The effect of aqueous extract of Lavandula officinalis to reduce cholesterol, triglyceride and other lipid metabolites on female BALB/c mice.

BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia is a prevalent disorder and a main component of the metabolic syndrome resulting from various factors. The aerial parts and flowers of Lavandula officinalis possesses antioxidant activity, therefore, in this study; the effects of L. officinalis extract were investigated on serum lipid levels of mice. METHODS: Experimental mature female BALB/c mice were treated with 100, 300 or 500mg/kg/day of lavender aqueous extract or distilled water for 15 days via intraperitoneally injections. At the end of 15th day, the serum biochemical parameters include cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL and LDL levels as well as the liver cell function test were determined. RESULTS: The aqueous extract of lavender significantly decreased serum cholesterol and LDL levels. Serum cholesterol level was lower in the 300 and 500mg/kg/day experimental groups when compared with the control group. In liver histology evaluation, fat accumulation was not observed in the experimental group, which treated with high-fat foods and receiving high doses of extract. CONCLUSION: L. officinalis extract exerts a hypolipidemic effect in studied groups, however, further phytochemical and biological tests are suggested to determine the active chemical constituent responsible for these activities.

Extraction and purification of the H9N2 virus nucleoprotein: A simple and practical method.

Background: Avian Influenza disease annually entails a significant economic loss to the poultry industry around the world. Influenza virus is a polymorphic virus of the orthomyxoviridae family (single-stranded RNA genome), and nucleoprotein (NP) is the structural and internal protein of the virus. The aim of the work was to purify nucleoprotein for further investigations with a simple, low-cost, fast and practical method. Methods: In this study, H9N2 influenza virus was isolated in specific pathogen-free embryonated chicken eggs by allantoically inoculating 103 to 105 egg-infective doses (EID50) for 9 to 11 days, purified by 10% (W/V) polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 with a sucrose gradient of 60% to 30%. The influenza virus proteins were collected and prepared as fractions by preparative electrophoresis. Finally, the purified NP was subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blot procedures. Results: The protein analysis with SDS-PAGE and silver nitrate staining indicated that the desired samples contained purified nucleoprotein and lacked other viral proteins. The results of the investigation of lyophilized fractions containing nucleoprotein on the SDS-PAGE revealed the absence of viral RNA in nucleoprotein and its high purity. Conclusion: According to this study, purified nucleoprotein can be used to produce nucleoprotein vaccines, as well as to study structural, molecular and diagnostic and therapeutic materials.