Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine最新文献

Objective: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) raises the risk of renal injury, but crocin, a saffron component, may improve kidney function. This study investigated crocin's protective effects against CIN in rats.

Materials and methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups: Sham, Control, Contrast medium (diatrizoate), Diatrizoate combined with crocin at 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg/day, Diatrizoate combined with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) at 125 mg/kg/day, and Crocin alone at 40 mg/kg/day. Water deprivation began on day 5 for 48 hr, except for the sham and crocin alone groups. Indomethacin and N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester were administered after 40 hr of dehydration. Rats were sacrificed on the eighth day, and blood and kidney samples were collected.

Results: Diatrizoate increased serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels, elevated malondialdehyde levels, and reduced glutathione in renal tissue. Crocin reversed these effects. Diatrizoate caused severe tubular necrosis, proteinaceous casts, medullary congestion, and interstitial edema in kidney tissue. Crocin (20 and 40 mg/kg) significantly reduced tubular necrosis, and doses of 10 and 40 mg/kg reduced interstitial edema. NAC significantly improved histopathological damage, biochemical factors, and oxidative stress. The crocin alone group showed no significant changes.

Conclusion: Diatrizoate induces nephrotoxicity by enhancing oxidative stress in rats, and crocin has a protective effect against it. Crocin mitigates both tissue and biochemical damage inflicted by diatrizoate.

Objective: Heavy metals and environmental pollutants, such as cadmium chloride, congenital disorders, and certain diseases, can lead to infertility in men. In this study, the effects of lupeol (an active pentacyclic triterpenoid with antioxidant properties) on testicular injuries induced by cadmium chloride were investigated in male rats.

Materials and methods: Lupeol was obtained from Sigma-Aldrich, and the experiment included 40 male Wistar rats divided into 8 groups (healthy control, healthy rats treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of lupeol, cadmium chloride, and three groups that received cadmium chloride and were treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of lupeol). After oral treatment, rats were anesthetized, and blood and testicular tissue sampling was done. Subsequent analysis of oxidative stress enzymes, such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), testosterone, sperm motility, and Aquaporin 9 (AQ9) levels was performed using ELISA, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry techniques, respectively. Immunohistochemistry staining was done for expression of Aquaporin 9 in seminiferous tubules.

Results: The results showed that compared to the healthy control, cadmium chloride caused a significant decrease in SOD, testosterone, sperm motility, and sperm vitality, with severe destruction of spermatogenic tubes and a significant increase in MDA and AQ9 rate. Rats which were treated with cadmium chloride+400 mg/kg of lupeol showed a significant increase in SOD, testosterone, histopathology, sperm motility, and sperm vitality rate, and significant organization of spermatogenic tubes in testis tissue. There was also a decrease in MDA and AQ9 of rats that received high-dose lupeol. (p<0.001).

Conclusion: This study suggests that lupeol has a high potential for improving male reproduction and antioxidants in rats exposed to oxidative stress.

Objective: After rhabdomyolysis, muscle tissue releases substances such as myoglobin, creatine kinase, and electrolytes into the bloodstream, potentially leading to acute kidney injury (AKI). Resveratrol (RSV) is a polyphenol compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and it is found in various plants. This research evaluated the protective effects of RSV in rhabdomyolysis-induced AKI in rat kidneys.

Materials and methods: Thirty-six male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to six groups (n=6): 1) control (normal saline), 2) glycerol only (10 ml/kg, intramuscular), 3, 4, and 5) glycerol +RSV (5, 10, and 25 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection) and 6) RSV (25 mg/kg). After 4 days, pathological alterations and the level of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine were determined. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) proteins were investigated in rat kidneys.

Results: Injection of 50% glycerol (10 ml/kg, IM) resulted in pathological lesions, elevated levels of MDA (p<0.001), BUN (p<0.01), serum creatinine (p<0.001), TNF-α (p<0.01), and NGAL protein (p<0.001), and decreased GSH content (p<0.001) compared to the control animals. These findings indicated AKI induced by rhabdomyolysis. RSV (25 mg/kg) administration significantly decreased serum creatinine, BUN, MDA, NGAL, and TNF-α levels compared to the glycerol group. Histopathologically, tubule necrosis, myoglobin cast formation and glomerular atrophy increased in the glycerol group and reduced in animals that received RSV.

Conclusion: In the glycerol-induced AKI rat model, RSV administration alleviated renal dysfunction by reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.

