Beneficial effects of artichoke on liver phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and plasma lipids in rats fed by lipogenic diet

Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) is full of natural antioxidants and has a lipid-lowering effect. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of artichoke on the liver phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, plasma lipid levels, plasma malondialdehyde, and plasma antioxidant in rats fed by lipogenic diet. Male rats were fed by standard pellet diet (group I), standard diet supplemented with 10 artichoke (group II), lipogenic diet (containing sunflower oil, cholesterol and ethanol) plus 10 artichoke (group III) and only lipogenic diet (group IV). On day 60 of the experiment, liver phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity, liver triglyceride, plasma lipids, plasma malondialdehyde, and plasma antioxidant levels were measured. Phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity, liver triglyceride, the ratio of total cholesterol to high density lipoprotein cholesterol, plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly decreased due to artichoke treatment in groups II and III compared to groups I and IV, respectively. Significant reduction in plasma malondialdehyde and significant elevation in plasma antioxidant power observed in groups II and III compared to groups I and IV, respectively. The results clearly indicated that artichoke can be useful for the reduction of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity and liver triglyceride. Also, artichoke has beneficial effects in the controlling of hyperlipidemia, abnormalities in lipid profiles and oxidative stress in hyperlipidemic regimes

Effect of garlic on liver phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and plasma lipid levels in hyperlipidemic rats

Studies on the effects of garlic (Allium sativum) on hyperlipidemia have demonstrated somewhat controversial results and there have been few studies on its enzymatic mechanism. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of garlic on the liver phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (PAP) activity, plasma lipid levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) and plasma antioxidant in rats fed either by normal or high-lipogenic diet with or without garlic. Male Wistar rats were fed by standard pellet diet (group I), standard diet supplemented with 4% garlic (group II), lipogenic diet (containing sunflower oil, cholesterol and ethanol) plus 4% garlic (group III) and only lipogenic diet (group IV). Results showed that garlic significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC), plasma triglyceride (TG), LDL-C, VLDL-C, liver triglyceride, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and elevated plasma antioxidant in garlic treated rats (groups II and III) compared to group IV (lipogenic diet group). Also, liver PAP activity was decreased in group II than group I whereas, the decrease in its activity in groups III and IV was due to the accumulation of triglyceride in liver. Therefore, the results are clearly indicative of the beneficial effects of garlic in reducing lateral side effects of hyperlipidemia. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Beneficial effects of artichoke on liver phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and plasma lipids in rats fed by lipogenic diet

Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) is full of natural antioxidants and has a lipid-lowering effect.  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of artichoke on the liver phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, plasma lipid levels, plasma malondialdehyde, and plasma antioxidant in rats fed by lipogenic diet. Male rats were fed by standard pellet diet (group I), standard diet supplemented with 10% artichoke (group II), lipogenic diet (containing sunflower oil, cholesterol and ethanol) plus 10% artichoke (group III) and only lipogenic diet (group IV). On day 60 of the experiment, liver phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity, liver triglyceride, plasma lipids, plasma malondialdehyde, and plasma antioxidant levels were measured. Phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity, liver triglyceride, the ratio of total cholesterol to high density lipoprotein cholesterol, plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly decreased due to artichoke treatment in groups II and III compared to groups I and IV, respectively. Significant reduction in plasma malondialdehyde and significant elevation in plasma antioxidant power observed in groups II and III compared to groups I and IV, respectively. The results clearly indicated that artichoke can be useful for the reduction of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity and liver triglyceride. Also, artichoke has beneficial effects in the controlling of hyperlipidemia, abnormalities in lipid profiles and oxidative stress in hyperlipidemic regimes.

Nephroprotective effect of silymarin against diclofenacinduced renal damage and oxidative stress in male rats

Introduction: Diclofenac (DIC), a phenylacetic acid compound which belongs to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), is generally used for the treatment of various diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, acute muscle pain conditions and osteoarthritis. Overdose of DIC can lead to renal injuries in both experimental animal and human. Our research was done to assess the protective role of silymarin on renal damage induced by DIC in rats. Methods: Thirty-two Wistar rats were assigned to four groups (n=8/group). Group 1 was control group; animals in group 2 were administrated DIC; Groups 3 and 4 administrated DIC plus silymarin with doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, orally (p.o), respectively. Various biochemical, molecular, and histological parameters were evaluated in serum and tissue homogenate. Results: In the second group, the levels of kidney catalase (CAT), vitamin C and superoxide dismutase (SOD) remarkably reduced (P < 0.05) relative to the control group. Also, urea, creatinine (Cr), malondialdehyde (MDA), serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and gene expression of TNF-α in this group were noticeably elevated (P < 0.05) relative to the control group. Treatment with silymarin caused a remarkable elevation (P < 0.05) in vitamin C, SOD, CAT and a remarkable reduction (P < 0.05) in the content of MDA, urea, Cr, TNF-α gene expression and serum TNF-α in comparison with second group. Histological injuries were also ameliorated by silymarin administration. Conclusion: The results confirm that silymarin has an ameliorative role against renal damage and oxidative stress induced by DIC in male rats. Keywords: Oxidative stress, Silymarin, TNF-α, Diclofenac, Renal damag

Nephroprotective effect of silymarin against diclofenac-induced renal damage and oxidative stress in male rats

