Effect of Zingiber officinale on some biochemical parameters and cytogenic analysis in lead-induced toxicity in experimental rats

Characteristics and Influence Factors of Pb(II) Adsorption by Graphene Oxide-Montmorillonite Composite

This study presents the fabrication of a novel porous composite of graphene oxide-montmorillonite (GO-MMT) through the modification of montmorillonite using the freeze-drying method for the purpose of Pb removal. The characterization of the GO-MMT composite was conducted using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction. The results from batch adsorption experiments revealed that the GO-MMT composite exhibited a superior capacity for Pb removal compared to MMT. Furthermore, a single factor experiment confirmed that the dosage of the GO-MMT composite or GO, pH, temperature, and reaction time all significantly influenced the adsorption of Pb by the GO-MMT composite, MMT, or GO. This superiority can be attributed to the presence of oxygen-containing functional groups, the site-blocking effect, and the ion exchange mechanism exhibited by the GO-MMT composite.

Unveiling the Mechanisms of Bone Marrow Toxicity Induced by Lead Acetate Exposure

Lead (Pb), a widespread heavy metal, causes severe toxicity in human and animal organs (e.g., bone marrow), whereas the mechanisms of the bone marrow toxicity induced by Pb exposure are unclear. Hence, this study was designed to reveal the hub genes involved in Pb-induced bone marrow toxicity. GSE59894 dataset obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) was composed of lead acetate (PbAc2)-treated and control bone marrow samples. Totally 120 and 85 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified on the 1st day, while 153 and 157 DEGs on the 3rd day in the bone marrow treated with 200 and 600 mg/kg of PbAc2, respectively. Notably, a total of 28 and 32 overlapping DEGs were identified in the bone marrow on the 1st and 3rd day treated with PbAc2, respectively. Biological process analysis suggested that the common DEGs were primarily participated in cell differentiation, the response to drug, xenobiotic stimulus, and organic cyclic compound. Pathway analysis demonstrated that the overlapping DEGs were primarily linked to PI3K-Akt, TGF-β, MAPK, and osteoclast differentiation signaling pathways. Moreover, the hub genes, including PLD2, DAPK1, ALB, TNF, FOS, CDKN1A, and TGFB3, might contribute to PbAc2-induced bone marrow toxicity. Overall, our study offers an important insight into the molecular mechanisms of Pb-induced bone marrow toxicity.

Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens: A Review of Its Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology

Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (ZRR, the fresh rhizoma of Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It is also a traditional spice, widely used around the world. The present paper reviews advances in research relating to the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens. In addition, this review also discusses some significant issues and the potential direction of future research on Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens. More than 100 chemical compounds have been isolated from Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, including gingerols, essential oils, diarylheptanoids, and other compounds. Modern studies have confirmed that Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens has pharmacological effects on the nervous system and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems, as well as antiemetic, antibacterial, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. However, the modern studies of Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens are still not complete and more bioactive components and potential pharmacological effects need to be explored in the future. There is no unified standard to evaluate the quality and clinical efficacy of Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens. Therefore, we should establish reasonable, accurate, and reliable quality control standards to make better use of Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens.

Lactobacillus plantarum LP33 attenuates Pb-induced hepatic injury in rats by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation and promoting Pb excretion

Lead (Pb) is one of the most common heavy metals and is harmful to human health. The liver is considered as a major target organ for Pb poisoning. Although probiotics have been shown to alleviate liver injury, the protective effect of Lactobacillus plantarum LP33 (LP33) against Pb-induced hepatotoxicity remains unclear. In order to explore the hepatoprotective effect of LP33, LP33 was administered to Pb-intoxicated Sprague-Dawley rats once daily by oral gavage for 8 weeks. The present results showed that LP33 supplementation alleviated liver injury, and inhibited oxidative stress and inflammation in Pb-exposed rats. Treatment with LP33 also promoted the phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and protein kinase B, activated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 signaling and inhibited the activation of nuclear factor-κB signaling in liver tissues of rats exposed to Pb. Additionally, LP33 exhibited adequate Pb-binding capacity and satisfactory survival under simulated gastrointestinal conditions in vitro, and promoted Pb excretion via enterohepatic circulation of bile acids. This study demonstrated that LP33 reduced Pb-induced oxidative stress and inflammation and promoted Pb excretion, thereby attenuating the Pb-induced hepatic injury. Our findings suggest that LP33 supplementation may be a potential strategy for the treatment of Pb-induced hepatic toxicity.

Plant Extracts and Isolated Compounds Reduce Parameters of Oxidative Stress Induced by Heavy Metals: An up-to-Date Review on Animal Studies

BACKGROUND

Heavy metals are elements that are naturally found in the earth. They are used in many modern-day applications in agriculture, medicine, and industry. Heavy metal poisoning occurs when the body's soft tissues absorb too much of a particular metal. The heavy metals of interest for this review paper were cadmium, arsenic, mercury, and lead since these are the most common metals that the human body can absorb in toxic amounts. Different plant species were investigated in recent years for their effect on oxidative stress parameters after intoxication with heavy metals.

OBJECTIVES

This review paper is focused on the current update to research on heavy metals induced oxidative stress in animal models and improvement of the oxidative stress parameters upon/co-/after treatment with different plant extracts and isolated compounds.

METHODS

The available literature was screened for the novel data regarding the influence of plant extracts and compounds on heavy metals induced oxidative stress. For that purposes Scopus database was used, looking for the publications in the last 5-10 years with the key terms: plant extracts, oxidative stress, in vivo, cadmium, lead, mercury and arcenic.

RESULTS

Various parameters of oxidative stress were investigated, and their improvement with plant extracts/ compounds was observed in the brain, lungs, kidneys, liver, uterus, testis, thymus, spleen, heart, skin and blood of experimental animals. Common parameters used to determine oxidative stress in animals were: superoxide dismutase; catalase; reduced glutathione; glutathione reductase; glutathione-S-transferase; glutathione peroxidase; lipid peroxidation; oxidized glutathione; malondialdehyde; xanthine oxidase; nonprotein-soluble thiol; thioredoxin reductase; total sulphydryl group; nitric oxide; γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase.

CONCLUSION

The most investigated species for antioxidant effects upon intoxication with heavy metals seem to be Allium sp., Bacopa monniera, Camellia sinensis, Moringa oleifera, Vitis vinifera and Zingiber officinale. According to literature data, the most promising effect to alleviate symptoms of intoxication was achieved with proanthocyanidins obtained from Vitis vinifera.

Therapeutic influences of almond oil on male rats exposed to a sublethal concentration of lead

Globally, human exposure to heavy metals has risen dramatically. Lead (Pb) is one of the most toxic heavy metals to human and other living organisms. Pb affects certain biochemical and physiological activities of the body. Many scientific investigations have documented the therapeutic and antioxidant properties of natural products which isolated from plant sources. The present study was therefore undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic influence of almond oil against Pb toxicity in male rats. The experimental rats were distributed into four groups. The first group was served as control. The second group was treated with 100 mg/kg body weight of Pb. The third group was subjected to almond oil (800 mg/kg body weight) and Pb. The fourth group was supplemented with almond oil. After six weeks, blood serum specimens were analyzed. In the second group, Pb produced a marked increase of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin, glucose, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, while the levels of total protein, albumin, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were significantly decreased. In contrast, the treatment with almond oil notably improved the biochemical changes and showed antioxidative effect. The present study disclosed the therapeutic influence of almond oil on the basis of its antioxidant effect against Pb toxicity. Moreover, these new findings indicated that the constituents of almond oil have a promising significant potential in biomedical and pharmacological studies.