Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical Products
Volume:14 Issue: 3, Jun 2019

Calendula officinalis, an aromatic plant and rich of various chemical compounds, has been widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of different diseases. We investigated the effects of hydroalcoholic flower extract of Calendula officinalis on the biochemical and histological parameters in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: healthy control, diabetic control, diabetic treated with 250 and 500 mg/kg of the hydro-alcoholic extract, respectively. The biochemical and histological measurements were assessed by standard methods. The oral administration of the hydroalcoholic extract of marigold flower resulted in a recovery of body weight and significantlydecreased fasting blood sugar (FBS) (P < 0.05). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin and total bilirubin concentration were significantly recovered after treatment with the extract (P < 0.05). Measurement of homeostasis model assessment for -cell function (HOMA-) indicated that the reduction of serum insulin concentration after treatment with the extract may be due to the recovery of beta cell function. Moreover, the extract induced insulin secretion from the rat’s isolated pancreatic islets under a glucose-stimulated condition in a dose-dependent manner. The STZ-induced complications on the pancreas, kidneys, and liver were improved after treatment with the extract. Our findings suggest that the potential protective effects of marigold flower extract against the diabetic-induced complicationsmaybe mediated by its effect on the reduction of blood glucose and its direct effect on the glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.

Betanin is the principal pigment and active phytochemical constituent of beetroot. The protective roles of betanin are documented in the heart, kidney, liver, and lung, but its potential gastroprotective effect is not assessed thus far. A number of studies demonstrated that betanin could inhibit lipid peroxidation. The current study aimed at investigating the gastroprotective effect of betanin in gastric ulcer induced by ethanol. In the present study, a group of animals were treated with betanin (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, orally) and the other group received ranitidine as a reference antiulcer agent. One hour later, the gastric mucosal ulceration was induced by oral administration of absolute ethanol and the rats were sacrificed one hour. The gastric ulcers were assessed by macroscopic and histopathological examinations. Also, gastric malondialdehyde (MDA) level and nitric oxide (NO) content were measured. Oral administration of betanin 100 and 200 mg/kg of body weight prior to receiving ethanol significantly attenuated the number and length of gastric ulcers as compared to the ethanol group. Moreover, pretreatment with betanin could significantly decrease stomach MDA level and maintain stomach NO content similar to that of the control group. Histopathological examinations indicated that ethanol-induced gastric ulcer was attenuated by betanin and no significant difference was observed between the betanin (200 mg/kg) and ranitidine groups. The findings indicated that betanin has gastroprotective effects on gastric ulcers, which could be related to attenuated lipid peroxidation and reestablished gastric NO content.

Postoperative peritoneal adhesion occurs in more than 90% of intra-abdominal surgeries and can lead to intestinal obstruction, infertility, abdominal and pelvic pain. The extract of Malva sylvestris has shown to be safe and non-toxic with a wide range of biological activities. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of intraperitoneal nebulization of M. sylvestris in the healing process of postoperative intra-abdominal adhesion for the first time. For creating intra-abdominal adhesions, the rats were anesthetized to undergo surgery. Four lavage solutions including saline, ethanolic extract, hydroalcoholic extract, and aqueous extract of M. sylvestris were used for 2 min, and then the abdomen was closed. After 15 days, the rats underwent surgery and cecum and peritoneal samples were obtained for histopathological analysis. The severity of peritoneal adhesions based on the histopathological analysis and serum levels of TNF-α and Il-1β were compared in different groups. The aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of M. sylvestris decreased significantly microscopic and macroscopic peritoneal adhesion while the ethanolic extract just reduced it microscopically. The aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts were more potent than the ethanolic extract in the healing process. The concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers including IL-1β and TNF-α did not change significantly. The extract of M. sylvestris could decrease the severity of peritoneal adhesion compared to the control group but it could not decrease the level of systemic inflammatory mediators.

