Protective role of cod liver oil on hippocampal oxidative damage and neuronal count in Wistar rat model of comorbid depression.

Background: Proper nutrition and balanced diet have a profound influence on mental well-being. Nutritional psychiatry plays an important role in influencing a healthy mind and body. The animal model of chronic unpredictable stress has been considered the effective model to explore research on anxiety and depression. Aim: The present study aimed to explore the protective role of cod liver oil on various biochemical and neuronal analyses in the hippocampus tissue of the Wistar rat model of comorbid depression. Methods: Healthy adult albino rats of Wistar strain weighing (120-160 g) were divided into control groups and experimental groups. These groups were further categorized into various subgroups based on stress exposure, cod liver oil, and antidepressant treatment. Six animals were taken in each group. The duration of stress exposure was for 15 days. After the experimentation procedure, the animals were anesthetized and hippocampus was dissected for the estimations of various biochemical and neurological parameters. Results: The combination of cod liver oil with the antidepressant significantly (p < 0.001) decreased the lipid peroxidation level. Total antioxidant (TAO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels significantly increased (p < 0.001) in the hippocampus. Treatment of cod liver oil during the stress exposure increased (p < 0.001) the neuronal count. Conclusion: Cod liver oil proved to be an effective antidepressant agent by increasing the antioxidants and promoting neurogenesis in the hippocampus.

Spondias pinnata bark extract- an ameliorator of inflammatory derangement in etoposide induced mucositis: An experimental approach.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Mucositis, one of the vulnerabilities of chemotherapy, affects the physiological activities and therapeutic strategies of patients because it can affect the normal cell population. Etoposide is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent for cancers such as oral, lung, and gastrointestinal. In addition to the abnormal metabolic processes in the body caused by tumorigenesis, new metabolic alterations can occur, such as oxidative stress, antioxidant imbalance, and inflammatory reactions, all of which can contribute to existing patient vulnerability. Therapeutic adjuvants can help overcome these toxic effects. Spondias pinnata is a tropical tree omnipresent in the coastal and Western Ghat section of India that is used for culinary purposes and as a local analgesic. Therefore, we aimed to study the anti-inflammatory effects of S. pinnata in an etoposide-induced mucositis rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Small intestinal tissue homogenates from albino Wistar rats were used to estimate the levels of glutathione (GSH) and nitric oxide (NO), and activities of total antioxidant (TAO), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and Na+-K+ ATPase. The animals were grouped into: (1) normal control, (2) etoposide-induced mucositis (65 mg/kg bodyweight, single IP dose), (3) S. pinnata control group, and (4) etoposide followed by S. pinnata bark extract (200 mg/kg bodyweight, once in a day). Animals were sacrificed after 24, 48, 72, and 96 h and compared with that of the normal control group (n=6). Statistical analysis was performed using EZR software. RESULTS: We observed a significant decrease in the TAO and GSH levels with a marked increase in NO, MPO, and Na+-K+ ATPase activity in the mucositis group. A tendency to recover from the decreased TAO and GSH levels existed in the treated group, showing the protective effects of S. pinnata bark extract against mucositis. In addition, this extract also showed anti-inflammatory effects as reflected by the recovery in MPO levels at the end of 96 h. Maintenance of Na+-K+ ATPase activity in the treated group demonstrates the protective effects of the extract against the increased levels observed in the etoposide-induced mucositis group. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the protective effects of S. pinnata bark extract against the oxidative and inflammatory changes that occurred during the development ofmucositis. This would decrease the pathological burden during chemotherapy and prevent any hurdles in therapeutic modalities.

Comparison of malondialdehyde levels and superoxide dismutase activity in resveratrol and resveratrol/donepezil combination treatment groups in Alzheimer's disease induced rat model.

The aim of this study was to determine the malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in colchicine induced Alzheimer's disease (AD), resveratrol (RS) treated and RS + donepezil (DPZ) treated rat models. The objective was to compare the MDA level and SOD activity among these rat models. The present study included 3 months old male albino Wistar rats, which were in-house bred and weighting about 220-250 g. The rats were divided into nine subgroups which included control, sham, AD induced, RS treated and DPZ treated groups in different doses and combinations. The lipid peroxidation product for MDA in the brain homogenate was measured by estimating the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance. Estimation of SOD was done by the method of autoxidation of pyrogallol by Marklund and Marklund. There was a marked increase in the MDA levels in AD induced group in comparison to the control group (p < 0.05). The SOD activity was higher in the RS 10 and RS 20 treated groups in contrast to the AD group (p < 0.05). In DPZ + RS group, there was a substantial increase in the SOD activity (p < 0.05). It is also observed that the RS 20 treatment group showed higher SOD activity than the RS 10 group (p < 0.05). This study showed that, AD induced group had elevated levels of MDA, which indicates the poor oxidative stress-defence mechanism. The RS 10 and RS 20 groups showed higher SOD activity in comparison to the AD group, which indicated the improved oxidative stress-defence mechanism. The RS + DPZ group showed higher SOD activity, indicating a synergistic effect of DPZ and RS.

