Amelioration of Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Injury by Citrus Leaf Extract

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 426-431
Author(s):  
Jin Xuezhu ◽  
Li Jitong ◽  
Nie Leigang ◽  
Xue Junlai

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the role of citrus leaf extract in carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic injury and its potential molecular mechanism. Carbon tetrachloride was used to construct hepatic injury animal model. To this end, rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, carbon tetrachloride-treated, and two carbon tetrachloride + citrus leaf extract-treated groups. The results show that citrus leaf extract treatment significantly reversed the effects of carbon tetrachloride on the body weight changes and liver index. Besides, treatment with citrus leaf extract also reduced the levels of serum liver enzymes and oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner. H&E staining and western blotting suggested that citrus leaf extract could repair liver histological damage by regulating AMPK and Nrf-2.

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gideon Ayeni ◽  
Mthokozisi Blessing Cedric Simelane ◽  
Shahidul Islam ◽  
Ofentse Jacob Pooe

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.


Cephalalgia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 1471-1484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manel Ben Aissa ◽  
Alycia F Tipton ◽  
Zachariah Bertels ◽  
Ronak Gandhi ◽  
Laura S Moye ◽  
...  

Background Nitric oxide (NO) has been heavily implicated in migraine. Nitroglycerin is a prototypic NO-donor, and triggers migraine in humans. However, nitroglycerin also induces oxidative/nitrosative stress and is a source of peroxynitrite – factors previously linked with migraine etiology. Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) is the high affinity NO receptor in the body, and the aim of this study was to identify the precise role of sGC in acute and chronic migraine. Methods We developed a novel brain-bioavailable sGC stimulator (VL-102), and tested its hyperalgesic properties in mice. We also determined the effect of VL-102 on c-fos and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity within the trigeminovascular complex. In addition, we also tested the known sGC inhibitor, ODQ, within the chronic nitroglycerin migraine model. Results VL-102-evoked acute and chronic mechanical cephalic and hind-paw allodynia in a dose-dependent manner, which was blocked by the migraine medications sumatriptan, propranolol, and topiramate. In addition, VL-102 also increased c-fos and CGRP expressing cells within the trigeminovascular complex. Importantly, ODQ completely inhibited acute and chronic hyperalgesia induced by nitroglycerin. ODQ also blocked hyperalgesia already established by chronic nitroglycerin, implicating this pathway in migraine chronicity. Conclusions These results indicate that nitroglycerin causes migraine-related pain through stimulation of the sGC pathway, and that super-activation of this receptor may be an important component for the maintenance of chronic migraine. This work opens the possibility for negative sGC modulators as novel migraine therapies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4717
Author(s):  
Jin-Young Lee ◽  
Da-Ae Kim ◽  
Eun-Young Kim ◽  
Eun-Ju Chang ◽  
So-Jeong Park ◽  
...  

Lumican, a ubiquitously expressed small leucine-rich proteoglycan, has been utilized in diverse biological functions. Recent experiments demonstrated that lumican stimulates preosteoblast viability and differentiation, leading to bone formation. To further understand the role of lumican in bone metabolism, we investigated its effects on osteoclast biology. Lumican inhibited both osteoclast differentiation and in vitro bone resorption in a dose-dependent manner. Consistent with this, lumican markedly decreased the expression of osteoclastogenesis markers. Moreover, the migration and fusion of preosteoclasts and the resorptive activity per osteoclast were significantly reduced in the presence of lumican, indicating that this protein affects most stages of osteoclastogenesis. Among RANKL-dependent pathways, lumican inhibited Akt but not MAP kinases such as JNK, p38, and ERK. Importantly, co-treatment with an Akt activator almost completely reversed the effect of lumican on osteoclast differentiation. Taken together, our findings revealed that lumican inhibits osteoclastogenesis by suppressing Akt activity. Thus, lumican plays an osteoprotective role by simultaneously increasing bone formation and decreasing bone resorption, suggesting that it represents a dual-action therapeutic target for osteoporosis.


1990 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangbing Wang ◽  
Noriyuki Sato ◽  
Monte A. Greer ◽  
Susan E. Greer ◽  
Staci McAdams

Abstract. The mechanism by which 30% medium hyposmolarity induces PRL secretion by GH4C1 cells was compared with that induced by 100 nmol/l TRH or 30 mmol/l K+. Removing medium Ca2+, blocking Ca2+ channels with 50 μmol/l verapamil, or inhibiting calmodulin activation with 20 μmol/l trifluoperazine, 10 μmol/l chlorpromazine or 10 μmol/l pimozide almost completely blocked hyposmolarity-induced secretion. The smooth muscle relaxant, W-7, which is believed relatively specific in inhibiting the Ca2+-calmodulin interaction, depressed hyposmolarity-induced PRL secretion in a dose-dependent manner (r = −0.991, p<0.01 ). The above drugs also blocked or decreased high K+-induced secretion, but had much less effect on TRH-induced secretion. Secretion induced by TRH, hyposmolarity, or high K+ was optimal at pH 7.3-7.65 and was significantly depressed at pH 6.0 or 8.0, indicating that release of hormone induced by all 3 stimuli is due to an active cell process requiring a physiologic extracellular pH and is not produced by nonspecific cell toxicity. The data suggest hyposmolarity and high K+ may share some similarities in their mechanism of stimulating secretion, which is different from that of TRH.


