In recent years, the use of the antioxidant in reducing heavy metal toxicities has increased worldwide. Curcumin has been reported to have a strong antioxidant activity. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of curcumin on lead acetate-induced testicular damage in rats. The sample used 40 male rats divided into 5 groups: negative control (rats were given daily with corn oil); positive control (rats were given daily with lead acetate 50 mg/kg BW orally once in a day for 35 days); and the treatment group (rats were given the curcumin 100 mg, 200 mg, and 400 mg/kg BW orally once in a day for 40 days, and on the 5th day, were given lead acetate 50 mg/kg BW one h after the curcumin administration). After 40 days, levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in testicular tissue, and sperm count, motility and viability in the epididymis were measured in rats. Testis samples were also collected for histopathological studies. Results showed that lead acetate administration significantly decreased the SOD, GPx, and increased MDA levels. Lead acetate also decreased the sperm count, motility, viability, and altered histopathological testis (testicular damage, necrosis of seminiferous tubules and loss of spermatid) compared to the negative control. However, administration of curcumin significantly improved the histopathological in testis, increased the sperm count, motility, viability, and also significantly increased the SOD, GPx, and decreased MDA in testis of lead acetate-treated rats. From the results of this study we concluded that the curcumin could be a potent natural product provide a promising protective effect against lead acetate induced testicular toxicity in rats.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESOverproduction of nitric oxide (NO) by the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) enzyme can cause inflammation. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is also involved in the inflammatory response through regulation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). Areca catechu is one of the known fruit plants of the Palmaceae family. It has been used for a long time as a source of herbal medicine in Indonesia. In this study, we explored the effect of Indonesian Areca catechu leaf ethanol extract (ACE) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and carrageenan-induced paw edema models. Recently, this natural extract has been in the spotlight because of its efficacy and limited or no toxic side effects. However, the mechanism underlying its anti-inflammatory effect remains to be elucidated.MATERIALS/METHODSWe measured NO production by using the Griess reagent, and determined the expression levels of inflammation-related proteins, such as iNOS, COX2, and NF-κB, by western blot. To confirm the effect of ACE in vivo, we used the carrageenan-induced paw edema model.RESULTSCompared to untreated cells, LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells treated with ACE showed reduced NO generation and reduced iNOS and COX-2 expression. We found that the acute inflammatory response was significantly reduced by ACE in the carrageenan-induced paw edema model.CONCLUSIONTaken together, these results suggest that ACE can inhibit inflammation and modulate NO generation via downregulation of iNOS levels and NF-κB signaling in vitro and in vivo. ACE may have a potential medical benefit as an anti-inflammation agent.

Background:Chitosan nanoparticles have gained growing interest for nanomedicine, biomedical engineering and development of new therapeutic with improved bioavailability, increased sensitivity and specificity, and reduced toxicity. Objective: The aim of the present study is to synthesis of the chitosan nanoparticles for antimycobacterial applications. Methods: Chitosan were isolated from the shrimp shell. Tripolyphosphate (TPP) will be used to prepare chitosan nanoparticles by ionotropic gelation method. The size and morphology of the chitosan nanoparticle was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The broth microdilution method is used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of nanoparticle chitosan on strain M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Results: The SEM micrographs of the nano-magnetic chitosan showed that they were approximately uniform spheres and the rough surface morphology, have a solid dense cubical or rectangular structure. Using the broth microdilution susceptibility method, chitosan nanoparticle was found to have the antimycobacterial effects with a MIC value of 1200 μg/mL whilst MBCs value of 2400 μg/mL for M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Conclusion: The conclusion from the study was chitosan nanoparticle have potential as a source of lead compounds that may be developed further into antimycobacterial drugs.

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Objective: This study was carried to investigate the role of chitosan nanoparticle in protecting against cadmium chloride-induced gastric toxicity in the rat. Methods: The 50 male rats were divided into 5 group: negative control (Rats were given daily with aquadest) ; positive control (Rats were given daily with cadmium chloride 5 mg/kg BW orally once in a day for 28 days) and the treatment group (Rats were given the chitosan nanoparticle 150 mg; 300 mg; 600 mg/kg BW orally once in a day for 32 days and on 4 th day, were given cadmium chloride 5 mg/kg BW one hour after the chitosan nanoparticle administration for 28 days). On day 32, the rats were sacrificed, and gastric tissues were collected to measure Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) and histological evaluations. Results: Oral administration of cadmium chloride 5 mg/kg BW for 28 days significant induced gastric mucosal hemorrhagic lesions, increase MDA, decrease SOD and GPx, and also caused necrosis of gastric mucosal epithelial cell in the rat. Treatment with the chitosan nanoparticle 600 mg/kg BW but not 150 mg/kg BW and 300 mg/kg BW significantly improved gastric injury, decreased MDA, increase in SOD and GPx levels, and also improved necrosis of gastric mucosal epithelial cell as compared to positive control group. Conclusion: From the results of this study concluded that the chitosan nanoparticle could be a potent natural product provide a promising gastroprotective effect against cadmium chloride induced gastric toxicity in rats.This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as the author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.

