Effects of Viscum album (mistletoe) from three host plants (cocoa, kola and coffee) on semen quality of wistar albino rats

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chem Int
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Repeated Administration ◽  
Viscum Album ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Semen Parameters ◽  
Albino Rats

Toxicity evaluation of medicinal plants is useful to know their safety profile. Male infertility arising from administration of drugs of plant origin is a major health concern. In the management of chronic health issues, the adverse effects of these agents are often down-played in favour of the beneficial medicinal values. This encourages repeated administration or consumption of part or whole plant products. Viscum album (mistletoe) is a popular medicinal plants used in the treatment of various chronic diseases. However, there is paucity of research on the effect of mistletoe from different host plants on male fertility. The study investigated the effects of aqueous extracts of Viscum album obtained from three host plants (Cocoa, Kola and Coffee) on semen parameters of Wistar rats. Animals were divided into four groups Control, Cocoa, Kola and Coffee respectively. Group 1 served as control (received distilled water, 10 ml/kg), groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 had four sub-groups each. Each sub-group received 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 mg/kg doses of extract respectively daily for 24 days. Five animals were allotted to each group (control) and sub-group (extracts). Administration of 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 mg/kg doses of extract of Viscum album obtained from three host plants (Cocoa, Kola and Coffee) caused dose-dependent significant (P<0.05, 0.01) decrease in semen quality (count, motility, morphology, concentration and viability) respectively. However, semen volume was not significantly altered (P>0.05). The results suggest that Viscum album obtained from the three host plants adversely affected sperm parameters in male wistar rats. Thus, people who consume the plant extracts should be careful and medical practitioners who prescribe Viscum album in the management of chronic diseases should be cautious.

scholarly journals CHANGES IN HAEMOSTATIC PARAMETERS OF WISTAR RATS FOLLOWING REPEATED ADMINISTRATION OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF BROWN ONION (ALLUMCEPAL.)

2021 ◽  
pp. 41-44
Author(s):  
ZUBERU JIBRIL ◽  
SANI SANUSI
Keyword(s):  
Platelet Count ◽  
Aqueous Extract ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Bleeding Time ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Repeated Administration ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Albino Rats ◽  
Clotting Time ◽  
Group I

Objective: The study investigated changes in haemostatic parameters such as; bleeding time, blood clotting time and differential platelet counts of wistar rats following repeated administration of aqueous extract of allum cepa L. Methods: Rats were divided into four groups of four animals each (n=4). Group I served as normal control, Group II, group IIIand group IV were administered 25 mg/kg bw, 50 mg/kg bw and 100 mg/kg bw of the extract intra-peritoneally for two weeks, respectively. After 14 d experimental period, blood samples were collected for the determination of bleeding time, clotting time and differential platelet count. Results: The findings of this study revealed a significantly increased (p<0.05) clotting time at a dose of 25 mg/kg but showed no significant change in bleeding time and differential platelet count of all the groups. Conclusion: Aqueous extract of brown onion showed anti haemostatic effect in albino rats by increasing clotting time at a lower dose.

scholarly journals Identifying Environmental Determinants Relevant to Health and Wellbeing in Remote Australian Indigenous Communities: A Scoping Review of Grey Literature

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 4167
Author(s):  
Amal Chakraborty ◽  
Mark Daniel ◽  
Natasha J. Howard ◽  
Alwin Chong ◽  
Nicola Slavin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Classification System ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Environmental Determinants ◽  
Health And Wellbeing

The high prevalence of preventable infectious and chronic diseases in Australian Indigenous populations is a major public health concern. Existing research has rarely examined the role of built and socio-political environmental factors relating to remote Indigenous health and wellbeing. This research identified built and socio-political environmental indicators from publicly available grey literature documents locally-relevant to remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory (NT), Australia. Existing planning documents with evidence of community input were used to reduce the response burden on Indigenous communities. A scoping review of community-focused planning documents resulted in the identification of 1120 built and 2215 socio-political environmental indicators. Indicators were systematically classified using an Indigenous indicator classification system (IICS). Applying the IICS yielded indicators prominently featuring the “community infrastructure” domain within the built environment, and the “community capacity” domain within the socio-political environment. This research demonstrates the utility of utilizing existing planning documents and a culturally appropriate systematic classification system to consolidate environmental determinants that influence health and disease occurrence. The findings also support understanding of which features of community-level built and socio-political environments amenable to public health and social policy actions might be targeted to help reduce the prevalence of infectious and chronic diseases in Indigenous communities.

scholarly journals Repeated Administration of Clinically Relevant Doses of the Prescription Opioids Tramadol and Tapentadol Causes Lung, Cardiac, and Brain Toxicity in Wistar Rats

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Joana Barbosa ◽  
Juliana Faria ◽  
Fernanda Garcez ◽  
Sandra Leal ◽  
Luís Pedro Afonso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Creatine Kinase ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Brain Cortex ◽  
Dose Range ◽  
Fibrous Tissue ◽  
Lactate Concentration ◽  
Repeated Administration ◽  
Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Prescription Opioids ◽  
Therapeutic Doses

Tramadol and tapentadol, two structurally related synthetic opioid analgesics, are widely prescribed due to the enhanced therapeutic profiles resulting from the synergistic combination between μ-opioid receptor (MOR) activation and monoamine reuptake inhibition. However, the number of adverse reactions has been growing along with their increasing use and misuse. The potential toxicological mechanisms for these drugs are not completely understood, especially for tapentadol, owing to its shorter market history. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to comparatively assess the putative lung, cardiac, and brain cortex toxicological damage elicited by the repeated exposure to therapeutic doses of both prescription opioids. To this purpose, male Wistar rats were intraperitoneally injected with single daily doses of 10, 25, and 50 mg/kg tramadol or tapentadol, corresponding to a standard analgesic dose, an intermediate dose, and the maximum recommended daily dose, respectively, for 14 consecutive days. Such treatment was found to lead mainly to lipid peroxidation and inflammation in lung and brain cortex tissues, as shown through augmented thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), as well as to increased serum inflammation biomarkers, such as C reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Cardiomyocyte integrity was also shown to be affected, since both opioids incremented serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (α-HBDH) activities, while tapentadol was associated with increased serum creatine kinase muscle brain (CK-MB) isoform activity. In turn, the analysis of metabolic parameters in brain cortex tissue revealed increased lactate concentration upon exposure to both drugs, as well as augmented LDH and creatine kinase (CK) activities following tapentadol treatment. In addition, pneumo- and cardiotoxicity biomarkers were quantified at the gene level, while neurotoxicity biomarkers were quantified both at the gene and protein levels; changes in their expression correlate with the oxidative stress, inflammatory, metabolic, and histopathological changes that were detected. Hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining revealed several histopathological alterations, including alveolar collapse and destruction in lung sections, inflammatory infiltrates, altered cardiomyocytes and loss of striation in heart sections, degenerated neurons, and accumulation of glial and microglial cells in brain cortex sections. In turn, Masson’s trichrome staining confirmed fibrous tissue deposition in cardiac tissue. Taken as a whole, these results show that the repeated administration of both prescription opioids extends the dose range for which toxicological injury is observed to lower therapeutic doses. They also reinforce previous assumptions that tramadol and tapentadol are not devoid of toxicological risk even at clinical doses.

scholarly journals CNFE-SE: a novel approach combining complex network-based feature engineering and stacked ensemble to predict the success of intrauterine insemination and ranking the features

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sima Ranjbari ◽  
Toktam Khatibi ◽  
Ahmad Vosough Dizaji ◽  
Hesamoddin Sajadi ◽  
Mehdi Totonchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Complex Networks ◽  
Complex Network ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Intrauterine Insemination ◽  
Machine Learning Algorithms ◽  
Semen Parameters ◽  
Feature Engineering ◽  
Operating Characteristics ◽  
Scoring Method ◽  
Novel Approach

