The effects of different herbals on the rat hippocampus exposed to electromagnetic field for one hour during the prenatal period

Journal of chemical neuroanatomy · 2021 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 989

In the EMF (1 hr) group, total pyramidal neuron numbers were significantly decreased in the cornu ammonis (CA) (p<0.01). The study reports that antioxidant substances (Garcinia kola, Momordica charantia, thymoquinone) reduced adverse effects, with Momordica c…

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of chemical neuroanatomy · 2021

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The effects of different herbals on the rat hippocampus exposed to electromagnetic field for one hour during the prenatal period Ömür Gülsüm Deniz, Süleyman Kaplan. The effects of different herbals on the rat hippocampus exposed to electromagnetic field for one hour during the prenatal period. J Chem Neuroanat. 2021 Nov 19;102043. doi: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2021.102043. Highlights • 900 MHz electromagnetic field exposure can cause adverse effects on the hippocampus. • Garcinia kola, Momordica charantia, thymoquinone may reduce deleterious effects of electromagnetic field. • It was revealed that the protective effect of Momordica charantia is stronger than other antioxidant substances used in the present study. Note: Momordica charantia is commonly called bitter melon. Abstract The purpose of this study was to highlight the possible effects on the hippocampus of the electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by mobile phones, and to investigate whether these potential effects can be reduced using various antioxidant substances. Twenty-seven female Wistar albino rats were divided into nine equal groups, each containing three pregnant rats aged 8-10 weeks and weighing 200-250 gr. The EMF groups were exposed to 900 Megahertz (MHz) EMF for 1hour (hr) a day for 21 days. No EMF exposure was applied to the Cont and also the groups given only Garcinia kola (GK), Momordica charantia (MC), and thymoquinone (TQ). The Sham group was kept in the polycarbonate EMF exposure system, but was not exposed to EMF. Four weeks after birth, rat pups were subjected to behavioural tests. Brain tissue samples were evaluated using histological, stereological, functional, and immunohistochemical methods. The numbers of pyramidal neurons in the rat cornu ammonis (CA) were determined using the optical fractionator method. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities in the blood samples were also evaluated. The analysis data indicated that total pyramidal neuron numbers were decreased significantly in the CA of the EMF (1hr) group (p<0.01). Our results also showed that the protective effect of MC was more potent than that of the other antioxidant substances (p<0.01). A 900MHz EMF can cause deleterious changes in the brain. It can also be suggested that GK, MC and TQ are capable of reducing these adverse effects. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionmixed

PopulationPregnant female Wistar albino rats and their pups (prenatal exposure; outcomes assessed in pups 4 weeks after birth)

Sample size27

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 1 hr/day for 21 days (prenatal exposure)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Hippocampal/cornu ammonis (CA) pyramidal neuron number (optical fractionator stereology)
Behavioral test outcomes (in pups)
Histological, functional, and immunohistochemical brain tissue measures
Blood antioxidant enzyme activities: superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)

Limitations

No SAR or exposure intensity metrics reported in abstract
Small group sizes implied (nine groups with three pregnant rats each)
Specific behavioral and biochemical results (SOD/CAT) not detailed in abstract
Details of randomization/blinding not reported in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "1 hr/day for 21 days (prenatal exposure)"
  },
  "population": "Pregnant female Wistar albino rats and their pups (prenatal exposure; outcomes assessed in pups 4 weeks after birth)",
  "sample_size": 27,
  "outcomes": [
    "Hippocampal/cornu ammonis (CA) pyramidal neuron number (optical fractionator stereology)",
    "Behavioral test outcomes (in pups)",
    "Histological, functional, and immunohistochemical brain tissue measures",
    "Blood antioxidant enzyme activities: superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In the EMF (1 hr) group, total pyramidal neuron numbers were significantly decreased in the cornu ammonis (CA) (p<0.01). The study reports that antioxidant substances (Garcinia kola, Momordica charantia, thymoquinone) reduced adverse effects, with Momordica charantia described as more potent than the other antioxidants (p<0.01).",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "No SAR or exposure intensity metrics reported in abstract",
    "Small group sizes implied (nine groups with three pregnant rats each)",
    "Specific behavioral and biochemical results (SOD/CAT) not detailed in abstract",
    "Details of randomization/blinding not reported in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "900 MHz",
    "radiofrequency",
    "mobile phone",
    "prenatal exposure",
    "hippocampus",
    "cornu ammonis",
    "pyramidal neurons",
    "Wistar albino rat",
    "Garcinia kola",
    "Momordica charantia",
    "bitter melon",
    "thymoquinone",
    "oxidative stress",
    "SOD",
    "catalase"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study examines 900 MHz EMF emitted by mobile phones."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2021.102043
PubMed: 34808256

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