Ameliorative effect of ZnO-NPs against bioaggregation and systemic toxicity of lead oxide in some organs of albino rats

Inorganic nutrients and heavy metals in some wild edible plants consumed by rural communities in Northern Uganda: Implications for human health

For centuries, wild edible plant species have sustained local communities across Africa by supplementing households' diets in seasons of food shortage. Wild edible plants contain inorganic nutrients, which are essential for the proper functioning of organisms. However, their nutritional contents have not been well researched and are generally poorly understood. This study aimed to quantify the levels of inorganic micro-and macronutrients as well as heavy metals (Mg, Ca, K, Fe, Zn, Cd, Hg and Pb) in selected wild edible plants traditionally consumed among the Acholi communities in northern Uganda, and associated health risks of consuming them. The leaves and young stems of 12 wild edible plants, viz: Acalypha rhomboidea, Asystacia gangetica, Crassocephalum sacrobasis, Crotalaria ochroleuca, Heterotis rotundifolia, Hibiscus cannabinus, Hibiscus sp., Hibiscus surattensis, Ipomoea eriocarpa, Maerua angolensis, Senna obtusifolia and Vigna membranacea were air-dried and crushed to powder. The powders were then macerated using aqua regia solution and analyzed in triplicates using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). The target hazard quotient (THQ) of Pb was calculated for non-carcinogenic health risks. Mg, Ca, K, Fe, Zn and Pb were detectable in all the wild edible plants sampled. All inorganic nutrients (mg/100gdw), were below the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA); Mg (9.4 ± 0.19 to 10.4 ± 0.15), Ca (119 ± 5.82 to 1265 ± 14.9), Fe (3.29 ± 0.02 to 11.2 ± 0.09), Zn (0.52 ± 0.02 to 2.36 ± 0.03). Hg and Cd were below detectable limits in all the samples tested. The content of Pb (0.69 ± 0.11 to1.22 ± 0.07) was higher than the CODEX and EU limits of 0.1 ppm (0.001 mg/g) but was below the recommended threshold of 1. The health risk assessment revealed no potential hazards both in children and adults. However, there is a need to study the bioavailability of Pb when the vegetables are consumed due to factors such as indigestion and antinutritional compounds.

Zinc nanoparticles ameliorate oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by silver nanoparticles in the brain of male rats

The current study was conducted to investigate the possible ameliorative role of zinc nanoparticles (Zn NPs) against silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs)-induced oxidative and apoptotic brain damage in adult male rats. Twenty-four mature Wistar rats were randomly and equally divided into four groups: control group, Ag NPs group, Zn NPs group, and Ag NPs + Zn NPs group. Rats were exposed to Ag NPs (50 mg/kg) and/or Zn NPs (30 mg/kg) daily by oral gavage for 12 weeks. The results revealed that exposure to Ag NPs significantly increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content, decreased catalase and reduced glutathione (GSH) activities, downregulated the relative mRNA expression of antioxidant-related genes (Nrf-2 and SOD), and upregulated the relative mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes (Bax, caspase 3 and caspase 9) in the brain tissue. Furthermore, severe neuropathological lesions with a substantial increase in the caspase 3 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity were observed in the cerebrum and cerebellum of Ag NPs-exposed rats. Conversely, co-administration of Zn NPs with Ag NPs significantly ameliorated most of these neurotoxic effects. Collectively, Zn NPs can be used as a potent prophylactic agent against Ag NPs-induced oxidative and apoptotic neural damage.

Comparative assessment on the probable mechanisms underlying the hepatorenal toxicity of commercial imidacloprid and hexaflumuron formulations in rats

