Phytochemical and antioxidant activities of Berberis integerrima and Berberis vulgaris and pharmacological effects of the more active species on alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Background: Medicinal plants with biologically active components such as antioxidant and antidiabetic are useful sources of novel therapeutics. In Iran, traditionally believed that the aqueous extract of berberry fruit [Berberis integerima F.] improved health, especially in people with diabetes

Objective: In this study, in vitro phytochemical and antioxidant activities of B. integerrima and B. vulgaris fruit aqueous extracts [BIFA and BVFA] were compared. Effects of more active species on fasting blood sugar [FBS], serum lipid, and malondialdehyde [MDA] were evaluated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Methods: The phytochemical potential and antioxidant activity of these extracts were quantified in terms of total phenolic content and total reducing power, respectively. BIFA [500 mg/kg] and glibenclamide [2 mg/kg] were administered orally to alloxan-induced diabetic rats and FBS, body weight, lipid profile, and serum MDA were monitored at 0, 7, 14, and 21 days after induction of diabetes

Results: BIFA showed the highest phenolic content [6.816 +/- 0.132 mg/g of dry extract] and antioxidant activity [0.134 +/- 0.022 EC[50] mg/mL]. LD[50] of BIFA was found to be >2500 mg/kg. FBS, lipid profile, and serum MDA have been significantly reduced in BIFA-treated rats after 21 days versus diabetic control and glibenclamide-treated rats. Extract has significantly decreased FBS levels of rats from 138.1 +/- 1.68 to 82.00 +/- 4.02 mg/dL. Furthermore, body weight has significantly improved in treated groups

Conclusion: The results indicate B. integerrima with high phytochemical and antioxidant activities, has the potential of suppressed hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and lipid peroxidation

Plasmodium falciparum: adhesion phenotype of infected erythrocytes using classical and mini-column cytoadherence techniques

Cytoadherence of Plasmodium falciparum- infected erythrocytes to host cells is an important trait for parasite survival and has a major role in pathology of malaria disease. Infections with P. falciparum usually consist of several subpopulations of parasites with different adhesive properties. This study aimed to compare relative sizes of various binding subpopulations of different P. falciparum isolates. It also investigated the adhesive phenotype of a laboratory P. falciparum line, A4, using different binding techniques. Seven different P. falciparum isolates [ITG, A4, 3D7 and four field isolates] were cultivated to late trophozoite and schizont and then Cytoadherence to cell differentiation 36 [CD36], intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1], and vascular cell adhesion molecule [V-CAM] and E-selectin were examined. The relative binding sizes of parasite subpopulations to human receptors were measured by mini-column Cytoadherence method. The adhesion phenotype of P. falciparum-A4 line was evaluated by in vitro static, flow-based and mini-column binding assays. The relative binding size of ITG, A4 and 3D7 clones to a column made with CHO/ICAM-1 was 68%, 54% and 0%, respectively. The relative binding sizes of these lines to CHO/CD36 were 59.7%, 28.7% and 0%, respectively. Different field isolates had variable sizes of respective CD36 and ICAM1-binding subpopulations. A4 line had five different subpopulations each with different binding sizes. This study provided further evidence that P. falciparum isolates have different binding subpopulations sizes in an infection. Furthermore, measurement of ICAM-1 or CD36 binding subpopulations may practical to study the Cytoadherence phenotypes of P. falciparum field isolates at the molecular level

Malaria in Mazandaran, Northern Iran: passive case finding during 1997-2012

Malaria is one of the most important parasitic diseases in tropical and temperate regions. The aim of this study was to determine the trend of malaria in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran during 1997-2012. This retrospective study was conducted from 1997 to 2012. The population's study was individuals who registered at health centers of Mazandaran Province. Peripheral blood smear were prepared for each case, stained with Giemsa and examined by light microscope. In addition to demographic data, other parameters including Slide Positive Rate [SPR], Annual Parasite Incidence [API] and Annual Blood Examination Rate [ABER] were analyzed. In total, 844 cases of malaria were reported. Plasmodium vivax was predominant species with 821 cases [97.4%]. The number of malaria cases increased from 1997 to 2005 and then decreased to 3 cases in 2011. Some cities had not reported any cases during last three years. The highest infection rate, 163[20.07%], was seen in 2001-02. The SPR had the highest value [0.54%] in 2004-05. The maximum API and ABER were observed in 2001-02 and 1997-98. 641[75.9%] of cases were imported from hyperendemic areas such as Afghanistan and South-eastern Iran and 94 [11.1%] malaria patients were recorded as introduced cases. The highest infection rate of malaria [21.3%] was seen in Babolsar. Extensive malaria control should be continued to Mazandaran to become malaria-free region and in prevention of re-introduction stage