Effect of coriander on thioacetamide-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Thioacetamide (TAA) is a potent hepatotoxin that causes centrilobulal necrosis and nephrotoxic damage following acute administration. Prolonged exposure to TAA can result in bile duct proliferation and liver cirrhosis histologically similar to that caused due to viral hepatitis infection. Coriander in food increases the antioxidant content, acting as a natural antioxidant and inhibiting undesirable oxidation processes. The present study investigated the antioxidant activity of Coriandrum sativum on TAA-induced hepatotoxicity in the male rats. Phenolic content and antioxidant activity were evaluated in the coriander leaves and seeds. Forty-eight adult male rats were divided into four groups. Group I (control), group II (TAA injected rats), group III (TAA injected rats fed coriander leaves) and group IV (TAA injected rats fed coriander seeds). The results revealed that serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were significantly increased in the groups II, III and IV as compared to the normal control. Oxidative stress in the group II was manifested by a significant rise in nitric oxide (NO), thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels and myloperoxidase (MPO) activities in the liver tissues as compared with the control group. Rats fed with coriander leaves and seeds showed a decrease in the serum ALT, AST and ALP activities and in the liver NO and TBARS levels as compared to the group II. Histopathological study revealed that coriander feeding attenuated TAA-induced hepatotoxicity in the rats. In conclusion, coriander leaves attenuate hepatotoxicity induced by TAA more than that of seeds due to the higher content of phenolic compounds and antioxidants in the leaves of coriander. Liver of rats intoxicated with TAA exhibited advanced CIRRHOSIS: in the form of macronodular and micronodular structure surrounded by fibrous tissue. Treatment with coriander leaves and seeds helps in improving the adverse effect of TAA-induced hepatotoxicity; also the histological study confirms this finding.

Potential therapeutic effect of thymoquinone and/or bee pollen on fluvastatin-induced hepatitis in rats.

Hepatitis is one of earlier, but serious, signs of liver damage. High doses of statins for a long time can induce hepatitis. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the therapeutic potential of thymoquinone (TQ) and bee pollen (BP) on fluvastatin (F)-induced hepatitis in rats. Rats were randomly divided into: group 1 (G1, control), G2 (F, hepatitis), G3 (F + TQ), G4 (F + BP), and G5 (F + TQ + BP). Single treatment with TQ or BP relieved fluvastatin-induced hepatitis, with best effect for the combined therapy. TQ and/or BP treatment significantly (1) reduced serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, and total bilirubin, (2) decreased malondialdehyde levels and increased level of reduced glutathione, and activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase in the liver, (3) improved liver histology with mild deposition of type I collagen, (4) increased mRNA levels of transforming growth factor beta 1, nuclear factor Kappa B, and cyclooxygenase 1 and 2, and (5) decreased tumor necrosis factor alpha and upregulated interleukin 10 protein in the liver. These data clearly highlight the ability of TQ and BP combined therapy to cause better ameliorative effects on fluvastatin-induced hepatitis than individual treatment by each alone.

Association of MHC IIA polymorphisms with disease resistance in Aeromonas hydrophila-challenged Nile tilapia.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes show high polymorphisms in vertebrates depending on animal immunity status. Herein, MHC class IIA gene in Aeromonas hydrophila-challenged Nile tilapia was screened for presence of polymorphisms using sequencing. Twelve nucleotides deletion polymorphism was determined with a PCR product size of 267 bp in the resistant fish and 255 bp in the control and susceptible/diseased fish. Additionally, a non-synonymous right frameshift c.712 T > G (P. 238 * > G) SNP was detected at the stop codon (*). SNP-susceptibility association analysis revealed that fish carrying GG genotype and allele G were high susceptible (risk) for A. hydrophila, and had lower immune response as indicated by significant reduction in non-specific immune parameters (total protein, globulin, IgM, phagocytic activity, phagocytic index, and lysosome activity) and mRNA level of MHC IIA, interleukin 1 beta (IL1ß), tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNFα), and toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) in the spleen and head kidney. Thus, G allele could be considered as a risk (recessive or mutant) allele for c. 712 T > G (P. 238 * > G) SNP and so selection of Nile tilapia with protective allele (T) for this SNP could improve the disease resistant of the fish.

Evaluation of antibacterial and anticancer properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) functionalized with different amino compounds.

