Phytochemical study of methanolic extract of ferula persica willd. inflorescence and its antinociceptive effect in male mice

Background: Nowadays treatment and control of pain is still one of problematic cases and syntetic analgesic drugs have several side effects

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the antinociceptive effects and phytochemical analysis of Ferula persica with respect to side effects of chemical drugs

Methods: The extract of plant inflorescence was prepared by percolation method. HPLC was used for phytochemical studies. In order to nociception test, male mice were used in acetic acid, immersion and formalin test. Mice were divided into experimental, control and positive control groups [receiving morphine] in each test

Results: In phytochemical analysis, four flavonoids consist of Quercetin, Luteolin, Apigenin and Rutin were identified. In all 3 pain tests, the experimental group had a significant difference with control group [P<0.05], but there was no significant difference with morphine group [P>0.05]

Conclusion: Methanolic extract of Ferula persica has antinociceptive effects, probably due to its sesquiterpenes and flavonoids

[Effect of quercetin on learning and memory in STZ-induced diabetic rat]

Diabetes mellitus is common endocrine disease cause learning and memory impairment. This study was done to evaluate the effect of quercetin on learning and memory in STZ-induced diabetic rats was investigated. In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into five groups: control, quercetin - treated control, diabetic and quercetin - treated diabetic [10 and 20 mg/kg/bw, intraperitoneally] for 14 days. Induction of diabetes was performed using 60 mg/kg/bw of streptozotosin, interapritonally. Passive avoidance and Y-maze tests were used for the evaluation of learning and memory. In passive avoidance learning, there was no significant difference in initial latency between diabetic and treated - diabetic groups. The mean of step latency in control group [383.57 +/- 19.26] significantly reduced to 128.86+/-10.38 in diabetic group [P<0.05]. The mean of step latency in the treated diabetic group significantly increased in compare to the diabetic group [P<0.05]. Step latency in quercetin - treated diabetic [10 mg/kg/bw] and [20 mg/kg/bw] groups increased to 316.67 +/- 23.76 and 397.50+/-31.21, respectively. The alternative percentage in diabetic group was significantly lower than control group [P<0.05], but in quercetin -treated diabetic groups it was higher than the diabetic group [P<0.05]. Administration of quercetin for 14 days enhances the capability of the memory storage, recall and improves short-term spatial memory in STZ-induced diabetic rats

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of hydroalcoholic extract of stachys lavandulifolia vahl S' aerial parts in male mice

In recent years, investigations on different species of Stachys have shown that extracts or components of this species exert various pharmacological effects including anti-inflammatory, antitoxic, antibacterial, antioxidant and cytotoxic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the aerial parts of the hydroalcoholic extract of Stachys lavanduifolia Vahl in male mice. In this experimental study which was conducted at Payam-e-Noor and Shahid Beheshti Medical University in 2009-2010, the analgesic effects of Stachys lavanduifolia Vahl in mice were studied, using the formalin and tail immersion tests. Also, the anti-inflammatory effects of this plant was studied in mice, using xylene-induced ear edema. Male NMRI mice, weighing, 20-25 g, were assigned into five groups: negative control [received 0.5% of aqueous solution of Tween 20], positive control in formalin test [received morphine, 10 mg/kg], positive control in xylene test [received dexamethason 15 mg/kg], and experimental groups. Experimental groups were intraperitoneally injected by 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of hydroalcoholic extracts of Stachys lavanduifolia Vahl. Data were analyzed using SPSS software using ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test. Results showed that all doses of Stachys lavandulifolia extract [100, 200 and 400 mg/kg], significantly [p<0.001] reduced the licking time in experimental groups, both in acute and chronic phases of formalin test, compared to the control groups. In the hot water tail immersion test, the hydroalcoholic extracts of the plant [200 and 400 mg/kg] showed maximum inhibitory effect in the xylene test. Moreover, all doses of extracts significantly inhibited [particularly the extracts at dose of 400 mg/kg] the xylene-induced ear edema. There was no significant difference with positive control group in this dose. Findings of this study suggested that the extract of Stachys lavandulifolia have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects

[Neuroprotective effect of aqueous extract of Berberis vulgaris L. in a model of parkinson's disease in rat]

