Iranian Journal of Toxicology
Volume:16 Issue: 3, Jul 2022

Trypanosomes cause the parasitic condition, which is transmitted by tsetse fly. The disease is characterized by intermittent fever, anemia, and frequent diarrhea. This study examined antioxidant and anti-trypanosomal effects of the aqueous extract of garlic in mice.

The extract’s phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity were performed based on standard methods. The acute toxicity was evaluated via Lorke’s method and the anti-trypanosomal effect was evaluated in mice at 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg over 16 days. 

The screening identified phenols, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and saponins. Phenols were present at the highest amount (291.88±6.12 mg/100g) and alkaloids were present the least (13.66±0.03 mg/100g). At 100 µg/mL, the extract quenched 53.20% of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals with an inhibition concentration (IC50) of 12.44 µg/mL. The lethal dose (LD50) of the extract was determined to be >5000 mg/kg in mice. The extract exhibited high anti-trypanosomal activity at 500 mg/kg and lowered the parasitemia count of 9.7±1.15. This was comparable to the diminazene aceturate activity at 5 mg/kg. The extract at 500 mg/kg significantly increased the packed cell volume and bodyweight of the infected mice. There were no significant differences in many hematological indices comparing the control mice to those that received the extract at 500 mg/kg.

The garlic extract had a significant anti-trypanosomes effect and ameliorated the anemic condition induced by infection with trypanosomes. Therefore, the extract may become a therapeutic candidate for the management of trypanosomal infections.

Metal pollution is a problem in many parts of the world. These metals can be harmful when they exceed the recommended limits. By analyzing metal concentrations in living organisms, it is possible to deduce the bioavailability and the level of environmental contamination for specific metals in an ecosystem. The aim of this study was to determine the heavy metals copper, cadmium, lead, nickel and mercury in edible tissues of fish, to establish the risk analysis for human health. There are currently no studies in this area indicating these factors.

The edible tissue samples were treated under the techniques of the official mexican standards (NOM-117-SSA1) and analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy (flame and graphite). The heavy metal concentrations were used to calculate the estimated daily intakes, target hazard quotients, hazard indices, and target cancer risks for children and adults.

The highest concentrations of copper (138.82 μg/g), cadmium (1.28 μg/g) and lead (3.20 μg/g) in the edible tissue samples exceeded the permissible limits considered in this study while nickel and mercury levels did not. The target hazard quotient indices for copper, cadmium and nickel in specific sites were higher than the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) criteria (>1), while the values ​​for mercury and lead were below one. The hazard indices were higher than the US-EPA criteria (>1) in more than 50% of the sites analyzed. 

This study is an alert, indicating that inhabitants who consume the fish, particularly children, are at risk of cadmium, lead and nickel toxicity.

Kidney disorders are serious outcomes of diabetes, resulting in renal ailments. 
This study seeks to provide an alternative treatment for the disorder through the use of medicinal plants that offer renal protection and ameliorate the deleterious effect of diabetes.

Thirty rats were divided into six groups of five and hyperglycemia was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg streptozotocin. The rats with a fasting blood glucose level exceeding 250 mg/dl were selected. The L. hastata leaf extract was administered orally and a daily insulin injection was given intramuscularly into the left thigh for 28 days. Rats were then sacrificed and the urine was collected for urinalysis. The kidneys were harvested and examined histologically. The micrographs obtained were subjected to morphometric analyses to evaluate several parameters.

The extract-treated groups showed preservation of the cytoarchitecture of the renal tubules and glomeruli as compared to the diabetic control group, which showed distortion of the glomeruli and atrophied renal tubules. The rats that received the extract showed a significantly increased glomerular perimeters and areas (P<0.01). The cellularity was significantly increased (P<0.001); however, the glomerular basement membranes were significantly thicker in these groups compared to the controls (P<0.001). Both the extract-treated and insulin-treated rats showed reduced urine glucose concentrations. Urobilirubinogen, protein, and ketone levels were elevated in the diabetic controls compared to the extract-treated rats.

Administration of the L. hastata extract led to renal protection by preserving the cytoarchitecture of the glomeruli and renal tubules, restoring the kidneys’ function.

Tracheal intubation is a life-saving measure in patients poisoned acutely with opioid, and when naloxone treatment is inadequate. This study determined the risk factors for early unplanned extubation in these patients and evaluated the effects on the clinical outcomes.

At a poisoning center in Tehran, Iran, 165 opioid overdose patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit and intubated between September 2019 and March 2020 were enrolled into this study. Patients were categorized in two groups: a) those extubated based on the physicians’ decision, and b) those who were extubated by self or were accidentally. The two groups were compared regarding their clinical outcomes and complications during hospitalization. In addition, the re-intubated patients in both groups were compared to those with successful intubation regarding the predisposing factors and mortality. 

Of these patients, 36 (21.8%) died before extubation, and planned extubation was performed in 109 of them (84.5%). Unplanned extubation occurred in 20 patients (15.5%). Agitation, elevated temperature (>38.5ºC), and insufficient nursing care were the independent risk factors for the unplanned extubation. 6(5.5%) and 3(15%) patients died following the planned and unplanned extubation, respectively, and 24 patients required reintubation. Patient transfer, succinylcholine use, aspiration pneumonia, presence of brain injury, and insufficient nursing care were independent risk factors for re-intubation.

Among the patients with high drug dependency, higher doses of sedatives were needed to avoid self-extubation. Infection control and sufficient nursing care were factors that led to better clinical outcomes for extubation in these patients.

