Abstract:We tested the hypothesis if thymoquinone (2-isopropyl-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone) could ameliorate renal oxidative damage and proliferative response induced by mercuric chloride (HgCl 2 ) in rats. HgCl 2 (3 mg/kg) was administered subcutaneously to each one of two groups of rats: (i) HgCl 2 -thymoquinone group that received thymoquinone (10 mg/kg/ day); and (ii) HgCl 2 group that received vehicle instead of thymoquinone. A third group of rats was reserved as control group. Rats were killed 24, 48 and 72 hr after HgCl 2 administration for histological and biochemical studies. Our findings show that treatment with thymoquinone offers imperative protection from HgCl 2 -induced nephrotoxicity. The deterioration of antioxidant enzymes, increment of serum creatinine and histological damage caused by HgCl 2 are markedly improved by thymoquinone treatment. Apoptosis and proliferative reactions are also reduced. The maximal protection offered by thymoquinone treatment was particularly noticeable 48 and 72 hr after administration of the toxic agent at the time when histological damage, renal cell apoptosis and proliferative reactions reached their maximum. These observations may be attributed partially to the antioxidant effect of thymoquinone and suggest that it may be a clinically valuable agent in the prevention of acute renal failure caused by inorganic mercury intoxication.
In this study, we have synthesized a series of 3H-quinazolin-4-ones in order to obtain new compounds with potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed by means of infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy. Some compounds were evaluated for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities by writhing and carrageenan-induced rat paw edema tests, respectively. In comparison to the standard drug indomethacine, compounds 4, 6c, 12-14, 16, 18, 19, and 22 induced significant reduction in the writhing response while compounds 6c, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 22 produced a good dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity. The best dual analgesic / anti-inflammatory relative activity was observed with compounds 6c, 14, 16, 18, and 22.
We examined an aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces extracts (HSE) by close-arterial injection on micturition thresholds (MTs) and on uterine contractions (rate and amplitude). Five doses of HSE were examined (1, 5, 10, 50, and 100 mg/kg) in 3 groups of rats: controls, after bladder inflammation, and after bilateral hypogastric neurectomy. In some rats, uterine contractions were induced by injection of oxytocin (OT) and the effect of HSE was compared with that of nifedipine. HSE increased MTs in a dose-dependent manner in all groups. Neither atropine (0.1 mg/kg) nor propranolol (0.4 mg/kg) had significant effects on cystometric parameters. They also did not affect the responses obtained by HSE on cystometric parameters. As with bladder response, HSE inhibited both the rate and amplitude of uterine contractions in all groups in a dose-dependent manner. The uterine response to HSE was not affected by administration of either atropine or propranolol. A slight, but significant, reduction of contraction amplitude by HSE in the OT precontracted uteri was only noted at a dose of 500 mg/kg. Nifedipine was more potent than HSE in reducing uterine contraction amplitude. The present work documents inhibition by HSE of the rat bladder and uterine contractility in a dose-dependent manner via a mechanism unrelated to local or remote autonomic receptors or calcium channels. However, further investigation is needed to establish the exact mechanism of action.
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