Psychometric properties of the cannabis abuse screening test (CAST) in a sample of Moroccans with cannabis use.

BACKGROUND: The Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST) is a widely used screening tool for identifying patterns of cannabis use that have negative health or social consequences for both the user and others involved. This brief screening instrument has been translated into multiple languages, and several studies examining its psychometric properties have been published. However, studies on the factorial validity and psychometric properties of a Moroccan version of the CAST are not yet available. The objective of this study is to validate the CAST, translated, and adapted to the Moroccan Arabic dialect among persons with cannabis use. METHODS: A total of 370 participants from an addictology center in Fez City, were selected over two phases to form the study sample. First, in phase I, exploratory factor analysis was employed to evaluate the factor structure in the pilot sample (n1 = 150). Subsequently, in the second phase (Phase II), confirmatory factor analysis was utilized to confirm this structure in the validation sample (n2 = 220). All statistical analyses were carried out using the R program. RESULTS: The CFA unveiled a three-factor structure that showed a good overall fit (χ2/df = 2.23, RMSEA = 0.07, SRMR = 0.02, CFI = 0.99, NFI = 0.98) and satisfactory local parameters (standardized factor loadings between 0.72 and 0.88). The model demonstrates satisfactory reliability and convergent validity, as evidenced by the acceptable values of composite reliability (CR) (0.76-0.88) and average variance extracted (AVE) (0.62-0.78), respectively. The square roots of the AVE exceeded the correlations of the factor pairs, and the heterotrait-monotrait (HTMT) ratio of the correlation values was below 0.85, indicating acceptable discriminant validity. CONCLUSION: The reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity tests all demonstrated that the Moroccan version of the CAST performed well and can be considered a valid tool for screening of problematic cannabis use.

Setting up and assessing a therapeutic education program for asthmatic patients.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a major public health issue. It remains uncontrolled, despite the availability of effective treatments. Appropriate education programs are required to improve the situation. The study aims to design and assess an educational program based on asthma patients' perceived needs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted in the pulmonology department of the Hassan II University Hospital in Fez. A convenience sample of asthma patients, whether hospitalized or not, was recruited. Two hundred and twenty adult asthma patients completed an educational needs survey (ENS). An asthma knowledge questionnaire for adult patients was used to assess the program on the criterion of improving asthma knowledge. Data collected by ENS was analyzed by standard descriptive statistics. The Student's T test for paired samples was used to compare the means of the Asthma Knowledge Questionnaire scores before and after therapeutic education. RESULTS: Most patients were married and residing in urban areas. The illiteracy rate was 50%. One patient was a regular smoker. 125 patients (56.82%) reported non-compliance to treatment. The pathophysiology of asthma (chronic airway inflammation, bronchial hyperreactivity, and bronchial obstruction), causes and complications, treatment (inhalation technique), asthma attacks and environmental management, lifestyle, and psychological support were the patients' main perceived educational needs. Based on these findings, an instructional program was created and evaluated with 30 patients. After the program, asthma knowledge increased significantly. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that an educational intervention can improve asthma knowledge.

Psychometric properties of the Problematic Online Gaming Questionnaire (POGQ) in a Moroccan sample of university students.

BACKGROUND: The Problematic Online Gaming Questionnaire (POGQ) instrument consists of 18 items with a six-factor structure. This questionnaire is widely utilized to measure the degree of problematic online gaming, but the scale has not, up to date, been validated in Arabic language. This study aimed to assess POGQ scale validity and reliability in Moroccan context. METHODS: The research was conducted from April to June 2023 using an online questionnaire. The selected sample involved Moroccan university students. Data were analyzed in two successive phases. First, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to assess the factor structure in the first sample (n1 = 143). Then, this structure was confirmed in the second sample (n2 = 313) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). RESULTS: The EFA and CFA results demonstrated that the POGQ has a six-factor structure explained 72% of the total variance. The results of this analysis provided an optimal fit to the data confirming a good performance of the measurement model (χ² = 243.6; CFI = 0.981; TLI = 0.976; RMSEA = 0.048; NFI = 0.964; IFI = 0. 981; SRMR = 0.022). The instrument showed sufficient reliability and convergent validity demonstrated by acceptable values of composite reliability (CR = 0.68-0.90), and average variance extracted (AVE = 0.50-0.75), respectively. Finally, the Arabic version of POGQ was found to have a high test-retest reliability. CONCLUSIONS: The Arabic version of POGQ revealed adequate psychometric properties. As a result, the instrument might be used to measure the degree of problematic online gaming. The use of the POGQ is expected to further promote research on online game dependence treatment and prevention.