Pesticides are viewed as a major wellspring of ecological contamination and causing serious risky consequences for people and animals. Imidacloprid (IM) and hexaflumuron (HFM) are extensively utilized insect poisons for crop assurance on the planet. A few investigations examined IM harmfulness in rodents, but its exact mechanism hasn't been mentioned previously as well as the toxicity of HFM doesn't elucidate yet. For this reason, the present study was designed to explore the mechanism of each IM and HFM-evoked rat liver and kidney toxicity and to understand its molecular mechanism. 21 male Wistar albino rats were divided into 3 groups, as follows: group (1), normal saline; group (2), IM; and group (3), HFM. Both insecticides were orally administered every day for 28 days at a dose equal to 1/10 LD50 from the active ingredient. After 28 days postdosing, rats were anesthetized to collect blood samples then euthanized to collect liver and kidney tissue specimens. The results showed marked changes in walking, body tension, alertness, and head movement with a significant reduction in rats' body weight in both IM and HFM receiving groups. Significant increases in MDA levels and decrease of GHS levels were recorded in liver and kidney homogenates of either IM or HFM groups. Liver and kidney tissues obtained from both pesticide receiving groups showed extensive histopathological alterations with a significant increase in the serum levels of ALT, AST, urea, and creatinine and a decrease in total proteins, albumin, and globulin levels. In addition, there was upregulation of the transcript levels of casp-3, JNK, and HO-1 genes with strong immunopositivity of casp-3, TNF-ὰ, and NF-_KB protein expressions in the liver and kidneys of rats receiving either IM or HFM compared with the control group. In all studied parameters, HFM caused hepatorenal toxicity more than those induced by IM. We can conclude that each IM and HFM provoked liver and kidneys damage through overproduction of ROS, activation of NF-_KB signaling pathways and mitochondrial/JNK-dependent apoptosis pathway.

The ameliorative effect of N-acetylcysteine against penconazole induced neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory disorders in rats

Penconazole (PEN) is a widely used systemic fungicide to treat various fungal diseases in plants but it leaves residues in crops and food products causing serious environmental and health problems. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a precursor of the antioxidant glutathione in the body and exerts prominent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study aimed to explore the mechanistic way of NAC to ameliorate the PEN neurotoxicity in male rats. Twenty-eight male rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 7) and given the treated material via oral gavage for 10 days as the following: Group I (distilled water), Group II (50 mg/kg body weight [bwt] PEN), Group III (200 mg/kg bwt NAC), and Group IV (NAC + PEN). After 10 days all rats were subjected to behavioral assessment and then euthanized to collect brain tissues to perform oxidative stress, molecular studies, and pathological examination. Our results revealed that PEN exhibits neurobehavioral toxicity manifested by alteration in the forced swim test, elevated plus maze test, and Y-maze test. There were marked elevations in malondialdehyde levels with reduction in total antioxidant capacity levels, upregulation of messenger RNA levels of bax, caspase 3, and caspase 9 genes with downregulation of bcl2 genes. In addition, brain sections showed marked histopathological alteration in the cerebrum and cerebellum with strong bax and inducible nitric oxide synthetase protein expression. On the contrary, cotreatment of rats with NAC had the ability to improve all the abovementioned neurotoxic parameters. The present study can conclude that NAC has a neuroprotective effect against PEN-induced neurotoxicity via its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effect. We recommend using NAC as a preventive and therapeutic agent for a wide variety of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory disorders.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles improve testicular steroidogenesis machinery dysfunction in benzo[α]pyrene-challenged rats

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) demonstrate potential positive effects on reproduction. However, their protective role against the reproductive toxicity pollutants has not yet been adequately studied at the molecular level. This study was designed to assess this objective using Benzo[α]pyrene B[a]P as reproductive toxic agent . Forty-eight mature male rats were randomly distributed into six groups: Group1 (negative control); Groups 2 and 3 (positive control I and II, wherein the animals were treated with 10 and 30 mg ZnO NPs/kg BW, respectively); Group 4 (B[a]P group; treated with 150 mg B[a]P/kg BW); and Groups 5 and 6 (subjected to B[a]P treatment co-administered with different concentrations of ZnO NPs). We investigated oxidative stress biomarkers; cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) gene expression; testosterone levels; and histopathology of the liver, kidney, and testicles. The B[a]P-treated group showed significant deterioration in all reproductive parameters and displayed induced oxidative stress. ZnO NPs remarkably reduced oxidative stress, effectively upregulated the mRNA levels of CY11A1, StAR, and 3β-HSD, and improved the histological pictures in the examined organs. At their investigated doses and given their NPs properties, ZnO NPs demonstrated a marked ameliorative effect against the reproductive toxic effects of B[a]P. Further studies are needed to thoroughly investigate the molecular mechanisms of ZnO NPs.