Cisplatin (CP), as an anticancer drug, causes nephrotoxicity. Zataria multiflora Boiss (ZM), a medicinal plant, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The current study investigated the effects of ZM on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. In the current experimental study, 22 male mice were randomly divided into four groups: the control; the ZM, 200 mg/kg during seven days via gavage; the CP, 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally on the 5th day of study; and the ZM + CP. Serum creatinine and urea levels, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and protein carbonyl (PC) levels in renal tissue of mice were histopathologically and immunohistochemically assessed to determine nephrotoxicity. CP caused a significant increase in serum creatinine and urea levels, increased oxidative stress in kidney tissue, caused histological changes, and increased caspase-3 immunoreactivity. ZM significantly mitigated the toxic effects of CP on the kidney tissue. In addition, treatment with ZM significantly reduced immunoreactivity of caspase-3. The findings of the present study suggested that the ZM as a potential antioxidant compound with scavenging free radicals and anti-apoptosis property attenuated the nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin.

  Microemulsion (ME) is a method that has been developed in the recent years for synthesizing the nano-sized drug, metal or non-metal particles. These systems offer various advantages for drug delivery, such as ease of preparation, complete stability, and high drug solvability in many pharmaceutical applications. This study aimed at evaluating the protective effect of sour cherry kernel extract microemulsion on methimazole-induced nephrotoxicity in mice. Sixty‐four male Swiss albino mice were divided to eight groups; each group consisted of eight mice. Group 1 was served as control, received normal saline; group 2 received base of ME without extract for 10 days; group 3 received a single dose of methimazole (100 mg/kg, ip) as positive control only on the 10th day; groups 4 to 6 received ME extract orally in doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg, respectively, during 10 days and methimazole (100 mg/kg, ip) on the 10th day; group 7 and 8 received ME extract and extract in dose of 1000 mg/kg for 10 days, respectively. Then, on the 11th day, serum samples were collected and used to determine the levels of serum creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). After removing the kidney, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were also determined. The results obtained from the present study indicated a significant increase in the levels of Cr, BUN and MDA, and decrease of GSH, GPx and SOD by methimazole administration. Pre-treatment with ME extract showed reduction in the levels of Cr, BUN, MDA, and increase of GSH, GPx, and SOD. In addition, these observations were confirmed by histopathological changes of the kidney. The current study showed that the extract had a protective effect on methimazole-induced nephrotoxicity and this effect was more for ME extract.

Plants have long served as a rich source of drugs. Given some microorganisms’ acquisition of resistance to the current antibiotics, there is a need for discovering new drugs. The aim of the present study was to investigate the phytochemical properties and antibacterial effects of Salvia multicaulis Vahl., Euphorbia microsciadia Boiss., and Reseda lutea against Acinetobacter baumanii and Staphylococcus aureus. In this experimental study, hydroalcoholic (ethanol 70%) plant extracts were prepared by maceration. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were determined by CLSI broth microdilution and Müller-Hinton agar assay for each sample, respectively. Total phenolic content was measured by Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric assay and expressed in terms of gallic acid equivalent and total flavonoid content by aluminum chloride colorimetric method and in terms of rutin equivalent. Findings showed that 1, 4, and 1 mg/mL were derived as MICs and 4, 16, and 8 mg/mL as MBCs for S. multicaulis Vahl., E. microsciadia Boiss., and R. lutea, respectively, against S. aureus; 2, 8, and 2 mg/mL were derived as MICs and 16, 32, and 16 mg/mL as MBCs for S. multicaulis Vahl. R. lutea, and E. microsciadia Boiss., respectively, against A. baumanii. In addition, E. microsciadia Boiss. and S. multicaulis Vahl. were found to contain the highest total phenolic and flavonoid content, respectively. The studied plants that were collected from Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province can be used to produce antibiotics due to their phenols and flavonoids and exert antibacterial effects on the studied bacteria.

