Amany A. Sayed

Origanum majorana Attenuates Nephrotoxicity of Cisplatin Anticancer Drug through Ameliorating Oxidative Stress

Despite the fact that cisplatin is an important anticancer drug, its clinical utilization is limited by nephrotoxicity during long term medication. Combined cisplatin chemotherapy with plant extracts can diminish toxicity and enhance the antitumor efficacy of the drug. This study evaluated the effect of Originum majorana ethanolic extract (OMEE) on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Eighteen male rats were divided into three groups as follows: a control group, a group treated with cisplatin (3 mg/kg body weight), and a group that received both cisplatin and OMEE (500 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days. Cisplatin induced a significant increase in creatinine, urea, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide levels. However, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels were significantly diminished. Conversely, OMEE significantly modulated the renal and oxidative markers negatively impacted by cisplatin. OMEE significantly reduced the effects of cisplatin-induced changes in renal and oxidative markers, possibly through its free radical scavenging activity. Thus, OMEE may be combined with cisplatin to alleviate nephrotoxicity in cancer chemotherapy.

Antiosteoporotic effect of Coelatura aegyptiaca shell powder on ovariectomized rats

The efficacy of Coelatura aegyptiaca shell powder (CES, 500 mg/kg BW) was evaluated as a calcium supplement in ovariectomized (OVX) rats for ten weeks of treatment. The biochemical components and the antioxidant properties of the shell powder were determined. The bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) contents in serum and bone, serum total alkaline phosphatase (TALP) and bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), serum calcitonin and parathyroid (PTH) hormones were determined. Furthermore, some of the oxidative stress markers [malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)] were estimated in bone. The current study revealed that CES contained 19.38% Ca, 0.315% P as well as some of antioxidant amino acids which have a potent antioxidant activity against 1,1diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical. Administration of CES to OVX rats increased BMD, BMC, tibial Ca and P contents and BALP activity, as compared to OVX rats. An ameliorative effect was recorded in the levels of calcitonin, PTH, MDA, SOD, GPx and TAC subsequent to CES administration to OVX rats.This ameliorative effect of CES powder against osteoporosis may be attributed to its antioxidant efficacy and/or to its Ca content. In conclusion, CES may have the potential to develop a clinically useful anti-osteoporotic agent, since its effect was comparable with alendronate (6.5 mg/kg BW/week).

New Insights into Sepsis Therapy Using Sepia Officinalis

Background: Sepsis remains a major problem for both scientists and clinicians. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) is considered the gold standard for animal models of sepsis. The undesirable side effects of certain antibiotics have forced scientists to discover new, natural, and safe antimicrobial agents, such as cephalopods, which are known to display significant antimicrobial activity. Objectives: The present investigation aims to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antibacterial and antiseptic efficacy of Sepia officinalis body tissue (SOBT) extract and S. officinalis polysaccharide (SOP) from its cuttlebone. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight rats were divided into 4 groups, and starting 2 hours after CLP, treatments were given for 2 days as follows: sham control rats treated orally with distilled water, septic rats treated orally distilled water, septic rats treated orally methanolic extract of SOBT (500 mg/kg b.wt) suspended in distilled water, and septic rats treated orally SOP extract (200 mg /kg b.wt) dissolved in distilled water. On the third day, half of the rats in each group were euthanized for blood collection. The other half were kept alive and used for the survival study. Results: The present study revealed that the SOBT and SOP extracts showed in vitro bactericidal activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, administration of SOBT and SOP increased the rats’ survival rates by 66.7% and 83.33%, respectively, as compared to the untreated CLP-septic rats. Treatment of the CLP-septic rats with SOBT and SOP significantly alleviated alterations in procalcitonin levels and in some hematological parameters induced by CLP. Conclusions: SOBT and SOP had profound antiseptic efficacy.

