Acrylamide (ACR) is an environmental contaminant and a well-known neurotoxin. Ellagic acid (EA), a natural plant polyphenol, has shown a variety of beneficial effects. The present study was designed to explore whether EA could attenuate ACR-induced neurotoxicity in rats and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Animals were divided into five groups. Group 1 was treated with normal saline (2 mL/kg) for 30 days. Group 2 was treated with ACR (20 mg/kg, orally) for 30 days. Groups 3 and 4 were treated with ACR and EA (10 and 30 mg/kg, orally) for 30 days. Group 5 was treated with EA (30 mg/kg, orally) for 30 days. Open field, rotarod and passive avoidance test were conducted to evaluate behavioral changes, respectively. The brain cortex was used for histological examination. Different oxidative parameters and inflammatory biomarkers were assessed in the brain cortex. ACR-administered rats showed a considerable impairment in exploratory behavior, motor performance as well as cognition. Our data also showed that ACR administration significantly increases malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α levels. Moreover, it decreases brain glutathione level, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase activity. Co-administration of EA (especially 30 mg/kg, p.o.) prevented these changes; however, it did not affect the glutathione peroxidase activity. These results were supported by histopathological observations of the brain. Our results suggest that EA can be useful for protecting brain tissue against ACR-induced neurotoxicity through ameliorative effects on inflammatory indices and oxidative stress parameters.

Asparagus officinalis is an herbal medicine with remarkable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antihepatotoxic properties. The present study aimed to investigate whether Bisphenol A (BPA) could induce histopathological changes and oxidative stress in the liver and kidney tissues of male rats. In addition, we evaluated whether the co-administration of the Asparagus officinalis extract (AOE) could prevent the possible damages. In total, 40 adult male Wistar rats with the mean weight of 200 ± 20 grams were divided into five groups. Control subjects were placed in the first group, while group two was the vehicle (5 ml/kg bwt/day). Subjects in group three were administered with 400 mg/kg of AOE (bwt/day), group four received 10 mg/kg of BPA (bwt/day) dissolved in 5 ml/kg of olive oil, and group five received oral BPA and AOE daily for eight weeks. After the experiments, the blood, liver, and kidneys of the animals were collected and examined. Biochemical results showed a significant elevation in the levels of liver and kidney biomarkers in the BPA group (P ≤ 0.05). Moreover, malondialdehyde was observed to increase, while thiol protein and total antioxidant capacity decreased. Histopathological results of the BPA group indicated dilated and congested central and portal veins and inflammatory areas in the liver. In addition, renal test results showed casts in the urinary tubules and acute tubular necrosis. According to the results, the co-administration of AOE and BPA could increase the total antioxidative capability, thereby improving the function and structure of the liver and kidney tissues. Therefore, AOE is a potential protective agent against oxidative stress, liver, and kidney damage.

Background: Zinc is an essential co-factor for many enzymatic activities and its deficiency may produce clinical signs of parakeratosis, loss and failure of growth of wool and hair in sheep. Aim: The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of zinc oxide nano-particles (instead conventional zinc oxide) on serum biochemical factors and histopathological changes in liver and kidney of lambs. Materials and Methods: One group of lamb (4 lambs each group) received zinc oxide nano-particles suspension daily for 25 day. Whole blood sample and serum were collected at the start and the end of study. Activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferas (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (CR) were measured in serum of lambs. Sections of liver and kidney were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and examined by light microscopy. Results: Activity of ALP (p=0.011) was significantly decreased and creatinine level (p=0.002) was significantly increased by zinc oxide nano-particles. Cell swelling, eosinophilic necrosis of hepatocytes, and multifocal interstitial nephritis was observed during histopatological examination. Conclusion: Results of study suggest that zinc oxide nano-particles may be toxic for use in sheep in zinc deficiency status. [Vet World 2013; 6(8.000): 534-537

