[Effect of methadone and valproate combination on morphine withdrawal-induced anxiety and depression in male mice]

Anxiety and depression are experienced following addicted patients durg withdrawal. This study was done to determine the effect of methadone and valproate combination on morphine withdrawal-induced anxiety and depression in male mice. In this experimental study, ninety-eight male mice were allocated into acute and chronic categories. Animals in acute chronic categories allocated into seven groups including: saline, morphine, methadone [10 mg/kg/bw], valproate [150 mg/kg/bw], three groups of valproate+methadone, in of ratio 1:1, 2:1 and 1:2. Animals were received escalating dose of morphine for 8 consecutive days except saline group. In chronic group, drugs were injected for 30 minutes before morphine administration, while in acute group; the drugs were used only at day 8. Anxiety and depression due to naloxone injection [5 mg/kg/bw]was investigated by elevated plus-maze, tail-suspension and open field tests. In the chronic group, valproate + methadone [2:1] combination therapy showed a significant increase in the percentage of open arm entries [53.86 +/- 1.9] and percentage of time spent in the open arm [58.58 +/- 4.15] compared to the morphine group, with a percentage of entering [28.12 +/- 2.03] and percentage of time [17.88 +/- 1.77] [P<0.05]. In open field test, the ratio of the number to the duration of time spent in the central square, in the combination therapy groups of methadone+valproate[27 +/- 2], valproate+methadone [1:2] and valproate+methadone [2:1] were significantly increased in compare to the morphine group [P<0.05]. In tail-suspension test, duration of immobility as an indicator of depression, in the treatment group of valproate+methadone [2:1] was significantly reduced [P<0.05]. Valproate and methadone combination therapy particularly in ratio of 2:1 can reduce morphine withdrawal-induced anxiety and depression in animal model

[ effect of aqueous crocus sativus l. extract on intracerebroventricular streptozotocin-induced cognitive deficits in male rat]

Alzheimer as a prevalent central nervous system disease has no definitive treatment yet. So, regarding to herbal medicine recommendation, an important candidate herb, Crocus sativus L. extract [CSE] was investigated on ICY STZ-induced learning, memory, and cognitive impairment in male rats. The Effect of aqueous crocus sativus L. extract on intracerebroventricular streptozotocin-induced cognitive deficits in male rat. We use STZ injection as a model for Alzheimer's disease. For this purpose due to an animal stereotaxic surgery, the rats were injected with STZ-icv bilaterally, on 1st and 3[rd] days [3 mg/kg]. The learning and memory performance was assessed using passive avoidance paradigm, and for spatial cognition evaluation, Y maze task was used. Sixty male rats were divided to following groups: 1- Control, 2- Sham [which received only ACSF], 3-Control + CSE, 4-STZ, 5-STZ+CSE. The STZ-injected rats received CSE [30 mg/kg;i.p.]. These rats were treatment one day before surgery for three weeks and then were subjected to learning and memory tests. In Y maze test the non repetitive percentage of arm entrance were considered as alternation behavior [intelligence quotient]. Data in Passive avoidance task was the latent period [s] for passing from light to dark room due to adaptation periods. However, for the passive avoidance test nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test was used, which if significant, was followed by Mann-Whitney U-test for pair-wise comparisons. Data for the Y maze task were evaluated by Wilcoxon's rank sum test It was found that CSE-treated STZ-injected rats showed higher correct choices and lower errors in Y maze than vehicle-treated STZ-injected rats. In addition, CSE administration significantly attenuated learning and memory impairment in treated STZ-injected group in passive avoidance test. These results demonstrated the effectiveness of CSE in preventing the cognitive deficits caused by STZ-icv in rats and its potential in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease

effect of long-term consumption of Commiphora Mukul feeding on the serum levels of glucose and lipids of diabetic rats

