The Human Host Defense Peptide LL-37 Overexpressed in Lung Cell Lines by Methanolic Extract of Valeriana officinalis

The present study investigated the effects of valerian methanolic extract and valerenic acid on the expression of LL-37 gene and protein in A549 and MRC5 line cells. After preparing Valerian seeds, sowing them in March 2020, and harvesting the rhizome in October 2020, the extract was prepared from the valerian rhizome by maceration method. Valerian acid content was determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Two cell lines (A549 and MRC-5) were used to study the effects of valerian extract, and the MTT test was used to evaluate cell viability. The expression of LL-37 mRNA and protein was assessed by Real-Time PCR and western blot, respectively. In vivo safety assessments and histopathological analysis were also conducted. Data was analyzed by Graphpad Prism 8 software. Valerian methanolic extract and valerenic acid upregulated the LL-37 mRNA and protein expression in both treated cell lines. Valerenic acid showed a greater effect on upregulating LL-37 expression than valerian methanolic extract. A549 cells were more sensitive to valerian methanolic extract compared to MRC5 cells, and its cell viability was reduced. Furthermore, liver and kidney-related safety assessments showed that valerian methanolic extract had no toxic effects. In general, it was concluded that the methanolic extract of valerian as well as the resulting valerenic acid as the most important component of the extract has the ability to upregulate LL-37expression. Therefore, methanolic extract of valerian and valerenic acid can be considered for improving the immune system

The effects of vitamin D on Immunoresponsive gene 1 and Krüppel-like Factor 2 protein expression in the lung due to the cadmium poisoning

Background: Cadmium, a well-known hazardous heavy metal and non-essential component, has several negative health effects. The long-term use of cadmium toxin to develop a pulmonary model, evaluation of Irg1 gene expression and KLF-2 protein and serum IL4 levels following model induction, and evaluation of vitamin D's therapeutic effects in reducing pulmonary and hepatic complications in a mice model have not been studied.Methods: A total of 40 healthy female C57 black 6 mice weighing 20–25 g and approximately 6–8 weeks’ old were purchased from animal husbandry, Pasteur Institute of Iran. After induction of the model, the mice were assigned to the following groups such as Group 1 (G1): mice were euthanized the day after induction. Group 2(G2): mice were ethically killed 21 days after induction. Group 3(G3) mice were treated with vitamin D and euthanized 5 days after treatment. Group 4(G4): mice were treated with vitamin D and euthanized 21 days after treatment. Vitamin D3 with a concentration of 300,000 units per milliliter, which is equivalent to 7.5 mg per 1 microliter, and 13.5 μl of the main stock is equivalent to 100 ng, which is used for 1 kg of mice. Blood samples were collected to measure serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase to evaluate liver toxicity.Results: Based on the results obtained, serum SGPT levels in vitamin D treatment groups did not show a significant decrease compared to cadmium groups (p >0.001). The ALP biomarker in the groups treated with vitamin D was decreased significant in comparison to untreated model groups (p<0.001). While any significant differences were not observed between the Cd model and the Cd model treated with Vitamin D.Conclusion: This study proved that administration vitamin D to some extent reduces the toxic effects of cadmium on the liver and lung.Keywords: Ameliorated; Vitamin D; Protein expression; Lung; Cadmiu

Evaluation of the Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activity of Cultivated Valeriana officinalis:

Drug resistance refers to the reduction in the effectiveness of a drug in treating a disease or improving the stability of symptoms. It can occur in various types of pathogens, including bacteria, parasites, viruses, fungi, and cancer cells. This experimental study was conducted between 2018 and 2019 in an area with an annual mean rainfall of 130mm. The sowing date was September 10th, and 2-3 seeds were planted per cell. MTT assays (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) were used to determine the percentage of viability in adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549) and Medical Research Council cell strain 5 (MRC5) cell lines incubated with methanolic extract and valerenic acid for 48 hr. The methanol extract was prepared by adding 1000 mg of rhizomes to 100 mL of methanol, followed by sonication for 30 minutes, stirring, and centrifugation at 4000 rpm for 10 minutes. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and agar gel diffusion were used to assess the antimicrobial activity of the methanol extract of valerian against two important pathogenic microorganisms, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. However, valerenic acid did not reveal antimicrobial activity at doses of 200, 100, 50, 25, 12.5, and 6.25 µg/mL. The methanolic extract of V. officinalis contains high quantities of sesquiterpenes, specifically valerenic acid, which did not show cytotoxic effects on A549 and MRC5 cell lines as assessed by the MTT assay. In vivo evaluation of the extract in mice and guinea pigs did not reveal any toxic effects based on histopathological and clinical symptom assessments. Our study confirms that Valeriana officinalis has dose-dependent potential to improve existing treatment approaches for Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans infections

