protective effects of ginseng extract against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrotic scar tissue. Panax ginseng is believed to be a general tonic or adaptogen for promoting longevity and as medicinal herb due to their perceived potential health benefits. This work aimed studying the possible protective action of ginseng extract on liver cirrhosis induced by CCI[4]. To this end, 60 healthy male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups [n=10 each]: [i] normal control group, [ii] CCI[4] [4ml/kg, i.p., twice a week for 12 weeks, [iii] vitamin E [100 mg/kg daily for 12 weeks], [iv] ginseng extract [0.7 g/kg,p.o., daily dose for 12 weeks], [v] CCI[4] + vitamin E-treated groups, and [vi] CCI[4] + ginseng -treated groups. Twenty four hours later, blood and liver samples were collected for determination of prothrombin time, tumor necrosis factor a [TNF-alpha], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], albumin, total protein, total bilirubin, liver content of reduced glutathione [GSH] and malondialdehyde [MDA] and relative liver weight. Histopathological and histochemical examination of rats' livers for glycogen and DNA components were also performed. Results showed that CCI[4] administration induced significant increases in prothrombin time, TNF-a, ALT, AST, ALP, total bilirubin, MDA, relative liver weight and significant decrease levels of serum albumin, total protein and GSH as well as depletion of liver glycogen and fragmented hepatocytes DNA. Co-administration of ginseng extract with CCI[4] significantly increased level of serum albumin, total protein, GSH and reduced level of serum ALT, AST, ALP, TNF-alpha, prothrombin time and relative liver weight compared to CCI[4]-treated group. Histopathological examination of liver tissue showed that ginseng extract decreased the cellular changes and cirrhosis induced by CCI[4] alone. Meanwhile, co-administration of ginseng extract with CCI[4] significantly increased liver glycogen and normalized DNA components. These data suggested that ginseng extract induces some protection against liver cirrhosis induced by CCI[4]

Evaluation of the protective effect of thyme oil on possible toxicity of vinerlbine [navelbine] in mice

Vinorelbine [Navelbine] is a semi-synthetic vinca alkaloid derived from vinblastine which is used mainly to treat non-small cell lung cancer. One of the most recognized natural antioxidant is Thymus vulgaris which plays an important role in the chemoprevention of diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible hematological, kidney and lung toxicities of Navelbine in albino mice and to clarify the protective effects of Thyme oil when co-administrated with Navelbine. Eighty Male albino mice were divided into four groups: normal control group, Navelbine treated group, Thyme oil treated group and Navelbine-Thyme oil treated group. Navelbine was injected intraperitoneal in mice in a dose of 10mg/kg/week for four weeks. Thyme oil was administered by gavage in a dose of 72 micro g/mice every second day for twenty days. Parameters done included: complete blood picture, kidney function tests [blood urea and serum creatinine], albumin and total protein were measured. Histological analysis was conducted on tissues collected from kidney and lung of normal and treated groups. Results of this study showed that Navelbine caused mild to moderate anemia, significant leucopenia with relative lymphocytosis and thrombocytopenia. Navelbine induced mild renal toxicity in the form of increase in blood urea and serum creatinine. Serum total proteins and albumin were decreased. Histopathological changes observed in the mice kidney were in the form of heavy lymphocytic infiltrations, oedema in the glomeruli and congested blood vessels. Pulmonary histopathology showed congestion, distorted alveoli, mononuclear cells infiltrations, interseptal oedema and hyperplasia of the bronchiolar epithelial cells. By co-administration of Thyme oil improvement of haematological and biochemical parameters had occurred meanwhile mild changes had occurred on histological studies. In conclusion, Thyme oil could be used as a chemoprotective agent against Navelbine induced toxicity in albino mice

protective effect of vitamin C and olive oil against the cardiotoxicity induced by cyclophosphamide in rats

This study was carried out to evaluate the protective role of Vit. C and olive oil against cyclophosphamide [CPA]-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 220=30 g were divided into 6 groups, the 1[st] gp, served as control, the 2[nd] and 3[rd] grps., were treated orally, with 120mg/kg Vit.C or 1 ml/rat olive oil, respectively, the 4[th] gp. was injected with 150 mg/kg CPA, respectively. All treatments were done daily for 4 weeks. 24 hours after treatment, the animals were weighed, the blood was collected for biochemical analysis, then the animals were sacrificed and the heart was removed for reactive oxygen species [ROS], antioxidant detection, and histopathological examination. The obtained result showed that the treatment with CPA significantly increased [P<0.05] cholesterol, triglyceride [TG], LDH levels as well as relative weight ratio of heart and body weight when compared to control group. Administration of Vit. C or olive oil, significantly decreased [P<0.05] the levels of cholesterol, TG and LDH as well as heart body weight ration. ROS parameters showed a significant increase [P<0.05] in malondealhyde [MDA], and significant decrease [P<0.05] in glutathione [GSH] and superoxide dismutase [SOD] following CPA administration when compared with control. Administration of Vit.C or olive oil after CPA injection significantly decreased [P<0.05] the level of MDA and significantly increased [P<0.05] the levels of both GSH and SOD when compared with CPA group. The present data revealed that Vit. C and olive oil administration improved the heart histopathological changes in rats injected with CPA. These findings demonstrated that Vit.C and olive oil can be used as a potent free radical scavenger in animals to minimize the toxic effects of treatment with anticancer drugs

study on the possible protective effect of garlic powder and Ginkgo-biloba extract against the hepatotoxicity of cisplatin on rats