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease of dopaminergic neurons in substancia nigra. Superoxides formation is one of the main etiologies of the disease, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors [ACEIs] are able to suppress superoxide formation. Berberis vulgaris is an ACE inhibitor and considered for this purpose. Male rats [n=32] were divided in 4 groups: Sham, Neurotoxin [injection of 6-hydroxydopamine into left hemisphere SNC], Berberis vulgaris aqueous extract [10 mg/kg] and captopril. Berberis and captopril were injected i.p. 7 days before and 3 days after 6-hydroxydopamine injection. Muscle rigidity, apomorphine test, brain protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation as well as serum and brain ACE activity were assayed in all 4 groups. Rotation test with apomorphine in captopril and Berberis groups were significantly lower than neurotoxin group [p=0.002]. Lipid peroxidation in captopril was significantly lower than neurotoxin [p=0.013]. Captopril and Berberis both inhibited serum ACE activity respectively, but Berberis inhibited brain ACE too. Berberis vulgaris aqueous extract is an ACE inhibitor with anti-parkinsonism effect and should be studied more

[Effects of nitric oxide production inhibitor named, N[G]-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester [L-NAME], on rat mesenchymal stem cells differentiation]

Recently, the findings of some studies have shown that, nitric oxide [NO] probably has an important role in differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblasts. The aim of the present investigation was to study the effects of nitric oxide production inhibitor named, N[G]-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester [L-NAME], on rat mesenchymal stem cells differentiation to osteoblasts in vitro. This was an experimental study conducted at Hamedan University of Medical Sciences in 2009, in which rat bone marrow stem cells were isolated in an aseptic condition and cultured in vitro. After third passage, the cells were cultured in osteogenic differentiation medium. To study the effects of L-NAME on osteogenic differentiation, the L-NAME was added to the culture medium at a concentration of 125, 250, and 500 micro M in some culture plates. During the culture procedure, the media were replaced with fresh ones, with a three days interval. After 28 days of culturing; the mineralized matrix was stained using Alizarian red staining method. The gathered data were analyzed by SPSS software version 12 using one way ANOVA. The findings of this study showed that in the presence of L-NAME, differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblasts was disordered and matrix mineralization significantly decreased in a dose dependent manner. This study revealed that, inhibition of nitric oxide production using L-NAME can prevent the differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblast. The results imply that NO is an important constituent in differentiation of mesenchymal stem cell to osteoblasts

[ effect of low concentration of lead acetate on learning ability and memory of rats during infancy and adulthood]

Numerous observations in clinical and preclinical studies indicate that the developing brain is particularly sensitive to lead [PB]'s pernicious effects. The effects of low concentrations of lead on neurodevelopment are complicated. Lead acetate can disrupt both the CNS activity and neurons development. The present study was carried out to assess the effect of low level lead exposure on learning and memory by active avoidance learning. This experimental study was conducted at the Islamic Azad University of Parand in 2008. Eight groups of NMRI rats [9 rats in each group] [weight 220 +/- 30 gr] consisting of six experimental groups [3 after infancy and 3 adult groups] were exposed to low concentrations of lead for 45 days. The drinking water of the experimental groups was replaced by 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2% of lead acetate solution whereas the two control groups received distilled water. The results were analyzed using the SPSS software and student t-test. In this study, the learning and memory tests showed no significant differences between experimental groups [infancy and adulthood] and infancy control and adult control in number of shocks for 0.05% concentration of lead acetate. The memory test showed an increase in number of shocks for 0.1% and 0.2% concentration of lead acetate in adult groups and an increase in number of shocks for 0.2% concentration of lead acetate in infancy groups [P<0.05]. The learning test showed an increase in number of shocks for 0.2% concentration of lead acetate in infancy groups [P<0.05]. Mechanisms of lead poisoning in the CNS are not clear; and it as been suggested that lead exposure during life alters the granule cell neurogenesis and morphology in the hippocampus of infant or young adult rats

[Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of hydroalchoholic extract of anethum graveolens L. seed]

