Evaluating the protective effect of 6 weeks resistance training and vitamin D intake on brain neuro-inflammatory factors in female rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease and is associated with reduced physical capacity. The aim of this study was to examine the protective effect of a 6-week resistance training program and vitamin D intake on the brain neuro-inflammatory factors in female Lewis rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, four-week-old female Lewis rats (n=48) were randomly divided into 8 groups. Resistance training protocol was performed for 6 weeks and 5 days a week. A training program was started with a load equal to 50 of the body weight of the rat. Animals in the first two sessions performed 8 to 10 repetitions (climbing the ladder) at 2-minute breaks. The rats were immunized with the guinea pig's spit and complete adjuvant. The EAE model was induced at the end of the sixth week of the exercise. Rats received 5 μg of vitamin D3 in 150 μl of sesame oil per kilogram of their body weight via intraperitoneal injection once every two days for 2 weeks. Results: The results showed that six weeks of resistance training with vitamin D had no significant effect on granulocyte-monocyte growth factor, nuclear transcription factor kB and transforming growth factor beta (P>0.05). However, Interleukin-17 values showed a significant difference in all three levels of training (P=0.000), supplements (P=0.045), and interactive training and supplementation (P=0.043). Conclusion: The inadequacy of the training period (frequency and intensity of exercise) and the dose rate of vitamin D3 can be one of the possible causes of ineffectiveness of the present intervention

The Protective Effect of Quince (Cydonia oblonga Miller) Leaf Extract on Locomotor Activity and Anxiety-Like Behaviors in a Ketamine Model of Schizophrenia

Abstract Background: Schizophrenia is a chronic debilitating psychiatric disorder affecting 1% of the population worldwide. As for key role of free radicals in the development of this disease and that Quince leaf is a natural source of antioxidant substances, this study was aimed to evaluate the protective effects of Quince leaf extract on locomotor activity and anxiety-like behaviors by an intraperitoneal injection of ketamine in male mice in a ketamine model of schizophrenia. Materials and Methods: In the experimental research, male adult mice were divided into six groups including: control, Sham (received water orally and saline intraperitoneally), psychosis group (received 10 mg/kg/day ketamine i.p. for 10 days) and treated psychosis groups (received 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg/day). Treated groups received hydroalcoholic Quince leaf extract orally for 3 weeks before injection of ketamine. Extract gavages continue for 5 days after the last ketamine injection. Locomotor activity and anxiety-like behavioral changes were measured in the open-field test. Results: The results showed that chronic administration of ketamine increases horizontal locomotor activity and anxiety like behaviors (p≤0.001) and pretreatment of Quince leaf extract effectively decreases horizontal locomotor activity (p<0.001) and increases duration that spends in middle area of Open field (p<0.01) and vertical ocomotor activity(p<0.001). Conclusion: The results of this research showed that chronic administration of Quince leaf extract improves locomotor disorder and induced anxiety-like behaviors by having antioxidant properties in a ketamine model of schizophrenia

The Protective Effect of Dextran-Curcumin Conjugate on Memory Disorder in Animal Model of Global Cerebral Ischemia

Background and Objectives: Ischemic stroke is a major cause of mortality all over the world. Among impairments observed in ischemic survivors, there is considerable cognitive learning and memory impairment. The purpose of this study was to determine the protective effect of dextran-curcumin conjugate on memory impairment and cerebral infarct volume in the animal model of global cerebral ischemia. Methods: In this experimental study, 35 rats were divided into 5 groups. Pre-treatment and positive control groups were treated with curcumin and dextran-curcumin conjugate (15 mg/kg orally) for 30 days. The control and ischemia groups received distilled water. For induction of global cerebral ischemia model, right and left carotid arteries were clamped for 5 min by vascular clamps and then the vascular clamps were removed after 10 min, and in the following, the carotid arteries were clamped again for 5 min and finally the vascular clamps were removed and blood circulation was returned to both carotid arteries. Forty-eight hours after induction of the model, memory impairment was assessed by Novel Object Recognition Test. The cerebral infarct volume was measured by 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC). Results:  In this study, discrimination index showed a significant decrease (p ˂ 0.05) in the ischemic group and a significant increase (p ˂ 0.01) in the curcumin and dextran-curcumin pretreatment groups. Moreover, the cerebral infarct volume significantly decreased in dextran-curcumin group compared to the ischemic group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that dextran-curcumin conjugate can improve cognition and memory disorders induced by global cerebral ischemia

