Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is widely used as a food additive but its excessive intake leads to oxidative stress of several organs. However, the oxidative effect of MSG on male accessory reproductive organs remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of MSG on the status of oxidative stress and morphological alterations in the male accessory reproductive organs such as epididymis, prostate glands and seminal vesicle of Sprague-Dawley rats. A total of 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups with 8 rats per group. Control group received distilled water (1 ml/kg) while MSG60 and MSG120 received 60 mg/kg and 120 mg/kg of MSG, respectively. All the substances were administered via force feed oral for 28 consecutive days. At the end of the study, the rats were sacrificed to obtain the accessory organs for biochemical analysis and histological observations. The SOD activity in the epididymis showed a significant increase in MSG60 and MSG120 compared to control (p < 0.05). The GSH levels in the epididymis of MSG 120 showed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. The levels of MDA and PC in the epididymis and prostate gland of MSG60 and MSG120 showed a significant increased (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. Histological alterations were found in the epididymis and prostate gland of MSG treated rats. In conclusion, MSG at both doses induced oxidative stress in the epididymis and prostate gland of experimental rats.
Exposure to organophosphate pesticide including fenitrothion (FNT) has led to many adverse effects on human health.
However, a potent antioxidant like palm oil tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) can reduce oxidative damage in various
pathological conditions, could also reduce the adverse effects by FNT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect
of TRF on oxidative liver damage in FNT induce hepatotoxicity in experimental rats. A total of 40 male Sprague-Dawley
rats were randomly divided into four groups of 10, namely control, TRF, FNT and TRF+FNT group. TRF (200 mg/kg
body weight) and FNT (20 m/kg body weight) were administered through oral gavage for 28 days. Corn oil which
served as vehicle was given orally to the control group. At the end of the study period, liver and blood was taken for
oxidative damage and biochemical evaluation and histological observation. TRF supplementation prevents oxidative
liver damage by reducing the hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PCO) level significantly. Besides,
TRF also restored the endogenous antioxidants particularly reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx)
and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP). TRF also prevent liver damage by reducing the liver enzymes, alanine
aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). The attenuation of liver damage by TRF was also showed
histologically. In conclusion, TRF supplementation showed a potential in preventing oxidative liver damage in FNTtreated
rats by reducing the oxidative damage and improving the antioxidant status.
Penghasilan radikal bebas oleh nikotin dikaitkan dengan kerosakan sistem pembiakan lelaki terutamanya sperma dan testis. Penggunaan rawatan yang berasaskan herba seperti Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. (HSE) kian meningkat disebabkan kandungan antioksida semula jadi yang tinggi. Oleh itu, kajian ini dijalankan untuk mengkaji kesan ekstrak akueus HSE terhadap kualiti sperma dan tekanan oksidatif testis tikus yang diadministrasi nikotin. Sejumlah 21 ekor tikus jantan Sprague-Dawley dibahagikan secara rawak kepada tiga kumpulan iaitu kumpulan kawalan, nikotin dan nikotin+HSE. Nikotin disuntik secara intraperitoneum pada dos 0.6 mg/kg berat badan manakala HSE diberikan pada dos 100 mg/kg berat badan secara paksaan oral sebelum administrasi nikotin pada setiap hari selama 21 hari berturut-turut. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bilangan, motiliti dan viabiliti sperma lebih tinggi secara signifikan (p<0.05) manakala peratus ketaknormalan morfologi sperma lebih rendah secara signifikan (p<0.05) bagi pada kumpulan nikotin+HSE berbanding kumpulan nikotin. Sementara itu berlakunya penurunan aras malondialdehid (MDA) dan peningkatan aras glutation terturun (GSH) secara signifikan (p<0.05) bagi kumpulan nikotin+HSE berbanding kumpulan nikotin. Pemerhatian histologi mendapati HSE berpotensi melindungi morfologi testis tikus aruhan nikotin. Kesimpulannya, kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa pemberian suplemen ekstrak HSE berpotensi mencegah kerosakan sperma dan testis akibat administrasi nikotin.
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is widely used as an additive in food. Excess consumption of MSG was reported to cause oxidative stress on brain, liver and renal resulted in increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This study aims to determine the biochemical and histological effects of low dose MSG on the liver of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals (n = 6 per group) were randomly divided into three groups with two treatment groups: 60 mg/kg (MSG60) and 120 mg/kg (MSG120), and one control group (distilled water). The substances were administered to the rats via force feeding for 28 consecutive days. On day 29, all rats were killed, and liver tissues were biopsied for the biochemical (total protein, liver enzymes, and the status of oxidative stress) and histological analysis. The total protein appeared significantly decreased (p < 0.05) while alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) demonstrated a significant increased (p < 0.05) in the MSG120 treatment group as compared to the control group. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the antioxidant levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly increase (p < 0.05) in the MSG120 group as compared to the MSG60 and control groups. The histological findings revealed changes to normal liver architecture and accumulation of red blood cells in the central veins in both MSG groups. This study indicates that the MSG consumption at a dose of 120 mg/kg may ALTer the biochemical and histological parameters of the liver.
