ABSTRACT
Nowadays, the effect of medicinal plants on the reduction of the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis has been confirmed. Liver phosphatidate phosphohydrolase [PAP] is a key regulatory enzyme in the glycerolipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of sesame oil on liver PAP activity, liver triglyceride, liver cholesterol and serum lipoprotein levels in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. In this experimental study 27 New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned to 3 groups [n=9]. Group1 [control] was fed with standard diet. Group II [hypercholesterolemic group] animals received hypercholesterolemic diet [1%] without treatment. Group III was fed with hypercholesterolemic diet [1%] plus sesame oil [5%]. After two months, liver PAP activity, liver triglyceride and cholesterol content, serum lipoproteins and malondialdehyde, and antioxidant capacity were measured. One way ANOVA was used for analysis of the mean values of the variables and for pair-wise comparison of the groups we used Tukey's test. Group III had a significant decrease [P< 0.05] in the liver PAP activity compared to group II. In group II, consumption of the enriched cholesterol diet led to a significant elevation [P< 0.05] in serum lipoproteins compared to group I [control]. Also, sesame oil in group III decreased the serum lipoproteins, liver triglyceride, and liver cholesterol in comparison to group II [p<0.05]. However, a significant elevation [P< 0.05] in serum antioxidant capacity and a significant reduction in malondialdehyde level occurred in group III compared to group II [P<0.05]. Sesame oil can be effective in reducing risk factors of cardiovascular diseases by decreasing serum lipids through making desirable alterations in serum lipoproteins. Also addition of sesame oil to hypercholesterolemic diets can reduce the liver PAP activity resulting in reduced liver triglyceride synthesis, which can decrease the risk of development of fatty liver in hypercholesterolemic diets
ABSTRACT
Despite the availability of antipsychotic drugs, a large number of patients with schizophrenia do not show a good response to monotherapy with these drugs. In this study we evaluated the effect of purslane on psychologic symptoms and malondialdehyde [MDA] level in schizophrenic patients in Sina Hospital. This randomized clinical trial study was carried out on 60 chronic schizophrenic patients treated with risperidone in Sina Hospital in Joneghan, Iran between 2011 and 2012. Patients were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. The control group received risperidone 6mg/day and biperiden 4mg/day for 8 weeks. The Patients in the intervention group received 1g extract of purslane daily in addition to risperidone and biperiden for 8 weeks. The scales for assessment of positive symptoms [SAPS], assessment of negative symptoms [SANS] and MDA level were recorded at the baseline and at the end of the 8[th] week of study. Data analysis was performed by using mean, SD, student t-test and paired t- test. At the end of the study, the respective mean scores of positive symptoms were 47.93 +/- 18.56 in the intervention and 57.1 +/- 14.83 in the control group [P<0.05], and the mean scores of negative symptoms were 40.83 +/- 11.03 in the intervention and 46.13 +/- 9.34 in the control group [P<0.05].In addition, the MDA levels of the patients in the intervention and control groups were 3.25 +/- 1.25 and 5.43 +/- 1.76 respectively [P<0.05]. According to findings of this study, simultaneous use of purslane and respridone can lead to improvement of psychological condition and decreased MDA level in the patients with chronic schizophrenia
Subject(s)
Humans , Malondialdehyde , Risperidone , Schizophrenia/therapy , Schizophrenic Psychology , Antipsychotic AgentsABSTRACT
