Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects of extract contains and without Glycyrrhizic acid of Glycyrrhiza glabra rhizome in male mice

Background and aims: Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (licorice) is a very sweet and soothing herb with anti-inflammatory property and hormonal effects, and in the high importance to the pharmaceutical and food industries. The aim of this study was to investigate the Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of extract containing and without Glycyrrhizic acid of licorice rhizome on small laboratory mice. Methods: In this experimental study, 126 male NMRI mice randomly divided into 18 groups (n=7). Xylene and Formalin Tests used for demonstrating anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects. The normal saline control group and the positive control group in the inflammation test were injected dexamethasone, and morphine was injected in the pain test. Experimental groups received extract with and without Glycyrrhizic acid of licorice rhizome at doses of 20, 40, 60, 90 and 120 mg/kg. Statistical analysis was performed using Graph pad Prism software, one and two way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc tests (P<0.05). Results: The results of inflammation test showed that all doses of extract with glycyrrhizin contain anti-inflammatory effect in inhibiting the xelen-induced inflammation compared with the control group. Results of formalin test showed that the extract with glycyrrhizin has more analgesic effect than without glycyrrhizin extract. Analgesic effects of two extracts in both acute and chronic pain were observed which the pain score dropped significantly in chronic pain. Conclusion: Findings of this study showed that licorice root extract has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects so that major part of these effects is probably related to Glycyrrhizic acid

In Utero and Lactational Effects of Aqueous Foeniculum Vulgare (Fennel) Seed Extract on Puberty Timing, Estrus Cycle and Sexual Behavior in Mice

Abstract Background: Several studies have shown that developmental exposure to phytoestrogens causes adverse effects on the reproductive functions. Fennel as a phytoestrogen plant has a rich history in household use and traditional medicine.So, the current study was designed to investigate the effects of in utero and neonatal exposure with fennel on the puberty onset, estrus cycle, reproductive organs and sexual behavior of their offspring. Materials and Methods: BALB/c mice were injected intraperitoneally with 0 (control), 100, 200 and 400 (mg/kg bw) aqueous fennel seed extract (AFSE), daily from day 7 of gestation to postnatal day (PND) 7. Results: Vaginal opening (sign of puberty onset) was advanced in 200 (p<0.01) and 400 AFSE (p<0.001) treated females. A 30 days vaginal smear check indicated that 200 or 400 AFSE treated mice showed a prolonged estrus with decreased proestrus, estrus and metestrus stages and increased and diestrus stage and index. The ovary weight, number of corpora lutea and LH concentration decreased and uterus weight and estradiol concentration increased in the 200 or 400 treated mice in PND 70. 400 AFSE (p<0.01) treated females showed lordosis with a low lordosis quotient (LQ) when compared to the control group. Conclusion: These results suggest that developmental exposure to AFSE, due to its estrogenic compounds, it may cause the precocious puberty, disrupted estrus cycle, altered weight of reproductive organs, hormonal imbalance and low lordosis behavior

Impact of morphine dependency and detoxification by methadone on male’s rat reproductive system

Background: One of the problems that addicts suffer from is decreased libido. Erectile dysfunction has been reported in men using opioids for treatment of heroin addiction. Objective: The study was performed to investigate the effects of morphine and detoxification with methadone as causes of sexual dysfunction in addiction. Methods and Methods: A total of 40 adult male rats (Wistar) were used. Animals were divided in to 4 groups. Control groups received saline for 30 days. Other 2 groups received 10 mg/kg morphine on day 1 and the morphine doses increased daily by 2 mg/kg increments per day until in day 30 a maximum of 68 mg/kg twice daily was achieved. Withdrawal syndrome sings were evaluated. At the end of period, one group of 2 morphine dependent groups was treated with methadone during 14 days. Animals in group 4 (saline solution+ methadone) received saline for 30 consecutive days and then detoxified with methadone during 14 days. Partial weights of seminal vesicles, testes, prostates, seminal vesicles content, concentrations of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and testosterone in serum were determined. Results: In the dependent group serum levels of testosterone (p<0.001), folicle stimulating hormone (p=0.0097) and luteinizing hormone (p=0.0031) as well as the weights of testes (p=0.0051), partial weights of prostates, seminal vesicles and seminal vesicles contents (p<0.001) were reduced as compared with control group. In the morphine dependent animals detoxified with methadone, testosterone concentrations and seminal vesicles contents remained lower than levels in the control group (p<0.001). Conclusion: The results suggest that morphine dependence may impair the reproductive function in male rats

