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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of magnesium (Mg) supplementation upon carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) toxicity. Our study was carried out on 24 Wistar male rats divided into 4 batches. During a 6 week period, one group served as a control, two groups received Mg (after 4 weeks one of these groups was then treated with CCl4), and a final group was treated with CCl4 only. Under our experimental conditions, CCl4 poisoning resulted in oxidative stress indicated by a significant increase in lipid peroxidation level in renal tissues. The blood levels of creatinine and urea increased while the blood level of uric acid and proteins decreased. CCl4 also induced an increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity in kidneys, in the number of red blood cells (RBC), and in hemoglobin content (Hb) and mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). However, white blood cell count (WBC), platelet count (Pl) and catalase activity (CAT) all decreased significantly. Treatment with Mg was found to alleviate most of CCl4-induced damage by decreasing lipid peroxidation and by correcting changed hematological parameters, and catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide-dismutase activities. The results provide strong evidence that Mg supplementation is beneficial in protecting the kidneys from CCl4 toxicity.

The study was conducted to examine the antioxidant activity and evaluate the protective effects of the date seeds powder kentichi against alloxan-induced damage in the liver, kidney, and pancreas in diabetic's rats. Group 1: control group, that did not receive any treatment, Group 2: alloxan was injected intraperitoneally (120 mg/kg body weight) for two days (Diab), Group 3: treated only by date seeds powder added in the diet (300 g/kg) for 6 weeks (DSPK), Group 4: alloxan-diabetic rats treated with date seeds powder (300 g/kg) (DSPK + Diab). Estimations of biochemical parameters in blood were determined. TBARS, SOD, CAT, and GPx activities were determined. A histopathological study was done by immersing pieces of both organs in a fixative solution followed by paraffin hematoxylin-eosin staining. In addition, the antioxidant activities of DSPK were evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and ABTS free radical scavenging. The results revealed that date seeds significantly decreased serum levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, creatinine, T-protein, ALP, D-bili and T-bili levels. In addition, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities that had been reduced in liver, kidney, and pancreas of the treated group were restored by DSPK treatments and, therefore, the lipid peroxidation level was reduced in the liver, kidney and pancreas tissue compared to the control group. Additionally, the histological structure in these organs was restored after treatment with date seeds powder.

This study aimed to determine the antiulcerogenic and antioxidant activities of Psyllium (Plantago ovata Forssk) seed ethanolic extract in rats. We assessed the antioxidant potential using free radical scavenging on DPPH, β-carotene bleaching activity, ferric reducing power, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. In the antiulcerogenic study, pre-treatment with Plantago ovata seeds ethanolic extract (POE) (400 mg/kg b.wt) significantly protected against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats by decreasing the ulcer index value and preserving the integrity of the gastric mucosa. The oxidative stress status in the stomach tissues showed a significant increase in the antioxidant enzyme levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase with a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation during pre-treatment with POE. In conclusion, the POE protects against gastric ulcer due to its antioxidant potential and presence of bioactive molecules.

The present study evaluates the chemical profiling of the essential oil of a halophyte, L. maritima ( Lm EO), and its protective potential against CCl 4 -induced oxidative stress in rats. Forty compounds have been identified in Lm EO. The major components are α-pinene (3.51%), benzyl alcohol (8.65%), linalool (22.43%), pulegone (3.33%), 1-phenyl butanone (7.33%), globulol (4.32%), γ-terpinene (6.15%), terpinen-4-ol (4.31%), α-terpineol (3.9%), ledol (3.59%), epi -α-cadinol (3.05%) and α-cadinol (4.91%). In comparison with the CCl 4 -intoxicated group, Lm EO treatment resulted in decreased liver serum marker enzymes, decreased lipid peroxidation and increased antioxidant enzyme levels, with overall further amelioration of oxidative stress. The administration of Lm EO to CCl 4 -treated rats at a dose of 250 mg kg -1 body weight significantly reduced the toxic effects and the oxidative stress on the liver, thus validating the traditional medicinal claim of this plant. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory activity of Lm EO was evaluated in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated murine RAW 264.7 cells. Our oil could modulate the inflammatory mode of the macrophages by causing reduction in iNOS and COX 2 enzymes as well as in IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α cytokine levels. These findings suggest that Lm EO exerts anti-inflammatory effects by regulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

