The potency of chitosan-Pinus merkusii extract nanoparticle as the antioxidant and anti-caspase 3 on lead acetate-induced nephrotoxicity in rat

Ginkgo biloba supplement abates lead-induced endothelial and testicular dysfunction in Wistar rats via up-regulation of Bcl-2 protein expression, pituitary-testicular hormones and down-regulation of oxido-inflammatory reactions

BACKGROUND

Apoptotic and oxido-inflammatory pathways have been found to be up-regulated in lead acetate poisoning which has been associated to endothelial and testicular dysfunctions. It is yet uncertain, nevertheless, if treatment with Ginkgo biloba supplements (GBS), a flavonoid-rich natural product can lessen the adverse effects of lead on endothelial and testicular functions. This study investigated the impact of Ginkgo biloba supplementation on lead-induced endothelial and testicular dysfunctions.

METHODS

The animals were treated with GBS (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg orally) for 14 days following oral exposure to lead acetate (25 mg/kg) for 14 days. After euthanasia, blood samples, epididymal sperm, testes, and aorta were collected. The quantities of the hormones (testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), as well as the anti-apoptotic, oxidative, nitrergic, inflammatory markers, were then determined using immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and conventional biochemical methods.

RESULTS

GBS reduced lead-induced oxidative stress by increasing the levels of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), while lowering malondialdehyde (MDA) in endothelium and testicular cells. Normal testicular weight was restored by GBS which also decreased endothelial endothelin-I and increased nitrite levels. TNF-α and IL-6 were decreased while Bcl-2 protein expression was enhanced. Lead-induced alterations in reproductive hormones (FSH, LH, and testosterone) were also restored to normal.

CONCLUSION

According to our result, using Ginkgo biloba supplement prevented lead from causing endothelial and testicular dysfunction by raising pituitary-testicular hormone levels, boosting Bcl-2 protein expression and lowering oxidative and inflammatory stress in the endothelium and testes.

Up-regulation of B-cell lymphoma factor-2 expression, inhibition of oxidative stress and down-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines are involved in the protective effect of cabbage (Brassica oleracea) juice in lead-induced endothelial dysfunction in rats

BACKGROUND

Oxido-inflammatory stress and dysregulation of nitric oxide (NO) system has been implicated in lead toxicity. Cabbage is an antioxidant-rich household vegetable with plethora of therapeutic potentials. The present study investigated the anti-oxido-inflammatory activity of cabbage in lead-induced endothelial dysfunction.

METHODS

Twenty (20) male Wistar rats were selected into four groups (n = 5) and treated with distilled water (1 mL/100 g b.wt), lead acetate (25 mg/kg b.wt), cabbage juice (1 mL/100 g b.wt) and lead acetate (25 mg/kg b.wt) plus cabbage juice (1 mL/100 g b.wt) respectively. Treatment was done orally for 28 days, thereafter, oxidative stress (SOD, CAT, GSH, and MDA), inflammatory (TNF-α and IL-6) and apoptotic (Bcl-2) markers were assayed using standard biochemical assays as well as histoarchitectural study of the endothelium.

RESULTS

The results showed that they were significant increase in MDA, ET-1, TNF-α and IL-6 while SOD, GSH, CAT, NO and Bcl-2 protein expression were decreased in Lead exposed animals. Endothelial histoarchitecture was also altered. Following Cabbage juice treatment, MDA, ET-I, TNF-α and IL-6 were down-regulated while SOD, GSH, CAT, NO and Bcl-2 protein expression were up-regulated. Histoarchitecture was significantly recovered.

CONCLUSION

The study suggests that cabbage juice could mitigates Lead-induced endothelial dysfunction by modulating oxido-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic mediators.

DATA AVAILABILITY

All data are available upon request.

