Medicinal herbs effective in the treatment of the Alzheimer’s disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disorder which will gradually damage the memory, reduce learning and reasoning ability, impair judgement and communication and interfere with daily activities. As Alzheimer’s advances, patients may experience changes in their behaviour and personality. Such examples are anxiety, feelings of suspicion, consternation and delusional visions. Currently, there is no available treatment for this illness. Nevertheless, new approaches have extended horizons about the biology of this illness. Alzheimer’s is the most prevalent type of brain deterioration affecting over 20 million people across the world. In this article, we investigated the findings of previous control studies in order to determine whether medicinal herbs could be effective in treating cognitive disorders caused by this illness in the elderly. Furthermore, a few common medicinal herbs for treating Alzheimer’s have been looked into in this article. METHODS: In this study, we conducted investigations into the studies done on Alzheimer’s using databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, SID, Pumbed Central, Pumbed and a number of key words like Alzheimer’s, medicinal herbs, Acetylcholine and antioxidants. FINDINGS: The first neurotransmitter deficiency discovered in Alzheimer’s was Acetylcholine which is a cholinergic neurotransmitter necessary for the short-term memory. Cholinergic deficiency due to Alzheimer’s is mainly responsible for the problems of short-term memory. CONCLUSION: Undoubtedly, cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists are efficacious in treating Alzheimer’s. However, these treatments are unlikely to impede the illness and they tend to lose their effectiveness in the long run. The products of medicinal herbs are mostly used in treating the psychological and behavioural symptoms of Alzheimer’s

Effect of Lavender Ethanolic Extract on Infarct Volume in Rats Subjected to Ischemia-Reperfusion

مقدمه: اسطوخدوس متعلق به خانواده Labiatae و با خاصیت آنتی‌اکسیدانی است. هدف: مطالعه حاضر به منظور بررسی اثر حفاظتی عصاره اسطوخدوس بر حجم سکته مغزی و مکانیسم احتمالی آن در مدل سکته مغزی رت انجام شد. روش بررسی: مطالعه از نوع تجربی بوده و 42 سر موش صحرایی نر به صورت تصادفی در 6 گروه 7 تایی تقسیم‌بندی شدند. عصاره اسطوخدوس (با دوزهای 100 و 200 میلی‌گرم بر کیلوگرم وزن بدن موش صحرایی) به مدت 20 روز متوالی به موش‌های صحرایی به صورت داخل صفاقی تزریق شد. 2 ساعت بعد از آخرین دوز، جراحی بستن شریان مغزی انجام و 24 ساعت بعد از القای ایسکمی میزان حجم سکته مغزی اندازه‌گیری شد. همچنین میزان نیتریک اکسید (NO) سرم اندازه‌گیری شد. تحلیل آماری داده‌ها ازطریق آنالیز واریانس یک طرفه (ANOVA) انجام شد . نتایج: تیمار رت‌ها با عصاره اسطوخدوس در دوز 200 میلی‌گرم بر کیلوگرم به مدت 20 روز منجر به یک کاهش معنی‌داری در حجم آسیب بافتی ناشی از سکته در ناحیه پنومبرا (کورتکس) و کانون (ساب کورتکس) مغز نسبت به کنترل شد (به ترتیب، 044/0P= و 047/0 P=). عصاره اسطوخدوس با دوز 200 میلی‌گرم به طور معنی‌داری میزان نیتریک اکساید خون را افزایش داد. نتیجه‌گیری: نتایج این مطالعه نشان می‌دهد که عصاره اسطوخدوس فعالیت حفاظت مغزی در برابر ایسکمی مغزی دارد و حجم سکته مغزی را در موش‌های صحرایی در معرض ایسکمی کاهش می‌دهد که مکانیسم آن ممکن است در ارتباط با افزایش فعالیت سیستم دفاعی آنتی‌اکسیدانی دارو باشد. عصاره گیاه اسطوخدوس با افزایش سطح نیتریک اکساید اندوتلیالی، با مهار کاهش جریان خون مغزی باعث کاهش حجم سکته‌ی مغزی شده است

Screening of Myo7A mutations in Iranian patients with autosomal recessive hearing loss from west of Iran

Hearing loss (HL) is the most frequent neurosensory impairment. HL is highly heterogeneous defect. This disorder affects 1 out of 500 newborns. This study aimed to determine the role of DFNB2 locus and frequency of MYO7A gene mutations in a population from west of Iran. Methods: Thirty families investigated in Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences in 2014, genetic linkage analysis via four short tandem repeat markers linked to MYO7A was performed for two consanguineous families originating from Hamedan (family-13) and Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari (family-32) provinces of Iran, co-segregating autosomal recessive HL and showed no mutation in GJB2 gene in our preliminary investigation. All 49 coding exons and exon- intron boundaries of the MYO7A gene were amplified by PCR and analyzed using direct DNA sequencing. Results: Two of families displayed linkage to DFNB2. Family-13 segregated a homozygous missense mutation (c.6487G>A) in exon 48 that results in a p.G2163S amino acid substitution in C-terminal domain of the myosin VIIA protein. While family-32 segregated a homozygous nonsense mutation (c.448 C>T) in exon five, resulting in a premature truncation at amino acid position 150 (p.Arg150X) in the motor domain of this protein. Conclusion: Mutation frequency of MYO7A gene in different populations of Iran as well as cause of HL in most cases are still unknown and more extensive studies have to be done. © 2017, Iranian Journal of Public Health. All rights reserved

