Protective effect of black mulberry (Morus nigra L.) fruit hydroalcoholic extract against testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats.

BACKGROUND: Finding new agents for prevention and/or treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) especially from natural sources is a demanding field. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of black mulberry (BM) (Morus nigra) fruit hydroalcoholic extract on the establishment of BPH in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-nine adult male rats were randomly assigned into 7 equal groups: I: Sham control (SC), a sham surgery was performed. II: positive control (PC), rats were castrated and received testosterone propionate, at 10mg/kg/day S.C. for BPH induction. III: comparative control (CC), BPH was induced and the rats received finasteride at 5mg/kg/day P.O. IV-VII: (T1-T4): BPH was induced and the rats received BM extract at 25, 50, 100 and 200mg/kg/day P.O. for 4 consecutive weeks. RESULTS: Finasteride and/or BM extract especially at the two higher dosages, significantly affected prostate weight, prostatic index, percent of inhibition, serum and prostatic levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), antioxidant parameters of prostatic tissue as well as histopathological and histomorphometric parameters (epithelial thickness and acinar area) of prostate. CONCLUSIONS: BM extract has protective effects against experimentally-induced BPH in rats with regard to histopathological and biochemical parameters which may be related to its antioxidant as well as DHT reducing properties in prostatic tissue.

Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles by using Ferula persica Willd. gum essential oil: production, characterization and in vitro anti-cancer effects.

OBJECTIVES: Synthesizing and characterization of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) by Ferula persica gum essential oil and investigating in vitro anti-cancer effects. METHODS: Characterization of NPs was performed. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis were determined on cancerous CT26 and non-cancerous Vero cells using MTT assay and acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining, respectively. Clonogenic assay was also performed. KEY FINDINGS: The absorption peak in UV-visible spectroscopy was at 530 nm. In TEM image, Au NPs were spherical in shape with average size of 37.05 nm (78.6 nm in DLS analysis). Comparison of the FTIR spectrum of the Au NPs with the essential oil revealed the presence of compounds responsible for reducing and capping the gold ions. XRD pattern showed metal crystal structure. Au NPs exerted dose-dependent cytotoxicity with IC50 values of 0.0024 and 0.0307 mg/ml against CT26 and Vero cell lines, respectively. Au NPs induced apoptosis on both cell lines with statistically more intense effect on CT26 cells (P < 0.0001). Colony formation of CT26 and Vero cells was also inhibited in comparison to untreated cells (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ferula persica gum can be successfully used for green production of Au NPs. Au NPs show in vitro anti-cancer activity including cytotoxic, apoptotic and antiproliferative effects.

Gastro-protective effect of Biebersteinia multifida root hydro-methanolic extract in rats with ethanol-induced peptic ulcer.

OBJECTIVE: Biebersteinia multifida is one of the native plants of Iran and its root is used in folk medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the gastro-protective effect of the hydro-methanolic extract of this plant's roots against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The following five groups of seven rats were included in this study: control (C), gastric ulcer (GU), control omeprazole (CO) and two treatment groups (the latter 3 groups were rats with gastric ulcer that orally received omeprazole, 20 mg/kg, or the root extract at 150 and 300 mg/kg (BM 150 and BM 300, respectively) 1 hour before ulcer induction). One hour after ulcer induction, blood sampling was performed and after sacrificing animals, the stomachs were immediately removed. Gastric mucosal injury was studied grossly to determine the number and area of gastric ulcers. The level of nitric oxide (NO) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in gastric mucosa as well as serum TNF-α were determined. RESULTS: In GU group, severe mucosal injuries were observed (p<0.0001 as compared to C group). The lesions in CO and treatment groups were much milder than GU group by regarding ulcer area and number (p<0.001 for all cases). In treated (BM 150 and BM 300) groups, the gastric mucosal TAC and NO level were significantly higher than GU group (p<0.05 for all cases). Serum TNF-α level was not significantly different between GU and other groups. CONCLUSION: B. multifida possesses gastro-protective effects against ethanol-induced ulcer model; this effect is at least partly related to plant's antioxidant and NO production accelerating properties.

Rosa damascena Mill. Essential Oil Has Protective Effect Against Testicular Damage in Diabetic Rats.

