EVALUATION OF HYPOGLYCEMIC AND HYPOLIPIDEMIC EFFECTS OF INTERNAL SEPTUM OF WALNUT FRUIT IN ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Background: Todays, the popularity of herbal medicine is increasing worldwide. Due to importance the evaluation of medicinal herbs efficacy and safety, the present study was conducted to investigate the antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effects of internal septum of walnut fruit (ISWF) ethanolic extract in diabetic rats. Materials and methods: Alloxan diabetic rats treated orally with ethanolic extract of ISWF (0-400mg/kg) for 28 days. To evaluate its anti-diabetic activity, the animals fasting blood glucose were determined on the first, 14th and 29th days. Moreover, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in diabetic rats at the last day of the study. After 24h of last administration, the blood samples were collected, and the Plasma lipids and liver enzymes levels were measured in fasting overnight rats. Results: The extract significantly decreased blood glucose (

A preliminary study on antioxidant activities of saffron petal extracts in lambs

This study assessed the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of saffron (<em>Crocus sativus</em> L) petals on male lambs and was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant activity of this extract during a 15-day period. Fourteen male lambs were divided randomly into three treatment groups (n=4 each) and a control group (normal saline; n=2). Saffron petal extract at 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg was administered by gavage once daily on days 1 and 3 of the experiment for treatment groups. Blood samples were obtained on days 6 and 14 of the study. Serum and plasma were stored at −21°C for further analysis. Heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperatures and body weight of each lamb were recorded in the distinctive intervals from day 0 to the last day of the study. Total antioxidant capacity levels were increased significantly with any dose of the extract on the first day of sampling. There was no statistical difference in the levels of malondialdehyde and total thiol between the treatment and the control group son the 6th and the 14th days of the experiment. Also, no significant differences were identified in the concentrations of glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, total cholesterol, triglyceride, albumin, globulin, total protein, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyle transferase, total bilirubin, direct and indirect bilirubin between control and treatment groups in male lambs during this study. Recorded vital signs and body weight in control and treatment groups showed no significant differences. The present results suggest that the hydroalcoholic extract of saffron petals has antioxidant activity in sheep

Effects of hydro.alcoholic extract of internal septum of walnut on diabetic nephropathy in rats

Background and Aim: Due to the rapid growth of global interest in use of herbal medicine, their efficacy and safety evaluation have become important. In recent studies, internal septum of walnut fruit suggested as a hypoglycemic agent. Therefore, the present work was conducted to evaluate the effects of ethanolic extract of internal septum of walnut fruit (ISWF) on some biochemical and pathological aspects related to renal function in diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental research 32 acute Alloxan induced diabetic and 8 healthy rats divided into 5 equal group and treated orally once per day for 1 month as fallow diabetic groups I and II received 200 and 400 mg/kg of ISWF extracts, diabetic group III received 50 mg/kg metformin and diabetic group IV and healthy group received saline 0.9% as control groups. Finaly, fasting blood glucose (FBG), 24h urine total protein (UTP), blood nitrogen urea (BUN) and plasma cratinine (Cr) were assessed biochemically and also quantitative and qualitative renal histopathological altrations for 1200 glomerulus were determined patologically. Results: In compare to diabetic control group, the ethanolic extract of ISWF in dose independence manner significantly reduced (p≤0.05) FBG, UTP, BUN and Cr, as well as glomerular space, tuft-to-capsule adhesion and mesangial matrix expansion in diabetic rats. Conclusion: The ethanolic extracts of ISWF have beneficial effects on renal function in diabetic rat

Antinociceptive and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Iris songarica Schrenk Rhizome Ethanolic Extract in Mice

Abstract Background: The rhizome of Iris songarica Scherenk has been prescribed as anodyne in Persian traditional medicine system. However, its effects have never been investigated experimentally. Thus, the present study was designed to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of alcoholic extract of Iris songarica Scherenk rhizome in mice. Material and Methods: In this experimental study, adult male balb/c mice were used. 40 animals were allocated into five equal groups (control, morphine 5mg/kg, the extracts at doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg.kg) and tested for antinociceptive evaluation via using hot-plate in 30,60 and 120 minutes after the investigations. Also, the other 36 mice were divided into six equal groups (no-inflammation control, inflammation model, dexamethasone 4 mg/kg and the extracts at doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg.kg) and evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity in xylene induced inflammation model. All the investigations were done via intraperitoneal injection. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis tests in SPSS. Results: Compared to the control group, the extract at the all doses could increase latency time in hot plate test at 30, 60 and 120 minutes after investigation (p<0.05).This potential was comparable to morphine in the high doses or long time. In addition, the extracts at the all doses exhibited high anti-inflammatory activity which was comparable to dexamethasone (p<0.001). Conclusion: The results of present study clearly showed that Iris songarica Scherenk rhizome has antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities in mice

