Antileishmanial Activity of Some Plants Growing in Algeria: Juglans Regia,Lawsonia Inermis and Salvia Officinalis

The current study was undertaken to evaluate in vitro the antileishmanial activity of three plants growing wild in Algeria : Juglans regia, Lawsonia inermis and Salvia officinalis. The hydroalcoholic extracts of these plants were tested on the growth of the promastigotes of Leishmania major. The plant extract effects were compared with three controls : CRL1 composed of 1 ml RPMI inoculated with 10⁶ of promastigotes, CRL2 composed of 1 ml RPMI inoculated with 10⁶ of promastigotes and 100 µl of hydroalcoholic solvent, CRL3 composed of 1 ml RPMI inoculated with 10⁶ of promastigotes and 100 µl of Glucantim as a reference drug in the management of leishmaniasis. The results showed that both J. regia and L. inermis extracts reduced the promastigotes number significantly (P<0.01). however, S. officinalis showed a total inhibition of the Leishmania major growth.     

Prise en charge diagnostique et thérapeutique des tumeurs épithéliales malignes de l’ovaire dans le centre ouest-africain de lutte contre le cancer de Dakar

IntroductionEpithelial ovarian cancer are the most frequent of ovarian cancer, their prognosis is very bad. The aim of this study is to describe the diagnosis, the treatment and to assess the survival rate of the patients.MethodsIt was a retrospective study realized at the Cancer Institute of Dakar from December 2000 to January 2007. We have collected 117 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. The mean age was 49 years. Patients were comprised: 22 stage I, 32 stage II, 35 stage III and 26 stage IV. Primary surgery was performed to 34 patients and the other patients were treated with chemotherapy and surgery. The survival rate was assessed by Kaplan-Meier method and the Logrank test had allowed to compare the survival among age and optimal surgery.ResultsOptimal surgery R0 was done in 20 cases and surgical resection R2 was performed in 45 cases. Pathological exam had found 65 serous cystadenocarcinoma, 28 mucinous cystadenocarcinoma and 21 endometrioid cystadenocarcinoma, one malignant tumor of Brenner. Overall survival at five years was 13.3%. The survival among optimal surgery was 16.3 and 2.3% for suboptimal surgery. There was no significant difference of the survival among patients who were less than 40 years old (P  =  0.334).ConclusionPrognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer is worse in Senegal as like as in the world. To improve the survival of our patients, we must detect the early diagnosis of these tumors and to introduce the neoadjuvant chemotherapy before optimal surgery.     

Potential risks of maternal administration of Mucophylline on the pups of albino rats during lactation

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the potential risks of the mucolytic and broncholytic drug, Theophylline derivatives (Mucophylline) maternally administered on the pups. The nursing rats orally administered from 1st postpartum day (PPD) to 21th PPD with two different doses 30.83 mg/kg (low dose) and 66.61 mg/kg (Human equivalent dose (HED)). On the 21th PPD, the postnatal developmental signs, skeletal malformation and the histopathology of neonatal liver, kidney and brain were examined. Our results showed that Mucophylline induced a significant reduction in the neonatal weight and length, delayed, weak and incomplete ossification, wavy ribs and the neonatal liver revealed histopathological changes, pyknotic hepatocytes, cytoplasmic vacuolization, dilated sinusoid and necrotic area. Kidney revealed alternation changes, enlargement of the glomerulus, renal tubules degeneration and lymphatic infiltration. Brain (cerebral cortex and cerebellum) showed neurodegenerative changes, vacuolization of neuropil, congested and dilated blood vessel and dark stain neurons. Our results showed that the activities of non-enzymatic (GSH) and enzymatic (GST, CAT) antioxidants were insignificantly decrease in both neonatal brain and liver tissues of rats administered with 30.83 mg/kg and 61.66 mg/kg of Mucophylline and insignificant increase in MDA levels in both neonatal brain and liver tissues. However, significant reduction (P ≤ 0.05) in the content of GR was recorded in neonatal brain tissue of rats administered with 30.83 mg/kg and 61.66 mg/kg of Mucophylline during lactation period in comparison with control. These support and proof the potential risks of the maternal administration of Mucophylline on pups.     

