Fawzia A. Fahim

Allied studies on the effect of Rosmarinus officinalis L. on experimental hepatotoxicity and mutagenesis

The hepatoprotective and antimutagenic effects of the rosemary essential oil and the ethanolic extract were investigated using carbon tetrachloride and cyclophosphamide as hepatotoxic and mutagenic compounds, respectively. Our results revealed that i.g. administration of the rosemary ethanolic extract (0.15 g/100 g BW) to rats for 3 weeks produced the most pronounced hepatoprotective effect compared to silymarin (reference compound) due to the amelioration of most of the studied serum and liver parameters and confirmed by histopathological examination of the liver tissue. Pretreatment of mice for 7 days with the rosemary essential oil (1.1 mg/g BW) followed by i.p. injection with cyclophosphamide reduced significantly the induced mitodepression in the bone marrow cells of the animals. The potential hepatoprotective and antimutagenic activities of the rosemary ethanolic extract and essential oil, respectively, are attributed to the presence of a relatively high percentage of phenolic compounds with high antioxidant activity (according to our chemical studies).

Antitumor Activities of Iodoacetate and Dimethylsulphoxide Against Solid Ehrlich Carcinoma Growth in Mice

Treatment of tumor-bearing mice with LD12.5 values of iodoacetate; IAA (1.84 mg/100 g b.w.) and/or dimethylsulphoxide; DMSO (350 mg/100 g b.w.) significantly increased the cumulative mean survival time and percentage of survivors and reduced the mean tumor weight, compared to tumor-bearing controls, however, a more pronounced effect is recorded in the combined treatment. Also, an increase in the life span (ILS%) and tumor growth inhibition ratio (T/C%) are reported and amounted to 145.78 and 43.80%, 195.54 and 61.30% and 220.77 and 78.40% in IAA, DMSO and combined-treated groups, respectively. Results obtained from biochemical studies reveal that a single IAA treatment of tumor-bearing mice significantly increased the levels of plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, while it also significantly decreased the levels of plasma glucose and liver total protein, RNA and DNA, compared to normal controls. On the other hand, a single DMSO treatment significantly elevated the activities of blood antioxidant enzymes, i.e. glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and decreased the liver RNA and DNA levels. Combined treatment increased significantly the levels of plasma LDH and erythrocytes G6PDH activities, as well as liver glycogen, and in contrast it decreased the levels of liver total protein, RNA and DNA, compared to normal controls.

Biochemical changes in patients with combined chronic schistosomiasis and viral hepatitis C infections.

This study was undertaken to assess the biochemical changes induced in chronic schistosomiasis and/or chronic HCV, as well as to pinpoint the most significant parameters which could be used as dependable indices for the differentiation of single and coupled infections with or without liver cirrhosis. The selected patients were allocated into 2 broad groups: GrII (Schistosomiasis) which was subdivided into 3 subgroups: GrII(a) schistosomal patients with hepatosplenomegaly; GrII(b) hepatosplenic schistosomal patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis; GrII(c) schistosomal patients with no organomegaly. GrIII (Combined) comprised 2 subgroups: GrIII(a) schistosomal-HCV infection with decompensated liver cirrhosis; GrIII(b) schistosomal-HCV infection without liver cirrhosis. For statistical comparison normal healthy subjects were taken as a reference group (Gr I). Results showed that schistosomal patients without organomegaly manifested non significant changes in all studied parameters compared to normal controls. Highly significant elevations in serum ALT, AST, ALP and GGT activities were recorded in all other subgroups but the highest levels are reported in GrIIb. AST/ALT and direct/indirect bilirubin ratios were highest in GrIIIa (1.17 ± 0.26, 1.54 ± 0.37, respectively). Serum total protein and albumin levels showed the highest reduction (33 and 59%) concomitantly with the highest increase in γ-globulin level (75%) in GrIII(a). Blood total iron was significantly reduced in GrII(a,b) (15.6 and 12%) (8.8%) bilirubin, GGT and AST in this order are good discriminators between the different subgroups in GrII. On the other hand, ALT, AST, albumin, ALP, GGT, protein and direct bilirubin are the most significant indices to differentiate chronic schistosomiasis and the combined group with/or without liver cirrhosis.

Evaluation of some Methods for Fish Canning Wastewater Treatment

A fish canning facility processes 1900–2000 tons of mackerel and sardine annually at arate of 10–15 tons per day for a total of 200 days yr-1. This factory generates an average of 20 m3 of industrial wastewaters per day. The objective of our study, which was carried out on a bimonthly basisfrom December 1995 to November 1996, was to determine the overall pollutant load associated with this effluent in relation to the applicable Egyptian Standards and to propose methods for pollutant load reduction before discharging it to the local sewer. The methods were to benefit through the recovery of wasted organic load and transform it into an environmentally safe residue amenable for either immediate reuse or final disposal thereafter. Five chemical coagulation/flocculation treatments were tried using ferric chloride, alum, lime, ferric chloride and lime, and alum and lime. The best method involved the use of FeCl3 and Ca(OH)2 (0.4 g Fe L-1 and 0.2 g Ca L-1, respectively) which reduced the average influent BOD5 from 989 to 204 mg L-1, the COD from 1324 to 320 mg L-1, TSS from 4485 to 206 mg L-1, total protein content from 812 to 66 mg L-1 and oil and grease from 320 to 66 mg L-1. The separated dried precipitate averaged 50 g L-1 which was found to contain 40% by weight recovered protein and 20% recovered fat. The solid was ideal for on-site reprocessing as animal feed. As well, the final effluent, if not discharged to the area sewer, was safe for controlled use in some irrigation applications or forestry projects at the desert area surrounding the factory.

