Erectogenic Effect of Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Extract in Normal and 5-Fluorouracil induced Oxidative Stressed Adult Male Wistar Rats

This study determined the effect of oral administration of aqueous extract from Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) extract (TVE) on the antioxidant status and activity of some penile function enzymes (acetylcholinesterase (AChE), phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5), adenosine diaminase (ADA), and arginase) activity in normal and 5- Fluorouracil- induced oxidative stressed rats. Sixty adult Wister rats (210-225)g were divided into ten (10) groups (n=6): Group 1: received oral administration of normal saline (NC), Group 2: received 100 mg/kg of thyme extract orally (TE 100 mg/kg), Group 3: received 200 mg/kg of thyme extract orally (TE 200 mg/kg), rats in group four were treated with 400 mg/kg of thyme extract orally (TE 400 mg/kg), Those in group 5: received 25 mg/kg of Vitamin C orally, while group 6 to 10 were induced with 150 mg/kg of 5-Fluorouracil solution (5-FLU, i.p), but group 7-10 were treated 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and Vitamin C (25mg/kg), respectively. After fourteen (14) days of treatment, the rats were sacrificed and the penile tissue was carefully isolated and prepared into homogenate, which was used for antioxidant and enzymes biochemical analysis. The result revealed that i.p induction of 5-FLU caused a significant increase in malondialdehyde level, as well as AChE, ADA, PDE-5 and arginase activities wth concomitant decrease in thiol level when compared to control rats. However, the administration of TVE was found to reverse the effect of 5-FLU. The TVE was also found the reduced MDA level and all the enzyme activities, but boosted the thiol level in the normal rats when compared to control rats. Interestingly the effect of the TVE was found dose-dependently, and 400 mg/kg TVE was found to be more potent among all the doses used in both normal and 5-FLU-induced oxidative stress rats.

Respons fisiologi dan hasil lateks tanaman karet klon GT 1 di kebun karet rakyat terhadap sistem eksploitasi dan curah hujan

AbstrakKlon GT 1 adalah klon Slow Starter (SS) dimana perubahan sukrosa menjadi partikel karet di dalam pembuluh lateks berlangsung lambat dan pada saat gugur daun hasil lateks lebih stabil. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan curah hujan dan sistem eksploitasi terhadap fisiologi dan hasil lateks klon GT1. Penelitian dilaksanakan di Kabupaten Langkat Kecamatan Besitang Sumatera Utara, ketinggian tempat 500 – 700 m di atas permukaan laut. Analisa fisiologi lateks di PT. Sucofindo Indonesia. Tanaman yang digunakan adalah klon GT 1 umur 25 tahun dengan besar lilit batang antara 60 – 75 cm, diukur dengan ketinggian 130 cm dari permukaan tanah. Metode percobaan menggunakan Rancangan Split Plot. Petak utama adalah panjang alur sadap, terdiri dari tiga taraf, yaitu panjang alur sadap 1/4 spiral, panjang alur sadap 1/2 spiral, dan panjang alur sadap 1/8 spiral. Anak petak adalah aplikasi stimulan, terdiri dari dua taraf, yaitu stimulan cair dan stimulan gas. Semua perlakuan diulang tiga kali. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa panjang alur sadap pendek dan aplikasi stimulan cair memiliki kadar sukrosa lateks tinggi . Aplikasi stimulan gas menunjukkan kadar sukrosa lateks yang tinggi pada panjang alur sadap panjang. Kadar tiol belum menunjukkan tingkat stress pada klon GT 1 dapat terlihat dari kadar tiolnya berkisar 0,84 – 1,10 mM. Produksi lateks klon GT 1 lebih dipengaruhi oleh sistem ekploitasi daripada curah hujan.Kata Kunci: fisiologi lateks, Hevea brasiliensis, klon GT 1, slow starterAbstractGT 1 is a Slow Starter (SS) clone where the change of sucrose into rubber particles in the latex vessels is slow, and at the time of leaves fall, the latex yield is more stable. This study aimed to determine the relationship between agro-climate and exploitation system on the physiology and yield of latex clone GT1. The research was carried out in Langkat, Besitang, North Sumatra, at an altitude of 500 – 700 m above sea level. Physiological traits analysis of latex was conducted at PT. Sucofindo Indonesia. The plant used was a 25 years old GT 1 clone with a trunk circumference of 60 – 75 cm, measured at the height of 130 cm from the ground. The research method used Split Plot. The main plot was length of tapping path, consisted of 1/4, 1/2, and 1/8 spiral tapping groove length. The subplot was stimulant application, consisted of liquid and gas stimulant. The results showed that short tapping groove length and liquid stimulant application had high latex sucrose content, as given by long tapping groove length and gas stimulant application. Thiol level did not show the stress level in the GT 1 clone, it could be seen from the thiol level of 0.84 – 1.10 mM. Latex production of GT 1 clones was more influenced by the exploitation system than by rainfall.Keywords: GT 1 clone, Hevea brasiliensis, latex phyisiology, slow starter

Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract Promotes Antioxidant, Survival, Fecundity, and Locomotor Activities in Drosophila melanogaster

Aim: The study was designed to investigate antioxidant, survivability, fecundity, and locomotor activity of Moringa oleifera leaf (MOL) extract in Drosophila melanogaster. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at the Africa Centre of Excellence in phytomedicine Research and Development (ACEPRD), University of Jos, Nigeria, in August 2019 - March 2020. In the first place, in vitro analysis of the antioxidant activity of extracts of M. oleifera in various solvents (Aqueous, Methanol-Aqueous co-solvent (80 % v/v) and n-Hexane) were evaluated using DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-Picrylhydrazyl) assay. Based on the in vitro result, the methanol extract with the best free radical scavenging activity was used in graded doses for conducting the in vivo studies, and the observations were recorded. Distilled water (1000 µL) was used alone in 10 g fly food (as negative control) or as a solvent to dissolve MOL extract or ascorbic acid (positive control) separately before mixing with the fly food. Statistical significance was taken at P<0.05 Results: The methanol extract of M. oleifera leaf (MEMOL) showed significantly (P<0.05) higher free radical scavenging ability (IC50 = 60 µg/ml) compared with the aqueous (IC50 = 100 µg/ml) and n-hexane (IC50 = 250 µg/ml) extracts respectively. The median lethal dose (LD50) of MEMOL was >2000 mg. Supplementation with MEMOL non-significantly (P>0.05) improved movement, significantly (P<0.05) increased survivability, fecundity, and total thiol level. The activities of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) significantly (P<0.05) increased. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity non-significantly (P>0.05) decreased, while malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration decreased significantly (P<0.05) compared with controls, respectively. Conclusion: In vitro study suggested better antioxidant activity of MEMOL. In vivo study also revealed that MEMOL was relatively safe in D. melanogaster, supported by high LD50, increased survivability, fecundity, locomotor ability, antioxidant enzyme activities, total thiol level, along with a concomitant decrease in MDA content.

A research on effects of tobacco dust on status of total thiol in bidi industry workers

Background: Bidi industries workers handle tobacco ingredients during rolling of bidi and inhale tobacco dust and volatile component are present in the work environment. Tobacco absorbed by the body in tremendous amount leading to preventable cause of disease, disability and including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular, carcinomas, premature death exposure among bidi workers. The goal of this study was to occupational exposure of tobacco dust on status of total thiol level in bidi workers.Methods: Healthy controls - 30 subjects and 90 bidi workers were further subdivided on the basis of work experience in years as, Group-I: 5-9 years (30 subjects), Group-II: 10-14 years (30 subjects), Group-III: 15-19 years (30 subjects). Authors are measure total thiol concentration and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. All the biochemical parameters measured in study group subjects were statistically compared with those estimated in controls.Results: Highly significant decrease in levels of total thiol was found in all groups of bidi workers as compared to healthy controls (p<0.001) and serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances levels were significantly elevated in all groups of bidi workers when compared with healthy controls (p<0.001). The study groups indicates that decline the total thiol gradually progresses with increase in exposure period to tobacco dust.Conclusions: The study groups showed that decrease the total thiol level and increases the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in all groups of bidi workers compared with healthy controls.

The Use of Thiol/Disulfide Homeostasis Parameters in the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis in Children

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the role of thiol/disulfide homeostasis (TDH) parameters which are new oxidative stress markers for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA) in children with abdominal pain complaints. Methods A total of 40 patients with AA and 45 patients with abdominal pain were included in this study. Two groups were compared in terms of age, gender, white blood cell count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein (CRP), appendix diameter, and TDH parameters (native and total thiol levels, native thiol/total thiol ratio [antioxidant parameters] and disulfide level, disulfide/native thiol ratio, and disulfide/total thiol ratio [oxidant parameters]). Results Compared with the abdominal pain group, it was found that disulfide level, disulfide/native thiol, and disulfide/total thiol ratios (p < 0.001 for all) in patients with AA were significantly higher and their native thiol level (p = 0.02) and native thiol/total thiol ratio (p < 0.001) were significantly lower. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of total thiol level. There was no significant difference between the perforated and nonperforated groups in patients with AA in terms of TDH parameters. In addition, the CRP level was higher in the perforated group than the nonperforated group. Conclusion To our knowledge, the present study is a first in the literature in which TDH parameters were used in children with AA compared with the abdominal pain group. We thought that these parameters may be useful as new biomarkers supporting AA diagnosis in children.