Effects of Etlingera elatior extracts on lead acetate-induced testicular damage: A morphological and biochemical study

Chlorella vulgaris or Spirulina platensis mitigate lead acetate-induced testicular oxidative stress and apoptosis with regard to androgen receptor expression in rats

The current research was constructed to throw the light on the protective possibility of Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) and Spirulina platensis (S. platensis) against lead acetate-promoted testicular dysfunction in male rats. Forty rats were classified into four groups: (i) control, (ii) rats received lead acetate (30 mg/kg bw), (iii) rats concomitantly received lead acetate and C. vulgaris (300 mg/kg bw), (vi) rats were simultaneously treated with lead acetate and S. platensis (300 mg/kg bw) via oral gavage for 8 weeks. Lead acetate promoted testicular injury as expressed with fall in reproductive organ weights and gonadosomatic index (GSI). Lead acetate disrupted spermatogenesis as indicated by sperm cell count reduction and increased sperm malformation percentage. Lead acetate-deteriorated steroidogenesis is evoked by minimized serum testosterone along with maximized follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. Testicular oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptotic cascades are revealed by elevated acid phosphatase (ACP) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) serum leakage, declined testicular total antioxidative capacity (TAC) with elevated total oxidative capacity (TOC), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), caspase-3 levels, lessened androgen receptor (AR) expression, and histopathological lesions against control. Our research highlights that C. vulgaris or S. platensis therapy can modulate lead acetate-promoted testicular dysfunction via their antioxidant activity as expressed by elevated TAC and reduced TOC, immunomodulatory effect as indicated by lessened TNF-α level, and anti-apoptotic potential that was revealed by minimized caspase-3 levels. As well as restoration of testicular histoarchitecture, androgen receptor, steroidogenesis, and spermatogenesis were detected with better impacts to S. platensis comparing with C. vulgaris. Therefore, further clinical trials are needed to test S. platensis and C. vulgaris as a promising candidate in treating male infertility.

Torch Ginger (<I>Etlingera elatior</I>): A Review on its Botanical Aspects, Phytoconstituents and Pharmacological Activities

In order to propose a prospective candidate for novel complementary phytopharmaceuticals, one of Zingiberaceae family plant, Etlingeraelatior or torch ginger, was being evaluated. The aim of this review was to provide a comprehensive literature research focused on the botanical aspects, nutritional quality, phytoconstituents and pharmacological activities of E. elatior. Researches on this particular plant were conducted in Malaysia (55.5%), Indonesia (33.3%), Thailand (8.3%) and Singapore (2.7%). This review article has revealed that the most prominent pharmacological activities were anti-microbial, anti-oxidant and anti-tumor activities in consistent with the dominated levels of flavonoids, terpenoids and phenols. However, extended and integrated research should be converged towards intensive investigations concerning to isolated phytoconstituents and its bioactivities, pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, molecular mechanism of its specific pharmacological activities, safety and efficacy studies for further development.

Plasmacatalytic removal of lead acetate assisted by precipitation

The Gliding Arc Discharge (GAD) is an efficient non-thermal plasma technique able to degrade organic compounds dispersed in water at atmospheric pressure. The degradation of the organometallic lead acetate (PbAc) in aqueous solution was performed by two distinct plasmageneous processes: GAD and GAD/TiO2. The global oxidation of the organic matter was followed by Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and the mineralization was determined by the Total Organic Carbon (TOC). The Pb(2+) ions released during the degradation process were measured by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). For 2h of GAD treatment, the degradation rate of PbAc (10mM) reached 83% and for the same duration of GAD/TiO2 process ([TiO2]=1gL(-1)), it reached 93%. The release of Pb(2+) ions in the solution was respectively of 95% and 57% for GAD and GAD/TiO2 processes. The released Pb(2+) ions were removed by precipitation process in a basic medium at pH=11.1. A reaction mechanism was proposed to explain the PbAc molecule degradation and the Pb(2+) elimination.

Morphological study of bone marrow to assess the effects of lead acetate on haemopoiesis and aplasia and the ameliorating role of Carica papaya extract

Lead causes damage to the body by inducing oxidative stress. The sites of damage include the bone marrow, where marrow hypoplasia and osteosclerosis may be observed. Leaves of Carica papaya, which have antioxidant and haemopoietic properties, were tested against the effect of lead acetate in experimental rats. The rats were divided into 8 groups; control, lead acetate only, Carica papaya (50 mg and 200 mg), post-treatment with Carica papaya (50 mg and 200 mg) following lead acetate administration and pre-treatment with Carica papaya (50 mg and 200 mg) followed by lead acetate administration. The substances were administered for 14 days. The effects were evaluated by measuring protein carbonyl content (PCC) and glutathione content (GC) in the bone marrow. Histological changes in the bone marrow were also observed. The results showed that Carica papaya induced a significant reduction in the PCC activity and significantly increased the GC in the bone marrow. Carica papaya also improved the histology of the bone marrow compared with that of the lead acetate-treated group. In summary, Carica papaya was effective against the oxidative damage caused by lead acetate in the bone marrow and had a stimulatory effect on haemopoiesis.