Objective: Researchers have considered medicinal oils to prevent and treat pediatric diseases. In the traditional Persian medicine (TPM) doctrine, anointment is widely used in order to avoid and treat diseases. This study aimed to evaluate and reconcile the uses of anointment in children in TPM and the new studies.

Materials and methods: Accordingly, TPM documents were scrutinized for anointments and their applications in pediatric disorders. Moreover, new studies were reviewed in Google scholar, PubMed, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science until June 2022.

Results: In the health preservation field, TPM scholars have recommended daily anointment with some oils like sweet almonds in the early months after birth to improve growth, strengthen the body, and prevent dry skin, and new studies have confirmed the effectiveness of some oils accordingly. In the treatment field, various oils are recommended, namely sweet almond oil for weight disorders, violet oil for insomnia, olive oil and chamomile oil for functional constipation, infantile colic and enuresis, and olive oil for diaper rash and atopic dermatitis and new studies have shown their effectiveness. Sweet almond, chamomile, violet, olive, and rose oils are among the most widely used oils in Persian medicine for children, which we have discussed in this study.

Conclusion: Due to the non-invasive nature of anointment and the observation of minimal adverse effects in studies, it can be given attention for maintaining pediatric health and treating their diseases.

Objective: Eczema, a common inflammatory skin condition characterized by itching and dermatitis, can significantly impact the quality of life. While conventional treatments exist, there is interest in exploring natural alternatives. This study investigates the efficacy of a rosehip extract-based cream in mitigating eczema symptoms in a mouse model.

Materials and methods: Thirty-five mice were divided into five groups: control, dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced eczema (model group), and treatment groups receiving placebo, betamethasone cream (positive control), or rosehip extract cream. Following topical treatment for four weeks, the animals were euthanized, and their skin was evaluated for inflammation, moisture, and thickness. Histopathological analysis was performed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining.

Results: Compared to the control group, DNCB treatment significantly increased inflammation, erythema (redness), dryness, and epidermal thickness. Notably, topical application of the rosehip extract cream significantly reduced these eczema-associated parameters, demonstrating efficacy comparable to the positive control (betamethasone cream).

Conclusion: This study suggests that a topical cream formulated with rosehip extract may be a promising therapeutic strategy for alleviating eczema symptoms. The anti-inflammatory and potentially regenerative properties of rose extract warrant further investigation for the development of natural eczema treatments.

Objective: This study investigates the effects of GO on depressive behaviors and reproductive parameters in rats exposed to CRS.

Materials and methods: Rats were divided into three groups: sham, CRS-control, and CRS-GO. Behavioral assessments using the SPT and measurements of body and testes weights were conducted. Reproductive potential was evaluated by ELISA for testosterone, LH, and FSH levels, as well as sperm characteristics. Oxidative stress levels were assessed through MDA measurements and antioxidant enzyme activities. Additionally, apoptotic and signaling pathway proteins were analyzed by measuring cleaved caspase-3 and Nrf-2 levels in the testes using western blot analysis.

Results: GO mitigated depressive behaviors and reduced serum corticosterone levels compared to the CRS-control group. GO increased testosterone, LH, and FSH levels and improved sperm parameters. GO supplementation reduced MDA levels and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities compared to the CRS-control group. The analysis showed that GO down-regulated cleaved caspase-3 levels and up-regulated Nrf-2 protein levels in the testes of CRS rats compared to the CRS-control group.

Conclusion: The administration of GO treatment can contribute to the recovery from male reproductive complications by regulating oxidative stress and apoptotic pathways.

Objective: The use of herbal teas can affect some physiological parameters of the body. Valerian has been used as a valuable medicinal plant. There are reports about sedative and sleep-inducing effects of Valeriana officinalis L. (VOT) on the nervous system. But in relation to its possible effect on the autonomic nervous system, the available information is limited. This study aimed to determine the effect of VOT on sympathovagal tone based on heart rate variability indices.

Materials and methods: In this semi-experimental study, 12 healthy volunteers were enrolled. At first, the participants received 50 ml of water as the control group, and then after the clearance time, they received VOT with a dilution of 50% with the same temperature and volume and were considered the intervention group. Assessment of sympathovagal tone was performed in terms of heart rate variability indices. There were 5 recording steps: baseline, after drinking water, and 5, 20, and 30 minutes after drinking VOT.

