Nephroprotective effect of Emblica officinalis fruit extract against malachite green toxicity in piscine model: Ultrastructure and oxidative stress study

The Ethyl Acetate Extract of Phyllanthus emblica L. Alleviates Diabetic Nephropathy in a Murine Model of Diabetes

Oil-Gan is the fruit of the genus Phyllanthus emblica L. The fruits have excellent effects on health care and development values. There are many methods for the management of diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, there is a lack of effective drugs for treating DN throughout the disease course. The primary aim of this study was to examine the protective effects (including analyses of urine and blood, and inflammatory cytokine levels) and mechanisms of the ethyl acetate extract of P. emblica (EPE) on db/db mice, an animal model of diabetic nephropathy; the secondary aim was to examine the expression levels of p- protein kinase Cα (PKCα)/t-PKCα in the kidney and its downregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibrosis gene transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) by Western blot analyses. Eight db/m mice were used as the control group. Forty db/db mice were randomly divided into five groups. Treatments included a vehicle, EPE1, EPE2, EPE3 (at doses of 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg EPE), or the comparative drug aminoguanidine for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks of treatment, the administration of EPE to db/db mice effectively controlled hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia by markedly lowering blood glucose, insulin, and glycosylated HbA1c levels. The administration of EPE to db/db mice decreased the levels of BUN and creatinine both in blood and urine and reduced urinary albumin excretion and the albumin creatine ratio (UACR) in urine. Moreover, EPE treatment decreased the blood levels of inflammatory cytokines, including kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), C-reactive protein (CRP), and NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3). Our findings showed that EPE not only had antihyperglycemic effects but also improved renal function in db/db mice. A histological examination of the kidney by immunohistochemistry indicated that EPE can improve kidney function by ameliorating glomerular morphological damage following glomerular injury; alleviating proteinuria by upregulating the expression of nephrin, a biomarker of early glomerular damage; and inhibiting glomerular expansion and tubular fibrosis. Moreover, the administration of EPE to db/db mice increased the expression levels of p- PKCα/t-PKCα but decreased the expression levels of VEGF and renal fibrosis biomarkers (TGF-β1, collagen IV, p-Smad2, p-Smad3, and Smad4), as shown by Western blot analyses. These results implied that EPE as a supplement has a protective effect against renal dysfunction through the amelioration of insulin resistance as well as the suppression of nephritis and fibrosis in a DN model.

The immune modulatory role of marjoram extract on imidacloprid induced toxic effects in thymus and spleen of adult rats

Imidacloprid (IMID), one of environmental persistent neonicotinoid insecticides, has been used a long time ago and categorized from insecticide induced moderate toxicity by World Health Organization (WHO). Marjoram, is one of the most worldwide used herbs in Egypt due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-genotoxic, anti-mutagenic, anticoagulant, and beneficial effects. This study aimed to evaluate the protective role of marjoram extract on the immunotoxic response and oxidative stress induced by IMID in the immune lymphoid organs (thymus and spleen) of rats. Fifty adult male albino rats were divided randomly into five groups; negative and positive (distilled water) control, marjoram extract (200 mg/kg/day), IMID (22.5 mg/kg/day), marjoram extract + IMID (200 mg/kg +22.5 mg/kg) orally for 8 weeks. Marjoram pretreatment reversed reduced animals body, thymus and spleen weights attributed to IMID. It amended the significantly elevated total leukocytes, neutrophils percentage, increased immunoglobulin G and the significantly reduction of lymphocytes percentage, phagocytic activity, phagocytic index and lysozyme activity induced by IMID. Moreover, marjoram administration significantly reduced thymic and splenic gene expression of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and increased interleukin-10, in addition, it decreased thymic and splenic contents of malondialdehyde and restored the reduced antioxidant enzymes' activities following IMID exposure. Marjoram ameliorated IMID induced histopathological alterations in thymus and spleen and adjusted IMID immunomodulatory effects by increased the downregulation of CD4 and CD8 immune reactive cell expression. Conclusion, Marjoram has a protective role to reverse IMID immune toxic effects in thymus and spleen tissues of rats by its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory defense mechanisms.

