Effect of lutein on methotrexate-induced oxidative lung damage in rats: a biochemical and histopathological assessment

A mechanistic review on growing multiple therapeutic applications of lutein and its global market research

Lutein is a naturally occurring carotenoid synthesized by plants and algae that has a beneficial effect on several biological processes and associated ailments. Its immediate application is in ophthalmology, where it significantly lowers the incidences of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It also has anti-inflammatory action, treatment of diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts, and enhancement of visual contrast. To critically assess lutein biosynthesis, therapeutic applicability, and market research literature. We have discussed its theoretical frameworks, experimental evidence, limitations, as well as clinical trial results, and future research prospects. The literature for this review article was mined and compiled by collecting and analyzing articles from several databases, including ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, Patentscope, and ClinicalTrials.gov published until March 30, 2022. Patent publications were identified using the search terms like IC:(C07C67/56) AND EN_AB:(lutein) OR EN_TI:(lutein) OR EN_AB:(extraction) OR EN_TI:(process). According to the literature, lutein is an essential nutrient given that it cannot be synthesized in the human body and acts as an antioxidant, affecting AMD, diabetic retinopathy, Rheumatic diseases, inflammation, and cancer. Due to inadequate production and laborious extraction, lutein is expensive despite its high demand and applicability. Market research predicts a 6.3% compound annual growth rate for lutein by 2032. Optimizing lutein extraction for high yield and purity is necessary. Lutein has proven applicability in various ailments as well as cosmetics that can be developed as a candidate drug for various diseases discussed in the review.

Lutein Production and Extraction from Microalgae: Recent Insights and Bioactive Potential

Microalgae have been reported to be excellent producers of bioactive molecules. Lutein is a pigment reported to have various beneficial effects for humans, and especially for eye well-being. In the current review, we summarize various methods that have been developed to optimize its extraction and bioactivities reported for human health. Several protective effects have been reported for lutein, including antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective activity. This review also reports attempts to increase lutein production by microalgae by changing culturing parameters or by using pilot-scale systems. Genetic engineering lutein production is also discussed. Considering the increasing aging of the worldwide population will create an increased need for lutein, a viable economic and eco-sustainable method to produce lutein is needed to face this market demand.

Cinnamic acid mitigates methotrexate-induced lung fibrosis in rats: comparative study with pirfenidone

PURPOSE

Lung fibrosis is a heterogeneous lung condition characterized by excessive accumulation of scarred tissue, leading to lung architecture destruction and restricted ventilation. The current work was conducted to examine the probable shielding influence of cinnamic acid against lung fibrosis induced by methotrexate.

METHODS

Rats were pre-treated with oral administration of cinnamic acid (50 mg/kg/day) for 14 days, whereas methotrexate (14 mg/kg) was orally given on the 5th and 12th days of the experiment. Pirfenidone (50 mg/kg/day) was used as a standard drug. At the end of the experiment, oxidative parameters (malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, nitric oxide, and total glutathione) and inflammatory mediators (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-8), as well as transforming growth factor-β and collagen content, as fibrosis indicators, were measured in lung tissue.

RESULTS

Our results revealed that cinnamic acid, as pirfenidone, effectively prevented the methotrexate-induced overt histopathological damage. This was associated with parallel improvements in oxidative, inflammatory, and fibrotic parameters measured. The outcomes of cinnamic acid administration were more or less the same as those of pirfenidone. In conclusion, pre-treatment with cinnamic acid protects against methotrexate-induced fibrosis, making it a promising prophylactic adjuvant therapy to methotrexate and protecting against its possible induction of lung fibrosis.

