ABSTRACT
Drug resistance, according to World Health Organization, is one of the most serious threats to public health. This makes antibiotics ineffective and reduces their therapeutic potential. One of the most prevalent multidrug-resistant bacteria is Staphylococcus aureus which is considered to be the most common pathogen and mortality factor in both hospital and non-hospital environments worldwide. Due to an unprecedented increase in reports of drug resistance in pathogens, and also due to adverse and severe side effects of drugs, there is an urgent need to redirect scientific efforts towards search for anti-oxidative natural substances and other alternative sources having therapeutic potential against microbes. Natural products such as propolis seem to exhibit most promising therapeutic potential against microorganisms. Thus, present study is focused on antioxidative potential of propolis in combination with standard antibiotics ampicillin and amoxicillin against S. aureus infected BALB/c mice. For this, mice were divided into seven groups, they were decapitated after suitable experimental periods, then their liver, kidney and spleen were excised from control and experimental groups, which were homogenized and then used for different biochemical estimations following the standard protocols. Results showed that S. aureus caused severe biochemical alterations by 5th day of infection that is, lipid peroxidation increased significantly (P <0.05), reduced glutathione level and activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, GST) decreased significantly (P <0.05) in liver, kidney and spleen of S. aureus infected mice. Ethanolic extract of propolis at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight of mice when used alone to treat S. aureus infection gave significantly good results by 15th day of treatment. Better results were observed when propolis was used along with antibiotics. The levels of antioxidant molecules and enzymes along with liver and kidney function enzymes were restored to near normal after 15 days of treatment. So it can be concluded that propolis along with antibiotics acts as a potent free radical scavenger and can be used as a potential therapeutic agent against staphylococcal infection.
ABSTRACT
Este estudo buscou verificar possíveis alterações sistêmicas causadas pelo flúor administrado em diferentes concentrações. Foi utilizado um modelo de estudo animal, no qual foram selecionados 60 rattus norvegicus, aleatoriamente divididos em 4 grupos, sendo três grupos testes (receberam água fluoretada nas concentrações de 0,7 ppm F; 1,2 ppm F e 2,0 ppm F), e um grupo controle que recebeu água destilada. Para análise histomorfológica por microscopia óptica, os ratos foram submetidos a dissecação dos seguintes órgãos: intestino alto (duodeno), rim e fígado. Os resultados obtidos após a avaliação descritiva comparativa dos grupos de estudo evidenciaram alterações morfológicas em todos os grupos testes, concluindo, desta forma, que o flúor administrado, nestas concentrações, pode ser tóxico.
This study sought to verify possible systemic changes caused by fluoride administered at different concentrations. An animal model was used in which 60 rattus norvegicus were randomly divided into 4 groups, with three test groups receiving fluoridated water at the different concentrations (0.7 ppm F, 1.2 ppm F and 2, 0 ppm F), and a control group receiving distilled water. A histomorphological analysis was performed by light microscopy after the dissection of the following rat organs: the large intestine (duodenum), the kidney and the liver. The results obtained after the comparative descriptive evaluation of the study groups showed morphological changes in all the test groups, concluding that the fluoride administered at these concentrations could be toxic.
ABSTRACT
Methotrexate (MTX) is widely used in the treatment of some forms of cancer but having severe side effects. The present work aimed to investigate the protective role of propolis treatment against alterations induced by MTX on the hepatic and renal tissues. Rabbits were exposed to MTX (0.25 mg/kg), with or without propolis (50 mg/kg) while hepatic and renal biopsies were examined for histological and histochemical abnormalities. Methotrexate induced hydropic degeneration, pyknosis, sinusoidal dilatation and bile duct hyperplasia in the liver together with renal tubular degeneration, glomerular shrinkage and hyaline droplet precipitation. While propolis partially ameliorated some of the morphometric and biochemical alterations, none of the hepatic alterations induced by MTX was protected by propolis treatment. Nevertheless glomerular shrinkage and renal tubule degeneration were partially protected in animals received both MTX plus propolis. It is concluded that propolis treatment has little or no ameliorative effect in protecting the hepatic and renal tissues from MTX toxicity.
El metotrexato (MTX) es ampliamente utilizado en el tratamiento de algunas formas de cáncer, pero tiene efectos secundarios graves. El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo investigar el papel protector del tratamiento con própoleo frente a las alteraciones inducidas por el MTX en los tejidos hepático y renal. Se expusieron conejos a MTX (0,25 mg / kg), en grupos con y sin propóleo (50 mg / kg), y se realizaron biopsias hepáticas y renales, que fueron examinadas buscando anomalías histológicas e histoquímicas. El metotrexato indujo la degeneración hidrópica, picnosis, dilatación sinusoidal e hiperplasia del conducto biliar en el hígado, junto con la degeneración tubular renal, la contracción glomerular y la precipitación hialina. Mientras que el propóleo parcialmente mejoró algunas de las alteraciones morfométricas y bioquímicas, ninguna de las alteraciones hepáticas inducidas por MTX fue protegido por el tratamiento con propóleo. Sin embargo, la contracción glomerular y la degeneración de los túbulos renales fueron parcialmente protegidos en animales que recibieron MTX más propóleo. Se concluye que el tratamiento con propóleo tiene poco o ningún efecto mejorador en la protección de los tejidos hepáticos y renales sometidos a la toxicidad de MTX.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rabbits , Propolis/administration & dosage , Methotrexate/toxicity , Kidney/drug effects , Liver/drug effects , Body Weight , Disease Models, Animal , Kidney/pathology , Liver/pathologyABSTRACT
The onset of stroke is related to the deficiency of kidney water, internal stirring of liver wind, disorder of brain marrow, and blood. They are in evolutionary relationship. The disorder of kidney-liver-brain axis is the core pathogenesis of stroke. In the aspect of meridian and function, the Du meridian is closely related to the kidney, liver and brain. Acupuncture on the Du meridian to regulate the kidney-liver-brain axis is an effective method in the treatment of stroke. The clinical practice and research have proved that DU20-Baihui and DU14-Dazhu are im-portant acupoints in the treatment of stroke.