Cisplatin (CP) is a powerful anticancer agent used in the treatment of a diverse type of cancers. Oxidative stress is one of the most important side effects limiting the use of cisplatin. The protective effects of methanolic extract (ME) and ephedrine (EP), major compound, of Ephedra alata on CP-induced damages were here assessed. Treatment with CP-induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity characterized by biochemical alterations. In fact, using CP reduced significantly glutathione (GSH) levels, enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Nonetheless, CP-treatment induced DNA damage at renal, hepatic, and blood cells and increased interferon gamma (IFNγ) level in serum. Co-treatments of mice with ME normalized relative kidney/body weight, restored biochemical and oxidative stress parameters, reduced DNA damage and IFNγ level. In conclusion, ME exhibited the best protective effect again
Lire PlusThis study aimed to determine phytochemical contents, antibacterial properties, and antibiotic modulating potential of Punica granatum leaf extracts: hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and aqueous extracts as well as an extract enriched with total oligomer flavonoids (TOFs). The TOF extract contained the highest value of phenols and flavonoids. Rutin, luteolin, gallic acid, and ellagic acid were determined by HPLC analysis of this extract. The antibacterial activity was assayed by the disc diffusion method and microdilution method against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli standard ATCC strains and clinical isolates resistant strains. The TOF extract was the most active against all tested strains. The checkerboard method was used for the determination of synergy between two antibiotics (amoxicillin and cefotaxime) and P. granatum leaf extracts. The best synergistic interaction was found with TOF extract combined with amoxicillin for penicillin-resistant E. coli and pen
Lire PlusCoxsackie B viruses (CV–B) are usually transmitted via the fecal-oral route and the virus gains the central nervous system (CNS) via the bloodstream. Nevertheless, other routes of spread of the virus to the CNS cannot be excluded, including the neuronal route. Neuronal cells, as well as non-neuronal cells (fibroblasts), were isolated from mice and inoculated with CV-B4 in the absence and presence of neutralizing serum. In the absence of neutralizing serum, virus titers recorded in neuron cultures and rates of infected neurons were non-significantly different compared to those recorded in fibroblast cultures. Higher cell mortality was noted among neurons than fibroblasts. The addition of neutralizing serum to neurons did not reduce significantly virus titers or rates of infected cells and cell viability was not significantly augmented, while virus titers and rates of infected fibroblasts were significantly reduced and their viability was significantly enhanced as well. Our results demon
Lire PlusThe wide morbidity of obesity has heightened interest in providing natural and safe compounds to maintain optimal health. The present study was designed to determine the chemical constituents and the effects of methanol leaf extract from Erica multiflora (M-EML) on mitigating high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFFD)-induced metabolic syndrome (MS). LC–MS/MS characterization of M-EML allowed the identification of 14 secondary metabolites and showed that quercetin-3-O-glucoside and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside were the main compounds of our extract. In the in vivo study, the oral administration of M-EML (250 mg/kg) during the last 4 weeks of the experimentation alleviated HFFD-induced obesity, insulin resistance (IR) and cardiovascular diseases. Thus, M-EML treatment significantly normalized body and liver weight, allowed to a sharp decline in plasma levels of TC, TG and LDL-c by 32%, 35% and 66%, respectively. Moreover, hepatic enzymes, total and direct bilirubin, lipase and uric acid levels
Lire Plusthe application of food processes can lead to a modification of both the structure and the activities of flavonoids. In this article, the effect of heat treatment and exposure to light on the antioxidant activity of 6 model flavonoid solutions (rutin, naringin, eriodictyol, mesquitol, luteolin, and luteolin 7-O-glucoside) was studied. The evolution of the antioxidant activity measured after heat treatment of 130 °C at 2 h and an exposure to visible light for 2 weeks is measured by the ABTS (2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt) method and represented by a new parameter called ΔTEAC. The model solution of Mesquitol showed the highest increase in ΔTEAC after a heat treatment, a value of 200 mM was obtained. The increase in ΔTEAC is always greater with thermal treatment than with light exposure. Thus, temperature and light lead to different degradation pathways of the flavonoid. In vivo measurements were carried out with solutions of naringin, erodictyol,
Lire PlusColorectal cancer is a malignancy with a high incidence. Currently, the drugs used in chemotherapy are often accompanied by strong side effects. Natural secondary metabolites can interfere with chemotherapeutic drugs and intensify their cytotoxic effects. This study aimed to profile the secondary metabolites from the methanol extract of Scabiosa atropurpurea and investigate their in vitro activities, alone or in combination with the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin. MTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxic activities. Annexin-V/PI double-staining analysis was employed to evaluate the apoptotic concentration. Multicaspase assay, quantitative reverse transcription real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), and ABC transporter activities were also performed. LC-MS analysis revealed 31 compounds including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and saponins. S. atropurpurea extract intensified doxorubicin anti-proliferative effects against resistant tumor cells and enhanced the cytotoxic effects towards Caco-2 c
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