An investigation on cardioprotective potential of Marrubium vulgare aqueous fraction against ischaemia-reperfusion injury in isolated rat heart.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of aqueous fraction of Marrubium vulgare hydroalcoholic extract on cardiac parameters in ischaemic-reperfused isolated rat hearts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aerial parts of the plant were extracted with methanol 70% by maceration. The water-soluble portion of the total hydroalcoholic extract was prepared with liquid-liquid extraction (LLE). Afterwards, the antioxidant activity, total phenolic and flavonoids content of the aqueous fraction were determined. In order to evaluate the effects of the aqueous fraction on cardiac parameters and ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, the Langendroff method was used on male Wistar rats. Harvested hearts were cannulated immediately to the Langendroff apparatus and subjected into 30 min regional ischaemia and 2 h reperfusion, either by a modified Krebs-Henseleit buffer (KHB) solution or enriched KHB solution with plant extract (10, 20, 40 µg/mL). RESULTS: The aqueous fraction was found to be a scavenger of DPPH radical with RC50 value of 47 µg/mL. The total phenolic and flavonoids content of the fraction was 6.05 g gallic acid equivalent and 36.13 mg quercetin equivalent per 100 g of dry plant material. In addition, 40 µg/mL of Marrubium vulgare aqueous fraction significantly decreased infarct size in comparison to control group. All doses considerably reduced the total ventricular ectopic beats during 30 min of ischaemia. The extract at dose of 40 µg/mL noticeably decreased the arrhythmias during the first 30 min of reperfusion. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study indicated aqueous fraction of Marrubium vulgare possesses a protective effect against I/R injuries in isolated rat hearts.

Marrubium persicum Improved the Biological Parameters Associated with Angiogenesis and Inflammation in Mice.

The genus Marrubium, belonging to the family Lamiaceae, is highly praised in herbal medicine of different countries for having renowned healing properties. Herein, the anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenesis potential of Marrubium persicum methanol extract was evaluated in a mouse air pouch model of inflammation. Aerial parts of M. persicum were solvent extracted using the Soxhlet apparatus. Subsequently, air injections were performed (for 3 days) into the mice's backs to bring about an air pouch, while carrageenan was used to induce inflammation. The mice were divided into four groups, including; negative control (normal saline into the pouch), control (carrageenan), treatment and positive control (dexamethasone). The inflammatory markers were analyzed 48h after injecting carrageenan, and a haemoglobin assay kit assessed the quantification of angiogenesis in granulation tissue. M. persicum methanol extract at doses of 3.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 mg/kg represented significant decreases in inflammatory parameters. Compared to the control group, the optimum dose (3.5 mg/kg) lessened the myeloperoxidase (MPO) and angiogenesis activity, as well as haemoglobin levels. In sum, the methanol extract of M. persicum exhibited anti-inflammatory effects against carrageenan-induced inflammation, which could be related to its antioxidant and inhibitory effects on neutrophils' infiltration.

Evaluation of androgenic activity of allium cepa on spermatogenesis in the rat.

Allium cepa (onion) has a beneficial effect on disease treatment worldwide and has been used since ancient times as a medicinal and food source. Recently several reports have shown that onion has high antioxidant activity. As antioxidants have an essential effect on sperm health parameters, we investigated the effect of the fresh juice of onion bulbs on the spermatogenesis cycle in rats. Wistar male rats (n = 30) were allocated into 3 groups, control (n = 10) and two test groups (each of 10). The animals in the test groups were subdivided into groups of 2 that received fresh onion juice equivalent to 0.5 and 1 g/rat/ /day of fresh onion. The fresh onion juice was administered by gavage for 20 consecutive days. The animals were kept in standard conditions. On the twentieth day, the testes of rats in all groups were removed and sperm was collected from the epididymis and was prepared for analysis. Serum total testosterone significantly increased in all the test groups (p < 0.05), and levels of LH significantly increased only in the group that received the high dose of fresh onion juice (p < 0.05), but the level of FSH did not differ between the experimental and control groups. The percentage of sperm viability and motility in both test groups significantly increased (p < 0.05), but the sperm concentration significantly increased only in the group that received the high dose of freshly extracted onion juice (p < 0.05). It was evident that there was no difference on sperm morphology and testis weight in test groups compared to the control group. In our study, freshly prepared onion juice significantly affected the sperm number, percentage of viability, and motility; it seems that using 4 g/kg of freshly prepared onion juice is effective in sperm health parameters.