Objective:It has long been known that chickens, like mammals, are capable of producing antigen-specific immunoglobulin Y (IgY), which functions similar to IgG. The present study was performed to investigate the activity of IgY anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis on proliferation, interleukin (IL)-2, and interferon (IFN)-γ expression of rat peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).Materials and Methods:The activity of IgY anti-M. tuberculosis in different doses (25, 50, and 100 μg/ml) on rat PBMCs proliferation was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. The production of IL-2 and IFN-γ in the PBMC supernatant was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Investigation was performed on mRNA expression of IL-2 and IFN-γ by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results:IgY anti-M. tuberculosis significantly increased the proliferation of rat PBMC. Furthermore, IgY anti-M. tuberculosis dose dependently increased IL-2 and IFN-γ production in PBMC, suggesting that pharmacological activities of IgY anti-M. tuberculosis in PBMC may be mediated by regulating the production of cytokines. In the RT-PCR, expression of cytokines such as IL-2 and IFN-γ in PBMC cultures was increased by IgY anti-M. tuberculosis.Conclusions:We concluded that increasing IL-2 and IFN-γ productions in PBMC was related to IgY anti-M. tuberculosis, stimulating the mRNA transcription (gene expression) of these cytokines which can induce proliferation of PBMC.SUMMARY Lohman laying hens immunized intramuscularly with antigens of M. tuberculosis can produce specific IgY anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis complexIgY anti-M. tuberculosis significantly increased the proliferation of rat peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)IgY anti-M. tuberculosis dose dependently increased interleukin 2 (IL-2) and interferon (IFN)-γ production in PBMCIn the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, expression of cytokines such as IL-2 and IFN-γ in PBMC cultures was increased by IgY anti-M. tuberculosisThe increasing IL-2 and IFN-γ productions in PBMC were related to stimulation on mRNA transcription which can induce proliferation of PBMC. Abbreviations Used: IgY anti-M. tuberculosis: Immunoglobulin Y anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis; IL-2: Interleukin-2; IFN-γ: Interferon-γ; PBMCs: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Background:Lead is one of the most toxic metals, producing severe organ damage in animals and humans. Oxidative stress is reported to play an important role in lead acetate-induced liver injury.Aim:This study was carried out to investigate the role of ethanol extract of Eucheuma cottonii in protecting against lead acetate-induced hepatotoxicity in male mice.Materials and Methods:The sample used fifty male mice which were divided into five groups: negative control (mice were given daily with Aquadest); positive control (mice were given daily with lead acetate 20 mg/kg body weight (BW) orally once in a day for 21 days); and the treatment group (mice were given E. cottonii extracts 200 mg, 400 mg, and 800 mg/kg BW orally once in a day for 25 days, and on the 4th day, were given lead acetate 20 mg/kg BW 1 h after E. cottonii extract administration for 21 days). On day 25, the levels of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured. The data of SGOT, SGPT, ALP, MDA, SOD, and GPx were analyzed with one-way ANOVA, followed by least significant difference test.Results:The results showed that oral administration of lead acetate 20 mg/kg BW for 21 days resulted in a significant increase in SGOT, SGPT, ALP, and MDA levels. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in SOD and GPx levels. Treatment with E. cottonii extracts of 800 mg/kg BW but not with 200 mg/kg BW and 400 mg/kg BW significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the elevated SGPT, SGOT, ALP, and MDA levels as compared to positive control group. Treatment with E. cottonii extracts of 800 mg/kg BW also showed a significant increase in SOD and GPx levels as compared to positive control group. Treating mice with lead acetate showed different histopathological changes such as loss of the normal structure of hepatic cells, blood congestion, and fatty degeneration whereas animals treated with lead acetate and E. cottonii extracts showed an improvement in these changes and the tissue appeared with normal structures.Conclusion:It can be concluded that E. cottonii extracts could be a potent natural product and can provide a promising hepatoprotective effect against lead acetate-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.SUMMARY In summary, Oxidative stress reported to play an important role in lead acetate induced liver injury. The lead acetate treatment significantly increased the SGOT, SGPT, ALP, MDA, and decreased the antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GPx) in liver. The inhibition of antioxidant enzymes will increase free radicals in liver tissues and might induce liver injury in mice. The presence of ethanol extract of Eucheuma cottonii with lead acetate showed protective effects as attenuating lead acetate against its liver toxicity, and this may be due to the activity of ethanol extract of Eucheuma cottonii as antioxidant. The antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GPx) were increased, and MDA, SGOT, SGPT, ALP were decreased after ...

Background:The active components of natural products provide a potential alternative to conventional immunotherapy for a variety of diseases conditions and become subject to scientific investigations currently worldwide. Objective: The purpose of this research was to investigate the immunostimulatory activity of the chitosan nanoparticle on Wistar albino rats. Materials and Methods: The present investigation was carried out on various groups of healthy adult rats. The assessment of immunomodulatory potential was carried out by neutrophil adhesion test, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response, haemagglutinating antibody (HA) titre, cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression and phagocytic activity were determined in various groups of animals. Results: The administration of chitosan nanoparticle at doses 300 mg/kg BW and 600 mg/kg BW but not at doses 150 mg/kg BW significantly increased in neutrophil adhesion fibers, haemagglutinating antibody titre values and potentiated the inhibited type hypersensitivity reaction induced by sheep red blood cells. Also, it had good response towards phagocytosis in carbon clearance assay and prevented myelosuppression of cyclophosphamide on rats. Conclusion: From these findings, it can be concluded that chitosan nanoparticle responsible for immunostimulatory activity and has therapeutic potential for the prevention of immune depressed conditions.