Modulatory Effect of Papaya Extract against Chlorpyrifos-Induced Oxidative Stress, Immune Suppression, Endocrine Disruption, and DNA Damage in Female Clarias gariepinus

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is one of the widely used organophosphorus pesticides in agriculture activities and its presence in the aquatic environment has been broadly recorded. In the present study, we investigated the effect of CPF exposure on oxidative stress, innate immunity, sexual hormones, and DNA integrity of female African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, in addition to the potential use of dietary supplementation of papaya, Carica papaya (CP), extract against CPF toxicity. Apparent healthy female catfish (300 ± 10 g) were divided into four groups with three replicates each. The first group served as the negative control (fed on a basal diet) and the other groups exposed to CPF (8.75 µg/L) with or without CP extract (250 mg/kg body weight) for six weeks. The results revealed that CPF exposure exhibited marked elevations in stress markers (glucose and cortisol), serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase activities, testosterone, and luteinizing hormone level. Moreover, CPF increased the percentage of hepatic DNA damage. In addition, catfish exposed to CPF experienced significant decline in serum total protein, albumin, follicles stimulating hormone, estradiol hormone levels, AChE, immunoglobulin, and lysozyme activity. CPF induced significantly oxidative stress in hepatic and renal tissues. The dietary supplementation with CP extract at a level of 250 mg/kg body weight succeeded to alleviate the negative effects of CPF on the physiological, immunological, and antioxidant status of female catfish. In addition, CP extract alleviated the endocrine disruption and hepatic DNA damage and counteracted the subchronic CPF toxicity in female African catfish. Finally, the CP extract may be used as a feed additive in the aquatic diet.

Oxidative Stress and Toxico-Pathic Branchial Lesions in Cyprinus carpio Exposed to Malachite Green

Gill is the frontier tissue to come in direct contact with aquatic toxicants. Malachite green (MG) commercial textile dye was assessed for its impact on the gill cytoarchitecture. Cyprinus carpio were exposed to 0.087 and 0.146 mg/L of MG for 60 days. The tissue was processed, and HE stained slides revealed histo-pathic lesions such as lamellar curling, edema, necrosis, telangiectasia, aneurysm, and vacuolization. Scanning electron microscopy reported aberrations in lamellae and microridges of the epithelium. At the cellular level, transmission electron microscopy exhibited nuclear alterations in form of pyknosis and mitochondrial swelling followed by cristolysis. Pillar cells displayed cytoplasmic vacuolization and leukocyte infiltration, and goblet cell containing varied shaped and density mucous globules. The biochemical analysis supported the ultrastructural alterations and showed a negative impact of MG on the antioxidative enzymes (CAT, SOD, GSH), while levels of MDA were found to be significantly elevated. Thereby, concluding MG induced branchial toxicity in the fish.

Isatis phytogenic relieved atrazine induced growth retardation, hepato-renal dysfunction, and oxidative stress in Nile tilapia

The influence of herbicides causes health and economic loss, which requires innovative solutions to sustain the aquaculture industry. In this regard, dietary isatis is included in Nile tilapia diets to relieve atrazine (ATZ)-induced growth retardation, hepato-renal dysfunction, and oxidative stress. The first and second groups offered the control diet (control), while the third and fourth groups offered the isatis supplemented diet (1%). Meantime, half of the water was replaced and mixed with ATZ (1.39 mg/L) in the second and fourth groups for 30 days. The group of fish delivered isatis had significantly enhanced FBW, WG, and SGR, while fish intoxicated with ATZ had meaningfully impaired growth behavior (p < 0.05). Further, the FCR was improved by isatis, and ATZ resulted in the worst FCR among the groups. Interestingly fish fed isatis and exposed with ATZ (88.89%) had a higher survival rate than fish exposed with ATZ without isatis feeding, and both are lower than the control (97.78%) (p < 0.05). The histological structure in the isatis-treated groups showed distinguished enhancement and branching of the intestinal villi. The intestine of ATZ-treated fish revealed damage and inflammatory cell infiltration in the intestinal mucosa with separation of lining epithelium. Generally, fish fed isatis and intoxicated with ATZ had lower uric acid, urea, creatinine, ALT, and AST and higher total protein, globulin, and albumin than fish exposed with ATZ without feeding with isatis (p < 0.05). Markedly, fish-fed isatis had the highest SOD, CAT, GPx, and the lowest MDA level compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, fish exposed with ATZ had the worst SOD, CAT, GPx, and the highest MDA level compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). In summary, dietary isatis relieved ATZ induced growth retardation, hepato-renal dysfunction, and oxidative stress in Nile tilapia.

