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Context: There are numerous pharmacological activities for Ruta graveolens and its bioactive constituent, rutin, on learning and memory. Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of R. graveolens and rutin on memory in rats. Materials and methods: In this study animals were treated with the hydroalcholic extract of R. graveolens and rutin by IP injection for 10 days. Behavioural and biochemical tests as well as HPLC analysis and antioxidant activity of extract have been evaluated. Results: R. graveolens extract and rutin significantly increased learning and improved spatial memory, as well as secondary latency; moreover, there were significant increases in the serum and brain antioxidant capacity as well as the level of TBARS in serum and brain tissues. Results also showed that R. graveolens has significant DPPH radical scavenging effect (IC50: 159.17 ± 1.56 μg/mL). The HPLC analysis of extract showed that caffeic acid (19.92 ± 0.01), rutin (40.15 ± 0.01), and apigenin (0.84 ± 0.01) mg/g of dry extract are the main components of the extract. Discussion and conclusion: Regarding the effects of R. graveolens extract and rutin on animal brain cells, memory function, and learning, additional studies, including clinical trials, might be beneficial in producing natural supplementary drugs from this herb.

Depression and anxiety are common psychiatric disorders accounting for social and economic burdens. Previous studies have shown that oxidative stress and oxidant/antioxidant imbalance are involved in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Experiencing early-life adversities (like maternal separation [MS] stress) provoked psychiatric disorders. Trigonelline (TRG) is a pyridine alkaloid that has various pharmacological effects including hypoglycemic, neuroprotective and memory-improving properties. To investigate the antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects of TRG focusing oxidative stress, we applied the MS paradigm to male mice at postnatal day (PND) 2–14 (3 h daily, 9–12 a.m.) and investigated the behaviors at PND 45–47. Using valid behavioral tests including a forced swimming test (FST), splash test, open field test (OFT) and elevated plus maze (EPM), we investigated behavioral modifications. Additionally, we examined the effects of MS and TRG treatment on the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and also antioxidant capacity in the brain and serum. Our results showed that MS provoked depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors in the FST, OFT, EPM and splash test, which are associated with an increase in MDA and NO levels as well as a decrease in antioxidant capacity in the brain and serum samples. Findings determined that TRG significantly reversed the negative effects of MS on behavior that is accompanied by a decrease in MDA and NO as well as an increase in antioxidant capacity. Findings of the present study showed that beneficial effects of TRG may be, at least partially, mediated via the reduction of oxidative stress and an increase of antioxidant capacity.

Background: Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses around the world. Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the pathophysiology of depression. Auraptene (a coumarin derivative) has been shown to have pharmacological effects on neurological diseases. porpuse: The present study aimed to investigate the possible role of NO pathway in Auraptene antidepressant effects in male mice.Methods: Behavioral tests were used to assess depression-like behaviors. The mice received Auraptene at 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg, the combination of the sub-effective dose of Auraptene (10 mg/kg) and L-NAME, and the combination of the effective dose of Auraptene (30 mg/kg) and L-arginine. Finally, brain and serum MDA level and antioxidant capacity, as well as hippocampus and serum NO level was measured.Results: Auraptene (30 mg/kg) improved depression-like behaviors. Auraptene (30 mg/kg) also significantly reduced serum NO levels (PConclusion: The results showed that Auraptene causes antidepressant effects in a dose-dependent manner and acts as a prooxidant at 100 mg/kg and exacerbates oxidative stress. The antidepressant effects of this active molecule are exerted by reducing the NO level in the hippocampus and serum, increasing the antioxidant capacity and reducing the MDA level in the serum.

Background and Aim. Depression is a social problem with high economic burden in the society. Finding an effective agent with high efficacy and few side effects is therefore needed. Involvement of neuroimmune response as well as nitric oxide (NO) has been determined in the pathophysiology of depression. Limonene is a terpene with various pharmacological properties. Thus, we aimed to evaluate antidepressant-like effect of limonene on a mouse model of maternal separation (MS) focusing on neuroinflammation and NO level in the hippocampus. Methods. Mice were randomly divided into experimental groups as follows: the control group received normal saline and MS groups received normal saline, limonene (10 and 20 mg/kg), L-NAME (10 mg/kg), L-arginine (L-arg) (75 mg/kg), limonene (10 mg/kg) plus L-NAME, and limonene (20 mg/kg) plus L-arg. Behavioral tests including the forced swimming test (FST), open field test (OFT), and splash test were performed. Finally, serum and hippocampal nitrite levels as well as the expression of inflammatory genes (IL-1β and TNF-α) in the hippocampus were measured. Results. We showed that MS caused depressive-like behavior. Treatment of MS mice with limonene reduced the duration of immobility time in FST and increases the grooming activity time in the splash test. Limonene also reduces serum and brain nitrite levels and reduces the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α in the hippocampus. We found that L-NAME potentiated the effects of a subeffective dose of limonene. Conclusion. We concluded that the antidepressant-like effects of limonene are probably mediated through inhibition of neuroinflammation and attenuation of nitrite levels in the hippocampus.

