Evaluation of the effects of Cyclotrichium niveum on brain acetylcholinesterase activity and oxidative stress in male rats orally exposed to lead acetate.

Cyclotrichium niveum is an endemic plant for Turkey and it appears to have in vitro antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibition properties. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no study on the in vivo effects of this plant. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of C. niveum on lead (Pb)-acetate-induced potential alterations in brain acetylcholinesterase activity, as well as oxidative stress in male rats. The rats were randomly assigned to control, Pb-acetate, C. niveum and Pb-acetate+ C. niveum groups. Pb-acetate was provided in drinking water (500 ppm), and C. niveum was administered via orogastric gavage (4 ml/kg) for 30 days. The acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain significantly decreased only in the Pb-acetate group. The malondialdehyde level significantly increased, and the reduced glutathione activity decreased in the Pb-acetate group. The reduced glutathione and glutathione-S-transferase activities of the C. niveum group were higher than the control group. No Pb was detected on a ppb level in the brain tissue of the control and C. niveum groups, while it was detected in the brains of the rats in the Pb-acetate and Pb-acetate+ C. niveum groups (185+8.98 ppb and 206+56.65 ppb, respectively). The data collected in this study suggested that C. niveum may reduce inhibition of brain AChE activity and oxidative stress against Pb-acetate-induced alterations in the brain of male rats.

Serum and liver tissue bio-element levels, and antioxidant enzyme activities in carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity: protective effects of royal jelly.

The liver is a vital organ, and its function is generally impaired by chemicals. Some natural compounds have a protective role against liver diseases such as royal jelly (RJ). To our knowledge, there are no data available on the effect of RJ therapy on the levels of bio-element metabolisms and antioxidant enzyme activities in the carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver damage. Therefore, in the present study, we have investigated the role of RJ therapy in the trace and major elements and antioxidant enzymes in CCl(4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Antioxidant enzyme activities decreased in the CCl(4)-treated group more than they did in the sham and RJ-administered groups. Many bio-element levels were also reduced in only the CCl(4)-treated group. This showed that the depletion of trace elements was related to erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities. RJ administration clearly increased the trace and major element levels and antioxidant enzyme activities in RJ groups. RJ may be used as functional foods because of their naturally high antioxidant potential and rich element content.

Bio-element status in children with acute rheumatic fever: before treatment and after clinical improvement.

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is an autoimmune multisystem disease. Bio-elements are required in different quantities by an organism to maintain its physiologic function. Monitoring the status of bio-elements is critical in human health. This study aimed to determine possible changes in levels of bio-elements in children with ARF before and after treatment. Levels of trace and major elements in children with ARF were investigated. The study included 33 children with ARF (17 boys and 16 girls) and 20 healthy control children (11 boys and 9 girls). The ages ranged from 5 to 16 years (mean 11.4 ± 3.82 years) in the study group and from 6 to 15 years (mean, 10.7 ± 3.22 years) in the control group. Trace and major element concentrations (total of 14 elements) in the serum were measured by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. Before treatment, the levels of the major elements potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) in children with ARF were higher than in the control group, whereas the calcium (Ca) level was lower. Before treatment, the levels of trace elements iron (Fe), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), aluminum (Al), and barium (Ba) were lower, whereas the copper (Cu), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), gallium (Ga), and strontium (Sr) levels were higher in the serum of the patients with ARF than in the control patients. The major findings show that the homeostasis of some trace and major elements were altered in the children with ARF and that these alterations may be a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Protective potential of Royal Jelly against carbon tetrachloride induced-toxicity and changes in the serum sialic acid levels.

Royal Jelly (RJ) is used in the Turkish folk medicine for the treatment of number of disorders. The present study describes the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of the RJ against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced acute liver damage. Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the experiment. CCl(4) (0.8 ml/kg; s.c.) and RJ (50, 100, 200mg/kg; orally) were given every other day, for 20 days. Malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione in whole blood and tissues; ceruloplasmin, sialic acid, ascorbic acid, retinol, ß-carotene and liver enzymes levels in serum were measured. Additionally, histopathological alterations in the liver were examined. RJ exerted the significant protective effect on liver damage as well as on oxidative stress induced by CCl(4), resulting in reduced lipid peroxidation and improved endogenous antioxidant defence systems. It also reduced the elevated levels of liver enzymes. Histopathological study further confirmed the hepatoprotective effect of RJ, when compared with the CCl(4) treated control groups. In conclusion, present study reveals biological evidence that supports the use of RJ in the treatment of chemical-induced hepatotoxicity.

Tissue trace and major element levels in organophosphate insecticide fenthion (Lebaycid) toxicity in rats: prophylactic and therapeutic effect of exogenous melatonin.

Organophosphate compounds are very toxic chemicals and used in widespread applications. The present study was designed to examine the role of exogenous melatonin against organophosphate toxicity in tissues (brain, heart, jejunum, kidney, liver, lung, muscle and pancreas) trace and major element levels of rats. Trace and major element concentrations in the tissues were measured in the sham group, the control group, prophylaxis with the melatonin group and therapy with the melatonin group (TM) by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. Statistically significant differences among the experimental groups were detected for some tissue trace and major element concentrations. In the brain tissue, the Al, Mn and Se concentrations in the sham group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.05). In the heart tissue, the Cu, Mn and Se concentrations in the sham group were significantly increased than those in the control group (p<0.05). In the kidney tissue, trace and major element concentrations in the TM group were significantly lower than those in the sham group (Fe and Mn; p<0.05, Cu, Mo, Ni, Ti, V and Zn; p<0.01). In the liver, Mg, Al, Zn and Ca concentrations in the TM group were significantly higher than those in the fenthion-treated control group (p<0.01). In the muscle tissue, element concentrations in the TM group were significantly lower when compared with the sham groups (Ca and Si; p<0.01). The Al, Cr, Mo, Ni, Si and Zn element concentrations were markedly decreased in the control group as compared with the TM group in the pancreas tissue (p<0.01). In conclusion, according to the results of the present study the major findings are that the fenthion-treated rat's tissue element levels were effected and the melatonin may normalize the altered levels of some trace and major elements of the tissues in organophosphate toxicity.