Complications of parasite infections, especially kidney disease, have been linked to poorer outcomes. Acute kidney damage, glomerulonephritis, and tubular dysfunction are the most prevalent renal consequences of infection. The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacological effects of green-produced zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on infection in male Wistar rats. Thirty-six male rats were divided into two groups of 18 each: infected and non-infected. Both groups were separated into three subgroups, each of which received distilled water, 30 mg/kg ZnO NPs, and 60 mg/kg ZnO NPs. After 10 days of ZnO NPs administration, four larvae per gram of kidney tissue were present in the untreated infected group. While, no larvae were present in ZnO NPs (30 mg/kg) treated group, and one larva/g.tissue was present in ZnO NPs (60 mg/kg) treated group compared to untreated infected animals. infected rats had increased kidney biomarkers (creatinine, urea, uric acid), malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide, with a significant decrease in their antioxidant systems. On the other hand, infected treated rats with green-produced zinc oxide nanoparticles had a substantial drop in creatinine, urea, uric acid, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide, as well as a significant rise in their antioxidant systems. infection in rats caused severe degenerative and necrotic renal tissues. On the other hand, there were no detectable histopathological alterations in rats treated with ZnO NPs (30, 60 mg/kg) as compared to the infected untreated animals. When compared to infected untreated mice, immunohistochemical examination of nuclear factor-kappa B showed a significant decrease during treatment with ZnO NPs (30, 60 mg/kg). Green-produced zinc oxide nanoparticles are a viable therapeutic strategy for infection due to their potent anthelmintic activity, including a significant decrease in larval burden in infected treated rats.

Background Some anthropometric, laboratory, and genetic variations, such as patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 ({PNPLA}3) genetic variants, have been associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease ({NAFLD}). Liver biopsy is the most accurate {NAFLD} diagnostic method, but it is invasive; hence, noninvasive diagnostics are required for the early diagnosis and assessment of {NAFLD}. Patient and methods This prospective case-control study included 107 {NAFLD} patients and 107 healthy controls. All individuals underwent anthropometric measurements, abdominal ultrasonography, laboratory tests, and evaluation for {PNPLA}3 polymorphisms. Results Patients with {NAFLD} had higher levels of C-reactive protein ({CRP}), tumor necrosis factor-alpha ({TNF}-α), and interleukin-6 ({IL}-6) than healthy individuals (p = 0.03, p {\textless} 0.0001). Additionally, patients with {NAFLD} had substantially lower albumin (P = 0.01) and leptin (P {\textless} 0.0001) levels than healthy individuals. {BMI} leptin and {CRP} levels were independent indicators of {NAFLD} severity (p = 0.05–0.004). {GG} is the most prevalent genotype in patients with moderate to severe {NAFLD}. A novel model based on four markers (leptin, {CRP}, {BMI}, and {PNPLA}3 polymorphism) was developed. The {AUC} values for distinguishing between the healthy subjects and those with varying degrees of {NAFLD} severity (mild, moderate, and severe) were 0.99, 0.99, and 1.0, respectively. Conclusion Anthropometric measurements, such as {BMI} and laboratory results, including liver enzymes, {CRP}, inflammatory markers, lipid parameters, and genetic markers, especially {PNPLA}3 polymorphisms, can provide an accurate, sensitive, and specific noninvasive approach for the early identification and assessment of {NAFLD} and can guide its management. This may minimize the need for liver biopsy to assess {NAFLD}. Further large-scale studies are needed to confirm these findings and verify the model in larger studies.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: P. peruviana fruit, native to Andean region, is cultivated worldwide for its adaptability to various soil natures and climatic conditions. It is increasingly consumed for its high nutritional profile and history of ethnomedical uses including treatment of arthritis. Little pharmacological evidences support this folk use except for previous in vitro study that reported significant inhibition of protein denaturation.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aims at providing new in vivo evidence on antiarthritic activity of P. peruviana fruits in vivo that justifies its traditional use through mechanism-based experiment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Inhibition of inflammatory mediators is considered one of the key treatments to alleviate painful symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed against COX-1 and COX-2 activity in vitro. Serum TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6 were traced using in vivo model of adjuvant-induced arthritis. Gross/inflammatory changes in rat paw, relative mass indices of spleen and liver were further investigated together with joint tissue histoarchitecture. Seven metabolites from different phytochemical classes, that were previously reported in P. peruviana fruit, were evaluated in silico against TNF-α target protein (PDB ID: 2AZ5) to assess their inhibitory effect. This was followed by assessment of their drug-likeness based on Lipinski's rule according to their physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties.

RESULTS: High dose of extract (E-1000 mg) improved adjuvant-induced cachexia and attenuated immune-inflammatory responses in paw and serum parameters, with equipotent effect to MTX, in addition to minimal side effect profile on spleen and liver. Histopathological study of knee joint tissues confirmed dose-dependent improvement in arthritic groups treated with P. peruviana fruit extracts. The insilico study recommended steroidal lactones withaperuvin E/C and hydroxywithanolide E as promising lead compounds for inhibiting TNF enzyme as evidenced by docking scores of 6.301, 5.488 and 5.763 kcal/mol, respectively, fitting as well the Lipinski's rule of drug likeness.

CONCLUSION: The study provided novel approach that rationalize folk use of P. peruviana fruit in treatment of arthritis.

The development of nanocomposites (NCs) of antitumor activity provides a new paradigm for fighting cancer. Here, a novel NC of green synthetic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), graphene oxide (GO) and chitosan (Cs) NPs was developed. The prepared GO/Cs/Ag NCs were analyzed using various techniques. Cytotoxicity of the NCs was evaluated against different cancer cell lines by Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. GO/Cs/Ag NCs are novel and highly stable. UV-Vis showed two peaks at 227 and 469 nm, indicating the decoration of AgNPs on the surface of GO/Cs NPs. All tested cell lines were affected by GO/Cs NPs and GO/Cs/Ag NCs. The results indicate that GO/Cs/Ag NCs were present on tested cell lines and are a promising candidate for cancer therapy.