ABSTRACT
Olive oil and olive leaf extract are used for treatment of skin diseases and wounds in Iran. The main component of olive leaf extract is Oleuropein. This research is focused on the effects of Oleuropein on skin wound healing in aged male Balb/c mice. In this experimental study, Oleuropein was provided by Razi Herbal Medicine Institute, Lorestan, Iran. Twenty four male Balb/c mice, 16 months of age, were divided equally into control and experimental groups. Under ether anesthesia, the hairs on the back of neck of all groups were shaved and a 1 cm long full-thickness incision was made. The incision was then left un-sutured. The experimental group received intradermal injections with a daily single dose of 50 mg/kg Oleuropein for a total period of 7 days. The control group received only distilled water. On days 3 and 7 after making the incision and injections, mice were sacrificed, and the skin around incision area was dissected and stained by hematoxylin and eosin [H and E] and Van Gieson's methods for tissue analysis. In addition, western blot analysis was carried out to evaluate the level of vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] protein expression. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS [SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA]. The t test was applied to assess the significance of changes between control and experimental groups. Oleuropein not only reduced cell infiltration in the wound site on days 3 and 7 post incision, but also a significant increase in collagen fiber deposition and more advanced re- epithelialization were observed [p<0.05] in the experimental group as compared to the control group. The difference of hair follicles was not significant between the two groups at the same period of time. Furthermore, western blot analysis showed an increased in VEGF protein level from samples collected on days 3 and 7 post-incision of experimental group as compared to the control group [p<0.05]. These results suggest that Oleuropein accelerates skin wound healing in aged male Balb/c mice. These findings can be useful for clinical application of Oleuropein in expediting wound healing after surgery
Subject(s)
Animals, Laboratory , Pyrans , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Wound Healing/drug effects , Skin , AgingABSTRACT
Oleuropein is a phenolic compound which is present in the olive leaf extract. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the neuroprotective effect of oleuropein as an antioxidant agent on the substantia nigra in aged rats. Twenty 18-month-old Wistar rats [450-550 g] were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group received a daily single dose of 50 mg/kg of oleuropein by oral gavage for 6 months. The control group received only distilled water. All rats were sacrificed two hours after the last gavage and the brains were removed and midbrains were cut. One part of the midbrains were homogenized and centrifuged. The tissue supernatant was assayed for lipid peroxidation [LPO] and antioxidant enzyme activities. The other part of midbrains fixed and embedded in paraffin, then processed for Nissl and immunohistochemistry [IHC] staining. Data was analyzed using SPSS by t-test. Differences were considered significant for P<0.05. The level of LPO in midbrain of the rats was decreased significantly in the experimental group, but superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were increased in experimental group compared to control group [P<0.05]. Morphometric analyses showed significantly that the experimental group had more neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta [SNc] either in Nissl or IHC staining when compared to control [P<0.05]. The results of the present study indicate that treatment of the old rats with oleuropein reduces the oxidative damage in SNc by increasing the antioxidant enzyme activities