The Protective Role of Anise Oil in Oxidative Stress and Genotoxicity Produced in Favism

Disturbance of testosterone cycle in favism-induced male rats is prevented by pracaxi oil oral administration

OBJECTIVES

Favism is a metabolic disease while pracaxi oil is a strong antioxidant agent. This study evaluates anti-infertility activity and assists normal male fertilization of pracaxi oil in favism-induced male rats.

METHODS

A 36 male albino rats of six equal sets were each with 6 rats; Control, Pracaxi oil (1 mL), and Pracaxi oil (2 mL), Favism-induced male rats-, Pracaxi oil (1 mL) + Favism-induced male rats, and Pracaxi oil (2 mL) + Favism-induced male rats groups. Blood parameters, liver function, serum male hormones were determined. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, total protein, and cholesterol in testis were estimated. Sodium/potassium-ATPase and antioxidants in the hypothalamus, testis, and sperm were assessed. Sperm count, motility, and abnormality, and sperm monoclonal proliferating antibody Ki-67 were evaluated.

RESULTS

Favism decreased blood parameters, liver function, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, serum testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, sperm count and motility, sodium/potassium-ATPase activity while increased malondialdehyde, serum follicle stimulating hormone, sex hormone binding globulin, and luteinizing hormone, glucose-6-phosphatedehydrogenase, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, cholesterol, total protein, sperm abnormality, the percentage of spermatogonia, 1st spermatocyte, 2nd spermatocyte, and spermatid in the testis. Furthermore, two doses of pracaxi oil to favism-induced male rats back all of aforementioned parameters to be close control values where a higher dose of pracaxi oil had an efficient impact than a lower dose.

CONCLUSIONS

Pracaxi oil protects the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis, and preserves sperm quality in favism-induced male rats.

Palm oil amends serum female hormones, ovarian antioxidants, inflammatory markers, and DNA fragmentation in favism-induced female rats

BACKGROUND

Favism is a metabolic disease and this study evaluates the effectiveness of palm oil and its triacylglycerol constituent in favism-induced female rats to restore serum female hormones, ovarian antioxidants, inflammatory markers, and DNA fragmentation.

METHODS

Animals were 36 female albino rats. They classified to two equal (normal and favism) groups. The normal group was divided into three equal subgroups: the control, palm oil, and triacylglycerol subgroups. The normal rats were given 1 mL of saline, 1 mL of palm oil, and 1 mL of triacylglycerol orally, respectively. The Favism group was classified also into three equal subgroups: the favism group, the favism + palm oil, the Favism + triacylglycerol. The favism rats were given 1 mL of saline, 1 mL of palm oil, and 1 mL of triacylglycerol orally. For four weeks, all treatments were administered orally via oral gavage once daily.

RESULTS

The hemoglobin, hematocrite, the blood cells, glucose and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and liver function were decreased in favism. Female hormones such as serum luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, Estrone, Estriol, 17α-Estradiol, 17β-Estradiol, and Estradiol-17-β-stearate were decreased in favism. Ovarian antioxidants were decreased while ovarian inflammatory markers were increased in favism. Favism induced ovarian DNA apoptosis. Furthermore, oral administration with palm oil or its triacylglycerol constituent in favism-induced female rats restored all these parameters to be approached the control levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Palm oil restored serum female hormones, ovarian antioxidants, inflammatory markers, and DNA fragmentation in favism-induced female rats and this effect related to oil triacylglycerol constituent.

The Power of the Underutilized and Neglected Medicinal Plants and Herbs of the Middle East

The Middle east and North Africa harbour many native species with pharmaceutical and nutraceutical potential. Since the beginning of history, food and herbal medicinal plants have been an essential part of human lives and the traditional Middle Eastern healthcare system. The notable medicinal plants that have been mentioned in the Bible, which are common in West Asia and some regions of North Africa, are Aloe vera, anise, balm, cassia, cinnamon, cumin, flax, and fig. Chemical components of Aloe vera are aloin, sinapinic acid, catechin, chromone, myricetin, quercitrin and syringic acid. Anethole, safrole, and estragole are the main chemical components of anise. The chemical components of cassia are coumarin, emodin, cinnamyl alcohol, and cinnamaldehyde. The major chemical ingredients of cumin are terpinene, cuminaldehyde, sabinene, thujene, and thymoquinone. The goal of this article is to review the considerable health benefits and pharmaceutical benefits of medicinal herbs and plants that have been neglected and underutilized in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as to promote their utilization. On the basis of the results, the experimented neglected medicinal plant can offer various advantages when used together with conventional medicinal treatments for various health conditions, such as palliative care in managing the side effects of conventional treatments, access to a wider range of treatments, increased patient satisfaction, and improved emotional and mental well-being. Moreover, consuming medicinal plants may help to manage and prevent diabetes, cancer, and heart disease with notable anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Emerging Biopharmaceuticals from Pimpinella Genus

