Podocyte injury and glomerular basement membrane thickening have been considered as essential pathophysiological events in diabetic nephropathy. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible beneficial effects of vinpocetine on diabetes-associated renal damage. Male Wistar rats were made diabetic by injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Diabetic rats were treated with vinpocetine in a dose of 20mg/kg/day for 6 weeks. Treatment with vinpocetine resulted in a marked decrease in the levels of blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, urinary albumin and albumin/creatinine ratio along with an elevation in creatinine clearance rate. The renal contents of advanced glycation end-products, interleukin-10, tissue growth factor-β, nuclear factor (NF)-κB and Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac 1) were decreased. Renal nephrin and podocin contents were increased and their mRNA expressions were replenished in vinpocetine-treated rats. Moreover, administration of vinpocetine showed improvements in oxidative status as well as renal glomerular and tubular structures. The current investigation revealed that vinpocetine ameliorated the STZ-induced renal damage. This beneficial effect could be attributed to its antioxidant and antihyperglycemic effects parallel to its ability to inhibit NF-κB which eventually modulated cytokines production as well as nephrin and podocin proteins expression.

Diclofenac, one of the most commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, leads to severe adverse effects on the kidneys. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential pretreatment effect of phosphodiesterase (1, 3 & 5) inhibitors on diclofenac-induced acute renal failure in rats. Rats orally received pentoxifylline (100 mg/kg), vinpocetine (20 mg/kg), cilostazol (50 mg/kg), or sildenafil (5 mg/kg) once per day for 6 consecutive days. Diclofenac (15 mg/kg) was injected on day-4, -5 and -6 in all groups except normal control group. The used phosphodiesterase inhibitors significantly reduced the diclofenac-induced elevation in the serum levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and cystatin C. Moreover, the renal tissue contents of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, nuclear factor (NF)-κB as well as the protein expression of toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and high mobility group box (HMGB) 1 were markedly reduced by the used phosphodiesterase inhibitors, as compared to the diclofenac control. This was reflected on the marked improvement in histopathological changes induced by diclofenac. Sildenafil showed the best protection regarding TNF-α and NF-κB, while cilostazol showed the best results regarding TLR4, HMGB1 and histopathological examination. This study revealed the good protective effect of these phosphodiesterase inhibitors against diclofenac-induced acute renal failure.

Podocyte injury and glomerular basement membrane thickening have been considered as essential pathophysiological events in diabetic nephropathy. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible beneficial effects of vinpocetine on diabetes-associated renal damage. Male Wistar rats were made diabetic by injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Diabetic rats were treated with vinpocetine in a dose of 20mg/kg/day for 6 weeks. Treatment with vinpocetine resulted in a marked decrease in the levels of blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, urinary albumin and albumin/creatinine ratio along with an elevation in creatinine clearance rate. The renal contents of advanced glycation end-products, interleukin-10, tissue growth factor-β, nuclear factor (NF)-κB and Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac 1) were decreased. Renal nephrin and podocin contents were increased and their mRNA expressions were replenished in vinpocetine-treated rats. Moreover, administration of vinpocetine showed improvements in oxidative status as well as renal glomerular and tubular structures. The current investigation revealed that vinpocetine ameliorated the STZ-induced renal damage. This beneficial effect could be attributed to its antioxidant and antihyperglycemic effects parallel to its ability to inhibit NF-κB which eventually modulated cytokines production as well as nephrin and podocin proteins expression.

The high abundance and advantages of polysaccharides make them among the most widely used chiral stationary phases in liquid chromatography. However, extended analysis time and consumption of toxic organic solvents, associated with traditional columns, remain the main stumbling blocks of such methods’ sustainability. A new green chiral HPLC-separation, with just 0.45 mL ethanol in mobile phase per run utilizing a 50-mm column as a stationary phase, achieves a significant determination of alfuzosin (ALF) enantiomers along with solifenacin (SOL) simultaneously. Enantioseparation of ALF was firstly evaluated in the reversed-phase mode using five polysaccharide-based Lux columns (Amylose 2 and Cellulose 1–4), highlighting Lux Cellulose 2 to reach the best enantioselectivity. Central composite design with Derringer's desirability function was then adopted to optimize the chromatographic conditions for an acceptable resolution. A mobile phase composed of ethanol and phosphate buffer, pH 4, (30:70, v/v) at a rate of 0.5 mL/min with UV-detection at 215 nm, exhibits good separation of ALF-enantiomers from SOL with resolution values of 1.45 and 2.64, respectively. The method’s greenness profile has been assessed and compared with that of mostly reported ones via the newest comprehensive analytical method greenness score (AMGS) calculator. The proposed method is considered a straightforward approach towards safer, more economic, eco-friendly and comparatively favorable for the cited drugs’ quantification in their formulation.

