Effect of chamomile aromatherapy with and without oxygen on pain of women in post cesarean section with spinal anesthesia: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: Pain is the most common side effect in cesarean section with spinal anesthesia. It seems that oxygen therapy and chamomile aromatherapy may diminish pain. The present study was conducted to examine and compare the effect of chamomile aromatherapy with and without oxygen on the severity of pain of women following cesarean section surgery with spinal anesthesia. Methods: The present randomized clinical trial study was carried out on 136 women undergoing cesarean section surgery with spinal anesthesia at Imam Sajad Hospital, Yasuj, Iran in 2020. The eligible women were assigned into four 34-member groups including oxygen therapy plus aromatherapy, oxygen therapy, aromatherapy, and control via block randomization. Each of these interventions were performed 6, 6.30 and 7 h post operation. In the first intervention group, one drop of chamomile essential oil with distilled water was poured into a small nebulizer using a simple mask connected to 6 L of oxygen. The second intervention group received oxygen without chamomile aromatherapy at similar times, and the third intervention group received chamomile aromatherapy without oxygen. The control group received only routine interventions. The instrument used in the research was visual analog scale which was completed by the researcher 6, 12, 18 h after cesarean section. The data were analyzed by the SPSS software version 20. Results: There was a significant difference in the intensity of pain of patients between the various groups of study following the interventions (P < 0.001). Pain intensity reduced significantly in the group receiving combined intervention of chamomile aromatherapy plus oxygen compared to the other three groups. Moreover, the pain intensity diminished more in the groups undergoing each of these interventions alone as compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The combined intervention of chamomile aromatherapy with oxygen was more effective than each of the chamomile aromatherapy and oxygen interventions alone in reducing the pain of cesarean section patients though each intervention alone was still effective in lowering pain post-operation.

Antioxidant and protective effect of Stachys pilifera Benth against nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin in rats.

The aim of current study was to assess the antioxidant and renoprotective effects of Stachys pilifera Benth (S.P.B.) hydroalcoholic extract on nephrotoxicity induced with cisplatin (CP). Adult rats with bodyweight of 180-220 g were divided into five groups (n = 7) treated as follows: group 1, control; group 2, CP; group 3, pretreatment with S.P.B. before CP; group 4, posttreatment with S.P.B. after CP; and, group 5, S.P.B. extract. A single dose of CP (7 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected on the fifth day and hydroalcoholic extract of S.P.B. (500 mg kg-1  day-1 ) was orally administered. The levels of oxidative stress markers, biochemical tests, and histopathological staining were assayed in serum and renal tissue. Also, the chemical composition of S.P.B. extract was determined by GC-MS analysis. The main compositions of S.P.B. extract identified by GC-MS analysis, were hexadeca-2,6,10,14-tetraen-1-ol, 3,7,11,16-tetramethyl (24.77%), thymol (14.1%), and linolenic acid (13.4%). In groups treated and pretreated with S.P.B., blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide metabolite in serum as well as malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl content of kidney tissues were significantly decreased in comparison to CP group; in contrast, total thiol group showed a significant increase in treated group as compared to CP group. Furthermore, histological investigation indicated that treatment with S.P.B. improved renal damages induced by CP. The current study showed that S.P.B. hydroalcoholic extract improved the biochemical parameters and kidney function as well as restored antioxidant activity in CP-induced nephrotoxicity. However, it needs more investigations to define the mechanism of S.P.B. action. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In different regions of Iran, Stachys is demonstrated by 34 species, out of which 13 are endemic, one of these endemic species is Stachys pilifera Benth (S.P.B.). The oil of S.P.B. is mainly consisted of cis-chrysanthenyl acetate, cis-chrysanthenol, spathulenol, ß-caryophyllene, linalool, and terpinen-4-ol. Moreover, phytochemical studies have shown the presence of compounds such as diterpenes, phenylethanoid glycosides, saponins, terpenoides, and flavonoids in Stachys species. The aerial parts of S.P.B. are consumed as herbal tea to treat several disorders, for example, infections, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis in Iranian folk medicine. The aim of current study was to evaluate the antioxidant and protective effects of S.P.B. hydroalcoholic extract on nephrotoxicity induced with cisplatin (CP). The current study showed that S.P.B. hydroalcoholic extract improved the biochemical parameters and kidney function as well as restored antioxidant activity in CP-induced nephrotoxicity. However, it needs more researches to define the mechanism of S.P.B. action.

Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague, superb essential oil and its major components on peptic ulcers: in vivo combined in silico studies.

BACKGROUND: Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague is used for treating gastrointestinal disorders. Several studies indicated gastric antiulcer activity of T. ammi extract, yet the effect of its essential oil has not been studied on. OBJECTIVES: The present study evaluates chemical composition of T. ammi essential oil and anti-peptic ulcer effect of the essential oil as well as its three major components in ethanol induced-gastric ulcers in rats. METHODS: Primarily chemical composition of the essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Rats received the essential oil (500, 250, 125, 62.5, 31.25 mg/kg), thymol (30, 100 mg/kg), para-cymene (100, 150 mg/kg) and gamma-terpinene (100, 150 mg/kg) using gavage tube along with ethanol 80%. Finally, dissected stomachs were assessed both macroscopically and microscopically to evaluate anti-ulcerative effect of the essential oil and the pure compounds. Moreover, molecular docking was utilized to explore the interactive behavior of the main components with active site residues of H+/K+ ATPase. RESULTS: Analysis of the essential oil indicated that para-cymene (37.18%), gamma-terpinene (35.36%) and thymol (20.51%) are the main components. Administration of different doses of the essential oil noticeably diminished the number of peptic ulcers in a dose-dependent manner. Among the main components, thymol was more potent than para-cymene and gamma-terpinene. Administration of the essential oil (500 mg/kg) and thymol (100 mg/kg) observed maximum inhibition percentage (98.58% and 79.37%, respectively). Molecular docking study provides the evidence of thymol ability to inhibit H+/K+ ATPase. CONCLUSIONS: The findings revealed that T. ammi essential oil can be applied to treat gastric ulcer as a natural agent. Graphical abstract.

Characterization of adenosine receptor in its native environment: insights from molecular dynamics simulations of palmitoylated/glycosylated, membrane-integrated human A(2B) adenosine receptor.

Selective A(2B) receptor antagonists and agonists may play a role in important pathologies such as gastrointestinal, neurological (i.e., Alzheimer disease and dementia) and hypersensitive disorders (i.e., asthma), diabetes, atherosclerosis, restenosis and cancer. Hence, it is regarded as a good target for the development of clinically useful agents. In this study, the effects of lipid bilayer, N-acetylglucosamine and S-palmitoyl on the dynamic behavior of A(2B)AR model is explored. Homology modeling, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to explore structural features of A(2B)AR in the presence of lipid bilayer. Twenty ns MD simulation was performed on the constructed model inserted in a hydrated lipid bilayer to examine stability of the best model. OSIP339391 as the most potent antagonist was docked in the active site of the model. Another MD simulation was performed on the ligand-protein complex to explore effects of the bilayer on this complex. A similar procedure was performed for the modified protein with N-acetylglucosamine and S-palmitoyl moieties in its structure. Phe173 and Glu174 located in EL2 were determined to be involved in ligand-receptor interactions through π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding. Asn254 was crucial to form hydrogen-bonding. The reliability of the model was assessed through docking using both commercial and synthetic antagonists and an r(2) of 0.70 was achieved. Our results show that molecular dynamics simulations of palmitoylated/glycosylated, membrane-integrated human A(2B)AR in its native environment is a possible approach and this model can be used for designing potent and selective A(2B)AR antagonists.