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Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) is potentially harmful environmental toxicant causing cognitive decline with depressive features. PCB-induced behavioral deficits are associated with neurochemical dysfunctions, immune changes, and oxidative stress. This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of D-ribose-L-cysteine (DRLC), a neuroprotective precursor element of glutathione on PCB-induced neurobehavioral impairments. Following the initial 15 days of PCB (2 mg/kg) exposure to rats, DRLC (50 mg/kg) was given orally for an additional 15 days, from days 16 to 30. Animals were assessed for behavioral effect such as changes in locomotion, cognition, and depression. Oxidative/nitrergic stress markers; antioxidant regulatory proteins paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nfr2), NADPH oxidase-1 (NOX-1), NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and neuroinflammation (NF-kβ, and TNF-α); and neurochemical metabolizing enzymes (acetylcholinesterase (AChE), monoamine oxidase-A and -B (MAO-A, MAO-B)) were carried out. The PCB-induced decline in locomotion, cognitive performance, and depressive-like features were reversed by DRLC. More specifically, PCB-induced oxidative and nitrergic stress, typified by reduced levels GSH, CAT, and SOD, accompanied by elevated MDA and nitrite were attenuated by DRLC. Additionally, DRLC restored the neuroinflammatory milieu indicated by decreased NF-kβ and TNF-α levels toward normal. Hyperactivities of AChE, MAO-A, MAO-B, PON-1, and NOX-1 levels as well as Nfr2, NQO1, and PON-1 due to PCB exposure were mitigated by DLRC. Our results suggest DRLC as a prospective neurotherapeutic agent against PCB-induced neurobehavioral impairments such as cognitive deficit and depressive-like feature through antioxidative and anti-nitrergic stress, anti-neuroinflammation, inhibition of brain metabolizing enzymes, and normalization of neurochemical homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Nigeria, abattoir workers use scrap tires as a source of fuel to remove furs from slaughtered animals. The smoke from the tires contains particulate matter (PM), and inhalation of the PM is associated with undesirable toxic effects such as cardiopulmonary toxicity. This study investigated the toxicological effects of smoke from the burning tire in male Wistar rats. The experimental rats were assigned into five (5) groups of 5 rats in each group. Group 1 served as the normal control (not exposed to smokes from the burning tire), while groups 2–5 were exposed to 10 mg/m3 PM10 smoke from burning tire once daily for 15, 30, 60, and 120 min, respectively, for 21 days. The rats were sacrificed, and the toxicity profile was measured by evaluating the hematological and biochemical parameters along with the liver, heart, kidney, and lung histology. Our results showed that smokes from tire significantly (P < 0.05) decreased red blood cell, pack cell volume, hemoglobin, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase while white blood cell, platelet, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, urea, sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, and malondialdehyde significantly (P < 0.05) increased following a dose (time of exposure) dependent pattern. Histological sections of liver from the exposed rats showed prominent fatty change or steatosis, while lung sections had mild destruction of alveoli and high levels of alveolar hemorrhage. The results of this study showed that smokes from burning tires can induce oxidative stress as well as cause hepatotoxicity and renotoxicity in adult male rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Object: Acmella caulirhiza is a medicinal plant traditionally widely used in Cameroon for the management of several pathologies, hence the need for confirming its pharmacological properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the subacute toxicity of the aqueous extract of leaves and flowers of A. caulirhiza (AE-AC) on Wistar rats. Methods: Three groups of female rats received the aqueous extract of A. caulirhiza (AE-AC) at 100, 250, or 500 mg kg−1 Bw doses respectively while a normal group (NG) received distilled water by oral intubation at 10 mL kg−1 Bw daily for 28 days. Animals were weighed every 4 days, death and general toxicity signs were recorded. At the end, rats were fasted for 12 h and after diazepam and ketamine anaesthesia, they were sacrificed; blood was collected for blood count and biochemical analysis. The liver integrity was assessed through transaminase activities, total protein, total cholesterol, and glucose levels, and the kidney integrity through the evaluation of uric acid, and electrolytes level. Histology of some vital organs was also carried out. Results: Administration of the extract did not result in death or any observable deleterious effects in rats. No difference in body weight variation of the animals was noted. At 100 and 250 mg/kg Bw doses, AE-AC induced hepatic (through the decrease in transaminase activities and total cholesterol level) and nephroprotective effects (through the decrease in creatinine, uric acid and electrolyte levels) and no change of microarchitecture among treated rats compared to the control group. AE-AC led to an increase in the relative weight of the brain, uterus, and ovaries as well as a change in some haematological parameters compared to normal rats. Conclusion: Results indicate that AE-AC had immune-stimulatory effects on rats but could have deleterious effects at 500 mg/kg Bw. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social defeat stress (SDS) due to changes in biochemical functions has been implicated in the pathogenesis of affective and cognitive disorders. Employing pharmacological approach with adaptogens in the management and treatment of psychosocial stress is increasingly receiving scientific attention. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of rutin, a bioflavonoid with neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory functions on neurobehavioral and neuro-biochemical changes in mice exposed to SDS. Groups of mice named the intruder mice received normal saline (10 mL/kg), rutin (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, i.p.), and ginseng (50 mg/kg, i.p.) daily for 14 days, and then followed by 10 min daily SDS (physical/psychological) exposures to aggressor mice from days 7-14. Investigations consisting of neurobehavioral (locomotion, memory, anxiety, and depression) phenotypes, neuro-biochemical (oxidative, nitrergic, cholinergic, and pro-inflammatory cytokines) levels in discrete brain regions, and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis consisting adrenal weight, corticosterone, and glucose concentrations were assessed. Rutin restored the neurobehavioral deficits and reduced the activity of acetylcholinesterase in the brains. Adrenal hypertrophy, increased serum glucose and corticosterone levels were significantly attenuated by rutin. SDS-induced release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 in the striatum, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus were also suppressed by rutin in a brain-region-dependent manner. Moreover, SDS-induced oxidative stress characterized by low antioxidants (glutathione, superoxide-dismutase, catalase) and lipid peroxidation and nitrergic stress were reversed by rutin in discrete brain regions. Collectively, our data suggest that rutin possesses an adoptogenic potential in mice exposed to SDS via normalization of HPA, oxidative/nitrergic, and neuroinflammatory inhibitions. Thus, may be adopted in the management of neuropsychiatric syndrome due to psychosocial stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Moringa plant (Moringa oleifera) is known for its potential medicinal properties and health benefits in addition to its high nutritional value. The current study aimed to investigate the antiulcer effect of moringa leaves and its aqueous extract on pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators in ulcerative rats. Rats were treated with either moringa leaves (10%) or moringa extract (300 mg/kg body weight) for 4 weeks then treated with a single dose of aspirin to induce gastric ulcer. Moringa leaves and its extract markedly reduced ulcer index, gastric volume and total acidity. Both treatments induced a significant increase in gastric mucosal mucin content and plasma NO level associated with significant decrease in plasma TNFα. Moringa leaves and its extract prompted down-regulation of TNFα, TGFβ1 and COX2 genes expression by 2.7, 3.5, and 8.4 fold-change for moringa leaves and 2.7, and 2.3, 4.1 fold-change for moringa extract, respectively. Moringa leaves and extract treatments altered the COX-1 gene expression levels to near normal values. This study confirms the gastro-protective influence of moringa leaves and its extract on aspirin-induced ulcer in rats as manifested by its significant reduction in inflammatory cytokines and normalization of gastric mucosal mucin and NO level. Overall, moringa leaves powder is more efficient as antiulcer agent than moringa extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gastroprotective activity of Moringa oleifera leaf extract against aspirin-induced ulcers was investigated in rats. Thirty (30) rats under starvation but with access to drinking water for 48 h were divided into 6 groups of 5 animals each. Animals in groups 1 and 2 were pretreated with 0.2 ml normal saline via the oral route. Group 3 received 32 mg/kg cimetidine while those in groups 4, 5 and 6 received oral Moringa leaf extract treatments at doses 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight respectively. Thirty minutes after treatment, all animals in groups 2 to 6 were given 800 mg/kg Aspirin to induce ulcer. Results obtained showed complete erosion of the superficial epithelium with complete loss of the mucus globules and sloughing off of immediate underlying cells and sparsely distributed intraepithelial lymphocytes in the stomach of rats in which no treatment was given and significantly differed from those of the normal control animals which were essentially intact. No significant gastroprotection was observed in rats pretreated with the lowest dose of the extract (200 mg/kg) as a high degree of intestinal mucosal lesions and complete erosion of the surface epithelium with intraepithelial haemorrhage, moderate inflammation and tissue oedema were observed. Pretreatment with 400 mg/kg, however, offered a mild degree of protection with patches of surface epithelial protection and mucus globules, even though there was still predominant disintegration and sloughing off of superficial and underlying epithelial cells. The level of protection was sufficiently increased in animals treated with 800 mg/kg Moringa extract as there was increased protection of surface epithelium with more mucus globules and compared favourably with the effect of Cimetidine in which patches of intact superficial cells were observed. Moringa leaf extract may contain active agents with gastroprotective and mucus enhancing activities and could be harnessed into safe and potent treatment agents for ulcer in addition to providing template for the development of new antiulcer agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chromolaena odorata is a medicinal plant whose root has not been reported for detailed anti-diabetic properties. Hence, this study investigated the anti-diabetic properties of the methanol root extract of Chromolaena odorata and its effect on biochemical parameters in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Methods: In-vitro studies were carried out using α-amylase inhibition, glycosylated heamoglobin inhibition and glucose uptake test in yeast cells. Twenty (20) alloxan (120 mg/kg bw) induced diabetic rats were divided into 4 groups and treated with 0, 300 and 600 mg/kg bw of the extract and 5 mg/kg b.wt glibenclamide respectively. All treatments were administered daily for 14 days through oral route with the aid of esophageal cannula. Five (5) rats were also set up as normal control. Serum biochemical parameters were analysed. Results: Chromolaena odorata exhibited strong inhibition of α-amylase activity and glycosylated heamoglobin with IC 50 values; 533.05 μg/ml and 679.12 μg/ml respectively Extract doses of 300 and 600 mg/kg bw exhibited 49.86% and 68.30% in vivo hypoglycemic effect and increase the weight gain of animals to 13.23 ± 0.67 g and 13.87 ± 0.67 g respectively. The concentrations of sodium, chloride, bicarbonates, aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total proteins were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated while albumin, direct and total bilirubins were lowered in diabetic untreated rats when compared with the control Treatment with extract at 300 and 600 mg/kg bw significantly (p < 0.05) restored the concentrations of AST, ALP, albumin, total proteins, direct and total bilirubins towards their normal levels but could not significantly (P > 0.05) attenuate the elevated sodium, chloride, bicarbonates, urea and creatinine concentration when compared with the untreated control. Conclusion: Chromolaena odorata root extract exhibited anti-diabetic and protective effect against diabetic induced hepatic impairment. However, diabetic induced renal impairment was not attenuated by treatment with Chromolaena odorata in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]