Physiological investigations on the effect of olive and rosemary leaves extracts in male rats exposed to thioacetamide

Physiologically, it is known that thioacetamide (TAA) toxicity is generally associated with hepatic fibrosis induction, complicated metabolic disorders and health problems. The capability of extracts of olive and rosemary leaves to attenuate the severe physiological disturbances induced by thioacetamide (TAA) intoxication in male rats has been evaluated. Healthy male Wistar rats were used in the present study and were divided randomly into eight groups. Rats of the first group were served as normal control. Rats of the second group were administrated with TAA. Rats of the third, fourth and fifth groups were exposed to TAA plus olive leaves extract, TAA plus rosemary leaves extract and TAA plus olive and rosemary leaves extracts respectively. The sixth, seventh and eighth groups were supplemented with olive leaves extract, rosemary leaves extract, and olive and rosemary leaves extracts respectively. After 12 weeks of experimental treatments, the levels of serum glucose, total protein, albumin and high density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly decreased, while the levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase were statistically increased in rats exposed to TAA. Administration of the studied extracts inhibited the hematobiochemical parameters and improved the physiological disturbances induced by TAA intoxication. Additionally, most improvements were noted in rats administrated with rosemary leaves extract followed by olive and rosemary leaves extracts and olive leaves extract. These results suggested that the effect of these extracts might be due to their antioxidant activities against TAA toxicity.     

Physiological and histopathological study on the influence of Ocimum basilicum leaves extract on thioacetamide-induced nephrotoxicity in male rats

Kidney disease is a worldwide public health problem that affects millions of people worldwide. Globally, many risk factors for kidney disease progression have been identified. The global prevalence of acute and chronic forms of kidney disease is rising continuously. Nephrotoxicity is defined as rapid dysfunction of kidney due to toxic influence of medications and chemicals. Nephroprotective agents are material that has potential to minimize the effects of nephrotoxic agents. Plants have been shown to be potential therapeutic agents to protect against nephrotoxicity. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the nephroprotective effect of basil leaves extract against thioacetamide (TAA) in male rats. Experimental male rats were divided into four groups. Rats of the first group were served as controls. Rats of the second group were exposed to TAA. Rats of the third group were treated with basil leaves extract and TAA. Rats of the fourth group were treated with basil leaves extract. After the end of experimental duration (6 Weeks), rats of the second group showed significantly increases of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and uric acid levels, while the levels of serum superoxide dismutase and glutathione were significantly decreased. Histopathologically, renal sections from rats treated with only TAA showed several alterations in the structure of most renal corpuscles including a degeneration of glomeruli and Bowman's capsules. Treatment with basil leaves extract improved the observed biochemical and histopathological changes induced by TAA intoxication. These new findings indicate that the extract of basil leaves represent protective roles on biochemical and histopathological changes induced by TAA toxicity due to its antioxidant activities.     

Influence of olive and rosemary leaves extracts on chemically induced liver cirrhosis in male rats

The current study was undertaken to evaluate the protective activity of olive and rosemary leaves extracts on experimental liver cirrhosis induced by thioacetamide (TAA) in Wistar male rats. Highly significant decline in the values of body weight gain and highly statistically increase of liver/body weight ratio were noted in rats treated with TAA. Furthermore, the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin were statistically increased. Additionally, light microscopic examination of liver sections from rats treated with TAA showed a marked increase in the extracellular matrix collagen content and bridging fibrosis was prominent. There were bundles of collagen surrounding the lobules that resulted in large fibrous septa and distorted tissue architecture. Interestingly, the findings of this experimental study indicated that the extracts of olive and rosemary leaves and their combination possess hepatoprotective properties against TAA-induced hepatic cirrhosis by inhibiting the physiological and histopathological alterations. Moreover, these results suggest that the hepatoprotective effects of these extracts may be attributed to their antioxidant activities.     

