Ilhem Rjeibi

Oxidative damage and hepatotoxicity associated with deltamethrin in rats: The protective effects of Amaranthus spinosus seed extract.

OBJECTIVE The liver plays a major role in detoxification and metabolism of toxic compound and xenobiotics like pesticides. Thereby, any type of modification in its function causes hepatotoxicity. So, the aim of this study was designed to assess the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of methanol extract Amaranthus spinosus seed (ASS) on liver injury induced by deltamethrin (DLM), a synthetic pyrethroid pesticide. MATERIALS AND METHODS ASS was subjected to different phytochemical analyses including total phenolic and flavonoid content. In vitro, antioxidant activities was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assays. In vivo hepatoprotective effect of A. spinosus seeds against DLM induced liver injury in rats was tested in plasma and liver tissue. RESULTS ASS reverses hepatotoxicity in DLM-intoxicated rats: serum liver biomarkers (alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and aminotransferases), hepatic levels of lipid peroxidation (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were restored to normal levels. The protective effects of ASS was confirmed by histological studies. CONCLUSION The hepatoprotective potential of ASS could be explained by its high phenolic content, antioxidant properties and phytochemical contents.

The protective effect of Citrus limon essential oil on hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity induced by aspirin in rats.

Citrus limon is a member of the large Rutaceae family characterized by its therapeutic proprieties and has been widely used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases. This study investigates the protective effect of Citrus limon essential oil against a high dose of aspirin-induced acute liver and kidney damage in female Wistar albino rats. Twenty-eight adult female Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups of 7 each: (1) a control group; (2) a group of rats which was kept untreated for 56days then treated with aspirin (A) (600mg/kg) for 4 days; (3) a group fed with essential oil of Citrus limon for 56days then (A) for 4 days; and (4) a group of rats receiving essential oil of Citrus limon for 56 days, then given NaCl for 4 days. Estimations of biochemical parameters in blood were determined. Lipid peroxidation levels (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidas (GPx) activities in liver and kidney was determined. A histopathological study was done. Under our experimental conditions, aspirin induced an increase of serum biochemical parameters and it resulted in an oxidative stress in both liver and kidney. This was evidenced by significant increase in TBARS in liver and kidney by 108% and 55%, respectively, compared to control. On the other hand, a decrease in the activities of SOD by 78% and 53%, CAT by 53% and 78%, and GPx by 78% and 51% in liver and kidney, respectively. Administration of EOC to rats attenuated the induced an effect of the high dose of aspirin induced in the afore mentioned serum biochemical parameters. In conclusion, our data suggest that treatment with essential oil of Citrus limon prevented the liver and kidney damage induced by aspirin.

Phytochemical characterization and bioactivity of Lycium europaeum: A focus on antioxidant, antinociceptive, hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects

In this study, the antioxidant, antinociceptive, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective properties and the bioactive composition of Lycium europaeum were investigated. Polyphenols and total tannin contents were measured by colorimetric methods The antioxidant activity in vitro was evaluated using the reducing power, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical and phosphomolybdenum assays. The hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity effects were studied using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver and renal injuries in mice. The analgesic activity was explored using the hot-plate and acetic acid tests in mice. Results showed that the methanol fraction of L. europaeum (LEM) had the highest level of total phenolic, total tannin, and flavonoid. HPLC-DAD analysis revealed the presence of twelve compounds among them caffeic acid was the major compound (140.18μg/g of extract). This fraction also showed the best antioxidant activity in vitro in the three used assays. In vivo, in the mice studies, CCl4 administration induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity by a significant rise in the levels of serum liver biomarkers (gamma glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and aminotransferases) and serum renal biomarkers (urea, creatinine, and uric acid). Similarly, levels of lipid peroxidation (MDA) in both tissues were found increased by CCl4 intoxication. Pretreatment with LEM and quercetin significantly restored the majority of these biological parameters to normal levels, as well as an improvement of histopathological changes. In addition, LEM showed an interesting analgesic activity. LEM decreased significantly the number of writhing induced by acetic acid and prolonged the reaction time in response to thermal stimulus in mice. Therefore, it was speculated that the obtained results highlighted the potential use of L. europaeum as a source of bioactive compounds with pharmacological advantages.

