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Prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates have increased over the past years. The purpose of the present study was to examine the molecular mechanism underlying the chemopreventive effects of quercetin on prostate cancer in an in vivo model. Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into four groups, Group I: vehicle control (propylene glycol), Group II: chemically induced cancer model (MNU + T); Group III: chemically induced cancer model + quercetin (200 mg per kg b.w.); Group IV: quercetin (200 mg per kg b.w.). Serum levels of quercetin were assessed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). EGFR, PI3K/Akt protein levels were significantly increased in chemically induced cancer rats, which were brought back to normalcy in both DLP & VP (dorsolateral prostate & ventral prostate) by quercetin supplementation. Also, the protein expression levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), N-cadherin, vimentin, and cyclin D1 exhibited a significant increase in both DLP & VP of chemically induced cancer rats. However, simultaneous quercetin supplementation significantly decreased PCNA, N-cadherin, vimentin, and cyclin D1 protein levels compared to chemically induced cancer rats. The E-cadherin expression was decreased in chemically induced cancer animals. Simultaneous quercetin supplementation prevented it. Real time PCR was used to study the mRNA expression of snail, slug and twist. Quercetin significantly decreased snail, slug, and twist mRNA levels in chemically induced cancer rats. To conclude from the present study, quercetin was effective in preventing prostate cancer progression by inhibiting the EGFR signaling pathway and by regulating cell adhesion molecules in Sprague Dawley rats.

Phthalates are the largest group of environmental pollutants and are considered toxicant to the endocrine system. The present study was aimed to test the effect of in utero exposure of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) on Leydig cell steroidogenesis in F1 male offspring's. Pregnant dams were oral gavaged with different doses (1, 10, and 100 mg/kg/day) of DEHP or olive oil during gestational Day 9-21. Serum testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) levels were significantly reduced in male offspring at 60 days of age. Our results also demonstrate a coordinate, dose-dependent disruption of genes involved in steroidogenesis. The gene expression of StAR, Cyp11a1, 3β-HSD, 17β-HSD, 5α-reductase and cytochrome P450 19a1 (or) aromatase (Cyp-19) were significantly decreased. The transcription factors like steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) and specific protein-1 (Sp-1) showed a significant decrease in 10 and 100 mg DEHP treatment group. DNA methylation analysis using bisulfite specific-methylation PCR shows hypermethylation in the SF-1 and Sp-1 promoter regions. Further to determine whether the DEHP-induced methylation changes were associated with increased DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt) levels, we measured the expression levels of Dnmt3a, Dnmt3b, Dnmt1, and Dnmt3l using real-time PCR and Western blot method. The mRNA and protein expressions of Dnmt3a, Dnmt3b, and Dnmt1 were stimulated in 10 and 100 mg DEHP treatment groups, whereas no significant change was seen in Dnmt3l expression, suggesting that increased Dnmt3a/b, Dnmt1 may cause DNA hypermethylation in testicular Leydig cells. Overall, these data suggest that gestational exposure to DEHP affects adult testicular function via altered methylation patterns.

Polychlorinated biphenyls exposure damages the rat liver cells. Hematological parameters such as hemoglobin, packed cell volume, red-blood cells, white-blood cells, neutrophils, platelet counts, and RBC indices were significantly decreased. Polymorphs, eosinophil counts, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were significantly increased. Serum liver enzymes such as aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase were increased by PCBs treatment. Serum lipid profiles such as cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins and very-low-density lipoproteins were increased in PCBs-treated rats. High-density lipoprotein, total protein, albumin, globulin levels, and albumin/globulin ratio were also decreased after PCB exposure. Then levels of sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate were also altered. Serum glucose levels were increased along with total bilirubin after PCBs exposure. Simultaneous quercetin supplementation significantly protected the PCBs-induced changes of hematobiochemical parameters. Thus, quercetin shows a protective role against PCBs-induced alterations in the hematological and biochemical parameters.

