Tartrazine (TZ) is an azobenzene artificial yellow dye for foods, drugs, and cosmetics. Quercetin is member of the flavonoid family. The current study investigated the protective effect of quercetin nanoparticles (QNPs) against TZ. Male albino rats were divided into group1: control, group 2: TZ (50 mg/kg), group 3: QNPs (5 mg/kg), and group 4: QNPs+TZ. The results of the present study revealed that, the oral administration of TZ dye caused a significantly increased liver biomarkers. Also, a marked effect on lipid profile and blood parameters were shown. In addition TZ induced an elevation in the examined oxidative stress biomarkers and decrease in glutathione peroxidases and acetylcholine esterase. TZ diminished exploration and rearing in open field test as well as elevation in GABA content and apoptosis as well as changes in tissues by histopathological examination. In fact, the results showed good influence of QNPs in improving injuries associated with TZ administration.
Keywords: Tartrazine Dye, Quercetin Nanoparticles, Liver-Brain injuries.
Bhilawanol (Bh) and anacardic acid (AA) are two lipid-soluble compounds mostly found in the nut of Semecarpus anacardium (SA). This herb has many medicinal properties including enhancing learning and memory, yet its active compounds have not been studied for neuroprotective effects. We investigated the neuroprotective effects of Bh and AA against glutamate induced cell death in the adrenal pheochromocytoma cell line of rats (PC12 cells). Cell viability, toxicity and calcium influx were determined by MTT assay, LDH release assay and Fluo-3 imaging while apoptosis was assayed by caspase-3 and Bcl-2 gene expression. Our results showed that Bh and AA treatments significantly increased cell viability, reduced cell toxicity and calcium influx in PC12 cells in addition to suppressing the reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, AA treatment decreased caspase-3 expression level whereas both Bh and AA enhanced the expression of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 in PC12 cells. Both compounds potently inhibited acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE) in a dose and time dependent manner. These findings suggest that the traditional use of SA may be explained on the basis of both Bh and AA showing neuroprotective potential due to their effects on enhancing cell viability, reducing cell toxicity most probably by reducing excessive calcium influx and suppression of ROS as well as by decreasing the expression of proapoptotic caspase 3 gene and increasing the expression of antiapoptotic gene Bcl2. Traditional use in enhancing learning and memory was justified in part by inhibition of AChE.
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