Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Effects of Baicalein Pretreatment on the NLRP3/GSDMD Pyroptosis Pathway and Neuronal Injury in Pilocarpine-Induced Status Epilepticus in the Mice

This study tested whether baicalein pretreatment could protect against microplastic-induced neuroinflammation by blocking the NLRP3/GSDMD pyroptosis pathway. Baicalein suppressed pyroptotic cell death and reduced neuroinflammatory markers in exposed animals, suggesting a potential protective mechanism.

2024 eNeuro 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene Microplastics Induce Injury to the Vascular Endothelial Through NLRP3 ‐Mediated Pyroptosis

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics caused blood vessel damage in rats by triggering a type of inflammatory cell death called pyroptosis through the NLRP3 pathway. The microplastics activated this destructive immune response in the cells lining blood vessels, leading to inflammation and tissue injury. This study provides a specific mechanism by which microplastic exposure could contribute to cardiovascular disease in humans.

2024 Environmental Toxicology 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Hepatoprotective effects of astragalin against polystyrene microplastics induced hepatic damage in male albino rats by modulating Nrf-2/Keap-1 pathway

Researchers investigated whether astragalin, a natural plant compound, could protect against liver damage caused by polystyrene microplastics in rats. They found that microplastic exposure triggered oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver, but astragalin treatment restored antioxidant enzyme activity and reduced damage. The study suggests that natural compounds may help counteract some of the harmful effects microplastics have on liver health.

2023 Journal of Functional Foods 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Possible Ameliorative Role of Robinetin to Counteract Polystyrene Microplastics Instigated Renal Toxicity in Rats

Researchers tested whether robinetin, a plant-derived compound, could protect rat kidneys from damage caused by polystyrene microplastic exposure. They found that microplastics caused significant kidney harm through oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death, but robinetin supplementation substantially reversed these effects. The study suggests that natural antioxidant compounds may offer a protective strategy against microplastic-related organ damage.

2024 Pakistan Veterinary Journal 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Sinensetin mitigates polystyrene nanoplastics induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats: A biochemical and histopathological study

Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics caused significant liver damage in rats, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death, along with elevated liver enzymes that are markers of liver injury in clinical settings. Treatment with sinensetin — a natural plant flavonoid — substantially reversed these effects, restoring antioxidant enzyme activity and reducing inflammatory markers. The findings establish a potential protective role for natural compounds against nanoplastic-induced organ toxicity and illuminate the mechanisms by which nanoplastics harm the liver.

2023 Journal of King Saud University - Science
Article Tier 2

Peptide Extract from Apricot Kernels Mitigates Damage in Human Aortic Endothelial Cells Induced by Polystyrene Microplastics through theInhibition of the NLRP3 Signaling Pathway

Researchers found that a peptide extract from apricot kernels protects human aortic endothelial cells from polystyrene microplastic-induced damage by simultaneously suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation and reducing oxidative stress through Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibition, reducing apoptosis by 39.1% and inflammatory cytokines by 17–38%.

2026 Protein and Peptide Letters
Article Tier 2

Palliative potential of robinetin to avert polystyrene microplastics instigated pulmonary toxicity in rats

Researchers investigated whether the flavonoid compound robinetin could protect against lung damage caused by polystyrene microplastic exposure in rats. They found that robinetin supplementation reduced oxidative stress markers and inflammatory responses in lung tissue that had been damaged by microplastic ingestion. The study suggests that certain natural compounds may help mitigate some of the harmful effects of microplastic exposure on respiratory tissues.

2024 Journal of King Saud University - Science 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Sakuranetin counteracts polyethylene microplastics induced nephrotoxic effects via modulation of Nrf2/Keap1 pathway

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics caused kidney damage in rats by increasing oxidative stress and disrupting a key protective cellular pathway. However, when the natural plant compound sakuranetin was administered alongside the microplastics, it significantly reduced the kidney damage by restoring antioxidant defenses. The study suggests that certain natural compounds may help counteract some of the harmful effects of microplastic exposure on organ health.

