Entinociceptive effects of Euphorbia helioscopia extract on Balb/c mice

Background and aims: Euphorbia helioscopia has multiple pharmacological activities, such as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal,anticancer and/or antitumor, allelopathic, anti-allergic and anti-asthmatic, antioxidant, antinociceptive effect. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antinociceptive activities of Euphorbia helioscopia extract in Balb/c mice, as well as the total flavonoids, phenolic contents, and antioxidant activities of the extract. Methods: In this study, 90 Balb/c mice were randomly designated into 9 groups. Group 1 received normal saline, groups 2 to 7 received different doses of the E. helioscopia hydroethanolic extract (i.e., 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 2, & 8 mg/kg, i.p.).In addition, groups 8 and 9 received naloxone (1 mg/kg) and extract (8 mg/kg) plus naloxone (1 mg/kg), respectively (Naloxone was injected 15 minutes after extract administration). Then, pain response was evaluated for 30 minutes after the injection of 20 µL formalin (1.5%) in the plantar surface of the mice foot. Further, the beta-carotene-linoleate method was used for measuring antioxidant capacity. Finally, total phenolic and flavonoid content were measured based on Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric and aluminum chloride colorimetric methods, respectively. Results: Total phenol and flavonoid content were 49.43 ± 1.8 mg GAE/g dried extract and 30.19 ± 1.96 mg rutin/g dried extract, respectively. Our results showed that during the first 5 minutes (the acute pain step), a significant difference (P<0.05) was observed between the control group and the group which received the E. helioscopia hydroethanolic extract (8 mg/kg). In the next 25 minutes (the chronic pain step), a significant difference (P<0.05) was found between the control group and the group which received 0.1 and 8 mg/kg doses of the extract. Based on the results, naloxone was unable to reverse the antinociceptive effects of the extract and the maximum antioxidant activity of the extract was 1.641 mg/g of rutin equivalent. Conclusion: In general, this study supports the use of the E. helioscopia extract in folk medicine as the analgesic agent and calls for further investigations regarding elucidating its mechanism of action. Eventually, our findings revealed that the extract of E. helioscopia possessed either antinociceptive or anti-oxidative activities. Keywords: Euphorbia helioscopia, Pain, Mice, Formalin test, Antioxidant activit

Effect of Rheum Ribes Hydro-Alcoholic Extract on Memory Impairments in Rat Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Some animal models have been used to study Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is an irreversible progressive neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of dementia. Animal studies have shown that there is a relation between decrease in cholinergic functions in the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) and loss of learning capability and memory. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Rheum ribes extract (RR) on memory deficit in one of the rat models of AD. Plant (1500gr) was collected from Saman (kahkesh) region of Chaharmahal Va Bakhtiari province in Iran. RR hydro-alcoholic extracts were prepared using maceration method. Rat model of Alzheimer was induced by Nucleus Basalis of Meynert lesions (NBML). Animals (n = 32) received extracts for 20 days and then passive avoidance and Morris water maze tasks were performed for memory evaluation. FRAP and HPLC methods were used for measurement of the antioxidant and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in blood. In water maze experiment, probe trial results showed that NBML group spent significantly less time in target quadrant, in which the platform was located on the preceding day. In addition, the time spent in target quadrant was significantly increased in NBML + RR groups (250 and 500 mg/kg) compared to the NBML group. In passive avoidance task, mean initial latency time and step-though latency were significantly decreased in NBML group. RR extracts significantly prolonged step-through latency in NBML + RR groups. Results of this study suggest that Rheum ribes extracts can improve memory deficits induced by bilateral NBM lesions in rats

ANTISPASMODIC EFFECTS OF YARROW (ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM L.) EXTRACT IN THE ISOLATED ILEUM OF RAT

Achillea millefolium L. is cultivated in Iran and widely used in traditional medicine for gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of A. millefolium on the contraction and relaxation of isolated ileum in rat. In this experimental study, aerial parts of A. millefolium were extracted by maceration in ethanol 70% for 72h. Terminal portion of ileum in 100 male Wistar rats was dissected and its contractions were recorded isotonically in an organ bath containing Tyrode solution (37 degrees C, pH 7.4) under one gram tension. Acetylcholine (1mM) and KCl (60mM) were used to create isotonic contractions. Propranolol and N omega-Nitro-L-arginine methylester hydrochloride (L-NAME) were used to investigate the mechanisms of action prior to giving the extract to the relevant groups. Data were compared by ANOVA and Turkey's post hoc test.. The results showed that the ileum contraction was induced by KCl and acetylcholine induced contraction was significantly reduced by A. millefolium extract. The cumulative concentrations of A. millefolium relaxed the KCl and acetylcholine induced contractions (n=14, p<0.001). The inhibitory effect of extract on contraction induced by KCl and acetylcholine was not significantly affected neither by propranolol (1 mu M) nor by L-NAME (100 mu M). There was no significant difference in the rate of relaxation by propranolol and L-NAME between the two groups. In conclusion, A. millefolium can inhibit contraction of smooth muscle of ileum in rat, and it can be used for eliminating intestinal spasms. These results suggest that the relaxatory effect of A. millefolium on ileum contractions can be due to the blockade of voltage dependent calcium channels. In addition, the beta-adrenoceptors, cholinergic receptors and nitric oxide production are not powerful actors in inhibitory effect of A. millefolium. So, the nitric oxide and adrenergic systems may also be involved in the antispasmodic effect of A. millefolium

