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• Hepatoprotective effect of grape seed proanthocyanidins on Cadmium-induced hepatic injury in rats: Possible involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation and apoptosis

  S. Miltonprabu, . Nazimabashir, V. Manoharan

  Collection of Toxicology Reports (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  The present study was undertaken to evaluate the possible ameliorative role of grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSP) against Cadmium (Cd) induced hepatic inflammation, apoptosis and hepatic mitochondrial toxicity in rats. Male Wistar rats were distributed in four experimental groups: control, GSP, Cd and Cd + GSP. Exposure to a hepatotoxic dose of Cd (5 mg/kg BW) caused liver damage, coupled with enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, increased inflammation and apoptosis in liver with increased DNA damage in hepatocytes of rats. Mitochondria were isolated from the hepatic tissues of rats from each group. Our results showed significant decrease in the tri-carboxylic acid cycle enzymes, increased mitochondrial swelling, inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase activity and complex I–III, II–III and IV mediated electron transfer, decreased mitochondrial ATPases, a reduction in calcium content and mitochondrial oxygen consumption in Cd treated rats. All these molecular changes caused by Cd were alleviated by the pre-supplementation with GSP (100 mg/kg BW). The ultra structural changes in the liver also support our findings. From our results, it is clearly indicated that the free radical scavenging, metal chelating and antioxidant potentials of GSP might be the possible reason, responsible for the rescue action against Cd induced mitochondrial damage in the liver of rats.

  Abstract
  The present study was undertaken to evaluate the possible ameliorative role of grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSP) against Cadmium (Cd) induced hepatic inflammation, apoptosis [...]

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• Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activities of Quillaja saponaria Mol. saponin extract in mice

  S. Sarkhel

  Collection of Toxicology Reports (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  Quillaja saponaria bark contains a high percentage of triterpene saponins and has been used for centuries as antiinflammatory and analgesic agent in Chilean folk medicine. In the Present study the anti-inflammatory activities of the aqueous extract of commercially partially purified saponin from Quillaja saponari a Mol. in in vivo animal models. Aqueous extract of the plant material was prepared by cold maceration. The anti-inflammatory activity of a commercial Quillaja saponaria Mol. (QS) saponin extract was investigated by carragenan induced mice paw edema model for acute inflammation (Winter, 1962) [16] . The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by carragenan in paw edema model in swiss albino mice (18–20 g). The anti-inflammatory activity was found to be dose dependent in carragenan induced paw edema. QS was found to significantly (p < 0.05) reduce the carragenan induced mice paw edema (38.59%, 20 mg/kg bw) as compared to carragenan control. The percentage inhibition of standard anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin was (55%, 10 mg/kg, bw). The results of the present study demonstrate that the aqueous extract of Quillaja saponaria saponins (QS) possess significant anti-inflammatory activity.

  Abstract
  Quillaja saponaria bark contains a high percentage of triterpene saponins and has been used for centuries as antiinflammatory and analgesic agent in Chilean folk medicine. [...]

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• Assessment of heavy metals contamination and human health risk in shrimp collected from different farms and rivers at Khulna-Satkhira region, Bangladesh

  T. Sarkar, M. Alam, N. Parvin, Z. Fardous, A. Chowdhury, S. Hossain, M. Haque, N. Biswas

  Collection of Toxicology Reports (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  This study is aimed to assess the heavy metals contamination and health risk in Shrimp (Macrobrachium rosenbergii and Penaeus monodon ) collected from Khulna-Satkhira region in Bangladesh. The results showed that the Pb concentrations (0.52–1.16 mg/kg) in all shrimp samples of farms were higher than the recommended limit. The Cd levels (0.05–0.13 mg/kg) in all samples and Cr levels in all farms except tissue content at Satkhira farm were higher than the permissible limits. The individual concentration of Pb, Cd, and Cr between shrimp tissue and shell in all rivers and farms were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) were estimated to assess the non-carcinogenic health risks. Shrimp samples from all locations under the current study were found to be safe for consumption, the possibility of health risk associated with non-carcinogenic effect is very low for continuous consumption for 30 years.

