ABSTRACT
Cadmium (Cd) is a well - known environmental toxin that is naturally present in air, water and soil. The reproductive system is most vulnerable to oxidative damage and therefore most affected by Cd. Zinc (Zn) is an essential antioxidant and a chelating agent that is capable of protecting the testis from Cd induced toxicity. Apium graveolens commonly known as Celery is a herbal plant rich in antioxidants and it improves various sperm parameters. MethodsMale Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into 7 groups. Control received 0.5 % Carboxy-Methyl Cellulose (CMC) in distilled water; the experimental groups namely Cd received 10 mg / Kg body weight of CdCl2; Cd + Zn received 10 mg / Kg bodyweight of CdCl2 + 40 mg / Kg body weight of ZnCl2; Cd + AG 200 received 10 mg/Kg bodyweight of CdCl2 + 200 mg / Kg body weight of Apium graveolens; Cd + AG400 received 10 mg/Kg body weight of CdCl2 + 400 mg / Kg body weight of Apium graveolens; Cd + AG 200 + Zn received 10 mg / Kg bodyweight of CdCl2 + 200 mg / Kg body weight of Apium graveolens + 40 mg / Kg body weight of ZnCl2; Cd + AG 400 + Zn received 10 mg / Kg bodyweight of CdCl2 + 400 mg/Kg body weight of Apium graveolens + 40 mg / Kg body weight of ZnCl2 all in 0.5% CMC. Hydroalcoholic extract of Apium graveolens was used in this experiment. The experiment was conducted for a duration of 56 days. Histopathology, sperm analysis, lipid peroxidation and hormone assays were performed. The therapeutic potential of Apium graveolens at two doses (200 and 400 mg / Kg body weight) with and without Zn supplementation was evaluated in this experiment. ResultsRats treated with Cd showed severe testicular damages. Zn offered protection from the damages done by cadmium. The hydroalcoholic extract of Apium graveolens at doses of 200 mg / Kg body weight showed better protective effect than 400 mg / Kg body weight and the protecting nature was enhanced by zinc supplementation.
ABSTRACT
Objective To elucidate the anxiolytic and free radical scavenging effect of methanolic extract of Apium graveolens (A. graveolens) in adult C57BL/6 mice. Methods Sixty male mice were divided into 6 groups: control, vehicle, positive control and A. graveolens (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg). Different behavioral models of elevated plus maze, open field, light/dark, hole-board and pentobarbital-induced sleep were used to assess anxiety-like behavior. Biochemical parameters including monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) activity, lipid peroxidation, % inhibition of superoxide anion and glutathione peroxidase activity were measured. Histologic studies were also examined. Results Mice receiving various doses of A. graveolens (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) showed an alleviation of anxiety-like behavior as evidenced by the battery of behavioral tests. Likewise, A. graveolens treatment was found to significantly decrease MAO-A activity, lipid peroxidation as well as cause a significant increase of % inhibition of superoxide anion and glutathione peroxidase activity in both cortex and striatum. The total number of survival neurons found in the frontal cortex and striatum was significantly higher than that of the vehicle-treated group. Conclusions Taken together, we showed that A. graveolens improve the behavioral changes which might be related to the inhibition of free radicals and modulation of MAO-A activity resulting in an increased number of survival neurons. Our findings suggest the therapeutic potential of A. graveolens in the treatment of anxiety.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To elucidate the anxiolytic and free radical scavenging effect of methanolic extract of Apium graveolens (A. graveolens) in adult C57BL/6 mice. Methods: Sixty male mice were divided into 6 groups:control, vehicle, positive control and A. graveolens (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg). Different behavioral models of elevated plus maze, open field, light/dark, hole-board and pentobarbital-induced sleep were used to assess anxiety-like behavior. Biochemical parameters including monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) activity, lipid peroxidation,%inhibition of superoxide anion and glutathione peroxidase activity were measured. Histologic studies were also examined. Results: Mice receiving various doses of A. graveolens (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) showed an alleviation of anxiety-like behavior as evidenced by the battery of behavioral tests. Likewise, A. graveolens treatment was found to significantly decrease MAO-A activity, lipid peroxidation as well as cause a significant increase of%inhibition of su-peroxide anion and glutathione peroxidase activity in both cortex and striatum. The total number of survival neurons found in the frontal cortex and striatum was significantly higher than that of the vehicle-treated group. Conclusions: Taken together, we showed that A. graveolens improve the behavioral changes which might be related to the inhibition of free radicals and modulation of MAO-A activity resulting in an increased number of survival neurons. Our findings suggest the therapeutic potential of A. graveolens in the treatment of anxiety.