Considering the beneficial anti-lipidemic effects of Commiphora Mukul [CM] [ashwagandha] on metabolism, the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of this plant were investigated in an experimental model of diabetes mellitus. Fifty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, i.e. control, CM-treated control, diabetic, and CM-treated diabetic groups. The treatment groups received oral administration of plant-mixed pelleted food [6.25%] for two months. Serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL- and HDL- cholesterol levels were determined before the study, and at 4 and 8th weeks after the experiment The weight loss [%] in CM-treated diabetic rats [7.8 +/- 2.2%] compared to diabetic [29.8 +/- 2.2%] ones showed a significant difference [P < 0.05]. Serum glucose levels in diabetic rats increased significantly, compared to CM-diabetic animals [0.05], and in both groups compared to controls [0.01]. Triglyceride and cholesterol levels in the diabetic group increased non significantly, but in CM-treated diabetic rats, these levels decreased more significantly. Finally, in CM-treated control and the CM-diabetic animals, mild decrease in LDL and increase in HDL, demonstrateds a suitable HDL/LDL ratio in CM-treated control [24%] and CM-diabetic rats [248%] as compared to controls. Oral chronic administration of CM diminished the weight loss of animals with STZ inducted diabetes [STZ-groups] more significantly. Also, a marked hypoglycemic effect was seen in CM-treated rats. Feeding animals with CM leads to appropriate changes in blood lipid profiles i.e. high ratio of HDL/LDL

[Evaluation of the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of henbane seed on acute and chronic pain in male rats]

The pain as the most prevalent medical problem and an unpleasant experience obliges patients to use sedatives. Recent studies have shown that anticholinergic alkaloid compounds have antinociceptive property. Regarding the presence of anticholinergic alkaloid compounds in henbane [hyoscyamus niger] and since this plant was mentioned as sedative in Iranian traditional medicine, the aim of present study was to investigate the antinociceptive effect of oral and injective administration of henbane seed on formalin-induced acute and chronic pain in rats. Male rats weighing 300-350 gr from NMRI strain were chosen randomly, and alcoholic extract of henbane seed were injected at doses of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg intraperitoneally[n=10 for each dose]. Also oral henbane seed at ratio of 1/14 in standard food was given to another group of rats [n=8] for 2 weeks. Acute and chronic pain scores were assessed in control [n=8] and experimental groups by formalin test. The reactions against the pain were carried out via formalin test, based on the standard criteria assessment. In addition, the antinociceptive effect of sodium salisilate as a positive control group was examined. Statistical analysis of findings showed that injection of alcoholic extract of henbane seed in all doses decreased the formalin-induced acute and chronic pain significantly [P<0.001]. In addition, oral administration of henbane seed caused significant decrease of formalin-induced chronic pain [P<0.001] relative to control group. The results of the present study indicate that henbane extract has significant antinociceptive effect on both acute and chronic phases of formalin test. In addition, oral administration of henbane seed has only antinociceptive effect on formalin-induced chronic pain. It could be resulted from different mechanisms of extract injection and oral administration henbane in acute pain

[Anti-inflammatory effect of alcoholic Urtica Dioica extract in male NMRI rats]

Regarding side effects of acute and especially chronic inflammation and incomplete treatment of patients who suffering from these side effects, the new and affective strategies are needed. For this purpose in the present study, we scientifically evaluate an introduced folk herb Utica Dioica, for treatment of inflammation. The Sham, control and treatment groups [rats which received the extract] were subjected to four methods in order to measurement the inflammation. In first method, an inflammation was raised by injection of formalin in hind paw. Then, the passed Evance blue dye injected to the circulation in wrist cutting paws segments were evaluated by spectroscopy method. In the second and third methods xylene and acetic acid were applied to ear and peritoneum, respectively. However, light absorption of the solution separated from ear segments solution and fluid of the peritoneum was read as the data. In forth method the difference weight of cottons which implanted in groin border of rats, before and after 7 days were compared in control and treatment groups. Statistical analysis has shown a significant difference between rate of inflammation in control and treatment groups. The extract in doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg could reduce inflammation produced by formalin 24.52 +/- 2.2 and 22.71 +/- 2.1% [P<0.05], respectively. However, three doses of the extract [20, 50 and 100 mg/kg] have significantly reduced the peritonitisproduced by acetic acid application in peritoneum, 21.45 +/- 2.4, 18.55 +/- 2.2 and 27.49 +/- 1.8% respectively [P<0.05]. In the experiments on the ears there was find no significant effects for any doses of the extract on acute inflammation produce by xylem. Findings in chronic inflammation examination showed that the extract in doses over than 400 mg/kg could have diminished inflammation 24.08 +/- 2.1% [P<0.05]. This study show that alcoholic Urtica Dioica extract could markedly reduced the chronic and acute inflammation