Mohamed-Assem S. Marie

Use of Arius thalassinus fish in a pollution biomonitoring study, applying combined oxidative stress, hematology, biochemical and histopathological biomarkers: A baseline field study

The present field study aimed to determine the extent of pollution in the Red Sea coast of Yemen Republic using a battery of biomarkers in sea catfish, Arius thalassinus, originating from a reference site in comparison with a polluted site. We reported the concentration of heavy metals in some vital fish organs and their effects on the morphological, hematological, biochemical and oxidative stress biomarkers accompanied by the examination of histopathological alterations. The obtained results showed clear signs of stress in fish from a polluted site. Linear correlation analysis exhibited that the biomarkers response could be linked to the detected metals bioaccumulation. In addition, principal component analysis showed a clear separation of sampling sites in two different assemblages. Semi-quantitative analysis for the observed histopathological lesions revealed that gills were the most affected organs with signs of severe alterations. This field investigation provides a baseline data on pollution status in this region.

Assessment of metal contamination in water, sediment, and tissues of Arius thalassinus fish from the Red Sea coast of Yemen and the potential human risk assessment

Heavy metal pollution is one of the most serious environmental issues globally. To evaluate the metal pollution in the Red Sea coast of Hodeida, Yemen Republic, the concentrations of Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cd in water, sediment, and some vital organs of sea catfish, Arius thalassinus collected from polluted and unpolluted sites, were determined. The risk of these metals to humans through fish consumption was then assessed. The results showed that the concentration order of metals in water, sediment, and fish tissues were Fe > Cu > Ni > Pb > Cd. The levels of studied metals in water, sediment, and fish tissues were significantly higher in the polluted site than those of the unpolluted site, with few exceptions. Linear correlation incorporating paired variables (water-sediment, water-fish, and fish-fish) exhibited several significant correlations indicating a common metal pollution. The risk assessment performed revealed that fish consumption was safe for consumers. This field investigation provides a baseline data on metal pollution in this region.

Antioxidant Effect of Sepia Ink Extract on Extrahepatic Cholestasis Induced by Bile Duct Ligation in Rats

OBJECTIVE The aim of our study was to assess the complications of hepatic fibrosis associated with bile duct ligation and the potential curative role of sepia ink extract in hepatic damage induced by bile duct ligation. METHODS Rattus norvegicus rats were divided into 3 groups: Sham-operated group, model rats that underwent common bile duct ligation (BDL), and BDL rats treated orally with sepia ink extract (200 mg/kg body weight) for 7, 14, and 28 d after BDL. RESULTS There was a significant reduction in hepatic enzymes, ALP, GGT, bilirubin levels, and oxidative stress in the BDL group after treatment with sepia ink extract. Collagen deposition reduced after sepia ink extract treatment as compared to BDL groups, suggesting that the liver was repaired. Histopathological examination of liver treated with sepia ink extract showed moderate degeneration in the hepatic architecture and mild degeneration in hepatocytes as compared to BDL groups. CONCLUSION Sepia ink extract provides a curative effect and an antioxidant capacity on BDL rats and could ameliorate the complications of liver cholestasis.

The use of biotic and abiotic components of Red Sea coastal areas as indicators of ecosystem health.

A biomonitoring study was conducted using some biotic (Pomadasys hasta and Lutjanus russellii fish) and abiotic (water and sediment) components of the Red Sea coast of Hodeida, Yemen Republic along two polluted sites (Al-Dawar beach and Urj village) in comparison to a reference site (Al-Nukhailah beach). The studied fish biomarkers included hepatosomatic index (HSI), condition factor (K), scaled mass index (SMI), catalase, glutathione-S-transferase (GST), malondialdehyde (MDA), total protein and albumin. In addition, metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd) concentrations in water and sediment were measured and sediment pollution assessment was carried out using contamination factor (CF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), pollution load index (PLI) and enrichment factor (EF). The studied metals concentration in water and sediment samples showed significant increase among the polluted sites in comparison to the reference site. Sediment pollution assessment generally confirmed that Urj village was the most contaminated site followed by Al-Dawar beach. Catalase, GST and MDA proved to be the most responsive biomarkers with increased values of GST and MDA at sites influenced by agricultural, urban and industrial activities while catalase, HSI, K, SMI, total protein and albumin showed the opposite trend. This study recommends monitoring of sediment Igeo and EF values as well as SMI, catalase, GST and MDA as sensitive indicators of different anthropogenic activities and their effects on aquatic ecosystems under complex and different gradients of metal pollution. In addition, P. hasta proved to be more sensitive towards the detected pollution condition.

