Crocin prevents acute angiotensin II-induced hypertension in anesthetized rats

Objective: Angiotensin II (Ang II), the main product of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has a well-known role in cardiovascular regulation. Over-production of Ang II is one of the important underlying mechanisms of hypertension. In this study, the effect of crocin on cardiovascular responses in rats with acute hypertension induced by Ang II was evaluated. Materials and methods: Rats were divided into six groups (n = 6): 1) Control: rats that received saline, 2) Ang II: rats that received Ang II (300 ng/kg) infused in two min, 3) Losartan (Los) + Ang II : rats that received Los (10 mg/kg, i.v) before Ang II, and 4-6) Crocin (Cro) + Ang II groups: rats that received three doses of crocin (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, slow i.v) 10 min before Ang II. Femoral artery and vein were cannulated for recording of cardiovascular parameters and injection of drugs, respectively. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were continuously recorded by power lab system. After injection of reagents and extracts, maximum changes (∆) of MAP, SBP and HR were recorded and compared with control group. Results: Ang II (300 ng/kg) increased maximal changes in MAP, SBP and HR compared to control group (

The effects of Nigella sativa ethanolic extract on proliferation and apoptosis of renal cell carcinoma ACHN cell line

زمینه و هدف: سیاه دانه (Nigella sativa) گیاهی ازتیره آلاله٬ علفی، یک ساله یا پایا است. ترکیبات این گیاه دارای خواص ضد سرطانی هستند. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی اثر سایتوتوکسیک و آپوپتوتیک عصاره الکلی سیاهدانه بر روی رشد سلول های سرطانی کلیه انسان رده ACHN و سلول های غیر سرطانی سالم رده L929 انجام شد. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی غلظت های مختلف عصاره الکلی سیاهدانه در محیط کشت، روی سلول های ACHN و L929 اثر داده شد. پس از 24، 48 و 72 ساعت، تغییرات مورفولوژیک ایجاد شده با میکروسکوپ معکوس ارزیابی گردید. با آزمون MTT اثر غلظت های عصاره بر درصد سلول های زنده هر دو رده سلولی در زمان‌های مذکور، از نظر کمی بررسی شد. بررسی میزان آپوپتوز با کیت فسفاتیدیل سرین با استفاده ار دستگاه فلوسیتومتری مشخص گردید. داده ها با استفاده از آنالیز آماری واریانس یک طرفه و آزمون تعقیبی Tukeyآنالیز شد. یافته ها: نتایج آزمون MTT نشان داد که غلظت های µg/ml 750 و بالاتر عصاره بر سلول های رده ACHN و غلظت های µg/ml 1250 و بالاتر عصاره بر روی سلول های رده L929 موجب کاهش معنی دار تعداد سلول های زنده ACHN و L929 می گردد (05/0P(P. نتیجه گیری: با توجه به نتایج این پژوهش عصاره الکلی سیاهدانه دارای اثرات آپوپتوتیک و سایتوتوکسیک بر سلول های سرطانی رده ACHN در مقایسه با سلول های سالم L929 است. لذا می توان عصاره الکلی سیاهدانه را به عنوان ترکیبی با اثرات سایتوتوکسیک روی سلول های سرطانی در درمان سرطان کلیه پیشنهاد کرد

Animal Models of Diabetes-Associated Renal Injury

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the main factor leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and subsequent morbidity and mortality. Importantly, the prevalence of DN is continuously increasing in developed countries. Many rodent models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes have been established to elucidate the pathogenesis of diabetes and examine novel therapies against DN. These models are developed by chemical, surgical, genetic, drug, and diet/nutrition interventions or combination of two or more methods. The main characteristics of DN including a decrease in renal function, albuminuria and mesangiolysis, mesangial expansion, and nodular glomerulosclerosis should be exhibited by an animal model of DN. However, a rodent model possessing all of the abovementioned features of human DN has not yet been developed. Furthermore, mice of different genetic backgrounds and strains show different levels of susceptibility to DN with respect to albuminuria and development of glomerular and tubulointerstitial lesions. Therefore, the type of diabetes, development of nephropathy, duration of the study, cost of maintaining and breeding, and animals’ mortality rate are important factors that might be affected by the type of DN model. In this review, we discuss the pros and cons of different rodent models of diabetes that are being used to study DN

