Inhaled paraquat-induced lung injury in rat, improved by the extract of Zataria multiflora boiss and PPARγ agonist, pioglitazone.

The effects of a PPAR-γ agonist, pioglitazone and Zataria multiflora (Z. multiflora) on inhaled paraquat (PQ)-induced lung oxidative stress, inflammation, pathological changes and tracheal responsiveness were examined. The study was carried out in control rats exposed to normal aerosol of saline, PQl and PQh groups exposed to aerosols of 27 and 54 mg/m3 PQ, groups exposed to high PQ concentration (PQh) and treated with 200 and 800 mg/kg/day Z. multiflora, 5 and 10 mg/kg/day pioglitazone, low doses of Z. multiflora + pioglitazone, and 0.03 mg/kg/day dexamethasone. Increased tracheal responsiveness, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) and lung pathological changes due to PQh were significantly improved by high doses of Z. multiflora and pioglitazone, dexamethasone and extract + pioglitazone, (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). In group treated with low doses of the extract + pioglitazone, the improvements of most measured variables were significantly higher than the low dose of two agents alone (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). Z. multiflora improved lung injury induced by inhaled PQ similar to dexamethasone and pioglitazone which could be mediated by PPAR-γ receptor.

Carvacrol and PPARγ agonist, pioglitazone, affects inhaled paraquat-induced lung injury in rats.

Exposed rats to normal saline and paraquat (PQ) aerosol as control and PQ group, rats exposed to PQ and treated with 20 and 80 mg/kg/day carvacrol, 5 and 10 mg/kg/day pioglitazone, low dose of pioglitazone + carvacrol and 0.03 mg/kg/day dexamethasone (Dexa) for 16 days after the end of PQ exposure were studied (n = 6 in each group). Lung pathological changes, tracheal responsiveness to methacholine and ovalbumin (OVA) as well as transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) and interleukin (IL)-6 level in the lung tissue homogenize as well as TGF-ß, IL-6, oxidant and antioxidant levels oxidant and antioxidants were increased in PQ group (p < 0.01 to p < 0.001). Lung pathological changes, tracheal responsiveness to methacholine and OVA as well as TGF-ß, IL-6 oxidant and antioxidant levels were improved in all treated groups except lung pathological changes in treated group with low dose of pioglitazone (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). The effects of low dose of pioglitazone and carvacrol alone were significantly lower than in the combination group of low dose of pioglitazone + carvacrol (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). Carvacrol treatment improved inhaled PQ-induced lug injury similar to the effects of dexamethasone. The synergic effect of carvacrol and pioglitazone suggests PPAR-γ receptor mediated effects of carvacrol on inhaled PQ-induced lung injury.

Cardioprotective effects of resveratrol following myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.

Resveratrol (RSV), a plant origin polyphenol, has shown beneficial cardiovascular effects. In this study, isolated hearts from male Wistar rats were studied using the Langendorff technique. Following 30 min stabilization, the hearts underwent 30 min global ischemia and 120 min reperfusion. The perfusion solution in the test group contained RSV (10 µM). Hemodynamics of the hearts, the markers of myocardial damage including creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and troponin I were studied during the study. Furthermore, the infarct size and the markers of oxidative stress including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were assayed in the homogenates of the hearts. The release of nitrite from the hearts and the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias were also monitored throughout the experiment. Resveratrol caused a significant improvement in the restoration of the mechanical performance of the hearts following myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (MIR). Besides, the infarct size, CK-MB, LDH, and troponin I declined in the test group. Besides, the cardiac release of nitrite increased, and the redox status of the heart was improved as indicated by the levels of CAT, SOD, GPX, and MDA. Finally, the treatment caused significant decreases in the occurrences of single and salvo arrhythmias, ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. The current study suggests strong cardioprotective and antiarrhythmic effects for RSV following MIR.

Cardioprotective Effects of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Juice in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease.

Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of pomegranate juice in patients with ischemic heart disease. One hundred patients, diagnosed with unstable angina or myocardial infarction, were randomly assigned to the test and the control groups (n = 50, each). During 5 days of hospitalization, in addition to the conventional medical therapies, the test groups received 220 mL pomegranate juice, daily. During the hospitalization period, the blood pressure, heart rate, as well as the intensity, occurrence, and duration of the angina were evaluated on a regular basis. At the end of the hospitalization period, the serum levels of malondialdehyde, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha were measured in all patients. The levels of serum troponin and high-sensitive C-reactive protein levels were also assayed in patients diagnosed with myocardial infarction. Pomegranate juice caused significant reductions in the intensity, occurrence, and duration of angina pectoris in patients with unstable angina. Consistently, the test patients had significantly lower levels of serum troponin and malondialdehyde. Other studied parameters did not change significantly. The results of this study suggest protective effects of pomegranate juice against myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.