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Kardiomiopati diabetes (DCM) merupakan komplikasi kronik diabetes melitus akibat daripada perubahan pada fungsi dan struktur jantung yang diaruh oleh keadaan aras gula darah yang tinggi (hiperglisemia) secara berpanjangan. Walaupun pengawalan hiperglisemia dilakukan dengan komprehensif serta perubahan gaya hidup yang lebih sihat, komplikasi kardiovaskular termasuklah DCM terus menjadi antara punca kematian utama pesakit diabetes. Pembentukan dan perkembangan DCM adalah akibat proses kompensasi melalui pemodelan semula jantung yang melibatkan kematian kardiomiosit hasil daripada kerosakan oksidatif, apoptosis dan inflamasi susulan aruhan hiperglisemia yang tidak terkawal. Walaupun permodelan semula jantung merupakan proses yang penting dalam memulihara struktur dan fungsi jantung, namun dalam keadaan diabetes, rangsangan pemodelan semula jantung yang berpanjangan boleh membawa kepada kemorosotan fungsi yang kekal dan akhirnya menyebabkan kegagalan jantung. Memahami mekanisme yang terlibat dalam pembentukan dan perkembangan DCM adalah sangat penting bagi merangka strategi untuk mengurangkan komplikasi akibat penyakit ini. Oleh itu, dalam kertas ulasan ini, hasil kajian terkini mengenai proses pemodelan semula jantung dalam perkembangan DCM dan mekanisme utama yang mendasari pembentukan dan perkembangannya akan diperjelaskan.

Red cell alloimmunisation in pregnancy may result in haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn (HDN). During pregnancy, there are possibilities of the foetal antigen being exposed to the mother’s circulation, thereby leading to the production of antibodies. The immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies from the mother pass through the maternal surface placenta, which is then sensitised and obstructs the formation of foetal red blood cells (RBCs). This review discusses the presence of variance alloantibodies during pregnancy, as well as the consequences of HDN and its management. This review revealed that ABO incompatibility is the most common cause of alloimmunisation in pregnancy. The Rh system (anti-D and -E) are the most common alloantibodies found in pregnant women, followed by other alloantibodies such as Kell, Duffy, Kidd and MNSs. Hyperbilirunemia (increased bilirubin levels) is commonly seen in neonatal jaundice due to HDN and it is usually manageable using the phototherapy method. Nevertheless, the clinical significance of alloantibodies can cause complications such as anaemia, and in some extreme cases, kernicterus might require a blood exchange transfusion.

Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. contains a high concentration of polyphenolic compounds and shows potentials in reducing vascular complications in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. This study was aimed to determine the ability of H. sabdariffa Linn. polyphenol-rich extract (HPE) in improving vascular endothelial dysfunction and attenuating oxidative stress in type 1 DM. DM was induced in adult male rats and the rats were then divided into three groups; untreated DM (DM); DM with HPE supplementation (DM+HPE); and DM with metformin (DM+MET). Another group of non-diabetic rats served as the normal control group. These rats were left untreated for four weeks before being subjected to the supplementations for another four weeks. The thoracic descending aorta was isolated from the treated and untreated rats to measure the vascular reactivity, oxidative stress, and morphological alterations. The results showed that HPE supplementation significantly reduced the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in the DM+HPE group (p

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn.) polyphenol-rich extract (HPE) has been previously reported to protect the body system against oxidative stress-induced damage. However, it is not known whether HPE could restore reproductive damage due to exposure to chronic hyperglycaemia conditions. In this study, we tested the hypothesis of whether HPE is able to ameliorate deterioration of sperm, testicular oxidative damage due to chronic diabetic condition in diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats and left untreated for four weeks duration. The treatment of HPE (100 mg/kg body weight) and metformin (100 mg/kg body weight) were only initiated at week five, daily for four weeks duration. The non-diabetic and diabetic untreated groups were left without treatment for the whole duration of the study. Analysis of sperm showed a positive trend of sperm characteristics improvement following HPE treatment. It is evident that oxidative damage in epididymal sperm that have left the testes to undergo maturation was not reverted. There was also a reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) and advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) level of testes in HPE-treated diabetic rats as compared to the untreated diabetic group was observed. Similarly, HPE-treated diabetic group also displayed trends of a higher antioxidant level (superoxide dismutase and glutathione). Histological observation displayed active spermatogenesis and restoration of spermatogenic cells in lumens of seminiferous tubules following HPE treatment. Conclusively, testicular damage and abnormal sperm characteristic of diabetic rats were restored by HPE treatment and these findings exhibited promising results on the potential role of HPE as a nutraceutical product for diabetes conditions.

