ABSTRACT
The original publication of this paper contains mistake. Below you will find the needed corrections.
ABSTRACT
Depression is a significant public health concern all over the world, especially in modern communities. This study aims to assess the efficacy of musk in alleviating the behavioral, biochemical and histopathological changes induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in an animal model of depression and to explore the underlying mechanism of this effect. Male Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups (n = 10): control, CUMS, CUMS+fluoxetine and CUMS+musk. At the end of the experiment, behavioral tests were administered and serum corticosterone and testosterone levels were assessed. Surface markers, proteins and gene expressions of brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) in the hippocampus were assessed. The immunoexpression of glial fibrillary acidic protein, Ki67 and caspase-3 was also assessed. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and a P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Musk alleviated the behavioral changes caused by CUMS and reduced elevated corticosterone levels. It reduced CUMS-induced neuronal atrophy in the CA3 and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and restored astrocytes. Musk reduced the neuro- and glial apoptosis observed in stressed mice in a manner comparable to that of fluoxetine. Musk induced these effects through up-regulating both BDNF and GR gene and protein expressions. Musk has an antidepressant-like effect in an animal model of depression, so it is advisable to assess its efficacy in people continually exposed to stressors.
Subject(s)
Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use , Depression/drug therapy , Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated/therapeutic use , Animals , Antidepressive Agents/pharmacology , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/genetics , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism , Caspase 3/metabolism , Corticosterone/blood , Depression/blood , Depression/genetics , Disease Models, Animal , Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated/blood , Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated/pharmacology , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Gene Expression Regulation , Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/metabolism , Hippocampus/drug effects , Hippocampus/pathology , Ki-67 Antigen/metabolism , Maze Learning/drug effects , Mice , RNA, Messenger/genetics , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Receptors, Glucocorticoid/genetics , Receptors, Glucocorticoid/metabolism , Testosterone/metabolismABSTRACT
The antihyperglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects of the methanolic extract of Caralluma tuberculata were investigated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The antihyperglycaemic activity was assessed by the reduction in fasting blood glucose (54% at 4th week) and the peak of blood glucose at 120?min of an oral glucose tolerance test in diabetic rats. Further, the tested extract also increased plasma insulin by 206.8%. The hypolipidaemic action of the extract was evident by the significant decrease in the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol by 41.5%, 36.7% and 49.1%, respectively, compared to diabetic rat values. Interestingly, the extract increased the cardio-protective lipid HDL-cholesterol by 147.97% as compared to diabetic rat value. The present data suggests that the methanolic extract of C. tuberculata has both antihyperglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects in STZ-induced diabetic rats that may need further studies to be used in the management of diabetes and associated hyperlipedaemia.
Subject(s)
Apocynaceae/chemistry , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/drug therapy , Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology , Hypolipidemic Agents/pharmacology , Phytotherapy/methods , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Analysis of Variance , Animals , Blood Glucose/analysis , Cholesterol/blood , Glucose Tolerance Test , Hypoglycemic Agents/analysis , Hypolipidemic Agents/analysis , Insulin/blood , Methanol , Plant Extracts/analysis , Rats , Triglycerides/bloodABSTRACT
Marrubium vulgare and Withania somnifera are used in folk medicine of several countries. Many researches showed that they are used for the treatment of variety of diseases due to their antioxidant effects. The present aim of this study was to evaluate the antihepatotoxic and antioxidant activities of the both extracts against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic damage in rats. Both extracts were given orally in a dose of 500 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks along with CCl4 started at the 7th week of induction of hepatotoxicity. The antihepatotoxic activity was assessed by measuring aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH), tissue content and malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as histopathological examination. Both extracts showed a significant antihepatotoxic effect by reducing significantly the levels of AST, ALT and LDH. However, ALP levels were decreased non-significantly. Regarding the antioxidant activity, they exhibited significant effects by increasing the GPx, GR and GST activities with increased GSH tissue contents and decreased production of MDA level. Furthermore, both extracts alleviated histopathological changes in rats' liver treated with CCl4. M. vulgare and W. somnifera protect the rats' liver against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. This effect may be attributed, at least in part, to the antioxidant activities of these extracts.
ABSTRACT
The authors investigated a type of silicone rubber (SR) nipple for toxicity, caused by chemical migrants, on reproduction and pregnancy outcomes. They followed an extraction method (set forth in the 20th revised edition of the United States Pharmacopeia) in which sesame oil was a vehicle. They prepared the extract daily and administered it orally (50 ml/kg of body weight) into pregnant Swiss albino mice from gestation Day 0 until delivery. They gave a control group of mice the pure vehicle that was subjected to the same conditions. The authors recorded pregnancy weight gain, gestation period, litter size, stillbirths, and offspring sex ratio. They performed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for pregnancy hormones (progesterone, estradiol, and prolactin) for each trimester and monitored birth weight, growth rate, and sex hormone levels (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and estradiol in females; testosterone in males) in offspring. The authors detected SR-extractable chemicals by means of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The decrease in weight gain from Day 6 of gestation until delivery and the shortness in the gestation period were significant in dams (p< or = .05). Newly born pups demonstrated a significantly (p < or = .05) lower body weight that continued with age, and this became highly significant (p< or = .01) from Day 6. Blood hormone levels in dams and offspring indicated no significance. In conclusion, the studied SR nipples indicated leachability, which could affect reproduction, without a manifest endocrine modulation.