Antioxidative Stress and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Fucoidan Nanoparticles against Nephropathy of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes in Rats

Oxidative stress and inflammation have been shown to interact and have the role of importance in causing diabetic nephropathy complications. Fucoidan has a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammation effect, so the aim of this research was to evaluate the antioxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effect of fucoidan nanoparticles against nephropathy of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. Fucoidan nanoparticles are characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The rats were randomized into the control group (were given with aquadest), streptozotocin group (were injected with streptozotocin at a dose of 55 mg/kg BW i.p.), and fucoidan nanoparticle group (were given orally with fucoidan at doses 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg BW and then injected streptozotocin at a dose of 55 mg/kg BW i.p.). The blood was taken to evaluate the level of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine. The kidney tissues were collected to measure malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) by ELISA; superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) by immunohistochemical staining and histological observation by Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) staining. The DLS demonstrated that the fucoidan nanoparticle size was 330.6 ± 58.8 nm, and the SEM showed an irregular shape with a rough surface image. The administration of streptozotocin significantly increased BUN, creatinine, MDA, IL-6, and TNF-α levels, whereas expression of SOD and GPx decreased as compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The administration of fucoidan nanoparticles only at a dose of 300 mg/kg BW significantly decreases BUN, creatinine, MDA, IL-6, and TNF-α levels. However, fucoidan nanoparticles at a dose of 300 mg/kg BW significantly increase SOD and GPx expression as compared with the streptozotocin group (p < 0.05). The administration of streptozotocin caused the loss of normal kidney cell structure and necrosis, while treatment with fucoidan nanoparticles improved renal cell necrosis. It can be concluded that fucoidan nanoparticles are promising agents in terms of the protection afforded against streptozotocin-induced nephropathy through antioxidative stress by decreasing MDA and increasing SOD and GPx and through anti-inflammatory effect by decreasing levels of IL-6 and TNF-α.

Antioxidative Stress and Antiapoptosis Effect of Chitosan Nanoparticles to Protect Cardiac Cell Damage on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rat

The antioxidant can inhibit oxidative stress and apoptosis, which has a role in an important mechanism on diabetic-induced cardiac cell damage. The research goal was to prove the antioxidative stress and antiapoptosis effect of chitosan nanoparticles as a cardioprotector in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) characterize the chitosan nanoparticles. This research is a laboratory experiment which consists of the control group (rats were given distilled water), the streptozotocin group (rats were injected streptozotocin at dose of 55 mg/kg BW i.p), and the chitosan nanoparticle group (rats were given streptozotocin at dose 55 mg/kg BW i.p, and then given chitosan nanoparticles at dose 75 mg/kg BW, 150 mg/kg BW, and 300 mg/kg BW peroral). Creatine kinase-myoglobin (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured from the blood sample. Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) from cardiac tissue were examined by ELISA; nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) was evaluated by western blotting; B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Caspase-3 expression were investigated by immunohistochemical staining and also were evaluated histological preparation by hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining. The chitosan nanoparticles have a rough surface and an irregular shape. Its size is 247.3 ± 38.1 μm. Streptozotocin injection significantly increased the levels of CK-MB, LDH, MDA, and expression of caspase-3. In contrast, the levels of SOD, GPx, Nrf2, and expression of Bcl-2 decreased as compared with the control group (p < 0.05). This is accompanied by the loss of normal cardiac cell structure and necrosis. The administration of chitosan nanoparticles significantly reduced levels of CK-MB, LDH, MDA, and expression of Caspase-3. However, the levels of SOD, GPx, Nrf2, and expression of Bcl-2 increased as compared with the streptozotocin group (p < 0.05). And also, chitosan nanoparticles inhibited cell necrosis in diabetic rats. This study suggests that the administration of chitosan nanoparticles can protect cardiac cell damage in diabetic rats through antioxidative stress by decreasing ROS and increasing Nrf2 expression, level of SOD, and GPx and through antiapoptosis by increasing expression of Bcl-2 and decreasing expression of Caspase-3.

Protective role of yeast beta-glucan on lead acetate-induced hepatic and reproductive toxicity in rats

