Lead (Pb) is a very toxic metal present in the environment, causing disturbances of several functions. Preventive or curative effects of halophytic plants against these disorders may be a promising and safe therapeutic strategy. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate in vivo immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects of Sarcocornia perennis extract (Sp) against lead toxicity in rats. Groups of six animals each were treated with plant extract (via food), 6 g/L lead acetate (via drinking water) or a combination of both. At the end of the three-week period, rat exposure to lead caused reduction of liver weight but an increase of that of kidney. Moreover, lead intoxication-induced oxidative stress manifested by significant increases of inflammatory cytokines (except IL-10) and lipid peroxidation (TBARS), compared with the control group. Meanwhile, interleukin-10 (IL-10) and glutathione levels (GSH), as well as antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), were decreased. Considering liver and renal markers, lead treatment induced a significant increase in the activities of aminotransferases (AST, ALT), and in the levels of urea, creatinine and phosphorous, whereas total plasma protein, albumin and calcium levels were significantly decreased. S. perennis extract alone did not induce any significant changes in hepatic or renal markers, whereas the antioxidant markers were significantly increased. S. perennis supplementation significantly reduced the lead-induced elevation of serum IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ and TBARS but increased the IL-10 and antioxidant enzyme activities. Overall, plant components ameliorated hepatorenal damages caused by lead.

The current study was aimed at exploring the protective efficacy of spirulina against the hemato-biochemical alterations and nephrotoxicity induced by lead (Pb). Female rats aged 12 weeks were treated for 4 weeks with Pb (0.344 g kg−1 bw) associated or not with spirulina (5.3 g kg−1 bw). Renal damage induced by Pb was related to a severe anemia, increases of oxidative stress-related parameters (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) (+29%), protein carbonyl (PCO) (+66.3%), and advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) (+110%)), plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (+80%), creatinine and urea levels in plasma, and uric acid concentration in urine, as well as genotoxic changes (+89.3% and +60% for DNA and mRNA levels, respectively). Conversely, LDH and antioxidant enzyme activities in kidney were decreased, as well as the levels of plasma uric acid, and urinary creatinine and urea levels. Spirulina-supplemented rats exhibited normal peripheral blood and renal parameters and renal histology. It can be suggested that Arthrospira platensis alleviates damages induced by Pb, thanks to its high phenolic content and antioxidant capacity.

Chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes causes free radicals overproduction, which contributes to the development of diabetic nephropathy. In modern medicine, no satisfactory therapy is available to cure diabetes mellitus. In that context, we investigated the potential therapeutic action of spirulina-enriched diet on renal impairment and oxidative stress in diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by a single subcutaneous injection of alloxan (120 mg·kg) in rats. Following alloxan treatment, male Wistar rats were fed daily with 5% spirulina-enriched diet or treated with insulin (0.5 IU·rat) for 3 weeks. Diabetes was associated with hyperglycemia, increase in renal oxidative parameters (lipid peroxidation, thiobarbituric-acid reactive substances, protein carbonyl and advanced oxidation protein products levels, changes in antioxidant enzyme activities), and nephropathology markers. The renal injury induced by alloxan was confirmed by histological study of the diabetic rat kidney. Treatment with spirulina or insulin significantly ameliorated renal dysfunction by reducing oxidative stress, while rats recovered normal kidney histology. Overall, this study indicates that spirulina is efficient in inhibiting hyperglycemia and oxidative stress induced by diabetes, and suggests that the administration of this alga may be helpful in the prevention of diabetic complications. This amelioration was even more pronounced than that caused by insulin injection.

Oxidative damage has been proposed as a possible mechanism involved in lead toxicity. This study aimed at investigating the possible protective effect of dietary Arthrospira platensis supplementation against lead acetate-induced kidney injury in adult rats. We took adult male rats as models. Rats were divided into 4 groups: Normal rats (control rats, C), rats treated with spirulina (S), rats treated with lead (0.344 g/kg body weight) (Pb), and rats treated with Pb associated with 5% Spirulina (S+Pb). The exposure of rats to Pb for 30 days provoked renal damages with a significant increase in hematological parameters, oxidative stress-related parameters (ie, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, protein carbonyl, advanced oxidation protein products and hydrogen peroxide), creatinine and urea levels in plasma and uric acid level in urine. Conversely, antioxidant enzyme activities (ie, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase) and levels of non-protein thiol, plasma uric acid, creatinine, and urinary urea decreased. The administration of nutrition supplement (spirulina) to Pb-treated rats significantly improved weight, peripheral blood parameters, oxidative stress related parameters, renal biomarkers levels and antioxidant enzyme activities. Also, spirulina supplemented rats recovered normal kidney histology. These healing effects are likely the result of the high phenolic content and the significant antioxidant capacity of Arthrospira platensis. Our data strongly suggested that spirulina supplementation is very helpful to the improvement of kidney function and plays an important role in the prevention of intoxication complications.

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Over the past few decades, much effort has been devoted to the study of known food products for medicinal applications. Among these, citrus fruits play a key role in providing a wide range of health‐beneficial effects but it generates a huge amount of waste products. In an attempt to recover those wastes, peel of six citrus species (C aurantium, C limetta,C limon, C reticulata, C Sinensis osbeck, and C Sinensis thomson) was evaluated for yield, physicochemical properties, phenolic constituents and antioxidant activities. LC‐MS/MS analysis showed that the flavonoids neoeriocitrin, luteolin‐7‐O‐neohesperidoside, scoparin and neohesperidin were chemical markers for C limetta, whereas apigenin‐6,8‐di‐C‐glycoside was only detected in C Sinensis Osbeck. PCA analysis revealed significant correlations between antioxidant activities and phenolic contents, highlighting a large interspecific variability. These results suggest that Citrus peel by‐products may be valuably recycled by industries due to their high yield and transformed into value‐added products, with potential interest for the development of functional foods, cosmetics or preventive therapies for some diseases.

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Background: Diabetes mellitus has become a serious problem associated with health complications, such as metabolism disorders and liver-kidney dysfunctions. The inadequacies associated with conventional medicines have led to a determined search for alternative natural therapeutic agents. The present study is conducted to evaluate the hypoglycemic, antilipidemic and antioxidant effects of EGCG in surviving diabetic mice.Methods: Alloxan diabetic mice were injected with EGCG. Their bloods were collected and submitted to various biochemical measurements, including blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, creatinine and transaminases. Their livers and kidneys were isolated to perform histological analysis.Results: Both EGCG and insulin treatments of diabetic mice resulted in a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose level. EGCG supplementation also ameliorated hepatic as well as renal toxicity indices. Moreover, diabetic mice injected by EGCG exhibited significant changes in antioxidant enzyme activities in the liver and kidney. Histological analyses also showed that it exerted an ameliorative action on these organs and efficiently protected the liver-kidney functions of diabetic mice.Conclusion: The findings revealed that EGCG administration induced attractive curative effects on diabetic mice, particularly in terms of liver-kidney functions. EGCG can, therefore, be considered as a potential strong candidate for future application to treat and prevent diabetes.