Effects of Dietary Magnesium and/or Manganese Variables on the Growth Rate and Metabolism of Mice

The effects of seven feeding schedules differing only in their Mg and Mn contents on the growth rates and some metabolic aspects of Swiss albino female mice were studied. The animals were placed for 5 weeks on the seven dietary regimens and weighed weekly according to the following scheme: (1) normal diet fed (control) group; (2) Mg-deficient fed group; (3) Mn-deficient fed group; (4) coupled-deficient fed group; (5) Mg-supplemented fed group; (6) Mn-supplemented fed group, and (7) coupled-supplemented fed group. Dietary Mg and/or Mn deficiencies were found to exert unfavorable effects on the growth rate of the animals. However, dietary supplementation of Mg has a favorable influence on the growth rate of the animals. Also, several biochemical tests on the plasma and livers of the tested animals were carried out and discussed accordingly.

Biochemical changes associated with acute phosphorus poisoning (in humans)

1. Thirty patients with acute phosphorus poisoning (APP) were chosen from the poison control centre, Cairo (PCCC), Ain Shams University, and classified into three groups according to the amount of ingested inorganic phosphorus (Pi). 2. Group I recorded high mortality rate (90%) with liver failure as a main cause of death. This group also showed hepatorenal failure, hypoglycemia and severe effect on the heart function. 3. Groups II and III recorded no mortality, but their patients showed an effect on the liver, which was severe in group II and mild in group III.

Flow and accumulation of pollutants in an agro-industrial ecosystem

The Mostorod agricultural area, which is a district of Cairo (0.6 km2), lies between the El-Shabourah canal and the Mostorod collector into which many factories discharge their effluents. The Mostorod collector is connected to the canal by smaller canals. The Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ca, Mg, Ca, Na and K content of freshwater used for irrigating during the year 1990 was studied, as well as that of the soil and some plants. An increasing pattern of accumulation through the ecosystem was obtained as the Pb content showed a 6 fold concentration in the water, a 280 fold concentration in the soil and up to a 3760 fold concentration in some types of vegetation compared to the maximum concentration allowable in irrigation water recommended by the Egyptian Law 4882 and the FAO (1985). Cadmium concentration showed a similar pattern. These results are tabulated and discussed.

Some Biochemical Aspects of the Protective Effect of Strontium Chloride on Gamma-Irradiated Rats

The effect of treatment with SrCl2 (10 mg 100 g−) on rats 15 min prior to whole body γ-irradiation (7.5 Gy) was studied. The hazardous effects of irradiation were greatly corrected in the treated group. The hyperglycemic effect and liver glycogen accumulation in the untreated group decreased to normal level. The enzymatic activities of serum alkaline phosphatase, alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, and lactate dehydrogenase were greatly affected, showing insignificant changes in the treated group of animals. Life span calculated on 50% survival was also significantly elongated by 36.3%. These results show the potentiality of SrCl2 as a radioprotective agent. A proposed mechanism is discussed.

Role of dietary magnesium and/or manganese variables on Ehrlich ascites tumor-bearing mice.

Female Swiss albino mice were placed on seven dietary regimens for five weeks. These regimens differed only in magnesium and/or manganese contents. At the end of the feeding period, the animals were inoculated with Ehrlich ascites tumor. Ten days after transplantation, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells were harvested, and all animals were killed. EAC cells and plasma samples were subjected to several biochemical tests. The results suggest several conclusions. 1. Dietary supplements of magnesium and/or manganese have no effect on retarding tumor growth in vivo. 2. Dietary restriction of manganese and combined magnesium and manganese gave promising effects on retarding tumor growth in vivo. 3. Dietary magnesium deficiency, per se, had no significant effect on tumor regression in vivo. 4. In contrast to in vitro studies, manganese supplementation appeared to exert no effect on tumor progression in vivo. 5. Magnesium supplementation seemed to have no effect on tumor progression in vivo, which is in agreement with in vitro studies.

Chromatographic, toxicological and metabolic studies on the volatile extract of aspartic acid-fructose in rats

The effect of browned volatile aroma concentrate of aspartic acid (A)-fructose (F) interaction at 120d`C on the growth rate and metabolism of Swiss albino adult female rats was studied. Rats received either low or high doses of A-F 120 (0.1 and 0.25 LD 50) intragastrically for 12 weeks, exhibited a lag in the weight gain due to diarrhoea, as well as a significant increase in organ/whole body weight ratio regarding liver, kidney, stomach and caecum compared to normal controls. This mode of dietary treatment resulted in a significant reduction in the levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, albumin and liver total lipid, while a significant elevation in the levels of serum glucose, urea nitrogen and liver glycogen, as well as some enzyme activity in the serum and liver tissue of both groups of animals are reported and discussed, accordingly.