Protective effects of melatonin as an eye drops against selenite-induced cataract in rat pups

The aim of the present study is to investigate the possible role of melatonin, when administered as an eye drops, in the selenite-induced cataractogenesis in rat pups. Sixty Wistar albino rats [13 days old] were allocated into three groups [20 animals each]. group A injected subcutaneously with normal saline and received no other treatment served as control; group B injected with [40 micro mol/g body weight] sodium selenite subcutaneously, and treated with 1 drop of melatonin eye drops, specially formulated for this purpose, twice daily for 30 days; group C injected with sodium selenite as in group B, but treated with single drop of normal saline, twice daily for 30 days. The stage of cataract development was examined with slit-lamp photographs. Alter 30 days the pups were sacrificed and their eyeballs enucleated for histological examination. The results demonstrated that melatonin eye drops decreased the nuclear cataract formation after 15 and 21 days of treatment, compared to saline treated group. Histological evaluations of enucleated lenses revealed that treatment with melatonin drops clearly indicated recovery of the lenticular tissues and retained their ordinary shape. These findings demonstrate that melatonin when administered as an eye drops protects the lens of rat pups against selenite-induced cataract

[Immunomodulatory effect of melatonin in the management of experimentally induced infected lesions in skin of rabbits]

Recent advances in immunology revolutionized the approach of management of infectious diseases by the use of immunomodulators or immunostimulators. Since melatonin, the neuroendocrine hormone, is found to have direct immunomodulatory effects in many biological models including human, it may be possible to utilize this feature for the improvement of immune responses against infections. This study designed to evaluate the effects of various pharmacological doses of melatonin alone or in combination with antibiotics in the treatment of experimentally induced infected lesions in rabbits Methods: Infected lesions were induced in the skin of 36 rabbits with pathogenic strain of Staphylococcus aureus. Healing time, lesion size, and immunoglobulin production were measured during the period of treatment with different doses [2, 5, 10 mg kg[-1]] of melatonin alone or in combination with antibiotics [25 mg kg[-1] ampicillin and cloxacillin]. Dose dependent effect for melatonin was observed in the improvement of the immune responses of animals against the bacterial infection, revealed as reduction in the healing time, and lesion size with significant increase in immunoglobulin production compared to controls. Meanwhile, combination of melatonin in pharmacological doses with antibiotics synergizes their effects in improving all the studied parameters. These results provide experimental evidences for the immunomodulatory effects of melatonin in the improvement of the resistance against infectious burden; in addition to the synergistic effect with antibiotics in vivo

Effect of some environmental conditions on the oxidative stress and transition metals status in Iraqi subjects

It has long been recognized that exposure to various metals is highly toxic, producing a wide variety of illnesses, including cancer. 111e role of these metals in free radical formation and initiation of lipid peroxidation was extensively studied; where the free form of iron or copper can effectively be involved in a free radical generation. To evaluate the effects of the some environmental conditions on the levels of the oxidative stress markers, malondialdehyde [MDA] and glutathione [GSH], and some of the transition metals, iron, copper and zinc, in the serum of Iraqi subjects who exposed to different environmental conditions. Blood samples were taken from 137 healthy male adults who work in different types of jobs [25 farmers, 25 workers in gasoline, 25 workers in liquid propane gas, 25 workers in casting, 25 workers in paints and 12 workers in plastic and rubber materials]. The serum levels of MDA, GSH, iron copper and zinc were estimated and compared in different groups. The result showed that exposure of healthy subjects to different occupational hazards produces significantly different changes in the oxidative stress markers as revealed by excessive production of the lipid peroxidation end product [MDA] and depletion of the soluble antioxidant [GSH]; and impairment of the trace element status [copper and zinc]. The extracellular defense mechanisms were severely affected by the insults of oxidative stress processes due to environmental pollution in some work places in Iraq