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavour enhancer commonly used in processed food to increase palatability. Several studies have reported that chronic exposure of MSG causes renal fibrosis via oxidative stress mechanism. However, till date, the effects of low dose of MSG on the oxidative stress status and its histopathological observation of renal are still unclear. A total of 18 male Sprague Dawley rats (170 – 200 g) were divided randomly into three groups consisted of the control (received distilled water = 1 ml/kg), MSG 60 (received 60 mg/kg MSG) and MSG 120 (received 120 mg/kg MSG) groups. All of the substances were given via force-feed oral for 28 consecutive days. At the end of the study, all rats were sacrificed and the renal were isolated for biochemical and histological evaluation. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and protein carbonyl (PC) level showed significantly increased (p < 0.05) in MSG 60 and MSG 120 group compared to the control group. However, no significant difference was found in glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in all treated groups. The histology observation showed glomerulus shrinkage in MSG 60 and MSG 120 groups. In conclusion, these findings confirmed low dose of MSG-induced oxidative stress and histopathological changes on the renal of male Sprague-dawley rats. Accordingly, care must be taken on the intake of MSG in our daily basis.
Oxidative stress involved in various pathological conditions. Plants have been proven to act as a natural exogenous antioxidant. The aim of this research is to investigate the protective effects of Etlingera coccinea leaves aqueous extract on autoxidation-induced ox brain homogenate. The brain homogenate was divided into 7 groups: control group with PBS solution, positive control group with 100 μg/ml ascorbic acid, test group with 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 μg/ml of E. coccinea. The antioxidant potential of E. coccinea aqueous extract has been evaluated by antioxidant capacity assay such as Total phenolic content (TPC), radical scavenging assay (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) were also measured at 0 hr and 1 hr after 37°C water bath incubation to determine the antioxidant status and oxidative damage. TPC assay showed (4.85 ± 0.28) mg GAE/g of dry weight of E. coccinea leaves. Based on DPPH and FRAP assay, E. coccinea aqueous extract showed a dose-dependent antioxidant activity. MDA level in the 50 μg/ml E. coccinea was significantly lower compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). The SOD activity was significantly increase in 400 μg/ml E. coccinea (p < 0.05) compared to other groups. E. coccinea at the dose of 25 μg/ml and 50 μg/ml showed significant increase in GSH level compared to other groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, 25 μg/ml and 50 μg/ml of E. coccinea leave aqueous extracts exhibited a potential protective effect on autoxidation-induced ox brain homogenate.
Fenitrothion (FNT) usage has received much attention for its potential to promote free radicals generation and interfere with antioxidant defense system. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of palm oil tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF) supplementation on oxidative stress and histological changes in rat brain induced by FNT. A total of 32 male Sprague Dawley rats divided into four groups: control group which received corn oil; TRF group was received palm oil TRF (200 mg/kg bw); FNT group administered with FNT (20 mg/kg bw) and TRF+FNT group pretreated with palm oil TRF (200 mg/kg bw) 30 min prior to administration of FNT (20 mg/kg bw). FNT and TRF were dissolved in corn oil and all supplementations were given by oral gavage once daily for 28 days. After four weeks of supplementation, TRF+FNT rats had significantly lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity but higher reduced glutathione (GSH) level and total protein level compared to FNT rats (p<0.05). However, protein carbonyl (PC) level was insignificantly lower for TRF+FNT group compared to FNT group. In conclusion, this study suggested that palm oil TRF was effective in preventing brain damage in rats.
Introduction: Increased demand and low blood supply have been a critical issue in many countries, including Malaysia. This issue occurs due to a lack of awareness towards the importance of blood donation. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitude and practice towards blood donation among undergraduate students of the Faculty of Health Sciences (FSK), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kuala Lumpur. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on undergraduate students of the Faculty of Health Sciences (FSK), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kuala Lumpur, which is comprised of 9 programmes: Biomedical Science, Optometry, Nutrition Science, Dietetics, Audiology, Speech Science, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Environmental Health. The respondents were recruited by a stratified random sampling technique with an informed consent. Questionnaire that consisted of four sections, namely: (A) sociodemographic characteristics, (B) knowledge on blood donation, (C) attitude towards blood donation and (D) practice of blood donation were distributed and a total of 274 responses were obtained for further evaluation. The significance values were set as P < 0.05. Results: Our research findings showed that the majority of students had a good level of knowledge (99.6%) and attitude (95.3%) about blood donation but most of them demonstrated a poor practice (59.1%). As for genders, female students had a better level of knowledge and attitude than males, but male students committed better practice towards blood donation than females. However, there were no significant differences between gender and programme of study as the respondents shared a similar background in health-related courses. Conclusion: A majority of the students had a good level of knowledge and attitude, but they are poor in practice. More campaigns need to be conducted to create awareness on the importance of blood donation.