Dietary compounds like flavonoids may offer protection against neurodegeneration. Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by symptoms like chorea and dementia. 3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NP), a Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) inhibitor produces behavioral, biochemical and histological changes in the striatum, mimics HD in animals and humans. The present study was designed to examine the protective activity of Rutin (RT), a primary flavonoid from citrus fruits, green tea on 3-NP induced experimental model of HD in rats. Rats were pretreated with Rutin, a potent antioxidant (25 and 50 mg/kg b.w.) orally prior to the intraperitoneally (i.p.) administration of 3-NP (10 mg/kg b.w.) for 14 days. Behavioral assessments were carried out on 5th, 10th and 15th day after 3-NP treatment. Body weight, biochemical and histological studies were analyzed on 15th day. Systemic administration of 3-NP significantly reduced the body weight, locomotor activities (Rota rod, Open field test), memory (Morris water maze) and antioxidants such as Glutathione (GSH) levels, activities of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Glutathione-S-transferase (GST), Glutathione reductase (GR). 3-NP also produces striatal damage by increased the levels of lipid peroxides, nitrite, Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) and activity of Acetylcholine esterase (AchE). Thus, Rutin treatment of 25 and 50 mg/kg b.w. has significantly restored all the biochemical, behavioral and histological alterations caused by the 3-NP through its antioxidant activity. The findings of our study indicates that Rutin may have an important role in protecting the striatum from oxidative/nitrosative insults caused by 3-NP. These results suggest that RT might be a drug of choice to treat HD.

The present study aims to investigate the protective effect of quercetin against Aroclor-1254-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Male Wistar rats were grouped into Group I control received vehicle (corn oil; 1 mL/kg bwt); Group II quercetin alone (50 mg/kg bwt/day orally); Group III Aroclor-1254 (2 mg/kg bwt/day intraperitoneally); Group IV Aroclor-1254 + quercetin treated for 30 days. The Aroclor-1254 treatment caused significant alteration in the biochemical parameters (hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione levels, and alkaline phosphatase activity). The expressions of apoptotic and antiapoptotic proteins and the liver histology of Aroclor-1254-exposed rats showed cytoplasmic degeneration along with infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells. Whereas simultaneous treatment with quercetin normalized all the biochemical parameters, consequently it inhibited apoptosis mediated by Aroclor-1254 by downregulating aryl hydrocarbon receptor, p53 and apoptotic protein (Bax, caspase-9, caspase-3) and upregulating the antiapoptotic protein (Bcl-2) expression patterns; thereby, quercetin reduces alteration in hepatocellular morphology. Thus quercetin exhibited hepatoprotective effect.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant and a well-known endocrine disruptor (ED) that interferes with the reproductive function in both humans and animals. This study aimed to find out the impact of lactational exposure of DEHP in testes of first filial generation (F1) progeny male rat postnatal day (PND)-60. Lactating dams were orally treated with DEHP (0, 1, 10 and 100 mg/kg body weight/day, respectively) from the PND-1 to PND-21. Rats were killed at PND 60. Testes were removed and used for histological analysis and for isolation of Sertoli cells (SCs). The histoarchitecture of DEHP-treated rats showed disturbed testicular structure. DEHP-treated rats also showed increased oxidative stress by decreasing antioxidant levels in the SCs; it disrupted SC tight junctional proteins occludin, claudin, junctional adhesion molecule, zona occludens protein-1 (ZO-1), zona occludens protein-2 (ZO-2), and afadin-6 (AF-6), increased apoptosis by altering the apoptotic genes Bax, cytochrome c, caspase-8, -9, -3 and antiapoptotic gene Bcl-2. It is concluded that early postnatal exposure to DEHP disturbs histoarchitecture of testis and SC function in pubertal Wistar rats.

Social media become an inseparable source that has been influencing the lifestyle of millions of people especially youth. Almost all the businesses are doing marketing digitally to promoting their products. Business executives are investing a part of money in digital marketing over the traditional marketing. This paper is to discuss the advantage of digital marketing. The main objective of this paper is to understand about the various tools of digital marketing and to find the most preferred tool. Using social media as a platform this work identifies their searching patterns. This tool proposed to make business people to invest and promote targeted products to the people.