Neuroprotective role of Bacopa monnieri extract in modulating depression in an experimental rat model.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a common illness with no definite treatment. METHODS: The study involved 2 experimental periods; 45-day (P1) followed by 30-day (P2). 40 adult albino rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. Grp 1 received saline orally while Grp 2 reserpine inraperitoneally (ip) during P1 and P2. Grps 3 and 4 received reserpine during P1, followed by reserpine plus B. monnieri, and reserpine plus citalopram ip during P2, respectively. Forced swimming test (FST) was performed at beginning and end of P1 and P2. Animals were sacrificed by end of P2 and brain taken for histopathological examination and ELISA estimation of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, BDNF, MCP-1, FAS, and Bcl-2. RESULTS: During P1, reserpine prolonged immobility time (IT) in FST in Grps 2, 3, and 4. IT was subsequently lowered in Grps 3 and 4 but remained elevated in Grp 2 by end of P2. Serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine were lowered in Grps 2, 3, and 4, but in Grps 3 and 4, levels were comparable to Grp1. BDNF and Bc1-2 were reduced in Grps 2, 3, and 4, with higher levels in Grps 3 and 4 than Grp 2. MCP-1 and FAS were elevated in Grps 2, 3, and 4, but levels were lower in Grps 3 and 4 than in Grp 2. Histopathology showed congested cerebral cortex in Grp 2 and normal cortex in other groups. LIMITATIONS: Only adult male rats were involved and effects of co-administration of B. monnieri and citalopram were not characterized. CONCLUSION: B. monnieri improves depression comparable to citalopram in reserpine-induced depression.

Ellagic Acid Holds Promise Against Hepatocellular Carcinoma in an Experimental Model: Mechanisms of Action

This research work was initiated to explore the efficacy of ellagic acid in mitigation of hepatocarcinogenesis in rats. Rats were distributed into 4 groups; negative control, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), doxorubicin and ellagic acid. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), glypican-3 (GPC-3), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and suppressors of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) levels were assayed by ELISA. Immunohistochemical examination of hepatic VEGF expression was also conducted, along with histological procedures for examination of liver tissue sections. Significant elevation in serum AFP, GPC-3 and STAT3 levels with a significant drop in SOCS3 were observed in the HCC group. In contrast, the treated groups showed significant decline in serum AFP, GPC-3 and STAT3 levels and significant increase in SOCS3. Additionally, the HCC group declared mild positive immunoreaction for VEGF in hepatocytes while treatment with doxorubicin or ellagic acid was associated with a negative immunoreaction for VEGF. These results were supported by histological examination of liver tissue. The obtained findings suggested that ellagic acid may have beneficial chemopreventive role against hepatocarcinogenesis through its apoptotic, antiangiogenic and antiproliferative activities.

Quercetin Confers Tumoricidal Activity Through Multipathway Mechanisms in A N-Methylnitrosourea Rat Model of Colon Cancer

Objective: This research was conducted to explore mechanisms behind the potency of quercetin in inhibiting colon cancer induced in an experimental model. Materials and Methods: Forty adult male rats of Wistar strain were distributed into 4 groups; a negative control group, a colon cancer bearing group, a quercetin-treated group and a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-treated group. Serum TAG72 and GAL3 levels were quantified by ELISA. Colonic Wnt5a and Axin-1 gene expression was estimated by PCR. In addition, colonic tissues were subjected to immunohistochemical examination of Bax expression and histological investigation of histopathological alterations. Results: Quercetin elicited significant reduction in serum TAG72 and GAL3 levels, in addition to significant suppression of colonic Wnt5a gene expression and amplification of colonic Axin-1 gene expression. Also, it caused moderate positive reaction for Bax in mucosal epithelium. Conclusion: The present research provides experimental evidence about the activity of quercetin in the colon cancer of rats. Inhibitory effects on cancer development might be ascribable to regulatory action on Wnt signaling and induction of apoptosis.

Alpha-chymotrypcin ameliorates neuroinflammation and apoptosis characterizing Alzheimer's disease-induced in ovarictomized rats.

OBJECTIVE: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. Very little is known about the causes of AD, except that its end stages involve extensive neuronal loss and the appearance of distinctive neuropathological features. This study was under taken to investigate the role of α-chymotrypcin (α-ch) in management of AD-induced in ovariectomized rats. DESIGN: Sixty female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups n=15, (1) normal control group (con), (2) group underwent surgery to remove ovaries (ovx control group), (3) ovx group received aluminum chloride in a dose of 17 mg/kg daily for 2 months to induce AD (AD group), (4) AD group treated with α-chymotrypcin (α-ch) at dose (8.1 unit/rat/day) which is equivalent to the recommended human dose (α-ch-treated group) for three months. At the end of the experimental period, rats were sacrificed; brain samples were obtained for different biochemical analyses and histopathological examination. The biochemical analyses included determination of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α), IL-18, monocyte chemo attractant protein-1 MCP-1, FAS, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2). RESULTS: In comparison with normal control group, the ovx control group recorded significant increase in the brain levels of TNF-α, IL-18, MCP-1 and FAS. On the other hand, the brain level of Bcl2 was significantly decreased. Also, AD group showed a significant increase in TNF-α, IL-18, MCP-1 and FAS levels in brain tissue. In contrast, significant decrease in brain Bcl2 level was detected in AD group as compared to the ovx control group. However, the treatment of AD group with α-chymotrypcin caused an improvement in the most studied biochemical parameters as indicated by decreased brain levels of TNF-α, IL-18, MCP-1 and FAS accompanied with significant increase in the level of Bcl2 compared to AD group. Histopathological investigation of brain tissue of ovx rats administered with aluminum (AD group) showed AD plaques. While, AD group treated with α-chymotrypcin showed great improvement in the brain morphological structure with the disappearance of amyloid plaques. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that α-chymotrypcin significantly ameliorates the neuroinflammation characterizing Alzheimer's disease in ovariectomized rats due to it's proteolytic activity as well as it's anti-inflammatory effect.