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Background:Parkinsonism is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects elderly people worldwide.Methods:Curcumin, adenosine A2AR antagonist (ZM241385) and Sinemet® (L-dopa) were evaluated against Parkinson’s disease (PD) induced by rotenone in rats, and the findings were compared to our previous study on mice model.Results:Rats injected with rotenone showed severe alterations in adenosine A2A receptor gene expression, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory mediator, energetic indices, apoptotic marker and DNA fragmentation levels as compared to the control group. Treatments with curcumin, ZM241385, and Sinemet® restored all the selected parameters. The brain histopathological features of cerebellum regions confirmed our results. By comparing our results with the previous results on mice, we noticed that mice respond to rotenone toxicity and treatments more than rats with regards to behavioral observation, A2AR gene expression, neurotransmitter levels, inflammatory mediator and apoptotic markers, while rats showed higher response to treatments regarding oxidative stress and energetic indices.Conclusion:Curcumin succeeded in attenuating the severe effects of Parkinson’s disease in the rat model and can be considered as a potential dietary supplement. Adenosine A2AR antagonist has almost the same pattern of improvement as Sinemet® and may be considered as a promising therapy against PD. To compare the role of animal species in response to PD symptoms and treatments, our previous report on mice explored the response of mice to rotenone toxicity in comparison with rats, where rats have shown a higher response to treatments. Therefore, no animal model can perfectly recapitulate all the pathologies of PD.

Background: Hypercholesterolemia is considered as one of the major risk factors for atherosclerosis. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of Ocimum basilieum L. against hypercholesterolemia in rats. Methods: Isolation and identification of flavonoid compounds from the methanolic extract of Ocimum basilicum L. leaves were performed by UV, 1H, 13C-NMR and1D/2D NMR, HMBC and HMQC techniques. The biochemical evaluation was performed through measuring Total Cholesterol (TC), High Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (HDL-C), Low Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDL-C), Triglycerides (TG), Malondialdehyde (MDA), Glutathione (GSH), Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), aspartate and Alanine Aminotransferases (AST & ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), urea, creatinine and albumin levels as well as DNA fragmentation pattern of kidneys. The histopathological features of liver and kidney were also examined. Results: The phytochemical study revealed the presence of seven flavonoid compounds (apigenin- 8-C-(α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-O –glucopyranoside (1), apigenin 6, 8-di-C-β-glucopyranoside (vicenin 2) (2), apigenin 7-O-(6”-O-trans-p-coumaryl)-β–glucopyranoside (3), apigenin 7-O- β-glucopyranoside (4), apigenin 8-C-β-glucopyranoside (vitexin) (5), apigenin -6-C-β-glucopyranoside (isovitexin) (6), apigenin (7)) and one phenolic compound; rosmarinic acid (8). Treatment with leaves extract at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight for nine weeks simultaneously with oral cholesterol administration (30 mg/0.3 ml 0.7% tween/ animal) to rats fed with high fat diet restored all the biochemical parameters and the architectures of liver and kidney. Conclusion: Methanolic extract of Ocimum basilieum L. leaves succeeded to act as a hypolipidemic, antioxidant and hepato-renal therapeutic agent due to its rich biologically active phenolic and flavonoids compounds.

Introduction: Stomach ulcer is one of the most prevalent disorders worldwide. The study was aimed to isolate and characterize the major polymethoxylated flavonoids in Citrus sinensis peels petroleu...

