• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.7-15
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• 2014

Objectives: The present study investigated the toxic properties of petroleum ether extract of Wattakaka (W.) volubilis in Wistar female rats. Methods: An in vitro brine shrimp lethality bioassay was studied in A. Salina nauplii, and the lethality concentrations were assessed for petroleum ether extract of W. volubilis. A water soluble portion of the test extract was used in different concentrations from $100-1000{\mu}g/mL$ of 1 mg/mL stock solution. A 24-hours incubation with a 1-mL aliquot in 50 mL of aerated sea water was considered to calculate the percentage rate of dead nauplii with test extract administration against a potassium-dichromate positive control. The acute and the sub-acute toxicities of petroleum ether extract of W. volubilis were evaluated orally by using gavage in female Wistar rats. Food and water intake, body weight, general behavioral changes and mortality of animals were noted. Toxicity or death was evaluated following the administration of petroleum ether extract for 28 consecutive days in the female rats. Serum biochemical parameters, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, glucose, urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium and ${\alpha}$-amylase levels, were measured in the toxicity evaluations. Pathological changes in isolated organs, such as the liver, kidneys, and pancreas, were also examined using hematoxylin and eosin dye fixation after the end of the test extract's administration. Results: The results of the brine-shrimp assay indicate that the evaluated concentrations of petroleum ether extract of W. volubilis were found to be non-toxic. In the acute and the sub-acute toxicity evaluations, no significant differences were observed between the control animals and the animals treated with extract of W. volubilis. No abnormal histological changes were observed in any of the animal groups treated with petroleum ether extract of W. volubilis. Conclusion: These results suggest that petroleum ether extract of W. volubilis has a non-toxic effect in Wistar female rats.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2020

Background: The continuous search for a novel neuropathic pain drug with few or no side effects has been a main focus of researchers for decades. This study investigated the antinociceptive and neuroprotective effects of bromelain in sciatic nerve ligation-induced neuropathic pain in Wistar rats. Methods: Forty-eight Wistar rats randomly divided into eight groups comprised of six animals each were used for this study. Peripheral neuropathy was induced via chronic constriction of the common sciatic nerve. Thermal hyperalgesic and mechanical allodynia were assessed using a hotplate and von Frey filaments, respectively. The functional recovery and structural architecture of the ligated sciatic nerve were evaluated using the sciatic functional index test and a histological examination of the transverse section of the sciatic nerve. The neuroprotective effects of bromelain were investigated in the proximal sciatic nerve tissue after 21 days of treatment. Results: Bromelain significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated both the thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynic indices of neuropathic pain. There were improvements in sciatic function and structural integrity in rats treated with bromelain. These rats showed significant (P < 0.05) increases in sciatic nerve nuclear transcription factors (nuclear factor erythroid-derived-2-related factors-1 [NrF-1] and NrF-2), antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione), and reduced membranelipid peroxidation compared with the ligated control group. Conclusions: This study suggest that bromelain mitigated neuropathic pain by enhancing the activities of nuclear transcription factors (NrF-1 and NrF-2) which increases the antioxidant defense system that abolish neuronal stress and structural disorganization.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.109-123
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• 2012

Our study investigated the effects of Solanum macrocarpon (African eggplant) on haematological and biochemical parameters of male albino rats exposed to urban air pollution ($O_3$, $PM_{10}$, CO, $SO_2$, $NO_2$ and VOC). Male albino Wistar rats were exposed for 63 days either to urban air pollution without treatment (A); oral supplementation with Solanum macrocarpon given at 36 and 75 mg/kg body weight (BW), representing C and D respectively and exposed to air pollution; oral supplementation with Solanum macrocarpon given at 75 mg/kg BW after exposure to air pollution (B); or kept in animal house without exposure to air pollution (E). Animals exposed to air pollution showed significant alterations in haematological and biochemical parameters signaling that the blood and organs were badly injured. There were significant elevations in white blood cells (WBC) and its indices, reduction in red blood cells (RBC) and significant depletions of non-enzymic antioxidants, total protein and increase in lipid peroxidation values. Solanum macrocarpon supplementation in the feed of animals halted significantly the deleterious effects of air pollution, with co-administration during exposure given better results.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.204-210
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• 2008

