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The present study aimed to examine the phytotoxic potential of seven Vietnamese tea samples based on the specific and total activity of caffeine and tea extracts on test plants. The sandwich method results indicated that the inhibitory effect of tea samples on the radicle and hypocotyl growth of lettuce seedlings was dependent on the concentration and type of tea samples, and also the presence of agar soluble allelochemicals. Among the seven tea samples, the leachates from Vinatea-green tea showed the highest inhibition on the radicle growth of lettuce seedlings with 50% suppression at 0.12 mg dry leaves/mL of agar. Caffeine concentration in tea samples analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) varied from 20.7 to 38.2 &micro, g/mL of dry leaves. The specific activity (EC50 value) of pure caffeine was 75 &micro, g/mL, and the highest total activity of caffeine estimated in Vinatea-green tea was 0.51 [no unit]. Caffeine from green and oolong tea may be considered as one of the contributors to the inhibitory activity of the crude extract. Moreover, the phytotoxicity of pure caffeine and aqueous tea extracts was highly selective on the growth of different plant species. The concentration of caffeine detected from tea farm soil ranged from 0.137 to 0.145 &micro, g/g soil. The results indicated that caffeine might be considered as a promising allelochemical from Vietnamese tea and can be a good candidate for weed management.

In this study, we examined the ameliorative action of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) against Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) induced testicular degeneration in albino ra ts. Adult male albino rats were given saline as a control group, TiO2 (1200 mg kg -1 BW), NAC (100 mg kg -1 BW) and co-treatment of NAC and TiO2 as a protective group for 3 months. Testicular tissues were extracted for changes in testicular gene expression and histopathology. Administration of Ti O2 significantly increased mRNA expression of IL-6 and TNF-α that are normalized by NAC administration. TiO2 ad ministration down regulated Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) while increased B-cell Lymphoma2 (BcL2) expressions. Coadministration of rats by NAC together with TiO2 no rmalized changes in GST and BcL2 expression. Expression of steroidogenesis related genes [Androg en Binding Protein (ABR), 17 β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (17 β-HSD), cytochrome P450 17A (CYP 17α ) and aromatase] showed down regulation in TiO2 administered groups and normalized when NAC given together with TiO2. Moreover, TiO2 induced toxicity in testes that accompanied by dege neration in seminiferous tubules with congestion, oedema and cell disruption that are partially norma lized by co-administration of NAC with TiO2. In conclusion, the present findings confirmed the benf icial effect of NAC to prevent apoptosis in spermatogenic and sertoli cells and testicular dysf unction induced by TiO2 in male albino rats.

In the present study, we investigated the biochemical alterations and gene expression of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism after oral administration of vitamin A and E for 2 months in diet-induced obese Wistar rats. Vitamin A and E administration reduced significantly the increase in body weight and food intake and normalized the alterations in lipid profiles in obese rats compared to normal rats. Moreover, both vitamins decreased the fat accumulation in liver tissues of obese rats. Finally, they up-regulated mRNA expression of Pyruvate Kinase (PK) and Glucose Transporter-2 (GLUT-2), and increased lipolysis and cholesterol metabolism through up-regulation of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), Sterol Responsible Element Binding Protein-1a (STREBP-1a) and STREBP-1c mRNA expression. In conclusion, vitamin A and E regulate gene expression of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and also ameliorate changes associated with obesity induced by high fat diet in Wistar rats.

Adiponectin is a protein synthesized from adipose t issue, increases peripheral glucose utilization in liver and skeletal muscle. Adiponectin expression and sec retion are decreased during obesity and insulin resistance. In this study, the effect of insulin, m etformin and dexamethasone on serum lipid profiles was examined in Type 2 Diabetic (T2D) rats. T2D was induced by feeding rats a high fat diet for 4 weeks plus medium dose of Streptozotocin (STZ, 35 mk kg -1 BW). Adiponectin, adiponectin receptors (AdipoR-1 and AdipoR-2), leptin, Peroxisome Prolifrator Activated Receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), Hormone Sensitive Lipase (HSL), Pyruvate Kinase (PK), enolase and Glucose Trasporter-2 (GLUT-2) expression in epididymal adipose and liver tissue w ere examined using RT-PCR. Results showed that metformin improved insulin resistance by normalizin g serum lipid profiles in diabetic rats, while dexamethasone did not alter it. Metformin up-regula ted adiponectin, AdipoR-1 and AdipoR-2 expression, while insulin and dexamethasone down-regulated them. Leptin expression was decreased while PPAR γ, HSL, PK, enolase and GLUT-2 expression was increased by metformin administration. Dexamethasone failed to improve insulin resistance in T2D rats. I n conclusion, metformin ameliorates T2D through controlling adiponectin expression and its conseque nt genes of lipids and glucose metabolism.

