Pharmaceutical Sciences
Volume:17 Issue: 4, 2012

An acute inflammation is immediate and rudimental responses to a destructive factor and neutrophils have a basic role in immunoinflammatory responses. It has been shown that AMPK (5 Amp Activated protein Kinase) exists in neutrophils and its activation reduces the activity of neutrophils and can be a suitable pharmacological target in curing the acute inflammatory procedures. We aimed to study the effect of metformin a pharmacological activator of AMPK on leukocytes accumulation and neutrophil activity in peritonits induced by carrageenan in mice. Male Albino mice (25-30g) received orally 25,50 and 100 mg/kg metformin one hour prior to induction of peritonites by intraperitoneal injection of carrageenan 1% (0.2 ml). Control animal recieved saline four hours after peritonites induction. Leukocytes were counted and neutrophils differentiation and myeloperoxidase activity were determined in the exudate. The results of this study demonstrated that acute treatment of mice with single dose (50mg/kg) of Metformin significantly reduced leukocytes accumulation and neutrophil activity. Metformin noticabaly reduces the acute activation of neutrophiles of Ampk pathwaye by metformin is considered as a possible mechanism for this anit-inflammatory effect.

Diabetes is associated with memory and learning disorder. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of loganin on memory and passive avoidance learning in diabetic male rats. 42 male Wistar rats (250-300 g) were divided into six groups (Control, Diabetic 1 week, Diabetic 12 week, Loganin, Diabetic 1 week + Loganin, Diabetic 12weeks + Loganin). Diabetes is induced by IP injection of Streptozotocin (60mg/kg). Loganin was administrated 1 hour befor test (40mg/kg,po). Then, passive avoidance learning were compared between groups with shuttle box. Administration of loganin increased step through latency significantly (p<0.05) and time spent in light compartment of shuttle box in diabetic 1 week and 12 weeks that recieved loganin. Loganin improved passive avoidance learning in diabetic groups that recived loganin.

Resistance patterns among nosocomial bacterial pathogens in hospitals may vary in different part of the world. Acinetobacter (A.) baumannii is one of the most important nosocomial pathogens particularly in intensivecare- units. Production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) is one of the main resistance mechanisms against new cephalosporins in A. baumannii. Therefore, surveillance of antibiotic resistance pattern of A. baumannii is necessary for infection control programs. In this study, a total of 100 clinical isolates A. baumannii were collected from patients hospitalized in Imam Reza hospital of Tabriz city. The isolates were identified using standard biochemical tests and antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the disk diffusion method. The double disk synergy test was used for detection of ESBL production among the isolates. Prevalence of ESBLs class A was determined by PCR technique. Results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that the lowest resistance rate was against polymixin B (16%) and colistin (19%) whereas the highest resistance rate was observed against Ticarcillin (100%), Cefiexim (100%) and Ceftizoxim (100%). PCR results showed that among 60 ESBL positive A. baumannii isolates, ESBLs class A was responsible for 56% of ESBLs. A high frequency of ESBL production was seen among studied A. baumannii isolates where the SHV genotype was the most common ESBL type.

The rhizomes of Cynodon dactylon (L.) pers. are used for the treatment of heart failure in folk medicine. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different fractions of hydroalcoholic extract of C.dactylon rhizomes on contractility and hemodynamic factors of isolated rat hearts to find out the most effective fraction. Study was carried out on male wistar rats weighing between 200-250 g those were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=6). Hydroalcoholic extract of dried rhizomes was prepared by maceration method. In addition, the methanolic fractions of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 % were prepared by solid phase extraction method and then three concentrations of each fraction (50, 75 and 125 μg/g tissue) were examined. Rats were anaesthetized by injection of sodium pentobarbital (50 mg/kg, i.p.), then hearts were removed by opening the thorax, mounted on langendorff apparatus and different concentrations of each fraction were perfused with Krebs solution and hemodynamic factors and left ventricular contractility were studied. The results indicated that fraction 40% and 50 μg/g tissue of fraction 60 % produced a significant increase in the studied factors (LVSP p<0.001, LVEDP p<0.05, HR p<0.01, dp/dtmax p<0.001 and dp/dt/p p<0.001). The methanolic fraction of C. dactylon obtained by 40 and 60 % methanol had the strongest inotropic effect on heart and can be used in treatment of cardiovascular diseases like heart failure. In order to relate the cardiac effects of C.dactylon to particular phytochemicals, further investigations should be done.

