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A grapevine shoot extract (GSE) was obtained using ultrasound-assisted extraction and characterized. The main phenolic constituents were identified as stilbenoids. Among them, trans-resveratrol and trans-ε-viniferin stood out. The GSE was administered to an isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury animal model. The extract alleviated the associated symptoms of the administration of the drug, i.e., the plasma lipid profile was improved, while the disturbed plasma ion concentration, the cardiac dysfunction markers, the DNA laddering, and the necrosis of myocardial tissue were diminished. This effect could be related to the anti-oxidative potential of GSE associated with its antioxidant properties, the increased levels of endogenous antioxidants (glutathione and enzymatic antioxidants), and the diminished lipid peroxidative markers in the heart. The results also revealed angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activity, which indicated the potential of GSE to deal with cardiovascular disease events. This work suggests that not only trans-resveratrol has a protective role in heart function but also GSE containing this biomolecule and derivatives. Therefore, GSE has the potential to be utilized in the creation of innovative functional ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 present study examined the histopathological changes and some parameters of oxidative stress in the testes of the freshwater leech Limnatis nilotica, following their exposure to 50 µg l−1 of cadmium (Cd). The protective effects of salicylic acid (SA) in mitigating Cd-induced oxidative and histopathological injury were also investigated. We found that Cd exposure caused several histopathological changes in leech testes, such as vacuolisation of spermatogenic cysts which were strongly destroyed and disorganised. Biochemical study showed oxidative stress damage marked by a substantial increase in malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxidase levels as well as disturbance in the activity of the leech antioxidant system. Interestingly, the testes from the Cd and SA leech-exposed group exhibited increased enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant mechanism defenses, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, oxidized glutathione, thiols, and ascorbic acid, in comparison with the testes of leeches exposed to Cd alone. Thus, SA supplementation considerably attenuated the histopathological lesions induced by Cd exposure, thereby restoring the normal appearance of the testes. In summary, the findings of this study indicate that SA treatment ameliorated the testicular histopathological and oxidative stress-induced damages caused by exposure to Cd through enhancing the antioxidant defense system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hepatoprotective activity of Marrubium vulgare against cyclophosphamide toxicity in Wistar rats was evaluated. Adult male rats were divided into 4 groups of 6 each: a control group, a group injected with cyclophosphamide (150 mg x [kg.sup.-1]) for 3 days, a group orally given a M. vulgare aqueous extract ((500 mg of dry leaves) x [kg.sup.-1] x [day.sup.-1]) for 30 days then treated with cyclophosphamide, and a group receiving only M. vulgare for 30 days. After 33 days of treatment, activities of alanine amino transferase (ALAT), aspartate amino transferase (ASAT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined in serum. Moreover, lipid peroxidation level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured in liver. Alterations of these hepatic biomarkers and increased lipid peroxidation confirmed cyclophosphamide-induced liver toxicity. Cyclophosphamide also decreased the enzymatic defense system against oxidative stress. However, when this drug was administered in rats given M. vulgare extract, all the biological parameters underwent much less alteration. Administration of M. vulgare extract was found to be beneficial by attenuating cyclophosphamide-induced liver damage. The protective effect of the plant is mainly attributed to its antioxidant properties and the existence of phenolic acids and flavonoids, as highlighted by HPLC-based analysis. Key words: cyclophosphamide, Marrubium vulgare, oxidative stress, liver. Nous avons evalue les effets hepatoprotecteurs de Marrubium vulgare contre les effets toxiques du cyclophosphamide chez le rat Wistar. Des rats males adultes etaient repartis en 4 groupes de 6 : un groupe temoin, un groupe auquel etaient administrees des injections de cyclophosphamide (a 150 mg x [kg.sup.-1]) pendant 3 jours, un groupe auquel etaient administres des extraits de M. vulgare dans l'eau par voie orale (a (500 mg de feuilles seches) x [kg.sup.-1] x [jour.sup.-1]) pendant 30 jours puis un traitement par le cyclophosphamide et un groupe auquel M. vulgare etait administre seul pendant 30 jours. Apres 33 jours de traitement, nous avons etabli les activites de l'alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), de l'aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), de la deshydrogenase lactique (LDH) et de la phosphatase alcaline (ALP) dans le serum. De plus, nous avons mesure le taux de peroxydation lipidique et l'activite de la superoxyde dismutase (SOD), de la catalase (CAT) et de la glutathion peroxidase (GPx) dans le foie. Les modifications des taux de ces biomarqueurs et l'augmentation de la peroxydation lipidique ont confirme la presence d'une toxicite induite par le cyclophosphamide. Le cyclophosphamide a aussi entraine une diminution de l'activite du systeme de defense enzymatique contre le stress oxydatif. Cependant, quand ce medicament etait administre a des rats ayant recu un extrait de M. vulgare, les parametres biologiques presentaient des variations beaucoup moindres. Nous avons montre que l'administration d'extraits de M. vulgare permet d'obtenir des bienfaits lies a l'attenuation des lesions hepatiques induites par le cyclophosphamide. En somme, l'effet protecteur de la plante est principalement attribuable a la presence d'acides phenoliques et de flavonoides revelee lors de l'analyse par chromatographie liquide a haute performance (HPLC). [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: cyclophosphamide, Marrubium vulgare, stress oxydatif, foie., Introduction Cyclophosphamide (CP) is an antineoplastic agent from the oxazophorines group. It has been proven to be effective against some autoimmune diseases and a variety of cancer types such as [...]

Medicinal plants are sources of natural antioxidants thanks to their secondary metabolites. Previous studies showed that administration of Erodium glaucophyllum (EG) (Geraniaceae family) was found to alleviate the deleterious effects of obesity-induced damage on liver, heart and kidney. This study, carried out on adult male Wistar rats, evaluates the inhibitory effects of supplementation with E. glaucophyllum extract on obesity. Under our experimental conditions, administration of Erodium aqueous extract decreased the total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides levels as well as ASAT, ALAT, LDH, PAL levels and TBARS concentration; and increased the (HDL) with the antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx) in liver, heart and kidney, compared to HFD group. The anti-obesity effects of the Erodium extract in several organs were mainly due to the interaction of these bioactive molecules (polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannin compounds) and the enzyme system which could be determined by phytochemical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal plants and their secondary metabolites have long been a rich source of biologically active compounds that can prevent many diseases. In this context, we investigated the antioxidant activities of the essential oil of Lavandula officinalis and tested its potency against hepatic and renal toxicity induced by hydrogen peroxide in adult male mice based on measurements of biochemical parameters, oxidative stress, and tissue damage in both organs. We proved a remarkable antioxidant power of this plant (in vitro) by correcting the harmful effects of the prooxidant (in vivo). It can be concluded that lavender is an aromatic plant capable of reducing the stress caused by reactive oxygen species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]