فهرست مطالب

Iranian Journal of Toxicology
Volume:15 Issue: 3, Jul 2021

  • تاریخ انتشار: 1400/04/22
  • تعداد عناوین: 8
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  • Manoharan Karuppiah Pillai* Pages 135-141
    Background

    Polygonum bistorta has been used as a remedy for jaundice, smallpox, pimples, measles, cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, expelling worms, insect stings and snakebites. In this study, the crude extract from P. bistorta and two fractions viz. hexane and chloroform obtained from the crude extract were studied for their median lethal dosages (LD50) in Swiss albino mice.

    Methods

    Powdered rhizomes of P. bistorta was macerated with chloroform and the crude extract was dissolved in a solvent mixture of methanol/water (95:5). The mixture was then subjected to solvent-solvent partition, first with hexane followed by chloroform. The crude extract and the hexane and chloroform fractions were evaluated for their LD50 in Swiss albino mice of both sexes.

    Results

    The LD50 of the crude extract and the hexane and chloroform fractions were determined to be 142.82, 200 and 200.17mg per kg of the mice body weight, respectively.

    Conclusions

    The LD50 values of the crude extract and the hexane and chloroform fractions from P. bistorta were determined. The crude extract of P. bistorta had greater lethality than the hexane and chloroform fractions. This is the first report on the LD50 values of Swiss albino mice for P. bistorta.

    Keywords: Polygonum bistorta, Polygonaceae, Extracts, fractions, Median lethal dosages, Swiss albino mice
  • Jalil Hasani, Seyed Davood Mirtorabi, MohammadReza Ghadirzadeh, Seyed Amirhosein Mahdavi, Seyed Saeed Hashemi Nazari* Pages 143-149
    Background

    Given the increasing prevalence of methadone overdose and the growing number of deaths in Iran, the present study was conducted to determine the mortality rate of methadone detected in the cadavers brought to the Forensic Medicine Organization between 2015 and 2017.

    Methods

    This cross-sectional study was performed on 7,486 cases of substance abuse deaths registered in the Forensic Medicine Organization during 2015-2017. In order to investigate the drug abuse, samples collected from the cadavers were initially examined for their drug contents, such as methadone, by standard screening methods and then confirmed by thin layer chromatography (TLC). Using two checklists, the information collected about each cadaver consisted of the identity, autopsy and laboratory data. After data collection, they were entered into the Stata software version 14 MP.

    Results

    The cadavers’ mean age was 36.6±12.6 years. Over the 3-year duration of the study, the standardized mortality rate increased from 35 to 39 cases per million per year. Of these cases, 6066 were randomly assigned to toxicology, 50.1% had used methadone one month before their death. Approximately 75% of the methadone abusers had taken another drug simultaneously, mostly morphine or methamphetamine.

    Conclusions

    Considering the relatively high prevalence of methadone detected post-mortem, monitoring for methadone entry into public market and identifying the death-related factors in the drug abusers are considered as significant measures to improve upon the current alarming situation in the Iranian society.

    Keywords: Methadone, Drug abuse, Addiction, Toxicity, Mortality rates
  • Manijeh Tabrizi, Sima Sarabi, Morteza Rahbar Taramsari, Adel Baghersalimi, Afagh Hassanzadeh Rad, Bahram Darbandi* Pages 151-155
    Background

    Poisoning comprises about 7% of accidents in children under 5-year-old and 2% of all pediatric deaths in developing countries. To warn against and prevent future potential poisoning with opioid substances, this comparative study was conducted on pediatric cases referred to the 17th Shahrivar Hospital in Rasht, Iran, in 2006 and 2018.

    Methods

    In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, all hospitalized pediatric cases diagnosed with opioid poisoning in 2006 and 2018 were investigated systematically. The demographic data, such as age, gender, city or village of residence, the poisoning substances involved, and the clinical outcomes were extracted from the medical records and entered on an appropriately-designed form. The data analysis was performed, using SPSS software, version 21.

    Results

    Fifty pediatric cases were examined with a mean age of 44.38±3.8 months old. Among these cases, 14 children had been poisoned, 13 of whom with opium and one with morphine in 2006; while in 2018, 36 children had been poisoned with methadone and only one with opium.