Hypolipidemic effect of silymarin in dyslipidaemia of different etiologies

Many drug and non drug approaches are utilized for the treatment of dyslipidemia; flavonoids, the major constituents of silymarin, have been proved to positively modify lipoproteins in experimentally - induced dyslipidemia. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of silymarin, when used alone or in combination with other hypolipidemic agents, on the lipid profile in dyslipidemic patients. Fifty seven patients with dyslipidaemia of various etiologies are involved in this clinical trial. They are randomized into three groups treated with either 400mg / day silymarin [gr. A] or 20 mg / day lovastatin [gr. B] or a combination of 200 mg/day silymarin and 10 mg/day lovastatin [gr. C] for 2 months, only 45 patients complete the study. Serum lipid profile [total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, VLDL-C and HDL-C] and liver functions indices [SGOT, SGPT, total bilirubin] were evaluated each month during the follow up period. Treatment with silymarin results in a significant decrease in TC, TG, LDL-C and VLDL-C levels, with a significant elevation in HDL-C levels, without any significant changes in liver function. Meanwhile, adjunct use of silymarin with lovastatin widens the scope of lovastatin-hypolipidemic effect, without increasing in the score of adverse effects, and ameliorating the hepatic damage emerged due to its use. The results presented in this study indicated that silymarin can be used alone in clinical practice for the treatment of dyslipidemia, and when combined with other hypolipidemic agents like lovastatin, improves therapeutic profile and ameliorate some of its adverse effects

Evaluation of the cinical use of silymarin in knee osteoarthritis: application of the dual inhibitory concept of cyclooxygenaseand 5-lipoxygenase

Many compounds from natural sources, including silymarin, proved to have effective inhibitory effects on cyclooxygenase [COX] and 5-lipoxygenase [5-LO] in vitro qnd experimental animals. The exellent phannacological pre-clinical profile of these compounds indicates a broad range anti- inflammatory effectiveness devoid of the most troublesome side effects, which have at least impart impaired the clinical use of the classical COX inhibitors, including the newer selective COX-2 inhibitors. This project designed to evaluate the clinical utility of silymarin, as a dual inhibitor of COX and 5- LO, as a single agent or in combination with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] of both types, selective and non-selective COX inhibitors, in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis [OA]. Randomized, double blinded clinical study was performed on 220 patients who have symptomatic and radiologic evidence of painful OA of the knee. Patients were allocated into five groups, treated with either meloxicam [15mg/day], piroxicam; [20mg/day], silymarin [300mg/day] + pirtxicam [20mg/day], silymarin [300mg/day] + meloxicam [15mg/day] or silymarin [300mg/day] alone. The treatment was followed for 8 weeks through measurement of the clinical effects of drugs each 7 days, using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [KOOS] system. The results showed that silymarmn, when used alone or in combination with NSAIDs resulted in significant improvement in the components of KOOS, higher than that produced by meloxicam or piroxicam when each used alone. In conclusion, oral administration of 300mg/day silymarin in OA patients produced very well characterized analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities, and when co-administered with piroxicam or miloxicam improves their therapeutic profile

Effect of melatonin and zinc on the lipid profile in typel diabetic patients poorly controlled with insulin

Many in vitro and experimental animal studies indicated that melatonin has an important role in regulation of blood glucose level. No clinical data on the pharmacological use of this supplement in the management of diabetic complications, like dyslipidemia, were available to support its therapeutic role in diabetes mellitus. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of adjuvant use of melatonin and zinc acetate to improve the impaired lipid profile in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients poorly controlled with exogenous insulin. This study was carried on 50 type 1 diabetes mellitus patients with mild response to insulin treatment, and randomized into 3 groups. Group A treated with a combination of lOmg melatonin and 50mg zinc acetate; group B treated with 50mg zinc acetate only and group C treated with placebo. All treatment formulas were administered orally for 90 days. Plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] were evaluated before starting treatment and after each 30 days for 3 months. Treatment of DM patients with melatonin and zinc decreases the elevated levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-C after 30 days, while HDL-C levels were significantly elevated after 90 days of treatment. Adjuvant use of a combination of melatonin and zinc improves the impaired lipid profile in type 1 diabetic patients poorly controlled with insulin treatment