Background: Candidiasis is the most common fungal infection in human and warm-blooded animals. Candida albicans, is an opportunistic pathogen in immune suppressed hosts, like HIV infected and under chemotherapy patients. Since, antifungal drugs are limited and challenged by resistance. Thus discovering agents with antifungal properties and minimum side effects and toxicity is essential. Nano-agents such as metal oxide nano-particles have unique properties such as high surface to volume ratio that introduce them as appropriate antimicrobial agents. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, antifungal effects of 4 nano-metal oxides; magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, silicon oxide and copper oxide (MgO, SiO₂, ZnO and CuO) were investigated in vitro against Candida albicans and compared with amphotericin B. Solution acetic acid was used for preparing nanoparticles suspensions. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of these nano-particles were evaluated. Results: The results showed that MIC of nano-MgO and nano SiO₂ was greater than 3200 µg/mL, but MIC and MFC of nano-ZnO was recorded 200 µg/mL and 400 µg/mL, respectively. The MIC and MFC of nano-CuO was 400 µg/mL. The MIC and MFC of amphotericin B was 0.5 µg/mL and 2 µg/mL, respectively. Conclusions: It is concluded that, ZnO and CuO nanoparticles have anti C. albicans properties and may be used in treatment of infections caused by this fungus that should be investigated in vivo. Keywords: Nanoparticles; In Vitro; Candida albicans

Steadily increased use of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), has increased the amount of its exposure to humans and animals. Current scarce knowledge about the influences of prenatal exposure to Ag-NPs on postnatal outcomes, motivated us to investigate whether being exposed to it during pregnancy has any effects on neurobehavioral development of the adult offspring. Thirty virgin female NMRI mice were mated and treated subcutaneously once every three days from gestation day 3 until delivery, by 0, 0.2 and 2 mg/kg of bodyweight (BW) of Ag-NPs. Behavioral functions of adult offspring including spatial memory, passive avoidance learning, stress, anxiety-like behaviors and locomotor activities were assessed by commonly used neurobehavioral paradigms and the results were compared according to treatment and sex. Prenatal exposure to Ag-NPs significantly impaired their cognitive behavior in the Morris water maze. Although no evidence was observed indicating more anxiety-like behaviors in the treated offspring in the elevated plus maze, the number of defecations and leanings in the open field assay and number of passages in the light-dark box were greater in groups prenatally treated by Ag-NPs. Most of the impairments were more apparent in the offspring which had been prenatally exposed to high doses of Ag-NPs, particularly female ones. The present study indicated that the exposure of pregnant animals to Ag-NPs may lead to various neurobehavioral disorders in their offspring. Thus, more attention should be paid to avoid exposure to Ag-NPs, especially from pregnant females.

Arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) is utilized for treating patients suffering from hematological malignancies particularly acute promyelocytic leukemia. Unfortunately, the extensive application of this chemotherapeutic agent has been limited due to its adverse effects such as cardiotoxicity. Ellagic acid, as a phenolic compound, has shown to exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and antiatherogenic properties. It is also capable of protecting against drug toxicity. In this study, we evaluated whether ellagic acid can protect against As₂O₃-induced heart injury in rats. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four treatment groups, that is, control (0.2 mL of normal saline, intraperitoneally (ip)), As₂O₃ (5 mg/kg, ip), As₂O₃ plus ellagic acid, and ellagic acid (30 mg/kg, orally) groups. The drugs were administered daily for 10 days and pretreatment with ellagic acid was performed 1 h prior to As₂O₃ injection. Cardiotoxicity was characterized by electrocardiological, biochemical, and histopathological evaluations. Our results showed that ellagic acid pretreatment significantly ameliorated As₂O₃-induced increase in glutathione peroxidase activity and malondialdehyde concentration ( p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively) and also diminished QTc prolongation ( p < 0.0001) and cardiac tissue damages. Pretreatment with ellagic acid also lowered the increased troponin I ( p < 0.0001) and creatine kinase isoenzyme MB ( p < 0.01) levels in response to As₂O₃. In conclusion, results of this study demonstrated that ellagic acid has beneficial cardioprotective effects against As₂O₃ toxicity. It is suggested that the protective effects were mediated by antioxidant properties of ellagic acid.