Sphingosine-1-phosphate [S1P] is involved in regulation of proliferation, differentiation, hypertrophy and anti-apoptosis and activation of satellite cells. This study was done to evaluated the effect of 8 weeks resistance training on sphingosine-1-phosphate level and gene expression of SK1 enzyme, isoforms of MHCs in skeletal muscles of male Wistar rats. This experimental study was done on Twenty four 8-week-old 190-250 gr male Wistar rats. The rats were allocated randomly into control [N=12] and training [N=12] groups. Resistance training was done using a 1 meter height ladder with 2 cm grid with an 85 degree incline, and weights attached to rat's tails. The content of S1P present in the chloroform layer was determined by means of high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC]. Determination of relative mRNA expression was performed by Real-time PCR. Data were analyzed using SPSS-17, Kolmogorov-Smirnov and independent t-test. Resistance exercise training increased the total content of S1P in FHL [fast-twitch] and soleus [slow-twitch] muscles in comparison with control group [P<0.05]. Resistance exercise training changed the gene expression of FHL SK1, SOL SK1, FHL MHC I, Sol MHC I, FHL MHC IIa, Sol MHC IIa, FHL MHC IIb, Sol MHC IIb, FHL MHC IIx, Sol MHC IIx in comparison with control group [P<0.05]. This study showed that S1P level and gene expression of SK1, MHCs increased at skeletal muscles after training
ABSTRACT
Background: The use of medicinal plants to reduce pain is important. Tanacetum parthenium has been introduced as an analgesic agent in traditional medicine and is widely used to relieve neuropathic pain and headache
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic effect of Tanacetum parthenium ethanolic extract on acute pain
Methods: This study was carried out on 100 male mice weighing 30-35g. Acute pain was investigated using a hot plate test with set point 48 [degree]C and cut off time of 30 seconds. In this experiment 100 mice were divided into 10 groups as follows: 1] control group; groups 2-6 received 10, 20, 30, 40 and 80 mg/kg of alcoholic extract, respectively; group 7 received 100 mg /kg ibuprofen; group 8 received 0.5 mg /kg morphine; group 9 received 0.5 mg/kg naloxone; and finally group 10 received naloxone and extract. Ethanolic extract of aerial parts was prepared by maceration method and later its analgesic effect was studied at different doses of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 80 mg/kg, i.p. The effect of ethanolic extract and fractions were compared with the analgesic effect of morphine and ibuprofen as standard analgesic drugs. Naloxone was used to study the opioid system. Data were analyzed by SPSS using Kruskal Wallis test
Findings: Results obtained from this study showed that the ethanolic extract of Tanacetum parthenium produced an analgesic effect [P<0.05] at two doses of 30 and 40 mg/kg, i.p. The analgesic effect of extract was not lower than that of morphine [10 mg/kg, i.p.], and ibuprofen [100 mg/kg] [P<0.05]. Application of naloxone showed no inhibition on analgesic effect of the extract [P<0.05]
Conclusion: The analgesic effect of Tanacetum parthenium was also comparable to that of morphine and ibuprofen, both well known for their analgesic effects. Further investigations to establish a link between the analgesic effect of Tanacetum parthenium and particular phytochemicals, are recommended
ABSTRACT
Background and aim: Due to the conditions provided by the modern life, the human being is exposed to electromagnetic field [EMF]. Appliance such as microwave oven, mobile phone, computer and power producing systems which have an extensive role in human life are the source of EMF. Epidemiological and experimental studies have shown the adverse effect of EMF on biological systems. Previous works, using light microscopes have shown that EMF could produce morphological changes in cardiovascular system. However, there are few studies regarding ultrastructural effect of EMF on living tissues. The aim of the present study was to investigate ultrastructural changes of cardiovascular system in EMF-exposed rats
Methods: Wistar rats were exposed to 3mili tesla EMF for 4 months, 4 hours/ day. After the experimental period, rats in control and experimental groups were sacrificed and tissue samples were prepared from the heart for electronmicroscopic studies
Results: The studies on the endocardium revealed that there was nuclear condensation and destruction of subendocardial layer in experimental group. In myocardium, in addition to nuclear condensation the mitochondria were also vague. There was a remarkable gap between the endothelial cells and basement membrane in the vessels of heart tissue. Epicard layer in EMF-exposed group was thinner than the control group
Conclusion: The obtained changes in the present study indicate the harmful effect of EMF on cardiovascular system after long-term exposure. It demands a protective policy for human being from probable effects of EMF