Amelioration of indole acetic acid-induced cytotoxicity in mice using zinc nanoparticles biosynthesized with Ochradenus arabicus leaf extract

Indole-3-acetic acid exposure leads to cardiovascular inflammation and fibrosis in chronic kidney disease rat model

Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a protein-bound uremic toxin, has been linked to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. This study explores the influence of IAA (125 mg/kg) on cardiovascular changes in adenine sulfate-induced CKD rats. HPLC analysis revealed that IAA-exposed CKD rats had lower excretion and increased circulation of IAA compared to both CKD and IAA control groups. Moreover, echocardiography indicated that CKD rats exposed to IAA exhibited heart enlargement, thickening of the myocardium, and cardiac hypertrophy in contrast to CKD or IAA control group. Biochemical analyses supported the finding that IAA-induced CKD rats had elevated serum levels of c-Tn-I, CK-MB, and LDH; there was also evidence of oxidative stress in cardiac tissues, with a significant decrease in SOD and CAT levels, as well as an increase in MDA levels. The gene expression analysis found significant increases in ANP, BNP, β-MHC, TNF-α, IL-1β, and NF-κB levels in IAA-exposed CKD groups in contrast to the CKD or IAA control group. In addition, higher cardiac fibrosis markers, including Col-I and Col-III. The findings of this study indicate that IAA could trigger cardiovascular inflammation and fibrosis in CKD conditions.

Indole-3 acetic acid induced cardiac hypertrophy in Wistar albino rats

Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is the most widely utilized plant growth regulator. Despite its extensive usage, IAA is often overlooked as an environmental pollutant. Due to its protein-binding nature, it also functions as a uremic toxin, contributing to its association with chronic kidney disease (CKD). While in vitro and epidemiological research have demonstrated this association, the precise impact of IAA on cardiovascular disease in animal models is unknown. The main objective of this study is to conduct a mechanistic analysis of the cardiotoxic effects caused by IAA using male Wistar albino rats as the experimental model. Three different concentrations of IAA (125, 250, 500 mg/kg) were administered for 28 days. The circulating IAA concentration mimicked previously observed levels in CKD patients. The administration of IAA led to a notable augmentation in heart size and heart-to-body weight ratio, indicating cardiac hypertrophy. Echocardiographic assessments supported these observations, revealing myocardial thickening. Biochemical and gene expression analyses further corroborated the cardiotoxic effects of IAA. Dyslipidemia, increased serum c-Troponin-I levels, decreased SOD and CAT levels, and elevated lipid peroxidation in cardiac tissue were identified. Moreover, increased expression of cardiac inflammatory biomarkers, including ANP, BNP, β-MHC, Col-III, TNF-α, and NF-κB, was also found in the IAA-treated animals. Histopathological analysis confirmed the cardiotoxic nature of IAA, providing additional evidence of its adverse effects on cardiovascular health. These results offer insights into the potential negative impact of IAA on cardiovascular function, and elucidating the underlying mechanisms of its cardiotoxicity.

Volatile Oils Discrepancy between Male and Female Ochradenus arabicus and Their Allelopathic Activity on Dactyloctenium aegyptium

Volatile oils (VOs) composition of plants is affected by several exogenous and endogenous factors. Male and female plants of the dioecious species exhibit variation in the bioactive constituents' allocation. The chemical variation in the VOs between male and female plants is not well studied. In the present study, the chemical characterization of the VOs extracted from aerial parts of male and female ecospecies of Ochradenus arabicus was documented. Additionally, the extracted VOs were tested for their allelopathic activity against the weed Dactyloctenium aegyptium. Via GC-MS analysis, a total of 53 compounds were identified in both male and female plants. Among them, 49 compounds were identified from male plants, and 47 compounds were characterized in female plants. Isothiocyanates (47.50% in male and 84.32% in female) and terpenes (48.05% in male and 13.22% in female) were the main components of VOs, in addition to traces of carotenoid-derived compounds and hydrocarbons. The major identified compounds of male and female plants are m-tolyl isothiocyanate, benzyl isothiocyanate, butyl isothiocyanate, isobutyl isothiocyanate, carvone, and α-bisabolol, where they showed variation in the concentration between male and female plants. The O. arabicus VOs of the male plants attained IC₅₀ values of 51.1, 58.1, and 41.9 μL L^-1 for the seed germination, seedling shoot growth, and seedling root growth of the weed (D. aegyptium), respectively, while the females showed IC₅₀ values of 56.7, 63.9, and 40.7 μL L^-1, respectively. The present data revealed that VOs composition and bioactivity varied significantly with respect to the plant gender, either qualitatively or quantitatively.

