ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the effect of resveratrol against CCl4-induced nephrotoxicity. Methods: Forty-two male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups randomly. After six weeks, kidney weight, body weight, blood urea, serum creatinine, oxidative stress markers, and gene expression of renal transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1), TGF-β receptor type 1 (TGF-βR1) and Smad3 were determined. In addition, the protein level of TGF-β1 in the tissue lysate was measured. Results: Resveratrol had a protective role in renal tissue by the improvement of antioxidant balance and reduction of renal parameters such as creatinine and urea (P<0.001). In addition, the renal mRNA level of TGF-β1, TGF-βR1, Smad3, as well as the protein level of TGF-β1 were decreased in rats treated with resveratrol (P<0.001), compared to the CCl4 group. Conclusions: Overall, resveratrol shows a protective effect against nephrotoxicity in CCl4 treated rats by reducing oxidative stress status and modulating the TGF-β signaling.
ABSTRACT
To evaluate the antiglycation and antioxidant properties of the dill tablet, an herbal product used in Iran as a hypolipidemic medicine. Methods: In this descriptive study, the antioxidant and antiradical properties of dill tablet at different concentration (0.032, 0.065, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/mL) were measured. The total phenolic, flavonols and flavonoid, alkaloids, anthocyanin, tannin and saponin contents in dill tablet were determined. Furthermore, antiglycation properties of dill tablet were assayed. In the in vivo experiments, male rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 6): Group 1:normal rats; Group 2: diabetic rats; Group 3: diabetic rats + 300 mg/kg dill tablet, and Group 4: diabetic rats + 100 mg/kg dill tablet. After 2 months, the blood glucose was measured enzymatically and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) formation was determined using a fluorometric method. Results: Our results illustrated that different concentrations of dill tablet had significant antioxidant activity. Dill tablet markedly declined AGEs formation and fructosamine levels (P < 0.001) compared with glycated sample. Oxidation of protein carbonyl and thiol group was significantly reduced by dill tablet in a dose dependent manner (P < 0.001). Formation of amyloid cross-β and fragmentation were markedly inhibited by dill tablet (P < 0.001) compared with glycated sample. After 2 months, fasting blood glucose levels (P < 0.001) and AGEs formation (P < 0.05) were significantly reduced by dill tablet in diabetic animals. Conclusions: Dill tablet exhibited significant antiglycation and antioxidant activities. This study provides a scientific basis for using dill in treatment of diabetic patients.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To determine the activity of seminal plasma catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and their relationship with malondialdehyde (MDA), as a marker of lipid peroxidation, content of spermatozoa and seminal plasma in normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic males. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen samples were obtained from 15 normozoospermic and 30 asthenozoospermic men. RESULTS: We observed inverse correlations between activities of CAT (k/mL) and SOD (U/mL) in seminal plasma with MDA content of spermatozoa from normozoospermic samples (r =- 0.43, p < 0.05 and r =- 0.5, p < 0.05, respectively). Significant correlations were observed between total activity CAT (k/total seminal plasma) with total SOD (U/total seminal plasma) and GPX activity (mU/total seminal plasma) in seminal plasma from normozoospermic samples (r = 0.67, p = 0.008 and r = 0.455, p = 0.047, respectively). Furthermore, we found positive correlations between total activities of CAT, SOD and GPX with total content of MDA in seminal plasma (nmoL/total seminal plasma) from normozoospermic samples (r = 0.67, p = 0.003; r = 0.73, p = 0.003; r = 0.74, p = 0.004, respectively). In asthenozoospermic samples, there were no significant correlations observed between activities of CAT (k/mL), SOD (U/mL) and GPX (mU/mL) of seminal plasma with MDA content of spermatozoa. However, we found significant correlations between total activities of CAT (k/total seminal plasma) and SOD (U/total seminal plasma) with total content of MDA in seminal plasma (r = 0.4, p = 0.018 and r = 0.34, p = 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate a protective role for antioxidant enzymes of seminal plasma against lipid peroxidation of spermatozoa in normozoospermic samples.