Mancozeb (Mz) is one of the most widely used pesticides that has been reported to cause adverse human health risks. White Nelumbo nucifera (N. nucifera) petals have therapeutic properties to prevent toxicity. Hence, this study attempted to determine the effects of N. nucifera extract on hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in mancozeb-treated rats. Seventy-two male rats were divided into nine groups and designed with a control; N. nucifera extract was administered at the doses of 0.55, 1.1, and 2.2 mg/kg bw/day, Mz was administered at 500 mg/kg bw/day, and the co-treatment groups (N. nucifera and Mz) were administered 0.55, 1.1, and 2.2 mg/kg bw/day of N. nucifera followed by administering Mz 500 mg/kg bw/day daily for 30 days. The results showed that all doses of N. nucifera extract did not induce hepatic toxicity and could suppress the toxicity of mancozeb by increasing body weight gain and decreasing relative liver weight, lobular inflammation, and total injury score. The combination treatment also decreased the molecular markers of oxidative stress (2-hydroxybutyric acid, 4-hydroxynonenal, l-tyrosine, pentosidine, and N6-carboxymethyllysine). Furthermore, the reduced glutathione and oxidized glutathione contents were adjusted close to the normal level. Therefore, N. nucifera extract is a natural antioxidant supplement that could decrease the toxicity of mancozeb and can be safely consumed.

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (N. nucifera) tea is used as food and folk medicine to reduce toxicity in Southeast Asia. Mancozeb (Mz) is used for controlling fungi in agriculture and contains heavy metals. This study aimed to examine the effect of white N. nucifera petal tea on cognitive behavior, hippocampus histology, oxidative stress, and amino acid metabolism in rats poisoned with mancozeb. Seventy-two male Wistar rats were divided into nine groups (n = 8 in each). Y-maze spontaneous alternation test was used to assess cognitive behavior, and amino acid metabolism was investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-NMR) from blood. There was a significant increase in relative brain weight in the Mz co-administered with the highest dose (2.20 mg/kg bw) of white N. nucifera group. The levels of tryptophan, kynurenine, picolinic acid, and serotonin in blood showed a significant decrease in the Mz group and a significant increase in the Mz co-administered with low dose (0.55 mg/kg bw) of white N. nucifera group. However, there was no significant difference in cognitive behavior, hippocampus histology, oxidative stress, and corticosterone. This study demonstrated that a low dose of white N. nucifera petal tea has a neuroprotective effect against mancozeb.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease that results in memory impairment. Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa (AM) is used as a traditional medicine. AM leaves have the potential to inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity. This study used scopolamine to induce AD in rats. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of AM leaf extract using this model. Motor and memory functions were tested by the motor activity and Morris water maze (MWM) tests, respectively. The density of the synaptophysin and dendritic spines in the CA1 were detected by immunofluorescence and Golgi impregnation, respectively. The hippocampal histology was reviewed by H&E staining. After the treatment, the latency times in the MWM tests of the AD groups reduced, while the motor activities showed no difference. The density of the synaptophysin of the AD groups increased after the treatments, and that of the dendritic spines also increased in all AD groups post-treatment. The hippocampal tissue also recovered. AM leaf extract can improve cognitive impairment in AD models by maintaining the presynaptic vesicle proteins and dendritic spines in a dose-dependent manner.

Paederia foetida Linn. (P. foetida) is a wild vegetable native to both temperate and tropical regions of Asia, including Thailand. Traditionally, its leaves are believed to offer various health benefits, including promoting longevity and enhancing sexual performance. The purpose of the present study is to examine the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant efficacy and determine the influence on bovine sperm quality of aqueous leaf extracts. The powder of leaves was extracted with distilled water at 80 °C and analyzed for phytochemicals using HPLC for antioxidant properties and effects on sperm. Sperm samples were divided into five groups and treated with extract concentrations of 0.1375, 0.275, 0.55, 1.10, and 2.20 mg/mL and compared with a control (Krebs solution). The extract contained phenolic compounds and flavonoids. It exhibited potent scavenging efficacy against DPPH and ABTS radicals and inhibited LPO but showed low reduction of Fe (III) to Fe (II) and low inhibition of AOPP formation. No significant changes in sperm quality were observed with 0.1375, 0.275, 0.55, and 1.10 mg/mL, while 2.20 mg/mL caused a significant increase in abnormal sperm. In conclusion, P. foetida leaf extract has antioxidant potential and at concentrations up to 1.10 mg/mL is not detrimental to sperm quality.

Background: Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is associated with altered neuromuscular control of the lumbopelvic–hip complex (LPHC). However, the functional behavior of the transversus abdominis (TrA) and gluteus medius (GM) during upright postural tasks, with and without the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM), remains unclear. This study aimed to compare TrA and GM activation between individuals with NSLBP and asymptomatic controls during standing and single-leg stance using rehabilitation ultrasound imaging (RUSI). Methods: Thirty-two participants (16 with NSLBP and 16 asymptomatic controls) underwent RUSI assessment under four task conditions: standing and single-leg stance, with and without ADIM. Muscle function was quantified using thickness change derived from ultrasound measurements. A two-way mixed-model analysis of variance with Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc comparisons was performed. Results: Significant group × condition interactions were identified for TrA activation (p < 0.05). Individuals with NSLBP demonstrated reduced TrA activation during standing with ADIM and reduced GM activation during single-leg stance compared with asymptomatic controls. The effect sizes were moderate to large for TrA activation and small to moderate for GM activation. Conclusions: These findings suggest task-specific differences in neuromuscular activation patterns in individuals with NSLBP. Ultrasound-derived thickness change measures obtained during functional, weight-bearing tasks may provide clinically relevant information to support motor control rehabilitation strategies.

Stroke is a leading cause of death in Thailand. However, there are varying numbers of regional stroke patients. This study aims to report the ranking of stroke as the cause of death in Northern Thai cadavers and to investigate the brains of stroke victim cadavers. A retrograde study was used to obtain data about cadavers and gross examinations were performed on the brains of the stroke victim cadavers housed in the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University in the years 2019-2020. The results showed that death from stroke among the cadavers in the Northern Thailand increased during 2016-2018. Stroke was ranked as the fourth and fifth leading cause of death. The stroke victims were primarily aged over 60 years. The incidence of stroke in males was significantly higher than that of females. Approximately 92.7% of total stroke brains were the intracerebral hemorrhagic type stroke. About 41.7% of the intracerebral hemorrhagic brains had occurred with intraventricular hemorrhage and 16.7% of those occurred with subarachnoid hemorrhage. The hemorrhagic sizes varied from 5.66 to 260.43 ml. The territories of the cortical branches of the middle cerebral artery were the most common hemorrhages, making up 22.9% of total vascular territories. In conclusion, stroke was the fourth and fifth leading cause of death in the self-donated population in the Northern Thailand. Intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke was the main cause the death. Additionally, the vascular territories of the stroke might be related to the likelihood of death. Keywords: Stroke, Cerebrovascular disease, Cadavers, Intracerebral hemorrhage, Northern Thailand Funding: This study was funded by the Faculty of Medicine Research Fund, grant no. 046/2563, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Citation: Thaweekhotr, P., Thongsopha, C., Tanprawate, S., Sudwan, P., Bumroongkit, K., Seeharach, K., Jaiyen, C., and Quiggins, R. 2022. Incidence of death from stroke and brains of stroke victim cadavers in Northern Thailand. CMU J. Nat. Sci. 21(2): e2022028.