ABSTRACT
Background: Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease[SAD] is caused by genetic risk factors, agingand oxidative stresses. The herbal extract of Rosa canina [R. canina], Tanacetumvulgare [T. vulgare]and Urtica dioica [U. dioica]has a beneficial role in aging, as ananti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative agent. In this study, the neuroprotective effectsof this herbal extract in the rat model of SAD was investigated
Methods: The rats were divided into control, sham, model, herbal extract -treated andethanol-treated groups. Drug interventions were started on the 21st day after modelingand each treatment group was given the drugs by intraperitoneal [I.P.] route for21 days. The expression levels of the five important genes for pathogenesis of SAD includingSyp, Psen1, Mapk3, Map2 and Tnf-alphawere measured by qPCR between thehippocampi of SAD model which were treated by this herbal extract and controlgroups. The Morris Water Maze was adapted to test spatial learning and memoryability of the rats
Results: Treatment of the rat model of SAD with herbal extract induced a significantchange in expression of Syp [p=0.001] and Psen1 [p=0.029]. In Morris Water Maze,significant changes in spatial learning seen in the rat model group were improved inherbal-treated group
Conclusion: This herbal extract could have anti-dementia properties and improve spatiallearning and memory in SAD rat model
ABSTRACT
Euphorbia tirucalli [Euphorbiaceae family] an environmental risk factor for Burkitt's lymphoma also has pharmacological activities. In the northeast of region in Brazil its latex is used as an antimicrobial, antiparasitic in the treatment of coughs, rheumatism, cancer and other disease as folk treatment. The prevalent constituents of this plant latex are diterpenes from the Inganen types [ingenol esters] as well as the tigliane [phorbol esters]. Scientifically, there is not any data till now about anticancer effects of the Euphorbia tirucalli Linn., since the Ingenol esters have already presented tumor-promoting ability. Microtubules [MTs], and cytoskeletal proteins are essential in eukaryotic cells for a variety of functions, such as cellular transport, cell motility and mitosis. Single Inganen in cytoplasm can interact with these proteins and affect on their crucial functions. In this study, we showed the effects of Inganen on MT organization using ultraviolet spectrophotometer and fluorometry. The fluorescent spectroscopy showed a significant tubulin conformational change at the presence of Inganen which decrease polymerization of tubulin as well as the ultraviolet spectroscopy results. The aim of this study is to find the potential function of Inganen for treatment of cancer in cells and human organs