فهرست مطالب
Physiology and Pharmacology
Volume:24 Issue: 3, Sep 2020
- تاریخ انتشار: 1399/08/15
- تعداد عناوین: 8
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Pages 159-164
Melissa officinalis (MO) is a perennial herb and it is a member of Lamiaceae family. MO is native to Europe and the leaves of the plants are used in traditional medicine for its effects on the central nervous system functions such as sedation, anxiolytic and memory enhancement. Furthermore, MO has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Convincing evidence shows that molecular changes such as oxidative stress and inflammation are associated with a decline in cognitive abilities, including learning and memory. MO and its main ingredient, rosmarinic acid, possess robust anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Besides, animal model studies have shown that MO and rosmarinic acid can improve memory loss in Alzheimer's disease. In this review beneficial implications of MO have been discussed.
Keywords: Melissa officinalis, Memory impairment, Alzheimer's disease, Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory -
Pages 165-173
Thermoregulation is the maintenance of the core body temperature. The regulation of body temperature is one of the most important functions of the nervous system. Nucleus raphe magnus, as a central circuit coordinates the homeostatic response and maintains body temperature during environmental temperature challenges and adjusts body temperature during the inflammatory response and behavioral states and in response to decreasing energy homeostasis. Our aim in this review is the understanding of thermoregulation by raphe magnus in mammals. This review summarizes the basic concepts of thermoregulation and subsequently assesses the physiological responses to cold stress, including skin blood flow control, sweating, sympathetic-derived cutaneous vasoconstriction and peripheral thermoregulatory control in brown adipose tissue.
Keywords: Nucleus raphe magnus, Thermoregulation -
Pages 174-184Introduction
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most frequent metabolic diseases that affect various body systems. Cognitive impairment caused by diabetes is gaining more acceptance and attention. In this study, we have investigated the effects of a traditionally herbal formulation (THF) on oxidative stress (OS) and cognitive deficits in type 2 diabetic rats.
MethodsThirty-six male Wistar rats were divided into six groups: control group, diabetic group, diabetic+100, 200 or 300mg/kg THF, diabetic+glibenclamide (G) 5mg/kg. Streptozotocin-nicotinamide was used to induce type-II diabetes mellitus. Spatial and passive avoidance learning and memory function were evaluated by Morris Water Maze (MWM), novel object recognition test (NORT) and open field test (OFT). The OS biomarkers were also analyzed. The THF was standardized using RP-HPLC according to phenolic and flavonoids compounds.
ResultsIndicated that in the diabetic treated (300mg/kg THF and G) vs. diabetic groups, body weight and insulin were significantly increased and the levels of fasting blood glucose significantly reduced. OS was improved in the treated (300mg/kg THF) groups. Furthermore, we noticed that diabetic treated groups (300mg/kg THF) vs. diabetes caused in significant decreases of the travelled distance and escape latency to find the hidden platform, also increased in the time spent and travelled distance in the target quadrant in MWM test, exploration time in NORT and total distance moved in OFT.
ConclusionThese findings suggest that THF ameliorated learning and memory deficits in type 2 diabetic rats via reducing OS. THF can be used with a caution against human DM.
Keywords: Medicinal Herbs, Type 2 diabetes, Learning, Memory, Oxidative Stress, Morris Water Maze -
Pages 185-196Introduction
Stress influences cognitive behavior adversely, whereas dark chocolate exhibits positive effects on memory processes. This study investigated the effects of different dark chocolate diets on various aspects of brain functions in rats under chronic stress
MethodsThirty-five rats were randomly allocated into five groups: control, stress, stress with different (compulsory, optional and restricted) dark chocolate diets. Latency, dark stay (DS) time and the number of entrance to the dark compartment were respectively evaluated as memory, memory consolidation and locomotor activity by passive avoidance test.
ResultsThere were significant differences between initial latency and latency after 1 day in all groups. In the stress-compulsory and restricted dark chocolate diet groups, latency after 1 day increased significantly. Moreover, the DS time was not significantly higher in the stressed group than the control group. The DS time and number of entrance to dark compartment decreased significantly in the stress-compulsory dark chocolate diet group compared to the stressed group. Furthermore, the number of entrance to dark compartment was significantly higher for the stress- optional dark chocolate diet compared to those with the compulsory diet. Additionally, serum and hippocampal corticosterone levels, except in the frontal cortex, were significantly lower only in the stress-compulsory dark chocolate diet group compared to the stressed group.
ConclusionDifferent dark chocolate diets had various effects on brain functions under chronic stress. Respectively, the compulsory and optional dark chocolate diets had the best and least effects on brain function improvement. Only the compulsory dark chocolate diet could improve brain functions such as memory, memory consolidation and locomotor activity.
Keywords: Dark chocolate, Memory, Stress, Hippocampus, Frontal cortex -
Pages 197-201Introduction
Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience. Evidence suggests a role for microglia in chronic pain and inhibition of microglia leads to decrease of chronic pain intensity in animal models. Minocycline, a semisynthetic tetracycline derivative, is a selective inhibitor of microglia. Several studies have shown pain intensity improvement by minocycline in animal model of pain, but a few studies showed effectiveness on chronic pain improvement in humans. This prospective, self-controlled clinical trial investigated whether minocycline is effective for chronic pain management.
