Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine最新文献

Objective: Chronic exposure to arsenic increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. Syringic acid (SYRA) has anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of SYRA on sodium arsenite-induced hepatotoxicity and diabetes in mice.

Materials and methods: Thirty male mice were divided into five groups (n=6), include control, SYRA (25 mg/kg, last week), sodium arsenite (As, 3 mg/kg for 30 days), and therapeutic groups of SYRA (10 and 25 mg/kg, last week). The mice were fasted overnight and fasting blood sugar (FBS), and glucose tolerance test (GTT) were performed. Then the mice were anesthetized, and samples of blood and liver tissue were collected for measurement of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total thiol, nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and caspase-3 protein expression.

Results: SYRA before As, reduced levels of liver enzymes, FBS, GTT, NO, TNF-α, and TBARS, and elevated levels of total thiol, CAT, SOD, GPx and caspase-3 expression compared to As group in mice.

Conclusion: SYRA can be suggested as a treatment option against the hepatotoxic and diabetogenic effects of As.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) consumption on systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP).

Materials and methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched to find relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Meta-analysis was carried out by using the random effect model, and the I² index was used to assess heterogeneity among included trials.

Results: Out of the 81 studies obtained, eight were eligible to be included in this review. The pooled effect size of 12 effect sizes indicated that strawberry consumption had no significant effect on SBP (WMD: 0.96 mmHg, 95% CI -0.26 to 2.20, p = 0.12), or DBP levels (WMD: -0.33 mmHg, 95% CI -1.31 to 0.65, p = 0.50). Subgroup analysis showed that consumption of freeze-dried strawberry powder at a dose of ≤ 25 g/day or strawberry intake in people under the age of 50 significantly increased SBP levels. Also, strawberry intake in individuals aged 50 or older led to a significant decrease in DBP levels.

Conclusion: This review suggests that strawberry consumption may not be an effective strategy for hypertension management. However, more RCTs are needed to draw a definite conclusion.

Objective: Chronic stress is a common and fundamental problem in human life all over the world which threatens the health. Stress-induced metabolic disorders are attenuated by natural honey feeding. So, we examined protective impact of thyme honey in the regulation of blood glucose via measuring the expression level of muscle GLUT4 protein in chronic unpredictable mild stressed (CUMS) male rats.

Materials and methods: Six groups of adult male Wistar rats were designed in this study; control group that received water; unstressed groups that were treated with honey (0.2 and 2 g/kg/day) for 38 days; stressed group that received CUMS for 4 weeks; treated stressed groups that were gavaged by honey (0.2 and 2 g/kg/day) for 38 days (from 10 days before induction of stress until the end of stress period). A day after the experiment period (39^th day), in non-fasting status, rats were sacrificed to measure glucose, insulin, irisin, lipid profile at serum level and GLUT4 protein content in muscle tissue via western blotting method.

Results: Honey reduced hyperglycemia induced by CUMS, significantly increased serum irisin and non-significantly increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) which were decreased by CUMS, but did not affect other serum lipids and insulin. CUMS down-regulated GLUT4 protein level. Honey feeding (2 g/kg) in stressed rats interestingly increased level of GLUT4 protein and maintained it at a normal level.

Conclusion: Together, it may be concluded that honey administration protects glycemic control system from chronic stress-induced dysregulation via an increase in production of irisin and maintaining the GLUT4 protein levels.

Objective: This study determined the effect of the methanolic extract of Justicia secunda against cyclophosphamide-instigated hepatic and renal toxicities in rats and analyzed the bioactive constituents of the extract using gas chromatography mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS).

Materials and methods: Twenty male albino Wistar rats were assigned into four groups of five rats each: Group 1 received rat feeds and tap water for 14 days. Group 2 received rat feeds and water for 14 days and cyclophosphamide (CPH, 100 mg/kg.BW) on day 15. Group 3 received rat feeds and 200 mg/kg.BW of the extract for 14 days and CPH on day 15 while Group 4 received rat feeds and 400 mg/kg.BW of the extract for 14 days and CPH on day 15.