The effect of mesenchymal stem cells as co-culture in in vitro nuclear maturation of ovine oocytes

This study compared the effects of ovine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and ovine oviductal epithelial cells (OECs) as feeder cells in cell free culture systems (HEPES-modified tissue culture medium, TCM199) supplemented with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or fetal calf serum (FCS) on in vitro oocyte maturation and subsequent embryo development (IVM/IVC). Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were harvested from ovine ovaries and subjected to IVM in the above-mentioned culture media. After culture for 24 h, nuclear maturation of the oocytes was evaluated by 4, 6-diamino- 2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. After fertilization the presumptive zygotes were cultured under identical culture conditions and embryo development was evaluated. The percentage of oocytes at nuclear maturation (metaphase II) cultured in the MSC group was higher than for the IVM medium + PVA group (P<0.05), while between MSCs, OECs and IVM medium + FCS it was non-significant. The rates (%) of cleavage and the percentage of total blastocysts in MSCs and the IVM medium + FCS group were higher than for OECs and the IVM medium + PVA group (P<0.05). These rates were non-significant between MSCs and the IVM medium + FCS group or between OECs and the IVM medium + PVA group. The percentage of hatched blastocysts (%) was significantly increased in MSCs and the IVM medium + FCS group when compared to OECs and the IVM medium + PVA group (P<0.05). In conclusion, the effects of mesenchymal stem cells as co-culture on oocyte maturation and the successive embryo development in vitro are similar to those in the medium supplemented with FCS. This study suggests that co-culturing with mesenchymal stem cells may be a promising alternative to FCS-medium

Aloe vera toxic effects: expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in testis of Wistar rat

Objective(s): Nitric oxide (NO), a product of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), contributes in germ cell apoptosis. This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of Aloe vera gel (AVG) on male Wistar rat reproductive organ, serum NO level, and expression of iNOS gene in leydig cells. Materials and Methods: Adult male Wistar rats (n=36) were used for experiments in three groups. The experimental groups were orally administered with the AVG extract solution once-daily as follow: 150 mg.kg(-1); group A, 300 mg.kg(-1); group B, and only normal saline; group C (control group). They were mated with untreated females and the reproductive and chemical parameters were assessed for each group, including semen quality, serum testosterone, sperm fertility, gonad and body weight, serum NO concentration (by the Griess method), and iNOS gene expression (using RT-PCR). Results: The testes weight, serum testosterone, as well as sperm count and fertility of the AVG treated groups were significantly reduced when compared to the control (P<0.001). Concentration of serum NO was significantly increased (37.1 +/- 4.63 mu M) in the administrated group with higher AVG concentration, compared to the control group (P<0.001; 10.19 +/- 0.87 mu M); however, iNOS mRNA expression was increased in the treated animals (P<0.001). Conclusion: iNOS may play a functional role in spermatogenesis via apoptosis, reducing sperm count, but further studies are needed to illustrate the mechanisms by which AVG exerts its negative effects on spermatogenesis and sperm quality

Nitric oxide metabolite levels during the ectopic osteoinduction in rats

Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) is a cell-signaling molecule that has diverse biological functions. Recent evidence suggests that its production may regulate the metabolism of the osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The aim of this study was to evaluate levels of nitrite and nitrates (NO metabolites) during ectopic osteoinduction in rats. Eighteen male Sprague–Dawley rats (body weight 200–300 g) were used in this study. All animals were anesthetized and the right and left flank areas were shaved, and under aseptic conditions, a muscular pouch was created in each flank: the left was filled with 20 mg of demineralized bone matrix and the right remained empty (sham). Radiographs were taken at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after surgery to trace the ectopic bone formation and muscle mineralization. Blood samples were taken before (as baseline values) and at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after surgery. The mean values of NO metabolites after 6 weeks were significantly higher (p<0.05) than baseline data and at 2 weeks post-surgery. Results from this study indicate that the ectopic osteoinduction caused increased activity of the osteoblasts which subsequently caused increased serum levels of NO metabolites (nitrites and nitrates)

Evaluation of HER2 gene amplification status in invasive breast cancer patients by Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization analysis and its correlation with clinical features

