ABSTRACT
Background: silymarin is a flavonolignan that has been the subject of research to evaluate the beneficial properties for decades. Silymarin has been known for its potent cytoprotective, hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities. The goal of the present study was to gain a deeper understanding of possible molecular mechanisms of apoptosis of the injuries induced by silymarin on BALB/c mice fetuses
Methods: the present experimental study was carried out in virgin female BALB/c mice. The animals were divided randomly into 4 groups. Three test groups were injected intraperitoneally with silymarin at doses of 50, 100 and 200mg/kg/day during gestational days 6-15. The control group received the solvent by the same route at equivalent volume. Western blot analysis was conducted to determine the levels of caspase-3 and caspase-8 in fetal heart, kidney, lungs and brain tissue
Results: the results of this study showed that silymarin administration during organogenesis at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg can significantly increase the protein levels of caspase-3 and 8 in heart, kidneys and brain tissues of mice fetuses compared with control group [p<0.001]. Silymarin exposure could not change the level of apoptotic markers in fetal lung tissue
Conclusion: according to the results, programmed cell death, especially via the intrinsic pathway, plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of silymarin-induced malformations in some tissue including heart, kidneys and brain. More studies are needed to determine other molecular mechanisms underlying silymarin- induced embryo toxicity
ABSTRACT
Diazinon [DZN] is a synthetic organophosphorus [Ops] insecticide widely used in agricultural and household applications. OPs, particularly DZN, are highly lipid soluble liquids. Intravenous lipid emulsion [ILE] has been shown to reduce toxicity caused by some lipid soluble agents. We evaluated the antidote effect of ILE on acute toxicity of DZN. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley female rats weighting 200-250 g were treated orally with dose of 480 mg/ kg of DZN gavaged at the volume of 0.5 mL/kg. Thirty minutes after administration of DZN, two groups were treated by either ILE 10% [ILE 10] or normal saline [NS] [16 mL/kg] [NS16] that were infused for the duration of 15 minutes. Another two groups were also treated by either ILE 20% [ILE20] or NS [10 mL/kg: NS10] as above. The changes in body weight, diarrhea score, muscular power, fasciculation, convulsions and mortality rate of the animals were all monitored immediately after infusions and then every 6 h up to 48 h. There was no significant difference in animals mean weight between different groups during the observation period. In addition, during the 48-hour observation we could not find any difference in muscular power and diarrhea score between groups of ILE20-NS10 and ILE10-NS16 in comparison with each other, and neither ILE 10% nor ILE%20 could not reduce mortality rate of animals or increase the survival time of rats. In conclusion, ILE seems to be unable to reverse DZN acute toxicity and it might be due to conversion of DZN to potent and less lipid soluble agent
ABSTRACT
In traditional Iranian medicine, the core of the fruit of Anacardium occidentale [cashew nut] has been used in the management of the pain. In this study gastric ulcerogenicity effect of the percolated extract of A. occidentale was investigated in rats. The extract or indomethacin [200, 300, 400 and 800 mg/kg] was administrated orally. In the control group normal saline [5 ml/kg] was used. After getting extract, indomethacin or normal saline, animals were slaughtered. The stomachs were detached and 10 ml of 2% formalin injected in to the stomach for fixing the internal coat of the gastric wall. The stomachs were then slitted open near the bigger curvature and lacerations in the glandular part were evaluated. The ulcer index was determined using j-score. Data demonstrated that the oral dose of 200 mg/kg of the extract did not provoke any ulcerogenic consequence in the rat's stomach. Gastric ulcerginicity of the extract at the doses of 300, 400 and 800 mg/kg was less than the similar doses of indomethacin [p<0.01]. Therefore, A. occidentale is an appropriate plant for ongoing search for establishing an analgesic agent with low gastrointestinal side effects for clinical use