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Gentamicin is considered one of the most typical causes of testicular damage. Oxidative stress is a significant contributor to testicular tissue damage. Zamzam water (alkaline in nature) has an antioxidant effect. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential palliative effect of Zamzam water against gentamicin-induced testicular damage. Thirty Rats were separated into three groups, each with ten rats, as follows: The Control received only normal saline. The gentamicin group received 100 mg/kg/day of gentamicin intraperitoneally for six days from day 15 to the end of the experiment. The gentamicin +Zamzam Water group received a dose of gentamicin 100 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally with Zamzam water as their sole source of drinking from day one to day 21. Hormonal assay in serum, histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural examination of testicular tissue with a molecular study were obtained. Pretreatment with Zamzam water significantly p < 0.001 increased serum levels of testosterone, FSH, and LH, as well as the percentage of sperm motility and progressive motility. It also upregulated SOD, CAT, GPx enzymatic activity, gene expression of Nrf2/HO-1, and immunoexpression of PCNA. While the percentage of dead sperm and abnormal sperm, immunoexpression of NFκB, Caspase 3, inflammatory cytokines TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, and MDA levels significantly (p < 0.001) declined with histological improvement. It was concluded that Zamzam water as alkaline water possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects against gentamicin-induced testicular toxicity in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our research work examined the potential protection of Stevia rebaudiana extract against monosodium urate crystals (MSU)-induced acute gouty arthritis in a rat model and its possible underlying mechanism. Forty rats were allocated into four groups (n = 10); a control group; an MSU group, whose rats received 0.1 of MSU single intra-articular injection in the ankle joint on the fifth day of the experiment; an MSU + Stevia group, which received 250 mg/kg/day of Stevia extract orally for seven days and MSU crystals on the fifth day; and an MSU + colchicine group, which was administered colchicine at 0.28 mg/kg daily for seven days and MSU crystals on the fifth day. Pretreatment with Stevia extract mitigated MSU-induced inflammation as evidenced by a decrease of the ankle edema and inflammatory cell infiltration and a significant downregulation of the protein level of NFκB, TNFα, IL-1β, IL6, and IL18 as well as NLRP3 gene expression. Additionally, there was a markedly increased PPARγ gene expression (p < 0.001) compared with the MSU group (p < 0.001) and alleviated oxidative stress via significant upregulating of Nrf2/HO-1. Moreover, the pretreatment attenuated apoptosis by significantly decreasing cytochrome c, Bax, Caspase-3, and by increasing Bcl-2 protein. In conclusion, Stevia extract exhibited strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic effects against MSU-induced gouty arthritis similar to the standard anti-inflammatory colchicine drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the reasons for acute kidney damage is renal ischemia. Nevertheless, there are limited protective and therapeutic approaches for this problem. Diacerein is an anti-inflammatory drug characterized by numerous biological activities. We aimed to determine the ameliorative impact of diacerein on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R) condition, exploring the underlying mechanisms. Twenty-four male rats were allotted into four groups (n= 6): sham group; Diacerein (DIA) group; I/R group, in which a non-crushing clamp occluded the left renal pedicle for 45 min, and the right kidney was nephrectomized for 5 min before the reperfusion process; I/R + diacerein group, injected intraperitoneally with 50 mg diacerein/kg i.m 30 minutes prior to I/R operation. Ischemia/reperfusion was found to affect renal function and induce histopathological alterations. The flow cytometry analysis demonstrated an elevated expression of innate and mature dendritic cells in I/R renal tissues. Moreover, upregulation in the expression of the inflammatory genes (TLR4, Myd88, and NLRP3), and overexpression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1b), apoptotic (caspase-3) and pyroptotic (caspase-1) markers were observed in I/R-experienced animals. The aforementioned deteriorations were mitigated by pre-I/R diacerein treatment. Diacerein alleviated I/R-induced inflammation and apoptosis. Thus, it could be a promising protective agent against I/R. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]