Results: CPH induction altered the final body weights, hepatic and renal total proteins, antioxidant markers, liver and kidney weights, and serum transaminases, urea, and creatinine concentrations of the rats, inducing lipid peroxidation in them which was mitigated following supplementation with J. secunda. GC-MS assay showed the presence of twenty compounds in J. secunda extract and acute toxicity study (using mice to determine the safety profile of the extract) showed the safety of the usage of the plant at 200 and 400 mg/kg doses.

Conclusion: J. secunda has protective effects against CPH-induced hepatic and renal toxicities which could be attributed to its bioactive compounds.

Objective: Evaluation of Azadirachta indica's potential on the modulation of blood pressure parameters, antioxidant defense status, as well as immunohistochemical expressions of Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) in rats exposed to isoproterenol was the objective of this study.

Materials and methods: Fifty rats (Rattus norvegicus) of the Wistar strain were used, with myocardial infarction induced by intraperitoneal administration of isoproterenol (ISO) for two consecutive days. Cardiac and renal biomarkers of oxidative stress, blood pressure parameters, electrocardiography, and immunohistochemical staining of PPARα and BCL2 were performed.

Results: ISO toxicity heightened blood pressure parameters, aggravated oxidative processes, declined antioxidant defense system, and decreased immunohistochemical expressions of PPARα and BCL2. Interestingly, A. indica improved antioxidant status, lowered free radical generation, mitigated serum myeloperoxidase and xanthine oxidase activities, respectively.

Conclusion: Mitigation of oxidative mechanisms and antihypertensive effects of Azadirachta indica suggest a positive modulatory role for the medicinal plant in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the impact of royal jelly (RJ) on inflammation and oxidative stress. By synthesizing existing research, it aims to provide valuable insights into the potential health benefits of RJ.

Materials and methods: PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched until the end of December 2023. This meta-analysis included all randomized clinical trials assessing the effect of RJ supplements on serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA). A random-effects model was utilized to calculate the pooled mean differences (MD) and 95% confidence interval.

Results: Seven suitable datasets from 6 trials were considered eligible. RJ supplementation significantly reduced MDA (WMD, -1.79 (-3.00 to -0.58), p=0.004; I² = 97.4%) and increased TAC (WMD, 0.98 (0.24 to 1.71), p=0.009, I² = 98.5%), but it did not significantly change hs-CRP levels (WMD: -0.24; 95% CI: -0.60, 0.10; p=0.17). RJ supplementation in higher doses and in participants with normal body mass index (BMI) could induce a greater elevation in TAC, and in participants with normal BMI, a stronger reduction in MDA.

Conclusion: Although this meta-analysis confirmed that RJ could be a useful intervention to reduce oxidative stress, this research should be updated in future due to the restricted number of trials.

Objective: Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is a potent chemotherapy drug for treating cancer, but its use is limited due to its toxic effects on healthy human tissues. This study aimed to explore the in vivo immunomodulatory effects of Allium jesdianum on CTX-induced toxicity in Nordic Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice.

Materials and methods: Hydroalcoholic extract of the whole plant of A. jesdianum (AJE) was obtained using the maceration technique, and its total phenolic and flavonoid contents were measured. Mice were orally administered with the extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg for 14 days, either as a standalone treatment or combined with an intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg CTX. The effects of the extract on body and relative organ weight, white blood cell (WBC) count, liver biochemical test, serum antibody titer hemagglutination (HA), delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction (DTHR), lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine production, and spleen and liver histopathological features were assessed.

Results: AJE effectively restored various parameters in immunosuppressed mice, including body and organ weight, WBC counts, liver biochemical markers, HA, DTHR, lymphocyte proliferation ability, and cytokine production. Notably, AJE significantly stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, enhanced both cellular and humoral immunity, restored the levels of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-4, and reversed the splenic white pulp atrophy in the immunosuppressed mice.

