Cardiac toxicity can occur during the therapy with several cytotoxic drugs, including 5- Fluorouracil (5- FU). It is an antimetabolite that acts during the S phase of the cell cycle and is activated by thymidine phosphorylase into fluorodeoxyuridylate (5 fluoro 2'deoxyuridine 5'monophosphate, 5-FdUMP) that inhibits thymidylate synthase, thus preventing DNA synthesis that leads to imbalanced cell growth and ultimately cell death. It is still a widely used anticancer drug, since 1957. The present study aimed to evaluate the possible cardio-protective effects of ethanolic artichoke extract (Cynara scolymus L.) against 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) induced cardio-toxicity in rats by evaluating serum levels of Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase enzymes. Methods: Twenty -four female albino rats were randomly divided into 4 groups each group with 6 rats. Group I: (negative control) received oral daily dose of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (2 ml/kg /day) for 10 successive days. Group II: (positive control) received oral daily dose of DMSO (2 ml/kg /day) for 10 successive days and subsequently administered single dose of 5-FU (150 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection on 8th day in association with DMSO. Groups III: received oral daily dose of ethanolic artichoke extract (200 mg/kg/day) for 10 successive days. Groups IV: received oral daily dose of ethanolic artichoke extract (200 mg/kg/day) for 10 successive days with subsequently administered single intraperitoneal dose of 5-FU (150 mg/kg) on 8th day in association with ethanolic extract. Results: Treatment of ethanolic artichoke extract prior 5-FU intoxication significantly attenuate the increase of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatine kinase (CK) enzymes activities caused by 5-FU-induced cardio-toxicity in rats. Conclusions: Results of the present finding suggest that the ethanolic artichoke extract may be an effective modulator in mitigating 5-FU induced cardiac toxicity in rats.
Keywords: Ethanolic artichoke extract, 5-Fluorouracil, Cardio-protection, AST, ALT and CK.
Heuristic approaches are traditionally applied to find the optimal size and optimal location of Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) devices in power systems. Genetic Algorithm (GA) technique has been applied to solve power engineering optimization problems giving better results than classical methods. This paper shows the application of GA for optimal sizing and allocation of a Static Compensator (STATCOM) in a power system. STATCOM devices used to increase transmission systems capacity and enhance voltage stability by regulate the voltages at its terminal by controlling the amount of reactive power injected into or absorbed from the power system. IEEE 5-bus standard system is used as an example to illustrate the te
... Show MoreIn this research, 5- membered heterocyclic compounds as oxazolidine-5-one J1-J5 derivatives were prepared using primary aromatic amine, aromatic carbonyl compounds and chloroacetic acid. By combining primary aromatic amines and aromatic carbonyl compounds, Schiff's bases were synthesized. Schiff bases are used with the chloroacetic acid compound to prepare oxazolidine-5-one J1-J5 derivatives. The compounds J1-J5 were described using NMR spectroscopy and FT-IR. .The biological efficacy was evaluated according to maximum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) toward Staphyloccoccus aureus and Esherichia coli. The best MIC was 210 μg ml-1 for J4 against the two pathogenic bacteria, while J1, J4, and J1 did not show any inhibitory effect against all
... Show MoreThis research includes the synthesis of some new different heterocyclic derivatives of 5-Bromoisatin. New sulfonylamide, diazine, oxazole, thiazole and 1,2,3-triazole derivatives of 5-Bromoisatin have been synthesized. The synthesis process started by the reaction of 5-Bromoisatin with different reagents to obtain schiff bases of 5-Bromoisatin intermediate compounds(1, 8, 19) by using glacial acetic acid as a catalyst in three routes. The first route, 5-Bromoisatin reacted with p-aminosulfonylchloride to product compound(1), then converted to sulfonyl amide derivatives(2-7) by the reaction of compound(1) with different substituted primary aromatic amine in absolute ethanol. The second route includes the reaction of 5-Bromoisatin rea
... Show MoreThe present paper addresses cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris microalgae using airlift photobioreactor that sparged with 5% CO2/air. The experimental data were compared with that obtained from bioreactor aerated with air and unsparged bioreactor. The results showed that the concentration of biomass is 0.36 g l-1 in sparged bioreactor with CO2/air, while, the concentration of biomass reached to 0.069 g l-1 in the unsparged bioreactor. They showed also that aerated bioreactor with CO2/air gives more biomass production even the bioreactor was aerated with air. This study proved that application of sparging system for cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris microalgae using either CO2/air mixture or air has a significant growth rate, since the biorea
... Show MoreMetal complexes of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Hg(II), Pd(II), and Pt(II) with Schiff base ligand (LH) derived from 2,5-dichloroaniline and 2-hydroxy-5-metheylbenzalaldehyde were synthesized and characterized using a variety of spectrophotometric techniques The findings of the spectroscopic analysis indicated that (LH) behaved as a binary coordinating agent to the metal ion by the N and O atoms, and the geometry shape of the complexes was octahedral, with the exception of the Pd and Pt complexes, which had a square planar geometry. Using the DPPH radical scavenging method, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of the compound against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, as well as the antifungal activity of t
... Show MoreCeramics type Yttrium oxide with Silicon carbide. were selected to investigate its sintered density, microstructure and electrical properties, after adding V2O5, of 100 nm grain size. Different weight percentages ranging from (0.01,0.02,0.03 and 0.04) were used. Dry milling applied for twelve hours. The pelletized samples were sintered at atmospheric of static air and at sintering temperature 1400 ˚C, for three hours. The crustal structure test shoes the phase which is yttrium silicon carbide Scanning electron microscopy, scan sintered microstructure. Samples after sintering were electrically investigated by measuring its capacitance, dielectric constant and their results showed increasing after added V2O5 particles at the combinat
... Show MoreThe aim of this study is to compare the effects of three methods: problem-based learning (PBL), PBL with lecture method, and conventional teaching on self-directed learning skills among physics undergraduates. The actual sample size comprises of 122 students, who were selected randomly from the Physics Department, College of Education in Iraq. In this study, the pre- and post-test were done and the instruments were administered to the students for data collection. The data was analyzed and statistical results rejected null hypothesis of this study. This study revealed that there are no signifigant differences between PBL and PBL with lecture method, thus the PBL without or with lecture method enhances the self-directed learning skills bette
... Show MoreSince more than a decade, human rights dialogue in the European Mediterranean Region has been marked by a number of tensions. Although a number of factors contribute to such disputes, the effect of human rights conditionality, which ties EU economic cooperation progression with partner countries human rights advancement, on the dialogue has not been studied. Understanding the aspects, impacts, and effects of conditionality on Euro-Med relations is crucial for furthering dialogue. Yet this variable has been almost entirely neglected in academic and policy research. The research concludes several direct and indirect impacts of conditionality on human rights dialogue using a mixed methodology approach. Direct effects are reflected in the wi
... Show MoreJurisprudential disagreements are a significant source of a vast jurisprudential wealth. Among the manifestations of these disagreements are scholarly critiques raised by some scholars against others, claiming their divergence from the legal evidence or established principles for deducing legal rulings. One such critique is presented by the narrator scholar Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Shaybah, may Allah have mercy on him, directed towards Abu Hanifah al-Nu‘man, may Allah have mercy on him. In his compilation, Ibn Abi Shaybah cited numerous hadiths and traditions that he considered conflicting with the judgments as perceived by Imam Abu Hanifah, may Allah have mercy on him. These issues cover various branches of jurisprudence, including worship, sale
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