[Effect of lavender ethanolic extract on infarct volume in rats subjected to ischemia-reperfusion]

Background: lavender belongs to the Labiatae family and possesses antioxidant acivity

Objective: the present study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of lavender extract on infarct volume and its possible mechanisms in an experimental model of stroke

Methods: lavender extract [100, 200 mg/kg body weight, ip] was injected for 20 consecutive days. Two hours after the last dose, cerebral artery ligation surgery was performed and 24 hours after induction of ischemia, infarct volume was assessed. Also the amount of serum nitric oxide [NO] level was measured

Results: treatment of rats with lavender extract at a dose of 200 mg for 20 days resulted in a significant decrease in the infarct volume caused by stroke in penumbra area [cortex] and the core [sub-cortical] of brain compared to the control [P=0.044, P=0.047, consecutively]. Lavender extract at a dose of 200 mg significantly increased blood levels of nitric oxide

Conclusion: the results of this study suggest that Lavender extract protects brain against ischemia and reduces infarct volume in rats subjected to ischemia. The mechanism may be related to augmentation in endogenous antioxidant defense in the rat brain. Lavender plant extracts with increasing levels of endothelial nitric oxide, by inhibiting the decrease in cerebral blood flow reduced infarct volume

[Effect of kombucha tea on depression and motor activity in mice]

Background: Depression is a threatening disease. Due to adverse effects of chemical antidepressant drugs, researcher's attention has been shifted toward natural drug

Objective: In this work, the antidepressant effect of Kombucha tea [KT] evaluated against reserpine induced depression in mice

Methods: In this experimental study, 42 male mice were randomly divided into 6 groups of 7 mice. Vehicle mice received normal saline [1 mg/kg, i.p.], negative and positive control groups received reserpine [5mg/kg, i.p.] and fluoxetine [20 mg/kg, i.p.] respectively and treatment groups received Kombucha tea at doses of 250, 500, 1000 mg/kg, 18 h after administration of reserpine. Mice were then tested with forced swimming and rotarod tests. At the end of behavioral tests, blood sample were collected and used to assess blood antioxidant capacity

Results: There was significant difference in the duration of immobility time between vehicle and reserpine treated groups [P<0.001]. Administration of Kombucha tea at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg into depressed mice significantly reduced the duration of immobility time. KT administration significantly improved blood antioxidant capacity of mice blood

Conclusion: These results provide support for the potential antidepressant effects of Kombucha tea against

[Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of chevil [ferulago angulata] on glucose and lipid in diabetic male rats]

Introduction: Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterised by chronic hyperglycemia. Considering the properties antioxidant of the Chevil plant compounds, this study performed to determine the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Chevil on serum glucose and lipid in diabetic male rats

Materials and Methods: In this study, 54 male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were divided into 6 groups [n=9 each] and studied for 4 weeks. The groups were as follows: Control, diabetic, diabetic groups treated 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight of the Chevil extract, respectively and the diabetic rats treated with 150 mg/kg body weight of metformin. At the end of study, FBS, Cholesterol, Triglycerides, HDL-C, and LDL-C levels were measured. Results were analyzed by oneway ANOVA

Results: Findings showed a significant reduction [P<0.05] of FBS in all groups with three doses of the extract, 26%, 59.3%, 69.4% respectively], Triglycerides [at 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract respectively 16.1% and 34.1%], Cholesterol [800 mg/kg of the extract, 20.9%], LDL-C in all three doses of the extract, 25.9%, 49.1% and 53% respectively and a significant increase [P<0.05] in HDL-C in all three doses of the extract, 32.6%, 36.4% and 37.1% respectively compared to the control group was observed in diabetic rats treated with Chevil

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that Chevil extract reduces blood sugar and improves blood lipid profiles in diabetic rats

[Comparison between the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of dill and statins on lipid profile]

A transient increase of blood concentration of lipids after meal is able to increase the risk of atherogenesis. This study aimed to determine the effects of Anethum graveolens L. [dill] consumption on atherosclerosis and hepatic risk factors. In an experimental study, 32 male New Zealand rabbits were randomly allocated to four groups to receive normal diet, a diet containing 1% cholesterol, a diet containing 1% cholesterol plus 200 mg/kg dill powder, and a diet containing 10 mg/kg lovastatin. Risk factors of atherosclerosis including glucose, total cholesterol [TC], triglyceride [TG], apolipoprotein B [ApoB], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], nitrite, nitrate, fibrinogen, and factor VII were measured and compared between different groups.Consumption of dill caused a significant reduction in glucose compared to the hypercholesterolemic diet group. Dill powder significantly decreased LDL-C, TC, AST, ALT, and fibrinogen. No significant differences were found between dill group and hypercholesterolemic diet group in ApoB, factor VII, nitrite, and nitrate. According to our findings, postprandial consumption of dill may have beneficial effects on atherosclerosis and hepatic risk factors

[ effect of sesame oil on the liver phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and serum lipoproteins in hypercholesterolemic rabbits]

