Neuroprotective Effects of Curcumin against Chronic ChlorpyrifosInduced Oxidative Damage in Rat Brain Tissue.

BACKGROUND: Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an organophosphate pesticide that inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Investigations have also focused on its neurotoxicity, which is independent of AChE inhibition. Here, we evaluated the effect of CPF on oxidative indices in the brain tissue and explored the protective effect of curcumin (Cur) against its toxicity. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups, each consisting of eight rats (n = 8) per group. Animals were administrated by oral gavage for 90 days with the following treatments: control (C), CPF, CPF + CUR 25 mg/kg, CPF + CUR50, and CPF + cur 100 received olive oil, CPF, CPF plus 25 mg/kg of CUR, CPF plus 50 mg/kg of CUR, and CPF plus 100 mg/kg of CUR, respectively. After anesthetization, animal brain tissues were obtained for assessment of oxidative stress indices. RESULTS: The concentration of MDA significantly increased in the brains of the CPF group as compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Also, a significant decrease in MDA concentrations was observed in the brains of rats in the CPF + Cur 100 group compared to the CPF group (p < 0.05). A significant decrease was noted in the GSH concentration in the brains of the CPF group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Treatment with Cur at 100 mg/kg exhibited a significant increase in GSH concentrations in the brains of the CPF-exposed group compared to the CPF group without Cur administration (p < 0.05). The concentration of NO exhibited a significant increase in the brains of the CPF group when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Also, a significant decrease in NO concentration was observed in the brain tissue of the CPF + Cur 100 group compared to the CPF group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our data establish that chronic exposure to CPF induced oxidative stress in brain tissue, which was reversed by CUR administration. Additional experimental and clinical investigations are needed to validate the efficacy of CUR as a potential antidote for CPF poisoning.

The Protective Effect of Curcumin Against Cardiotoxic Effects Induced by Chronic Exposure to Chlorpyrifos.

AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Chlorpyrifos (CPF) in rat heart tissue and the effect of Curcumin (Cur) on cardiac enzymes, oxidative indices, and histopathological changes in the cardiac tissue. BACKGROUND: CPF, the most used organophosphorus pesticide (OP), has been reported to induce cardiotoxic effects. OBJECTIVE: The cardioprotective effects of Cur against CPF-induced toxicity have not been entirely investigated till now. METHOD: Forty male Wistar rats were randomized into five groups (n=8). C group (Control animals that received olive oil), CPF group (10 mg/kg/day), CPF + Cur 25, CPF + Cur 50, and CPF + Cur 100 groups (animals received 10 mg/kg/day CPF and 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg Cur, respectively). All treatments were administered via oral gavage for 90 days. Cardiac enzymes (LDH & CPK) and oxidative stress (OS) biomarkers in heart tissue (malondialdehyde, Superoxide Dismutase) were measured. Histopathological changes in the heart tissue were also evaluated. RESULT: Chronic exposure to CPF significantly increased cardiac enzyme levels and OS biomarkers. Histological changes were found, including disorganization of the cardiac muscle fibers with disorganization and degeneration in myocardial fibers with separation of myofibrils and cytoplasmic vacuolization of cardiac muscle fibers. Administration of Cur (100 mg/kg) reversed serum LDH concentration and OS biomarkers to normal levels in CPF-exposed animals (p < 0.05) and significantly improved cardiac damage. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, Cur can reduce the adverse effects of long-term exposure to CPF in rat heart tissue by modulating OS.

Aqueous extract of Teucrium polium ameliorates diabetes and induced-prostatic complication.

Purpose: Prostatic complications are common among diabetic patients. Previous research demonstrates that Teucrium polium (T. polium) has beneficial effects in diabetic cases. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the impacts of T. polium aqueous extract on the prostate of diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). a total of 40 Rats were randomly divided into the following groups: Control, Control + TP100 (TP100), Diabetic, Diabetic + TP100 (DTP100) and Diabetic + TP200 (DTP200). The intervention was done orally once per day for 56 days (8 weeks). An oral glucose tolerance test was conducted, glucose and insulin levels were assessed. Microscopic features of the ventral prostatic lobe were evaluated pathologically. Results: T. polium at both doses significantly reduced glucose levels in an insulin-independent pathway. T. polium at both doses significantly improved prostate weight, prostate epithelium height, and prostate secretory activity in comparison with the diabetic group. Interestingly, treatment of T. polium to healthy rats led to decreased epithelial height. Conclusion: It could be deduced that T. polium has useful impacts on glucose control and may prevent prostatic complications. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-022-00979-4.

Investigating the effect of the Teucrium polium aqueous extract on the liver of the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVES: Teucrium polium (TP) has been traditionally used for treatment of the diabetes mellitus, kidney and liver diseases, and inflammations but some studies have reported the hepatotoxicity effects of this plant. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of TP aqueous extract on the liver of the diabetic rats. METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: (Control) Normal rats that were gavaged with normal saline (1 mL), (TP100) Normal rats (Non-diabetic) that were gavaged with TP (100 mg/kg), (DM) diabetic model rats, which became diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg), (DTP100) diabetic rats that were gavaged with TP (100 mg/kg), and (DTP200) diabetic rats that were gavaged with TP (200 mg/kg). The effects of the aqueous extract on the blood glucose, body weight, the activities of enzyme markers of liver damage (Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)) were investigated in the serum of the control and treated groups. At the end of study liver histopathology and the total antioxidant activity (TAA) test were evaluated. Finally, obtained data were analyzed by the SPSS software (version 16). RESULTS: Results showed that the AST and ALT levels were significantly increased in the diabetic rats (p<0.001). A comparison of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg doses of TP administration in diabetic rats also showed a significant difference (p=0.01), indicating a better performance of 100 mg/kg dose. No significant difference was found between the control group and rats treated by the TP (TP100) (p=0.382). Also, triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol levels were significantly decreased in the treated groups compared to the diabetic untreated group. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of the study revealed no hepatotoxicity, and the hepatoprotective effects of the TP were proved in the present study.

One-year survival cohort of patients with reduced ejection fraction heart failure in Iranian population: A single center study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the main concerns of health care systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the most important prognostic factors of heart failure (HF) and their survival outcomes in patients in Birjand, East of Iran. METHODS: A total of 194 systolic HF patients hospitalized in Birjand Valiasr hospital were followed up for 12 months in 2016, and those with reduced left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF < 50%) were included in this study. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard analysis were used to determine the association of each factor with events. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 68.23 ± 13.40 (27-95) years, and 57.2% (111 out of 194) were women. Mean survival time was 294.7 ± 9.924 days. Pervious history of myocardial infarction (MI) [2.141 (1.101-4.161)] increased the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization. Elevated blood levels of potassium [2.264 (1.438-3.564)] was found to be a risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Moreover, there was a reverse relationship between body height [0.942 (0.888-0.999)] and cardiovascular death. Patients with opium addiction [4.049 (1.310-12.516)] are at a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality. Lower levels of LDL-C [0.977 (0.960-0.996)] and living in rural areas [3.052 (1.039-8.964)] increased all-cause mortality levels. Lack of pervious history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) decreased cardiovascular hospitalization [0.265 (0.062-1.122)]. CONCLUSION: In our study, serum potassium, LDL-C, and uric acid levels in patients with HF were identified as prognostic factors. The height of patients, which can be an indicator of the functional state of their respiratory system, and the history of COPD were also recognized as prognostic factors. Opium use and rural living were identified as social factors influencing patients' prognosis.