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We assessed in vivo the protective effects and underlying antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of dry green tee extract (GTE) on glomerular and tubular kidney function and structure in an experimental model of gentamicin (GEN)-induced nephrotoxicity. Wistar rats were divided into four groups and treated daily for 10 days. The control group received distilled water; the GTE group received 20 μg/g body weight (BW) GTE by gavage; the GEN group received 100 mg/g BW GEN intraperitoneally; and the GEN+GTE group received GTE and GEN simultaneously, as described above. At the beginning and end of treatment, the serum creatinine, fractional excretion of sodium and potassium, and plasma heme oxygenase (HO)-1 levels and oxidative stress (OS) were assessed. At the end of the experiment, kidney fragments were collected for histological evaluation and immunohistochemical studies of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and nuclear factor (NF)kB. The levels of interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 were measured in kidney tissue. The results showed that GTE attenuated significantly kidney structural injury and prevented GEN-induced kidney functional injury (glomerular and tubular function). GTE significantly attenuated the kidney tissue increase of the proinflammatory mediators NF-kB, COX2, IL-1b and MCP-1 and significantly increased the kidney expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-10. However, GTE did not prevent OS increase in GEN-treated animals. In conclusion, GTE protected against GEN nephrotoxicity, likely due to direct blockade of the inflammatory cascade, which might had occurred independently of its antioxidant effect., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by metabolic alterations that involve defects in the secretion and/or action of insulin, being responsible for several complications, such as impaired healing. Studies from our research group have shown that annexin A1 protein (AnxA1) is involved in the regulation of inflammation and cell proliferation. In light of these findings, we have developed a new technology and evaluated its effect on a wound healing in vivo model using type 1 diabetes (T1DM)-induced mice. We formulated a hydrogel containing AnxA1 2-26 using defined parameters such as organoleptic characteristics, pH, UV-vis spectroscopy and cytotoxicity assay. UV-vis spectroscopy confirmed the presence of the associated AnxA1 2-26 peptide in the three-dimensional hydrogel matrix, while the in vitro cytotoxicity assay showed excellent biocompatibility. Mice showed increased blood glucose levels, confirming the efficacy of streptozotocin (STZ) to induce T1DM. Treatment with AnxA1 2-26 hydrogel showed to improve diabetic wound healing, defined as complete re-epithelialization and tissue remodeling, with reduction of inflammatory infiltrate in diabetic animals. We envisage that the AnxA1 2-26 hydrogel, with its innovative composition and formulation be efficient on improving diabetic healing and contributing on the expansion of the therapeutic arsenal to treat diabetic wounds, at a viable cost., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

The growing importance of Salicornia plants as bioactive agents and health promoters associated with the continuous demand for alternative treatments for liver disorders, has stimulated us to evaluate the renal and hepatic effects of S. ramosissima seeds in mice under normal conditions and exposure to toxic products as carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ). Thus, histopathological and lipid peroxidation evaluations of the liver and kidneys were performed. Powdered dried seeds of S. ramosissima (SRS) were administered orally for 22 days at a dose of 2000 mg/kg/day to male mice in three different settings: 1) seed effects, 2) protection against CCl 4 acute toxicity (0.2 mL/kg) and 3) regeneration after acute exposure to CCl 4 (0.2 mL/kg), each study being performed with appropriate control animals. Mice treated with SRS per se had slightly enlarged hepatic sinusoids and noticeable renal inflammation. SRS did not show effective protection against mice exposed to CCl 4 and had no positive influence on liver and kidney recovery after CCl 4 administration. These results demonstrated that SRS failed to improve hepato- and nephrotoxicity, in addition to the apparent synergism between CCl 4 and SRS under these experimental conditions. Although the biological mechanisms of S. ramosissima are not fully understood, the evidence suggests further research to elucidate its adverse biological effects., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The effects of four medicinal herbs (Arctium lappa, Plantago major, Mikania glomerata Spreng and Equisetum arvense) with anti-inflammatory properties were evaluated in a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) model. Wistar rats were exposed to cigarette smoke during 8 weeks and one of the groups was orally given a solution containing 4% of each alcoholic herbal extracts during the exposure period. Control group was not exposed to smoke or treated. Histopathological, immunohistochemical and biochemical analyzes were performed. Normal blood plasma levels of gamma glutamyl transferase indicated no toxicity of the administered herbal extracts. The treatment reduced leukocytes influx in bronchoalveolar lavage, mast cell and macrophages numbers in lungs, as well as prevented pulmonary congestion and tracheal metaplasia. Herbal mixture also decreased plasma inflammatory mediator levels and pulmonary expression of annexin A1 and nuclear factor-k?. Our data indicate synergistic and protective effects of the used herbal medicines in animals exposed to cigarette smoke as a potential therapeutic strategy., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)