Ovarian cysts disappear after 14-day oral regimen of Korean red ginseng extract in letrozole-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome

Objective@#Hormonal and inflammatory mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is a prevalent metabolic disorder among women of reproductive age. We aimed to evaluate the comparative efficiency of short-term oral administration of Korean red ginseng extract (KRGE) and the standard treatment on PCOS by focusing on the histopathological parameters and serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), folliclestimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). @*Methods@#A PCOS rat model was established by oral gavage of letrozole (1 mg/kg) for 21 days. The serum levels of LH, FSH, testosterone, and NF-κB were measured, and the morphological features and differences of the ovaries were examined in each group using a light microscope before and after 14 days of treatment with oral regimens—KRGE, oral contraceptives (OCPs), KRGE+OCPs, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). @*Results@#OCPs alone could not normalize the mean ovarian weights of PCOS rats despite the 14-day oral regimen, but they were more effective in reducing the number and size of cysts compared to others. KRGE alone and in combination with OCPs was effective in normalizing abnormal ovarian weights, decreasing LH serum levels, and dissipating the ovarian cysts in PCOS rats. However, when combined with the standard regimen, KRGE showed additional therapeutic effects by efficiently reducing serum testosterone and NF-κB levels. @*Conclusion@#Our necropsy and histopathological evidence suggests the efficacy of KRGE as a novel integrative medicine against abnormal multiple follicular cysts. However, antiandrogenic and anti-inflammatory effects were only seen in animals that were administered a combination of KRGE and the standard regimen.

Ovarian cysts disappear after 14-day oral regimen of Korean red ginseng extract in letrozole-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome

Objective@#Hormonal and inflammatory mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is a prevalent metabolic disorder among women of reproductive age. We aimed to evaluate the comparative efficiency of short-term oral administration of Korean red ginseng extract (KRGE) and the standard treatment on PCOS by focusing on the histopathological parameters and serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), folliclestimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). @*Methods@#A PCOS rat model was established by oral gavage of letrozole (1 mg/kg) for 21 days. The serum levels of LH, FSH, testosterone, and NF-κB were measured, and the morphological features and differences of the ovaries were examined in each group using a light microscope before and after 14 days of treatment with oral regimens—KRGE, oral contraceptives (OCPs), KRGE+OCPs, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). @*Results@#OCPs alone could not normalize the mean ovarian weights of PCOS rats despite the 14-day oral regimen, but they were more effective in reducing the number and size of cysts compared to others. KRGE alone and in combination with OCPs was effective in normalizing abnormal ovarian weights, decreasing LH serum levels, and dissipating the ovarian cysts in PCOS rats. However, when combined with the standard regimen, KRGE showed additional therapeutic effects by efficiently reducing serum testosterone and NF-κB levels. @*Conclusion@#Our necropsy and histopathological evidence suggests the efficacy of KRGE as a novel integrative medicine against abnormal multiple follicular cysts. However, antiandrogenic and anti-inflammatory effects were only seen in animals that were administered a combination of KRGE and the standard regimen.

[Assessment of target organ toxicity induced by stachys lavandulifolia vahl: a pathological study in female mice]

Although Stachys lavandulifolia is growing in the most parts of Iran and regional countries and it has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antianxiety effetcs as well as controls signs of dysmenorhoorea, there are limited data regarding its toxicity potentials. Acute toxicity and "No Observable Adverse Effect Level" of this medicinal herb have been recently reported by our group, but present study was conducted to find the histopathological effects of the extract in order to suggest the appropriate doses for further clinical studies on its oral pharmaceutical dosage forms. In this experimental study, 60 female mice were divided into 30 cases and 30 controls. Stachys lavandulifolia extract in doses of 7 mg/kg [mild], 70 mg/kg [moderate] and 140 mg/kg [high] were administered in 45- day model. All histopathological changes were assessed in baseline, midpoint, and endpoint and after the recovery period and compared with control group. Other than significant weight changes in some target organs, abnormal histopathological changes were detected in liver, kidney and spleen after 45 days in a dose and time dependent manner but all abnormalities were returned to normal state after the recovery period in day 90. Stachys lavandulifolia extract can induce mild dose- dependent toxicity in liver, kidney and spleen. So, doses less than 70 mg/kg should be prescribed in long- term. However, this changes isn't associated with clinical symptoms, and these mild toxic effects are normalized after the recovery period