Exploration of the therapeutic potential effect of Sepia officinalis in animal model of sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture

OBJECTIVE The present investigation explored the therapeutic potential effect of Sepia officinalis body tissue (SOBT) and Sepia officinalis polysaccharide (SOP) extracts, in animal model of sepsis [induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)]. MATERIALS AND METHODS Experimental animals were divided into 4 groups, Group 1: Sham control rats. Group 2: Septic rats. Group 3: Septic rats treated with methanolic extract of Sepia officinalis body tissue (SOBT) (500mg/kg body weight) for 2days. Group 4: Septic rats treated with Sepia officinalis polysaccharide (SOP) extract (200mg/kg body weight) for 2days. RESULTS The antioxidant activity of SOBT and SOP was proven by DPPH test. CLP-induced liver and kidney toxicities showed by an increase in the ALAT, ASAT, γGT, ALP, creatinine, BUN and uric acid concentrations in serum. Moreover, CLP-induced oxidative stress in liver and kidney evidenced by the increase of MDA levels, decrease in GSH concentrations and decrease in the enzymatic antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GST). In addition, CLP caused decrease in CYP1A2 content in liver. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of SOBT and SOP in liver and kidney disorders. Therefore this study suggests that SOBT and SOP could be a potential therapeutic agents for sepsis treatment.

Cicer arietinum extract ameliorate γ-irradiation disorders via modulation of oxidative/antioxidative pathway

Ionized radiations trigger thoughtful adverse hazards through multiple organ dysfunctions. Recently, antioxidant-based biodrugs are used to prevent and treat ionizing radiation hazards. The present study aimed to investigate the prospective ameliorative effect of Cicer arietinum extract (CAE) against γ-irradiation and the pathway of this amelioration in male albino rats. Twenty four rats were allocated into four groups; (i) control group, (ii) CAE group in which rats treated with a dosage of 500 mg CAE/kg b.wt, (iii) γ-irradiated group in which rats exposed to 6Gy γ-irradiation, (iv) γ-irradiated+CAE group; rats of this group treated with CAE 1 h post exposure. All rats treated for 21 days. Liver, kidney and femoral bone were rapidly excised and homogenized for the biochemical analysis. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer (ICP) analyses exhibit that γ-irradiation elicits significant change in the essential trace elements content in liver, kidney, and bone. Further, significant increases in TBARS and H2O2 contents accompanied by significant decreases in GSH, SOD, CAT, and GPx activities in liver, kidney and bone tissues were recorded in the γ-irradiated rats compared to control group. Additionally, marked reduction in the thickness of cortical bone was recorded in rats exposed to γ-irradiation. Conversely, CAE (500 mg/kg b.wt, p.o) administration for 21 days to γ-irradiated rats effectively reverses most of the altered parameters of the γ-irradiated rats. In conclusion, the present findings suggested that CAE is a potential agent that can be used against radiation hazards. This effect may be owing to its antioxidant mechanism, as CAE has an inhibitory effect against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide radical (O2·-) beside its ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). This finding recommended that CAE can be utilized clinically to mitigate ionized radiation-induced hazard effects.

PROSPECTIVE EFFECT OF RED ALGAE, ACTINOTRICHIA FRAGILIS, AGAINST SOME OSTEOARTHRITIS AETIOLOGY

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive disease characterized by joints pain and articular cartilage destruction. Most of the current treatment strategies for OA are effective for symptoms relief but are accompanied with adverse side effect. Thus, the present investigation aims to evaluate the potential influence of red algae, Actinotrichia fragilis, in the dry powder form (AFP) or gel form (AFG) on some relevant factors of OA progression as well as assess its safety through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Materials and Methods: In vitro, AFP was analyzed for its chemical constituents screening, amino acid, proteinase inhibitory activity, HRBC membrane stabilization activity, free radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant potency, nitric oxide radical scavenging power. In vivo, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) toxicity test was performed to test the safety of AFP on rats. Results: The present findings revealed that AFP and AFG can be considered as inflammatory-proteinase-oxidant inhibitor and considered to be safe according to the OECD guideline. Conclusion: AFP and AFG may have the potency to become the therapeutic candidate for OA disease as it prevents the key causes of OA initiation.