  Abstract
  This study is aimed to assess the heavy metals contamination and health risk in Shrimp (Macrobrachium rosenbergii and Penaeus monodon ) collected from Khulna-Satkhira region [...]

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• Curcuminoids from Curcuma longa L. reduced intestinal mucositis induced by 5-fluorouracil in mice: Bioadhesive, proliferative, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects

  E. Filho, P. Ávila, C. Bastos, A. Batista, L. Naves, R. Marreto, E. Lima, E. Mendonça, M. Valadares

  Collection of Toxicology Reports (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  Intestinal mucositis is a frequent limiting factor in anticancer therapy and there is currently no broadly effective treatment targeted to cure this side effect. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a mucoadhesive formulation containing curcuminoids (MFC) from Curcuma longa L. on the pathogenesis of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced intestinal mucositis. Three intraperitoneal 5-FU injections (200 mg/kg) were used to induce intestinal mucositis in adult Swiss male mice. Treatment was provided orally (MFC 3.75, 7.5 and 15 mg/kg), thirty minutes before 5-FU injections, daily until euthanasia. Duodenal samples were collected to perform morphometric and histopathological analysis, to investigate the expression of Ki-67, p53, Bax and Bcl-2 by immunohistochemistry, to evaluate neutrophil activity myeloperoxidase (MPO)-mediated and oxidative stress by malondialdehyde (MDA) determination. Mice body weight was assessed as well. As expected, 5-FU induced a significant weight loss (∼17%, P < 0.001), shortening in villi height (∼55.4%) and crypts depth (∼47%), and increased (∼64%) the histological severity score when compared to other groups (P < 0.05). These pathological changes were markedly alleviated by the three MFC treatment doses (P < 0.05), in special with the dose MFC 15 mg/kg. This dose also stimulated cell proliferation by ∼90% in the epithelial cells lining from villi and crypts (P < 0.05), reduced MPO levels and MDA formation by 60% and 44%, respectively (P < 0.05). Our data suggest the therapeutic potential of the formulation for treating intestinal mucositis in mice. Supplementary studies are underway searching for the elucidation of mechanisms involved in the protective effects of MFC in order to make this formulation a clinical tool for mucositis treatment.

  Abstract
  Intestinal mucositis is a frequent limiting factor in anticancer therapy and there is currently no broadly effective treatment targeted to cure this side effect. This study [...]

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• Effect of Hecogenin on DNA instability

  M. Cruz, S. Barroso, J. Navoni, M. Teles, J. Barbosa-Filho, H. Rocha, V. Amaral

  Collection of Toxicology Reports (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  Hecogenin is a sapogenin found in Agave species in high quantities and is responsible for the many therapeutic effects of these medicinal plants. In addition, this compound is also widely used in the pharmaceutical industry as a precursor for the synthesis of steroidal hormones and anti-inflammatory drugs. Despite Hecogenin being widely used, little is known about its toxicological properties. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic, genotoxic and mutagenic effects of Hecogenin on HepG2 cells. Cytotoxicity was analyzed using the MTT test. Then, genotoxic and mutagenic potentials were assessed by comet assay and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay, respectively. Cytotoxic effect was observed only when cells were exposed to concentrations of Hecogenin equal or higher than 100 μM. Although a lower concentration of Hecogenin caused DNA damage, a reduction on nuclear mutagenic markers in HepG2 cells was observed. The results indicated that Hecogenin treatment generated DNA damage, but in fact it would be repaired, avoiding dissemination of the damage throughout the cell division. Further studies need to be performed to confirm the observed protective effect of Hecogenin against genomic instability.

  Abstract
  Hecogenin is a sapogenin found in Agave species in high quantities and is responsible for the many therapeutic effects of these medicinal plants. In addition, this compound [...]

