Protective role of Mas Cotek (Ficus deltoidea) against the toxic effects of bisphenol A on morphology and sex steroid receptor expression in the rat uterus.

Background: Numerous scientific studies have found that young women are at a high risk of reproductive infertility due to their routine exposure to numerous bisphenol A (BPA) products. This risk is highly associated with the production of reactive oxygen species from BPA products. Ficus deltoidea, which has strong antioxidant properties, was selected as a potential protective agent to counter the detrimental effects of BPA in the rat uterus.

Potential toxicity effects of Anastatica hierochuntica aqueous extract on prenatal development of Sprague-Dawley rats.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Anastatica hierochuntica (A. hierochuntica) is a plant consumed in folk medicine for the treatment of reproductive system related problems and metabolic disorders. It is of concern that the herb is commonly consumed by pregnant women towards the end of pregnancy to ease the process of labour, despite the lack of studies evaluating its safety.

Corrigendum to "Hepatoprotective Role of Ethanolic Extract of in Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Male Rats".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2013/739850.].

Protective role of Ficus deltoidea against BPA-induced impairments of the follicular development, estrous cycle, gonadotropin and sex steroid hormones level of prepubertal rats.

Ficus deltoidea is one of the well-known medicinal plants in Malaysia that is traditionally used by the Malay community to treat various ailments and for maintenance of female reproductive health. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential protective roles of Ficus deltoidea against BPA-induced toxicity of the pituitary-ovarian axis in pre-pubertal female rats. In this study, four groups of pre-pubertal female Sprague Dawley rats were administered with the followings by oral gavage for a period of six weeks: NC (negative control- treated with vehicle), PC (positive control-treated with BPA at 10 mg/kg/BW), F (treated with Ficus deltoidea at 100 mg/kg/BW, then exposed to BPA at 10 mg/kg/BW) and FC (Ficus deltoidea control - treated with Ficus deltoidea at 100 mg/kg/BW).

Mutagenicity evaluation of Anastatica hierochuntica L. aqueous extract in vitro and in vivo.

Anastatica hierochuntica L. ( A. hierochuntica), a folk medicinal plant, was evaluated for mutagenic potential via in vitro and in vivo assays.

Anti-Inflammatory, Antiapoptotic and Proproliferative Effects of Vitis vinifera Seed Ethanolic Extract in the Liver of Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide-Induced Type 2 Diabetes in Male Rats.

Objectives: Consumption of Vitis vinifera seed has been reported to ameliorate liver pathology in diabetes mellitus; however, the mechanisms underlying its effects remain unknown. In this study, the anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and pro-proliferative effects of the ethanolic seed extract of V. vinifera (VVSEE) in the liver in cases of diabetes were identified.

Biological activities of Anastatica hierochuntica L.: A systematic review.

Anastatica hierochuntica L. (A. hierochuntica) is a desert plant consumed by people across the globe to treat various medical conditions.

Quercetin interferes with the fluid volume and receptivity development of the uterus in rats during the peri-implantation period.

Hypothesis: Quercetin could induce changes to the fluid volume and receptivity development of the uterus during peri-implantation period.

Methods: Female rats were treated with quercetin (10, 25 and 50mg/kg/day) subcutaneously beginning from day-1 pregnancy. Uterus was harvested at day-4 (following three days quercetin treatment) for morphological, ultra-structural, protein and mRNA expressional changes and plasma sex-steroid levels analyses.

Quercetin alters uterine fluid volume and aquaporin (AQP) subunits (AQP-1, 2, 5 & 7) expression in the uterus in the presence of sex-steroids in rats.

Unlabelled: Effects of quercetin on uterine fluid volume and aquaporin (AQP) expression in the uterus were investigated. Estradiol (E) or estradiol followed by progesterone (E+P) were given to ovariectomised rats with or without quercetin (10, 50 or 100mg/kg/day) treatment. Uteri were harvested and its inner/outer circumference ratio was determined.

