Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Research
Volume:9 Issue: 1, Mar 2023

Given the importance of environmental factors and the impact of environmental pollutants, such as dioxins, on organ systems, especially the reproductive system, it is necessary to study these issues and the mechanisms of their effects. 

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different doses of dioxins on DNA damage in the testes of adult male mice. 

In this experimental study, 32 male Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) rats were randomly divided into four groups: The control group received normal saline, and the dioxin groups were treated with different doses (0.1, 0.5, and 1 µg/kg) for two weeks. Apoptosis in the testes was then examined using a TUNEL assay kit.

The mean number of TUNEL-positive spermatogonia cells was 5.91±5.28 in the dioxin group 1, 7.20±10.03 in the dioxin group 2, and 8.73±4.63 in the dioxin group 3, which was higher than that in the control group (0.16±0.40; P=0.073, P=0.034, and P=0.007, respectively). The mean number of TUNEL-positive spermatocyte cells was 5.16±1.99 in the dioxin group 1, 2.50±4.62 in the dioxin group 2, and 3.33±2.94 in the dioxin group 3, which was higher than that in the control group (P=0.034, P=0.14, and P=0.037, respectively). The mean number of TUNEL-positive spermatocyte cells in the dioxin group 1 was significantly higher than that in the dioxin group 2 (2.50±4.62, P=0.047). The average number of TUNEL-positive spermatid cells was 11.58±6.90 in the dioxin group 1, 11.10±12.19 in the dioxin group 2, and 10.20±7.32 in the 3-dioxin group, which was higher than that in the control group (0.16±0.40; P=0.008, P=0.014, and P=0.015, respectively). 

The results of the present study showed that dioxin caused dose-dependent apoptosis in the testes.

Oxidative stress may be a causative factor for bisphenol A (BPA) -induced hepatotoxicity. Glutamine (GM) is an amino acid with the ability to inhibit oxidative stress. 

This study evaluated the ability of GM to prevent BPA-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. 

Adult Wistar rats of both sexes (n=30) were used. The rats were randomly grouped into six of five rats each. Groups A (Control), B, and C were treated with normal saline (0.2 mL), GM (80 mg/kg), and BPA (50 mg/kg), respectively for 60 days. Groups D-F were treated with GM (20 mg/kg)+BPA (50 mg/kg), GM (40 mg/kg)+BPA (50 mg/kg), and GM (80 mg/kg)+BPA (50 mg/kg), respectively for 60 days. After treatment, blood and liver samples were obtained for biochemical and histological assessments, respectively. 

Significantly (P<0.01) decreased body weight and significantly (P<0.01) increased liver weight occurred in the BPA-administered group when compared to the control group. The BPA-administered group showed significantly (P<0.001) elevated serum total bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase, aminotransferases, conjugated bilirubin, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, and liver malondialdehyde concentrations when compared to the control group. Significantly (P<0.001) decreased liver superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione levels occurred in the PBA-administered group when compared to the control group. BPA caused hepatocyte necrosis, sinusoids, and central vein congestion. BPA-induced hepatotoxicity was reversed by GM; 20 mg/kg (P<0.05), 40 mg/kg (P<0.01), and 80 mg/kg (P<0.001) in a dose-related fashion when compared to BPA. 

GM may be effective against BPA-associated hepatotoxicity.

Psidium guajava (guava tree) is widely used in Nigeria to treat diseases. However, a paucity of information exists on the safety of the plant. 

This study determined the safety of P. guajava leaves collected in Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria. 

The methanolic extract of the plant’s leaves was subjected to phytochemical and heavy metal screening using standard protocols, and thereafter, subjected to a cytogenetoxicity test using the Allium cepa toxicity assay. Twenty-one A. cepa bulbs divided equally into seven groups were grown over beakers containing distilled water (negative control), formaldehyde (positive control), as well as 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 g of the extract, respectively, for five days. The root-tip cells of the A. cepa bulbs were treated and then examined for chromosomal aberrations. 

The phytochemical screening revealed high levels of saponins, and moderate levels of phenols, tannins, and flavonoids, while quinones and terpenoids were sparingly available. The heavy metal analysis showed non-permissible levels of cadmium and zinc, while two other tested heavy metals (lead and copper) were undetected. Except for the A. cepa treated with 0.25 and 0.5 g, the extract induced dose-dependent root growth and mitotic index inhibition (P<0.05). The extract also induced cytogenetic effects, mainly sticky, vagrant, and fragmented chromosomes as well as anaphase bridges. 

