Alyaa R. Salama, Neveen R. Ashoura, Kariman A. Esmail, Hossam G. Tohamy, Mustafa Shukry, Badriyah S. Alotaibi, Asmaa A. Aboushouk
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to assess whether Melissa officinalis (MO) or lemon balm could counteract the detrimental effects of diclofenac (DIC) on the liver and kidneys in male albino rats.
Methods
Forty adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10 per group): control, DIC (10 mg/kg intraperitoneally), DIC + MO (10 mg/kg DIC IP + 200 mg/kg lemon balm orally), and MO only (200 mg/kg orally) for 28 days. Biochemical, molecular, and histopathological evaluations were conducted to assess organ function and tissue integrity.
Results
DIC significantly impaired hepatic and renal function (p < 0.05), evidenced by elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Oxidative stress increased, as shown by higher malondialdehyde levels and reduced antioxidants, including glutathione and catalase (CAT). Inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were also elevated. Histopathological analysis indicated severe tissue damage and cell death in the liver and kidneys from DIC. However, adding MO alongside DIC mitigated these effects, improving both biochemical and histopathological parameters in the liver and kidneys. Gene expression analysis revealed upregulation of STAT3 and TNF-α and downregulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), and nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2). Coadministration of MO significantly reversed these alterations (p < 0.05), improved tissue architecture, and restored antioxidant and anti-inflammatory balance.
Conclusion
MO provided substantial protection against oxidative damage and functional disturbances induced by DIC in liver and kidney tissues.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Applied Toxicology publishes peer-reviewed original reviews and hypothesis-driven research articles on mechanistic, fundamental and applied research relating to the toxicity of drugs and chemicals at the molecular, cellular, tissue, target organ and whole body level in vivo (by all relevant routes of exposure) and in vitro / ex vivo. All aspects of toxicology are covered (including but not limited to nanotoxicology, genomics and proteomics, teratogenesis, carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, reproductive and endocrine toxicology, toxicopathology, target organ toxicity, systems toxicity (eg immunotoxicity), neurobehavioral toxicology, mechanistic studies, biochemical and molecular toxicology, novel biomarkers, pharmacokinetics/PBPK, risk assessment and environmental health studies) and emphasis is given to papers of clear application to human health, and/or advance mechanistic understanding and/or provide significant contributions and impact to their field.