Diabetes-induced vascular disorder is considered one of the deadly risk factors among diabetic patients that are caused by persistent hyperglycemia that eventually leads to cardiovascular diseases. Elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to high blood glucose levels activate signaling pathways such as AGE/RAGE, PKC, polyol, and hexosamine pathways. The activated signaling pathway triggers oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis which later lead to vascular dysfunction induced by diabetes. Polyphenol is a bioactive compound that can be found abundantly in plants such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and nuts. This compound exerts therapeutic effects in alleviating diabetes-induced vascular disorder, mainly due to its potential as an anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic agent. In this review, we sought to summarize the recent discovery of polyphenol treatments in modulating associated genes involved in the progression of diabetes-induced vascular disorder.

Cardiac mitochondrial damage plays a crucial role in the initiation of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. (roselle) has been proven to prevent various pathological conditions, however it remains unclear whether roselle extract can attenuate diabetes-induced mitochondrial damage. This study aimed to investigate whether roselle polyphenol-rich extract (HPE) is able to ameliorate hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage in diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by a single dose of streptozotocin (55 mg kg-1, intraperitoneally); and diabetic rats were then orally fed with 100 mg kg-1 of HPE (DM+Roselle) or 150 mg kg-1 of Metformin (DM+MET) daily for 4 weeks. Meanwhile, the control and untreated diabetic (DM) groups were only orally given normal saline. After 4 weeks of treatment, the results showed that DM+Roselle group significantly improved blood glucose level and lipid profile status (p

Fenitrothion (FNT) induces oxidative damage in various organs including male reproductive organ such as testis and sperm; however, its effects on the male sexual behaviours and reproductive performance remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of FNT administration on male sexual behaviour and reproductive performance. Fertile male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=8/group): Control - receiving corn oil (1 mL kg-1); FNT-10 and FNT-20 receiving 10 and 20 mg kg-1 of FNT, respectively. FNT was administered via oral force feeding for 28 consecutive days prior to mating with untreated female rats. After mating, the rats were sacrificed to obtain plasma and sperm for further evaluation. Results showed that FNT-20 alone decreased AChE activity (P

Previous research reported that prolonged benzene exposure during in utero fetal development causes greater fetal abnormalities than in adult-stage exposure. This phenomenon increases the risk for disease development at the fetal stage, particularly carcinogenesis, which is mainly associated with hematological malignancies. Benzene has been reported to potentially act via multiple modes of action that target the hematopoietic stem cell (HSCs) niche, a complex microenvironment in which HSCs and multilineage hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) reside. Oxidative stress, chromosomal aberration and epigenetic modification are among the known mechanisms mediating benzene-induced genetic and epigenetic modification in fetal stem cells leading to in utero carcinogenesis. Hence, it is crucial to monitor exposure to carcinogenic benzene via environmental, occupational or lifestyle factors among pregnant women. Benzene is a well-known cause of adult leukemia. However, proof of benzene involvement with childhood leukemia remains scarce despite previously reported research linking incidences of hematological disorders and maternal benzene exposure. Furthermore, accumulating evidence has shown that maternal benzene exposure is able to alter the developmental and functional properties of HSPCs, leading to hematological disorders in fetus and children. Since HSPCs are parental blood cells that regulate hematopoiesis during the fetal and adult stages, benzene exposure that targets HSPCs may induce damage to the population and trigger the development of hematological diseases. Therefore, the mechanism of in utero carcinogenicity by benzene in targeting fetal HSPCs is the primary focus of this review.