Therapeutic efficacy of osthole against dinitrobenzene sulphonic acid induced-colitis in rats

Several mediators were associated with the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease such as oxidative stress through the production of reactive oxygen metabolites, neutrophils infiltration and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This study was designed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of osthole against dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS) induced-colitis in rats through its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Colitis was induced in rats by single intracolonic instillation of (250 μl DNBS-25 mg/rat). Then 4 days later, rats were received oral administration of either (osthole 50 mg/kg), (sulfasalazine 500 mg/kg) or both in combination for 7 consecutive days. Body weight, some hematological parameters, colonic malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase activity (MPO), antioxidant parameters, colon injury and mucosa architectures were assessed. T helper (Th1)-related cytokines [Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (INF-γ)], Th2-relarted cytokines (interleukin-4 [IL-4 and IL-10], and Th-17 related cytokines [IL-17] were determined by ELISA. Osthole significantly improved the loss in body weight. That was accompanied with a remarkable amelioration of the disruption of the colonic architecture as well as a significant improvement in the antioxidant defense system. A reduction in MPO and MDA was observed in flamed colon. Treatment with either osthole or combination therapy showed suppressive activities on pro-inflammatory Th2-related cytokines and upregulation of anti-inflammatory Th2-related cytokines The results of this study suggest that osthole exert beneficial therapeutic effect in experimental colitis and improved the efficacy of the synthetized drugs such as sulfasalazine. Therefore, osthole may have a valuable sound in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Biomarkers of oxidative stress in Biomphalaria alexandrina snails for assessing the effects of certain inorganic fertilisers

ABSTRACT Freshwater snails are often used to monitor aquatic pollution. The present study aims to use Biomphalaria alexandrina snails as bio-indicators for three types of NPK fertilisers (high nitrogen, high phosphorus and balanced). Data showed that high phosphorus and high nitrogen fertilisers have a negative impact on the growth rate of juvenile snails. Such observations were supported by determining antioxidant parameters in the digestive gland. Results indicated a significant increase in the catalase activity of snails that were exposed to ½ LC50 concentrations of balanced and high phosphorus fertilisers. Meanwhile, the glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and reduced glutathione parameters showed varying results representing an increase or decrease in the activities of all treated groups after both the first and second weeks, according to the type of fertiliser the snails were exposed to.

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.

The Possible Hypoglycemic Mechanisms of Echinochrome

BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus is the main reason of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In recent years great attention has been paid to bioactivity of natural products due to their potential pharmacological utilization. Echinochrome is a natural compound isolated from sea urchins and possesses many biological effects. The hypoglycemic activity of echinochrome reported in many recent experiments. OBJECTIVE In our study, we tried to collect all the possible hypoglycemic mechanism of echinochrome. CONCLUSION The hypoglycemic effect of echinochrome involving four main pathways; regeneration of pancreas, decrease insulin resistant, increase insulin production and improve glucose homeostasis.

Sodium Butyrate Attenuates Nephrotoxicity Induced by Tamoxifen in Rats.

Article history: Received on: 15/04/2016 Revised on: 21/05/2016 Accepted on: 09/06/2016 Available online: 28/06/2016 Tamoxifen (TAM) is a hormonal selective estrogen modulator used in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. It associated with increased in the oxidative stress in cells leading to tissue injury. Sodium butyrate (NaBu) increased the glutathione redox system and diminished the oxidative stress. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the ameliorative effect of NaBu against TAM-induced kidney injury by reducing the generation of oxidative stress. Rats were divided mainly into four group as follow: control, rats received saline for 14 days orally then saline intraperitoneally (i.p.) for 7 days, NaBu, rats received saline orally for 14 days, NaBu (300mg/kg) (i.p.) for 7 days, TAM, rats received TAM (40mg/kg) orally for 14 days, then saline (i.p.) for 7 days, (TAM-NaBu) rats received TAM orally for 14 days, NaBu (i.p.) for 7 days. Kidney injury followed by TAM treatment was assessed by the elevation in the levels of creatinine, urea, uric acid and MDA and reduction in some oxidative biomarkers, in addition to the abnormal architecture of the kidney. Conversely, Administration of sodium butyrate could ameliorate all of these damaging effects in the antioxidant system in the TAM-treated group. NaBu affords significant increments in the antioxidant enzymes. In addition, it has the therapeutic capacity to protect the kidney from the oxidative stress induced by TAM through improving the kidney function and diminishing the free radicals. Supplementation of NaBu could be useful in alleviating TAM-induced kidney injury.