Effect of saffron (stigma of Crocus sativus L.) aqueous extract on ethanol toxicity in rats: A biochemical, histopathological and molecular study.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is considered in the Iranian traditional medicine because of many therapeutic properties such as sedative agent, strengthen the stomach and liver, improving the uterus disorders and infectious wounds. The detoxification of alcohol was one of the most important of saffron effects in ancient medicine. AIM OF THE STUDY: In the current research, the protective effects of saffron aqueous extract (Aq. Ext.) versus oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, histopathological and biochemical abnormalities induced by ethanol were evaluated. MATERIALS & METHODS: The male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups consisted of 6 rats in control (distilled water), ethanol (5 g/kg - 50% v/v), Aq. Ext. (40, 80 and 160 mg/kg) plus ethanol, Aq. Ext. 80 and 160 mg/kg. Animals were treated for four weeks and at the end of treatment period, histopathological damages, biochemical markers, apoptosis, levels of MDA and GSH, TNF-α and IL-6 were evaluated. RESULTS: Ethanol induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity as evidenced by histopathological damages and biochemical abnormalities. The level of MDA was significantly enhanced while GSH content was remarkably reduced in ethanol-treated rats, but protective groups restored them. Also, the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were regulated by Aq. Ext. Furthermore, the effects of ethanol on histopathological and biochemical parameters were improved by Aq. Ext. The ethanol increased the expression of Bax/Bcl2 ratio, caspase-3, -8, and -9. Real-time PCR and western blot analysis proved that Aq. Ext. treatment inhibited apoptosis induced by ethanol through decreasing the Bax/Bcl2 ratio (mRNA and protein) and caspases-3, -8, and -9 levels in the kidney and liver. CONCLUSION: The results of this research demonstrated that Aq. Ext. could exert protective effects against ethanol toxicity in rat kidney and liver via antioxidant, anti-apoptosis, and anti-inflammatory effects.

Effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Pimpinella anisum L. seeds on milk production in rats.

Pimpinella anisum L. (P. anisum) is used as a galactagogue in traditional medicine; hence, the effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of P. anisum seeds on milk production in rats was evaluated. The milk production was assessed by measuring the pups' weights during the suckling period. The intraperitoneal LD(50) values of P. anisum aqueous and ethanolic extracts were 4.93 and 3.77 g/kg, respectively. The aqueous (1 g/kg) and ethanolic extracts (1 g/kg) increased the milk production significantly (p < 0.001), with about 68.1% and 81% more milk being produced, respectively, than in the control group. The pups gained weight during the study period with the aqueous (0.5 and 1 g/kg, p < 0.05) and ethanolic (0.5 and 1 g/kg, p < 0.01) extracts. Thus, P. anisum aqueous and ethanolic extracts can increase milk production in rats.

Anticonvulsant effect of Berberis integerrima L. root extracts in mice.

Berberis integerrima is a member of Berberidaceae family. Berberine is one of the main constituents of this plant, having neuroprotective effect on central nervous system diseases. In this study, the anticonvulsant activity of methanolic extract, and hydromethanolic fraction, and chloroform fraction of B integerrima was assessed. The anticonvulsant effect of B integerrima was investigated using both pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizure models. The LD50 value of the methanolic extract was 302.676 mg/kg. In the PTZ test, methanolic extract (140 and 200 mg/kg, i.p., p<0.01), hydromethanolic fraction (200 mg/kg, p<0.01), and chloroform fraction (200 mg/kg, p<0.01) increased the onset time of hind limb tonic extensions (HLTEs). The protective effect against mortality (convulsion survivors/animals tested) was 2/8 in methanolic extract, and 3/8 in hydromethanolic fraction at a dose of 200 mg/kg and in chloroform fraction at a dose of 140 mg/kg. In the MES test, this plant did not display any significant effect in reducing HLTE duration. According to phytochemical screening, methanolic extract contained alkaloids and tannins. The present study, conducted in mice, indicated that B integerrima has anticonvulsant activity in PTZ-induced seizures. It is concluded that B integerrima may be useful in petit mal epilepsy.

Effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Nigella sativa seeds on milk production in rats.

Nigella sativa L. is used as a galactagogue in traditional medicine. Hence, the effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of N. sativa seeds on milk production in rats were evaluated. The measurement of milk production was by measuring pup weight during suckling period. The intraperitoneal LD(50) values of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of N. sativa were 4.23 and 4.9 g/kg, respectively. The aqueous (0.5 g/kg) and ethanolic extracts (1 g/kg) increased milk production significantly (p < 0.001), producing about 31.3% and 37.6% more milk than control, respectively. During the study period, the pups gained weight with the aqueous (0.5 g/kg, p < 0.01) and ethanolic extracts (1 g/kg, p < 0.05). It is concluded that aqueous and ethanolic extracts of N. sativa can stimulate milk production in rats.

Protective Effect of Silymarin against Acrolein-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Mice.

Reactive α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes such as acrolein (ACR) are major components of environmental pollutants and have been implicated in the neurodegenerative and cardiac diseases. In this study, the protective effect of silymarin (SN) against cardiotoxicity induced by ACR in mice was evaluated. Studies were performed on seven groups of six animals each, including vehicle-control (normal saline + 0.5% w/v methylcellulose), ACR (7.5 mg/kg/day, gavage) for 3 weeks, SN (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg/day, i.p.) plus ACR, vitamin E (Vit E, 100 IU/kg, i.p.) plus ACR, and SN (100 mg/kg, i.p.) groups. Mice received SN 7 days before ACR and daily thereafter throughout the study. Pretreatment with SN attenuated ACR-induced increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), as well as histopathological changes in cardiac tissues. Moreover, SN improved glutathione (GSH) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities in heart of ACR-treated mice. Western blot analysis showed that SN pretreatment inhibited apoptosis provoked by ACR through decreasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, cytosolic cytochrome c content, and cleaved caspase-3 level in heart. In conclusion, SN may have protective effects against cardiotoxicity of ACR by reducing lipid peroxidation, renewing the activities of antioxidant enzymes, and preventing apoptosis.

Protective effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Portulaca oleracea L. aerial parts on H2O2-induced DNA damage in lymphocytes by comet assay.

The comet assay is a standard method for measuring DNA damage. In this study, the protective effects of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Portulaca oleracea L. (P. oleracea) on human lymphocyte DNA lesions were evaluated with the comet assay. Lymphocytes were isolated from blood samples taken from healthy volunteers. Human lymphocytes were incubated in H(2)O(2) (50,100, and 200 µM), aqueous extract (0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 2.5mg/ml), and ethanolic extracts (0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 2.5mg/ml) of P. oleraceae aerial parts alone with a combination of H(2)O(2) (100 µM) with either 1 or 2.5mg/ml of both extracts at 4°C for 30 minutes. The extent of DNA migration was measured using the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis approach assay, and DNA damage was expressed as percentage tail DNA. We found that the aqueous extract of P. oleracea significantly inhibited DNA damage, while there was no effect of the ethanolic extract. These data suggest that the aqueous extract of P. oleracea can prevent oxidative DNA damage to human lymphocytes, which is likely due to antioxidant constituents in the extract.