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Nanoparticles are now widely used in various aspects of life, especially zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnNPs) that used in mouth washing, cosmetics, sunscreens, toothpaste and root canal flings. This research aims to determine the impact of ZnNPs on healthy mice's brain tissue. ZnNPs have caused major changes in the brain monoamines (dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin) and ions such as Ca2+, Na+, K+ and Zn2+. Concerning the histological picture, administration of ZnNPs caused some histopathological impairment in brain tissue. In addition, ZnNPs reduced the level of glutathione and catalase in brain tissue, although an increase in the level of nitrite / nitrate and ROS was observed, while the level of malondialdhyde was not significantly altered. Moreover, ZnNPs induced DNA fragmentation in brain of mice. Collectively, the obtained results revealed that ZnNPs affected the brain levels of investigated monamines, ions, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants thus they may have potential influence on central nervous system.

Trypanosoma evansi is a hazardous pathogenic parasite infecting a broad variety of livestock and affects wildlife worldwide. Trypanosoma evansi has gained resistance to most drugs used; therefore, it requires alternative medicines. The objective of this research was to investigate the impact of Indigofera oblongifolia leaf extract (IE) on T. evansi-induced hepatic injury.Mice were once infected with 1000 T. evansi. The treated group was gavaged with 100 mg/Kg IE after infection. Histological and biochemical changes in mice hepatic tissue were studied. Also, the oxidative damage in the liver was evaluated through determining the level of glutathione (GSH), Malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and catalase (CAT) markers. IE was able to suppress the induced parasitemia due to infection. Also, IE improved the histological liver architecture. Furthermore, the liver enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were improved after IE mice were treated. IE protects against hepatic damage caused by trypanosomiasis in mice. Further studies are needed to isolate the active compounds in IE and to monitor these compunds’ ameliorative function. Keywords: Trypanosoma, Mouse, Liver damage, Indigofera oblongifolia, Oxidative status

Due to the endless emergence of drug resistant pathogens, there is a constant need for new therapeutic agents for clinical use. The identification of active components in natural products and determining the efficacy of these active components has become the current focus of pharmacological research. The present study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic and antimicrobial activities of Indigofera oblongifolia leaf extract (ILE) against the earthworm Allolobophora caliginosa, the gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus), the gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) and the yeast Candida albicans. Methanolic extract of I. oblongifolia leaf was obtained and the total phenolics and flavonoids in ILE were determined. The anthelmintic study was carried out to determine the time to paralysis and time to death of worms using three doses (100, 200, and 300 mg/mL) of ILE. Also, Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion susceptibility method was used to determine the antimicrobial activity of ILE. The results showed that ILE induces paralysis and death of A. caliginosa at all concentration tested faster than the reference drug, Albendazole. Additionally, ILE exhibited prominent antimicrobial activity against all gram-positive bacteria tested but almost no significant activity against the gram-negative bacteria, except K. pneumoniae. ILE showed close similarity to the spectrum of chloramphenicol and cefoxitin activities. Furthermore, C. albicans was highly susceptible to the leaf extracts. Our results showed that ILE is an effective anthelmintic and antimicrobial agent. Keywords: Anthelmintic, Antimicrobial, Indigofera oblongifolia, Bacteria

One of the most common deadliest parasitic diseases is Malaria. The biology and the pathogenesis of this fascinating parasite are not yet fully understood which make discovering effective alternative drugs a challenging task. Moreover, the emergence of resistant strains added an additional burden in the journey of malaria elimination. Traditional medicine used to be an alternative therapy choice owing to the presence of potent natural products. Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) considered being one of the common potent natural plant in gulf region and other nations. Therefore, this study designed to evaluate the ameliorative role of Z. spina-christi leaf extracts (ZSCLE) against Plasmodium chabaudi-induced hepatic injury. The study involved three groups were as follows; a vehicle control group, infected with 106P. chabaudi-parasitized erythrocytes group and ZSCLE treated-infected mice with 106P. chabaudi-parasitized erythrocytes group. The results showed a remarkable reduction of parasitemia level and notable reverse of the anemic picture among ZSCLE treated-infected mice. The effects of ZSCLE on the liver functions enzymes and on the histopathological pictures of liver were significant. It could be concluded that Z. spina-christi leaf extracts have a protective role against Plasmodium infection that also marked through significant restoration of hepatic oxidative markers. Keywords: Malaria, Ziziphus spina-christi, Liver, Histology, Oxidative stress, Mice

