Chiagoziem A. Otuechere

Protective Effect of Curcumin against the Liver Toxicity Caused by Propanil in Rats.

We investigated the protective effects of curcumin on propanil-induced alterations in biochemical indices in blood and liver of male Wistar rats. The study consisted of four treatment groups, with six animals each, designated as control, propanil (20mg/kg), curcumin(50 mg/kg), and curcumin (50 mg/kg) + propanil (20 mg/kg). Rats were administered their respective doses orally, every other day, for 28 days. Propanil administration elicited significant (P < 0.001) increases in plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities, by 24% and 56%, respectively, compared to the control. Treatment with propanil elevated bilirubin, creatinine, and total cholesterol levels in rats, but these were not significant relative to controls. Administration of propanil to rats significantly (P < 0.001) increased lipid peroxidation levels. However, catalase activity, vitamin C, and reduced glutathione levels were significantly reduced. Exposure to propanil did not produce any significant changes in packed cell volume, neutrophils, and leukocyte counts. The supplementation of curcumin attenuated the adverse effects of propanil intoxication by reducing lipid peroxidation levels and restored the levels of serum enzymes and reduced glutathione. The present study showed that propanil increased oxidative stress and altered some biochemical parameters in the rats but curcumin could afford some protection to attenuate propanil-induced toxicity in the liver.

Management of Anxiety and Sleep Disorders： Role of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Challenges of Integration with Conventional Orthodox Care

There is renewed attention and greater focus on anxiety and sleep- sleep-related disturbances because of the high prevalence, complexity, and their health related implications. The role of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), which refers to therapeutic approaches that are “complementary to the end goals of decreasing illness and enhancing wellness, but are alternative to conventional medical treatment” is also increasingly recognized. In this review, we considered CAM approach to the management of anxiety and sleep disorders and discussed a few challenges associated with the effective integration of alternative therapy with conventional orthodox medical care.

Selenium and rutin alone or in combination do not have stronger protective effects than their separate effects against cadmium-induced renal damage

Abstract Context: Selenium (Se) and rutin (RUT) are antioxidants that protect against tissue damage. Objective: In this study, the separate and combine protective effects of RUT and Se against cadmium (Cd)-induced renal damage were evaluated in rats. Materials and methods: Wistar rats were treated by gavage to RUT (30 mg/kg) or Se (0.15 ppm) or Cd (200 ppm) in drinking water alone or in combination (30 mg/kg RUT +0.15 ppm Se + 200 ppm Cd). Corn oil was used as vehicle (2 mL/kg). After a 5-week treatment period, rat kidneys were removed for biochemical assays and histopathological examination. Se and Cd levels were evaluated by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results: The malondialdehyde and glutathione levels as well as superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the Cd-treated animals were increased compared with control values (0.056 ± 0.0003 versus 0.011 ± 0.0005 μmol/mg; 0.005 ± 0.0006 versus 0.00085 ± 0.0002 μg/mg; 1.62 ± 0.09 versus 0.48 ± 0.12 units/mg; 650 ± 25 versus 361.89 ± 31 μmol H2O2/mg, respectively). Cd treatment was also associated with decreased renal Se concentration (4.19 ± 0.92 versus 7.73 ± 0.7 μg/g dry weight), increased alkaline phosphatase (0.07 ± 0.0015 versus 0.033 ± 0.0019 unit/mg), acid phosphatase (0.029 ± 0.0021 versus 0.015 ± 0.0016 unit/mg), and lactate dehydrogenase (0.032 ± 0.004 versus 0.014 ± 0.0027 unit/mg) activities, respectively, and with evidence of severe renal damage. The combination of RUT and Se or their separate effects prevented the Cd-induced oxidative renal damage. However, their combine effects do not have stronger effects than their separate effect against Cd-induced renal damage. Discussion and conclusion: RUT and Se function as potent antioxidant in the protection of renal damage induced by Cd.

Protective effects of vitamin C against propanil-induced hepatotoxicity in wistar rats

Abstract Objective To investigate the hepatoprotective effects of Vitamin C in propanil intoxiciated Wistar rats. Methods Twenty-four adult male rats were divided into four equal groups of six each: control; 100mg propanil/kg; 100mg vitamin C/kg; propanil (100mg/kg) plus vitamin C (100mg/kg). Treatment was via oral route and was administered once daily for 7 days. Animals were orally treated once daily for 7 days. The effect of propanil on liver lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes and biochemical parameters as well as the possible attenuation of its toxicity by vitamin C was studied. Results Compared to the control group, propanil treatment significantly increased serum total cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase levels (AST), and significantly lowered triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) and total protein (TP) levels. Results obtained furthermore showed that propanil significantly (P Conclusion The present study suggests that Vitamin C could be an important dietary component based on its ability to attenuate propanil induced hepatotoxicity.

