ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: Stroke is one of the most important factors of mortality and disability in the world
Free radicals are produced following ischemic stroke and they play a central role in breaking the blood-brain barrier and causing brain edema formation
The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of hydro- alcoholic extract of Origanum vulgare on brain edema and neurologic deficit in a rat stroke model
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 35 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 equal groups. The first two groups [control and Sham] received distilled water, while three treatment groups received oral Origanum vulgare extract for 30days [50,75and 100 mg/kg daily, respectively]
Two hours after the last dose of Origanum vulgare extract, each main group underwent a 60 min middle cerebral artery occlusion. Then, the assessment of blood brain edema, and neurologic deficits analysis were done . Brain edema [brain water content] was analyzed by One-Way ANOVA using LSD method and neurologic deficits analysis by means of Mann-Whitney U, and P<0.05 was taken as the significant level
Results: Origanum vulgare extract reduced brain edema in the experimental groups of 50 [82.49+/-0.47], 75 80.89+/-0.63] and 100 mg/kg/day [80.80+/-0.66] compared to the control group [84.46+/-0.67]. The neurologic deficit scores in the experimental groups of 75 and 100mg/kg/day, compared with control group, but neurologic deficit scores did not affect the group receiving the dose 50 mg/kg
Conclusion: The obtained data indicate that Origanum vulgar extract via reduction of brain edema and neurologic deficits scorescan have a protective effect on the stroke model
ABSTRACT
Electro-magnetic radiation [EMR] is emitted from mobile phones. Various researches have shown relationships between mobile phone EMR exposure to cancer and neurologic damages. This study aims to investigate the effects of mobile phone EMR on brain antioxidant enzyme activity and the learning process. Rat pups and their dames were exposed to EMR for 3 h per day from P2 to P14. After separation of male and female rats on P22, the rats were housed in an air room under normal animal conditions. From P59 to P61, male rats were trained three times per day for a total of 3 days. On P62, their behavior was assessed. The rats were sacrificed by decapitation and the levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase in their brains were assessed. The amount of time to locate the hidden platform and time spent exhibiting freezing behavior increased in exposed group compared to the control group. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were reduced in the mobile phone group. Additional studies are necessary to clarify the relationship between mobile phone radiation and brain tissue with regards to antioxidant enzyme activities, learning and memory. Our results suggest that mobile phone radiation may lead to decreased learning that is induced by abnormalities in antioxidant enzyme activities