Metabolomics reveals that sulfotransferase 1 may regulate colchicine-induced liver injury

Pumpkin seeds oil rescues colchicine-induced neurotoxicity in rats via modifying oxidative stress, DNA damage, and immunoexpression of BDNF and GFAP

Colchicine (CHC), a poisonous plant alkaloid, has been widely utilized for decades in the treatment of gout, but has a rather low therapeutic index, which causes oxidative stress leading to cognitive impairment, brain damage, apoptosis, and hitopathological alterations in humans and experimental animals. The present investigation evaluated the potential palliative effect of the pumpkin seeds oil (PSO) at a dose of 4 ml/kg b.wt against CHC (0.6 mg/kg b.wt) -induced neurotoxic and neurobehavioral effects in rats. Forty male rats weighing 245-260 g were assigned to four groups. The results displayed that CHC exposure induced neurobehavioral disorders and a remarkable decline in the serotonin and dopamine levels and the immunoexpression of BDNF and GFAP in the brain. Besides, CHC treatment evoked brain oxidative stress, as manifested by depleted antioxidant enzyme activities and elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC) levels. Also, CHC triggered brain DNA damage, as indicated by a marked increment in the brain 8-Hydroxyguanosine (8-OHdG) level. However, concurrent treatment with the PSO effectively attenuated the CHC-induced toxic effects as evidenced by a noticeable increase in the serotonin (33 ± 3.05) and dopamine (2.48 ± 0.40) concentrations, and the BDNF and GFAP immunoexpression in the brain. Moreover, PSO mitigated CHC-induced brain oxidative stress and DNA damage as shown by elevated antioxidant enzyme activities (164 ± 3.46 SOD and 7.55 ± 0.43 CAT) and reduced MDA (1.62 ± 0.23), PC (1.35 ± 0.23), and 8-OHdG (3.02 ± 0.33) levels. These results concluded that PSO could serve as a therapeutic strategy to ameliorate the neurotoxic and neurobehavioral impacts of CHC.

Pumpkin seed oil lessens the colchicine-induced altered sex male hormone balance, testicular oxidative status, sperm abnormalities, and collagen deposition in male rats via Caspase3/Desmin/PCNA modulation

This study examined the efficiency of pumpkin seed oil (PSO) to rescue the colchicine (CHC)-induced adverse impacts on sperm characteristics, male sex hormones, testicular architecture, oxidative status, DNA content, collagen deposition, and immune expression of desmin and PCNA. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four experimental groups (n = 10 each): control (distilled water), CHC (0.6 mg/kg b.wt), PSO (4 mL/kg b.wt), and CHC + PSO. After 60 days of dosing, CHC significantly reduced sperm motility (19%), sperm concentration (38%), estradiol (52%), testosterone (37%), luteinizing hormone (54%), and follicle-stimulating hormone (29%) compared to the control. Yet, the testicular tissues of CHC-administered rats exhibited elevated abnormal sperms (156%), malondialdehyde (354%), lactate dehydrogenase (73%), Caspase-3 (66%), and 8-hydroxyguanosine (65%) but lower reduced glutathione (74%), catalase (73%), and superoxide dismutase (78%) compared to the control group. Moreover, CHC induced testicular degeneration, distorted seminiferous tubules, apoptotic cells, exfoliated spermatogenic cells, reduced DNA content, decreased PCNA and desmin immune-expression, and increased collagen deposition. PSO effectively reversed the CHC-induced alterations in sperm quality and testicular function and architecture, likely through its antioxidant, antifibrotic, anti-apoptotic, and DNA-protective properties. These results suggest that PSO may be a beneficial intervention for long-term CHC users and may protect against CHC-induced male reproductive toxicity.

Inhibition of CYP1A1 Alleviates Colchicine-Induced Hepatotoxicity

Colchicine, a natural compound extracted from Colchicum autumnale, is a phytotoxin, but interestingly, it also has multiple pharmacological activities. Clinically, colchicine is widely used for the treatment of gouty arthritis, familial Mediterranean fever, cardiovascular dysfunction and new coronary pneumonia. However, overdose intake of colchicine could cause lethal liver damage, which is a limitation of its application. Therefore, exploring the potential mechanism of colchicine-induced hepatotoxicity is meaningful. Interestingly, it was found that CYP1A1 played an important role in the hepatotoxicity of colchicine, while it might also participate in its metabolism. Inhibition of CYP1A1 could alleviate oxidative stress and pyroptosis in the liver upon colchicine treatment. By regulating CYP1A1 through the CASPASE-1-GSDMD pathway, colchicine-induced liver injury was effectively relieved in a mouse model. In summary, we concluded that CYP1A1 may be a potential target, and the inhibition of CYP1A1 alleviates colchicine-induced liver injury through pyroptosis regulated by the CASPASE-1-GSDMD pathway.