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The aim of this work is to numerically and theoretically model thermosolute natural convection in porous, isotropic and saturated media filled with Casson nanofluids (aluminum nanoparticles) under the influence of a magnetic field. Calculations were performed for various parameters relevant to our model, namely Casson fluid parameters (between 0.1 and 1), thermal Rayleigh number (between 10 and 100000), Geometric aspect ratio number (between 1 and 3),Buoyancy ratio number (between 1 and 10), Soret and Dufour numbers (between 0.2 and 1.2), conductivity ratios (between 1 and 3) and Hartmann numbers (between 0 and 100). The horizontal walls of the enclosure maintain uniform temperature and concentration, while the side walls are rigid, watertight, and insulated. Casson nanofluid flow occurs in porous layers and is described by the extended Darcy law of Brinkman-Forchheimer. The finite volume method was used to spatially discretize the obtained system of equations. Therefore, we investigated the effect of different parameters on the heat transfer rate and concentration. we observe that heat and mass transfer increases with increasing Casson fluid parameter; this increase is significant for the case of β between 0.1 and 0.4. And it also increases with the increase in the number of thermal conductivity ratios, the number of thrust ratios and with the increase in the thermal Rayleigh number. The latter remain unchanged when the thermal Rayleigh number is below the threshold . In the Opposite, we notice an uneven decrease in the thermosolutal transfer with the increase in the Hartmann Soret and Dufour numbers.

Abstract The current study investigated the possible mechanisms of aqueous extract Salvia officinalis flowers (SF‐AE) and its protective effects against hepatorenal toxicities produced by simultaneous acute administration of ethanol (EtOH)/castor oil (CO). Healthy male rats (N = 50) were separated into five equal groups: control, Ethanol (EtOH) + Castor oil (CO), doses of increasing orders of SF‐AE (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, b.w., p.o.) during 15 days. Liver and kidney injuries were induced by EtOH (4 g/kg, b.w., p.o.) combined with CO (5 mL/kg, b.w., p.o.). Compared to the control group, SF‐AE pretreatment protected against simultaneous administration of EtOH and CO‐caused serious histological alterations in liver and kidney tissues. SF‐AE also reversed liver and kidney biochemical parameters and lipid profile alterations. More importantly, SF‐AE significantly reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) level and counteracted the depletion of both enzymatic and non‐enzymatic antioxidants. SF‐AE also prevents against inflammation induced by EtOH combined with CO, expressed by the rise of inflammation biomarkers (C‐reactive protein: CRP and alkaline phosphatase: ALP). Additionally, combined EtOH intoxication and CO poisoning exerted an increase in H2O2, free iron and calcium levels. Impressively, SF‐AE treatment regulated levels of these studied intracellular mediators in a dose‐dependent manner. In conclusion, SF‐AE can potentially improve liver and kidney injuries associated with biochemical parameter deregulations, possibly by controlling oxidative stress and inflammation.