Lead (Pb) is one of the most common environmental pollutants and causes adverse effects on human and animal health. This study aimed to evaluate the protective role of beta-glucan against hepatic and reproductive toxicity induced by lead acetate. A total of 28 Sprague Dawley male rats were distributed into four groups (n = 7). The control group was intraperitoneally injected saline (1 ml/kg b.w.) daily for 21 days, the Pb group was intraperitoneally injected lead acetate (15 mg/kg b.w.) daily for 21 days, the beta-glucan group was orally administrated beta-glucan (50 mg/kg b.w.) daily for 21 days, and the Pb + beta-glucan group was intraperitoneally injected lead acetate (15 mg/kg b.w.) daily following the oral administration of beta-glucan (50 mg/kg b.w.) daily for 21 days. Results showed that feed intake in the Pb + beta-glucan group was significantly increased in comparison with that of the Pb group (p < 0.001). We also found that liver malondialdehyde (MDA) level was increased significantly in the Pb group (p < 0.01), while glutathione (GSH) level (p < 0.05), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (p < 0.05), and catalase (CAT) (p < 0.01) activities were reduced when they were compared with control. Moreover, Pb administration increased expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax, the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, and decreased the expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 (p < 0.01). Also, Pb was found to cause a significant decrease in sperm motility (p < 0.01) and sperm concentration (p < 0.05) but increase in sperm tails and total sperm anomalies (p < 0.05). These findings were partially preserved by the administration of beta-glucan. Taken together, these results indicated that beta-glucan has the potential to alleviate the Pb-induced toxicity.

The protective effect of Ocimum sanctum leaf extract against lead acetate-induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in mice (Mus musculus)

AIM

The liver and kidneys are the most sensitive organs to lead exposure. Drugs that inhibit the actions of lead in the liver and kidneys are required to protect them from such an exposure. This study investigates the protective effect of the leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum (OS) against lead acetate-induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 20 male mice were divided into five equal groups for the 24-day testing period. The negative control group was administered Tween-80 1% orally for 24 days. The positive control group was administered Tween-80 1% orally for 24 days and, starting on day 4, 20 mg/kg BW lead acetate orally once a day for 21 days 1 h after the administration of Tween-80 1%. The other three treatment groups were administered BW OS leaf extract orally in the amount of 140, 280, and 560 mg/kg once a day for 24 days and, starting on day 4, 20 mg/kg BW lead acetate orally for 21 days 1 h after the administration of OS leaf extract. On day 25, the mice were sacrificed to assess the levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, malondialdehyde (MDA), serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) as well as the histopathological changes.

RESULTS

The OS leaf extract caused a decrease in the scores for hepatocyte degeneration and portal inflammation (p<0.05) but not for hepatic necrosis (p>0.05) in mice exposed to lead. Similar patterns were observed in the effect of OS leaf extract on the renal morphofunction. The OS leaf extract decreased the scores for hydropic degeneration, tubular necrosis, and glomerular necrosis. The levels of MDA, SGOT, SGPT, BUN, and creatinine decreased in the lead-exposed mice treated with OS leaf extract (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The administration of OS leaf extract has a protective effect against lead acetate-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in mice.

Characterization of Aspergillus niger MK981235 xylanase with extraction of anti-hepatotoxic, antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic and prebiotic Corchorus olitorius stems xylooligosaccharides

The object of this study was to utilize agro-industrial waste Corchorus olitorius stems (molokhia stems, MS) as substrate, for Aspergillus niger MK981235 xylanase production and as source of biologically active xylooligosaccharides (XOS). This study succeeded in utilization of Aspergillus niger MK981235 xylanase under different saccharification conditions designed by central composite design (CCD) for extraction of 15 biologically active XOS (anti-hepatotoxic, antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic and prebiotic) with different monosaccharides constituents composition and percent. A. niger MK981235 xylanase showed the highest activity 6.60 U·ml^-1 at 50 °C with 1.5% xylan. The kinetics included K_m and V_max were determined to be 6.67 mg·ml^-1 and 20 μmol·ml^-1·min^-1, respectively. Moreover, A. niger MK981235 xylanase thermodynamics E_a (activation energy) and E_d (activation energy of denaturation) were determined to be 21.95 and 39.51 KJ·mol^-1, respectively. The highest prebiotic effect (growth promation) was exerted by the central MS XOS on Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (125 and 135.3%, respectively). Also, the central MS XOS, exerted the highest cholesterol reduction and antioxidant activities 74.7 and 92%, respectively, showed remarkable in vivo protective role against the hepatic toxicity of lithium carbonate evaluated by changes in body weight, liver function markers (AST, ALT, Alb, total bilirubin) and tissue makers (MDA and GSH).

