Anti-inflammatory and protective effects of saffron extract in ischaemia/reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury.

AIM: Inflammation is one of the major challenges in the management of ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced acute kidney injury. Our aim was to assess the anti-inflammatory and protective effects of saffron extract against I/R-induced renal disturbances. METHODS: A total of 35 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 7) as sham, I/R and three groups of I/R that were pretreated with different doses of saffron extract (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, or 20 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. The I/R-induced renal inflammation was assessed by measuring leukocyte infiltration and mRNA expression levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and tumour necrotic factor-alpha. For the assessment of oxidative stress, thiobarbituric acid reactive species and antioxidant capacity of kidneys were measured in the right kidneys. In addition, plasma creatinine and urea-nitrogen concentrations were determined for renal functional disturbances. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance using the Duncan post hoc test. RESULTS: The I/R increased all of the measured parameters, except for the tissue level of ferric reducing/antioxidant power, which decreased. Pretreatment with saffron extract in all doses significantly reduced the severity of these disturbances in such a way that there were no significant differences between the FRAP level and urea-nitrogen concentrations between the sham and all three saffron extract-treated groups. However, the saffron extract could decrease the plasma creatinine concentration, malondialdehyde level, tumour necrotic factor-alpha and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression and leukocyte infiltration in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: The present study showed anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and protective effects for the hydro-ethanolic extract of saffron in I/R-induced acute kidney injury.

A study on the effects of the hydroalcholic extract of the aerial parts of Alhagi camelorum on prolactin and pituitary-gonadal activity in rats with hypercholesterolemia.

BACKGROUND: Although endocrine disorders are not a common cause of infertility, in some cases, testing thyroid function, and hypothalamus - pituitary - gonadal axis can determine the cause of infertility. We aimed to investigate the effect of the aerial parts of Alhagi camelorum extract on prolactin, cortisol and pituitary - gonadal axis activities in rats with hypercholesterolemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 35 male wistar rats in 5 groups (n = 7) were assigned as: control group with normal diet, the sham group with fat diet and three experimental groups of hypercholesterolaemic animals which received Alhagi camelorum extract at a minimum dose of 100 mg/kg, average dose of 200 ml/kg and maximum dose of 300 mg/kg over a period of 21 days. At the end of the period, blood samples were collected from all groups and blood factors were then measured and analyzed. RESULTS: In the sham group compared to the control, cholesterol levels increased and FSH levels decreased, whereas cholesterol levels reduced in the experimental groups. Alhagi camelorum extract also reduced testosterone level and increased prolactin and gonadotropins. CONCLUSION: Alhagi camelorum extract at low and average doses reduced cortisol, testosterone and cholesterol and increased gonadotropins. So it can cause reproductive disorders in male rats. The extract at maximum dose can increase cortisol and prolactin. As these two hormones work together to produce milk, this plant can help to boost breastfeeding.

Grape seed extract for reduction of renal disturbances following reperfusion in rats.

INTRODUCTION: Proanthocyanidines in grape seed extract (GSE) possess a wide array of pharmacological and biological actions, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, free radical scavenging, and vasodilatory properties as well as inhibition of phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenase, and lipooxygenase enzymes. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the oral administration of GSE on renal disturbances due to reperfusion injury in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups. They received a standard diet for two eeks. During this period, one group also received normal saline and GSE (50 mg/kg) daily. At the beginning of day 14, the rats in 2 groups underwent surgery and bilateral renal ischemia, and one group had sham operation. Urine and blood samples were taken and the kidneys were removed for histologic and enzyme studies. The control group did not receive any solutions and did not have surgery. RESULTS: The increased amount of plasma creatinine concentration induced by reperfusion injury was improved by GSE administration. In addition, urine osmolality increased in the GSE group in comparison with the reperfusion injury only group. The degrees of histological damages and oxidative stress that had increased following reperfusion injury were also significantly lower with GSE administration. CONCLUSIONS: Oral supplementation of GSE for 2 weeks may decrease histologic damages and oxidative stress, and as a result, may reduce kidney function disturbances following reperfusion injury.

Oral omega-3 fatty acid for reduction of kidney dysfunction induced by reperfusion injury in rats.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of oral administration of omega-3 fatty acid on kidney functional disturbances, histological damages, and oxidative stress due to reperfusion injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague Dawley rats received a standard diet for 2 weeks. Through gavage, the rats in acute kidney failure and omega-3 groups received 4 mL normal saline or omega-3 fatty acid (0.4 g/kg) daily. After 2 weeks, the rats underwent surgery and renal ischemia on both sides. During the last 6 hours, the rats were transferred to the metabolic cage for urine sampling. At the end of the period, blood samples were obtained from the aorta and the kidneys were removed for hematoxylin-eosin staining, histological analysis, and oxidative stress measurement. The sham group also received normal saline, but the operation was done without renal ischemia, whereas the control group did not received any substances or operation. RESULTS: The decrease in glomerular filtration rate induced by reperfusion was relatively improved by omega-3 administration, which resulted in the decrease in plasma urea and creatinine concentrations. In addition, the relative excretion of sodium and potassium, and urine flow rate decreased in the omega-3 group as compared with the acute kidney failure group. The degrees of histologic damages and oxidative stress that had increased following reperfusion injury were also significantly lowered by omega-3 administration. CONCLUSIONS: Preventive oral administration of omega-3 supplement may decrease histological damages, oxidative stress, and kidney dysfunction following reperfusion injury.

Innovations and discoveries of jorjani in medicine.

Theologian Seyed Esmaeel Jorjani (1041-1136), titled Zeinoddin and known as Jorjani, is one of the most famous Iranian physicians. Almost one thousand years ago, he did valuable compilations in the history of medicine and many of his medical views are, to a great extent, in line with the recent views. His most famous work is Zakhire Kharazmsha-hi. His innovations and practices in various branches of medical sciences are quite new and unique. Jorjani was very efficient in surgery and, in his main book Zakhire, he introduced different methods and instruments of surgery in a way that it shows his dexterity and depth of experience. He explained methods of stopping severe hemorrhage by casting them with plaster, treating the obstruction of air canals by tracheotomy, curing the difficulty in urination by catheterization, the exact method of removing apophasis and stitching the spot after cutting and paring in polyp surgery in full details. Jorjani also wrote about cancer, its difficulty of treatment, the necessity to avoid inciting it, and the impact of early treatment. In Zakhire, he pointed to the relationship between exophthalmos and goiter, and the relationship between outgrowth of thyroid and increase in heart rate; this way, he came to understand about the pathologic toxic reactions of thyrotoxicosis.