Validation of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) in a Moroccan sample with substance use disorder.

BACKGROUND: Transcultural validation studies of depression scales are rare in Morocco. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) is commonly one of the most common and frequently used screening instruments for depressive symptoms, but the scale has not, up to date, been validated in dialect of Arabic in Moroccan contexts. Given the importance of assessing and preventing depressive symptoms in our Moroccan context, this study aims to validate the CES-D, translated, and adapted to the dialect of Arabic and Moroccan culture, in a sample with substance use disorder. METHODS: The data were analyzed in two successive phases. First, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to assess the factor structure in the pilot sample (N = 140). Then, this structure was confirmed in the validation sample (N = 205) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis extracted three factors different from the four factors in the original version. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the structure of three factors. The fit indices level showed acceptable to good performance of the measurement model. The instrument showed sufficient reliability and convergent validity, as demonstrated by acceptable values of composite reliability (CR = 0.89-0.93) and average variance extracted (AVE = 0.64-0.66), respectively. The square roots of AVE were higher than factor-factor pairs correlations, and the Heterotrait-Monotrait ratio (HTMT) of correlations values was less than 0.85, indicating acceptable discriminant validity. CONCLUSIONS: Overall reliability and both convergent and discriminant validity tests indicated that the Moroccan dialectal Arabic version of the CES-D had a good performance and may serve as a valid tool for measuring the severity of depression in people with substance use disorder.

Educational needs of type 1 diabetes mellitus T1DM children and adolescents in Morocco: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus T1DM is a chronic disease, mainly observed in children or young adults, with a significantly increased incidence in young children. To enable diabetic children and adolescents to lead a healthy life and manage their disease effectively, right from diagnosis, they must benefit from therapeutic patient education TPE whose first stage is an educational diagnosis. This study aimed to identify the educational needs of T1DM children and adolescents through an educational diagnosis. METHODS AND MATERIAL: A qualitative study was conducted with T1DM children and adolescents, aged 8 to 18, at the pediatric department. This qualitative study was conducted through semi-structured face-to-face individual interviews based on a guide with 20 participants in 2022. The internationally recognized ethical research principles were respected and ethical approval was obtained. Data analysis were carried out according to the principles of the reflexive approach of thematic analysis. RESULTS: The interviews' thematic analysis revealed five educational themes: Knowledge about T1DM and its complications risks, measures and attitudes for disease monitoring and therapy management, crisis and short-term complications management, diet and physical activity management, and adaptation of daily life to the disease and treatment constraints. CONCLUSIONS: The educational diagnosis is an essential TPE step to identify the educational needs of children and adolescents with T1DM, and to set up if needed, an educational program allowing them to develop the required skills. Hence, the health policy in Morocco should integrate the TPE approach systematically in T1DM patients' care.

Psychometric properties of Clinical Learning Environment Inventory and its association with Moroccan nursing students' satisfaction: A PLS-SEM approach.