PURPOSE: An herbal preparation, STW 5, used clinically in functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome, has been shown to possess properties that may render it useful in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The present work was conducted to study its effectiveness in a rat model of IBD.

METHODS: An experimental model reflecting ulcerative colitis in man was adopted, whereby colitis was induced in Wistar rats by feeding them 5 % dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water for one week. STW 5 and sulfasalazine (as a reference standard) were administered orally daily for 1 week before colitis induction and continued during DSS feeding. The animals were then sacrificed, and the severity of colitis was evaluated macroscopically and microscopically. Colon samples were homogenized for determination of reduced glutathione, tumor necrosis factor-α, and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-3 as well as myeloperoxidase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. In addition, colon segments were suspended in an organ bath to test their reactivity towards carbachol, KCl, and trypsin.

RESULTS: STW 5 and sulfasalazine were both effective in preventing the shortening of colon length and the increase in both colon mass index and total histology score as well as the changes in biochemical parameters measured except changes in dismutase activity. DSS-induced colitis led to marked depression in colonic responsiveness to the agents tested ex vivo, an effect which was normalized by both drugs.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings point to a potential usefulness of STW 5 in the clinical setting of ulcerative colitis.

Protection against cholestasis and its consequences are considered an essential issue to improve the quality of a patient's life and reduce the number of death every year from liver diseases. Lycopene, a natural carotenoid, has antioxidant scavenger capacity and inhibits inflammation in many experimental models. The present study aimed to elucidate the potential protective effects of lycopene, in comparison to silymarin, in a rat model of cholestatic liver. Animals were daily injected with 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE; 5 mg/kg) for 18 successive days. Silymarin (100 mg/kg) and lycopene (10 mg/kg) were orally administered once per day through the experimental period. Lycopene significantly decreased the EE-induced rise in the serum levels of total bile acid and total bilirubin as well as the activities of alanine aminotransaminase, aspartate aminotransaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transaminase. Moreover, lycopene reduced the hepatic levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and tumor necrosis factor-α as well as the hepatic activity of myeloperoxidase that were markedly elevated by EE. Lycopene increased the hepatic levels of total protein and albumin and reduced glutathione. In addition, lycopene improved the hepatic histopathological changes induced by EE. These protective effects of lycopene were comparable to that of silymarin. In conclusion, lycopene was effective in protecting against estrogen-induced cholestatic liver injury through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, lycopene might be a potentially effective drug for protection against cholestasis in susceptible women during pregnancy, administration of oral contraceptives, or postmenopausal replacement therapy.

PURPOSE: An herbal preparation, STW 5, used clinically in functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome, has been shown to possess properties that may render it useful in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The present work was conducted to study its effectiveness in a rat model of IBD.

METHODS: An experimental model reflecting ulcerative colitis in man was adopted, whereby colitis was induced in Wistar rats by feeding them 5 % dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water for one week. STW 5 and sulfasalazine (as a reference standard) were administered orally daily for 1 week before colitis induction and continued during DSS feeding. The animals were then sacrificed, and the severity of colitis was evaluated macroscopically and microscopically. Colon samples were homogenized for determination of reduced glutathione, tumor necrosis factor-α, and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-3 as well as myeloperoxidase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. In addition, colon segments were suspended in an organ bath to test their reactivity towards carbachol, KCl, and trypsin.

RESULTS: STW 5 and sulfasalazine were both effective in preventing the shortening of colon length and the increase in both colon mass index and total histology score as well as the changes in biochemical parameters measured except changes in dismutase activity. DSS-induced colitis led to marked depression in colonic responsiveness to the agents tested ex vivo, an effect which was normalized by both drugs.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings point to a potential usefulness of STW 5 in the clinical setting of ulcerative colitis.

PURPOSE: An herbal preparation, STW 5, used clinically in functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome, has been shown to possess properties that may render it useful in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The present work was conducted to study its effectiveness in a rat model of IBD.

METHODS: An experimental model reflecting ulcerative colitis in man was adopted, whereby colitis was induced in Wistar rats by feeding them 5 % dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water for one week. STW 5 and sulfasalazine (as a reference standard) were administered orally daily for 1 week before colitis induction and continued during DSS feeding. The animals were then sacrificed, and the severity of colitis was evaluated macroscopically and microscopically. Colon samples were homogenized for determination of reduced glutathione, tumor necrosis factor-α, and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-3 as well as myeloperoxidase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. In addition, colon segments were suspended in an organ bath to test their reactivity towards carbachol, KCl, and trypsin.

RESULTS: STW 5 and sulfasalazine were both effective in preventing the shortening of colon length and the increase in both colon mass index and total histology score as well as the changes in biochemical parameters measured except changes in dismutase activity. DSS-induced colitis led to marked depression in colonic responsiveness to the agents tested ex vivo, an effect which was normalized by both drugs.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings point to a potential usefulness of STW 5 in the clinical setting of ulcerative colitis.