Protective effect of safranal against hexachlorobutadiene-induced nephrotoxicity in rat

Hexachlorobutadiene [HCBD] is a potent nephrotoxin in rodents, which can cause degeneration, necrosis and regeneration in renal tubular epithelial cells. It has been shown that safranal, the active ingredient of saffron, has a protective effect against ischemic injuries. The aim of this study was to examine the protective effect of safranal against HCBD-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Method: Thirty Wistar albino rats were randomly divided in five groups. The rats received a single dose of corn oil 1ml/kg [group1], HCBD 50mg/kg [group 2], or safranal at doses of 0.5, 0.25 and 0.1 ml/kg one hour before HCBD [50mg/kg] injection [groups 3-5]. All injections were carried out intraperitoneally. Urine samples were collected one day before, and one day after injections. On day 3 the animals were sacrificed and both kidneys were removed. The right kidney was fixed in formalin for histological examination and the left kidney was homogenized for measuring malondialdehyde [MDA]. Blood samples were taken by cardiac puncture and used for the measurement of urea, creatinine, glucose and protein concentrations. Blood urea concentration in HCBD treated group was significantly higher compared with group 3 [p<0.01] and groups 1 and 4 [p<0.001]. There was no significant difference in urea concen-trations between group 5 and HCBD treated group. Urinary concentration of glucose was significantly higher in group 2, compared with groups 1, 3 and 4 [p<0.001] No significant differences were observed in urinary glucose concentrations between HCBD- and safranal [0.1ml/kg]-treated groups. Concentration of protein was also significantly higher in group 5 than those of other tested groups [p<0.001]. Safranal at doses of 0.25 and 0.5ml/kg has a protective effect against HCBD-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

[Assessment of some complications obtained from male mice's addiction to morphine on first generation of offspring]

Addiction to opium is a factor that leaves an important impression on embryo. In this research we are going to examine the effect of father's addiction on the first generation of offspring. The general goal of this research is determining some of the probable complications obtained from male mice's addiction to morphine in their first generation. In this research 3 groups of mice have been chosen. The first group was injected with morphine for 20 days with crescent doses in quantity of 10, 15, 20 mg/Kg and at an interval of 5 days, the second group with a single dose of morphine in quantities of 25 mg/Kg, and the third group, as the first one, was injected with normal saline in quantities of 10 mg/Kg for 20 days. All injections were carried out intraperitoneally. Twenty-four hours after the last injection in each group, every male mouse was mated with a non-addicted adult female mouse and was compared from quantity of producing the vaginal plug of experimental groups and observer's point of view. After observing vaginal plug, female mice were separated and kept in detached cages. The time of labor, and the offspring were compared about the embryonic duration, the offspring numbers of each mother, the death rate after birth in the first and the second months, the average of weight at the time of birth, the numbers of male gender compared to females with control group. Results showed that the rate of producing vaginal plug in mice which had mated with addicted male mice is more than control group. Embryonic duration in experimental groups is shorter and the offspring number is more than control group. The death rate of offspring after being born was more and average of weight is less than control group. Also the number of male gender was more than female in experimental groups. Male addiction to morphine, cause of death birthing, decreased weight in the first offspring generation, and also increase in the number of offspring, decreases the embryonic duration, increases the number of male offspring and vaginal plug in mothers

Protective effect of calcium channel blockers against hexachlorobutadienenephrotoxicity in rat