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• Exposure of the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata ) to sediments contaminated with heavy metals down-regulates the gene expression of stress biomarkers

  S. Benhamed, F. Guardiola, S. Martínez, M. Martínez-Sánchez, C. Pérez-Sirvent, M. Mars, M. Esteban

  Collection of Toxicology Reports (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  Heavy metals incidence in the aquatic environment and its accumulation in fish are under constant review. Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata ) specimens were exposed for two weeks to sediments highly concentrated in metals, collected at the Portman Bay (Murcia, Spain). The metals bioaccumulation was tested in liver, muscle and skin. The potential of the sediment exposure to induce variation of the stress biomarkers genes was conducted in liver and skin. Results revealed that sediments were highly contaminated with metals. However, following 2 weeks exposure to the sediments, Cd accumulates only in liver. Interestingly, the expression of the genes mta, hsp 70 and hsp 90 were significantly down-regulated in skin. Nevertheless, cyp1a1 gene was up-regulated only in liver. Results uphold that the stress response magnitude was organ-dependent and the skin was the most responsive tissue to metal stress conditions. These results suggest that skin should be considered as target organ for biomarkers analysis in fishes.

  Abstract
  Heavy metals incidence in the aquatic environment and its accumulation in fish are under constant review. Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata ) specimens were exposed for two [...]

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• Evaluation of biological effects of intermediate frequency magnetic field on differentiation of embryonic stem cell

  S. Yoshie, Y. Ogasawara, M. Ikehata, K. Ishii, Y. Suzuki, K. Wada, K. Wake, S. Nakasono, M. Taki, C. Ohkubo

  Collection of Toxicology Reports (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  The embryotoxic effect of intermediate frequency (IF) magnetic field (MF) was evaluated using murine embryonic stem (ES) cells and fibroblast cells based on the embryonic stem cell test (EST). The cells were exposed to 21 kHz IF–MF up to magnetic flux density of 3.9 mT during the cell proliferation process (7 days) or the cell differentiation process (10 days) during which an embryonic body differentiated into myocardial cells. As a result, there was no significant difference in the cell proliferation between sham- and IF–MF-exposed cells for both ES and fibroblast cells. Similarly, the ratio of the number of ES-derived cell aggregates differentiated to myocardial cells to total number of cell aggregates was not changed by IF–MF exposure. In addition, the expressions of a cardiomyocytes-specific gene, Myl2, and an early developmental gene, Hba-x, in the exposed cell aggregate were not altered. Since the magnetic flux density adopted in this study is much higher than that generated by an inverter of the electrical railway, an induction heating (IH) cooktop, etc . in our daily lives, these results suggested that IF–MF in which the public is exposed to in general living environment would not have embryotoxic effect.

  Abstract
  The embryotoxic effect of intermediate frequency (IF) magnetic field (MF) was evaluated using murine embryonic stem (ES) cells and fibroblast cells based on the embryonic [...]

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• Evaluation of toxicity of biorational insecticides against larvae of the alfalfa weevil

  G. Reddy, F. Antwi, G. Shrestha, T. Kuriwada

  Collection of Toxicology Reports (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  The alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a major pest of alfalfa Medicago sativa L. (Fabaceae). While H. postica usually causes the most damage before the first cutting, in summer of 2015 damaging levels of the pest persisted in Montana well after the first harvest of alfalfa. Although conventional insecticides can control H. postica, these chemicals have adverse effects on non-target organisms including pollinators and natural enemy insects. In this context, use of biorational insecticides would be the best alternative options, as they are known to pose less risk to non-target organisms. We therefore examined the six commercially available biorational insecticides against H. postica under laboratory condition: Mycotrol® ESO (Beauveria bassiana GHA), Aza-Direct® (Azadirachtin), Met52® EC (Metarhizium brunneum F52), Xpectro OD® (B. bassiana GHA + pyrethrins), Xpulse OD® (B. bassiana GHA + Azadirachtin) and Entrust WP® (spinosad 80%). Concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 times the lowest labelled rates were tested for all products. However, in the case of Entrust WP, additional concentrations of 0.001 and 0.01 times the lowest label rate were also assessed. Mortality rates were determined at 1–9 days post treatment. Based on lethal concentrations and relative potencies, this study clearly showed that Entrust was the most effective, causing 100% mortality within 3 days after treatment among all the tested materials. With regard to other biorational, Xpectro was the second most effective insecticide followed by Xpulse, Aza-Direct, Met52, and Mycotrol. Our results strongly suggested that these biorational insecticides could potentially be applied for H. postica control.

