Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Chevil (Ferulago angulata) on glucose and lipid in diabetic male rats

Introduction: Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterised by chronic hyperglycemia. Considering the properties antioxidant of the Chevil plant compounds, this study performed to determine the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Chevil on serum glucose and lipid in diabetic male rats. Materials and Methods: In this study, 54 male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were divided into 6 groups (n=9 each) and studied for 4 weeks. The groups were as follows: Control, diabetic, diabetic groups treated 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight of the Chevil extract, respectively and the diabetic rats treated with 150 mg/kg body weight of metformin. At the end of study, FBS, Cholesterol, Triglycerides, HDL-C, and LDL-C levels were measured. Results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Results: Findings showed a significant reduction (P<0.05) of FBS in all groups with three doses of the extract, 26%, 59.3%, 69.4% respectively), Triglycerides (at 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract respectively 16.1% and 34.1%), Cholesterol (800 mg/kg of the extract, 20.9%), LDL-C in all three doses of the extract, 25.9%, 49.1% and 53% respectively and a significant increase (P<0.05) in HDL-C in all three doses of the extract, 32.6%, 36.4% and 37.1% respectively compared to the control group was observed in diabetic rats treated with Chevil. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that Chevil extract reduces blood sugar and improves blood lipid profiles in diabetic rats

Renoprotective effects of the methanolic extract of Tanacetum parthenium against carbon tetrachloride-induced renal injury in rats

Objective: Studies have demonstrated that carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) increases the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in many tissues including the kidney, heart, lung, brain, and liver. The major aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective activity of Tanacetum parthenium extract (TPE) in renal tissues of CCl4-intoxicated rats. Materials and Methods: Animals were divided into seven groups of six rats. Group 1 was the control group that was not treated with CCl4. The rats in the other groups were intraperitoneally injected with CCl4 (1.5 ml/kg, 1:1 in olive oil) on day 14. Rats in the groups bTPE40, bTPE80, and bTPE120 were gavaged with 40, 80, and 120 mg/kg of TPE, respectively for 14 constitutive days on a daily basis, before CCl4 administration. Rats in groups aTPE80 and aTPE120 were gavaged with 80 and 120 mg/kg of TPE, respectively, 2, 6, 24 and 48 hr after receiving CCl4. Blood samples were collected at the end of the 16th day through an intracardiac puncture and then serums were separated. Results: CCl4 increased urea, creatinine, uric acid and creatinine: albumin (C/A) ratio level in serum and decreased total antioxidant and antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GPx) when compared to the control group (

Feverfew attenuates carbon tetrachloride-induced testicular damage in rats

Introduction: Feverfew is an herbal medicine with the traditional usage of treating several disorders. Some investigations have demonstrated that feverfew is an effective remedy for the prophylactic treatment of inflammatory conditions, migraine and menstrual disorders. Therefore, this study was arranged out to evaluate the protective or curative potentials of feverfew methanolic extract (FME) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced oxidative trauma in testis. Methods: In this experiment, male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups (n=6). Group I as a normal control received 1 mL/kg distilled water for 14 days orally and on the 14th-day olive oil (1.5 mL/kg, i.p.). Group II received 1 mL/kg distilled water orally for 14 consecutive days. Groups III, IV and V animals were pretreatment groups and treated with three different doses of FME (40, 80, and 120 mg/kg, p.o, respectively) for 14 days. All groups except group one, were also intoxicated with 1.5 ml CCl4 (i.p, in a 1:1 dilution with olive oil) on the 14th day. Groups VI and VII were post-treatment groups and received FME (80 and 120 mg/kg, p.o, respectively) at 2, 6, 24 and 48 h after CCl4 injection. Results: Injection of CCl4 significantly (P < 0.001) reduced antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GPx) and increased malondialdehyde when compared to the control group. Administration of FME significantly (P < 0.05) improved these alterations near to control rats. Conclusion: It is suggested that FME has the ability to protect testis against oxidative damage, possibly through antioxidant effects of its bioactive compounds

