Antidiabetic, hematoprotective and nephroprotective effects of the aqueous extract of Falcaria vulgaris in diabetic male mice

Falcaria vulgaris has been used in medicine as an antimicrobial agent. The aims of this study were to evaluate the hypoglycemic and nephroprotective activities of the aqueous extract of F. vulgaris in diabetic mice. Diabetes was experimentally induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The mice were divided randomly into 6 groups as follows: nondiabetic, untreated diabetic, a group that received orally 0.5 mg/kg glibenclamide, and three groups that were given orally 200, 600 and 1800 mu g/kg of F. vulgaris, respectively, for 20 days. On the 20th day, the mice were dissected, and blood and kidney samples were collected for analysis of hematological, biochemical and stereological parameters. F. vulgaris at all doses, particularly 1800 mu g/kg, significantly (p <= 0.05) reduced the levels of urea, creatinine, WBC, eosinophils, basophiles, platelet and increased RBC, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, lymphocytes and monocytes that were raised after diabetes induction, compared to the untreated diabetic group. Multiple doses of F. vulgaris, particularly1800 mu g/kg, significantly (p <= 0.05) decreased the total volumes of the kidney cortex, medulla, vessels and renal tubules, as well as the lengths of the vessels and renal tubules, compared to the untreated diabetic group. Also, F. vulgaris at all doses significantly prevented glomerular hypertrophy and reduction of glomeruli numbers in comparison with the untreated diabetic group. In conclusion, F. vulgaris possesses antidiabetic, hematoprotective and nephroprotective properties and can improve renal structural and blood biomarkers in STZ-induced nephrotoxicity in mice

Assessment of the Hepatoprotective Activity of Tragopogon graminifolius DC. Aqueous Extract on CCl4-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice

Background and objectives: Tragopogon graminifolius DC. is widely used in Iranian traditional medicine as a gastro-protective and wound healer agent. In the present study the hepatoprotective property of T. graminifolius DC. aqueous extract (TGAE) was investigated against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatocellular injury in mice. Methods: Fifty male mice were divided into five groups (n=10). Group 1 (control) received 1 ml/kg olive oil intraperitoneally (i.p.) and distilled water orally; Group 2 (untreated) received CCl4 (50 in olive oil, 1 ml/kg; i.p.); Groups 3, 4 and 5 received CCl4 and 30, 90 and 270 mg/kg of TGAE (TGAE30, TGAE90 and TGAE270), respectively. At the end of the 45-day treatment, the mice of all groups were euthanized, then blood and liver samples were collected for biochemical and histological parameters analysis. The data was analyzed by one way variance analysis and Duncan's test using SPSS 21. Results: Different doses of TGAE (especially TGAE270) could significantly (p <= 0.05) reduce the raised levels of ALP, AST, ALT, Cholesterol, LDL and increased HDL, SOD, CAT as compared to the untreated group. The weight and volume of the hepatic structures decreased significantly (p <= 0.05) in several doses of TGAE (especially TGAE270) when compared to the untreated group. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that under the present experimental conditions, TGAE indicated hepatoprotective abilities against CCl4 induced liver damage in mice

Green synthesis and chemical characterization of copper nanoparticles using Allium saralicum leaves and assessment of their cytotoxicity, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cutaneous wound healing properties

