RESUMO
Background and Objective: Alzheimer's disease is an age-related disease that is characterized by dementia and loss of neurons in the brain. It has been shown that brain oxidative stress plays an important role in aging and neurodegenerative disorders. This study was done to evaluate the effect of grape seed extract [GSE] on memory impairment induced by intracerebroventricular [ICV] injection of streptozotocin [STZ] in animal model of Alzheimer's disease
Methods: In this experimental study, Eighty adult male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into control, sham, grape seed extract [100 mg/kg/bw, 30 days, orally] plus STZ and STZ plus grape seed extract. Animals memory were evaluated using Morris water maze, shuttle box and T maze tests
Results: Intracerebroventricular injection of STZ caused memory corruption in all tests. Administration of GSE before and after of administration of intracerebroventricular STZ in the Morris water maze test, significantly reduced latency to get to the hidden platform compared to Alzheimer's group [P<0.05]. The latency to enter the dark compartment in passive avoidance memory test significantly increased in compare to animal model of Alzheimer's disease [P<0.05]. The selection of the right arm of the T-maze test in animals that received grape seed extract before and after of STZ injection significantly increased compared to animal model of Alzheimer's disease [P<0.05]
Conclusion: Grape seed extract has important effect in prevention and improving memory impairment induced by intracerebventricular injection of STZ
RESUMO
Dill [Anethum graveolens] from Umbelliferae is used traditionally to treat convulsions and increasing milk production. Also, in Darab [Fars Province] and Yazd dill fruit is used traditionally to prevent abortion. Its antimicrobial, antihyperlipidaemic, anti-hypercholesteroaemic effects and reducing gastric acid secretion have been reported. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of dill fruit hydroalcoholic [DFHE] extract on virgin rat uterus contractions induced by KCI [60mM] and oxytocin [10 mU/ml]. Macerated method was used for extract preparation. Virgin Sprague Dawley female rats were pretreated with an injection of estradiol valerate [5mg/kg, s.c.] 24 hours prior to experiment. Rats were killed and uteri were dissected and mounted in an isolated organ bath containing De Jalon solutions [29°C] bubbled by oxygen. Contractile responses were recorded isometrically under 1g initial tension. The DFHE [0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 mg/ml] relaxed both KC1- and oxytocin-induced contractions dosedependently [p<0.0001]. However, the spasmolytic effect of extract on oxytocin-induced contractions was more potent. In Ca[2+] -free, rich K+ [120mM] De Jalon solution, cumulative adding of calcium [0.15, 0.3, 0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 mM], increased contractions dose dependently [p<0.0001]. DFHE [4 mg/ml] shifted this dose-response curve to the right [p<0.05]. In Ca[2+] free solution, oxytocin induced strong contractions if calcium [0.3 mM] was added to the bath. However, DFHE [8 mg/ml] reduced calcium-induced contraction [p<0.001]. The spasmolytic effect of DFHE was reversible. The spasmolytic effect of DFHE [4 mg/ml] was affected neither by propranolol [1micro M] nor by L-NAME [100 micro M]. These results suggest that the relaxatory effect of DFHE on KCI and oxytocin-induced uterus contractions is due, at least in part, to blockade voltage dependent calcium channels and partly by disturbing in releasing calcium from intracellular pool indirectly. In addition, the beta-adrenoceptors and NO are not involved in this inhibitory effect of DFHE. Our results may also support the traditionally usage of dill fruit for preventing abortion