Beneficial effects of Cichorium intybus L. extract on oxidative status and reproductive parameters in male Wistar rats: An experimental study

Background: During recent years, increasing concern has been raised about the declining sperm count and human male infertility. Cichorium intybus L. (C. intybus) has traditionally been used in Iranian folk medicine as hepato protective and blood purifier and for its presumed fertility-enhancing properties. Objective: A dose-response study was performed to determine the effect ofC. intybus ethanolic leave extract on the reproductive parameters in adult Wistar male rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 healthy adult male Wistar rats (8 wk old, 200-210 gr body weight) were randomly divided (n = 10/each) as control and groups treated with 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day of C. intybus extract via gavage for 70 days. Serum hormonal assay, epididymal sperm evaluation, and analysis of morphometrical parameters, antioxidant enzymes, and lipid peroxidation levels of testis were done in each experimental group. Results: Weights of testis and epididymis increase significantly in male rats treated with 200 mg/kg C. intybus extract. Sperm density and percent of morphologically normal sperm were significantly increased in a dose-related manner with C. intybus treatment. Serum testosterone was higher at 100 and 200 mg/kg C. intybus extract-treated groups. C. intybus significantly reduced malondialdehyde levels and also increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity in testicular tissue of rats. Conclusion: It is concluded that C. intybus leave extract improves reproductive parameters in male rats which might be a consequence of both its antioxidant and androgenic properties

Effects of Dorema Aucheri Extract on Oxidative Status and Reproductive Parameters in Adult Male Rats

Background and Aim: Recently, there is increasing concern about the declining of male reproductive health. Oxidative stress has been proposed as a possible mechanism contributed in reproductive system failure. Dorema aucheri that is being used in Persian folk medicine has been supposed to have male fertility-enhancing properties. Present study was done to evaluate the impacts of Dorema aucheri on oxidative status and reproductive parameters in male rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, healthy adult male Wistar rats were treated with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of ethanolic D. aucheri leaves extract via gavage for 70 days. Blood samples were collected for analysis of testosterone, LH and FSH serum levels. Reproductive organs weight, density, motility and morphology of spermatozoa, seminiferous tubules diameter, germinal epithelium height and also testicular levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were evaluated. Findings: Significant (p<0.05) increases were seen in the testis and epididymis weights of male rats treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg D. aucheri extract. In rats treated with D. aucheri extract sperm density and percent of morphologically normal sperm were significantly (p<0.05) higher. No significant differences were seen in serum testosterone, FSH and LH levels between D. aucheri extract-treated groups and controls. D. aucheri significantly (p<0.05) reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and also increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in testicular tissue of rats. Conclusion: Present study indicates that D. aucheri leaves extract has beneficial effects on reproductive parameters in male rats which might be a consequence of its antioxidant properties

A survey on Hibiscus rosa—sinensis, Alcea rosea L. and Malva neglecta Wallr as antibacterial agents

AbstractObjectiveTo guide for selection of plants with antibacterial activity for further phytochemical works on the isolation and identification of the active compounds.MethodsEthanolic extracts of 3 species from Malvaceae family were evaluated by agar disc diffusion method for antibacterial activity against some gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus anthracis, Escherichia coli Streptococcus pyogenes). The extracts were obtained from aerial parts of Hibiscus rosa (H. rosa)-sinensis (leaf and flower), Alcea rosea (A. rosea) L. (leaf and flower) and Malva neglecta (M. neglecta) Wallr (flower).ResultsThese extracts had inhibitory effects at different concentrations (0.05, 0.10, 0.20 and 0.40 g/mL) against above mentioned bacteria. Escherichia coli was the most resistant strain. The highest inhibitory zone was showed by ethanolic extract of M. neglecta against Staphylococcus epidermidis (22 mm) and followed by ethanolic extract from flower of H. rosa against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus (20 mm). The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) values against Staphylococcus epidermidis were equal (MIC=MBC=5 mg/mL for M. neglecta extract and for H. rosa extract MIC=MBC=20 mg/mL).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that these native plants have good antibacterial properties that can be used for infection control and treatment and could also be as new source for antibiotics discovery and infection treatment

Change-point Detection of Annual Temperature by using the Grey Relational System for Analyzing Mashhad`s Heat Island

Heat island forming in big cities is one of the modern environmental hazards due to the uncontrolled urban development. The global temperature is increasing slowly from the 19th century. The heat islands of big cities have two components: global warming and urban development (population growth, urban development, land use changes and etc.). The purpose of this paper is to study these components in Mashhad city with 127 years of long-term temperature data. Change point of Mashhad annual temperatures was achieved with Grey relational patternin 1980. Mean annual temperatures before and after 1980 are respectively 13.5 and 15.1 by difference 1.6 which shows increasing trend. This increasing is about 3 degree end to 2013. The linear trend line equation for Mashhad after change-point has coefficient of determination and the trend test statistic is 0.0993 (show trend), While this statistic before change point is 0.0035 (show no trend). Moreover annual temperatures of three stations: Kortian, Bar and Olang-Asadi which located outside of Mashhad and adjacent to it analyzed for comparing heat island too. The grey relational pattern showed that change points of the three stations are between the years of 1976 to 1980.This analysis showed that the increasing in annual temperature of Mashhad and suburb are nearly at the same time.The slop of Mashhad's trend line compared with Olang-Asadi. The reason of choosing Olang-Asadi is that its elevation similar with Mashhad and it is being adjacent to Mashhad.The final result showed that the heat island in Mashhad began from 1981 with a slope of 0.093. The annual difference temperature of Mashhad is +3 degree from 1981 to 2013. The relation of temperature difference and population growth provided to a standardized pattern that confirms the existence of heat islands