There are many reports about anti-inflammatory effect of Anethum graveolens L.[A.g] in Iranian traditional medicine. In current decade, based on using of neutriceuticales for healing, the use of herbal drugs became very common. In this study, regarding the mentioned purposes, we have evaluated anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of Hydroalchoholic Extract of A.g seeds. In this research, male mice were used and in inflammatory test they were divided to 6 groups: control, dexamethasone [15 mg/kg], seed A.g. extract [100,200, 400,500mg/kg]. All of the drugs were administered intraperitonally. The inflammation was caused by xylene-induced ear oedema. In order to evaluate the antinocicetive of Anethum graveolens L. seed, we used formalin test. Mice were divided to 6 groups: control, seed A.g. extract [100,200, 400, 500 mg/kg]. All of drugs were administered intraperitonally. The results indicated that A.g. extract has anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects. This study suggests A.g extract as a candidate for pain relieving for further studies

[ effects of testosterone and gonadectomy conditions on nociception and their effect on morphine-induced analgesia in male mice, using the formalin test]

There are too many disagreements about the effects of gender and sex hormones on the behavioral responses to noxious stimuli and morphine analgesia. The purpose of this study was to determine the different effects of testosterone and gonadectomy conditions on pain and morphine-induced analgesia, using the formalin test. The present study was conducted at Razi University, in Kermanshah. Sixty three male NMRI mice were divided into nine groups [n=7]. The effects of gonadectomy and testosterone on responses to noxious stimuli were evaluated in five groups [G1 to G5]. The effects of these factors on morphine-induced analgesia were investigated in other groups [G6 to G9]. According to grouping, each group received normal saline, testosterone, testosterone solvent or morphine and some groups were also gonadectomized and separately received these agents. Finally, the formalin test was taken from all groups. Data were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA. The results showed that the response to the painful stimuli had no significant difference in 5 minutes [acute pain] in all groups. Testosterone increased the response to the noxious stimuli in sub acute pain [10-30 minutes] and chronic phase [15-60 minutes] stages. This increase was significant in the group receiving testosterone compared with the gonadectomized group in both stages. In the presence of morphine, there were no significant differences in response to painful stimulus in 5 minutes [acute pain] in all groups. But testosterone in the presence of morphine caused an increased in pain score in sub acute pain [10-30 minutes] and chronic phase [15-60 minutes] stages. Testosterone increased the response to the painful stimuli in sub acute and chronic pain stages. Testosterone also reduced morphine-induced analgesia in peripheral and chronic pain stages in mice

[ in vitro assessment of biochemical factors in hepatocyte like cells derived from umbilical cord blood stem cells]

Umbilical cord blood [UCB] is a source of Hematopoietic Stem Cells [HSC] and progenitor cells that can reconstitute the hematopoietic system in patients with malignant and nonmalignant disorders. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived from umbilical cord blood [UCB] have been differentiated to some kind of cells, such as osteobblast, adipoblast and chondroblast in Vitro. This study examined the differentiation of Umbilical Cord Blood [UCB] derived stem cells to functional hepatocytes. The present study was an experimental study which was carried out in the Payam-e-Noor University of Tehran in cooperation with Hamedan University of Medical Sciences in 2008. Umbilical cord blood [UCB] was obtained from Fatemieh hospital [Hamadan, Iran]. Stem cells were isolated from the cord blood by combining density gradient centrifugation with plastic adherence. When the isolated cells reached 80% confluence, they differentiated to hepatocyte like cells. The medium which was used was consists of DMEM and 10% Fetal Bovine Serum [FBS] supplemented with 20 ng/mL Hepatocyte Growth Factor [HGF], 10 ng/mL basic Fibroblast Growth Factor [bFGF] and 20 ng/mL Oncostatin M [OSM].The medium was changed every 3 days and stored for Albumin [ALB], Alpha Fetoprotein [AFP], Alkaline Phosphatase [ALP], and urea assay. Finally PAS stain was done to study Glycogen storage in the differentiated cell. Measurement of biochemical factors in different days showed that concentration of albumin [ALB], alpha fetoprotein [AFP], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], and Urea gradually increased. Also, PAS staining showed the storage of glycogen in these cells. Stem cell-derived from human umbilical cord blood [HUCB] is a new source of cell types for cell transplantation therapy of hepatic diseases and under certain conditions these cells can differentiate into liver cells