It can be inferred from the results that low to medium doses of the extract are safe but may elicit harmful effects at high doses. Advice from a phytomedicine or phytotherapy expert should be sought before using it.

Cancer is one of the problems facing societies today and despite new advances in chemotherapy and cancer treatment, there are still many cancers that do not respond to today’s treatments. Tarragon with the scientific name of Artemisia dracunculus L. has various flavonoid and polyphenolic compounds and many therapeutic effects. 

This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxicity of this plant on different categories of cancer cels.

Methodes: 

After collecting the shoots of tarragon and extracting them by the maceration method, the weight of the extract with a yield of 22.25% was 12.9 g. After examining the presence of flavonoids and total phenol, the extract’s antioxidant activity was examined using DPPH and FRAP methods. Finally, MTT tests on three cancer cell lines, MCF-7, HT-29, and MKN45, were done using different concentrations of tarragon extract (100, 200, 500, and 1000 μg/mL).

Total flavonoids were detected at 24±1.18 mg of quercetin per gram of extract, and total phenols were detected at 59±2.21 mg of gallic acid per gram of extract. Examining the inhibitory effect of DPPH compared to vitamin C, it was found that the hydroalcoholic extract of tarragon has a 50% inhibitory effect. According to the standard curve, the amount of iron reduced by tarragon hydroalcoholic extract is equal to 405±0.11 μg/ml. The cytotoxic effect of tarragon hydroalcoholic extract on MCF7, MKN45, and HT-29 cell lines was investigated, and their IC50 values were 1065.669, 881.19, and 743.870 μg/mL, respectively. The A. dracunculus L extract inhibits the growth of cancer cells in various cell lines. 

According to antioxidant tests, it can be said that the anti-cancer effects of tarragon are based on its antioxidant power and phenolic and flavonoid compounds.

Diabetes mellitus and anaemia are frequently reported to be associated with polycythemia in several studies. Furthermore, some studies also have linked polycythemia with hypertension. However, whether hypertension and diabetes comorbidity had polycythemia/erythrocytosis, thrombocythemia, or hyperfibrinogenemia is unknown. 

This study investigated the incidence of polycythemia, thrombocythemia, and hyperfibrinogenemia in diabetic and hypertensive male Wistar rats.

Thirty male Wistar rats were categorized into five groups, each with six animals: negative control (zero-salt diet), positive control (standard salt diet – 0.3% salt), high salt diet – 8% salt (HSD only), Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes fed with normal salt diet (STZ only), and high salt diet with STZ-induced diabetes (HSD+STZ). Hematological variables and fibrinogen concentration were measured after a 4-week experimental period. One-way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis and a P<0.05 was considered significant.

The heart rate and mean arterial pressure increased significantly in the HSD, STZ, and HSD+STZ groups, suggesting salt-induced hypertension. Compared to the controls, the STZ and HSD +STZ groups had significantly higher hematocrit, platelet estimate, and fibrinogen concentration. The STZ and HSD+STZ groups had a shorter clotting period, which correlated with higher platelet counts and fibrinogen levels. Compared to the controls, the HSD group had a lower platelet count and fibrinogen concentration, as well as a longer clotting time. 

This study suggests that polycythemia, thrombocythemia, and hyperfibrinogenemia are potential risk factors for hypertension in people with diabetes mellitus.

The availability of the COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic has changed the disease course in the entire world. The current study aimed to compare various hematological parameters among COVID-19 patients with and without vaccination.

The present retrospective study included 26 vaccinated and 26 non-vaccinated COVID-19 patients. Various clinical and biochemical parameters of RT-PCR-positive patients were collected. The values are expressed in Mean±SD or median values IQR. Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between the groups. 