Antidepressant activities of Sambucus ebulus and Sambucus nigra.

OBJECTIVE: Many pharmacological activities have been reported in Sambucus (S.) genus. The aim of present study was to investigate antidepressant activities of different parts of S. ebulus and S. nigra. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antidepressant activity of methanolic extracts were evaluated by forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension tests (TST) in male Swiss albino mice. RESULTS: Extracts showed very good antidepressant activity in both FST and TST. They shortened remarkably the immobility period in both FST and TST and exhibited a dose dependent activity. Extracts in all tested doses showed significant activity as compared to control group (p<0.001). S. nigra showed better activity than S. ebulus. Its leaf extract at 1200 mg kg(-1) showed the same activity as imipramine in FST (p>0.05). Its fruit extract at 1200 mg kg(-1) showed far better activity than imipramine in FST (p<0.001). S. ebulus fruit extract in 1200 mg kg(-1) showed significant activity which was so better than imipramine at 10 mg kg(-1), in decreasing immobility period in TST (p<0.001). No mortality was observed after 48 hours at 3 g kg(-1). CONCLUSIONS: Our report indicated the S. ebulus and S. nigra. extracts were safe and showed remarkable antidepressant activity in FST and TST in mice. These results introduced these plants as easily accessible source of natural antidepressant.

Cycloartane-type glycosides from the roots of Astragalus caspicus Bieb.

Two new cycloartane-type glycosides, caspicuside I and caspicuside II, were isolated along with two known saponins, cycloastragenol and astragaloside IV, from the roots of Astragalus caspicus. As the aglycon group, caspicuside I possesses 3beta,6alpha,16beta,(24S),25-pentahydroxycycloartane (cyclocanthagenol), while caspicuside II owns (20R, 24S)-epoxy-3beta, 6alpha,16beta, 25-tetrahydroxycycloartane (cycloastragenol). The chemical structures of these new cycloartane-type glycosides were established as 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-16-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-cyclocanthogenol and 3-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1 --> 3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-6-O-beta-xylopyranosyl-cycloastragenol, respectively. These findings add to a growing body of literature demonstrating the high variation of cycloartane-type triterpene glycosides in different species of Astragalus.

The protective effects of garlic extract against acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress and glutathione depletion.

Acetaminophen, the most commonly sold over-the-counter antipyretic analgesic, is capable of causing severe and sometimes fatal hepatic damage in humans and experimental animals. The incidence of liver injury due to acetaminophen overdose, either with suicidal intent or by accident, is increasing. Garlic is among those medicinal plants famous for its different health protective effects. In this study, the protective effects of garlic extract on acute acetaminophen-induced liver injury were investigated using freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. The hepatocytes were isolated from Sprague-Dawley male rats by a two step collagenase model. Formation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and Glutathione (GSH) depletion were studied after addition of acetaminophen to cell suspensions. The effects of garlic extract on prevention of ROS formation as well as GSH depletion was investigated and compared with the effects of N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) as the standard treatment. Reactive oxygen species formation was assessed by a spectrofluorometry method and garlic extract was shown to be as effective as NAC in decreasing ROS formation induced by acetaminophen. Glutathione (GSH) levels of hepatocytes were determined using HPLC. Garlic extract was effective in preventing GSH depletion significantly (p < 0.05). It is concluded that garlic extract has an antioxidant effect and can protect hepatocytes from GSH depletion following NAPQI production.

Floral nectar composition of Peganum harmala L.

Chemical composition of the floral nectar of Peganum harmala, a herbaceous medicinal perennial of the family Zygophyllaceae, was analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography technique. The nectar sugar detection experiments resulted in 33.1, 39.8 and 27.4%, respectively, for fructose, glucose and sucrose, upon which the nectar was classified as hexose rich. In addition, 11 proteinaceous amino acids were recognised and quantified in the nectar. Concentration of the insects' favoured amino acid, prolin, was markedly high. Furthermore, among four detected alkaloids, harmalol and harmine as the two beta-carboline derivatives were identified. These findings may confer a better understanding upon outcrossing processes and favour the plant-pollinator relationships.