ABSTRACT
Silymarin, the active principle of Silybum marianum, has antifibrotic effects in hepatic fibrosis by several mechanisms. Since the pathogenesis of fibroproliferative diseases is similar, the effect of silymarin in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis was evaluated in this study. Silymarin [50 mg/kg, i.p.] was administered two days before the bleomycin instillation [3 U/kg] and throughout the test interval in mice. After two weeks, lung tissues of mice were evaluated for fibrosis by biochemical measurement of collagen deposition and histological analysis of pathological lung changes. Data were evaluated by one-way ANOVA and Dunnett analysis. P<0.05 was considered as significant. Pretreatment with Silymarin significantly [P<0.05] prevented the increase in lung collagen content and also partially inhibited the histologic changes induced by bleomycin. The wet lung weight in silymarin group was similar to that of control group and significantly lower than bleomycin group [P<0.001]. The results of this study indicate that silymarin may prevent the collagen deposition and inflammation and may be protective in fibrogenic effects of bleomycin on lung
Subject(s)
Animals, Laboratory , Pulmonary Fibrosis , Mice , BleomycinABSTRACT
Background: isolation and identification of some potent anti-tumor compounds from medicinal plants, has motivated researchers to screen different parts of plant species for anti-tumor effects. It has been reported that several conifers posses cytotoxic activities on some human tumor cell lines
Methods: in this study male and female branchlets or fruits of two different species of Iranian conifers were collected from the northern parts of Iran and identified. Hydroalcoholic extracts of them were prepared by perculation. The cytotoxic effects of the extracts on three human tumor cell lines [Hela, KB, and MDA-MB-468] were determined. Different concentrations of extracts were added to cultured cells and incubated for 72 h. Cell survival was evaluated using MTT-based cytotoxicity assay. Cytotoxicity was considered when mor than 50% decrese was seen in cell survival
Results: although the extracts from Platycladus orientalis significantly decreased Hela and MDA-MB-468 cell curvival, their effects were not considerable. Extracts from fruit and branchlets of male and female Juniperus sabina showed cytotoxic activities against Hela and MDA-MB-468 cells
Conclusion: it is concluded that extracts of J. sabin have cytotoxic effects on cancer cells
ABSTRACT
Mice were rendered tolerant and dependent to morphine by subcutaneous injection of morphine over a period of 5 days. The effects of acute and chronic administration of dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist nifedipine on the development of tolerance and naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal signs were investigated. A single injection of nifedipine proved to be effective in inhibiting some signs of morphine withdrawal but ineffective in blocking the development of tolerance to the ataxic action of morphine. The concurrent injections of nifedipine with morphine prevented most signs of morphine withdrawal but failed to have any effects on the development of tolerance to the ataxic action of morphine. The results suggest that alterations in dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium channels may be involved in the adaptations that occur on chronic treatment with morphine. It is also possible to conclude that separate mechanisms are involved in the development of tolerance and dependence