Optimization of phenylhydrazine induced hyperbilirubinemia in experimental rabbit

Zinc oxide nanoparticles-doped curcumin-assisted recovery of rheumatoid arthritis and antioxidant status in experimental rabbits

Introduction

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and synovial joint destruction.

Aims

The current study investigated the possible beneficial effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles doped curcumin (ZnONPs-DC) on the recovery of RA and antioxidant status of experimental rabbits.

Methods

RA was induced in experimental rabbits by injecting complete Freund's adjuvant and collagen type-II emulsion (100 μL/kg body weight) in the base of their tail. Arthritic rabbits were orally treated with ZnONPs, curcumin, and ZnONPs-DC(250 μL/kg bodyweight). Serumsamples fromthe control and study groupswere collected before and afterRAinduction and after treatment. The sera were subjected to analysis of biological markers of RA and antioxidant status.

Results

The complete Freund's adjuvant and collagen type II treatment resulted in positive rheumatoid factor and C-reactive protein elevated oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant potential. Each treatment showed the absence of rheumatoid factor and C-reactive protein decreased oxidative stress and improved antioxidant potential compared to the control. However, ZnONPs-DC treatment showed a comparatively higher decline in serum malondialdehyde MDA content and an elevation in the antioxidant activity of RA animals.

Conclusions

In conclusion, using zinc oxide nanoparticles-doped curcumin may be an effective anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory drug in controlling RA.

Hematopoietic effect of echinochrome on phenylhydrazine-induced hemolytic anemia in rats

Background

Hemolytic anemia (HA) is a serious health condition resulting from reduced erythrocytes' average life span. Echinochrome (Ech) is a dark-red pigment found in shells and spines of sea urchins.

Aim

Studying the potential therapeutic effect of Ech on phenylhydrazine (PHZ)-induced HA in rats.

Methods

Eighteen rats were divided into three groups (n = 6): the control group, the phenylhydrazine-induced HA group and the Ech group, injected intraperitoneally with PHZ and supplemented with oral Ech daily for 6 days.

Results

Ech resulted in a considerable increase in RBCs, WBCs, and platelets counts, hemoglobin, reduced glutathione, catalase, and glutathione-S-transferase levels, and a significant decrease in aspartate & alanine aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, bilirubin, creatinine, urea, urate, malondialdehyde & nitric oxide levels in anemic rats. Histopathological examination of liver and kidney tissue samples showed marked improvement.

Conclusion

Ech ameliorated phenylhydrazine-induced HA with a hepatorenal protective effect owing to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Fe(III)-Rhamnoxylan-A Novel High Spin Fe(III) Octahedral Complex Having Versatile Physical and Biological Properties

An iron (III) complex with rhamnoxylan, a hemicellulose from Salvia plebeia seeds, was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic and magnetic susceptibility measurements, thermal analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The rhamnoxylan was found to be a branched hemicellulose consisting of β-1,4-linked xylose main chain and rhamnose attached to the chain at β-1,3 positions. The complex was found to contain 18.8% w/w iron. A high-spin octahedral geometry of Fe3+ was indicated by the electronic absorption spectrum of the complex. In other experiments, the complex exhibited good electrical and magnetic properties. In vivo efficacy, as hematinic, of the complex in induced anemia was demonstrated equivalent to that of iron protein succinylate (taken as standard) as evidenced by raised red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit and total iron in rabbit. The complex was found to be non-toxic with LD50 > 5000 mg kg−1 body weight in rabbit. Thus, iron(III)-rhamnoxylan hold the potential for application as hematinic for treatment of iron deficiency anemia.