The chemical modification of biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is useful for biomedical applications. In this study, the transesterification reaction of PHB was carried out under reflux conditions in the presence of 1,4-butanediol to form telechelic PHB-diol. Further modification of PHB-diol into PHB-diacrylate was carried out by the reaction of PHB-diol with acryloyl chloride. PHB-diacrylate was grafted with amino compounds such as 1,4-butanediamine, 1,3-propanediamine, 1,2-ethylenediamine, piperazine, cyclohexylamine, 2,2'-(ethane-1,2-diylbis(oxy)) diethanamine (jeffamine EDR 148) and morpholine via Michael-type addition reaction. The functionalized amino-PHB polymers were characterized by using FTIR and 1H NMR techniques. XRD showed that amino-PHB polymers have different crystallinity compared with neat PHB. Some biological activities of amino-PHB polymers were determined such as antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer activities. In this regard, the results showed that PHB-ethylenediamine revealed a potent antibacterial activity against Staphlococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. All amino-PHB polymers under the study showed reasonable antioxidant activity. Among these polymers, PHB-piperazine showed a potent anticancer effect against in vivo Ehrlich ascetic carcinoma bearing mice.

Phytochemical Screening and in vitro Anticancer Activity of Some Medicinal Plants Grown in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia / Cribado Fitoquímico y Actividad Anticancerígena in vitro de Algunas Plantas Medicinales Cultivadas en el Reino de Arabia Saudita

SUMMARY: This study evaluated the phytochemical screening, antioxidant capacity, and in vitro anticancer activities of four plants namely, Gypsophila capillaris, Anabasis lachnantha, Haloxylon salicornicum, and Horwoodia dicksoniae which belong to four different families: Caryophyllaceae, Amaranthaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Brassicaceae, respectively. The total phenolics, anthocyanins, saponins, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and DPPH assays were determined by spectrophotometer. In vitro anticancer activity was assessed using two human cancer cell lines; hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG-2) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) to estimate the inhibition concentration 50 % (IC50). The results showed that H. dicksoniae has the highest concentrations of phenolics and saponins, while H. salicornicum has the highest DPPH. The highest concentration of TAC was found in G. capillaries. Among the tested extracts, G. capillaries and H. salicornicum have the potential activity against MCF-7 and HepG-2 cell lines in vitro. The content of polyphenols in G. capillaries was profiled by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The highest concentration among the phenolic compounds was chlorogenic (60.8 µg/ml) while the highest concentration among the flavonoid compounds was hesperidin (1444.92 µg/ml). In summary, G. capillaries and H. salicornicum extracts have potent anticancer activity against HepG-2 and MCF-7 cell lines.

Este estudio evaluó la detección fitoquímica, la capacidad antioxidante y las actividades anticancerígenas in vitro de cuatro plantas, Gypsophila capillaris, Anabasis lachnantha, Haloxylon salicornicum y Horwoodia dicksoniae, que pertenecen a cuatro familias diferentes: Caryophyllaceae, Amaranthaceae, Chenopodiaceae y Brassicaceae, respectivamente. Los ensayos de fenólicos totales, antocianinas, saponinas, capacidad antioxidante total (TAC) y DPPH se determinaron mediante espectrofotómetro. La actividad anticancerígena in vitro se evaluó utilizando dos líneas celulares de cáncer humano; carcinoma hepatocelular (HepG-2) y adenocarcinoma de mama (MCF- 7) para estimar la concentración de inhibición del 50 % (IC50). Los resultados indicaron que H. dicksoniae tiene las concentraciones más altas de fenólicos y saponinas, mientras que H. salicornicum tiene el DPPH más alto. La mayor concentración de TAC se encontró en G. capillaries. Entre los extractos probados, G. capillaries y H. salicornicum tienen actividad potencial contra líneas celulares MCF-7 y HepG-2 in vitro. El contenido de polifenoles en G. capillaries se perfiló mediante cromatografía líquida de alta resolución (HPLC). La concentración más alta entre los compuestos fenólicos fue clorogénica (60,8 µg/ml), mientras que la concentración más alta entre los compuestos flavonoides fue la hesperidina (1444,92 µg/ml). En resumen, los extractos de Gypsophila capillaris y H. salicornicum tienen una potente actividad anticancerígena contra las líneas celulares HepG-2 y MCF-7.