In recent decades, nanotechnology is growing rapidly owing to its widespread application in science and industry. The aim of the experiment was the green synthesis of copper nanoparticles using Allium saralicum R.M. Fritsch aqueous extract and assessment of their cytotoxicity, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and cutaneous wound healing effects under in vitro and in vivo conditions. These nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV–visible spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). DPPH free radical scavenging test was done to assess the antioxidant properties, which indicated similar antioxidant potentials for CuNPs@Allium and butylated hydroxytoluene. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) were specified by macro-broth dilution assay. CuNPs@Allium indicated higher antibacterial and antifungal effects than all standard antibiotics (p ≤ 0.01). Also, CuNPs@Allium inhibited the growth of all bacteria at 1–8 mg/ml concentrations and removed them at 2–8 mg/ml concentrations (p ≤ 0.01). In the case of antifungal properties of CuNPs@Allium, they prevented the growth of all fungi at 1–4 mg/ml concentrations and destroyed them at 2–8 mg/ml concentrations (p ≤ 0.01). In vivo experiment, after creating the cutaneous wound, the rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 10): untreated control, treatment with Eucerin basal ointment, treatment with 3 tetracycline ointment, treatment with 0.2 CuSO4 ointment, treatment with 0.2 A. saralicum ointment, and treatment with 0.2 CuNPs@Allium ointment. Use of CuNPs@Allium ointment in the treatment groups substantially reduced (p ≤ 0.01) the wound area, total cells, neutrophil, macrophage, and lymphocyte and remarkably raised (p ≤ 0.01) the wound contracture, hydroxyl proline, hexosamine, hexuronic acid, fibrocyte, and fibrocytes/fibroblast rate compared to other groups. The synthesized CuNPs@Allium had high cell viability dose-dependently (Investigating the effect of the plant on HUVEC cell line) and revealed this method was nontoxic. The results revealed the useful non-cytotoxic, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and cutaneous wound healing effects of CuNPs@Allium. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Study of wound healing potential of Stevia rebaudiana ethanol extract in male rats

Background and objectives: Stevia rebaudiana has been used in medicine as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antipyretic, anti-fungal, and antibacterial agent. The present study was conducted to investigate the healing effects of S. rebaudiana ethanol extracts on cutaneous wounds in rats. Methods: Full-thickness excisional wounds (2×2 cm) were induced on the back of 32 rats. The rats were divided into four groups as follows; untreated (control) and treated with 1 mL basal cream, 1 mL S. rebaudiana ethanol extract 10%, and 1 mL tetracycline (3%) for 20 days (short term). Animals of each group were euthanized at 20 day post-injury and wounds were assessed through macroscopic and microscopic analyses. Results: During the experiment, S. rebaudiana indicated a significant reduction in the wound area compared to other groups. Parameters such as arrangement of the healing tissue, re-epithelilization and epithelial formation demonstrated considerable changes when compared to the control. In addition, treatment with S. rebaudiana decreased the total number of cells, fibrocytes/fibroblasts ratio, neutrophils, and lymphocytes and enhanced the number of blood vessels and fibroblasts at 20 day. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated the wound healing activity of S. rebaudiana, lending credence to the folkloric use in the treatment of cutaneous wounds

Chemical characterization and therapeutic properties of Achillea biebersteinii leaf aqueous extract synthesized copper nanoparticles against methamphetamine-induced cell death in PC12: A study in the nanotechnology and neurology fields

© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Recently, scientist have used metallic nanoparticles for synthesizing many new drugs in the field of neurology. One of the metals used in the metallic nanoparticles is copper. The role of Achillea biebersteinii in increasing the physiological activities of central nervous system in Iranian traditional medicine is well known. In this study fresh leaves of A. biebersteinii were used for the biosynthesis of copper nanoparticles. We also assessed the effect of copper nanoparticles on methamphetamine-induced cell death in the PC12 cell line. The nanoparticles were analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. A 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging experiment was carried out to assess the antioxidant properties of Cu(NO3)2, A. biebersteinii, and CuNPs. The DPPH test revealed similar antioxidant activities for A. biebersteinii, CuNPs, and butylated hydroxytoluene. In the cellular and molecular part of the present study, the Trypan blue test was performed to assess cell viability. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase 2′-Deoxyuridine, 5′-Triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labeling test clarified the DNA fragmentation and apoptosis occurrence. The Griess reaction was used to measure nitric oxide production and caspase-3 activity was evaluated by spectrophotometry. The obtained results were fed into SPSS-22 software and analyzed by one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's post hoc test (p ≤ 0.01). The results indicate that both doses of CuNPs had cell death-suppressing effects on nerve cells. In particular, both doses of CuNPs significantly (p ≤ 0.01) increased cell viability and NO production, and decreased cell cytotoxicity, cell death index, and caspase-3 activity near the normal. According to these results, it seems that CuNPs could be administrated as a neuroprotective supplement or drug for the treatment of central nervous system disorders in clinical trials