Effect of aqueous solution of caffeine on serum level of superoxide dismutase in male Wister rats

Caffeine is an active ingredient of coffee (Nescafe) as one of the major sources of dietary antioxidant compounds which counteract the action of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are the main contributors to oxidative stress. This research is carried out to investigate the role of caffeine in modulating superoxide dismutase and caffeine’s contribution to aging. Forty five sexually matured albino rats with weights ranging from 120-200g were purchased from the animal house of the Department of Anatomy, University of Port Harcourt. These animals were divided into five groups according to their weights and were housed in fifteen well ventilated cages containing sawdust which serves as beddings for the comfort of the animals and for easy removal of their feaces. They were fed daily with animal feed, water ad libitum and allowed to acclimatize for a period of one week, after which their weights were taken and caffeine administration commenced.The results obtained showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in the body weight of the animals on days 14 and 21 following the administration of 20mg/kg of the extract when compared with day 0 and a significant (p<0.05) increase in serum superoxide dismutase activity for 100mg/kg on day 14 when compared to the control. The findings of this study suggests that caffeine (NESCAFE) may have little or no significant effect on the activity of superoxide dismutase.

EFFECT OF FINE PARTICULATE MATTER EXPOSURE ON TRIGGERING DEPRESSIVE-LIKE RESPONSE AND TOTAL BODY WEIGHT IN C57BL/6J MICE

Objective: To study the effect of fine particulate matter exposure in instigating depressive-like response and total body weight changes in C57BL/6J mice. Study Design: Laboratory-based experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Anatomy Department, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, in collaboration with the Military Hospital, Rawalpindi and the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, from Jun to Sep 2020. Methodology: Thirty male and female C57BL/6 mice, 8 weeks of age, weighing 37 ± 2 gm were obtained from NIH, Islamabad. They were retained in separate cages in the animal house of NIH under standard laboratory conditions. The animals were divided into two groups, 15 mice in each group (8 males and 7 females) Group A was marked as control, received regular diet and water ad libitum. Group B (experimental group) received dynamic inhalation of 3 mg/m³ fine particles (soot) through air circulation for 6h/d for 12 weeks, in a plastic cabin measuring 2x2x2 feet fitted with two small fans for evenly distribution of PM. The initial and final weight of animals was recorded, and a tail suspension test was performed to assessdepression in form of immobility. Result: The experimental group after exposure to fine particulate matter showed decreased activity and behavioural deficits with p-value <0.001 and loss in total body weight as compared to the control group with a p-value <0.001. Conclusion: Fine particulate matter has a significant effect on behaviour and cognition. It also causes a decrease in the total body weight of animals due to stress and agitation.

Protective Actions of Cilnidipine: Dual L/N-Type Calcium Channel Blocker Against Hypertensive Renal Injury in Rats

Background: Cilnidipine belongs to fourth generation dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (CCB). It is a dual L & N-type CCB. L- type calcium channels are present on the vascular smooth muscle and N-type calcium channels are present on the presynaptic nerve terminals. Cilnidipine has a vasodilating effect, its action is slow and long lasting. Aim and objectives: Aim of present study was to demonstrate the beneficial effects of cilnidipine on the hypertensive renal injury rats. And our objectives is to assess renal injury parameters (Proteinuria, Creatinine clearance, Renal fibrosis/glomerulosclerosis) in response to chronic NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) treatment in the presence or absence of cilnidipine treatment. Material and methods: Male albino Wister rats were procured from institutional animal house, divided into 4 groups (n=6 in each group). Group1 treated with vehicle (control), group2 treated with cilnidipine, group3 treated with L-NAME, group4 treated with L-NAME & cilnidipine. 24 hour urinary protein and creatinine clearance were measured. Serum urea and creatinine levels are also measured. Urinary and serum Angiotensin II levels were measured. Histopathological examination of kidneys was performed. Results: Our results demonstrate that treatment with cilnidipine (group4) there is reduction in 24hr urinary protein, improvement in creatinine clearance. We observed there was renal glomerulosclerosis and tubular degeneration of kidney tubules in group3 rats and reduction of renal injury in group4 rats. We also found reduced urinary and serum Angiotensin II level in cilnidipine treated (group 4) rats. Conclusion: These findings indicated that cilnidipine act as renoprotective agent and reduces glomerular damage in L-NAME induced hypertensive rats.