Protective Effects of Pinus halepensis L. Essential Oil on Aspirin-induced Acute Liver and Kidney Damage in Female Wistar Albino Rats

Aromatic and medicinal plants are sources of natural antioxidants thanks to their secondary metabolites. Administration of Pinus halepensis L. (Pinaceae family) in previous studies was found to alleviate deleterious effects of aspirin-induced damage on liver and kidney. The present study, carried out on female rats, evaluates the effects of P. halepensis L. essential oil (EOP) on aspirin (A)-induced damage to liver and kidney. The animals used in this study were rats (n=28) divided into 4 groups of 7 each: (1) a control group (C); (2) a group given NaCl for 56 days then treated with (A) (600 mg/kg) for 4 days (A); (3) a group fed with (EOP) for 56 days then (A) for 4 days; and a group fed with only (EOP) for 56 days and given NaCl for 4 days. Estimations of biochemical parameters in blood were determined using kit methods (Spinreact). Lipid peroxidation levels (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were determined. Histopathological study was done by immersing pieces of both organs in a fixative solution followed by paraffin embeddeding and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Under our experimental conditions, Aspirin at dose 600 mg/kg body weight induced an increase of serum biochemical parameters as well as an oxidative stress in both organs. An increase occurred in TBARS by 108% and 55%, a decrease in SOD by 78% and 53%, CAT by 53% and 78%, and GPx by 78% and 51% in liver and kidney, respectively, compared to control. Administration of EOP given to rats enabled correction in these parameters. It could be concluded that the treatment with P. halepensis L. essential oil inhibited aspirin-induced liver and kidney damage.

Lycium europaeum Extract: A New Potential Antioxidant Source against Cisplatin-Induced Liver and Kidney Injuries in Mice

This study was designed to assess the protective effects of Lycium europaeum methanol extract (LEM) on liver and kidney injuries induced by cisplatin. The phytochemical composition, the antioxidant activity, and hepatorenal injury biomarkers were investigated. Results revealed that LEM exhibited a significant antioxidant activity in vitro on DPPH radical and H2O2 scavenging assays. In the animal studies, treatment with LEM significantly reduced the effects of cisplatin intoxication on serum liver biomarkers and serum renal biomarkers. Meanwhile, LEM diminishes significantly the effect of cisplatin on the level of lipid peroxidation in liver and kidney tissues. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes (reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase) were increased in groups pretreated with LEM and quercetin. Additionally, the normal histological structures of the liver and kidney were restored after treatment with LEM. This work clearly demonstrated that L. europaeum may be useful as a drug with hepato-nephroprotective potentials.

Protective effects of Mentha spicata against nicotine-induced toxicity in liver and erythrocytes of Wistar rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of Mentha spicata supplementation against nicotine-induced oxidative damage in the liver and erythrocytes of Wistar rats. Bioactive substances were determined by liquid chromatography - electrospray ionization - tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Animals were divided into 4 groups of 6 rats each: a normal control group, a nicotine-treated group (1 mg/kg), a group receiving M. spicata extract (100 mg/kg), and a group receiving both M. spicata extract (100 mg/kg) and nicotine (1 mg/kg). Many phenolic acids were identified in the M. spicata aqueous extract. After 2 months of treatment, nicotine induced an increase in the level of white blood cells and a marked decrease in erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and haematocrit. Aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase activities were also found to be higher in nicotine-treated group than those of the control group. Furthermore, nicotine-treated rats exhibited oxidative stress, as evidenced by a decrease in antioxidant enzymes activities and an increase in lipid peroxidation level in liver and erythrocytes. Interestingly, the oral administration of M. spicata extract by nicotine-treated rats alleviated such disturbances. M. spicata contained bioactive compounds that possess important antioxidant potential and protected liver and erythrocytes against nicotine-induced damage.

Ameliorative Effect of Cactus (Opuntia ficus indica) Extract on Lithium-Induced Nephrocardiotoxicity: A Biochemical and Histopathological Study

Opuntia ficus indica (family Cactaceae) is used in the treatment of a variety of conditions including metal-induced toxicity. The study reports the protective effects of Opuntia ficus indica (CCE) against lithium carbonate-induced toxicity in rats. Nephrocardiotoxicity was induced in male Wistar rats by single dose of lithium carbonate (25 mg/kg b.w twice daily for 30 days). Aqueous extract of Opuntia ficus indica was administered at the dose of 100 mg/kg of b.w by gavage for 60 days. Obtained results revealed that administration of lithium carbonate caused a significant increase in serum creatinine, uric acid, and urea levels. Additionally, a significant decrease in the level of renal and cardiac SOD, CAT, and GPx activities was associated with a significant increase of MDA levels in lithium carbonate group more than those of the control. However, the treatment of experimental rats with CCE prevented these alterations and maintained the antioxidant status. The histopathological observations supported the biochemical evidences of nephrocardioprotection. CCE supplementation could protect against lithium carbonate-induced renal and cardiac injuries in rats, plausibly by the upregulation of antioxidant enzymes and inhibition of MDA to confer the protective effect.