Effect of Estradiol and Soy Extract on the Onset of PTZ-Induced Seizure in Ovariectomized Rats: Implications for Nurses and Midwives

Background: In many epileptic women, the ovarian cycle influences the risk and severity of seizures. Previous studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding the neural excitatory effects of estrogen. Soybean is a rich source of plant estrogens. Therefore, soy intake can affect the risk and severity of seizures in women. Nurses and midwives need to be aware of the effects of diets containing estrogen in pregnant and post-menopausal women, as well as during the sexual cycle periods. Objectives: Due to the limitations of human studies, this study aimed to investigate the effect of estradiol and soy extract on the onset of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures in ovariectomized rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, sixty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups of ten. All of the groups except for the negative control groups were ovariectomized. One group received estradiol (100 µg/kg), one group was treated with alcoholic extract of soy (20 mg/kg), and the other group received vehicle over 28 days. PTZ (90 mg/kg) was used to induce seizure in all groups. Behavioral changes were observed over 30 minutes. All data were analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance with Tukey’s post-hoc test. Results: The mean ± SD of the clonic seizure threshold was 61.84 ± 8.53 in the group that received estradiol, while it was 71.70 ± 10.85 in the control group, 64.69 ± 3.23 in rats with laparotomy without removing the ovaries, 51.30 ± 6.84 in rats with laparotomy and removing the ovaries, 52.7 ± 7.18 in ovariectomized rats that received sesame oil as vehicle, and 59.2 ± 4.91, in the soy groups. Therefore, estradiol significantly increased the clonic seizure threshold, while the alcoholic extract of soy had no effect. Conclusions: We concluded that the chronic administration of estradiol has an anticonvulsant effect in the animal model. However, alcoholic extract of soy has no effect on the onset of clonic seizures

A review of the most important native medicinal plants of Iran effective on gastric acid

Gastrointestinal diseases such as gastric acid hypersecretion are highly prevalent. Gastrointestinal diseases manifest frequently with gastric and duodendal ulcers, gastritis, and dyspepsia which are due to impaired gastric acid secretion. Given the frequency of developing gastrointestinal diseases such as gastric acid hypersecretion and consequently gastric ulcer, the aim of this review article is to report the native medicinal plants of Iran that are used to decrease or neutralize gastric acid. Ziziphora clinopodioidesl, Achillea wilhelmsii, Allium sativum, Amirkabiria odoratissim, Heracleum persicum L. and Medicago sativa are the most native medicinal plants of Iran used to treat gastric acid hypersecretion. Certain compounds such as pulegon, cisisopulegon, cineol, thymol, alpha and betapinene, piperitenone, terpenoids, flavonoids, allicin, tannin, terpenoids, saponin, sterol, and leucoanthocyanin, 3, 4, and 7-trihydroxy flavonol, caffeic acid, and fetalid existing in these plants may be the main agents for reducing gastric acid

Survey Effective factors of people's health literacy Kermanshah city

Background and objective: Health literacy is defined as ‘one’s capacity to understand and interpret the basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions’. In addition, those with insufficient health literacy are less likely to understand the written and oral information presented by health specialists. Hence, insufficient health literacy is considered a global threat nowadays, the present study aimed to investigate the health literacy status among the visitors to the specialized clinics based in Kermanshah, Iran, in 2016. Methods:The current study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. To collect the required data, the valid and reliable test of functional health literacy in adults (TOFHFLA) was employed. After data collection, the data were entered into the SPSS Statistics 16 Software. In addition, for data analysis, the descriptive statistics and the statistical tests of analysis of variance (ANOVA), Independent t-test and regression analysis were used. Results: The mean score of health literacy among the subjects under study was 51.93 ±6.31. Further, the results revealed that the relationship between health literacy and each of the variables of education (

Effect of estradiol and soy extract administration on pentylenetetrazole induced clonic seizures and serum levels of nitric oxide metabolites in ovariectomized rats

Introduction: Estrogen influences neuronal activity and there are controversial reports regarding its role on seizure. Also, previous studies have shown that estrogen influences the nitric oxide pathway in the nervous system. In this way, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of estradiol and soy extract as a phytoestrogen on pentylenetetrazole-induced clonic seizures and serum levels of nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) in ovariectomized rats. Materials and Methods: Sixty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (n =10 in each group) including intact control, sham-control, ovariectomy, vehicle, estradiol (100 μg/kg, subcutaneously), and soy extract (20 mg/kg, gavage). After 28 days of estradiol or soy extract adminstration, single dose of pentylenetetrazole was injected (90 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) for seizure induction and latency to the clonic seizures was recorded. Serum levels of NOx were measured by Griess method. Results: Ovariectomy significantly reduced the latency of clonic seizures and serum levels of NOx. Estradiol significantly increased the latency of clonic seizures and serum levels of NOx (P < 0.05). Soy administration had not significant effect on these parameters. Conclusion: Ovarian hormones have influence on seizure and nitric oxide pathway anticonvulsant effect of estradiol is related due to modulation of nitric oxide pathway slightly. © 2018, Semnan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Herbal medicines: A new hope for autism therapy