Hepatoprotective effect of methanolic Tanacetum parthenium extract on CCl4-induced liver damage in rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Tanacetum Parthenium Extract (TPE) on Lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes, biochemical factors, and liver enzymes in the rats damaged by Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4).54 male Wistar rats were divided into 9 groups each consisting of 6 rats. Two of the groups were control groups (normal and damage control groups), 4 of them were exposure groups which were respectively administered with 40, 80, and 120 mg/kg of TPE and silymarin for 14 days before being damaged by CCl4, and the other 3 groups were post-treatment groups which received 80 and 120 mg/kg of TPE and silymarin 2, 6, 24, and 48 h after being injected with CCl4. At the end of the study, biochemical factors, serum liver enzymes, malondialdehyde level, antioxidant enzymes, and liver morphology were assayed.Pre- and post-treatment with TPE could significantly decrease ALT, AST, ALP, TG, LDL, TC, and glucose levels and increase HDL, and albumin levels and catalase, SOD, and GPx activities compared to the CCl4-damaged control group.The results of this study are indicative of the antioxidant activity of TPE, its potential hepatoprotective effects, and its probable therapeutic properties for laboratory animals damaged by CCl4. Keywords: Tanacetum parthenium, Carbon tetrachloride, Oxidative stress, Antioxidant enzymes, Liver damag

Nanoliposomal formulation of Ecballium elaterium Extract: Cytotoxic Evaluation against Human Gastric Adenocarcinoma (AGS) Cell Line

Objective(s): The aim of this study was to determine cytotoxic effect of nanoliposomal form of lyophilized aqueous extract of Ecballium elaterium fruit on gastric cell line (AGS) using cell viability tests. Methods: An aqueous extract of the fruits of Ecballium elaterium was prepared. Nanoliposomal form was also prepared by thin-film hydration method and stability size was determined by SEM. The zeta potential and size characterized by Malvern zetasizer. Cytotoxic effect of the nanoliposomes encapsulated the extract on cell line was examined by MTT, Neutral Red and Frame methods. Results: The size of nanoliposomes was 218.2 nm with proper dispersion (PDI=0.3). The morphology of the liposomes was suitable according to SEM image. The IC50 values indicated that the nanoliposomal form of extract was 2-3 times more active than extract alone. The average IC50 values for extract and nanoliposomal form of extract were 1±0.1 and 0.39±0.02 μg/ml, respectively. Conclusions: The results from this study showed that the crude extract and nanoliposomal form extract of Ecballium elaterium have cytotoxicity effect on AGS cell line and these cells were significantly more susceptible to nanoliposomes encapsulated Ecballium elaterium extract than that of the extract itself

Surgical Closer of Atrial Septal Defect in Adults after 40 Years Old

Objective: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is the most common congenital heart disease in adults. The aim of this study was to determine the value of surgical closure of ASD in patients over 40 years of age. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of 96 patients with the mean age of 47.58 ± 6.59, who had undergone surgical repair of ASD, was carried out. Pre and postoperative clinical status, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class and systolic pulmonary artery pressure before and after surgical repair, complications of post operation were assessed and analyzed. The follow-up period was between 1 month and 16 years. Results: Before the operations, 62 patients (89.8%) were placed in NYHA functional classes of II and III. However, after the surgeries most of the patients could be placed in the functional classes I and II. The mean of pulmonary artery pressure before the surgeries was about 46.68 ± 14.18 and dropped to 32 ± 11.89 mm Hg after the operations (P < 0.0001). Atrial fibrillation rhythm was present in 18 cases preoperatively which was reduced to 3 patients at the discharge time (16.6%). The mean right ventricular (RV) sizes were reduced from 4.1 to 2.5 cm after the surgical repairs. In 35 cases (36.64%), we had no tricuspid valve regurgitation after surgery for RV systolic presser estimation. Conclusion: Surgical closure of ASD in patients over 40 years of age could improve their clinical status, and lead to a reduced pulmonary systolic as well as smaller RV sizes

The Synergistic Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Cinnamon and Ginger on the Biochemical Parameters of CCl4-Intoxicated Rats

