[Bone protective effects following ethanolic extract [Otostegia persica] administration in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: histomorphometric study]

Background: Medical plants have been recently used to treat diabetes. Osteoporosis is one of diabetes side effects and increases the risk of bone fracture in diabetic patient

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the potential bone protective effects of O.persica ethanolic extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Methods: Forty male rats were randomly divided into five equal groups and treated as follows: group 1 [control]; group 2 [STZ group]: received STZ 50 mg/kg by a single IP injection; groups 3, 4 and 5 treated with STZ as above+ 200 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg and 450 mg/kg of O. persica extract per day by oral gavage, respectively. On day 29, serum taken for glucose level measurement and left femoral and tibio-fibular bones were dissected for histomorphometric study, while L4 vertebrate were removed for determination of ash weight

Results: 300mg/kg of extract reduced serum glucose levels. Epiphyseal and metaphyseal Trabecular thickness as well as epiphyseal bone area/tissue area significantly decreased in STZ group. O. persica extract at the dosage of 200 mg/kg reversed all these parameters to the control level. No significant difference observed in osteoid thickness among different groups. Ash weight of L4 vertebrate in rats treated with 300 and 450 mg/kg of extract was significantly lower than other groups

Conclusions:The results show that ethanolic extract of O. persica has bone protective effects in STZ-treated rats

Effect of Zataria multiflora essential oil on immune responses and faecal virus shedding period in broilers immunized with live Newcastle disease vaccines

Zataria multiflora essential oil possesses immunomodulatory effects and the present study investigates its effect on immune responses to live Newcastle disease [ND] vaccines and faecal shedding period of vaccine strain virus in chickens. One hundred and eighty chickens from both sexes were divided into 6 equal groups: group 1: unvaccinated, group 2: vaccinated [B1 vaccine followed by La Sota 10 days later], group 3: vaccinated + levamisole [150 mg/kg/day, orally], groups 4, 5 and 6 were vaccinated and received Z. multiflora essential oil by SC injections at 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg/day dosages, respectively. Levamisole and Z. multiflora essential oil were administered for 10 and 5 consecutive days post B1 vaccination. On days 0, 7, 14, 28 and 35 post booster vaccination [PBV], HI test was performed. Delayed type hypersensitivity [DTH] test was accomplished on day 14 PBV. Faecal virus shedding was determined during 15 days PBV with 3 day intervals by RT-PCR method. Zataria multiflora essential oil induced a dose-dependent increase in antibody titers in an extent higher than levamisole as well as a dose-dependent suppression of DTH reaction. Effect of Z. multiflora essential oil at the dosage of 0.1 g/kg on shortening of faecal virus shedding period was exactly the same as levamisole where higher doses demonstrated stronger decrease. In conclusion, Z. multiflora essential oil stimulates humoral immune responses and shortens faecal virus shedding period while suppressing cell-mediated immune responses in chickens vaccinated with live ND vaccines

Correlation between lipid-lowering and bone-protective effects of eicosapentaenoic acid in rats with steroid induced bone loss

This study was conducted to investigate the correlation between lipid-lowering and bone-protective effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on steroid-induced bone changes in rats. Twenty-one male 10-week-old Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups [n = 7 each] and treated with 0.9% NaCl SC [group 1] or methylprednisolone 7 mg/kg SC once a week [group 2] or methylprednisolone 7 mg/kg SC once a week + eicosapentaenoic acid 160 mg/kg, PO daily [group 3], for 6 weeks. At the end of the experiment, serum total cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations were determined using enzymatic colorimetric assays and bone histomorphometric analyses were performed on cancellous bone of femoral epiphysis and metaphysis using a photomicroscope and a digital camera. Histomorphometric parameters demonstrated a significant bone loss due to methylprednisolone administration, which was partly restored by eicosapentaenoic acid. A strong inverse correlation was observed between the serum total cholesterol concentration and epiphyseal trabecular width and metaphyseal trabecular osteoid width [R = -0.82, P = 0.04 and R = -0.86, P = 0.01, respectively]. Serum triglycerides concentration was also strongly and inversely correlated with the above mentioned parameters [R = -0.88, P = 0.02 for epiphyseal trabecular width and R = -0.81, P = 0.02 for metaphyseal trabecular osteoid width]. The correlation between the lipid-lowering and bone-protective effects of eicosapentaenoic acid may be helpful in the clarification of its effects on bone and lipid metabolism