BPA is identified as an endocrine-disrupting chemical that deteriorates the physiological function of the hormones of the male reproductive system. Bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol S (BPS), and bisphenol AF (BPAF) are actively explored as substitutes for BPA and are known as BPA analogues in most manufacturing industries. These analogues may demonstrate the same adverse effects as BPA on the male reproductive system; however, toxicological data explaining the male reproductive hormones’ physiological functions are still limited. Hence, this mini-review discusses the effects of BPA and its analogues on the physiological functions of hormones in the male reproductive system, focusing on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis, steroidogenesis, and spermatogenesis outcomes. The BPA analogues mainly show a similar negative effect on the hormones’ physiological functions, proven by alterations in the HPG axis and steroidogenesis via activation of the aromatase activity and reduction of spermatogenesis outcomes when compared to BPA in in vitro and in vivo studies. Human biomonitoring studies also provide significant adverse effects on the physiological functions of hormones in the male reproductive system. In conclusion, BPA and its analogues deteriorate the physiological functions of hormones in the male reproductive system as per in vitro, in vivo, and human biomonitoring studies.

The cryopreservation of spermatogonia stem cells (SSCs) has been widely used as an alternative treatment for infertility. However, cryopreservation itself induces cryoinjury due to oxidative and osmotic stress, leading to reduction in the survival rate and functionality of SSCs. Glial-derived neurotrophic factor family receptor alpha 1 (GFRα1) and promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF) are expressed during the self-renewal and differentiation of SSCs, making them key tools for identifying the functionality of SSCs. To the best of our knowledge, the involvement of GFRα1 and PLZF in determining the functionality of SSCs after cryopreservation with therapeutic intervention is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to determine the role of GFRα1 and PLZF as biomarkers for evaluating the functionality of SSCs in cryopreservation with therapeutic intervention. Therapeutic intervention, such as the use of antioxidants, and enhancement in cryopreservation protocols, such as cell encapsulation, cryoprotectant agents (CPA), and equilibrium of time and temperature increase the expression of GFRα1 and PLZF, resulting in maintaining the functionality of SSCs. In conclusion, GFRα1 and PLZF have the potential as biomarkers in cryopreservation with therapeutic intervention of SSCs to ensure the functionality of the stem cells.

Diabetes cardiomyopathy is one of the key factors of mortality among diabetic patients around the globe. One of the prior contributors to the progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy is cardiac mitochondrial dysfunction. The cardiac mitochondrial dysfunction can induce oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes and was found to be the cause of majority of the heart morphological and dynamical changes in diabetic cardiomyopathy. To slow down the occurrence of diabetic cardiomyopathy, it is crucial to discover therapeutic agents that target mitochondrial-induced oxidative stress. Flavonoid is a plentiful phytochemical in plants that shows a wide range of biological actions against human diseases. Flavonoids have been extensively documented for their ability to protect the heart from diabetic cardiomyopathy. Flavonoids’ ability to alleviate diabetic cardiomyopathy is primarily attributed to their antioxidant properties. In this review, we present the mechanisms involved in flavonoid therapies in ameliorating mitochondrial-induced oxidative stress in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Cisplatin is a potent platinum-based anticancer drug approved by the Food Drug Administration (FDA) in 1978. Despite its advantages against solid tumors, cisplatin confers toxicity to various tissues that limit its clinical uses. In cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity, few mechanisms have been identified, which started as excess generation of reactive oxygen species that leads to oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage and apoptosis in the liver. Various natural products, plant extracts and oil rich in flavonoids, terpenoids, polyphenols, and phenolic acids were able to minimize oxidative stress by restoring the level of antioxidant enzymes and acting as an anti-inflammatory agent. Likewise, treatment with honey and royal jelly was demonstrated to decrease serum transaminases and scavenge free radicals in the liver after cisplatin administration. Medicinal properties of these natural products have a promising potential as a complementary therapy to counteract cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity. This review concentrated on the protective role of several natural products, which has been proven in the laboratory findings to combat cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity.