Abstract Background Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) outcome prediction is a challenging issue which the assisted reproductive technology (ART) practitioners are dealing with. Predicting the success or failure of IUI based on the couples' features can assist the physicians to make the appropriate decision for suggesting IUI to the couples or not and/or continuing the treatment or not for them. Many previous studies have been focused on predicting the in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcome using machine learning algorithms. But, to the best of our knowledge, a few studies have been focused on predicting the outcome of IUI. The main aim of this study is to propose an automatic classification and feature scoring method to predict intrauterine insemination (IUI) outcome and ranking the most significant features. Methods For this purpose, a novel approach combining complex network-based feature engineering and stacked ensemble (CNFE-SE) is proposed. Three complex networks are extracted considering the patients' data similarities. The feature engineering step is performed on the complex networks. The original feature set and/or the features engineered are fed to the proposed stacked ensemble to classify and predict IUI outcome for couples per IUI treatment cycle. Our study is a retrospective study of a 5-year couples' data undergoing IUI. Data is collected from Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute describing 11,255 IUI treatment cycles for 8,360 couples. Our dataset includes the couples' demographic characteristics, historical data about the patients' diseases, the clinical diagnosis, the treatment plans and the prescribed drugs during the cycles, semen quality, laboratory tests and the clinical pregnancy outcome. Results Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms the compared methods with Area under receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) of 0.84 ± 0.01, sensitivity of 0.79 ± 0.01, specificity of 0.91 ± 0.01, and accuracy of 0.85 ± 0.01 for the prediction of IUI outcome. Conclusions The most important predictors for predicting IUI outcome are semen parameters (sperm motility and concentration) as well as female body mass index (BMI).

scholarly journals Antibacterial, antioxidant, and sun protection potential of selected ethno medicinal plants used for skin infections in Uganda

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Namukobe ◽  
Peter Sekandi ◽  
Robert Byamukama ◽  
Moses Murungi ◽  
Jennifer Nambooze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibacterial Activity ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Inhibitory Concentration ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Sun Protection ◽  
Albino Rats ◽  
Skin Infections ◽  
Double Beam ◽  
Protection Potential ◽  
Bacterial Skin Infections

Abstract Background Rural populations in Uganda rely heavily on medicinal plants for the treatment of bacterial skin infections. However, the efficacy of these medicinal plants for their pharmacological action is not known. The study aimed at evaluating the antibacterial, antioxidant, and sun protection potential of Spermacoce princeae, Psorospermum febrifugum, Plectranthus caespitosus, and Erlangea tomentosa extracts. Methods The plant samples were extracted by maceration sequentially using hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and distilled water. Antibacterial activity of each extract was carried out using an agar well diffusion assay against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonie, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Salmonella typhi. Acute dermal toxicity of the aqueous extract of S. princeae and P. febrifugum, and E. tomentosa was assessed in young adult healthy Wistar albino rats at a dose of 8000 and 10,000 mg/kg body weight. The antioxidant activity of each extract was carried out using a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. The sun protection factor was determined using Shimadzu UltraViolet-Visible double beam spectrophotometer between 290 and 320 nm. Results The plant extracts showed good antibacterial activity against the tested bacterial strains with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging between 3.12 and 12.5 mg/ml. There was no significant change in the levels of creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase in the rats even at a higher dose of 10,000 mg/kg, which was related to the results of biochemical analysis of the blood samples from the treated and control groups. The aqueous and methanol extracts of S. princeae showed potential antioxidant properties, with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 59.82 and 61.20 μg/ml respectively. The organic and aqueous extracts of P. caespitosus showed high levels of protection against Ultraviolet light with sun protection potential values ranging between 30.67 and 37.84. Conclusions The study demonstrated that the selected medicinal plants possessed good antibacterial, antioxidant, and sun protection properties. Therefore, the plants are alternative sources of antibacterial, antioxidant, and sun protection agents in managing bacterial skin infections.

P–430 Male fertility preservation: is there a role for cancer-induced inflammation that affects semen quality in oncological patients?

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Omes ◽  
V Tomasoni ◽  
R Bassani ◽  
V Amico ◽  
R E Nappi
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Fertility Preservation ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Sperm Concentration ◽  
Semen Parameters ◽  
Cancer Type ◽  
Oncological Patients ◽  
Inflammatory State ◽  
Hematological Values