Autism is a neurodevelopment disorder that causes disruption in communication, behavior and social interaction, and influences all aspects of child development. Families of autistic children are involved with it more than families of children with Down syndrome and mental disorders. The causes of Autism include psychosocial, immune, genetic and biological parameters. So far there is no effective drug treatment and rehabilitation for the treatment of autism. In this study, the most important medicinal plants with neuroprotective effects on autism have been reported. Based on the present study, medicinal herbs such as Zingiber officinale, Astragalus membranaceu, Ginkgo biloba, Centella asiatica, Acorus calamus, Paeonia lactiflora, Lobelia inflata and Actaea racemosa have neuroprotective effects and might be beneficial for this problem

Enzymatic Method: The best choice for extraction of carotenoids of Alfalfa

Carotenoids are natural compounds present in animals and plants. They have important applications in food and drugs and are usually extracted from natural materials. Alfalfa is rich in carotenoids. Commercial methods have been described for extracting carotenes and xanthophylls from alfalfa. In the present study, carotenoids were extracted and measured from alfalfa by acid, alkaline and enzyme extraction methods. The results showed different contents of the carotenoids in different methods of extraction. The carotenoids level when enzyme was used for the extraction from Alfalfa was significantly more than acid and alkaline. This finding shows that the pigment was probably attached to proteins in alfalfa. In this experiment, sodium hydroxide could also replace enzymatic methods. The amount of pigment was followed by sodium hydroxide treatment after enzymatic method

The effect of genistein on spatial memory in ovariectomized rat model of Parkinsons disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Impaired learning and memory are the complications of Parkinson's disease. Moreover, estrogen reduction during menopause may impair memory. Given that genistein has neuroprotective and estrogen effects, this study aimed to investigate the effect of genistein on learning and memory of ovariectomized rat model of Parkinsons disease. METHODS: In this experimental study, 48 female Wistar rats were divided into six groups of eight, including a Parkinsonism group receiving dimethyl sulfoxide solvent, four ovariectomized groups of rats with Parkinson�s disease receiving dimethyl sulfoxide solvent, genistein (10 mg/kg), tamoxifen (20 mg/kg), and a mixture of genistein (10 mg/kg) and tamoxifen (20 mg/kg) as pre-treatment for a week, as well as a control group. Nigrostriatal pathway was destroyed by 8 μg of 6-hydroxy-dopamine. Learning and spatial memory were evaluated by Morris water maze test. FINDINGS: In training and assessment stages, there was a significant difference between the control group and the Parkinsonism and ovariectomized-Parkinsonism groups (p<0.0001). The mean times the ovariectomized-Parkinsonism and Parkinsonism groups remained in the target quadrant were 4.21±0.26 s and 5.94±0.61 s, respectively, which was less compared to the control group (12.15±0.33). In addition, ovariectomy prolonged acquisition (p=0.002) and reduced probe testing time (p=0.034) in the rats with Parkinson's disease. The genistein group spent more time in the target quadrant compared to the group receiving genistein and tamoxifen (11.85±0.46 s vs. 6.37±0.86 s, respectively; p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: The results showed that genistein improves spatial learning and memory in the ovariectomized rat model of Parkinsons disease. © 2016, Babol University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Physalis alkekengi: A review of Its Therapeutic Effects

Medicinal plants have long been used in medicine to treat diseases. There has been a widespread approach to use nature-based, especially plant-based, drugs in recent years. Physalis alkekengi, is an herbaceous, perennial plant. The leaves are tailed and paired from family in Solanaceae. This plant can speed up excretion of uric acid and is used for renal and urinary tract diseases, gout, and rheumatism. Other properties of this plant include anti-gout, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic, laxative, diuretic, antimitotic, and malaria-Treating properties. Moreover, modern medical investigations have demonstrated that P. alkekengi is effective on immunity system, cancer, thyroid hormones, liver enzymes, and sexual and reproductive hormones. Phytochemical investigations indicate that this plant contains alkaloids, glucocorticoids, lycopene, ethanolic compounds, and Vitamin C. The therapeutic effects of P. alkekengi can be due to these antioxidant compounds. This review article aimed to present the phytochemical and pharmaco-Therapeutic properties of this plant