In the present study, the protective effects of chrysin (CHR) against testicular damage caused by lead acetate (PbAc) were examined. In this way, 30 min after rats were given 25 and 50 mg/kg/b.w CHR orally for seven consecutive days, 30 mg/kg/b.w PbAc was administered orally. In biochemical analysis of testicular tissue, it was found that PbAc-reduced antioxidant parameters [glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT)], while it increased lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers [nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)], and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). In the immunohistochemical examination, it was determined that PbAc increased the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and caspase-3. Accordingly, PbAc was found to cause a decrease in sperm motility and an increase in the percentage of dead sperm. However, it has been observed that CHR relieves oxidative stress due to its antioxidant properties, thus protecting against inflammation and apoptosis. It also allowed the CHR sperm parameters to return to control group levels. The results revealed that CHR could be a natural substance to be used in Pb-induced testicular toxicity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Lead (Pb) is an important environmental contaminant heavy metal. Pb is believed to reduce fertility in men. Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the damage caused by Pb to testicular tissue. CHR is an antioxidant substance that occurs naturally in various plants and has various pharmacological properties. In the present study, it was investigated whether CHR has a protective effect against testicular toxicity induced by PbAc. The results revealed that in rats, CHR protects the testicular tissue from PbAc toxicity by showing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects, thus bringing sperm parameters closer to normal.

Chrysin protects against testicular toxicity caused by lead acetate in rats with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties

Viral infections are among the most complex medical problems and have been a major threat to the economy and global health. Several epidemics and pandemics have occurred due to viruses, which has led to a significant increase in mortality and morbidity rates. Natural products have always been an inspiration and source for new drug development because of their various uses. Among all-natural sources, plant sources are the most dominant for the discovery of new therapeutic agents due to their chemical and structural diversity. Despite the traditional use and potential source for drug development, natural products have gained little attention from large pharmaceutical industries. Several plant extracts and isolated compounds have been extensively studied and explored for antiviral properties against different strains of viruses. In this review, we have compiled antiviral plant extracts and natural products isolated from plants reported since 2015.

Plant-Based Natural Products and Extracts: Potential Source to Develop New Antiviral Drug Candidates.

Antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic action of ellagic acid against lead acetate induced testicular and hepato-renal oxidative damages and pathophysiological changes in male Long Evans rats.

In this study, we investigate the potential protective effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. extract (MOE) against lead-induced neurotoxicity. Wistar rats were allocated equally into (a) a control group, (b) a lead acetate (PbAc) group intraperitoneally injected with 20 mg/kg PbAc, (c) a MOE group orally gavaged with MOE (250 mg/kg), and (d) a MOE + PbAc group orally gavaged with MOE 3 hr before receiving intraperitoneal injections of PbAc. All rats were treated for 14 days. Our results revealed that PbAc-induced brain injury, accompanied by increased levels of oxidative stress markers. Moreover, Pb enhanced the inflammatory response and triggered neuronal apoptosis, as well as significantly depleted glutathione content and inhibited antioxidant enzyme activity. Interestingly, concurrent treatment with MOE ameliorated oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in the brain cortex. The current study provides evidence that MOE has the potential to protect neuronal tissues in PbAc-exposed rats via attenuation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This study reports the potential neuroprotective effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. (MOE) against lead-induced cortical brain toxicity. Our data reveal that PbAc-induced oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis in cortical tissues. However, simultaneous treatment of rats with MOE abrogated cortical brain inflammatory biomarkers, mitigated cortical tissue damage, and restrained oxidative stress, programmed cell death, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) translocation. In addition, MOE stimulated detoxifying enzymes in PbAc-treated rats. These findings provide evidence that simultaneous treatment with MOE has the potential to attenuate PbAc-induced brain damage in rats by restraining oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis via attenuation of NF-κB signaling.

Moringa oleifera Lam. extract rescues lead-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in the rat cerebral cortex.