High-intensity intermittent training ameliorates methotrexate-induced acute lung injury

Inflammation and oxidative stress are recognized as two primary causes of lung damage induced by methotrexate, a drug used in the treatment of cancer and immunological diseases. This drug triggers the generation of oxidants, leading to lung injury. Given the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT), our aim was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of HIIT in mitigating methotrexate-induced lung damage in rats. Seventy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: CTL (Control), HIIT (High-intensity intermittent training), ALI (Acute Lung Injury), HIIT+ALI (pretreated with HIIT), and ALI + HIIT (treated with HIIT).HIIT sessions were conducted for 8 weeks. At the end of the study, assessments were made on malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (Gpx), myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin 10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), gene expression of T-bet, GATA3, FOXP3, lung wet/dry weight ratio, pulmonary capillary permeability, apoptosis (Caspase-3), and histopathological indices.Methotrexate administration resulted in increased levels of TNF-α, MPO, GATA3, caspase-3, and pulmonary edema indices, while reducing the levels of TAC, SOD, Gpx, IL-10, T-bet, and FOXP3. Pretreatment and treatment with HIIT reduced the levels of oxidant and inflammatory factors, pulmonary edema, and other histopathological indicators. Concurrently, HIIT increased the levels of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory factors.

Gene deletion of long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4 attenuates xenobiotic chemical-induced lung injury via the suppression of lipid peroxidation

Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase (ACSL) 4 converts polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) into their acyl-CoAs and plays an important role in maintaining PUFA-containing membrane phospholipids. Here we demonstrated decreases in various kinds of PUFA-containing phospholipid species in ACSL4-deficient murine lung. We then examined the effects of ACSL4 gene deletion on lung injury by treating mice with two pulmonary toxic chemicals: paraquat (PQ) and methotrexate (MTX). The results showed that ACSL4 deficiency attenuated PQ-induced acute lung lesion and decreased mortality. PQ-induced lung inflammation and neutrophil migration were also suppressed in ACSL4-deficient mice. PQ administration increased the levels of phospholipid hydroperoxides in the lung, but ACSL4 gene deletion suppressed their increment. We further found that ACSL4 deficiency attenuated MTX-induced pulmonary fibrosis. These results suggested that ACSL4 gene deletion might confer protection against pulmonary toxic chemical-induced lung injury by reducing PUFA-containing membrane phospholipids, leading to the suppression of lipid peroxidation. Inhibition of ACSL4 may be promising for the prevention and treatment of chemical-induced lung injury.

Comparison of preventive and therapeutic effects of continuous exercise on acute lung injury induced with methotrexate

Methotrexate (Mtx) is used to treat various diseases, including cancer, arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. However, it induces oxidative stress and pulmonary inflammation by stimulating production of reactive oxygen species and cytokines. Considering the positive effects of physical activity, our goal was to investigate the preventive and therapeutic role of continuous training (CT) on Mtx-induced lung injury in rats. The rats were divided into five groups of 14 animals: a control group (C); a continuous exercise training group (CT; healthy rats that experienced CT); an acute lung injury with Mtx group (ALI); a pretreatment group with CT (the rats experienced CT before ALI induction), and a post-treatment group with CT (the rats experienced CT after ALI induction). One dose of 20 mg/kg Mtx intraperitoneal was administered in the Mtx and training groups. Forty-eight hours after the last exercise session all rats were sacrificed. According to our results, the levels of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) and caspase-3 in the ALI group significantly increased compared to the control group, and the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), interleukin-10 (IL-10), forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3), and T-bet decreased. In contrast, compared to the acute lung injury group, pretreatment and treatment with CT reduced TNF-α, MDA, MPO, GATA3 and caspase-3 and increased SOD, GPX, TAC, IL-10, FOXP3 and T-bet levels. The effects of CT pretreatment were more significant than the effects of CT post-treatment. Continuous exercise training effectively reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines and ameliorated Mtx-induced injury, and the effects of CT pretreatment were more significant than the effects of CT post-treatment. NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Considering the high prevalence of lung injury in society, does exercise as a non-pharmacological intervention have ameliorating effects on lung injury? What is the main finding and its importance? Exercise can have healing effects on the lung after pulmonary injury through reducing inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis. Considering the lower side effects of exercise compared to drug treatments, the results of this study may be useful in the future.

Evaluation of the Protective Effect of Citral, Silymarin, and Thymoquinone on Methotrexate-Induced Lung Injury in Rats

Objectives

Several studies have reported that methotrexate is an anti-cancer and immunosuppressive drug leading to lung injury. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of silymarin, citral, and thymoquinone on methotrexate-induced pulmonary toxicity.