After absorption by the organism, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) cross cellular membranes and pass into blood vessels and the lymphatic system. It is generally in the liver, adipose tissues, brain and skin that we find the strongest concentrations of PCBs. Herbal medicine remains as a discipline intended to treat and to prevent certain functional disorders and/or pathologies caused by oxidative stress, which can be induced by pesticides, medicines or pollutants. The objective of this study is to verify the toxic and oxidative effects of PCBs and to investigate the protective effect of ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) in the liver of male rats of the "Wistar" strain. These rats are divided into 6 groups: a control group (T), two groups treated with PCB at two different concentrations (P 1 and P 2 ), a group treated with ginger extract (G), a group pretreated with ginger extract and then injected with the first concentration of PCBs (P 1 G), and a group pretreated with ginger and then injected with the second concentration of PCBs (P 2 G). The results showed that the administration of PCBs led to an increase in the relative weight of the liver, and a significant increase in all of the hepatic biomarker levels (glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, AST, ALT, and LDH) in the serum. Furthermore, an increase in the rate of lipid peroxidation and a decrease in the antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) were observed under the influence of PCBs in the liver. The histological test showed that the PCBs induced hepatocyte vacuolization, prominent and peripheralized nuclei, hepatocellular hypertrophy and turgor of the vein in the centriacinar regions. Pretreatment with ginger extract restored all of the biochemical and oxidative parameters to the normal values and reduced the injuries caused by the PCBs. In conclusion, in our experimental conditions, ginger effectively protects the liver against the hepatotoxic effects induced by PCBs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Myrtus communis L. (Myrtle) is one of the most important aromatic and medicinal species from the Myrtaceae family. It is traditionally used as antiseptic, disinfectant drug and hypoglycemic agent. The aim of our study was to evaluate the protective effect of Myrtus communis essential oil ( Mc EO) on CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity in rat. Thirty two adult Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 each: (1) a control group; (2) was given a single dose of CCl 4 (1 mL kg -1 in 1% olive oil. ip) on the 14 th day (3) were given during 15 days a daily i.p. injection of Mc EO at 250 mL kg -1 b.w (4) a group was pretreated with Mc EO and intoxicated with CCl 4 on the 14 th day. The major components of Mc EO are α-pinene (35.20%), 1,8-cineole (17%), linalool (6.17%) and limonene (8.94%) which accounted for 67.31% of the whole oil. The antioxidant activity of Mc EO was evaluated using DPPH scavenging ability, β-carotene bleaching inhibition and hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity. Moreover, the effect of Mc EO (250 mg kg -1 body weight BW) administrated for 14 consecutive days was evaluated in wistar rat. Administration of a single dose of CCl 4 caused hepatotoxicity as monitored by an increase in lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) as well in protein carbonyl level but decreased in antioxidant markers in the liver tissue. The Mc EO pre-treatment significantly prevented the increased plasma levels of hepatic markers and lipid levels induced by CCl 4 in rats. Furthermore, this fraction improved biochemical and histological parameters as compared to CCl 4 -treated group. Our results suggest that M. communis contains promising substances to counteract the CCl 4 intoxication and which may be efficient in the prevention of hepatotoxicity complications., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

