ABSTRACT

The present study investigated the protective role of chitosannano-carriers loaded with the ethyl acetate extract of a Stenotrophomonas sp. bacteria associated with the Red Sea Sponge Amphimedon ochracea CCl 4 induced hepatic damage in rats using the hepatological parameters. Healthy 80 male SpragueDawley rats weighed 50 -80 gm were used. The animals were randomly divided into eight groups. Serum ALT and AST, albumin, direct buluibin and histopathological examinations were investigated. Liver targeting of the drugs has been achieved after administration of drug loaded spherical particles. This mode of administration of drugs enhanced its overall delivery to the liver via passive targeting. The present study revealed that the treatment with ethyl acetate bacterial extract (10 mg/Kg body weight) protected rats from hepatotoxic action of CCl 4 . Usage of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with the bacterial extract as a drug delivery system has greatly improved the curative effect of bacterial extract. Moreover, histopathological studies showed marked reduction in fatty degeneration and centrizonal necrosis in animals receiving the nano-chitosan loaded with the bacterial extract along with ethanol compared to the control group.

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The aim of the present study is to evaluate the transition metals overload in Abu-Qir Bay in Egypt, as compared to a less polluted area (reference area) through some biomarkers of oxidative stress. Catalase enzyme activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and DNA damage (number of apurinic/apyrimidinic sites) were the tested biomarkers. The levels of iron and copper in Mugil cephalus liver tissues were significantly higher in samples from the polluted area as compared to the reference area: Fe: 407 ± 38 vs. 216 ± 21 lg/g wet wt; p = 0.008, Cu: 54 ± 6 vs. 17.7 ± 4 lg/g wet wt; p = 0.0001. This could account for the observed increase in MDA concentration (15.7 ± 5.7 vs. 2.5 ± 0.5 U/g; p = 0.035), and the elevated number of AP sites (13.9 ± 2.6 vs. 0.37 ± 0.2 AP site/1 · 10 5 bp; p = 0.0001). Similarly, the activity of catalase enzyme responsible for the cellular defense was significantly high (58.3 ± 12.2 vs. 28.4 ± 4.0 U/mg; p = 0.032). The present data indicated a clear relationship between the pollution degree of the above marine environment and both biochemical and molecular responses of the piscine system.

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