Comparing healing effect against ulcerative colitis and toxicological effects of Rosmarinus officinalis: A comprehensive in vivo study of an edible plant in rats.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. UC usually worsens the daily life of the patient and may sometimes become mortal. There is no known remedy discovered against UC, yet. Rosmarinus officinalis consists of many flavonoids, phenolics, and terpenoids possessing various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory. For this reason, in the present study, anti-ulcerative colitis effect of ROME (Rosmarinus officinalis methanol extract) was investigated comprehensively by histopathological studies, a number of in vivo anti-inflammatory activities and several in vivo antioxidant activities, in addition to in vitro antioxidant activities and biochemical analyses. In addition, the toxic effects of ROME were examined. The results showed that ROME provided a significant healing effect against ulcerative colitis in rats. Both in vitro and in vivo assay results correlated with histopathological examinations. ROME exhibited minimal toxic alterations. When the results of rosemary are compared with the results of sulfasalazine, it can be suggested that instead of synthetic drugs with side effects, natural sources can be used for the treatment of various diseases. Although some activities of rosemary have been investigated in vitro in the previous studies, this is the first study revealing anti-ulcerative colitis effect of rosemary through histopathological studies, in vivo and in vitro assays as well as biochemical analyses overall. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The results revealed and proved that ROME provided a significant healing effect against ulcerative colitis in rats. When the results of rosemary are compared with the results of sulfasalazine, a commercially available drug on the market, it can be suggested that instead of synthetic drugs with side effects, natural sources can be used for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases such as UC disease. In addition, ROME possesses limited toxic alterations, but not much more than the commercial drug. As a future perspective, lethal and therapeutic doses can be examined and determined. Thus, human studies can be started through this comprehensive in vivo study on rosemary which is commonly used as an edible plant and spice all over the world.

Comparison of the efficacy of multiple antioxidant and hyperbaric oxygen treatments in the prevention of ischemia and necrosis of local random McFarlane skin flap.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of multiple antioxidant (Proxeed Plus (PP) with Carnitine, Selenium, Zinc, Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin C, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12) on local random skin flap healing with the hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy. METHODS: Fourty rats were equally divided into five groups (Control, PP, HBO, HBO + PP, PP + HBO + PP). Local random McFarlane skin flap was applied to all rats. Following the applications, evaluations were made biochemical (TAS, TOS, OSI, IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, TGF-ß, VEGF) and histopathological parameters. RESULTS: Necrosis percentage was found to be lower in the PP + HBO + PP group than all other groups whereas the necrosis percentages of PP and HBO groups were similar. Oxidative stress rates were significantly higher in the control group compared to the other groups whereas it was lower in the PP + HBO + PP group than all other groups. The inflammation parameters were the highest in the control group and the lowest in the PP + HBO + PP group. Growth factors were higher in the PP + HBO + PP group than all other groups. Epithelialization and wound healing were better in the HBO and PP groups than in the control group. The greatest healing, epithelialization and vascularization was seen in the PP + HBO + PP group. The histopathological findings in the PP + HBO + PP group were better in each inner region than in the other groups. CONCLUSION: Biochemical and histopathological parameters have shown that PP reduces ischemia and necrosis and increases oxygenation in flap healing by providing significant improvement thanks to the multiple molecular structures in its content.

Can ebselen prevent cisplatin-induced ovarian damage?

PURPOSE: The occurrence of ovarian damage is a major shortcoming in treating tumors with cisplatin (CP). The present study investigates the beneficial effects of ebselen-a seleno-organic compound with antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties-vis-à-vis CP-induced ovarian damage. METHODS: Twenty-eight adult female rats were divided into four study groups. Group 1 received no treatment. The rats in Groups 2, 3, and 4 were intraperitoneally administered CP (2 mg/kg/day) twice per week, for 5 weeks. Those in Group 2 received 0.3 ml saline (0.9% NaCl) intraperitoneally 60 min before each CP treatment, while those in Group 3 received 0.2 ml dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and 0.3 ml saline intraperitoneally 60 min before each CP treatment. The rats in Group 4 were pretreated with an intraperitoneal injection of 15 mg/kg/day ebselen 60 min before each CP treatment. Ovarian tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), total nitric oxide (NOx), glutathione (GSH), Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD), and catalase levels, as well as histopathological damage scores (HDSs) and serum antimullerian hormone (AMH) levels, were assessed. RESULTS: Cu/Zn-SOD and GSH levels were significantly higher, and MDA and NOx levels significantly lower, in Group 4 than in Groups 2 and 3. Pretreatment with ebselen significantly improved serum AMH levels, relative to Groups 2 and 3. Additionally, HDS values were significantly lower in Group 4 than in Groups 2 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: Our results from using an experimental rat model of CP chemotherapy suggest that ebselen use may ameliorate ovarian damage by preventing oxidative injury.

Effects of Apigenin on Experimental Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in the Rat Ovary.

BACKGROUND: Apigenin is a plant-derived compound belonging to the flavone class, which possess antioxidant, free-radical-scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties. AIMS: To address the effects of apigenin on serum anti-mullerian hormone levels, tissue oxidative stress parameters and histopathological changes in ovarian ischemia/reperfusion injury. STUDY DESIGN: Animal experiment. METHODS: Twenty-eight female Wistar albino rats were randomly separated into four sections: Sham operation (group 1), ischemia/reperfusion plus saline (group 2), ischemia/reperfusion plus dimethyl sulfoxide (group 3) and ischemia/reperfusion plus apigenin (group 4). In all ischemia/reperfusion groups, a bilateral adnexal 3-h period of ischemia was performed, followed by 3-h of reperfusion. A single dose of 15 mg/kg apigenin was given intraperitoneally 60 min before reperfusion in group 4. After 3-h of reperfusion, both ovaries were removed, and blood samples were collected. The main outcome measures were serum anti-mullerian hormone levels, ovarian tissue malondialdehyde, total nitric oxide, Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione levels and histopathological damage scores. RESULTS: The ovarian tissue nitric oxide level was significantly lower, and the glutathione level was significantly higher in group 4 compared with groups 2 and 3. There was no significant difference in anti-mullerian hormone levels among the three ischemia/reperfusion groups. The histopathological damage score was lower in group 4 than in groups 2 and 3 (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Administration of apigenin has no significant protective effect on ovarian reserve and tissue damage in ovarian ischemia/reperfusion injury.