Sri Agus Sudjarwo

Protective effect of curcumin on lead acetate-induced testicular toxicity in Wistar rats

In recent years, the use of the antioxidant in reducing heavy metal toxicities has increased worldwide. Curcumin has been reported to have a strong antioxidant activity. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of curcumin on lead acetate-induced testicular damage in rats. The sample used 40 male rats divided into 5 groups: negative control (rats were given daily with corn oil); positive control (rats were given daily with lead acetate 50 mg/kg BW orally once in a day for 35 days); and the treatment group (rats were given the curcumin 100 mg, 200 mg, and 400 mg/kg BW orally once in a day for 40 days, and on the 5th day, were given lead acetate 50 mg/kg BW one h after the curcumin administration). After 40 days, levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in testicular tissue, and sperm count, motility and viability in the epididymis were measured in rats. Testis samples were also collected for histopathological studies. Results showed that lead acetate administration significantly decreased the SOD, GPx, and increased MDA levels. Lead acetate also decreased the sperm count, motility, viability, and altered histopathological testis (testicular damage, necrosis of seminiferous tubules and loss of spermatid) compared to the negative control. However, administration of curcumin significantly improved the histopathological in testis, increased the sperm count, motility, viability, and also significantly increased the SOD, GPx, and decreased MDA in testis of lead acetate-treated rats. From the results of this study we concluded that the curcumin could be a potent natural product provide a promising protective effect against lead acetate induced testicular toxicity in rats.

The activity of immunoglobulin Y anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis on proliferation and cytokine expression of rat peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Objective: It has long been known that chickens, like mammals, are capable of producing antigen-specific immunoglobulin Y (IgY), which functions similar to IgG. The present study was performed to investigate the activity of IgY anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis on proliferation, interleukin (IL)-2, and interferon (IFN)-γ expression of rat peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Materials and Methods: The activity of IgY anti-M. tuberculosis in different doses (25, 50, and 100 μg/ml) on rat PBMCs proliferation was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. The production of IL-2 and IFN-γ in the PBMC supernatant was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Investigation was performed on mRNA expression of IL-2 and IFN-γ by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: IgY anti-M. tuberculosis significantly increased the proliferation of rat PBMC. Furthermore, IgY anti-M. tuberculosis dose dependently increased IL-2 and IFN-γ production in PBMC, suggesting that pharmacological activities of IgY anti-M. tuberculosis in PBMC may be mediated by regulating the production of cytokines. In the RT-PCR, expression of cytokines such as IL-2 and IFN-γ in PBMC cultures was increased by IgY anti-M. tuberculosis. Conclusions: We concluded that increasing IL-2 and IFN-γ productions in PBMC was related to IgY anti-M. tuberculosis, stimulating the mRNA transcription (gene expression) of these cytokines which can induce proliferation of PBMC.

The potency of red seaweed (Eucheuma cottonii) extracts as hepatoprotector on lead acetate-induced hepatotoxicity in mice

Background: Lead is one of the most toxic metals, producing severe organ damage in animals and humans. Oxidative stress is reported to play an important role in lead acetate-induced liver injury. Aim: This study was carried out to investigate the role of ethanol extract of Eucheuma cottonii in protecting against lead acetate-induced hepatotoxicity in male mice. Materials and Methods: The sample used fifty male mice which were divided into five groups: negative control (mice were given daily with Aquadest); positive control (mice were given daily with lead acetate 20 mg/kg body weight (BW) orally once in a day for 21 days); and the treatment group (mice were given E. cottonii extracts 200 mg, 400 mg, and 800 mg/kg BW orally once in a day for 25 days, and on the 4th day, were given lead acetate 20 mg/kg BW 1 h after E. cottonii extract administration for 21 days). On day 25, the levels of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured. The data of SGOT, SGPT, ALP, MDA, SOD, and GPx were analyzed with one-way ANOVA, followed by least significant difference test. Results: The results showed that oral administration of lead acetate 20 mg/kg BW for 21 days resulted in a significant increase in SGOT, SGPT, ALP, and MDA levels. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in SOD and GPx levels. Treatment with E. cottonii extracts of 800 mg/kg BW but not with 200 mg/kg BW and 400 mg/kg BW significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the elevated SGPT, SGOT, ALP, and MDA levels as compared to positive control group. Treatment with E. cottonii extracts of 800 mg/kg BW also showed a significant increase in SOD and GPx levels as compared to positive control group. Treating mice with lead acetate showed different histopathological changes such as loss of the normal structure of hepatic cells, blood congestion, and fatty degeneration whereas animals treated with lead acetate and E. cottonii extracts showed an improvement in these changes and the tissue appeared with normal structures. Conclusion: It can be concluded that E. cottonii extracts could be a potent natural product and can provide a promising hepatoprotective effect against lead acetate-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.

