Falcaria vulgaris Extract Attenuates Ethanol-induced Renal Damage by Reducing Oxidative Stress and Lipid Peroxidation in Rats

Falcaria vulgaris L. hydroalcoholic extract protects against harmful effects of mercuric chloride on the rat kidney

Objective

Mercuric chloride (Merc; HgCl2) is toxic to humans and animals and contributes to environmental pollution, which usually results in nerve and systemic harm to different organs. Falcaria vulgaris (FV) is a medicinal plant rich in antioxidants. This research aimed to assess the FV hydroalcoholic extract effects on kidney toxicity induced by Merc.

Materials and Methods

Forty-eight male rats were divided into eight groups: the control group: received saline; the Merc group: received 0.5 ml/day of 0.5 ppm aqueous Merc; FV1, 2, and 3 groups: received 50, 100, 150 mg/kg FV, respectively; and Merc + FV1, 2, and 3 groups: received Merc and FV at three doses. The administration period was 14-days. Subsequently, kidneys and sera were cumulated from each group for the analysis. Samples were analyzed via hematoxylin-eosin staining and biochemical tests.

Results

The rats that received Merc displayed significant decrement in the kidney index, the diameter of renal corpuscles, total antioxidant capacity levels, superoxide dismutase activity (all, p<0.01), and 150 mg/kg FV mitigated these outcomes (all, p<0.05). Urea, creatinine, nitric oxide, and the level of apoptosis revealed a significant increment in the kidney of the rats that received Merc (all, p<0.01), and 150 mg/kg FV decreased these results. Furthermore, FV ameliorated histological changes induced by Merc (all, p<0.05).

Conclusion

The FV hydroalcoholic extract protects the kidneys against Merc-induced nephrotoxicity. Antioxidant and anti-apoptotic FV hydroalcoholic extract properties were involved in this healing effect.

Investigation of the Gastroprotective Effect of Betaine-Homocysteine Homeostasis on Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Apoptosis in Ethanol-Induced Ulcer Model

Background: There is a growing interest in the use of natural compounds for the treatment of gastric ulcers. The multifunctional roles of betaine in various diseases make this natural substance a favorable pre-drug for ulcer treatment. This study aims to determine the competence of betaine in gastroprotection against ethanol-induced damage and to explore underlying mechanisms considering its effects on liver and kidney activity and blood parameters.Methods: Wistar albino rats were orally treated with vehicle (distilled water) or betaine (250 mg/kg) for twenty-one days and then ulcer formation was induced by ingestion of 75% ethanol. Gastric mucosal damage was evaluated by gross examination and histopathological analysis. Homocysteine levels, lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TAS), antioxidant enzymes and pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, routine biochemical tests were performed and hematological parameters were analyzed.Results: Betaine ameliorated any gastric mucosal damage and reduced homocysteine levels significantly. The TOS and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were decreased while the TAS, glutathione (GSH) levels and catalase (CAT) activity were increased upon the betaine treatment. Betaine reduced apoptosis by regulating Bax and Bcl-2 levels, however, it did not alter inflammatory mediators. Additionally, betaine improved serum potassium (K⁺) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, whereas it increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and impaired hematological parameters.Conclusions: Altogether, these data illustrated that betaine exhibits a gastroprotective effect against ulcers through the homocysteine pathway by modulating oxidative stress in the gastric tissue; however, its systemic effects should not be ignored.

Protective Effect of Red Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) Pods against Sodium Nitrite-Induced Liver Injury in Mice

Vegetables, drinking water, and preserved meats may contain sodium nitrite (NaNO₂), which causes liver disease by inducing oxidative stress. Phytochemicals are highly recommended as an alternative to synthetic drugs and affordable medicines to treat liver disease because they have fewer or no side effects. Therefore, this study aims to determine the antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential of red okra fruit ethanol extract against NaNO₂-induced liver damage. Thirty-six male mice were separated into six groups. The normal control group (WA) was given distilled water only, and the NaNO₂ (SN) group was given only 50 mg/kg BW NaNO₂. The other four groups (P1, P2, P3, and P4) were given NaNO₂ and red okra ethanol extract at doses of 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg BW, respectively. Gavage was administered orally for 21 consecutive days. Commercial kits define all biochemical parameters according to the manufacturer's instructions. Liver tissue staining followed standard protocols using hematoxylin and eosin. The study revealed that NaNO₂ induction causes oxidative stress and damages the liver. The activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) significantly increased in the groups treated (P2-P4) with ethanol extract of red okra (p < 0.05). Besides, the oxidants (malondialdehyde, F2-isoprostanes, and nitric oxide) in the liver homogenate significantly decreased in the P4 group, which were given red okra ethanol extract (p < 0.05). Likewise, red okra pods decreased significantly for the serum biochemical parameters of liver damage (aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and alanine aminotransferase) in the P3 and P4 groups (p < 0.05). Then, it led to a restoration of the histological structure compared to exposed mice (SN), as the pathological scores decreased significantly in the P3 and P4 groups (p < 0.05), as well as the number of the necrotic and swollen liver cells was reduced. Hepatocytes returned to normal. The results showed that the ethanol extract of red okra fruit could be helpful as an affordable medicine. It is an antioxidant and hepatoprotective agent to protect the liver from damage caused by NaNO₂.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mediates ethanol-induced redox imbalance and upregulation of inflammatory cytokines in the kidney

Overexpression of the inducible isoform of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been associated to pathological processes in the kidney. Ethanol consumption induces the renal expression of iNOS; however, the contribution of this enzyme to the deleterious effects of ethanol in the kidney remains elusive. We examined whether iNOS plays a role in the renal dysfunction and oxidative stress induced by ethanol consumption. With this purpose, male C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) or iNOS-deficient (iNOS^-/-) mice were treated with ethanol (20% v/v) for 10 weeks. Treatment with ethanol increased the expression of Nox4 as well as the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and the levels of tumor necrosis factor α in the renal cortex of WT but not iNOS^-/- mice. Augmented serum levels of creatinine and increased systolic blood pressure were found in WT and iNOS^-/- mice treated with ethanol. WT mice treated with ethanol showed increased production of reactive oxygen species and myeloperoxidase activity, but these responses were attenuated in iNOS^-/- mice. We concluded that iNOS played a role in ethanol-induced oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the kidney. These are mechanisms that may contribute to the renal toxicity induced by ethanol.

Traditional Chinese medicine protects against hypertensive kidney injury in Dahl salt-sensitive rats by targeting transforming growth factor-β signaling pathway

This study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of Bu-Shen-Jiang-Ya decoction (BSJYD) on hypertensive renal damage to determine whether it regulates the expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/SMADs signaling pathways, thereby relieving renal fibrosis in Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rats. Dahl SS rats on a high-sodium diet were prospectively treated with BSJYD (n = 12) or valsartan (n = 12) for 8 weeks. The blood pressure (BP) of these rats was measured and their kidneys were subjected to biochemical analysis, including serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN); hematoxylin and eosin staining; Masson trichrome staining; real-time polymerase chain reaction; and western blot analysis. The primary outcome was that BSJYD significantly reduced BP, debased BUN, and Scr and ameliorated renal pathological changes. As underlying therapeutic mechanisms, BSJYD reduces TGFβ1 and Smad2/3 expression and suppresses renal fibrosis, as suggested by the decreased expression of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF). These data suggest that BSJYD acts as an optimal therapeutic agent for hypertensive renal damage by inhibiting the TGF-β/SMADs signaling pathway.