    Conclusions

    Comparing years 2006 with 2018, a considerable increase in pediatric opioid poisoning cases was observed with a tendency toward methadone being the substance involved. The occurrences might be due to unsafe access of unaware children to this drug, especially after the initiation of methadone maintenance treatment for opiate addicts, who were mainly the parents or relatives living in the same household.

    Keywords: Addiction, Childhood, Methadone, Opiates, Opioid poisoning
  • Mahsa Daneshmand, Jamileh Salar Amoli*, Tahereh Ali Esfahani Pages 157-163
    Background

     Cotton seed is one of the main sources of protein in animal feeds, containing gossypol, which has been shown to have toxic effects. Results reported by various studies also indicate the anti-cancer effects of gossypol on various cell types. However, its toxic effects on human and animal cells have not been fully established. This study was planned to investigate, for the first time, the cytotoxic effects and oxidative stress induced by gossypol on normal bovine kidney (BK) and HeLa cell lines, representing typical healthy and cancer cells, respectively.

    Methods

    The BK and HeLa cell lines were treated for 24, 48 or 72 hours with 5, 10 or 20 ppm of gossypol (+/-). The cellular bio-availability and cytotoxicity were measured by MTT assay. The catalase and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were also measured to represent the oxidative stress parameters.

    Results

    The percentages of cytotoxicity in BK and HeLa cell lines were calculated at a gossypol concentration of 5, 10 and 20 ppm over 24, 48 or 72 hours of incubation, respectively. The IC50 values were also determined for the two cell lines. No changes in the catalase and lipid peroxidase activities were observed in either cell line.

    Conclusions

    The percentage of the gossypol cytotoxicity was concentration-dependent. By comparing the IC50 in both cell lines using ANOVA analysis, a significant difference was observed, suggesting that Hela cells were less sensitive to gossypol than the BK cells. Lack of changes in the oxidative stress, as tested by catalase and MDA assays, demonstrated that gossypol did not induce oxidative stress in either cell line.

    Keywords: BK cells, Catalase & MDA, Cytotoxicity, Gossypol (+, -)-isomers, HeLa cell line
  • Eniola Risikat Kadir*, Lekan Sheriff Ojulari, Taiye Abdullah Gegele, Ismail Adetayo Lawal, Lukman Sulu-Gambari, Fatimo Ajoke Sulaimon, Gabriel Olaiya Omotoso Pages 165-174
    Background

    Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a pervasive environmental toxin that is used in the production processes of many consumables and equipment that are in daily application. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of BPA on the structural and functional integrity of the reproductive system in male Wistar rats and its interaction with melatonin.

    Methods

    Adult female rats in pro-estrus phases were mated with adult male rats and the conception determined. The male pups were divided into two groups of A and B.  These groups were further subdivided into six subgroups each. They were administered varying low doses of BPA (25 or 50 mg/kg) and melatonin (10mg/kg) at neonatal and adolescent ages. The testes, epididymis and blood samples were collected for histological, semen and biochemical investigations, respectively.

    Results

    The results show that BPA caused histological alterations, reduced quality and quantity of sperm cells, and induced oxidative stress at birth and adolescence.

    Conclusions

    Bisphenol A exposure, even at low dose, is toxic to the male reproductive system, and melatonin administration did not significantly improve the alterations caused by the BPA.

    Keywords: Adolescence, Bisphenol A, Histology, Melatonin, Neonate
  • Addoum Boutaina*, Bouchra El Khalfi, Mohamed Idiken, Souraya Sakoui, Reda Derdak, Ouafaa Aniq Filali, Abdelhakim Elmakssoudi, Abdelaziz Soukri Pages 175-194
    Background

    Antioxidants are developed to assist the immune system and overcome oxidative stress, the aggression of cellular constituents due to imbalance between reactive oxygen species and the inner antioxidant system. The main objective of this study was to search for new and potent antioxidants to protect humans against diseases associated with oxidative stress.

    Methods

    In this study, three pyrano-[2,3-c]-pyrazole derivatives were synthesized via multicomponent reaction (MCR) approach and were characterized, using a melting point, HPLC, and spectroscopic analyses (IR; 1H-NMR; 13C-NMR). All of the generated compounds were screened for their antioxidant properties in-vivo, using ciliate “Tetrahymena” as a model organism exposed to oxidative and nitrative stress. They were then studied in vitro by computer modelling, i.e., in silico, using “Autodock” software to stimulate the docking processes.