The Role of NO in Antispasmodic Activity of Parsley (Petroselinum crispum l.) Leaf Flavonoids Extract on KCl-Induced Contraction in Adult Male Rat's Ileum

Abstract Background: Due to the harmful side effects of chemical drugs, in recent decades, much attention has been returned to the use of medicinal plants. The flavonoids as plant secondary compounds are allocated to own an important part of this attention. Based on previous studies, some of the flavonoids are able to reduce contraction induced by KCl, acetylcholine, etc in rat ileum. Therefore, in this study, the effect of the flavonoid extract of parsley leaves on smooth muscle contraction of the ileum and the role of Nitric oxide (NO) has been studied. Materials and Methods: Distal segment of Wistar rat ileum was separated and contractions under one gram tension and at 37°C, in an organ bath containing Tyrode solution was recorded by isotonic method. Rats were divided into 2 groups with 7 in each group. After placing the tissue exposed to L-NAME 100μM (Sigma, America) as an inhibitor of NO, the antispasmodic effect of cumulative concentrations of the flavonoid extract was investigated Results: The extract cumulative concentrations reduced ileum contraction induced by KCl in a dose-dependent manner. Also, the antispasmoide effect of flavonoids extract on ileum contractions (only 16 mg/ml) was affected by L-NAME. Conclusion: This study showed that the extract relaxed rat's ileum by the NO system at higher concentrations

Effects of Fumaria parviflora leaves extract on reproductive parameters in adult male rats

Background: There is growing concern that occupational, environmental and lifestyle factors adversely affect male reproductive health. Fumaria parviflora Lam. is being used traditionally in Persian folk medicine to cure various ailments and has been supposed to have fertility-enhancing properties. Objective: A dose-response study was designed to assess effects of F. parviflora ethanolic leaves extract on reproductive parameters in adult male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, healthy adult male rats were treated with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/day of F. parviflora leaves extract via gavage for 70 days. Blood samples were collected for determination of testosterone, LH and FSH serum levels. Reproductive organs weight, motility, morphology and density of epididymal sperm, seminiferous tubules diameter and germinal epithelium height were evaluated in each experimental group. Results: The body weight was not affected, while the weights of testis and epididymis were significantly enhanced in rats treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg/day F. parviflora extract. No significant changes were observed in seminal vesicle and ventral prostate weight between experiment groups. Significant increase was found in epididymal sperm density and percent of morphologically normal sperm in extract-treated rats. Serum testosterone levels were significantly higher in rats received 200 and 400 mg/kg/day. Conclusion: The results indicated that ethanolic extract of F. parviflora leaves have a potential to improve reproductive parameters and enhance male fertility

A Comparative Study on the Effects of Ziziphus Spina-christi Alcoholic Extracts on Growth and Structural Integrity of Bacterial Pathogens: Ziziphus spina-christi as a native antibacterial plant

In different folk medicine Ziziphus spina-christi is used for different purposes such as pneumonia, dysentery, scorpion stings, cough, constipation, intestinal worms and fever. The aim of this study was evaluation and comparing the antibacterial activity of methanolic and ethanolic extracts of Ziziphus spina –christi as well as subsequent structural changes in affected bacteria. For this purpose, ethanolic and methanolic extracts were prepared by 80% alcoholic solution. Antibacterial activity of these extracts was assessed using standard disc diffusion method against pathogenic bacteria. Sterile filter paper discs (6mm) were saturated by four different concentrations of each extract. The prepared discs were placed on lawn cultures of test bacteria and incubated at 37 0C for 24 h. After incubation the inhibition zone diameter around each disc was measured in millimeter. The induced changes in shape of affected bacteria were discovered using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As a result of this study maximuminhibition zone diameter in case of methanolic extract were 18 and 14 against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereu, and in case of ethanolic extract was 15 mm for S. aureus and Proteus mirabilis. The methanolic extract of this plant was more effective against S. aureus and B. cereus than the ethanolic extract even at high concentration. While the ethanolic extract was more active on Proteus mirabilis. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) indexes of both extracts were equal (MIC= MBC=8 mg/ml) for S. aureus. The SEM analysis revealed cell deformation and irregular shape in both S. aureus and B. cereus. These results suggest significant antibacterial activity of this plant especially against S. aureus, which its resistant strains are currently a great hazard in infection treatment. So, this plant should be considered as a potential source for finding new antibacterial agents