Background: The Clinical Learning Environment (CLE) is integral to pre-registration nursing curricula. Assessing the student's perceptions of their CLE is essential to adjust clinical placement to trainees' needs. Clinical Learning Environment Inventory (CLEI) appears to be widely used in measuring CLE, but no previous study has reported a full structural validity and its association with students' satisfaction in the Moroccan context. Objectives: This study investigated the psychometric properties of the CLEI and its subscales association with Moroccan nursing students' satisfaction. Methods: The research design was descriptive, cross-sectional, and conducted from March and June 2022 using convenience sampling in three nursing institutes of the Fez-Meknes region of Morocco. The selected sample involved Moroccan nursing students undertaking clinical practice. First, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to determine the factor structure of the pilot sample (N = 143). The second sample (N = 206) was then used to confirm this structure using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) confirmatory composite analysis (CCA). Finally, using a bootstrapping method, the significance of the structural path was evaluated. Results: The CLEI scale depicted convergent validity (AVE = 0.56 - 0.71), discriminant validity, estimated by the square roots of AVE and bootstrapped HTMT confidence interval, and significant reliability (rhoC = 0.83 - 0.92). Using a bootstrapping approach, structural path significance displayed a substantial association between task orientation and students' satisfaction (ß = 0.29, p <0.001). This ascertains that nurse students need well-planned guidelines from their facilitators in clinical wards. Conclusions: The CLEI instrument revealed adequate psychometric properties and supported its original structure. As a result, the instrument might be used to measure students' perceptions of their CLE. Task orientation appeared to be the most important factor influencing the students' satisfaction in CLE.

Ethnobotanical Survey and Pharmacological Screening of Medicinal Plants Used as Antihypertensive in Sefrou Province (Middle-North of Morocco): Benefits and Challenges.

Herbal medicine was used since the old time in the treatment of different types of diseases in Sefrou province, Morocco. However, few studies have been carried out to identify local medicinal flora and to scientifically document the knowledge of the traditional use of these medicinal plants by the population. This study aims to investigate the medicinal plants in Sefrou province, record their usage in folk medicine by the population and evaluate the hypotensive effect of selected plants using in vitro vascular activity. For that, an ethnobotanical survey was conducted among the Arabs and Amazighs population of Sefrou province from January 2017 to December 2018. The survey was conducted through oral interviews with a structured questionnaire. It covered those who knew and/or used plants for medicinal purposes, retailers, and wholesalers, and also included ecological repartition as well as the mode of administration. Then we selected some plants to evaluate the antihypertensive activity based on the in vitro bioassay. A total of 134 medicinal plants belonging to 52 families were identified; 61% are wild species, 49 (36%) are cultivated and 4 (3%) are cultivated as well as spontaneous. Medicinal plants used in Sefrou folk medicine have been investigated for their antihypertensive activity. They were selected based on their usage as cardiotonic, diuretics, and other uses related to the symptoms of hypertension. Most of the plants tested in this study were found to be more sensitive to relaxing contractions induced by noradrenaline. Out of 32 species examined, 14 (44%) showed more than 50% inhibition in isolated rat aortic rings, the vasorelaxant activity of these plants used for the screening was mostly inhibited by pre-treatment with N-ω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOArg). The plants inventoried are alleged to be active against 104 therapeutic indications. Nine common symptoms are widely treated in indigenous pharmacopeia: gastrointestinal (19 plants), renal (27 plants), broncho-pulmonary system (7 plants), skin (13 species), diabetes (12 plants), cardiovascular (13 plants), eye, ear, nose, teeth, and throat diseases (5 plants); gynecological disorders (6 plants); rheumatism and gnawing pain (11 plants). 14% (19 species) of the plant inventoried are traded on a large scale and scope and more than 90 percent of the medicinal plants purchased from Sefrou go to big cities for export. The expansion of unregulated trade and commercial use of medicinal and aromatic plants poses a major threat to biodiversity in the region. Overall, people in Sefrou hold rich knowledge of herbal medicine. The vasorelaxant activity proved for the documented plants will provide a basis for other preclinical and clinical investigations.

Validation of Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer scale in a Moroccan sample of breast cancer women.

