ABSTRACT
Background: Medicinal plants with biologically active components such as antioxidant and antidiabetic are useful sources of novel therapeutics. In Iran, traditionally believed that the aqueous extract of berberry fruit [Berberis integerima F.] improved health, especially in people with diabetes
Objective: In this study, in vitro phytochemical and antioxidant activities of B. integerrima and B. vulgaris fruit aqueous extracts [BIFA and BVFA] were compared. Effects of more active species on fasting blood sugar [FBS], serum lipid, and malondialdehyde [MDA] were evaluated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats
Methods: The phytochemical potential and antioxidant activity of these extracts were quantified in terms of total phenolic content and total reducing power, respectively. BIFA [500 mg/kg] and glibenclamide [2 mg/kg] were administered orally to alloxan-induced diabetic rats and FBS, body weight, lipid profile, and serum MDA were monitored at 0, 7, 14, and 21 days after induction of diabetes
Results: BIFA showed the highest phenolic content [6.816 +/- 0.132 mg/g of dry extract] and antioxidant activity [0.134 +/- 0.022 EC[50] mg/mL]. LD[50] of BIFA was found to be >2500 mg/kg. FBS, lipid profile, and serum MDA have been significantly reduced in BIFA-treated rats after 21 days versus diabetic control and glibenclamide-treated rats. Extract has significantly decreased FBS levels of rats from 138.1 +/- 1.68 to 82.00 +/- 4.02 mg/dL. Furthermore, body weight has significantly improved in treated groups
Conclusion: The results indicate B. integerrima with high phytochemical and antioxidant activities, has the potential of suppressed hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and lipid peroxidation
ABSTRACT
To evaluate the prognostic significance of clinicopathological measurement in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction [MI] in sheep, acute MI was induced by ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery [LAD]. For this purpose, twenty four healthy sheep were divided into the sham-operated or control group [group I, thoracotomy without MI] and the experimental group [group II, with MI] [n=12 in each], then all animals were subjected to the echocardiographic and clinicopathological analysis 2 days post-MI. Echocardiography revealed significant differences in left ventricular end-diastolic diameter [LVEDD], LV end-systolic diameter [LVESD], LV ejection fraction [LVEF] and LV fractional shortening [LVFS] between groups [P<0.05]. In biochemical analysis, the mean values of troponin [Trop], aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] increased in the MI group compared with the control group [P<0.05]. In conclusion, alterations in echocardiographic and early clinopathological mean values were observed in an ovine model of the experimental acute MI, which could aid researchers in interpreting their results when using this model for MI studies
ABSTRACT
In this study blood samples were collected from 193 goats in north and northeastern Iran with the aim to develop a PCR-RFLP assay, as a specific and sensitive diagnostic tool enabling direct and concurrent identification of two Anaplasma species [A. ovis, A. marginale] in goats. A polymerase chain reaction [PCR] for amplification of a fragment of the major surface protein 4 [msp4] gene from A. ovis and A. marginale was developed. The results revealed that 123 out of 193 blood samples were positive for Anaplasma spp. infection. All 43 positive samples detected by microscopic examination were approved as positive by PCR, whereas no rickettsials were seen through light microscopy in the other 80 PCR positive cases. All positive samples were A. ovis as confirmed by restriction fragments length polymorphism [RFLP] method. Our results showed that PCR-RFLP of the msp4 gene could be a useful method for the detection of A. ovis in goats