The potency of chicken egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) specific as immunotherapy to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

The aim of this study was to characterize of chicken egg yolk immunoglobulins (IgYs) specific as immunotherapy to Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) infection. Lohmann laying hens were immunized intramuscularly with antigenic of MTBC. Egg yolk was separated from egg white, and IgY antibody was then purified by multiple polyethylene glycols 6000 extraction and ammonium sulfate purification steps. The IgY anti-MTBC concentration in egg yolk increased at 2 weeks and it reached a maximum at 4 weeks after immunization. After 6 weeks, the levels of IgY anti-MTBC decreased gradually. The antibody of MTBC was detected and produces a specific line of precipitation in agar gel precipitation test beginning the week 2 after the first immunization. Analysis of results obtained with ELISA showed a significant increase in the MTBC specific antibodies after 2 weeks and reached a plateau at 4 weeks from the booster immunization. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the IgY preparation to be pure and dissociated into protein bands with molecular weights of 112, 78, 69, 49, and 28 kDa and Western blot analysis shown the presence of anti-MTBC IgY in egg yolks, with molecular weights of approximately 78 kDa. These results suggested that egg yolk could be a practical strategy in large-scale production of specific anti-MTBC IgY for immunotherapy of TBC.

Extract ethanol of Centella asiatica reduce expression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen on alveolar macrophage from rats lung tssue infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Centella asiatica is a medicinal plant that has been used as a traditional treatment for healing inflammatory processes. Previous studies have shown that the extract of Centella asiatica is able to increase the immune response and can inhibit the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro. The aims of this study were to determine the effect of ethanol extract of Centella asiatica to reduce the expression of antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on alveolar macrophage cells from rat lung tissue infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Twenty-eight male rats were infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37 Rv and divided randomly into four groups. Groups 1, 2, and 3 were treated with the ethanol extract of Centella asiatica at 375 mg/kgBW, 750 mg/kgBW and 1500 mg/kgBW, and fourth group was the control group. Examination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen expression using immunohistochemical methods was performed. Analysis of the data using ANOVA (α=0.05). The results showed that there was a significant reduction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen expression in alveolar macrophage in the treated group at 750 mg/kgBW and 1500 mg/kgBW. In conclusion, the ethanol extract Centella asiatica contains active ingredients that have the ability to decrease the expression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen on alveolar macrophages from rat lung tissue infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Acute Oral Toxicity of Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) anti HIV in Mice

The production of antibodies in chickens and the extraction of specific antibodies from egg yolk (IgY antibodies) are increasingly attracting the interest of the scientific community, as demonstrated by the significant growth of the IgY literature. The objective of the study was to evaluate the oral acute toxicity of IgY anti HIV on Mice. In acute toxicity study, mice by administering once orally graded doses of the IgY anti HIV in the ranges of 0.9375 g to 15g /kg body weight and observed for 14 days and the number of dead mice was recorded and used in the calculation of the acute toxicity value (LD50). The mice were also observed for other signs of toxicity, such as convulsion, diarrhea, cornea reflex, dyspnea, righting reflex, straub. Oral administration of IgY anti HIV at dose of 0.9375; 1.875; 3.75; 7.5; 15 g/kg body weight showed there no mortalities or evidence of toxicity effects, suggesting that the LD50 value of IgY anti HIV was more than 15000 mg/kg body weight. Throughout 14 days of the treatment no changes in behavioural pattern, clinical sign of toxicity, vital organs weight (liver, lung, heart, spleen and kidney) and body weight of mice in both control and treatment groups. Also there were no any significant alterations in the biochemical analysis of the blood serum (SGPT, SGOT, BUN and Creatinine).The overall finding of this study indicates that the oral administration of IgY anti HIV did not produce any significant toxic effect and practically non toxic in mice. Hence, the IgY anti HIV can be utilized for immunotherapy on HIV patient.