No abstract

inhalation of benzene vapours promote various and dangerous health problems. Fuel station workers are most susceptible to benzene inhalation toxicity. Samples were collected twice, at beginning of the study and 6 months later from 40 fuel station workers from different egyptian governorates and 10 control healthy volunteers. Fuel station workers were sub divided into four groups according to years working in the station. All of them are exposed to benzene vapours and exhausts during their duties, their work shifts were 8 hrs./day. Results indicated that; benzene vapours exposure induced significant increasing in serum Lead and Cadmium and Myeloperoxidase (MPO) enzyme activity levels. This goes with marked immunologic changes presented by decreases in immunoglobulins; IgA and IgG, along with increases in levels of IgM and IgE. Also, Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly increased. Meanwhile, reduction in some other biochemical parameters including; Copper, Zinc and Iron micronutrients, as well as; Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) enzyme levels and Glutathione (GSH) content. Hence, the study inferred that prolonged benzene inhalation can lead to biochemical and immune disorders, probably through potentiating oxidative stress and inflammation pathways.

Anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgaris M.) essential oils are commercially available in the local Egyptian market. They were analyzed by GC and GC-MS spectrometry. The main components of anise oil were; trans-anethole (61.7 %), α-longipinene (10.1 %), cis-anethole (7.3 %), cyclosativene (5.2 %), isoledene (3.4 %) and safrol (2.4 %), while those of fennel essential oil were; d-limonene (34.6 %), trans-anethole (13.6 %), d-carvone (11 %), cis-sabinene hydrate (5.9 %), fenchone (3.9 %), β-longipinene (2.5 %), 1,8-cineol (2.0 %) and apiol (1.2 %). Their biological activities, including free radical scavenging, antimicrobial, deoxy ribonucleic acid (DNA) and protein cleaving were tested, in addition to their hypoglycaemic effect. trans-Anethole as an individual major component in both essential oils was also tested. The effect of the photo-oxygenation reaction on both oils was studied. The results revealed variation of the tested biological activities of the regular and the photo-oxygenated oils. This could be explained in terms of the formed oxygenated products.

No abstract

A B S T R A C T Doxorubicin (DOX ) is an anthracycline derivative antibiotic, used as anticancer agent, it causes generation of free radicals and induces oxidative stress, associated with cellular injury and participate in hepatonephrotoxicity in normal human cells .The protective effect of Spirulina Platensis (SP) , a filamentous blue green algae , on Doxorubicin induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity was evaluated in male rats. Oral administration of water extract of Spirulina (1000 mg/kg/b.wt) for six weeks following an acute toxic dose of Doxorubicin ( 1.0 mg/kg/b.wt) , reduces the hepatotoxicity and attenuates doxorubicin-induced stress .The post-treatment with Spirulina reduces the activity of Liver marker enzymes such as serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Renal function disorders represented by urea. The ratio of decrease were lower in the first three weeks if compared with the last three weeks. On the other hand, Oral administration of Spirulina extract for six weeks following an acute toxic dose of Doxorubicin, led to an obvious increase in the activity of antioxidant Parameters including Catalase ( CAT ) and Super Oxide Dismutase ( SOD ). The results clearly demonstrate that Spirulina treatment augments the antioxidants defense mechanism in Dox induced toxicity and provides evidence that it may have a therapeutic role in free radical mediated diseases.