Effects of Chronic Exposure to Sodium Arsenate on Kidney of Rats

Background: In the present study, histopathological effects of chronic exposure to sodium arsenate in drinkable water were studied on a quantity of organs of rat. Methods: Rats were divided into two groups, group I; served as control group, were main-tained on deionized drinkable water for 2 months, and group II; the study group were given 60 g/ml of sodium arsenate in deionized drinkable water for 2 months. Blood and urine samples from two groups of animals were collected under anesthesia and the animals were sacrificed under deep anesthesia (a-chloralose, 100 mg/kg, I.P). Their kidney, liver, aorta, and heart were dissected out and cleaned of surrounding connective tissue. The organs were kept in formaldehyde (10%) for histopathologic examination. Serum and urine samples from two groups were collected and analyzed for arsenic level. Total quantity of arsenic in serum and urine of animal was measured through graphic furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS). Results:Examination with light microscopy did not show any visible structural changes in the aorta, myocardium, and liver of chronic arsenic treated animals.However, a significant effect was observed in the kidneys of chronic arsenic treated rats showing distinct changes in proxi-mal tubular cells. There was high concentration of arsenic in serum and urine of arsenic ex-posed animals (group II) significantly (P<0.001). Conclusion:Swollen tubular cells in histopathologic study of kidney may suggest toxic effects of arsenic in the body

The enhancing effects of alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa seed on fertility potential, plasma gonadotropins and testosterone in male rats

Background: The task force on plants for fertility regulation in men continued with its program to identify novel prototypes in plants alleged to have fertility regulating properties. Nigella Sativa seeds are frequently used in folk medicine in the Middle East and some Asian countries for the promotion of good health and treatment of many ailments.Objective: To evaluated the role of alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa on fertility potential, Pituitary-testicular axis hormones and Testosterone in male rats.Materials and Methods: 24 male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups; control, group A and group B, each group comprising of 8 rats. Animals in control group received 1 ml of normal saline and treatment groups (A and B) received (gavage) graded doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa seeds on a daily basis for 60 days. At the end of treatment period, fertility parameters such as body and reproductive organs weight, sperm motility, viability and count, epididymal sperm reserve (ESR), daily sperm production (DSP), blood testosterone concentration, Gonadotropins levels and fertility index were measured.Results: There was a significant difference in testes and epididymidis weight, sperm count, ESR, DSP, blood testosterone concentration, LH and fertility index in both the lower dose group and the higher group as compared to the control group.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa seed especially in higher doses could increase fertility potential, LH and testosterone concentration in male rats

Chemo- and bio-informatics insight into anti-cholinesterase potentials of berries and leaves of Myrtus communis L., Myrtaceae: an in vitro/in silico study

Abstract Background Myrtus communis L. (MC) has been used in Mesopotamian medicine. Here, the cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitory potential of its methyl alcohol extracts has been investigated and computationally dissected. Method The ChE inhibition has been measured based on usual Ellman’s colorimetric method compared to a canonical ChE inhibitor, eserine. Through a deep text mining, the structures of phytocompounds (= ligands) of MC were curated from ChemSpider, PubChem, and ZINC databases and docked into protein targets, AChE (PDB 1EVE) and BChE (PDB 1P0I) after initial in silico preparedness and binding affinity (BA; kcal/mol) reported as an endpoint. The calculation of ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) features of phytocompounds were retrieved from SwissADME ( http://www.swissadme.ch/ ) and admetSAR software to predict the drug-likeness or lead-likeness fitness. The Toxtree v2.5.1, software platforms ( http://toxtree.sourceforge.net/ ) have been used to predict the class of toxicity of phytocompounds. The STITCH platform ( http://stitch.embl.de ) has been employed to predict ChE-chemicals interactions. Results The possible inhibitory activities of AChE of extracts of leaves and berries were 37.33 and 70.00%, respectively as compared to that of eserine while inhibitory BChE activities of extracts of leaves and berries of MC were 19.00 and 50.67%, respectively as compared to that of eserine. Phytochemicals of MC had BA towards AChE ranging from -7.1 (carvacrol) to -9.9 (ellagic acid) kcal/mol. In this regard, alpha-bulnesene, (Z)-gamma-Bisabolene, and beta-bourbonene were top-listed low toxic binders of AChE, and (Z)-gamma-bisabolene was a more specific AChE binder. Alpha-cadinol, estragole, humulene epoxide II, (a)esculin, ellagic acid, patuletin, juniper camphor, linalyl anthranilate, and spathulenol were high class (Class III) toxic substances which among others, patuletin and alpha-cadinol were more specific AChE binders. Among intermediate class (Class II) toxic substances, beta-chamigrene was a more specific AChE binder while semimyrtucommulone and myrtucommulone A were more specific BChE binders. Conclusion In sum, the AChE binders derived from MC were categorized mostly as antiinsectants (e.g., patuletin and alpha-cardinal) due to their predicted toxic classes. It seems that structural amendment and stereoselective synthesis like adding sulphonate or sulphamate groups to these phytocompounds may make them more suitable candidates for considering in preclinical investigations of Alzheimer’s disease

