Ipomoea aquatica extract reduces hepatotoxicity by antioxidative properties following dichlorvos administration in rats

Synthesized novel chromogenic reagent and sensor: Detection and identification of dichlorvos

We developed a novel chromogenic reagent and sensor by selective approach, for the detection and identification of dichlorvos, which we tested with the thin layer chromatography method. For the first time, we reported in situ-generated glyoxal as a hydrolysis product, which then interacts with isoniazid to produce a yellow-colored cyclic compound. We used well-known spectroscopic techniques to confirm the chemical identity of the final product. We initially investigated the reaction using a variety of approaches, followed by attempts to establish the reaction mechanism using Density Functional Theory by Gaussian software.

Cultivation and conservation of underutilized medicinal and agricultural plants in India

In the current era, the increased demand of healthy food rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and those having therapeutic value has led to over-exploitation of major agricultural and medicinal plants. This overburden can be reduced by an efficient utilization of underutilized plants with nutritional and medicinal importance. These underutilized plants are neglected or undervalued ‘minor’ crops having low production and sale. These less documented and less studied group of underutilized plants are considered as a rich source of various phytochemicals and secondary metabolites having bioactive compounds. These underutilized wild herbs that have not gained much attention from commercial as well as scientific community were selected for the present study. The present review elucidates the significance of these plants and recent biotechnological methods to conserve them. The present study on such food and medically important herbs would contribute in a wide recognition of their benefits for our society.

Suppression of uric acid generation and blockade of glutathione dysregulation by L-arginine ameliorates dichlorvos-induced oxidative hepatorenal damage in rats

Dichlorvos is a known risk factor for organ toxicity. The liver and kidney are essential metabolic tissues but it is unclear whether or not there is associated redox dyshomeostasis in both organs in physiological and pathological states. Uric acid accumulation and glutathione dysregulation have been implicated in the aetiopathogenesis of organ damage. The antioxidant potentials of L-arginine have been shown in various conditions. The present study was thus designed to investigate the synchrony in hepatic and renal uric acid and glutathione status in dichlorvos-induced hepatorenal damage and to probe the possible therapeutic role of L-arginine. Twenty-one male Wistar rats were treated with standard rat diet and water, dichlorvos, or dichlorvos and L-arginine. Our findings revealed that dichlorvos significantly impaired hepatic and renal functions, increased hepatic and renal malondialdehyde, but reduced glutathione and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. These events were accompanied by increased accumulation of plasma, hepatic, and renal uric acid as well as reduced body weight gain, and hepatic and renal weights. Histopathological examinations revealed hepatic and renal architectural derangement and cellular necrosis and degeneration in dichlorvos-exposed rats. Interestingly, L-arginine reversed dichlorvos-induced systemic, hepatic and renal synchronous redox dyshomeostasis. L-arginine administration also improved hepatic and renal cytoarchitecture. It is thus concluded that dichlorvos triggered synchronous uric acid generation and glutathione alterations in the liver and kidney. L-arginine confers protection against dichlorvos-induced hepatorenal damage via suppression of uric acid generation and blockade of glutathione dysregulation.

Codeine-induced hepatic injury is via oxido-inflammatory damage and caspase-3-mediated apoptosis

Codeine (3-methylmorphine) is a known analgesic, antitussive, and antidiarrheal drug that is often abused for recreational purposes. It is metabolized in the liver via the cytochrome P450 system and thus hypothesized to induce hepatic injury especially when misused. Thus, the present study aimed at investigating changes in liver function, hepatic enzyme biomarker, proton pumps, antioxidant status, free radicals and TNF-α levels, as well as caspase 3 activities and hepatic DNA fragmentation after 6 weeks of oral codeine administration. Twenty-one male rabbits were randomized into 3 groups (n = 7). The control group had 1 ml of normal saline, while the low-dose and high-dose codeine groups received 4 and 10 mg/kg b.w of codeine respectively daily. The codeine-treated animals had significantly lower levels of serum proteins, increased activities of hepatic enzyme biomarkers and caspase 3, raised hepatic concentrations of free radicals and TNF-α, as well as increased hepatic DNA fragmentation. Codeine treatment also led to a significant decline in hepatic weight, activities of hepatic enzymatic antioxidant, Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase and Ca²⁺-ATPase. These alterations were more pronounced in high-dose codeine treated animals than in the low-dose group. Histopathological study showed moderate fatty degeneration of hepatic parenchyma, infiltration of the portal tract by inflammatory cells with dense collagen fibre deposition in codeine-treated animals. The present study revealed that codeine induced liver injury and hepatic DNA damage via caspase 3-dependent signaling by suppressing hepatic antioxidant status and enhancing free radical and TNF-α generation.