The protective effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) ag ainst orally administered titanium dioxide nanopart icles (TiO2) for 3 months on male albino rats were examined. Adult male albino rats were given saline as a control group, TiO2 (1200 mg kg -1 BW), NAC (100 mg kg -1 BW) and co-treatment of NAC and TiO2 as a protective group for 3 months. Blood was assayed fo r serum changes in GPT, GOT, lipid profiles, cytoki nes and immunoglobulins profiles. Moreover, spleen was examined for alterations in cytokines expression an d histopathology. Administration of TiO2 significantl y increased serum levels of GPT, GOT and increased lipid profiles. Administration of NAC to TiO2 rats improved significant changes induced by Tio2 alone. There were an increase in IL-1β and IL-6 secretion in TiO2 administered rats which is normalized by NAC administration. Tio2 administration down regulated IL-8 and IL-10 secretion, while co-administration o f rats by NAC together with TiO2 normalized that down regulation. Moreover, TiO2 induced toxicity in spleen that accompanied by a decrease in IgA, IgG a nd IgM that are normalized by NAC administration. Finally, Tio2 up-regulated IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-β expression in spleen and NAC administration together with TiO2 normalized cytokines expression. In concl usion, present findings confirmed the protective ef fect of NAC on TiO2 induced alteration in immune responses in male albino rats.

The pituitary adenohypophysis was obtained from thirty buffaloes-cows, their age's ranges from one month to12 years. Sections of adenohy- pophysis tissues were immuno- stained for α, βa, and βb subunits of inhibin hormone. Positive immuno- staining specific for the α subunits of inhibin were detected in the cells of the follicles of the adenohypophysis in all ages. Moreover, immunostain- ing specific for the inhibin βa subu- nits were strong positive at one month, weak positive at 4.5, 8 and 12 years and were negative at 8 months and 1.5 years. However, the immunostaining specific for the in- hibin βb subunits were positive at one and 8 months, 8 and 12 years and weak positive at 4.5 years and negative at 1.5 year. RT-PCR anal- ysis revealed that both α and βb subunits are expressed in all ages except at 1.5 years old animals while βa subunit is only expressed at young age.

This study was carried on four groups of Wistar male rats (20 of each), to evaluate the protective ef- fect of vitamin E and selenium on the structure and biochemical al- terations of the liver, heart and aorta. Group I is control, Group II fed high fat and vitamin E and selenium deficient diet as control positive group. Group III (protective) given 100 mg and 0.1 mg/kg b.w/day for 6months, vitamin E and selenium respectively with high fat diet. Group IV were injected intra peritoneal Vit- amin E and selenium 1 g/100 g b.w for 6 months after feeding high fat diet for 6 months. At the end of experimental design, histological section from liver, heart and aorta and so serum changes in metabolites of heart and liver were exam- ined. The tissues of the control positive group showed accumulation of small and large fat globules in the hepatocytes, loss of striation in the cardiac muscles and thickening in the wall of the aorta with loss of the elasticity of the elastic membranes in the tunica media. While the addition of vitamin E and selenium (vitamin E 100mg. kg/bw and selenium 0.1mg. kg/b.w) to the ration of the third group (protective group), prevent the severe hazard effect that occurred in the second (control positive group).The injections of vitamin E and selenium 1ug/100g for 6 months lead to decrease the degenerative changes in the heart, liver and aorta with regeneration of these cells. Vitamin E and selenium administered or injected to Wistar rats decreased significantly the increase in serum levels of LDL, CPK, GOT induced by feeding high fat diet alone. These results collectively showed the beneficial effect of vitamin E and selenium as protective antioxidant to cardiac and liver biohazards induced by high fat diet and can be used as protective and therapeutically factor in liver, heart and blood vessels diseases. So, it's preferable to add vitamin E and selenium to the food in appropriate ratio to avoid the hazard effect of their deficiency, as protective treatment for liver, heart and blood vessels diseases.v