BACKGROUND: The Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (Mini-MAC) instrument is commonly used worldwide by professionals of oncology, but the scale has not, up to date, been validated in Arabic and Moroccan context, and there is an absence of data in the Moroccan population. This study aims to validate the Mini-MAC, translated and adapted to the Arabic language and Moroccan culture, in women with breast cancer. METHODS: Data were analyzed in two successive phases. First, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to assess the factor structure in the pilot sample (N = 158). Then, this structure was confirmed in the validation sample (N = 203) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed Watson's original structure underlying the Mini-MAC items: Helpless/Hopeless, Anxious Preoccupation, Fighting Spirit, Cognitive Avoidance, and Fatalism. Absolute, incremental, and parsimonious fit indices showed a highly significant level of acceptance confirming a good performance of the measurement model. The instrument showed sufficient reliability and convergent validity demonstrated by acceptable values of composite reliability (CR =0.93-0.97), and average variance extracted (AVE = 0.66-0.93), respectively. The square roots of AVE were higher than factor-factor pairs correlations, and the Heterotrait-Monotrait ratio of correlations values were lesser than 0.85, indicating acceptable discriminant validity. CONCLUSIONS: reliability; and both convergent and discriminant validity tests indicated that the Arabic version of the Mini-MAC had a good performance and may serve as a valid tool measuring psychological responses to cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Ajuga iva water extract antihypertensive effect on stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats, vasorelaxant effects ex vivo and in vitro activity of fractions.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ajuga iva (L.) Schreb. (Labiatae) (AI) is used in folk medicine for a variety of ailments, including diabetes mellitus and hypertension. AIM OF THE STUDY: In this work, we aimed to investigate the antihypertensive and vasorelaxant effects of AI aqueous extract in stroke prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Male SHR-SP rats were orally force-fed AI aqueous extract (500 mg/kg body weight) daily for one week. Systolic blood pressure and urine output were recorded in vivo by non-invasive methods. AI vasoactive effects on noradrenaline contractile response and acetylcholine-evoked relaxation were assessed ex vivo on aorta rings of treated and untreated SHR-SP rats. AI extract was then subjected to bio-guided fractionation using solvents of increasing polarity. For each fraction, in vitro vasorelaxation assay was performed on noradrenaline-precontracted aorta of Wistar rats, in the absence/presence of N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA). HPLC analysis of AI total extract, and the most in vitro active AI residual aqueous extract fraction (A1) was performed using naringin, naringenin, apigenin, apigenin 7-O-glucoside as marker compounds. RESULTS: AI aqueous extract (500 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased systolic blood pressure (SBP) in SHR-SP rats, while not affecting the urine output. In ex vivo experiments, the total extract decreased contractile response to noradrenaline of aortic rings isolated from AI-treated SHR-SP rats with or without addition of N-nitro-L-arginine, but endothelium dependent relaxation evoked by acetylcholine in noradrenaline-contracted aortic rings was not affected by the extract treatment. In vitro experiments on AI aqueous extract fractions showed that its polar fraction was the only one affecting in vitro noradrenaline induced contractions, but only in an endothelium dependent manner. This fraction was shown by HPLC-UV to contain flavonoid glycosides among other polar compounds whose activity and mode of action may be modified in vivo by metabolization. CONCLUSION: These results support the use of AI as antihypertensive treatment in folk medicine. The systolic blood pressure decrease may be attributed at least in part to vasorelaxant glycosylated/polar phenolic compounds as flavonoids and/or their metabolites.

Inherited Cardiac Arrhythmia Syndromes: Focus on Molecular Mechanisms Underlying TRPM4 Channelopathies.

The Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 4 (TRPM4) is a transmembrane N-glycosylated ion channel that belongs to the large family of TRP proteins. It has an equal permeability to Na+ and K+ and is activated via an increase of the intracellular calcium concentration and membrane depolarization. Due to its wide distribution, TRPM4 dysfunction has been linked with several pathophysiological processes, including inherited cardiac arrhythmias. Many pathogenic variants of the TRPM4 gene have been identified in patients with different forms of cardiac disorders such as conduction defects, Brugada syndrome, and congenital long QT syndrome. At the cellular level, these variants induce either gain- or loss-of-function of TRPM4 channels for similar clinical phenotypes. However, the molecular mechanisms associating these functional alterations to the clinical phenotypes remain poorly understood. The main objective of this article is to review the major cardiac TRPM4 channelopathies and recent advances regarding their genetic background and the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and hepatoprotective effect of aqueous and ethyl acetate extract of carob honey in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

AIM: The aim of the study included the effect of aqueous extract (AE) and ethyl acetate extract (EAE) on blood sugar in diabetic rats and their effects on liver enzymes and lipid panel in control and diabetic rats. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of the EAE was studied in vitro and compared with AE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sugar and antioxidant content of AE and EAE were determined. In vitro antioxidant activity of AE and EAE was estimated by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and ABTS*+ radical scavenging assay, ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay, and total antioxidant assay. To study the effect of the extracts on blood glucose level (BGL), lipid profile, and liver function in non-diabetic and diabetic rats, five groups of six rats each were treated with distilled water, AE, EAE, glibenclamide (GLB), and sucrose for 8 days. Plasma glucose level (PGL), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), transaminases (alanine transaminase [ALT] and aspartate transaminase [AST]), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined. The effect of the interventions on BGL after acute administration also was investigated. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection. RESULTS: EAE contains significantly lower content of fructose and glucose than AE (p<0.05), and it has no sucrose. AE and EAE exhibited a significant antioxidant activity and high antioxidant content; the antioxidant content was higher in AE than EAE (p<0.05). In diabetic rats, acute treatment by AE increased PGL, while EAE significantly lowered BGL as compared to the untreated diabetic rats. Both interventions significantly decreased BGL as compared to the sucrose treated group in diabetic rats (p<0.05). EAE was more potent than GLB. Sucrose caused 13% increment in BGL after 8 days of induction of diabetes, while AE caused only 1.3% increment. Daily treatment by EAE decreased significantly AST, ALT, ALP, and TC. EAE decreased significantly TC and TG level in diabetic rats in comparison to the untreated diabetic group. CONCLUSION: The study showed for the 1st time that EAE has more hypoglycemic effect than AE, and both extracts prevent the increment in BGL on day 8 after induction of diabetes observed in the control and sucrose treated group. EAE significantly ameliorated the lipid and liver function disorders induced by diabetes.

AFM and FluidFM Technologies: Recent Applications in Molecular and Cellular Biology.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a widely used imaging technique in material sciences. After becoming a standard surface-imaging tool, AFM has been proven to be useful in addressing several biological issues such as the characterization of cell organelles, quantification of DNA-protein interactions, cell adhesion forces, and electromechanical properties of living cells. AFM technique has undergone many successful improvements since its invention, including fluidic force microscopy (FluidFM), which combines conventional AFM with microchanneled cantilevers for local liquid dispensing. This technology permitted to overcome challenges linked to single-cell analyses. Indeed, FluidFM allows isolation and injection of single cells, force-controlled patch clamping of beating cardiac cells, serial weighting of micro-objects, and single-cell extraction for molecular analyses. This work aims to review the recent studies of AFM implementation in molecular and cellular biology.

Berberis vulgaris L. effects on oxidative stress and liver injury in lead-intoxicated mice.

