Hepatoprotective activity of cinnamon ethanolic extract against CCl4-induced liver injury in rats

The inner bark of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum L.) is commonly used as a spice and has also been widely employed in the treatment and prevention of disease. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the protective effect of cinnamon bark extract against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage in male Wistar rats. Administration with cinnamon extracts (0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 g/kg) for 28 days significantly reduced the impact of CCl4 toxicity on the serum markers of liver damage, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase. In addition, treatment of cinnamon extract resulted in markedly increased the levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes in rats. The histopathological studies in the liver of rats also supported that cinnamon extract markedly reduced the toxicity of CCl4 and preserved the histoarchitecture of the liver tissue to near normal. Thus, the results suggest that cinnamon extract acts as a potent hepatoprotective agent against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats

NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF PRETREATMENT WITH MENTHA LONGIFOLIA L. EXTRACT ON BRAIN ISCHEMIA IN THE RAT STROKE MODEL

Recent studies have suggested that Mentha longifolia L. extracts (ME) have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In this paper, we attempted to determine the effect of ME in a rat stroke model. Five groups of experimental animals were used (n=14); the first and second groups (control and sham, respectively) received intraperitoneal injections of daily-distilled water; the other three groups received 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day of ME for 21 days. Two hours after the last dose, each group was subdivided into a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) group operated for neuropathological assessment (neurologic deficit scores, infarct volume, brain edema, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability), and an intact subgroup for the assessment of brain and serum antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation, respectively. Pretreatment with ME resulted in a significant reduction in total infarct volume, brain water content and Evans Blue extravasation in the ischemic hemisphere compared with the control. ME in doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day increased brain antioxidant capability in comparison with the control. The antioxidant capacity of the serum in the 100 mg/kg/day group was significantly higher than that of the control group. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain was significantly elevated in the control group in comparison with other pretreated groups. Moreover, ME in doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day reduced the MDA level in the serum. This study showed that intraperitoneal injection of ME reduced infarct volume, brain edema, blood-brain barrier permeability, as well as lipid peroxidation, and improved antioxidant power

Bidirectional effects of serum TNF alpha level and spinal P38MAPK phosphorylation on hyperalgesia variation during CFA-induced arthritis

Regarding the role of TNFα in the induction of hyperalgesia, the dual suggested roles of the Pp38 MAPK intracellular pathway in the emergence of symptomatic inflammation, we aimed to investigate the bidirectional effects of serum TNFα level and p38 MAPK phosphorylation on hyperalgesia variation during different stages of adjuvant-induced arthritis. Hyperalgesia and edema were assessed at 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days of study after arthritis induction by CFA. Anti-TNFα and Pp38 inhibitor were administered during the 21 days of study. Receptor and intra-cellular enzyme expression were detected by western blotting. Anti-TNFα administration in the AA group decreased paw volume and hyperalgesia until the 14th day of study; on the 21st day, those symptoms increased. Daily administration of anti-TNFα antibody caused significant decrease in spinal mOR protein and Pp38/p38 MAPK enzyme level expression on the 14th and 21st days compared to the AA control group. Our data suggested that phosphorylation of spinal p38 MAPK enzyme played an important role in bidirectional effects of serum TNFα on inflammatory symptoms via spinal mOR expression variation

Biological behavior study of gelatin coated PCL nanofiberous electrospun scaffolds using fibroblasts

     Scaffold design has pivotal role in tissue engineering. In the present study, We modified the surface of electrospun poly(caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibers to improve their compatibility with living medium and to show the potential application of PCL nanofibers as a artificial extracellular matrix using in tissue-engineering. PCL nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning method. To graft gelatin on the nanofiber surface, PCL scaffolds were first treated with air plasma to introduce carboxyl groups on the surface, followed by covalent grafting of gelatin molecules. The hydrophilicity of the electrospun PCL nanofibers was significantly increased by the gas plasma treatment, as confirmed by contact angle measurements. ATR-FTIR analysis demonstrated that the chemical composition of the PCL nanofiber surface was influenced by the gelatin coating, resulting in an increase in the number of amine groups. Our results show that the modified PCL nanofibers are suitable physical properties as polymeric artificial scaffold in tissue engineering application.