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Objective:To investigate the vasorelaxant effect of organic extracts from Apium graveolens (A. graveolens) which is a part of a group of plants subjected to pharmacological and phytochemical study with the purpose of offering it as an ideal source for obtaining lead compounds for designing new therapeutic agents with potential vasorelaxant and antihypertensive effects. Methods:An ex vivo method was employed to assess the vasorelaxant activity. This consisted of using rat aortic rings with and without endothelium precontracted with norepinephrine. Results:All extracts caused concentration-dependent relaxation in precontracted aortic rings with and without endothelium;the most active extracts were Dichloromethane and Ethyl Acetate extracts from A. graveolens. These results suggested that secondary metabolites responsible for the vasorelaxant activity belong to a group of compounds of medium polarity. Also, our evidence showed that effect induced by dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts from A. graveolens is mediated probably by calcium antagonism. Conclusions: A. graveolens represents an ideal source for obtaining lead compounds for designing new therapeutic agents with potential vasorelaxant and antihypertensive effects.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the preparation technique of Apium graveolens L.capsules and to assess the quality of the prepared capsules. Methods and Results Using moldability and fluidity of the granules as indices, we optimized the formulation of Apium graveolens L. capsules by mono-factor test, with the mono-factors including microcrystalline cellulose, aerosil and lactose. In the optimized formula, the contents of aerosil, microcrystalline cellulose and polyvinylpolypyrrolidone were 26%, 30% and 2%, respectively. The aerosil had a satisfactory adsorption for volatile oil, which is important to the viscosity, moldability and fluidity of the granules. Three batches of samples were made using the optimized formula,and the quality evaluation tests showed that mass variation, the moisture content and contents of flavonoids and phthalides all met the quality control criteria. Conclusion The granules of capsules prepared in this study have satisfactory moldability and fluidity.The preparation technique is simple and the quality can be controlled, making it suitable for industrial production.
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Objetivo. Evaluar la respuesta a la impregnación al vacio (IV) en apio y pepino, con soluciones isotónicas de NaCl. Materiales y métodos. Se determinaron variables de impregnación en troncos de apio y rodajas de pepino (3 posiciones diferentes a lo largo de su estructura), considerando, fracción y deformación volumétrica en la etapa de vacío (X1 y g1) y atmosférica (X y g), y la porosidad disponible (Ee) al proceso IV. Resultados. El apio y pepino no presentaron diferencias estadísticas por efecto de la posición. En las etapas de proceso se obtuvieron para el apio y el pepino valores de X1 (-14.32 ± 2.75 y -5.51±1.76%, g1 (-0.587±0.69 y -0.079±0.99%), X(13.49±2.32 y 6.72±2.72%), g (-1.40±1.042% y -2.33±1.26%) y Ee (15.73±2.31 y 9.35±2.57%), respectivamente. Estos resultados indicaron una salida de líquido nativo (X1<0) y una ligera contracción volumétrica de las estructuras (g y g1<0), lo cual se evidenció microestructuralmente. Conclusiones. La respuesta a la IV en apio y pepino, permite identificar estas matrices alimentarias, como aptas para la incorporación de componentes que le proporcionen un valor agregado a estos productos.