Background: The prompt development of obesity/constipation is the most serious problem for both children and adults. Limited studies suggested an association between them but lacked preclinical studies. This study allows to evaluate their crosslink and to compare the aqueous extracts laxative actions of two edible wild fruits of Arbutus unedo (AUAE) and Crataegus monogyna (CMAE) in constipated high‐fat diet (HFD) rats. Methods: Wistar rats were divided into experimental groups for 13 weeks: standard (SD) and HFD groups. SD‐rats were randomly redivided into 2 groups: SD and SD + Loperamide (LOP, 3 mg/kg, b.w.). HFD‐rats were randomly reseparated into HFD‐group, (HFD + LOP)‐group, [HFD + Yohimbine (YOH, 2 mg/kg, b.w.)]‐group, [HFD+ LOP]‐groups+ various doses of AUAE or CMAE (75, 150, and 300 mg/kg, b.w.). Diversified indicators were investigated to achieve the expected objectives, including; fecal parameters, gastrointestinal transit (GIT), gastric emptying (GE), oxidative stress‐(OxS), blood biochemical analysis, and accompanied small/large bowel histological modification. Key Results: The liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS) analysis of AUAE and CMAE allowed the identification of 11 and 6 phenolic compounds, respectively. In HFD‐rats, the subsequent dysregulation of GI motility was markedly aggravated. More importantly, with the same way (CMAE and AUAE)‐treated groups showed alleviated outcomes for the following: most stool parameters, GIT, and GE were remarkably recovered; a similar recovery pattern was observed in the histopathological structure, OxS, and blood biochemical indicators. Conclusions & Inferences: Our results experimentally confirmed the crosslink between overweight and constipation and both fruits have potential as functional foods to reduce metabolic risk of the obesity associated with bowel dysmotility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbutus unedo and Crataegus monogyna are widely distributed throughout the Mediterranean basin and commonly used in folk medicine against a wide range of diseases. Therefore, the present study has been designed to evaluate the anti-obesity potential of two aqueous extracts of the fruits of A. unedo (AUAE) and C. monogyna (CMAE). Male Wistar rats were supplied with a standard diet (SD), high-fat diet (HFD), HFD with the two separated extracts at the same dose (300 mg/kg, BW, p. o.), or HFD with atorvastatin-(ATOR) (2.1 mg/kg, BW, p. o.) for 12 weeks. Lipid profile and the liver and kidney linked-markers were assessed. Besides, obesity-related disorders' biomarkers were measured. AUAE, CMAE, and ATOR were observed to reduce significantly total body and organ weights following HFD-induced obese rat models. Likewise, epididymal and abdominal adipose tissue weights were noticeably decreased in HFD rats treated with both extracts and ATOR. Added to that, biochemical and metabolic changes were normalized by significant attenuation of lipid peroxidation accompanied with an increase of thiol-group concentrations and antioxidant status. More importantly, a modulation in trace element levels was revealed when compared with HFD group. Altogether, current study concluded that AUAE and CMAE could be potential candidates for the prevention and treatment of obesity and related disturbs induced by HFD.

Background and Objectives: Urtica dioica, a source of bioactive functional compounds, provides nutritional and gastrointestinal therapeutic benefits. This study attempted to investigate the prophylactic coloprotective action of an aqueous extract of Urtica dioica (AEUD) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC). Materials and Methods: Phenolic compounds, total sugar, and mineral levels were determined in AEUD. Then, AEUD at different doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, BW, p.o.) and mesalazine (MESA) as a standard treatment (100 mg/kg, BW, p.o.) were given orally for 21 days. Acute colitis was induced by administering drinking water with 5% (w/v) DSS for 7 days. Body weight variation, fecal occult blood, and stool consistency were determined daily. The severity of colitis was graded according to colon length, disease activity index (DAI), histological evaluations, and biochemical alterations. Rats orally administered DSS regularly developed clinical and macroscopic signs of colitis. Results: Due to its richness in phenolic and flavonoid compounds (247.65 ± 2.69 mg EAG/g MS and 34.08 ± 0.53 mg EQt/g MS, respectively), AEUD markedly ameliorated DAI, ulcer scores, colon length shortening, colonic histopathological changes, and hematological and biochemical modifications. Taken together, AEUD treatment notably (p < 0.01) suppressed DSS-induced UC by reducing oxidative stress via lowering MDA/H2O2 production and stimulating the effect of enzyme antioxidants as well as attenuating inflammation by decreasing CRP levels by 79.5% between the DSS and DSS + AEUD-50 groups compared to the MESA group (75.6%). Conclusions: AEUD was sufficient to exert a coloprotective effect that might be influenced by its bioactive compounds’ anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities.

Ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) rhizomes are commonly used in foods and employed for many ailments including gastrointestinal disorders. Our main objective was to evaluate the effect of Zingiber officinale aqueous extract (ZOAE) on gastrointestinal (GI) physiological motility and colonic dysmotility. Thereby, Wistar rats were given loperamide (LP, 3 mg/kg, b.w.) and ZOAE (75, 150, and 300 mg/kg, b.w.) or yohimbine (YOH, 2 mg/kg, b.w.). ZOAE-action on intestinal secretion was assessed using Ussing chamber technique and intestinal motility with isometric transducer. GI-transit (GIT) and gastric emptying (GE) were evaluated with the charcoal meal test and the red phenol methods. ZOAE-bioactive components were analyzed by liquid chromatography-high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-HRESIMS). Constipation was induced with LP and the different indicators such as stool composition, GIT, oxidative stress biological parameters, and colonic mucosa histological alteration were performed. Anti-constipation effect of ZOAE was confirmed on stool composition, GIT (53.42% to 85.57%), GE (55.47% to 98.88%), and re-established oxidative balance. ZOAE induces an amplitude increase of spontaneous intestinal contraction with EC50 of 10.52 μg/mL. No effect of ZOAE was observed on electrogenic transport of intestinal fluid. These findings suggest that ZOAE-bioactive candidates might exert an anti-constipation action and spontaneous intestinal contraction modulation.

