Effects of cinnamic acid on memory deficits and brain oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

The present study aimed to evaluate the cinnamic acid effect on memory impairment, oxidative stress, and cholinergic dysfunction in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic model in mice. In this experimental study, 48 male Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice (30–35 g) were chosen and were randomly divided into six groups: control, cinnamic acid (20 mg/kg day, i.p. ), diabetic, and cinnamic acid-treated diabetic (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg day, i.p. ). Memory was impaired by administering an intraperitoneal STZ injection of 50 mg/kg. Cinnamic acid was injected for 40 days starting from the 21st day after confirming STZ-induced dementia to observe its therapeutic effect. Memory function was assessed using cross-arm maze, morris water maze and passive avoidance test. After the administration, biochemical parameters of oxidative stress and cholinergic function were estimated in the brain. Present data indicated that inducing STZ caused significant memory impairment, whereas administration of cinnamic acid caused significant and dose-dependent memory improvement. Assessment of brain homogenates indicated cholinergic dysfunction, increase in lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and decrease in glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities in the diabetic group compared to the control animals, whereas cinnamic acid administration ameliorated these indices in the diabetic mice. The present study demonstrated that cinnamic acid improves memory by reducing the oxidative stress and cholinergic dysfunction in the brain of diabetic mice.

Effects of herbal extracts and compounds and pharmacological agents on pulmonary fibrosis in animal models: a review / 中西医结合学报

Pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs mainly in older adults, is a serious health threat with few effective treatment options. The etiological aspects of pulmonary fibrosis remain unknown, though some factors such as cigarette smoking, viral infections, surfactant protein polymorphisms, and chronic or high doses use of certain drugs are considered to be risk factors for the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. No standard treatments have been introduced in clinic yet. Although glucocorticoids and antioxidant drugs have been administered, the severe and broad-spectrum adverse effects of glucocorticoids limit their use. Efforts to identify novel therapeutic agents with improved safety profiles are therefore ongoing. In this review, the authors have described the effects of herbal extracts and compounds and certain pharmacological agents on pulmonary fibrosis in animal models. These effects indicate that herbs are a promising source of compounds that can play pivotal roles in the treatment of lung fibrosis.

Wound healing potential of Althaea officinalis flower mucilage in rabbit full thickness wounds

Objective: To evaluate and practically demonstrate the influence of Althaea officinalis flower mucilage as a plant known in Iran's and other Middle Eastern countries' traditional medicine for its wound healing properties. Methods: Animals were divided into 6 groups of 5 cases including a non-treated group as the negative control group receiving no treatment, a group treated with eucerin as the positive control group, a phenytoin 1% group as a standard group treated topically with phenytoin 1% hand-made ointment, and treatment groups treated with hand-made Althaea officinalis flower mucilage (AFM) ointment in a eucerin base with different concentrations (5%, 10%, 15%). Results: Among the treatment groups, the AFM 15% ointment showed the best result. Wound healing duration was reduced by the surface application of these groups. Wound closure was completed on Days 14 and 15 in the AFM 15% ointment and phenytoin 1% groups, respectively. No significant difference was observed in healing period between these groups. Conclusions: In conclusion, AFM 15% ointment was found to reduce wound healing time without any significant difference with the phenytoin 1% ointment. The authors suggest increased AFM effectiveness in when combined with phenytoin or other effectual plants.

Immunomodulatory effects of astragalus gypsicolus hydroalcoholic extract in ovalbumin-induced allergic mice model

Several studies have demonstrated that herbal extracts possess various biological effects including anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. The present study was aimed to investigate the protective effects of the Astragalus gypsicolus [AG] hydroalcoholic extract in early allergic sensitized mice induced by ovalbumin. Phytochemical assay was used to recognize the main active constituents in the AG hydroalcoholic extract. Mice were immunized with subcutaneous injection of ovalbumin and aluminum hydroxide. Efficiency of sensitization was assessed by serum IgE levels and eosinophil count. After sensitization, two doses of extract [250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg] were injected intrapritoneally. On day 14, mice were challenged with intrapritoneal injection of ovalbumin. IL-4 and IFN gamma levels in broncoalveolar lavage fluid, which had been collected on day 15, were assessed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA] kit. Our results indicate two main active constituents including flavonoids and terpenoids are present in the AG.hydroalcoholic extract. Intrapritoneal injection of the AG hydroalcoholic extract was able to decrease IL-4 and increase IFN gamma. It seems the AG hydroalcoholic extract has the potential to modulate the balance of Thl/Th2 cytokines in allergy

protective effect of cetirizine against bleomycine induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats

To evaluate the protective effect of cetrizine against bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats [n=30], received an intratracheal injection of bleomycin [7.5 IU/kg] in saline solution for induction of pulmonary fibrosis. Two treatment groups received daily cetirizine five and 20mg/kg/day, seven days before and four weeks after administering a single-dose bleomycin [7.5IU/kg]. The cytokines [IL-8, TNF-alpha, TGF-alpha1] through ELISA kits, the amount of collagen in the lungs [hydroxyproline content], and pharmacological activity of the lung strip tissues were determined. The cytokine levels have been decreased in the treated groups by cetirizine 5 [p< 0.05] and 20 [p<0.01] mg/kg/day, in comparison to positive control group. Cetirizine may have a protective effect against bleomycine induced pulmonary fibrosis as evident by the reduction of the severity of lung tissue changes, collagen amounts and cytokines levels caused by bleomycine in rats lungs tissues

effect of tragacanth mucilage on the healing of full-thickness wound in rabbit

Wound repair is a natural reaction to injury, which results in restoration of tissue integrity. Wound healing occurs in 3 phases including inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. There are common pathways in wound healing of human and certain animal species. To examine the healing effect of tragacanth mucilage on excisional full-thickness wound in rabbit. Mucilage was extracted from the dried tragacanth gum, using a mixture of water and glycerin [4:1] as the vehicle. Three percent, 6%, and 9% creams of tragacanth mucilage were prepared in the eucerin base. A full-thickness wound was made on the left flank of rabbits. Tragacanth creams were applied on the wound area twice daily. Control groups were treated with the drug-free cream base or commercial phenytoin cream 1%. Healing was determined quantitatively as the reduction in wound area. Histological study was performed using hematoxylin and eosin stain under light microscope. The wound healing profile of tragacanth-treated groups was significantly better than the nontreated groups. The best healing effect was observed with the 6% tragacanth cream, which exerted the lowest period for healing. This effect was significantly different from the control phenytoin or drug-free eucerin bases. The extent of tissue repairment was confirmed by histological examination. Tragacanth mucilage exhibited a considerable potency for wound healing. This is probably due to an acceleration of collagenation and proliferation phases of the wound repair