Influence of olive leaves extract on hepatorenal injury in streptozotocin diabetic rats

Medicinal plants have always been an important source of new alternative effective compounds for human therapy. Currently, there are many of scientific evidences indicate that the medicinal plants contain a lot of hypoglycemic chemical compounds. The purpose of the present study was to determine the influence of olive leaves extract on hepatorenal injury in diabetic male rats. Experimental diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ). The levels of serum glucose, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, total bilirubin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid and malondialdehyde were significantly increased, while the levels of serum superoxide dismutase, glutathione and catalase were statistically decreased in untreated diabetic rats. Moreover, the histopathological examination showed several alterations in the structure of liver and kidney in untreated diabetic rats. Treatments with low dose and high dose of olive leaves extract in diabetic rats showed remarkable reducing and protecting influences of physiological and histopathological alterations. Moreover, the highly treatment efficiency was noted in diabetic rats treated with high dose followed by low dose of olive leaves extract. Additionally, the results of this study proved that the antioxidant activities of olive leaves extract played a vital role against the hepatorenal injury induced by diabetes. Finally, this study indicates to the importance of the use of olive leaves extract as promising alternative and complementary therapeutic agent against diabetes and its complications.     

Effect of Olea oleaster and Juniperus procera leaves extracts on thioacetamide induced hepatic cirrhosis in male albino mice

The effect of Olea oleaster and Juniperus procera leaves extracts and their combination on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatic cirrhosis were investigated in male albino mice. One hundred sixty mice were used in this study and were randomly distributed into eight groups of 20 each. Mice of group 1 served as controls. Mice of group 2 were treated with TAA. Mice of group 3 were exposed to TAA and supplemented with O. oleaster leaves extracts. Mice of group 4 were treated with TAA and supplemented with J. procera leaves extracts. Mice of group 5 were subjected to TAA and supplemented with O. oleaster and J. procera leaves extracts. Mice of groups 6, 7 and 8 were supplemented with O. oleaster, J. procera, and O. oleaster and J. procera leaves extracts respectively. Administration of TAA for six and twelve weeks resulted in a decline in body weight gain and increased the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin. Histopathological evaluations of hepatic sections from mice treated with TAA showed severe alterations including increase of fibrogenesis processes with structural damage. Treatment of mice with these extracts showed a pronounced attenuation in TAA induced hepatic cirrhosis associated with physiological and histopathological alterations. Finally, this study suggests that the supplementation of these extracts may act as antioxidant agents and could be an excellent adjuvant support in the therapy of hepatic cirrhosis.     

Arabica coffee and olive oils mitigate malathion-induced nephrotoxicity in rat: In silico,immunohistochemical and biochemical evaluation

Malathion (MAL) is an organophosphate insecticide that disrupts the body's antioxidant system; it is one of the earliest organophosphate insecticides extensively used as dust, emulsion, and vapor control a wide variety of insect pests under different conditions. This experimentation aims to evaluate the influence of Arabica coffee oil and olive oil on MAL-induced nephrotoxicity in male rat. 6 sets bearing the same number of animals were applied to this experiment. Each set comprised 10 rats. The first set of rats was used as the control group; rats in the second set were exposed to MAL measured at 100 mg/kg body weight for 7 weeks. Animals in the third and fourth set were treated with 400 mg/kg body weight of Arabica coffee oil and olive oil, and 100 mg/kg body weight of MAL. The fifth, together with the sixth set, were fed with a similar proportion of Arabica coffee oil and olive oil as administered to the third set of rats. After the experimental duration, rats of group 2 showed severe biochemical alterations, including significant increases of creatinine, uric acids, and urea nitrogen (BUN), resulting in marked decreases in serum albumin values and total protein (TP). Severe histopathological and immunohistochemical alterations of kidney tissues were observed in exposed MAL-intoxicated rats. Administration of these oils reduced the detected biochemical, histopathological modifications caused by MAL intoxication. Two active ingredients in Arabica coffee oil (oleic acid) and olive oil (hydroxytyrosol) showed good cyclooxygenase-2 (COX 2) interaction. Moreover, oleic acid from coffee oil and olive oil exhibited impressive association with xanthine oxidase (XO). The current finding showed that coffee oil and olive oil could be appraised as possible and a likely deterrence component against nephrotoxicity brought about by MAL.     

