batool rahmati

Lavandula dentata is called Ustukhuddus in Iran .There are some reports about the anticonvulsant effects of Ustukhuddus but, the effect of this plant on epilepsy is not reported yet. In this study the effect of Lavandula dentata on seizures induced by pilocarpine was investigated.

A total of 75 male rats weighing 200-250 grams were divided into five groups of 15, which included: 1- control saline 2- control extract 3- Epileptic group 4- Epileptic group treated with single doses of lavender extract 200 mg / Kg  5- epileptic group treated with repeated dose of lavender extract (200 mg / Kg). The induction of seizures in all three groups was done by intra-peritoneal injection of pilocarpine hydrochloride (380 mg / kg).  Brain malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione was measured. Statistical analysis was carried out using one way ANOVA or Kruskal–Wallis oneway analysis of variance by ranks followed by post-hoc tukey test.

The administration of Lavandulla dentata in the pretreatment groups delayed the onset of status epilepticus (SE), reduced the duration of SE and decreased the mortality rate compared to the epileptic group. Pretreated extract increased significantly brain glutathione levels 24 hours after pilocarpine administration, but did not exhibit inhibitory effect on brain MDA.

Lavendula dentata reduced significantly seizure intensity and the mortality rate due to SE induced by pilocarpine administration. It seems that antioxidant activity such as brain glutathione enhancement was partly responsible for such results.

Depression is one of the five most common diseases in the world with a prevalence of 4.4%, and Ustokhoddus is recommended for its treatment. This study was designed to determine the effects of Lavandula. officinalis extract on a mouse model of reserpine-induced depression.

Seventy-two mice were randomly divided into 9 groups: Normal saline, control extract (200 mg/kg), reserpine, fluoxetine (10 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg) + reserpine, fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) + extract (200 mg/kg) + reserpine, Three extract pretreated groups (100-200 and 400 mg/kg) + reserpine. Extract and fluoxetine were administrated by gavages daily, for 10 days, 30 min before reserpine (0.5 mg/kg) injection intraperitoneally. Behavioral evaluations were done by forced swimming, tail suspension, elevated plus maze and open field tests.

Immobility time was enhanced by reserpine (210.37 ± 2.43 as compared with normal saline 109.75 ± 3.13) and the extract decreased it, dose-dependently (140.75± 5.84 and 110.125 ± 6.46, 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively) as the same as fluoxetine (p < 0.05), in forced swimming test. The combination of extract and fluoxetine caused a reduction of immobility time more effective than each one alone. The results obtained from tail suspension were similar to the forced swimming test.

L. officinalis hydroalcoholic extract improved the depression-like behavior caused by reserpine. The effect of the combination of the extract and fluoxetine was additive.

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a widespread antiepileptic drug-refractory focal epilepsy. There is no report about antiepileptic effects of Lavandula dentata on kainic acid induced status epilepticus (SE) while it is used as Ustukhuddoos. This study evaluated the behavioral and biochemical effects of Lavandula dentata extract in intrahippocampal kainate-induced model of TLE.

75 male wistar rats weighing 200-250 gr was divided into 5 groups including: 1. Sham 2. Extract pretreated sham 3. Kainic acid (1µg/rat) 4. Extract single dose (200 mg/kg one hour before surgery) pretreated kainic acid 5. Extract repeated (200 mg/kg every other day for 2 weeks) pretreated kainic acid. Extract injections were i.p at a volume of 0.3 ml.

Chronic extract pretreatment reduced SE latency, enhanced total duration and occurrence of SE (p < 0.05) but also reduced mortality rate. The kainate group significantly elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.05), while single and repeated extract pretreatment decreased it (p < 0.05). Hippocampal glutathione (GSH) did not change in all groups 24 hours after kainate injection.

In spite of SE parameters intensification by chronic extract pretreatment, it seems that extract could reduce mortality rate through MDA reduction.

Many studies demonstrate that cognitive empowerment reduces the risk of depression. Anti-depressant properties of Nepeta menthoides has also been reported. This study aimed to determine the effects of mental exercise and Nepeta menthoides and also to compare both of them on reserpine-induced depression in rats.