Effects of aqueous extract of turnip leaf (Brassica rapa) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Objectives: Turnip leaf has been used in folk medicine of Iran for the treatment of diabetes. However,so far no scientific study has been done to support its use in traditional medicine. The present study was carried out to evaluate the possible hypoglycemic efficacy of aqueous extract of turnip leaf (AETL) in diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Alloxan-induced diabetic rats were orally treated with AETL at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day for 28 days. In order to evaluate the anti-diabetic activity, fasting blood glucose concentrations were determined on the 1st, 14th and 29th days. Moreover,at the end of the study, plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), aspartate amino transfarase (AST), and alanine amino transferase (ALT) were measured by the use of standard kits and auto-analyzer. Results:Both doses of AETL significantly decreased (

Effects of Jujuba essential oil on hair follicle of the skin of Balb/c mice

Background and Aim: This study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of jujube seed oil on the hair follicle in BALB/c mice. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male BALB/c mice (2.5 months of age) were used. A 4 cm2of the back of animal&rsquo;s body shaved with wax. The mice were then divided into five groups (n=8). The first three groups received Jujube oil concentrations 5%, 10% and 15%, respectively.The fourth and fifth groups were selected as the baseand sham control groups, respectively. The animals received topical treatment of jujuba seed oil for 12 day. Base and control groups received Ocerin and water respectively. After passing 12 day, back skin of animals was shaved againby wax and the treatment was repeated again for further 12 days. At 13th day the animals were sacrificed&nbsp; and&nbsp; samples&nbsp; were collected and tissue processing&nbsp; and staining were performed.Data were analyzed by the ANOVA and Tukey statistical tests with the 22th version of SPSS sofware. Results: This study showed that mean number of hair follicles in the skin of 5% jujuba essence treated group(37.75&plusmn;6.6), 10% jujuba (42.75&plusmn;8.3), 15% jujuba (41.25&plusmn;6.2) was meaningful higher than the base (18.50&plusmn;3.1)and sham (15&plusmn;2.1) groups. Furthermore, we&nbsp; also showed&nbsp; that the&nbsp; number of hair papilla, fibroblast cells and collagen fibers&nbsp; were increased in the&nbsp; treatment groups as compared with the control groups. Conclusion: Based on our study, Jujube essensial oil can have very positive effects on improving hair growth and can be used for hair losing clinical trial

Evaluation of Anti-obesity Effects of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts of Pomegranate Fruit Peel Using Anthropometrical Indices in Male Wistar Rats

Background and Aim: The pomegranate fruit peel has been suggested in traditional medicine as an anti-obesity compound. Therefore, the study was carried out to evaluate the effects of aqueous or ethanolic extracts of pomegranate fruit peel on obesity and lipid profile in rat. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 24 Wistar male rats randomly divided into 4 equal groups (2 experimentals and 2 controls). The experimental groups A and E treated with aqueous or ethanolic extract of pomegranate peel at dose of 400 mg/kg, respectively, for 35 days. The control groups N and X respectively received 5mg/kg of saline and Xenical during the study as same as the experimental groups. The rats' weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were determined before and after investigation. Also at the end of study plasma lipid profile were measured. All data were analyzed by Prism software (ver- 3) and using paired samples t-test and ANOVA. Results: Comparison of weight change before and after the intervention showed a significant reduction in the Group E and a significant increase in group N (p≤0.05). Waist circumference was significantly increased in the experimental group A and control group N (p≤0.05) and reduced in group X (p≤0.05).There was no significant difference in plasma lipid profile between the groups. Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of pomegranate fruit peel can be considered as an anti-obesity compound in further studies

Co-administration effects of aqueous extract of turnip leaf and metformin in diabetic rats

Background: There is a variety of experimentally proven medicinal plants having antidiabetic properties but data on herb-drug interaction are very limited. Earlier studies indicated that aqueous extract of turnip leaf (AETL) has hypoglycemic potential in diabetic animals. The present study was conducted to evaluate co-administration effects of AETL and metformin, a commonly used antidiabetic drug, in diabetic rats. Methods: Metformin at the two different doses (50,100 mg/kg) and AETL at the dose of 400 mg/kg (separately or concurrent with metformin) were orally given to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats for 4 weeks daily. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) was measured at the times 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after investigation. At the end of study, liver enzymes activity [aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)] as well as liver histopathology were evaluated. Results: Both treatments could significantly decrease FBG levels when they administrated separately. Interestingly, co-administration of AETL and metformin in a dose dependent manner significantly improved hypoglycemic activity of metformin. While neither metformin nor AETL could ameliorate liver alterations alone, but in concomitant therapy they efficiently attenuated liver enzymes elevation and histological damages. Conclusion: The results of the present study demonstrate that combination of metformin with AETL enhance the prior effectiveness and reduced the latter adverse effects by a synergistic interaction