Influences of crude extract of tea leaves,Camellia sinensis,on streptozotocin diabetic male albino mice

Natural remedies from medicinal plants are considered to be effective and safe alternative treatment for diabetes mellitus. The aim of the present study was to investigate the hypoglycemic activity of the crude tea leaves extract on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. The average body weight of animals with diabetes and their percentage changes of body weight gain after 15 and 30 days were significantly lower than that of the normal control mice. In diabetic mice, supplementation with tea leaves extract decreased the loss of body weight. After 15 and 30 days, significant increases in the levels of serum glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, creatinine, urea, uric acid, glutamic pyruvic acid transaminase (GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic acid transaminase (GOT) were noted in STZ-diabetic mice fed with normal diet. Also, the values of total protein in this group were statistically declined after 15 and 30 days. The levels of serum glucose and GPT were significantly elevated after 15 and 30 days in diabetic mice supplemented with tea leaves extract. Moreover, the level of serum GOT was notably increased after 30 days. Insignificant alterations were observed in the levels of serum triglycerides, cholesterol, total protein, creatinine, urea and uric acid in diabetic mice supplemented with tea leaves extract. Thus, the present results have shown that tea leaves extract has the antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, and antihyperproteinemic effects and consequently may alleviate liver and kidney damage associated with STZ-induced diabetes in mice.     

几种天然产物对高尿酸血症大鼠血清尿酸水平的影响初探

目的:探讨几种天然产物对高尿酸血症大鼠血清尿酸水平及尿酸排泄的影响.方法:对wistar大鼠灌胃氧嗪酸钾和酵母膏,制作高尿酸血症大鼠动物模型.灌胃给药褐藻糖胶、柠檬酸钾和东哥阿里提取物,2周后采血并进行代谢实验,检测血清尿酸、尿素氮,24小时尿液体积、pH值、尿酸浓度及总量,分析三种活性物质对机体尿酸水平、尿酸排泄、肾脏功能的影响.结果:三种物质均可显著降低高尿酸血症模型大鼠的血清尿酸水平,其中东哥阿里提取物组的24小时排泄尿酸总量较模型组显著降低,褐藻糖胶对实验大鼠的血清尿素氮水平升高有抑制作用.结论:三种活性物质对高尿酸血症大鼠血清尿酸浓度有降低作用,其中褐藻糖胶对肾脏功能有保护作用,从而保证尿酸的顺利排泄,而东哥阿里在降低血尿酸水平的同时,24小时尿液中排泄的尿酸总量也显著低于模型对照组,其机制可能与抑制尿酸生成有关.     

The potential protective influence of flaxseed oil against renal toxicity induced by thioacetamide in rats

The present study was aimed to evaluate the influence of flaxseed oil on renal toxicity induced by thioacetamide in male rats. The animals were distributed into four groups. Rats of the first group were served as control. Rats of the second group were exposed to thioacetamide. Rats of the third group were treated with flaxseed oil and thioacetamide. Rats of the fourth group were treated with flaxseed oil. Significant increases of blood creatinine and uric acid were observed in TAA-treated rats after three weeks. In thioacetamide group, the levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and uric acid were significantly elevated after six weeks. Histopathologically, the renal sections from thioacetamide-treated rats showed severe alterations in the structure of renal corpuscles including a degeneration of glomeruli and Bowman’s capsules. Administration of flaxseed oil protects the observed biochemical and histopathological alterations induced by thioacetamide exposure. Hence, the results of this study suggest that flaxseed oil protects against thioacetamide-induced renal injury and the protective influence of flaxseed oil may be attributed to its antioxidant role.     

Protective effect of Didymocarpus pedicellata on ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) induced renal oxidative stress and hyperproliferative response

Didymocarpus pedicellata R. Br. (Gesneriaceae) is widely used in traditional Indian medicines against renal afflictions. In the present study, we have revealed ethanolic extract of aerial parts of D. pedicellata to possess significant antioxidant activity and protect against ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) mediated renal oxidative stress, nephrotoxicity and tumor promotion response. D. pedicellata extract was found to possess a high content of total polyphenolics, exhibit potent reducing power and significantly scavenge free radicals including several reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). The extract also significantly and dose-dependently protected against Fe-NTA plus H(2)O(2)-mediated damage to lipids and DNA. Protective efficacy of the extract was also tested in vivo against Fe-NTA mediated nephrotoxicity and tumor promotion response. Administration of Fe-NTA (9 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) to Swiss albino mice depleted renal glutathione content and activities of antioxidant and phase II metabolizing enzymes with concomitant induction of oxidative damage. Fe-NTA also incited hyperproliferation response elevating ornithine decarboxylase activity and [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation into DNA. Elevation in serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and histopathological changes were also evident and suggested Fe-NTA to afflict damage to kidney. Pretreatment of mice with D. pedicellata extract (100-200 mg/kg body weight) for 7 days not only restored antioxidant armory near normal values but also significantly protected against renal oxidative stress and damage restoring normal renal architecture and levels of renal damage markers, viz., BUN and SCr. The results of the present study indicate D. pedicellata to possess potent antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities and preclude oxidative damage and hyperproliferation in renal tissues.     