This study was performed to investigate effects of Chiarella vulgaris on lipid metabolism in rats fed high fat diet. Sixty 6-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into two groups; normal diet group and high fat diet group, then the rats in each group were further divided into three subgroups and fed 0%, 5% and 10% (w/w) chlorella-containing diets, respectively, and raised for 9 weeks, Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and total protein and albumin concentration were not different among groups. Serum total lipids and liver TG concentration were significantly lower in 5% and 10% chlorella groups than 0% chlorella group in high fat diet groups (p<0.05). Serum TG, serum total cholesterol, liver total lipid and liver total cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower in 10% chlorella groups than 0% chlorella group in high fat diet groups (p<0.05). Fecal total lipid, TG and total cholesterol excretions were significantly higher in 5% and 10% chlorella groups than 0% chlorella groups in normal diet and high fat diet groups, respectively (p<0.05). These results suggest that Chlorella vulgaris is effective for prevention of dyslipidemia which may be due to the modulation of lipid metabolism and increased fecal excretion of lipid.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 1989

The present study was designed to examine the effect of dietary fish oil on blood pressure and lipid status of serum. Weanling SHRs and normotensive Wistars were fed a diet containing 5%(w/w) mackerel oil(MO), soybean oil(SO) or beef tallow(BT) for 8 weeks. Growth rate was not significantly different among three dietary groups, but that of SHRs was silightly lower than that of Wistars. SHRs showed higher systolic blood pressure than Wistar rats from the beginning and become hypertensive (over 150mmHg) after 6 week s of feeding period. The MO group of SHRs showed the lowest blood pressure at the 8th week of feeding period but that of Wistars showed similar values with other groups. Tissue weights of liver, heart and kidney were not different amongdietary aroups in Wistars and SHRs. However, heart and kidney weights of SHRs were significantly higher than those of Wistars. Microscopic examination revealed that endomysium of heart tissue and urinary space of kidney were narrowed in SHRs. Serum total and HDL-cholesterol showed similar values among three different dietary fat groups but triglyceride levels were significantly low in MO groups. HDL-cholesterol levels of SHRs were lower than those of Wistars, as well as the fractions of total HDL, the sum of HDL and $HDL_{2+3}$, while VLDL fractions were higher in SHRs. MO groups had the lower values of $HDL_1,\;HDL_{2+3}$ratio than SO and BT groups. Major dietary fatty acids were more or less incorporated into serum phospholipid and triglyceride, resulting in the characteristic fatty acid profile of each dietary group. Incorporation of $C_{18:2}({\omega}_6)$ in SO groups were pronounced, but the degree of incorporation was lower in SHRs. In Mo groups, $C_{22:6}({\omega}_3)$ levels were inreased in triglyceride. It is suggested that these changes in serum lipid fatty acid composition are related to the different patterns of serum lipid by alteration of dietary fats.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2004.12a
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• pp.83-84
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• 2004

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2004.12a
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• pp.87-87
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• 2004

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 1984

The effect of Red ginseng saponin on plasma lipid levels in Wistar rats fed on a diet high in cholesterol and triglyceride was determined. A dose of Red ginseng-crude saponin (150 mg/kg/day) was administered orally for 4 weeks to Wistar rats fed on a diet containing 2% cholesterol and 10% olive oil. Plasma levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride were measured and lipoproteins were analyzed by using electrophoretic technique. Red ginseng saponin showed no significant changes of HDL-cholesterol level but it lowered plasma levels of total cholesterol and elevate those of triglyceride intensively.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.331-333
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• 2010

Mongolian gerbils and Wistar rats were inoculated orally with 240 and 2,500 Toxocara cati embryonated eggs, respectively, to evaluate the larval recovery in different tissues and organs, such as the liver, lungs, heart, kidney, and skeletal muscles after 5, 30, 49, 70, and 92 days post-infection (PI). Larval recovery rates were 1.7-30.0% in Mongolian gerbils on days 5-92 PI and 0.2-3.8% in rats on the same days. These results indicate that Mongolian gerbils and Wi star rats are suitable experimental paratenic hosts for the study of neurological toxocariasis as well as visceral toxocariasis.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.159-163
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• 2010

A mixture of several detoxified bacterial strains ($Sterodin^{(R)}$) has been studied for anti-inflammatory effect in Wistar rats on carrageenin, dextran and prostaglandin $E_1$ ($PGE_1$) induced edema in acute model and cotton pellet and carrageenin induced sub-acute model, while, Freund's adjuvant induced chronic model. The bacterial strains showed strong inhibitory activity in acute, sub-acute and chronic models of inflammation. Further, it reduced ${\alpha}1$ acid glycoprotein and ${\alpha}2$ macroglobulin levels in serum and prostaglandin $E_2$ in inflamed paw. These results indicated that the bacterial strains probably act through prostaglandin mediatory pathways and may be useful in treatment of inflammation.