Methods

Forty-eight rats were divided into six groups, including healthy, Methotrexate, and drug carrier control groups and silymarin, citral, and thymoquinone treatment groups. At the end of the experiment, the studied rats were anesthetized and sacrificed by CO₂. Lung tissue samples were isolated to measure the antioxidant activity and histopathological evaluation.

Results

In the thymoquinone treatment group, the concentration of total antioxidant capacity and Malondialdehyde increased and decreased significantly, respectively, compared to the methotrexate group. The histopathological evaluation of the lung of the methotrexate group showed hemorrhage and congestion, the nodule-like accumulation of mononuclear inflammatory lymphocytes around the blood vessel, a small number of neutrophils around the blood vessel, and the inflammatory cells around the small vessels. However, no significant pathological alterations were observed in the treatment groups, especially the thymoquinone treatment group.

Conclusion

Thymoquinone has the greatest protective effect on methotrexate-induced lung injury, probably due to its antioxidant effect.

The effects of pentoxifylline and caffeic acid phenethyl ester on TNF-α and lung histopathology in D-galactosamine-induced pulmonary injury in rats

In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of pentoxifylline [PTX] and caffeic acid phenethyl ester [CAPE] in D-galactosamine [D-GAL]-induced pulmonary injury in rats. The rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, D-GAL, D-GAL+PTX, D-GAL+CAPE, PTX and CAPE. Each group included eight animals. Lung sections from the control, PTX and CAPE groups had a normal histological appearance. The D-GAL group showed histopathological changes in lung tissue, including haemorrhage, oedema, inter-alveolar septal thickening and widespread infiltration of inflammatory lymphocytes and macrophages. Administration of PTX and CAPE significantly reduced histopathological damage scores in the D-GAL+PTX and D-GAL+CAPE groups compared with the D-GAL group. PTX and CAPE treatment also significantly decreased malondialdehyde levels, increased levels of reduced GSH and increased catalase and superoxide dismutase activity in lung tissue samples. These results indicate that the destructive effects of D-GAL-induced inflammation in the rat lung are significantly reduced following administration of PTX and CAPE.

Dihydromyricetin Modulates Nrf2 and NF-κB Crosstalk to Alleviate Methotrexate-Induced Lung Toxicity

BACKGROUND

Methotrexate (MTX) is an effective anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory agent. However, it induces a serious pneumonitis that leads to irreversible fibrotic lung damage. This study addresses the protective role of the natural flavonoid dihydromyricetin (DHM) against MTX-induced pneumonitis via modulation of Nrf2/NF-κB signaling crosstalk.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: control, which received the vehicle; MTX, which received a single MTX (40 mg/kg, i.p) at day 9 of the experiment; (MTX + DHM), which received oral DHM (300 mg/kg) for 14 days and methotrexate (40 mg/kg, i.p) on the 9th day; and DHM, which received DHM (300 mg/kg, p.o) for 14 days.

RESULTS

Lung histopathological examination and scoring showed a decline in MTX-induced alveolar epithelial damage and decreased inflammatory cell infiltration by DHM treatment. Further, DHM significantly alleviated the oxidative stress by decreasing MDA while increasing GSH and SOD antioxidant levels. Additionally, DHM suppressed the pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis through decreasing levels of NF-κB, IL-1β, and TGF-β1 while promoting the expression of Nrf2, a positive regulator of antioxidant genes, and its downstream modulator, HO-1.

CONCLUSION

This study identified DHM as a promising therapeutic target against MTX-induced pneumonitis via activation of Nrf2 antioxidant signaling while suppressing the NF-κB mediated inflammatory pathways.

Ramelteon and mechanism of its restorative effect in an experimental lung disease model

