Nephroprotective potential of artichoke leaves extract against gentamicin in rats: antioxidant mechanisms

Nephrotoxicity represents a major health problem. This study aims to determine nephroprotective of artichoke leaves extract [ALE] against gentamicin [GM] injection in male rats. Rats [n=30] were divided into; negative control, nephrotoxic [GM] injected intraperitoneally [i.p.] with GM [100 mg/kg b.wt/d for 10 days], and groups administered orally with ALE [200, 400 or 600 mg/kg b.wt/d] and injected with GM. The results revealed that, GM injection induced marked nephrotoxicity as evidenced by significant increase in kidney functions, albumin and potassium [K[+]], with significant decrease in serum levels of total protein and sodium [Na[+]] as compared with negative control group. There was significant increase in malondialdehyde [MDA] level in GM group compared with negative control group. Renal examined tissues showed severe changes manifested by atrophy of glomerular tuft, necrosis of epithelial lining renal tubules with apoptosis of tubular epithelium and renal hemorrhage. Simultaneous administration of ALE during GM therapy protected kidney tissues as evidenced by normalization of kidney biochemical parameters and minimized the histopathological changes. Therefore, ALE has nephroprotective and antioxidant effects, thus could be beneficial for kidney patients

Biological activity of extracts from olive and basil leaves against pathogenic microbial isolates

To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of extracts of olive leaves from Sinai and basil leaves from Iran against some selected pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains and to analyze both extracts to prove the active components responsible for their antimicrobial activity. Methanolic/chloroform extract of olive and methanolic extract of basil leaves were prepared and their antimicrobial activities were tested against 5 types of pathogenic bacteria; Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella and one type of fungus, Candida spp. using agar well-diffusion method. HPLC was done for analysis of phenolic compounds and GC-MS was done for analysis of volatile compounds. Antimicrobial activity of basil extract was stronger than that of olive. HPLC showed that the main phenolic compounds were oleuropein for olive and rosmarinic acid for basil. GC-MS showed the major peak for olive was triterpene and that for basil was Linalool. Basil has stronger antimicrobial activity than olive. It varies with different strains being the best against S. aureus, Pseudomonas and candida. Phenolic compounds mainly oleuropein for olive and rosmarinic acid for basil and caffeic acid in both had antimicrobial activity. In vivo study is recommended

Frequency of gestational diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in urban Sudanese pregnant women in the third trimester

Impaired glucose tolerance may be defined as intermediate group of individuals whose carbohydrate metabolism does not constitute diabetes but is not entirely normal. It carries a higher risk of developing microvascular disease and a significant percentage of these patients eventually become diabetics. Of the study was to estimate the frequency of gestational diabetes mellitus [GDM] and impaired glucose tolerance [IGT] in urban Sudanese pregnant women in the third trimester. The study also showed the effect of age and parity on IGT. The study was carried out on hundred pregnant women in the third trimester. The frequency of gestational diabetes was 2% and it was 6% for the IGT incidence whereas, 92% of the pregnant women revealed normal fasting plasma levels. The IGT pregnant women were older than the control pregnant women but, the age difference was not significant [28.7 +/- 5.5 years [mean +/- S.D] vs. 27.3 +/- 4.8 respectively, p>0.05]. Also, the IGT pregnant women were found to have mean parity significantly greater than that of the control group [6.7 +/- 2 [mean +/- S.D.] vs. 3.9 +/- 2.1 respectively, p<0.001]. The frequency of GDM and IGT in Sudanese pregnant women is within the universal estimates and parity is an important risk factor that affects impaired glucose tolerance incidence in pregnancy

Effect of morin against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in young male rats

