Phytochemical Constituents of Carrot (Daucus carota) Fruit Juice and its Hepatoprotective Property in CCl4-Induced Liver Cirrhotic Rats

Aim: This study evaluated the phytochemical constituents of Carrot fruit juice (CFJ) and its hepatoprotective property in CCl4-induced liver cirrhotic rats. Study Design: Sixty male rats of weight ranging from 150-180 g were completely randomized into six groups. All rats were administered 0.5 ml/kg CCl4 subcutaneously thrice weekly except groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 while rats in groups 3 and 6 and groups 4 and 5 orally received 2.5 and 5.0 ml/kg of CFJ on daily basis for 12 weeks. Results: The preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening of extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, carbohydrate, saponin, phenolic compound and tannins. The extract treated groups significantly revealed an increase in liver cirrhotic emaciated body weight and reduction in the liver index, a reversal of liver marker enzymes activities, an increase in enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants with a decrease in malondialdehyde level reduction in C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, alpha-fetoprotein, and carcinoembryonic antigen. Exposure of animal to CCl4 induces oxidative stress, increases the generation of reactive oxygen species and myeloperoxidase activity, and reduces cell viability but was reversed by the CFJ. Conclusion: The result showed that CFJ is a promising therapeutic option for treating liver failure.

Antioxidant Parameters, Lipid Profiles and Performance Studies of Broiler Birds Fed Graded Level Taurine-Supplemented Diets

The research was targeted towards monitoring the activities of antioxidant enzymes, levels of non-enzymic antioxidants, lipid profiles and performance activities of broiler birds fed taurine-supplemented diets. One hundred and eighty 1-day-old unsexed arbor acre strain broiler birds were randomly distributed into five dietary treatments, six replicates per treatment and six birds per replicate. Treatments 1 to 5 contained 0%, 0.002%, 0.004%, 0.006% and 0.008% taurine supplements respectively as add-over. Treatment 1 served as the control diet. The birds were grouped and brooded for a week and the experiment lasted for six weeks. The birds were sacrificed and the liver, kidneys and serum were collected. The activities of catalase and myeloperoxidase, concentrations of reduced glutathione and nitric oxide as well as the serum lipid profiles were monitored. Liver catalase activities was highest for birds placed on 0.006 and 0.008% taurine-supplemented diets as compared with those on 0% taurine-supplemented diet. The trend was similar for the kidney reduced glutathione concentration. Liver nitric oxide concentrations and kidney myeloperoxidase activities were significantly higher (p<0.05) for birds placed on 0.004%, 0.006% and 0.008% taurine-supplemented diets as compared to birds placed on the control diets. High density lipoprotein was highest for birds on a 0.008% diet and lowest for birds on the control diet. The best feed conversion ratio was obtained for birds placed on 0.008% taurine-supplemented diet. Taurine-supplemented diets at between 0.002 and 0.008% favoured birds’ antioxidant defense mechanisms, had no deleterious effect on lipid profile, and equally improved the performance characteristics of broiler birds.

IN VITRO EVALUATION OF ENZYMIC ANTIOXIDANTS AND FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITY IN THE ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF CRESCENTIA CUJETE LEAVES

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the enzymic antioxidants and free radical scavenging present in the ethanolic leaf extracts of Crescentia cujete. Methods: Enzymic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were estimated by standard methods. Free radical scavenging potential was evaluated by diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide, and hydroxyl radical methods using an ethanolic extract of C. cujete leaf. Results: The leaf extract of C. cujete showed the maximum activity of CAT, SOD, GST, glutathione reductase, and peroxidase activity. CAT activity was formed to be highest in the ethanolic extract of C. cujete leaf. DPPH radical scavenging activity was reported as 38.5 μg/ml, nitric oxide was found to be 200.77 μg/ml, and hydroxyl radical scavenging exhibited 108.42 μg/ml normalized with ascorbic acid. Conclusion: From the results, it has concluded that the ethanol extract of the C. cujete leaf has a prospective source of natural antioxidant that would be a great significance as therapeutic agents in preventing or slowing the progress of reactive oxygen species and related oxidative stress-related degenerative diseases.

Effect of hydroethanolic extract of Piper betle in isoproterenol induced cardiac hypertrophy

Cardiac hypertrophy (CH) is a condition in which myocardial mass is increased beyond the normal range due to irreversible fibrotic events that lead to various complication like ventricular chamber dilation, thinning of the internal walls and extensive myocardial damage. In this study, the cardioprotective potential of the hydro-ethanolic extract of Piper betle (P. betle) was evaluated against cardiac hypertrophy induced by isoproterenol in male albino Wistar rats. Isoproterenol (10 mg/kg b.w., i.p., 7 days) induced cardiac hypertrophy in experimental rats which were simultaneously treated with the standard drug losartan (50 mg/ kg b.w., oral., 7 days) and hydro-ethanolic extract of P. betle (200 mg/kg b.w., oral., 7 days). Biochemical estimations revealed increased levels of glucose, protein, cholesterol, serum creatinine, cardiac maker enzymes (SGOT; SGPT and LDH), reduced enzymic antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GPx) and serum were observed during CH which were reciprocated to normal when treated with plant extract. Histopathological analysis of the heart tissue (left ventricles) showed repairment of cellular architecture with reduced stiffened cell layers and necrosis in plant extract administered rats thereby indicating the anti-hypertrophic potential of P. betle.