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders spread worldwide in elderly people. Methods: The Citrus peels methanolic extract (100 mg/kg body weight) was evaluated as an antiparkinsonism agent in rats through estimation of oxidative stress markers, neurotransmitter levels, energetic indices, DNA fragmentation pattern, inflammatory mediators, adenosine A2A receptor gene expression and the histopathological analysis of the brain. In addition, its effect was compared with ZM241385; an adenosine A2A receptor antagonist, as well as the classical drug; (L-dopa). Results: The methanolic extract of C. sinensis peels constituted 17.59 ± 1.92 mg GAE/g and 4.88 ± 0.43 mg CE/g of total phenolic and flavonoid content, respectively. The polyphenolic composition was qualified and quantified using HPLC/DAD and UPLC/ESI-MS analysis. HPLC/DAD analysis led to identify 8 phenolic acids and 4 flavonoids. UPLC/MS analysis led to identify 20 polyphenolic compounds, including 9 polymethoxylated flavoniods, 7 flavonoidal glycosides and 4 phenolic derivatives. Nobiletin and tangeretin were found as abundant polymethoxylated flavones while, hesperidin and 1-caffeoyl-β-D-glucose were found as abundant glycosyl flavone and phenolic derivatives, respectively. Rotenone induced rats showed a significant decrease in neurotransmitter levels, energetic and antioxidant parameters, while a significant increase in total protein, inflammatory mediators, adenosine A2A receptor gene expression, DNA and lipid peroxidation levels was recorded. Treatments with plant extract, L-dopa and ZM241385 restored these selected parameters to variable extents with a more potent effect of ZM241385 than L-dopa. Rotenone induced rats were left free without treatment; not recorded a noticeable improvement level. Conclusion: Citrus sinensis peels was rich with bioactive valuable-added products. This may lead to the development of new nutraceutical and pharmaceutical agents as well as functional food products used as anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-parkinsonian agent.

Curcuma longa (Family, Zingiberaceae) is rich in polyphenolic compounds; curcuminoids which is used in traditional medicine as antioxidant, anti-tumor, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, wou...

Context: Stomach ulcers are the common gastrointestinal disorders worldwide.Objective: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic impact of Pulicaria crispa aerial parts ethanol extract agains...

Background Plantago spp. includes more than 200 species which had been used traditionally to treat many diseases including colds, hepatitis, and infectious diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate carbohydrates and fixed oil from Plantago ovata L. (Plantaginaceae) seeds against ketoprofen-induced hepatorenal toxicity in rats. Results The aqueous extract of P. ovata seeds contain 39% (wt/wt) carbohydrate as glucose and 35% (wt/wt) as mucilage. Paper chromatographic analysis and GLC of the mucilage hydrolysate revealed the presence of six free sugars. GC/MS analysis of the saponifiable and unsaponifiable matter of the petroleum ether extract identified 15 compounds from the saponifiable matter. Linoleic acid ethyl ester was the major unsaturated fatty acid, while palmitic acid methyl ester is presented as the major saturated fatty acid. Eighteen compounds were identified from the unsaponifiable matter. 6-Phenyldodecane and 6-phenyl tridecane are presented as major compounds in the unsaponifiable matter. Five steroidal compounds, namely β-sitosterol, Lupeol, Stigmasterol, Campesterol, and 24(25)-dihydrocycloartenol, were identified and confirmed. Carbohydrates and fixed oil administered to normal control rats showed insignificant changes in the oxidative stress markers; liver and kidney function indices, liver DNA degradation pattern, and the histopathological picture of liver and kidney revealed their safety. Ketoprofen induced drastic changes in all the measured parameters. Treatments recorded variable degrees of improvement referring to silymarin as a reference herbal drug. Conclusions The self-recovery process is not an efficient tool against the ketoprofen toxicity. Treatment with plant carbohydrates exhibited the most potent effect in improving the selected parameters under investigation and served as a safe agent for treatment hepatorenal toxicity in rats.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia due to insulin inactivity or insufficiency with increasing risk of developing specific complications, including retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), niacin, as well as their combination in ameliorating brain disorders associated with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats. Glibenclamide, a reference diabetic drug, and donepezil, an acetylcholine inhibitor drug, were also evaluated. Diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg body weight (b.wt)). One-month diabetic rats were treated with the selected drugs daily for another two consecutive weeks. The evaluation was done through the estimation of the levels of blood glucose, serum insulin, and oxidative stress markers: malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH); neurotransmitters: acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and dopamine (DA); vasoconstrictor indices: intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1), and angiotensin II (Ang II); and apoptosis markers: tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and caspase-3 as well as the histopathological picture of the cerebellum region of the brain. The results revealed that the combination of niacin and CoQ10 improved most of the measured parameters with variable degrees. In conclusion, niacin and CoQ10 are promising dietary supplements in the management of diabetic encephalopathy.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder affecting elderly people. The aim of this study is to analyze the efficacy of dopaminergic and non- dopaminergic agents and natural sources in the treatment of rotenone-induced PD in rats. Rotenone-induced PD rats recorded severe alternation in neurotransmitters level, oxidative stress markers, energetic biomarkers, inflammatory mediator, apoptotic index, adenosine A2AR gene expression and brain histopathological features. The treatment efficacy of hesperidin (Hesp), naringenin (Narin), levodopa (L-dopa) and adenosine A2A receptor antagonist (A2AR; ZM241385) were evaluated using biochemical and genetic markers measurements as well as histological analysis of the brain. Naringenin recorded the most potent effect in comparison to hesperidin. ZM and levodopa had almost the same enhancement level. Naringenin may be considered as promising supplement for Parkinson’s disease treatment. Further studies are needed to confirm ZM use as a new non-dopaminergic drug without any side effects as such exerted by levodopa.

