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Background and purpose: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are a significant discovery in nanotechnology, with widespread applications in modern technology. However, there are concerns about their potential toxicity, particularly in skin cells. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which CNTs induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in mouse skin fibroblasts. Experimental approach: The mice skin fibroblasts were isolated and exposed to two types of CNTs at various concentrations and then analyzed for changes in viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, the levels of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and lactate production. Findings/Results: The results demonstrated that CNTs reduced cell viability and increased ROS production in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, the current study found that CNTs increased the protein levels of Bax, a pro-apoptotic protein, in mouse skin fibroblasts. Furthermore, it was observed a significant decrease in lactate production in cells exposed to CNTs. Conclusion and implications: The findings concluded that CNTs have the potential to be toxic substances for skin fibroblasts, which serve as the body's first line of defense. This is evidenced by their ability to increase the production of ROS and the protein levels of Bax, as well as reduce lactic acid levels. As lactic acid has been reported to have beneficial effects on skin collagen production, further studies are needed to fully understand the impact of carbon nanotube exposure on human skin health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclophosphamide is a drug used in chemotherapy. However, it has side effects, including changes in reproductive system functioning. Some herbal compounds can reduce the harmful effects of cyclophosphamide. This study aims to investigate the protective role of crocin against changes caused by Cyclophosphamide in ovarian tissue through changes in the expression of genes involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. This experimental study was performed on 24 adult female Wistar rats. Mice were divided into four groups (normal saline, 30 mg/kg cyclophosphamide, 100 mg/kg crocin and 30 mg/kg cyclophosphamide, and 200 mg/kg crocin and 30 mg/kg cyclophosphamide). At the end of the treatment period, the hypothalamus and ovaries were also removed to evaluate ob-Rb, ob-Ra, and NPY genes expression using real-time PCR and histological changes in the ovaries. Data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software. The expression of genes, number of follicles, and follicle diameter significantly decreased in the cyclophosphamide-treated groups compared with the control group. In the crocin and cyclophosphamide-treated groups, drug-induced reproductive complications were mitigated. The current findings indicate that by increasing the expression of genes ob-Rb, ob-Ra, and NPY, crocin could modulate the harmful effects of cyclophosphamide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Previously, we reported the anti-inflammatory properties of Nasturtium officinale (watercress) in several models of acute inflammation. This study was designed to explore the effects of topical and systemic administrations of N. officinale in the two chronic inflammatory models and to evaluate the role of TNF-α and IL-1β in these effects. Experimental approach: Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods were used to estimate the extract's total phenol and flavonoid content, respectively. Carrageenan-induced paw edema was carried out and TNF-α and IL-1β concentrations in the carrageenan-treated paw tissue were determined. Formalin injection into rat hind paws (7 days) and the application of 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on mouse ears (9 days) were used to simulate chronic inflammation. Furthermore, a histological assessment of the inflamed tissues was carried out. Findings/Results: The extract's flavonoid and phenolic contents were 90.26 ± 4.81 mg rutin equivalents/g and 68 ± 8.16 gallic acid equivalents/g gallic acid, respectively. N. officinale pretreatment in all doses administered considerably decreased carrageenan-induced edema. The extract also reduced IL-1β levels in carrageenan- treated paws while did not affect TNF-α levels. Oral and topical administrations of N. officinale considerably reserved the paw and ear edema. The extract also ameliorated the tissue injuries due to formalin and TPA challenges. Conclusion and implications: The data confirmed the topical and systemic anti-inflammatory effects of watercress against two chronic models of inflammation. They suggested that these properties are not related to TNF-α but could be attributed to inhibition of IL-1β and inhibition of leukocyte infiltration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activities of S. pilifera (HESP) in two sub-acute models of inflammation and clarified some possible mechanisms. Experimental approach: Colorimetric methods were used to determine total phenol and flavonoid contents. Carrageenan or formalin-induced rat paw edema (seven days) and multiple application TPA-induced ear edema in mice (9 days) were used. The concentration of IL-1 and TNF-α were measured in the inflamed paw, as well as MDA levels in the serum and liver. Histopathological studies and in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of the extract were also studied using heat-or hypotonicity-induced hemolysis in RBC humans. Findings/Results: Total phenol and flavonoid contents of HESP were 101.35 ± 2.96 mg GAE/g extract and 660.79 ± 10.06 mg RE g extract, respectively. Oral (100 and 200 mg/kg) and topical application (5 mg/ear) of HESP significantly inhibited formalin-induced paw edema and multiple TPA-induced ear