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This interventional clinical trial aimed to assess the potential impact of Spirulina platensis supplementation on pregnant and lactating ewes living in a Moroccan endemic fluorosis area. Forty-eight ewes were divided into four equal groups: Groups I and II served as controls belonging respectively to fluorosis-free and endemic fluorosis areas, Groups III and IV received respectively 250 and 500 mg*kg−1 BW/day of S. platensis , during late pregnancy and early lactation. The results revealed that ewes reared in fluorosis-free areas exhibited significantly lower plasma fluoride and significantly higher haemoglobin levels compared to endemic fluorosis areas (P < 0.0001). However, supplementation with 500 mg*kg−1 BW*day−1 of S. platensis significantly improved these two parameters compared to Group II (P < 0.0001). Ewes in the endemic area also displayed increased oxidative stress (P < 0.05), characterized by decreased ascorbic acid levels and catalase activity, as well as elevated levels of reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde. Supplementation with 500 mg*kg−1 BW*day−1 of S. platensis enhanced the antioxidant status (P < 0.05) by increasing ascorbic acid levels and catalase activity and decreasing levels of reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde. Moreover, this dose yielded similar average daily gains compared to lambs of ewes living in fluorosis-free area. In conclusion, S. platensis may serve as a promising solution for addressing endemic fluorosis in pregnant and lactating ewes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study assessed the medicinal properties of Euphorbia resinifera O. Berg (E. resinifera) and Euphorbia officinarum subsp echinus (Hook.f. and Coss.) Vindt (Euphorbia echinus, known for their pharmaceutical benefits. Extracts from their flowers, stems, propolis, and honey were examined for phenolic content, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total condensed tannin (TCC) were determined using specific methods. Antioxidant potential was assessed through various tests including DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, and Total antioxidant capacity. Anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated using phenolinduced ear edema in rats, while antibacterial activity was measured against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538) and Gram-negative (E. coli ATCC 10536) bacteria. Among the extracts, the aqueous propolis extract of E. resinifera demonstrated exceptional antioxidant capabilities, with low IC50 values for DPPH (0.07 ± 0.00 mg/mL) and ABTS (0.13 ± 0.00 mg/mL), as well as high TAC (176.72 ± 0.18 mg AA/mg extract) and FRAP (86.45 ± 1.45 mg AA/mg extract) values. Furthermore, the antiinflammatory effect of E. resinifera propolis extracts surpassed that of indomethacin, yielding edema percentages of 3.92% and 11.33% for the aqueous and ethanolic extracts, respectively. Microbiological results indicated that the aqueous extract of E. resinifera flower exhibited the most potent inhibitory action against S. aureus, with an inhibition zone diameter (IZD) of 21.0 ± 0.00 mm and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3.125 mg/mL. Additionally, only E. resinifera honey displayed the ability to inhibit E. coli growth, with an inhibition zone diameter of 09.30 ± 0.03 mm and a MIC of 0.0433 mg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between plasma fluoride levels and pregnancy complications among rural and urban women living in the Settat province of Morocco, where fluorosis is endemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study included pregnant women permanently residing in the province of Settat who visited the Provincial Hospital Hassan II. A close-ended questionnaire was completed to verify the presence or absence of pregnancy complications, including abortion, fetal and neonatal complications, diabetes mellitus, and pregnancy-induced hypertension. In addition, blood was collected from all participants and fluoride levels were determined. Results: The sample included 511 rural (43.8%) and urban (56.2%) pregnant women with a mean age of 26.9±6.1 years. The prevalence of pregnancy complications was significantly higher in rural pregnant women (abortion=13.2%; fetal and neonatal complications=4.8%; pregnancy induced-hypertension=1.4%) than in urban areas (abortion=6.7%; fetal and neonatal complications=2.2%; pregnancy induced-hypertension=0.9%) (p<0.05). Plasma fluoride levels were also significantly higher in rural participants with a means of 0.036±0.009 mg/L than in urban areas with a means of 0.034±0.008 mg/L (p<0.05). However, in both rural and urban participants, the results showed that there was no correlation between plasma fluoride levels and abortion (r=0.068; p=0.247), fetal and neonatal complications (r=-0.008; p=0.890), diabetes mellitus (r=-0.018; p=0.975) and pregnancy induced-hypertension (r=-0.063; p=0.285). Conclusions: Higher plasma fluoride levels were found in rural pregnant women than in urban ones. However, no significant correlation was found between plasma fluoride levels and the studied pregnancy complications, despite their higher prevalence in rural women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between plasma fluoride levels, glutathione peroxidase activity, hemoglobin, and abortion among rural and urban pregnant women from Settat province (Morocco). Methods: Blood samples were collected from rural pregnant women who had not undergone abortion (N = 224), rural pregnant women who had an abortion (N = 38), urban pregnant women who had not undergone abortion (N = 163), and urban pregnant women who had an abortion (N = 14). Results: The highest (p < 0.01) plasma fluoride levels and the lowest (p < 0.01) GPx activity were observed in rural pregnant women. In all participants, plasma fluoride levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001), and the GPx activity was significantly (p < 0.001) lower in pregnant women who had an abortion compared with those who did not undergo such process. No significant difference was observed between the hemoglobin levels of all participants. Furthermore, abortion was positively correlated with plasma fluoride levels (p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with GPx activity (p < 0.001) in rural participants. Conclusions: Rural pregnant women had higher plasma fluoride levels and lower GPx activity, which correlated with the increased abortion risk and oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camel is continually exposed to stressful desert environment that enhances generation of reactive oxygen species, including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Catalase plays an important role in detoxification of H2O2. A highly active catalase from camel kidney was purified to homogeneity, with a specific activity of 1,774,392 U/mg protein, using ion exchange and metal chelate affinity chromatography. The molecular weight of the enzyme was 268 kDa consisting of four identical subunits of 63 kDa. The enzyme showed higher optimum temperature (45 °C) and higher activation energy (4.37 kJ mol−1). The thermodynamic parameters, ΔH, ΔG and ΔS, were determined. The effect of various metal ions and chemicals on enzyme activity was investigated. Km, Vmax, kcat and kcat/Km values for H2O2 were found to be 46 mM, 10,715,045 U/mg, 48,265,968 s−1 and 2,966,562 s−1 mM−1, respectively. Camel kidney catalase displayed higher affinity efficiency for H2O2 and can protect reduced glutathione (GSH) from oxidation by H2O2. Sodium azide was found to be a noncompetitive inhibitor of enzyme with Ki and IC50 of 17.88 µM and 20.94 µM, respectively. Camel catalase showed unique biochemical properties. Interestingly, camel catalase can protect molecules (GSH) and organ functions (kidney) from the toxic effects of H2O2 induced by stressful desert environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]