The effects of carvacrol on oxidative stress, inflammation, and liver function indicators in a systemic inflammation model induced by lipopolysaccharide in rats.

The effect of carvacrol (CAR) on oxidative stress, inflammation, and liver dysfunction induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was explored. The rats (n=40) were daily injected (2 weeks) by saline as control, LPS (1 mg/kg, i.p.), and 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg CAR (i.p.) before LPS. LPS increased aspartate transaminase (AST: 162±13 U/L), alanine aminotransferase (ALT: 74.6±2.15 U/L), alkaline phosphatase (ALK-P: 811±51 U/L), interlukine-1ß (IL-1ß: 1254±51 pg/g tissue), malondialdehyde (MDA: 32±1.09 nM/g tissue), and nitric oxide (NO: 224±13.5 nM/g tissue) (P<0.01-P<0.001) while, decreased total protein(4.08±0.38 g/dl), albumin(2.79±0.16 g/dl), thiol (5.16±0.19 µM/g tissue), superoxide dismutase (SOD: 10.57±0.13 U/g tissue), and catalase (CAT: 0.78±0.02 U/g tissue) compared to control (P<0.001). CAR reversed the effects of LPS (P<0.05-P<0.001). In the rats treated by 100 mg/kg CAR, the indicators were as follows: AST: 118±10.1 U/L, ALT: 42.5±4.13 U/L, ALK-P: 597±39.91 U/L, IL-1ß: 494±15 pg/g tissue, and NO: 141±5.35 nM/g tissue. Both 50 and 100 mg/kg CAR corrected oxidative stress indicators and in the group treated by 100 mg/kg CAR, they were: MDA: 23.4±0.91 nM/g tissue, thiol: 7.98±0.18 µM/g tissue, SOD: 21±0.8 U/g tissue, and CAT: 1.12±0.02 U/g tissue(P<0.05-P<0.001). In conclusion, CAR improved liver function, accompanied with antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects.

The Effect of 6-gingerol on Growth Factors and Apoptosis Indices in Rats Exposed to Gold Nanoparticles.

INTRODUCTION: Research has shown that gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can damage the physiological processes of brain tissue. Given the antioxidant properties of Gingerol (GING), this study aimed to determine the protective effect of 6-gingerol on hippocampal levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), DNA oxidative damage, and the amount of Bax and Bcl2 apoptosis indices of rats exposed to AuNPs. METHODS: A total of 42 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control (30 days 0.5 mL saline), AuNPs (one time injection of 0.5 mL AuNPs, 200 ppm and 60 Nm + 30 days 0.5 mL saline), AuNPs+GING 50 (one time injection of 0.5 mL AuNPs, 200 ppm and 60 Nm + 30 days 0.5 mL density of gingerol 50 mg/kg), and AuNPs+GING100 (one time injection of 0.5 mL AuNPs, 200 ppm and 60 Nm + 30 days 0.5 mL density of gingerol 100 mg/kg). At the end of the treatment period, the hippocampal levels of NGF, BDNF, 8-hydroxy-desoxyguanosine (8-HOdG), and apoptotic indices of Bax and Bcl-2 were assessed with the ELISA method. RESULTS: Compared with the AuNPs group, hippocampal levels of BDNF, NGF, and Bcl-2 in rats in the AuNPs+GING 50 and AuNPs+GING 100 groups significantly increased dose-dependently. However, the hippocampal levels of Bax and 8-HOdG significantly decreased dose-dependently (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: According to obtained results, gingerol may improve hippocampal BDNF and NGF levels in rats exposed to AuNPs, probably by reducing apoptosis and oxidative DNA damage.

Hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic activities of Alhagi camelorum in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in Wistar rats.

This study investigates the alcoholic extract effect of Alhagi camelorum on blood glucose and lipid profiles in diabetic rats made by streptozotocin (STZ). Male rats were divided into four groups. The control group received a normal diet. The diabetic group was induced by STZ and two diabetic experimental groups received alcoholic extracts of A. camelorum at a dose of 200 and 300 mg/kg by means of gavage, respectively. Blood samples were collected on 21st from all the groups. Findings show that there is a significant increase in the level of fasting blood sugar and lipid profiles in diabetic group when the results compared to the control group (p < .05). The same factors showed a drop in groups receiving extract. The levels of insulin and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were increased in groups that received alcoholic extract. Results indicate that alcoholic extract of A. camelorum decreases the rate of hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidaemia associated with diabetes.

Acacetin Alleviates Hepatitis Following Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion in Male Balb/C Mice by Antioxidants Regulation and Inflammatory Markers Suppression.

BACKGROUND: Ischemia-reperfusion (Isc/Rep) incidence can damage kidneys and long-distance organs such as the liver. Due to the increasing use of herbs in medicine, this study was designed to assess the effects of Acacetin (ACA) on pathophysiology of liver following renal Isc/Rep induction. Methods: 84 male Balb/C mice were divided into 12 groups including control, control + ACAs groups (0.01% DMSO or 50, 25, 10 mg/kg of ACA.) sham group (a period of 60 min laparotomy with 0.01% DMSO treatment) sham + ACAs groups (0.01% DMSO + 50, 25, 10 mg/kg of ACA) Isc/Rep treatment groups (laparotomy and bilateralrenal occlusion for 60 min with/without administration of 50, 25, 10 mg/kg ACA). All experimental groups were treated intraperitoneally daily for 4 consecutive days. The values of quantitative histology, Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), Nitric oxide (NO), TNFα, IL1ß, and the serum levels of hepatic enzymes were evaluated. Results: In the Isc/Rep and Isc/Rep + ACA (10 mg/kg) groups, there were a significant decrease in the level of albumin and TAC, while the other evaluated parameters were significantly increased (p < 0.05). In the Isc/Rep + ACA (25, 50 mg/kg), these parameters showed significant recovery compared to Isc/Rep + ACA (10 mg/kg) group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Increasing the oxidant activity is the most important cause of injury in long-distance organs following Isc/Rep process. By employing the inflammatory mediators in a dose-dependent manner, the ACA reveals the recovery effects on liver failure.