This study was undertaken to examine the hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and DNA damage protective effects of protein hydrolysates from Liza aurata , against paracetamol overdose induced liver injury in Wistar rats. L. aurata protein hydrolysates (LAPHs) were mainly constituted by glutamic acid (Glu) and glutamine (Gln) and lysine (Lys). In addition, they contained high amounts of proline (Pro), leucine (Leu) and glycine (Gly). The molecular weight distribution of the hydrolysates was determined by size exclusion chromatography, which analyzed a representative hydrolysate type with a weight range of 3-20 kDa. The hepatoprotective effect of LAPHs against paracetamol liver toxicity was investigated by in vivo assay. Rats received LAPHs daily by gavage, for 45 days. Paracetamol was administrated to rats during the last five days of treatment by intraperitoneal injection. Paracetamol overdose induced marked liver damage in rats was noted by a significant increase in the activities of serum aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT), and oxidative stress which was evident from decreased activity of the enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)), and level of glutathione (GSH), and increased concentration of lipid peroxidation products (MDA). Furthermore, paracetamol increased the DNA damage with liver histopathological changes. LAPH pretreatment significantly attenuated paracetamol-induced hepatotoxic effects, including oxidative damage, histopathological lesions, and apoptotic changes in the liver tissue. Interestingly, LAPHs restored the activities of antioxidant enzymes and the level of GSH, ameliorated histological and molecular aspects of liver cells. The present data suggest that paracetamol high-dose plays a crucial role in the oxidative damage and genotoxicity of the liver and therefore, some antioxidants such us LAPHs might be safe as hepatoprotectors. Altogether, our studies provide consistent evidence of the beneficial effect of LAPHs on animals treated with a toxic dose of paracetamol and might encourage clinical trials., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests to disclose., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Background: Currently, natural products have been shown to exhibit interesting biological and pharmacological activities and are used as chemotherapeutic agents. The purpose of this study, conducted on Wistar rats, was to evaluate the beneficial effects of Artemisia arborescens oil on oestroprogestative treatment induced damage on liver., Materials/methods: A total of 36 Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups; a control group (n = 9), a group of rats who received oestroprogestative treatment by intraperitoneal injection (n = 9), a group pre-treated with Artemisia arborescens then injected with oestroprogestative treatment (n = 9), and a group pre-treated with Artemisia arborescens (n = 9). To minimize the handling stress, animals from each group were sacrificed rapidly by decapitation. Blood serum was obtained by centrifugation and the livers were removed, cleaned of fat, and stored at -80℃ until use., Results: In the current study, oestroprogestative poisoning resulted in oxidative stress, which was demonstrated by 1) a significant increase of lipid peroxidation level in hepatic tissue 2) increased levels of serum transaminases (aspartate amino transferase and serum alanine amino transferase), alkaline phosphatase, glycemia and triglycerides and a decrease in the level of cholesterol 3) alteration of hepatic architecture. Pre-administration of Artemisia arborescens oil was found to alleviate oestroprogestative treatment induced damage by lowering lipid peroxidation level and by increasing activity of catalase, superoxide-dismutase, and glutathione-peroxidase in liver and by reducing disruption of biochemical parameters., Conclusion: Therefore, the results obtained in this study confirmed that Artemisia essential oil protects against oestroprogestative administration induced hepatotoxicity by restoration of liver activities.

Plants have historically been used in treating many diseases. Eucalyptus globules, a rich source of bioactive compounds, and have been shown to possess antioxidative properties. The purpose of this study, carried out on male Wistar rats, was to evaluate the beneficial effects of Eucalyptus globulus extract upon acetaminophen-induced damages in kidney. Our study is realized in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of Sfax (Tunisia). 32 Wistar male rats; were divided into 4 batches: a control group (n=8), a group of rats treated with acetaminophen (900 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection during 4 days (n=8), a group receiving Eucalyptus globulus extract (130 mg of dry leaves/kg/day) in drinking water during 42 days after 2 hours of acetaminophen administration (during 4 days) (n=8) and group received only Eucalyptus (n=8) during 42 days. After 6 weeks, animals from each group were rapidly sacrificed by decapitation. Blood serum was obtained by centrifugation. Under our experimental conditions, acetaminophen poisoning resulted in an oxidative stress evidenced by statistically significant losses in the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide-dismutase (SOD), glutathione-peroxidase (GPX) activities and an increase in lipids peroxidation level in renal tissue of acetaminophen-treated group compared with the control group. Acetaminophen also caused kidney damage as evident by statistically significant (p<0.05) increase in levels of creatinine and urea and decreased levels of uric acid and proteins in blood. Histological analysis demonstrated alteration of proximal tubules, atrophy of the glomerule and dilatation of urinary space. Previous administration of plant extract is found to alleviate this acetaminophen-induced damage.