BACKGROUND: Tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) from palm oil has been shown to exhibit potent antioxidative properties in various pathological conditions. This study aimed to determine the antioxidative properties of TRF on the plasma and erythrocyte membrane lipids composition in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=40) were divided randomly into four groups of 10, which were a normal group, a normal group with TRF, a diabetic group, and a diabetic group with TRF. Following four weeks of treatment, lipids compositions in the plasma and erythrocyte membrane were investigated. RESULTS: TRF significantly reduced the plasma total cholesterol, to that in the diabetic group. In addition, supplementation of TRF was able to reduce the very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), triglycerides levels in treated diabetic rat although no significant different was observed when compared with untreated diabetic rats alone. Furthermore, TRF supplementation showed increased the levels of phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, and total phospholipid levels in diabetic rats. However, the linoleic acid (18:2) levels were reduced in diabetic rats compared to the control group, and the eicosadienoic acid (20:2) levels were significantly increased by TRF supplementation in diabetic rats. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with 200 mg/kg TRF improves dyslipidemia and that TRF, therefore, might have protective effects against oxidative damage of phospholipids. This study also showed the antioxidative properties of TRF on the erythrocyte membrane lipids composition, in particular, its protective effects against peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. KEYWORDS: antioxidative property, cholesterol, fatty acids, phospholipids, tocotrienol-rich fraction

Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used in treating various types of cancer. However, its usage is restricted due to the adverse hepatoxicity, as seen in approximately 36% of cancer patients receiving cisplatin treatment. Polygonum minus essential oil has high antioxidant capacity, and is enriched with terpenoids and phenolic compounds. The objective of this study was to investigate effects of P. minus essential oil (PmEO) supplementation on cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Male rats were divided into seven different groups, namely: control (C), cisplatin-induced (CP), positive control with β-caryophyllene 150 mg/kg (BCP), PmEO 100 mg/kg (PmEO100CP), PmEO 200 mg/kg (PmEO200CP), PmEO 400 mg/kg (PmEO400CP) and PmEO 400 mg/kg alone (PmEO400). PmEO and BCP was given orally for 14 days prior to a single dose cisplatin (10 mg/kg) injection on day 15 and rats were sacrificed on day 18. Liver enzymes, histology, ultrastructural morphology and oxidative stress markers such as glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde were assayed. Compared to controls, levels of transaminase enzymes, serum bilirubin and oxidative stress were all increased in CP, PmEO200CP and PmEO400CP groups. However, only PmEO100CP and BCP groups reduced these increases in level of transaminase enzymes and oxidative stress compared to CP group. On both light microscopic and ultrastructural examination, CP and PmEO400CP groups showed hepatotoxicity, exhibited by cytoplasmic vacuolation, congested blood sinusoids and increased number of Kupffer cells. However, these changes were minimized in the PmEO100CP group. Therefore, we concluded that PmEO given at 100 mg/kg has preventive effect against cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Cisplatin is a widely used antineoplastic agent for the treatment of metastatic tumors, advanced bladder cancer and many other solid tumors. However, at higher doses, toxicities such as nephrotoxicity may appear. Cisplatin leads to DNA damage and subsequently renal cell death. Besides that, oxidative stress is also implicated as one of the main causes of nephrotoxicity. Several studies showed that numerous natural products: ginseng, curcumin, licorice, honey and pomegranate were able to reduce the oxidative stress by restoring the levels of antioxidant enzymes and also at the same time act as an anti-inflammatory agent. Furthermore, pre-treatment with vitamin supplementation, such as vitamin C, E and riboflavin markedly decreased serum urea and increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes in the kidney even after cisplatin induction in cancer patients. These natural products possess potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory medicinal properties, and they can be safely used as a supplementary regime or combination therapy against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. The present review focused on the protective role of a few natural products which is widely used in folk medicines in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.

Zingiber zerumbet is widely used as therapeutic agent in traditional medicine and is reported to exert antioxidant activities. This study evaluated in vitro antioxidant potential of Z. zerumbet rhizome ethyl acetate extract on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced red blood cells (RBCs) damage; by measuring percentage of haemolysis, oxidative damage and morphological changes in treated RBCs. On a preliminary dose-response analysis, it was observed that incubation of RBCs with extract at doses of 50, 25, 12.5 and 6.25 μg/mL all had no significant effect on RBCs similar to NaCl control and BHT (positive control), therefore, these concentrations were used in the subsequent study. The RBCs were pre-incubated with extract in the chosen concentrations, prior to treatment with H2O2. The results showed that only 6.25 μg/mL+H2O2 group showed significantly (p

