SUMMARYThe aim of this study was to assess the antioxidant and anti-schistosomal activities of the garlic extract (AGE) and Nigella sativa oil (NSO) on normal and Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice. AGE (125 mg kg -1 , i.p.) and NSO (0.2 mg kg -1 , i.p.) were administrated separately or in combination for successive 28 days, starting from the 1 st day post infection (pi). All mice were sacrificed at weeks 7 pi. Hematological and biochemical parameters including liver and kidney functions were measured to assess the progress of anemia, and the possibility of the tissue damage. Serum total protein level, albumin, globulin and cholesterol were also determined. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels were determined in the liver tissues as biomarkers for oxidative and reducing status, respectively. The possible effect of the treatment regimens on Schistosoma worms was evaluated by recording percentage of the recovered worms, tissue egg and oogram pattern. Result showed that, protection with AGE and NSO prevented most of the hematological and biochemical changes and markedly improved the antioxidant capacity of schistosomiasis mice compared to the infected-untreated ones. In addition, remarkable reduction in worms, tissue eggs and alteration in oogram pattern were recorded in all the treated groups. The antioxidant and antischistosomal action of AGE and NSO was greatly diverse according to treatment regimens. These data point to these compounds as promising agents to complement schistosomiasis specific treatment.

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Pesticide chemicals may induce oxidative stress leading to generation of free radicals and alterations in antioxidants or oxygen free radical (OFR) scavenging enzymes. Hence, the effect of sub-chronic atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6isopropylamino-1,3,5-triazine) exposure was evaluated on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant power, glutathione and OFR scavenging enzymes in albino mice. Experimental animals were administered atrazine (1/8 LD 50) and/or ginger (120 mg/ kg body weight, each alternative day) intraperitoneally for 14 days. There was higher level of malondialdehyde in liver and not in kidney of mice treated with atrazine than control animals. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were decreased in liver and kidney tissue in atrazine-treated animals compared to the control. A highly significant increase in glutathione-S-transferase activity was observed in liver of treated animals. Results indicated that the reduced glutathione (GSH) content of the liver only and not in kidney of atrazine-treated mice was significantly decreased as compared to the control group. Co-administration of ginger along with atrazine restored the hepatic GSH content nearly to control levels, decreased the level of lipid peroxidation and improved all the antioxidant enzymes as well as antioxidant power. In conclusion, results of the study demonstrated that atrazine induced oxidative stress in liver and kidney, in terms of decreased activities of the various antioxidant enzymes, increased of lipid peroxidation and decreased content of reduced glutathione and antioxidant power. However, ginger administration ameliorated the effects of atrazine, suggesting that ginger is a potential antioxidant against atrazine-induced oxidative stress.

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