Evaluation of antioxidant potential of Heliotropium bacciferum Forssk extract and wound healing activity of its topical formulation in rat.

Wound healing is a dynamic process that occurs in the tissue under the skin. During this process, oxidative stress biomarkers are excessively produced, which finally lead to inflammation and cellular damage. In this study, efforts have been made to evaluate the antioxidant effect and wound healing activity topical formulation containing Heliotropium bacciferum Forssk extract. The in vitro antioxidant properties were evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activities and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The herbal ointments (2.5% w/w and 5% w/w) were prepared from the hydroalcoholic extract of H. bacciferum Forssk and administrated on the induced wounds in Wistar rats. The chromatic assay, percentage of wound contraction, and histopathological studies were used for evaluating the wound healing activity. For the evaluation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), catalase (CAT) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH) levels were examined. The DPPH method showed tremendous radical scavenging activities at the corresponding concentrations with EC50 value of 80µg/mL. Topical application of the ointment (5% w/w) showed the highest wound contraction in comparison to the positive control (treated with CICALFATE™) and the control group (treated with normal saline). Similarly, the histological study of the group treated with the extract ointment (5% w/w) showed full collagen tissue deposition with a complete epidermal regeneration. The results of the assessment of GSH levels as well as CAT and SOD activities in the treated group (5% w/w) confirmed the scavenging property of the extract ointment. Our findings indicated the proper wound healing impact of the topical formulation of H. bacciferum Forssk due to its notable antioxidant capacity.

Establishment of a Modified in Vitro Cultivation of Protoscoleces to Adult Echinococcus granulosus; an Important Way for New Investigations on Hydatidosis.

BACKGROUND: Echinococcus granulosus, a zoonotic cestode parasite, causative agent of hydatid cyst is endemic in many parts of the world including the Middle East. Study on different aspects of this parasite is very important and valuable. However, working with adult worms which their habitat situated in the small intestine of canids, is dangerous and risky. Achieving such risky situation needs a controlled condition which is cultivation of the organisms in the laboratory. In this regard, cultivation of E. granulosus protoscoleces leading to adult worms was established in the laboratory for the first time in Iran. METHODS: Under aseptic conditions a number of protoscoleces were cultivated in diphasic S.10E.H medium using CO2 incubator to produce adult worms. RESULTS: Different forms of parasites including pre-segmentation stages (PS1 - PS4) and segmentation stages (S5-S8) and developing stages in segmented worms (S10-S11) were observed and evaluated in these medium. Finally adult worms contained four proglottids with a large and distinct genital pore were observed 50-55 days post cultivation. These parasites do not produce fertile eggs and conclusively do not have risk of hydatid disease transmission to the researchers. CONCLUSION: The mentioned method for producing E. granulosus adult worms can open a new window for researches and facilitate working on different aspects of hydatidosis especially for diagnosis, protection and treatment studies.

Protective effect of pretreatment with thymoquinone against Aflatoxin B(1) induced liver toxicity in mice.

BACKGROUND AND THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Thymoquinone (TQ) is one of the active components of Nigella sativa. The plant has been used in herbal medicine for treatment of many diseases including liver complications. The present study aimed to investigate protective effects of TQ on Aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) induced liver toxicity in mice. METHODS: Animals were divided into six groups and treated intraperitoneally. Group 1 (blank) served as vehicle, group 2 (positive control) received AFB(1), Group 3 was treated with 9 mg/kg of TQ, Groups 4, 5 and 6 were treated with 4.5, 9 and 18 mg/kg of TQ, respectively. After three consecutive days, except for groups 1 and 3, animals were administered with a single dose of AFB(1) (2 mg/kg). All the animals were killed 24 hrs following the AFB(1) administration under ether anesthesia. Biochemical parameters including AST, ALT and ALP in serum samples and glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in liver homogenates were determined. Liver sections were collected for histopathological examination. RESULTS: Findings of this study showed that AST, ALT, ALP and MDA levels were significantly lower in the TQ treated animals as compared to AFB(1) group (group 2). Furthermore, TQ was able to recover glutathione content (GSH) of liver tissue. The best response, however, was observed with the dose of 9 mg/kg. Liver sections of AFB(1) intoxicated mice showed inflammation, necrosis, hyperplasia of kupffer and infiltration of mononuclear cells, dilation of sinusoids and disruption of hepatocytes, while treatment with TQ helped to normalize liver architecture in accordance to biochemical findings. CONCLUSION: Taken collectively, TQ has a protective role with optimum dose of 9 mg/kg in AFB(1) hepatotoxicity.

Antimicrobial activity of different Lactobacillus species against multi- drug resistant clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

BACKGROUND: Lactobacilli are the well known friendly bacteria for their probiotic activities against pathogens. The inhibitory activity of different strains of lactobacilli either obtained as commercial products or isolated from human feces was investigated against the clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The isolates were selected as the most resistant strains when challenged with anti-pseudomonal antibiotics already in clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Both the plate spot test as well as the agar cup method were used for screening of Lactobacillus strains against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. RESULTS: A Lactobacillus acidophilus strain isolated from feces of an Iranian child showed a strong anti-pseudomonal activity (90 percent after 72h incubation) against the multi-drug resistant clinical isolates while a Lactobacillus reuteri strain isolated from a commercial oral product resulted in relatively weak response and a Lactobacillus acidophilus strain isolated from a commercial vaginal product did not show any inhibitory activity. In a kinetic study the lactobacillus sensitive Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed a significant bacteriostatic activity in vitro in the presence of lactobacillus supernatants. CONCLUSION: Some lactobacilli exhibit significant inhibitory activity against the multidrug resistant clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.