Modulator Effects of Meloxicam against Doxorubicin‐Induced Nephrotoxicity in Mice

Doxorubicin‐induced renal toxicity overshadows its anticancer effectiveness. This study is aimed at assessing the possible modulator effects of meloxicam, a cyclooxigenase‐2 inhibitor, on doxorubicin‐induced nephrotoxicity in mice and exploring some of the modulator mechanisms. Forty male mice were divided for treatment, for 2 weeks, with saline, meloxicam (daily), doxorubicin (twice/week), or both meloxicam and doxorubicin. Doxorubicin induced a significant increase in relative kidney weight to body weight, kidney lipid perooxidation, plasma levels of interleukin‐6 and tumor necrosis factor‐α, kidney caspase‐3 activity, and kidney prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) content. Doxorubicin disturbed kidney histology, abrogated renal function tests (serum creatinine, uric acid, and blood urea nitrogen), induced a significant decrease in antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase) and reduced glutathione (GSH) content. The administration of meloxicam with doxorubicin mitigated all doxorubicin‐disturbed parameters. Meloxicam ameliorated doxorubicin‐induced renal injury via inhibition of inflammatory PGE2, inflammatory cytokines, caspase‐3 activity, antioxidant effect, and free radical scavenging activity.     

Phytotoxicity of olive tree leaf compost in relation to the organic acid concentration

Olive tree leaves are one of the most abundant organic residues on the island of Crete. The objective of this study was to investigate the changes of phytotoxicity of olive tree leaves during the composting process in piles and correlate them with the changes of organic acid concentration. For this purpose, four piles were established with urea or ammonium nitrate as the nitrogen source. The piles were turned and sampled every 8 or 10 days. The organic compounds were extracted by ether from water extracts of the olive tree leaf samples and redissolved in water. The phytotoxicity of the ethersoluble organic compounds was determined by their inhibitory effect on the germination of lettuce seeds and was compared with the phytotoxicity of pure organic acids and sterile water. It was found that the organic acid concentration increased for approximately 2 weeks during the composting process and then decreased progressively. The phytotoxicity of both the ether-soluble organic extracts and the control solutions correlated inversely with the organic acid concentrations. However, it was higher in the olive tree leaf extracts than in the control solutions of pure formic, acetic, benzoic, salicylic, or tannic acid. These findings indicate that the phytotoxity consists of organic acids different from the control acids tested and/or other organic compounds.     

Protection of renal function by green tea extract during Plasmodium berghei infection

Impairment of renal function from oxidative stress during malaria infection is one of the leading causes of death in endemic areas. Since blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels in plasma can be used as markers for monitoring renal damage, this study investigated the effect of green tea extract on reduction of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels during malaria infection using Plasmodium berghei ANKA infected mice as in vivo model. For in vivo testing, ICR mice were infected with 1 × 10⁷ parasitized erythrocytes and green tea extract was subsequently administered orally twice a day for 10 consecutive days. Parasitemia was estimated by standard microscopy, and blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels in plasma were also measured. It was found that parasitemia kept increasing until animal death, and is strongly correlated with high blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. The highest levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine in plasma were found on day 10 after infection. However, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels in plasma were reduced and decreased significantly (p < 0.01) in green tea extract treated mice, compared with untreated group. It can be concluded that green tea extract can protect and maintain renal function during malaria infection, and this extract can be developed for use as a supplement and combination therapy.     

Protective effect of gallic acid isolated from Peltiphyllum peltatum against sodium fluoride-induced oxidative stress in rat’s kidney

In the present study, the nephroprotective effect of gallic acid isolated from Peltiphyllum peltatum was examined in sodium fluoride (NaF) treated rats. Nephrotoxicity was induced by 1-week intoxication of NaF at 600 ppm through drinking water. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, reduced glutathione as well as activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in renal tissues homogenates were determined. The serum biochemical markers of renal injuries including creatinine, serum urea, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid levels as well as the levels of phosphate and calcium were also assessed. Intoxication with NaF caused a significant increase in the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (46 % versus to control) and reduced the glutathione concentration (47 %) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (46 %) and catalase (41 %) in renal tissues homogenates. NaF intoxication also induced significant alterations in the kidney biochemical markers increasing the levels of urea, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and phosphate and decreasing the levels of calcium. Daily administration of gallic acid (20 mg/kg) for 1 week before NaF intoxication brought the antioxidant–oxidant balance similar to the NaF-untreated group. Silymarin, used a standard antioxidant agent, also showed a nephroprotective activity. We concluded that NaF caused nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress in renal tissues and daily administration of gallic acid for 1 week prior to intoxication inhibited toxicity and oxidative stress.     

