Search

Context: Ultraviolet radiation (UV) was reported to cause oxidative stress. Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae) calyx is commonly used in traditional Asian and African medicines and possesses strong antioxidant capacity due to its anthocyanin (ANTH) content. Objective: This study researched the possible protective role of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx extract (HSCE) in UVC exposure of rats. Material and methods: Levels of serum enzymes, renal function tests, and some oxidant/antioxidant biomarkers of skin, lens, and retina tissues were monitored. Rats were exposed to UVC 4 h daily for 40 d and simultaneously received HSCE containing 2.5, 5, and 10 mg doses of ANTH in drinking water. Results: Significant ( p < 0.05) increases in the levels of serum aminotransferases, lactate dehydrogenase, urea, creatinine, and uric acid were noted after UVC exposure. In skin, lens, and retina tissues, total oxidant status, oxidative stress index, lipid peroxidation, and protein oxidation escalated markedly ( p < 0.05) whereas total antioxidant status, reduced glutathione, and superoxide dismutase decreased dramatically ( p < 0.05) related to UVC. Co-administration of HSCE with each ANTH dose significantly ( p < 0.05) reversed aforementioned parameters (except total oxidant status) almost in all tissues. The LD50 of HSCE in rats was determined to be above 5000 mg/kg. Discussion and conclusion: Our data revealed that HSCE has a remarkable potential to counteract UVC-caused impairments, probably through its antioxidant and free radical-defusing effects. Therefore, HSCE could be useful against some cutaneous and ocular diseases in which UV and oxidative stress have a role in the etiopathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: There are only a few earlier studies suggesting relationship between isotretinoin treatment and oxidative stress however, their results are conflicting. Therefore we aimed to concretize the influence of isotretinoin treatment on oxidant/antioxidant status together with paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity for the first time. Methods: The study was performed on serum samples obtained from 35 acne vulgaris patients before and after three months of isotretinoin treatment. PON1 activity, total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress index (OSI) and some routine biochemical parameters were monitored. Results: Dramatically decreased PON1 activity ( p < 0.001), increased TOS level and OSI value ( p < 0.001 and p < 0.001; respectively) as well as slightly diminished TAC level were noted in posttreatment stage. Moreover significant increases were observed in lactate dehydrogenase and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase activities and levels of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein cholesterol/high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio respectively ( p < 0.05, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001) while marked decrease was seen in high density lipoprotein cholesterol ( p < 0.01). Conclusion: This study revealed that decreased PON1 activity and increased oxidative stress may have a crucial role in the pathogenesis of isotretinoin's side effects. Further studies on a large number of patients are needed to verify these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cisplatin (CP) is a widely used cytotoxic agent against cancer, and high doses of CP have been known to cause nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. Some reports claim that antioxidants can reduce CP-induced toxicity. This study investigated the hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and antioxidant activity of Urtica dioica L methanolic extract (UDME) against CP toxicity in Erhlich ascites tumor (EAT)-bearing mice. Levels of serum hepatic enzymes, renal function markers, and oxidant/antioxidant parameters of liver tissue were measured. Mice were inoculated with EAT on day 0 and treated with nothing else for 24 hours. After a single dose of CP administration on day 1, the extract was given at the doses of 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight daily during 6 days. Almost all doses of UDME performed a significant ( P < 0.05) preventive role against CP toxicity by decreasing aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation levels, and myeloperoxidase activity, as well as increasing reduced glutathione content, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, and glutathione peroxidase activities. This suggests that UDME has a protective capacity and antioxidant activity against CP toxicity in EAT-bearing mice, probably by promoting antioxidative defense systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an organophosphorus insecticide omethoate (OM), on certain oxidative stress biomarkers (malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT)) in tongue, lung, stomach and muscle tissues of adult frogs (Rana ridibunda Pallas). Animals were exposed to 10 and 20 parts per million dosages of OM for 24, 48, 72 or 96 h. According to the results, MDA level increased significantly in lung and stomach tissues. GSH content fluctuated in lung and muscle while it elevated in tongue and stomach tissues. With regard to antioxidant enzymes (GST, GR and CAT), their activities reduced in tongue, while they increased in lung and fluctuated in stomach and muscle tissues. It can be concluded that exposure of frogs to OM are characterized by increased MDA levels and fluctuated enzyme activities and GSH contents. This may reflect the potential role of these parameters as useful biomarkers for assessment of OM toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine protective effect of Centaurium erythraea L. on rats exposed to aspirin (ASA). The protective influence of the 50% aqueous-ethanolic Centaurium erythraea L. extract (AECE) (100 mg/kg body weight) was investigated in rats exposed to a single dose of 200 mg/kg body weight ASA administration. Twenty-one Sprague-Dawley albino rats were distributed into three groups equally (n=7) as follows: A (control), B (only ASA-treated) and C (ASA+AECE-treated) group. At the end of 4 h ASA administration to groups B and C, some serum biochemical constituents were assigned and compared between the groups. Results showed that levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine and potassium increased in group B compared with the control group, but they were decreased significantly with AECE supplementation. While lipase activity decreased only in group B, level of uric acid decreased both in groups B and C compared with control group. In conclusion, the current trial has shown that treatment of AECE with ASA supplied relative protection against acute ASA toxicity through ameliorating some blood parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of Calendula officinalis L. (CO) on rats exposed to cigarette smoke (CS). For this purpose twenty one albino male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups as control, CS and CS+CO. The rats of the CS and CS+CO groups were subjected to CS during 1 h twice a day for 23 days. CO (100 mg/kg body weight) was given to the rats of the CS+CO group by oral gavage one hour before each administration period. Protective effect of CO was detected by comparing some serum biochemical parameters and mean body weight changes of groups. While aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine phosphokinase (CK) levels of CS group increased, amylase and lipase decreased significantly compared to control. AST, LDH and CK levels reversed to nearly their control group values by CO supplementation. There was a significant reduction in the HDL level of the CS group compared to control. But its level increased markedly in the CS+CO group. With regard to calcium, its amount escalated significantly in the CS and CS+CO groups compared with control. Administration of CO caused an amendment in the body weight loss. In conclusion, this study revealed that CO could relatively combat the hazardous effects of CS and thus may help to reduce development risk of some disorders related to CS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal dust causes lung diseases in occupational exposure. Reactive oxygen species have been implicated in the pathogenesis of its toxicity. In this study, serum enzymes, lipid profile and other biochemical values with oxidant/antioxidant status in whole blood and serum of central heating system workers (CHSW; the persons responsible for heating the apartment with coal) were determined to reflect the cell injury. Blood samples were obtained from CHSW (n = 25) and healthy individuals (n = 25). All values were measured in whole blood and serum. ANOVA was used for the estimation of statistical data. In the group of CHSW, creatinine, ferritin, alanin aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine phosphokinase, gamma glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase activities as well as triglyceride, very low density lipoprotein, protein carbonyl and malondialdehide were significantly higher, while transferrin, high density lipoprotein and catalase (CAT) activities were lower than the group of healthy individuals. This result is consistent with hypothesis that respirable coal dust generates lipid and protein oxidation and induces leakage of serum enzymes by cell damage. It also leads to imbalance in antioxidant defense system, lipid profile and other biochemical parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with a study which investigated whether plant growth regulators could affect lipid peroxidation in erythrocyte, muscle, liver, heart and kidney tissue. Materials and methods; Results; Discussion; Conclusion.