Assaad Sila

Evaluation of efficacy of natural astaxanthin and vitamin E in prevention of colistin-induced nephrotoxicity in the rat model

OBJECTIVEnWe evaluated the effect of astaxanthin (ASX) and vitamin E (vit E) on colistin methanesulfonate (CMS) induced-nephrotoxicity in rats.nnnMETHODSnAnimals were treated with sterile saline, 300000 or 450 000 IU/kg/day of CMS, CMS + ASX (20 mg/kg), CMS + vit E (100 mg/kg), or CMS + 1 ml/kg olive oil (OO) for 7 days. The plasma/urine creatinine (Cr) level, urine γ-glutamyl-transferase (GGT) level, and renal tissue activities in malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reductase (GSH), as well as renal histology were performed.nnnRESULTSnCMS induced a tubular damage, increased the GGT and MDA levels, and decreased the activities of SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH. Co-treatment with ASX or vit E restored all biochemical parameters cited above and improved the histopathological damage.nnnCONCLUSIONnNephrotoxicity induced by CMS might be due to oxidative damage. The improvement by ASX or vit E seems to be related to their antioxidant properties.

Angiotensin-I-Converting Enzyme Inhibitory and Antioxidant Activities of Protein Hydrolysate from Muscle of Barbel (Barbus callensis)

The present study investigated angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory and antioxidant activities of barbel muscle protein hydrolysate prepared with Alcalase. The barbel muscle protein hydrolysate displayed a high ACE inhibitory activity ( mg/mL). The antioxidant activities of protein hydrolysate at different concentrations were evaluated using various in vitro antioxidant assays, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical method and reducing power assay. The barbel muscle protein hydrolysate exhibited an important radical scavenging effect and reducing power. These results obtained by in vitro systems obviously established the antioxidant potency of barbel hydrolysate to donate electron or hydrogen atom to reduce the free radical. Furthermore, these bioactive substances can be exploited into functional foods or used as source of nutraceuticals.

Globularia alypum methanolic extract improves burn wound healing process and inflammation in rats and possesses antibacterial and antioxidant activities

Burns are known as one of the most common and destructive forms of injury with a vast spectrum of consequences. Despite the discovery of various antibacterial and antiseptic agents, burn wound healing still has remained a challenge to modern medicine. Plants have been considered as potential agents for prevention and treatment of disorders in recent years. Globularia alypum L. (GA) is widely used in folk medicine against skin diseases and abscesses, however there is no scientific evidence justifying its use. This study aimed to evaluate the wound healing and anti-inflammatory effect, the antibacterial and antioxidant activities, as well as the chemical compositions of GA methanolic extract (GAME). Chemical compounds of GAME were examined by GC-MS. Wound healing effect was assessed by second-degree burn wounds in rats, anti-inflammatory activity was studied by carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, antioxidant activity was estimated by the DPPH, reducing power and β-carotene tests and antimicrobial activity was tested against 6 bacteria. A total of 17 compounds were identified. GAME-treated rats showed an improvement in healing process and carrageenan-induced hind paws edema as assessed by histological and biochemical investigations, compared to the control. A significant antioxidant and antibacterial activities were also observed in GAME-treated rats. GAME revealed a burn wound healing activity probably due to the anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of its phytochemical contents. Thus, this study confirms its traditional use, however further more precise studies are needed for future clinical application.

Glycosaminoglycans from grey triggerfish and smooth hound skins: Rheological, Anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties

The present study aims to evaluate for the first time the wound healing and in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of glycosaminoglycans from skins of smooth hound (SHSG) and grey triggerfish (GTSG). Thermal analysis of GTSG and SHSG was evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The rheologie properties and water absorption capacity of two gels prepared from SHSG and GTSG were also studied. The application of GTSG and SHSG based gels on dermal full-thickness excision wounds in a mouse model, enhanced significantly wound healing activity and a total closure was achieved after eleven days of wound induction for SHSG. Further, histological examination of biopsies showed advanced tissue regeneration, characterized by the presence of well-organized stratum of both derma and epidermis. The anti-inflammatory evaluation of GTSG and SHSG in mice showed a significant inhibition of edema paw, after 5u202fh of carrageenan injection. The edema inhibition was 91.6% and 90% for SHSG and GTSG, respectively at the dose of 50u202fmg/kg. Furthermore, the histological evaluation and the superoxide dismutase, catalase and malondialdehyde level in muscle tissue were investigated. In summary, this work demonstrates that both GTSG and SHSG could be promising drugs with good wound healing and anti-inflammatory effects in animal model.

Chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate from corb ( Sciaena umbra ) skin: Purification, structural analysis and anticoagulant effect

In this study, chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate was isolated and purified from the skin of corb (Sciaena umbra) (CSG) with a yield of 6.2%. Chemical and structural analysis showed that CSG consisted of high sulfate content 28.74% and an average molecular weight of 15.46 KDa. The separation of CSG by agarose-gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of DS and CS. Structural analysis of the purified CS/DS by means of SAX-HPLC after treatment with specific chondroitinases showed that this polymer was composed of nonsulfated disaccharide, monosulfated disaccharides and disulfated disaccharides in various percentages. The results also suggest that the percentage of CS and DS recovred in CSG were 24% and 76%, respectively. Anticoagulant activity in vitro was measured in plasma using classical anticoagulation tests: activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), thrombin time (TT) and prothrombine time (PT) tests. The findings thus indicated that the purified CS/DS exhibits a remarkably high anticoagulant effect.