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Abstract Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory condition that can impair the body’s physiological functions. Although many diseases have been successfully treated with herbal treatments for a long time, the majority of the herbs utilized have unclear mechanisms. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the modulation effects of green tea oil (GTO) and pumpkin oil (PO) on hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress, and hematological abnormalities in an experimental multiple sclerosis rat model. Methods Forty albino male Wistar rats (weighing 120–140 g) were divided into four groups of six each: group 1, the control group; group 2, the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-injected group; and groups 3 and 4, the MOG-injected groups treated with GTO and PO at 5 mg/kg b.w., respectively. At the end of the experiments, animals were anesthetized with diethyl ether inhalation, and blood samples were collected from the jugular vein. A Beckman Coulter was then used to determine the differential complete blood counts. The obtained serum was rapidly collected and stored at 20 °C to assess the lipid profile and oxidative stress and antioxidant biomarkers. Results Our findings showed that GTO and PO treatment produced a significant reduction in total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C) levels. Furthermore, GTO and PO treatment alleviated the elevated cardiovascular risk indices 1 and 2. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) concentration significantly decreased and glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels significantly increased in rats injected with MOG and treated with GTO and PO. Furthermore, after GTO and PO treatment, the reduced red blood cells (RBCs) count, hemoglobin content (Hb%), lymphocyte percentage, and hematocrit (HCT) of MOG-injected rats increased, while the elevated white blood cells (WBCs), platelet, and neutrophil percentage substantially declined. Conclusion Collectively, our research revealed that GTO and PO may be capable of modulating hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress, and hematological abnormalities in the MS rat model.

The current study inspects the therapeutic effects of orally ingested insulin-loaded chitosan nanobeads (INS-CsNBs) with a pectin-dextrin (PD) coating on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in Wistar rats. The study also assessed antioxidant effects in pancreatic tissue homogenate, insulin, C-peptide, and inflammatory markers interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6 (IL-1β and IL-6) in serum. Additionally, histopathological and immunohistochemical examination of insulin granules, oxidative stress, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB P65), and sirtuin-1 (SIRT-1) protein detection, as well as gene expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) in pancreatic tissue were investigated. After induction of diabetes with STZ, rats were allocated into 6 groups: the normal control (C), the diabetic control (D), and the diabetic groups treated with INS-CsNBs coated with PD shell (50 IU/kg) (NF), free oral insulin (10 IU/kg) (FO), CsNBs-PD shell (50 IU/kg) (NB), and subcutaneous insulin (10 IU/kg) (Sc). The rats were treated daily for four weeks. Treatment of diabetic rats with INS-CsNBs coated with PD shell resulted in a significant improvement in blood glucose levels, elevated antioxidant activities, decreased NF-κB P65, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels, upregulated Nrf-2 and HO-1, in addition to a marked improvement in the histological architecture and integrity compared to the diabetic group. The effects of oral INS-CsNBs administration were comparable to those of subcutaneous insulin. In conclusion, oral administration of INS-loaded Cs-NBs with a pectin-dextrin shell demonstrated an ameliorative effect on STZ-induced diabetes, avoiding the drawbacks of subcutaneous insulin.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) associated with significant progressive neurodegeneration. There is a lot of interest in the use of plant-based essential oils in traditional medicine to treat and prevent human illnesses, including MS. This research aimed to assess the neuroprotective effects of green tea oil (GTO) and pumpkin oil (PO) against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-induced MS in Wistar rats as well as investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms. The Wistar rats were divided into four groups: group 1, normal control; group 2, MOG-injected; and groups 3 and 4, MOG-injected groups treated with 5 ml/kg body weight each of GTO and PO, respectively. The chemical profiles of components within a GTO and PO were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Treatment with GTO and PO substantially improved the decreased dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine levels in the brain of the MOG-injected rats. It also suppressed the elevated epinephrine levels. The histological injuries in the brain cortical tissue of the MOG-injected group were notably improved after supplementing with GTO and PO. Furthermore, brain lipid peroxidation and serum INF-β concentration were significantly lower in the MOG-injected rats treated with GTO and PO. The brain GSH, SOD, GPx, as well as serum coenzyme Q10, and α-tocopherol levels were significantly enhanced by GTO and PO supplementaion. Additionally, GTO and PO administration into MOG-injected rats significantly upregulated Nrf2, Bcl-2, and PCNA while significantly downregulated TNF-α, NF-κB, iNOS, p53, and Bax expression levels. Taken together, these findings suggest that GTO and PO efficiently ameliorate MOG-induced MS via enhancing the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects.

