[ effect of hydroalcoholic extract of salvia officinalis L. on the inflammatory reduction in male mice]

Resistance of microorganisms to chemical drugs makes the medicinal plants to be considered in folk medicine. Antidepressants, antimicrobials, antinociceptives and antioxidants effects of Salvia officinalis L. have been evaluated. In this study, the anti-inflammatory like effect of Salvia officinalis L. hydroalcoholic extract was studied on the inflammation induced byxylene in the right ear of male mice. In the experimental groups, 0.03ml of xylene was injected subcutaneously in the right ear of mice weighing 20-25 g. 30 minutes before xylene injection, Salvia officinalis L. extracts in doses of 10, 50, 100, 150 mg / kg and dexamethasone 15mg/ kg were administered intraperitoneally. The inflammation was measured according to the weight difference of a plug with 6mm of thickness in treated and non- treated ears of mice. After treatments, white blood cells of animal's serum were counted. The results showed that Salvia officinalis L. hydroalcoholic extract reduces inflammation comparable with dexamethasone effect. The hydroalcoholic extract of Salvia officinalis L. has anti-inflammatory effect and this effect may be due to flavonoid and terpene components in plant

[ effects of nicotine injection in rat nucleus accumbens on anxiety]

Previous reports showed that nucleus accumbens involved in the etiology and pathophysiology of major depression, anxiety and addiction. It is not clear that how these mechanisms occur in the brain. In the present study, the influence of direct nicotine injection in the nucleus accumbens in rats' anxiety-related behavior was investigated. Wistar rats were used in this study. Male Wistar rats bred in an animal house, in a temperature-controlled [22 +/- 2[degree]C] room with a 12 hour light/darkcycle. Rats were anesthetized using intraperitoneal injection of ketamine hydrochloride and xylazine, then placed in an stereotactic instrument for microinjection cannula implantation The stainless steel guide cannula was implanted bilaterally in the right and left dorsal the nucleus accumbens shell according to Paxinos and Watson atlas. After recovery, anxiety behavior and locomotor activity were tested. We used the elevated plus maze to test anxiety. This apparatus has widely been employed to test parameters of anxietyrelated behaviors including the open armtime percentage [%OAT], open arm entries percentage [%OAE], locomotor activity and we record effect of drugs after injection directly in the nucleus accumbens on anxiety-related behavior. Experiments showed that bilateral injections into the nucleus accumbens Nicotine, acetylcholine receptor agonist, dose 0.1 of the dose [0.05 and 0.1, 0.25, 0.5] microgram per rat caused a significant increase in the percentage of time spent in the open arms [%OAT], compared to the control group. We did not record any significant change locomotor activity and open arm entries percentage [%OAE] in rats. Nicotinic receptors in the nucleus accumbens shell involved to anxietylike behavior in male rats.

Effect of biebersteinia multifida DC. root extract on cholesterol in mice

Hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis are the most common causes of mortality and disability, especially in developed countries. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of Biebersteina multifida DC. root extract on HDL and LDL blood level. In this experimental study, 35 male Balb/c mice were randomly divided in five groups such control, sham, and experimental groups which received Biebersteina multifida DC. root extract with the doses of 4, 5 and 10 mg/kg; three last groups were daily fed orally, for thirty days. HDL and LDL blood serum levels were measured, in the last day and compared with control and sham groups. The results after 30 days gavage of 4, 5 and 10 mg/kg of Biebersteinia Multifida DC. root extract showed that the root extract decrease of LDL level significantly. The doses of 4, 5 mg/kg of the root extract were the effective dose in decreasing the serum HDL level. However, 10 mg/kg dose of root extract has no significant effect on HDL level in comparison with control and sham groups. 10 mg/kg of root extract had the maximum effect on reducing LDL level. According to this study, it is suggested that the root extract of Biebersteinia multifida DC. can be efficient to reduce the level of HDL and LDL in blood serum

[Effect of sodium azide on sperm parameters and the serum levels of testosterone, LH and FSH in adult male mice]

Sodium azide is a chemical and toxic compound. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sodium azide on the viability of sperms and the serum levels of testosterone, LH and FSH in mature male laboratory small mice. In this experimental study, 50 Balb/C male mice weighing 20-25g were divided into five groups [10 mice in each group]. The animals were prescribed sodium azide for 60 days. Alternatively 5, 10 and 20 milligrams per kilogram of body weight of sodium azide were fed to the animals in the experimental groups 1, 2 and 3. After the completion of treatment, serum values of testosterone, LH and FSH were measured. The viability of sperms was also studied. The number of sperms in three experimental groups showed significant decrease compared to the control and sham groups [p<0.001]. Serum value of testostrone hormone showed dose- dependently significant decrease compared to the control and sham groups. The serum level of FSH in the experimental groups did not show any significant change compared to the control and sham groups. But, the serum level of LH in experimental groups receiving sodium azide 10, 20 mg/kg increased significantly compared to the control and sham groups [p<0.01]. It seems sodium azide reduces serum level of testosterone and the number of sperms under the process of spermatogenesis in the animals

[Effect of Salvia officinalis hydroalcoholic extract on liver enzymes in male rat]

Oxidative stress induces different diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, arteriosclerosis and Alzheimer. In this study, the antioxidant effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Salvia officinalis was investigated. In this experimental study, isoniazid, as an anti tuberculosis agent, has been used to induce free radicals. Male rats were used and divided in 9 groups; in each group, 7 rats were included. Isoniazid with dose of 50 mg/kg was orally administered to rats continuously once per day for 28 days using a feeding atraumatic needle. The treated groups received hydroalcoholic extract of Salvia officinalis with the doses of 100, 250 and 400 mg/kg intraperitonally, and the effects of the extract and isoniazid on liver enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanin aminotransferase [ALT], alkaline phosphatase [ALP] and gama glutamyl transferase [GGT] were studied. Serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP and GGT and also hepatic histopathologic observations indicated that the effective doses of Salvia officinalis extract were 100 and 250 mg/kg. This study showed that Salvia officinalis hydroalcoholic extract is potentially effective in the reduction of damages caused by oxidative stress