2024 Journal of King Saud University - Science 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Attenuative effects of poncirin against polyethylene microplastics-prompted hepatotoxicity in rats

Researchers tested whether poncirin, a natural plant compound, could protect rat livers from damage caused by polyethylene microplastics. They found that microplastic exposure caused significant oxidative stress, inflammation, and liver tissue damage, which poncirin was able to substantially reduce by activating protective antioxidant pathways. The study suggests that natural compounds like poncirin may help counteract some of the harmful effects of microplastic exposure on the liver.

2024 Journal of King Saud University - Science 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Narirutin ameliorates polystyrene microplastics induced nephrotoxicity by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation and Nrf2/Keap1 pathway

Researchers investigated whether narirutin, a natural compound found in citrus fruits, could protect kidneys from damage caused by polystyrene microplastics in rats. The study suggests that microplastic exposure triggered significant kidney stress through oxidation and inflammation, but narirutin helped reduce that damage by activating protective cellular pathways.

2024 Journal of King Saud University - Science 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Targeting NF-κB Signaling: Selected Small Molecules Downregulate Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in Both Food Allergen and LPS-Induced Inflammation

This study found that two natural food compounds, vanillyl alcohol and lauric acid, can reduce inflammation by blocking the NF-kB pathway, a key driver of chronic inflammatory diseases. While not directly about microplastics, the NF-kB pathway is one of the main ways that microplastic exposure triggers inflammation in the body. These findings suggest that certain dietary compounds could help mitigate the inflammatory effects of environmental pollutants like microplastics.

2024 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Astragalus Polysaccharides Ameliorate the Toxic Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Boar Sperm

Scientists found that tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics can damage sperm cells by causing harmful chemical reactions, but a natural compound from the Astragalus plant can help protect against this damage. This study used pig sperm in lab dishes, so we don't know yet if the same protection would work in humans. The findings matter because microplastics are everywhere in our environment and food, and this research suggests natural antioxidants might help reduce their potential harm to reproductive health.

2026 Acta Veterinaria Eurasia
Article Tier 2

Sesamin Protects Against Polystyrene Microplastics-Induced Lung Injury via Attenuating Bcl2-Mediated Apoptosis

Scientists found that sesamin, a natural compound found in sesame seeds, helped protect mice's lungs from damage caused by microplastics (tiny plastic particles we consume from food and water). The sesamin worked by preventing lung cells from dying and reducing harmful inflammation when exposed to these plastic particles. While more research is needed in humans, this suggests that eating sesame-based foods might help protect our lungs from the microplastics we're increasingly exposed to in our daily lives.

2026 Antioxidants
Article Tier 2

Pharmacological assessment of delphinidin in counteracting polystyrene microplastic induced renal dysfunction in rats

Researchers investigated whether the plant compound delphinidin could protect against kidney damage caused by polystyrene microplastics in rats. They found that microplastic exposure triggered oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death markers in kidney tissue, while delphinidin treatment significantly restored normal kidney function. The study suggests that delphinidin may have protective properties against microplastic-induced organ damage in animal models.

2024 Journal of King Saud University - Science 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Attenuative effects of tamarixetin against polystyrene microplastics‐induced hepatotoxicity in rats by regulation of Nrf‐2/Keap‐1 pathway

Researchers investigated whether tamarixetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, could reduce liver damage caused by polystyrene microplastic exposure in rats. The study found that tamarixetin helped protect against microplastic-induced liver toxicity by activating antioxidant defense pathways, suggesting potential protective effects of certain plant-derived compounds against microplastic-related oxidative stress.

