Search

Objective: Numerous therapeutics and pharmacological properties have been reported in syringic acid (SA). In this study, we aimed to evaluate effect of SA in ulcerative colitis (UC) in rats considering effect on TLR4, NF-κB, and INOS pathways. Materials and methods: 48 Wistar rats were randomly designated into six groups (n = 8). UC was induced via intra-rectal administration of 7% acetic acid (0.8 ml). SA at doses of 10, 25, 50 mg/kg was administrated through gavage, and dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) administrated intra-peritoneally for 5 consecutive days. The macroscopic and histopathological damages as well as expression of inflammatory and apoptotic genes along with superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), nitric oxide (NO), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the colon tissue were assessed. Results: UC led to an increase in the apoptotic and inflammatory genes, NO and MDA levels as well as decrease in TAC level, and SOD and CAT activities (p < 0.05). UC also caused severe damage, edema, inflammation, and necrosis in the colon. SA significantly reduced gene expressions of INOS, TLR4, IL-6, IL-1β, NF-κB, Caspase-3, Caspase-8, and Bax. SA ameliorated negative macroscopic and histopathologic effects of UC. SA significantly reduced MDA and NO levels, and increased TAC level and CAT activity in the colon tissue in comparison to the UC rats without treatment (p < 0.05). Conclusion: SA via attenuation of the TLR4-NF-κB, NF-κB-INOS-NO pathways, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis of UC in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seizure is paroxysmal abnormal electrical discharges in the cerebral cortex. Inflammatory pathways and oxidative stress are involved in the pathophysiology of seizures. Stress can induce an oxidative stress state and increase the production of inflammatory mediators in the brain. We investigated the effects of acute and chronic stresses on the seizure threshold in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures in mice, considering oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators in the prefrontal cortex. In this study, 30 male Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice were divided into 3 groups, including acute stress, chronic stress, and control groups. PTZ was used for the induction of seizures. The gene expression of inflammatory markers (IL-1β, TNF-α, NLRP3, and iNOS), malondialdehyde (MDA) level, nitrite level, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were assessed in the prefrontal cortex and serum. Our results showed that stress could increase the expression of inflammatory cytokines genes and oxidative stress in the prefrontal cortex of the brain and serum following PTZ-induced seizures, which is associated with increased seizure sensitivity and decreased the seizure threshold. The effects of chronic stress were much more significant than acute stress. We concluded that the effects of chronic stress on seizure sensitivity and enhancement of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress are much greater than acute stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Today, the attention of researchers has been drawn to the use of medicinal plant for the treatment of kidney stones. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of five plants used in traditional medicine on the dissolution of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate stones. Then, the ability of more effective plants to dissolve stones collected from patients after Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy was investigated. Methods: The aerial part of plants were extracted by maceration method. The synthesized stones in laboratory were incubated with different concentrations of the extract. Next, the concentrations of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate were measured by a calcium kit and BT 3000. The effect of the extract with the best activity on the stones collected from the patients was also studied. The composition of clinical stones was determined by colorimetric method. The total phenolic content (TPC) of the extracts was determined. Results: The highest dissolution of calcium oxalate stones was observed by the G. struthium extract and the highest dissolution of calcium phosphate stones by the A. euchroma and A. officinalis root extracts. The dissolution percentage of clinical stones by the A. euchroma extract was significantly higher than other extract (P < 0.05). The highest TPC was observed in A. euchroma extract (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The A. euchroma extract exhibited the greatest dissolution activity on laboratory calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate stones as well as clinical stones made of high amounts of calcium oxalate. Therefore, the extract can be effective in preventing and treating kidney stones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]