Biochemical and Histological Evidence on the Protective Effects of Allium hirtifolium Boiss (Persian Shallot) as an Herbal Supplement in Cadmium-Induced Hepatotoxicity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six male Wistar rats were divided into six groups: groups 1, 2, and 3 received vehicle, Cd (100 mg/L/day by drinking water), and A. hirtifolium extract (200 mg/kg/day; orally), respectively. Groups 4, 5, and 6 were Cd groups which were treated with A. hirtifolium extract (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day, respectively). After 2 weeks, liver enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and also oxidative stress biomarkers including lipid peroxidation (LPO), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total thiol molecule (TTM), and the histopathological changes were determined using standard procedure. RESULTS: The findings showed that Cd caused a remarkable rise in levels of serum hepatic enzymes such as ALT (P < 0.001), AST (P < 0.01) and ALP (P < 0.001) compared with the control group. In addition, Cd led to the decreasing of the levels of TTM (P < 0.001) and TAC (P < 0.001) and increasing of LPO (P < 0.001) in liver tissue in comparison with the control group. In this regard, remarkable vascular congestion, hepatocellular degeneration, and vacuolization were observed in hepatic tissue of Cd-treated rats. Following the administration of A. hirtifolium extract, a significant improvement was observed in the functional and oxidative stress indices of hepatic tissue alongside histopathologic changes. CONCLUSION: The current study indicated that the A. hirtifolium extract might prevent hepatic oxidative injury by improving oxidant/antioxidant balance in rats exposed to Cd.

Chronic exposure to organophosphate pesticides as an important challenge in promoting reproductive health: A comparative study.

INTRODUCTION: Organophosphate compounds (OPCs) are suspected to make changes in reproductive function by oxidant/antioxidant balance disruption in the brain, consequently impairing hypothalamic, pituitary endocrine functions, and gonadal processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of occupational exposure to OPCs on the reproductive system of farm workers, in Hamadan, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comparative study was conducted in rural farmers and urban men aged 20-40 years. After sampling and analysis of semen quality parameters (such as sperm count, sperm motility, progressive sperm motility, and sperm morphology), serum butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity (a specific biomarker in OPCs exposure), as well as total antioxidant capacity, nitric oxide, and lipid peroxidation levels for both semen and serum samples were determined. In addition, serum samples were analyzed for reproductive hormones, including follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone. RESULTS: Our findings showed that the number of sperms (P = 0.04), their motility (P < 0.001), and progressive status (P < 0.001) in rural farmers were significantly lower than the urban population. In addition, a significant decrease was observed in BChE activity (P < 0.001) and LH level (P < 0.001), and also a remarkable increase was found in testosterone level (P = 0.0014) in the serum of rural farmers compared to the urban population. Along with a decrease in semen total antioxidant capacity, a positive significant correlation was found between sperm motility and semen antioxidant capacity (r = 0.45; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Exposure to OPCs may affect reproductive outcomes through impairing hypothalamic and/or pituitary endocrine dysfunctions and gonadal processes in farmers.

Thymoquinone attenuates hepatotoxicity and oxidative damage caused by diazinon: an in vivo study.

Thymoquinone (TQ) is the main active constituent of Nigella sativa seeds. The objective of this study was to explore the protective effects of TQ on diazinon (DZN)-induced liver toxicity in the mouse model. The animals were divided into five groups of 6 each and treated intraperitoneally. Group 1 received the vehicle, group 2 was given 16 mg/kg DZN, group 3 received 5 mg/kg TQ, and groups 4 and 5 were treated with 1.25 and 5 mg/kg of TQ as well as 16 mg/kg DZN, respectively. Finally, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) serum activity as well as nitric oxide (NO), lipid peroxidation (LPO), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total thiol molecule (TTM), and histopathological experiments were evaluated in the liver samples. Our findings showed that DZN caused a significant increase in ALT (P < 0.01), AST (P < 0.001), ALP (P < 0.001) serum levels, LPO (P < 0.001) and NO (P < 0.001), the depletion of the TAC (P < 0.05) and TTM (P < 0.001), and structural changes in the liver tissue. Following TQ administration, a significant improvement was observed in the oxidative stress biomarkers in the liver tissue. In addition, our biochemical findings were correlated well to the histopathological examinations. In conclusion, the data from this study indicate that the administration of TQ may prevent liver damage by preventing free radical formation in animals exposed to DZN.

Effectiveness of Quercus brantii hydroalcoholic extract on dyspepsia: A randomized, double blind clinical trial.

CONTEXT AND AIMS: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of hydroalcoholic extract of Quercus brantii's nut on clinical, endoscopic, and pathological findings of patients with dyspepsia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind clinical trial, patients with symptomatic dyspepsia who had an endoscopic evaluation for dyspepsia were included and randomized into two groups. One Group (A) received drug extract with a dose of 100 mg twice a day for 10 days. Group B, as a control group, received placebo. Immediately and 2 months after intervention, the patients were followed up, and the characteristics of their dyspepsia (severity and frequency), endoscopic and pathologic findings were reevaluated and compared. RESULTS: In this trial, 13 and ten patients participated in the study in Groups A and B, respectively. Two months after intervention, ten (76.9%) and six (60%) participants referred for follow-up and endoscopic evaluation. There were no significant changes in clinical presentations after intervention (P > 0.05). Two months after intervention, clinical presentations including severity and frequency of epigastric pain had significant decrease in Group A and endoscopic evaluation indicated significant improvement in Group A (P < 0.05). Pathologic findings were similar and not significantly different in two studied groups after intervention (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this trial indicated that hydroalcoholic extract of Q. brantii's nut could have delayed significant proper effect on clinical and endoscopic presentations of patients with dyspepsia. We recommend that this study should be considered as pilot one in this field. The results could be used as baseline data for more interventional studies. More surveys are needed to investigate the mechanism of extract action at molecular basis.