Conclusion: Analyses have shown that AJE exerts protective effects on the immune system of CTX-treated animals by boosting both cellular and humoral immunity, with no observed hepatoxicity.

Objective: Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CI/RI) can lead to a range of impairments and even permanent disability.This systematic review was designed to comprehensively investigate the biological effects of silymarin and silibinin in mitigating CI/RI.

Materials and methods: To find studies published before January 02, 2024, a comprehensive electronic search was carried out across multiple databases, including Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus. Data including study characteristics, methods, and biological mechanisms were extracted.

Results: Silymarin and silibinin potentially improved endogenous antioxidants and reduced lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide (NO), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. They also enhances the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression and upregulated HO-1 and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1). They also protected the activity of Na⁺-K⁺ ATPase, activating mitochondrial membrane potential that suppresses mitochondrial permeability transition pores (mPTP). Moreover, they upregulated proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1-α), uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), and reduced inducible-NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) expression. They inhibited transcription factors, including nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and IκB-α degradation. They also attenuated tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6. Anti-apoptotic properties were revealed by increasing protein Bcl-2 and reducing p53, Bax, caspase-3, and 9 expressions. silymarin improves pathological changes, behavioral tests, and decreases cerebral infarct size.

Conclusion: Silymarin and silibinin indicated promising effects on CI/RI through various mechanisms. However, well-designed clinical trials are needed to validate these findings in human subjects.

Objective: Ulcerative colitis is a chronic recurrent inflammatory bowel disease of unknown etiology. The anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant characteristics of Henna ( Lawsonia inermis) fixed oil (HFO) imply that it may be advantageous for the treatment of colitis.

Materials and methods: In this research, the effect of HFO in a Wistar albino rat model of acetic acid (AA)-induced ulcerative colitis, was examined. The animals received daily oral administration of either normal saline (10 ml/kg), HFO (100, 400, and 1600 µl/kg), or dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) for 5 days. A single intracolonic injection of 2 ml of a 4% (v/v) acetic acid solution was used to induce colitis. The levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured.

Results: The administration of HFO at doses 400 and 1600 μl/kg showed a significant enhancement in the weight-to-length ratio of colon tissue in comparison to the control group. Furthermore, the increased amounts of HFO (400 and 1600 μl/kg) were associated with a significant reduction in ulcer severity, area, and index. However, examination of tissue samples revealed a decrease in the overall colitis index suggesting fewer inflammatory cells invaded the colonic regions of rats treated with HFO at doses of 400 and 1600 μl/kg. Moreover, the elevated MPO levels and TNF-α were significantly decreased following the administration of the fixed oil at these doses.

Conclusion: These findings indicate that HFO could potentially decrease the manifestations of experimental colitis in a dose-dependent manner.

Objective: This study aimed at investigating the protective effect of extracts from Apium graveolens against gentamicin-induced hepato-renal toxicity.

Materials and methods: The aqueous and hydro-ethanolic extracts of A. graveolens designated respectively as WAG and HAG were tested for their in vitro antioxidant activities. Then, their cytoprotective effects were assessed against gentamicin-induced cytotoxicity in primary mouse hepatocytes. Finally, mice were administered with gentamicin (20 mg/kg) and co-treated with HAG for 14 days, and histopathology, biochemical and molecular parameters related to gentamicin-induced toxicity were evaluated.

Results: HAG exhibited outstanding chemical antioxidant activities and preserved hepatocytes from gentamicin-induced cytotoxicity. HAG relieved liver and kidney histopathological and biochemical changes, and enhanced the mRNA level of Nrf2 and its target gene HO-1 in gentamicin-intoxicated mice.

Conclusion: HAG attenuates hepato-renal injuries induced by 14-days administration of gentamicin in mice through the activation of Nrf2-antioxidant signaling pathways.