The present study was conducted to investigate the protective action of Salvia officinalis flowers aqueous extract (SOFAE) against combined gastro-intestinal (GI) disorders-induced by ethanol and castor oil administration in rats. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups of ten each and various doses of SOFAE (50, 100, and 200 mg kg −1 , b.w ., p.o .) and sulfasalazine (100 mg kg −1 , b.w. , p.o .) were daily administrated during 15 days. After, animals were intoxicated with a single oral administration of ethanol (4 g kg −1 , b.w. , p . o. ) and castor oil (5 mL kg −1 , b.w. , p.o .). We found that SOFAE contains several phytoactive compounds with a strong ABTS scavenging ability. In vivo , we showed that SOFAE protected against EtOH/CO-induced macroscopic and histological alterations in GI tract accompanied by intestinal fluid accumulation and gastric juice decrease. SOFAE significantly counteracted lipoperoxydation increase and reversed the depletion of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. More importantly, SOFAE significantly reduced the levels of inflammatory markers (CRP and ALP) in plasma and mucosal GI tract. In conclusion, our data clearly indicate that the SOFAE exerted a potential protective effect against EtOH-induced peptic ulcer combined with CO-induced diarrhea in rats. These effects could be associated with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The aim of this work is to numerically and theoretically model thermosolute natural convection in porous, isotropic and saturated media filled with Casson nanofluids (aluminum nanoparticles) under the influence of a magnetic field. Calculations were performed for various parameters relevant to our model, namely Casson fluid parameters (between 0.1 and 1), thermal Rayleigh number (between 10 and 100000), Geometric aspect ratio number (between 1 and 3),Buoyancy ratio number (between 1 and 10), Soret and Dufour numbers (between 0.2 and 1.2), conductivity ratios (between 1 and 3) and Hartmann numbers (between 0 and 100). The horizontal walls of the enclosure maintain uniform temperature and concentration, while the side walls are rigid, watertight, and insulated. Casson nanofluid flow occurs in porous layers and is described by the extended Darcy law of Brinkman-Forchheimer. The finite volume method was used to spatially discretize the obtained system of equations. Therefore, we investigated the effect of different parameters on the heat transfer rate and concentration. we observe that heat and mass transfer increases with increasing Casson fluid parameter; this increase is significant for the case of β between 0.1 and 0.4. And it also increases with the increase in the number of thermal conductivity ratios, the number of thrust ratios and with the increase in the thermal Rayleigh number. The latter remain unchanged when the thermal Rayleigh number is below the threshold RT,nf = 5 x 10². In the Opposite, we notice an uneven decrease in the thermosolutal transfer with the increase in the Hartmann Soret and Dufour numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abundant literature suggests that obesity-associated with taking a high fat diet is related to an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. However, metabolic disorders may be involved in the induction of the anxiogenic-like symptoms. The current study was designed to elucidate the mechanisms by which a high fat diet (HFD) can cause several complications in the WISTAR rats (Rattus norvegicus) brain. Oxidative stress and inflammation as well as the putative protection afforded by chamomile decoction extract (CDE) were also studied. The results demonstrated that the increased body and brain weight, acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activities as well as hypercholezterolaemia in response to HFD taking were correlated with anxiogenic-like symptoms. Moreover, HFD feed caused a brain oxidative stress characterized by increased lipoperoxidation, inhibition of antioxidant enzyme activities such as SOD, CAT and GPx, depletion of a non-enzymatic antioxidant such as sulfhydryl groups and GSH. Importantly, the results also show that HFD also provoked a cerebral overload in reactive oxygen species such as OH•, H2O2 and O 2 ∙ − as well as brain inflammation assessed by the overproduction of cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-6. Interestingly, all neurobehavioral changes and all the biochemical and molecular disturbances were abolished in HFD-fed rats treated with CDE. Our results provide clear evidence that obesity and depression as well as anxiety are finely correlated and that M. recutita's decoction may prove to be a potential therapeutic agent to mitigate the behavioral disorders, the biochemical alterations and the neuroinflammation associated to the obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]