Protective effect of Thymus munbyanus aqueous extract against 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats.

The aim of the present study was to examine the possible protective effects of the aqueous extract of Thymus munbyanus (TMAE) against 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)-induced oxidative stress and renal injury in the kidney of male albino rats. Furthermore, TMAE was assessed to determine the phenolic content. In vitro, antioxidant activities were evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging, inhibition of ß-carotene bleaching, and reducing power. The results showed that TMAE contained high amounts of phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins. Additionally, 24 rats were randomly divided into four groups: a control group, and three groups treated with TMAE (10 mL/kg body weight), 2,4-D (5 mg/kg body weight), and 2,4-D/combined with the TMAE for 4 weeks. Treatment with 2,4-D induced kidney dysfunctions demonstrated as an increase in the potential markers of renal filtration, namely urea and creatinine, associated with a decrease in uric acid. Moreover, 2,4-D increased malondialdehyde and carbonyl protein levels. Additionally, reduced glutathione (GSH) content, as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities were significantly decreased. Our results demonstrated that oral TMAE supplementation in 2,4-D-treated rats improved and restored some blood parameters and alleviated the adverse cytotoxic effects of 2,4-D by increasing certain antioxidants, consequently attenuating the intensity of oxidative stress induced by 2,4-D; this was confirmed by the histological improvements observed in the kidneys. In conclusion, TMAE demonstrated potential as a natural antioxidant, effectively alleviating 2,4-D induced kidney oxidative injury.

The antioxidant study proprieties of Thymus munbyanus aqueous extract and its beneficial effect on 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid -induced hepatic oxidative stress in albino Wistar rats.

Herein, we investigated the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of thyme (Thymus munbyanus: AETM) on 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4 -D) - induced liver oxidative damage in rats. The phytochemical study of AETM revealed potent antioxidant properties owed to its richness in phenolic compounds including flavonoids, tannins, and phenolic acids. Further, in vivo animal study was conducted on 24 Wistar rats divided equally into control group and three treated groups, receiving orally AETM (10 ml/kg body weight (b.w), 2,4-D (5 mg/kg (b.w) and AETM + 2,4 - D (combined treatment) for 30 consecutive days. The results showed a significant increase in the enzymatic activity of transaminases (AST, ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and carbonyl proteins (CPO), along with a significant decrease in plasma total protein, albumin, hepatic glutathione (GSH) contents, and the enzymatic activity of the hepatic antioxidant markers (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione- S- transferase (GST)) in 2,4- D treatment compared with control. Moreover, no significant changes in these parameters were noticed in AETM treated animals as compared to control, and hence the combined treatment (AETM + 2,4- D) showed a marked enhancement in the above altered hepatic functional and antioxidant parameters and liver histopathology. In conclusion, AETM, owing to its richness with phenolic compounds proved to be an efficient antioxidant against 2,4-D - induced liver oxidative damage, and hence complementary studies would be needed to appear the use of these compounds as supplements in treating liver impairment.

Prevalence of microbial nosocomial infections in the resuscitation unit of the University Hospital of Annaba-Algeria / Prévalence des infections nosocomiales d'origine microbienne au service de réanimation du Centre hospitalo-universitaire de Annaba (Algérie)

Nosocomial infections constitute a significant public health problem but are poorly controlled in our health structures, especially those associated with resuscitation care. The first objective of this study was to identify the different microbial strains present in different biological samples taken from patients staying in the resuscitation unit of the Annaba University Hospital Center. The second objective was to assess the antimicrobial sensitivity of isolated microbes from the patients' samples, to determine the risk factors, the most incriminated microbial agents in nosocomial infections. During the study period from January 2013 to December 2016, we collected 1,151 biological samples from 1,938 patients admitted to Resuscitation Medical Service. The samples were subjected to different microbiological analyses. Our results showed that over 59% of the collected samples were microbiologically positive. The identified species include Candida albicans (115 cases) and Candida.sp (81 cases). The Gram-negative bacterial strains found in the samples included Acinetobacter baumannii (108 cases), Klebssiella pneumoniae (99 cases) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (79 cases), and Escherichia coli (73 cases). Gram positive bacteria included Staphylococcus aureus (94 cases) and Enterococcus faecalis (53 cases). The antibiogram analyses showed significant antibiotic resistance reaching 93.75% for ampicillin, but sensitivity to colistin reaching 81.81%. Moreover, the fungal strains are represented by the genus albicans, showing a significant resistance to antifungals, reaching 80% with miconazole. Conclusion. The nosocomial infections in the medical unit were caused by the candida genus and multi-resistant bacteria to various antibiotics and antifungals. The most important factor associated with these infections was the use of medical devices.

