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Vol.8 No.1 – 1: In utero exposure of green coffee extract alters rat fetal neurodevelopment in a dose dependent manner

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By: Marwa Nabil Atallaha*, Amira S. Abd El-Gaberb

a Vertebrates, Comparative Anatomy, and Embryology, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science-Menoufia University, Egypt.

b Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, Egypt

Abstract

Green coffee consumption has gained wide popularity, possibly due to its strong antioxidative activities and many beneficial effects in various human diseases. However, the effect of green coffee extract consumption on the development of the fetal central nervous system during pregnancy has not been elucidated. Consequently, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of maternal administration of some doses of the green coffee extract on the development of the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and spinal cord of rat fetuses in terms of histopathological, proliferation, astrogliosis, and ultrastructural investigations. Pregnant dams were divided into four groups; control group (administered distilled water) and three groups orally administered three different doses of green coffee extract, GC1 (200 mg/kg), GC2 (400 mg/kg), and GC3 (600 mg/kg) from the sixth day to the 15th day of gestation. On the 20th day, dams were sacrificed and fetal cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and spinal cord from different groups were fixed for subsequent investigations. The results showed that green coffee extract induced various histopathological changes in the three investigated organs including pyknosis, hemorrhage, and vacuolation. Immunohistochemical investigation revealed that green coffee extract decreased neuronal proliferation and increased reactive astrogliosis. Ultrastructurally, green coffee extract caused cytoplasmic rarefaction, neuronal degeneration, macrophage activation, and axon degeneration. Interestingly, the neurotoxic effects of green coffee on neuronal development were dose-dependent. Based on these results, the consumption of high doses of green coffee during pregnancy should be restricted. Moreover, further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of green coffee ingestion on neuronal cognition and behavioral outcomes.

In-utero-exposure-of-green-coffee-extract-alters-rat-fetal-neurodevelopment-in-a-dose-dependent-manner-1-1-1

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Vol.2 No.11 -2 : Efficacy of saffron extract and fenugreek seeds supplementation on liver of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

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By : Doaa A. Ali , Hanaa Serag , Ahmed Abdeen and Radwa Refaat

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the possible hypoglycemic and hepatoprotective effects of saffron extract (100mg/kg b.wt) and fenugreek supplementation (1.4 g/day/kg b.wt) in STZ- induced diabetic rats at biochemical, histological, histochemical and ultrastructural levels. The results indicated that a single dose of STZ (50 mg /kg b wt, i.p) caused a significant increase in serum and liver total lipids, total cholesterol and triglyceride as well as serum low density and a very low density lipoprotein, accompanied by an increase in serum glucose level and oxidative stress marker, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide level as well as serum aspartate and alanine aminotransferase activities. The results also reported a significant decrease in the high density lipoprotein, serum and liver total protein, serum albumin and globulin contents and A/G ratio, as well as a significant decrease in serum insulin level and the liver enzyme activities and the hepatic glutathione content. Histologically, STZ treated group showed degenerative changes in the pancreas and alteration in the structural integrity of the hepatocytes and their intracellular organelles. Histochemically, liver sections of STZ treated animals displayed marked decrease in the glycogen and total protein contents. On the other hand, the intake of saffron or fenugreek minimize the disturbance observed in the most tested parameters resulted from STZ administration and improve the liver structure and functions. Finally, it can be concluded that the intake of natural product such as saffron or fenugreek may be effective in reducing the diabetic liver injury induced by streptozotocin and the fenugreek supplementation showed more amelioration than saffron extract.

2-Efficacy-of-saffron-extract-and-fenugreek-seeds-supplementation-on-liver-of-streptozotocin-induced-diabetic-rats
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Vol.2 No.6 -3 : Pomegranate peel Extract Protects Cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity in albino mice.

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By : Amal A. El-Daly

Abstract

Cadmium chloride (CdCl2) is a toxicant heavy metal displays adverse properties in humans creating public health risks. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is widely known as antimicrobial and antioxidant. This study investigated the cadmium induced structural effects in mice and evaluated the beneficial effect of alcoholic extract of P. granatum fruit peel (PPE) to protective CdCl2 nephrotoxicity. Animals were divided into 4 groups; group 1: control, group 2: given 25ml/kg PPE, group 3: given CdCl2 at a dose level of 2mg/kg and group 4: given CdCl2 and PPE. The animals were given the previous treatment daily for 14days. CdCl2 intoxication led to obvious many histopathological alterations in kidney glomeruli accompanied with wide and congested blood vessels, renal tubules missed their distinct form with cytoplasmic vacuolation of their epithelial cells and pyknotic nuclei and leucocytes cells infiltration in the intertubular spaces. On the other hand, the immunohistochemical staining of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expressions were positive after CdCl2 exposure compared with the control group. Ultrastructure observations revealed thickening of the glomerular basement membrane and fusion of the podocytes foot processes, tubular epithelial cells vacoulation with pyknotic nuclei, perforation and vacoulation of mitochondria, deterioration of endoplasmic reticulum, and increase of lysosomes. CdCl2-exposure accompanied by increased level of serum urea, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) as well as significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) besides decreased of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level. In contrast, co-administration of PPE plus CdCl2 ameliorated these parameters around the normal levels. It contributed the improvement by the histological, ultrastructure and decreased Bcl-2 and α smooth muscle protein expression, and kidney function through significant decrease in urea, creatinine and BUN, reduced the level of serum MDA as lipid peroxidation marker and restored the altered antioxidant system activity. It was concluded that Cd induced nephrotoxicity at a dose level 2 mg/kg b.w. in mice. The PPE may be involved in the protection of toxicity displayed by CdCl2 induction attributed to the high antioxidant capacity.

3. Pomegranate peel Extract Protects Cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity in albino mice.
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