Anadolu Kardiyoloji Dergisi, Anadolu Kardiyol Derg, The Anatolian Journal of Cardiology, Anatol J Cardiol, Cardiology, Cardiovascular Medicine, Surgery, Pediatric Cardiology, Angiology

Methylmethane sulfonate (MMS) is an alkylating agent that may react with DNA and damage it. We investigated histological changes and apoptosis caused by MMS and the effects of curcumin on MMS treated mouse kidneys. Twenty-four mice were divided into four equal groups: controls injected with saline, a group injected with 40 mg/kg MMS, a group injected with 40 mg/kg MMS and given 100 mg/kg curcumin by gavage, and a group given 100 mg/kg curcumin by gavage. MMS caused congestion and vacuole formation, and elevated the apoptotic index significantly, but had no other effect on kidney tissue. Curcumin improved the congestion and vacuole formation caused by MMS and decreased the apoptotic index. Curcumin administered with MMS appears to decrease the deleterious effects of MMS on the kidney.

Deltamethrin (DLM) is a widely used insecticide in agriculture; however, exposure to it can lead to serious health problems. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of hesperidin (HSP), a natural antioxidant, against DLM-induced liver toxicity. Thirty-two male Wistar Albino rats (250–300 g, 4 months old) were divided into four groups. The control group received 1 ml of corn oil via oral gavage for 30 days. The DLM group received 1.28 mg/kg DLM in corn oil for 30 days. The DLM+HSP 100 mg/kg and DLM+HSP 300 mg/kg groups received 1.28 mg/kg DLM followed by 100 mg/kg or 300 mg/kg HSP in distilled water, respectively, 30 min after DLM administration for 30 days. Liver tissues were examined histopathologically. Masson’s trichrome staining and PCR assessed fibrosis. Caspase 3 and 9 expressions in liver tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry and PCR. Biochemical analyses were conducted on serum samples. HSP supplementation led to a dose-dependent decrease in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. DLM exposure decreased antioxidant capacity, while HSP supplementation increased it dose-dependently. Histopathological evaluations showed increased liver damage in the DLM group, while HSP administration reduced liver toxicity. Masson’s trichrome staining and analysis of collagen I (COL1A1) and collagen III (COL3A1) gene expression revealed increased fibrosis in the DLM group, which was attenuated with HSP treatment. The potential prevention of DLM-induced liver toxicity and apoptosis by HSP may be an alternative protective strategy.

Objective: Cisplatin (CIS) is a frequently used chemotherapeutic drug; nevertheless, its clinical efficacy is limited by cardiotoxicity, mostly due to oxidative stress and apoptosis. Natural antioxidants such as S-Allyl-L-Cysteine (SAC) and Allyl Disulfide (ADS)—organosulfur compounds derived from garlic—exhibit potential in mitigating such damage. This study aimed to evaluate CIS-induced cardiotoxicity in rats and investigate the potential for SAC and ADS to reduce this toxicity. Methods: Four groups -Control, CIS, CIS + SAC, and CIS + ADS- were randomly assigned to thirty-two female Sprague Dawley rats. On days 1 and 8 of the experiment, CIS was given intraperitoneally at a dose of 5 mg/kg, and for 14 days in a row, SAC and ADS were given orally by gavage at a dose of 100 mg/kg. Using Hematoxylin-Eosin (H&E) and Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) staining, heart tissues were excised at the termination of the experiment and examined histopathologically. Results: In the CIS group, prominent histopathological changes, including interstitial congestion, lymphocytic infiltration, edema, and vacuolar degeneration in cardiomyocytes, were observed. PAS staining showed glycoprotein accumulation and chondromatous metaplasia. All these changes were reversed in either the CIS+SAC group or the CIS+ADS group by improving cardiac architecture and lowering levels of congestion, edema, and degeneration. Conclusion: This study shows that SAC and ADS have protective effects against CIS-induced cardiotoxicity. These natural antioxidants may be used to prevent cardiotoxicity that is induced by chemotherapy.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with vascular complications that increase morbidity and mortality. Natural antioxidants play a vital role in reducing diabetes-related damage. This study investigated the protective effects of the phenolic monoterpene carvacrol (CAR) against diabetic complications. Thirty-two male Wistar Albino rats (4 months, 250–300 g) were divided into four groups: control, DM, DM + DMSO, and DM + CAR. Type 1 diabetes was induced via intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). The DM + CAR group received 20 mg/kg CAR daily for four weeks. Body weight and blood glucose levels were regularly monitored. At the end of the study, aortic tissues were examined using hematoxylin–eosin (H&E), Verhoeff–Van Gieson, and immunohistochemical staining, while cardiac tissues were analyzed with H&E and Masson’s trichrome. Serum levels of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), cholesterol (CHOL), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were measured. In the DM group, IMA and CHOL levels were increased (p = 0.0208 and p = 0.0207, respectively), apoptosis was elevated (caspase-3 expression, p = 0.0001), and marked tissue damage was observed. In contrast, in the DM + CAR group, IMA levels (p = 0.0228) and caspase-3 expression (p = 0.0457) were reduced, and notable improvements were detected in vascular and cardiac tissues. These results suggest that CAR protects against diabetic complications by modulating oxidative stress, inhibiting apoptosis, and preventing tissue injury.