Seasonality effects on the metal concentration and biochemical changes in Astyanax lacustris (Teleostei: Characiformes) from Doce River after the collapse of the Fundão dam in Mariana, Brazil

This study aimed to evaluate the harmful effects of metal accumulation on Astyanax lacustris and their biochemical response when exposed to the metals contained in the Doce River water, Brazil. The study was carried out in the Baixo Guandu region of the Doce River, Espírito Santo state. Samples were collected during the dry and wet seasons. Biochemical alterations were observed in the liver of A. lacustris, with apparent seasonal effects directly related to the high concentration of Al and Fe in this tissue. Despite this, the bioconcentration of metals in the organisms showed seasonal effects only in the gills, as they are the first organ in contact with the contaminated water. The data generated in this study provide an overview of the health of the ecosystem in this region, highlighting the harmful biochemical and metal concentration effects on the population of A. lacustris affected by the Fundão dam failure.

Imperative role of electron microscopy in toxicity assessment: A review

Electron microscope (EM) was developed in 1931 and since then microscopical examination of both the biological and non-biological samples has been revolutionized. Modifications in electron microscopy techniques, such as scanning EM and transmission EM, have widened their applicability in the various sectors such as understanding of drug toxicity, development of mechanism, criminal site investigation, and characterization of the nano-molecule. The present review summarizes its role in important aspects such as toxicity assessment and disease diagnosis in special reference to SARS-COV2. In the biological system, EM studies have elucidated the impact of toxicants at the ultra-structural level in various tissue in conformity to physiological alterations. Thus, EM can be concluded as an important tool in toxicity assessment and disease prognosis.

Can Betadine (10% povidone-iodine solution) act on the survival rate and gill tissue structure of Oranda goldfish (Carassius auratus)?

Industrial chemical solutions are widely used as a method to disinfection of aquaculture water and environments. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the toxicity effect of Betadine (10% solution of povidone-iodine) as a disinfectant solution on the survival and gill tissue of Oranda goldfish (Carassius auratus). For these purposes, 225 fingerling Oranda goldfish with an average weight 5 ± 0.67 g were divided into 15 groups with 3 replications. Fish were exposed to series of concentrations (0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 90, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200, 220 and 240 mg/L) of Betadine for 96 h. The mortality of fish and the samples of gill were observed at 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after exposure. The results of the present study showed that the half-life of Betadine was less than 24 h and mortality were not record after 24 h. The highest mortality rate was at 240 mg/L, and LC₅₀ 24 h of Betadine was 158.800 mg/L. Histopathological results showed that lethal concentrations of Betadine lead to hyperemia, hypertrophy, hyperplasia and adhesion of secondary lamellar of the gill. Moreover, fish that were exposed to these concentrations displayed clinical signs such as anxiety, darkening of the skin. Overall results showed that Betadine have short half-life in the aquatic environment and are toxic to fish at very high concentrations, therefore it can be considered as practically non-toxic and useful for disinfection of the aquatic environment.

Cytopathological and ultrastructural changes in the male reproductive organs of freshwater crab Paratelphusa jacquemontii (Rathbun) exposed to nurocombi

Accumulation of pollutants in the aquatic system has a high impact on the reproductive physiology of crustaceans. The objective of the present study was to assess the possible histopathological effects of combined chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin (nurocombi) exposure on reproductive tissue in male freshwater crab Paratelphusa jacquemontii using light and electron microscopy. The testis of experimental crabs showed disorganization of testicular lobules, increased inters cellular space, necrosis, and cellular damage in both germinal cells and Sertoli cells. The treated vas deferens exhibited epithelial degeneration, misshaped spermatophores, decline in the number of spermatophores, and dehiscence of spermatophore wall. These clinical manifestations expressed in crabs following the exposure of nurocombi significantly reduce the testicular activity and substantially inhibits the seminal secretions, which ultimately lead to impairment of reproduction.