Renal injury, nephrolithiasis and Nigella sativa: A mini review

Objective: The incidence and prevalence of kidney stone is increasing worldwide. After the first recurrence the risk of subsequent relapses is higher and the time period between relapses is shortened. Urinary stones can be severely painful and make a huge economic burden. The stone disease may increase the vulnerability of patients to other diseases such as renal failure. Medicinal herbs are rich sources of antioxidants which are increasingly consumed globally for their safety, efficacy and low price. Nigella sativa is a spice plant that is widely used for prevention and treatment of many ailments in Muslim countries and worldwide. This review aims at investigation of the effects of Nigella sativa on renal injury and stone formation. Materials and Method: The scientific resources including PubMed, Scopus, and Google scholar were searched using key words such as: nephrolithiasis, urolithiasis, kidney/renal stone, renal injury, renal failure, urinary retention and black seed, black cumin, Nigella sativa and thymoquinone.    Results: N. sativa and its main component, thymoquinone showed positive effects in prevention or curing kidney stones and renal failure through various mechanism such as antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-eicosanoid and immunomodulatory effects. The putative candidate in many cases has been claimed to be thymoquinone but it seems that at least in part, particularly in kidney stones, the herbal melanin plays a role which requires further investigation to prove. Conclusion: N. sativa and its components are beneficial in prevention and curing of renal diseases including nephrolithiasis and renal damages

Evaluation of immune response after moderate and overtraining exercise in wistar rat

  Objective(s): The effect of prolonged overtraining on cytokine kinetics was compared with moderate exercise in the present study.   Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control sedentary (C), moderate trained (MT), (V=20 m/min, 30 min/day for 6 days a week, 8 weeks), overtrained (OT) (V=25 m/min, 60min/day for 6 days a week, 11 weeks) and recovered overtrained (OR) (OT plus 2 weeks recovery) groups, (n=6 for each group). Immediately, 24 hr and 2 weeks (in OR) after last bout of exercise blood samples were obtained. The plasma concentrations of TNFα, IL-6, IL-10, IL-4 and IFN were measured by ELISA method. Results: Immediately after last bout of exercise the following findings were observed; IL-6, IL-10 and TNFαconcentrations increased in OT and OR groups compared with control (

The hepatoprotective effects of fennel seeds extract and trans-Anethole in streptozotocin-induced liver injury in rats

Hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities of fennel have been recorded in numerous investigations. The study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of fennel or its active component trans-Anethole (TA) on streptozotocin-induced liver injury in rats. Rats were injected with a single dose of STZ (65 mg/kg) and treated with fennel (200 and 400 mg/kg), TA (80 mg/kg), or metformin (300 mg/kg) for 35 days. Serum lipid profile and liver enzyme activity (aminotransferases), oxidative stress markers, and the degree of fibrosis in the liver tissue were assessed. Both fennel and TA decreased blood glucose levels, reduced liver enzyme activity, food, and water intake, and intensity of weight loss, reduced serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c). Additionally, fennel and TA significantly reduced MDA concentration while increased CAT activity and thiol content and reduced the degree of injury and fibrosis in the liver of diabetic rats. Our results suggest that fennel seed extract and its active compound TA are able to protect the liver against diabetes-induced hepatic injury in rats, probably via hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects

The Beneficial Effect of CynodonDactylonFractionson Ethylene Glycol-Induced Kidney Calculi in Rats

Purpose: To assess the beneficial effect of different fractions of Cynodondactylon (C. dactylon) on ethylene glycol-induced kidney calculi in rats. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided intocontrol, ethylene glycol, curative, and preventive groups. The control group received tap drinking water for 35 days. Ethylene glycol, curative, and preventive groups received 1% ethylene glycol for induction of calcium oxalate (CaOx) calculus formation. Preventive and curative subjects also received different fractions of C. dactylon extract in drinking water at 12.8mg/kg, since day 0 and day 14, respectively. After 35 days, the kidneys were removed and examined for histopathological findings and counting the CaOx deposits in 50 microscopic fields. Results: In curative protocol, treatment of rats with C. dactylonN-butanol fraction and N-butanol phase remnant significantly reduced the number of the kidney CaOx deposits compared to ethylene glycol group. In preventive protocol, treatment of rats with C. dactylonethyl acetate fraction significantly decreased the number of CaOx deposits compared to ethylene glycol group. Conclusion: Fractions of C. dactylon showed a beneficial effect on preventing and eliminating CaOx deposition in the rat kidney. These results provide ascientific rational for preventive and treatment roles of C. dactylonin human kidney stone disease

Preventive effect of Cynodon dactylon against ethylene glycol-induced nephrolithiasis in male rats

Objective: This study was carried out to investigate the preventive effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Cynodon dactylon(C.dactylon) roots on calcium oxalate calculi in rat. Materials and Methods: 24 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: group A received tap drinking water while, Groups B, C, and D received 1% ethylene glycol daily for 28 days. Rats in groups C and D received ethanolic extract of C.dactylon at doses equivalent to 3.2 mg/kg and 12.6 mg/kg of root powder, respectively in drinking water from day 0 to day 28. Urine and blood were collected on days 0 and 28 and analyzed for biochemical elements. After 28 days, the kidneys were removed and prepared for histological evaluation of calcium oxalate deposits (CaOx). Results: The number of CaOx deposits in 10 microscopic fields of  kidney slices in group B was 24.5 ± 4.40 which was significantly higher than group A (