Thymoquinone Ameliorate Hepatorenal Toxicity Associated With Propylthiouracil-Induced Hypothyroidism in Juvenile Rats

BACKGROUND

An increasing number of studies suggest that hypothyroidism may lead to hepatorenal toxicity. This study examined whether thymoquinone (TQ), the main active Nigella sativa constituent, could prevent the detrimental influences of hepatorenal toxicity of hypothyroidism during the juvenile period in rats.

METHODS

The male rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 7), including control, propylthiouracil (PTU), PTU-TQ 5 mg/kg, and PTU-TQ 10 mg/kg. PTU was dissolved in drinking water at a concentration of 0.05% and administered for six weeks. In the PTU-TQ5 and PTU-TQ10 groups, animals received PTU plus 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg of the TQ (i.p.) for six weeks, respectively. The rats were evaluated after TQ treatment by measuring serum markers of liver and kidney function tests as well as oxidative stress biomarkers in liver and kidney tissues.

RESULTS

Administration of TQ (5 and 10 mg/kg) decreased oxidative stress damage in liver and kidney tissue in hypothyroidism rats with improvement in activities of antioxidant enzymes and a decrease in MDA in both liver and kidney homogenates. Furthermore, TQ treatment significantly inhibited the elevation of serum biochemical markers of liver and kidney function associated with this hepatorenal toxicity.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the protective effect of TQ in hypothyroidism-induced hepatorenal toxicity in rats is attributed to its ability to reduce oxidative stress in hepatic and renal tissues. However, more studies are recommended to investigate the exact mechanism (s) for the effect of TQ on hepatorenal outcomes of hypothyroidism in human subjects.

The effects of Curcuma longa and curcumin on reproductive systems

OBJECTIVE

Curcuma longa (C. longa) was used in some countries such as China and India for various medicinal purposes. Curcumin, the active component of C. longa, is commonly used as a coloring agent in foods, drugs, and cosmetics. C. longa and curcumin have been known to act as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagen, and anti-carcinogenic agents. Th e attempt of the present review was to give an effort on a detailed literature survey concentrated on the protective effects of C. longa and curcumin on the reproductive organs activity.

METHODS

The databases such as, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Iran- Medex, were considered. The search terms were "testis" or "ovary" and "Curcuma longa", "curcumin", "antioxidant effect", "anti-inflammatory effect" and "anti-cancer effect".

RESULTS

C. longa and curcumin inhibited the production of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and increased the caspases (3, 8 and 9) activities in HL-60 prostate cancer. Furthermore, C. longa and curcumin suppressed the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), phosphorylated signal transducers and activators of the transcription 3 (STAT) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in ovarian cancer cell line.

CONCLUSION

C. longa and curcumin might decrease the risk of cancer and other malignant diseases in the reproductive system. C. longa and curcumin have a protective effect on the reproductive organs activity such as, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant effects in normal cells but showed pro-apoptotic effects in the malignant cells. Therefore, different effects of C. longa and curcumin are dependent on the doses and the type of cells used in various models studied.