2023 Cell Biochemistry and Function 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and F-53B induces vascular endothelial cell pyroptosis through the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway

Researchers found that combined exposure to nanoplastics and a common industrial chemical (F-53B, a PFOS replacement) caused significant blood vessel damage in mice. The combination thickened artery walls, reduced blood vessel elasticity, and triggered cell death in the vessel lining through an inflammatory pathway. This suggests that nanoplastics may worsen the cardiovascular harm caused by other environmental pollutants people are commonly exposed to.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Didymin protects against polystyrene nanoplastic-induced hepatic damage in male albino rats by modulation of Nrf-2/Keap-1 pathway

Researchers tested whether didymin, a natural compound found in citrus fruits, could protect rat livers from damage caused by polystyrene nanoplastics. They found that didymin significantly reduced oxidative stress and inflammation by activating a key protective cellular pathway. The study suggests that certain dietary compounds may help counteract some of the harmful effects of nanoplastic exposure on the liver.

2024 Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Protective effect of curcumin against microplastic and nanoplastics toxicity

Researchers reviewed studies examining whether curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, can protect against the toxic effects of micro- and nanoplastics in the body. Evidence indicates that curcumin helped reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, and organ damage caused by plastic particle exposure across multiple organ systems in animal studies. The review suggests that natural antioxidant compounds like curcumin may hold promise for mitigating some of the harmful effects of plastic pollution on health.

2024 International Journal of Environmental Health Research 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics induce endothelial pyroptosis and pro-atherogenic cellular responses

Researchers found that amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics, particularly 20-nanometer particles, triggered pyroptosis, a form of inflammatory cell death, in human blood vessel endothelial cells. This cell damage promoted the recruitment, adhesion, and lipid accumulation of immune cells, mimicking early stages of atherosclerosis development. The study suggests that surface chemical modifications of nanoplastics can significantly influence their toxicity to the cardiovascular system.

2026 Food and Chemical Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Amino-Functionalized Polystyrene Nano-Plastics Induce Mitochondria Damage in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Researchers found that amino-functionalized polystyrene nanoplastics can damage mitochondria in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, which line blood vessels. The study suggests that nanoplastics small enough to enter the body through the food chain may pose risks to the cardiovascular system by disrupting cellular energy production and triggering oxidative stress in vascular cells.

2022 Toxics 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Sodium nitroprusside alleviates nanoplastics-induced developmental toxicity by suppressing apoptosis, ferroptosis and inflammation

Researchers discovered that sodium nitroprusside, a compound that releases nitric oxide, could protect zebrafish larvae from the toxic effects of nanoplastics by reducing oxidative stress, cell death, and inflammation. The treatment worked by activating a signaling pathway that neutralized the harmful reactive oxygen species triggered by nanoplastic exposure. This is one of the first studies to identify a potential treatment that could counteract nanoplastic toxicity, offering hope for developing protective strategies against plastic particle exposure.

2023 Journal of Environmental Management 30 citations
Article Tier 2

The impact of polystyrene microplastics on cardiomyocytes pyroptosis through NLRP3/Caspase‐1 signaling pathway and oxidative stress in Wistar rats

Researchers exposed rats to polystyrene microplastics at varying doses and examined the effects on heart tissue. They found that microplastic exposure triggered inflammatory cell death and oxidative stress in heart cells through a specific signaling pathway, suggesting that microplastics may pose risks to cardiovascular health.

2021 Environmental Toxicology 176 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro-algal astaxanthin ameliorates polystyrene microplastics-triggered necroptosis and inflammation by mediating mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis in carp’s head kidney lymphocytes (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Researchers investigated whether astaxanthin, a natural pigment from microalgae, could protect carp immune cells from damage caused by polystyrene microplastics. They found that astaxanthin reduced inflammation and cell death triggered by microplastics by helping maintain calcium balance within the cells' mitochondria. The study suggests that natural antioxidant compounds may help mitigate some of the harmful immune effects of microplastic exposure in fish.

2023 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of toxicity of polystyrene microplastics under realistic exposure levels in human vascular endothelial EA.hy926 cells

Researchers exposed human vascular endothelial cells to polystyrene microplastics at concentrations comparable to levels detected in human blood. They found that the microplastics caused oxidative stress, reduced antioxidant defenses, and triggered apoptosis in the vascular cells. The study suggests that microplastics circulating in the bloodstream at realistic concentrations may contribute to vascular damage by impairing cellular protective mechanisms.

2022 Chemosphere 51 citations