Evolved over eons to encode biological assays, plants-derived natural products are still the first dawn of drugs. Most researchers have focused on natural compounds derived from commonly used Pimpinella species, such as P. anisum, P. thellungiana, P. saxifrage, and P. brachycarpa, to investigate their antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Ethnopharmacological studies demonstrated that the genus Pimpinella has the homology characteristics of medicine and food and mainly in the therapy of gastrointestinal dysfunction, respiratory diseases, deworming, and diuresis. The natural product investigation of Pimpinella spp. revealed numerous natural products containing phenylpropanoids, terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarins, sterols, and organic acids. These natural products have the potential to provide future drugs against crucial diseases, such as cancer, hypertension, microbial and insectile infections, and severe inflammations. It is an upcoming field of research to probe a novel and pharmaceutically clinical value on compounds from the genus Pimpinella. In this review, we attempt to summarize the present knowledge on the traditional applications, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of more than twenty-five species of the genus Pimpinella.

Almond oil restores blood parameters, liver function, blood and liver antioxidants and DNA, and liver histology more efficiently than olive oil in favism

OBJECTIVES

Favism is a metabolic disease and this study aimed to compare between olive oil and almond oil to ameliorate blood parameters, liver function, blood and liver antioxidants and DNA, and liver histology in favism rats.

METHODS

Animals were 36 male albino rats. They classified to 2 equal (normal and favism) groups. Normal group classified to 3 equal subgroups; Control, Olive oil, and Almond oil subgroups: normal rats orally administrated with 1 mL/100 g of saline, olive oil, and almond oil, respectively. Favism group was subdivided into 3 equal subgroup; favism, favism + olive oil, and favism + almond oil subgroups: favism rats orally administrated with no treatment, 1 mL/100 g olive oil, and 1 mL/100 g almond oil, respectively. All treatments were administrated orally by oral gavage once a day for 1 month.

RESULTS

The hemoglobin, hematocrite, the blood cells, glucose and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, aspartate and alanine aminotransferase, total proteins, albumin, and globulin in serum were decreased in favism. The glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase in blood and liver were decreased in favism while alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin in serum were increased in favism. The blood and liver malondialdehyde was increased in favism. Furthermore, oral administration with both oils in favism rats restored all these parameters to be approached the control levels. Also, both oils preserved blood and liver DNA and liver histology.

CONCLUSIONS

Almond oil restored blood parameters, liver function, blood and liver antioxidants and DNA, and liver histology more efficiently than olive oil in favism.

Artemisia restores systolic blood pressure, attenuates serum sodium/potassium levels and prevents cardiac oxidative stress in hypertension

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate systolic blood pressure (SBP), serum sodium/potassium levels and cardiac antioxidants after Artemisia herba-alba oral administration in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR).

Design/methodology/approach

Hypertension is a silent killer disease. The SHR model was used in this study due to the similarity of high blood pressure in human and rat. The SBP, serum sodium and potassium, urinary sodium and potassium, cardiac antioxidants and heart histology were examined in SHR after oral administration with 10 and 20% of the LD50 of Artemisia herba-alba during four weeks.

Findings

The LD50 of Artemisia herba-alba was found to be 1000 mg/kg. Doses of 100 mg/kg (10% LD50) and 200 mg/kg (20% LD50) were considered in the present study. The oral administration of SHR rats with Artemisia extract at 100 and 200 mg/kg decreased (p < 0.01) the body weights, SBP and serum sodium and potassium. Meanwhile, cardiac superoxide dismutase and gluthatione peroxidase were increased in SHR-treated rats. Histology of SHR cardiac tissues showed tissue degenerative but oral intake of 100 and 200 mg/kg artemisia exhibited normal muscle fibers, acidophilic cytoplasm and central nuclei.

Originality/value

The cardiovascular diseases are the first reason for high death rate in Western countries and collapsing economies due to hypertensive patients suffering high health-care costs. The advantage of hypertension Herba l treatment occurred due to its cheap and available source. Artemisia herba-alba leaves restored SBP, attenuated serum sodium/potassium levels and prevented cardiac oxidative stress in SHR.

