Search

WOS: 000430919000030, PubMed ID: 28478022, Objective: Oxygen free radicals are important components involved in the histopathologic tissue alterations observed during abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). This study examined whether melatonin has protective or therapeutic effects against AAAs. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. A CaCl2 model was used to induce AAA. Starting on the operation day (Mel+AAA+Mel group) or 4 weeks after the operation (AAA+Mel group), the rats received intraperitoneal melatonin (10 mg/kg/day) for 6 and 2 weeks, respectively. The control and AAA groups received vehicle for 2 weeks after the sham operation and AAA induction, respectively. Angiographic measurements were recorded at the beginning, week 4, and week 6 of the study. After decapitation, aorta tissues were taken for the measurement of malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, glutathione levels, and myeloperoxidase and caspase-3 activity. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, tumor necrosis factor-a, and inducible nitric oxide synthase protein expressions were analyzed by Western blot technique. Aortic tissues were also examined by light microscopy. Results: CaCl2 caused an inflammatory response and oxidative damage indicated by rises in malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels. Myeloperoxidase and caspase-3 activities were increased, but glutathione levels were reduced. On the one hand, MMP-2, MMP-9, tumor necrosis factor-a, and inducible nitric oxide synthase protein expressions were increased in the vehicle-treated AAA group. On the other hand, melatonin treatment reversed all of these biochemical indices and histopathologic alterations. Conclusions: According to the data, although melatonin tended to reverse the biochemical parameters given on week 4, the preventive effect is more pronounced when given concomitantly with AAA induction because values were closer to the control levels., Marmara University Scientific Research Projects Commission [SAG-C-TUP-12114-0355], This project was supported by Marmara University Scientific Research Projects Commission (project no: SAG-C-TUP-12114-0355).

Objective The present study aims to investigate the therapeutic effects of resveratrol (RES) on isoproterenol (ISO) induced myocardial injury rat model. Methods Catecholamine-induced heart damage was induced by ISO treatment for 30 days. The rats were divided into four groups as follows: the control group received saline, the ISO group received 5.0 mg/kg ISO, the RES group received 10 mg/kg RES, and the ISO-RES group received 10 mg/kg RES and 5 mg/kg ISO treatments for 30 days. Following echocardiographic measurements and body weight recorded, the rats were decapitated. Plasma and cardiac tissue samples obtained by decapitation were analyzed using biochemical, histopathological, molecular and immunohistochemical methods. Results In the ISO group, Na+/K+ ATPase activity and ATP content, GSH, and caveolin-3 levels were low. LDH, CK and lysosomal enzyme activities, MDA level, and MPO activity were found to be high. It was determined that GSH and MDA levels and MPO, Na+/K+ ATPase activity, ATP content caveolin-3 levels changes that arose from ISO treatment were suppressed by RES treatment. Conclusion RES treatment has ameliorated all the functional and biochemical parameters. The results obtained in this study suggest that RES is a promising supplement against catecholamine exposure as it improves antioxidant defense mechanisms in the heart. In the light of above-mentioned data, RES can be assumed as a promising agent in ameliorating the oxidative injury of the myocardium.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of calorie restriction (CR) and swimming exercise (SW) on oxidative injury in kidney and bladder tissues, in rats with metabolic syndrome (MS). 3-months old rats were divided into five; Control, MS, MS+CR, MS+SW, MS+CR+SW. The metabolic syndrome model was created using 10% fructose solution in drinking water for three months. Afterwards, SW and 40% CR were applied for six weeks. Blood glucose measurements were performed at the beginning, the third month and the end of experiment. After decapitation, blood, kidney and bladder samples were collected. Cytokine levels, antioxidant and oxidative stress parameters were examined. There was a remarkable change in blood glucose levels in MS+CR+SW group. Fructose-induced increased TNF-alpha and decreased ADP levels in plasma were reversed in CR, SW, and CR+SW groups. MDA levels were increased, while SOD and ADP levels were decreased in renal and bladder tissues in MS group. CR and SW significantly reversed all parameters in both tissues. Moreover, caspase activity increased in both tissues in MS group. CR decreased the caspase activity in kidney tissue, and in bladder tissues caspase activity significantly decreased with both CR and SW. Western blot analysis showed an increased caspase-3 protein expression in both tissues which was reversed by CR, SW, and CR+SW. The results of our study showed that MS disrupts the balance of pro/anti-inflammatory cytokines in plasma and causes oxidant damage in urinary tissues. Calorie restriction and exercise are protective against the damage caused by MS.