Acute effects of vinegar intake on some biochemical risk factors of atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Exaggerated postprandial spikes in blood glucose and lipids induce proportional increases in oxidative stress, which acutely trigger impairment endothelial, inflammation and increased risk of future cardiovascular events. In this research, we have investigated acute effects of vinegar intake on some of the biochemical atherosclerosis risk factors in high cholesterol fed rabbits to see if we can find a probable protective value for it.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: normal diet, high cholesterol diet (%1cholesterol), %1 cholesterol with 5 ml vinegar (low dose), %1 cholesterol with 10 ml vinegar (high dose). After fasting for 12-15 hours, blood samples were taken to determine baseline values. Three hours after feeding, blood samples were collected again to investigate acute effects of vinegar intake on the measured factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using high-dose vinegar with cholesterolemic diet caused significant reduce in LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), oxidized-LDL (ox-LDL), malondialdehyde (MDA), total cholesterol (TC) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) in comparison with hypercholesterolemic diet. Consumption low-dose vinegar with cholesterolemic diet induced a significant decrease in fibrinogen and glucose compared to hypercholesterolemic diet. Level of serum nitrite, nitrate, triacylglycerol (TAG), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A (ApoA), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were not significantly difference in low and high doses vinegar with cholesterolemic diet compared to hypercholesterolemic diet. A significant difference was observed for LDL-C, ApoB100 and TC between low and high doses vinegar.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study suggest that vinegar, might have some acute effects on biochemical risk factors of atherosclerosis and a probable protective value can be considered for its postprandial use.</p

Hepatoprotective effects of pantothenic acid on carbon tetrachloride-induced toxicity in rats

The present study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of pantothenic acid on CCl4-induced liver damage. Male Wistar rats were orally treated with pantothenic acid (0.005, 0.01, 0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 g/kg) daily, with administration of CCl4 (1 mL/kg, 50 % CCl4 in olive oil) twice a week for 28 days. The effect of pantothenic acid on serum markers (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase)was measured in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rat. Further, the effects on enzymatic antioxidant (superoxide dismutase) were estimated in the liver samples. CCl4 challenge not only elevated the serum marker enzyme activities but also suppressed hepatic antioxidative defense system including superoxide dismutase. The biochemical observations were supplemented with histopathological examination of rat liver sections. Histopathological examination of livers showed that pantothenic acid reduced fatty degeneration, cytoplasmic vacuolization and necrosis in CCl4-treated rats. Therefore, pantothenic acid may be an effective hepatoprotective agent and viable candidate for treating hepatic disorders and other oxidative stress-related diseases

Bacteriorhodopsin and its Mutants allude a breakthrough impending to artificial retina construction and strategies for curing blindness

       Bacteriorhodopsin, a model system in nanobiotechnology, is a light-sensitive protein found in the archaean Halobacterium salinarum and a very identical protein to visual Rhodopsin. The modification of biological function of BR and its versatile properties is valuable for technical applications including the artificial retina. These photoactive elements of native and particular mutants of bacteriorhodopsin make protein films, used in artificial retinal implants, to treat some retinal diseases and disorders. The two major reasons of retinal photoreceptor cell deterioration are Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). As in vitro culture of Halobacterium is very difficult, and isolation procedure is much time consuming and usually inefficient, so genetic construction of protein is essential. Here, we have produced two types of bacteriorhodopsin, a native and a mutant BR (D85E) and studied their opto-electric responses with respect to wavelength and absorption properties. They are prerequisite for designing artificial retina (sensors) based on biomolecules. Therefore, the new promising technology soon will conceivably eradicate the blindness

