Buchholzia coriacea seed extract attenuates mercury-induced cerebral and cerebellar oxidative neurotoxicity via NO signaling and suppression of oxidative stress, adenosine deaminase and acetylcholinesterase activities in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Mercury (Hg) is a classic cumulative neurotoxicant implicated in neuronal deficit via oxidative damage and inflammatory responses. We sought to investigate whether Buccholzia coriacea seed methanol extract (BCSE) would modulate oxidative neurotoxicity induced by Hg in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were orally treated with BCSE (200 or 400 mg/kg body weight of rat) for 28 days, while Hg was administered from day 15 to day 28. After sacrifice, antioxidant enzyme activities, reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and adenine deaminase (ADA) activities were evaluated in the cerebrum and cerebellum of rats. RESULTS: Mercury induced significant depressions in catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and GSH levels, whereas levels of NO and activities of AchE and ADA markedly increased. The histopathology of the brain tissues confirmed these changes. In contrast, BCSE administration prominently modulated the brain NO production and reversed the Hg-induced biochemical alterations comparable to normal control. CONCLUSION: Methanol extract of B. coriacea seeds protects the cerebrum and cerebellum against Hg-induced brain damage via its antioxidant and NO modulatory actions.

Alzheimer's Disease: Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Interventions.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. Genetics, excessive exposure to environmental pollutants, as well as unhealthy lifestyle practices are often linked to the development of AD. No therapeutic approach has achieved complete success in treating AD; however, early detection and management with appropriate drugs are key to improving prognosis. INTERVENTIONS: The pathogenesis of AD was extensively discussed in order to understand the reasons for the interventions suggested. The interventions reviewed include the use of different therapeutic agents and approaches, gene therapy, adherence to healthy dietary plans (Mediterranean diet, Okinawan diet and MIND diet), as well as the use of medicinal plants. The potential of nanotechnology as a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach in the design of nano-formulations of AD drugs and the use of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs) as theranostic tools for early detection of Alzheimer's disease were also discussed.

Combined ethanol extract of Funtumia africana and Abutilon mauritianium leaves improves the lipid profile and kidney function indices of benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats.

BACKGROUND: Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland as a result of an overgrowth of prostate cells and muscles found around the prostatic transition. It is age-dependent and characterized by benign prostate enlargement (BPE), bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The study investigated the effects of a combined extract of Funtumia africana and Abutilon mauritianum leaves (CEFA) on the lipid profile and renal indices of testosterone-induced BPH in male albino rats. METHODS: Thirty (30) male albino rats (100-150 g) divided into 5 groups (n = 6) were used.BPH was induced subcutaneously with 2 ml of testosterone propionate. Groups 1-3 served as normal, BPH untreated and standard drug controls respectively, while groups 4 and 5 were BPH-induced and treated with low (200 mg/kg) and high (600 mg/kg) doses of CEFA respectively. After twenty-eight days of treatment, the rats were anaesthetized, blood was collected by cardiac puncture and the sera centrifuged to determine lipid profile and renal indices using standard analytical procedures. RESULTS: The acute toxicity result of CEFA indicated no mortality or adverse reactions. The results of the lipid profile and renal function studies showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in triacylglycerol (TAG), total cholesterol (TC), urea and creatinine, and a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) concentrations in the BPH control group when compared to the normal control. Treatment with CEFA caused a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in TAG, urea and creatinine concentrations and a significant (p < 0.05) increase in HDL-C when compared to the untreated group. No significant (p > 0.05) difference was observed in serum concentrations of TC and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the treatment groups compared to the BPH control. The histopathological result indicated no toxic insult on the kidney tissues. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that CEFA possesses antilipidaemic properties in terms of elevation and decrease in HDL and TAG concentrations respectively. Also, CEFA possesses renoprotective potential in terms of reducing urea and creatinine concentrations.