Sema Uslu

Effects of carvacrol on defects of ischemia-reperfusion in the rat liver.

Many plants found in nature have been used to treat various illnesses. One such plant is oregano (Kekik in Turkish). Health beneficial effects of carvacrol obtained from oregano oil have been shown scientifically. We have investigated the comparative effects of carvacrol in the liver of rats subjected to ischemia-reperfusion defect, with silymarin. To test the effects we formed four groups using male Wistar albino rats. Group I was control. The other three groups of animals were administered 60min prior to surgical operation single doses of physiological serum, carvacrol and silymarin, respectively. Group II, III and IV animal were subjected to 45min long liver ischemia and 60min reperfusion. Blood and tissue samples were collected for biochemical and histological analysis following the test. AST and ALT values obtained after biochemical analysis of the serums showed statistically significant difference in group II than the other three groups. A statistical evaluation of the serum AST levels among the groups II, III and IV showed that both groups III and IV which had no difference in between were significantly different in a positive way from group II (p<0.001). As to the serum ALT levels, difference between group II and group III (p<0.001) and group II and group IV (p<0.01) was found significant. No statistical difference was observed in groups I, III and IV for GSH, MDA and CAT levels of the liver. A statistical evaluation of the GSH level in group III and group IV was found to be significantly different from group II (p<0.001) without any difference between them. A similar evaluation for MDA and CAT levels among the revealed no difference between group III and group IV, however, group II showed difference with group II and group IV (p<0.05). Histological findings were in harmony with the biochemical results. We conclude that carvacrol protects the liver against defects caused by ischemia and reperfusion, and carvacrol is not hepatotoxic at the applied dosage.

The effect of smoking on bone metabolism: maternal and cord blood bone marker levels

BACKGROUND To clarify the effect of smoking on bone metabolism in the fetus, we measured osteocalcin (OC), bone isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase (BALP), procollagen type 1 C-terminal propeptide (PICP) in maternal serum and umbilical cord blood. METHODS 15 active smoker, 14 passive smoker, 15 nonsmoker women and their newborn were included in this study. OC, BALP, PICP were determined by enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS Of the bone markers tested only OC was different in the serum of the three groups of women. Infants of smoker women have significantly lower umbilical cord blood OC levels than those of infants from both passive smoker and nonsmoker women.(25.6 +/- 6.6, 35.8 +/- 10.4, 37.2 +/- 16.1 ng/mL respectively, p < 0.05). Infants of smoker women have significantly lower umbilical cord blood BALP levels than those of infants from nonsmoker women. (46 +/- 12, 57 +/- 15 U/L p < 0.05). All bone markers except total ALP were significantly higher in umbilical cord blood as compared to maternal blood levels (p < 0.001 for all). CONCLUSION High umbilical cord blood bone marker levels may reflect the altered bone metabolism of fetus. Moreover, chronic hypoxia due to smoking may cause the suppression of bone matrix synthesis or placental synthesis as reflected by low OC and BALP levels in umbilical cord blood of infants from smoker women.

Protective Role of Melatonin and Coenzyme Q10 in Ochratoxin A Toxicity in Rat Liver and Kidney

Melatonin (MEL) and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) both display antioxidant and free radical scavenger properties. In the present study, the effect of MEL and CoQ10 on the oxidative stress and fibrosis induced by ochratoxin A (OTA) administration in rats was investigated. Rats were divided into five equal groups, each consisting of seven rats: (1) controls; (2) OTA-treated rats (289 μg/kg/day); (3) OTA+MEL–treated rats (289 μg/kg/day OTA + 10 mg/kg/day MEL); and (4) OTA+CoQ10–treated rats (289 μg/kg/day OTA +1 mg/100 g/day body weight (bw) CoQ10). After 4 weeks of treatment, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and hydroxyproline (Hyp) were measured in the homogenates of liver and kidney. In the OTA-treated group, the levels of MDA and Hyp in both liver and kidney were significantly increased when compared with the levels of control, whereas GPx activities decreased. In OTA+MEL–treated rats, the levels of MDA and Hyp in both liver and kidney were significantly decreased when compared with the levels of OTA-treated rats; however; GPX activities increased. In the OTA+CoQ10–treated group, the levels of MDA and Hyp were decreased when compared with the levels of OTA-treated rats, whereas GPx activities increased. In the OTA+CoQ 10–treated group, the levels of MDA, Hyp, and GPx were not significantly changed in kidney when compared with OTA-treated group. MEL has a protective effect against OTA toxicity through an inhibition of the oxidative damage and fibrosis both liver and kidney. Although CoQ10 has protective effect against OTA toxicity in liver tissue, it has no effect in kidney tissue.