Efficacy of Zanthoxylum armatum fruit on isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats

The present study was elucidating the cardioprotective activity of hydroethanoic extract of Zanthoxylum armatum (Z. armatum) fruit on serum cardiac markers, lipid profile and the level of antioxidants in experimentally induced myocardial infarction (MI). The hydroethanolic extract of Z. armatum fruit was administered at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight for 30 days to male Wistar albino rats. On 28th and 29th day, isoproterenol (ISO) (8.5mg/100g body weight) wasadministered to induce MI. Animals were sacrificed; blood and heart tissues were removed and the biochemical parameters were carried out. Serum markers such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and troponin –T were significantly (p<0.05) increased after ISO treatment. Altered lipid profile and significant changes in enzymic and non- enzymic antioxidants were also observed in MI. The altered levels were brought back to near normal by the administration of hydroethanoic extract of Z. armatum fruit which might be due to the active phytoconstituents present in it.

EVALUATION OF ENZYMIC AND NON-ENZYMIC ANTIOXIDANT LEVELS IN VERNONIA CINEREA EXTRACTS

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidant levels in various solvent extracts of Vernonia cinerea leaves.Methods: The fine powder of leaf (180 g) was extracted successively with methanol, ethanol, petroleum ether (40–60°C), benzene, acetone, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and aqueous in a Soxhlet extractor for 18 h. The extracts were concentrated under reduced pressure at low temperature (40– 50°C), and the extracts were analyzed for the antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidise, glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), polyphenol oxidase, glutathione (GSH) reductase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and non-enzymic antioxidants such as Vitamin A, C, E, reduced GSH, and total phenol.Results: Significant activities of enzymic antioxidants such as CAT (23.68 μ mole of H2O2 decomposed/min/mg protein, SOD (19.75 inhibition of 50% nitrite form/min/mg protein), and GST (73.28 μ mole of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene conjugate formed/min) were observed higher in the methanolic extracts. Whereas, ethanolic extract exhibits maximum activity of GPx (1.054 μ mole of GSH utilized/min) and Px (102.1 μ mole of pyrogallol oxidized/ min/mg protein). Total GSH (172.3 μM/g), Vitamin E (23.76 μM/g), and total phenols were significantly predominant in the ethanolic extracts followed by methanol and ethyl acetate extracts.Conclusion: V. cinerea seems to be a promising plant in respect of its antioxidant potential, there is a lot more to be done to understand the mechanisms behind these effects as well as to employ them as possible therapeutic agents.

Biochemical and electrocardiographic studies on the beneficial effects of gallic acid in cyclophosphamide-induced cardiorenal dysfunction

BackgroundCardiac toxicity is one of the life-threatening complications of cancer therapy. Cyclophosphamide (CYP) is an alkylating agent with potent antineoplastic and immunosuppressive properties and possibly the most widely used antineoplastic agent. Chronic cardiotoxicity associated with CYP is characterized by progressive heart failure developing from weeks to years after therapy.MethodsIn this study, rats were administered with (60 mg/kg and 120 mg/kg) alone or in combination with single intraperitoneal (200 mg/kg) administration of CYP for 7 days. CYP was only administered on day 1.ResultsThe administration of CYP led to a significant (p<0.05) increase in cardiac and renal malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and hydrogen peroxide (HConclusionsIn this study, treatment with gallic acid (60 mg/kg and 120 mg/kg) restored the enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants and also attenuated cardiotoxic and nephrotoxic effect of CYP through free radical scavenging activity, anti-inflammatory and improvement of antioxidant defence system.

Modulatory effects of melatonin and vitamin C on oxidative stress-mediated haemolytic anaemia and associated cardiovascular dysfunctions in rats

BackgroundPhenylhydrazine (PHE) in experimental animal models has been widely reported to cause haemolytic anaemia, via the induction of oxidative stress and thus causing deleterious cardiovascular complications. Hence, this study was designed to evaluate the possible modulatory role of melatonin (MLT) or vitamin C when co-administered with PHE.MethodsAnaemia was established with PHE administration. MLT or vitamin C was co-administered with PHE. Haematological parameters, markers of oxidative stress, enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants, blood pressure and electrocardiograms were assessed.ResultsPHE administration led to a significant (p<0.05) increase in malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (HConclusionsHence, MLT and vitamin C could be employed as therapeutic targets in various cardiovascular diseases and its complications.

Ameliorative effect of gallic acid on methotrexate-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in rat

We investigated the protective effect of gallic acid (GA) against methotrexate (MTX)-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Male Wistar rats were randomized into five groups (n = 6/group): I, control; II, MTX-treated for seven days; III, pre-treated with GA for seven days, followed by MTX for seven days; IV, co-treated with MTX and GA for seven days and V, GA for seven days. MTX caused a significant increase (P&lt;0.05) in plasma biomarkers of nephrotoxicity (urea, creatinine) and hepatotoxicity (Bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma glutamyl transferase) when compared with control. Furthermore, MTX caused a significant decrease in the activities of hepatic enzymic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase) and nonenzymic antioxidants (Vitamin C and glutathione), followed by a significant increase in hepatic malondialdehyde content. However, pretreatment and co-treatment with gallic acid ameliorated the MTX-induced biochemical changes observed. Taken together, GA protected against MTX-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in rats, by reducing the impact of oxidative damage to tissues.

THE EFFECT OF BATTERY RECYCLING INDUSTRY SOLID WASTE LEACHATE ON ANTIOXIDANT STATUS OF TRIGONELLA FOENUM-GRAECUM

Effect of battery recycling industry solid waste leachate on the growth and antioxidant status of Trigonella foenum-graecum was investigated. Plants have played a crucial role in maintaining human health and improving the quality of human life for thousands of years. Plants were grown in four dilutions of leachate andthe results were compared with the control plants grown simultaneously in the same condition. Enzymic and Non-enzymic antioxidants were analyzed in the coriander leaves. The concentration of Superoxide dismutase, Glutathione peroxidase, Ascorbic acid, Reduced glutathione were studied in the leachate and control growing plants. This study proves that coriander should not be grown in the soil having highest level of battery recycling industry solid waste for maintaining human health and the environment