This study investigates the protective effect of Rosa damascena essential oil on diabetes-induced testicular damage in rats. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 equal groups: Group I: negative control (no treatment); Group II: positive control (diabetic by alloxan injection); Groups III-VI that rendered diabetic and received, respectively, 50, 100, 200, and 400 µg/kg/day rose oil, orally for 28 days. Rose oil did not significantly change body weight and blood glucose level as compared to positive control. Serum testosterone level of rose oil-treated rats remained statistically the same with both negative and positive control groups (Groups I and II). Rats treated with rose oil especially at 2 higher dosages (Groups V and VI) had higher sperm count and increased diameters of seminiferous tubules as compared to Group II. Rose oil even at the lowest dosage significantly increased cell count of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, Sertoli cells, and Leydig cells, with better outcomes for higher dosages. It appears that short-term repeated dose administration of rose oil can dose-dependently improve structural deteriorations of testes and epididymal sperm count in diabetic rats.

Effect of different periods of chronic heat stress with or without vitamin C supplementation on bone and selected serum parameters of broiler chickens.

This study evaluates the effect of different periods of chronic heat stress (CHS) on selected bone and serum parameters of broiler chickens with or without vitamin C administration. Ninety 23-day-old chickens were randomly allocated into seven groups: (1) control, (2) short-term CHS (5 days), (3) short-term CHS + vitamin C (12 g/100 l drinking water of a 50% product), (4) medium-term CHS (10 days), (5) medium-term CHS + vitamin C, (6) long-term CHS (20 days) and (7) long-term CHS + vitamin C. In heat-stressed groups the temperature was increased to 39 ± 1°C for 8 h/day. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected and shank, keel and tibia bones were removed. CHS was not associated with a drastic change in serum Ca and corticosterone, or bone characteristics (both cortical and trabecular bones in radiographical and histological evaluation), or birds' performance. Oxidative stress was present especially with short-term CHS. CHS, especially for short or medium periods, showed a tendency to increase serum vitamin C and administration of this vitamin did not make a significant change in its serum levels although it ameliorated oxidative stress. In conclusion, it seems that CHS is not associated with an appreciable change in broiler performance, bone characteristics, or selected serum parameters; and simultaneous vitamin C administration at the dosage of 12 g/100 l in drinking water has no beneficial effect apart from reducing oxidative stress especially in short-term chronically heat-stressed birds.

Cornus mas: a review on traditional uses and pharmacological properties.

Medicinal plants that are used today have been known by people of ancient cultures around the world and have largely been considered due to their medicinal properties. Cornus mas L. (Cornelian cherry) is one of these medicinal plants with high level of antioxidant activity. Cornelian cherry is an attractive ornamental plant with delicious fruit having nutritional and therapeutic values. The main purpose of this paper is to present and summarize the pharmacological and therapeutic effects from researches done on Cornelian cherry in studies from 2000 to 2016. Information and findings in this review were taken from electronic journals in some websites including PubMed, Elsevier, ISI, Google scholar, SID and relevant books. C. mas L. is important in terms of decoration and is used in traditional medicine to treat diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, cholera, fever, malaria, kidney stones, urinary tract infections, cancer, bleeding and heat stroke. Several studies have shown that Cornelian cherry fruit plays an important role in prevention of atherosclerosis, blood sugar, lipid profiles and reduction of fat accumulation in the liver. Cornelian cherry has antimicrobial, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer effects as well as protecting liver, kidney and cardiovascular system. Using Cornelian cherry in pharmaceutical and food industries has caused fantastic value of this plant. Pharmaceutical properties of Cornelian cherry seeds, fruits, leaves and stems have led the need of further studies to explore the other unknown effects or review mechanism of its pharmacological effects for preparation of new drugs.

Hypocholesterolemic activity of cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) fruits.

Background Lipid profile disturbances are important risk factors for cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes mellitus and finding safe and multifaceted agents is persuaded in this regard. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cornelian cherry dried powder (CCDP) on serum lipid profile as well as liver antioxidant capacity, HMG-CoA reductase level and activity, and LDL receptor level in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods Forty-eight male adult Wistar rats were randomly allocated into eight equal groups and were treated for 4 weeks as follows: negative control (normal rats, basic diet); positive control (diabetic rats, basic diet), T1 to T4 groups: diabetic rats fed with basic diet containing 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 g/ 100 g BW CCDP, respectively; T5: diabetic rats fed with basic diet plus 10 mg/kg lovastatin in drinking water and T6: normal rats fed with basic diet containing 1 g/ 100 g BW CCDP. Results Administration of CCDP had no significant effect on serum glucose levels in diabetic rats however decreased total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and liver antioxidant capacity as compared to positive control rats (p<0.05). Although HMG-CoA reductase level showed a significant decrease only in T3 group, its activity was reduced in all diabetic CCDP and lovastatin-treated groups as compared to positive control. LDL receptor level remained statistically the same among positive control and CCDP-treated groups. Conclusions In conclusion, the present study confirms hypocholesterolemic effect of CCDP in diabetic rats and demonstrated that this effect was at least partly due to inhibition of liver HMG-CoA reductase activity.