Background Berberis vulgaris L. (BV), commonly known as "Aghriss" in Moroccan pharmacopoeia, is used to cure liver disorders and other diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of BV aqueous extract against lead-induced toxicity in mice liver. Methods Sixty IOPS mice were divided into six groups and were treated as follows: group 1 (normal control) received double distilled water; group 2 (toxic control) received lead acetate (5 mg/kg body weight/day) in double distilled water for 40 days; groups 3-6 received BV aqueous extract at doses of 25, 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight , respectively, once daily for 30 days from 11 day after beginning of lead acetate exposure to the end of the experiment. Results Toxic control group showed a significant alteration of serum alanine-aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate-aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), total bilirubin (TB), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH). Histological assessment of lead-intoxicated mice liver revealed alterations in hepatocytes and focal necrosis. BV treatment significantly prevented lead accumulation, increased ALT, AST, TC, and TB, inhibited lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyls(PCO) formation. Additionally, BV extract normalized the antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD and GPx), GSH and architecture of liver tissues. Conclusions BV aqueous extract exerts significant hepatoprotective effects against lead-induced oxidative stress and liver dysfunction. The BV effect may be mediated through the enhancement of antioxidant status, lead-chelating abilities and free radicals quenching.

In Silico Evaluation of the Potential Antiarrhythmic Effect of Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate on Cardiac Channelopathies.

Ion channels are transmembrane proteins that allow the passage of ions according to the direction of their electrochemical gradients. Mutations in more than 30 genes encoding ion channels have been associated with an increasingly wide range of inherited cardiac arrhythmias. In this line, ion channels become one of the most important molecular targets for several classes of drugs, including antiarrhythmics. Nevertheless, antiarrhythmic drugs are usually accompanied by some serious side effects. Thus, developing new approaches could offer added values to prevent and treat the episodes of arrhythmia. In this sense, green tea catechins seem to be a promising alternative because of the significant effect of Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (E3G) on the electrocardiographic wave forms of guinea pig hearts. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits-risks balance of E3G consumption in the setting of ion channel mutations linked with aberrant cardiac excitability phenotypes. Two gain-of-function mutations, Nav1.5-p.R222Q and Nav1.5-p.I141V, which are linked with cardiac hyperexcitability phenotypes were studied. Computer simulations of action potentials (APs) show that 30 µM E3G reduces and suppresses AP abnormalities characteristics of these phenotypes. These results suggest that E3G may have a beneficial effect in the setting of cardiac sodium channelopathies displaying a hyperexcitability phenotype.

Acute and sub-chronic toxicity of an aqueous extract of the leaves of Herniaria glabra in rodents.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the safety of an aqueous extract of Herniaria glabra (caryophyllaceae) (HG) plant by determining its potential toxicity after acute and sub-chronic administration in rodents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For the acute study, a lyophilized aqueous extract of HG plant was administered to adult IOPS OFA mice in single doses of 5-14.5 g/kg given by gavage. General behavior adverse effects and mortality were determined for up to 14 days. In the sub-chronic dose study, the HG-extract was administered orally at doses of 1, 2 and 4 g/kg daily for 90 days to Wistar rats. Selected biochemical and hematological parameters were determined after 30 and 60 days, and then at the end of 90 days of daily administration. RESULTS: In the acute study in mice, the crude aqueous extract of HG plant caused dose-dependent general behavior adverse effects and mortality. The no-observed adverse effect levels (NOAEL) of the HG extract was 5 g/kg and the lowest-observed adverse effect levels (LOAEL) was 5.5 g/kg. Mortality increased with increasing doses: the calculated LD50 was 8.50 +/- 0.42 g/kg in mice. In the sub-chronic study in rats, daily oral administration of the crude HG extract for up to 90 days resulted in a significant attenuation of the normal increase in the body weight. At the highest dose, the HG-extract caused a significant increase in erythrocytes, leukocytes (WBC), platelets, and eosinophils, but it had no effect on the differential WBC counts (lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils and basophils). Only at the highest dose, the HG-extract caused a significant increase in serum levels of the liver enzymes, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, as well as serum creatinine, indicating toxic effect of the high dose of the extract on the liver and kidney. The organ toxicity was confirmed by histopathological examination, which showed centrolobular sinusoidal congestion, disruption of the central vein and hepatocellular necrosis in the liver, and interstitial and intraglomerular congestion, tubular atrophy, and inflammation in the kidney. This study also revealed the hypoglycemic activity of the HG-extract in normoglycemic rats. The suppression of the normal weight gain and the hypoglycemic action of HG-extract should be investigated further for possible therapeutic implications. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the relatively high NOAEL values in the acute study in mice, and lack of mortality or clinically significant changes in the biological (except for hypoglycemia) and hematological parameters in rats after 90 days of daily dosing, it may be concluded that the HG extract does not appear to have significant toxicity (except at high doses). In view of the doses consumed empirically in traditional medicine in Morocco, there is a wide margin of safety for the therapeutic use of Herniaria glabra.