Consumption of herbal flavonoids instead of chemical drugs has increased in the recent years due to fewer side effects as well as affordability. In this study, the effect of luteolin was investigated on inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide in male rat’s serum by measurement of the proinflammatory factors of IL-1β and TNF-α. Overall, 90 male Wistar rats weighing 180 to 200 grams were chosen and divided to control, Sham (solvent) and positive control (Dexamethasone 15 mg/kg. IP) groups, and also three experimental groups received doses of 5, 15, and 30 mg/kg of luteolin, intraperitoneally.
Half an hour after injecting one of these compounds, lipopolysaccharide (30 μg/kg. IP) was injected. Then, at 4-, 12-, and 24-hour intervals, rats were anesthetized and blood samples were taken. Serum of samples were separated by centrifuging, and then, the samples were transferred to micro-tubes and were stored at -80°C. Measurement of interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α was conducted by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software, version 19. Pre-injection with luteolin in 30 mg/kg dose caused a reduction in IL-1β at 4 (P < 0.05) and 24 hours (P < 0.01) after the LPS injection compared to the control group. Also, luteolin significantly decreased TNF-α level at 12 hours (5 and 30 mg/kg; P < 0.05, 0.01, respectively) and 24 hours (15 and 30 mg/kg; P < 0.05, 0.01, respectively) intervals after LPS injection. Furthermore, IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly decreased by dexamethasone injection at all three time intervals compared with the control. Luteolin caused a significant reduction in IL-1β and TNF-α of serum in acute inflammation induction. This impact is close to the dexamethasone effect as an anti-inflammatory steroid drug.

Side effects of chemical preservatives and drug resistance have raised interests in the use of natural preservatives derived from plants. The aim of this study was to examine possible antibacterial effects of Mentha spicata L., Cuminum cyminum L. and Mentha longifolia L. essential oils (EOs) individually and in combination with sodium benzoate against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes. In this experimental study, the EOs were obtained and analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods were used for in vitro antibacterial screening in triplicate. Data analysis was performed by the SPSS software using ANOVA and independent sample t-test. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between different antibacterial effects of EOs individually and in combination with sodium benzoate. Considering the individual effects of these factors, the antibacterial effect of sodium benzoate and Cuminum cyminum essential oil were the highest against E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes, respectively. These results are relatively consistent with the disc diffusion test. The antibacterial effects of sodium benzoate in combination with EOs showed significant differences in comparison to sodium benzoate effect individually in most situations (P < 0.05). The results indicated that these EOs have a good antibacterial activity and combined with sodium benzoate could reduce the use of sodium benzoate as a chemical preservative in food, cosmetic, and drug products, which can decrease the possible side effects of it.

Cisplatin is a widely used antineoplastic agent in the treatment of a wide range of malignancies although it is associated with nephrotoxicity. Much clinical evidence supports the use of antioxidant supplements in the prevention of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN). However, conflicting evidence makes us unable to provide any robust results for antioxidants use against CIN.

The study aimed to investigate the efficacy of antioxidant supplements on CIN through a comprehensive meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Data Sources: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CPCI-S (Conference Proceedings Citation Index-Science), ICTRP (International Clinical Trials Registry Platform), and Google Scholar until February 2017 by two independent researchers. Various outcomes such as serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine clearance, and incidence of CIN were assessed. All statistical analyses were performed using RevMan V.5.3

Overall, 672 patients were identified from 10 studies of whom 330 (49.10%) patients received antioxidant treatment. Antioxidant treatment showed a significant reduction in serum creatinine (SMD: -3.40, 95% CI: -5.47 to -1.33, P = 0.001), BUN (SMD = -5.96, 95% CI: -10.07 to -1.86, P = 0.004), and eGFR (SMD = -3.77, 95% CI: -6.16 to -1.38; P = 0.002) when compared to the control group.

Antioxidant treatment is associated with a reduced risk of CIN. It also has important clinical implications for CIN patients who are not responding to other therapies such as hydration, diuresis, or magnesium supplementation.