    Results

    The results demonstrated that the three compounds (5a, b, c) are biologically active and possess potent antioxidant activities, especially the 5a and 5b derivatives. On the other hand, the in vitro bioassays revealed that the 5a derivative possessed a significant antioxidant activity much greater than ascorbic acid. Accordingly, the in silico data are consistent with the experimental data.

    Conclusions

    These findings confirmed the potent antioxidant property of the synthesized compounds, providing us with new inspiration and challenges to design a library of pharmaceutical compounds with strong activity and low toxicity in the future.

    Keywords: Nitrosative, Oxidative stress, Synthesis, Pyrano-[2, 3-c]-pyrazoles, Tetrahymena
  • Md. Abu Rayhan Khan, Muhammad Shamim Al Mamun*, Mosummath Hosna Ara Pages 195-204
    Background

    Fish is a source of nutrition; however, toxic substances and heavy metals may enter human body due to consuming contaminated fish. The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of heavy metals and DDTs in Liza parsia, a fish species, and assess the health risk of the contaminants in the fish samples. 

    Methods

    The extracted fish lipid was added with n-hexane and H2SO4 and was kept for long time. The upper organic part was collected for the analysis of DDTs by gas chromatography equipped with electron capture detector. The fish samples were homogenized by wet digestion method, and the heavy metal contents were analyzed, using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The health risks of the fish samples were assessed based on target hazard quotient and target cancer risk.

    Results

    The pesticide contents of DDT, DDD, DDE and DDTs in the fish samples were 0.0414, 0.000253, 0.015 and 0.0567ng/g, respectively. Also, the mean concentrations of Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn were 35.42±10.05, 318.75±242.45, 41.67±4.78 and 281.25±5.42 mg/Kg, respectively. Of note, the Cd and Pb contents were below the detection limits. The concentrations of other heavy metals were above the reference limits, which can cause various disease processes.

    Conclusions

    The contents of four heavy metals and DDTs in the samples were above the limits. The main sources of these substances are likely due to human anthropogenic activities. Fish and other edible aquatic animals should be monitored regularly and the heavy metal levels be determined and declared to the public.

    Keywords: Carcinogenic risks, DDTs, Heavy metals, Human health, Pesticides, Toxicity
  • Abbas Shareghi Boroujeni, Khosro Jalali Dehkordi*, Gholamreza Sharifi, Farzaneh Taghian, Zohreh Mazaheri Pages 205-213
    Background

    The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of nano-eugenol combined with aerobic exercise against the streptozotocin toxicity and inflammatory mediators P38-MAPK, NPY and A-Rα2A in the dorsal root ganglia of diabetic rats.

    Methods

    Twenty-five, 8-week-old Wistar male rats were divided into 5 groups: 1) normal control group (normal model); 2) diabetic control group (diabetic model); 3), diabetic + exercise group (diabetic+exercise model); 4) diabetic group + nano-eugenol (diabetic+nano model); and
    5) diabetic + exercise + nano-eugenol (diabetic+exercise+nano model). Diabetes was induced in the experimental groups 2 through 5 by the intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin at 4mg/100 grams of the rats’ body weight. The nano-eugenol supplement was also gavaged into the supplement groups 4 and 5 only. Groups 3 and 5 exercised progressively at a speed of 8 to 20 meter/min for 5 to 30 min, five days a week over the 8-week study duration.

    Results

    The diabetic rats that exercised and were treated with the nano-eugenol, showed a significant decrease in P38-MAPK gene expression compared to the normal model group (P = 0.001). The study of the therapeutic modalities also showed that only the diabetic + exercise + nano-eugenol group showed a significant increase in NPY and A-Rα2A genes compared to the normal model (P = 0.001).

    Conclusions

    Based on the results, the use of nano-eugenol supplementation combined with aerobic exercise is likely to be effective in controlling the neurological damages due to diabetes by negatively regulating the P38-MAPK gene while positively regulating the NPY and A-Rα2A genes in the DRG region.

    Keywords: Aerobic exercise, A-Rα2A gene, Diabetic rats, Inflammatory mediators, Nano-eugenol, NPY, P38-MAPK genes