Renoprotective effect of Tabernaemontana heyneana Wall. leaves against paracetamol-induced renotoxicity in rats and detection of polyphenols by high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detector–mass spectrometry analysis

The Role of Vitamin E in Protecting against Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and the Neurotoxic Effects of Acute Paracetamol in Pregnant Female Rats

Paracetamol (acetaminophen, APAP) is the most common non-prescription analgesic drug used during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of vitamin E on acute APAP toxicity in pregnant rats. Toxicity in the liver, kidney, and brain (hippocampus, cerebellum, and olfactory bulb) was examined. Twenty pregnant female Wistar rats at gestational day 18 were used. Pregnant rats were divided into four groups: Control, APAP, E + APAP, and APAP + E. The Control group was treated with 0.5 mL p.o. corn oil. The APAP group received 3000 mg/kg p.o. APAP. The E + APAP group received 300 mg/kg p.o. vitamin E one hour before 3000 mg/kg APAP. The APAP + E group received 3000 mg/kg paracetamol one hour before 300 mg/kg p.o. vitamin E. Twenty-four hours after the last treatment administration, rats were euthanized and blood, brain, liver, and kidney samples were collected. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine levels, uric acid (UA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, as well as the relative mRNA expression of Cyp1a4, Cyp2d6, and Nat2, were determined. Acute APAP treatment upregulated ALT, AST, BUN, and creatinine levels. APAP treatment downregulated UA and SOD levels. APAP treatment upregulated the relative mRNA expression of Cyp1a4 and Cyp2d6, but downregulated Nat2 expression. Vitamin E treatment, either before or after APAP administration, attenuated the toxic effects of APAP. In conclusion, the results showed that an acute toxic APAP dose in late pregnancy can cause oxidative stress and dysregulation in Cyp isoform expression, and that vitamin E treatment attenuates these effects.

Ameliorative effects of corn silk extract on acetaminophen-induced renal toxicity in rats

The current study aimed to investigate the protective effect of corn silk methanolic extract (CSME) against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced nephrotoxicity. The present study was carried out on 40 male Wistar albino rats, which were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10): control group, orally administered with a single dose of 1.8 ml 0.9% normal saline at the last day of the experiment; CSME group, orally received CSME (400 mg/kg BW daily for 5 weeks); APAP group, orally administered with a single dose of APAP (2 g/kg BW); and CSME and APAP group, orally administered with CSME, followed by a single oral dose of APAP. The results of this study revealed that APAP caused a significant increase in serum urea, creatinine concentrations, and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in renal tissues. In addition, APAP caused a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities in renal tissues compared with the control group. Furthermore, APAP caused marked renal damage as revealed by alterations in histopathological architectures of kidney tissues. APAP resulted in a marked expression of caspase 3 and nuclear factor κB (NFĸβ) within the renal tubules, while caused marked decrease of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunostaining and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ 1) expression within the epithelial lining of the renal tubules. However, pre-treatment with CSME returned all biochemical parameters, histopathological changes, and immunohistochemical parameters toward normal levels as the control group. In conclusion, oral administration of CSME protected rats against APAP renal toxicity through its antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory protective mechanisms.

Anil Kumar N, Sharopov F, Ramírez-Alarcón K, Ruiz-Ortega A, Abdulmajid Ayatollahi S, Valere Tsouh Fokou P, Kobarfard F, Amiruddin Zakaria Z, Iriti M, Taheri Y, Martorell M, Sureda A, N. Setzer W, Durazzo A, Lucarini M, Santini A, Capasso R, Adrian Ostrander E, -ur-Rahman A, Iqbal Choudhary M, C. Cho W, Sharifi-Rad J. Antidiabetic Potential of Medicinal Plants and Their Active Components

Diabetes mellitus is one of the major health problems in the world, the incidence and associated mortality are increasing. Inadequate regulation of the blood sugar imposes serious consequences for health. Conventional antidiabetic drugs are effective, however, also with unavoidable side effects. On the other hand, medicinal plants may act as an alternative source of antidiabetic agents. Examples of medicinal plants with antidiabetic potential are described, with focuses on preclinical and clinical studies. The beneficial potential of each plant matrix is given by the combined and concerted action of their profile of biologically active compounds.