karagulle, onur olgac/0000-0002-1575-5751 WOS:000509485100002 PubMed ID: 31345657 Background/Objective: The present study investigated the potent therapeutic effects of Ruscogenin, main steroid sapogenin of traditional Chinese plant called 'Ophiopogon japonicas', on chronic ulcer model established with acetic acid in rats. Methods: 24 rats were attenuated to the sham (2 ml/kg/day isotonic solution), control (untreated ulcer) and treatment (3 ml/kg/day ruscogenin) groups. After treatment for 2 weeks, gastric tissues were collected and prepared for light microscopic (H&E), immunohistochemical (Collagen I, III and IV) and biochemical analysis [Epidermal growth factor (EGF), Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-alpha), Interleukin 6 and 8 (IL-6 and IL-8), Lipid Peroxidase (LPO), Myeloperoxidase (MPO), Glutathione (GSH) and Glutathione Peroxidase (GSH-Px)] and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results: Macroscopic scoring showed that the ulceration area of ruscogenin-treated group decreased compared with control group. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed ruscogenin ameliorated and restored the levels of Collagen I and IV to the levels of sham group. Tissue levels of EGF and PGE2 enhanced significantly in untreated ulcer group while were higher in treated ulcer group than the control group. TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, LPO, MPO levels increased significantly in control group whereas decreased in treated rats after ruscogenin treatment. However, levels of GSH and GSH-Px increased significantly in treatment group. TEM showed chief cells and parietal cells of ulcer group having degenerated organelles while ruscogenin group had normal ultrastructure of cells. Conclusion: There are potent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of ruscogenin on gastric ulcer and may be successfully used as a safe and therapeutic agent in treatment of peptic ulcer. (C) 2019 Asian Surgical Association and Taiwan Robotic Surgery Association. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. Research and Development Expenses Account under Circulating Capital Budget of University of Health Science Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey [2016/12] The present project was supported by Research and Development Expenses Account under Circulating Capital Budget of University of Health Science Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey (Project No: 2016/12).

Objectives To investigate the possible protective effects of resveratrol against oxidative testicular damage due to scattered radiation during pelvic ionizing radiation exposure in rats. Methods Rats were divided into 5 groups; control, radiation, and radiation + resveratrol therapy in early and late periods. Under anesthesia, 20 Gy ionizing radiation was applied to prostatic region. Resveratrol was administered (10 mg/kg/day) orally before ionizing radiation exposure. Animals were decapitated at the end of 1st and 10th weeks. Biochemical markers of oxidative stress; caspase-3 and sirtuin-1 protein expressions; testosterone levels were evaluated, histological examinations were performed. Results Significant increases in malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine levels, myeloperoxidase, and caspase-3 activities were observed after ionizing radiation exposure, also superoxide dismutase and glutathione activities were significantly decreased. Radiotherapy increased caspase-3 and decreased sirtuin-1 protein expressions. Resveratrol treatment significantly reversed these parameters and also reversed the decrease in testosterone levels back to control levels in late period. Conclusion Resveratrol showed antioxidant and sirtuin-activating properties against oxidative damage caused by scattered radiation to testis and provided hormonal protection. These results suggest that resveratrol may be an alternative protective agent on testicular tissues against the effects of scattered pelvic radiation.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate possible protective effects of St. John's wort in the hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury. Material and Methods: The hepatic artery, portal vein, and bile duct were all clamped for 45 minutes to induce ischemia in rats, and after that reperfusion for 1 hour. SJW was administrated orally, once a day for 3 days before ischemia/reperfusion. The aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin levels were measured in the serum samples. Luminol chemiluminescence, lucigenin luminol chemiluminescence levels; myeloperoxidase. The sodium-potassium ATPase (Na+/K+ ATPase) activity was determined in the liver tissue, and caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity with the bcl-2/bax ratio were measured by the western blot analysis. Results: The St. John's wort administration recovered the aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, tumor necrosis factor, and IL-1 beta levels serum parameters meaningfully, while ischemia/reperfusion caused an increase in luminol chemiluminescence, lucigenin luminol chemiluminescence, myeloperoxidase, caspase-3, and caspase-9 activity and led to a decrease in the B-cell lymphoma-2/bcl-2-associated X protein (bcl-2/bax) ratio and the Na+/K+ ATPase activity. Conclusion: The obtained results indicate protective effects of St. John's wort on the ischemia/reperfusion injury through various mechanisms, and we are able to suggest that St. John's wort can clinically create a new therapeutic principle.