Precise assessment of HER2 gene status as an important biomarker plays a significant role in identifying the eligible patients for Trastuzumab therapy and determining their clinical outcomes. In this study, the researchers assigned HER2 amplification status in invasive breast cancer specimens by Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH) and determined its association with other clinical features. Formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tumor tissue specimens of 46 patients with invasive breast cancer were collected from November 2011 till May 2012. HER2status was evaluated by FISH. The Zytolight SPEC HER2/CEN17 dual color probe kit was applied for assessment of HER2status. HER2 gene amplification was defined as HER2/CEP17 ratio>2.2.The association between HER2status and clinical features like tumor grade, tumor type, tumor size, axillary lymph node involvement and age of patient was done using Chi squared test at the 0.05 level of significance (p value). Amplification of HER2 gene was detected in twelve cases (26%). On statistical analysis HER2status showed correlation with tumor grade (p=0.02).There was no correlation between HER2status and tumor type, tumor size, lymph node status and age of patients. The results of this study are consonant with the findings of other studies about the presence of HER2 gene amplification in invasive breast cancer. Statistical analysis showed patients with HER2 amplified gene have tumors with higher grade. In these patients the probability of increased proliferation and metastasis is high therefore evaluation of HER2 gene amplification status in breast cancer patients specially in high grade tumor with an accurate method such as FISH is essentia

Mutation in second exon of myo15a gene cause of nonsyndromic hearing loss and its association in the Arab population in Iran

Hearing loss is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous defect and more than 140 loci and 65 genes have been identified to cause autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL). According to the previous studies, mutations in GJB2 are estimated to be involved in 18.17% of ARNSHL cases in the Iranian population; as a result, the remaining 81.83% of this disorder is yet ambiguous. This study aimed to determine the contribution of DFNB3 in hearing loss as well as the frequency of gene mutations in a population (Arab tribal origin) in the Southwest of Iran. In this descriptive laboratory study, we included 25 families from the Southwest of Iran and negative GJB2 gene. Linkage analysis was performed by DFNB3 (MYO15A) molecular markers (STR). The families with hearing loss linked to this locus were further analyzed for mutation detection. MYO15A gene exons were amplified and analyzed using direct DNA sequencing. In studied families, one family displayed linkage to DFNB3 locus. Identified mutations include substitution and substitute C for A in 1047 location of coding region of MYO15A gene (c.1047 C > A) in exon 2 which cause to change Tyrosin to stop codons (P.Y349X), results in the premature truncation at amino acid position 349

Comparison between the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of dill and statins on lipid profile

Background and Aims: A transient increase of blood concentration of lipids after meal is able to increase the risk of atherogenesis. This study aimed to determine the effects of Anethum graveolens L. (dill) consumption on atherosclerosis and hepatic risk factors. Methods: In an experimental study, 32 male New Zealand rabbits were randomly allocated to four groups to receive normal diet, a diet containing 1 cholesterol, a diet containing 1 cholesterol plus 200 mg/kg dill powder, and a diet containing 10 mg/kg lovastatin. Risk factors of atherosclerosis including glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), nitrite, nitrate, fibrinogen, and factor VII were measured and compared between different groups. Results: Consumption of dill caused a significant reduction in glucose compared to the hypercholesterolemic diet group. Dill powder significantly decreased LDL-C, TC, AST, ALT, and fibrinogen. No significant differences were found between dill group and hypercholesterolemic diet group in ApoB, factor VII, nitrite, and nitrate. Conclusion: According to our findings, postprandial consumption of dill may have beneficial effects on atherosclerosis and hepatic risk factors

An Evaluation of the Influence of Royal Jelly on Differentiation of Stem Cells into Neuronal Cells Invitro

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: P19 carcinoma stem cells are able to differentiate into embryonic cells with three germ layers. Given the fact that differentiated cells can reduce complications associated with degenerative diseases of the nervous system, in this study, we aimed to investigate the differentiation of P19 stem cells into neuronal cells under the influence of royal jelly. METHODS: In this basic-applied research, embryoid bodies, prepared in P19 cell suspension culture, were transferred to gelatinized containers and classified in six groups, receiving 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 300 mg/ml of royal jelly, respectively; five wells were allocated to each group of cells. Morphological evaluation of cell differentiation was performed via cresyl violet staining. Also, immunofluorescence technique was used to track the expression of neuronal marker proteins such as synaptophysin and β-tubulin III. Finally, the findings were analyzed. FINDINGS: The present findings showed that cells exposed to royal jelly responded positively to specific staining of nerve cells. In groups receiving different concentrations of royal jelly, the mean percentage of cell differentiation was significantly higher than the negative control group (9±2.3). The highest percentage of cell differentiation was observed in groups treated with 200 and 300 mg/ml of royal jelly, respectively (98±4.8 and 99.3±2.2, respectively) (p<0.05). Based on the findings, the mean percentage of cell differentiation in the group receiving 200 mg/ml of royal jelly was not significantly different from the group receiving a concentration of 300 mg/ml. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed that P19 cells are able to differentiate into neuronal cells, and therefore, they could be used in cell-based therapy for neurological disease