Quercetin postconditioning attenuates gastrocnemius muscle ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Quercetin, an antioxidant derived from plants, can play a beneficial role in the protection of various tissues against ischemia-reperfusion injuries (IRI). The purpose of the present research was to investigate the protective effects of quercetin on gastrocnemius muscle ischemia-reperfusion. A total of 80 adult male Wistar rats (weights: 250-300 g) were divided into ten groups (n = 8 per group). We used silk 6.0 surgical thread to create a knit to occlude the femoral artery and vein for 3 hr. The treated groups, which comprised half of each experimental group, received intraperitoneal injections of 150 mg/kg quercetin after the ischemia. Blood flow was subsequently reestablished in the reperfusion phase. The rats were kept in reperfusion for 3, 7, 14, or 28 days after which they were killed with high doses of anesthetic drugs, and the gastrocnemius muscles were removed and fixed. Tissue processing, hematoxylin and eosin and toluidine blue staining, and immunohistochemistry were used to assess tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) levels. A comparison between treated and untreated ischemic sites showed that on the third day of reperfusion, the severity of edema and NF-κB level decreased significantly; on the 7th day of reperfusion, the severity of edema and the levels of TNF-α and NF-κB decreased significantly; and on the 14th day of reperfusion, all of the parameters showed significant decreases. On the 28th day of reperfusion, there were significantly decreased levels of TNF-α and NF-κB, and decreased mast cell infiltration when compared with the untreated groups. According to the results, administration of quercetin after ischemia could significantly prevent gastrocnemius muscle IRI.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids and DNA methylation in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has been designated a major global problem, especially due to its high prevalence in developed countries. CRC mostly occurs sporadically (75%-80%), and only 20%-25% of patients have a family history. Several processes are involved in the development of CRC such as a combination of genetic and epigenetic alterations. Epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation play a vital role in the progression of CRC. Complex interactions between susceptibility genes and environmental factors, such as a diet and sedentary lifestyle, lead to the development of CRC. Clinical and experimental studies have confirmed the beneficial effects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in preventing CRC. From a mechanistic viewpoint, it has been suggested that PUFAs are pleiotropic agents that alter chromatin remodeling, membrane structure and downstream cell signaling. Moreover, PUFAs can alter the epigenome via modulation of DNA methylation. In this review, we summarize recent investigations linking PUFAs and DNA methylation-associated CRC risk.

Phytotherapy in Streptococcusagalactiae: An Overview of the Medicinal Plants Effective against Streptococcus agalactiae.

Streptococcus agalactiae is a spherical and Gram-positive bacterium that causes postpartum sepsis, endometritis, chorioamnionitis and premature delivery in pregnant women. The use of herbs and natural ingredients for the treatment of various disorders has been common. The present review is a report on the medicinal plants with anti-Streptococcus agalactiae effects. In this review, the search was carried out in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and Science direct by keywords such as bacteria, Streptococcus agalactiae and medicinal plants. According to the search results, 10 medicinal plants are used as anti-bacterial against Streptococcus agalactiae. Results of this study suggest that the active ingredients listed in this review paper used for pharmacological studies on Streptococcus agalactiae so it can produce effective natural antibiotic for the future.