Among the vaccinated individuals, 17 cases (65.4%) were asymptomatic, one patient (3.8%) had moderate, eight cases (30.8%) had mild COVID-19 infection and all 26 patients were completely recovered. Among non-vaccinated COVID-19 patients, 25 cases (96.2%) had severe, one case (3.8%) had moderate COVID-19, and 16 patients (61.5%) recovered but ten cases succumbed to COVID-19. There were statistically significant differences in SpO2, total leucocyte count, and differential counts of neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes, and basophils between vaccinated and non-vaccinated patients (P<0.001). The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio was found to be at a higher level (P<0.01) among non-vaccinated patients [10.9(4.28-23.63)]  compared to vaccinated [1.55(1.09-2.28)]. The blood urea, total and direct bilirubin, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and inflammatory markers, like C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, ferritin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were highly elevated in non-vaccinated patients (P<0.001). Moreover, lower values of total protein, serum albumin, and albumin and globulin (A/G) ratio were noted in the non-vaccinated compared to vaccinated individuals (P<0.001).

Vaccinated patients had milder disease with fewer derangements of hematological parameters compared to non-vaccinated patients. It can be concluded that vaccine has played a vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic in reducing mortality.

Boswellia dalzielli Hutch. (Burseraceae) is a medicinal plant, which is used locally by the local dwellers for the management and treatment of microbial-related diseases, neurological conditions, stomach spasms, diabetes, etc. 

This study aimed at isolating a phytochemical of anti-diabetic potentials from the leaf of Boswellia dalzielii in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. 

The n-butanol fraction of the leaf of B. dalzielii was fractionated using column chromatography. Fractions obtained were screened phytochemically and by antidiabetic study. 

Encoded column fraction B4 (150 mg/kg) produced a maximum reduction (72.45%) in fasting blood glucose (FBG) of animals after 7 hours, which was significantly (P<0.05) different from the controls (alloxan-induced diabetic rats) and was better than glibenclamide (52.67%). The re-column fractions obtained from fraction B4 were pooled based on similar Rf values and encoded B41-B48, and subjected to further antidiabetic evaluation on alloxan-induced mice. Eight sub-fraction with doses of 50 mg/kg each were administered to all the groups. Fraction B44 had the highest reduction of FBG by 65.63%, whose effect was significantly higher than the non-treated diabetic mice (negative control) and glibenclamide (52.68%) at 2.0 mg. Further purification of sub-fraction B44 with Sephadex LH-20 yielded encoded fractions A, B, and C. Isolate C showed the highest inhibition of glycemia (22.85%) when the dose of 10 mg/kg was administered (p.o). 

The antidiabetic effect of the plant in laboratory animals (rats and mice) may be due to the presence of the isolated phenolic compounds.

Chlorpheniramine is an H1 receptor inverse agonist, which belongs to the first-generation class. It is generally regarded as a strong antihistamine with a wide variety of indications in allergic and non-allergic diseases. The extensive consumption of chlorpheniramine might culminate in less evident adverse effects, such as genotoxicity.

In this study, we attempted to assess the possible potential of chlorpheniramine in inducing genotoxicity. 

Human lymphocytes were separated into groups as follows: control group (Phosphate Buffered saline), Chlorpheniramine group (0.1, 0.5, 0.75, 1.5 mM), and Positive control group (cisplatin 0.4 µg/mL). After 24 hours of incubation, we conducted an alkaline comet assay to evaluate the DNA damage. Also, oxidative stress damage was evaluated by the levels of lipid peroxidation and glutathione oxidation.

Significant increases were observed in DNA percentage in tail and tail moment at high concentration (1.5mM, P<0.05). Likewise, at the same concentration, the MDA levels increased significantly in addition to the significant depletion in the level of glutathione.

High concentration of chlorpheniramine significantly induced genotoxicity in human lymphocytes. In addition, we showed that oxidative stress was one of the mechanisms elaborated in chlorpheniramine genotoxicity at high concentrations.

Fluoxetine is a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) that exerts its anti-depressive effect by blocking the presynaptic reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Although fluoxetine is usually considered safe for most patients, in the present case report, we describe a young patient with Mixed Anxiety and Depression Disorder (MADD) treated with fluoxetine 10 mg/day, who developed hypotension when the dosage was titrated up to 20 mg/day. After discontinuing the use of fluoxetine, the symptoms of hypotension improved. A temporal association and dose-dependent relationship between the hypotension and the use of fluoxetine was observed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report that precisely associates regular doses of fluoxetine with the presence of hypotension. Because boosting central serotonergic function lowers blood pressure, it is suggested that a significant effect of fluoxetine on the vasomotor center may be responsible for the reduction of blood pressure. Thus, physicians should be aware of the possible risk of hypotension induced by fluoxetine and recommend patients discontinue the drug immediately if complications have occurred.