Investigating the teratogenic potential of diclofenac sodium on chick embryos: A warning for pregnant women

Preparation of MOF-5 imprinted chromium ferrite and its application in decontaminating metronidazole and penicillin G contaminated water system

Metronidazole (MZ) and penicillin G (PG) are antibiotics frequently detected in aqueous systems as pollutants. Their presence in water systems is a global challenge requiring the development of sustainable solutions for water purification. Therefore, this study synthesized and improved the adsorption performance of chromium ferrite (CrFe2O4) via incorporation of metal-organic framework (MOF-5) to produce CrFe2O4@MOF-5 composite. CrFe2O4@MOF-5 and CrFe2O4 were characterized using a series of analytical instrument. Both adsorbents exhibited a four-phase mass loss from the thermogravimetric analysis, while the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) results gave a surface area of 40.94 m² g- 1 for CrFe2O4 and 59.76 m² g- 1 for CrFe2O4@MOF-5. Interestingly, microscopical images unfolded the surfaces of CrFe2O4@MOF-5 and CrFe2O4 to be heterogeneous, while elemental surface mapping confirmed the constituent elements of CrFe2O4@MOF-5 and CrFe2O4 to be Cr, Fe, O, C and Zn. CrFe2O4@MOF-5 exhibited a higher affinity (91.67 mg g- 1) for PG than CrFe2O4 (53.82 mg g- 1). Similarly, the performance of CrFe2O4@MOF-5 was better (90.24 mg g- 1) compared to CrFe2O4 (50.41 mg g- 1) towards MZ. Both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm may describe the removal process of MZ and PG by CrFe2O4@MOF-5 while sorption of MZ and PG by CrFe2O4 fitted best for Langmuir isotherm in a sorption mechanism involving electrostatic interaction and pore diffusion. The adsorption performance of CrFe2O4@MOF-5 and its regeneration capacity compared agreeably with most published adsorbents in literature. This current study showed CrFe2O4@MOF-5 as a potential adsorbent for decontaminating MZ and PG-polluted water systems.

Exploring the therapeutic potential of Caralluma fimbriata for antioxidant and diabetes management: a 28-day rat model study

This study evaluated the anti-oxidant and anti-diabetic potential of Caralluma fimbriata (CF) in 28-days rat modelling trial. Diabetes is a chronic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose levels and insulin resistance and cause microvascular and macrovascular issues. Caralluma fimbriata was evaluated for its nutritional composition along with anti-oxidant potential of CF powder (CFP) and CF extract (CFE) using total phenolic contents (TPC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Furthermore, anti-diabetic potential was computed by dividing rats into four groups of 5 individuals each. Rats of Group I was non-diabetic and no supplementation was given while rats of group II were diabetic and no supplementation was given. While group III and group IV rats were diabetic and received CFP and CFE supplementation respectively. CF powder's TPC, and DPPH and FRAP activity were observed maximum at 44.17 ± 0.006 (μgFe/g) in water, 68.75 ± 0.49 (μgFe/g) in acetone and 800.81 ± 0.99 (μgFe/g) in hexane. Supplementation of CFP and CFE reduced blood glucose effectively i.e. (125.00 ± 4.04 and 121.00 ± 4.49 mg/dL, respectively). Moreover, the consumption of C. fimbriata can be helpful in the management of diabetes mellitus due to its glucose lowering potential, anorexic effects, anti-oxidant potential and α-amylase inhibition.

Perspectives on chick embryo models in developmental and reproductive toxicity screening

Teratology, the study of congenital anomalies and their causative factors intersects with developmental and reproductive toxicology, employing innovative methodologies. Evaluating the potential impacts of teratogens on fetal development and assessing human risk is an essential prerequisite in preclinical research. The chicken embryo model has emerged as a powerful tool for understanding human embryonic development due to its remarkable resemblance to humans. This model offers a unique platform for investigating the effects of substances on developing embryos, employing techniques such as ex ovo and in ovo assays, chorioallantoic membrane assays, and embryonic culture techniques. The advantages of chicken embryonic models include their accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and biological relevance to vertebrate development, enabling efficient screening of developmental toxicity. However, these models have limitations, such as the absence of a placenta and maternal metabolism, impacting the study of nutrient exchange and hormone regulation. Despite these limitations, understanding and mitigating the challenges posed by the absence of a placenta and maternal metabolism are critical for maximizing the utility of the chick embryo model in developmental toxicity testing. Indeed, the insights gained from utilizing these assays and their constraints can significantly contribute to our understanding of the developmental impacts of various agents. This review underscores the utilization of chicken embryonic models in developmental toxicity testing, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages by addressing the challenges posed by their physiological differences from mammalian systems.