Browsing by Author "Basunlu, Mehmet Turan"

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Comparative Nephroprotective Effects of Silymarin, N-Acetylcysteine, and Thymoquinone Against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats
(Kowsar Publ, 2017) Ustyol, Lokman; Demiroren, Kaan; Kandemir, Ibrahim; Erten, Remzi; Bulan, Kezban; Kaba, Sultan; Basunlu, Mehmet Turan
Background: Many pharmacological agents may lead to kidney damage. Preventing nephrotoxicity reduces the risk of morbidity and mortality, as well as decreasing hospitalization costs. Objectives: In this study, we investigated the comparative nephroprotective effects of silymarin, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and thymoquinone (TQ) in animal models (rats) in which we induced nephrotoxicity using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Methods: This animal experimental study was conducted at the experimental animals center of Yuzuncu Yil University, Turkey, in 2015. Thirty-eight adult male Wistar rats were used in this study. We defined five experimental groups and treated them for four weeks. The first group (n = 8) was given no medicine. The second group (n = 8) was given only CCl4 (1.5 ml/kg, intraperitoneally (IP), in olive oil, twice a week). The third group (n = 6) was given TQ (10 mg/kg, IP, in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), daily) and CCl4 (1.5 mL/kg). The fourth group (n = 8) was given silymarin (100 mg/kg, IP, in DMSO, daily) and CCl4 (1.5 mL/kg), while the fifth group (n = 8) was given NAC (10 mg/kg, IP, daily) and CCl4 (1.5 mL/kg). The kidneys of all the rats in every group were evaluated histologically using light microscopic methods at the end of the fourth week. A grading scheme was used to score the histological alterations related to tubular injury: absent (-), mild (+), moderate (++), severe (+++), and quite severe (++++). Results: In terms of the mean values of tubular damage, the first group had a mean of 0.0, the second group had 3.88 +/- 0.35, the third group had 1.00 +/- 0.89, the fourth group had 2.13 +/- 1.13, and the fifth group had 2.75 +/- 1.04. The results showed that, histopathologically, CCl4 had quite a severe toxic effect on the tubules when compared to the control group, although the glomeruli were intact. Silymarin, TQ, and NAC all showed statistically significant nephroprotective effects (P < 0.01). However, of the three, TQ was the most powerful nephroprotective agent (P < 0.01). Conclusions: In conclusion, we suggest that TQ may be used as a prophylactic agent against nephrotoxicity, especially in instances of tubular injury. However, human-based studies are still needed.
A Comparison of the Effects of Thymoquinone, Silymarin and N-Acetylcysteine in an Experimental Hepatotoxicity
(Elsevier France-editions Scientifiques Medicales Elsevier, 2018) Demiroren, Kaan; Basunlu, Mehmet Turan; Erten, Remzi; Cokluk, Erdem
This study investigated the effects of thymoquinone, silymarin, and N-acetylcysteine in a rat model with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity. Although numerous similar studies are available, we aimed to compare the efficacy of these agents by considering N-acetylcysteine as a reference compound. A total of 50 male Wistar albino rats were randomly designated as 5 groups: Group I, CCl4; group II, thymoquinone and CCl4; group III, silymarin and CCl4; group IV, N-acetylcysteine and CCl4; group V, control group. CCl4 was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 1.5 mL/kg (a mixture of CCl4: olive oil, 1:2) twice a week. Thymoquinone was administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg, silymarin was administered at a dose of 100 mg/kg, and N-acetylcysteine was administered at a dose of 100 mg/kg by daily intraperitoneal injection. At the end of four weeks, blood and liver tests were analyzed. The results were evaluated statistically via the one-way ANOVA test. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Thymoquinone, silymarin, and N-acetylcysteine improved the levels of alanine aminotransferase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, and interleukin-6, which were increased by CCl4. Thymoquinone and silymarin showed the positive increase in liver glutathione levels. Thymoquinone, silymarin, and N-acetylcysteine improved blood total oxidant status. In the histological examinations of liver tissue, thymoquinone decreased necrosis, and inflammation. The most positive decrease in the alpha-smooth muscle actin-stained hepatic stellate cell count was only observed with thymoquinone. These findings suggest that thymoquinone, silymarin, and N-acetylcysteine have potential for the treatment of diseases causing liver injury. Among these agents, thymoquinone showed the best results on most of the parameters. Since TQ appears to be at least as effective as SM and NAC in our in-vitro study, we propose that it is time for clinical studies with thymoquinone on hepatotoxicity.