Cellular and Biochemical Changes in Different Categories of Periodontitis: A Patient-based Study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to study the effects of periodontitis, diabetes mellitus (DM), and tobacco smoking and chewing habits (TBSCH) on the oxidative stress biomarker levels, namely malondialdehyde (MDA), and the mucosal genotoxic nuclear damage in the marginal gingival cells of subjects. Furthermore, the correlation of the biomarkers, MDA, and nuclear changes in the form of micronucleation (Mn) and binucleation (Bn) was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty study participants were divided into five subject categories, which were established based on the presence of periodontitis, DM, and TBSCH. Whole saliva and marginal gingival smears collected from subjects were used to determine MDA levels and nuclear changes, respectively. A full-mouth assessment of periodontal pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, and bleeding on probing was performed for each subject to determine periodontal status. RESULTS: MDA and Mn levels between control group and subjects with only periodontitis (MDA: P < 0.9990; Mn: P < 0.8200) showed no significant difference, whereas levels among subjects with DM, TBSCH, and periodontitis, and all other categories were statistically significant (MDA: P < 0.001). DM and/or TBSCH superimposed on periodontitis cause an exponential increase in biomarker levels. Furthermore, MDA and Mn showed poor correlation (r = 0.162; P = 0.318). Periodontitis alone did not significantly increase oxidative stress levels compared to healthy controls, whereas DM and TBSCH resulted in augmented oxidative stress levels, implying that increased stress produced by DM and TBSCH aggravates or exaggerates periodontal inflammation. CONCLUSION: Poor correlation between MDA and Mn indicated that the mechanisms involved in their production are independent of each other.

Protective potentials of Annona muricata fruit pulp on etoposide-induced gastrointestinal toxicity in Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND: Mucositis, one of the devastating consequences of chemotherapy and also limits the efficacy of the treatment. At present, there are no antimucositic agents without side effects. Hence, there is a need for better adjuvant therapy using plant or food sources. Here, we have made an attempt to study the effect of Annona muricata (AM) fruit pulp on etoposide-induced mucositis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted at Central Research Laboratory, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore. The effect of AM fruit pulp (100 mg and 200 mg/kg body weight) on etoposide-induced mucositis was studied in Wistar rats (n = 36) in comparison with normal and AM controls. Intestinal tissue was collected for histology and estimation of total antioxidants (TAO), glutathione (GSH), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and nitric oxide (NO) levels along with histological changes were studied. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: TAO and GSH levels were found to be significantly high in the rats which received 200 mg of AM/kg body weight than 100 mg of AM/kg body weight when compared with etoposide control. The levels of inflammatory markers - MPO and NO - were found to be decreased (P < 0.001) in the animals received 200 mg/kg body weight of AM in comparison with etoposide group and lower dosage of AM pulp. Histology of intestine also showed a protective effect of AM (200 mg/kg body weight) against etoposide toxicity. CONCLUSION: The results show that AM fruit pulp has the capacity to act as antimucositic agent and also reduced inflammation.

Effect of Atorvastatin on Serum Para-Oxonase-1 and C-Reactive Protein in Wistar Rats.

Statins have been widely used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerotic disease. Atherosclerosis is an ongoing inflammatory response which is involved in mediating all stages of this multifactorial disease. The present study focuses on the long term effect of atorvastatin on the anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory properties with reference to para-oxonase and C-reactive protein levels in rats. Thirty six Wistar albino rats obtained from the central animal house were divided into 6 groups with 6 rats in each group. Group I and IV served as the control for male and female rats respectively. Group II and V comprised of male and female rats that received low dose of atorvastatin (10 mg/kg body weight). Group III and VI comprised of male and female rats that received high dose of atorvastatin (40 mg/kg body weight) for period of 45 days. Blood was collected by cardiac puncture. The plasma was analysed for total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, C-reactive protein (CRP) and Paraoxonase-1, both basal Paraoxonase (BPON) & Salt stimulated Paraoxonase (SPON) by standard procedures. Results of the present study showed a reduction in TC and increase in HDL-C in both groups of rats receiving low and high dose of Atorvastatin. Both male and female rats responded similarly. The levels of CRP decreased in the male rats receiving either low or high dose of atorvastatin. Activity of SPON and BPON was increased only in the group receiving high dose of atorvastatin in both male and female rats.