ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: despite identification of the antinociceptive effects of rosemary and peppermint essential oils, use of these essential oils has been limited due to its low solubility in water and low bioavailability. Use of nanoparticles is one of the ways to overcome these limitations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive effect of nano-emulsions containing rosemary and peppermint essential oils in an animal model of osteoarthritis [OA]
Materials and Methods: in this experimental study nano-emulsions containing rosemary and peppermint essential oils were prepared by spontaneous emulsification. In order to investigate the analgesic effect, 30 male rats were randomly assigned to 5 groups: sham [receiving saline injection into the knee], osteoarthritis[receiving intra-articular injection of 2 mg monosodiumiodoacetate], OA [receiving gels containing nano-emulsion, or rosemary and peppermint essential oil or diclofenac sodium]. Treatments were administered topically at a dose of 1 ml daily. Mechanical and thermal allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia tests were performed on the 1 st, 4th, 7th and 14th days after injection. Data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA
Results: OA group showed a significant increased behavioral response to the mechanical and thermal stimuli on all days of the experiment compared to the control group [P<0.001]. Use of nano-emulsion or diclofenac gel led to significant increase in the response threshold to vonFrey fillamets [P<0.001], decreased response to acetone [P<0.05], and increased paw withdrawal latency [P<0.05]. Histopathology of knee tissues confirmed the results of behavioral tests
Conclusion: nano-emulsion containing essential oils of rosemary and peppermint reduced pain of osteoarthritis in rats. The nano-emulsification process seems to enhance the antinociceptive effect of rosemary and peppermint essential oils
ABSTRACT
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), due to Leishmania major, is endemic in different parts of Iran and has long been recognized in most provinces of Iran. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of childhood leishmaniasis in 3 areas at the southeast of Kashan. A descriptive study was carried out on all children referred to central laboratories during a 3-year period. Initial information including age, sex, sites of ulcer on the body, number of lesions, address, and the place of the disease was obtained. The study gathered 117 children, and the results showed a prevalence of 7.2% in patients with lesions among the population and 4.2% of people displayed lesion and scar. The ages of subjects were from 6 to 15 years (average 9.75 years). The boy: girl ratio was 1.2. All of our patients lived in an endemic area. The face was affected in 47.0% of cases. The encountered forms of leishmaniasis are as follows: papulonodular 27.4%, ulcer 60.7%, sporotrichoid 6%, impetiginous 2.5%, and erysipeloid 3.4%. Treatment with intramuscular meglumine antimoniate 20-30 mg/kg/day was done for 93 patients. Meglumine antimoniate treatment was tolerated with no side effects. All leishmaniasis lesions healed within an average period of 2-14 months. Hyperpigmented scars were formed in 25.6% of the patients, atrophic scars in 4.3%, and hypopigmented scars were in 3.4%, respectively. The findings of this study indicate increased prevalence of CL in the villages at the area of Kashan and Aran-Bidgol. The clinical finding patterns belonged to different endemic strains of L. major in Isfahan, which indicates the possible transmission of infection from Isfahan to this area.