Effect of Euphorbia helioscopia extract on acute and chronic pain in mice

Most of analgesics have side effects and introducing new drags is essential. Euphorbia helioscopia is a medicinal plant which is used by people in Chaharmahal Bakhtiary province of Iran as a painkiller. This experiment was performed to study the analgesic effect of an alcoholic extract from the aerial parts of Euphorbia helioscopia by formalin test. METHODS: In an experimental study 100 Balb/c mice were divided into 10 groups as follows: group 1 received distilled water, group 2 to 7 received 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 2 and 8mg/mouse of alcoholic extract, respectively. Group 8 received 6 mg/kg ibuprofen, group 9, 1 mg/kg naloxone and group 10 received naloxone and extract. The pain-related behavior was counted for a period of 30 min, following injection of 20 microliter of 1.5 formalin. The data obtained in case groups were compared with the ones in control group. The plant was extracted by maceration method using ethanol 96. The extract was then concentrated and reconstructed in normal saline to produce different desired concentrations. FINDINGS: In the first 5 minutes (acute period) of the experiment 8mg/mouse of the extract and in the following 25 minutes, 0.1 and 8mg/mouse of the extract reduced pain reaction, compared to control group (p<0.05). Naloxone had no effect on this effect of the extract. CONCLUSION: Euphorbia helioscopia has antinociceptive activity that is not due to interaction with opioid system

Effect of Euphorbia helioscopia on acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions in Balb/c mice

زمینه و هدف: فلاونوئیدها ترکیبات پلی فنولیک با اثر آنتی اکسیدانی هستند که باعث کاهش درد می شوند. شیرمال (Euphorbia helioscopia) گیاهی است حاوی ترکیبات فلاونوئیدی که در این تحقیق اثر آن بر کاهش انقباضات شکمی ناشی از اسید استیک مطالعه شده است. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه مداخله ای، اثر عصاره الکلی شیرمال بر انقباضات شکمی (رایتینگ) ناشی از اسید استیک در مـــوش Balb/c مورد ارزیابی قرار گرفت. در این روش 110 مــوش با محدوده وزنی 5±25 گرم به 11 گروه ده تایی تقسیـم شدند. گروه 1 دریافت کننده آب مقطر و هر کدام از موش های گروه 2 تا 7 به ترتیب 05/0، 1/0، 2/0، 4/0، 2 و 8 میلی گرم از عصاره را دریافت کردند. گروه 8 و 9 به ترتیب 6 و 12 میلی گرم بر کیلو گرم ایبوپروفن و گروه 10 و 11 نالوکسان (1 میلی گرم بر کیلوگرم) یا نالوکسان و عصاره را دریافت کردند. تعداد عکس العمل (رایتینگ) موش ها در گروه های دریافت کننده عصاره شمارش و با نتایج گروه شاهد مقایسه شد. عصاره گیری با استفاده از اتانول 96 به طریقه ماسراسیون انجام و توسط تقطیر در خلاء تغلیظ شد. عصاره غلیظ شده در آب مقطــــر حل و دوز های مختلف عصاره به دست آمد. نتـایج با آزمون های آماری کروسکال والیس و تعقیبی دان تجزیه و تحلیل شدند. یافته ها: عصاره mg/mouse 8 گیاه شیرمال در مقایسه با گروه کنترل به طور معنی داری باعث کاهش میزان انقباضات شکمی در موش شد (05/0

Antidepressant effects of oleuropein in male mice by forced swim test and tail suspension test

Abstract Objectives: With increasing prevalence of depression in communities and public concern regarding the side effects of synthetic drugs, special attention has recently been paid to identifying natural compounds with antidepressant effects. Oleuropein is an antioxidant polyphenol that is present in the leaves and fruits of different variants of olive. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antidepressant effects of oleuropein in mice by forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). Methods: In this experimental study, 50 mice were randomly divided into 5 groups of 10. Group 1 received normal saline; group 2 intraperitoneally received reserpine at 5 mg/kg 18 hours before behavioral testing; group 3, in addition to reserpine, intraperitoneally received oleuropein at 10 mg/kg 15 minutes before behavioral testing; group 4, in addition to reserpine, received fluoxetine at 20 mg/kg; and group 5 received oleuropein at 10 mg/kg for 3 days and then reserpine 18 hours before behavioral testing. Behavioral tests were FST and TST. Finally, the antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in the serum and brain of the mice were measured. Results: Reserpine significantly increased the duration of immobility in FST and TST and significantly decreased serum and brain antioxidant capacity, significantly increased MDA levels in the brain and serum, and significantly increased serum NO level (P < 0.05). Oleuropein treatment for 3 days caused a significant decrease of immobility in FST, a significant increase in brain and serum antioxidant capacity, and a significant decrease of brain and serum MDA and NO levels (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Oleuropein was found to exhibit significant antidepressant effects in mice, probably due to its antioxidant activity