Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease associated with persistent inflammation, oxidative stress, and epithelial apoptosis. Nicardipine, a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties, but its therapeutic potential in UC remains unclear. This study evaluated the effects of nicardipine on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice, focusing on inflammatory, oxidative, and apoptotic pathways. Fifty BALB/c mice were assigned to five groups (n = 10): control, DSS, nicardipine 12 mg/kg, nicardipine 24 mg/kg, and 5-aminosalicylate (ASA) 75 mg/kg. Treatments were administered for 3 days before and 10 days during DSS exposure. Disease severity was assessed by body weight, disease activity index (DAI), and colon length. Colonic mRNA levels of Nlrp3, TNF-α, IL-17, and TNFSF10 were quantified by RT-PCR; protein expression of caspase-3, caspase-8, BAX, and BCL-2 was analyzed by Western blot. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPX-1), occludin, and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE-2) were measured by ELISA. Histological scoring assessed epithelial integrity and inflammation. Nicardipine dose-dependently reduced DSS-induced weight loss, DAI, and colon shortening. Both doses significantly downregulated Nlrp3, TNF-α, IL-17, and TNFSF10 (p < 0.05), decreased caspase-3 and BAX, and increased BCL-2. Nicardipine restored GPX-1, lowered MDA and MPO, preserved occludin, and reduced PGE-2. Histology confirmed reduced mucosal injury and preserved epithelial architecture. Nicardipine attenuates DSS-induced colitis by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines, reducing oxidative stress, and inhibiting apoptosis, supporting its potential as a therapeutic candidate for UC. Further studies are warranted to clarify its molecular mechanisms and clinical relevance.
Diabetes Mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by increasing of glucose level in plasma compared with normal value (hyperglycemia). This disease also causes elevation of lipid profile levels except HDL (High density lipoproteins) which increased relatively. The effects of the polyphenolic mixture (catechins, epicatechins, procyanidin B1, procyanidin B2 and procyanidin C1) on total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were studied in (30) streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice with (20-25)gm weight. Mice were given (30 mg/mL) of Polyphenolic Cocoa beans Extracts (CE) once daily for (7) days before Streptozotocin STZ injection and for (21 day) there after. A
... Show MoreTo determine the association between cigarette smoking and oxidative stress, a study was conducted in the period from January 2020 to April 2021, at College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq. The Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was utilized for measurement the antioxidant enzymes including: Glutathione superoxide (GPX) and catalase (CAT) and the biomarker of lipid peroxidation Malondialdehyde (MDA). Also, the gene expression of Nrf2 and HO-1were determined by using RT-PCR technique. The results indicate lower level of both GPX and CAT (p ≤ 0.001) in smokers compared with non-smokers. While the result of MDA indicate higher level in smokers (p≤0.001) compared with nonsmokers. The Nrf2 and HO-1 gene exp
... Show MoreBackground Methotrexate (MTX) is a classical folic acid antagonist widely used in the treatment of malignant and non-malignant disorders. However, its clinical application is often restricted by concomitant adverse effects, including renal damage. Numerous studies have highlighted the role of oxidative stress and inflammation in mediating MTX-related nephrotoxicity. Therefore, the current study aimed to explore the possible renoprotective action of Citronellol (CT), a natural compound with prominent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, against nephrotoxicity induced by MTX. Methods To fulfill our objective, 24 adult male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four groups: control, MTX, 100 mg/kg CT plus MTX and 200 mg/kg C
... Show MoreBackground Methotrexate (MTX) is a classical folic acid antagonist widely used in the treatment of malignant and non-malignant disorders. However, its clinical application is often restricted by concomitant adverse effects, including renal damage. Numerous studies have highlighted the role of oxidative stress and inflammation in mediating MTX-related nephrotoxicity. Therefore, the current study aimed to explore the possible renoprotective action of Citronellol (CT), a natural compound with prominent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, against nephrotoxicity induced by MTX. Methods To fulfill our objective, 24 adult male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four groups: control, MTX, 100 mg/kg CT plus MTX and 200 mg/kg C
... Show MoreNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver disease that ranges from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). So far, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we show that hepatic carboxylesterase 2 (CES2) is markedly reduced in NASH patients, diabetic
Introduction. Epilepsy is a progressive, chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) (MP) is one of the most commonly ingested herbal teas or tisanes with a single component. Aim. We aimed to assess the potential antiepileptic and neuroprotective features of MP essential oil (MPO) in pilocarpine (P) and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) models of epilepsy. Methods. The study used eight groups of mice to assess the anticonvulsant activity of MPO in both the P and PTZ acute models in mice. P (350 mg/kg, i.p.) was given 30 minutes after MPO (1.6, 3.2, and 6.4 ml/kg, i.p.). As a positive control group, diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p) was used. PTZ (95 mg/kg, i.p.) was given 30 minutes after M
... Show MoreObjectives of this project were to study the effect of 60% crude alcoholic extract of the seeds of cyperus esculentuson induced endometritis in the mice . The plant of cyperus esculentuswas extracted by preparing Alcoholic extract 60% . One hundred microliters of saline containing Escherichia coli (104cfu) was used to induce endometritis, by a single intracervicallyinjection, and endometritis developed after 2 days from injection. The mice were divided into five groups, The first group were treated with alcoholic extract of cyperus esculentusextract 150mg/kg body weight, the second group was treated with a daily 3mg per kg body weight of gentamicin given intra peritoneal,The third group was treated by 75mg/kg of cyperus esculentusextract an
... Show MoreFisetin is a plant flavonoid found in strawberries and other fruits and vegetables such as apples, persimmons, and onions. It has many pharmacological effects like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and anti-carcinogenicity which are attributed to its ability to reduce oxidative stress which considers the main reason for different disease conditions. Genotoxicity refers to the genetic material destruction within the cell which can be caused by different chemicals as well as radiation. The present study evaluates the effect of orally-administered fisetin daily for seven constitutive days on genotoxicity induced by cyclophosphamide in rats’ bone marrow and spleen cells. Results showed that fisetin exh
... Show MoreKE Sharquie, RA Najim, RK Al-Hayani, AA Al-Nuaimy, DM Maroof, Saudi medical journal, 2008 - Cited by 74