Genome ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 54 (9) ◽  
pp. 752-762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Sameny ◽  
John Locke

Transposable elements are found in the genomes of all eukaryotes and play a critical role in altering gene expression and genome organization. In Drosophila melanogaster, transposable P elements are responsible for the phenomenon of hybrid dysgenesis. KP elements, a deletion-derivative of the complete P element, can suppress this mutagenic effect. KP elements can also silence the expression of certain other P-element-mediated transgenes in a process called P-element-dependent silencing (PDS), which is thought to involve the recruitment of heterochromatin proteins. To explore the mechanism of this silencing, we have mobilized KP elements to create a series of strains that contain single, well-defined KP insertions that show PDS. To understand the quantitative role of KP elements in PDS, these single inserts were combined in a series of crosses to obtain genotypes with zero, one, or two KP elements, from which we could examine the effect of KP gene dose. The extent of PDS in these genotypes was shown to be dose dependent in a logarithmic rather than linear fashion. A logarithmic dose dependency is consistent with the KP products interacting with heterochromatic proteins in a concentration-dependent manner such that two molecules are needed to induce gene silencing.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alian Désiré Afagnigni ◽  
Maximilienne Ascension Nyegue ◽  
Chantal Florentine Ndoye Foe ◽  
Youchahou Njankouo Ndam ◽  
Frédéric Nico Njayou ◽  
...  

The present work was undertaken to evaluate antidiarrheal activity of ethanolic leaf extract of Dissotis multiflora (Sm) Triana (D. multiflora) on Shigella flexneri-induced diarrhea in Wistar rats and its subacute toxicity. Diarrhea was induced by oral administration of 1.2 × 109 cells/mL S. flexneri to rats. Antidiarrheal activity was investigated in rats with the doses of 111.42 mg/kg, 222.84 mg/kg, and 445.68 mg/kg. The level of biochemical parameters was assessed and organs histology examined by 14 days’ subacute toxicity. S. flexneri stool load decreased significantly in dose-dependent manner. The level of ALT increased (p<0.05) in male rats treated with the dose of 445.68 mg/kg while creatinine level increased in rats treated with both doses. In female rats, a significant decrease (p<0.05) of the level of AST and creatinine was noted in rats treated with the dose of 222.84 mg/kg of D. multiflora. Histological exams of kidney and liver of treated rats showed architectural modifications at the dose of 445.68 mg/kg. This finding suggests that D. multiflora leaf extract is efficient against diarrhea caused by S. flexneri but the treatment with doses lower than 222.84 mg/kg is recommended while further study is required to define the exact efficient nontoxic dose.


1993 ◽  
Vol 106 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. May ◽  
G. Entwistle ◽  
M.J. Humphries ◽  
A. Ager

Previous studies have shown that unactivated lymphocytes bind to CS1 peptide and that the adhesion of these cells to high endothelium is inhibited by CS1 peptide. These results suggest that lymphocyte binding occurs via recognition of the CS1-containing splice variant of fibronectin expressed on the high endothelial surface. We have now extended these studies by determining the role of the CS1 receptor, alpha 4 beta 1 (VLA-4) and the alternative VLA-4 ligand, VCAM-1 in a rat model of lymphocyte-high endothelial cell interaction. Anti-VLA-4 antibody, HP2/1, blocked lymphocyte adhesion to resting and IFN-gamma (interferon-gamma) pretreated cultured high endothelial cells (HEC) in a dose-dependent manner with maximal inhibition of 60%. HP2/1 completely blocked the adhesion of rat lymphocytes to immobilized CS1 peptide and to a recombinant soluble (rs) form of human VCAM-1. Lymphocyte binding to rsVCAM-1 was also completely blocked by CS1 peptide. Anti-rat VCAM-1 monoclonal antibody 5F10 inhibited adhesion to untreated and IFN-gamma-treated HEC equally and its effect at 50% inhibition was slightly less than that of HP2/1. These findings suggest that a CS1 peptide-inhibitable ligand expressed by high endothelium is VCAM-1. The majority of cultured HEC expressed significant levels of VCAM-1 under basal conditions, as did HEV in peripheral lymph nodes. VCAM-1 expression by HEC was upregulated by cytokine pretreatment and the effects were ordered: IFN-gamma &gt; TNF-alpha &gt; IL-1 beta. The results described here demonstrate that rat peripheral lymph node HEC express VCAM-1, its expression is upregulated by cytokines, in particular IFN-gamma, and it supports the adhesion of unactivated lymphocytes. They also suggest that the VLA-4/VCAM-1 adhesion pathway may operate during the constitutive migration of lymphocytes into lymphoid organs. Although the mechanism of CS1 peptide inhibition was not determined, these results show that VCAM-1 is a CS1 peptide-inhibitable ligand and therefore CS1, on its own, cannot be used as a specific indicator of fibronectin activity.