Contexte: Les infections nosocomiales sont un grand problème de santé publique, encore méconnu et mal maîtrisé au sein des structures sanitaires. Objectif: Le but de notre étude était d'identifier les différentes souches microbiennes présentes dans les prélèvements obtenus de patients séjournant à l'unité de réanimation du Centre hospitalo-universitaire d'Annaba. Nous avons également évalué leurs sensibilités aux antimicrobiens, et pour déterminer les facteurs de risque, les agents infectieux les plus incriminés ainsi que la sensibilité aux traitements proposés afin de prévenir et/ou traiter les infections nosocomiales. Matériel et méthode: C'est une étude rétrospective de janvier 2013 à décembre 2016, analysant les différents prélèvements microbiologiques effectués au service de réanimation médicale d'Annaba-Algérie. Durant cette période d'étude, 1 151 prélèvements ont été effectués sur les 1 938 patients admis. Ces prélèvements ont été soumis à différentes analyses microbiologiques. Résultats: Les résultats montrent que plus de 59 % des prélèvements contenaient des microbes. En effet, nous avons identifié Candida albicans dans 115, et Candida sp. dans 81 prélèvements. Les bactéries Gram négatif incluent l'Acinetobacter baumannii dans 108, Klbessiella pneumoniae dans 99, Pseudomonas aeruginosa dans 79, et Escherichia coli dans 73 prélèvements. Pour les bactéries Gram positif, nous avons isolé Staphylococcus aureus dans 94, et Enterococcus faecalis dans 53 prélèvements. Les antibiogrammes montrent une importante résistance aux différents antibiotiques, avec une résistance 93,75 % pour l'ampicilline, et une sensibilité à la colistine de 81,81 %. Les souches fongiques représentées par le genre albicans affichent aussi une résistance aux antifongiques qui atteignent 80 % pour la miconazole. Conclusion: Les infections nosocomiales dans l'unité de réanimation médicale du Centre hospitalo-universitaire (CHU) d'Annaba sont dominées par le genre candida et des bactéries multi résistantes à différents antibiotiques et antifongiques. Le port d'un dispositif médical semble favoriser les infections nosocomiales.

Effect of Citrus aurantium L. Essential Oil on Streptococcus mutans Growth, Biofilm Formation and Virulent Genes Expression.

In an oral cavity, dental caries, periodontal disease, and endodontic lesions are caused by well-known bacterial and fungal pathogens. Essential oils (EOs) have demonstrated antimicrobial activity suggesting their use for oral hygiene. The goal of this study was to evaluate the interaction of bitter orange flower (Citrus aurantium L.) essential oil with cariogenic bacteria Streptococcus mutans and human gingival epithelial cells. After extraction, the chemical composition of the essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography, and its antimicrobial activity was evaluated against the growth and the expression of virulent genes in S. mutans. Finally, the effects of this essential oil on human gingival epithelial cell adhesion and growth were assessed using cell adhesion and proliferation assays. We showed that the major constituents of the tested essential oil were limonene, linalool, and ß-ocimene. The essential oil reduced the growth of S. mutans, and decreased expression of comC, comD, comE, gtfB, gtfC, and gbpB genes. It should, however, be noted that essential oil at high concentration was toxic to gingival epithelial cells. Overall, this study suggests that C. aurantium L. essential oil could be used to prevent/control oral infections.

Nephroprotective effect of Artemisia herba alba aqueous extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In the present study, we investigate the phytochemical composition and the nephroprotective effects as well as the antioxidant properties of Artemisia herba alba aqueous extract in alloxan-induced experimental diabetes in rats. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE: Wistar rats were divided into four groups of seven rats each: Group I: Normal control (NC) received saline solution at 9‰ given by intraperitoneal way; Group II: Diabetic control (DC) received alloxan (150 mg/kg b.w) intraperitoneally; Group III: Normal control (NC + AHA) received saline solution at 9‰ and treated orally by AHA aqueous extract (400 mg/kg/b.w); Group IV: Diabetic control (DC + AHA) received alloxan solution (150 mg/kg b.w) intraperitoneally and treated by aqueous extract of AHA (400 mg/kg/b.w/day) orally after one week of alloxan administration. After 30 days, blood and tissue samples were collected for biochemical and histopathological analysis, respectively. Glomerular damage markers, including creatinine, serum urea, urine creatinine and urine urea levels were estimated. Creatinine clearance was also assessed. Oxidative stress parameters were assessed in the kidney homogenate. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Alloxan-exposure resulted in significant increase in blood glucose and serum level of glomerular damage markers. The antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly downregulated associated with an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) level over the baseline values. Artemisia herba alba aqueous extract supplementation significantly improved the studied parameters. In concluding, the results obtained suggests that Artemisia herbs-alba aqueous extract supplementation reduces alloxan-induced free radical generation, potentiates the antioxidant defense system and alleviates renal sensitivity to oxidative stress.

Potential Role of Selenium Against Hepatotoxicity Induced by 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid in Albino Wistar Rats.

The present study aims to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of selenium on toxicity induced by 'Désormone Lourd' based on 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in Wistar rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups and were treated orally. The (C) group was used as a control, while the test groups were treated with Se (0.2 mg/kg b.w.), 2,4-D (5 mg/kg b.w.) or both (2,4-D + Se) for 4 weeks. Our results showed that chronic treatment with 2,4-D resulted in hepatotoxicity, as revealed by an increase in liver function markers Aminotransferases (ALT, AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and total bilirubin (TB), along with reduced total protein content and albumin. An overall pro-oxidant effect was associated with a decrease in the reduced glutathione (GSH) content and the enzymatic activity of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl levels (PCO). Microscopic observation of liver in 2,4-D-treated rats reveals lesions, which results in perivascular inflammatory infiltration around the vessel, sinusoidal dilatation and vacuolization of hepatocytes. However, selenium supplementation in 2,4-D-treated rats elicited a reduction in the toxic effects of the pesticide by improving the studied parameters, which was confirmed by the histological study of the liver. Selenium appears to have a promising prophylactic effect through its effective anti-radical action against the hepatotoxic effects of 2,4-D.