The effect of aqueous extract of Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. leaves on liver enzymes' activity, oxidative stress parameters and liver histopathology in male diabetic rat

Background: Avicennia marina has antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties. This study was conducted to examine the effect of aqueous extract of A. marina on liver enzymes' activity, oxidative stress parameters and liver histopathology in diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 28 male rats were allocated into the equal groups of control, diabetic control and experimental diabetic 1 and 2. The diabetes in diabetic control and experimental diabetic groups was induced using an intraperitoneal injection of 120 mg/kg alloxan. The experimental diabetic groups received the aqueous extract of A. marina (100 and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) in alternate days for one month. Sterile distilled water was injected to the animals of control and diabetic control groups. At the end of the treatment period, serum levels of ALT, AST, GGT and ALP were measured. Then, levels of SOD, GST, CAT and MDA were measured in the liver tissue. The liver sections were prepared and examined by an optical microscope. Results: Results showed that administration of the A. marina extract (100 and 300 mg/kg, ip) to the diabetic rats significantly decreased the serum levels of liver enzymes and tissue level of MDA. Also, the activity of the liver tissue's antioxidant enzymes was increased (P<0.05). The A. marina extract dose-dependently decreased liver damages in diabetic rats. Conclusion: Administration of the A. marina extract improves liver tissue oxidative stress indices and decreases the serum level of liver enzymes. Also, A. marina extract improves liver tissue injuries induced by diabetes

The effect of aqueous extract of Launaea acanthodes (Boiss.) O. Kuntze on the serum levels of insulin and blood glucose and histomorphological changes of pancreas in diabetic rats

Background: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that appears by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion and pancreatic function. Considering the properties of the Launaea acanthodes, this study aimed to examine the effects of this plant on serum level of insulin and blood glucose and histomorphological changes of pancreas in diabetic rats.Materials and Methods: In this study, 27 male rats were allocated into the equal groups of control, diabetic control and experimental diabetic. The diabetes in diabetic control and experimental diabetic groups was induced using an intraperitoneal injection of alloxan. The experimental diabetic group received the aqueous extract of L. acanthodes (300 mg/kg, ip) in alternate days for one month. Sterile distilled water was injected to the animals of control and diabetic control groups. The serum levels of insulin and blood glucose were measured on days 1, 15 and 30. Histological studies were performed to determine the number and diameter of the pancreatic islets.Results: On days 15 and 30 of the experiment, injection of the L. acanthodes extract caused a significant decrease and increase in the serum level of glucose and insulin, respectively compared to the control group (

Effect of training the communication skills with cognitive-behavioral model to drug dependent couples on communication patterns and recurrent relapse

Background: One of the main challenges in methadone maintenance treatment is relapse and lack of sustainability on treatment. Therefore, considering the effective factors in this regard and reducing it through psychological interventions as an adjunct to medication is necessary. Objective: The current study aimed to determine the effectiveness of communication skill training based on cognitive-behavioral model on communication patterns and recurrent relapse in drug dependent couples. Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental intervention with pretest-posttest and control group in 2013 which carried on 40 couple referred to public addiction treatment center of Qazvin city. These people had troubled communication patterns and were selected using convenience sampling and were divided into two groups of intervention and control, randomly. Two groups were assessed by relapse prediction scale (RPS) and structured clinical interview for DSM (SCID-I) for men and communication pattern questionnaire (CPQ) for couples in pre and post-test. Intervention group received 9 two hours sessions of communication skill training based on cognitive-behavioral model. Data were analyzed using Levin and Box tests and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Findings: The difference between the intervention and control groups in the constructive communication pattern with 51% (p<0/05), in mutual avoidance pattern with 61% (p<0/0001) and in the demand / withdraw pattern with 45% (p<0/05) was statistically significant. Also, the difference between the two groups in the rate of relapse with 64% (p<0/0001) was statistically significant. Conclusion: According to the findings it seems group training of communication skill based on cognitive-behavioral model can improve the communication patterns in drug-dependent couples, as well as prevents relapse in men

Drought stress effects on photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence and water relations in tolerant and susceptible chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes

In order to evaluate morphological and physiological traits related to drought tolerance and to determine the best criteria for screening and identification of drought-tolerant genotypes, we grew two tolerant genotypes (MCC392, MCC877) and two sensitive genotypes (MCC68, MCC448) of chickpea under drought stress (25% field capacity) and control (100% field capacity) conditions and assessed the effect of drought stress on growth, water relations, photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence and chlorophyll content in the seedling, early flowering and podding stages. Drought stress significantly decreased shoot dry weight, CO2 assimilation rate (A), transpiration rate (E), and PSII photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) in all genotypes. In the seedling and podding stages, PSII photochemical efficiency was higher in tolerant genotypes than in sensitive genotypes under drought stress. Water use efficiency (WUE) and CO2 assimilation rate were also higher in tolerant than in sensitive genotypes in all investigated stages under drought stress. Our results indicated that water use efficiency, A and Fv/Fm can be useful markers in studies of tolerance to drought stress and in screening adapted cultivars of chickpea under drought stress

Effect of Aqueous Extract of Artemisia absinthium L. on Sex Hormones, Inflammatory Cytokines and Oxidative Stress Indices of Ovarian Tissue in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Rat Model

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hormonal disorders along with oxidative stress and inflammation in ovarian tissue lead to anovulation in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. Considering antioxidant effect of Artemisia absinthium, purpose of this study is to determine the effect of aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium on serum levels of sex hormones, inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress indices of ovarian tissue in polycystic ovary syndrome rat model. METHODS: In this study, 32 female Wistar rats were divided into 4 equal groups: groups of control, PCOS control and two groups with PCOS which are under treatment through aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium (100 and 200 mg/kg). Polycystic ovarian syndrome was induced by single intramuscular injection of estradiol valerate (4mg/kg). Aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium was intraperitoneal injection to PCOS treated groups, for 24 days. At the end of treatment period, serum levels of LH, FSH, Estradiol, Testosterone, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 and levels of SOD, CAT, GPX enzymes and level of MDA in ovarian tissue were measured through ELISA method. FINDINGS: Compared to PCOS control group (LH: 14.30±2.52, FSH: 2.35±0.28, Estradiol: 17.61±2.44, Testosterone: 10.29±1.56, TNF-α: 178.65±4.35, IL-1β: 121.52±5.17, IL-6: 162.28±5.83, SOD: 20.51±1.84, CAT: 64.42±3.70, GPX: 35.15±2.88, MDA: 87.32±3.40), MDA tissue level (55.46±4.73), serum levels of LH (8.26±1.36), Estradiol (7.76±1.55), Testosterone (6.40±1.04) and TNF-α (115.35±5.83), IL-1β (70.25±5.74) and IL-6 (89.15±4.52) cytokines in group under treatment with 200 mg/kg aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium significantly decreased (p=0.008) and serum level of FSH (7.52±1.21) and levels of SOD (71.58±5.19), CAT (128.30±5.11) and GPX (88.21±5.51) antioxidant enzymes of ovarian tissue significantly increased (p=0.005). CONCLUSION: Aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium by decreasing the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines and increasing the activity of the ovary tissue antioxidant enzymes has a favorable effect on the improvement of hormonal parameters in rats with polycystic ovary syndrom