Combinatorial effects of quercetin and sex-steroids on fluid and electrolytes' (Na+, Cl-, HCO3-) secretory mechanisms in the uterus of ovariectomised female Sprague-Dawley rats.

Dysregulation of uterine fluid environment could impair successful reproduction and this could be due to the effect of environmental estrogens. Therefore, in this study, effect of quercetin, an environmental estrogen on uterine fluid and electrolytes concentrations were investigated under sex-steroid influence. Ovariectomised adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were given 10, 50 or 100mg/kg/day quercetin subcutaneously with 17-β estradiol (E) for seven days or three days E, then three days E plus progesterone (P) (E+P) treatment.

Protective effect of aqueous seed extract of Vitis Vinifera against oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in the pancreas of adult male rats with diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: Protective effects of Vitis Vinifera seed aqueous extract (VVSAE) against pancreatic dysfunctions and elevation of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in the pancreas in diabetes were investigated. Histopathological changes in the pancreas were examined under light microscope.

Methods: Blood and pancreas were collected from adult male diabetic rats receiving 28days treatment with VVSAE orally.

Tualang Honey Protects against BPA-Induced Morphological Abnormalities and Disruption of ERα, ERβ, and C3 mRNA and Protein Expressions in the Uterus of Rats.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) that can disrupt the normal functions of the reproductive system. The objective of the study is to investigate the potential protective effects of Tualang honey against BPA-induced uterine toxicity in pubertal rats. The rats were administered with BPA by oral gavage over a period of six weeks.

Testosterone Induces Increase in Aquaporin (AQP)-1, 5, and 7 Expressions in the Uteri of Ovariectomized Rats.

Testosterone has been reported to cause a decrease in uterine fluid volume in which this could involve the aquaporins (AQPs). This study aimed to investigate effect of testosterone on uterine AQP-1, 5, and 7 expressions in order to explain the reported reduction in uterine fluid volume under testosterone influence. Ovariectomized adult female rats received peanut oil, testosterone (1 mg/kg/day), estrogen (0.

Posterior parasagittal in-plane ultrasound-guided infraclavicular brachial plexus block-a case series.

Background: The brachial plexus at the infraclavicular level runs deeper compared to its course proximally, giving rise to impaired needle visualisation due to the steep angle of needle insertion with the current ultrasound-guided approach. A new posterior parasagittal in-plane ultrasound-guided infraclavicular approach was introduced to improve needle visibility. However no further follow up study was done.

Potential protective effect of Tualang honey on BPA-induced ovarian toxicity in prepubertal rat.

Background: To investigate the potential protective effects of Tualang honey against the toxicity effects induced by Bisphenol A (BPA) on pubertal development of ovaries.

Methods: This study was conducted on pre-pubertal female Sprague Dawley rats. Animals were divided into four groups (n = 8 in each group).

Testosterone decreases fluid and chloride secretions in the uterus of adult female rats via down-regulating cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) expression and functional activity.

Objectives: Estrogen is known to stimulate uterine fluid and Cl(-) secretion via CFTR. This study investigated testosterone effect on these changes in a rat model.

Methods: Ovariectomized adult female rats received estrogen for five days or estrogen for three days followed by two days peanut oil or testosterone either alone or in the presence of flutamide or finasteride.

PASS-predicted hepatoprotective activity of Caesalpinia sappan in thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

The antifibrotic effects of traditional medicinal herb Caesalpinia sappan (CS) extract on liver fibrosis induced by thioacetamide (TAA) and the expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in rats were studied. A computer-aided prediction of antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities was primarily performed with the Prediction Activity Spectra of the Substance (PASS) Program. Liver fibrosis was induced in male Sprague Dawley rats by TAA administration (0.

Genistein-induced fluid accumulation in ovariectomised rats' uteri is associated with increased cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator expression.

