Investigation in protective effects of sophora pachycarpa extracts on serum level of sex hormones, urea and uric acid in carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated in male rats

Background: Carbon tetrachloride [CC14] is an industrial solvent that causes liver, kidneys, lungs, testis and brain as well as in blood diseases by generating free radicals. Previous studies on the chemical composition of S. pachycarpa have shown the presence of antioxidant compounds such as flavonoids

Objective: In the present study we investigated protective effects of Sophora pachycarpa extracts on serum level of sex hormones, urea and uric acid in carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated in male rats

Methods: Thirty six male wistar rats [195-200 g] were selected and randomly divided into 6 groups [n=6]: 3 pre-treatment groups received s.pachycarpa extract at doses 50 mg/kg/day, 100 mg/kg/day and 250 mg/kg/day by gavage for 21 days prior to intraperitoneal injection of CC14 500 micro/kg on 21[st] day, control group, CC14 group received 500 micro/kg CC14 on the 21[st] day, post-treatment group received extract at doses 100 mg/kg/day for 10 day at 12h after CCI4 250 micro/kg injection. At the end of the treatment, blood was collected by cardiac puncture from all of the animals and serum levels of sex hormones, urea and uric acid were assessed

Results: Serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone was significantly increased in serum of pre-treatment group III and serum level of luteinizing hormone and testosterone in serum of pre-treatment groups compared to CC14 was significantly increased [P<0.05]

Also serum levels of urea in pre-treatment and post-treatment groups and serum level of uric acid in serum of pre-treatment II and III [100 and 250 mg/kg] was significantly decreased compared to CC14 [P<0.05]

Conclusion: Together, our data suggest that Sophora pachycarpa extract can potentially ameliorate toxic effects of CCI4

[Effect of Ferula gummosa ethanolic extract on osteogenesis in human mesenchymal stem cells]

Osteoporosis is one of the most prevalent disease in current century .Estrogen deficiency is the basic cause of osteoporosis in menopaused women. Hormone Replacement Therapy [HRT] can increase the risk of breast and ovary cancers. Medicinal plant are natural source of secondary metabolite and can a reliable source for treating osteoporosis. Ferula gummosa [Galbanum] has been used in traditional medicine since ancient time. This study is focused on determining the effect of Galbanum root ethanolic extract on osteogenesis progress in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells [hMSCs]. The Bone Marrow hMSCs were seeded at 12 well plates and treated with different amount of Galbanum extracts [0.5 to 100 micro g/ml]. Extract cytotoxicity were measured using MTT method .Effect of extract on osteogenesis was evaluated in time interval 7 and 14 days using_ Alkaline Phosphatase_ enzyme activity method. The data analysis revealed a significant increase in cell proliferation in range of [0.5 to 5] micro g/ml after 24, 48 and 72 hour of treatment with galbanum extract. Analysis of result revealed a significant increase in alkaline phosphatase [ALP] enzyme activity in the range of 1 to 10 micro g/ml compared with control group. Ferula gumossa has been used in Iranian folk medicine for many years. Our in vitro study showed that Frula gummosa extract has osteoprotective effect

[Purification and structure elucidation of compounds from the roots of Ferula ovina Boiss]

The genus Ferula contains more than 130 species all over the world that its 30 species have been found in Iran. There are several studies on phyochemicals of Ferula species, but no study has been reported from Ferula ovina. Identification and structure elucidation of chemical constituents of Ferula ovina roots. Dichloromethane extract of F. ovina roots was obtained using maceration. The extract was concentrated by solvent evaporation and 20 g of the concentrated extract subjected to normal phase column [60 x 5 cm] chromatography. The elution of column was started by petroleum ether and continued by increasing amount of ethyl acetate, resulting going out compounds in the order of polarity. The volume of collecting fractions was 250 mL and those fractions that have similar spots in TLC experiment were combined. Three pure major compounds, namely, stylosin, tschimgine and ferutinin were finally obtained. Their structures were determined by ID and 2D NMR experiments. The former two compounds were monoterpene derivatives and the latter was a sesquiterpene derivative. Dichloromethane extract of F. ovina roots contains three known major compounds, stylosin, tschimgine and ferutinin. Regarding the presence of high amount of ferutinin as one of the most potent natural estrogens in this species, the importance of this Ferula species emerged

Evaluation of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and lipoxygenase inhibitory activities of the prenylated coumarin umbelliprenin

Umbelliprenin, the natural prenylated coumarin distributed in the plants of apiaceae family, has shown various biological activities, especially as a cancer chemopreventive agent. In the present study, umbelliprenin, was examined for in vitro antioxidant activity, in vitro inhibitory activity against lipoxygenase, and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. The applied tests were interaction with 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl [DPPH] stable free radical, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, inhibition of soybean lipoxygenase and in vivo inhibition of the carrageenin-induced rat paw edema. Umbelliprenin did not show any significant antioxidant activity but exhibited a remarkable and potent inhibition against soybean lipoxygenase [IC50 = 0.0725 micro M]. This compound, in the in vivo anti-inflammatory test, could also inhibit the carrageenin induced paw edema significantly [39%].The observed inhibition of lipoxygenase may be a plausible mechanism for the potent cancer chemopreventive activity of umbelliprenin and may pose this compound as a valuable agent for the treatment of inflammatory diseases

In vitro protective effects of Satureja hortensis L. essential oil and ethanolic extract on lymphocytes DNA

DNA damage and oxidative stress are widely recognized as major factors in many degenerative diseases and aging. The protective properties of Satureja hortensis L. on the rat lymphocytes DNA lesions were tested. Lymphocytes were isolated from blood samples taken from healthy rats. DNA breaks and resistance to H[2]O[2]-induced damage were measured with the comet assay. Rat lymphocytes were incubated in S. hortensis ethanolic extract [SHE] [0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 2.5 mg/ml], essential oil [SHEO] [0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 2.5 micro l/ml], H[2]O[2] [50, 100 and 200 micro M], a combination of H[2]O[2] [200 micro M] with either SHE [1, 2.5 mg/ml] or SHEO [1, 2.5 micro l/ml] at 4°C for 30 minutes. The extent of DNA migration was measured using a single-cell microgel electrophoresis technique under alkaline conditions. Treatment of rat lymphocytes with SHE or SHEO resulted in significant reduction of H[2]O[2]-induced DNA damage compared to controls. SHE exhibited a significant [p<0.01] inhibitory effect on oxidative DNA damage at 2.5 mg/ml. SHEO [1 and 2.5 micro l/ml] also showed significant inhibitory effects [p <0.01] on H[2]O[2] induced chromosomal damage. Both the ethanolic extract and the essential oil of the plant were able to reverse the oxidative damage on rat lymphocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide