Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences
Volume:11 Issue: 2, Summer 2008

Objective(s)The effect of Berberis vulgaris aqueous extract in hepatocarcinogenic rats was studied to investigate the apoptotic and sodium, potassium elements properties. A loss of both intracellular potassium and sodium occurs when apoptotic cells shrink and prior to the loss of membrane integrity.Materials and MethodsForty-eight Sprague dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups, normal and cancerous. Each group was divided into 4 subgroups. The first subgroup acted as normal control while the others were treated with 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg of Berberis vulgaris extract (BVE) and respectively considered as NC, NC25, NC50 and NC100. The first subgroup of cancerous rats acted as cancer control while the others were treated with 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg of BVE and considered as C, C25, C50 and C100. Ion selective electrode (ISE) method was used to measure the level of sodium, potassium, and chloride. TUNEL assay used for the detection of apoptosis cells. ResultsMicroscopic observations of the TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells revealed a significant difference (P<0.05) between cancer control (C) and normal control (NC) group. The results indicated that increasing concentration of Berberis vulgaris aqueous extract in cancerous treated groups (C25, C50 and C100) showed an increasing considerabl changes (P<0.05) of TUNEL-positive cells compared with the cancer control group (C). Sodium and chloride levels were significantly different (P<0.05) in cancer control group (C) compared to normal control group (NC). The results suggested that apoptotic cells level was increased with the BVE concentration in cancerous groups. ConclusionThe Berberis vulgaris extract shows to play a prominent role in promoting apoptosis on the treatment and it is dose dependent.

Objective(s)In this study, a kind of pH sensitive composite membrane was prepared and drug permeation through it was investigated in terms of pH. Rationale of this study originated from the fact that a pH change which may be a result of a disease state in the body can trigger drug release. Materials and MethodsHere, a kind of pH sensitive composite membrane containing different nanoparticle [1:1 n-isopropyl acrylamide (Nipam): metacrylic acid (Maa)] contents in ethylcellulose was prepared by a casting method. Swelling ratios of these nanoparticles and composite membranes with different particle loadings were determined. Permeation of two different drug models with different hydrophilicity and molecular weights, vitamin B12 (vit B12) and paracetamol, through these membranes was studied in terms of pH. ResultsIt was seen that swelling ratios of nanoparticles and the composite membranes went up as the particle content increased at each pH. Vit B12 and paracetamol permeation through the membranes in pH value below the pKa was much higher than that at pHs above it, but this difference was much more pronounced for vit B12 compared to paracetamol.ConclusionPermeation through these membranes showed a sharp sensitivity to pH changes. Nanoparticles in the composite membranes could act as nanovalves due to their sharp swelling/shrinkage around the pKa of Maa. These membranes could be considered as an ideal stimuli-sensitive barrier for modulating drug release with a small change in pH.

s) Aim of the present study was to screen the antibacterial activities of some medicinal plants extracts traditionally used in Azarbaijan area (Iran).Materials and Methods Thirty-six extracts obtained from different parts of ten plants including Tanacetum balsamita L. (Copmositae), Muscari caucasicum Baker(Hyacinthaceae), Equisetum arvense L.(Equisetaceae), Achillea millefollum L.(Copmositae), Stachys fruticulosa M. Bieb. (Labiatae), Stachys schtschegleevii Sons. ex, Grossh. (Labiatae), Salvia sahendica Boiss & Buhse (Labiatae), Phlomis caucasica Rech.f. (Labiatae), Etchium italicum L.(Boraginaceae) and Thalictrum minus L. (Ranunculaceae) from north-west Iran with traditional medicinal use were examined for their antibacterial activities against some Gram-negative strains such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella paratyphi andSerratia marcescens, also, Gram-positive strains ofStaphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Staph. epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae andBacillus cereus. The filter paper disc diffusion method as well as broth serial dilution technique were applied to screen the antibacterial efficacy of the extracts and determination of minimum inhibitory values. Results ibacterial activity at least against one of the selected bacteria, with the exception of Muscari caucasicum.Methanol extract of the aerial part of Thalictrum minus L. (Ranunculaceae) showed the most potent antibacterial activity against Staph. aureus with MIC value of 0.3125 mg/ml. ConclusionThe results of this study show that most of the studied plants are potentially a good source of antimicrobial agents and support the traditional applications of some of the tested plants.

Plasma leptin exists in protein-bound and free forms, which may affect its hormonal bioactivity. The free and bound forms are changed by the body weight. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of metformin on bound and free plasma leptin concentration. Materials and MethodsSubjects recruited from Yazd Diabetes Research Centre, Yazd University of Medical Sciences. The participants were new cases of obese type 2 diabetes (BMI>30 kg/ m2). Fasting bloods samples, before and after one month treatment with metformin collected. These samples used for the purification of free leptin by HPLC method and analysis of other biochemical parameters.ResultsThe results indicated that, there was no significant difference observed between the free leptin forms before and after the one month treatment (71%±4.2 vs 72±5).ConclusionThe one month treatment, reduced blood sugar in patients, but at the same time it did not have a reduction effect on the body weight. Therefore, in the free form of hormone after treatment comparing to before treatment it did not make a significant difference. This confirmed other reports which showed that the variation of free leptin depended on the body weight.