Pulicaria undulata subsp. undulata (Family; Asteraceae) is a medicinal plant used to treat inflammation. The objective of this study is to explore the protective effect of the ethanol extract of P. undulata subsp. undulata aerial parts against ethanol induced gastric ulcer in rats. The chemical composition of plant extract, the unsaponifiable matter and the fatty acid methyl esters were analyzed. The biological evaluation was carried out through measuring ulcer indices, oxidative stress markers, certain marker enzymes, inflammatory index and the histopathological assessment of the stomach in rats. The total unsaponifiable matter (94.29%) and the fatty acid methyl ester (82.96%) content were identified. Gastric ulcer recorded significant increase in gastric volume and lesion counts (p < 0.0001). Drastic changes in all biochemical parameters under investigation were observed. Protection with plant extract reversed the action of ethanol by variable degrees of improvement in comparison with the reference drug. The presence of carbohydrates and proteins that acted as a mucilage lining the stomach inner wall give its protective action. In conclusion, P. undulata subsp. undulata succeeded to have anti-ulcerative protective effect. The measured biomarkers served as a good mirror to predict gastric ulcer and the presence of carbohydrates, protein and fibers present in the plant extract acted as a mucilage lining the inner intestinal wall and protect against ethanol induced gastric ulcer. Future study will be carried out to identify the biologically active compounds responsible for plant protection against the gastric ulcer.

Background/objective Zingiber officinale Roscoe (ginger) (Zingiberaceae) has been cultivated for thousands of years both as a spice and for medicinal purposes. Ginger rhizomes successive extracts (petroleum ether, chloroform and ethanol) were examined against liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats. Results The evaluation was done through measuring antioxidant parameters; glutathione (GSH), total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Liver marker enzymes; succinate and lactate dehydrogenases (SDH and LDH), glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase), acid phosphatase (AP), 5'- nucleotidase (5'NT) and liver function enzymes; aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST and ALT) as well as cholestatic markers; alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin were estimated. Liver histopathological analysis and collagen content were also evaluated. Treatments with the selected extracts significantly increased GSH, SOD, SDH, LDH, G-6-Pase, AP and 5'NT. However, MDA, AST, ALT ALP, GGT and total bilirubin were significantly decreased. Conclusions Extracts of ginger, particularly the ethanol one resulted in an attractive candidate for the treatment of liver fibrosis induced by CCl4. Further studies are required in order to identify the molecules responsible of the pharmacological activity.