Abstract Background Despite the wide usage of monosodium glutamate (MSG) as a flavor enhancer in many types of food, it has been reported as a toxic agent to humans and experimental animals. It also adversely influences male fertility. Several research studies attributed detrimental effects of MSG on reproductive organs to oxidative stress. The current study investigated the effects of MSG on testis and the potential role of quercetin in attenuating them. Results MSG-treated rats showed a considerable elevation in lipid peroxidation level and reduction in glutathione concentration, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities in the homogenate of testis tissues. Treatment with quercetin in combination with MSG provided significant protection. When QU was used, the toxic side effects were significantly reduced, with a considerable reduction in lipid peroxidation and an increase in SOD and GPx activities, and glutathione concentration. Conclusions Quercetin may be used in combination with MSG to improve the histopathological, ultrastructure, oxidative stress, and biochemical parameters of testicular toxicity induced by MSG due to its antioxidant effects. Graphical abstract

Abstract Background and aim Deleterious cutaneous tissue damages could result from exposure to thermal trauma, which could be ameliorated structurally and functionally through therapy via the most multipotent progenitor bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). This study aimed to induce burns and examine the effect of BM-MSCs during a short and long period of therapy. Material and methods Ninety albino rats were divided into three groups: group I (control); group II (burn model), the animals were exposed to the preheated aluminum bar at 100°C for 15 s; and group III (the burned animals subcutaneously injected with BM-MSCs (2×106 cells/ ml)); they were clinically observed and sacrificed at different short and long time intervals, and skin samples were collected for histopathological and immunohistochemical examination and analysis of different wound healing mediators via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results Subcutaneous injection of BM-MSCs resulted in the decrease of the wound contraction rate; the wound having a pinpoint appearance and regular arrangement of the epidermal layer with thin stratum corneum; decrease in the area percentages of ADAMs10 expression; significant downregulation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α), metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and microRNA-21; and marked upregulation of heat shock protein-90α (HSP-90α) especially in late stages. Conclusion BM-MSCs exhibited a powerful healing property through regulating the mediators of wound healing and restoring the normal skin structures, reducing the scar formation and the wound size.

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a debilitating condition that can severely limit an individual’s mobility and quality of life. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BM-MSC) treatment in cartilage repair using a rat model of monoiodoacetate- (MIA-) induced knee OA. OA was induced in the knee joint of rats by an intracapsular injection of MIA (2 mg/50 μL) on day zero. The rats were divided into three groups (n=6): a normal control group, an osteoarthritic control group, and an osteoarthritic group receiving a single intra-articular injection of BM-MSCs (5×106 cells/rat). The knee diameter was recorded once per week. By the end of the performed experiment, X-ray imaging and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis of serum inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL-β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) were carried out. In addition, RT-PCR was used to measure nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and type II collagen mRNA levels and Western blot analysis was used to determine caspase-3 protein levels in all treated groups. Finally, hematoxylin/and eosin stains were used for histopathological investigation. Administration of BM-MSCs significantly downregulated knee joint swelling and MIA-induced (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and upregulated IL-10 and TGF-β as well. Moreover, BM-MSC-treated osteoarthritic rats exhibited decreased expression of NF-κB, iNOS, and apoptotic mediator (caspase-3) and increased expression of type II collagen when compared to rats treated with MIA alone. The hematoxylin/eosin-stained sections revealed that BM-MSC administration ameliorated the knee joint alterations in MIA-injected rats. BM-MSCs could be an effective treatment for inflamed knee joints in the MIA-treated rat model of osteoarthritis, and the effect may be mediated via its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition, an autoimmune disease that affects the joints, and a multifactorial disease that results from interactions between environmental, genetic, and personal and lifestyle factors. This study was designed to assess the effects of curcumin, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), and their coadministration on complete Freund’s adjuvant- (CFA-) induced arthritis in male and female albino rats. Parameters including swelling of the joint, blood indices of pro-/antioxidant status, cytokines and histopathological examination of joints, and testis and ovary were investigated. RA was induced by a single dose of subcutaneous injection of 0.1 mL CFA into a footpad of the right hind leg of rats. Arthritic rats were treated with curcumin (100 mg/kg b.wt./day) by oral gavage for 21 days and/or treated with three weekly intravenous injections of BM-MSCs (1×106 cells/rat/week) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The treatment with curcumin and BM-MSCs singly or together significantly (P

Background: Sepsis related-multiple organ dysfunction is associatedwith ileum injury. We aimed to determine the causes ofileal injury in two models of microbial sepsis resulted from infectionwith Aeromonas hydrophila or its endotoxin. We alsoevaluated the protective effect of phytic acid.Methods: Thin sections of ileum from 60 Swiss male mice incontrol, bacteria-infected or lipopolysaccharides (LPS) andbacteria-infected or LPS-infected co-administered with phyticacid were subjected to histopathological and TdT-mediateddUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay for apoptotic cellsdetection while ultra thin sections were stained with uranylacetate and lead citrate for cytological changes examination.Also, ileum images were exposed to the image analysis softwareto determine some related morphometric measures.Results: Necrosis and apoptosis were observed in ileum injuryin both examined sepsis models. The ileum injury was moresevere in LPS model. Phytic acid showed the ability to attenuateileum injury in Aeromonas hydrophila and its endotoxinmodels of sepsis after four weeks administration where itssupplementation significantly minimized the histopathologicaland cytological complications and morphometric alterationsresulted from the injury.Conclusion: The protective effects of phytic acid may becaused by increased mucous secretion, decreased apoptoticindex, attenuating the inflammatory and lymphocytic cellscount or increasing the renewal of the crypt cells and villousepithelial cells proliferation.