Hypericum genus is traditionally known for its medicinal use and its therapeutic and antioxidant effects. However, the toxic effect of this plant has not been much explored. Our study aimed at investigating the effect of Hypericum humifusum (Hh) leaf extracts on oxidative stress parameters in male rats. For it, we first focused on the phytochemical analysis of the aqueous and methanolic extracts of Hh leaves. Hence, Wistar rats were treated per gavage for 30 days and divided into Control (1 mL/rat, distilled water), A200 group (200 mg/kg body weight (bw) aqueous extract), A400 group (400 mg/kg bw aqueous extract), M10 group (10 mg/kg bw methanolic extract), M20 group (20 mg/kg bw methanolic extract). The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, steroids, carbohydrates, and phenolic compounds. Biochemical and histological investigations were performed in plasma and liver tissue. Liver tissue homogenates were used for the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. At the same time, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were assayed in plasma samples. Histological study was also conducted in liver. We showed that Hh extracts reduced relative liver weight and increased ALT, AST, LDH activities in treated groups compared to control group. These results were associated with an increase of MDA levels and a decrease of antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT and SOD) in liver tissues of treated rats. Histology of liver demonstrated several alterations showing necrosis, altered hepatocytes and lymphocyte migration mainly in A200 group and dilated sinusoids, foamy appearance of hepatocytes and lymphocyte accumulation in the other treated groups. This original work indicated that chronic consumption of Hh leaf extracts has no antioxidant effect but instead it induces oxidative stress and enhances markers of cell damage which was confirmed by histological study of liver rats.

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the pulmonary damage resulting from isolated or combined exposure to inhaled toluene (300 ppm) and noise 85 dB (A), with a focus on evaluating the potential protective effects of Olea europaea L. leaf extract (OLE). Forty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups: control (C), OLE treatment (O), noise exposure (N), noise exposure with OLE treatment (N+OLE), toluene exposure (T), toluene exposure with OLE treatment (T + OLE), co-exposure to toluene and noise (NT), and co-exposure with OLE treatment (NT + OLE). OLE (40 mg/kg/day) was administered daily for six weeks via oral gavage. Exposure to toluene and noise resulted in significant disruption of the pulmonary tissue structure, accompanied by oxidative stress, as evidenced by increased lipid peroxidation, diminished catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, and elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines IL6, IL-β, and TNF-α. Notably, the administration of OLE effectively mitigated oxidative stress and inflammation and preserved pulmonary histology. In conclusion, exposure to toluene and its combination with noise significantly elevated oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and histological disruptions in the lung tissue. In contrast, noise exposure alone is characterized by minimal effects, although it is still associated with an inflammatory response. Notably, Olea europaea L. leaf extract (OLE) exhibits a substantial protective role, effectively mitigating the adverse effects of combined exposure and highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent for lung health.

The prevalence of chronic diseases, including obesity and related endocrine disorders, has risen significantly in recent decades. As a result, there has been growing interest in fermented foods with probiotic properties, such as kefir, which have potential health benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of kefir milk (KM) in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity rat model, complemented by in silico molecular docking studies with antioxidant enzymes. Twenty-four adult rats were divided into four groups: control (1 mL/100 g bw semi-skimmed cow milk), KM (1 mL/100 g bw kefir milk), HFD (1 mL/100 g bw semi-skimmed cow milk + high-fat diet), and KM/HFD (1 mL/100 g bw kefir milk + high-fat diet). After 60 days of treatment, biochemical assays and histological examinations were performed to assess the effects on lipid profiles and organ health. Kefir milk demonstrated significant antioxidant activity, with increased total phenolic content and enhanced DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP radical scavenging activities compared to commercial milk. Furthermore, KM administration protected against liver metabolic disruptions (ALT, AST, and LDH) induced by the high-fat diet and reduced lipid peroxidation in liver and testis tissues. KM supplementation also increased the activity of key antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Additionally, KM improved the fatty acid composition and decreased the de novo lipogenesis (DNL) index, as well as enzyme activities (SCD and Elovl6) associated with the high-fat diet. Histological analysis of liver, pancreas, and heart tissues revealed that kefir milk attenuated structural damage caused by the high-fat diet, suggesting its protective role in oxidative stress regulation and organ function. These findings underscore the potential of kefir milk as a functional food for preventing metabolic disturbances and liver damage associated with obesity.

Cadmium is a widespread environmental xenobiotic that poses serious risks to hepatic, renal, and male reproductive functions. Natural compounds such as silymarin, a bioactive extract from Silybum marianum, have gained attention for their protective potential against xenobiotic-induced toxicity. This study investigated whether subchronic oral administration of silymarin (30 mg/kg) mitigates cadmium-induced toxicity (5 mg/kg) in adult rats over six weeks. Twenty-four rats were assigned to four groups: control, cadmium-exposed, silymarin-treated, and co-treated. Biochemical, hematological, oxidative stress, and reproductive parameters were assessed. Sperm quality was evaluated using CASA, and testicular tissues were examined histologically. Cadmium exposure significantly reduced body weight (−30.8%), elevated transaminases (AST, ALT; p < 0.01), increased serum creatinine and total cholesterol, and induced multi-organ oxidative stress, as reflected by elevated malondialdehyde and markedly reduced SOD, CAT, and thiol group levels in testicular, hepatic, and renal tissues (p < 0.01). Sperm concentration dropped from 75.2 to 21.8 × 10⁶/mL, with total motility falling to 35% and progressive motility to 18%, accompanied by severe seminiferous tubule degeneration (Score III in 5 rats). Co-administration of silymarin partially restored these parameters, sperm concentration recovered to 38.5 × 10⁶/mL, total motility improved to 50.2%, and antioxidant enzyme activities and liver/kidney biomarkers showed significant but incomplete recovery (p < 0.05). Molecular docking revealed favorable binding affinities of silybin toward GPx (−8.4 kcal/mol), CAT (−8.3 kcal/mol), and SOD (−6.4 kcal/mol), offering a preliminary computational hypothesis suggesting possible interactions between silybin and antioxidant enzymes, pending experimental validation. Silymarin alone exerted no adverse effects. These findings establish silymarin as a partial but promising multi-organ cytoprotectant against cadmium toxicity, and highlight the need for future studies optimizing dosing strategies, exploring longer treatment durations, and investigating combination approaches with metal chelators or Nrf2-activating agents to achieve complete tissue recovery.

Gastric ulcers are common gastrointestinal lesions resulting from oxidative stress and inflammation. Artemisia herba‐alba , a medicinal plant with antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties, was evaluated for its curative effects against acetic acid‐induced gastric ulcers in Wistar rats. The aqueous leaf extract was characterized by LC‐MS and qualitative screening, and the major compound, quinic acid, was analyzed through in silico ADMET and molecular docking studies. In vitro assays assessed antioxidant activity, while in vivo experiments involved ulcer induction with 3% acetic acid and restraint stress for 8 days. After ulcer induction, rats received either no treatment or the extract (100 or 200 mg/kg) for 3 days. Gastric tissues were analyzed macroscopically, microscopically, and biochemically for oxidative stress markers. The extract showed moderate radical scavenging capacity, and docking results indicated strong binding of quinic acid to key antioxidant enzymes. ADMET predictions revealed favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profiles. Treatment significantly reduced the ulcer area, improved gastric pH, and restored antioxidant enzyme activities in a dose‐dependent manner. Histological evaluation confirmed marked mucosal healing, particularly at 200 mg/kg. These findings indicate that Artemisia herba‐alba extract accelerates gastric healing through antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory mechanisms, supporting its traditional use and therapeutic potential in ulcer management.