Optimization of zinc oxide nanoparticle-catalyzed in vitro bilirubin photolysis and in vivo treatment of hyperbilirubinemia

Aim: To optimize the Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs)-catalyzed in vitro photolysis of bilirubin and to test their effect on bilirubin clearance in vivo. Materials & methods: ZnONPs, synthesized in an alkaline medium, were characterized. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the in vitro photolysis catalyzed by the nanoparticles (NPs). Blood samples from phenylhydrazine-induced hyperbilirubinemic rabbits which had been administered ZnONPs and UV light were analyzed to assess in vivo clearance of bilirubin. Results: The ZnONP-assisted UV treatment showed the linear and quadratic positive effects on the in vitro bilirubin photolysis with an optimal photolysis of bilirubin at 225 mg dl^-1 concentration of ZnONPs and a UV exposure of 1.80 h. The ZnONP-assisted phototherapy of hyperbilirubinemic animals was also found to be more effective for in vivo clearance of bilirubin than phototherapy alone. Conclusion: After further trials, ZnONP-assisted phototherapy could be a potential treatment for hyperbilirubinemia in humans.

Leaf and root bark extracts of Ziziphus abyssinica Hochst ex. A. Rich (Rhamnaceae) ameliorate hepatic, renal and splenic injuries induced by phenylhydrazine in rats

Objectives Ziziphus abyssinica (ZA) is employed in managing several ailments in Traditional African Medicine. Scientific evaluations are necessary to ascertain the medicinal potential of ZA as a source of new drug molecules. This study investigated the possible therapeutic benefit of ZA leaf (ZAL) and root bark (ZARB) extracts in an experimental model of multi-organ injuries induced by phenylhydrazine (PHZ). Methods Hyperbilirubinaemia, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and splenic injuries were induced by pretreating albino rats with PHZ (40 mg/kg, p.o.) for two alternate days. Afterward, six out of the eight groups of rats (n = 5) used were treated with either ZAL or ZARB (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for seven days. Naïve control rats received saline without PHZ whereas negative control group received saline after PHZ. After one week of treatment, rats were sacrificed and blood collected for assessment of haematological and biochemical parameters. Liver, kidney and spleen sections were processed for histology and examined under light microscope. Results Data indicate that PHZ significantly (p < 0.05) increased total bilirubin, serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and BUN/creatinine ratio whereas red blood cell count was significantly reduced. These anomalies were significantly reversed in rats treated with ZAL or ZARB. The therapeutic effect of the extracts was supported by photomicrographs of the liver, kidney, and spleen of rats which revealed recovery from PHZ-mediated pyknosis, glomerular degeneration and multiple splenic necrosis respectively. Conclusions Overall, data from this study suggest that ZA may be useful in multiple organ injuries associated with PHZ-like xenobiotic toxicity.

Optimization of fermentation conditions through response surface methodology for enhanced antibacterial metabolite production by Streptomyces sp. 1-14 from cassava rhizosphere

Streptomyces species 1-14 isolated from cassava rhizosphere soil were evaluated for their antibacterial efficacy against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense race 4 (FOC4). Of the 63 strains tested, thirteen exhibited potent antibacterial properties and were further screened against eight fungal pathogens. The strain that showed maximum inhibition against all of the test pathogens was identified by 16S rDNA sequencing as Streptomyces sp. 1-14, was selected for further studies. Through the propagation of Streptomyces sp. 1-14 in soil under simulated conditions, we found that FOC4 did not significantly influence the multiplication and survival of Streptomyces sp. 1-14, while indigenous microorganisms in the soil did significantly influence Streptomyces sp. 1-14 populations. To achieve maximum metabolite production, the growth of Streptomyces 1-14 was optimized through response surface methodology employing Plackett-Burman design, path of steepest ascent determinations and Box-Behnken design. The final optimized fermentation conditions (g/L) included: glucose, 38.877; CaCl2•2H2O, 0.161; temperature, 29.97°C; and inoculation amount, 8.93%. This optimization resulted in an antibacterial activity of 56.13% against FOC4, which was 12.33% higher than that before optimization (43.80%). The results obtained using response surface methodology to optimize the fermentation medium had a significant effect on the production of bioactive metabolites by Streptomyces sp. 1-14. Moreover, during fermentation and storage, pH, light, storage temperature, etc., must be closely monitored to reduce the formation of fermentation products with reduced antibacterial activity. This method is useful for further investigations of the production of anti-FOC4 substances, and could be used to develop bio-control agents to suppress or control banana fusarium wilt.