Zinc oxide nanoparticles with green tea extract complex in the pancreas of rats against monosodium glutamate toxicity

The investigation of the effects of monosodium glutamate on healthy rats and rats with STZ-induced diabetes

Monosodium glutamate (MSG, E621) is a flavor-enhancing food additive used widely in the food preparation industry and consumed regularly. It is considered that long-term consumption of MSG causes metabolic syndrome and obesity. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by high blood sugar, polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia, in which insulin secreted from pancreatic β cells is inadequate for maintaining blood glucose homeostasis. Rats were application 65 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) solution intraperitoneally and a diabetes model was created. For this purpose, freshly prepared STZ was injected into the peritoneum. Tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, and IL-1β levels in STZ, MSG, and STZ + MSG groups were found to be significantly increased in inflammation parameters measured on the 28th day of administration when compared to the Control Group (p < 0.001). Also, although malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased significantly in the STZ + MSG group when compared to the control group (p < 0.001), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were significantly decreased in the STZ, MSG, and STZ + MSG groups when compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Also, although glucose levels increased significantly in STZ and STZ + MSG at the end of the 28th day (p < 0.01), insulin levels decreased in STZ, MSG, and STZ + MSG groups when compared to the control groups (p < 0.01). As a result, it was found that STZ and MSG application significantly increased cytokine production, increased MDA, which is an oxidant parameter in pancreatic tissue, and decreased antioxidants (GSH and SOD) when compared to the control groups. It was also found that MSG disrupted the normal histological structure in pancreatic cells, and the damage was much more in both exocrine and endocrine pancreatic areas in the STZ + MSG group when compared to the STZ and MSG groups. It was considered that with the increased use of MSG, the susceptibility to DM might increase along with tissue damage significantly in diabetic groups, therefore, MSG must be used in a limited and controlled manner.

Medicinal plants' proposed nanocomposites for the management of endocrine disorders

Extensive attention has been focused on herbal medicine for the treatment of different endocrine disorders. In fact, compelling scientific evidence indicates that natural compounds might act as endocrine modulators by mimicking, stimulating, or inhibiting the actions of different hormones, such as thyroid, sex, steroidal, and glucose regulating hormones. These potentials might be effectively employed for therapeutic purposes related to the endocrine system as novel complementary choices. Nevertheless, despite the remarkable therapeutic effects, inadequate targeting efficiency and low aqueous solubility of the bioactive components are still essential challenges in their clinical accreditation. On the other hand, nanotechnology has pushed the wheels of combining inorganic nanoparticles with biological structures of medicinal bioactive compounds as one of the utmost exciting fields of research. Nanoparticle conjugations create an inclusive array of applications that provide greater compliance, higher bioavailability, and lower dosage. This can safeguard the global availability of these wealthy natural sources, regardless of their biological occurrence. This review inspects future challenges of medicinal plants in various endocrine disorders for safe and alternative treatments with examples of their nanoparticle formulations.

A New Sterilization Strategy Using TiO2 Nanotubes for Production of Free Radicals that Eliminate Viruses and Application of a Treatment Strategy to Combat Infections Caused by Emerging SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Synthesized titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) nanotubes were used for the disinfection of new emerging corona virus-19 (SARS-CoV-2) in this study. The newly synthesized TiO2-NPs (nanotubes) were characterized by chemical spectroscopic analysis Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet FT-IR and UV. The chemical purity and Zeta potential distribution of the TiO2-NPs (nanotubes) were evaluated to confirm their nano-range, and their surface morphology was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The antiviral activity of the TiO2-NPs (nanotubes) against SARS-CoV-2 was evaluated using 10% (Dimethyl sulfoxide) DMSO and dist.H2O using a cytotoxicity assay and inhibitory concentration assay (to determine the cytotoxic half concentration CC50 and half maximal inhibitory concentration IC50). The current results confirmed that TiO2-NPs exhibit strong anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity at very low cytotoxic concentrations in vitro with a non-significant selectivity index (CC50/IC50 ≤ 1). The obtained results indicate that TiO2-NPs and nanotubes have potent antiviral activity at a very low concentrations (IC50 = 568.6 ng/mL), with a weak cytotoxic effect on the cellular host (CC50 = 399.1 ng/mL). Thus, we highly recommend the use of TiO2-NPs (nanotubes) in vitro and in wall coatings as a potent disinfectant to combat SARS-CoV-2 with little irritation of the cellular hosts. Furthermore, we also recommend more and excessive prospective studies on the complexation of natural active or natural compounds with TiO2-NPs (nanotubes) to minimize their cytotoxicity, enhance their antiviral activity, and increase their inhibition of SARS-CoV-2.