The most common herbal medicines affecting Sarcomastigophora branches: A review study

Parasitic diseases cause annual mortality of more than 200 thousand people. Currently many drugs are used to treat parasitic diseases; however, they are mostly expensive, toxic, with side effects and drug resistance. Medicinal plants have been shown to represent natural source of cheap drugs with low toxicity. In this review article, the most common and most effective herbal medicines on pathogenic protozoan Sarcomastigophora branches such as Trypanosoma, Leishmania, Amoeba, Trichomonas and Giardia were reviewed. The recently published papers about different drugs as well as herbal medicines as alternative for synthetic drugs were searched using scientific sites such as Medline, PubMed and Google Scholar. The used terms included: Medicinal plants, herbal medicine, protozoa, Trypanosoma, Sarcomastigophora branches, Leishmania, Amoeba, Trichomonas or Giardia. © 2014 Hainan Medical College

In vivo evaluation of antiparasitic effects of Artemisia abrotanum and Salvia officinalis extracts on Syphacia obvelata, Aspiculoris tetrapetra and Hymenolepis nana parasites

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Salvia officinalis and Artemisia abrotanum extracts against digestive system parasites of mice. Methods: The ethanol extract was prepared and dissolved in distilled water. The mebendazole was used as positive control and distilled water as negative control. After counting eggs per gram feces, infected mice with 16 eggs per gram feces contained two to three parasites of Syphacia obvelata, Aspicoloris terepetra and Hymenolipis nana designated in 4 groups. The first group was given extracts of Artemisia (150 mg/kg), the second group was given Salvia extract (150 mg/kg), the third group was given mebendazole (10 mg/kg) and finally the fourth group was given distilled water (2 mL/kg). Results: The ethanol extracts of Artemisia and Salvia plants reduced the number of parasite eggs per gram of feces. Results showed significant reduction (P-value<0.001) in the number of eggs excreted by Hymenolepis nana, Aspiculuris tetraptera, Syphacia obvelata in mice. Conclusions: These results revealed that antiparasitic effects of Artemisia and Salvia are reasonable and these two plants might be used as antiparasitic natural products. © 2014 Asian Pacific Tropical Medicine Press

The Assessment Methods and its Relationship to Learning Approaches of Nursing Students in Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Background & Objective: There are two basic learning approaches in academic education; deep and surface. If educational assessment is designed based on deep understanding it will lead to deep learning. This study aimed to investigate conventional methods of assessment in medical surgical courses and its relationship with learning approaches in nursing students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2010. Methods: This is a descriptive analytic study. A questionnaire consisting of three sections including personal characteristics, assessment methods, and the revised two-factor study process questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F) was completed by 198 nursing students. Data were analyzed using SPSS and by means, standard deviation, frequency, Student’s t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and Rho. Results: The most used assessment methods were multiple choice question (MCQ) and Direct Observation Procedural Skills (DOPS). The mean score of deep learning approach was 34.27 ± 5.006 and of surface learning approach was 31.21 ± 5.52. Regarding the relationship between learning approaches and assessment methods, results showed a significant difference (P < 0.05). MCQ and DOPS alone resulted in the surface approach, but a combination of tests and projects in written, and DOPS tests lead to deep learning approach in clinical tests (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Using MCQ and DOPS without concentration on reflection and problem solving lead to surface approach. As common assessment methods in this study led to surface approach, using projects in written and clinical assessment for deep approach, lifelong learning, and student empowerment for their future responsibilities is suggested. Keywords Learning approaches Student evaluation Assessment methods Nursing students Medical surgical nursing course

