Assessment of endosulfan induced genotoxicity and mutagenicity manifested by oxidative stress pathways in freshwater cyprinid fish crucian carp (Carassius carassius L.).

Over the past few decades, endosulfan, one of the polychlorinated pesticides still in use, has received considerable attention of a number of international regulations and restriction action plans worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the cytogenetic effects of endosulfan using robust genotoxicity assays, along with the oxidative stress pathways in order to understand biochemical mechanism, in Carassius carassius L. The LC50-96 h (95% confidence limits) value of endosulfan was 0.070 (0.046-0.093) ppm; and on its basis three test concentrations (sub-lethal I: 0.052, II: 0.035 and III: 0.017 ppm) were selected for 35 d in vivo exposure. The mean concentration of endosulfan in aquaria was always constant, when analyzed by dispersive liquid-liquid micro extraction (DLLME) followed by GC-MS. Autopsy was done on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 of endosulfan exposure; the micronucleus formation (MN), authenticated by scanning electron microscopy, and chromosomal aberrations (CA), were induced significantly (p<0.05) in all the treated groups, including positive control cyclophosphamide (4 ppm), when compared to negative control. Similarly lipid peroxidation (LPO) was induced significantly with the maximal at higher concentration (SL-I) on 4th day (722.45%; p<0.01). Antioxidant biomarkers like glutathione reduced, superoxide dismutase and catalase also fluctuated significantly (p<0.01) in all treatment groups. Collective findings demonstrated that genotoxic effects were invariably accompanied and correlated with increased oxidative stress and disturbance of antioxidant enzymes; and the MN and CA assays are useful tools in determining potential genotoxicity of aquatic xenobiotics and might be appropriate as a part of monitoring program.

Pharmacological and toxicological evaluation of Urtica dioica.

CONTEXT: Medicinal plants are a largely unexplored source of drug repository. Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae) is used in traditional medicine to treat diverse conditions. OBJECTIVE: The present study describes the antidiabetic, antiinflammatory, antibacterial activity, and toxicological studies of Urtica dioica. MATERIALS AND METHODS: U. dioica leaves were subjected to solvent extraction with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and aqueous, respectively, and screened for antidiabetic (300 mg/kg bw by glucose tolerance test; GTT), antiinflammatory (200 mg/kg bw by rat paw edema assay) and antibacterial activities [by disc-diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays]. Toxicological studies were carried on Artemia salina and Wistar rats; phytochemical analyses were carried out, using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. RESULTS: The aqueous extract of U. dioica (AEUD) significantly (p < 0.001; 67.92%) reduced the blood glucose level during GTT in Wistar rats with an effective dose of 300 mg/kg bw in dose-dependent studies. High-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) analysis showed the presence of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and flavonoids in AEUD. Hexane Fraction-2 (HF2) exhibited both antiinflammatory activity (48.83% after 3 h), comparable to that of indomethacin (53.48%), and potent antibacterial activity with MIC values ranging from 31.25-250 µg/mL against all the tested strains. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed fatty acid esters and terpenes as the major constituents of HF2. Toxicity tests showed higher safety margin of all the solvent extracts with LC(50) > 1000 µg/mL each on A. salina. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our results showed that the U. dioica leaves are an interesting source of bioactive compounds, justifying their use in folk medicine, to treat various diseases.

Hydatid embolism from a thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm presenting as gangrenous toes.

Cystic echinococcosis (hydatid cyst), caused by Echinococcus granulosus, has worldwide distribution and poses a health problem in endemic areas. Embolization of hydatid cysts into the vascular tree is an unusual manifestation of the disease. The hydatid embolism results from spontaneous or traumatic rupture of the cyst, and rare case reports of this kind are not well documented in the literature. We report a case of a hydatid embolism from a ruptured hydatid in a pseudoaneurysm of the thoracic aorta. A 45-year-old woman presented with gangrenous changes of the toes of her right foot. After embolectomy, the histopathology of the embolus was doubtful about its being blood clots around hydatid membranes. Postoperatively, computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed a pseudoaneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta. Definitive surgery for the pseudoaneurysm was done during a second operation. Numerous hydatid cysts were evacuated from the pseudoaneurysm. This report emphasizes the need for an early diagnosis and treatment of echinococcosis before disabling and life-threatening complications occur.