Preventive effect of Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) in kidney dysfunction against high fat-diet induced obesity in rats

A high-fat diet (HFD) promotes oxidative stress, which contributes to the development of kidney dysfunction. We examined the protective effects of an ethanol extract of artichoke leaves (EEA) compared to Atorvastatin (ATOR) in the kidney of Wistar rats fed a high-fat diet. The experimental animals were divided into five groups: control (Cont), HFD, HFD treated with EEA (200 mg/kg), HFD treated with EEA (400 mg/kg), and HFD treated with ATOR. Organ weights, lipid profile, renal markers, and antioxidants enzymes were measured. Oral administration of EEA (200 and 400 mg/kg) for 60 days showed a significant decrease in organ weights and kidney markers levels accompanied by decreasing in oxidative stress biomarkers as compared to HFD groups. The histological findings showed a renoprotective effect of artichoke extract. These findings suggest that EEA exerts anti-oxidant kidney effects in HFD- induced obese rats.

Effect of Artichoke (cynara scolymus) on cardiac markers, lipid profile and antioxidants levels in tissue of HFD-induced obesity

Obesity plays a pivotal role in the insulin resistance disease, which is related to hypertension, hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The purpose of the present study was done to evaluate the effect of artichoke leaves extract (ALE) in the high-fat diet (HFD)-induced cellular obesity and cardiac damage in Wistar rats. Body and organ weights, serum lipid profile, cardiac markers, and antioxidants enzymes were measured. Oral administration of ALE at two doses 200 and 400 mg/kg for a period of 60 days showed a significant decrease in body and organ weights, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDH, ALT accompanied by decreasing in oxidative stress biomarker (MDA, and AOPP) and increasing antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and GPx) levels as compared to HFD groups. The histological findings showed a cardioprotective effect of ALE. These findings suggest that ALE exert anti-oxidant cardiac effects in HFD- induced obese rats.

Protective effect of Urtica dioica in induced neurobehavioral changes, nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity after chronic exposure to potassium bromate in rats

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Chronic exposure to potassium bromate (KBrO₃), a toxic halogen in the environment, has become a global problem of public health. The current study aims to elucidate for the first time the effect of Urtica dioica (UD) on behavioural changes, oxidative stress, and histopathological changes induced by KBrO₃ in the cerebellum, kidney, liver and other organs of adult rats.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

The rats were divided into four groups: group 1 served as a control received physiological serum, Group 2 received KBrO₃ (2 g/L of drinking water), group 3 received KBrO₃ and Urtica dioica (100 mg/kg), and group 4 received KBrO₃ and Urtica dioica (400 mg/kg). We then measured behavioural changes, oxidative stress, and biochemical and histological changes in the cerebellum, liver, kidney and others organs in these rats. After 30 days of treatment, the animals were sacrificed.

RESULTS

We observed significant behavioural changes in KBrO₃-exposed rats. When investigating redox homeostasis in the cerebellum, we found that mice treated with KBrO₃ had increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in the cerebellum. In addition, it inhibits hepatic and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde), advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP), attenuates KBrO₃-mediated enzyme depletion, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase enzymatic and antioxidant activities in the liver and kidney. Rats that were co-managed with Urtica dioica at the high portion of 400 mg/kg indicated a higher effect than that treated with the low dose of 100 mg/kg practically in all the tests carried out.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate that Urtica dioica is a potential therapeutic agent for oxidative stress associated with neurodegenerative diseases.

Early intervention with probiotics and metformin alleviates liver injury in NAFLD rats via targeting gut microbiota dysbiosis and p-AKT/mTOR/LC-3II pathways

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) constitutes a major health problem worldwide and intimately links with obesity and diabetes. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic impact of early treatment with metformin (MTF) alone or in combination with Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (L. reuteri) + metronidazole (MTZ) in male Sprague Dawley rats with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD. Hepatic steatosis was induced by feeding rats HFD for 6 weeks. MTF (150 mg/kg/day) or L. reuteri (2 × 10⁹ colony forming unit/day) were given orally for 4 weeks; meanwhile, MTZ (15 mg/kg/day, p.o.) was administered for 1 week. Administration of L. reuteri + MTZ in combination with MTF produced a superior effect concerning insulin resistance (IR), lipid profile, liver function, oxidative stress, inflammatory and autophagic markers than using each treatment alone. Besides, this combination resulted in disappearance of steatosis, inflammation and vacuolation within hepatic architecture. Moreover, it normalized short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as well as Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes faecal contents. In conclusion, early treatment with L. reuteri + MTZ in combination with MTF could prevent NAFLD progression and liver injury through targeting gut dysbiosis, inflammation and autophagic pathways.