Evaluation of Analgesic effects of Clove Extracton Male Offspring of Surrey Female Miceduring Lactation

Background & aim: The analgesic effects of Clove plant is due to the presence of phenolic substances. Since no study has yet evaluated the analgesic effect of this plant extract during lactation, hencethe present study aimed to evaluate the analgesic effect of clove oil orally on offspringmalemiceduringlactation. Methods: Inthe present experimental study, two groupsoffemalemice, receiving cloveoil and control groupwere used. After delivery, animalsweretreatedorallywith cloveextract at the dose of 4% on the first day of delivery. In order toassess pain,formalin was used inmaleoffspringafterthirty daysofbirth. Data were analyzed using GraphPad prismstatistical software. Results: The results of this study showed that treating lactating female mice during lactation by clove oil induced analgesic effects of male offspring and this analgesia in the chronic phase of itself was shown significantly (P<0.01). Conclusions: Analgesic effectinduced byfeedingratswithcloveextractinmalemice possibly will be favorable inclinical usein the near future

The effect of pomalidumide on inflammatory factors and pro-oxidant antioxidant balance in ovalbumin-induced asthma rat model

Background and Aim: Allergic asthma is an inflammatory disease of the respiratory system which causes an increase in inflammatory factors such as IL-2,IL-4,IL-5, lymphocytes and eosinophils. These factors can increase the level of free radicals and oxidants. Pomalidumide, an anti-inflammatory drug that has stronger effects than its analogues, can significantly reduce inflammatory factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pomalidumide on inflammatory factors and pro-oxidant antioxidant balance in the rat model of ovalbumininduced asthma. Material and Methods: Male rats were divided into 5 groups (n=8): normal saline, ovalbumin+normal saline, ovalbumin+dexamethasone, ovalbumin+pomalidimide (0.4 0.8 mg/kg, ip). We used ELISA method to determine the level of inflammatory factors. We measured pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) for assessment of blood oxidant level. Results: We found significant decrease in the levels of inflammatory factors in the pomalidumide group. This decrease was more significant in the group that received pomalidumide 0.8 mg/kg, ip. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that pomalidomide prevented the pro-oxidant antioxidant balance shift towards increasing oxidant factors in the asthmatic rats. Also it prevented increase in inflammatory factors including IL-2, IL-4,IL-5, lymphocytes and eosinophils in the ovalbumin-induced asthma rat model

The antinociceptive effects of rubbing Pistacia atlantica oil by formalin test in male labarotory mice

Background and Aim: Baneh (Pistacia Atlantica) is a valuable oily fruit that has gained considerable attention because of its pharmaceutical, nutritional and industrial applications. This study aimed to investigate the antinociceptive effect of rubbing baneh oil using formalin test during acute and chronic phases in male laboratory mice. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 30 male mice. They were allocated into 5 groups including control (without treatment), rubbing vaseline, morphine (positive control), baneh oil, and baneh oil plus morphine. Before the formalin test, the animals were treated with rubbing baneh oil for six hours. Morphine (10 mg/kg) was injected with a single dose subcutaneously. Pain scores were obtained using formalin test by injecting 0.02 ml of 2.5% formalin into the animals&rsquo; right palm. Results: Rubbing baneh oil significantly reduced the pain in acute pain (P <0.01), sub-acute pain (P <0.001), and chronic pain (P <0.001) phases as compared with the control group. On the other hand, baneh oil showed a stronger antinociceptive effect in chronic pain than morphine (P <0.01). Conclusion: This study showed that rubbing Baneh oil has antinociceptive effect where a considerable share of this effect may be attributed to the oil&rsquo;s compounds. &nbsp