[Apoptosis in neurodegenerative diseases]

Neurodegenerative diseases cause a range of neurological disorders in the central nervous system. Todays researchers emphasize the pivotal role of apoptosis in neurodegenerative diseases. Given that injured central nervous system has limited regenerative capacity, it is of extreme importance to limit the damage by inhibition of neuronal death. During the past decade, considerable progress has been made in understanding the process of apoptosis at molecular level. Also, according to the understanding of the mechanisms of apoptosis, several studies have examined the possible effects of neuroprotective compounds for reducing or inhibiting neuronal apoptosis. In this review article, it has been attempt to review the role of apoptosis in the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases. Also, an overview has been made in the field of neuronal apoptosis inhibitor with neuroprotective compounds in human and experimental models of neurodegenerative diseases

Anti-inflammatory effect of oleuropein in experimental rat spinal cord trauma

Spinal cord injury stimulates an inflammatory reaction that causes substantial secondary damage inside the injured spinal tissue. The purpose of this study was to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of oleuropein on traumatized spinal cord. Rats were randomly divided into four groups of 7 rats each as follows: Sham-operated group, trauma group, and oleuropein treatment groups [20 mg/kg, ip, immediately and 1 hour after spinal cord injury]. Spinal cord samples were taken 24 hours after injury and studied for immunohistochemistry of tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha], interleukin-1beta [IL-1beta], nitrotyrosine, inducible nitric-oxide synthase [iNOS], cyclooxygenase-2 [COX-2], and poly[ADP-ribose] polymerase [PARP]. Attenuated TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, nitrotyrosine, iNOS, COX-2, and PARP expression could be detected in the oleuropein-treated rats. Oleuropein modulates inflammatory reactions following spinal cord injury

[Immunomodulation with epigallocatechin gallate in injured spinal cord of rats]

Spinal cord injury [SCI] stimulates an immune response that causes substantial secondary damage inside the injured spinal tissue. To determine the immunomodulatory effects of epigallocatechin gallate [EGCG] on traumatized spinal cord of rats. Rats were randomly divided into three groups of 7 rats each as follows: negative control group, positive control group, and experimental group [50mg/kg EGCG, i.p., immediately after SCI]. Spinal cord samples were collected 24 hours after injury and studied for immunohistochemistry of CD4, TNF- alpha, IL-1 beta, iNOS and COX-2. Epigallocatechin gallate attenuated immunohistochemical expression of immune-related response criteria. On the basis of these findings, we propose that EGCG may be effective in protecting the rat spinal cord from secondary damage by modulating of immune responses