Cataract, which is the opacity inside clear ocular lens of eye, result in the scattering of visible light as it passes via the lens and consequently deterioration in optical image. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether safranal, an active constituent of Crocus sativus L. stigmas, has a protective effect on the cataract in the rat's pups. The animals were randomly divided into five groups, each of which consisted of 7 rat pups. Group I served as normal control (vehicle administration). For testing cataract induction, animals of Groups II, III, and IV were administered a single subcutaneous injection of sodium selenite on postpartum day 12. After sodium selenite intoxication, Group II served as control selenite, Groups III-IV received intraperitoneal safranal at doses of 200, and 300 mg/kg, respectively from the 11th day through the 17th day, while group V receive only safranal (300 mg/kg). On postpartum day 30, the rat pups were examined for cataract formation, and the lenses were isolated for further analysis. This study found that selenite caused significant (p < 0.05) cataract formation. Through the effects of selenite on the level of lipid peroxidation (MDA) which was upregulated. Furthermore, the antioxidant enzymes levels GSH levels and NRF2 protein were downregulated. In contrast, treatment with safranal could significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorate cataract formation and oxidative damage in the lens. Moreover, safranl administration significantly increased the protein expressions of Nrf2 and the GSH level, in addition to reducing the level both the MDA and the level soluble proteins in the lens. Taken together, safranal is a prospective anti-cataract agent that probably delays the onset and progression of cataracts induced by sodium selenite.
The acute and sub chronic toxicity effects of 25.16 nm intraperitoneally- injected zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were evaluated. Albino male mice were exposed to three different doses (25, 50 ,and 100 mg/kg ), depending on the value of calculated LD50, for 2 and 4 weeks . Considerable changes in organ indexes were shown with a good relevance to the illustrated histopathological effects which ranged from multiple hemorrhagic foci in liver, mild swelling and dilatation in kidney tubules, thickening of intestinal villi, moderate interstitial pneumonia, especially with the high dose , and sever necrosis of seminiferous tubules in testes of all studied groups. Significant changes in both hematological and biochemical parameters as well a
... Show MoreA laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the effect of crud extracts from seven plant species (Nigella sativa, Eugenia caryophylota, Corianderum sativum, Piper nigrum, Peganum hermala, Achillea santolina, Citrullus colocynthis) belong to different families tested as food feeding toxicity against adult of Oryzaephilus surinamensis. The results of the current study showed that hexane extracts from all plants used were more influential in all used concentrations than, the alcoholic extract, and hexane extract of Hanzal was more effective reaching survival rate of adult to 58.3% at concentration of 10% then the plant yarrow and black pepper about 66.2%, and 67.3% respectively, at the same concentration. While the survival rate was approx
... Show MoreThe present work is qualitative descriptive. It aims to examine the idiosyncratic schema when deciphering the selected violence-based panel from Nasser Ibrahim’s caricatures. The researchers accordingly adopted part of Sharifian’s (2011) Cultural Schema model, particularly that part that is concerned with the examining the micro/idiosyncratic level of understanding. The study has revealed that the participants have not only differed among themselves regarding the way a figure is being denotatively conceptualized, they also highlighted different exact conceptualizations for the same figure, such as: using various adjectives that reflect various levels of intensity, emphasizing the behavioral aspect or the appearance of the figure, ado
... Show MoreHypercholesterolemia is a predominant risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The World Health Organization (WHO), ) recommended reducing the intake of cholesterol and saturated fats. On the other hand, limited evidence is available on the benefits of vegetables in the diet to reduce these risk factors, so this research was conducted to compare the hypolipidemic effect between the extracts of two different types of Iraqi peppers, the fruit of the genus Capsicum traditionally known as red pepper extract (RPE), and Piper nigrum as black pepper extract (BPE), respectively, in different parameters and histology of the liver of the experimental animals. The red pepper was extracted by ethyl acetate, while the black pepp
... Show MoreA widespread variety of toxicants modify miRNAs profiles in target tissues. Five rat treatment groups were selected for this study, each consisting of five animals and an additional one left untreated used as a control. Administration of the carcinogen 4-Nitroquinoline (4-NQO) lasted for 5 months with four weeks intervals separating the successive groups. When the carcinogen intake period ended, the animals were euthanized and renal tissue was collected for both histopathological and molecular investigations. The results showed no significant difference (p=0.65) between the animal groups that showed kidney tissue toxicity and those that did not. Conversely, a statistically significant difference emerged if the m
... Show MoreBackground and Objectives: Wound healing is a complex process with overlapping phases haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and maturation/matrix remodeling. Each phase of wound healing requires different management strategies, and inappropriate treatment can delay wound healing. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of topical application of calmodulin as a significant augmentation of the granulation tissue production process of wound healing and to express of genes CaMKK2, MaP2K6 and CXCR4 at site of wound defect, that have versatile effects on the body and they belong to Ca/camodulin related genes. Material and Methods: In this study thirty albino male rats, weighting (300-400) gram, aged (6-8) months, wil
... Show MoreThe metformin drug is anti-hyperglycemia and known to cross the placenta which leads to the fetus during pregnancy .The aim of this study is to define the drug effects in the fetus growth . The doses used , therapeutic dose ( 0.18 & 0.53 ) mg\25g body weight and over dose ( 1.8 & 2.85) mg\ 25g body weight , administrated orally at the beginning organogenesis stage at ( 6 -18 ) day of pregnancy in the morning . A total ( 50 ) animal were divided into five groups .The first group control not treated , 2nd group treated with (0.18) mg , 3rd group with ( 0.53 ) mg , 4th group with ( 1.8 ) mg and 5th group
... Show MoreTh r:ats for the photo induced eleytr-on tra;nsfer reactions in the
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