Acute diuretic effect of continuous intravenous infusion of an aqueous extract of Coriandrum sativum L. in anesthetized rats.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the acute diuretic activity of continuous intravenous infusion of an aqueous extract of the seed of Coriandrum sativum L. Apiaceae (coriander) in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aqueous extract of coriander seed was administered by continuous intravenous infusion (120 min) at two doses (40 and 100mg/kg) to anesthetized Wistar rats. Furosemide (10mg/kg), a standard diuretic was used as the reference drug. Excretion of water and electrolytes (sodium, potassium and chloride) in urine was measured, and glomerular filtration rate (equal to creatinine clearance) was determined. RESULTS: The crude aqueous extract of coriander seeds increased diuresis, excretion of electrolytes, and glomerular filtration rate in a dose-dependent way; furosemide was more potent as a diuretic and saluretic. The mechanism of action of the plant extract appears to be similar to that of furosemide. CONCLUSIONS: The aqueous extract of coriander seed possesses diuretic and saluretic activity, thus, validating the use of coriander as a diuretic plant in Moroccan pharmacopoeia.

Acute hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic and hypotriglyceridemic effects of continuous intravenous infusion of a lyophilised aqueous extract of Ajuga iva L. Schreber whole plant in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect of continuous intravenous infusion of a lyophilised aqueous extract of the whole plant Ajuga iva (L.) Schreber (Labiatae) (AI-extract) was investigated in anesthetized normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The AI-extract was administered to a group of rats by continuous intravenous infusion for 4 h at a dose of 4.2 microg/min/100 g body weight; another group was infused with taurine, the reference compound, at the same dose. In normal rats, AI-extract infusion had no effect on plasma glucose or triglycerides, but plasma cholesterol levels were significantly decreased (22%; P<0.05). However, taurine infusion produced significant hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic and hypotriglyceridemic effects (all changes, P<0.05). In STZ-diabetic rats, AI-extract infusion reduced plasma levels of glucose by 24 % (P<0.05), cholesterol by 35% (P<0.01) and triglycerides by 13% (P<0.05). Infusion with taurine produced a greater fall in plasma glucose (72%, P<0.01), cholesterol (54%; P<0.001) and triglyceride (24%; P<0.001) levels. Our results indicate that intravenously administered AI-extract exerts hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in diabetic rats by mechanism(s) which appear to be similar to that of taurine, which involve insulin sensitization or an insulin-like effect. The identity and the exact mechanism(s) of action of the active component(s) of the AI-extract are not known. Ajuga iva appears to be a useful plant in the therapy of diabetes, a condition in which hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia coexist quite often.

Hypolipidemic effects of acute and sub-chronic administration of an aqueous extract of Ajuga iva L. whole plant in normal and diabetic rats.