Cisplatin is one of the most active cytotoxic agents in the treatment of cancer. Garlic and Ginko biloba are natural plants used as protective agents against different types of the toxicity. This study was carried out to determine the possible protective role of garlic powder or ginko biloba extract against cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 270 +/- 30gm were divided into six groups, the 1[st] gp. used as control received orally 1 ml/kg/day of 0.9 saline by an oral carrier vehicle on days 1 to 4, the 2[nd] and 3[rd] gps., were treated orally, either with 500mg/kg garlic powder [GP] or 100mg/kg ginko-bilobaextract [GBE], the 4[th] gp. was injected with 10 mg/kg cisplatin intrapritoneally [i.p.] on the fifth day, once only. The 5th and 6th groups, 500 mg/kg/ day. p.o. [GP] and 100 mg/kg/day, p.o. [GBE] were administered for 4 days followed by single dose of cisplatin 10mg/kg, i.p. on the fifth day. Seventy two hours after treatment, the animals were sacrificed, the blood was collected for biochemical analysis. ROS and antioxidant detection as well as biopsies were taken for histopathological examination. It is clear from the present study that cisplatin significantly increased blood aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and serum alanine aminotransferase [ALT] levels, as well as liver body weight ratio by 43%, 38% and 20%, respectively, and significantly decreased protein and albumin levels by 18% and 19%, respectively when compared to control. Administration of GP and GBE, significantly decreased the levels of AST and ALT as well as liver body weight ratio by 25%, 24% and 15%, respectively, in case of GP and by 21%, 20% and 13%, respectively, in case of GBE and significantly increase the levels of protein and albumin by 14% and 13%, respectively, in case of GP and by 9% and 11%, respectively, in case of GBE when compared to cisplatin group. The reactive oxygen species [ROS] parameters showed a significant increase in malondehyde [MDA] by 378% and significant decrease in glutathione [GSH] and superoxide dismutase [SOD] by 56% and 31%, respectively, when compared with control. Administration of GP and GBE before cisplatin injection increased the activities of both GSH and SOD by 48% and 27% [with GP] respectively, and by 48% and 27% [with GBE] respectively, whereas, significantly decreased the level of MDA by 31% and 19%, respectively. The present data revealed that GP and GBE administration improved the liver histopathological lesions in rats injected with cisplatin. This study concluded that GP and GBE have a partial protective effect against the hepatotoxic effect of cisplatin

possible protective effects of melatonin and estrogen against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrotic scar tissue. Melatonin is a hormone found in all living creatures from algae to human. Estrogens are a group of steroid compounds named for their importance in estrus cycle and function as a primary female sex hormone. This work aimed at studying possible protective action of each of melatonin and estrogen on liver cirrhosis induced by CCl[4]. To this end, 50 healthy male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups [n=10 each]: [i] normal control group, [ii] CCl[4] [0.4ml/100g, i.p., twice a week for 12 weeks, [iii] melatonin [0.2mg/100g, i.p., daily dose for 21 days], estrogen [0.1mg/100g, i.p., twice a week for 12 weeks], [iv] CCl[4+] melatonin and [v]CCl[4+]estrogen-treated groups. Twenty four hours later, blood samples were collected for determination of prothrombin time, alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], albumin, total protein, total bilirubin and relative liver weight. Histopathological examination of rats' livers was also performed. Results showed that CCl[4] administration induced significant increase in prothrombin time, ALT, AST, ALP, total bilirubin, relative liver weight and significant decrease levels of serum albumin and total protein. Co-administration of melatonin with CCl[4] significantly increased level of serum albumin and total protein and reduced level of serum ALT, AST, ALP, total bilirubin, prothrombin time and relative liver weight compared to CCl[4]-treated group. Histopathological examination of liver tissue showed that melatonin co-administration decrease the cellular changes induced by CCl[4] alone. Meanwhile, co-administration of estrogen with CCl[4] significantly reduced relative liver weight. Moreover, evaluation of liver tissue showed that estrogen co-administration slightly decrease the cellular changes induced by CCl[4]. These data suggested that melatonin and estrogen induce some protection against liver cirrhosis induced by CCl[4]