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The expanding uses of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in industry and medicine have raised concerns about their toxicity on human and animal health. CNTs, including multi-walled nanotubes (MWCNTs), have been reported to induce immunotoxic, inflammatory, and oxidative effects. Quercetin is a natural flavonoid present in many vegetables and fruits and has immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Herein, we investigated the protective effects of quercetin on pristine MWCNTs-induced immunotoxicity in mice. In comparison with two doses of MWCNTs, high doses [0.5 mg/kg body weight (BW), once intraperitoneally (IP)] caused higher immunotoxic, inflammatory, and oxidative effects than low doses (0.25 mg/kg BW, once IP). Administration of quercetin (30 mg/kg BW, IP for 2 weeks) relieved these deleterious effects as evidenced by (1) reduced spleen weight, (2) increased number of total leukocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils, (3) elevated serum levels of IgM, IgG, and IgA, (4) decreased lipid peroxide malondialdehyde levels and increased levels of antioxidant markers reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase in the spleen, (5) decreased concentrations and mRNA levels of inflammatory markers tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), interleukin 1 beta (IL1ß), and IL6 in the spleen, (6) downregulated expression of immunomodulatory genes transforming growth factor-beta (TGFß), cyclooxygenase2 (COX2), and IL10, and (7) regenerative histological changes as indicated by decreased mononuclear cell infiltration, minimized degenerative changes and restored lymphocytes depletion in the spleen. These results infer that quercetin can ameliorate MWCNTs-induced immunotoxic, inflammatory, and oxidative effects.

Nano-silvers (AgNPs) are widely used in medical and consumer products thanks to their excellent antimicrobial and anti-carcinogenic effects. Sixty mature male albino mice were randomly distributed into six groups (ten per group). The first group was kept as negative control, the 2 nd one was injected with silver nanoparticles 78 mg/kg BW I/P for 14 days, group 3 was given pomegranate (20 ml/kg BW) orally for 28 days, in the fourth group pomegranate was administrated for 14 days, followed by AgNPs for another 14 days. The fifth one AgNPs were I/P injected for 14 days, followed by pomegranate for another 14 days. The last group received AgNPs and pomegranate on the same time with the same doses and route of previous groups. The results revealed that pomegranate has a protective impact on AgNPs toxicity in all groups. These results were clarified the findings of AST, ALT, SOD, CAT, MDA and GPX. The protective and treatment effects of pomegranate in hepatotoxicity were evidenced by regeneration of hepatocyte and kupffur cells.

Thinning fruit is regarded as one of the most important horticultural activities related to fruit size and quality. The experiment was carried out during two (2020 and 2021) seasons at the Training and Research Station, King Faisal University, (KSA) to evaluate the impact of thinning applications on the yield and fruit quality cv. Saqei. A factorial experiment laid-out in a randomized completely block design with three replicates was conducted. The first factor was thinning date, which includes two levels (after one or two months after pollination, i.e., April 1 st using comb-1, and May 1 st by comb-2). The second factor was thinning methods: without thinning, thinning once or twice with a comb, removing alternative fruit of the strand, and removing the entire central strands). All thinning methods reduced yield per palm and bunch weight compared to the control. Fruit thinning methods significantly increased all physical characteristics such as fruit weight, diameter, length, flesh weight, seed weight, and pulp/ seed ratio. These parameters were highest in the alternative fruit-removing method (11.05g, 22.6mm, 40.5mm, 10.2g, 0.86g and 12.0, respectively), followed by the method of removing the central strand, comb-2, and comb-1 methods. Removing the central strand and removing alternative fruit were also significantly increased in TSS%, followed by the comb-2 method. In conclusion the method of removing alternative fruits or removing the central strands yielded the best results. Additionally, thinning by a comb came in the second rank, as the technique had promising results, saving time and labour costs compared to other methods.

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