Background Liver is the vital organ of the human body responsible for nutrition, immunity, and metabolism. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is an environmental pollutant that causes hepatotoxicity. This study aimed to evaluate the possible hepatoprotective effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of gooseberry and black mulberry on liver injury induced by CCl4 in rats. Results CCl4 caused significant (P≤0.05) elevation in the liver function tests and hydroxyproline (a major marker of fibrosis); also, there was a significant increase in the hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and plasma inflammatory biomarkers, whereas a significant decrease in the hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and plasma adiponectin levels was observed in the CCl4-treated group compared with control. These results were also confirmed by histological examination of liver tissue. Administration of gooseberry or black mulberry extracts alone decreased the hepatic level of hydroxyproline, ameliorated the antioxidant/oxidant status in liver tissue, and decreased the pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to normal control. Treatment with the tested extracts along with CCl4 was effectively able to ameliorate the abovementioned imbalances induced by CCl4 and protect the liver tissue. Conclusion These results indicate that gooseberry and black mulberry extracts have a hepatoprotective effect against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats.

Aims: The current study was developed to investigate the influence of ginger (G), ginger nanoparticles (GNPs) and ginger nano-base (GNB) on hepato-renal toxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats in comparison with silymarin (SM). Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Faculty of Women for Arts, Science and Education, Ain Shams University. Methodology: Fifty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups. Group (1): Rats received distilled water orally and injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with single dose of corn oil (1 ml/kg b.wt). Group (2): Rats were injected with single dose of CCl4 diluted with corn oil (1:1) (1 ml/kg b.wt. i.p.) at the 4th week of experiment. Groups (3), (4) and (5): Rats were orally received 50 mg /kg b.wt./day of G, GNPs and GNB, respectively for 8 weeks and injected with CCl4 as group 2. Group (6): Rats were orally received 100 mg /kg b.wt /day of SM for 8 weeks and injected with CCl4 as group 2.  Results: Our results documented that injection with CCl4 caused significant increase (p<0.05) in liver function tests [serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities], kidney function tests [serum creatinine, urea, uric acid and cystatin C] and serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), Nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF- α) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β). On the other hand, there was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), Hepatic catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes activity, with histopathological changes in liver and kidneys tissues. Oral administration of G, GNPs, GNB and SM caused an enhancement of liver and kidney function, decreasing serum oxidants and inflammatory markers levels while increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes, also an improvement of organs histopathological changes was observed. Conclusion: Our data proved that using ginger in the form of GNPs and GNB are more efficient in ameliorating hepato-renal toxicity induced by CCl4 than using native ginger as evidenced by biochemical analysis and histological examination of liver and kidneys tissues.

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Aims: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is extensively used as food additive and flavor enhancer, there is a growing concern that this may affect the male reproductive system and fertility. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of MSG on fertility and testes of mature male rats and the ameliorative role of water melon and cantaloupe (seeds extract and juices). Study Design: Thirty-six male Sprague - Dawely rats (150-180 g) were randomly assigned into six groups (n=6). Group (1): orally administered with distilled water. Group (2): orally administered with 60 mg/kg of MSG. Groups (3 and 4): orally administered with 60 mg/kg of MSG + 200 mg/kg of water melon seeds extract and juice respectively. Groups (5 and 6): orally administered with 60 mg/kg of MSG + 200 mg/kg of cantaloupe seeds extract and juice respectively. Results: Results showed that administration of MSG for 6 weeks caused abnormalities of semen characteristics, increased DNA damage and up-regulation of caspase3 expression in the testes tissue. Also, the levels of plasma sex hormones were decreased and the oxidant-antioxidant status was disturbed, moreover, MSG caused alteration in the histopathological structures of testicular tissue. Administration of seeds extract or juices of water melon and cantaloupe almost corrected the biochemical and histopathological alteration produced by MSG. Conclusion: This study concluded that water melon and cantaloupe seeds and juice extracts have an ameliorative role against MSG-induced testicular damage and infertility in rats.

The ability of Cu(II)(2)(3,5-diisopropylsalicylate)(4), CuDIPS, which exhibits superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity, to prevent cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity was examined in rats. Rats were divided into four groups and treated as follows: (i) vehicle control; (ii) cisplatin (16 mg/kg, intraperitoneally); (iii) CuDIPS (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally); and (iv) cisplatin plus CuDIPS. Rats were sacrificed 3 days post-treatment. Cisplatin alone resulted in significantly increased plasma creatinine and urea. Administration of 10 mg/kg CuDIPS prevented the cisplatin-induced elevation of plasma creatinine and urea and protected against kidney damage. Relative to controls, rats that received cisplatin treatment displayed a decrease of reduced glutathione (GSH) and elevated platinum and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels in the kidney. In comparison with controls, activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH-Px and GSH-Rd) were also reduced in the kidney of rats treated with cisplatin. Administration of 10 mg/kg CuDIPS prevented cisplatin-induced alterations in renal platinum, GSH, TBARS, and antioxidant enzyme activities. This study suggests that the protection offered by CuDIPS against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity is partly related to maintenance of renal antioxidant systems.