Phytochemical, antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of different fractions of Moringa oleifera leaves methanol extract against liver injury in animal model

Objective:To evaluate the potential antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of n-hexane, dichloromethane(DCM), ethyl acetate(EtOAc), n-butanol and aqueous fractions of Moringa oleifera(M. oleifera) leaves methanol extract against carbon tetrachloride(CClMethods:These fractions were prepared from the M. oleifera leaves methanol extract by solubilization in water and partitioning in n-hexane, EtOAc, DCM and n-butanol. Their phyto-components were identified by GC-MS analysis. The in vitro antioxidant effect of these fractions was carried out by assessment of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity. A total of 40 Sprague Dawley rats were allocated into 8 equal groups: group 1 given olive oil (1 mL/kg b.wt.), group 2 injected with CClResults:The GC-MS analysis of different fractions of the M. oleifera leaves methanol extract revealed that n-hexane, DCM, EtOAc, n-butanol, and aqueous fractions contained 17, 22, 23, 19 and 32 compounds, respectively. The percent and the molecular structure of each component in each fraction were identified. The n-butanol and EtOAc fractions exhibited the strongest in vitro antioxidant activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl. CClConclusions:n-hexane, DCM, and aqueous fractions have the highest effectiveness against CCl

Phytochemical, antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of different fractions of Moringa oleifera leaves methanol extract against liver injury in animal model

Objective: To evaluate the potential antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of n-hexane, dichloromethane(DCM), ethyl acetate(EtOAc), n-butanol and aqueous fractions of Moringa oleifera(M. oleifera) leaves methanol extract against carbon tetrachloride(CCl

Amelioration of carbendazim-induced testicular dysfunction by vitamin E and pumpkin seed oil in rats

Carbendazim, a carbamate fungicide, is one of the most widespread environmental contaminant of major concern to human and animal reproductive health. The present study was undertaken to investigate the ameliorating effect of vitamin E and Pumpkin seed oil on carbendazim-induced testicular toxicity in male rats. Safety profile of vitamin E and pumpkin seed oil was firstly examined on normal rats and found to be safe on all the examined parameters. Adult Sprague dawley male rats were used in this study. Carbendazim [100 mg/ kg] was administered alone or combined with either vitamin E [200 mg/ kg] or pumpkin seed oil [40 mg/ kg] for 48 successive days. Carbendazim exposure significantly reduced the weights of testes, prostates and seminal vesicles. Also, serum testosterone, sperm count, motility and viability were diminished. The incidence of sperm abnormalities and testicular cholesterol content, were markedly elevated. In addition, carbendazim caused oxidative stress as observed by elevation of malondialdehyde [MDA] and lactate dehydrogense [LDH]. The antioxidant system including superoxide dismutase [-SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GSHPX] and glutathione [GSH] were also reduced. Carbendazim also produced marked histopathological changes including degeneration of most seminiferous tubules with absence of spermatogenic series in tubular lumen in the testis. Co-administration of either vitamin E or pumpkin seed oil with carbendazim significantly ameliorated most of these deleterious effects where weights of testes, prostates and seminal vesicles were regained. They also elevated serum testosterone level, sperm count, sperm motility and sperm viability. Furthermore, administration of vitamin E and pumpkin seed oil with carbendazim reduced the incidence of sperm abnormalities and nearly normalized the testicular cholesterol content, They also reduced the oxidative stress caused by carbendazim which was associated with normal histopathological features of the testis

Incidence of hepatitis C virus [HCV] antibodies among haemodialysis patients and staff members

50 patients with chronic renal failure on maintenance hemodialysis, 25 staff members dealing with these patients, and 15 control subjects were examined for anti-HCV using a second generation ELISA test. The incidence was 56% among on hemodialysis program, and 8% for the staff members, while it was nil among healthy subjects 14. 28% of the positive HCV were concurrent carriers of HBs Ag as compared to 4. 58% HBs Ag carriers among HCV negative subjects. We found no significant association between anti-HCV positivity and whether the patients had blood transfusion or not. The incidence of anti-HCV in hemodialysis patients increased with the duration' of dialysis and with the volume of blood transfusion. So, it is recommended to instruct blood banks to add anti-HCV [second generation] testing to their essential tests. Also, every patient undergoing hemodialysis must be examined for anti-HCV and positive cases should be isolated to be dialysed in a separate machine. staff members of dialysis units should be a separate staff, and examined periodically to detect any anti-HCV positive cases

Antibiotic associated diarrhoea

In this work, 100 stool specimens were studied for the incidence of Clostridium difficile [C. Difficile] among 2 groups of subjects; 50 patients, who had diarrhea after a course of antibiotics, and 50 healthy cases. We showed that C. Difficile was isolated and identified in 18% [9 of 50] of post-antibiotic diarrheal patients, and in 2% [one of 50] of the control subjects. The antibiotic, incriminated most frequently, are clindamycin [27.3%], cephradine [17.6%], ampicillin [14.3%], and chloramphenicol plus penicillin [12.5%]. All strains of C. Difficile were obtained with the alcohol shock method, while 20% were isolated with the conventional method of direct stool plating on selective media. All isolated strains were sensitive to metronidazole, vancomycin, bacitracin, ampicillin and penicillin G, while most strains were resistant to gentamycin, clindamycin and cephalosporins. The susceptibility of these isolates to a variety of antimicrobial agents provides information that may be of value in assessing the means by which C. Difficile may produce colitis and in selecting appropriate antibiotic therapy for colitis. It might be advisable therefore, to use only a short course of systemic antibiotic prophylaxis, and to avoid non-absorbable oral antimicrobials