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), an important human pathogen, is classified as a human carcinogen. It is known to cause dyspepsia, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. Awareness regarding H. pylori infections in Saudi Arabia awaits investigation to reduce or even eliminate the infection that would ease the substantial burden of managing H. pylori among both malignant and non-malignant diseases. Aims: The study aims were to (1) assess the knowledge of H. pylori infection, testing, and management among undergraduate students in Saudi Arabia and (2) compare the H. pylori knowledge among health science and non-health science students. Methods: This study involved a cross-sectional online survey among 334 undergraduate students in health science and non-health science colleges at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, using a valid and reliable author-developed survey. The survey had two sections: the socio-demographic factors and knowledge items regarding H. pylori. Data were collected during the 2019–2020 academic year. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and Mann–Whitney U test. The knowledge scores were categorized as poor, fair, and good. Results: Less than 10% of the students in both groups had a good knowledge level about H. pylori. The comparison of the overall mean between both groups was non-significant. Moreover, the level of knowledge of the respondents was significantly associated with their university level (p &lt, 0.001), family monthly income (p &lt, 0.007), having heard about H. pylori infection (p &lt, 000.1), and a previous history of H. pylori infection (p &lt, 000.1). Conclusion: The overall knowledge level of Saudi undergraduate students about H. pylori infection was low. Thus, health awareness interventions through educational programs are recommended for improving their knowledge about H. pylori infection and its prevention.

The development and spread of multidrug-resistant strains of malarial parasites have led to an overwhelming increase in the resistance to current antimalarial drugs. The urgent need for alternative antimalarial drugs has directed some of the current studies toward folkloric medicine approaches. Interestingly, the Zizyphus spina Cristi leaf extract (ZLE) has been found to exhibit antiplasmodial activity. This study evaluated the protective effect of ZLE against Plasmodium berghei-induced cerebral tissue injuries in mice. Male C57Bl/6 mice received an injection of P. berghei-infected red blood cells. Mice were divided into three groups (control, infected, and ZLE-treated), and were subjected to histological, biochemical, and molecular analyses. Murine malaria infections induced significant weight loss; however, upon ZLE treatment, the weight of mice was markedly restored. Additionally, infected mice showed brain histopathological changes and induction of oxidative damage. Significantly, ZLE treatment restored the levels of oxidative markers and antioxidant enzyme to the normal ranges. The mRNA expression of several genes in the brain of mice including Cacnb4, Adam23, Glrb, Vdac3, and Cabp1 was significantly upregulated during P. berghei infection. In contrast, ZLE markedly reduced the mRNA expression of these genes. To conclude, the results indicate that ZLE could play an important role in reducing the destructive effect of P. berghei-induced cerebral malaria owing to its antiplasmodial and antioxidant activities.

Background: Trypanosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease, transmitted by blood-sucking insects and can affect humans and animals, depending on the species of Trypanosoma parasite. Trypanosoma has acquired resistance to the majority of drugs used; hence, alternative medicines are required. Indigofera oblongifolia leaf extract (IOE) has been shown to treat blood stage malaria. Here, IOE was used to demonstrate its effect on Trypanosoma evansi-infected mice. Methods: Analysis of IOE by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry showed the presence of many active components like flavonoids and phenolics. The mice were divided into three groups as follows: vehicle control, T. evansi-infected mice and T. evansi-infected-treated mice. Results: The findings demonstrate a significant effect of IOE treatment on T. evansi-infected mice. Parasitemia was decreased by 70%, weight loss was reduced, and splenomegaly was significantly decreased. Additionally, IOE improved the histological architecture of the spleen, as shown by the improved histological injury score post-treatment. Anemia was apparent during the course of infection in T. evansi-infected mice; this was reversed upon treatment with IOE to almost the normal level of hemoglobin and erythrocytes. Reduced glutathione and catalase were also ameliorated upon IOE treatment compared to T. evansi-infected mice. Conclusion: Overall, this study shows the ameliorative role of IOE against T. evansi-induced spleen injury in mice. Keywords: Trypanosomiasis, Mouse, Spleen, Indigofera oblongifolia