Levels of Amyloid Beta-42, Interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha in Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Dementia

Amyloid β42 (Aβ42) and proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) have been suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). Our aim was to examine whether the changes in these parameters would be able to discriminate the patients with AD from those with VaD and from healthy individuals. We have analyzed the levels of Aβ42, IL-6 and TNF-α in the serum of newly diagnosed 28 AD patients, 16 VaD patients and 26 healthy non-demented controls. We also investigated whether there is an association between Aβ42, IL-6 and TNF-α levels and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores and body mass indexes (BMI) of patients. Our data showed a significant decrease in serum Aβ-42 levels in AD patients compared to VaD patients and controls. Levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were not different between AD patients, VaD patients and controls. We observed a correlation between Aβ-42 levels and MMSE scores and BMI levels in both AD and VaD patients. However, Aβ-42 levels were not correlated with IL-6 and TNF-α levels. Significantly lower levels of Aβ42 found in the serum of AD patients than that of VaD patients and controls suggests that it can be a specific biochemical marker for AD.

Supplemental Carvacrol Can Reduce the Severity of Inflammation by Influencing the Production of Mediators of Inflammation

ABSTRACTCarvacrol (CVC) is a monoterpenic phenol, which is present in the essential oil of various plants. It has been widely used both as antibacterial feed additive and food preservative. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the prophylactic effects of carvacrol on inflammatory mediators of sepsis. Serum tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 levels as proinflammatory markers were evaluated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was determined in the sample by using thiobarbituric acid test. Nitric oxide (NO) levels and arginase activity and also all measurements were evaluated after 24 h from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injections done (1 mg/kg i.p.). All carvacrol doses (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg) were given by intra gastric gavage during six days before LPS injection (7th day). Proinflammatory cytokines, MDA, NO levels, and arginase activity were decreased by carvacrol according to the carvacrol doses. These results indicate that carvacrol may have a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in a dose-dependent manner. Subchronic use of CVC can be assisted to pre-treat of sepsis as a prophylactic.

Protective effect of chitosan treatment against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity

Acetaminophen (APAP) is the most commonly reported toxic ingestion in the world. Severe liver injury resulting from overdose or chronic use of APAP remains a significant clinical problem. In recent years, the mechanisms underlying liver injury caused by APAP have become much better understood. We have studied the protective effect of chitosan supplementation against APAP‐induced hepatotoxicity with respect to changes in the levels of total and lipid‐bound sialic acid in the serum and in the liver tissue and changes in the activity of diagnostic marker enzymes, lipid peroxidation, and ceruloplasmin oxidase enzyme in normal and experimental groups of rats. During the experimental period, chitosan (200 mg/kg body weight per day) was administered to APAP + chitosan‐treated rats by oral gavage. Results showed that treatment with APAP induced a significant increase in the serum alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities, in total and lipid‐bound sialic acids levels, and in the liver lipid peroxide content. The administration of chitosan significantly prevented APAP‐induced alterations in the levels of diagnostic marker enzymes, total sialic acid, lipid‐bound sialic acid, and malondialdehyde in the experimental groups of rats. Furthermore, chitosan administration increased the activity of ceruloplasmin oxidase. In conclusion, our results suggest that chitosan has a protective effect on APAP‐induced hepatic injury in rats. The study sheds light on the therapeutic potential of chitosan in an APAP‐induced hepatotoxicity model.