A review of the health effects and uses of drugs of plant licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) in Iran

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Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on meiotic spindle structure and oocyte quality in mice

Objective(s): Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been reported to improve pregnancy chances in women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) and to reduce miscarriage rates by 50–80%. This study, therefore, assesses effects of DHEA on number of retrieved oocytes and meiotic spindles.Materials and Methods: A randomized, prospective, controlled study was conducted on eight groups, four groups of young mice and four elderly. All young and old groups received different oral doses (35, 50, 75 mg/kg) of DHEA for 3 months. Meiotic spindle assessment was done by immunocytochemical techniques using a confocal laser microscope (Leica TCS-4D).Results: Statistical surveys showed that in control young groups 80% (P=0.0845) and in the old control group 73.3% (P=0.000) of the meiotic spindles have a normal shape and structure; the difference was meaningful. The young with 50 mg/kg of DHEA in 85.4% and the young with 75 mg/kg of DHEA in 84.2% were normal in shape and structure. Statistical analysis showed that the difference was meaningless (P=0.845). The old group with 30 mg/kg of DHEA in 81.1%, the old with 50 mg/kg of DHEA in 83.9%, and the old with 75 mg/kg of DHEA in 79.0% showed normal shape and structure. The meiotic spindle disruption ratio in old mice showed a significant difference (P=0.000) in comparison with others in young groups. Statistical analysis showed that difference between DHEA and control groups is meaningful. But this difference was meaningless between DHEA groups.Conclusion: Results showed that DHEA has a positive and improvement effect on the meiotic spindle in old mice

Evaluation of the Total Antioxidant Capacity of Bitter and Sweet Varieties of Ferula assa-foetida and Bunium persicum

Background: Due to low information about total antioxidant capacity of three species of plants native to Ilam province which are used in the ethnobotanical knowledge of this region, This study was drafting to evaluation the antioxidant ability of bitter and sweet varieties of Ferula assa-foetida and Bunium persicum with therapeutic potential on gynecological diseases.Methods: The methanolic extracts of two different variants of F. assa-foetida and B. persicum gum-resin were prepared and then antioxidant effects were evaluated by ferric reducing-antioxidant power assay.Results: Our results showed that methanolic extracts of B. persicum gum-resin could significantly revealed antioxidant effect in comparison to two different variants of F. assa-foetida (P<0.05). While antioxidant capacity between bitter and sweet varieties of F. assa-foetida were not statistically significant.Conclusion: Our results showed that both B. persicum and the bitter and sweet varieties of F. assa-foetida native to Ilam province, located in west of Iran, could have medicinal therapeutic effects relatively through direct oxidation prevention

Evaluating the Anti-Leech Effects of Methanolic Extracts of Peganum harmala L. and Olea europaea L. on Limnatis nilotica. World&apos;s Vet

ABSTRACT Leeches had several complications such as pain, itching, inflammation, severe anemia, short-term bleeding, hypersensitivity, and anaphylactic reactions in their hosts. Harmal Peganum harmala L. is used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent and it has antibacterial activity. Olive Olea europaea L. has antibacterial, anti-viral, hypoglycemic and the relaxation of blood vessels properties. Antioxidant properties of olive also had been reported. This study was carried out to detect the effects of methanolic extracts of P. harmala L. and O. europaea L. on L. nilotica immature form. In 2011, 55 immature leeches collected from the southern area of Ilam province were prepared. The methanolic extract of O. europaea L and P. harmala L. were compared with levamisole as the control drug. Distilled water was evaluated as the placebo group which investigated L. nilotica using anti-leech assay. Then extract and drugs were added and their effects were screened for 720 min and time to paralyze, kill and death of each leech was recorded. The results showed that olive methanolic extractions (600 and 300mg) could kill the leeches in an average time of 145±77.57 and171±33.28 min, respectively. An average death time for levamisole was found to be 15±7.49 min. The highest effectiveness was found for levamisole at dose 300 mg. Methanol extracts of the Harmal (300 and 600 μg/m) and springs water showed no anti-leech. In sum, olive plant could use for anti Limnatis nilotica expenditure