Sub-chronic dermal toxicity of silver nanoparticles in guinea pig: special emphasis to heart, bone and kidney toxicities

Silver nanoparticles [Ag NPs] have been widely used as new potent antimicrobial agents in cosmetic and hygienic products. Present study compares the tissue levels of Ag NPs in different organs of Guinea Pigs quantitatively after dermal application and analysis the morphological changes and pathological abnormalities on the basis of the Ag NPs tissue levels. Before toxicological assessments, the size of colloidal nanosilver was recorded by X-Ray Diffraction and Transmission Electron Microscope tests and the sizes of samples were recorded in sizes less than 100 nm. For toxicological evaluation, male guinea pigs were exposed to three concentrations of Ag NPs [100, 1000 and 10000 ppm] according to acute pretests for further assessments in subchronic model in a period of 13 weeks. A close correlation between dermal exposure and tissue levels of Ag NPs was found [p < 0.05] and tissue uptakes happened in dose dependent manner with the following ranking: kidney>muscle>bone>skin>liver>heart >spleen. In histopathological studies, severe proximal convoluted tubule degeneration and distal convoluted tubule were seen in the kidneys of the middle and high-dose animals. Separated lines and marrow space narrow were determined as two major signs of bone toxicities which observed in three different dose levels of Ag NPs. Increased dermal dose of Ag NPs caused cardiocyte deformity, congestion and inflammation. The three different Ag NPs concentration gave comparable results for several endpoints measured in heart, bone and kidney, but differed in tissue concentrations and the extent of histopathological changes. It seems that Ag ions could be detected in different organs after dermal exposure, which has the potential to provide target organ toxicities in a time and dose dependent manner

Toxicity assessment of nanosilver wound dressing in Wistar rat

Antibiotic resistance to microorganisms is one of the major problems faced in the field of wound care in burns patients. Silver nanoparticles have come up as potent antimicrobial agent and are being evaluated in diverse medical applications ranging from silver based dressings to silver coated medical devices. We aimed in present study to test the release of nanosilver from nanosilver wound dressing and compare the dermal and systemic toxicity of nanosilver dressings in a repeated dose [21 days] model. Under general anesthesia, a limited standard 2nd degree burns were provided on the back of each rat in all treatment, negative control [simple dressing] and 5% silver nitrate groups, each contained 5 male wistar rats. According to the analysis made by atomic absorption spectrometry, the wound dressings released 0.599 +/- 0.083 ppm of nanosilver during first 24 hrs of study. Daily observations were recoded and wounds were covered with new dressings each 24 hrs. Burn healing was observed in nanosilver wound dressing group in shorter time periods than the control groups. In toxicity assessment, this dressing didn't cause any hematological and histopathological abnormalities in treatment group but biochemical studies showed significant rise of plasma transaminase [ALT] at the endpoint [21 days] of the study [P=0.027]. Portal mononuclear lymphoid and polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltrations in three to four adjacent foci were recognized around the central hepatic vein in treatment group. Mild hepatotoxic effects of nanosilver wound dressing in wistar rat emphasize the necessity of more studies on toxicity potentials of low dose nanosilver by dermal applications

Acute and subchronic toxicity assessment of the hydroalcoholic extract of stachys lavandulifolia in mice

Stachys lavandulifolia is used as the herbal tea and its wide and potent medical effects have been reported for the extract in animal studies. This study aimed to find the safety profile of the extract to find the appropriate doses for further human studies. The aerial parts of the plant were air-dried and the hydroalcoholic extract was obtained and concentrated by percolation method with 140 mg/ml concentration. To assess the toxicity profile of this extract, 60 female mice [30 cases, 30 controls, 24.8 +/- 2.1 g, 4-6 weeks] were administered the extract by oral gavages in acute [24 hrs], subacute [14 days] and subchronic [45 days] models. All clinical, hematological, biochemical and histopathological changes were assessed in appropriate midpoints and endpoints and compared with control group. Doses up to 140 mg/kg were recognized as maximum tolerated dose in subchronic model. Abnormal changes in kidney and liver weight in treatment groups as well as the significant elevation of biochemical parameters in 45 days study has suggested the possible hepatic and renal toxicity potentials of this extract with doses upper than 140mg/kg. Doses up 70 mg/kg could be considered as no observable adverse effect level [NOAEL] and could be used in further clinical trials on the possible therapeutic effects of this plant