possible protective role of curcumin on the toxic effect of nicotine in the lung of adult male mice: histological study

Nicotine is an alkaloid that is responsible for most of the dangerous effects of cigarette smoking on the human body. Curcumin is a component of turmeric that is a yellow spice derived from the plant Curcuma longa and has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimalignant properties. The aim of this work is to study the protective role of curcumin against the cytotoxic effect of nicotine on the lungs of adult male mice using light and electron microscopes. Thirty adult male mice were used in this study. They were divided into three groups. The first group was considered as the control, the second group received a subcutaneous injection of nicotine at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg/day for 1 month, and the third group received a subcutaneous nicotine injection at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg/day and oral curcumin at a dose of 80 mg/kg/day for 1 month. At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed and specimens of the lungs were extracted and processed for examination by light and electron microscopy. In the nicotine-treated group, thickening of the interalveolar septa with narrowing of air spaces was observed, thick abnormal elastic fibers and many collagenous fibers were deposited in lung interstitium, and an apparent increase in the number of pneumocytes type 11 cells with exhausted lamellar bodies was observed. Concomitant administration of nicotine and curcumin resulted in partial recovery from these toxic effects. Curcumin can be used to decrease the harmful effects of nicotine on the lungs in both active and passive smokers

Effect of maternal sodium Fluoride administration during gestation and lactation on the thyroid gland development of albino rat offspring

The study was carried to follow up the postnatal developmental sequences of the rat thyroid gland in addition to investigate the effect of gestational and lactational administration of sodium fluoride on the offspring thyroid gland and its reversibility after fluoride withdrawal. Thirty mature female albino rats were used and allowed for mating. Then the known pregnant rats were divided into two groups: group [A] [control group] received daily distilled water and group [B] [experimental group] received daily oral dose of sodium fluoride dissolved in distilled wafer via gastric tube [40mg/kgm body weight]. Drug administration started from the gestational day 14 up to the weaning on the postnatal day 21. The offspring of the control and experimental [fluoride treated] groups were used at the age of one, five, ten fifteen days.three weeks, one and six months [eight pups from each age]. The thyroid glands were dissected out and then the thyroid specimens were processed for histological study using Hemtoxylin and Eosin and Van Gieson 's staining methods. Histomorphometric technique was done to estimate the volume proportion of the thyroid follicles and interstitial tissues as well as the thickness of follicular epithelium of the rats of the experimental [fluoride treated] group compared to that of the control group at the age of three weeks, one and six months using the point counting technique. The obtained results were statistically analyzed using student t test. The histological results highlighted the normal postnatal developmental events of rat thyroid gland. The thyroid gland showed a primitive and immature microfollicular pattern at birth to attain the macrofollicular pattern by the second postnatal week. Further functional maturation was observed by the third postnatal week till they reached full maturity by the first postnatal month. These observations demonstrated well defined mature macrofollicles that contain abundant colloid material with visible absorptive vesicles. The histological findings of the current study demonstrated the effect of sodium fluoride on thyroid follicular pattern, follicular colloid content and the interfollicular connective tissue. These observations included predominance of microfollicular pattern, presence of disturbed follicular pattern reduction of colloid content [glycoprotein], widening of the interfollicular spaces, increased vascularity as well as obvious fibroplastic and monocytic infiltration. The histomorphometric measurements revealed statistically significant changes behween rats of the control and experimental groups at the age of three weeks and one month. The histological and histomorphometric results of the rats of the experimental group at the age of six months remained more or less similar to that of the control apart from widening of the interfollicular space. This partial recovery of thyroid histopathological and histomorphometric indices after cessation of sodium fluoride administration could indicate reversibility of its adverse effect

Effects of pre-and postnatal lead toxicity on cerebellar development in rabbit offsprings

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lead on the postnatal development of cerebellum in rabbit off springs. Pregnant rabbits were divided into a control group and an experimental group. The experimental group received lead acetate in a dose of 15 mg /kg B.W. by intragastric intubation. Lead administration was continued to the rabbit offspring. Exposure to lead resulted in an increase in the thickness of the external granular layer in comparison to control group. This layer disappeared at 3 months control rabbits while it was still present in exposed animals of the same age. Also the molecular layer of exposed animals was affected where it became decreased in thickness. Moreover administration of lead affected the Purkinje cells where they became decreased in size with indistinct Nissl granules, marked shortening of dendrites and focal loss of them. Lead, also, resulted in decreased thickness and density of the internal granular layer. Moreover, there were oedema, cavitations and foci of calcification. From the previous findings, it could be concluded that lead has degenerative changes on the cerebellar development

