Search

Abstract: The effect of carvacrol (CAR) on oxidative stress, inflammation, and liver dysfunction induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was explored. The rats (n=40) were daily injected (2 weeks) by saline as control, LPS (1 mg/kg, i.p.), and 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg CAR (i.p.) before LPS. LPS increased aspartate transaminase (AST: 162±13 U/L), alanine aminotransferase (ALT: 74.6±2.15 U/L), alkaline phosphatase (ALK-P: 811±51 U/L), interlukine-1β (IL-1β: 1254±51 pg/g tissue), malondialdehyde (MDA: 32±1.09 nM/g tissue), and nitric oxide (NO: 224±13.5 nM/g tissue) (P

Background: Inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death are major contributors to kidney injury following ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Acacetin (ACA) is a natural flavonoid that many studies have shown can prevent I/R-induced damaging effects. Objectives: In the current attempt, we sought to search for the mechanisms through which ACA attenuates renal I/R. Methods: Male Balb/c mice were divided into four groups (n = 7): sham-operated group, I/R group, I/R treated with 50 mg/kg ACA group, and control group. Following 60 min ischemia, reperfusion was performed for 24 h. Administrations were done intraperitoneally daily for four consecutive days. Renal function was evaluated by measurement of creatinine. Changes in antioxidant capacity were evaluated by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities. The expression of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-18 (IL-18), heme oxygenase-1 (Ho-1), nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf-2), and thioredoxin 1 (Trx1) was detected by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR). The levels of IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay. Results: Creatinine level showed a decreased value after ACA treatment; however, declined SOD and GPx activities were elevated by ACA. The increased expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-18 in the I/R group was declined in ACA-receiving mice. The expression levels of genes involved in anti-oxidative response Nrf-2, Ho-1, and Trx1 were decreased remarkably in the I/R group, and it reversed in ACA-treated mice. The secretion of IL-10 was elevated in the ACA-administrated group compared to untreated animals, while the COX-2 and TNF-α proteins were decreased following ACA treatment. Conclusions: These beneficial effects of ACA suggest that oxidative stress response participates in the protective effect of ACA against renal I/R.

Introduction: Research has shown that gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can damage brain tissue physiological processes. Given the antioxidant properties of gingerol (GING), the aim of this study was to determine the protective effect of 6-gingerol on hippocampal levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor, DNA oxidative damage, and the amount of Bax and Bcl-2 Apoptosis indices of rats exposed to AuNPs. Methods: Forty two male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control (30 days 0.5 ml saline), AuNPs (one time injection of 0.5 ml AuNPs, 200 ppm and 60 Nm + 30 days 0.5 ml saline), AuNPs+GING 50 (one time injection of 0.5 ml AuNPs, 200 ppm and 60 Nm + 30 days 0.5 ml density of gingerol 50 mg / kg), AuNPs+GING100 (one time injection of 0.5 ml AuNPs, 200 ppm and 60 Nm + 30 days 0.5 ml density of gingerol 100 mg / kg). At the end of the treatment period, the hippocampal levels of NGF, BDNF, 8-HodG and Apoptotic indices of Bax and Bcl-2 were assessed through ELISA method. Results: Compared with the AuNPs group, hippocampal levels of BDNF, NGF, and Bcl-2 in rats from AuNPs+GING 50 and AuNPs+GING 100 groups significantly increased depending on the dose of injection. The hippocampal levels of Bax and HOdG-8 significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Conclusion: According to obtained results, it may be suggested that gingerol improves hippocampal BDNF and NGF levels in rats exposed to AuNPs maybe by reducing apoptosis and oxidative DNA damage.

Background and aim Renal ischemia-reperfusion is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. As a major compound in black pepper, piperine has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. In present study, the protective effects of oral administration of piperine in renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) induced acute kidney injuries (AKI) were investigated. Experimental procedure Male Wistar rats received piperine (10 or 20 mg/kg.bw) or vehicle for 10 days. The artery and vein of both kidneys were then clamped for 30 min, followed by a 24-h reperfusion period. Concentrations of creatinine and urea-nitrogen in descending aorta blood were measured, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) levels were measured in kidney tissue to evaluate the oxidative stress. Inflammation was evaluated by measuring the TNF-α and ICAM-1 mRNA expression levels in renal cortical tissue using Real Time PCR method and counting leukocytes infiltration to interstitium. Further measured were tissue damages in H & E stained sections. Results Renal IR reduced FRAP, while increasing the plasma concentrations of creatinine and urea-nitrogen, tissue MDA level, TNF-α and ICAM-1 mRNA expressions, leukocyte infiltration and histopathologic injuries. Piperine administration significantly reduced the plasma concentrations of creatinine and urea-nitrogen, expression of pro-inflammatory factors, oxidative stress and renal histopathologic injuries. It is to be noted that 20 mg/kg dose was more effective. Conclusion Our results suggest piperine protects the kidney against ischemia-reperfusion induced acute kidney injuries by its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties., Graphical abstract Image 102975, Highlights • Renal ischemia-reperfusion increased the inflammation and oxidative stress parameters. • Ischemia-reperfusion increased histopathological damages and functional parameters. • Piperine pretreatment significantly reduced the inflammation and oxidative stress. • Piperine administration ameliorated renal function and histopathologic damages.