Immune-stimulatory potential of hot water extracts of selected edible mushrooms

Polysaccharides isolated from mushrooms have recently attracted attention due to its potential immune-stimulatory activity. The aim of this study was to validate the in vitro immune-stimulatory activities of various mushroom extracts. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay revealed that Pleurotus eryngii, with the highest β-glucan (18.94%) content, displayed highest viability on macrophage cells of 62.59% at 200?μg/ml concentration. Pleurotus cystidiosus, with 18.16% β-glucan, content showed highest activation of NF-kB (0.7?µg/ml) at a concentration of 100?µg/ml. Termitomyces heimii, with the lowest percentage of β-glucan (0.51%), exhibited highest phagocytosis index of 9.38 at 12.5?µg/ml. The brown strain of Agaricus bisporus with 1.54% of β-glucan stimulates the highest nitric oxide (NO) production of 12.39?µM nitrite oxide at 100?µg/ml. This study revealed that hot water extracts of mushrooms have different β-glucan contents and produced varying immune-stimulatory activities. Among these, Pleurotus spp. demonstrated the highest percentage of β-glucan content and viability of macrophage cells. Pleurotus spp. are deemed immune-stimulatory by increasing phagocytic activity, NO production, and triggered the activation of NF-kB.     

The efficiency of Poly(ADP‐Ribose) Polymerase (PARP) cleavage on detection of apoptosis in an experimental model of testicular torsion

The aim of this study was to evaluate the histopathological and apoptotic changes occurring in the rat ipsilateral and contralateral testes, after experimental spermatic cord torsion, and to explore and the role of poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage in testicular torsion–detorsion injury. A total of 37 Wistar albino rats were subjected to 720° unilateral spermatic cord torsion for 1, 2 and 4 h, followed by 4‐h reperfusion, or else to a sham operation (control group). Histology of the testicle was evaluated using haematoxylin–eosin (H&E) staining and Johnsen's scoring system. Germ cell apoptosis was evaluated via active caspase‐3 immunostaining, and PARP expression levels were evaluated via Western blotting. The mean Johnsen's tubular biopsy scores (JTBS) of the ipsilateral testicles were lower for all torsion groups than for the controls (P < 0.05), but the JTBS of the contralateral testicles were only lower in the 4‐h torsion group (P < 0.05). The mean apoptosis score (AS) of the ipsilateral and contralateral testicles was significantly higher in the torsion groups than in the sham group. AS increased correlatively with torsion time, in both testicles. The effect of testicular torsion on PARP cleavage was time dependent, with the highest effect observed after 4 h of testicular torsion (P < 0.05). Testicular torsion caused time‐dependent histological changes, apoptosis and increases in PARP cleavage. Our results suggest that testicular torsion–detorsion injury caused cell damage and germ cell apoptosis that apparently involved cleavage of PARP. Increased PARP cleavage could, in turn, lead to enhanced apoptosis.     

Bioactive nano‐fibrous scaffold for vascularized craniofacial bone regeneration

There has been a growing demand for bone grafts for correction of bone defects in complicated fractures or tumours in the craniofacial region. Soft flexible membrane like material that could be inserted into defect by less invasive approaches; promote osteoconductivity and act as a barrier to soft tissue in growth while promoting bone formation is an attractive option for this region. Electrospinning has recently emerged as one of the most promising techniques for fabrication of extracellular matrix such as nano‐fibrous scaffolds that can serve as a template for bone formation. To overcome the limitation of cell penetration of electrospun scaffolds and improve on its osteoconductive nature, in this study, we fabricated a novel electrospun composite scaffold of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)‐poly (ε) caprolactone (PCL)‐Hydroxyapatite based bioceramic (HAB), namely, PVA‐PCL‐HAB. The scaffold prepared by dual electrospinning of PVA and PCL with HAB overcomes reduced cell attachment associated with hydrophobic PCL by combination with a hydrophilic PVA and the HAB can contribute to enhance osteoconductivity. We characterized the physicochemical and biocompatibility properties of the new scaffold material. Our results indicate PVA‐PCL‐HAB scaffolds support attachment and growth of stromal stem cells; [human bone marrow skeletal (mesenchymal) stem cells and dental pulp stem cells]. In addition, the scaffold supported in vitro osteogenic differentiation and in vivo vascularized bone formation. Thus, PVA‐PCL‐HAB scaffold is a suitable potential material for therapeutic bone regeneration in dentistry and orthopaedics.