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Objective: Curcuma longa Rhizome (CLR), due to its potent antioxidant phytochemical constituents, was investigated for its effects on bisphenol A (BPA)-induced cardiovascular and renal damage. Materials and Methods: Sixty rats were randomly selected, and grouped as control, BPA (100 mg/kg), BPA and CLR 100 mg/kg, BPA and CLR 200 mg/kg, CLR 100 mg/kg, and CLR 200 mg/kg for 21 days. Oxidative stress indices, antioxidant status, blood pressure parameters, genotoxicity, and immunohistochemistry were determined. Results: Rats exposed to the toxic effects of BPA had heightened blood pressure, lowered frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes, and decreased activities of antioxidant enzymes compared with rats treated with CLR. Moreover, administration of CLR significantly (p<0.05) lowered malondialdehyde content and reduced the serum myeloperoxidase activity. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed significantly (p<0.05) increased expressions of cardiac troponin and Caspase 3 in the BPA group compared with the CLR-treated groups. Conclusion: C. longa ameliorated cardiotoxic and nephrotoxic actions of bisphenol-A via mitigation of oxidative stress, hypertension, and genotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Lead (Pb) poisoning affects multiple organs including the reproductive system. The experiment was performed to explore the protective effect of naringin on testicular apoptosis, neuronal dysfunction and markers of stress in cockerel chicks. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six cockerel chicks were used for this study, and randomly grouped into six chicks per group viz. control, Pb only (600 ppm), Pb and naringin (80 mg/kg), Pb and Naringin (160 mg/kg), naringin only (80 mg/kg) and naringin only (160 mg/kg), respectively, for eight weeks. Pb was administered via drinking water while naringin was administered via oral gavage. Oxidative stress indices in the brain and testes were assessed, and immunohistochemistry of TNF-a and caspase 3 was done in the brain and testes, respectively. Results: Lead administration induced inflammatory and testicular apoptosis cascade accompanied with increased oxidative stress and upregulation of brain and testicular antioxidant enzymes in comparison to the control and Pb-only-treated cockerels. Immunohistochemistry showed significant immunoreactivity of testicular caspase 3 and TNF-a in the brain. Conclusion: Treatment of Pb-exposed chickens with naringin offered protection to Pb acetate-induced testicular oxidative stress, apoptosis, and neuroinflammation in cockerel chicks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The persistent and alarming rates of increase in cardiovascular and renal diseases caused by chemicals such as cobalt chloride (CoCl2) in mammalian tissues have led to the use of various drugs for the treatment of these diseases. This study aims at evaluating the nephron-protective action of Naringin (NAR), a metal-chelating antioxidant against CoCl2-induced hypertension and nephrotoxicity. Methods Forty-two male Wistar rats were randomly distributed to seven rats of six groups and classified into Group A (Control), Group B (300 part per million; ppm CoCl2), Group C (300 ppm CoCl2 + 80 mg/kg NAR), Group D (300 ppm CoCl2 + 160 mg/kg NAR), Group E (80 mg/kg NAR), and Group F (160 mg/kg NAR). NAR and CoCl2 were administered via oral gavage for seven days. Biomarkers of renal damage, oxidative stress, antioxidant status, blood pressure parameters, immunohistochemistry of renal angiotensin-converting enzyme and podocin were determined. Results Cobalt chloride intoxication precipitated hypertension, renal damage, and oxidative stress. Immunohistochemistry revealed higher expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and podocin in rats administered only CoCl2. Conclusion Taken together, the antioxidant and metal-chelating action of Naringin administration against cobalt chloride-induced renal damage and hypertension could be through abrogation of angiotensin-converting enzyme and podocin signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypertension is the largest contributor to the global burden of disease. Emerging risk factors for cardiovascular disease include blood pressure variability (BPV), but evidence on BPV is lacking among older Nigerians. We reported BPV in a cohort of older persons at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of respondents aged >50 years within the Ibadan Ambulatory Blood Pressure Registry at the UCH, Ibadan, Nigeria. Socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits and anthropometric measurements were obtained. Results: Among 639 respondents, 332 (52.0%) were female. The blood pressure (BP) variables were strongly associated with age. Compared with younger age groups, mean diastolic BP (DBP) was less at an older age, whereas mean pulse pressure was greater. During the wake-up and sleep periods, mean DBP and mean arterial BP were less with each increasing age category, whereas mean pulse pressure was larger with each increasing age category. BP dipping, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial BP decreased with age. Overall, timed BPV increased significantly with increasing age. The prevalence of white-coat hypertension was greater among older participants than younger participants. Most respondents in the 50-59 years' age group were non-dippers (55.8%), whereas 33.7% of older respondents were reverse-dippers. Conclusion: Older persons experienced a greater abnormal circadian blood variation and greater BPV than younger people. In Nigeria, follow-up data are needed to determine the prognostic significance of these data in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]