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The purpose of the study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of α‐lipoic acid (ALA) on an induced‐acute pulpitis model in rats. Twenty‐four Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, induced‐acute pulpitis (PULP) and PULP + ALA groups. In the PULP and PULP + ALA groups, the crowns of the maxillary left incisors were removed horizontally. All exposed pulp tissues were treated with 5 µL LPS solution. In the PULP + ALA group, the rats were treated intraperitoneally with a single dose of ALA (100 mg/kg). The rats were sacrificed 24 h after pulp injury, and the trunk blood and pulp samples were collected and then determined using ELISA assay kits. TNF‐α, IL‐1β, MMP‐1 and MMP‐2 levels in the serum and pulp tissues were considerably higher in the PULP group than the control group (p < 0.01–0.001). In the PULP + ALA group, TNF‐α, IL‐1β, MMP‐1 and MMP‐2 levels in the serum and pulp tissues decreased significantly compared to the PULP group (p < 0.05–0.001). ALA decreases pro‐inflammatory mediators and proteolytic enzymes, which might relieve acute inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), a widely administered anti-cancer drug, causes gastrointestinal damage through various mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of silk fibroin (SF), which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, against 5 FU-induced gastrointestinal damage. Materials and methods: Wistar albino rats were divided into 3 groups; Control group, 5-FU group (30mg/kg/day on days 0, 2, 4), and 5-FU+SF (30 mg/kg/day 5-FU on days 0, 2, 4 + 600 mg/kg/day SF for 14 days). At the end of the experiment, stomach and intestinal tissue samples were collected and immunohistochemically iNOS, caspase-3, CD4+ and CD8+ were measured. Besides, structural damage was assessed with hematoxylin-eosin and caspase-3 and 9 activities were evaluated using western blot analysis. Results and Discussion: It was determined that iNOS, caspase-3, caspase-9 activities, CD4+ and CD8+ levels and structural damage significantly increased in both stomach and intestinal tissues. Furthermore, elevated markers were regressed almost to control levels in SF administrated group. Conclusion: SF may have an ameliorative effect, thus reducing the gastrointestinal damage caused by 5 FU. More clinical and scientific research should be conducted as the silk fibroin may be a suitable candidate against the adverse effects of chemotherapeuic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]