Efficacy of Essential Trace Elements Supplementation on Mineral Composition,Sperm Characteristics,Antioxidant Status,and Genotoxicity in Testis of Tebuconazole-treated Rats

Objective This research was performed to evaluate the effect of tebuconazole(TBZ)on reproductive organs of male rats and to assess the protective role of combined essential trace elements in alleviating the detrimental effect of TBZ on male reproductive function.Methods For this purpose,48 rats were exposed to 100 mg/kg TBZ,TBZ supplemented with zinc(Zn),selenium(Se),copper(Cu),and iron(Fe),TBZ+(Se+Zn);TBZ+Cu;or TBZ+Fe.The experiment was conducted for 30 consecutive days.Results TBZ caused a significant perturbation in mineral levels and reduction in reproductive organs weights,plasma testosterone level,and testicular antioxidant enzyme activities.The TBZ-treated group also showed a significant increase in sperm abnormalities(count,motility,and viability percent),plasma follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone concentrations,lipid peroxidation,protein oxidation,and severe DNA degradation in comparison with the controls.Histopathologically,TBZ caused testis impairments.Conversely,treatment with trace elements,in combination or alone,improved the reproductive organ weights,sperm characteristics,TBZ-induced toxicity,and histopathological modifications in testis.Conclusion TBZ exerts significant harmful effects on male reproductive system.The concurrent administration of trace elements reduces testis dysfunction,fertility,and toxicity induced by TBZ.

<i>Arthrobacter arilaitensis</i>Re117 as a Source of Solvent-Stable Proteases: Production, Characteristics, Potential Application in the Deproteinization of Shrimp Wastes and Evaluation in Liquid Laundry Commercial Detergents

The present study describes the characterization of crude protease extract from Arthrobacter arilaitensis Re117 and its evaluation in solid and liquid detergent. One caseinolytic protease clear band was observed in zymogram. The crude alkaline protease showed optimum activity at pH 9.0 and 50&degC, and it was highly stable over a wide range of pH from 8.0 to 9.0. Proteolytic enzymes showed extreme stability towards non-ionic surfactants (Tween 80, Tween 20 and Triton X-100) and stimulate activity towards oxidizing agents such as sodium perborate. They also showed high stability and compatibility with various laundry solid detergents from Tunisian market. The protease of A. arilaitensis Re117, was also tested for shrimp waste deproteinization to produce chitin. The protein removal with a ratio E/S of 20 was about 83%. The novelties of the Re117 protease include its high stability to organic solvents and surfactants. These unique properties make it an ideal choice for application in detergent formulations and enzymatic peptide synthesis. In addition, the enzyme may find potential applications in the deproteinization of shrimp wastes to produce chitin.

Essential oils from Elaeoselinum asclepium: Chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties

Objective: To evaluate the chemical composition of the essential oil isolated from Elaeoselinum asclepium(L.) Bertol.(E. asclepium), and test the efficiency of the essential oil as an antimicrobial and antioxidant agent.Methods: Essential oil was obtained from the aerial parts of E. asclepium by hydro distillation and analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. We study for the first time the chemical composition of the essential oil of E. asclepium, followed by the in vitro antimicrobial activities, which were evaluated by agar diffusion method against six Gram-positive bacteria, five Gram-negative bacteria, and two fungi. In addition, The antioxidant activities were also investigated using assays of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and ferricreducing capacity.Results: The analyzed essential oil of the aerial parts of E. asclepium was rich in apinene(43.9%), other compounds detected in appreciable amounts were sabinene(27.9%) and b-pinene(16.0%). The essential oil yields 1.2%, the IC50 values of essential oil in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay in the reducing power assay were 48.26 mg/m L and at 1 mg/m L, respectively. The absorbance value of essential oil at 700 nm was0.956. The antimicrobial effect was higher on Candida albicans ATCC 1024 strain with the inhibition zone 14.5 mm than bacteria and molds.Conclusions: The essential oil of E. asclepium has antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. These species may be used as an important source of natural antimicrobial and antioxidant agents.

Changes in Soil Macronutrients after a Long-Term Application of Olive Mill Wastewater

The land spreading of olive mill wastewater (OMW) derived from olive oil production can represent a suitable option to enrich and maintain agriculture soils under south Mediterranean climates. Therefore, OMW spreading field may represent a low cost contribution to crop fertilization and soil amendment. The main objective of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of raw OMW application on soil macronutrients and phenolic compounds dynamics. The results showed that regular application of three doses: 50, 100 and 200 m3&middotha-1 of OMW for nine successive years increased the soil electrical conductivity significantly (p ≤ 0.05%) with the increase of OMW rates at the depth 0 - 20 cm. The pH variations were not detected after ten months of the spreading date. Furthermore, soil sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) values were substantially affected by OMW salinity. The soil organic matter (SOM) increased from 0.068% observed for the control sample to 0.2%, 0.34% and 0.48%, respectively, with the increase of OMW rate in the top layer (0 - 20 cm). The potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen increased gradually with the OMW application dose. The Ca2+ contents on soil decreased with the spreading of OMW rate, as referred to control. In addition, the phenolic compounds variations were not proportional to doses applied and its levels remained high as compared with the control essentially on top layers (0 - 40 cm). This practice should be beneficial to organic farming and is an alternative solution to direct spreading of raw OMW on soil.

Potassium Bromate-induced Changes in the Adult Mouse Cerebellum Are Ameliorated by Vanillin

Objective The current study aimed to elucidate the effect of vanillin on behavioral changes, oxidative stress, and histopathological changes induced by potassium bromate （KBrO3）, an environmental pollutant, in the cerebellum of adult mice.Methods The animals were divided into four groups： group 1 served as a control, group 2 received KBrO3, group 3 received KBrO3 and vanillin, and group 4 received only vanillin. We then measured behavioral changes, oxidative stress, and molecular and histological changes in the cerebellum.Results We observed significant behavioral changes in KBrO3-exposed mice. When investigating redox homeostasis in the cerebellum, we found that mice treated with KBrO3 had increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in the cerebellum. These effects were accompanied by decreased Na＋-K＋ and Mg2＋ ATPase activity and antioxidant enzyme gene expression when compared to the control group. Additionally, there was a significant increase in cytokine gene expression in KBrO3-treated mice. Microscopy revealed that KBrO3 intoxication resulted in numerous degenerative changes in the cerebellum that were substantially ameliorated by vanillin supplementation. Co-administration of vanillin blocked the biochemical and molecular anomalies induced by KBrO3.Conclusion Our results demonstrate that vanillin is a potential therapeutic agent for oxidative stress associated with neurodegenerative diseases.