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Background: There is a rising trend in the use of herbal stem cell remedies among the populace due to the belief that such remedies have all-encompassing health benefits, and without side effects. However, there is little or no scientific data reported on their safety profile. This study addressed the toxicological effects of STC-30, one of the popular polyherbal stem cell remedies used in several countries of the world including Nigeria, Ghana, Australia, among others. Methods: The inhibitory activity of thymol and the nano-preparations were evaluated qualitatively versus Metronidazole against T. vaginalis in TYI-S33 culture medium. The live T. vaginalis parasites were counted on a hemocytometer, the inhibition rate was assessed and the data analyzed statistically. Results: Thymol and its two nanopreparations at varying concentrations inhibited T. vaginalis in culture after 24, 48, or 72 hours of incubation. The inhibition of T. vaginalis was also achieved in culture with Metronidazole at 65 μg/ml. Conclusion: The percent inhibition of T. vaginalis by thymol and its nanopreparations depended on the duration of incubation and the concentration. Thymol and its nanoliposome preparation showed a lower inhibitory effect (IC50) on T. vaginalis than that of the thymol nanoparticles after 24 or 48 hours of treatment. However, the efficacy of the three thymol forms did not significantly differ after 72 hours of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The effect of venlafaxine and psychotherapy including acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) enriched with compassion focus therapy (CFT) was evaluated on depression, anxiety, and stress in opioid-addicted patients undergoing methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Method. This study is a randomized clinical trial with a pre-test and post-test design. Sixty opioid-addicted patients undergoing MMT were selected by voluntary sampling, and they were divided into three groups including VNF, receiving venlafaxine (75 mg/day); ACF, receiving ACT enriched with CFT, and VACF, receiving a combination of venlafaxine and ACT enriched with CFT. The ACT enriched with CFT for participants was performed by a psychiatrist weekly. Patients were evaluated based on the anxiety-stress-depression questionnaire after 28 days of intervention. Results. The findings showed that all three intervention methods effectively affected depression, anxiety, and stress. Regarding stress, the difference in means between the two groups of VACF and ACF, as well as between VNF and ACF, was significant (P<0.05). The combined treatment of ACT enriched with CFT and venlafaxine had a more substantial effect on the research variables, i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress, compared to other interventions (P<0.05). Conclusion. The ACT enriched with CFT intervention and venlafaxine effectively reduces depression, anxiety, and stress in opioid-addicted patients undergoing MMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease, which is treated effectively with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drugs. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of the extracts of Viola odorata and Cassia fistula on the acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. Methods: We determined the total contents of phenols, alkaloids, saponins, and tannins in the plants' extracts. Further, we used 28 male Wistar rats in four groups of seven each. Colitis was induced in the experimental groups by the intra-rectal administration of 1% acetic acid. Distilled water was used in the sham group. After induction of colitis, the control group received distilled water, the sham group received normal saline, the standard group received 360 mg/kg oral sulfasalazine, and the experimental group received the combined extracts at 200 mg/kg orally. The severity of colitis was assessed in all animal groups. Results: The phytochemical assays showed that both extracts contained alkaloid and saponin. Also, the V. odorata extract contained tannin while C. fistula had anthraquinone. Acetic acid increased the thickness of the colonic epithelial layer and caused edema, cell necrosis, and increased myeloperoxidase enzyme in the colon tissues. The inflammation, colon weight per unit area, and macroscopic scores in the group treated with the combined extracts were reduced more than that in the standard group. The extracts reduced the activity in the experimental group. However, sulfasalazine resulted in a better healing of the colitis. Conclusion: The combined extracts at 200 mg/kg effectively reduced the colitis induced by acetic acid in the rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Damages to the peripheral fibers of sensory nerve cells and central neurons cause neuropathic pain. Manifestations of neuropathic pain occur in various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, chemotherapy, and as the side effects of some medications. Cressa cretica has long been used in traditional medicine for pain control. This study was conducted to determine the role of opioid receptors in the analgesic effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of C. cretica in an experimental model of neuropathic pain. Methods: The hydroalcoholic extract of C. cretica was prepared, and its total phenolic and flavonoid contents were standardized. Painful peripheral neuropathy was induced in rats by Chronic Constriction Injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve. To evaluate the effects of the extract, the animals were orally given C. cretica extract (300 mg/kg), gabapentin (70 mg/kg) or normal saline (4 mL/kg) on days 3, 7, 14, and 21 after surgery, and behavioral tests were performed 45 minutes after taking the medications. To evaluate the role of the opioid receptors, Naloxone (1 mg/kg, IP) was given to rats treated with the extract 30 minutes after the extract and then the behavioral tests were performed after 15 minutes. Results: The hydroalcoholic extract of C. cretica attenuates neuropathic pain induced by CCI in rats. The extract works acutely and chronically, depending on the dosage and duration of use. Conclusion: The hydroalcoholic extract of C. cretica reduces CCI-induced neuropathic pain in rats, and Naloxone, as an opioid receptor antagonist, inhibits this effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug-induced myopathy is among the most common causes of muscle disease. Lipid-lowering drugs, primarily