The effect of daily intake of green coffee bean extract as compared to Agiolax® on the alveolar bone of albino rats.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a worldwide medical problem in which excess body fat is accumulated in the body. The use of weight loss supplements such as green coffee bean extract and Agiolax has become a common trend among people who want to lose weight in a fast and non-tiring way. As a result of their effect on fluid excretion, both of these products may be expected to have a damaging effect on the alveolar bone. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the histopathalogical effect of green coffee bean extract as compared to Agiolax on the alveolar bone of albino rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-seven adult male albino rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups. Nine received distilled water daily for 2 months by oral gavage (the control group); the other 2 groups received 1 mg/100 g body weight green coffee bean extract or Agiolax 8 mg/100 g body weight daily for 2 months by oral gavage (the GC and Ag groups, respectively). The alveolar bones were dissected and examined histologically, histomorphometrically and by western blotting. RESULTS: The bone area percentage and the calcium level in serum were significantly decreased in the GC and Ag groups, while the calcium level in urine was significantly increased in both the experimental groups as compared to the control group. On the other hand, RANKL expression was significantly increased only in the GC group, and the tissue calcium (Ca) level was significantly decreased only in the GC group as compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term oral administration of green coffee bean extract and Agiolax might lead to alveolar bone loss. A greater deleterious effect was caused by green coffee bean extract, as it caused more RANKL expression, significantly reduced Ca level in the tissue and consequently decreased the bone area percentage.

Alveolar process changes associated with administration of nucleos(t)ide analogue (sofosbuvir) in rat model.

BACKGROUND: Sofosbuvir is a nucleotide compound that has proved to be among the most potent orally available antiviral treatments. Infrequent but serious adverse events have been reported with the use of oral nucleos(t)ide analogues. OBJECTIVES: Investigating sofosbuvir-induced alterations in the rat mandibular alveolar process. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the study, 30 adult male albino rats were used and divided randomly into following groups: group 1, group 2 and group 3 (10 rats per group). Group 1 served as a control, group 2 received sofosbuvir through oral gavage at a dose of 40 mg/kg/day for 6 weeks, and group 3 was similar to group 2 but received sofosbuvir for 12 weeks. The animals were sacrificed at the end of the experiment. The mandibles were dissected and examined histologically as well as by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray unit (EDX). RESULTS: Histologically, group 1 showed normal alveolar process. In group 2, histopathological changes occurred as bone trabeculae demonstrated obvious Howship's lacuna of osteoclasts. In group 3, bone trabeculae exhibited multiple degenerated areas as well as apparent vacuolization. Scanning electron microscopic examination revealed smooth alveolar bone architecture in group 1. On the other hand, groups 2 and 3 demonstrated irregular bone architecture with formation of multiple pores. EDX analysis demonstrated the highest calcium concentration in the control group, while the lowest was found in group 3. Statistical analysis of the EDX results revealed a statistically significant difference among the studied groups as the p-value was <0.01. CONCLUSIONS: It has been concluded that sofosbuvir induced apparent alterations in the rats' alveolar bone. This effect was exaggerated in a longer period of drug administration. The sofosbuvir-induced alterations might be attributed mainly to mitochondrial toxicity. The effect had been clearly shown histologically and morphologically as well as in bone mineral (calcium) content.