Search

The environmental xenobiotic aluminum chloride (AlCl3) destroys reproduction via free radicals. The present study aimed at evaluating the impact of purple and white eggplant on rat fertility when exposed to AlCl3. A total of 36 male albino rats were divided into six groups: a negative control, the second given AlCl3 (17 mg/kg b.w.) for 28 days, the third and fourth given a basal diet with 5% and 10% white eggplant powder, and the fifth and sixth given a basal diet with 5% and 10% purple eggplant powder. AlCl3 reduced follicular‐stimulating hormone (FSH), plasma testosterone, sperm count, motility, and viability, luteinizing hormone (LH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities. On the contrary, malondialdehyde (MDA) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) disclosed considerable increases. Besides, reproductive hormones, antioxidant enzymes, and sperm quality were significantly enhanced in the treated groups with eggplants. A downregulation in the expression of Fkbp6, Ccna1, and Cyp19A1 was detected, and normal expression was restored after treatment with high dose from eggplant (10%) without significant differences, whereas Msh4 and Cdk2 genes continued in their down expression and measured decrease up to 60% in Msh4 and 40% in Cdk2 in their mRNA levels after treatment with high dosage from eggplant, respectively. Alternatively, rats treated with eggplant at high dose (10%) gained more body weight (33%) and much bigger testicles (1.30 ± 0.05 g) when compared to AlCl3‐treated rats (gained only 16% more body weight and 1.04 ± 0.06 g testis weight) after 28 days, subsequently, the eggplant reduced the side effect of AlCl3‐induced toxicity. AlCl3 induced broad cytotoxic effects in seminiferous tubules, and the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities of eggplant minimized the histological alteration in rat testes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LN19183 is a standardized composition of Citrus aurantifolia (Christm) Swingle (CA) fruit rind and Theobroma cacao L. (TC) seed extracts that have recently been demonstrated to increase resting energy expenditure (REE) and reduce body fat in rats. CA and TC are important herbs in traditional medicine for various health benefits. The present study evaluates the comprehensive toxicity of LN19183 in acute, subchronic, and genetic toxicity studies following the guidelines of the Organization for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) for testing chemicals. The acute oral and dermal and 90‐day subchronic oral toxicities were performed in rats, and acute dermal and eye irritations were performed in rabbits. In the subchronic toxicity study with a 28‐day recovery period, male and female Sprague Dawley rats were orally gavaged with daily LN19183 doses of 500, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg body weight (BW). Furthermore, the genetic toxicity studies included mutagenicity in bacteria, chromosome aberration, and micronucleus assays in human blood mononuclear cells in vitro and micronucleus assay in Swiss albino mice bone marrow in vivo. Acute and subchronic repeat dose oral toxicity studies showed no adverse events, clinical signs, or mortality. All animals exhibited normal food and water intake and natural BW gain. In the 90‐day study, LN19183 did not induce major changes in hematology, biochemical evaluations, and urine analysis; gross and histopathological findings did not show any treatment‐related lesions or abnormality. The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of LN19183 supplementation was 2000 mg/kg BW/day. In the genetic toxicity studies, LN19183 treatment did not show significant increases in the revertant bacterial colonies, chromosomal aberrations, or number of micronucleated cells. The present observations affirm that oral consumption of LN19183 is safe, and this botanical composition is nonmutagenic and nonclastogenic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protective effect of Fe against Cd‐induced toxicity in the liver and kidney of rats during concurrent administration of both metals was investigated in this study. Fifty female rats (130–150 g) were distributed into five groups of 10 rats each (n = 10): Group I (control), received normal saline solution; Group II (1.2 mg CdCl2/kg b.w.); Group III (1.2 mg CdCl2 + 0.25 mg FeCl2/kg b.w.); Group IV (1.2 mg CdCl2 + 0.75 mg FeCl2/kg b.w.); and Group V (1.2 mg CdCl2 + 1.5 mg FeCl2/kg b.w.). Administration of both tested substances lasted for 47 days. Cd was injected intraperitoneally once a week, while Fe was administered to the Cd‐exposed animals by oral gavage thrice weekly. The animals were killed at the end of the study, their blood was collected, and their liver and kidneys were harvested for biochemical and histological analysis. Following Cd administration, the kidney and liver showed a significant increase in Cd concentration, while Fe concentration in the kidney decreased. However, cotreatment with Fe decreased Cd concentration in the kidney and liver and increased Fe concentration in the kidney but not the liver, and the effect was more pronounced in the higher than lower doses. In the kidney, cotreatment with Fe especially at higher doses inhibited Cd‐induced lipid peroxidation and plasma uric acid concentration. In the liver, lipid peroxidation which Cd did not alter was found to be elevated after cotreatment with the highest dose Fe. Inflammatory cell infiltrations of the central vein and renal tubular and glomeruli injury induced by Cd were not obviated by Fe cotreatment. It seems that both tissues respond differently to the concurrent administration of these metals and that Fe protected the kidney against oxidative injury‐induced by Cd but not histopathological changes in both tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of ethanolic Mangifera indica (M. indica) seed extract on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)‐induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. Methods. Forty‐eight albino rats weighing (100–150 g) were used for hepatoprotective and toxicity experiments. Antioxidant activity was determined using the 2, 2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The toxicity of M. indica seeds on the liver was evaluated by examining wellness parameters, body weight, and liver histological sections. The protective effects of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of seed extract on CCl4‐induced hepatotoxicity were