the statins as inhibitors of the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, are a common cause of myopathy. Statin-fibrate combination potentially increases risk for myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Blood levels of the enzymes creatine kinase (CK), aldolase and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) increase during myopathy. Exercise may be a trigger for statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS). In this study a model of myopathy induction was designed via combination of oral atorvastatin, gemfibrozil and exercise for ten days in rats. To maximise exercise, the rats were placed in a pool of water and allowed to swim before sinking in the last three days. Finally, the mean of swimming tolerance times and blood levels of creatine kinase, aldolase and lactate dehydrogenase were measured. The results showed a significantly (p < 0.05) decreased swimming tolerance time and elevated enzyme levels in rats receiving atorvastatin (ATV) and gemfibrozil (GMF) plus exercise compared with those rats in other groups. This animal model can be used to evaluate the effects of medication on reduction of statin/fibrate-induced myopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Statins frequently cause myopathy especially in combination with fibrates, and physical activity is considered a trigger for the muscle disorder. Elevated plasma levels of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aldolase, are the main indicators of the severity of myopathy. Carvedilol is commonly used with lipid-lowering drugs in the management of heart failure, hypertension and dyslipidemia. It is not yet clear whether carvedilol, an alpha and ß blocker, and anti-oxidant, may influence the development of myopathy when combined with statins and fibrates in cardiac patients. Methods: In this animal experiment, a 10 days regimen containing oral atorvastatin and gemfibrozil at doses of 80 and 1000 mg/kg/day, respectively, was used to induce myopathy in rats. The animals were forced to swim in a pool on days 8, 9 and 10 into the study. Carvedilol (2.5 mg/kg/day) was added to atorvastatin and gemfibrozil during the 10-day study period, in addition to the exercise protocol given to the treatment groups only. The mean of swimming tolerance times and the serum levels of CK, LDH and aldolase were measured at the completion of the study. Results: Carvedilol did not significantly alter the swimming tolerance time or the plasma levels of CK, LDH and aldolase in the rats receiving ATV, GMF and carvedilol plus the exercise protocol, compared with those that did not receive carvedilol (P>0.05). Conclusion: Carvedilol may be used in combination with lipid-lowering drug in the management of patients with heart failure and hypertension, pending its safety approval by clinical studies in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anti-inflammatory effects of anti-depressants have been demonstrated recently. Doxepin, a tricyclic antidepressant drug (TCA), has some special properties in comparison with the other members of its family. It has some H1, H2, alpha-1 adrenergic and muscarinic receptor blocking effects. It revealed also anti-nociceptive and relatively potent sedative effects. This study was aimed to evaluate its possible antiinflammatory effect in a well-established animal model. Male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were used in carrageenan-induced inflammatory paw edema model. The test and control drugs were injected by intraperitoneal (i.p.) and intracerebral (i.c.v.) routes. The anti-inflammatory activity of doxepin (15, 30 and 60 mg/kg, i.p. and 50 and 100 µg/rat, i.c.v.) and the reference drug, dexamethasone (2 mg/kg, i.p.) were evaluated by determination and comparison of some involved biological markers including the paw volume, cytokine levels (interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)), myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and histopathological parameters. All i.p. doses of doxepin showed significant anti-inflammatory effect. It also significantly reduced MPO activity and cytokine levels and improved histopathologic parameters of carrageenan-injected paw tissues. I.c.v. administration of the drug did not show any significant reduction of carrageenan-induced paw edema. Although the exact mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of doxepin is not clear, it seems that reduced leukocyte migration and pro-inflammatory cytokines play important role in its anti-inflammatory effect. Also central sites are not involved in the anti-inflammatory effect of the drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti-colitis effect of antidepressants has been demonstrated recently. Doxepin, a tricyclic antidepressant drug (TCA), with potent H 1 , H 2 , alpha 1 adrenergic and muscarinic receptor blocking effects could be a good candidate for investigation for its anti-colitis activity. Moreover high prevalence of depression in patients who suffer from IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), defends this idea that adjuvant therapy with an antidepressant drug which has anti-inflammatory effect, may exert favorable effects in the control of the disease. In this study colitis was induced by acetic acid instillation into rat's colon. Doxepin was injected by intraperitoneal (10, 20, 40 mg/kg, twice daily, i.p.) or intracerebroventricular (50 and 100 microgram/rat, i.c.v.) routes to separate the mechanisms are absolutely exerted centrally or mediated both centrally and peripherally prior to induction of colitis. Dexamethasone (2 mg/kg/day, i.p.) was used as reference drug. All the treatments continued for three successive days. The effectiveness of drug was evaluated by determination of cytokines (TNFα, IL6 and IL1β) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity as well as macroscopic scores and histopathological parameters. Doxepin after i.p. administration was effective to reduce colitis severity through reduction in the macroscopic and microscopic colonic parameters, MPO activity and cytokines levels. Intracerebroventricular administration of the drug in contrast, did not show any significant protective effect suggesting no important central mechanisms for anti-colitis activity of doxepin. Doxepin as an ancient antidepressive drug has anti-colitis and anti-inflammatory properties which are mainly exerted peripherally so it could be introduced as a good candidate for depressed people who suffered from IBD disorders.