Background: In neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s disease (AD), learning and memory, and neural plasticity are impaired. Vitamin C (Vit C), as an antioxidant, protects tissues against oxidative stress. In this study, the neuroprotection and the effectiveness of Vit C in the prevention and treatment of AD in a rat model of AD induced by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of amyloid-beta (Aβ) were studied using behavioral tests and electrophysiological methods. Methods: 50 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups (n=10 rats /group): Control, Sham, AD, Vit C, and AD+Vit C. After treatment (2 months), animals were assessed by learning and memory tests, including the new object recognition (NOR), passive avoidance learning (PAL), and Morris water maze (MWM) tests. Then, using the electrophysiological method, synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus was assessed and Vit C effects on long-term potentiation (LTP) were examined.Results: ICV injection of Aβ to the AD group reduced memory in the NOR, PAL, and MWM behavioral tests. Also, Vit C reduced learning and memory impairment due to Aβ injection in rats. Aβ caused the inhibition of LTP in dentate gyrus (DG) granule cells by reducing the slope of the excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) and the amplitude of the population spike (PS) in the AD group. Conclusions: These results showed that Vit C reduced the impairment in synaptic plasticity induced by Aβ in DG of the hippocampus. Vit C supplementation through its antioxidant properties can improve the impaired synaptic plasticity and memory induced by Aβ and can be applied as a neuroprotective agent.

This study investigates the alcoholic extract effect of Alhagi camelorum on blood glucose and lipid profiles in diabetic rats made by streptozotocin (STZ). Male rats were divided into four groups. The control group received a normal diet. The diabetic group was induced by STZ and two diabetic experimental groups received alcoholic extracts of A. camelorum at a dose of 200 and 300 mg/kg by means of gavage, respectively. Blood samples were collected on 21st from all the groups. Findings show that there is a significant increase in the level of fasting blood sugar and lipid profiles in diabetic group when the results compared to the control group (p

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder in body in which body fails to produce insulin or represent resistance against insulin and therefore, insulin cannot have its normal application in body. One of the plants to cure this disease is walnut (Juglans regia). Walnut oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and is fundamentally important from nutritional and medicinal viewpoints. The present study was thus designed to determine the effect of β-sitosterol-fortified walnut oil on blood factors and hepatic enzymes in diabetic rats. For this aim, diabetes was induced to male rats (200 g) using STZ injection. Overall, five treatments were considered: normal saline gavage, not-enriched walnut oil gavage, gavage of walnut oil enriched with low, average, and high concentrations of β-sitosterol. Glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density cholesterol (HDL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin and albumin were measured. In addition, hepatic tissue was analysed by H&E (haematoxylin and eosin) staining, trichrome staining, and TUNEL assay. The results obtained from the study revealed that gavage of β- sitosterol-enriched walnut oil improved blood parameters and hepatic tissue in diabetic rats.

The article's abstract is not available.

Ischemia–reperfusion (Isc/Rep) incidence can damage kidneys and long-distance organs such as the liver. Due to the increasing use of herbs in medicine, this study was designed to assess the effects...

Background: Despite the fact that many researches have been done in regards to spinal cord injury (SCI), it remains an undissolved problem that has an effect on the individual’s life and society. It could be due to complicated events that occur after SCI. Inflammation is an important initiator for after SCI events and low-level laser (LLL), which is known as an anti-inflammatory agent. Objectives: The aim of this study is the evaluation effects of LLL on the fibroblast invasion, axon number, and functional recovery after SCI. Methods: Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups as control, SCI, SCI + laser. Thirty minutes after SCI that was induced by aneurysm clip LLL irritated for 45 seconds daily and continued for four weeks. Functional recovery by BBB score, fibroblast invasion by H&E, and Axons number by Bielschowsky silver staining was assessed. Results: The data indicated LLL therapy improved BBB score, increased axons number, and decreased fibroblasts invasion around cavity comparing to SCI animals (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our result showed that the initiation LLL therapy, in a short time after SCI, could be effective in the reduction of SCI side effects and improved functional recovery.

This study investigates the alcoholic extract effect of

Background Remote organ injury is one of the complications which are developed following ischemia-reperfusion induced acute kidney injury (AKI), dramatically increasing its mortality rate. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of piperine pretreatment on liver dysfunction following ischemia-reperfusion induced AKI. Materials and methods Acute kidney injury was induced by 30 min-bilateral renal ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion. To investigate liver damages, the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzymes were measured in plasma. In order to study oxidative stress, malondialdehyde (MDA) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) levels were measured. Furthermore, the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) mRNA along with infiltration of leukocytes in the liver tissue was measured for inflammation assessment. Histopathological damages were studied through measuring the extent of cellular fibrosis, sinusoidal dilatation, and vascular congestion in liver tissue. Results Following acute kidney injury, AST, ALT, and ALP levels in plasma, MDA level and ICAM-1 expression in the liver tissue, infiltration of leukocytes into the interstitium, and hepatic histopathologic damages increased significantly, while FRAP decreased. Pretreatment with piperine at 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight was able to improve these damages, such that some of them reached its value in the sham group, though piperine in the 20 mg/kg was more effective. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that ischemia-reperfusion induced AKI result in hepatic damages, and pretreatment with piperine can prevent development of these damages through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The present study was formulated in order to evaluate the effect of gavage of walnut oil enriched with different doses of a phytosterol, i.e. β-sitosterol (30, 45 and 60 mg kg−1) on liver tissue in diabetic rats. Walnut oil was extracted through cold press method and analyses of the extracted oil were performed by gas chromatography (GC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Determination of liver tissue was carried out through staining via three protocols, i.e. hematoxylin and eosin (H&E stain), trichrome, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). The results of the present study revealed that gavage of the extracted oil from the walnut enriched with medium and high doses of β-sitosterol could improve liver tissue condition in the diabetic rats. These results indicate that the herbal treatment introduced in this study could be considered a potential non-insulin method to treat diabetic patients.