ABSTRACT
Background: Nepeta dschuparensis Bornm [NP] is used as a medicinal herb in Iran. In traditional medicine, this herb is extensively employed for curing ailments such as cardiovascular diseases. NP has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This project examined the effects of the NP extract on cyclooxygenase-2 [COX-2] and interleukin-1 +/- [IL-1 +/- ] protein levels and its efficacy in neuroprotection in a cerebral ischemiareperfusion model
Methods: Twenty-six male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: 1] sham [n=6]: no middle cerebral artery occlusion [MCAO] procedure, 2] control [n=10]: MCAO procedure and treatment with normal saline, and 3] NP extract [n=10]: MCAO procedure and treatment with the NP extract [20 mg/kg, i.p.] at the beginning of reperfusion. To examine the injury caused by cerebral ischemia, we measured motor coordination and the infarct area using the rotarod test and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining, respectively. IL-1 +/- and COX-2 protein levels, as inflammatory markers, were measured by immunoblotting assay. The statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, version 16, and the data are expressed as means +/- SEMs. Statistical difference was evaluated using the one-way ANOVA, followed by the post hoc LSD test [P<0.01]
Results: Treatment with the NP extract significantly diminished the infarct volume and alleviated the motor coordination disorder induced by cerebral ischemia. The NP extract administration significantly attenuated the increase in IL-1 +/- and COX-2 protein levels too [P<0.01]
Conclusion: The beneficial effects of the NP extract are related to its ability to decrease the levels of IL-1 +/- and COX-2
ABSTRACT
It was the aim of this study to determine the potential effect of walnut kernel extract [WKE] on experimentally induced seizures in rats and to evaluate the role of ben-zodiazepines and ethosuximide [ESM] within these pathways. Male Wistar rats were selected and divided into eight groups. Seizures were evoked by intravenous infusion of pentylenetetrazole [PTZ; 2 mg/ml/ min]. In combination with PTZ, animals were treated with vehicle or WKE [100 mg/kg i.p.], with or without cotreatment with either flumazenil [FMZ; 5 mg/kg i.p.], ESM [150 mg/kg i.p.] or diazepam [DPZ; 0.5 mg/kg i.p.]. WKE administration significantly increased the PTZ dose needed to induce the first myoclonic jerk [13.09 +/- 1.29 vs. 49.71 +/- 12.03 mg/kg; p < 0.001], decreased the severity of seizure grades and reduced the mortality rate to 0%. FMZ did not significantly reduce the anticonvulsant effect of WKE. The combination of DPZ and WKE showed a synergic anticonvulsant effect, whereas ESM had no significant influence [p > 0.05] on the WKE effects. These findings indicated that WKE was effective at reducing seizure severity, at increasing the dose to the first myoclonic jerk and highly efficacious at preventing mortality, because 100% of animals were protected. It seems that this positive effect could apply through signaling pathways other than benzodiazepine-mediated gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors and may at least in part be Similar to ESM
ABSTRACT
Epilepsy is a chief communal health problem. Antiepileptic drugs only provide symptomatic treatment. Walnut Kernels [WK] have high concentrations of phenolic compounds, which have beneficial effects on human health because of their antioxidant and anti-atherogenic properties. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of WK supplementation for the prevention of experimental epilepsy in male rats. Wistar adult male rats were divided into three groups: a control group [PTZ injection, fed with ordinary food], experimental group [PTZ injection, fed with WK] and a sham group [no PTZ injection, only for histological studies]. Pentylenetetrazole [PTZ] was administered after the prescribed time. WKs displayed anti-epileptogenic properties, and WK supplementation was associated with increased seizure threshold and reduced mortality in the experimental group versus controls. Use of WK may be helpful in prevention of PTZ-induced seizure and its further neurodegeneration in male rats