Trace elements are essential for human health. This study determines the level of chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), copper (Cu), ferrum (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in the hair and nails of married Malay women with type 2 diabetes mellitus from Hulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia. The trace elements were analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after an acid digestion treatment. The levels of all trace elements measured were higher in the hair samples than in nails except for Se. Mean levels of Zn and Se were significantly higher in the hair of non-working women (84.91 ± 10.32 μg/g and 0.42 ± 0.15 μg/g, respectively) compared to working women (64.98 ± 11.10 μg/g and 0.30 ± 0.18 μg/g). Copper levels in hair were significantly higher among women with good and satisfactory diabetes control (20.41 ± 4.20 μg/g) compared to the poor diabetes control group (15.67 ± 4.31 μg/g). However, a contradictory result was obtained from the nails of women with good and satisfactory diabetes control with a Cu level of 3.35 ± 0.46 μg/g and 4.69 ± 0.33 μg/g for the poor diabetes control group. In hair samples, significant positive correlations were obtained with Cr-Cu (r = 0.55), Zn-Mn (r = 0.46) and Se-Mn (r = 0.38). In nails, significant positive correlations were also obtained between Cr-Zn (r = 0.31), Zn-Fe (r = 0.30) and Fe-Mn (r = 0.47). In conclusion, age, educational status, number of children and duration of diabetes did not influence trace elements levels.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is widely used in food preparation industry and has been consumed regularly. Previous studies had reported on effects of MSG when given at extremely high dosages, the results are not applicable to human equivalent intake. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of MSG on sperm quality and changes in reproductive organs of adult male rats when taken at average human daily intake (ADI). Twenty-four adult male rats were randomly assigned into three groups; NC (Normal control), MSG60 and MSG120 where MSG was given orally at 60 mg/kg and 120 mg/kg to each respective group. All treatments were conducted for 28 consecutive days. MSG at estimated ADI of 120 mg/kg body weight resulted in a significant drop in sperm quality (

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death among diabetic patients worldwide. Hence, cardiovascular wellbeing in diabetic patients requires utmost importance in disease management. Recent studies have demonstrated that protein kinase C activation plays a vital role in the development of cardiovascular complications via its activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, also known as PKC-MAPK pathways. In fact, persistent hyperglycaemia in diabetic conditions contribute to preserved PKC activation mediated by excessive production of diacylglycerol (DAG) and oxidative stress. PKC-MAPK pathways are involved in several cellular responses, including enhancing oxidative stress and activating signalling pathways that lead to uncontrolled cardiac and vascular remodelling and their subsequent dysfunction. In this review, we discuss the recent discovery on the role of PKC-MAPK pathways, the mechanisms involved in the development and progression of diabetic cardiovascular complications, and their potential as therapeutic targets for cardiovascular management in diabetic patients.

Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) is known as one of the driving sources of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). DN prevalence continues to increase in every corner of the world andthat has been a major concern to healthcare professionals as DN is the key driver of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) morbidity and mortality. Hyperglycaemia is closely connected with the production of Re-active Oxygen Species (ROS) that cause oxidative stress response as well as numerous cellular and molecular modifications. Oxidative stress is a significant causative factor to renal damage, as it can activate other immunological pathways, such as inflammatory, fibrosis, and apoptosis path-ways. These pathways can lead to cellular impairment and death as well as cellular senescence. Natural substances containing bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, have been reported to exert valuable effects on various pathological conditions, including DM. The role of polyphenols in alleviating DN conditions has been documented in many studies. In this review, the potential of polyphenols in ameliorating the progression of DN via modulation of oxidative stress, inflam-mation, fibrosis, and apoptosis, as well as cellular senescence, has been addressed. This infor-mation may be used as the strategies for the management of DN and development as nutraceutical products to overcome DN development.