investigated by evaluating hematological, renal, and liver function parameters, body weight, and liver histological sections. Results. The antioxidant activity of the M. indica ethanolic extract was (92 ± 0.03 RSA %) compared with (91 ± 0.01 RSA %) of propyl gallate, and the IC50 was (8.3 ± 0.01 µg/ml) and (14.1 ± 0.01 µg/ml). No changes were observed in the health indicators, body weights, and liver histological sections following oral administration of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of M. indica seed extracts. Treatment with M. indica seed extract significantly reduced alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), blood sugar, and urea levels compared with those in the CCl4‐treated group. Conclusion. The IC50 of the M. indica ethanolic extract was 8.3 µg/ml, and the M. indica extract is a potential source of natural antioxidants that protect against CCl4‐induced hepatotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flourensia cernua DC, commonly known as hojasen or tarbush, is a medicinal plant used in arid regions due to its therapeutic properties, especially in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. This study aimed to assess the toxicity of a polyphenolic extract obtained from F. cernua. This research involved both in vitro (hemolytic and brine shrimp assay) and in vivo tests (acute oral toxicity) to determine the safety profile of this extract. The extract was obtained through a novel ultrasound‐microwave extraction and purified by ion‐exchange chromatography. Analysis of the polyphenolic extract revealed a rich composition of flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids, mainly apigenin glycosides. In toxicity tests, the polyphenols did not exhibit toxicity towards Artemia salina at a concentration of 1 mg/ml. Furthermore, incubation at 500 μg/ml for 4 hours showed a slight toxic effect on erythrocytes. In the acute oral toxicity test in mice, doses of 300 mg/kg and 2000 mg/kg did not result in animal mortality, indicating that the LD50 exceeds 2000 mg/kg. However, the higher dose induced signs of toxicity, including lethargy, drowsiness, piloerection, and a significant decrease in weight during the initial two days postadministration of the polyphenolic extract. In addition, histological analysis suggested potential kidney damage at the 2000 mg/kg dose. According to OECD guidelines, while the extract can be classified as category 5 (low acute toxicity) due to the absence of mortality at 2000 mg/kg, the observed signs of toxicity should be considered in the overall risk assessment. These findings highlight the potential of F. cernua in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications due to its high polyphenolic content. However, further investigations are necessary to explore the specific effects of the compounds present in the extract. In addition, continuous evaluation of its long‐term toxicity is essential to fully understand the extract's safety profile and efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver impairment caused by VCM has been linked to irreversible damage such as fibrosis, necrosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver angiosarcoma. However, the ability to detect abnormalities during initial phase have not been achieved so far. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of interleukin 8 (IL‐8) and C‐X‐C chemokines 2 (CXCR2) on screening for a VCM‐exposed group (n = 227) from a PVC manufacturing factory compared to a control group (n = 110) in Tianjin City in 2020 with influence factors evaluation. Ambient concentrations of VCM and health archives from 2012 to 2018 were collected for establishing the dose‐effect trend. A cross‐sectional survey in 2020 was performed to measure TDGA, IL‐8, CXCR2, 8‐OHdG, SOD, GPX, CAT, MDA, and ROS levels. Results indicated a continuous increased incidence on liver abnormalities despite a fluctuated downward trend in cumulative time‐weighted average (CTWA) VCM concentrations over the years. ALT, AST, and AST/ALT ratio all contributed to liver abnormalities that contained fatty liver, liver calcification, and liver cysts, IL‐8 and CXCR2 correlated with each other strongly and showed significant associations with oxidative stress markers, even AST/ALT ratio. IL‐8 (>1547 µg/m3) or CXCR2 (<139 µg/m3) influenced the AST/ALT ratio through reciprocal interactions under oxidative stress injury, CXCR2 (>222 µg/m3), working years of 21 to 30 (a) and 11 to 20 (a), TDGA (>1.52 mg/L), alcohol consumption, smoking habit, and a less sleeping duration of <4 h per day would also be potential factors affecting the AST/ALT ratio. In conclusion (1) even with decreased VCM concentrations in PVC manufacturing factories liver abnormalities that contained fatty liver, liver calcification, and liver cysts could still occur due to oxidative stress injury with involvement of IL‐8 and CXCR2. The status of protective measure and appropriate mask types also play a role; (2) the AST/ALT ratio could be a specific indicator for detecting abnormalities when combined with liver B ultrasonography results before impairment altered from bad to worse; and (3) factors such as definite medication history, fully broken protective facilities, alcohol consumption, less sleeping duration, inappropriate mask types, and longer working years could also influence AST/ALT ratio alterations through complex interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of microplastics are increasing exponentially and standard protocols are only beginning to be established. Jellyfish are considered susceptible to ingesting microplastics because they feed on small, suspended particles. Inconsistent approaches used to study interactions between jellyfish and microplastics, however, make comparisons among studies difficult. Here we review aspects of the methods used to sample jellyfish in the field and experimental approaches used in the laboratory to study interactions between jellyfish and microplastics, recommend some standard protocols and identify areas for further research. We highlight the need for experiments to be environmentally relevant, to study a greater diversity of species and to study different life history stages. • Inconsistent approaches have been used to study microplastics and jellyfish. • Experimental conditions should be environmentally relevant. • A greater diversity of jellyfish species and life history stages should be studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]