Background Today, the attention of researchers has been drawn to the use of medicinal plant for the treatment of kidney stones. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of five plants used in traditional medicine on the dissolution of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate stones. Then, the ability of more effective plants to dissolve stones collected from patients after Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy was investigated. Methods The aerial part of plants were extracted by maceration method. The synthesized stones in laboratory were incubated with different concentrations of the extract. Next, the concentrations of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate were measured by a calcium kit and BT 3000. The effect of the extract with the best activity on the stones collected from the patients was also studied. The composition of clinical stones was determined by colorimetric method. The total phenolic content (TPC) of the extracts was determined. Results The highest dissolution of calcium oxalate stones was observed by the G. struthium extract and the highest dissolution of calcium phosphate stones by the A. euchroma and A. officinalis root extracts. The dissolution percentage of clinical stones by the A. euchroma extract was significantly higher than other extract (P A. euchroma extract (P . Conclusion The A. euchroma extract exhibited the greatest dissolution activity on laboratory calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate stones as well as clinical stones made of high amounts of calcium oxalate. Therefore, the extract can be effective in preventing and treating kidney stones.

Background Experiencing early-life stress plays an important role in the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders. Ferulic acid is a phenolic compound found in some plants which has several pharmacological properties. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are involved in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. In this study we aimed to assess the anxiolytic-like effect of ferulic acid in a mouse model of maternal separation (MS) stress by focusing on the possible involvement of NMDA receptors. Methods Mice were treated with ferulic acid (5 and 40 mg/kg) alone and in combination with NMDA receptor agonist/antagonist. Valid behavioral tests were performed, including open field test (OFT) and elevated plus maze test (EPM), while quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to evaluate gene expression of NMDA subunits (GluN2A and GluN2B) in the hippocampus. Results Findings showed that treatment of MS mice with ferulic acid increased the time spent in the central zone of the OFT and increased both open arm time and the percent of open arm entries in the EPM. Ferulic acid reduced the expression of NMDA receptor subunit genes. We showed that administration of NMDA receptor agonist (NMDA) and antagonist (ketamine) exerted anxiogenic and anxiolytic-like effects, correspondingly. Results showed that co-administration of a sub-effective dose of ferulic acid plus ketamine potentiated the anxiolytic-like effect of ferulic acid. Furthermore, co-administration of an effective dose of ferulic acid plus NMDA receptor agonist (NMDA) attenuated the anxiolytic-like effect of ferulic acid. Conclusions In deduction, our findings showed that NMDA, partially at least, is involved in the anxiolytic-like effect of ferulic acid in the OFT and EPM tests.

Background and Aim. Numerous reports have indicated that dealing with stressors in life is a main risk factor for the occurrence and progression of cognitive and memory impairment. Available treatments such as benzodiazepine and antidepressants address only certain aspects of this stress disorder and have numerous side effects. The present study was aimed at investigating the effect of diosmetin, as a flavonoid compound with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, on cognitive impairment and chronic stress memory. Materials and Methods. In the present experimental study, male NMRI mice were exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) paradigm for 35 days. Diosmetin (at doses of 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg. i.p.) or diosmetin solvent (normal saline + DMSO, 1 ml/kg; i.p.) was administered 30 min before stress induction. After 28 days, memory and cognitive performance were assessed by shuttle box and novel object recognition tests. Finally, antioxidant capacity (FRAP) and malondialdehyde (MDA) level of serum and brain, and serum corticosterone level were evaluated. Results. Behavioral tests showed that CUMS significantly reduced the secondary latency in passive avoidance memory test and diagnosis index in novel object recognition test compared to the control group ( P < 0.001 ), whereas treatment with diosmetin (20 and 40 mg/kg) significantly improved memory performance in the two tests ( P < 0.001 ). In addition, diosmetin (40 mg/kg) could pronouncedly suppress increase in serum corticosterone levels, reduction in antioxidant capacity, and production of excess MDA caused by CUMS compared to the control group ( P < 0.01 , P < 0.001 , and P < 0.001 , respectively). Conclusion. Chronic stress can impair memory and cognition and treatment with diosmetin can partly improve this disorder in male mice by increasing the antioxidant capacity of brain tissue and serum and improving serum corticosterone levels.