The adverse effects of maternal pesticides exposure on the progeny is very well established. However, the impact of paternal exposure to pesticides such as Fenitrothion (FNT) on the histomorphometry of progeny’s organs in unexposed mothers are much less well studied. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of paternal FNT exposure on the sperm quality of the parent rat and its effects on the histomorphometry of the progeny’s organs. Randomly, male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 24) categorized as F0 were distributed equally into three groups namely Control, FNT-10, and FNT-20. Control received 1 mL/kg corn oil while FNT-10 and FNT-20 received 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg of FNT, respectively, via oral force feeding for 28 consecutive days. At the end of the study, male rats were mated with unexposed female rats and the male rats were sacrificed to obtain sperm for sperm characterization and DNA damage evaluation. Meanwhile, the rats’ progeny (F1) namely pControl, pFNT-10, and pFNT-20 were left to grow until postnatal day 70 before being sacrificed to obtain the matured organs for histology and morphometric analysis. Our results showed that both doses of FNT reduced sperm quality and caused DNA fragmentation in F0 rats compared with the control group (p &lt, 0.05). The number of Leydig cells as well as the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and glomerulus of the pFNT-20 group had significantly decreased (p &lt, 0.05) compared with the pControl group. The Bowman’s space of the pFNT-20 group had significantly increased (p &lt, 0.05) compared with the pFNT-10 and pControl groups. Therefore, paternal exposure to FNT reduced the sperm quality and increased sperm DNA fragmentation in F0 male Sprague Dawley rats and altered the histology and morphometry of the selected organs in the F1 progeny.

As the powerhouse of the cells, mitochondria play a very important role in ensuring that cells continue to function. Mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the main factors contributing to the development of cardiomyopathy in diabetes mellitus. In early development of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), patients present with myocardial fibrosis, dysfunctional remodeling and diastolic dysfunction, which later develop into systolic dysfunction and eventually heart failure. Cardiac mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the development and progression of DCM. Thus, it is important to develop novel therapeutics in order to prevent the progression of DCM, especially by targeting mitochondrial dysfunction. To date, a number of studies have reported the potential of phenolic acids in exerting the cardioprotective effect by combating mitochondrial dysfunction, implicating its potential to be adopted in DCM therapies. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide a concise overview of mitochondrial dysfunction in the development of DCM and the potential role of phenolic acids in combating cardiac mitochondrial dysfunction. Such information can be used for future development of phenolic acids as means of treating DCM by alleviating the cardiac mitochondrial dysfunction.

Piper aduncum essential oil exhibit repellency activity and has a potential to be use as an alternative for synthetic repellent such as N,N-diethyl-3- methylbenzamide, (DEET). However, the volatility properties of the essential oil decrease their persistence as a topical repellent. Study has shown that formulation of the essential oil with some fixatives may increase their effectiveness. Therefore, this study was conduct to evaluate the effectiveness of gel formulation containing P. aduncum essential oil with two fixative; vanillin and paraffin oil. Gel formulations containing P. aduncum essential oil with 5% and 10% vanillin and 6% paraffin oil was prepared and tested against Aedes aegypti in laboratory using Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) bioassay method. After 240 minute post-application, formulation containing 5% and 10% vanillin was able to provide >70% repellency percentage against mosquito while formulation containing 6% paraffin oil gives

In spite of medical advances, cardiovascular disease remains a significant concern, imposing a great burden upon the economy and public health of nations by causing the highest morbidity and mortality cases globally. Moreover, it is well established that inflammation is closely linked to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Hence, targeting inflammation seems to be a promising strategy in reducing cardiovascular risks. Currently, the importance of natural products in modern medicine is well recognised and continues to be of interest to the pharmaceutical industry. Phenolic acids are a class of phytochemical compounds that are well-known for their health benefits. They consists of various phytochemical constituents and have been widely studied in various disease models. Research involving both animals and humans has proven that phenolic acids possess cardioprotective properties such as anti-hypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemia, anti-fibrotic and anti-hypertrophy activity. Furthermore, numerous studies have proven that phenolic acids in phytochemical constituents such as gallic acid, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid are promising anti-inflammatory agents. Hence, in this review, we outline and review recent evidence on the role of phenolic acids and their anti-inflammatory significance in studies published during the last 5 years. We also discuss their possible mechanisms of action in modulating inflammation related to cardiovascular disease.