Objective: High genistein doses have been reported to induce fluid accumulation in the uteri of ovariectomised rats, although the mechanism underlying this effect remains unknown. Because genistein binds to the oestrogen receptor and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator mediates uterine fluid secretion, we hypothesised that this genistein effect involves both the oestrogen receptor and cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator.

Methods: Ovariectomised adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg/day genistein for three consecutive days with and without the ER antagonist ICI 182780.

Effect of oral administration of ethanolic extract of Vitex negundo on thioacetamide-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Background: Oxidative stress due to abnormal induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) molecules is believed to be involved in the etiology of many diseases. Evidences suggest that ROS is involved in nephrotoxicity through frequent exposure to industrial toxic agents such as thioacetamide (TAA). The current investigation was designed to explore the possible protective effects of the leaves of Vitex negundo(VN) extract against TAA-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Genistein induces increase in fluid pH, Na+ and HCO3(-) concentration, SLC26A6 and SLC4A4 (NBCe1)-B expression in the uteri of ovariectomized rats.

Genistein has been reported to stimulate luminal HCO3(-) secretion. We hypothesized that genistein mediates this effect via SLC26A6 and SLC4A4 (NBCe1) transporters. Our study aimed to: investigate changes in uterine fluid pH, Na+ and HCO3(-) concentration and expression of uterine SLC26A6 and NBCe1 under genistein effect.

PASS-predicted Vitex negundo activity: antioxidant and antiproliferative properties on human hepatoma cells--an in vitro study.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a common type of tumour worldwide with a high mortality rate and with low response to current cytotoxic and chemotherapeutic drugs. The prediction of activity spectra for the substances (PASS) software, which predicted that more than 300 pharmacological effects, biological and biochemical mechanisms based on the structural formula of the substance was efficiently used in this study to reveal new multitalented actions for Vitex negundo (VN) constituents.

Methods: Experimental studies based on antioxidant and antiproliferative assays verified the predictions obtained by the PASS-predicted design strategy.

Antioxidant and pro-oxidant effects of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) leaves extract in experimental diabetic nephropathy: a duration-dependent outcome.

Background: Catechins-rich oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) leaves extract (OPLE) is known to have antioxidant activity. Several polyphenolic compounds reported as antioxidants such as quercetin, catechins and gallic acid have been highlighted to have pro-oxidant activity at high doses. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant and pro-oxidant effects of chronically administering high dose of OPLE (1000 mg kg⁻¹) in an animal model of diabetic nephropathy (DN).

Hepatoprotective Role of Ethanolic Extract of Vitex negundo in Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Male Rats.

The hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract from the leaves of Vitex negundo (VN) was conducted against thioacetamide- (TAA-) induced hepatic injury in Sprague Dawley rats. The therapeutic effect of the extract was investigated on adult male rats. Rats were divided into seven groups: control, TAA, Silymarin (SY), and VN high dose and low dose groups.

Effects of the phytoestrogen genistein on the development of the reproductive system of Sprague Dawley rats.

Objectives: Genistein is known to influence reproductive system development through its binding affinity for estrogen receptors. The present study aimed to further explore the effect of Genistein on the development of the reproductive system of experimental rats.

Methods: Eighteen post-weaning female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into the following groups: (i) a control group that received vehicle (distilled water and Tween 80); (ii) a group treated with 10 mg/kg body weight (BW) of Genistein (Gen 10); and (iii) a group treated with a higher dose of Genistein (Gen 100).

Chronic Administration of Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) Leaves Extract Attenuates Hyperglycaemic-Induced Oxidative Stress and Improves Renal Histopathology and Function in Experimental Diabetes.

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) leaves extract (OPLE) has antioxidant properties and because oxidative stress contributes to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN), we tested the hypothesis that OPLE prevents diabetes renal oxidative stress, attenuating injury. Sprague-Dawley rats received OPLE (200 and 500 mg kg(-1)) for 4 and 12 weeks after diabetes induction (streptozotocin 60 mg kg(-1)). Blood glucose level, body and kidney weights, urine flow rate (UFR), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and proteinuria were assessed.