Lead (Pb(2+)) toxicity is the most common form of heavy metal intoxication in humans and animals. Therefore, the current study was conducted to evaluate the potential ameliorative effects of curcumin on lead acetate (LA)-induced deleterious effects in the liver and kidney. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into four equal groups; first group was used as a control and given both corn oil orally and vehicle of lead acetate intraperitoneally (i.p). Groups from 2-4 were treated with lead acetate (LA; 50 mg/kg BW i.p), curcumin (200 mg/kg BW orally), and curcumin plus lead acetate, respectively. Curcumin was administered 3 weeks before LA injection for 7 days. Pb(2+)-intoxicated rats have higher Pb(2+) levels compared to other treated groups. Results revealed that lead acetate significantly increased the serum levels of hepatic transaminases (GPT and GOT), urea and creatinine, while albumin was significantly decreased. In parallel, serum IgG, IgM, and IgA were significantly decreased in LA-injected rats. LA groups showed decrease in messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of catalase, SOD, GST, GPx, and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP), while the gene expression of desmin, vimentin, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and alpha-2 macroglobulin (α-2M) was increased. Prior and coadministration of curcumin with LA for 7 days significantly improved the ameliorated changes in liver and kidney, immunoglobulins, and mRNA expression. Moreover, curcumin ameliorated LA-induced congestion of hepatic and renal blood vessels and decreased fibrous tissue proliferation and necrosis of hepatocytes. In the kidney, LA-induced degeneration in tubular epithelium and intraluminal hyaline casts and prior curcumin administration restored normal renal structure with mild congestion of renal blood vessels. The results clarify the potential of curcumin to counteract the immunosuppressive alteration in gene expression as well as hepatic and renal damage occurred after Pb(2+) intoxication.

BackgroundHypercholesterolemia is a serious diseases associated with type-2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disorders and liver diseases. Humans seek for safe herbal medication such as karela (Momordica charantia/bitter melon) to treat such disorders to avoid side effect of pharmacotherapies widely used.MethodsForty male Wistar rats were divided into four equal groups; control group with free access to food and water, cholesterol administered group (40 mg/kg BW orally); karela administered group (5 g /kg BW orally) and mixture of cholesterol and karela. The treatments continued for 10 weeks. Karela was given for hypercholesterolemic rats after 6 weeks of cholesterol administration. Serum, liver and epididymal adipose tissues were taken for biochemical, histopathological and genetic assessments.ResultsHypercholesterolemia induced a decrease in serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, reduced glutathione (GSH) and an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels that were ameliorated by karela administration. Hypercholesterolemia up regulated antioxidants mRNA expression and altered the expression of carbohydrate metabolism genes. In parallel, hypercholesterolemic groups showed significant changes in the expression of PPAR-alpha and gamma, lipolysis, lipogenesis and cholesterol metabolism such as carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1). Acyl CoA oxidase (ACO), fatty acids synthase (FAS), sterol responsible element binding protein-1c (SREBP1c), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoAR) and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) at hepatic and adipose tissue levels. Interestingly, Karela ameliorated all altered genes confirming its hypocholesterolemic effect. Histopathological and immunohistochemical findings revealed that hypercholesterolemia induced hepatic tissue changes compared with control. These changes include cholesterol clefts, necrosis, karyolysis and sever congestion of portal blood vessel. Caspase-3 immunoreactivity showed positive expression in hepatic cells of hypercholesterolemic rats compared to control. All were counteracted and normalized after Karela administration to hypercholesterolemic group.ConclusionCurrent findings confirmed that karela is a potential supplement useful in treatment of hypercholesterolemia and its associated disorders and is good for human health.

The present study was aimed to investigate the protective effects of camel milk against pathogenicity induced by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and E. coli in Wistar rats. Sixty healthy adult male Wistar rats were divided into six groups (10 per group). Group 1 served as a control without any treatment. Group 2 received camel milk for two consecutive weeks. Group 3 injected intraperitoneally (IP) by S. aureus in a doses of 2x10 9 CFU/ml per rat. Group 4 injected IP by E.coli in a dose of 5x10 10 CFU/ml per rat. Group 5 supplemented with camel milk for two consecutive weeks and then injected IP by S.aureus (2x10 9 CFU/ml per rat). Group 6 supplemented with camel milk for two consecutive weeks and then injected IP by E.coli (5x10 10 CFU/ml per rat). All animals were decapitated after 3 weeks, serum was extracted and liver, kidney and lung tissues were taken for pathogen isolation. The isolation rate and pathogenicity of S. aureus and E. coli was high in rats injected pathogens alone (group 3 and 4) compared to camel milk and pathogens administered rats (group 5 and 6). The isolation of S. aureus and E. coli was high in intestine, then lung, kidney and liver. Prior camel milk supplementation ameliorated the degree of pathogenicity induced by pathogens. Camel milk had synergistic action with ciprofloxacin against S. aureus and E. coli to reduce bacterial resistance and decrease the dose of antibiotics. Pathogens injection alone induced significant amelioration in liver and kidney functions and prior camel milk administration inhibited such changes. Moreover, oxidative stress represented by the increase in malondialdehyde levels in serum of pathogens injected rats was decreased by prior camel milk administration. In conclusion, camel milk has beneficial role as antibacterial food supplement against S.aureus and E.coli pathogenicity in Wistar rats.

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