Introduction: Diclofenac (DIC), a phenylacetic acid compound which belongs to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), is generally used for the treatment of various diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, acute muscle pain conditions and osteoarthritis. Overdose of DIC can lead to renal injuries in both experimental animal and human. Our research was done to assess the protective role of silymarin on renal damage induced by DIC in rats. Methods: Thirty-two Wistar rats were assigned to four groups (n=8/group). Group 1 was control group; animals in group 2 were administrated DIC; Groups 3 and 4 administrated DIC plus silymarin with doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, orally (p.o), respectively. Various biochemical, molecular, and histological parameters were evaluated in serum and tissue homogenate. Results: In the second group, the levels of kidney catalase (CAT), vitamin C and superoxide dismutase (SOD) remarkably reduced (P < 0.05) relative to the control group. Also, urea, creatinine (Cr), malondialdehyde (MDA), serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and gene expression of TNF-α in this group were noticeably elevated (P < 0.05) relative to the control group. Treatment with silymarin caused a remarkable elevation (P < 0.05) in vitamin C, SOD, CAT and a remarkable reduction (P < 0.05) in the content of MDA, urea, Cr, TNF-α gene expression and serum TNF-α in comparison with second group. Histological injuries were also ameliorated by silymarin administration. Conclusion: The results confirm that silymarin has an ameliorative role against renal damage and oxidative stress induced by DIC in male rats

The relationship between attachment style and perception of parental affection with test anxiety in gifted students

Background and Aim: Given the importance of test anxiety among gifted students, the present research was conducted to study the relationship between perception of parent’s affection and attachment styles with test anxiety. Materials and Methods: By means of simple random sampling, 300 subjects were selected out of all the gifted students in Khorramabad. Test Anxiety, perception of parents affection, and attachment styles questionnaires were used for collection data. Results: To analyze the data, Pearson correlation and regression were applied. The results showed that anxiety and avoidant attachment style and perception of father love predict test anxiety among both boys and girls in gifted student's school. However, there was not a meaningful relationship between attachment style and perception of mother love with test anxiety. Moreover, totally the results indicated that 9 percent of changes in test anxiety were predicted by attachment styles and perception of parent’s affection. And anxiety attachment style and perception of father love predict test anxiety. &zwj;Conclusion: According to the results if an individual has an avoidant attachment style he will experience the higher level of test anxiety

Therapeutic potential of Origanum vulgare leaf hydroethanolic extract against renal oxidative stress and nephrotoxicity induced by paraquat in rats

Objective: Paraquat is a herbicide with potent toxicity in humans and animals. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of Origanum vulgare (O. vulgare) leaf extract on the acute nephrotoxicity and renal oxidative stress caused by paraquat. Materials and Methods: We randomly assigned forty male rats into five groups (G1-G5). The G1 was used as control; G2 only received paraquat (25 mg/kg body weight (bw)/day, po); and G3, G4 and G5 received 25 mg/kg b.w/day oral doses of paraquat and O. vulgare hydroethanolic leaf extract (200, 400, 800 mg/kg bw/day, po, respectively). After 2 weeks, superoxide dismutase (SOD), renal catalase (CAT), vitamin C levels, histopathological changes, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene expression as well as serum levels of urea, creatinine (Cr), and protein carbonyl (PC) were determined. Results: In G2, oral administration of paraquat significantly increased (p<0.05) serum Cr, urea, PC, and renal TNF-alpha gene expression relative to those of the control group. Renal catalase, superoxide dismutase, and vitamin C levels were decreased significantly (p<0.05) in G2 as compared to G1. Administration of O. vulgare leaf extract not only increased the renal vitamin C, CAT, and SOD but also decreased the renal TNF-alpha gene expression, malondialdehyde (MDA), serum urea and creatinine in paraquat-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Conclusion: Our results show that O. vulgare leaf extract has protective effects against nephrotoxicity induced by paraquat in rats. It seems that the nephroprotective effects of O. vulgare extract may be related to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Keywords Author Keywords:Antioxidant; Kidney; Nephrotoxicity; Paraquat; Oxidative stress; TNF-alpha KeyWords Plus:AQUEOUS EXTRACT; ANTIOXIDANT; INJURY; TOXICITY; KIDNEY; ACETAMINOPHEN; ACTIVATION; INJECTION; MELATONIN; LEAVE

Protective and anti-inflammatory effects of silymarin on paraquat-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Introduction: Paraquat is a quaternary nitrogen herbicide which induces kidney toxicity due to producing oxidative stress. We have investigated the potential protective effects of silymarin on paraquat-induced renal toxicity. Methods: Twenty-four male rats were divided into three groups, group 1, control group; group 2, rats that received paraquat only (25 mg/kg b.w./day, po); animals in group 3, was treated with paraquat (25 mg/kg b.w./day, po) and silymarin (50 mg/kg b.w./day, po). Then, the serum and tissue parameters of the oxidative stress and renal histopathological changes were examined. Results: In group 2 which received paraquat only, a remarkable increase (P<0.05) was observed in serum creatinine, urea, malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Also, there was a significant decrease in renal superoxide dismutase, catalase (CAT), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and vitamin C in the second group. Oral administration of silymarin significantly decreased serum urea, creatinine, protein carbonyl, MDA, and TNF-α as well as renal histopathological changes. Conclusion: The present study suggests that silymarin has anti-inflammatory and nephroprotective effects against nephrotoxicity caused by paraquat. Keywords: Silymarin, Paraquat, Kidney injury, Oxidative stress, TNF-