Phytochemical Characterization and Evaluation of Biological Activities of Egyptian Carob Pods (Ceratonia siliqua L.) Aqueous Extract: In Vitro Study.

Ceratonia siliqua (Carob) is an evergreen Mediterranean tree, and carob pods are potentially nutritive and have medicinal value. The present study was carried out to estimate the possible biological activities of phytochemical-characterized carob pod aqueous extract (CPAE). The phytochemical contents of CPAE were determined by using colorimetric methods and HPLC. In addition, the free radical scavenging properties and anti-diabetic, anti-hemolytic, and antimicrobial activities were estimated by using standardized in vitro protocols. The phytochemical analysis revealed that CPAE was rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids, where it contained a significant amount of gallic acid, catechin, and protocatechuic acid. Furthermore, CPAE exhibited strong antioxidant activity where it prevented the formation of 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl, hydroxyl, and nitric oxide free radicals. Additionally, it had a potent inhibitory effect against digestive enzymes (amylase, maltase, sucrase, and lactase). Moreover, CPAE exhibited anti-Staph aureus, anti-Escherichia coli, anti-Candida albicans, and anti-herpes simplex type I virus (HSV-I). Finally, CPAE protected the erythrocyte membrane from hypotonic solution-induced hemolysis. Altogether, CPAE could be regarded as an interesting source of biologically active antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and antimicrobial preparation for a potential application in pharmaceutical and food supplement fields.

Dose-dependent reproductive toxicity of sodium benzoate in male rats: Inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis.

The synthetic food preservative sodium benzoate (SB) is widely used in both food and pharmaceutical industries. A growing body of evidence highlights the adverse effects of SB on human health; however, effect of the prolonged intake of SB on the reproductive system is not fully elucidated. The current study investigates the effect of different doses of SB (0-1000 mg/kg BW) on the reproductive system of male rats administered oral SB for 90 consecutive days. Results revealed that increasing doses of SB significantly altered the weight of reproductive organs, decreased sperm count and motility and enhanced the percentage of abnormal sperms. This was concomitant with significant decline in plasma testosterone and FSH levels, increase in plasma LH and decrease in the activities of 17ß-HSD and 17-KSR enzymes in the testes. Inflammation and oxidative stress were induced as indicated by the significant increase in TNF-α and IL-6 levels, inhibition of antioxidant enzymes activity and levels of GSH, increase in the levels of NO and TBARS and enhanced protein expression of mtTFA and UCP2 in the testes. Interestingly, p53 expression and caspase-3 activity were upregulated in the testes suggesting induction of apoptosis. Histopathological examination of the testes confirmed apoptosis and revealed degenerative alterations of the testes' architecture and perturbation of spermatogenesis. Based upon these findings, the no-observed-adverse-effect level of SB on the reproductive system was determined to be less than 1 mg/kg BW/day, highlighting the risks of long-term exposure to low as well as high doses of SB on male reproductive health.