Oxidative stress and hepatic injury induced in mice fed a Sarcocystis hirsuta cyst extract

We studied the toxic effects of a Sarcocystis hirsuta cyst extract fed to mice. Degenerative changes were found in mice gavage-fed fresh, frozen, and heat-treated S. hirsuta cyst extract. There were increases in the levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase as well as hepatic and brain malondialdehyde (MDA) levels along with concomitant decreases in catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities of mice receiving fresh and frozen S. hirsuta extracts. Gavage feeding of heat-treated S. hirsuta cyst extract had no effects on liver enzymes or brain MDA content, but the liver MDA level did increase. Mice in the heat-treated cyst group showed reduced CAT and SOD activities as well as increased hepatic MDA levels compared to those in the control group. These results indicate that an extract of S. hirsuta cyst can induce oxidative stress and hepatic injury, even after heat treatment.

Antinociceptive and antihyperglycemic effects of melissa officinalis essential oil in an experimental model of diabetes

The efficacy of oral administration of Melissa officinalis essential oil [MOEO] on hyperalgesia was investigated using the formalin test in streptozotocin [STZ]-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Animals were divided into control, MOEO-treated control [0.01, 0.02 and 0.04 mg/day], diabetic and MOEO-treated diabetic [0.01, 0.02 and 0.04 mg/day] groups. Nociceptive testing was performed on male adult Wistar rats 4 weeks after the onset of hyperglycemia. At the end of the experiment, all rats were weighed and plasma glucose measurements were performed. Diabetes was associated with significant hyperalgesia during both phases of the formalin test. MOEO [0.04 mg/day] completely reversed hyperalgesia in diabetic rats, while MOEO [0.02 and 0.04 mg/day] caused less intensive nociceptive behaviors during both phases of the test in control rats. MOEO at both high doses restored euglycemia and reduced the body weight of treated diabetic animals compared to untreated diabetic animals. The 0.01-mg dose of MOEO did not alter pain responses in the control or diabetic groups compared to their respective controls. This study shows that chronic administration of MOEO displays efficacy in an experimental model of diabetic hyperalgesia. MOEO may therefore show promise as a treatment for painful diabetic neuropathy