ABSTRACT
In this study, the hepatoprotective effect of the methanol extract of aerial parts [shoot] from Otostegia persica Boiss [Golder] was investigated against the carbon tetrachloride [CCl[4]]-induced acute hepatotoxicity in male rats. Liver damage was induced through the oral administration of 50% CCl[4] in liquid paraffin [2.5 mL/Kg bw, per os] 60 min after the administration of the methanol extract of O. persica shoot [in 200, 300, 400 mg/Kg bw doses] and assessed using biochemical parameters [plasma and liver tissue malondialdehyde [MDA], transaminase enzyme levels in plasma [aspartate transaminase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT]] and liver glutathione [GSH] levels]. Results show that the methanol extract of O. persica shoot is active at 300 mg/Kg [per os] and it possess remarkable antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities. Additionally, histopathological studies verified the effectiveness of this dose of extract in acute liver damage prevention
Subject(s)
Animals, Laboratory , Liver/pathology , Carbon Tetrachloride/toxicity , Rats , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
With respect to antioxidant effect of Otostegia persica [O. persica] extract and the role of antioxidant agents in diabetes improvement, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of methanolic extract of O. persica on serum level of glucose and morphology of pancreas in type I diabetic male rats. Type I diabetes was induced in male wistar rats [200-250 g] by injection of 65 mg/kg, i.p of streptozotocin. Before this and 5 days post-injection fasting blood samples were collected. Diabetes was confirmed in rats having fasting blood glucose level above 250 mg/dL. Diabetic rats were divided into 5 groups which received 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg/day O.persica extract, glibenclamide [600?g/kg] and distilled water [0.5 mL] for 14 days individually by gavage, respectively. After 14 days, fasting blood samples were collected and serum levels of glucose and insulin were measured using commercial kits by spectrophotometery and ELISA, respectively. Rats' pancreases disected out and used for histological studies after fixation, tissue preparation process and staining with hematoxylin-eosin dyes. The oral administration of O. persica extract in diabetic rats for 14 days significantly decreased glucose serum level, but it only at dose of 100 mg/kg significantly increased insulin serum level [p<0.05]. Furthermore, extract improved pancreas tissue as in all doses it increased number of islets and at doses of 200 and 300 mg/kg increased the mean diameter of islets [p<0.05]. Our study demonstrates that O. persica extract has a hypoglycemic effect by improving pancreas islets and increasing insulin secretion
ABSTRACT
In the present study, the effect of tissue incubation with propranolol on functional antagonism of Zataria multiflora Boiss [Z. multiflora] at muscarinic receptors of tracheal smooth muscle was examined. The effects of three concentrations of aqueous-ethanolic extract, 10 nM atropine, and saline on muscarinic receptors were tested on incubated tracheal smooth muscle with propranolol [n=5]. The EC[50] of all concentration of the extract and atropine was significantly higher than that of saline. There was parallel right ward shift in concentration response curves obtained in the presence of all concentrations of the extract. There was not any significant difference in the maximum response and slope obtained in the presence of different concentrations of extract compared to saline. There was significant positive correlation between the concentrations and the values of EC[50] [p<0.001]. The value of [CR-1] obtained in the presence of highest concentration of the extract was significantly higher than that of atropine [p<0.05]. These results indicated that functional antagonism of Z. multiflora at muscarinic receptors of tracheal smooth muscle was mainly due to beta-adrenoceptor stimulatory effect of plant