Effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) and its constituent (curcumin) on the metabolic syndrome: An updated review / 中西医结合学报

Metabolic syndrome (MS) involves people with the following risk factors: obesity, hypertension, high glucose level and hyperlipidemia. It can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The prevalence of MS in the world's adult population is about 20%-25%. Today, there is much care to use medicinal plants. Turmeric (Curcuma longa) as well as curcumin which is derived from the rhizome of the plant, has been shown beneficial effects on different components of MS. Thus, the purpose of this manuscript was to introduce different in vitro, in vivo and human studies regarding the effect of turmeric and its constituent on MS. Moreover, different mechanisms of action by which this plant overcomes MS have been introduced. Based on studies, turmeric and its bioactive component, curcumin, due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, have antidiabetic effects through increasing insulin release, antihyperlipidemic effects by increasing fatty acid uptake, anti-obesity effects by decreasing lipogenesis, and antihypertensive effects by increasing nitric oxide. According to several in vivo, in vitro and human studies, it can be concluded that turmeric or curcumin has important values as a complementary therapy in MS. However, more clinical trials should be done to confirm these effects.

effect of chronic administration of safranal on systolic blood pressure in rats

Safranal, the main component of Crocus sativus essential oil, exhibits different pharmacological activities. In this study, the effects of safranal, on blood pressure of normotensive and desoxycorticosterone acetate [DOCA]-salt induced hypertensive rats in chronic administration were investigated. Three doses of safranal [1, 2 and 4 mg/Kg/day] and spironolactone [50 mg/Kg/day] were administrated to the different groups of normotensive and hypertensive rats [at the end of 4 weeks treatment by DOCA-salt] for Five weeks. Then the effects of safranal on mean systolic blood pressure [MSBP] and heart rate [HR] were evaluated using tail cuff method. The duration of effect of safranal on SBP, was also evaluated. Our results indicated that chronic administration of safranal could reduce the MSBP in DOCA salt treated rats in a dose dependent manner. Safranal did not decrease the MSBP in normotensive rats. The data also showed that antihypertensive effects of safranal did not persist. In summary, our results showed that safranal exhibits antihypertensive and normalizing effect on BP in chronic administration

Protective effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of portulaca oleracea against cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity

Poriulaca oleracea L. is a herbaceous weed from portulacaceae family. It can be found in many parts of the world. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that P. oleracea have antioxidant effects. The protective effect of aqueous and ethanolic extract of P. oleracea against cisplatin-induced renal toxicity was studied in rats. Single intraperitoneal injection of 4 mg/kg cisplatin was administrated to rats. After 5 days, blood urea nitrogen [BUN] and serum creatinine [Scr] concentration were determined. Effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts, before and after cisplatin injection on BUN and Scr, as well as morphological renal damage, was evaluated. It was indicated that treatment with aqueous and ethanolic extracts of P. oleracea in the highest dose [0.8 and 2 g/ kg], 6 and 12 hr before cisplatin injection reduced BUN and Scr. Tubular necrotic damage was not observed either. Results suggest that P. oleracea extract may protect against cisplatin-induced renal toxicity and might serve as a novel combination agent with cisplan to limit renal injury

Antinociceptive effect of elaeagnus angustifolia fruits on sciatic nerve ligated mice

The role of Elaeagnus angustifolia fruit as an analgesic agent in acute pain has been proved earlier. In this study, the effects of aqueous extracts of three parts of this fruit [pericarp, medulla and seed] on chronic pain were investigated in mice. A partial nerve injury was made using a tight ligature around the sciatic nerve, then doses [0.5, 1, 1.5 g/kg, i.p.] of pericarp, medulla and seed extracts were injected in nerve ligated mice. The effect of different doses of three parts of this fruit on chronic pain was examined 14 days after sciatic nerve ligation using the hot-plate test. Controls received saline [5 ml/kg, i.p.] and imipramine [40 mg/kg]. In the hot plate test, intraperitoneal injection of different doses of three parts of this fruit showed considerable analgesic effect on nerve ligated mice that was dose dependent with duration of action of 120 min. Administration of the aqueous extracts of pericarp, medulla and seed of E. angustifolia fruit indicated significant analgesic effect on chronic pain in nerve ligated animals