Abstract Study question What is the cause of semen quality impairment in oncological patients during fertility preservation programs? The cancer type and stadiation or the resulting inflammatory state? Summary answer The inflammatory state seems to be related to the decrease of sperm concentration, motility, morphology and viability due to the worsening of oxidative stress microenvironment. What is known already Fertility preservation acquired a great importance in the last decades due to increase survival of oncological patients, boost of diagnosis under 40 years and postponement of paternal age. At the time of cryopreservation, only one third of these males are normozoospermic. Tumor itself or other factors, added to psychological reasons, may be involved but there is no clear evidence. An imbalance of ROS (reactive oxygen species) in semen can compromise its quality. However, the correlation between cancer-related generalized stress state and fertility is poorly investigated. Inflammatory conditions induced by infections and pathologies, including cancer, increase ROS. Study design, size, duration Retrospective observational analysis was performed on 45 patients (29.0 ± 6.9 yrs) recruited during their fertility preservation program between 2016 and 2019 with written consent on use of their clinical data for research purpose. Patients presented several oncological diagnoses. Semen samples obtained from multiple collections (N = 58) were analyzed before applying standard freezing protocol. Data on semen parameters, inflammatory indices, hematological values and type/stage of tumors were collected. No exclusion criteria were applied. Participants/materials, setting, methods Routine semen analysis was performed according to the WHO standards. Sperm concentration and motility were evaluated on Makler Chamber, whereas eosin stain and Diff-quick slides were used for viability and morphology, respectively. Lymphoma was present in 72% of cases, leukemia in 8%, seminoma in 7% and other cancers in 13%. Correlations (Pearson/Spearman tests) among principal semen parameters and hematological values (leukocytes, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, RDW, albumin, etc.) were calculated with a P-value &lt;0.05 considered statistically significant. Main results and the role of chance The majority of semen samples showed a severe impairment, with one or more parameters under lower reference limits (WHO): 48.3% had sperm concentration under 15 millions/ml, 43.1% had a progressive motility under 32%, 41.4% had viability under 58% and 91.4% had abnormal morphology (under 4%). The role of potential inflammatory state was analyzed by correlating semen parameters and some hematological values. No correlation was found with cancer type. Negative association resulted between progressive motility (%PR) and leukocytes (p = 0.041) or RDW% (p = 0.015), but positive one with albumin (p = 0.012). Even sperm count, total motility (%PR+NP) and morphology were significantly correlated to RDW% (p = 0.003, p = 0.032, p = 0.034, respectively). These findings suggest a possible role of inflammation and ROS related generation in semen quality impairment. Indeed, albumin exerts a protective action, but leukocytes are known to cause ROS increase. Cancer-induced oxidative stress state may alter red blood cells homeostasis and vitality and increase erythrocytes turnover resulting in high RDW values. It is likely semen is worse when blood values indicate more severe cancer-induced inflammatory condition. Limitations, reasons for caution Significant correlations with type/stage of cancer were not found due to small number of each diagnosis, in spite our study considered 3 years of patients inclusion. Moreover, we lack to analyze the same patient before the cancer onset to avoid the influence of inflammatory state generated by the tumor itself. Wider implications of the findings: Understanding the influence of cancer-induced inflammatory state on semen quality could increase the awareness that clinicians should direct patient to the fertility preservation as soon as possible, even if diagnosis is still ongoing. It should be evaluated whether offering specific treatments may reduce oxidative stress conditions. Trial registration number Not applicable

Genotoxic and mutagenic effects of vigabatrin, a γ-aminobutyric acid transaminase inhibitor, in Wistar rats submitted to rotarod task

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (9) ◽  
pp. 958-965 ◽  
Author(s):  
VR Coelho ◽  
K Sousa ◽  
TR Pires ◽  
DKM Papke ◽  
CG Vieira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Treatment ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Micronucleus Test ◽  
Repeated Administration ◽  
Saline Group ◽  
Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Subchronic Treatment ◽  
Motor Activities ◽  
Male Wistar Rats ◽  
Mutagenic Effects

Vigabatrin (VGB) is an antiepileptic drug thatincreases brain γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels through irreversible inhibition of GABA transaminase. The aim of this study was to evaluate neurotoxicological effects of VGB measuring motor activity and genotoxic and mutagenic effects after a single and repeated administration. Male Wistar rats received saline, VGB 50, 100, or 250 mg/kg by gavage for acute and subchronic (14 days) treatments and evaluated in the rotarod task. Genotoxicity was evaluated using the alkaline version of the comet assay in samples of blood, liver, hippocampus, and brain cortex after both treatments. Mutagenicity was evaluated using the micronucleus test in bone marrow of the same animals that received subchronic treatment. The groups treated with VGB showed similar performance in rotarod compared with the saline group. Regarding the acute treatment, it was observed that only higher VGB doses induced DNA damage in blood and hippocampus. After the subchronic treatment, VGB did not show genotoxic or mutagenic effects. In brief, VGB did not impair motor activities in rats after acute and subchronic treatments. It showed a repairable genotoxic potential in the central nervous system since genotoxicity was observed in the acute treatment group.

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