Protective effect of piperine in ischemia-reperfusion induced acute kidney injury through inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Renal ischemia-reperfusion is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. As a major compound in black pepper, piperine has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. In present study, the protective effects of oral administration of piperine in renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) induced acute kidney injuries (AKI) were investigated. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE: Male Wistar rats received piperine (10 or 20 mg/kg.bw) or vehicle for 10 days. The artery and vein of both kidneys were then clamped for 30 min, followed by a 24-h reperfusion period. Concentrations of creatinine and urea-nitrogen in descending aorta blood were measured, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) levels were measured in kidney tissue to evaluate the oxidative stress. Inflammation was evaluated by measuring the TNF-α and ICAM-1 mRNA expression levels in renal cortical tissue using Real Time PCR method and counting leukocytes infiltration to interstitium. Further measured were tissue damages in H & E stained sections. RESULTS: Renal IR reduced FRAP, while increasing the plasma concentrations of creatinine and urea-nitrogen, tissue MDA level, TNF-α and ICAM-1 mRNA expressions, leukocyte infiltration and histopathologic injuries. Piperine administration significantly reduced the plasma concentrations of creatinine and urea-nitrogen, expression of pro-inflammatory factors, oxidative stress and renal histopathologic injuries. It is to be noted that 20 mg/kg dose was more effective. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest piperine protects the kidney against ischemia-reperfusion induced acute kidney injuries by its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties.

Acacetin Attenuates Renal Damage-Induced by Ischemia-Reperfusion with Declining Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress in Mice.

BACKGROUND: Renal ischemia-reperfusion disturbs both the function and the histology of this organ. Acacetin (Aca) is a natural flavonoid that is effective for relief of many diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the impacts of Aca on renal ischemia-reperfusion process in mice. METHODS: In total, 84 male Balb/cmice divided into 12 groups and were administrated intraperitoneally for 4 days with or without surgery to dimethyl sulfoxide 0.01% or Aca (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg) as Control, control Acas, sham, sham Acas groups. Ischemia-reperfusion without or with Aca (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg) treatments were the other groups. Parameters related to the function and the histology of the kidneys were evaluated and statistically analyzed from kidney and blood serum samples in the respect of the groups. RESULTS: In ischemia-reperfusion and ischemia-reperfusion + Aca (10 mg/kg) groups, there were significantly increased in urea, creatinine, malondialdehyde (MDA), and apoptosis rate, whereas total antioxidant capacity decreased compared to the control and sham and ischemia-reperfusion + Aca (25 and 50 mg/kg) (P < 0.05). The histopathology alteration was seen in the ischemia-reperfusion group than the others (P < 0.01). Moreover, there was a significant difference between ischemia-reperfusion + Aca (25 and50 mg/kg) groups than ischemia-reperfusion + Aca (10 mg/kg) one (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The recovery effect of Aca was offered on renal ischemia-reperfusion damage in a dose-dependent manner in mice, showing by kidney histopathology and functional criteria improvements. The attributed mechanism for this impression would be the antioxidant property of Aca, decreasing both MDA levels and apoptosis rate in kidney tissue.

Evaluation of Glutathione Reductase and Glutathione Peroxidase in the Serum of Iranian Patients with Alopecia Areata: A Case-control Study.

No Abstract.

Piperine pretreatment attenuates renal ischemia-reperfusion induced liver injury.

BACKGROUND: Remote organ injury is one of the complications which are developed following ischemia-reperfusion induced acute kidney injury (AKI), dramatically increasing its mortality rate. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of piperine pretreatment on liver dysfunction following ischemia-reperfusion induced AKI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Acute kidney injury was induced by 30 min-bilateral renal ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion. To investigate liver damages, the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzymes were measured in plasma. In order to study oxidative stress, malondialdehyde (MDA) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) levels were measured. Furthermore, the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) mRNA along with infiltration of leukocytes in the liver tissue was measured for inflammation assessment. Histopathological damages were studied through measuring the extent of cellular fibrosis, sinusoidal dilatation, and vascular congestion in liver tissue. RESULTS: Following acute kidney injury, AST, ALT, and ALP levels in plasma, MDA level and ICAM-1 expression in the liver tissue, infiltration of leukocytes into the interstitium, and hepatic histopathologic damages increased significantly, while FRAP decreased. Pretreatment with piperine at 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight was able to improve these damages, such that some of them reached its value in the sham group, though piperine in the 20 mg/kg was more effective. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that ischemia-reperfusion induced AKI result in hepatic damages, and pretreatment with piperine can prevent development of these damages through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of Salvia hydrangea in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.

OBJECTIVES: This study was to investigate the potential anti-diabetic effects of alcoholic extract of Salvia hydrangea in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty five male Wistar rats were divided into five groups namely non-diabetic control, diabetic control, and three experimental diabetic that received either Salvia hydrangea extract for 21 days at the doses of 100 and 200 or glibenclamide at the dose of 10 mg/kg through gavage feeding. To induce diabetes, streptozotocin was injected intraperitoneally. RESULTS: Insulin and HDL levels in the group receiving the high dose of the extract showed significant increase, whereas the amount of cholesterol in rats that received glibenclamide and the extract showed a significant decrease as compared to the diabetic control group (P<0.05). The blood glucose levels showed significant reduction in all experimental groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Consumption of the extract of the aerial parts of S. hydrangea which reduces blood fat and increases insulin may have beneficial effects on the symptoms of diabetes and hyperlipidemia.