Effects of phosphates on the expression of tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase gene and phosphate-regulating genes in short-term cultures of human osteosarcoma cell lines

Cyclosporine A (CsA) has been universally used as an immunosuppressant for the management of organ transplantation and various autoimmune diseases. However, nephrotoxicity due to CsA remains to be an important clinical challenge. In the present investigation, an attempt has been made to appraise the effect of sulphated polysaccharides on oxidative renal injury caused by CsA. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Two groups received CsA by oral gavage (25 mg/kg body weight) for 21 days to provoke nephrotoxicity, one of which simultaneously received sulphated polysaccharides subcutaneously, (5 mg/kg body weight). A vehicle (olive oil) treated control group and sulphated polysaccharides drug control were also built-in. An increase in lipid peroxidation along with abnormal levels of enzymic (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) and non-enzymic antioxidants (glutathione, vitamin C and vitamin E) are the salient features observed in CsA induced nephrotoxicity. CsA induced impairment of renal toxicity was evident from the marked decline in the activities of renal marker enzymes like alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase, as well as an apparent increase in the serum urea, uric acid and creatinine; diagnostic of renal damage was normalized by sulphated polysaccharides co-administration. Sulphated polysaccharides treatment showed an effectual role in counteracting the free radical toxicity by bringing about a significant decrease in peroxidative levels and increase in antioxidant status. These observations emphasize the antioxidant property of sulphated polysaccharides and its cytoprotective action against CsA induced nephrotoxicity.     

Hematological and biochemical investigations on the effect of curcumin and Thymoquinone in male mice exposed to Thioacetamide

Currently, living organisms are increasingly exposed to many toxic chemicals in the environment. These substances pose a threat to human life, other living organisms and ecosystem. In fact, there is an increasing requirement to search for safe therapeutic sources today. Medicinal plants and natural products have become of great importance globally because of their therapeutic potential and medicinal properties, as well as their availability and the absence of harmful side effects for most of them. The present study was designed to explore the potential protective effect of curcumin (CUR) and thymoquinone (TQ) in male rats exposed to thioacetamide (TAA). The experimental mice were divided into eight groups. Group 1 was served as control. Group 2 was exposed to 50 mg/ kg body weight of TAA. Group 3 was exposed to CUR and TAA. Mice of group 4 were treated with TQ and TAA. Mice of group 5 were exposed to CUR plus TQ and TAA. Group 6 was supplemented with CUR. Group 7 was subjected to TQ. Mice of group 8 were treated with CUR and TQ. Hematological and biochemical alterations were evaluated after one month. Significant increases of white blood corpuscles (WBC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) values were observed in group 2, while the values of red blood corpuscles (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb(, hematocrit (Hct), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were statistically decreased. Treatment with CUR, TQ and their combination inhibited the hematological and biochemical alterations induced by TAA toxicity. Moreover, the most protective effect was observed in mice treated with CUR plus TQ. These new results suggested that the protective effect of CUR and TQ attributed to their antioxidant properties.     

基于氧化应激与细胞凋亡探究双酚A慢性暴露致小鼠肾毒性作用机制

双酚A (bisphenol A, BPA)被广泛应用于生产环氧树脂和聚碳酸酯塑料等制品,在强酸、强碱或高温条件下,BPA被释放出来,然后渗入环境中。在大多数生物液体中都检测到了不同浓度的BPA,BPA的存在已被证明与许多慢性疾病密切相关,包括慢性肾病(chronic kidney disease,CKD)。然而,关于BPA的有害作用及其对CKD的不良影响知之甚少。为了探讨BPA对动物肾毒性的作用机制,本研究通过向饮水中加入0.01、0.1和1 mg/L的BPA,暴露于雌性小鼠4周后,交配和怀孕的雌性小鼠持续接触BPA,直到断奶;F1代3周龄雄性仔鼠继续口服相同剂量的BPA,持续10周。结果表明,0.1mg/L和1mg/LBPA处理组小鼠的肾脏损伤严重,血清中肾脏功能指标尿素氮(urea nitrogen,UN)、肌酐(creatinine,CR)和尿酸(uric acid,UA)的含量均发生显著升高(P<0.05);肾脏组织形态结构被损害;肾脏抗氧化相关基因在mRNA和蛋白水平上的表达显著降低(P<0.05),包括谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(glutathione-S-transf...     