Heart Failure (HF) has become one of the most prevalent cardiovascular problems worldwide. Considering the beneficial effects of probiotics on human health, we aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of oral administration of Lactobacillus paracasei in HF induced by isoproterenol. 

Forty Wistar male rats weighing 80g on average were randomly assigned to five groups of eight each: control, probiotic, HF model, prophylaxis including probiotic + HF, and treatment (HF + probiotic). The rats were treated and examined over 30 days. Heart failure was induced by the subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (5 mg/kg) once daily for 10 days. At the completion of the study, the ratios of Body, Heart, and Left Ventricle Weights (BW, HW & LVW), serum TNF-α levels, measured by ELISA, myocardial histopathological lesions were determined and compared among the groups. Cardiac hypertrophy was defined by comparing the LVW to total body weight for each animal.

The LVW and LVW/HW ratio were significantly increased in the rats with HF (P<0.05). In the treatment group, the LVW/HW and serum TNF-α level were lower compared to those in the HF group. Also, the infiltration of inflammatory cells, necrosis, and myocardial hypertrophy were remarkably lower than those in the HF group.

The study findings indicate that the oral administration of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei-8700:2 can reduce the cardiac hypertrophy, failure and inflammation induced by the administration of isoproterenol in rats. Therefore, the study results suggest a novel approach for the management and potential prevention of heart failure.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), used widely in the food industry, is a threat to the public health. We investigated whether the MSG administration depletes non-enzymatic antioxidants, i.e., vitamins C and E in the liver of Wistar albino rats. We also examined the restorative effect of the ethanolic extract of Phyllanthus emblica (P. emblica). 

Wistar albino rats (n=42) were adapted and then randomly divided into seven groups of: 1) control, 2, 3, 4) MSG treatment, and 5, 6, 7) combined MSG and P. emblica extract treatment. All rat groups were treated daily for 120 days. They were orally administered either MSG alone or MSG plus the extract combined. The rats were then sacrificed and the liver was harvested from each group, and homogenized to examine the levels of vitamins C and E in the liver, using RP-HPLC method. 

The vitamins C and E levels significantly declined (P<0.05) in the liver of MSG treated groups compared to those of the control rats. The combined treatment (extract + MSG) at low and moderate doses restored the vitamin C levels but it restored vitamin E only at the low dose (P<0.05). 

This study clearly demonstrated the deterioration of non-enzymatic antioxidants, i.e., vitamins C and E in the rats’ liver after chronic exposure to MSG. The findings support the toxic effect and oxidative stress due to MSG exposure to the liver and the beneficial effect of the extract of P. emblica that inhibits the MSG’s harmful effect on the liver.

Glutamate is essential to learning and memory as an excitatory neurotransmitter. This study evaluated the atrazine effect on the hippocampus and examined the mitigative role of avocado oil against the neuronal degeneration and behavioral deficits in Wistar rats.

Fifty adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of ten. Group 1 (controls) received 0.5 ml distilled water; group 2 received atrazine (215 mg/kg/d); group 3 received avocado oil (1 ml/ 250 g/d); group 4 received avocado oil (1 ml/ 250 g/d) 60 minutes before atrazine. Treatments were given by oral gavage over 28 days. Barnes maze and Y-maze tests were performed to assess the learning and memory. Histological and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP)-immuno-reaction in the hippocampus were assessed, using Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stain and anti-GFAP antibody. The glutamate and acetylcholinesterase levels were subsequently assessed.

The learning and memory performance was significantly affected in group 2, but improved in group 4. In group 3, learning and memory performance was not different from group 1. In group 2, atrazine caused massive neurodegeneration and astrogliosis at Cornu Ammonis-1 (CA-1) and Dentate Gyrus (DG). Combined avocado and atrazine significantly reduced neuronal death and astrogliosis in CA-1 and DG areas. In group 2, glutamate level was high while acetylcholinesterase was low. In group 4, glutamate was low but acetylcholinesterase was high compared to those in group 2. Glutamate and acetylcholinesterase levels in group 3 was not significantly different from that of group 1.

Atrazine inhibited acetylcholinesterase and induced glutamate release. These were associated with excitotoxicity and neuronal degeneration in CA-1 and DG areas as shown by poor learning and memory. Treatment with avocado oil protected against high glutamate release, thus, mitigating neuronal degeneration and maintaining normal learning and memory in rats.

Environmental pollutants including organophosphate insecticides impair glucose metabolism by altering hepatic oxidation and play an important role in the development of diabetes and its complications. The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of repeated oral doses of Diazinon, an organophosphate insecticide, which is known to impair the glucose metabolism and its tolerance through oxidative stress in the rat liver.

Diabetes was induced in rats by a single dose of freshly prepared Streptozotocin at 60 mg/kg. Both normal and diabetic rats were exposed to daily oral Diazinon at 20 mg/kg for 21 days. Subsequently, the effects on the rats’ liver were assessed by glucose tolerance test, histopathology examinations and antioxidant capacity measurement. 

The glucose tolerance tests showed impairment in the non-diabetic rats exposed to Diazinon, while the difference in glucose tolerance between the diabetic rats treated with or without Diazinon was not significant. Diazinon in diabetic rats caused greater histopathological changes along with significant elevations in the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase and catalase in the liver tissue.

Subacute exposure to Diazinon exacerbated hepatotoxicity by inducing oxidative stress in diabetic rats. The superoxide dismutase and catalase activities increased due to the oxidative damages in rats’ liver caused by Diazinon.