Protective role of tannin-rich fraction of Camellia sinensis in tissue arsenic burden in Sprague Dawley rats

The protective effect of green tea (Camellia sinensis) was tested against arsenic-induced toxicity. However, the possible role of tannins in green tea in alleviating hepatic and renal oxidative injury has also been studied. Administration of sodium arsenite (100 mg/kg/day) for 28 days in Sprague Dawley female rats resulted in significant reduction of biochemical parameters such as delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and elevation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and the index of nitrite/nitrate (NOx) levels. The tissue arsenic burden was increased after arsenic exposure for a period of 28 days. Green tea crude fraction (GTC) co-treated with sodium arsenite for 28 days caused significant (p < .01) elevation of ALAD, GSH, GPx, SOD, and nitrate/nitrite levels and reduction of the TBARS level and tissue burden when compared to detannified green tea fraction (GTDT)-treated groups. The protective role of tannin-rich fraction of C. sinensis when compared to the detannified fraction was also confirmed by histological examinations. The greater activity of GTC than that of detannified green tea fraction correlates with the higher content of tannins in green tea. Overall, these results indicate that the tannin-rich green tea could have improved the defense mechanism against arsenic-induced oxidative stress and reduced the tissue arsenic burden.

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The Effect of a Mediterranean Meal on Sprague Dawley Rats DMBA-Induced Mammary Tumors

Cancer Growth and Metastasis ◽

10.4137/cgm.s5894 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. CGM.S5894

Author(s):

Paula C. Pereira ◽

A. Filipa Vicente ◽

Maria F. Mesquita ◽

Antonio S. Cabrita

Keyword(s):

Experimental Studies ◽

Protective Role ◽

Female Rats ◽

Sprague Dawley ◽

Sprague Dawley Rats ◽

Total Cancer ◽

Group A ◽

Histopathologic Analysis ◽

Group B

The present study intents to find a possible protective role of a Mediterranean type meal on mammary carcinogenesis. Several factors have been associated with breast cancer risk, genetics and environment are the most pointed out in epidemiologic and experimental studies. Diet is an environmental factor that can promote or prevent disease, being responsible for almost 35% of total cancer cases. A total of 72 female rats 50 days old were randomly divided in three groups of 24 rats and housed 4 in each plastic cage in a holding room under constant conditions of 22 ± 2 °C, 55 ± 10% humidity and a 12 h light/dark cycle. All the animals were submitted to the administration of 20 mg of 7, 12 dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) in olive oil, by gavages, except group A. The same defined standard food was provided for all the animals in group A and B, supplemented with a Mediterranean meal in group C. All the animals were sacrificed by the end of 150 days. Total carcinoma number did not differ significantly between Groups B and C and there were not found any neoplastic lesions in Group A. Most tumors showed a mixed architectural pattern, with cribriform and papillary areas, comedocarcinoma and necrosis was only seen in Group B. Histopathologic analysis showed that Group C tumors had lower mitotic activity and Pattern Grades, but higher Nuclear Grades. Mediterranean diet type meal showed lower Pattern Grades and lower Mitotic count in spite of that a higher nuclear pleomorphism was also found. Even so, tumors from Group C were better differentiated which can indicate lower malignancy.

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The Hepatoprotective Role of Warburgia salutaris and Iso-Mukaadial Acetate on Carbon tetrachloride Intoxicated Rats Model

Current Bioactive Compounds ◽

10.2174/1573407217666210816105252 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 ◽

Author(s):

Gideon Ayeni ◽

Mthokozisi Blessing Cedric Simelane ◽

Shahidul Islam ◽

Ofentse Jacob Pooe

Keyword(s):

Carbon Tetrachloride ◽

Hepatic Injury ◽

Antioxidant Properties ◽

Hepatic Necrosis ◽

Protective Role ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Sprague Dawley ◽

Sprague Dawley Rats ◽

Isolated Compound

Background: Medicinal plants together with their isolated bioactive compounds are known for their antioxidant properties which constitute therapeutic agents that are routinely employed in the treatment of liver diseases. Aims of the Study: The current study sought to explore the protective role of Warburgia salutaris and its isolated compound, iso-mukaadial acetate against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic injury. Methods: Thirty-five male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into seven groups of five animals each and injected with CCl4 to induce hepatic injury. Results: Treatment with the crude extract of W. salutaris and of iso-mukaadial acetate significantly reduced the levels of alkaline phosphatase, alanine and aspartate aminotransaminases, total bilirubin and malondialdehyde in a dose dependent manner, when compared to untreated groups. Liver histology revealed a reduction in hepatic necrosis and inflammation. Conclusion: The current investigation has demonstrated that W. salutaris extract and iso-mukaadial acetate could mitigate the acute liver injury inflicted by a hepatotoxic inducer in rats.

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Dram1 confers resistance to Salmonella infection

10.1101/2021.03.21.436194 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Samrah Masud ◽

Rui Zhang ◽

Tomasz K. Prajsnar ◽

Annemarie H. Meijer

Keyword(s):

Defense Mechanism ◽

Early Response ◽

Protective Role ◽

Infection Model ◽

Transgenic Zebrafish ◽

Functional Link ◽

Morpholino Knockdown ◽

Host Defense Mechanism ◽

Important Host

Dram1 is a stress and infection inducible autophagy modulator that functions downstream of transcription factors p53 and NFκB. Using a zebrafish embryo infection model, we have previously shown that Dram1 provides protection against the intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium marinum by promoting the p62-dependent xenophagy of bacteria that have escaped into the cytosol. However, the possible interplay between Dram1 and other anti-bacterial autophagic mechanisms remains unknown. Recently, LC3-associated phagocytosis (LAP) has emerged as an important host defense mechanism that requires components of the autophagy machinery and targets bacteria directly in phagosomes. Our previous work established LAP as the main autophagic mechanism by which macrophages restrict growth of Salmonella Typhimurium in a systemically infected zebrafish host. We therefore employed this infection model to investigate the possible role of Dram1 in LAP. Morpholino knockdown or CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutation of Dram1 led to reduced host survival and increased bacterial burden during S. Typhimurium infections. In contrast, overexpression of dram1 by mRNA injection curtailed Salmonella replication and reduced mortality of the infected host. During the early response to infection, GFP-Lc3 levels in transgenic zebrafish larvae correlated with the dram1 expression level, showing over two-fold reduction of GFP-Lc3-Salmonella association in dram1 knockdown or mutant embryos and an approximately 30% increase by dram1 overexpression. Since LAP is known to require the activity of the phagosomal NADPH oxidase, we used a Salmonella biosensor strain to detect bacterial exposure to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and found that the ROS response was largely abolished in the absence of dram1. Together, these results demonstrate the host protective role of Dram1 during S. Typhimurium infection and suggest a functional link between Dram1 and the induction of LAP.

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