The hydroalcoholic extract of Zingiber officinale diminishes diazinon-induced hepatotoxicity by suppressing oxidative stress and apoptosis in rats.

Diazinon (DZN) is an organophosphate insecticide that affects the liver adversely. Ginger exhibits antioxidant properties. We investigated the hepatoprotective effects of an ethanolic extract of ginger root on DZN induced hepatotoxicity. We measured total phenolics and flavonoids in the hydroalcoholic extract. We used Wistar rats divided into four groups: control, 100 mg/kg/day ginger by gavage, 10 mg/kg/day DZN intraperitoneally, and ginger + DZN group treated with ginger 1 h before DZN. All treatments were for 30 consecutive days. One day after the last treatment, we evaluated oxidative stress parameters, serum biochemistry, histopathology and immunohistochemistry. The ginger extract contained 101.33 ± 2.73 mg total flavonoid and 237.9 ± 3 mg total phenolic content/g dry ginger plant roots. We found that DZN increased oxidative stress significantly. Histopathology of the liver tissue was consistent with increased AST, ALT, and ALP. Ginger extract treatment reduced oxidative stress and improved histopathology. DZN increased caspase-3 immunoreactivity and ginger extract reduced it. Ginger extract exhibited hepatoprotective effects against DZN induced hepatic injury owing to its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activity.

Evaluation of the Anti-apoptotic and Anti-cytotoxic Effect of Epicatechin Gallate and Edaravone on SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells.

INTRODUCTION: Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease affecting older individuals with signs of motor disability and cognitive impairment. Epicatechin (EC) and edaravone have neuroprotective effects most probably due to their antioxidant activity; however, a limited number of studies have considered their role in PD. This research aimed at investigating the neuroprotective effect of EC and edaravone in a neurotoxin-induced model of PD. METHODS: An in vitro model of PD was made by subjecting SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells to neurotoxin: 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) 100 µM/well. The cytoprotective effect of EC and edaravone in five concentrations on cell viability was tested using the MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) assay. The apoptotic assay was done by annexin V and propidium iodide method using flow cytometry. RESULTS: According to the MTT assay analysis, EC and edaravone had protective effects against 6-OH DA-induced cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells that were much more significant for edaravone and also a relative synergistic effect between EC and edaravone was observed. The apoptotic analysis showed that edaravone alone could decrease early and late apoptosis, whereas EC diminished early apoptosis, but enhanced late apoptosis and necrosis. Besides, co-treatment of edaravone and EC had a synergistic effect on decreasing apoptosis and increasing cell viability. CONCLUSION: The protective effect of edaravone on apoptosis and cytotoxicity was demonstrated clearly and EC had a synergistic effect with edaravone.

Atorvastatin attenuates the ovarian damage induced by cyclophosphamide in rat: An experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Cyclophosphamide (CP), as an anticancer agent, causes ovarian toxicity and subsequent infertility in women. Atorvastatin (ATV) at a low dose has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of ATV against CP-induced ovarian injury in rat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, thirty-two female Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups as I) control, II) ATV (10 mg/kg), III) CP (150 mg/kg), and IV) CP +ATV. The ATV treated groups were received ATV for 10 days via oral gavage. In the CP+ATV group, ATV was administrated on 5 days before and 5 days after CP injection. Histological structure, apoptosis (caspase-3), oxidative stress parameters as malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species, protein carbonyl levels and cell viability were evaluated in ovary tissue by histological scores, immunohistochemistry, histochemical and biochemical assays. The levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones were measured on the 12th day of study. RESULTS: ATV pretreatment significantly decreased the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers as malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species and protein carbonyl levels and increased cell death in CP-treated rats as compared with the CP alone group. ATV significantly increased estrogen and progesterone levels in CP-treated rats. In addition, the histological examination showed ATV mitigated acute inflammation, degenerative cells in stroma and follicles, stromal edema, vacuolization, atresia of the follicles and congestion of blood vessels in the CP-treated animals. Furthermore, ATV significantly reduced immunoreactivity level of caspase-3 in CP-treated rats. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that the ATV with antioxidant and anti-apoptosis (caspase-3) activities protected ovarian against CP-induced toxicity.