WOS: 000443568400006, PubMed ID: 29973698, Radiotherapy (RT) for prostate cancer (PC) can cause erectile dysfunction (ED) by damaging neurovascular structures with oxidative stress. In this study, we evaluated the effects of resveratrol, an antioxidant, on post-RT ED. Fifty rats in five groups were evaluated; control (C), prostate-confined radiotherapy with short- and long-term vehicle or resveratrol treatment. Cavernosal tissues were obtained to analyze glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxy-guanosine (8-OHdG) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD), caspase-3 activities, sirtuin-1, Foxo-3, nNOS, and eNOS protein expressions. Intracavernosal pressures (ICP) were measured for the long-term treatment group. In the RT long-term vehicle treatment group, tissue GSH, NO, cGMP, and SOD activity were decreased while 8-OHdg levels and caspase-3 activities were increased. Radiotherapy caused a decrease in sirtuin-1, nNOS, and eNOS protein expressions. These parameters were reversed by resveratrol treatment. Foxo-3 protein expressions were unaltered in the RT + short-term vehicle treatment group and started to increase as a defense mechanism in the RT long-term vehicle group; however, resveratrol treatment caused a significant increase in Foxo-3 expressions. Resveratrol preserved the metabolic pathways involved in erectile function and provided functional protection. Resveratrol can be used as a supplementary agent in patients undergoing radiotherapy to preserve erectile function., Marmara University Scientific Research Projects Committee [SAG-B-100914-0311], This study was supported by Marmara University Scientific Research Projects Committee with the grant number SAG-B-100914-0311.

WOS:000500944000001 PubMed ID: 31824881 Purpose: To determine the potential protective and therapeutic effects and action mechanism of ruscogenin on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) model in rats. Methods: Overall, 32 rats were attenuated to the sham (2-mL/kg/day isotonic solution for 4 weeks), control (20-mu g/kg cerulein-induced AP for 12 hours), prophylaxis groups (cerulein-induced AP following 3-mL/kg/day ruscogenin for 4 weeks) and treatment (3-mL/kg/day ruscogenin following cerulein-induced AP for 12 hours). Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis of nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1/neuronal NOS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). After sacrification, pancreas tissues were collected and prepared for light microscopic (hematoxylin and eosin), immunohistochemical (nuclear factor kappa B) and biochemical analysis (tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha], interleukin-6 and 1 beta [IL-6 and IL-1 beta], CRP, high-sensitivity CRP [hs-CRP] amylase, lipase, and ICAM-1). Ultrastructural analysis was performed by transmission electron microscopy. Results: The protective and therapeutic actions of ruscogenin were accomplished by improvements in histopathology, by decreasing blood cytokine levels of CRP, hs-CRP levels, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1 beta, ICAM-1, by reducing the pancreatic enzymes amylase and lipase in blood, and by suppressing the expression of nuclear factor kappa B, ICAM-1, and NOS-1, but not MDA in pancreatic tissues. Ruscogenin also improved cerulein-induced ultrastructural degenerations in endocrine and exocrine cells, especially in treatment group. Conclusion: The present findings have demonstrated the beneficial protective and therapeutical effects of ruscogenin, nominating it as a highly promising supplementary agent to be considered in the treatment of AP, and even as a protective agent against the damages induced by disease. Research and Development Expenses Account under Circulating Capital Budget of University of Health Science Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital [2016/24] The present project was supported by Research and Development Expenses Account under Circulating Capital Budget of University of Health Science Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital (Project No: 2016/24). Authors thank to Assoc. Prof. Ilknur Dag from Central Research Laboratory Application and Research Center of Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Turkey, for the analysis by transmission electron microscopy.

