حسن فریدنوری

Epilobium parviflorum, the willow-herb, extracts contain strong antioxidant compounds and inhibit few types of cancer cell. This study investigates for the first time the effect of its extracts on the growth of human liver cells HepG2, also under oxidative stress.

Methanolic extract of roots, shoots and flowers was prepared separately. Cell viability was assessed by MTT method after 48 hours of treatments with extracts and then with or without hydrogen peroxide treatment. The antioxidant capacity of the extracts as well as the activities of transaminases, superoxide dismutase and lipid peroxidase were measured in the treated cells.

None of the extracts showed cytotoxicty against HepG2 cells, nevertheless cell viability in treatment with aerial and root extracts was significantly increased (P<0.05). In the oxidative stress model, the survival of cells pretreated with extracts, especially methanolic extracts of aerial parts, increased significantly (P<0.05). Pretreatment with this extract in cells under oxidative stress decreased the concentration of MDA and the activity of intracellular ALT and AST enzymes and also increased the activity of superoxide dismutase enzyme compared to the control. The antioxidant capacity of the extracts was comparable to that of Trolux.

Methanolic extract of Epilobium parviflorum showed no cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells and probably protect human liver cells against oxidative stress. It can be a valuable suggestion for preventing liver damages.

The city of Ahvaz is considered the most polluted city in the world by blowing dust from neighboring countries which makes this study important. The results show that the smaller the particles, the more permeable they become and pass through the respiratory filters and causing disease. In this study, the effect of fine particulate matters in different cities of Khuzestan province of Iran was compared on the liver histology and oxidative stress enzymes of male rats. 30 adult male rats were divided into six equal groups including control, Ahvaz, Ramhormoz, Andimeshk, Abadan, and Susangard which were treated for two months. The results of serum oxidative stress enzyme activity increased only for the glutathione peroxidase in Ramhormoz and Abadan groups. The histological examination of liver revealed bleeding, mild hyperemia, and changes in hepatocyte cells. The nuclear area in central vein region, hepatocyte area in portal, and vein regions showed significant changes. Moreover, kupffer cell number of the portal region significantly increased in Ahvaz, Abadan, and Andimeshk groups. Therefore, due to different heavy metals composition, fine dusts have different effects on blood and liver parameters which depend on their amount and duration of exposure.

Particles in fine dust have the first rank of carcinogens, making their study necessary. The previous results showed that particles with aerodynamic diameters of 2.5 and 10 micrometers are more permeable and pass through respiratory filters and are the main cause of damage. In this study, the effect of fine particulate matters in different cities of Khuzestan province of Iran on blood cells of male rats was compared. Thirty adult male rats were divided into six equal groups, including control, Ahvaz, Ramhormoz, Andimeshk, Abadan, and Susangerd and were treated for two months. The results of blood cell analysis showed an increase in the number of white blood cells, especially lymphocytes in Ahvaz group, while the volume of platelets was significantly reduced. In most groups, a significant decrease was observed in RDW and the amount of hematocrit in Ramhormoz and Susangerd groups showed a significant increase compared to the control group. Therefore, given the different heavy metals composition, fine dusts have different effects on blood parameters, depending on their amount and duration of exposure.

Liver disorders in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are mostly associated with higher serum levels of liver enzymes. This study aimed to investigate the effect of nitrate administration on the serum levels of alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in rats with T2D.

In this study, 24 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, control+nitrate, diabetes, and diabetes+nitrate. T2D was induced using a combination of high-fat diet and injection of low-dose streptozotocin (30 mg/kg). The rats in the nitrate-treated groups received sodium nitrate (100 mg/L in drinking water) for six months. The serum levels of ALT, AST, and ALP were measured at the beginning of the study and at three and six months after nitrate administration.

Diabetic rats showed increased levels of ALT, AST, and ALP in the serum at six months. Nitrate decreased the serum level of ALT by 17.6% (65.7±4.8 vs. 55.8±2.3 UI/L; P=0.0659), AST by 52.2% (161.3±13.3 vs. 106.0±6.1 UI/L; P<0.0001), and ALP by 15.1% (606.2±35.5 vs. 514.4±12.6 UI/L; P=0.0339) within six months.

Long-term and low-dose nitrate administration improved the liver function of rats with T2D, as reflected by the reduced serum levels of ALT, AST, and ALP.