Leaf ethanolic extract of Etlingera hemesphaerica Blume mitigates defects in fetal anatomy and endochondral ossification due to mercuric chloride during the post-implantation period in Mus musculus.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of leaf ethanolic extract of Etlingera hemisphaerica (LE3H) in reducing defects in fetal anatomy and endochondral ossification in mice induced by HgCl2 during the post-implantation period. Pregnant mice were divided into four groups, each consisting of 10 dams, and received drink and food ad libitum. The first group was administered LE3H (E1), the second one HgCl2 (E2), the third one HgCl2+LE3H (E3), and the fourth was control (E0), administered double-distilled water only. HgCl2 (5 mg/kg bw) was administrated by injection intraperitoneally on gestation day (GD)9 and LE3H (0.39 mg/g bw) was administered by gavage on GD10. The treated and control animals were killed by cervical dislocation on GD18, dissected, and the morphologically normal living fetuses (MNLF) were collected. The MNLF of E0, E1, E2, and E3 from 5 dams were fixed with Bouin solution, and observed using the free hand razor blade technique for soft tissue examination. The remaining MNLF were fixed with 96% ethanol, and then stained with Alizarin Red S and Alcian Blue for ossification examination. Index of length of ossified part (ILOP) of humerus, index of width of ossified part (IWOP) of humerus, ILOP of femur, and IWOP of femur were calculated. E2 had higher cases of anatomical defects (74,6%) than E3 (48.9%), E1 (15.0%), and E0 (0%). E2 had humerus IWOP of 0.82±0.03, which was significantly lower than that of E0 (0.89±0.04) and E1 (0.89±0.03), while that of E1 and E0 was not significantly different from each other. Meanwhile, IWOP in E3 (0.88±0.03) was significantly higher than that in E2, but not different from that in E1 and E0. Thus, LE3H mitigated defects in fetal anatomy and endochondral ossification induced by HgCl2 in mice.

Leaf ethanolic extract of Etlingera hemesphaerica Blume alters mercuric chloride teratogenicity during the post-implantation period in Mus musculus.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of leaf ethanolic extract of Etlingera hemisphaerica (LE3H) against the teratogenic effects of mercuric chloride (HgCl2) in mice (Mus musculus). Pregnant M. musculus were divided into four groups, each consisting of 10 dams, and received drink and food ad libitum. The first, second, and third, and fourth (control) groups were administered with LE3H, HgCl2, HgCl2 + LE3H, and double-distilled water alone, respectively. HgCl2 (5 mg/kg bw) was administered by injection on gestation day (GD) 9, and LE3H (0.39 mg/g bw) was administered by gavage on GD 10. Treated and control animals were killed by cervical dislocation on GD 18, dissected, and the fetuses were collected for evaluation of maternal, embryonic, and fetal toxicity. Eight parameters were measured: (a) embryo resorption or resorbed embryo, (b) dead fetus, (c) living fetus, (d) morphologically normal living fetus, (e) malformed living fetus, (f) number of MLF, (g) length of MNLF, and (h) weight of MNLF. LE3H caused 4 (50.00%), whereas HgCl2 resulted in 7 (87.50%) parameters that were significantly different from those of the control, indicating that the teratogenicity of HgCl2 was significantly higher than that of LE3H. HgCl2 + LE3H showed two effects of LE3H on the teratogenicity of HgCl2: increased 2 (25.00%), and decreased 6 (75.00%). Thus, LE3H decreased the teratogenic effects of HgCl2 in M. musculus.

Preliminary studies on therapeutic effect of ethanolic extract of Tylophora villosa leaves against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.

This study intended to investigate the therapeutic effect of ethanolic extract of Tylophora villosa leaves (E2TL) against paracetamol (PC)-induced hepatotoxicity (PCIH) in mice (Mus musculus). PCIH were generated using daily 250 mg/kg body weight (bw) PC administration by gavage for seven days, and then daily 27.5; 55.0; 82.5; 110.0; or 220.0 mg/kg bw E2TL were treated by gavage for seven or fourteen days. Meanwhile, the controls were given solvent only in the same manner. Mortality, blood glucose, and condition (color, weight, volume) of the livers were observed on day 15 (D15). Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SG0T) were examined on D15, D22, and D30, and then malondialdehyde (MDA) was determined on D15. Results of this study revealed that on D15, the dosage of 110.0 mg/kg bw E2TL most effectively decreased MDA due to PCIH, from 6.78 ± 1.70 µmol/L to 3.45 ± 0.43 µmol/L, approaching the control condition (2.45 ± 0.05 µmol/L). PC administration was really toxic dosage and caused 13.3 % mortality. Blood glucose, weight, and volume of the liver decreased as the effect of PC administration, and then 220.0 mg/kg bw E2TL treatment could recover the condition as well as the controls. Color of the liver indicated a similar recovery by E2TL treatment. SGPT and SG0T increased significantly by PC administration, and this PCIH facts could be recovered gradually near the controls according to the dosages (55.0; 110.0; or 220.0 mg/kg bw) and duration (seven or fourteen days) of E2TL treatment. It could be concluded that E2TL showed therapeutic effect against PCIH in M. musculus.

Protective Effect of Leaf Ethanolic Extract Etlingera hemisphaerica Blume Against Mercuric Chloride Toxicity in Blood of Mice.

This research was intended to investigate the protective effect of leaf ethanolic extract Etlingera hemisphaerica Blume (LE3H) against mercuric chloride (HgCl2) toxicity in blood of mice (Mus musculus). The experimental animals, 95 male M. musculus, received drink and food ad libitum. Three materials were tested: LE3H (0.13, 0.26, 0.39 mg/g body weight [bw]) was administered by gavage; HgCl2 (5 mg/kg bw) was administrated by gavage or intraperitoneal injection; and Imunos (the nutritional supplement to stimulate the immune system; 0.2 mg/g bw), as a positive control for LE3H treatment, was given by gavage. Blood samples were taken from the tails for determining number of blood cells. The animals were killed by cervical dislocation (CD), and then blood samples were collected from the hearts for protein electrophoresis. Results revealed the same number of leukocytes with LE3H (0.39 mg/g bw) treatment as with the Imunos treatment. HgCl2 administration increased leukocytes and decreased erythrocytes; HgCl2 administration followed by LE3H (0.39 mg/g bw) treatment protected the amount of blood cells as well as the control. HgCl2 administration showed a new 125 kDa protein and caused overexpression of 48 kDa protein; this protein profile could be protected by LE3H (0.39 mg/g bw) treatment as in the control condition. We conclude that LE3H provides a protective effect against HgCl2 toxicity in blood of M. musculus.

Studies on the photochemistry of 1,7-diphenyl-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione, a non-phenolic curcuminoid model.

The comparative photostability of curcumin 1, and two non-phenolic curcuminoids: 1,7-diphenyl-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione 2 (unsubstituted curcumin) and dimethylcurcumin 3 in non-degassed dilute solutions (approximately 3-5 x 10(-5) mol l(-1)) has been established by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy; disappearance quantum yields were measured. The similar behavior of the three studied curcuminoids is indicative of only a moderate role of phenol groups in the photodegradation process. Structural analysis of the photodegradation products of compound 2 in more concentrated solution (approximately 3.6 x 10(-3) mol l(-1)) shows formation of benzaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, 2'-hydroxy-5',6'-benzochalcone 4, flavanone 5 and some other unidentified photoproducts. Flavanone 5 is formed by irradiation of chalcone 4. It represents a unique example of photochemical conversion of a diarylheptanoid molecule into a flavonoid, another very important class of natural products.