Background: Prodigiosin (PDG) is a red pigment synthesized by bacterial species with important pharmaceutical and biological activities. Here, we investigated the neuroprotective and anticonvulsant activities of green biosynthesized selenium formulations with PDG (SeNPs-PDG) versus pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced epileptic seizures. Methods: Rats were assigned into six experimental groups: control; PTZ (60 mg/kg, epileptic model); sodium valproate (200 mg/kg) + PTZ; PDG (300 mg/kg) + PTZ; sodium selenite (0.5 mg/kg) + PTZ; and SeNPs-PDG (0.5 mg/kg) + PTZ. The treatment duration is extended to 28 days. Results: SeNPs-PDG pre-treatment delayed seizures onset and reduced duration upon PTZ injection. Additionally, SeNPs-PDG enhanced the antioxidant capacity of hippocampal tissue by activating the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 and innate antioxidants (glutathione and glutathione derivatives, in addition to superoxide dismutase and catalase) and decreasing the levels of pro-oxidants (lipoperoxidation products and nitric oxide). SeNPs-PDG administration inhibited inflammatory reactions associated with epileptic seizure development by suppressing the production and activity of glial fibrillary acidic protein and pro-inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nuclear factor kappa B. Moreover, SeNPs-PDG protected against hippocampal cell loss following PTZ injection by decreasing the levels of cytosolic cytochrome c, Bax, and caspase-3 and enhancing the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. Interestingly, SeNPs-PDG restored the PTZ-induced imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory amino acids and improved monoaminergic and cholinergic transmission. Conclusions: These promising antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and neuromodulatory activities indicate that SeNPs-PDG might serve as a naturally derived anticonvulsant agent.
Background:The study aims to evaluate the impact of the antioxidant rich pomegranate fruit grown in Taif on the histological and immunohistochemical changes in the cerebral and cerebellar cortex after different levels of mobile exposure. Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male rats were divided into group I, II, III; IV, and group V. Group I was control and group II rats were exposed to 900 MHz and in group III the rats are exposed to 1800 MHz for two months. Group IV the rats were exposed to 900 MHz concomitant with pomegranate peel extract (500 mg/kg) and group V rats were exposed to 1800 MHz and pomegranate peel extract (500 mg/kg) orally in aqueous solution once per day for two months. Frontal cortex and cerebellum tissues were dissected out and processed for histopathological and immunohistochemical studies. Results: The cerebral and cerebellar cortexes of mobile-exposed rats exhibited degenerative changes especially in the nerve cells. These changes were more pronounced with increase in the frequency of radiation. Most of pyramidal and Purkinje cells became irregular in shape, had deeply stained nuclei, and were surrounded with peri-cellular haloes and vacuolated neuropil. However, some of them were surrounded with neuroglial accumulation. Conclusion: The study concluded that pomegranate peel extract can ameliorate the histopathological changes induced by mobile phone electromagnetic radiations.
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