Creation of an adequate animal model of hyperuricemia (acute and chronic hyperuricemia); study of its reversibility and its maintenance

AIM

Hyperuricemia is defined by the European Rheumatology Society as a uric acid level greater than 6 mg/dl (60 mg/l or 360 μmol/l). Our goal was to evaluate the hypouricemic effect of nettle. For this reason, we have first of all try to create an hyperuricemic animal model which is very suitable because at the level of literature there is not an exact model, there are many models and our objective is to set an adequate model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An attempt has been made to test acute and chronic hyperuricemia by varying the duration and method of induction of potassium oxonate. Similarly, attempts have been made to induce chronic hyperuricemia through an animal and vegetable diet. The reversibility of hyperuricemia was tested with a maintenance protocol.

KEY FINDINGS

For the creation of the hyperuricemia model, it has been shown that acute hyperuricemia cannot be induced by short administration of potassium oxonate and persistent chronic hyperuricemia can be induced only after daily administration of oxonate of potassium by intraperitoneal injection for 15 days. Indeed, hyperuricemia was reversible after stopping the administration of potassium oxonate. The high-purine diet is also capable of inducing chronic hyperuricemia but to a less extent.

SIGNIFICANCE

After creating an adequate model of hyperuricemia while setting the dose of potassium oxonate, route of administration and duration. A maintenance protocol was followed which subsequently made it possible to deduce that the daily administration of potassium oxonate must be continued to maintain the hyperuricemia.

Screening of analgesic activity of Tunisian Urtica dioica and analysis of its major bioactive compounds by GCMS

The present study was aimed to evaluate the analgesic properties of Urtica dioica (UD) and to profile phytochemicals by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The ethanolic extracts were prepared by maceration method and extraction using rotary evaporator. The analgesic activity was analysed by hot plate method, formalin test, acetic acid-induced writhing test and the tail-flick test with different doses of the ethanolic extract. In all tests, the leaf's ethanolic extract exhibited significant analgesic activity (p < .001) at a dose of 400 mg/kg. Even with a low dose, we noticed an analgesic activity with many tests. The GC-MS analysis of the ethanol extract of leaf revealed many compounds; 2-methyltetradecane dodecane, 2,6,11-trimethyl-; 2,6,11-trimethyldodecane, and trimethylhexane which are pharmaceutically the most important. These findings justify that UD can be a valuable natural analgesic source which seemed to provide potential phototherapeutics against various ailments. The analysis of ethanolic extract of UD by GCMS revealed the presence of several compounds including polyphenols, flavonoids, triterpenes which can explain the analgesic effect of UD and its mechanism of action. Hence, UD could be another therapeutic alternative for relieving pain and for minimising the use of drugs that have long-term secondary effects.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of ethanol and aqueous extracts from Urtica urens

CONTEXT

Urtica urens L. (Urticaceae) is an important and commonly used plant for its medicinal and pharmacological properties.

OBJECTIVE

We analyzed the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the leaves of Urtica urens in ethanol (EtOH) and water (WA) solvents, employing standard analytical methods.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Polyphenol, flavonoid and tannin content of Urtica urens leaves were determined, after their extraction, using EtOH (70%) and WA extracts as well as the antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, β-carotene and FRAP) and the antibacterial (via the method of dilution tests) activities of EtOH and WA extracts.

RESULTS

The 70% EtOH of Urtica urens showed the highest values of total phenolic (31.41 mg GAE/g DW), flavonoids (6.81 mg quercetin/g DW), tannin (8.29 mg GAE/g DW) and TEAC (560 mmol Trolox/g DW), compared to the WA. The results of DPPH for EtOH (95.56%) were higher than that of WA (64.56%) at a concentration of 40 mg/L. The extracts displayed a FRAP 106.23 for EtOH and 30.55 μmol Fe(II)/g DW for WA. The results clearly indicated that EtOH was the strongest radical scavenger (IC₅₀=245.65 ± 10.2 μg/mL). Ethanol was the most effective with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) < 250 μg/mL. WA has no antibacterial activity.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The results indicate that leaves of Urtica urens could be used as natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.