Morin, a bioflavonoid with antioxidant properties, is a constituent of many herbs and fruits that are used as herbal medicines. It exhibits many biological activities and possibly even has protective effects against chronic diseases. The present study was conducted to determine the protective effect of morin against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in young male rats. Young male rats [n=24] were divided into four groups as follow; [1]: control group, [2]: gentamicin [GM] group; rats injected intraperitioneally [i.p.] with GM at a dose of 100 mg /kg body weight [b.w.] for five consecutive days to induced nephrotoxicity, [3]: morin group; rats administered morin daily at a dose of 30 mg/ kg b. w. via gavage, and [4] GM group pretreated with morin; rats were orally received morin at the same dose and route in group [3] up to two weeks followed by injected i.p. with GM as in group [2]. Separated serum samples were used for determination of protein metabolism parameters, kidney functions, malondialdehyde [MDA], and ionic sodium [Na[+]] and potassium [K[+]]. GM injection induced marked nephrotoxicity as evidenced by significant elevation in serum levels of albumin, creatinine, urea, uric acid, MDA and K[+], with significant reduction in serum levels of total protein, Na[+] and albumin/creatinine ratio [ACR]. Pretreatment with morin protected the rats from GM-induced nephrotoxicity as evidenced by significant improvement of these investigated parameters. Histological examination of renal tissues showed marked glomerular thickening, vacuolations of the wall of blood vessels associated with necrobiotic changes in GM injected group, meanwhile there were amelioration in rats group received morin pre-GM injection. Morin exert potential antioxidant activity and offer nephroprotective effect against GM-induced nephrotoxicity in young rats

Bakery fortification and biological evalation of bottle gourd seeds [lagenaria siceraria]

This study was conducted to investigate the potential use of roasted bottle gourd seeds [BGS] as a source of protein, oil and fiber in some bakery products [white pan bread and cup cake] and determine their hypocholesterolemic effects in rats. The roasted whole BGS were subjected to different chemical determinations [Trypsin inhibitor activity and proximal composition]. White pan bread and cup cake were fortified with roasted whole BGS and their kernel flours at different percentages [10, 15 and 20%]. All the fortified samples were subjected to both objective and organoleptic evaluation. The fortified products which maintained better characteristics were subjected to nutritive value determination. The biological study included 20 male albino rats of Sprague Dawley strain, weighing [120 +/- 10 g] and lasted for 4 weeks. The rats were divided into four main groups [n = 5 rats] as follows group 1 [control] fed on a basal diet, group 2 hypocholesterolemic [HC] rats fed on a high fat and high cholesterol diet, group 3 rats fed on hypocholesterolemic diet containing [10%] raw BGS flour and group 4 rats fed on hypocholesterolemic diet containing [10%] roasted BGS flour. Food intake, body weight gain, feed efficiency ratio [FER], relative organ weights. hematocrit level, serum calcium, iron and lipid profiles were determined. Results showed that the chemical composition of fortified white pan bread and cup cake improved significantly [p<0.05] as compared to the control. The biological study showed that rats fed on raw BGS had significant [p<0.05] decrease in food intake, body weight gain, FER, hematocrit level and high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, while it induced significant [p<0.05] increase in low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations as compared to the control group. Meanwhile, roasted BGS caused significant [p<0.05] increase in body weight gain and ameliorate the lipid profile parameters. Feeding tested rats on raw and roasted BGS each individually resulted in non-significant [p<0.05] decrease in calcium level and non-significant increase in iron level comparing with HC group. It can be concluded that under the study condition, roasted BGS had good impact on nutritional values of bakery products and showed hypocholesterolemic effectl on experimental animals

Aspergillus fumigatus and Cylindrocarpon candidum fungi induced apoptosis in HepG 2 cell line through activation of caspases enzymes

Many investigations are now interested to discover naturally occurring compounds, which can be used for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Most natural products which may be used as adjuvant therapy or to reduce the side effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. More than 300 products obtained from microorganisms have antitumor activities. In the study we isolated N-[3-4-Dichlorophenyl] 2-Methyl, 2,3 Dihydroxypropio amide from Aspergillus fumigatus and 2.4.6. Triphenyl pyridine from Cylindrocarpon candidum and investigate the cytotoxic effect and apoptotic effect on HepG2 cell line. The results revealed high cytotoxic effect at the concentration of 400 micro g/ml for both N-[3-4-Dichlorophenyl] 2-Methyl, 2,3Dihydroxypropio amide and 2.4.6. Triphenyl pyridine and effect is increase with time of incubation. The apoptotic effect of both products were investigated by measurement the caspase enzymes, the results showed highest activity of caspase 3 and caspase 9. Also at concentration 400 micro g/ml in both products. From this data we observe that two isolated product have antitumor effect and this effect is related to the concentration of the products and incubation period. Also, the two products induce apoptosis through increase activation of caspase 3 and caspase 9 which lead to programmed of cell death. This study need to furthermore study on experimental animal to confirm our results

Evaluation of selected markers of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C virus patients