Efektivitas Ekstrak Etanol Daun Rambai (Baccaurea Dulkis Muell.Arg) Terhadap Penyembuhan Luka Sayat dan Ekspresi Tgf-Β1 Pada Tikus Putih Jantan

Daun rambai Baccaurea dulkis Muell. Arg. merupakan salah satu tumbuhan khas kalimatan tengah dan kalimatan selatan yang daunnya secara empiris dapat digunakan masyarakat sebagai obat luka serta penghilang bekas luka pada kulit. Tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk menilai efektivitas ekstrak etanol daun rambai (Baccaurea dulkis Muell. Arg) Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menilai efek topikal ekstrak daun rambai Baccaurea dulkis Muell. Arg. Arg terhadap kadar TGF-β1 pada fase inflamasi akut luka sayat tikus (Rattus norvegicus) Jantan galur Wister. Penelitian ini merupakan suatu penelitian eksperimental laboratorium in vivo, dengan metode pre and post test only pada tikus Wister. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan dari bulan Juli sampai dengan oktober tahun 2020. Pelaksanaan penelitian dilakukan di Laboratorium Biomolekuler dan Animal House Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Sriwijaya Palembang. Subjek penelitan berupa tikus putih wister dengan jenis kelamin jantan yang dibagi ke dalam 5 (lima) kelompok perlakuan secara random, yaitu kelompok kontrol negatif (aquades), kelompok kontrol positif (povidone iodine), kelompok ekstrak daun rambai konsentrasi 1%, kelompok ekstrak daun rambai 2% dan kelompok kelompok konsentrasi 4%. Data yang diperoleh kemudian dianalisis secara statistic menggunakan SPSS versi 19 dengan Uji uji parametrik, uji T berpasangan (paired t-test) uji T tidak berpasangan (Independen t-test) atau Mann Whitney. Hasil penelitian menunjukan waktu penyembuhan luka sayat tikus putih jantan pada hari ke 3 konsentrasi ekstrak etanol daun Baccaurea dulkis Muell.Arg. 2% dan 4% tidak berbeda bermakna dengan efektivitas Povidone Iodine dan pemberian daun rambai pada tikus luka sayat dengan Povidone Iodine dilihat dari kadar rerata TGF-β 1 pada penyembuhan luka. Tidak terdapat perbedaan yang bermakna kadar rerata TGF-β1 pada tikus luka sayat dengan penggunaan daun rambai dengan Povidone Iodine pada penyembuhan luka

Omega-3 and Vitamin E Supplementation Effect to Rattus Norvegicus Placental Apoptosis Marker: Pre-Eclampsia Model

Background: Pre-eclampsia has been associated with the increased of placental apoptosis caused by oxidative stress. Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E had beneficial function to maintain cell membranes, prevent oxidative stress and inhibit the production of proinflammatory cytokines. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of omega-3 and vitamin E supplement to BCL-2 and BAX on PE rats model. Methods: This research has been worked out at animal house and Biomedical Laboratory of the Medical Faculty Andalas University. The design of this research was experimental study with post test only control group design. There were 35 pregnant rats were divided into 5 groups. Group K- without treatment, group K+ was given L-NAME, group P1 was given L-NAME + omega-3, group P2 was given L-NAME + vitamin E and group P3 was given L-NAME + omega-3 + vitamin E. The L-NAME dose was 50mg/kg/day, At the 19th day of gestation, the pregnancy was terminated and the placental tissue was collected for examining BCL-2 and BAX levels by using ELISA kit. The data were analyzed by one way ANOVA and post hoc test LSD. Results: The mean levels of BCL-2 in each group were K- =62.49 ng/mg, K+ =50.64 ng/mg, P1 =58.79 ng/mg, P2 =53.70 ng/mg and P3 =70.10 ng/mg. The mean levels of BAX were K- =72.06 ng/mg, K+ =78.61 ng/mg, P1 =73.71 ng/mg, P2 =74.31 ng/mg and P3 =71.63 ng/mg. The analysis results concluded that there were significant differences between omega-3 and vitamin E supplements on BCL-2 levels (p=0.000) and BAX levels (p=0.001). Conclusion: Omega-3 (DHA 120 mg, EPA 180 mg) and vitamin E (α-tocopherol 300 iu) suplement increased BCL-2 level and decreased BAX on pre-eclampsia rats model. Keywords: Omega-3, Vitamin E, BCL-2, BAX, Pre-eclampsia.