Epilepsy is a series of disorders in the central nervous system defined by disruption and abnormality in the electrical activity of the brain. The mechanisms of epilepsy occurrence are not fully determined and the current pharmacological therapeutics have low efficacy and are associated with adverse reactions due to narrow therapeutic indices. Ellagic acid has neuroprotective and antioxidant effects and increases the brain’s GABA levels.

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of ellagic acid on both maximal electroshock and pentylenetetrazole models of acute seizures in mice.

Ellagic acid was administered at the doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg in the two models of seizures.

The results showed that ellagic acid was effective at the lowest dose in the maximal electroshock-induced seizure in mice and the duration of hind limb tonic extension (HLTE) was significantly shorter in this group than in the untreated convulsive group. In the pentylenetetrazole convulsion model, ellagic acid significantly increased the latency to convulsion and Straub tail response. The latencies with ellagic acid were longer in groups treated with ellagic acid 25 mg/kg than with ellagic acid 50 and 100 mg/kg.

In conclusion, it seems that ellagic acid has anticonvulsant effects in electroshock and pentylenetetrazole models of convulsion but its effects are attenuated or eliminated at higher doses.

Migraine is one of themost common hereditary disease, and considerable attention is always paid to trigger factors of migraine attacks and drugs effective in the prophylaxis of such complications. Recent studies are indicative of the high prevalence of migraine together with restless legs syndrome (RLS). Some hypotheses about a common dysfunction in dopamine synthesis in both diseases are proposed. However, no single mechanism to explain this concurrence and no effective drug for patients with these two diseases is found yet.

The current study aimed at investigating the effect of pramipexole, an effective agent in the relief of RLS, through a randomized, clinical trial on the frequency of migraine headache attacks during three months.

In the current study, the patients with concomitant migraine and RLS were divided into two groups. One group (case) received propranolol and pramipexole, and the other group (control) received propranolol and placebo. The two groups were questioned before and after the intervention about themigraine disability assessment score (MIDAS), frequency, and severity of migraine attacks.

According to the results, the MIDAS scores of the case group showed a greater reduction compared to that of the control group (52.67% vs. 35.74%). Moreover, the mean frequency of migraine attacks showed a greater reduction in the case group than in the control group (62.38% vs. 39.85%).

The current study results showed that pramipexole can be effective in reducing the frequency of migraine attacks and improving patients’ activities of daily living.

Tenofovir is one of the therapeutics approved by FDA for treatment of hepatitis B. However, the efficacy of this drug in Iranian patients has not been assessed.

Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of tenofovir on DNA and HBe antigen in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

In this interventional open label trial study, 145 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis B attending the Hepatitis Clinic at Labbafinejad hospital in Tehran, Iran during years 2016 and 2017, who received tenofovir 300 mg daily, were enrolled with goal-oriented sampling. Data, including age, gender, viral load (DNA), HBe antigen, duration of disease, HBV vaccination history, family history of hepatitis, liver biopsy, risk factors (blood transfusion, having tatoo, history of phlebotomy, having major surjury, being an employee or inmate of prison, unsafe sexual contact, sharing needles and drug injection equipment, havig direct contact with blood of an infected person, being a hemodialysis patients, health care workers and others exposed to blood products and needle stick devices, and donor of blood and organs), diagnosis-duration interval, and adverse effects (renal, gastrointestinal, cutaneous, and neurological) were collected by census in 51 patients, who were followed-up to one year using an interview and lab results and the data were recorded and compared.

Mean viral load before and after treatment was 31643426.761 ± 1553051.267 IU and 128.08 ± 434.12 IU, respectively with a significant difference (P = 0.001). The HBe antigen was positive in 7.8% and 2% before and after treatment, respectively, without a significant difference (P = 0.078). No adverse effects were seen.

In total, according to the obtained results, it may be concluded that there is good effect for tenofovir on DNA yet not the HBe antigen in patients with chronic hepatitis B. No adverse effects were seen.