Okan Arihan

Oxidative and genotoxic effects of bisphenol A on primary gill cell culture of Lake Van Fish (Alburnus tarichi Güldenstädt, 1814)

ABSTRACT Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey. The lake limits lifespan due to its high pH and brackish water. For this reason, only a single species of fish (Van Fish) is living in the lake that has been adapted to these conditions. In the present study, we investigated the total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), malondialdehyde (MDA) level and DNA damage effect of bisphenol A (BPA) (10−7, 10−6 and 10−5 M) on primary gill cell culture of Van Fish for 24 and 48 h of incubation periods. TAS levels were not changed when compared to those of the control group, but TOS levels were decreased in both 24 and 48 h. The MDA level increased only at the highest concentration (10−5) at the end of 12 and 24 h (p < .05). DNA damage increased only at the 10−5 M concentration after 48 h. At the end of the experiment, BPA exposure caused lipid peroxidation and genotoxic effect. These results indicate that high levels of BPA exposure induced oxidative stress and DNA damage by time- and concentration-dependent fashion in the gill cell culture of Van Fish. Gill cell culture is a useful model for the rapid identification of the harmful effects of chemicals in the aquatic environment.

Effect of thymoquinone administration on erythrocyte fragility in diethylnitrosamine administered rats

BACKGROUND: Diethylnitrosamine is a carcinogenic chemical found in food unintendedly and also in different media such as cosmetics. Nigella sativa plant has anti-tumoral, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activities. OBJECTIVE: Aim of this study is to investigate effect of thymoquinone -one of the active ingredients of Nigella sativaon erythrocyte fragility in diethylnitrosamine administered rats. METHODS: 28 male Wistar-albino rats were divided into four groups; Control group (Saline/5 days, i.p.), thymoquinone group (4 mg/kg/5 days/p.o.), diethylnitrosamine group (Saline/5 days, i.p. and diethylnitrosamine 200 mg/kg/i.p. in two consecutive days) and diethylnitrosamine + thymoquinone group (4 mg/kg/5 days thymoquinone p.o. and diethylnitrosamine 200 mg/kg/i.p. in two consecutive days). Erythrocyte fragility, hemoglobin and hematocrit counts were performed. RESULTS: Number of erythrocytes was increased significantly (p < 0.05) in diethylnitrosamine administered group (9.05 × 106/mm3) compared to control (7.44 × 106/mm3) and thymoquinone (7.75 × 106/mm3). Hematocrit value was significantly higher in diethylnitrosamine group (52.47%) compared to control (44.75%) and thymoquinone groups (46.21%) (p < 0.05). Hemoglobin value was higher in the diethylnitrosamine administered groups (18.43 and 17.63 g/dL in diethylnitrosamine and thymoquinone + diethylnitrosamine groups respectively) compared to groups without diethylnitrosamine administration (15.15 and 15.87 g/dL in control and thymoquinone groups respectively) (p < 0.05). Mch was found significantly higher in thymoquinone+diethylnitrosamine group (p < 0.05). No significant difference in erythrocyte fragility was observed among groups. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Augmentation in erythrocyte, hemoglobin and hematocrit count due to diethylnitrosamine administration and a slight reversal due to thymoquinone administration were observed without statistical significance.

Effect of exercise on erythrocyte osmotic fragility in high fat diet fed rats during intermittent fasting

High fat including diets are deleterious for general health and deteriorate health body composition. A healthy diet and exercise is advised for maintaining a healthy life. Exercise is protective against many diseases and prevents obesity, osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension (1). Regular moderate exercise is good for various aspects of health such as mood alleviation (2). However, irregular and exhausting exercises are not protective and even destructive for cardiovascular system and immune system as well as causing musculoskeletal injuries (3).

TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS GELENEKSEL TIP ve FİKRİ MÜLKİYET HAKLARI

Ethnopharmacological information is an important component in both traditional health systems and for future medicine development. Biodiversity-rich countries, indigenous cultures with their knowledge of the use of biosources as medicines and companies that seek to discover new therapeutics through medicinal plants and traditional knowledge are on the way sharing common interests. The value of plants for medicines is more widely recognized and the “intellectual property rights” (IPR) connected with their use have been debated worldwide. “Convention on Biological Diversity” (CBD) which was signed in Rio in 1992, enforces protection of the rights of local people and local knowledge as well as conservation of the biological resources which forms the basic of all those health systems. Thus, conservation of local and indigenous peoples’ rights over their knowledge and resources are an important element of all contemporary conservation approaches.Generally, the intellectual property rights are protected under the patent systems in many countries, whereas access to such legal procedures are not easily available for most of the indigenous communities. Present and future perspectives on the subject are discussed in this article.