Graded doses of grape seed methanol extract attenuated hepato-toxicity following chronic carbamazepine treatment in male Wistar rats

Mitigating Acetaminophen-Induced Kidney Injury: The Protective Role of Grape Seed and Peanut Skin Extracts through the iNOS/CYP2E1 Pathway

The rising number of acute kidney injury cases worldwide due to acetaminophen (APAP) emphasizes the critical need for effective prevention strategies to counteract APAP's detrimental effects. This study examined the kidney-protective capabilities of ethanolic extracts from grape seeds and peanut skins (GSEE and PSEE, respectively) in comparison with silymarin in rats that experienced an APAP overdose. The phenolic compounds in these extracts were measured by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In the experiment, Sixty adult male albino rats were divided into five groups of 12. The Control group received 0.5 mL of saline via a gastric tube. Group II received acetaminophen (APAP, 640 mg/kg per day via a gastric tube) to induce renal injury, following Ucar et al. and Islam et al. Groups III, IV, and V received silymarin (50 mg/kg), grape seed extract (200 mg/kg), and peanut skin extract (200 mg/kg), respectively, along with 640 mg of APAP/kg per day for 21 days. Post APAP treatment, significant increases in serum urea and creatinine levels were noted, along with notable decreases in the percentage of body weight gain. Furthermore, there were increases in oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in the kidney tissues, including heightened mRNA expressions of renal iNOS and CYP2E1, which were confirmed through histological studies. The administration of GSEE, PSEE, and silymarin mitigated these adverse effects, likely due to their high phenolic content, which is recognized for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. GSEE, in particular, showed efficacy comparable to that of silymarin. Molecular docking studies revealed that APAP impeded critical enzymes essential for cellular antioxidant defense, whereas the bioactive compounds in the grape seed and peanut skin extracts effectively inhibited key enzymes and receptors involved in inflammation and oxidative stress. These findings suggest that GSEE and PSEE could serve as viable alternative treatments for kidney damage induced by APAP. Further research to isolate and identify these effective compounds is recommended.

Effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract on side effects of high-dose methylprednisolone administration in male rats

In this study, we investigated the effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) against the side effects of high-dose administration of methylprednisolone (MP) in male rats. A total of 32 adult Wistar male albino rats were divided into four groups: (1) control (CON), received standard food only; (2) MP, received standard food + intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg MP on day 7; (3) GSPE, received standard food + 200 mg/kg/day GSPE; and (4) MP + GSPE, received standard food + 200 mg/kg/day of GSPE + intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg MP on day 7. All animals in the GSPE and GSPE + MP groups were treated once a day by oral gavage for 14 consecutive days. The feed intake of rats in the MP and MP + GSPE groups decreased significantly by 24.14% and 13.52%, respectively (p < 0.05). Administration of MP resulted in significant increases in serum concentrations of blood urea nitrogen (p < 0.001), glucose (p < 0.01), alkaline phosphatase, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (p < 0.05). High-dose MP administration significantly reduced catalase (p < 0.001) and glutathione peroxidase (p < 0.05) concentrations in the liver and kidney tissues of rats, while glutathione concentrations were only reduced in liver tissue (p < 0.05). The expression levels of Bcl-2 and TNF-α in liver, kidney, and testicular tissue were significantly increased, while the expression levels of caspase-3 were reduced (p < 0.001). Furthermore, sperm concentration was significantly affected by GSPE in rats induced by high-dose MP, and sperm loss was significantly reduced in MP + GSPE (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that GSPE could be useful as a supplement to alleviate MP-induced toxicity in rats.

Bone development in offspring of pregnant rats treated with carbamazepine: Evaluation by three different methods

OBJECTIVE

This study was carried out to determine the effect of intrauterine carbamazepine (CBZ) exposure on fetal bone development during pregnancy.

METHODS

In the study, 24 female Wistar pregnant rats were used. Rats were 20 weeks old. They had an average body weight of 150-200 g. Pregnant rats were randomly selected and divided (n = 6) into a control group, low-dose CBZ (10 mg/kg/day) group, medium-dose CBZ (25 mg/kg/day) group, and high-dose CBZ (50 mg/kg/day) group. The ossification length (mm) and ossification area (mm² ) of the long bones of the fetuses in the experimental and control groups were calculated. The densities of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) were analyzed. The ossification regions of the femurs of the fetuses were examined under a light microscope. Microstructural images of the femurs were evaluated with scanning electron microscope photographs. The densities of minerals involved in the ossification process were analyzed.

RESULTS

According to the results of the study, all three doses of CBZ caused loss of ossification areas, and it was observed that this bone loss also increased statistically significantly depending on the dose increase (p < .05). Calcium concentration decreased in the CBZ groups. When the electron microscope images were examined, it was determined that the cartilage matrix of the CBZ groups was thinned. In the histological evaluation of the groups, narrowing of the primary bone collar and smaller bone spicules in the ossification region compared to the control group were noted due to the increase in dose in the CBZ groups. In immunohistochemical staining, it was observed that the TRAP and AP expression values of the femurs were the lowest in the CBZ groups. These decreases were also statistically significant when compared with the control group.

SIGNIFICANCE

It was revealed with both microscopic and macroscopic findings that exposure to intrauterine CBZ negatively affected ossification and bone growth.

Effect of gervital in attenuating hepatotoxicity caused by methotrexate or azathioprine in adult albino rats

Methotrexate (MTX) and azathioprine (AZA) are chemotherapeutic, antimetabolic, and immunosuppressive agents with substantial risks such as oxidative lesions to the liver. This study examined the effect of grape seed extract (GSE; gervital) in attenuating hepatotoxicity caused by MTX or AZA treatment. Rats were divided into six groups (six rats per group): Group I, normal control group; Group II, GSE (150 mg/kg/day); Group III, MTX (8 mg/kg/week); Group IV, AZA (15 mg/kg/day); Group V, GSE (150 mg/kg/day) + MTX (8 mg/kg/week); and Group VI, GSE (150 mg/kg/day) + AZA (15 mg/kg/day). After 35-day experimental period, all rats were sacrificed and blood was collected for biochemical study and hemoglobin (Hb) assessment. The liver was weighed and triaged for histological, ultrastructural, and biochemical studies. MTX and AZA treatment decreased Hb levels, increased relative liver weight, increased the activity of glutamate pyruvate transaminase (ALT) and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (AST) aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) values, and displayed histopathological and ultrastructural alterations. These changes included the disorganization of hepatocytes, pyknosis, karyolysis of some nuclei, and mononuclear leukocytic infiltration. The liver with significant oxidative stress (OS) showed decreased reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. In contrast, GSE administration ameliorated ALT, AST, and all histopathological and ultrastructural changes. GSE treatment also reduced MDA levels but increased the antioxidant parameters. In conclusion, it was concluded that GSE supplementation could be considered as a promising antioxidant in reducing OS, histopathological and ultrastructural alterations induced by MTX and AZA.