Author(s):  
Lingfeng Qin ◽  
Haifeng Zhang ◽  
Busu Li ◽  
Quan Jiang ◽  
Francesc Lopez ◽  
...  

Objective: Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) can happen anywhere in the body, although they most commonly produce symptoms in the brain. The role of CCM genes in other vascular beds outside the brain and retina is not well-examined, although the 3 CCM-associated genes ( CCM1 , CCM2 , and CCM3 ) are ubiquitously expressed in all tissues. We aimed to determine the role of CCM gene in lymphatics. Approach and Results: Mice with an inducible pan–endothelial cell (EC) or lymphatic EC deletion of Ccm3 ( Pdcd10 ECKO or Pdcd10 LECKO ) exhibit dilated lymphatic capillaries and collecting vessels with abnormal valve structure. Morphological alterations were correlated with lymphatic dysfunction in Pdcd10 LECKO mice as determined by Evans blue dye and fluorescein isothiocyanate(FITC)-dextran transport assays. Pdcd10 LECKO lymphatics had increased VEGFR3 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3)-ERK1/2 signaling with lymphatic hyperplasia. Mechanistic studies suggested that VEGFR3 is primarily regulated at a transcriptional level in Ccm3-deficient lymphatic ECs, in an NF-κB (nuclear factor κB)–dependent manner. CCM3 binds to importin alpha 2/KPNA2 (karyopherin subunit alpha 2), and a CCM3 deletion releases KPNA2 to activate NF-κB P65 by facilitating its nuclear translocation and P65-dependent VEGFR3 transcription. Moreover, increased VEGFR3 in lymphatic EC preferentially activates ERK1/2 signaling, which is critical for lymphatic EC proliferation. Importantly, inhibition of VEGFR3 or ERK1/2 rescued the lymphatic defects in structure and function. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that CCM3 deletion augments the VEGFR3-ERK1/2 signaling in lymphatic EC that drives lymphatic hyperplasia and malformation and warrant further investigation on the potential clinical relevance of lymphatic dysfunction in patients with CCM.


INDIAN DRUGS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (11) ◽  
pp. 58-60
Author(s):  
N Solanki ◽  
◽  
S. K Bhavsar

Ficus racemosa is used in traditional system of medicine for various health problems and diseases, and is commonly known as Gular fig. The main objective was to study its effects against streptozotocin induced diabetic neuropathy by structural and functional marker. Investigation of diabetic neuropathy was carried out through functional and structural assessment in streptozotocin induced in diabetic rats. Diabetic rats were treated for 28 days in dose dependent manner of Ficus racemosa aqueous extract (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) and ethanolic extract (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg). Study showed marked protection observed by Ficus racemosa in hippocampus region of brain and sciatic nerve tissues. Ficus racemosa treatment showed improvement in functional and structural markers, which strongly suggest its protective role in diabetic neuropathy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 609-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucky Legbosi Nwidu ◽  
Yibala I. Oboma ◽  
Ekramy Elmorsy ◽  
Wayne Grant Carter

Abstract Background Glyphae brevis leaf is reported in ethnomedicine as a treatment for hepatitis and jaundice; however, no studies have hitherto investigated the mechanistic basis of these claims. Methods A hepato-protective role of G. brevis hydromethanolic (GBH) leaf extract was established against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity. Twenty-four hours after a CCl4 challenge, rats were sacrificed and serum hematological indices, lipid profile, and biochemical parameters were determined. The antioxidant enzymes parameters (glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) and lipid peroxidation product (thiobarbituric reactive substances) levels in liver homogenates were evaluated. Changes in the liver cyto-architecture of different treatment groups were also investigated. Results The GBH extract produced no significant impact on weight and hematological indices. Intoxication with CCl4 significantly (p<0.001–0.05) increased total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) compared with control rats. Pretreatment with GBH leaf extract significantly reduced triglycerides, TC, and LDL to approaching control levels (p<0.001–0.05). The GBH leaf extract significantly alleviated CCl4-induced elevation of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and the CCl4-induced depression of total protein, and albumin. Liver antioxidant parameters were significantly increased in plant extract-treated rats, and this antagonized the pro-oxidant effect of CCl4. Histopathological studies also supported a hepato-protective effect of GBH. Collectively, the GBH leaf extract alleviated the CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity through improvement of innate antioxidant enzyme levels and lipid metabolism and stabilized the hepatocyte cyto-architecture of intoxicated rats. Conclusions This study establishes the ethnomedicinal role of G. brevis leaf in hepatitis and the mechanistic basis of hepato-protection against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity.


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