In this present study, Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oil, and its major component 1,8-cineole was evaluated in vitro for angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), as well as for 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) enzyme inhibitory activity. The essential oil composition was confirmed both by GC-FID and GC/MS, where 1,8-cineole (62.7%), α-pinene (12.6 %), and camphor (8.3 %) were identified as the main constituents. Activity studies were performed at concentrations of 20 μg/mL for essential oil, and 5 μg/mL for the major compound 1,8-cineole, which were compared experimentally with standards. The essential oil was evaluated using a fluorometric multiplate based enzyme inhibition kit, where the ACE2 inhibition of Rosmarinus aetheroleum was 20%, while the 5-LOX inhibition was observed as 81.1%, respectively. In addition, the major constituent 1,8-cineole also showed remarkable ACE2 inhibition with 89.2%, and 5-LOX inhibition with 37.2%, respectively. As a result, the cineole chemotype rosemary essential oil, and its major constituent 1,8-cineol may have antiviral potential applications against coronaviruses due to ACE2 enzyme inhibition with anti-inflammatory effects. Further in vivo studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of essential oils and their constituents.

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In vitro ACE2 and 5-LOX inhibition of rosmarinus officinalis l. essential oil and its major component 1,8-cineole

Exposure to lead (Pb) causes multiorgan dysfunction including reproductive impairments. Here, we examined the protective effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) administration on testicular injury induced by lead acetate (PbAc) exposure in rats. This study employed four experimental groups ( ) that underwent seven days of treatment as follows: control group intraperitoneally (i.p.) treated with 0.1 ml of 0.9% NaCl containing 1% Tween 80 ( ), CoQ10 group that was i.p. injected with 10 mg/kg CoQ10, PbAc group that was i.p. treated with PbAc (20 mg/kg), and PbAc+CoQ10 group that was i.p. injected with CoQ10 2 h after PbAc. PbAc injection resulted in increasing residual Pb levels in the testis and reducing testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone levels. Additionally, PbAc exposure resulted in significant oxidative damage to the tissues on the testes. PbAc raised the levels of prooxidants (malondialdehyde and nitric oxide) and reduced the amount of endogenous antioxidative proteins (glutathione and its derivative enzymes, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) available in the cell. Moreover, PbAc induced the inflammatory response as evidenced by the upregulation of inflammatory mediators (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta). Further, PbAc treatment induced apoptosis in the testicular cells, as indicated by an increase in Bax and caspase 3 expression, and reduced Bcl2 expression. CoQ10 supplementation improved testicular function by inhibiting Pb accumulation, oxidative stress, inflammation, cell death, and histopathological changes following PbAc exposure. Our findings suggest that CoQ10 can act as a natural therapeutic agent to protect against the reproductive impairments associated with PbAc exposure.

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Impact of Coenzyme Q10 Administration on Lead Acetate-Induced Testicular Damage in Rats

Herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) belong to the herpesviridae family and cause neurological disorders by infecting the nervous system. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary) extract against HSV-1 and HSV-2 in vitro. The antioxidant activity of this extract was investigated by superoxide anion and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical assays. Rosemary extract was evaluated by an HSV-1 antiviral assay, in which viral replication in Vero cells was determined and quantified using a cytopathic effect assay. The present study showed that rosemary extract at 30 µg/ml caused 55% inhibition of HSV-1 plaques, whereas 40 µg/ml rosemary extract caused 65% inhibition of HSV-2 plaques. The extracts completely inhibited HSV-1 and HSV-2 plaque formation at 50 µg/ml. Scavenging activity of the superoxide anion radical was observed at 65.74 mg/ml, whereas 50% scavenging activity of the DPPH radical was observed at 67.34 mg/ml. These data suggest that rosemary extract may be suitable as a topical prophylactic or therapeutic agent for herpes viral infections. However, further research is required to elucidate the plant's active constituents, which may be useful in drug development.

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Norah A. AlSadhan

Papers

Impact of Coenzyme Q10 Administration on Lead Acetate-Induced Testicular Damage in Rats

Potential antiviral agents of Rosmarinus officinalis extract against herpes viruses 1 and 2