brain irradiation induces mandibular changes that interfere with normal feeding. BGJ can be used to mitigate systemic side-effects of brain irradiation and ORN.

Hepatoprotective effects of pecan nut shells on ethanol-induced liver damage.

The hepatoprotective activity of the aqueous extract of the shells of pecan nut was investigated against ethanol-induced liver damage. This by-product of the food industry is popularly used to treat toxicological diseases. We evaluated the phytochemical properties of pecan shell aqueous extract (AE) and its in vitro and ex vivo antioxidant activity. The AE was found to have a high content of total polyphenols (192.4±1.9 mg GAE/g), condensed tannins (58.4±2.2 mg CE/g), and antioxidant capacity, and it inhibited Fe(2+)-induced lipid peroxidation (LP) in vitro. Rats chronically treated with ethanol (Et) had increased plasmatic transaminases (ALT, AST) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels (96%, 59.13% and 465.9%, respectively), which were effectively prevented (87; 41 and 383%) by the extract (1:40, w/v). In liver, ethanol consumption increased the LP (121%) and decreased such antioxidant defenses as glutathione (GSH) (33%) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (47%) levels, causing genotoxicity in erythrocytes. Treatment with pecan shell AE prevented the development of LP (43%), GSH and SOD depletion (33% and 109%, respectively) and ethanol-induced erythrocyte genotoxicity. Catalase activity in the liver was unchanged by ethanol but was increased by the extract (47% and 73% in AE and AE+Et, respectively). Therefore, pecan shells may be an economic agent to treat liver diseases related to ethanol consumption.