[ protective effects of Iranian golpar [Heracleum persicum] essential oil in liver damages induced by CCl4 in Wistar rats]

Background: Nowadays, liver disorders are one of the most serious and threatening problems of the health. Persian Golpar [Heracleum [H.] persicum] as an endemic medicinal plant with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties was used [noted] in the study for reducing the live injuries

Objective: This experiment -for the first time- was conducted to consider the effects of the oils obtained from fruits of Persian Golpar on the liver toxicity induced by the injection of tetrachloride carbon [CCl4] in the Wistar rats

Methods: In this study, 100 male Wistar rats were divided into 20 groups [n=5]. Negative control group [NC] received DMSO and olive oil for two weeks and the positive control group [C] received DMSO as i.p injection in 14 days following CCl4 [2 ml/kg b.w] at day 15th. The standard group [BHT], The treatment groups received H. persicum essential oils at both doses 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w as i.p injection following CCl4 [2 ml/kg b.w] at day 15th. Then, the levels of the glutathione [GSH], total antioxidant capacity of plasma [FRAP], proxidasion lipids [MDA] and glutathione stransferase [GST] and also liver enzymes for instance alanin teransferase [ALT] and aspartate teransferase [AST] were estimated at 4, 8, 16 and 24 h after CCL4 injection

Results: The injection of the essential oils [at the both doses] obtained from Persian Golpar could surprisingly modulate the changes of the antioxidant/oxidative parameters as well as liver enzymes induced by CCL4 administration

Conclusion: These results indicated the protective effect of Iranian Golpar essential oils on the liver. These effects are probably due to its antioxidant capacity

Evaluation the role of ferula gummosa essential oil against the hepatoxicity induced by acetaminophen in animal model

Background: Acetaminophen as a common antipyretic drug, in overdoses, is poisonous for the liver

Objective: The current study aimed to assess the protective effects of Ferula [F.] gummosa essential oils against the liver toxicity of acetaminophen in rats

Methods: 80 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 16 groups [n=5]. Negative control group received only DMSO and the positive control group received acetaminophen 500 mg/kg b.w i.p. The treatment groups received F. gummosa essential oils [100 and 200 mg/kg b.w] i.p immediately after acetaminophen administration. The blood were collected for estimating the values of total antioxidant of plasma [FRAP] and liver enzymes; alanin teransferase [ALT], aspartate teransferase [AST], and alkaline phosphatase [ALP]. Also, a piece of liver was used for determining of glutathione [GSH], lipid peroxidation [LP] concentrations, the activity of glutathione s-transferase [GST] and histopathological studies

Results: The data showed that F. gummosa essential oil modulate significantly the changes in the levels of GSH, GST and FRAP as well as the liver enzymes and lipid peroxidation compared to negative control group. Furthermore, the histopathological findings of the liver tissue was confirmed the biochemical results

Conclusion: The essential oil extracted from F. gummosa possessed antioxidant activity which protects the liver against the toxic effects of acetaminophen

Association of IGF-1 gene [rs5742612] polymorphism with colorectal cancer

Background: Insulin-like growth factor 1 has an important role in cell proliferation and growth. Polymorphism in IGF-1 gene changes the level of this hormone and increases the risk of colorectal cancer. The aim of this study is to assess the incidence of IGF-1 polymorphism rs5742612 in Iranian population and to investigate the influence of this polymorphism in increasing the risk of colorectal cancer

Methods and Materials: Genotyping of IGF-1 gene was performed in a series of 110 colorectal cancer patients and 110 controls by using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism genotyping [PCR-RFLP] assays. We calculated odds ratio and confidence interval [CI] of IGF-1 genotypes to determine if these polymorphisms are associated with colorectal cancer

Results: No significant association was found between polymorphism of IGF-1 gene [rs5742612] and increased risk of colorectal cancer [p=0.92]. The odds ratio for the heterozygous genotype CT versus the normal genotype CC was 1.3 [95% CI:0.3-6.27] and the odds ratio for the mutant genotype TT versus the normal genotype CC was 0.0. The frequency of the mutant allele was 2.5%

Conclusion: These findings suggest that IGF-1 rs5742612 polymorphism is not associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer

[Association of waist circumference and blood pressure]

Obesity is a risk factor for the incidence of hypertension. Waist circumferences [WC] reflect abdominal fat distribution and provides a simple yet effective measure of truncal obesity, WC being correlated to blood pressure. In this study the relation between blood pressure and WC has been evaluated. The study is part of the Isfahan Healthy Heart Program [IHHP] and included 7806 persons; demographic data were collected by questionnaires and body weight, height, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and WC were measured. Statistical analysis was performed using correlation, logistic regression and general linear regression. In all groups, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were correlated to WC. In younger patients, WC was correlated more with systolic blood pressure [r=0/119 for male and 0.248 for female] [P<0.001]; in older people [over 55 years], WC was correlated more to diastolic blood pressure [P<0.001]. This effect was independent of BMI, sex, age and daily energy intake. WC which is related to total body fat especially abdominal distribution of fat, is correlated positively to systolic and diastolic blood pressure; any increase of WC, even in persons with normal BMI could predict development of hypertension

[Cyclooxygenase; prevention and treatment]

Cyclooxygenase [COX] is the key enzyme required for the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. Two cycloxygenase isoforms have been identified and are referred to as COX-I and COX-2. Both enzymes are blocked by nonselective anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAID], such as indomethacin and ibuprofen. COX-I is an enzyme normally found in tissues and is involved in physiological functions, while COX-2 is an acute phase reactant associated with inflammation. Recently, COX-2 has been found to be associated with hyperalgesia, angiogenesis, cancer and Alzheimers disease. The suggestion that COX-2 is causally linked to cancer offers a new approach to extending our knowledge about the neoplastic phenomenon and improving management of human malignant diseases

[Mechanism of drug resistant cancer]

Some varieties of human cancers become resistant, or, are intrinsically resistant to treatment with conventional drug therapies. This phenomenon is due largely to over-expression of the ATP binding cassette, [ABC], super-family of membrane transporters. In this regard, 170 kDa plasma membrane ATP-dependent pump, known as P-glycoprotein are the most important. Other members of multi-drug resistance associated proteins, [MRP], are also involved in multi drug resistance. The function of ABC protein in normal cell is translocation of the endogenous substrate. Ability of cancer cells to become simultaneously resistant to different drugs remains a significant impediment to successful chemotherapy. This review focuses on the mechanism of multi-drug resistance and also gives a brief account of this super family

[Biochemical mechanism of inflammation in colorectal cancer]

Biological and chemical stimulators cause tissue injury. Many epidemiological studies imply that chronic stimulation of tissues leads to cancer. One of the most important type of chronic tissue stimulation criteria is increased activity of the metabolic pathway of arachidonic acid and production of biochemical intermediates. Cyclooxygenase pathway [COX] of arachidonic acid leads to production of a variety of prostaglandins and thromboxanes. These inflammatory agents exert their biological effects on different organs and initiate human cancers. Lately, a variety of synthetic and natural drugs have been discovered that suppress the production of these inflammatory agents and inhibit cancer promotion. One of the most popular drugs, are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, [NSAIDs]. In this review, we discuss the role of these inflammatory agents in colorectal carcinogenesis and also their mechanism of inhibition