The pyrethroid insecticide permethrin confers hepatotoxicity through DNA damage and mitochondria-associated apoptosis induction in rat: Palliative benefits of Fumaria officinalis.

Permethrin (PER) is a pyrethroid pesticide that is extensively used as an insecticide in world because of its high activity and its low mammalian toxicity. The current study was conducted to investigate the protective action of Fumaria officinalis against PER-induced liver injury in male rats. However, HPLC-DAD showed the richness of 6 components in F. officinalis (F) including quercetin, ferulic acid, and naringenin which were the most abundant. Total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and condensed tannins were studied by phytochemical screening. In vitro, antioxidant properties showed that F. officinalis exhibited the highest DPPH radical, FRAP, and H2 O2 tests and total antioxidant capacity. Wistar rats were divided into four groups: negative control group (C), positive control group (F) (200 mg F. officinalis/kg BW), PER group (34.05 mg permethrin/kg BW), and PER + F group (34.05 mg permethrin/kg BW and 200 mg F. officinalis/kg BW). Oral administration of PER led to promote a decrease of body weight and Ca2+ -ATPases and Mg2+ -ATPases activities and an increase of plasma C-reactive protein level, transaminases, and hepatic ϒ-GT activities as well as hepatic and mitochondrial oxidative stress. An increase in plasma lactate-to pyruvate ratio and a reduction in complexes enzymes I, III, and IV activities were also observed. In addition, histoarchitecture of liver in PER-treated rats showed apoptosis and necrosis as confirmed by DNA fragmentation. F. officinalis significantly exerted hepatoprotective effect by modulating hepatic alteration and mitochondrial dysfunction as well as genotoxicity. This effect could be attributed to phenolics compounds such as polyphenols, condensed tannins, and flavonoids.

Beneficial effects of Salvia officinalis essential oil on vanadium-induced testicular injury, DNA damage and histological alterations in Wistar rats.

Vanadium has been shown to catalyze the generation of reactive oxygen species. Since free radical production and lipid peroxidation are potentially important mediators in testicular physiology and pathophysiology, the present study was conducted to elucidate vanadium-induced oxidative damage in rat testis and the ameliorative role of Salvia officinalis essential oil (SEO) against the adverse effects of this heavy metal. Adult male Wistar rats were treated daily during 10 days either with ammonium metavanadate (5 mg/kg bw, intraperitoneally), SEO (15 mg/kg bw, orally) or their combination. A group of rats receiving daily a saline solution served as a negative control. Vanadium treatment induced a significant decrease in body and reproductive organ weights, serum testosterone level and sperm number and motility. An increase in lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation as well as a marked inhibition in the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the testes and seminal vesicles indicated the occurrence of oxidative stress after vanadium toxicity. Histopathological changes in testis and seminal vesicles were also observed following vanadium administration. However, co-administration of SEO to vanadium-treated rats resulted in an appreciable improvement of these parameters, emphasizing the therapeutic effects of SEO. It can be suggested that SEO mitigates vanadium-induced reproductive damage due to its antioxidant capacity. Thus, we can hypothesize that SEO supplementation could protect against vanadium poisoning.

Subacute toxicity studies of meals prepared from genetically modified potato overexpressing the StDREB1 or the VvWRKY2 transcription factor in rats.

BACKGROUND: Potato tubers from genetically modified plants overexpressing the StDREB1 or the VvWRKY2 transcription factors that exhibited improved tolerance to salt and resistance to Fusarium solani infection were characterized and evaluated for safety in a 30 day rat feeding study. Male Wistar rats were split into four groups and provided with a diet composed of 33% (w/w) of either one of the two genetically modified potatoes (GMPs), 33% of the commercial Spunta variety (Sp), or a control group fed with the basal rats' diet. The influence of the GMPs on rat behavior and overall health parameters was evaluated and compared with that of commercial potato (i.e. the Sp group) and control diet. RESULTS: Small differences were noticed in the chemical composition of the different tubers, but all the diets were adjusted to an identical caloric level. Results showed no sign of toxic or detrimental effects on the rats' overall health as a result of these diets. The rats fed with the GMPs meal showed hematological and biochemical compositions of the plasma comparable to the control groups. No histopathological damage nor any structural disorganization, severe congestion, or acute inflammation were noticed in the rats' tissues. CONCLUSION: Under these study conditions, the GMP diets did not induce any apparent or significant adverse effects on rats after 30 days of dietary administration in comparison with rats fed diets with the corresponding non-transgenic diet and the standard diet group. These two GMPs were therefore considered to be as safe as their commercial comparator. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of Medicago sativa compared To 17ß-oestradiol on osteoporosis in ovariectomized mice.

Phytoestrogens, with a wide range of beneficial effects, prevent bone loss caused by oestrogen deficiency.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Medicago sativa ethanol extract compared to 17ß-oestradiol on osteoporosis in ovariectomized mice.The study was carried out on female mice, divided into five groups: control mice (GI), Medicago sativa treated mice (0.75 g/kg BW/day) (GII), ovariectomized mice (GIII) and ovariectomized mice treated either with Medicago sativa (GIV) or with 17ß-oestradiol (50 µg/Kg BW/day) (GV).Our results showed that Medicago sativa or 17ß-oestradiol treatments significantly attenuated perturbations of mineral levels, histological changes and oxidative stress in the femurs of ovariectomized mice.Medicago sativa prevented bone loss induced by oestrogen deficiency, which could be attributed to its richness in kaempferol, syringic acid, naringenin and myrictin. Its effects were more beneficial or similar compared to 17ß-oestradiol.

Spirulina or dandelion-enriched diet of mothers alleviates lead-induced damages in brain and cerebellum of newborn rats.

This study was aimed at evaluating the toxic effects of a prenatal exposure to lead acetate on brain tissues of newborn rats, and potent protective effects of spirulina (Arthropira platensis) or dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis) added to rat diet. Female rats were given a normal diet (control) or a diet enriched with spirulina or dandelion. Additionally, lead acetate was administered to one half of these rats through drinking water from the 5th day of gestation, to day 14 postpartum. Lead toxicity was assessed by measuring blood lead levels, brain weight, tissue damage, as well as protein content, lipid peroxidation and activities of antioxidant enzymes in brain tissues of neonates. Lead poisoning of mothers caused lead deposition in the brain and cerebellum of newborns and cerebellum tissue damages. Moreover, a significant decrease in weight and protein content of these tissues was found. Oxidative stress and changes in antioxidant enzyme activities in brain tissues were also recorded. Conversely, no such damages or biochemical changes were found in neonates from plant fed lead-poisoned mothers. These results strongly suggest that beneficial effects of spirulina- or dandelion-added diet on lead-intoxicated rats proceeded through the reduction of the lead-induced oxidative stress and related damages.