Renal toxicological evaluations of sulphonated nanocellulose from Khaya sengalensis seed in Wistar rats

Nanocellulose is currently gaining attention due to its unique properties. This attention includes its application as building blocks for developing novel functional materials, plant drug and also in drug delivery systems. However, its safety remains largely untested or less understood. Thus, sulphonated nanocellulose (KSS) was prepared from cellulose (KSC) isolated from Khaya senegalensis seed (KS). KS, KSC and KSS were characterized using Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), particle size distribution (PSD), zeta potential and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The impact of KSS on selected renal markers of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in Wistar rats was also investigated. Thus, male rats were randomly assigned to four groups of five animals each and were treated with KSS (0, 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg BW) for 14 days. Thereafter, biomarkers of renal oxidative damage, inflammation and immunohistochemical expressions of iNOS, COX-2, Bcl-2 and p53 were evaluated. The results revealed KSS to have crystallinity of 70.40%, it was monomodal and has a flaky surface with agglomerations. KSS had no effect on markers of kidney function and oxidative damage, although there was a generalized hypernatremia after 14 days of exposure. Lastly, KSS enhanced the antioxidant status and immunohistochemical expressions of iNOS and COX-2 in the kidney of the rats. While the biomedical applications of KSS may appear plausible, our data suggests that it could induce renal toxicity via the combined impacts of electrolyte imbalance and inflammation.

Alterations in morphology and hepatorenal indices in rats subacutely exposed to bitumen extract

Abstract Bitumen is a complex mixture of dense and extremely viscous organic liquids produced by distillation of crude oil during petroleum refining. Nigeria has a large deposit of natural bitumen, yet to be fully exploited. Discharges of petroleum hydrocarbons and other petroleum-derived products have caused environmental pollution and adverse human health effects in several oil-rich communities. In this study, bitumen obtained from a seepage source in Agbabu, the town of first discovery, was used in sub-acute toxicity studies in a rat experimental model, in order to assess potential health risks posed to local populace sequel to full exploitation of bitumen. Dosages were chosen to accommodate low to high cases of environmental exposures. Male Wistar rats were administered, per os, dosages of bitumen extract at 5, 3, 2, and 1 mg/kg body weight. Following euthanasia 28 days later, histological findings revealed severe portal congestion and cellular infiltration in the liver, while in the kidney there were protein casts in the tubular lumen. The relative liver and kidney weights in the 5 mg/kg groups were 34% and 40% higher than in the controls, with a concomitant decrease in food and water consumption. Furthermore, plasma clinical analyses revealed marked elevation in aspartate aminotransferase and triglycerides levels in bitumen extract-intoxicated rats. The results indicate the potential hepatorenal toxicity in adult rats following repeated exposure to bitumen extract.

Subacute therapeutic dosing of artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-amodiaquine combination preserves plasma cholesterol, renal antioxidant status, and organ weights in rats.

Recent instances of breakdowns of malaria control programs and the constant emergence of drug-resistant parasites to monotherapies have shored up the use of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) as the malaria therapy of choice. We evaluated a subacute therapeutic dosing of artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-amodiaquine on plasma cholesterol, renal antioxidants, and organ weights in rats. Sixteen albino rats were grouped into three. Group A (n = 5) served as the control. Groups B (n = 6) and C (n = 5) were administered, twice daily, oral therapeutic doses of artemether-lumefantrine (1.14/6.86 mg/kg/d) and artesunate-amodiaquine (2.86/8.58 mg/kg/d), respectively, for seven days. From our results, ACTs did not significantly (P > 0.05) alter catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, myeloperoxidase, and total glutathione levels when compared with the control. Plasma total cholesterol levels also decreased insignificantly (P > 0.05). Organ-system weights were not significantly (P > 0.05) different from control rats. Artesunate-amodiaquine, but not artemether-lumefantrine, significantly increased (P < 0.05) lactate dehydrogenase activity and also afforded a 27.2% decrease in heart weight when compared with control. Also, both ACTs increased (P < 0.05) lipid peroxidation. Overall, artesunate-amodiaquine and artemether-lumefantrine may preserve renal antioxidants and organ weights in vivo. However, caution is required above therapeutic indications or in chronic doses as this may predispose to renal oxidative stress.