Effect of Lycopene on Histological Alterations of Basement Membrane & Fibrosis in Renal Interstitial Tissue of Celebrex Induced Albino Rats; An Experimental Study

Objective: To assess the histological alterations in basement membrane and fibrosis in renal interstitium of albino rats due to celebrex with enhancement by lycopene. Study Design: Experimental study. Abode of Study: Animal House of Jinnah Postgraduate institute, Karachi, Materials and Methods: COX-2 inhibitor and antioxidant medicines were used in this research work. These medications were orally administered in 40 male albino rats weighing 200-220gm for experimentation. Rats were housed in separate pens at 23ºC. Rats were arranged into 4 groups including control horde and three experimental hordes. The medications were dose up orally by gastric tube daily for one month. At completion of experiment, animals were dissected and tissues were well-preserved for staining. Results: In second horde PAS stained kidney segments showed disrupted basement membrane of distended proximal convoluted tubules & ill-defined brush border and fibrosis in renal interstitium, but 3rd horde had intact basement membrane & well-define brush border at the luminal surface of proximal tubular epithelium and there was mild fibrosis in renal interstitium. Conclusion: This study divulges that lycopene convalesce the disrupted basement membrane and fibrosis in second horde.

Protective Role of Different Local Spices on Lambda Cyhalothrin Induced Nephrotoxicity in Male Mice

Aim: This study was aimed at evaluating the protective role of different local spices on lambda cyhalothrin induced nephrotoxicity in male mice Experimental Design: A completely randomized experimental design using standard methods for analysis. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in the Animal house, Department of Animal and Environmental Biology of Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo Port Harcourt, Nigeria. GPS 4o47'50''N 6o58'49''E. This study lasted for 35days. Methodology: The experimental animals were separated into 6 groups (A-F) of seven mice each. Group A served as the control and Group B – F served as the test groups. At the end of the 35 day treatment period, feed was withdrawn from the mice 24 hours before termination of the experiment. Blood samples for analysis of kidney function test were collected from each mouse by ocular puncture into plain tubes. The blood was allowed to clot and centrifuged at 2500g to separate the serum from the cells. Total protein was analyzed using the spectrophotometric method of biuret, Bradford and erythrosine – b, albumin was estimated, creatinine and urea was done using enzymatic method. Vital organs were removed and weighed for organosomatic indices. Histological sections of the kidney were mounted on slides, stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Photomicrographs were generated. Results: There is no significant difference (P=0.05) between the organ weight and bodyweight in group A compared with the treatment groups. The values of Albumin, total protein, urea, creatinine and total bilirubin increased significantly in group B administered lambda cyhalothrin alone but decreased in groups administered the local spices. Histopathological analysis of the kidney shows the regular structure of the kidney architecture in group A, tubular degeneration and several vacuolations were observed in group B. However, less degeneration of the epithelial cells, regeneration of renal tubular epithelium were observed in groups C- F. Conclusion: Based on the results from liver biomarkers and histological micrographs from this study, pronounced degeneration was observed in the kidney cells exposed to lambda-cyhalothrin only. Moreover, all spices used had a regenerating ability on the kidney tubules. It is advocated therefore that consumption of this spices either singly or in combination should be encouraged especially for those exposed to insecticides poisoning