Diabetes is often accompanied by lipid abnormalities, which contribute significantly to cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. The plant Ajuga iva (L.) Schreiber (Labiatea) is used in the treatment of diabetes in Moroccan folk medicine. Previously, we have demonstrated potent hypoglycemic activity and relatively non-toxic nature of a lyophilized aqueous extract of the whole plant (AI-extract) in normal (normoglycemic) and streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats. In this study, we examined the AI-extract for its possible lipid-lowering activity in normal and STZ-diabetic rats. Taurine (TR) and glibenclamide (GLB) were used as reference substances. As shown previously, the AI-extract (10 mg/kg; oral) reduced plasma glucose levels after acute (single) and sub-chronic (3 weeks) dosing both in normal and diabetic rats. In normal rats, single and repeated oral administration of the AI-extract, at a dose of 10 mg/kg produced a small but significant decrease in plasma CHL levels (P<0.05). A single dose of the AI-extract did not produce a significant change in plasma TG, but sub-chronic dosing (for up to 21 days) caused a significant decrease in plasma TG (P<0.05). In STZ-diabetic rats, a single dose as well as repeated (3 weeks) treatment with the AI-extract produced a significant decrease in plasma CHL (P<0.01), and triglyceride (P<0.01) levels. The AI-extract also prevented weight loss in the diabetic animals. In summary, an aqueous extract of the Ajuga iva whole plant showed hypolipidemic activity, in addition to its hypoglycemic effect in normoglycemic and diabetic rats. In view of the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity, and its relatively non-toxic nature (shown previously), Ajuga iva may be a candidate for development as an anti-diabetic agent in humans. Further studies are warranted to confirm our results and fractionate the AI-extract to isolate and identify the active principle(s), and to determine the exact mechanism(s) of action.

Vasorelaxant effect of the aqueous extract of Ajuga iva in rat aorta.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the ex vivo and in vitro vascular activity of the aqueous extract of Ajuga iva (L.) Schreber (Labiatae) in normotensive Wistar rats. Chronic oral administration of the extract of Ajuga iva did not significantly affect the systolic blood pressure. In aorta isolated from Ajuga iva-treated rats, the contractile response to noradrenaline was depressed compared to the responses obtained in aorta from untreated rats but the endothelium-dependent relaxation evoked by acetylcholine was not affected. In vitro, Ajuga iva extract inhibited the contraction evoked by noradrenaline. The addition of Ajuga iva extract during the plateau phase of noradrenaline-evoked contraction produced a relaxation that was sensitive to N-nitro-L-arginine. After pre-incubation of the artery in the presence of the plant extract, vasorelaxant effect was markedly less pronounced. The endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by acetylcholine was concentration-dependently blunted in the presence of Ajuga iva extract in the bathing solution. This study indicates that the aqueous extract of Ajuga iva possesses NO-mediated and NO-independent vasorelaxing properties in vitro while only the endothelium-independent effect was observed ex vivo.

Acute and chronic toxicological studies of Ajuga iva in experimental animals.

Ajuga iva (L.) Schreber (AI), is widely used in the Moroccan pharmacopoeia as a panacea (cure-all), and specifically for gastrointestinal disorders and diabetes, and as an anthelmintic. No toxicological investigations have been carried out on this plant. We have previously observed that single oral doses (2-14 g/kg) of a lyophilised aqueous extract of AI (AI-extract) in mice or daily oral administration of 10 mg/kg of AI-extract in rats for 2 weeks did not result in any adverse effects. We have now evaluated AI-extract for its behavioural and pharmaco-toxicological effects after acute and chronic administration by the oral and intraperitoneal routes in rats and mice. No toxicity was observed in mice after single oral doses of as high as 14 g/kg of the AI-extract. However, single intraperitoneal injections of the AI-extract (1500-5500 mg/kg BW) produced a dose-dependent increase in adverse effects in the general behaviour and the mortality rate; the LD50 of acute intraperitoneal dose was 3.6 g/kg. In chronic toxicological studies in rats, the AI-extract (administered orally at daily doses of 100, 300 and 600 mg/kg for 3 months), did not cause any changes in haematological and biochemical parameters, with the exception of a transient rise in platelet counts and a short-term decrease in serum glucose levels. Histopathological examination of the brain, liver and the kidneys at the end of the study (3 months) showed normal architecture suggesting no morphological disturbances.