Malaria is a health burden disease where the world harnessed the power of expertise and innovation to understand the biology of the parasite and the pathogenesis of the disease as well as to discover effective drugs. However, the treatment of malaria remains a challenging task and inadequate to address today's perplexing problem, the emergence of resistant strains. Historically, traditional medicine has been a mainstay for remediation and still retains its importance with the presence of potent natural products. Pomegranate has been used as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory against a range of diseases. Therefore, pomegranate peel extract (PPE) was used in this study to examine its effect on Plasmodium chabaudi-induced hepatic inflammation. Animals were allocated into three groups: a vehicle control group, a group infected with 10(6) P. chabaudi-parasitized erythrocytes and a pomegranate-treated group infected with 10(6) P. chabaudi-parasitized erythrocytes. This group received 100 μl of 300 mg/kg PPE after infection. The results showed the effectiveness of PPE on reversing the anaemic signs that have been provoked by P. chabaudi infection through instating the haemoglobin concentration and erythrocyte count back to normal values. Moreover, PPE exhibited hepatoprotective activities upon histopathological examination and liver function tests. These data were further confirmed by the significant reduction of the hepatic oxidative markers, glutathione, nitric oxide and malondialdehyde, in mice infected with P. chabaudi. Based on these outcomes, pomegranate could be used as a hepatoprotective agent against P. chabaudi-induced hepatic injury. However, further studies are needed in order to determine the mode of action of pomegranate upon infection.

The peaceful phenomenon of the co-evolution between the prokaryotes (microbiota) and the eukaryotes (parasites including protozoa and helminths) in the animal gut has drawn the researchers' attention. Importantly, exploring the potential of helminths for therapeutic uses was one of the reasons behind understanding the physiological and immunological crosstalk existing between them. Here we discuss the interactive immunological associations of helminths and microbial responses individually and in combination with their hosts. Considering that there is probably crosstalk between eukaryotic organisms like helminths and protozoa with their host's gut microbiota, in this review we searched the literature identifying the privileged and favourable relationship generated between them in the host. Understanding the possibilities of the role of helminths along with gut microbiota as a black box would certainly help decode the therapeutic intrusion with helminths in experimental clinical trials, and a successful trial could be used to consider possible future and safe treatments for various immune-inflammatory diseases in humans.

Objective: To determine the efficiency of granulocytes and monocytes upon radiotherapy in Saudi females with breast cancer. Method: Samples from fifteen Saudi females with breast cancer and 30 control samples were included in this study. Functions of specific granulocytes and monocytes were examined by Phagotest, and data were analysed by FACS Calibur flow cytometer. These investigations were performed for control and patient groups after obtaining three different samples: pre-radiotherapy (pre-RT), immediately after completing the radiotherapy course, and six weeks following the completion of the radiotherapy course. Patients’ biochemical tests including those for blood sugar, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine levels, were assessed to evaluate their health status pre-RT. In addition, the correlation between each of the total doses and volume of an irradiated area with complete blood count (CBC) and the phagocytic functions of granulocytes and monocytes were studied. Results: The following changes were observed: (1) at pre-RT baseline, the changes in CBC and monocytes’ phagocytic activities were non-significant; significant decrease was found in granulocytes’ phagocytic percentages and geographic mean (GMs); (2) at the end of RT, a significant reduction occurred in total white blood cell counts, platelets, lymphocytes count, and a significant increase in red blood cell counts, hemoglobin level, and granulocytes’ phagocytic GMs; (3) after 6 weeks, changes in CBC and phagocytic activities of granulocytes and monocytes were non-significant. Conclusion: Saudi breast cancer patients might be at hematological and immunological risk following RT. Therefore, the follow-up of such patients needs to include the assessment of phagocytic activities besides CBC.