Antioxidant effect of vitamin E treatment on some heavy metals-induced renal and testicular injuries in male mice

Toxic heavy metals in water, air and soil are global problems that are a growing threat to humanity. Heavy metals are widely distributed in the environment and some of them occur in food, water, air and tissues even in the absence of occupational exposure. The antioxidant and protective influences of vitamin E on a mixture of some heavy metals (Pb, Hg, Cd and Cu)-induced oxidative stress and renal and testicular injuries were evaluated in male mice. Exposure of mice to these heavy metals in drinking water for seven weeks resulted in statistical increases of plasma creatinine, urea and uric acid concentrations. The levels of glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutases (SOD) in kidney and testis tissues were significantly declined. Moreover, the histopathological evaluation of kidney and testis showed severe changes in mice treated with these heavy metals. Administration of vitamin E protected the kidney and testis of mice exposed to heavy metals as evidenced by appearance of normal histological structures, insignificant changes in the values of plasma creatinine, urea and uric acid, and the levels of kidney GSH and SOD, while the levels of testis GSH and SOD were notably decreased. These data suggest that the administration of vitamin E protects against heavy metals-induced renal and testicular oxidative stress and injuries.     

Ginkgo biloba extract ameliorates gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

The effect of Ginkgo biloba (EGb), a plant extract with an antioxidant effect, has been studied on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in male wistar rats. Ginkgo biloba extract (300 mg/kg BW) was administered orally 2 days before and 8 days concurrently with gentamicin (80 mg/kg BW). Saline treated animals served as control. Estimations of urine creatinine, glucose, blood urea, serum creatinine, plasma and kidney tissue MDA were carried out after 8 days of gentamicin treatment. Kidneys were examined using histological techniques. Blood urea and serum creatinine were increased by 896% and 461% respectively, with gentamicin, compared to saline treated group. Creatinine clearance was significantly decreased with gentamicin. Ginkgo biloba extract protected rats from gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. Changes in blood urea, serum creatinine and creatinine clearance induced by gentamicin were significantly prevented by Ginkgo biloba extract. There was a 177% and 374% rise in plasma and kidney tissue MDA with gentamicin, which were significantly reduced to normal with Ginkgo biloba extract. Histomorphology showed necrosis and desquamation of tubular epithelial cells in renal cortex with gentamicin, while it was normal and comparable to control with Ginkgo biloba extract. These data suggest that supplementation of Ginkgo biloba extract may be helpful to reduce gentamicin nephrotoxicity.     

Ultrasound-assisted aqueous extraction of total flavonoids and hydroxytyrosol from olive leaves optimized by response surface methodology

Abstract

Olive leaves were often extracted with methanol or ethanol at different proportions. In this study, ultrasound-assisted aqueous extraction was adopted for olive leaf extraction. The yields of total flavonoids (TF) and hydroxytyrosol (HT) were optimized by central composite experimental design. Two second-order polynomial equations were established to quantify the relationship between the responses and the processing parameters. Under the optimal condition of extracting at 60?°C for 60?min with the solvent-to-material ratio of 40, TF and HT amounted to 57.31?±?0.35 and 1.80?±?0.02?mg/g dry leaves (DL), respectively. The scavenging rate of all extracts against α, α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl free radicals was screened. The integrated scores, representing both active ingredients and antioxidant capacity of the extracts, were calculated by principle component analysis (PCA). The optimal extract gained the highest score in PCA. In addition, compared to the extracts from 80% methanol to 44% ethanol, the ultrasound-assisted aqueous extract was richer in TF, HT, and polyphenols, while it also presented stronger ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), but poorer strength to quench hydroxyl radicals. The study indicated that the aqueous extract of olive leaves may present broad potential opportunities in health-care sector.