Methotrexate (MTX) is an anticancer agent widely used in clinical practice for various oncological, rheumatological, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases. However, the side effects of MTX limit its usage for treatment. In addition, diffuse alveolar damage, interstitial pneumonia, fibrosis, and pleural reactions may be encountered in MTX-induced pulmonary toxicity. Ramelteon (RML), a melatonin receptor agonist, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and protective effects are shown by several studies. This study aimed to show the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects of RML and its effect on the airway surface liquid volume homeostasis via aquaporins (AQP) in MTX-induced lung injury. Thirty-two female Wistar Albino rats were grouped into four groups as control, MTX (20 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, a single dose), MTX + RML, and RML (10 mg/kg, via oral gavage, for seven days) groups. Once the experiment ended, the rats' lung tissues were taken for biochemical, genetic, histopathological, and immunohistochemical examinations. MTX significantly increased oxidative stress index and total oxidative status, and decreased total antioxidant status levels by 202.0%, 141.4%, 20.2%, respectively, relative to the control (p ˂ 0.001 for all). AQP-1/5, which is an indicator of lung damage, was also found to decrease significantly (p ˂ 0.001). In addition, a significant increase was observed in interleukin-1β, interferon-beta, and caspase-8 expressions and histopathological changes as a result of immunohistochemical and histochemical examinations (p ˂ 0.001). RML treatment ameliorated all these changes and significantly regressed lung damage. Our results suggest that RML might be used as a lung-protective agent in various models of lung and tissue injury.

The Protective Effects of Nutraceutical Components in Methotrexate-Induced Toxicity Models—An Overview

There are multiple concerns associated with methotrexate (MTX), widely recognized for anti-neoplastic and anti-inflammatory effects in life-threatening disease conditions, i.e., acute lymphoblastic leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis, due to long-term side effects and associated toxicity, which limits its valuable potential. MTX acts as an inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase, leading to suppression of purine and pyrimidine synthesis in high metabolic and turnover cells, targeting cancer and dysregulated immune cells. Due to low discrimination between neoplastic cells and naturally high turnover cells, MTX is prone to inhibiting the division of all fast-dividing cells, causing toxicity in multiple organs. Nutraceutical compounds are plant-based or food-derived compounds, used for their preventive and therapeutic role, ascertained in multiple organ dysfunctions, including cardiovascular disease, ischemic stroke, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Gut microbiota and microbiota-derived metabolites take part in multiple physiological processes, their dysregulation being involved in disease pathogenesis. Modulation of gut microbiota by using nutraceutical compounds represents a promising therapeutic direction to restore intestinal dysfunction associated with MTX treatment. In this review, we address the main organ dysfunctions induced by MTX treatment, and modulations of them by using nutraceutical compounds. Moreover, we revealed the protective mechanisms of nutraceuticals in MTX-induced intestinal dysfunctions by modulation of gut microbiota.

Untapping the protective role of carotenoids against respiratory diseases

BACKGROUND

Recent studies revealed a substantial role of carotenoids to treat respiratory diseases. This review aimed to give an updated overview of the investigational evidence on the preventive properties of carotenoids against respiratory diseases both in vitro and in vivo along with their pathophysiology and mechanisms of action.

HYPOTHESIS

Carotenoids as a potential therapeutic class of bioactive compounds to treat respiratory diseases.

RESULTS

Carotenoids such as β-carotene, lycopene, crocin, bixin, lutein, and astaxanthin show beneficial effects against chronic lung diseases (e.g., asthma, emphysema, fibrosis, COPD, acute lung injury, and lung cancer). Moreover, in vitro and in vivo studies also supported the preventive role of carotenoids. These carotenoids showed a beneficial role by activation of the NRF2/HO-1 pathway and inhibition of the NF-кB, MAPK, JAK/STAT-3, and PI3K/AKT pathways. Additionally, epidemiological studies also showed that dietary intake of carotenoids lowers the risk of lung diseases.

CONCLUSION

Carotenoids may be used as drugs or can be given in combination with other drugs to prevent and treat respiratory diseases. Although in vitro and in vivo results are encouraging, further well-conducted randomized clinical trials are required to approve carotenoids as drug candidates.

Encapsulated saponin by ferritin nanoparticles attenuates the murine pneumococcal pneumonia

