No abstract

Grape seed extracts (GSE) are very potent antioxidant and exhibit numerous interesting pharmacologic activities, including an antioxidant property, and has been suggested to be of use in treatment of several diseases. The present study has been undertaken to investigate the protective and therapeutic effect of GSE against lead-induced neuro and hepatotoxicity in rat. Male albino rats were divided into six groups: the 1st group, rats were injected daily with saline vehicle and served as negative control, the 2nd group (positive control group), the rats were injected (i.p.) with subacute dose (100 mg/kg b·w/day) of lead acetate (LA). The 3rd group (protective group), the rats were injected (i.p.) with LA (100 mg/kg b·w/day) for 7 days after treatment with GSE (100 mg/kg b·w/day) for 3 weeks. The 4th, 5th and 6th groups (therapeutics groups), rats were injected (i.p.) with subacut dose (100 mg/kg b·w/day) of lead acetate for 7 days, then treated with GSE (100 mg/kg b·w/day) for one, two and three weeks, respectively. The level of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindol acetic acid (5-HIAA) were evaluated in brain regions (cerebellum, brainstem, striatum, cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and hippocampus). The result indicated that the administration of subacute dose of LA (100 mg/kg/day, i.p.) induce a significant decrease in NE, DA, 5-HT and 5-HIAA content in all tested brain regions. Also the obtained data showed significant increase in liver enzymes: serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level in group 2 (positive control). There is an improvement in neurotransmitters content. Also the obtained data showed significant in- crease in liver enzymes of protective (G3) and therapeutics groups (G4, G5 and G6) which received GSE compared with animal group that received lead acetate (G2). This is may be the presence of proanthocyanidins and procyanidins which have antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities. The result suggests that grape seed extract may prevent lead-induced neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity

In this study, anti-convulsant effect of Sidr leaf extract was examined by using pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) model on male albino rat by evaluating the changes in norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) contents in different brain regions (cerebellum, brainstem, striatum, cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and hippocampus). The administration of subconvulsive dose of PTZ (40 mg/kg i.p.) every other day for 9 days caused a significant decrease in monoamine content in different brain areas, this is may be due to the increase in nitric oxide levels, although antagonized the GABAA receptors which led to neurotransmitter release so the content is decreased. Administration of PTZ after treatment with Sidr (50 mg/kg i.p.) leaf extract for 3 weeks as a protective group and administration of Sidr leaf extract for 3 weeks after treatment of PTZ as a therapeutic group caused significant increase in NE, DA, and 5-HT contents in all tested brain regions at most of the time intervals studied. This may be due to the presence of peptide and cyclopeptide alkaloids in the extract which inhibit neurotransmitter activity which led to the inhibition of neurotransmitter release. From these results, we can say that the Sidr leaf extract has neuroprotective and therapeutic roles against pentylenetetrazol convulsant effect.

Two experiments were conducted to compare the effects of feeding blends of wheat grains naturally contaminated with deoxynivalenol (DON) and maize products contaminated with Fusarium (FUM) mycotoxins on brain regional concentration of brain dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT) in hippocampus, mid brain, cortex, striatum, pons and medulla and cerebellum of male albino mice. Daily feeding of wheat or maize grains contaminated with deoxynivalenol in a dose level (803 µg/kg) or fumonisin in a dose level (1330 ppb) for six weeks caused highly significant increase in dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT) contents, in most of the studied mice brain areas. When all the studied brain areas were compared, it can be concluded that hypothalamusdopamine concentration was more sensitive towards the studied toxicants. On the other hand, except for norepinephrine in pons and medulla oblongata, there was a significant increase in epinipherine and serotonin levels at all the studied brain areas. Maximal concentration, however, was attained in the cortex for both neurotransmitters. Additionally, rearing behavior was found to increase following feed intake of the test feed and deoxynivalenol was found to modulate more behavioral disturbances as compared with fuminisin. The data recorded also showed a highly significant increase in the aggressive and locomotor behavior of the intoxicated albino mice.