Myrtus communis leaf extract protects against cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in rats.

In this study, the aim was to examine the potential protective effects of Myrtus communis subsp. communis leaf ethanol extract (MC) treatment against acute pancreatitis (AP) in rats. Thirty-two rats were grouped as the saline-pretreated control (C), MC-pretreated control (MC), saline-pretreated AP (AP), and MC-pretreated AP (MC + AP) groups. To induce AP, cerulein was administered (50 µg/kg) two times. The rats were given MC for 14 days before cerulein injection. Six hours after the final cerulein injection, the rats were sacrificed. Pancreatic damage was associated with an increase in the serum activity of lipase and amylase, the pancreatic activity of myeloperoxidase, and the pancreatic level of malondialdehyde, interleukin-1ß, and interleukin-6. AP also led to a decrease in the pancreatic level of anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 and glutathione. Pretreatment with MC before the induction of AP significantly reduced the pancreatic damage observed during the histological examination as well as reversed the biochemical changes evoked by AP. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Acute pancreatitis is characterized by high mortality (average about 5%; severe cases may reach about 30%). The current treatment for acute pancreatitis is mainly symptomatic. The introduction of herbal drugs may lead to the development of a new strategy in the treatment of this disease. This study revealed that MC reduced pancreatic injury by decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines, increasing antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10. To the authors' knowledge, this research is the first report showing that MC inhibits the development of AP. This observation suggests that MC may be useful in the prevention and the treatment of AP in clinical settings.

Protective effects of melatonin against spinal cord injury induced oxidative damage in rat kidney: A morphological and biochemical study.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) induced oxidative stress affects multiple organ systems including the kidney. We studied the possible protective effects of melatonin on SCI-induced oxidative damage in renal tissues of rats. Wistar albino rats (n = 24) were exposed to SCI and divided into vehicle- or melatonin-treated SCI groups. Melatonin was administred intraperitoneally at a dose of 10 mg/kg for seven days. Renal tissues were investigated by light and electron microscopy. Furthermore, tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were also determined. In the vehicle-treated SCI group, the renal histology was disturbed compared to controls, whereas the melatonin-treated SCI group showed significantly reduced degeneration of renal tissue as seen by both light and electron microscopy. MDA levels, MPO and SOD activities were increased and GSH levels were decreased in the vehicle-treated SCI group compared to controls. On the other hand, decreased MDA levels and MPO activities and increased GSH levels were observed in the melatonin-treated SCI group compared to vehicle-treated SCI group. These results showed that experimentally induced SCI caused oxidative stress in the rat kidney, whereas melatonin treatment reduced oxidative stress, suggesting that it may be used as a complementary therapy of renal problems occurring following SCI.