Streptococcus pneumonia is classified as a gram-positive bacterial pathogen that causes asymptomatic or symptomatic respiratory infections. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of designed encapsulated saponin by ferritin nanoparticles in the healing progression of experimental bacterial pneumonia. The saponin encapsulated by ferritin followed the disassembly-reassembly process. Pneumonia was induced by the preparation of Streptococcus pneumonia. A total of 50 NMRI mice were divided into control, pneumonia, pneumonia + ferritin, pneumonia + saponin, and pneumonia + encapsulated saponin by ferritin nanoparticles (Nano Saponin) groups. ELISA, Real-time PCR, and Western blotting were used to measure sera IL-4 level, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (Tnf-α), and protein cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene expression, respectively. COX-2 protein expression, Tnf-α gene expression, and serum levels of IL-4 reduced compared to the pneumonia group. The histopathology results revealed that the rates of inflammation, mucus secretion, pulmonary hemorrhage, thickening of the alveoli wall, and secretion of inflammatory cells were lower in the Nano Saponin group than in the other groups. This study suggests that Glycyrrhiza glabra saponin and encapsulated saponin by ferritin nanoparticles oral consumption with anti-Tnf-α effect besides decreasing protein expression of COX-2 allows mice with pneumonia to recover.

Inhibitory effect of whey protein concentrate on SARS-CoV-2-targeted furin activity and spike protein-ACE2 binding in methotrexate-induced lung damage

This study aims to investigate the effects of whey proteins on SARS CoV-2 in methotrexate-induced lung tissue damage in rats. To determine the possible effects, rats were divided into four groups as control, control + whey, methotrexate (20 mg/kg, i.p.) and methotrexate + whey. Whey protein concentrate (2 g/kg, oral gavage) was administered for 10 days. Cytokine levels were measured and protein electrophoresis was carried out in serum samples. Lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide and glutathione level, and superoxide dismutase and glutathione S transferase activities were determined in lung samples. Inhibition of SARS CoV-2-targeted lung furin activity and SARS CoV-2 spike protein-angiotensin converting enzyme binding with whey protein concentrate were also measured in each group. In conclusion, whey protein concentrate improved methotrexate-induced lung damage and inhibited lung furin activity targeting SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 site cleavage and SARS CoV-2 spike protein-angiotensin converting enzyme binding. Whey proteins are potential protective candidates that inhibit SARS CoV-2-related interactions, even in methotrexate-induced lung injury. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Whey proteins have anticarcinogenic, antihypertensive, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and immunomodulating properties due to the protein, bioactive peptide, and essential amino acid content. Methotrexate is a folate antagonist and inhibits cell proliferation and purine synthesis. The combined use of whey protein concentrate and methotrexate may be an alternative in the development of new strategies to the treatment approaches against COVID-19. In addition, according to the results of this study, it is thought that the protective effect of whey proteins in healthy conditions before encountering the SARS CoV-2 may be higher than those who have never used it.

OUP accepted manuscript

Acute lung injury has been reported following various chemotherapeutic agents administration. Several pathways for lung injury have been speculated however, the exact mechanism of the lung injury induced by methotrexate (MTX) is yet to be defined. The potential protective effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GB), a Chinese herbal medicine, against MTX-induced lung injury is still not reported. Therefore, this study was performed to examine the possible implication of NLRP3 inflammasome and miRNA-21 in the pathogenesis of the MTX-induced lung injury as well as the protective role of GB in ameliorating the induced lung injury. Rats received GB (100 mg/kg/day, orally) for 10 days and MTX (20 mg/kg single dose, intraperitoneally) on the fifth day. MTX-induced lung injury was manifested by lung histopathology. MTX exhibited a marked increase in lung malondialdehyde beside a notable decrease in lung reduced glutathione. Moreover, MTX injection activated the lung NLRP3 inflammasome by significant upregulation of the NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 lung mRNA expressions and protein levels in addition to lung NF-kBp65 protein expression, and miRNA-21 expression when compared with the normal control group. However, GB administration mitigated lung injury and inhibited the NLRP3 activation. This study is the first report to reveal the involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome in the pathogenesis of MTX-induced lung injury and also to show that the administration of GB alleviates the lung injury induced by MTX via suppressing the oxidative stress, restoring the antioxidant activity, blocking the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 signaling and downregulating the NF-kBp65 protein expression ae well as miRNA-21 expression in lung tissue.