Assessment toxic effects of exposure to 3-indoleacetic acid via hemato-biochemical, hormonal, and histopathological screening in rats

The current study purposed to investigate the 3-indoleacetic acid (IAA) possible adverse impacts on hematological parameters, hepatorenal function, cardiac, and skeletal muscles as well as testes of rats and histopathological alterations of respective organs and to determine the extent of reversing any adverse impacts occurred in animals after IAA withdrawal. Rats were exposed orally to 500 mg/kg BW by gastric intubation once daily for 14 days, after which one-half was sacrificed and the remaining half left for a further 14 days without IAA exposure. The exposure of rats to IAA produced anemia, leukopenia, neutrophilia, lymphopenia, and a significant increase in activities of serum transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, creatine kinase-myocardial band, creatine kinase-muscle type, and levels of serum creatinine, sodium, chloride, and potassium. Furthermore, serum levels of testosterone, gonadotropins, and leptin significantly declined. The changes in most of measured parameters continued after IAA withdrawal. Histopathological alterations in different tissues supported these changes. In conclusion, subacute exposure to IAA at a high concentration could exert hematotoxicity and toxic effects on many soft organs and its withdrawal led to incomplete recovery of animals. Thus, IAA should be used cautiously as extensive use of it at high concentrations can cause harmful effects on the environment, animals and human beings.

Aroma Profile and Biological Effects of Ochradenus arabicus Essential Oils: A Comparative Study of Stem, Flowers, and Leaves

The present analysis explores the chemical constituents and determines the in vitro antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antioxidant significance of the essential oils (EOs) of the stem, leaves, and flowers of Ochradenus arabicus for the first time. The EOs of the flowers presented seventy-four constituents contributing to 81.46% of the total EOs, with the major compounds being 24-norursa-3,12-diene (13.06%), 24-norursa-3,12-dien-11-one (6.61%), and 24-noroleana-3,12-diene (6.25%). The stem EOs with sixty-one compounds contributed 95.95% of the total oil, whose main bioactive compounds were (+)-camphene (21.50%), eremophilene (5.87%), and δ-selinene (5.03%), while a minimum of fifty-one compounds in the leaves’ EOs (98.75%) were found, with the main constituents being n-hexadecanoic acid (12.32%), octacosane (8.62%), tetradecanoic acid (8.54%), and prehydro fersenyl acetone (7.27%). The antimicrobial activity of the EOs of O. arabicus stem, leaves, and flowers was assessed against two bacterial strains (Escherichia coli and Streptococcus aureus) and two fungal strains (Penicillium simplicissimum and Rhizoctonia solani) via the disc diffusion assay. However, the EOs extracted from the stem were found effective against one bacterial strain, E. coli, and one fungal strain, R. Solani, among the examined microbes in comparison to the standard and negative control. The tested EOs samples of the O. arabicus stem displayed a maximum potential to cure diabetes with an IC50 = 0.40 ± 0.10 µg/mL, followed by leaves and flowers with an IC50 = 0.71 ± 0.11 µg/mL and IC50 = 10.57 ± 0.18 µg/mL, respectively, as compared to the standard acarbose (IC50 = 377.26 ± 1.20 µg/mL). In addition, the EOs of O. arabicus flowers had the highest antioxidant activity (IC50 = 106.40 ± 0.19 µg/mL) as compared to the standard ascorbic acid (IC50 = 73.20 ± 0.17 µg/mL) using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. In the ABTS assay, the EOs of the same sample (flower) depicted the utmost potential to scavenge the free radicals with an IC50 = 178.0 ± 0.14 µg/mL as compared with the ascorbic acid, having an IC50 of 87.34 ± 0.10 µg/mL the using 2,2-Azino-Bis-3-Ethylbenzothiazoline-6-Sulfonic acid (ABTS) assay. The EOs of all parts of O. arabicus have useful bioactive components due to which they present antidiabetic and antioxidant significance. Furthermore, additional investigations are considered necessary to expose the responsible components of the examined biological capabilities, which would be effective in the production of innovative drugs.