Malaria is a harmful disease affecting both tropical and subtropical countries and causing sometimes fatal complications. The effects of malaria-related complications on the intestine have been relatively neglected, and the reasons for the intestinal damage caused by malaria infection are not yet clear. The present study aims to evaluate the influence of intestinal vitamin D receptor on host-pathogen interactions during malaria induced in mice by Plasmodium chabaudi. To induce the infection, animals were infected with 106P. chabaudi-parasitized erythrocytes. Mice were sacrificed on day 8 post-infection. The infected mice experienced a significant body weight loss and parasitaemia affecting about 46% of RBCs. Infection caused marked pathological changes in the intestinal tissue indicated by shortening of the intestine and villi. Moreover, the phagocytic activity of macrophages increased significantly (P < 0.01) in the infected villi compared to the non-infected ones. Infection by the parasite also induced marked upregulation of nuclear factor-kappa B, inducible nitric oxide synthase, Vitamin D Receptor, interleukin-1β, tumour necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma-mRNA. It can be implied from this that vitamin D receptor has a role in regulating malarial infection.

Aging associated DNA hypomethylation of LINE-1 and Alu retroelements may be a crucial determinant of loss of genomic integrity, deterioration and cancer. In peripheral blood LINE-1 hypomethylation has been reported to increase during aging, but other studies did not observe significant changes. We hypothesized that these apparently inconsistent reports might relate to differences between cellular and cell-free DNA. Using the technique of idiolocal normalization of real-time methylation-specific PCR (IDLN-MSP) for genetic imbalanced DNA specimens we obtained evidence that LINE-1 hypomethylation in cell-free DNA, but not cellular DNA from peripheral blood is an epigenetic biomarker for human aging. Furthermore, hypomethylation of cell-free DNA is more extensive in smokers, suggesting that it might be used as a surrogate marker for monitoring the improvement of smoking-induced adverse effects after cancelling smoking. Keywords: Epigenetics, DNA methylation, Cell-free DNA, Retroelements, LINE-1

Malaria is a major health problem that still affects numerous countries. The current study aimed to identify the role of Indigofera oblongifolia leaf extract in regulating mouse spleen macrophages during the progression of Plasmodium chabaudi infection. Three doses of the leaf extract (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg) were administered to mice inoculated with P. chabaudi infected erythrocytes. The weight of the infected mice improved after the treatment with I. oblongifolia. The infection causes disorganization of macrophage distribution in the spleen. After the mice had been treated with the leaf extract, the macrophages appeared to be reorganized in the white and red pulp areas. In addition, the I. oblongifolia leaf extract (IOLE) significantly increased the total antioxidant capacity of the mice spleens infected with P. chabaudi. The phagocytic activity of spleen macrophages was increased in the infected group as indicated by the significant decrease in the number of fluorescent particles in the spleen sections. This number increased in the mice spleens after treatment with IOLE. Based on these results, it is suggested that IOLE regulate macrophage response of the spleen during the blood stage of malaria in mice.

Background Multiple drug-resistant malaria parasites have been widely detected, which has encouraged research studies focused on discovering alternative therapies. Medicinal plants such as pomegranate, Punica granatum, have been proven to exhibit antiprotozoal effects and therefore, we examined its effects on murine malaria-induced splenic injury and oxidative stress in this study. Methods Mice were divided into three groups, a vehicle control and two groups that were infected with 106Plasmodium chabaudi-parasitized red blood cells (RBCs). The third group was gavaged with 100 μL of 300 mg/kg pomegranate peel extract for 6 days. All mice were euthanized on day 6 post-infection. Results The results revealed the potential antimalarial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects of pomegranate. Furthermore, pomegranate peel extracts significantly reduced parasitemia and spleen index of the treated mice compared to the untreated group. Additionally, the spleen histology score supported the findings by showing better amelioration in the pomegranate-treated mice than in the untreated mice. Concomitantly, the spleen capsule thickness showed clear evidence of splenomegaly in the untreated mice, as evidenced by the reduced spleen capsule. However, pomegranate peel extract exhibited a remarkable restorative effect on the spleen capsules of the treated mice. Moreover, the extract significantly reduced the expression levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Moreover, our study showed that pomegranate extract profoundly affected oxidative stress levels by reducing the oxidant molecules, nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Conclusion This study showed that pomegranate clearly induced antimalarial activity in the host by attenuating inflammatory and oxidative stress responses. Furthermore, pomegranate enhanced the innate immune responses and, therefore, could serve an alternative therapy to control clinical malaria episodes and may protect against malaria infection.