Vol.1 No.1 -4 : Metiram-induced histomorphological and biochemical changes in rat ovaries Attenuation by Nigella sativa oil.

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By : Hanaa Zakaria Nooh

Abstract

Metiram is a fungicide used against fungal diseases of field crops. Nigella sativa L. ( Black seed) is widely distributed herb with wide therapeutic uses. This work aims to study the effect of N. sativa oil on ovarian toxicity induced by metiram fungicide in albino rats. Treating animals with metiram caused many histopathological alterations. The number of ovarian follicles decreased and most of them degenerated which accompanied by increase of atretic follicles and increase of collagen fibers. Histochemical results revealed a decrease in carbohydrates content. Metiram significantly decreased the levels of both LH, FSH and estradiol. It also caused an increase in lipid peroxidation and decreased the ovarian antioxidant enzymes, SOD, CAT. This study revealed The ameliorative effect of N.sativa oil against metiram -induced ovarian toxicity through significant increase in number of healthy follicles with an decrease of the atretic follicles and collagen fibers. Morover, N.sativa treatment led to a significant increase in FSH, LH and estradiol levels. A decrease in lipid peroxidation and increase in antioxidant enzymes were recorded. These results give new insight on beneficial effect N. sativa oil against female gonadal toxicity and this effect may be attributed to its antioxidant activity.

Vol.1 No.1 -3 : Antitumor activity of two Streptomyces extracts (Ag18 & Ag20) on Ehrlich ascites tumor in mice in vitro and in vivo studies.

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By : Amany A. Gaber1, Osama M. Badr , Saad A. Emara3, Atef M. Ibrahim

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the potent antitumor activity of metabolites from Streptomyces as antitumor activity using in vitro and in vivo studies. The Streptomyces were purely isolated from the soil samples, processed to obtain their extracts. Twenty Streptomyces extracts were obtained. Two isolates of Streptomyces were characterized morphologically, physiologically, biochemically and 16sr RNA and they named Streptomyces strain Ag18 and Streptomyces strain Ag 20. female albino mice were used in the present study. The mice were divided into 4 groups (6 animals each was control, injected subcutaneously with an isotonic saline solution. The 2nd, injected subcutaneously with Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EAC). Both the 3rd and 4 injected subcutaneously with Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EAC) diluted with an isotonic saline solution (SS) tumor formation, (7-10) days after inoculation with EAC cells, animals were locally injected subcutaneous Streptomyces extract, Ag18 and Ag20.The results revealed that only two of the twenty Streptomyces and Ag20) showed their potent antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells in vitro. AG18 and AG20 Streptomyces extracts also modulated the mice body weight towards the normal values significantly(p< 0.001) and reduced the tumor volume with a very highly significant change (p< 0.001). The histological study confirmed the above mentioned result, where the kidney and liver of the mice injected with EAC returned to their normal structure after injection with Streptomyces extracts. It is concluded from this study that bioactive product ofStreptomycesAg18 & Ag20 have antitumor activity.

3. Antitumor activity of two Streptomyces extracts (Ag18 & Ag20) on Ehrlich ascites tumor in mice in vitro and in vivo studies.

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Vol.1 No.1 -2 : Ameliorative effect of aqueous extract of rosemary on cadmium – induced kidney injury in albino rats

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By : El-Morsy*, A.M., Sakr, S.A., and Bayomy, M.F

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the heavy metals causing risks for living organisms and induced high toxicity to different biological system. Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) is plant widely used in food. It has antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic properties. The present work studied the effect of rosemary leaf extract on Cd induced kidney injury in rats.Cadmium chloride (30 mg/kg b.w, 5 consecutive days/week for 8 weeks) administration increased renal MDA but decreased GSH, CAT and SOD activities versus control. In parallel, serum urea and creatinine increased. Cadmium chloride caused histological alternations involved shrinkage in glomeruli, congestion in blood vessels, dilation in renal tubules and leucocytic infiltrations. Ultrastructural observations showed abnormality in nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, brush border, proximal and distal convoluted tubules. In the contrary, administration of aqueous extract of rosemary restored these changes. The results suggested that rosemary ameliorative these changes due to its antioxidant properties by scavenging free radicals resulting from cadmium chloride.

Vol.1 No.1 -1 : Potentiation of antifibrotic activity of Atacand using grape seed extract (Gervital) in male albino rats

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By : Faten R. Abdel- Ghaffar1, Ibrahim A. El Elaimy1, Azza M. Mohamed2 and Mona EL. Ghreeb

Abstract

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a known potent hepatotoxic agent. The present investigation clarified the ameliorative effects of Atacand and Gervital on CCl hepatotoxicity. 24 male albino rats were divided into 4 groups, 6 rats each. Group I, served as normal control. Group II, animals were injected subcutaneously with CCl (1ml/kg b.w.) twice a week for 90 days. Group III, rats were injected with CCl4, as Group II, then treated orally with Atacand (8mg/kg b.w.), daily, for 30 days. rats were injected with the same dose of CCl then treated with Atacand (8mg/kg b.w.) along with Gervital (100mg/kg b.w.), orally, daily for 30 days. treatment showed a marked deterioration of liver function as a high increase in the levels of serum AST and ALT (153.8% and 157.8%, respectively). Also a significant decrease in liver antioxidant machinery was represented by reduced glutathione (GSH, 68.1%), glutathione transferase (GST, 69.9%) and glutathione reductase (GR, 65.65%). On the other side, the levels of liver protein carbonyl groups (PCO) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were elevated 439.6% and 258.7%, respectively, compared to their control groups. These results indicated th damage as a result of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Both treatments with Atacand or Atacand + Gervital showed significant ameliorative effect for both liver and serum CCl4-induced alterations. The current study recorded the treatment with Gervital along with Atacand antifibrotic effectiveness than that of Atacand Gervital acted as a potentiator for antifibrotic activity of Atacand.

1. Potentiation of antifibrotic activity of Atacand using grape seed extract (Gervital) in male albino rats

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