To evaluate the usefulness of serum hyaluronan [HA], matrix rnetalloproteinase-9 [MMP-9] and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 TIMP-1 as well as AST/ALT ratio [whether as isolated or combined variables] in discrimination of stages of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C [CHC] patients. Internal Medicine, Medical Biochemistry and Pathology Departments, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University and Internal Medicine Department. Theodor Research Institute. Thirty six patients with CHC and twelve age and sex-matched healthy subjects as a control group. Histological staging of fibrosis [F0. F1, F2, F3 and F4] was performed in liver biopsy specimen according to the METAVIR Score. Serum levels of HA, MMP-9 and TIMP-l were determined by the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA]. The AST/ALT ratio was calculated. Levels of serum HA and TIMP-I were significantly increased in all stages of fibrosis versus the control group. The AST/ALT ratio was significantly increased while the MMP-9 was significantly decreased in the F2, F3 and F4 stages only versus the controls. Using receiver operating characteristic analysis, the area under the curve [AUC] of the score to discriminate extensive fibrosis [F3] and cirrhosis [F4] stages of CHC from early stages of CHC [FO. Fl, F2] were 0.98 for TIMP-1. with a sensitivity of' 100% and specificity 72.9% . As for HA, the AUC was 0.93% with a sensitivity of' l00f and specificity 57.8% . By multivariate regression analysis, only HA followed by TIMP-1 wee independently associated with extensive fibrosis and/or cirrhosis and were accurate in discriminating F3/F4 stages from the early F0/F1/F2 stages. Furthermore, a combination of the our studied parameters increased the accuracy. The present results suggest that the serum fibrotic markers, especially HA and TIMP-1, may be clinically useful in discriminating early fibrotic stages from the late extensive fibrosis and cirrhosis stages in patients with CHC, especially if combined with other variables, as MMP-9 and AST/ALT ratio

effect of some maternal risk factors in glucose tolerance impairment among Sudanese pregnant women in the third trimester

To show the effect of some maternal risk factors in glucose tolerance impairment in pregnancy, a study was carried out on thirty pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus, thirty ones with impaired glucose tolerance and thirty control ones with normal glucose tolerance. Age and parity of the GDM and the IGT groups were significantly greater than that of the control group: 32.77 +/- 5.08 years [mean +/- S.D.], 31.1 +/- 6.04 vs 23.93 +/- 4.46 respectively, p<0.0001 and 5.23 +/- 2.69, 5.6 +/- 3.07 vs 2.77 +/- 1.48 respectively, p< 0.0001. Also, The GDM and the IGT groups were found to have a family history of diabetes and previous heavy babies, incidence significantly higher than that of the control group. Finally, it was concluded that Age, parity, previous heavy babies' incidence and family history of diabetes are very important maternal risk factors that affect glucose tolerance in pregnancy

Bees honey abolishes the physiological disorders induced by some synthetic food colourant additives administered to young male albino rats

This work aimed to study the physiological changes in body weight, blood picture, thyroid hormones [T3 and T4] and liver functions as well as to examine the histochemical and histopathological changes in the liver of young male rats after receiving one of two colors additives mixture commonly used in local food factories in the Egyptian market [colour I, tartrazine and carmoisine and colour II, brilliant blue, sunset yellow, tartrazine and carmoisine] at a dose level of 0.3 g% in drinking water for 8 weeks. This work was also extended to study the possible protective role of a regular daily intake of bees honey [3.3 mg/kg b.wt.] against the disturbances induced by these colours additives. In conclusion, the tested synthetic food colours additives induced physiological disturbances in rats. On the other hand, the administration of bees honey plays an important protective role against the deleterious effects of the colours additives. However, even recent studies of the carcinogenic and other adverse properties of these compounds have failed to provide a basis for the confident prediction of the physiological specifications; hence, there is still a necessity of their metabolic and toxicological properties

Ecomicrobiological studies on Halophilic marine micro flora of Mediterranean Sea on the Egyptian coast

