Protective effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Nigella sativa L. and Portulaca oleracea L. on free radical induced hemolysis of RBCs

It has been shown that Nigella sativa L. and Portulaca oleracea L. have many antioxidant components. In the present study, the cytoprotective effect of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of N.sativa and P.oleracea against hemolytic damages induced by free radical initiator, AAPH [2, 2' azobis [2-amidinopropane] hydrochloride] was evaluated. Hemolysis was induced by addition of AAPH. To study the cytoprotective effect, aqueous [50, 200, 300, 400, 800 micro g/ml] and ethanolic [25, 100, 150, 200 and 400 micro g/ml] extracts of N. sativa and aqueous [25, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 400 micro g/ml] and ethanolic [300, 600, 900, 1200 and 1800 micro g/ml] extracts of P. oleracea were employed. RBCs were incubated with both extracts and AAPH at 37 °C for 6 hrs. In order to evaluate the impact of the time of addition, extracts were added one and 2 hrs after AAPH. Samples of suspensions were removed at different times and the degree of hemolysis was assessed spectrophotometrically by reading the absorption of supernatants at 540 nm. Aqueous [300, 400 and 800 micro g/ml] and ethanolic [150, 200 and 400 micro g/ml] extracts of N.sativa and also, aqueous [100, 150, 200 and 400 micro g/ml] and ethanolic [1200, 1800 micro g/ml] extracts of P.oleracea showed concentration-dependent cytoprotective effects. Addition of extracts one hour after AAPH reduced but did not eliminate protective activities of extracts. Cytorotective effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of N. sativa and P. oleracea against AAPH-induced hemolysis may be related to antioxidant properties of these plants

Phototoxicity activity of Psoralea drupacea L. using Atremia salina bioassay system

Phototoxicity is a kind of dermatitis that is activated by exposure to ultraviolet light following the administration of some drugs or natural products. Artemia salina [A. salina] [brine shrimp] has been effectively applied for toxicity testing and is perfect for biological screening of many chemicals for simultaneous evaluation of toxicity and phototoxicity. The objective of this study was to investigate the phototoxic activitiy of the methanolic extract and chloroform and CH3OH/H2O2 fraction of Psoralea drupacea [P. drupacea]. The phototoxic effect of the methanolic extract, chloroform and CH3OH/H2O2 fractions of P. drupacea was evaluated using A. salina bioassay system. Different concentrations of methanolic extract and fractions of P. drupacea were added to the plate of one-day old larvae followed by exposure to UV radiation at 366 nm in three different exposure times [0, 4 and 20 h]. Mortality was determined 24h after the start of the irradiation. The value of LC[50] of P. drupacea methanolic extract and methoxalen as positive control were 0.64 and 3.5x10-4 mg/ml, respectively. P. drupacea methanolic extract and chloroform fraction demonstrated phototoxic activity after 4 h radiation. The result showed that P. drupacea methanolic extract and chloroform fraction have phototoxicity in A. salina bioassay system and their toxic effect is related to phototoxic constituents such as psoralen

Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and acute toxicity effects of Juglans regia L. leaves in mice

Juglans regia leaves have been used in folk medicine to alleviate inflammatory diseases. This study investigates the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and acute toxicity effects of Juglans regia L. leaves in mice. 351 Male and female albino mice were divided into negative [saline], positive [morphine or diclofenac] controls as well as test groups [n=6-8]. The acute [intraperitoneally] toxicity was evaluated for 2 days. Antinociceptive activities were done using hot-plate and writhing tests. Anti-inflammatory effects were studied using xylene induced ear edema and cotton pellet tests. The LD50 values of J. regia aqueous and ethanolic extracts were 5.5 and 3.3 g/kg, respectively. The aqueous [2.87 and 1.64 g/kg] and ethanolic [2.044 and 1.17 g/kg] extracts showed antinociceptive activity in hot-plate test. The pretreatment of naloxone [2 mg/kg, s.c.] did not inhibit the extracts activities. The extracts exhibited antinociceptive activity in writhing test, which were not blocked by naloxone. In xylene test, both extracts showed anti-inflammatory activity in some doses. The extracts showed anti-inflammatory activity against the chronic inflammation. J. regia leaves demonstrated antinociceptive effect through non-opioid receptors and anti-inflammatory effect against acute and chronic inflammation. The extracts of J. regia could be considered as a promising analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents against diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis