Protective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Teucrium polium on diabetes-induced testicular damage and serum testosterone concentration

Background: diabetes has an adverse effect on spermatogenesis by rising oxidative stress

Objective: the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Teucrium Polium extract administration on spermatogenesis and testicular structure in diabetic rats induced with Streptozotocin

Materials and Methods: 32 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups [n=8/each]: control group, diabetic group received distilled water, and two experimental groups included diabetic rats treated with 50 and 100 mg/body weight of Teucrium Polium extract for 6 six weeks. After six weeks, the left testis had been removed and the morphometrical study was performed. Blood samples were collected from the ophthalmic veins of the rats and plasma levels of glucose and testosterone hormone were measured afterward

Results: the reduction in diameters of the seminiferous tubules and thickening of the wall of the seminiferous tubules [p=0.05] were seen in diabetic rats. Also, the degenerative changes in cells arrangement have been observed. Statistical analysis showed the use of Teucrium Polium significantly improved the above disorders in treatment group [100 mg/BW] in contrast to the non-treated diabetic group [p=0.05], but no significant difference was seen between the experimental group treated with 50 mg/BW of Teucrium polium and diabetic group [p=0.08]. These data also revealed that treatment of diabetic rats with 100 mg/BW of Teucrium Polium extract significantly improves the change in serum glucose [p=0.001] and testosterone [p=0.03]

Conclusion: the results of the present study indicate that diabetes produces degenerative changes in the testis of rats and administration of Teucrium polium reduces complications resulted from diabetes

effects of nigella sativa hydro-alcoholic extract on memory and brain tissues oxidative damage after repeated seizures in rats

Regarding the therapeutic properties of Nigella sativa [NS], the effects of the plant hydro–alcoholic extract on learning, memory and brain tissues oxidative damage were investigated in penthylenetetrazole [PTZ]-induced repeated seizures. There were 4 experimental groups including: 1- control group; received saline, 2- PTZ group; received saline and PTZ [50 mg/Kg, i.p], 3- PTZ-NS 200 and 4- PTZ-NS 400 ; received 200 and 400 mg/Kg of NS extract respectively, before PTZ injection in 5 consecutive days. Seizure scores were lower in PTZ–NS 200 and 400, furthermore the seizure onset latencies were higher in these groups than PTZ group [P<0.05 and P<0.01]. In Morris water maze, the time spent in target quadrant by PTZ group was lower than control group [P<0.05]; while, 400 mg/Kg of the extract increased it [P<0.01]. In the passive avoidance test, delay time to enter the dark by PTZ group was lower than control at 1 and 24 hours after training [P<0.01 - P<0.001]; while, 400 mg/Kg of the extract increased it [P<0.05]. The total thiol concentration in hippocampal and cortical tissues of PTZ group was reduced while, MDA concentration was higher than control [p<0.05 - p<0.001]. Administration of the extract increased the total thiol and decreased the MDA concentrations [p<0.01 - p<0.001]. It is concluded that the hydro-alcoholic extract of NS possess beneficial effects on learning and memory impairments in repeated seizures model which is accompanied by antioxidant effects in the brain

Limited knowledge of chronic kidney disease and its main risk factors among Iranian community: an appeal for promoting national public health education programs

The aim of this survey was to explore the baseline knowledge of the Iranian community about Chronic Kidney Disease [CKD] definition and its two main risk factors, i.e. diabetes and hypertension. This study also introduced a model of public education program with the purpose of reducing the incidence of CKD in high-risk groups and thereby decreasing the economic burden of CKD in Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted on world kidney day 2013 in Isfahan, Iran. Self-administered anonymous questionnaires evaluating the knowledge of CKD and its risk factors were distributed among subjects who participated in a kidney disease awareness campaign. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to examine the differences in the level of knowledge across different socio-demographic groups. The questionnaires were completed by 748 respondents. The majority of these respondents believed that "pain in the flanks" and "difficulty in urination" was the early symptoms of CKD. Roughly, 10.4% knew that CKD could be asymptomatic in the initial stages. Only 12.7% knew diabetes and 14.4% knew hypertension was a CKD risk factor. The respondents who had a CKD risk factor [i.e. diabetes and/or hypertension] were significantly more likely than respondents without CKD risk factor to select "unmanaged diabetes" [Odds Ratio [OR]= 2.2, Confidence Interval [CI] [95%]: 1.4-3.6] and "unmanaged hypertension" [OR= 1.9, CI[95%]: 1.2-3.0] as "very likely to result in CKD". No more than 34.6% of all respondents with diabetes and/or hypertension reported that their physician has ever spoken with them about their increased risk for developing CKD. The knowledge of Iranian population about CKD and its risk factors is low. Future public health education programs should put efforts in educating Iranian community about the asymptomatic nature of CKD in its initial stages and highlighting the importance of regular renal care counseling. The high-risk individuals should receive tailored education and be encouraged to adopt lifestyle modifications to prevent or slow the progression of CKD

[ study of the status of use of drug plants and its related factors in Qom city, Iran]

Herbal medicine as a type of complementary medicine has long been used by different societies. The studies of the last two decades have indicated the growing use of drug plants in the world, sometimes without consulting a physician and with no knowledge about their side-effects. This study was done with the aim of determining the status of use of drug plants and its related factors in Qom city. This descriptive cross-sectional study was done on 372 people of Qom city in 2012, using convenience sampling. The data were collected through a questionnaire that its validity and reliability had been confirmed. The data were analyzed via frequency tables, chi 2, Mann-Whitney and Fisher's tests. Significance level was considered p<0.05. In this study, 35.48% and 11.55% of participants had used drug plants for treatment and prevention, respectively. The most cases of consumption belonged to abdominal pain [48.4%], cold [42.2%] and sore throat [35.8%], and the most used plants were mint [72.3%], Sisymbrium irio [65.1%] and cinnamon [62.9%]. The most important reason of use of drug plants were fewer side-effects [51.1%] and better results [39.9%] compared to chemical medicine. Among studied variables, a statistically significant relationship was observed between gender and the amount of using drug plants [p=0.01]. Concerning the results of this study, the most reason of using drug plants was their fewer side-effects compared to chemical drugs. So, it is necessary to give accurate information, at the society level, about their side-effects and possible interactions