Neuroprotective effect of quercetin and Zingiber officinale on sodium arsenate-induced neurotoxicity in rats

Tiryāq in traditional Persian medicine: a survey of antidotal plants and their modern pharmacological potential

Purpose

Tiryāq (Theriac) refers to a single or compound medication historically utilized as a general antidote against numerous poisons in several ethnomedical traditions, especially in traditional Persian medicine (PM). This study aims to summarize the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of medicinal plants with tiryāq properties, with a particular focus on their anti-hepatotoxic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective activities.

Methods

Classical texts of traditional PM were broadly reviewed to extract information about tiryāq and its mechanisms. In addition, a detailed search of scientific databases was performed to validate the pharmacological properties of plants traditionally recognized for their antidotal effects.

Results

Thirty-one medicinal plants with antidote properties were identified. The primary function of tiryāq, as described in PM, is to neutralize toxins and bolster the immune system. These plants have cardiotonic, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective properties. In addition to their antidotal applications, tiryāq remedies were traditionally used to manage chronic cough, stomachache, asthma, colic, and other ailments. Modern pharmacological studies support these applications, highlighting the plants' antiviral, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant properties, especially against acute respiratory viral infections and other inflammatory circumstances.

Conclusion

Tiryāq plays a pivotal role in fortifying essential organs, including the heart, brain, and liver. Its prophylactic use during epidemics, along with its antioxidant and immune-stimulating properties, underscores its therapeutic potential. Further research is needed to conclusively determine the efficacy and broader therapeutic applications of medicinal plants with tiryāq properties.

Nano-mediated Management of Metal Toxicity-induced Neurodegeneration: A Critical Review

Heavy metals, omnipresent in the environment, though imperative in trace quantities for human physiology, become a serious health hazard due to their toxicity. Copper, arsenic, lead, iron, and mercury are some examples of the heavy metals responsible for oxidative stress, which is one of the primary factors behind neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurodegeneration is caused by toxicity due to environmental exposure to these toxic substances or genetic variation. Conventional therapies, relying on chelation and antioxidants, suffer from the broader perspective of metal removal in a non-selective manner and poor targeting of the brain. In this respect, treatments based on nanotechnology that employ nanoparticles such as dendrimers, micelles, and liposomes constitute a promising interest in enhancing drug delivery with minimal neurotoxicity. The present review outlines the heavy metals responsible for neurodegenerative diseases, their pathophysiology, management strategies available at present, and the scope of nanotechnology intervention in overcoming shortcomings of conventional therapies. The genetic influence of heavy metals on neurological health is also part of this article.

The neurotoxic effects of lead acetate and the abrogating actions of 6-gingerol-rich extract of ginger via modulation of antioxidant defence system, pro-inflammatory markers, and apoptotic cascade

Lead exposure is a public health concern and it has been linked to cognitive deficit, memory impairment, and neurotoxicity. This study was designed to investigate the effect of 6-gingerol-rich extract of ginger (6-GREG) on oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in lead acetate (PbAc)-induced neurotoxicity in male Wistar rats. Twenty-five (25) male Wistar rats in total were divided into five groups at random (n = 5). The control group received 0.5 ml of normal saline, the PbAc-treated group received 7.5 mg/kg of PbAc, the vitamin C, 6-GREG (100), and 6-GREG (200) groups received 7.5 mg/kg of PbAc followed by administration of vitamin C (100 mg/kg), 6-GREG (100 mg/kg), and 6-GREG (200 mg/kg) respectively for 2 weeks. Following behavioral tests, the rats were euthanized, and their brain tissues were homogenized for biochemical analysis. When compared to the control group, the administration of PbAc caused behavioral alterations as well as a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, as well as reduced glutathione and Bcl-2 levels in the PbAc-treated group. Furthermore, the PbAc-treated group showed a statistically significant rise (p < 0.05) in brain acetylcholinesterase, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, interleukin-1-beta, tumor necrosis factor-α, and caspase-9 levels in comparison to the control. Administration of both 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg of 6-GREG effectively reversed these behavioral and biochemical changes in 6-GREG (100)- and 6-GREG (200)-treated groups respectively compared to the PbAc-treated group. Consequently, the study reveals the role of 6-GREG in attenuating PbAc-induced neurotoxicity and brain damage via antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms.

Synergistic Mitochondrial Genotoxicity of Carbon Dots and Arsenate in Earthworms Eisenia fetida across Generations: The Critical Role of Binding

The escalating utilization of carbon dots (CDs) in agriculture raises ecological concerns. However, their combined toxicity with arsenic remains poorly understood. Herein, we investigated the combined mitochondrial genotoxicity of CDs and arsenate at environmentally relevant concentrations across successive earthworm generations. Iron-doped CDs (CDs-Fe) strongly bound to arsenate and arsenite, while nitrogen-doped CDs (CDs-N) exhibited weaker binding. Both CDs enhanced arsenate bioaccumulation without affecting its biotransformation, with most arsenate being reduced to arsenite. CDs-Fe generated significantly more reactive oxygen species than did CDs-N, causing stronger mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage. Arsenate further exacerbated the oxidative mtDNA damage induced by CDs-N, as evidenced by increased reactive oxygen species, elevated 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels, and a higher correlation between 8-OHdG and mtDNA damage. This was due to arsenic inhibiting the antioxidant enzyme catalase. This exacerbation was negligible with CDs-Fe because their strong binding with arsenic prevented catalase inhibition. Maternal mitochondrial DNA damage was inherited by filial earthworms, which experienced significant weight loss in coexposure groups coupled with mtDNA toxicity. This study reveals the synergistic genotoxicity of CDs and arsenate, suggesting that CDs could disrupt the arsenic biogeochemical cycle, increase arsenate risk to terrestrial animals, and influence ecosystem stability and health through multigenerational impacts.

Neuroprotective effect of quercetin and Zingiber officinale on sodium arsenate-induced neurotoxicity in rats

The study was aimed at determining the ameliorative potential of quercetin and Zingiber officinale (ZO) against sodium arsenate-induced neurotoxicity in male Wistar rats. Thirty adult animals were randomly allocated to five groups (n = 6). Group I served as control, groups II and IV were treated with ZO [300 mg/kg, PO (per os)/day], and group V animals were administered quercetin (50 mg/kg, PO/day) for 18 days. Groups III, IV, and V were injected with sodium arsenate (20 mg/kg, intraperitoneally/day) for 4 days starting from day 15. The administration of sodium arsenate resulted in a significant decrease in total antioxidant status, total thiols, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and aryl esterase in brain tissue of the animals compared with the control group. In addition, a significant increase was observed in malondialdehyde, advanced oxidation protein product and plasma nitric oxide levels, indicating oxidative stress-mediated neuronal damage. However, these arsenic-induced alterations were significantly reversed by quercetin or ZO in the treatment groups, indicating their ameliorative potential. These positive effects were further confirmed by histopathological examination of brain tissue revealing the suppression of severe neuronal injury, spongiosis and gliosis in the samples pretreated with quercetin and ZO. Our results suggest that inclusion of ZO and quercetin-rich foods in the diet can help in preventing the neurotoxic effects in areas with elevated levels of arsenic in food chain and ground water.