Cyclophosphamide, is used as an anticancer drug in chemotherapy. Cyclophosphamide is highly gonadotoxic drugs. On the other hand, there is growing evidence that estrogen by having receptors on hypothalamus plays a role in the regulation of testicular functions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of estrogen on spermatogenic disorders induced by cyclophosphamide in mice. Mice were randomly allocated to six groups: I: Control, II: Sham(received Olive oil as solvent), III: Receiving cyclophosphamide 100mg/kg/week for 5 weeks. IV: Receiving cyclophosphamide as previous group and estrogen 50μg/kg/day for 10 days. V: Receiving cyclophosphamide as previous group then after two weeks from last injection, received estrogen 50μg/kg/day for 10 days.VI: Receiving Estrogen 50μg/kg/day for 10 days. Number of spermatogenic and somatic cells of testis were decreased in cyclophosphamide receiving group. Germinal epithelial cells were destroyed extensivly in group that received cyclophosphamide and estrogen simultaneously. Germinal epithelial cells were destroyed moderately in group that received estrogen after cyclophosphamide however in this group the number of sertoli and leydig cells were increased in comparison to cyclophosphamide and cyclophosphamide+estrogen group. Estrogen alone had destructive effects on all types of cells. Cyclophosphamide and cyclophosphamide+estrogen destroys spermatogenesis. Receiving estrogen after cyclophosphamide treatment could be more appropriate because of increasing the number of sertoli and leydig cells and spermatogonia. However using estrogen as a protective agent after treatment with cyclophosphamide is not recommended.

Silymarin, secondary metabolite of extract from the seeds of milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn), is mostly used for liver disease treatment. Cell suspension cultures derived from S. marianum are able to produce silymarin. Elicited cell cultures, have been an important strategy for improving the production of plant secondary metabolites and study of cell signaling pathway. In this study after preparation of cell suspension culture of S. marianum, the effects of various levels of salicylic acid (SA) (1, 2. 4, 6 and 8 mg/50 ml culture) and PbNO3 (0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1 and 2 mM) in 6 different exposure times (12, 2, , 72, 144 and 216 h) have been studied on flavonolignans production by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Our results showed that cell suspension cultures of S. marianum were consisted of a large number of flavonolignans including silychristin, silydianin, silybin, isosilybin and taxifolin. The highest production of silymarin 7.53 μg g-1 DW) was observed in PbNO3 elicited cell cultures (0.8 Mm) after 72h (in control was 2.98 μg g-1 DW). In SA treated cell cultures (8 mg/50 ml culture) the maximum silymarin production (17.9 μg g-1 DW) was obtained after 144 h (in control was 0.17 μg g-1 DW). In this experiment it has been observed that cell suspension cultures of S. marianum are susceptible to elicitation by salicylic acid and PbNO3 that are useful for efficient large-scale production of silymarin by cell suspension cultures of S. marianum.

21 male Wistar rats (250-300g) divided to four groups, each has seven members (n=7) as follow: without ischemia, control (ischemia without drug), drug (ischemia with drug), and ischemia with ethanol. The animals are anesthetized by Ketamine and Xylazine. The hearts were immediately taken and put on Longendorff apparatus and perfused by Krebs-Henseleit solution under constant pressure and temperature of 37 ºC. After 20 minutes of stabilization, Ischemic groups are also received 40 minutes of global ischemia and 90 minutes of reperfusion. In drug group, the hearts were perfused 25 minutes with Hemado enriched Krebs-Henseleit before the Ischemia. HEMADO significantly enhanced of Nitric Oxide (P <0 / 05), in the drug group compared to the control group but it had no effect on coronary flow. Current study indicated that Hemado could keep the heart against ischemia-reperfusion injury. And it is found that increasing the of Nitric Oxide is responsible for the part of cardioprotective effect of Hemado.

Curcumin is the active substance of Turmeric (Curcuma longa), that many therapeutic uses is reported for it. The previous studies reported its improving effect effect on cholinergic nerves. In order to better describing its its cholinergic effects, we investigated the effect of curcumin on yawning induced by physostigmine and pilocarpine in male rats. In this study, yawning was induced by physostigmine, as a cholinesterase inhibitor, (
0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg, s.c.) and pilocarpine, as a muscarinic receptor agonist, (
1, 2 and 4 mg/kg, s.c.) in male rats, and the number of yawns was counted for 45 min. The result showed that physostigmine in doses (
0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg, s.c.) and pilocarpine in doses (
1, 2 and 4 mg/kg, s.c.) were able to induce yawning in male rats (P<0.05). The s.c. injection of atropine in doses (1 and 2 mg/kg) was significantly (P<0.05) decreased physostigmine (0.2 mg/kg) and pilocarpine (2 mg/kg) induced yawning, respectively. Yawning induced by physostigmine and pilocarpine was significantly (P<0.05) increased by curcumin (80 mg/kg, i.p.). In the presence of atropine, curcumin (40 and 80 mg/kg, i.p.) did not produce yawning. The results of the our study indicated that physostigmine and pilocarpine via muscarinic cholinergic receptors produced yawning and curcumin induce yawning through affecting on muscarinic receptor. Therefore, the improving effect of curcumin on function of cholinergic nerves is further confirmed by our study.