The hepatoprotective effects of dihydromyrcenol and geranyl formate in an experimental model of acute hepatic injury induced by the use of carbon tetrachloride.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of dihydromyrcenol and geranyl formate extracted from the Vitis vinifera L. plant in a rat model of acute hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride. METHODS: The study was performed on 54 Sprague-Dawley male rats. The animals were divided into 9 study groups with 6 rats in each. At the end of the 7-day study period, the animals were sacrificed. The effects of dihydromyrcenol and geranyl formate on hepatic injury were evaluated based on the comparisons of the changes in the weight, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, and histopathological changes in the liver. RESULTS: Dihydromyrcenol significantly reduced the carbon tetrachloride-associated ballooning degeneration and apoptotic cell counts; this reduction was moderate with low doses of geranyl formate, while no reductions were observed with high doses of geranyl formate. The changes in the alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were in accordance with these findings. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that in an experimental model of acute hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride, dihydromyrcenol presents a hepatoprotective effect, while geranyl formate presents partial hepatoprotective effects at low doses and no hepatoprotective effects at high doses.

Analgesic and hepatotoxic effects of Ononis spinosa L.

The present study investigated the analgesic and hepatoprotective activities of a water extract of Ononis spinosa L. (OS) in mice. Analgesic activity was based on the pain thresholds measured with the tail-flick test before administration at 30, 90 and 150 min. The results were analysed with one-way variance analysis. The extract of Ononis spinosa showed analgesic activity equivalent to aspirin at 30 and 90 min and even higher than aspirin with the 50 mg/kg dose. At a dose of 100 mg/kg OS showed an analgesic effect equivalent to aspirin at all time points.The hepatoprotective influence of OS on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced acute liver toxicity was also studied. The extract had no significant effect on the increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and bilirubin in CCl(4) treated animals (p > 0.05). Thus, the results reveal that the extract of OS had no hepatoprotective effect on CCl(4)-induced acute liver toxicity.

The importance of rigid nasal endoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of rhinolithiasis.

OBJECTIVES: Rhinolithiasis is the presence of mineralized and calcareous formations located in the nasal cavity. They have rare occurrence and can be easily confused with infection or obstruction of upper airways. If they are undetected for a long time, they may grow large enough to cause of nasal obstruction, mimicking sinusitis. Seven cases of rhinolithiasis were presented, and their diagnosis was made by rigid endoscopic nasal examination. Also computerized tomography scan was used to describe the size and site of the rhinoliths accurately. Our purpose was to determine the role of rigid nasal endoscopy in the diagnosis and the treatment of rhinolithiasis. METHODS: In this study, seven cases of rhinolithiasis, who were diagnosed and treated by rigid nasal endoscopy were presented. RESULTS: Between January 2000 and November 2004, seven cases (four males and three females; age ranged from 8 to 45 years) with rhinolithiasis were diagnosed. The most frequent symptoms were nasal obstruction with purulent rhinorhea, nasal and oral malodor. As complementary examinations, computerized tomography and simple X-ray of paranasal sinuses were used to locate and measure the dimension of calcareous mass, and to reveal possible invasion of the adjacent structures. The removal of rhinolithiasis was done with rigid nasal endoscopy under topical anesthesia in six cases and general anesthesia in one case. CONCLUSION: Rhinolithiasis is a rare condition but must always be suspected in patients with long standing nasal obstruction, nasal and oral malodor, purulent rhinorrhea and chronic headache.

A new agent for treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome: thymoquinone. An experimental study in a rat model.

OBJECTIVE: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute lung injury (ALI) are important clinical problems in thoracic surgery and critical care medicine. Most of the treatment methods are still supportive. Thymoquinone has anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, bronchodilator and antibacterial effects. We studied its effects on ALI/ARDS in a rat model. METHODS: ALI/ARDS was developed in 40 Sprague-Dawley male rats (200-250 g in weight) by intratracheal instillation of human gastric juice (pH 1.2). Rats were treated with mechanic ventilator for 3h. There were five groups: Control group (n=11); Steroid group (n=10); Ethanol group (n=5); Thymoquinone group (n=9) and Thymoquinone+Steroid group (n=5). No instillation except gastric juice was applied in the first group. Thymoquinone was given in dosage of 6 mg/kg, metilprednisolone in dosage of 10mg/kg, ethanol 0.75 ml/kg intraperitoneally (IP). Blood gas analysis and compliance measurement were done. At the end of the third hour, rats were sacrificed and their lungs were excised for histopathological examination. RESULTS: In the thymoquinone group, the ratio of arterial oxygen to the fraction of inspired oxygen (PO2/FiO2) was significantly better compared to the other groups (P=0.000-0.043). Static compliance measurements revealed higher values in thymoquinone and thymoquinone+steroid groups. Histopathological examinations showed that affected lung tissue is lower in groups 2 and 4 (P=0.000-0.027). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that thymoquinone improved oxygenation while both thymoquinone and steroids protect lung tissue from hazardous effects of human gastric juice (pH 1.2) histopathologically.