ABSTRACT
Objective: Medicago sativa (M. sativa) has been traditionally used for treating anemia; therefore, M. sativa hydro-ethanolic extract therapeutic effects against cyclophosphamide (CP) -induced hematologic and liver toxicity were examined. Materials and Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided to control (saline); CP (100 mg/kg, day 1-3, subcutaneously); CP+ M. sativa 200 mg/kg (MS 200); CP+ M. sativa 400 mg/kg (MS 400); CP+ dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg), (all groups n=6). Treated animals received M. sativa or dexamethasone by gavage from days 7-14. On days 0, 7, and 14, hematologic parameters, and on the 14th day, serum and liver tissue oxidative stress markers including nitric oxide, malondialdehyde (MDA) and total thiol levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, serum lipids, and liver enzymes were measured. Results: Animal weight, platelet, white blood cells, and red blood cells counts, hemoglobin and hematocrit as well as thiol, SOD, and CAT activities in serum and liver tissue were significantly reduced, but serum nitric oxide, MDA, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins levels, and liver enzymes were increased in the CP group compared to the control group (p<0.05 to p<0.001). Administering M. sativa extract (400 mg/kg) significantly enhanced platelet count, and SOD and CAT activities and inhibited all of the CP toxic effects, while dexamethasone improved platelet count and oxidative stress markers compared to the CP group (p<0.05 to p<0.001). Conclusion: The extract of M. sativa (400 mg/kg) showed therapeutic effects against the CP-induced myelosuppression and thrombocytopenia and improved oxidative stress markers which were comparable to the effect of dexamethasone.
ABSTRACT
The anti-diabetic effects of Ribes khorasanicum as a traditional remedy were investigated in diabetic rats. Thirty-five male rats were divided into five groups: control, diabetic, diabetic treated with metformin (300 mg kg-1; D+Met), diabetic treated with 250 and 500 mg kg-1 of Ribes khorasanicum hydro-ethanolic extract (D+Rib250 and D+Rib500). After six weeks of treatment, sera of overnight fasted animals were collected and used for measurement of glucose, insulin, lipid profile, urea, creatinine, and hepatic enzymes levels. Moreover, liver and kidney of rats were removed and used for measurement of oxidative stress including malondialdehyde (MDA), thiol content, and the activity of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes increased the levels of serum glucose, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and LDL-C, urea, creatinine, hepatic enzymes, and kidney and liver oxidative stress markers, while decreased insulin and HDL-C when compared to control group. In all treated groups serum levels of glucose, TC, LDL-C, TG, and urea were decreased, while liver SOD activity was increased compared to the diabetic group. The D+Rib500 group had lower Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), creatinine, and kidney MDA levels, but higher insulin, HDL-C levels, liver CAT activity, and kidney thiol content, and CAT activity compared to diabetic group. In D+Met group, serum levels of serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), creatinine, and MDA of liver and kidney were decreased, while liver SOD activity was increased compared to the diabetic group. Based on our findings, treatment with Ribes khorasanicum improved diabetic complications, while the effect of a higher dose of the extract was comparable to metformin's.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Effects of Commiphora mukul and Commiphora myrrha ethanolic extracts and Terminalia chebula hydro-ethanolic extract combination were evaluated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats (n=48) were randomly assigned into: control; diabetic; diabetic+metformin (300 mg/kg); diabetic+dose 1 of herbal combination (438 mg/kg of C. mukul+214 mg/kg of C. myrrha+857 mg/kg of T. chebula); diabetic+dose 2 (642 mg/kg of C. mukul+214 mg/kg of C. myrrha+642 mg/kg of T. chebula); and diabetic+dose 3 (857 mg/kg of C. mukul+438 mg/kg of C. myrrha+1714 mg/kg t of T. chebula). All treatments were given orally by gavage. Diabetes was induced by STZ (60 mg/kg, i.p.). At the end of study (day 28), blood glucose, insulin and lipid profile; as well as hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and thiol content, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were determined. RESULTS: In diabetic rats, plasma glucose, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and LDL-C, as well as hepatic MDA levels were elevated but plasma HDL-C and insulin, and hepatic thiol content and SOD and CAT activities were reduced compared to control (p<0.01-p<0.001). In diabetic+dose 3, plasma TC, TG, and LDL-C and hepatic MDA level decreased (p<0.001), while plasma HDL-C and insulin, and hepatic thiol content, and SOD and CAT activities increased compared to diabetic (p<0.01-p<0.001). Treatment with dose 1 and 2 improved such abnormalities in diabetic rats except for insulin level (p<0.05-p<0.001). The herbal combination effects were comparable to those of metformin. Metformin did not significantly change serum insulin and HDL-C levels, and hepatic SOD activity; however, serum levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C, as well as hepatic MDA levels, thiol content and CAT activity were improved compared to diabetic (p<0.05-p<0.001). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that this herbal combination acts as an anti-diabetic, antioxidant and hypolipidemic agent and it may be suggested as a beneficial remedy for diabetic patients.