The distribution of halophilic marine bacteria, yeast and fungi able to grow in the presence of increasing concentration of NaCl [20% and 25%] in addition to sea water of three sites, Eastern Harbor [site I], El-Montazah [site II] and Abu Qir Bay [site III] was examined during different seasons over a period of 1995 until 1996. Sites I and III are areas polluted with sewage water and industrial sources while site I is less polluted marine area. The pollution of the sea water increased the population of marine microorganisms. Seasonal variation was noticed in the viable counts of bacteria able to grow in 20% and 25% NaCl. Highest viable counts of halophilic bacteria were recorded in the summer, while the lowest numbers were found in winter and autumn. The viable counts of halophilic bacteria were lower in 25% NaCl than 20%. The highest counts of halophilic fungi and yeast were recorded in summer at the three sites and the lowest counts were found in spring and autumn. The counts of halophilic yeast were decreased with the increase in the concentrations of NaCl. Seasonally, the population of halophilic bacteria in the three sites is generally higher than that of either fungi or yeast. Twenty halophilic marine yeasts isolated from Mediterranean Sea were identified as Aureobasidium sp., Debaryomyces hansenii and Saccharomyces rosei. Thirty-four halophilic fungi were identified as Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium brevicompactum, P. canescens, Zalerion maritimum, Alternaria maritima, Fusarium sp. and Phoma sp., which were also able to grow on high concentrations of NaCl [20% and 25%]. Aureobasidium sp. was the most abundant at site III [81.8%] in the summer, although Debaryomyces hansenii was predominated at site I [59.5%] in the winter. Penicillium brevicompactum was occurred in relatively low numbers at the three sites in all season. The results showed that Aureobasidium sp. and Penicillium brevicompactum were predominated in the summer at site III, however Debaryomyces hansenii was predominated at site I in winter. Seventy-three halophilic bacteria isolates were identified related to Micrococcus roseus, Micrococcus varians, Micrococcus sp., Bacillus sp. and Flavobacterium haemophilus. Although sea water and yeast extract stimulated the growth of some halophilic yeast and filamentous fungi on medium supplemented with high concentration of NaCl; Aureobasidium sp., Debaryomyces hansenii and P. brevicompactum were able to tolerate the high concentration of NaCl [30%] when mixture of vitamins [folic acid, riboflavin, biotin and pantothenic acid] was added to the growth medium

Interaction between bacteria, fungi and aspergillus parasiticus on production of aflatoxin

The of Aspagiltus parasiticus spores was grown on yeast extract sucrose troth medium, into wild strains of either bacteria or fungi resulted in the reduction of aflatoxin concentration. Mixed culture of A. parasiticus was grown into Bacilluscereus, showed significantly reduction in total aflatoxin in the incubation periods 7 day and 14 days. However mixed culture of all molds and bacteria had lower affect than single culture of B. cereus on aflatoxin production in the incubation period 7 days. Pseudomonase aeruginosn stimulated aflatoxin B2 production by A. parauticus after 7 days but it inhibited after 14 days ittwbation. Fusarium moniliforme had little affect on total aflatoxin reduction from A. parasiticus. The production of aflatoxin by mixed of these molds with bacteria [B. cereus, P. aeruginosa or Sarcina sp.] decrease after 7 days incubation, and extension the incubation period to 14 days was associated with markedly reduction in aflatoxin concentration. There was astatistically significant change in levels of AFBI, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2 when A. parasiticus incubated with other microorganisms. The four aflatoxins are not completely removed. There was apparently nodirect relationship between toxin production and dry weight of the mycelium

quantitative assessment of collagen in non schistosomal and schistosoma associated urinary bladder carcinoma

Forty urinary bladder samples were obtained for study, they included 4 benign bilharzial cystitis cases and 36 urinary bladder carcinomas [14 associated with schistosomiasis and 22 without evidence of schistosomal infestation]. The cases were subjected to a quantitative assessment of their collagen content by two methods: Colorimetric micromethod for collagen quantitation and morphometric analysis of collagen by use of an image analyzer. The results obtained by both methods pointed out that benign bilharzial cystitis cases contained more total collagen than the malignant cases and the malignant bilharzial cases were more fibrogenic than the non-bilharzial. Differences between the various histological subtypes were also seen with squamous cell carcinoma displaying more desmoplasia than adenocarcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma. Transitional cell carcinoma associated with bilharziasis was close in collagen content to squamous cell carcinoma without bilharziasis. It was apparent from these results that the total amount of collagen in addition to the distribution pattern of the fibrotic process in schistosomal cases around the newly formed blood vessels and lymphatics both play a role in determination of the unique behavior of such neoplasms