Background & objectives: Considering the importance of liver toxicity due to drugs and toxins as a major cause of liver damage, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the combination of cinnamon and ginger extracts on serum biochemical parameters in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)- intoxicated rats.  Methods: In this experimental study, forty-two male Wistar rats were divided into 7 groups (n=6). Three control groups including normal control, combined extract control and damaged control were designated that received distilled water, a mixture of cinnamon and ginger extracts and distilled water respectively for 14 days.  Other 4 groups were pre-treatment  groups which were treated with cinnamon (50 mg/kg/d), ginger (250 mg/kg/d), cinnamon + ginger (25+125 mg/kg/d) and silymarin (100 mg/kg/d) respectively for 14 days before being damaged by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 (1 ml/kg, 1:1 in olive oil). Fifty - two hours after CCl4 injection, blood sampling was performed and biochemical parameters were measured in serum of rats. Results: The results of this study showed that the injection of CCl4 significantly increased the ALT and AST enzymes activity ,cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL levels and decreased the blood albumin and HDL levels in damaged rats compared to the normal control group (p<0.001). However, pre-treatment with the cinnamon and ginger extracts, especially combination of extracts significantly improved these values ​​compared to the CCl4 damage group (p<0.001). Conclusion: The results suggest that simultaneous use of cinnamon and ginger extracts has more significant protective effects against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity

Cytotoxic Effects of Newly Synthesized Palladium(II) Complexes of Diethyldithiocarbamate on Gastrointestinal Cancer Cell Lines

As a part of a drug development program to discover novel therapeutic and more effective palladium (Pd) based anticancer drugs, a series of water-soluble Pd complexes have been synthesized by interaction between [Pd (phen)(H2O)2(NO3)2] and alkylenebisdithiocarbamate(al-bis-dtc) disodium salts. This study was undertaken to examine the possible cytotoxic effect of three novel complexes (0.125–64 µg/mL) on human gastric carcinoma (AGS), esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (Kyse-30), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines. The cytotoxicity was examined using cell proliferation and acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) assay. In order to examine the effects of new Pd(II) complexes on cell cycle status, we performed cell cycle analysis. The complexes were found to have completely lethal effects on the cell lines, and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values obtained for the cell lines were much lower in comparison with cisplatin. We demonstrated that the three new Pd(II) complexes are able to induce G2/M phase arrest in AGS and HepG2; in addition, the Pd(II) complexes caused an S phase arrest in Kyse-30 cell line. Our results indicate that newly synthesized Pd(II) complexes may provide a novel class of chemopreventive compounds for anticancer therapy

Association of vitamin D levels and receptor gene polymorphisms with medullary thyroid cancer

Background: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy. Accounting for approximately 1-2% of all cancers. Thyroid cancers have been divided into four main types: papillary, follicular, medullary and anaplastic. The active form of vitamin D (1,25- (OH) 2-vitamin D3) by binding to its receptor, using genomic and non-genomic mechanisms inhibits the proliferative effect of TSH on thyroid cells. Therefore, vitamin D may have a role in regulating of thyroid gland cell proliferation. Many studies have shown anti-cancer effects of vitamin D in cancers. Polymorphisms of Vitamin D receptor can influence the prevalence to various cancers. In the present study, serum level of vitamin D and FokI, BsmI and Tru9I polymorphism of vitamin D receptor was investigated. Methods: This case-control study was performed in the summer of 2015 in Endocrinology and Metabolism Center of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Forty medullary thyroid cancer patients and 40 healthy controls were investigated. Genomic DNA of subjects was extracted with saturated salt/proteinase K and polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor gene investigated by polymerase chain reaction-sequencing. Serum level of vitamin D evaluated by ELISA technique. The results were analyzed by SPSS, ver. 20 (Chicago, IL, USA) and GraphPad Prism, ver. 5 (GraphPad, Inc., CA, USA) softwares. Results: Genotypic and allelic abundance of FokI and BsmI polymorphisms between test and control groups have not shown significant different. In Tru9I polymorphism, Tt genotype abundance in test group were 45 percent and in control group were 17.5 percent and t allelic abundance in test group were 25 percent and in control group were 8.7 percent which this different were significant. Average serum level of vitamin D in test group was 23.32 ng/ml and in control group was 18.95 ng/ml which was statistically significant. Conclusion: Unexpectedly, serum levels of vitamin D in test group were higher than control group. Tru9I polymorphism is significantly correlated to medullary thyroid carcinoma prevalence