ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: Oxidative stresses are involved in neuronal degeneration of substantia nigra and thereby induction of Parkinson's disease. It is reported that Foeniculum Vulgare L. can affect lactating and modulating dopaminergic system activity and antioxidant activity as well. In the present study, the effects of methanolic extract of Foeniculum Vulgare seeds on a Parkinson's disease model induced by ICV injection of 6-hydroxydopamin [6-OHDA] in female rats were investigated
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 60 female rats were randomly divided into 6 equal groups including saline, Parkinson's disease and Parkinson's groups which were treated by different doses of the extract. Parkinson's disease was induced by i.c.v injection of 6-OHDA. Methanolic extract of Foeniculum Vulgare seeds [100 and 200 mg/kg] was gavaged through two ways including repeated gavage [14 days before and 14 days after 6-OHDA injection] and acute gavage [once every day for 14 days after 6-OHDA injection]. The induced Parkinson`s disease was evaluated using Rotarod and Wire grasping tests on the day 14[th] after 6-OHDA injection
Results: The findings of the study demonstrated that repeated gavage of Foeniculum Vulgare extract improved motility and muscle tone in Parkinson's animals [p<0.05]. However, acute gavage of the extract had no significant effect on the performance of Parkinson's animals
Conclusion: Results of the current study showed that chronic administration of Feoniculum Vulgare extract may improve Parkinson's symptoms in female rats
ABSTRACT
Background: IL-17/IL-23 axis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of severalautoimmune diseases such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis [EAE] andmultiple sclerosis [MS]. The immunomodulatory properties of ginger are reported in previous studies
Objective: To evaluate the effects of ginger extract on the expressionof IL-17 and IL-23 in a model of EAE
Methods: EAE was induced in C57BL/6 miceby immunization with myelin oligodendroglial glycoprotein and then treated with PBSor ginger extracts, from day +3 to +30. At day 31, mice were scarificed and theexpression of IL-17 and IL-23 mRNA in spinal cord were determined by using realtime-PCR. The serum levels of cytokines were measured by ELISA
Results: ThemRNA expression of IL-17, IL-23 P19 and IL-23 P40 in CNS and serum levels of IL-17 and IL-23 were significantly higher in PBS-treated EAE mice than non-EAE group[p<0.003, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively]. In 200 mg/kg gingertreatedEAE mice the mRNA expression of IL-17, P19 and P40 in CNS and serum IL-23 levels were significantly decreased as compared to PBS-treated EAE mice [p<0.05,p<0.001, p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively]. Moreover, 300 mg/kg ginger-treated EAEgroup had significantly lower expression of IL-17, P19 and P40 in CNS and lowerserum IL-17 and IL-23 levels than PBS-treated EAE group [p<0.02, p<0.001, p<0.001,p<0.03 and p<0.004, respectively]
Conclusion: Ginger extract reduces the expressionof IL-17 and IL-23 in EAE mice. The therapeutic potential of ginger for treatment ofMS could be considered in further studies