MethodsTwenty-two patients, between the ages of 20 and 80 years with radicular lumbar pain with a numerical rating scale >4, who were unresponsive to other medications and had pain duration of >6 weeks were included in the trial.
ResultsPain intensity, neuropathic pain and life quality scores assessed before and after treatment. All scores showed significant improvement after 2 weeks of treatment: 56%, 74% and 14%, respectively.
ConclusionFindings of this study suggest minocycline can effectively improve patients’ pain scores and quality of life, even in those with long-term duration of chronic pain and warrants further study.
Keywords: Minocycline, Low back radicular pain, Chronic pain -
Pages 202-210Introduction
Selena-diazole has antioxidant, and antitumor activities. Also selena-diazol exhibited promising antifungal, antibacterial, viral infection and neurodegenerative disease. The aim of the study is to evaluate the antioxidant activity of a novel -(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- [1,2,3-] selenadiazolo [4,5 e] pyridine-4,6-diyl) bis(benzene-1,3-diol) (T) against dipyrone (Di) induced oxidative stress.
MethodsIn vitro antioxidant using DPPH, concentrations of T and ascorbic acid (AA) at 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50μg was measured. In vivo study conducted using four groups, received 50mg/kg of T or/and Di and DW for 30 days. Antioxidant estimated in vivo by serum superoxide dismutase activity (SOD); Glutathione Peroxidase enzyme GPx measured by using Rat SOD1 kit and Rat GPX1 ELISA Kit respectively. Furthermore, Malondialdehyde (MDA) is reliable biomarkers to predict oxidative stress.
ResultsThe results indicate IC50 rate using DPPH of T compound 48.888μg/ml. GPx of T and T&Di groups were significantly increased. SOD of T was significantly increased than other groups. MDA results presented essential reduction in T group value than Di group.
ConclusionThe study concluded that synthesized novel selena-diazole derivative T has a good effect as an anti-oxidant.
Keywords: Antioxidant, Selena-diazole, DPPH, MDA, GPx, SOD -
Pages 211-220Introduction
Cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity may limit the clinical use of this drug. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of the possible renoprotective effect of curcumin in cisplatin nephrotoxicity.
MethodsThirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: 1- control (0.5ml normal saline ip, daily for 10 constitutive days); 2- cisplatin (10mg/kg ip, single dose at the first day); 3- cisplatin + curcumin (10mg/kg ip, dissolved in 5% DMSO, daily for 10 constitutive days); 4- cisplatin + vehicle (5% DMSO, 0.3ml ip) and 5- curcumin (10mg/kg ip). At the end of the study, urine and blood samples were obtained for biochemical (BUN, creatinine, sodium and potassium) analysis. The right kidneys were kept in 10% formalin for H&E and TUNEL staining, and the left kidneys were used for type 2 organic cation transporter (OCT2) and type 3 glutathione peroxidase (GPx3) gene expression and malondialdehyde measurements.
ResultsCisplatin significantly increased serum creatinine, BUN, potassium and kidney lipid peroxidation. However, the effect of cisplatin on Gpx3 and OCT2 gene expression was not statistically significant. Curcumin treatment decreased serum creatinine, BUN, and kidney lipid peroxidation, but increased GPx3 and OCT2 gene expression. Moreover, curcumin significantly reversed the cisplatin-induced kidney tissue injury and decreased apoptosis.
ConclusionIt is concluded that the ameliorative effect of curcumin in cisplatin nephrotoxicity was assumed to be due to antioxidant effect of this agent. The role of curcumin in mediating uptake of cisplatin is still unclear.
Keywords: Cisplatin, Glutathione peroxidase, Organic cation transporter, Curcumin, Nephrotoxicity -
Pages 221-229Introduction
Chemical drugs and herbal medicine play a significant role in the management of diabetes mellitus complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Fumaria parviflora as an herbal source and glibenclamide as a chemical drug, on the liver tissue of diabetic rats.
MethodsMale Wistar rats (n=32) were classified randomly into four groups (8/group), including control, diabetic (induced by 50mg/kg streptozocin), 250mg/kg hydroalcoholic extract of Fumaria parviflora (DFP) and 5mg/kg glibenclamide groups. After 21 days of treatment, liver tissues and blood samples were stored at -80°C to test lipid profile, liver enzymes and some oxidative stress markers.
ResultsIn the diabetic group compared to the control group, the activities of SOD and GPx and also the serum levels of alkaline phosphatase were significantly decreased, while the levels of malondialdehyde, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase enhanced. Treatment with DFP and glibenclamide could manage the levels of all mentioned-parameters. Furthermore, in both treated groups, the rate of damages in the liver of rats reduced compared to the diabetic group.
ConclusionAccording to the obtained results, the administration of DFP or glibenclamide could ameliorate the deleterious effects of diabetes mellitus on some investigated-parameters. As there were no difference between DFP and glibenclamide effects, Fumaria parviflora could be considered as an alternative drug, at least for the diabetic complications examined in this study. However, further investigation is needed.
Keywords: Fumaria parviflora, Glibenclamide, Diabetes Mellitus, Liver, Oxidative Stress