Background: An overdose of paracetamol is a frequent reason for liver and renal toxicity and possible death and curcumin has hepatoprotective properties against liver damage. The exact mechanism of such protection is not clear. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the molecular levels of the protective effect of curcumin on paracetamol overdose induced hepatic toxicity in rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were allocated into 4 groups. Control group, administered corn oil; curcumin group, administered curcumin (400 mg/kg BW daily intra-gastric) dissolved in corn oil; paracetamol group, administered corn oil with a single dose of paracetamol (500 mg/kg BW intra-gastric) and protective group, administered curcumin with a single dose of paracetamol. Curcumin was administered for 7 successive days, while paracetamol was administered at day six of treatment. Blood and liver tissues were collected for biochemical, histopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular examination. Results: Serum analysis revealed an alteration in parameters of kidney and liver. A decrease in the antioxidant activity of liver was recorded in paracetamol group while curcumin administration restored it. Histopathological findings showed an extensive coagulative necrosis in hepatocytes together with massive neutrophilic and lymphocytic infiltration. Immunostaining of liver matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) in paracetamol administered rats showed an increase in MMP-8 expression in the area of coagulative necrosis surrounding the central vein of hepatic lobules. Curcumin administration decreased MMP-8 expression in liver of paracetamol administered rats. Gene expression measurements revealed that paracetamol decreased the expression of antioxidant genes and increased the expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and acute phase proteins. Curcumin administration ameliorated paracetamol-induced alterations in genes expression of antioxidant and inflammatory cytokines. Conclusion: The results clarified the strong protective effect of curcumin on paracetamol induced hepatic toxicity in rats at the immunohistochemical and molecular levels.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a serious health issue worldwide. The disease is characterized by insulin resistance (IR), which leads to dyslipidemia and alterations in the expression levels of a number of genes. Metformin is the standard treatment for T2DM; however, the exact mechanism underlying metformin regulation is not fully understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of metformin on serum lipid profiles and the expression levels of various genes that are associated with IR, as well as the histopathological changes in the liver and pancreas. A T2DM rat model was established by feeding the rats a high-fat diet for 4 weeks, combined with a dose of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg body weight). Following the successful induction of T2DM, metformin was administered orally (400 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. The results indicated that metformin improved the symptoms of IR by normalizing the serum lipid profiles in the diabetic rats. Furthermore, metformin upregulated the expression of insulin receptors and genes associated with lipid metabolism, including acyl-CoA oxidase, carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-α. In addition, treatment with metformin downregulated the expression levels of fetuin-A and retinol binding protein-4 (RBP-4), while normalizing the expression of perilipin that had been reduced in the T2DM rats. Metformin administration induced regenerative changes in the hepatocyte cytoplasm and parenchyma. In the pancreas, treatment with metformin was shown to induce positive signaling for insulin and the regeneration of pancreatic β cells. In summary, metformin treatment ameliorated a number of the harmful effects associated with T2DM via the modulation of the expression levels of fetuin-A, RBP-4, perilipin and various genes associated with lipid metabolism, resulting in regenerative changes in the liver and pancreatic cells.

In the field of bottom-up proteomics, heavy contamination of human keratins could hinder the comprehensive protein identification, especially for the detection of low abundance proteins. In this study, we examined the keratin contamination in the four major experimental procedures in gel-based proteomic analysis including gel preparation, gel electrophoresis, gel staining, and in-gel digestion. We found that in-gel digestion procedure might be of importance corresponding to keratin contaminants compared to the other three ones. The human keratin contamination was reduced significantly by using an electrostatic eliminator during in-gel digestion, suggesting that static electricity built up on insulated experimental materials might be one of the essential causes of keratin contamination. We herein proposed a series of methods for improving experimental conditions and sample treatment in order to minimize the keratin contamination in an economical and practical way.

Background: Aquaporins (AQPs) belong to a class of small, integral membrane proteins that enable water transfer across the plasma membranes of cells as a reaction to osmotic gradients. There are 13 known types of AQPs in humans (AQP0 to AQP12), which are expressed in various organs such as the kidney, brain, liver, lungs, and salivary glands. In patient with diabetes mellitus, a reduction in salivary secretion is noted in concurrence with low salivary AQP5 levels. The Citrullus colocynthis (CC) extracts were reported to have beneficial effects on glucose homeostasis and body weight maintenance, in either alloxan- or streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats through exerting insulinotropic effect. Aims and Objective: To check the changes in AQPs expression and to understand the antidiabetic effect of CC as a medicinal herb in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Forty-two male Wistar rats were assigned equally into six groups. The first and second groups were kept as control groups: the first remained without treatment, but the second received CC orally. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of STZ (60 mg/kg b.w.) in the remaining four groups. Three diabetic groups were treated with insulin or CC or both together for 4 weeks. The remaining diabetic group was left untreated as control diabetic group. Blood and organs were taken for biochemical, gene expression, and immunohistochemistry examinations. Result: Diabetic rats displayed increases in blood glucose, lipid profile, liver, and kidney parameters, which were restored significantly to normal with insulin or CC or both. At molecular level, diabetic rats showed significant downregulation in mRNA expressions of antioxidant enzymes, insulin receptor substrate 1 and 2, pyruvate kinase, GLUT-2 in liver and of AQP1, AQP5, AQP7, and AQP8 expressions in kidney, salivary gland, and pancreas, respectively, and normalized significantly by insulin or CC or in combination administrations. Expressions of phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase in liver and of AQP2 and AQP3 in kidney were upregulated in diabetic rats and returned to normal completely by insulin alone or CC or their combination. Values were statistically significant at p < 0.05. Immunohistochemical examinations revealed a downregulation of insulin and GLUT-2 in pancreas and upregulation of AQP2 in kidney of diabetic rats, but treatments with CC augmented insulin effect and restored their expression to normal levels. Conclusion: Current results concluded that AQPs could be a promising target for drug development. Moreover, Citrullus colocynthis extract acts as antidiabetic medicinal herb, which has been confirmed by its molecular and immunohistochemical effects.