edema. The extract also significantly decreased the serum and liver levels of MDA in the carrageenan and formalin tests. The elevated levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in the carrageenan-injected paw were not affected by HESP. The extract (50-800 μg/mL) inhibited heat-or hypotonicity-induced hemolysis. Histopathological examination of the inflamed tissues revealed that HESP inhibited congestion and leukocyte infiltration. Conclusion and implications: The findings confirmed the potent anti-inflammatory effects of S. pilifera in two sub-acute inflammation models and suggested that these properties were not related to IL-1 and TNF-α, but could be attributed to inhibition of lipid peroxidation, membrane stabilization, and inhibition of leukocyte penetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a major public health problem worldwide. The most important considerable features of cancer cells are uncontrolled proliferation, up-regulated differentiation, and immortality. Crocin, as a bioactive compound of saffron and as a water-soluble carotenoid has radical scavenging, antihyperlipidemia, memory improving, and inhibition of tumor growth effects. The present review was designed to evaluate molecular mechanisms underlying crocin effects against cancer cell lines. Data of this review have been collected from the scientific articles published in databases such as Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, and Scientific Information Database from 1982 to 2019. According to various literature, crocin inhibits tumor growth, and its spread in several types of cancer including colorectal, pancreatic, breast, and prostate, as well as chronic myelogenous and leukemia. It inhibits telomerase activity, microtubule polymerization, cyclin D1, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), multidrug resistanceassociated protein (MRP1), and MRP2 overexpression. Crocin can induce apoptosis through activation of caspase 8, up-regulation of p53 expression, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and down-regulation expression of Bcl- 2, survivin, and cyclin D1. It also down-regulates matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 (MMP2 and MMP9), N-cadherin, and beta-catenin expression, which are involved in tumor invasion and metastasis. Tumor invasion was also inhibited by crocin through increasing E-cadherin expression, cell cycle suppression at G1, G0/G1, S, and G2/M phases. Crocin has therapeutic and preventive effects on cancer cells line. Therefore, it has been suggested that this agent can be administered in patients that suffer from this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of the hydro-alcoholic extract of aerial parts of Artemisia dracunculus (HAAD) against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Materials and Methods: The antioxidant activity was evaluated by reducing power, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 20-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. Rats were pre-treated with either 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of HAAD or silymarin (100 mg/kg; served as the positive control group) for 15 days and they received a single dose of CCl4 on the last day. Hepatoprotective effects were investigated by assessment of serum biochemical enzymes such as alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP), total bilirubin (TB), malondialdehyde (MDA), and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GST and GSH), along with histopathological studies. Results: Total phenolic content was 197.22±3.73 mg gallic acid equivalent/g HAAD dry weight. HAAD indicated powerful activity in FRAP, DPPH and ABTS tests. Acute toxicity study showed that the extract had an LD50 of >5000 mg/kg. Oral treatment with HAAD exhibited a significant decrease in the levels of AST, ALT, ALP and TB and an increase in the level of TP. The extract significantly diminished MDA levels. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes were significantly augmented in rats pretreated with HAAD 200 mg/kg. Histopathological examination demonstrated lower liver damage in HAAD-treated groups as compared to CCl4 groups. Conclusion: Our findings indicated hepatoprotective effects of the hydro-alcoholic extract of A. dracunculus on CCl4-induced hepatic damage in rats and suggested that these effects may be produced by reducing oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The goal of the present work was to identify the 3D structure of the Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CLR1) protein through homology modeling. It is a lipid mediator of inflammation in airways, which successfully targeted for drug development in asthma. Homology modeling is a process, which creates a protein with no identified 3D structure (the target) from its amino acid sequence and an experimentally determined 3D structure of a related homologous protein (the template). Material and Methods: The amino acid sequence of CLR1 was obtained from the uniprot database (http://www.uniprot.org) (accession no. Q9Y271). The BLAST (basic local alignment search tool) software was exerted to find the homologous protein structures as the template for protein modeling of CLR1. The multiple sequence alignment of the template sequences and the CLR1 sequence was done using the Clustal Omega program. Homology modeling of the TLR7 was implemented using MODELLER 9.17 software. One hundred models were constructed and the best model was chosen based on DOPE (Discrete Optimized Protein Energy) score. This model was therefore utilized for further analysis. Results: According to the blast results, proteins with PDB ID 4XNV, 4XT1, 4YAY, 4ZUD and 5C1M were selected as template for multiple template homology modeling. As shown in Figure 1, the best modeled CLR1 with DOPE score - 33441.07 was selected for further analysis. Conclusion: This study performs as the first work providing a satisfying estimation of the structure of the CLR1 protein, resulting in the composition of a theoretical model of the 3D structure of CLR1 using computational techniques and homology modeling for in silico studies about asthma entrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the present study was to specify the 3D structure of the toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) protein through homology modeling. It is a member of the toll-like receptor superfamily and a single-stranded viral RNA receptor that is expressed in the airways and has a considerable interest as a therapeutic target in asthma. Homology modeling is a process, which creates a protein with no identified 3D structure (the target) from its amino acid sequence and an experimentally determined 3D structure of a related homologous protein (the template). Material and Methods: The amino acid sequence of TLR7 was obtained from the uniprot database (http://www.uniprot.org) (accession no. Q9NYK1). The BLAST (basic local alignment search tool) software was recruited to find the homologous protein structures as the template for protein modeling of TLR7. The multiple sequence alignment of the template sequences and the TLR7 sequence was done using the Clustal Omega program. Homology modeling of TLR7 was implemented using MODELLER 9.17 program. One hundred models were constructed and the best model was chosen based upon DOPE (Discrete Optimized Protein Energy) score. This model was therefore used for further analysis. Results: According to the blast results, proteins with PDB ID 3W3G, 3WPB, 5GMF and 5HDH were selected as template for multiple template homology modeling. As illustrated in Figure 1, the best modeled TLR7 with DOPE score - 109781.10 was selected for further analysis. Conclusion: This study serves as the first work providing an acceptable approximation of the structure of the TLR7 protein, resulting in the construction of a theoretical model of the 3D structure of TLR7 using computational techniques and homology modeling for in silico studies about asthma candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the 3D structure of the neuropeptide S receptor (NPSR) protein through homology modeling. This receptor is a member of the GPCRs (G-protein coupled receptors) superfamily of integral membrane proteins. Mutations in this protein's gene associate with asthma disease. Homology modeling is a process which constructs an atomic resolution of a protein with no determined three dimensional structure (the target) from its amino acid sequence and an experimentally determined 3D structure of a related homologous protein (the template). Material and Methods: The amino acid sequence of NPSR was obtained from the uniprot database (http://www.uniprot.org) (accession no. Q6W5P4). The BLAST (basic local alignment search tool) software was used to find the homologous protein structures as the template for protein modeling of NPSR. The Clustal Omega program with default parameters was used for multiple sequence alignment of the template sequences and the NPSR sequence. Homology modeling of NPSR was performed by using MODELLER 9.17 program. One hundred models were built and the best model was chosen based upon DOPE (Discrete Optimized Protein Energy) score. This model was therefore used for model analysis and validation in order to survey the reliability of the predicted model. Results: Based on the blast results, proteins with PDB ID 2VT4, 2Y00, 5A8E, 4S0V, 4BVN and 4XEE were selected as template for multiple template homology modeling. As shown in Figure 1, the best model NPSR with DOPE score -38531.87 was selected for further analysis. Conclusion: This study serves as the first work providing an acceptable approximation of the structure of the NPSR protein, resulting in the creation of a theoretical model of the 3D structure of NPSR using computational techniques and homology modeling for in silico studies about asthma candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of the hydro-alcoholic extract of aerial parts of Artemisia dracunculus (HAAD) against CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity in rats., Materials and Methods: The antioxidant activity was evaluated by reducing power, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 20-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. Rats were pre-treated with either 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of HAAD or silymarin (100 mg/kg; served as the positive control group) for 15 days and they received a single dose of CCl 4 on the last day. Hepatoprotective effects were investigated by assessment of serum biochemical enzymes such as alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP), total bilirubin (TB), malondialdehyde (MDA), and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GST and GSH), along with histopathological studies., Results: Total phenolic content was 197.22±3.73 mg gallic acid equivalent/g HAAD dry weight. HAAD indicated powerful activity in FRAP, DPPH and ABTS tests. Acute toxicity study showed that the extract had an LD 50 of >5000 mg/kg. Oral treatment with HAAD exhibited a significant decrease in the levels of AST, ALT, ALP and TB and an increase in the level of TP. The extract significantly diminished MDA levels. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes were significantly augmented in rats pretreated with HAAD 200 mg/kg. Histopathological examination demonstrated lower liver damage in HAAD-treated groups as compared to CCl 4 groups., Conclusion: Our findings indicated hepatoprotective effects of the hydro-alcoholic extract of A. dracunculus on CCl 4 -induced hepatic damage in rats and suggested that these effects may be produced by reducing oxidative stress., Competing Interests: Authors declare no conflict of interest.