Leptin receptor (Ob-R) mRNA expression and serum leptin concentration in patients with colorectal and metastatic colorectal cancer

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of leptin on the progression of colorectal carcinoma to metastatic disease by analyzing the serum leptin concentration and Ob-R gene expression in colon cancer tissues. Tissue samples were obtained from 31 patients who underwent surgical resection for colon (18 cases) and metastatic colon (13 cases) cancer. Serum leptin concentration was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Ob-R mRNA expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for both groups. ELISA data were analyzed by the Student t-test and RT-PCR data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U-test. RT-PCR results demonstrated that mRNA expression of Ob-R in human metastatic colorectal cancer was higher than in local colorectal cancer tissues. On the other hand, mean serum leptin concentration was significantly higher in local colorectal cancer patients compared to patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The results of the present study suggest a role for leptin in the progression of colon cancer to metastatic disease without weight loss. In other words, significantly increased Ob-R mRNA expression and decreased serum leptin concentration in patients with metastatic colon cancer indicate that sensitization to leptin activity may be a major indicator of metastasis to the colon tissue and the determination of leptin concentration and leptin gene expression may be used to aid the diagnosis.

Chitosan and blueberry treatment induces arginase activity and inhibits nitric oxide production during acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity

Background: Liver diseases have become a major problem of the worldwide. More than 50% of all cases of liver failure can be attributed to drugs. Among these, acetaminophen is the most common cause. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the the hepatoprotective effects of blueberry and chitosan on tissue arginase activity, ornithine and nitric oxide levels during the acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. Materials and Methods: Acetaminophen (250 mg/kg body weight per day), blueberry (60 mg/kg body weight per day) and, chitosan (200 mg/kg body weight per day) were administered to the rats by oral gavage during the experimental period. Results: Blueberry and chitosan significantly decreased liver arginase activity and ornithine levelsand and increased nitric oxide levels. Glutathione levels were remarkably increased by chitosan and blueberry treatments. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that blueberry and chitosan effectively protected against the acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. The hepatoprotective effect afforded by blueberry and chitosan can be attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Effects of Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 on Arginase/Nitric Oxide Pathway in Hemodialysis Patients

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and arginase are recently described inflammatory biomarkers associated with cardiovascular disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the possible effects of serum Lp-PLA2 mass levels on arginase/nitric oxide (NO) pathway as a cardiovascular risk marker in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Forty-three HD patients and 15 healthy subjects were included in this study. Lipid profile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), albumin, creatinine, body mass index (BMI), Lp-PLA2 and total nitrite levels, and arginase activity were determined in serum samples from patients and control subjects. Lp-PLA2 levels were found to be positively correlated with arginase, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and age and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and total nitrite levels, while there was no correlation with BMI and hs-CRP, albumin, and creatinine levels in HD patients. We conclude that elevated Lp-PLA2 mass levels may contribute to impaired arginase/NO pathway in HD patients and that increased the arginase activity and Lp-PLA2 mass levels with decreased total nitrite levels seem to be useful biochemical markers in terms of reflecting endothelial dysfunction and associated cardiovascular risks in HD patients.

Effect of αlipoic acid and silymarin on bladder outlet obstruction

The aim of the present study was to determine whether the treatment of obstructed rat bladders with αlipoic acid (ALA) and silymarin reverses the biochemical and physiological responses to bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). A total of 32 adult Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n=8 per group): sham (placebo surgery) animals with no treatment (group 1); control animals with surgically induced BOO (group 2); obstructed rats treated with ALA (group 3); and obstructed rats treated with silymarin (group 4). Histological evaluation, bladder weights, collagen structure, TdT-mediated biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL), inducible nitric oxide sentase (iNOS) mRNA levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) levels were investigated. The ALA-treated group had similar bladder weights, collagen levels and TUNEL positivity and decreased iNOS levels compared with the control group, while the silymarin group exhibited further differences. Serum MDA and TNF-α levels were both decreased in the ALA and silymarin groups. ALA treatment reduced the increased oxidative stress and bladder inflammation caused by BOO and may contribute to the protection of bladder function.