Protective effects of Cynara scolymus leaves extract on metabolic disorders and oxidative stress in alloxan-diabetic rats

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with hyperglycemia, inflammatory disorders and abnormal lipid profiles, currently the extracts from leaves of cynara scolymus has been discovered to treat metabolic disorders and has been stated by multitudinous scientists according to a good source of polyphenols compounds. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of the ethanol leaves extract of C. scolymus in alloxan induced stress oxidant, hepatic-kidney dysfunction and histological changes in liver, kidney and pancreas of different experimental groups of rats.

METHODS

We determinate the antioxidant activity by ABTS ^.+ and antioxidant total capacity (TAC) of all extracts of C. scolymus leaves, the inhibition of α-amylase activity in vitro was also investigated. Forty male Wistar rats were induced to diabetes with a single dose intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of alloxan (150 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)). Diabetic rats were orally and daily administrated of ethanol extract from C. scolymus at two doses (200-400 mg/kg, b.w) or (12 mg/kg, b.w) with anti-diabetic reference drug, Acarbose for one month. Ethanol extract of C. scolymus effect was confirmed by biochemical analysis, antioxidant activity and histological study.

RESULTS

The results indicated that the ethanol extract from leaves of C. scolymus showed the highest antioxidant activity by ABTS ^.+ (499.43g± 39.72 Trolox/g dry extract) and (128.75 ± 8.45 mg VC /g dry extract) for TAC and endowed the powerful inhibition in vitro of α-amylase activity with IC50=72,22 ug/uL. In vivo, the results showed that ethanol extract from the leaves of C. scolymus (200-400 mg/kg) decreased significantly (p < 0.001) the α-amylase levels in serum of diabetic rats, respectively associated with significant reduction (p < 0.001) in blood glucose rate of 42,84% and 37,91% compared to diabetic groups after 28 days of treatment, a significant lowered of plasma total cholesterol (T-Ch) by 18,11% and triglyceride (TG) by 60,47%, significantly and low-density lipoproteins (LDL-C) by 37,77%, compared to diabetic rats, moreover, the administration of ethanol extract appears to exert anti-oxidative activity demonstrated by the increase of CAT, SOD and GSH activities in liver, kidney and pancreas of diabetic rats. This positive effect of the ethanol extract from C. scolymus was confirmed by histological study.

CONCLUSION

These observed strongly suggest that ethanol extract from the leaves of C. scolymus has anti-hyperglycemic properties, at least partly mediated by antioxidant and hypolipidemic effects.

Pharmacological Studies of Artichoke Leaf Extract and Their Health Benefits

Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) leaf extract was one of the few herbal remedies which the clinical and experimental trials have complemented each other. Both experimental and clinical effects have been verified through extensive biomedical herbal remedy research. Specifically, antioxidant, choleretic, hepatoprotective, bile-enhancing and lipid-lowering effects have been demonstrated, which corresponded with its historical use. Ongoing research seems to indicate that artichoke indeed have medicinal qualities. Most significant appears to be its beneficial effect on the liver. In animal studies, liquid extracts of the roots and leaves of artichoke have demonstrated an ability to protect the liver, with possibly even to help liver cells regenerate. Although research is not yet conclusive, scientists were optimistic that its long-standing use in humans for digestive and bowel problems was indeed justified. It may also play a role in lowering cholesterol and thus help to prevent heart disease. Boiled wild artichoke reduced postprandial glycemic and insulinemic responses in normal subjects but has no effect on metabolic syndrome patients. This article intended to review the wide ranging pharmacological effects of artichoke leaf extract.

Prevalence of wheeze among preschool children in Basra governonate, southern Iraq

A community-based survey was carried out in Basra governorate, Iraq, to estimate the prevalence of wheeze among children under 5 years old and to identify possible risk factors. It was found that 15.8% of the 424 preschool children enrolled in the study had a history of wheeze. More wheezy children lived in the city (16.3%) than in the rural area (15.0%). Family history of asthma in first-degree relatives was significantly associated with wheeze (44.8% of children with wheeze versus 15.1% without wheeze). Other household factors--parents' low educational level, formula or supplemental feeding as a baby, overcrowding, smoking at home, pet ownership and using kerosene--were associated with wheeze, but the results were not statistically significant. The role of environmental factors and feeding patterns needs to be further evaluated.