Hexachlorobutadiene [HCBD] is a potent nephrotoxine in rodents. Its toxicity is due to its conjugation by glutathione [GSH] to form glutathione s-conjugate, by the enzyme glutathione S-transferase, and finally to the related cysteine-conjugate. This metabolite is then actively taken up by kidney and cleared in the renal tubular epithelial cells to a reactive thiol derivative, by the enzyme [3-lyase that covalently binds to the macromolecules. There are several studies regarding the protective effects of calcium channel blockers against some nephrotoxicants. Also our previous study showed that verapamil is able to protect the kidney against HCBD; therefore, in this study the protective effect of diltiazem and nifedipin [calcium blockers] against HCBD-induced nephrotoxicity in rat was examined.In this study, W/A rats from either sex were divided in 6 groups. Group one dosed with corn oil [1 ml/kg, i/p], group two dosed with HCBD [50mg/kg, i.p], and groups 3 to 6 dosed with [50 and/or 100microg/kg, i.p] diltiazem and nifedipine one hour before HCBD [50mg/kg] as single dose. After 24 hours, all animals were killed; blood samples were taken by cardiac puncture for measuring urea and creatinin. The kidneys were removed and fixed in formalin for histopathologic examination,. Concentration of urea as a marker of kidney damage, in group two [66.3 +/- 15.3mg/dl] was significantly higher than all other groups [33.8 +/- 3.2, 29.3 +/- 8.1, 29.3 +/- 9.2, 26.5±4, 33.8 +/- 3.8mg/dl] for control and groups 3-6 respectively. Also concentration of creatinin in group two [1.08 +/- 0.3 mg/dl] was significantly higher than all other groups [0.53 +/- 0.05, 0.57 +/- 0.06, 0.57 +/- 0.06, 0.53 +/- 0.05, 0.53 +/- 0.05mg/dl] for control and groups 3-6 respectively. Microscopic studies showed that there was substantial necrosis in the straight portion of the proximal tubules in HCBD-treated group. In the calcium-blocker treated groups, the renal proximal tubules showed a normal appearance and no damage were observed. In conclusion, diltiazem and nifedipine are able to protect the kidney against toxic effect of HCBD in rat

[Effect of safranal, a constituent of saffron [Crocus sativus L.], on lipid perioxidation level during renal ischemia - reperfusion injury in rats]

Generation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation are associated with tissue injury following ischemic insult. It has been shown that saffron extract has antitumor, chemopreventive and radical scavenger properties as well as protective effects on genotoxins-induced oxidative stress and promote the diffusivity of oxygen in different tissues. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of safranal, a constituent of saffron [Crocus sativus L.], on lipid peroxidation level and histopatological alterations following renal ischernia-reperfusion injury [IRI] in rats. In order to induct renal ischemia-reperfusion injury, the left kidney was exposed to warm ischemia for 60 min followed by reperfusion for 90 min. Safranal [with doses of 0.1 ml/kg, 0.25 ml/kg-gand 0.5 ml/kg, i.p.] and normal saline [10 ml/kg, i.p.] were administrated prior to induction of ischemia. The lipid peroxidation level [which expressed as thiobarbituric acid reactive species, TBARS] and histopatological alteration were evaluated in kidney of control and ischemic groups. Ischemia-reperfusion injury [IRI] caused a significant increase in TBARS levels [from 119.7 to 379.2 nmol/g tissue, p<0.001].In safranal pretreated groups, a significant reduction in TBARS levels [from 379.2 to 110.6 nmol/g tissue, p<0.001;0.5 ml/kg], as compared with control group, was observed. Histopathological data also showed that safranal attenuated renal ischemiareperfusion injury. This study, therefore, suggests that safranal may be a useful agent for the prevention of lipid peroxidation following renal ischemia-reperfusion injury [IRI] in rats

Antimicrobial effect of different extracts of Nerium oleander L on standard and clinically isolated microorganism

In folk medicine, Nerium oleander L is used as cardiotonic, diuretic and as local in treating fungal infections. In this research the antimicrobial and antifungal effects of Nerium oleander was studied. In this study, aqueous, methanol and chloroform extracts were prepared by maceration and soxhelet methods. Different concentrations of each extract were applied on standard and nosocomial microorganisms by agar dilution, disk and cylinder plate methods. Microorganisms such as S. aureus, P. aerogenosa and C. albicans were taken from blood, feces, spinal fluid, wound, vagina and so on. Cloxacillin, gentamicin and clotrimasol were used as positive controls. The results showed that, among extracts, methanol extract had significant antimicrobial and antifungal effects, which was comparable to that of standard antibiotics. Chloroform extract showed no effect. Effect of methanol extract on microorganisms was as follow; 500 mg/100 ml of extract was equal to 1mg/100ml cloxacillin on S. aureus and 2mg/100mI gentamicin on P. aerogenosa respectively. 2g/100ml of extract was equal to 0.4mg/100mI clotrimasol on C. albicans. The methanol extract of Nerium oleander exerts significant effect compare to standard drugs