Objective(s)Anti-Helicobacter pylori effects of saffron(Crocus sativus L., Iridacea) and its major constituents, crocin and safranal, were evaluated. Materials and MethodsMacerated aqueous and methanol extracts tested against 45 clinical isolates of Helicobacter pylori, using paper disc diffusion method (DDM) on modified egg yolk emulsion agar (EYE agar). Four antibiotics also tested against all isolates as positive control.ResultsAlthough there were small differences in sensitivity among the isolates tested, but all isolates were susceptible to methanol and aqueous extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of methanol extract, crocin and safranal measured as 677, 26.5 and 16.6 mg/ml, respectively, using agar dilution method. The results showed that high temperature did not have any effect on the activity of extracts, crocin and safranal. The effect of pH on the activity of methanol extract indicated no significant difference at pH 5 to 8, in comparison with the control.ConclusionThe results indicated that saffron has a moderate anti-Helicobacter activity.

Objective(s)This study was carried out in order to evaluate the effects of electrochemotherapy, electrical pulses and chemotherapeutic drugs on the killing of cancerous cells and their probable synergistic effects.Materials and MethodsElectrochemotherapy treatments conducted on MCF-7 cell line derived from human breast adenocarcinoma tumor using four chemotherapeutic drugs including bleomycin, cisplatin, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide and six electrical doses. Cell survival assayed using MTT method, 72 hrs after the treatment; also the killing effects of each drug and electric dose determined. Finally, “Relative Pulse Effectiveness” and “Relative Electropermeability Effectiveness” calculated. ResultsAll electrical doses decreased cell survival, significantly for bleomycin and cisplatin, however, they were only, significant in high concentration of cyclophosphamide and adriamycin. For the applied drugs, “Relative Electropermeability Effectiveness” was more than one (1.00), except for adriamycin. ConclusionIt seems that for the diffusion of molecules into cells, application of high duration electric pulses is more efficient for high molecular weight drugs while for low molecular weight drugs, strong pulses are more effective. In intermediate molecular weight, there is no difference between increasing the pulse strength and/or duration to achieve additional electropermeability. Electropermeability effect of different electric doses and electrochemotherapy efficiency can be evaluated by “REE” and “RPE”, respectively.

Objective(s)This study was carried out to evaluate the existence of the TEM, SHV and PER ESBL genes in ESBL producing strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from burnt patients at Shafa-hospital, Kerman, Iran. Materials and MethodsA total of 120 strains of P. aeruginosa were isolated from 245 patients in burn unit of Shafa-hospital during January 2006 to December 2007. MIC of antibiotics was measured using agar dilution test. ESBL producing strains were detected by double-disc synergy method containing amoxicillin and amoxicillin+clavulanic acid and phenotypic confirmatory test. All the clinical isolates resistant to imipenem (IMP) were screened for the production of MBL by E-test with IMP/IMP+EDTA strips. PCR and multiplex-PCR performed for the detection of different types of ESBL producing genes in ESBL positive isolates.Results Of 120 the isolates, 3-5% showed MIC greater than 16 µg/ml to IMP and meropenem, 66% showed MIC greater than 32 µg/ml to ceftazidime, 42% to azteronam and 60% of the isolates showed MIC greater than 64 µg/ml to cefotaxime, 41 (34%) confirmed as ESBL producers. Not any isolate could produce MBL (P≤0.05). The PCR assay of all ESBL producing isolates revealed that 6.6%, 4.1% and 2.5% of them were positive for SHV, PER and TEM genes, respectively. Conclusion Many ESBL producing strains of P. aeruginosa isolated from patients in burn unit of Shafa-hospital. However, none could produce MBL enzyme. The genes among ESBL producing strains were SHV, PER as well as TEM type of β-lacatamases.

Objective(s)Several antigens, adjuvants and delivery systems have been evaluated for induction of protective immune responses against Leishmaniasis, but most of them have been inefficient. In this study, PLGA nanospheres as antigen delivery system CpG-ODN as an immunoadjuvant for increasing the immune responses against Autoclaved Leishmania major (ALM) were prepared and characterized. Materials and MethodsPLGA nanospheres prepared by a double-emulsion (W/O/W) technique. The internal aqueous phase contained ALM and CpG-ODN, while the oily phase contained the solution of PLGA in dichloromethan and the external aqueous phase was PVA 7.5% (W/V) solution. Particulate characteristics were studied by scanning electron microscopy and particle size analysis. The encapsulation efficiency was determined by Lowry method for ALM and UV spectroscopy at 260 nm for CpG-ODN. The release profiles of antigen and CpG-ODN from nanospheres evaluated for one week. ResultsNanospheres were spherical in shape, having smooth surfaces. Mean diameters for blank and ALM + CpG-ODN loaded nanospheres recorded as 302±129 and 300±128 nm respectively. Also, the encapsulation efficiencies of ALM and CpG-ODN were 71.6±8.8 and 49.1±2.4%, respectively. Evaluation of the release profiles of ALM and CpG-ODN from nanospheres showed that 44.8±0.8% of ALM and 29.5±0.2% of CpG-ODN released from nanospheres in one week.ConclusionThe prepared nanospheres with desirable size, encapsulation efficiency, and slow rate of release, had acceptable features for future in vivo studies.