Involvement of the nucleus accumbensshell presynaptic NMDA receptors on anxiolytic-like behaviors induced by NMDA in adult male Wistar rat

     Glutamatergic system stimulationthe nucleus accumbens shell, may affect anxiety-related behaviors, aversive learning and memory. Glutamate receptors are differentially distributed in pre- and postsynaptic sites contributing to neuronal communications.The present study aimed to examine the possible involvement of the NAc shell presynaptic NMDA receptors on NMDA induced responses, using the elevated-plus maze (EPM) task in maleWistar rats. Bilateral guide cannulae were implanted to allow microinjection of glutamatergic agonist (NMDA) or ca+2 channel blocker (SKF96365 hydrochloride) agents. Pretest intra-NAc shell infusion of NMDA induced anxiolytic-like behaviors and impaired the EPM-associated memory upon test and retest, respectively. In addition our findings showed that, the intra-NAc shell infusion of Ca+2 channel blocker at applied doses, does not alter the anxiety-like response and aversive memory upon test and retest, respectively. Furthermore, infusing the subthreshold dose SKF prior to the injection of effective doses of NMDA, reduced the anxiolytic-like response and improved the aversive memory impairment which had already been induced by intra-NAc shell NMDA injection. Our study showed that,inhibition of the neurotransmitter exocytosis from pre-synaptic neuron via Ca+2 channel blockade bySKF96365 decreases affected induced by NMDA in the NAc shell region, indicating the involvement of the pre-synaptic NMDA receptors in NMDA induced responses.Therefore, NMDA's ability to increase anxiolytic-like behaviors and the aversive memory impairment may be the result of an action on pre-synaptic glutamatergic receptors which in turn decrease the glutamate effect at synaptic terminal level

Investigation the UV Effect on Uranium Bioleaching Process in Acidithiobacillus sp FJ2 ‎and its Possible Consequences on the CoxB Gene Sequence ‎

Introduction: The increasing use of uranium as a suitable source of energy in various industries has led to the depletion of high-grade uranium mines in different countries. Today, the uranium bioleaching process has been used in different countries for easy and cheap access to uranium. In this process, microorganisms are used to extract uranium from low-grade mines. Materials and methods: The Acidithiobacillus sp. FJ2 bacterium was exposed to UV radiation. Then, the uranium bioleaching process was conducted in the presence of bacteria exposed to UV and non-exposed bacteria. In followings, this gene was amplified by PCR technique after DNA extraction from bacterial species and coxB gene primer design. Subsequent to gene sequencing and editing with bioedit software, the final sequence of the coxB gene was determined from both bacterial species. Later than, the sequences were examined and compared to prove the presence or absence of the mutation in the radiation sample. Results: The amount of uranium extraction in the presence of bacteria exposed to UV reached to 100% on the second day at the 5% pulp density, whereas the 96.36% extraction yield was obtained on the thirteenth day in pulp density of 50%. This amount was recorded in an unexposed bacterium, in the third and thirteenth days at 5& 50% pulp densities, respectively. The coxB gene sequence was identical in both bacterial specimens. Discussion and conclusion: In this study, UV irradiation to Acidithiobacillus sp. FJ2 increased the rate of uranium bioleaching in the pulp density of 5%, whereas uranium extraction yield was sustained in the 50% pulp density. These effects were independent to the coxB gene

The role of glutamatergic pathway between septum and hippocampus in the memory formation

The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is a subtype of glutamate receptor that is presented in highest density in the hippocampus and septum. NMDA receptors of the septum and the hippocampus are involved in cognitive performance, especially in learning and memory processes. The septum nucleus and hippocampal formation are two regions of the limbic system. The septum and the hippocampus are anatomically and functionally connected to each other. These areas made the septo-hippocampal and hippocampo-septal pathways, which are implicated in the cognitive processes. The activity of septal and hippocampal neurons is modulated by several neurotransmitters such as glutamate. Thus, changes in the glutamatergic transmission in the septum and hippocampus may influence learning and memory processes in these pathways