Protective Effects of Smilax glabra Roxb. Against Lead-Induced Renal Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Apoptosis in Weaning Rats and HEK-293 Cells

Lead (Pb) is an important environmental pollutant. Oxidative stress and the inflammatory response have been postulated as mechanisms involved in lead-induced renal damage. Smilax glabra Roxb. has been used for treatment of heavy-metal poisoning in China for 500 years. We investigated S. glabra flavonoids extract (SGF) could attenuate lead acetate-induced nephrotoxicity in weaning rats and human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells, and investigated the possible mechanisms. Compared with Pb exposed group of weaning rats, SGF could significantly promote lead excretion in the blood and kidney, and increase the content of the renal-function indicators blood urea nitrogen, serum uric acid, and serum creatinine. SGF could improve the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and histologic changes in the kidneys of weaning rats exposed to Pb. SGF could also reduce lead-induced cytotoxicity, improve DNA damage-induced apoptosis and cleaved caspase-3-mediated apoptosis in HEK-293 cells stimulated with Pb. SGF significantly increased the activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase, and decreased excessive release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde in the kidneys of the weaning rats and in HEK-293 cells. The antioxidant mechanism of SGF related to activation of the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1/nuclear-factor-E2-related factor 2/hemeoxygenase-1(Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1) pathway. SGF could inhibit secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α induced by Pb in vivo and in vitro. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of SGF related to inhibition of ROS and pro-inflammatory cytokines triggered the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway through blockade of inhibitors of I-κB degradation, phosphorylation of NF-κB p65, and nuclear translocation of p65. Our findings indicate that SGF could be a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent for treating lead-induced nephrotoxicity.

The Role of Antioxidant Activity of Chitosan-Pinus merkusii Extract Nanoparticle in against Lead Acetate-Induced Toxicity in Rat Pancreas

Lead is one of the heavy metals with oxidative stress that causes toxicity in human and animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of Chitosan-Pinus merkusii extract nanoparticle on lead acetate-induced toxicity in rat pancreas. Chitosan-Pinus merkusii nanoparticles were identified by Particle Size Analysis (PSA) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The male rats used were divided into a control group (treated with distilled water), lead acetate group (injected with lead acetate at 20 mg/kg BW i.p), and the treatment group (treated orally with Chitosan-Pinus merkusii nanoparticle at 150 mg; 300 mg; 600 mg/kg BW and injected with lead acetate at 20 mg/kg BW i.p). Blood samples were taken to measure glucose and insulin level. The pancreas tissues were also collected to evaluate the malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and histological evaluations of cell damage. The PSA showed that the size of Chitosan-Pinus merkusii nanoparticle was 530.2 ± 38.27 nm. The SEM images revealed an irregular shape, and the morphology showed a rough surface. Administration of lead acetate resulted in a significant increase in glucose and MDA levels as well as a decrease in the level of insulin, SOD and GPx when compared with the control group, while that of 600 mg/kg BW of Chitosan-Pinus merkusii nanoparticle gave a polar result. The lead acetate induced loss of pancreatic cells normal structure and necrosis, while Chitosan-Pinus merkusii nanoparticle inhibited it. It could be concluded that Chitosan-Pinus merkusii nanoparticle has a potential to be a powerful agent and may be useful as an antioxidant against free radical-induced oxidative stress and pancreatic cell damage mediated by lead acetate intoxication.

Nephrotoxicity: Role and significance of renal biomarkers in the early detection of acute renal injury

Nephrotoxicity is defining as rapid deterioration in the kidney function due to toxic effect of medications and chemicals. There are various forms, and some drugs may affect renal function in more than one way. Nephrotoxins are substances displaying nephrotoxicity. Different mechanisms lead to nephrotoxicity, including renal tubular toxicity, inflammation, glomerular damage, crystal nephropathy, and thrombotic microangiopathy. The traditional markers of nephrotoxicity and renal dysfunction are blood urea and serum creatinine which are regarded as low sensitive in the detection of early renal damage. Thus, the detection of the initial renal injures required new biomarkers which are more sensitive and highly specific that gives an insight into the site of underlying renal damage. Kidney injury molecule-1, Cystatin C, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin sera levels are more sensitive than blood urea and serum creatinine in the detection of acute kidney injury during nephrotoxicity.