Evaluating the protective effect of 6 weeks resistance training and vitamin D intake on brain neuro-inflammatory factors in female rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease and is associated with reduced physical capacity. The aim of this study was to examine the protective effect of a 6-week resistance training program and vitamin D intake on the brain neuro-inflammatory factors in female Lewis rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, four-week-old female Lewis rats (n=48) were randomly divided into 8 groups. Resistance training protocol was performed for 6 weeks and 5 days a week. A training program was started with a load equal to 50% of the body weight of the rat. Animals in the first two sessions performed 8 to 10 repetitions (climbing the ladder) at 2-minute breaks. The rats were immunized with the guinea pig's spit and complete adjuvant. The EAE model was induced at the end of the sixth week of the exercise. Rats received 5 μg of vitamin D3 in 150 μl of sesame oil per kilogram of their body weight via intraperitoneal injection once every two days for 2 weeks. Results: The results showed that six weeks of resistance training with vitamin D had no significant effect on granulocyte-monocyte growth factor, nuclear transcription factor kB and transforming growth factor beta (P>0.05). However, Interleukin-17 values showed a significant difference in all three levels of training (P=0.000), supplements (P=0.045), and interactive training and supplementation (P=0.043). Conclusion: The inadequacy of the training period (frequency and intensity of exercise) and the dose rate of vitamin D3 can be one of the possible causes of ineffectiveness of the present intervention

Neuroprotective Effect of Quercetin Nanocrystal in a 6-Hydroxydopamine Model of Parkinson Disease: Biochemical and Behavioral Evidence

Introduction: studies have suggested that free radicals-induced neurodegeneration is one of the many studies of Parkinson Disease (PD). Quercetin as a natural polyphenol has been regarded as a significant player in altering the progression of neurodegenerative diseases by protecting from damages caused by free radicals. Owing to its poor water solubility, preparation of its oral formulation is urgently needed. Recently, nanocrystal technique as an effective way has been introduced for oral administration of drugs. Methods: This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of quercetin nanocrystals on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced Parkinson-like model in male rats. Quercetin nanocrystals were prepared by the Evaporative Precipitation of Nanosuspension (EPN) method. Results: Administration of quercetin and its nanocrystals (10 and 25 mg/kg) prevented disruption of memory, increased antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and total glutathione and reduced Malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the hippocampal area. Conclusion: The present study results demonstrated that quercetin nanocrystals with greater bioavailability is effective than quercetin alone in treatment of Parkinson-like model in rat

Identification, determination, and study of antioxidative activities of hesperetin and gallic acid in hydro-alcoholic extract from flowers of Eriobotrya japonica (Lindl.)

Objectives: Eriobotrya japonica belongs to the Rosaceae. Studies have shown that the flowers of this plant are rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Accorrdingly, the evaluation of antioxidative effects of Eriobotrya japonica Flower Extract (EJFE) have been performed in vitro. Material and Methods: In this study, to investigate the influences of components of EJFE on its antioxidative activity, extract was prepared using hydro-alcoholic (25:75 V/V) solvent and the antioxidative activity of the extract was evaluated based on the scavenging of various radicals (DPPH and H2O2) by spectrophotometric method and chelating of ferrous ions by ferrozine reagent. Results: HPLC analysis of the Eriobotrya japonica Flower Extract (EJFE) revealed hesperetin and gallic acid as the major antioxidants. When the content of total flavonoid and polyphenolic compounds in the flower extract of this plant was examined, a significantly higher level of total polyphenols was found in Eriobotrya japonica flower extract. Conclusion: Results demonstrate that the high ability to scavenge free radicals, reducing power, and Fe+2chelating activity exerted by the EJFE were due to the high content of hesperetin and gallic acid in the flowers

Effects of Nostoc commune extract on the cerebral oxidative and neuroinflammatory status in a mice model of schizophrenia

Cyanobacterium Nostoc commune has long been used to alleviate various diseases. This research examines the effects of Nostoc commune extract (NCE) against behavioral disorders, cerebral oxidative stress, and inflammatory damage in the ketamine-induced schizophrenia model. Oral NCE administration (70 and 150 mg/kg/d) is performed after intraperitoneal ketamine injection (20 mg/kg) for 14 consecutive days. The forced swimming and open field tests are used to assess schizophrenia-like behaviors. After the behavioral test, dopamine (DA) level, oxidative stress markers, as well as the interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression are measured in the cerebral cortex. The results show that NCE treatment ameliorates KET-induced anxiety and depressive-like behaviors in OFT and FST, respectively. NCE considerably decreases the malondialdehyde (MDA) and DA levels and IL-6 and TNF-α expressions in mice with schizophrenia-like symptoms. Also, a significant increase is observed in the glutathione (GSH) level and catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione reductase (GRx) activity in cerebral tissue. The present study shows that NCE treatment effectively improves KET-induced schizophrenia-like behaviors and oxidative and inflammatory damage. Therefore, NCE, via its bioactive constituents, could have strong neuroprotective effects in the schizophrenia-like model