  Abstract
  The alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a major pest of alfalfa Medicago sativa L. (Fabaceae). While H. postica usually causes the most damage before [...]

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• Antioxidant protection of gallic acid against toxicity induced by Pb in blood, liver and kidney of rats

  P. Reckziegel, V. Dias, D. Benvegnú, N. Boufleur, R. Barcelos, H. Segat, C. Pase, C. Santos, É. Flores, M. Bürger

  Collection of Toxicology Reports (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  The effect of the antioxidant gallic acid (GA) on Pb toxicity in blood, liver and kidney was investigated in the present study. Rats Wistar received Pb nitrate (50 mg/Kg/day, i.p., 5 days) followed by GA (13.5 mg/Kg, p.o., 3 days) or a chelating agent (EDTA, 55 mg/Kg, i.p.). As result, Pb decreased body weight, hematocrit and blood δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) activity. In addition, high Pb levels were observed in blood and tissues, together with increased (1) lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes, plasma and tissues, (2) protein oxidation in tissues and (3) plasma aspartate transaminase (AST) levels. These changes were accompanied by decreasing in antioxidant defenses, like superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in tissues and catalase (CAT) activity and reduced glutathione (GSH) in liver. GA was able to reverse Pb-induced decrease in body weight and ALA-D activity, as well as Pb-induced oxidative damages and most antioxidant alterations, however it did not decrease Pb bioaccumulation herein as EDTA did. Furthermore, EDTA did not show antioxidant protection in Pb-treated animals as GA did. In conclusion, GA decreased Pb-induced oxidative damages not by decreasing Pb bioaccumulation, but by improving antioxidant defenses, thus GA may be promising in the treatment of Pb intoxications.

  Abstract
  The effect of the antioxidant gallic acid (GA) on Pb toxicity in blood, liver and kidney was investigated in the present study. Rats Wistar received Pb nitrate (50 mg/Kg/day, [...]

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• Arsenic induced hematological and biochemical responses in nutritionally important catfish Clarias batrachus (L.)

  R. Kumar, T. Banerjee

  Collection of Toxicology Reports (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  The impact of sublethal toxicity of sodium arsenite on hematological and certain biochemical parameters of the fresh water catfish Clarias batrachus has been analyzed following exposure of sublethal concentration (1 mg/L, 5% of LC50 value) of sodium arsenite for 10, 30, 45, and 60 days. Arsenic bioaccumulation in the blood tissue of the fish increased progressively with increased period of exposure. The values of total erythrocyte count (TECs), total leucocytes count (TLCs), hemoglobin concentration, and packed cell volume (PCV) 1.40 ± 0.03 × 106 /mm3, 174.83 ± 2.74 × 103 /mm3, 5.01 ± 0.26 g/100 ml, 25.00 ± 1.06 were observed respectively at the end of 60 days of exposure. The results of hematological indices were found to be 179.23 ± 8.81fl/cell for mean corpuscular volume (MCV), 35.92 ± 1.89 pg/cell for mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and 20.17 ± 1.12 g/dl for mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). The present findings are clearly indicating severe fish anemia due to the arsenic salt exposure. The continued arsenic toxicity results in decreased serum protein concentration that might be a cause for the loss of weight as well as weakness in the fish.

  Abstract
  The impact of sublethal toxicity of sodium arsenite on hematological and certain biochemical parameters of the fresh water catfish Clarias batrachus has been analyzed following [...]

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