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The effects of Spirulina platensis and Panax ginseng dietary supplementations were analysed in 30 female adult Wistar albino rats divided in 3 equal groups. In the first and second groups, animals were treated with Spirulina platensis (300 mg/kg/day) and with Panax ginseng (400 mg/kg/day) respectively in drinking water for 30 days, whereas the third group served as control. Red Blood Cell (RBC) and White Blood Cell (WBC) counts, numeration of leukocyte types, Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and haemoglobin concentrations were determined by haemocytometric methods on blood samples collected on days 0, 15 and 30, and Mean Globular Volumes (MGV) and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentrations (MCHC) were calculated. Populations of B and T lymphocytes were counted by the proportional to naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) staining method. Spirulina platensis and Panax ginseng treatments markedly stimulated the erythrocyte formation and the haemoglobin synthesis on day 30 and small erythrocytes (microcytosis) greatly loaded with haemoglobin (increases of MCHC) were obtained especially with Panax ginseng. Dramatic increases of WBC counts since the 15th day were also observed in both treated groups. In Spirulina- treated rats, the neutrophil count was enhanced precociously (since the 15(th) day). The overall lymphocyte population as well the T cell number has gradually augmented according to the treatment duration in all treated rats. Furthermore, Panax ginseng treatment has exhibited significant greater effects on lymphocyte and T cell counts than Spirulina platensis treatment. These results suggest that these 2 biomedicines positively interfere with bone marrow cellular production and with immune cellular response and may be useful as adjuvant treatment of anaemia or of immune deficiency.

WOS: 000457047700003, PubMed ID: 30686013, AIM: The objective of this study was to determine the neuroprotective effects of 2-aminoethyl diphenyl-borinate (2-APB) on the brains of rats with experimentally-induced severe acute pancreatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty Spraque-Dawley male rats with an average weight of 200-250 grams were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1: Sham group, Group 2: Severe acute pancreatitis group, Group 3: Treatment group with severe acute pancreatitis, given 2 mg/kg 2-APB before pancreatitis onset. In Groups 2 and 3, severe acute pancreatitis was induced by intraperitoneal administration of 1.5 g/kg L-arginine with a 1-hour interval. Tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin 6, pancreatic amylase were all measured. Brain tissue samples were evaluated histopathologically. TUNEL staining method was used to visualize apoptotic cells. RESULTS: In Group 3, it was determined that the density of TUNEL-positive cells in the cerebral cortex has decreased, while the number of Bcl-2-positive cells had increased. In Group 3, it was observed that glial aggregation areas were diminished and histopathological changes were decreased as compared to Group 2. In Group 2, on the other hand, it was observed that in areas with glial cell aggregation, the density of TUNEL-positive glial cells had increased, while Bcl-2-positive cell reaction has been feeble. CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that 2-APB decreases neuronal apoptosis and glial cell aggregation.