CCl4-induced hepatonephrotoxicity: protective effect of nutraceuticals on inflammatory factors and antioxidative status in rat.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the possible protective effect of two edible parts (leaves and stems) of Rumex dentatus L. on inflammatory factors and oxidant/antioxidative status of rat. Determination of total phenolic content of the two parts and isolation of bioactive secondary metabolites from the promising leaves extract were carried out. The hepatic antioxidant parameters; glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, nitric oxide and malondialdehyde were measured. Liver marker enzymes and hepatic function enzymes; aspartate and alanine aminotransferases as well as cholestatic markers; alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyltransferase, serum total protein content, urea, creatinine were evaluated. In addition, inflammatory markers; interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, C-reactive protein, and tumor necrosis factor were estimated. Histopathological investigation was also examined. The ethanolic extract of leaves and stems showed antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory properties. An improvement of liver and kidney functions was also observed. Extract of leaves showed relatively higher biological activity than that of stems, a fact which may be related to their higher total phenolic content. This extract was subjected to chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis. Phytochemical investigation has afforded emodin (1), chrysophanic acid (2), 1,5-dihydroxy-3-methyl-9,10- anthraquinone (3), quercetin-3-rhamnoside (4), quercetin-3-rhamnosyl-(1→6)-galactoside (5), Isorhamnetin-3- rhamnoside (6), catechin (7) and daucosterol (8). Compounds 3-7 were isolated for the first time from this species. In conclusion, the plant parts extract represents a promising candidate for the treatment of liver fibrosis and renal injury. The isolated bioactive phytochemicals was suggested to be responsible for the pronounced pharmacological activity.

Significance of apoptotic markers Bcl-2, CD4+ T cells, hepatocyte growth factor and metalloproteinase -9 in infected patients with HCV.

To examine the possible involvement of human B-cll leukemia /lymphoma 2(Bcl2) , CD 4+ cells , hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and metalloproteinase -9 ( MMP-9), in the development of liver diseases caused by HCV infection, serum activities of these biomarkers were demonstrated by quantitave detemination of Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay(ELISA) . Two groups of subjects (60 for each) were examined in this study: healthy control and patients with chronic hepatitis C(HCV) The results showed significant decrease in Bcl-2 (P≤ 0.0001) , and CD 4+ (P≤0.001) , while significant increase in HGF and MMP-9(P≤0.05). These findings imply an influence of these biomarkers by the existence of virus that might influence the following progression of liver disease, and a distinction between the pathological mechanisms of HCV. Since the serum MMP-9 activity were significantly varied between each stage of liver disease, an individual profile of these parameters might serve as an easy accessing serum marker to monitor the progression of liver disease.

Biomphalaria alexandrina snails as immunogens against Schistosoma mansoni infection in mice

Despite effective chemotherapy, schistosomiasis remains the second largest public health problem in the developing world. Currently, vaccination is the new strategy for schistosomiasis control. The presence of common antigenic fractions between Schistosoma mansoni and its intermediate host provides a source for the preparation of a proper vaccine. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the nucleoprotein extracted from either susceptible or resistant snails to protect against schistosomiasis. The vaccination schedule consisted of a subcutaneous injection of 50 µg protein of each antigen followed by another inoculation 15 days later. Analyses of marker enzymes for different cell organelles [succinate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose-6-phosphatase, acid phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase] were carried out. Energetic parameters (ATP, ADP, AMP, phosphate potentials, inorganic phosphate, amino acids and LDH isoenzymes) were also investigated. The work was extended to record worm and ova counts, oogram determination in the liver and intestine and the histopathological pattern of the liver. The nucleoprotein of susceptible snails showed reduction in worm and ova counts by 70.96 percent and 51.31 percent, respectively, whereas the nucleoprotein of resistant snails showed reductions of 9.67 percent and 16.77 percent, respectively. In conclusion, we found that the nucleoprotein of susceptible snails was more effective in protecting against schistosomiasis.