Results: The mean±SD of the average heart rate per minute at the five recording steps after VOT was 65.4±15.5, 63.5 ±14.6, 62.7±15.6, 61.8±16.09, and 60.9 15.2, respectively (p<0.05). The average arterial systolic pressure at the five recording steps after VOT was 119.4±7.4, 117.9± 9, 114.3±7.9, 113.8±8.6, and 114±6.5 mmHg, respectively.

Conclusion: A single cup of VOT significantly decreased the heart rate. This effect may be associated with a decrease in sympathetic activity and an increase in parasympathetic activity.

Objective: Animal studies have revealed that lipid accumulation in obese mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) leads to alterations in the structural and functional properties of cardiovascular tissues. The current study aimed to investigate apoptosis/anti-apoptotic markers in the heart tissue of rats fed with a HFD.

Materials and methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats (weighing approximately 180 grams) were randomly divided into three groups (n=8 each group), including the control group (C), the high-fat diet group (HFD), and the high-fat diet + carvacrol group (HFD + Carva). Animals received a standard or HFD to induce obesity for three months. From day 61 to 90 in the HFD+Carva group, carvacrol was injected intraperitoneally (50 mg/kg) every other day. At the end of the study, the heart tissue was examined for pathological changes and the mRNA levels of TNF-α, Bcl2, Bax, and caspase3 in the heart tissue by Real Time-PCR.

Results: HFD-induced obesity led to increased TNF-α, caspase-3, and Bax and decreased Bcl-2 expression levels in heart tissue. Furthermore, histopathological changes in intracytoplasmic vacuole accumulation were evident in the HFD-obese animals. Carvacrol treatment significantly decreased the expression of Bax, TNF-α, and caspase-3 and increased the expression of Bcl-2 in heart tissue.

Conclusion: In the findings, carvacrol was found to decrease the histopathological changes caused by HFD in heart tissue by suppressing the expression of genes involved in the apoptosis pathway.

Objective: Myocardial ischemia (MI) and circulatory arrest are associated with unfavorable cardiovascular outcomes. This study aims to investigate the effects of proanthocyanidins (PC) and regular exercise with various intensity training protocols (low, moderate, and high) on cardiac protection in a rat model of MI induced by isoproterenol.

Materials and methods: Based on bioinformatics, a pool of microRNAs and mRNAs was assessed according to significant differential expression in MI condition. Further, the networks of hub genes and mRNA-microRNAs were constructed. After 14 weeks of low, moderate, and high-intensity interval training and oral administration of 300 mg/kg of PC, MI was established in the rats by injecting isoproterenol. The real-time qPCR assessed the relative expressions.

Results: Based on the in-silico analysis, Fn1 (fibronectin-1) and Myh7 (myosin heavy chain 7) are potentially druggable cut points to reduce cardiac tissue damage. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and consumption of PC modified the relative expression of Myh6 (myosin heavy chain 6), Myh7, and Nf1. Moreover, High-intensity interval training and PC regulated the mir92a-3p, mir181a-5p, mir29a-3p, and mir133a-3p.

Conclusion: Here, the data indicated that the HIIT protocol could have an effective strategy compared to low-intensity interval training (LIIT) and moderate-intensity interval training protocols (MIIT). Furthermore, HIIT and PC might have protective effects on the MI condition.

Objective: Prunus amygdalas (Almond; PA) has extensively been used in traditional medicine and has been the source of robust phenolic compounds. The current study intended to evaluate the fertility-enhancing effect of PA on male rats infertility and reproductive performance of two successive generations of rats namely, F₀ and F₁.

Materials and methods: Chemical composition of the oil was established with the aid of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The oil was then subjected to in-vitro antioxidant assay via DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ROS (reactive oxygen species), followed by in vivo toxicity testing. In the fertility assessment, 1 and 2 ml/kg of PA oil was given to rats up to pre-cohabitation, cohabitation, gestation and lactation period. The reproductive performance along with hormonal and antioxidant markers of F₁ generation was estimated and histopathological evaluation of both sex organs was done. Further, ethanol-induced male infertility model was established and sex hormones, antioxidant markers (superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and lipid profile were assessed along with histopathology of male sex organs.

Results: The PA oil supplementation showed pronounced fertility outcomes in terms of raised litter size, sex hormones and antioxidant markers in both generations. Moreover, in ethanol-induced male infertility model, PA oil significantly restored sex hormones, ROS and GPx levels. Histological findings also endorsed better spermatogenesis with enhanced architecture.

Conclusion: These results strongly suggest that PA oil rich in PUFA (poly-unsaturated fatty acids) might be a promising treatment option in future for male/female sterility.