In the present study, we aimed to delineate the neuroprotective potential of thymol (THY) against neurotoxicity and cognitive deterioration induced by thioacetamide (TAA) in an experimental model of hepatic encephalopathy...

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This study aimed to evaluate the hypotensive activity of Artemisia herba alba aqueous extract (AHAE) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). AHAE was lyophilized and administered daily at a dose of 150 mg/kg for 20 days. AHAE administration produced a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure after 8 days of oral administration (P < 0.01), and a sustained reduction was observed at the end of treatment (P < 0.01). Heart rate remained unchanged during the 20 days of oral AHAE administration. In addition, AHAE administration produced a significant increase in urinary output (P < 0.01) and glomerular filtration rate (P < 0.01) on day 8 of treatment. Urinary electrolyte excretion was also modified during the 20 days of AHAE administration, and a significant increase in urinary sodium and potassium excretion was observed from day 4 (P < 0.01) to day 20 (P < 0.001). However, urinary chloride excretion was increased from day 8 (P < 0.01) to the end of treatment (P < 0.001). The hypotensive effect appeared to be independent of the renin-angiotensin system since AHAE did not affect plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme or renin activities (P > 0.05) after 20 days of oral administration. We conclude that AHAE possesses antihypertensive activity in SHR and that the underlying mechanism appears to involve, at least in part, an increase in urine and electrolyte output.

<p>The present study was conducted to compare the effect of Nano-Selenium (Nano-Se) and sodium selenite (SSe) on antioxidant enzyme activity, immunity and thyroid activity of growing New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. In this study, 72 male rabbits (5 wk old) were divided randomly into 3 groups (24 rabbits each). The first group served as a placebo; in groups 2 and 3, each rabbit was intramuscularly injected once a week with 4 mL solution of Nano-Se or SSe, respectively, for a 2-mo period. The solution was adjusted to provide 30 μg Se/kg/live body weight. Results showed that Nano-Se treatment significantly (<em>P</em>&lt;0.0001) increased in superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione (GSH) more than control, but decreased significantly each of glutathione disulphide (GSSG) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in serum. Likewise, supplementation of SSe increased (<em>P</em>&lt;0.0001) GPx activity and significantly decreased both malondialdehyde (MDA) and GSSG levels more than control. Nano-Se significantly enhanced serum IgG and IgM more than SSe and control groups. Serum aspartate aminotransferase increased (<em>P</em>&lt;0.0001) due to Nano-Se treatment as compared to control and SSe, although the lowest (<em>P</em>&lt;0.0001) activity of alanine aminotransferase was recorded due to SSe supplementation. Nano-Se treatment increased (<em>P</em>&lt;0.0001) both T3 and T4 concentrations more than other groups. Furthermore, administration of Nano-Se increased SOD, GPx, GSH, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in liver tissue of growing rabbits, while it decreased MDA and 8-hydroxy-2’deoxyguanosine (8-oHdG) levels in liver tissue compared with control. Also, SSe showed an increase (<em>P</em>&lt;0.0001) in GSH, and ATP, but significantly decreased TAC and MDA levels compared with control. It can be concluded that Nano-Se supplementation significantly enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes in both serum and liver tissues, with a greater positive influence on immunoglobulin production and thyroid activity in growing NZW rabbits than SSe.</p>

The potential toxicity and biocompatibility of sodium yttrium fluoride, erbium and ytterbium doped (NaYF4: Er 3+ , Yb 3+ ) upconversion nanoparticles are of great importance for their biomedical applications. In this work, the acute toxicity of sodium yttrium fluoride, erbium and ytterbium doped (NaYF4: Er 3+ , Yb 3+ ) upconversion nanomaterials toxicity was evaluated. Rats received intravenous injection of 10 mg/kg of NaYF4: Er 3+ , Yb 3+ doped upconversion nanoparticles once dose and were observed at two different times (24 hours and 14 days post injection) for acute toxicity compared with control group. The results of hematological, blood biochemical analyses indicated that NaYF4: Er 3+ , Yb 3+ doped upconversion nanoparticles treated rats survived for 14 days without any evident of toxic effects. Histopathological analysis of major organs including liver had no obvious signs of abnormality after intravenous injection of rats by NaYF4: Er 3+ , Yb 3+ doped upconversion nanoparticles.