Diabetes mellitus is often associated with cardiac functional and structural alteration, an initial event leading to cardiovascular complications. Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) has been widely proven as an antioxidant and recently has incited research interest for its potential in treating cardiovascular disease. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the cardioprotective effects of H. sabdariffa (roselle) polyphenol-rich extract (HPE) in type-1-induced diabetic rats. Twenty-four male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomized into 4 groups (n = 6/group): nondiabetic, diabetic alone (DM), diabetic supplemented with HPE (DM+HPE), and diabetic supplemented with metformin. Type-1 diabetes was induced with streptozotocin (55 mg/kg intraperitoneally). Rats were forced-fed with HPE (100 mg/kg) and metformin (150 mg/kg) daily for 8 weeks. Results showed that HPE supplementation improved hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia significantly (p < 0.05) in the DM+HPE compared with the DM group. HPE supplementation attenuated cardiac oxidative damage in the DM group, indicated by low malondialdehyde and advanced oxidation protein product. As for the antioxidant status, HPE significantly (p < 0.05) increased glutathione level, as well as catalase and superoxide dismutase 1 and 2 activities. These findings correlate with cardiac function, whereby left ventricle developed pressure in DM+HPE (79.13 ± 3.08 mm Hg) was higher significantly compared with DM (45.84 ± 1.65 mm Hg). Coronary flow of DM+HPE (17.43 ± 0.62 mL/min) was also greater compared with DM (13.02 ± 0.6 mL/min), showing that HPE supplementation improved cardiac contractility and relaxation rate significantly (p < 0.05). Histological analysis showed a marked decrease in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and fibrosis in DM+HPE compared with the DM group. Ultrastructural changes and impairment of mitochondria induced by diabetes were minimized by HPE supplementation. Collectively, these findings suggest that HPE is a potential cardioprotective agent in a diabetic setting through its hypoglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemia, and antioxidant properties.

Nicotine is a major toxic and hazardous component of cigarette smoke, and it has been widely used in nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). This study was aimed to investigate the effects of chronic low-dose nicotine on sperm characteristics and reproductive organ integrity in adolescent male Sprague-Dawley rats.Twelve rats were equally divided into two groups. Group I received normal saline, and group II received 0.6 mg/kg body weight nicotine intraperitoneally for 28 consecutive days. At the end of the experimental period, sperm was collected for sperm characteristic evaluation, and the testes and prostate were isolated for biochemical and morphological analysis. The effects of nicotine on the body and reproductive organ weights of the animals were evaluated.Chronic nicotine treatment significantly (A low-dose nicotine exposure at 0.6 mg/kg caused detrimental effects on sperm characteristics and induced oxidative stress in the testes and prostate.

Penghasilan radikal bebas oleh nikotin dikaitkan dengan kerosakan sistem pembiakan lelaki terutamanya sperma dan testis. Penggunaan rawatan yang berasaskan herba seperti Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. (HSE) kian meningkat disebabkan kandungan antioksida semula jadi yang tinggi. Oleh itu, kajian ini dijalankan untuk mengkaji kesan ekstrak akueus HSE terhadap kualiti sperma dan tekanan oksidatif testis tikus yang diadministrasi nikotin. Sejumlah 21 ekor tikus jantan Sprague-Dawley dibahagikan secara rawak kepada tiga kumpulan iaitu kumpulan kawalan, nikotin dan nikotin+HSE. Nikotin disuntik secara intraperitoneum pada dos 0.6 mg/kg berat badan manakala HSE diberikan pada dos 100 mg/kg berat badan secara paksaan oral sebelum administrasi nikotin pada setiap hari selama 21 hari berturut-turut. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bilangan, motiliti dan viabiliti sperma lebih tinggi secara signifikan (p

Exposure to organophosphate pesticide including fenitrothion (FNT) has led to many adverse effects on human health. However, a potent antioxidant like palm oil tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) can reduce oxidative damage in various pathological conditions, could also reduce the adverse effects by FNT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of TRF on oxidative liver damage in FNT induce hepatotoxicity in experimental rats. A total of 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups of 10, namely control, TRF, FNT and TRF+FNT group. TRF (200 mg/kg body weight) and FNT (20 m/kg body weight) were administered through oral gavage for 28 days. Corn oil which served as vehicle was given orally to the control group. At the end of the study period, liver and blood was taken for oxidative damage and biochemical evaluation and histological observation. TRF supplementation prevents oxidative liver damage by reducing the hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PCO) level significantly. Besides, TRF also restored the endogenous antioxidants particularly reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP). TRF also prevent liver damage by reducing the liver enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). The attenuation of liver damage by TRF was also showed histologically. In conclusion, TRF supplementation showed a potential in preventing oxidative liver damage in FNT-treated rats by reducing the oxidative damage and improving the antioxidant status.