Effects of Different Chromium Compounds on Hematology and Inflammatory Cytokines in Rats Fed High-Fat Diet

The aim of the study was to determine how a high-fat diet supplemented with various forms of chromium affects hematological and immune parameters of the blood of rats. The rats received a standard diet or a high-fat diet supplemented with chromium at 0.3 mg/kg body weight (BW) in the form of chromium(III) picolinate, chromium(III)-methionine or nano-sized chromium. Selected hematological parameters were determined in the blood of the rats, including total white blood cell (WBC) count, leukogram, red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin level (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), platelet count (PLT) and platelet percentage (PCT), as well as immune parameters: levels of immunoglobulins A and E (IgA and IgE), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α); activity of ceruloplasmin (Cp); and levels of caspase 3 and 8 (Casp3 and Casp8). Feeding rats a high-fat diet increased blood markers of induction of inflammation, ie pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, and also significantly increased IgE. The diet had no effect on the blood count, except for an increase in the number of neutrophils. The chromium compounds tested, particularly Cr-Met and Cr-NPs, stimulated the immune system of the rats, as indicated by increased concentrations of IgA, IgE, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, and Cp. Given the increase in inflammatory mediators induced by chromium, it should not be used to mitigate the effects of a high-fat diet. Moreover, chromium picolinate and chromium nanoparticles were shown to increase the content of caspase 3 and 8 in the blood of rats, which indicates a pro-apoptotic effect. The effects of the use of chromium nanoparticles include reductions in the WBC count and in the thrombocyte count (leuko- and thrombopenia). Taking account these data the use of chromium as dietary supplement should be reconsidered.

Novel Green Biosynthesis of 5-Fluorouracil Chromium Nanoparticles Using Harpullia pendula Extract for Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third highest major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Hence, many strategies and approaches have been widely developed for cancer treatment. This work prepared and evaluated the antitumor activity of 5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu) loaded chromium nanoparticles (5-FuCrNPs). The green biosynthesis approach using Harpullia (H) pendula aqueous extract was used for CrNPs preparation, which was further loaded with 5-Fu. The prepared NPs were characterized for morphology using scanning and transmission electron microscopes (SEM and TEM). The results revealed the formation of uniform, mono-dispersive, and highly stable CrNPs with a mean size of 23 nm. Encapsulation of 5-Fu over CrNPs, with a higher drug loading efficiency, was successful with a mean size of 29 nm being produced. In addition, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) were also used for the investigation. The drug 5-Fu was adsorbed on the surface of biosynthesized CrNPs in order to overcome its clinical resistance and increase its activity against CRC cells. Box–Behnken Design (BBD) and response surface methodology (RSM) were used to characterize and optimize the formulation factors (5-Fu concentration, CrNP weight, and temperature). Furthermore, the antitumor activity of the prepared 5-FuCrNPs was tested against CRC cells (CACO-2). This in vitro antitumor study demonstrated that 5-Fu-loaded CrNPs markedly decreased the IC50 of 5-Fu and exerted more cytotoxicity at nearly all concentrations than 5-Fu alone. In conclusion, 5-FuCrNPs is a promising drug delivery system for the effective treatment of CRC.

Estimated intestinal absorption of phosphorus and its deposition in chosen tissues, bones and feathers of chickens receiving chromium picolinate or chromium nanoparticles in diet

The aim of the study was to determine whether the level and form of Cr in the diet of chickens influences its accumulation in tissues as well as intestinal absorption of P and its deposition in tissues. The experiment was carried out on 405 one-day-old male Ross 308 chickens that were randomly divided into five treatment groups. Control group was fed the diet without supplemental chromium; experimental groups were fed the diet with 3 or 6 mg/kg chromium picolinate (Cr-Pic) and with 3 or 6 mg/kg chromium nanoparticles (Cr-NP). Chromium was found to accumulate in the tissues of the ileum, liver, breast muscle, bones skin and in feathers of chickens. Chromium deposited in the ileum of chickens does not affect the ex vivo estimated intestinal absorption of P. The use of Cr in the diet of chickens carries the risk of lowering P levels in femur.

Green Synthesis of Chromium Nanoparticles by Aqueous Extract of Melia azedarach, Artemisia herba-alba and Bacteria Fragments against Erwinia amylovora

This study was carried out at the Tissue Culture and Germplasm Conservation Research Laboratory, Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt. in cooperation with Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Egypt. from 2016 to 2020. Medicinal plants contain many reduction substances e.g. terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, and glycosides. Melia azedarach and Artemisia herba-alba are rich in these compounds that are able to reduce chromium metal (VI) to chromium nanoparticles (Cr2O3). Chromium oxide nanoparticles were green synthesized by the reduction of potassium dichromate solution with Melia azedarach and Artemisia herba-alba plant extract. In biological methods, Cr2O3 nanoparticles were synthesized by two biological agents of Erwinia amylovora dry matter and extraction. The resulting Cr2O3 nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy. The antibacterial effect of Cr2O3 nanoparticles against E. amylovora gave the highest inhibition zone for Cr2O3 nanoparticles reduction by Artemisia followed by Melia (31.0 and 25.0 mm respectively). These particles were shown to have an effective bactericide on contaminated callus pear cells by Erwinia bacteria which gave survival 75% and 50% and 0.0% contamination.

Antibacterial Function of Chromium Nanoparticles Against K. Pneumonia, E. coli and P. typhus

The bioactive chromium nanoparticles were synthesized by calcination followed by thermal decomposition method. The antibacterial activity of chromium nanoparticles diffused in Dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO). The antibacterial activity of chromium nanoparticles carried out against significant human pathogens (gram negative bacteria) viz, K. pneumonia, E. coli and P. typhus using agar diffusion cup plate method at 100 µg/ml concentration. The highest zone of inhibition was observed (12.0 mm) against K. pneumonia and lowest zone of inhibition (7.0 mm) E. coli. Thus, the outcomes of these studies suggest that synthesized chromium nanoparticles are of clinical importance.