Nowadays, the effect of medicinal plants on the reduction of the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis has been confirmed. Liver phosphatidate phosphohydrolase [PAP] is a key regulatory enzyme in the glycerolipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of sesame oil on liver PAP activity, liver triglyceride, liver cholesterol and serum lipoprotein levels in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. In this experimental study 27 New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned to 3 groups [n=9]. Group1 [control] was fed with standard diet. Group II [hypercholesterolemic group] animals received hypercholesterolemic diet [1%] without treatment. Group III was fed with hypercholesterolemic diet [1%] plus sesame oil [5%]. After two months, liver PAP activity, liver triglyceride and cholesterol content, serum lipoproteins and malondialdehyde, and antioxidant capacity were measured. One way ANOVA was used for analysis of the mean values of the variables and for pair-wise comparison of the groups we used Tukey's test. Group III had a significant decrease [P< 0.05] in the liver PAP activity compared to group II. In group II, consumption of the enriched cholesterol diet led to a significant elevation [P< 0.05] in serum lipoproteins compared to group I [control]. Also, sesame oil in group III decreased the serum lipoproteins, liver triglyceride, and liver cholesterol in comparison to group II [p<0.05]. However, a significant elevation [P< 0.05] in serum antioxidant capacity and a significant reduction in malondialdehyde level occurred in group III compared to group II [P<0.05]. Sesame oil can be effective in reducing risk factors of cardiovascular diseases by decreasing serum lipids through making desirable alterations in serum lipoproteins. Also addition of sesame oil to hypercholesterolemic diets can reduce the liver PAP activity resulting in reduced liver triglyceride synthesis, which can decrease the risk of development of fatty liver in hypercholesterolemic diets

Effect of lamotrigine on prophylaxis of pediatric classic migraine

This study was conducted to evaluate the preventive effect of lamotringine on migraine aura and migraine attacks in children, afflicted with classic migraine. Conducted between October 2005 and April 2008 in the neurology clinic of Kashani hospital, Shahrekord, this study was a clinical trial, aimed at evaluating the prophylactic effects of Lamotringine administered to 21 children suffering from migraine with aura. Of the subjects, 52.4% of patients were female. The most common type of aura was visual [42.9%]. Following use of Lamotrigine, significant reductions were seen in the frequency [from 5 +/- 0.83 to 3.04 +/- 1.65] and in intensity [from 6. 33 +/- 1.08 to 3.66 +/- 1.1] of migraine aura [P= 0.002]. After 6 months of drug usage 66.6% of patients were improved. Lamotringine is effective in reducing the migraine aura and intensity of attacks in patients suffering from migraine with aura, and is hence beneficial for prophylactic therapy in children with classic migraine

Effects of ocimum basilicum on functional dyspepsia: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

Traditionally some people employ Ocimum basilicum [Shaspram] to relieve the symptoms of dyspepsia. We therefore studied the effects of oral extract of this medicinal plant on functional dyspepsia. In a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, the effect of a four-week treatment of Shaspram was evaluated on functional dyspepsia. Two hundred cases from all patients referred for dyspepsia without having any obvious pathologic signs were randomly divided into case and control groups [100 each]. The hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of Shaspram was prepared and used. Patients were asked to have 30 drops of prescribed medications [placebo or the extract, equal to 1.5 gram leaves powder] daily at 30 min before lunch and dinner for four-weeks. Severity was scored for each symptom on a numbered scale and the results compared with the results of placebo group or pretreatment period. Patients in drug group responded to treatment better than patients in placebo group [P<0.001]. Shaspram was more effective in female and young patients. Patients with functional dyspepsia that had dysmotility problems also responded to Shaspram better than others. Ocimum basilicum seems to relieve the symptoms of functional dyspepsia especially in female and young patients with dysmotility

Effects of antidepressants on morphine withdrawal

The acute and chronic effects of paroxetine and fluoxetine on naloxone- withdrawal-induced place aversion in morphine dependent rats were investigated. Acutely administered fluoxetine [25 mg/kg, s.c., given 30 min prior to naloxone withdrawal pairing] and chronic daily paroxetine [10 mg/kg, s.c.] co-administration with a morphine induction protocol, both attenuated morphine withdrawal place aversion. Conversely, acutely administered paroxetine [up to 25 mg/kg, s.c.] or chronic daily fluoxetine [10 mg/kg, s.c.] co-administration with morphine did not modify subsequent withdrawal place aversion. Previous radiologand binding studies have indicated that fluoxetine has opioid-displacing properties. It is suggested therefore that acute fluoxetine may have decreased withdrawal aversion, probably through serotonin and also, in part, via an opioid-like mechanism whereas chronic paroxetine decreased withdrawal aversion by a serotonergic mechanism, but it is not clear whether opioid systems play any role in the action of paroxetine

Is the opioid system involved in the antinociceptive activity of antidepressants?

Antidepressants induce antinociception. The exact mechanism of this effect is not clear. In this study, induced antinociception by antidepressants [fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, paroxetine, citalopram and zimelidine] was tested using the general opioid antagonist, naloxone and the kappa preferring antagonist, Mr2266BS. Antinociceptive activity of antidepressants in mice was assessed using the abdominal constriction assay. Briefly, acetic acid [1%] was injected intraperitoneally [ip] and the incidence [writhes] counted for 20 minutes as a criteria for nociception. The decrease of writhes, in drug administered animals compared to control group, was calculated as a percentage of control values and designated% protection[as a criteria for antinociceptive activity of the drug]. All antidepressants tested demonstrated dose-related antinociception induction. Antinociception induced by fluoxetine, fluvoxamine and sertraline was significantly reduced by naloxone and Mr2266BS. In contrast, paroxetine, citalopram and zimelidine induced antinociception not modified by these two opioid receptor antagonists. These data demonstrate an opioid-like activity for some, but not all, antidepressants