Objective: In the present study, it was aimed to study the antioxidant effects of spironolactone (SPL) to determine its possible protective effects in hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury. Material and Methods: Hepatic artery, portal vein, and bile duct of Wistar albino rats were clamped for 45 minutes under anesthesia to form an ischemia period. Then reperfusion was allowed and the rats were decapitated 60 minutes later. SPL (20 mg/kg, p.o.) or SF was orally administered for 30 minutes before ischemia. Rats in the control arm underwent sham surgery and were administered isotonic saline. Liver function was studied by measuring aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin 1beta (IL-1 beta) levels. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), luminol, and lucigenin levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and Na+-K+- ATPase enzyme activities were analyzed to study tissue injury under light microscope. Results: While IR increased AST, ALT, TNF-alpha, and IL-1 beta levels and MDA, luminol, and lusigenin levels and MPO activities, it caused a decrease in GSH levels and Na+K+-ATPase activity. Spironolactone administration significantly improved these values. Conclusion: Protective effects of SPL against ischemia/reperfusion injury via various mechanisms suggest that this agent may become a novel treatment agent in clinical practice.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible protective effect of spironolactone (SPL) and role of the Na-K ATPase pump on intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury. In our study, the period of ischemia was established by clamping the mesenteric artery for 45 minunder anesthesia in Wistar albino rats and the animals left for reperfusion at the end of this period were decapitated after one hour. Spironolactone (20 mg kg(-1)) was administered orally for three days before ischemia, 30 minbefore ischemia. The control group rats were subjected to the Sham operation and administered saline solution. TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta levels were measured in the serum samples. Ileal Na+/K+-ATPase, myeloperoxidase (MPO) analysis were performed. Structural injury was assessed histopathologically. Ischemia/reperfusion increased serum TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta levels together with MPO activity, whereas these values were maintained at the control group levels through SPL activation. However, ischemia/reperfusion decreased Na+/K+-ATPase activity in ileal tissues; however, these parameters were found to be significantly increased with SPL activation. The protective effect of SPL against ischemia/reperfusion injury by different mechanisms, mainly the activity of the Na+/K+-ATPase pump, suggests that this nontoxic agent may constitute a new clinical therapeutic principle.

WOS:000215712700012 Purpose: The present study was conducted to characterize the possible therapeutic effects of glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and GLP-2 against oxidative damage in the ileum and colon of irradiated rats. Methods and materials: Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes received either a single dose of GLP-1 (0.1 nmol/kg, intraperitoneally, ip; n = 6) 10 min before abdominal irradiation (IR) or two consecutive doses of GLP-2 (7 nmol/kg, ip; n = 6) at 30 and 10 min before IR, while another group was administered vehicle (n = 6) 10 min before IR. Control rats (n = 6) received vehicle treatment without IR. On the fourth day of IR, samples from ileum and colon were removed for histological analysis, for the determination of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, as well as DNA fragmentation ratio, an index of apoptosis. Results: IR-induced oxidative injury in the colonic tissue of vehicle-treated rats, evidenced by elevated MDA levels and MPO activity, as well as depleted colonic GSH levels, was reversed by GLP-2, while GLP-1 reduced IR-induced elevations in colonic MDA levels. IR-induced injury with elevated ileal MDA levels was reduced by GLP-1, while replenishment in GSH was observed in GLP-2-treated rats. Conclusion: Current findings suggest that GLP-1 and GLP-2 appear to have protective roles in the irradiation-induced oxidative damage of the gut by inhibiting neutrophil infiltration and subsequent activation of inflammatory mediators that induce lipid peroxidation. Copyright (C) 2015, The Egyptian Society of Radiation Sciences and Applications. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.

