Background: Prodigiosin (PDG) is a red pigment synthesized by bacterial species with important pharmaceutical and biological activities. Here, we investigated the neuroprotective and anticonvulsant activities of green biosynthesized selenium formulations with PDG (SeNPs-PDG) versus pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced epileptic seizures. Methods: Rats were assigned into six experimental groups: control; PTZ (60 mg/kg, epileptic model); sodium valproate (200 mg/kg) + PTZ; PDG (300 mg/kg) + PTZ; sodium selenite (0.5 mg/kg) + PTZ; and SeNPs-PDG (0.5 mg/kg) + PTZ. The treatment duration is extended to 28 days. Results: SeNPs-PDG pre-treatment delayed seizures onset and reduced duration upon PTZ injection. Additionally, SeNPs-PDG enhanced the antioxidant capacity of hippocampal tissue by activating the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 and innate antioxidants (glutathione and glutathione derivatives, in addition to superoxide dismutase and catalase) and decreasing the levels of pro-oxidants (lipoperoxidation products and nitric oxide). SeNPs-PDG administration inhibited inflammatory reactions associated with epileptic seizure development by suppressing the production and activity of glial fibrillary acidic protein and pro-inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nuclear factor kappa B. Moreover, SeNPs-PDG protected against hippocampal cell loss following PTZ injection by decreasing the levels of cytosolic cytochrome c, Bax, and caspase-3 and enhancing the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. Interestingly, SeNPs-PDG restored the PTZ-induced imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory amino acids and improved monoaminergic and cholinergic transmission. Conclusions: These promising antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and neuromodulatory activities indicate that SeNPs-PDG might serve as a naturally derived anticonvulsant agent.

Background:The study aims to evaluate the impact of the antioxidant rich pomegranate fruit grown in Taif on the histological and immunohistochemical changes in the cerebral and cerebellar cortex after different levels of mobile exposure. Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male rats were divided into group I, II, III; IV, and group V. Group I was control and group II rats were exposed to 900 MHz and in group III the rats are exposed to 1800 MHz for two months. Group IV the rats were exposed to 900 MHz concomitant with pomegranate peel extract (500 mg/kg) and group V rats were exposed to 1800 MHz and pomegranate peel extract (500 mg/kg) orally in aqueous solution once per day for two months. Frontal cortex and cerebellum tissues were dissected out and processed for histopathological and immunohistochemical studies. Results: The cerebral and cerebellar cortexes of mobile-exposed rats exhibited degenerative changes especially in the nerve cells. These changes were more pronounced with increase in the frequency of radiation. Most of pyramidal and Purkinje cells became irregular in shape, had deeply stained nuclei, and were surrounded with peri-cellular haloes and vacuolated neuropil. However, some of them were surrounded with neuroglial accumulation. Conclusion: The study concluded that pomegranate peel extract can ameliorate the histopathological changes induced by mobile phone electromagnetic radiations.

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Schizophrenia (SCZ), a multifactorial neuropsychiatric disorder, is treated with inefficient antipsychotics and linked to poor treatment outcomes. This study, therefore, investigated the combined administration of prodigiosin (PDG) and selenium (Na2SeO3) against SCZ induced by amphetamine (AMPH) in rats. Animals were allocated into four groups corresponding to their respective seven-day treatments: control, AMPH (2 mg/kg), PDG (300 mg/kg) + Na2SeO3 (2 mg/kg), and AMPH + PDG + Na2SeO3. The model group exhibited biochemical, molecular, and histopathological changes similar to those of the SCZ group. Contrastingly, co-administration of PDG and Na2SeO3 significantly increased the time for social interaction and decreased AChE and dopamine. It also downregulated the gene expression of NMDAR1 and restored neurotrophin (BDNF and NGF) levels. Further, PDG combined with Na2SeO3 improved the antioxidant defence of the hippocampus by boosting the activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, and GR. These findings were accompanied by an increased GSH, alongside decreased MDA and NO levels. Furthermore, schizophrenic rats having received PDG and Na2SeO3 displayed markedly lower IL-1b and TNF-α levels compared to the model group. Interestingly, remarkable declines in the Bax (pro-apoptotic) and increases in Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic) levels were observed in the SCZ group that received PDG and Na2SeO3. The hippocampal histological examination confirmed these changes. Collectively, these findings show that the co-administration of PDG and Na2SeO3 may have a promising therapeutic effect for SCZ. This is mediated by mechanisms related to the modulation of cholinergic, dopaminergic, and glutaric neurotransmission and neurotrophic factors, alongside the suppression of oxidative damage, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis machineries.

Ocular complications of diabetes mellitus are rapidly progressing and have become a leading cause of vision impairment. The present study evaluated the potential protective role of pomegranate peel extract, as a powerful antioxidant agent, on the ocular complications of diabetes. One hundred, 8 weeks old, male Wistar rats were subdivided into three groups; the first control group (non-diabetic) was injected intraperitoneally with a single dose (2 ml/animal) of citrate buffer alone. The second group (diabetic untreated) was subjected to induction of diabetes by an intraperitoneal single dose of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg body weight). The third group (diabetic treated) was subjected to induction of diabetes as the second group and given simultaneously, 500 mg/kg body weight of pomegranate peel extract orally once per day with the drinking water. Clinical examination of lens and fundus was made, and the biochemical analysis was done at 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36 and 40 weeks after diabetes induction. At the end of the investigation (40 weeks), the rats were anesthetized, and the eyeballs were removed and sampled for histopathological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural investigations. The study revealed that the lens of 12 rats from a total of 40 rats of the second group (diabetic untreated) depicted the onset of cataract at 16 week, which increased gradually. The retina of the same group showed gradual inter-retinal microvascular abnormalities and histopathological changes. The third group (diabetic treated) showed marked amelioration as compared to the second group. ANOVA test for the biomedical indicators showed a statistically significant improvement in the third group. In conclusion, the pomegranate peel extract possesses strong potential for its development as a protective agent against ocular complications of diabetes. Keywords: Pomegranate peel extract, diabetes mellitus, ocular structure, rats.