Repurposing of Neeri Ayurvedic tablet formulation against obesity: An in-vivo evaluation

Background : At present, 63 percent of women and 72 percent of men are obese. Obesity is a condition that causes increased rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and arthritis, amongst other conditions. It was found that Neeri can control cholesterol and triglycerides levels which are associated with obesity. Therefore, Neeri has been assumed to treat obesity. Based on its efficacy to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides levels, it was assumed that it can be active against obese in-vivo. Methods : In-vivo studies were performed by utilizing albino Wistar rats (100–250g) approved and procured by IAEC resolution no. 2017/837/ac/MPH/12 from the animal house of the Institute of Foreign Trade and Management [IFTM] University, Moradabad, India. The Neeri was administered at different concentrations into five groups of obesity-induced albino Wistar rats, all the groups were treated for 42nd successive days accordingly and the in-vivo tests were performed on the 43rd day. Biochemical serum analysis was measured by ELISA assay. Results : Outcomes were expressed as Mean±SEM. The difference between experimental groups was compared by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dennett’s test and was considered statistically significant when p<0.05. It was found a significant (p<0.05) decrease in total cholesterol triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and very high-density lipoprotein and along with increased high-density lipoprotein. Conclusion : Neeri can reduce body weight, cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein and very-low-density lipoprotein level, liver weight, heart weight, uterine fat, mesenteric fat, and kidneys weight level similar to the standard drug. It was concluded that Neeri Ayurvedic formulation can produce pharmacological action similar to the standard drug, Orlistat. In the future, further studies may proceed and Neeri tablets can be repurposed against obesity.

Antioxidant Potentials of Pentaclethra macrophylla Seed (Ugba) on Mercury Toxicity Induced Hepatic, Renal and Testicular Oxidative Stress in Male Albino Rats

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant potentials of Pentaclethra macrophylla seed (Ugba) on mercury-induced hepatic, renal and testicular oxidative stress in male Albino Rats. Study Design: This study is an experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Animal and Environmental Biology Animal House, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, between January 2019 and January 2021. Methodology: Thirty-six (36) adult male albino rats weighing approximately 135±1.5g were purchased from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. They were housed in plastic suspended cages, placed in well-ventilated conditions and provided with rat diet and water, and acclimatized for two weeks. Fresh matured seeds of Pentaclethra macrophylla (African oil bean seed) were sourced locally from markets in Imo state, Nigeria. The maceration technique was used to carry out an ethanolic extract of the plant seed. Mercury chloride salt was purchased from Port Harcourt. A standard dose of 3.0mg/kg body weight of mercury chloride obtained from acute toxicity study dose determination was administered to the rats for 30 days after they were divided into six groups of six rats per group. After 30 days, all the animals were weighed, anesthetized using chloroform. Tissue samples of liver, kidney, and testis were collected and homogenized in phosphate-buffered saline and stored at 40C for determination of oxidative stress assessment. Malondialdehyde, Reduced Glutathione (GSH), Catalase Activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, Glutathione Peroxidase Activity were analyzed using the homogenized sample. Data were expressed as mean ±SD, and the statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS statistics 23.0, and p values less than .05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The results showed that there were significant increases (P<.05) in the liver, kidney, and testicular MDA and significant decreases (p<.05) in SOD, CAT, GSH, and GPx activities in group 2 rats versus control. However, after treatment with different concentrations of Pentaclethra macrophylla, MDA activity significantly decreased (P<.05), while SOD, CAT, GPx, and GSH significantly increased (P<.05). Conclusion: The results obtained from the study showed that mercury chloride has the potential to cause liver, kidney, and testicular toxicity to adult male albino rats, and this toxicity was exerted majorly through oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. However, treatment with Pentaclethra macrophylla seed extract ameliorated oxidative stress.