WOS: 000337163600001, PubMed ID: 24936835, BACKGROUND: This study was designed to determine the possible protective effect of captopril treatment against oxidative damage in heart and lung tissues induced by burn injury. METHODS: Under ether anesthesia, the shaved dorsum of Wistar albino rats was exposed to 90 C water bath for 10 seconds. Captopril was administered intraperitoneally (10 mg/kg) after the burn injury and repeated twice daily. In the sham group, the dorsum was dipped in a 25 C water bath for 10 seconds. At the end of the 24 hours, echocardiographic recordings were performed, then animals were decapitated and heart and lung tissue samples were taken for the determination of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) as a pro-inflammatory cytokine, malondialdehyde and glutathione levels and myeloperoxidase, caspase-3, and Na+, K+-ATPase activity in addition to the histological analysis. RESULTS: Burn injury caused significant alterations in left ventricular function. In heart and lung tissues, TNF-a and malondialdehyde levels and myeloperoxidase and caspase-3 activities were found to be increased, while glutathione levels and Na+, K+-ATPase activity were decreased due to burn injury. Captopril treatment significantly elevated the reduced glutathione level and Na+, K+-ATPase activity, and decreased cytokine and malondialdehyde levels and myeloperoxidase and caspase-3 activities. CONCLUSION: Captopril prevents burn-induced damage in heart and lung tissues and protects against oxidative organ damage.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to determine possible protective effect of betaine treatment against oxidative injury in pulmonary tissue induced with thermal trauma. METHODS: Under ether anesthesia, shaved dorsum of Wistar albino rats was exposed to a 90 degrees C water bath for 10 seconds to induce burn injury. Betaine was administered orally (250 mg/kg) for a period of 21 days before burn injury, and single dose of betaine was administered after thermal injury. Control group rats were exposed to 25 degrees C water bath for 10 seconds. Upon conclusion of experiment, rats were decapitated and blood was collected for analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Lung tissue samples were taken to determine malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and Na+/K+-ATPase activity, in addition to histological analysis. RESULTS: Burn injury caused significant increase in both cytokine levels and LDH activity. In lung samples, raised MDA levels, MPO activity, and reduced GSH levels and Na+/K+-ATPase activity were found due to burn injury. CONCLUSION: Treatment of rats with betaine significantly restored GSH level and Na+/K+-ATPase activity, and decreased MDA level and MPO activity. According to the findings of the present study, betaine significantly diminishes burn-induced damage in tissue.

Antiepileptik ve antikonvulzan etkili bir ilac olan valproik asit (VPA) oksidan ureminde artisa neden oldugundan toksik yan etkilere sahiptir. Bu calismanin amaci guclu bir serbest radikal yakalayicisi olan edaravonun VPA’nin yol actigi toksisite ve doku hasari uzerine etkilerini biyokimyasal ve histolojik olarak arastirmaktir. Disi Spraque Dawley turu sicanlar kontrol, edaravon (30 mg kg-1 gun-1), VPA (0.5 mg kg-1 gun- 1), VPA+edaravon (ayni dozlarda) olmak uzere dort gruba ayrildi. VPA ve edaravon intraperitonal olarak 7 gun boyunca verildi. Total protein, lipit peroksidasyon (LPO), siyalik asit (SA) ve glutatyon (GSH) duzeyleri ve alkalen fosfataz (ALP), doku faktoru (DF), superoksit dismutaz (SOD), glutatyon- S-transferaz (GST), katalaz (KAT), glutatyon peroksidaz (GPx) ve miyeloperoksidaz (MPO) aktiviteleri pankreas homojenatlarinda olculdu. LPO ve SA duzeyleri ve ALP, DF ve MPO aktiviteleri kontrol grubuna gore kiyaslandiginda VPA grubunda anlamli olarak artti. GST, KAT ve GPx aktiviteleri kontrol grubuna gore kiyaslandiginda VPA grubunda anlamli olarak azaldi. VPA grubunda morfolojik olarak belirgin bir hasar tespit edildi. Edaravonun olumlu etkisi SA, DF, KAT ve GPx parametrelerinde ve histolojik incelemede gozlemlendi. Bu nedenle, edaravon VPA’nin pankreastaki zararli etkilerinin giderilmesinde ve/veya azaltilmasinda yararli olabilir.