Oral supplementation with geranium oil or anise oil ameliorates depressed rat-related symptoms through oils antioxidant effects

Background Depression is a psychiatric disease condition and the chronic mild stress (CMS) model is a well-known and valuable animal model of depression. Geranium oil and anise oil were chosen for such a study. The aim of this research was to establish the geranium oil and anise oil effect to ameliorate CMS-related symptoms. Methods This research included 80 male albino rats each group of 10 rats and the animals were divided into two major groups: normal and CMS. The normal group was subdivided into four (control, geranium oil, anise oil and venlafaxine drug) subgroups treated orally with saline, geranium oil, anise oil and venlafaxine drug, respectively, for 4 weeks. The CMS group was subdivided into four (CMS without any treatment, CMS + geranium oil, CMS + anise oil and CMS + venlafaxine drug) subgroups treated orally with geranium oil, anise oil and venlafaxine drug, respectively, for 4 weeks. Results The sucrose consumption in sucrose preference test, the distance traveled test and center square entries test were decreased, while center square duration test, immobility time in tail suspension test and floating time in forced swimming test were increased in CMS. The superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase and catalase levels decreased but malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels increased in brain cerebral cortex and hippocampus areas in CMS. The oral intake of geranium oil and anise oil pushes all these parameters to approach the control levels. These results were supported by histopathological investigations of both brain cerebral cortex and hippocampus tissues. Conclusions Geranium oil and anise oil ameliorate CMS-related symptoms and this effect were related to the antioxidant effects of oils.

Evaluating of β-carotene role in ameliorating of favism-induced disturbances in blood and testis

Background

Favism is an acute hemolytic anemia occurs in glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6-PD) deficient individuals. β-Carotene occurs in vegetables such as carrots. This study aimed to establish the therapeutic effect of β-carotene to rebalance the testicular and blood proteins disturbances in favism.

Methods

Forty-eight male rats were divided into six equal groups; Groups 1, 2 and 3: normal rats were daily oral administrated with 1 ml saline, 1 ml corn oil and β-carotene (60 mg/kg dissolved in 1 ml corn oil), respectively, once a day over 15 days period. Group 4 (favism-induced group): normal rats injected intraperitoneal (ip) with diethyl maleate (5 μl/rat) and after 1 h injected ip with 1/3 LD50 of faba beans ethanolic extract for 15 day to induce favism. Groups 5 and 6: favism-induced rats were daily oral administered with 30 and 60 mg/kg β-carotene dissolved in 1 ml corn oil, respectively, once a day over 15 days.

Results

The results revealed that oral administration of corn oil or β-carotene into normal rats over 15 days period did not induce any change. In favism-induced groups, hematological parameters, liver function, serum glucose, G6-PD, luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones and sex-hormone binding globulin showed significant increase. Moreover, serum testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, testicular G6-PD, 3β-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase, cholesterol and total protein were decreased. Treatment with both doses of β-carotene into favism groups restored all the abovementioned parameters to approach normal values. Favism inhibited blood proteins while β-carotene treatment into favism group stopped blood cells damage and blood proteins inhibition. These results were supported by histological studies.

Conclusions

In conclusion, taken β-carotene into favism group abolished testicular and blood proteins disturbances and this effect was dose dependent.

Supplementation of α-Tocopherol Attenuates Minerals Disturbance, Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis Occurring in Favism

The favism is a metabolic disease that characterized with an acute hemolytic anemia where α-tocopherol is a type of tocopherol accumulated inside the human body. The objective of such a study was established to evaluate the effect of α-tocopherol in favism disorders. A total of 75 human cases were divided into 5 groups as follow; group 1 normal cases without any treatment and group 2 normal cases orally administrated α-tocopherol (200 mg/kg) once a day over 30 days period. Group 3 favism patients without any treatment. Groups 4 and 5 favism patients orally administrated 100 and 200 mg α-tocopherol/kg, respectively once a day over 30 days period. The results obtained revealed that oral administration of α-tocopherol into normal cases over 30 days period did not induce any biological change. In favism, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red and white blood cells, serum glucose, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, total protein, albumin, globulin, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, blood glutathione, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and serum calcium, phosphorous, sodium, potassium and chloride levels were significantly decreased. On the other hand, serum alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, selenium, zinc, manganese, copper and iron, malondialdehyde levels showed significant increase in favism. Supplementation with α-tocopherol into favism restores all the above mentioned parameters to approach the normal levels. Also, α-tocopherol has anti-apoptotic effect in favism. In conclusion, α-tocopherol attenuates minerals disturbance, oxidative stress and apoptosis occurring in favism.