Iridoid and Phenylpropanoid glycosides form verbena tenera

Chemical investigation of the ethyl acetate extract of Verbena tenera Spreng afforded the phenylpropanoid acteoside. The butanol extract afforded the iridoid glucosides pulchelloside I and II. Identification of the isolated compounds was established through IR, UV, PMR, 13C-NMR, 13C-NMR [APT] and HETCOR spectral data

Investigation of the flavonoid content of verbena peruviana

The ethyl acetate fraction of the alcoholic extract of Verbena peruviana afforded eight flavonoids: kaempferol, quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol 3-0-[3-acetyl beta-D-glucoside], kaempferol 3-0-beta-D-glucoside, quercetin 3-0-beta-D-glucoside, luteolin 7-0-beta-D-glucoside and luteolin 7-0-alpha-L-rhamonosyl [1-6] beta-D-glucoside. Identification of these compounds was based on their UV, IR, 1H-NMR, 1H-COSY, 13C-NMR, 13C-NMR [APT] spectral data, mp and TLC comparison with authentic materials

New flavonoid glycosides from euphorbia dracunculoidea

The ethyl acetate fraction of the alcoholic extract aerial parts of Euphorbia dracunculoides afforded kaempferol and two new glycosides identified through their UV, IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 13C-NMR [APT] COESY and HETCOR spectral data as kaempferol 3-0-beta-methyl glucouronide and kaempferol 3-0-beta-glucosyl [1-4] beta-methyl glucouronide

Respiratory hazards among workers in flour milling industry

In flour milling industry, respiratory disorders are the main health problems resulting from exposure to grain dust and flour. The aim of this work is to study the prevalence of different respiratory diseases [bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, and asthmatic bronchitis] among workers in South Cairo flour Mills Company, and to detect pulmonary ventilatory impairement among them. In our study, chronic obstructive airway diseases [COAD] especially asthmatic bronchitis were significantly higher among exposed workers than among control group, also among exposed smokers than control smokers. The prevalence of COAD among exposed workers showed a significant positive association with the duration of emlpyement. Ventilatory function measurements showed sinificantly lower values of FEV/FVC% FEV and FVC% for exosed workers than the controls, also exposed smokers than exposed non smokers. All ventilatory function measurements showed a significant inverse relationship with duration of exposure

Computer program for periodic medical examination

Because of the different difficulties and defects facing the already present system of periodic medical examination, we proposed a modified set of principles for medical screening for occupational diseases listed in the Egyptian Schedule annex of the law No 79 for the year 1975. This proposal is presented in a computerized form using the C Language to facilitate the task of periodic medical examination. The program was tested in the Egyptian Iron and Steel Company

Auto exhaust pollution [in Cairo] and cardio respiratory disorders

Five hundred and five traffic policemen, busdrivers and garage mechanics from Greater Cairo were examined. Examination included full history taking, clinical examination of heart and chest, electrocardiogaraphic recordings, pulmonary function tests and estimation of blood lead and carboxyhaemoglobin. The results showed that the frequency distribution of chronic non specific respiratory diseases [CNRD] and cardiovascular diseases increase with age, duration of employment and in smokers. Hypertension and ischaemic heart diseases increased significantly with age, for policemen. The same was observed between Ischaemic heart diseases and duration of employment, in policemen also. A directly proportional relation was found between ischaemic heart diseases and carboxyhaemoglobin levels; the same was found between hypertension and blood lead levels. The results of ventilatory function tests showed that FVC% was unaffected; while FEV1% was reduced in the examined group. There was also a directly proportional relation of blood lead levels with duration of employment as well as carboxyhaemoglobin levels with both duration of employment and smoking. Smoking proved to play an important role in development and frequency distribution of cardiovascular and respiratory disorders; ii also influenced carboxyhaemoglobin levels. Policemen group was the most affected, if compared to drivers and mechanics in all the studied parameters