WOS: 000321737300034, PubMed ID: 23490140, Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to an inflammatory response and generates oxidative stress, which has deleterious effects on the function of several organ systems, including the urinary bladder. The present study was designed to investigate the putative beneficial effect of quercetin against SCI-induced bladder damage. Materials and methods: In order to induce SCI, a standard weight-drop method that induced a moderately severe injury (100 g/cm force) at T10 was used. Injured animals were given either 20 mg/kg quercetin or vehicle 15 min post injury and repeated twice daily for 7 d. After decapitation, bladder strips were placed in organ bath and isometric contractions to carbachol (10(-8) to10(-4) M) were recorded. In order to examine oxidative tissue injury, luminol chemiluminescence, nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, and glutathione levels and superoxide dismutase, myeloperoxidase, and caspase 3 activities of bladder tissues were measured along with histologic evaluations. Proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 beta, and interleukin 6 were also assayed in blood samples. Results: In the injured animals, the contractile responses of the bladder strips were lower than those of the control group and were reversed by treatment with quercetin. On the other hand, increase in nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, luminol chemiluminescence levels, and myeloperoxidase and caspase 3 activities of tissues in the SCI group were significantly reversed by quercetin treatment. Similarly, plasma cytokine levels, which were elevated in the vehicle-treated SCI group, were reduced with quercetin treatment. Furthermore, treatment with quercetin also prevented the depletion of tissue glutathione levels and superoxide dismutase activity seen in the SCI group. Conclusions: According to the results, quercetin exerts beneficial effects against SCI-induced oxidative damage through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. (c) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Background: Oxidative stress is a mediator of secondary injury to the spinal cord following trauma. Objective: To investigate the putative neuroprotective effect of a-lipoic acid (LA), a powerful antioxidant, in a rat model of spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Wistar albino rats were divided as control, vehicle-treated SCI, and LA-treated SCI groups. To induce SCI, a standard weight-drop method that induced a moderately severe injury (100 g/cm force) at T10 was used. Injured animals were given either 50 mg/kg LA or saline at 30 minutes postinjury by intraperitoneal injection. At 7 days postinjury, neurologic examination was performed, and rats were decapitated. Spinal cord samples were taken for histologic examination or determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and DNA fragmentation. Formation of reactive oxygen species in spinal cord tissue samples was monitored by using a chemiluminescence (CL) technique. Results: SCI caused a significant decrease in spinal cord GSH content, which was accompanied with significant increases in luminol CL and MDA levels, MPO activity, and DNA damage. Furthermore, LA treatment reversed all these biochemical parameters as well as SO-induced histopathologic alterations. Conversely, impairment of the neurologic function caused by SCI remained unchanged. Conclusion: The present study suggests that LA reduces SCI-induced oxidative stress and exerts neuroprotection by inhibiting lipid peroxidation, glutathione depletion, and DNA fragmentation.

Apoptosis/Cytokine/Enteritis/Ileum/Irradiation/Punica granatum/Pomegranate/Radioprotective. Radiation-induced enteritis is a well-recognized sequel of therapeutic irradiation. Therefore we examined the radioprotective properties of Punica granatum peel extract (PPE) on the oxidative damage in the ileum. Rats were exposed to a single whole-body X-ray irradiation of 800 cGy. Irradiated rats were pretreated orally with saline or PPE (50 mg/kg/day) for 10 days before irradiation and the following 10 days, while control rats received saline or PPE but no irradiation. Then plasma and ileum samples were obtained. Irradiation caused a decrease in glutathione and total antioxidant capacity, which was accompanied by increases in malondialdehyde levels, myeloperoxidase activity, collagen content of the tissue with a concomitant increase 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (an index of oxidative DNA damage). Similarly, pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6) and lactate dehydrogenase were elevated in irradiated groups as compared to control. PPE treatment reversed all these biochemical indices, as well as histopathological alterations induced by irradiation. Furthermore, flow cytometric measurements revealed that leukocyte apoptosis and cell death were increased in irradiated animals, while PPE reversed these effects. PPE supplementation reduced oxidative damage in the ileal tissues, probably by a mechanism that is associated with the decreased production of reactive oxygen metabolites and enhancement of antioxidant mechanisms. Adjuvant therapy of PPE may have a potential to support a Successful radiotherapy by protecting against radiation-induced enteritis.

This investigation elucidated the role of free radicals in naphthalene-induced toxicity and protection by Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb). BALB-c mice of either sex were administered with naphthalene (100 mg/kg; i.p.) for 30 days, along with either saline or EGb (150 mg/kg, orally). At the end of the experiment, following decapitation, lung, liver and kidney tissue samples were taken for histological examination or determination of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and collagen contents. In addition, proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-beta) and total antioxidant capacity (AOC) were assayed in the plasma, while lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was assayed in serum samples. The results revealed that naphthalene caused a significant decrease in GSH level, and significant increases in MDA level, MPO activity and collagen content of tissues. Similarly, plasma cytokines, as well as serum LDH activity, were elevated while AOC was decreased in the naphthalene group compared with the control group. On the other hand, EGb treatment reversed all these biochemical indices. The results demonstrate that EGb extract, by balancing the oxidant-antioxidant status and inhibiting the generation of proinflammatory cytokines and neutrophil infiltration, protects against naphthalene-induced oxidative organ injury. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.