Antioxidant-rich fraction of Amomum subulatum fruits mitigates experimental methotrexate-induced oxidative stress by regulating TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 proinflammatory cytokines

The culinary spice Amomum subulatum was assessed for its phytochemical composition, in vitro antioxidant potential, and in vivo ameliorating effect against methotrexate (MTX)-induced toxicities. Phytochemical analysis of methanolic extract of A. subulatum dry fruits (MEAS) confirmed the presence of different bioactive secondary metabolites. MEAS scavenged reactive free radicals and inhibited lipid peroxidation in vitro. To confirm the antioxidant efficiency of MEAS, in vivo experiment was carried out in which MTX was administered to induce oxidative stress. Co-administration of MEAS reduced MTX-induced hepatic, renal, and pulmonary toxicities via significantly (p < .01) enhancing antioxidant status and reducing oxidative stress. MTX treatment significantly (p < .01) increased liver and kidney toxicity markers and increased proinflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) levels. However, co-administration of MEAS significantly (p < .01) reduced their levels, and tissue histopathology confirmed the protective effect of MEAS in maintaining normal tissue architecture following MTX treatment. Protective effect of MEAS is accredited to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties exhibited by bioactive compounds in MEAS. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Amomum subulatum (Black cardamom) is a folkloric and culinary spice used for its organoleptic, nutritional, and medicinal properties. This study demonstrated the phytochemical composition and antioxidant potential of methanolic extract of A. subulatum dry fruits (MEAS). Toxicities associated with MTX therapy limit its clinical application. MEAS attenuated methotrexate-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and associated organ damages, suggesting the possible therapeutic application of A. subulatum in reducing oxidative stress and associated diseases. Our results showed that A. subulatum is a potential functional food, which may be used for the betterment of health due to its richness in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals.

The effect of Hericium erinaceum on the prevention of chemically induced experimental colitis in rats

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the Hericium erinaceum on an experimental colitis model.

METHODS

Twenty-four Wistar albino were included in this study. Rats were divided into three groups. Group 1 (n = 8) was sham group. Group 2 is the group of chemically induced by intrarectal administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) resulting in colitis. Group 3 (n = 8) is the group that was treated 7 days before and 7 days after with H. erinaceum resulting in colitis. The activity of colitis was evaluated macroscopically and microscopically in rats. In other words, nitric oxide (NO) levels, malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin 6 (IL-6), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in addition to the myeloperoxidasem (MPO) activities was determined.

RESULTS

The rate of TNBS-induced colitis caused to increase the level of MDA activities meaningfully in the colitis group than the control group. The results indicated that MDA (p = 0.001), NO (p = 0.001), IL-6 (p = 0.001), MPO (p = 0.878), TNF-α (p = 0.001), and NF-κB levels of treatment group decreased in the blood and colon tissues because of the H. erinaceum treatment when compared to the colitis group. H. erinaceum treatment was related to the declining of MDA, NF-κB, NO, IL-6, and TNF-α levels.

CONCLUSION

H. erinaceum had a positive effect on the colitis by reducing oxidative damage in blood and tissue.

Role of nitric oxide donor in methotrexate-induced testicular injury via modulation of pro-inflammatory mediators, eNOS and P-glycoprotein

Methotrexate (MTX) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent but its clinical use is challenged with different forms of toxicities including testicular injury. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the potential protective effect of potassium channel opener, nicorandil (NIC) (3 and 10 mg/kg/day) on MTX-induced testicular injury in a rat model. Rats were randomly divided into four groups (nine rats each) and treated for 2 weeks as follows: (I) normal control (CON group) received vehicle, (II) model group (MTX group) given MTX (20 mg/kg) single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection dose on 11th day, (III) MTX + NLD group treated with NIC (3 mg/kg/day) orally for 2 weeks and MTX (20 mg/kg) single i.p. dose on 11th day, and (IV) MTX + NHD group treated with NIC (10 mg/kg/day) orally for 2 weeks and MTX (20 mg/kg) single i.p. injection on the 11th day. The testicular injury was assessed biochemically via serum testosterone, total antioxidant capacity, testicular oxidative stress parameters, P-glycoprotein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-1β. Furthermore, histopathological evaluation, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) immunoexpression, and detection of p53 expression level using Western blotting were performed. Results showed that MTX induced testicular injury which was proved by both biochemical and histopathological evaluations. Our results concluded that NIC pretreatment attenuated MTX-induced testicular injury via significantly increased eNOS immunoexpression, antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Interestingly, NIC high dose is more protective than low dose.