Chronic Effects of Diazinon® Exposures Using Integrated Biomarker Responses in Freshwater Walking Catfish, Clarias batrachus

Diazinon exposures have been linked to the onset of toxic pathways and adverse outcomes in aquatic species, but the ecological implications on model species are not widely emphasized. The objective of this study was to determine how the organophosphate pesticide diazinon affected hematological (hemoglobin, total red blood count, total white blood count, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin), growth (condition factor, hepatosomatic index, specific growth rate), biochemical (total serum glucose, total serum protein), and endocrine (growth hormone, tri-iodothyronine, and thyroxine) parameters in Clarias batrachus after chronic exposure. Diazinon was administered at predefined exposure doses (0.64 and 1.28 mg/L) and monitored at 15, 30, and 45 days into the investigation. Observation for most biomarkers revealed patterns of decreasing values with increasing toxicant concentration and exposure duration. Correlation analysis highlighted a significant inverse relationship between variables (mean corpuscular hemoglobin, condition factor, specific growth rate, tri-iodothyronine, thyroxine, and total serum protein) and elevated chronic diazinon exposure concentrations. The integrated indices (IBR and BRI) indexes were used to provide visual and understandable depictions of toxicity effects and emphasized the relativity of biomarkers in terms of sensitivity and magnitude or severity of responses under graded toxicant exposures. The significant damage reflected by evaluated parameters in diazinon exposure groups compared to control portends risks to the health of local fish populations, including Clarias batrachus in aquatic systems adjacent to agrarian landscapes.

Impact of cypermethrin in nephrocytes of freshwater fish Catla catla

The kidney of Catla catla, chronically exposed to sub-lethal concentrations (0.24 μg/L and 0.41 μg/L) of cypermethrin revealed a significant elevation in the activity of antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and reduced glutathione (GSH) after 15 days, followed by a decline of up to 45 days. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) remained elevated throughout the exposure duration. Histology presented proliferated haematopoietic tissue, tubular and glomerular degeneration. The maximum increase in the mean degree of tissue change (DTC) was observed on the 45th day of treatment. Ultra-structure study depicted cytoplasmic vacuolation, fragmented RER, the proliferation of lysosomes, mitochondrial degeneration, and degenerative changes in the epithelial lining of renal tubules. Principal component analysis (PCA) of various biomarkers generated two components PCI (SOD, GST, GSH, LPO and DTC) and PCII (CAT). These findings suggest that long term exposure to cypermethrin can lead to various pathological alterations in the fish kidney which in turn might interfere with normal renal excretory mechanism.

Antioxidant and antigenotoxic potential of Morinda tinctoria Roxb. leaf extract succeeding cadmium exposure in Asian catfish, Pangasius sutchi

The present study investigated the protective effect of methanolic leaf extract of Morinda tinctoria. Roxb (MEMT) (200 mg/kg) via feed in supplementation with standard compound silymarin (400 mg/kg). M. tinctoria (Roxb.) belonging to Rubiaceae, is an evergreen shrub indigenous to unfarmed lands of tropical countries. It is considered as an essential traditional medicine attributing for the potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The enhancements of antioxidant and antigenotoxic status in different tissues of cadmium (Cd) intoxicated Pangasius sutchi were evaluated by using various antioxidant assays (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and lipid peroxidation) in addition to micronuclei (MN), binuclei (BN) and comet assay. The cadmium toxicated fish showed a significant (p < 0.001) increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) activities in liver, gills, muscle and kidney whereas significant (p < 0.001) decline were observed in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) contents in all fish tissues. The results also revealed that, Cd exposure induced the formation of genotoxic endpoints like MN, BN, notched nuclei, kidney shaped nuclei and DNA damage in the fish erythrocytes. Maximum of 26.8% MN frequencies and maximum of 66.74% tail DNA damage were observed on the 7th day of Cd exposure. A time-dependent significant increase (p < 0.001) in the frequencies of MN, BN and tail DNA damage were observed in all treated groups against the control which started to decline from 14th day onwards. There was a decline in the LPO content, frequencies of MN, BN and percentage of tail DNA in contrast to significant elevation in SOD and CAT content in all tissues due to the combined treatment of M. tinctoria feed and water borne Cd exposure. It can be concluded from our observations that, supplementation of M. tinctoria leaf extract through feed alone produced enhanced antioxidant and antigenotoxic status in cadmium treated fish by diminishing oxidative stress and genotoxicity effects in a time dependent manner.