Male rats were divided into 8 groups: 1- Saline, 2- Reserpine, 3-Reserpine + Fluoxetine, 4- Nepeta, 5- Nepeta +Reserpine, 6- Mental exercise, 7- Mental exercise+ Reserpine, 8- Mental exercise + Nepeta + Reserpine. Reserpine was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg for 14 days. At the same time, the animals received Nepeta at a dose of 200 mg/kg and radial maze training was conducted. Then, the results for forced swimming test (FST), sucrose preference (SPT), elevated plus maze (EPMT) and open field tests (OFT) were assessed through one-way Analysis of Variance.

Reserpine significantly enhanced immobility and decreased active swimming time, while mental exercise combined with Nepeta were able to antagonize the effect of reserpine. Reserpine also lowered sucrose preference ratio which were recovered in mental exercise, Nepeta and combined treatment groups. Decreased locomotor activity due to reserpine was improved in mental exercise and Nepeta groups. Time spent and % of entrance into the open arms reduced by reserpine and Nepeta compensate it.

Mental exercise and Nepeta menthoides improve the depression and behavioral symptoms of anxiety induced by reserpine better than fluoxetine.

Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder that causes
undesirable effects including learning and memory impairment. It has been reported that Nepeta menthoides improves memory and learning. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Nepeta menthoides on learning and memory impairment related to diabetes in rats.
 

Forty male rats were divided into 4 groups including control, diabetic control, control group under treatment with extract of Nepeta menthoides, and diabetic group under treatment with extract of Nepeta menthoides. A single dose of streptozotocin intraperitoneally was used for diabetes induction in diabetic animals. After 6 weeks, Nepeta menthoides treatment was performed as an intraperitoneal injection of 400 mg/kg/day for two weeks, 30 min before each behavioral test. The eight-arm radial maze method with two-way repeated measures ANOVA test were used to evaluate learning and memory and one-way ANOVA was used for comparing blood glucose between different groups.
 

Diabetes caused learning and memory impairment in the form of increasing working and reference memory errors and use of Nepeta menthoides extract in the diabetic rats caused a significant reduction in the number of related errors. Nepeta menthoides also declined blood glucose in diabetic rats.
 

Nepeta menthoides consumption in diabetic rats improves diabetes-induced learning and memory impairment. This effect might be mediated at least partly by decreasing blood glucose.

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder and oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of diabetic complications such as learning and memory impairment. Since Lavendula species improve learning and memory and Lavandula dentata contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and it is used as ustokhoddus in Iran, we have designed this research to study its effects on diabetes-induced learning and memory impairment.
  Forty male rats were divided into 4 groups including control, control diabetic, healthy Lavendula dentata, and diabetic Lavendula dentata. A single dose of streptozotocin was used for diabetes induction in diabetic animals. After 6 weeks, Lavendula dentata treatment was performed as an intraperitoneal injection of 400 mg/kg for two weeks, 30 min before each behavioral test. The eight-arm radial maze method with two way repeated-measures ANOVA test were used to evaluate learning and memory and one-way ANOVA was used for comparing blood glucose between different groups.
  Diabetes caused learning and memory damage in the form of increasing working and reference memory errors and use of Lavendula dentata in the diabetic group caused a significant reduction in the number of related errors. Romian ustokhoddus also declined blood glucose in diabetic group.
  Lavendula dentata consumption in diabetic rats improved diabetes-induced learning and memory impairment. This effect might be mediate at least partly by decreasing blood glucose.

Executive Functions, Memory and Attention has important roles in Learning, achievement and academic and job success. Studies have shown that computerized cognitive training in improving executive function, attention and memory are effective. The main purpose of this study was to determine effectiveness of computerized cognitive training on EF, memory and attention aspects in children of veterans were studying at university of Shahed.
The design of this study was Quasi-experimental design with pre-posttest with a control group. 22 students from medical faculty of Shahed University was selected convenience sampling method and randomly allocated into two groups of experimental and control group. In pre-test IVA, CORSI and AHA tests, administrated for subjects, then computerized cognitive training program (Captain’s Log) was conducted in experimental group. After the intervention, in post-test IVA, CORSI and AHA administrated again.
the results from the study showed significant differences in the mean scores of pre-test and post-test in the experimental group. The Mancova analysis showed that captain’s log can effective in improving Memory, executive function and attention domains (p0.05).
the results of this study showed that computerized cognitive training could improve and enhance memory, EF and attention domains.

Glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a peptide released from the small intestine and mainly enhances glucose-induced insulin secretion, although its receptor (GLP-1R) is distributed on various cells including mice and human macrophages. Regarding important functions of macrophage in regulating pro-inflammatory and immune responses, in this study, the effect of exendin-4 (an analog of GLP-1) on vital activity, nitric oxide and TNF-α production of peritoneal macrophages was investigated.
Peritoneal macrophages were isolated from C57BL/6 mice and cultured with or without LPS for 24 hours and 0.03 to 3 nM exendin-4. The vital activity was evaluated by MTT, nitrite by Griess method and TNF-α by ELISA.
Exendin-4 at 3 and 0.3 nM significantly reduced MTT of macrophages (resting), but increased it in stimulated macrophages at 3 nM. Exendin-4 at 0.3 and 0.03 nM reduced nitrite in resting macrophages, although it (3 nM) induced an increase in LPS stimulated macrophages. An increase in TNF-α production of and resting (3 nM) and stimulated macrophages (1 and 3 nM) was also observed.
The effect of exendin-4 on nitrite and TNF production of macrophages in vitro is dependent on the cell status of activation (besides its concentration) and it may function as pro- or anti-inflammatory.

Opioid consumption has been widely increasing across the globe; however, it can cause adverse effects on the body. Morphine, an opioid, can reduce sex hormones and fertility. Withania somnifera (WS) is a traditional herb used to improve sexual activities. This study strives to investigate the effect of WS on sex hormones and gonadotropins in addicted male rats.
In this experimental study, forty-eight male National Maritime Research Institute (NMRI) rats were randomly divided into four groups: i. Control group, ii. WS-treated control group, iii. Addicted group, and iv. WS-treated addicted group. Water- soluble morphine was given to rats for 21 days to induce addiction, concurrently the treated groups (2 and 4) also received WS plant-mixed pelleted food (6.25%). At the end of the treatment, the sex hormone and gonadotropin levels of the rats’ sera were determined in all the groups.
Except for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), morphine reduced most of the gonadotropin and sex hormone levels. Whereas WS caused a considerable increase in the hormones in the treated addicted group, there was only a slight increase in the treated control group.
WS increased sex hormones and gonadotropins-especially testosterone, estrogen, and luteinizing hormone-in the addicted male rats and even increased the progesterone level, a stimulant of most sex hormones in addicted male rats.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease with selective damage of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons. Due to the protective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effect of Hypericum perforatum (HP), this study was undertaken to assess dose-dependent effect of HP hydroalcoholic extract on motor imbalance following intrastriatal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine in the rat.
In this experimental research, male Wistar rats (n=35) were equally divided into sham, 6-hydroxydopamine (OHDA)-lesioned, and HP extract-treated lesion groups. Model of PD was induced by microinjecting 12.5 microgram of 6-OHDA dissolved in saline-ascorbate solution into the left striatum. Treated lesion groups received HP extract at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day p.o. started one week before the surgery for 1 week post-surgery. After 1 week, ipsilateral and contralateral rotations induced by apomorphine were counted and net scores were obtained.
In the 6-OHDA-lesioned group, the dopaminergic agonist apomorphine induced contralateral rotational behavior (P
Oral administration of HP extract at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg could reduce motor imbalance and attenuate forced biased rotational behavior in 6-OHDA-induced model of PD.

Deleterious effect of neurotoxins on the brains of animals is an attractive research topic. In this research, the effect of microinjection of colchicine into the hippocampal CA1 was shown by examining the novelty seeking behavior. Also, the effect of pre-injection of galantamine, an effective agent in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease, for reversal of colchicine’s side effect in that region was also examined. Ninety six male Wistar rats were bilaterally cannulated at the hippocampal area (AP: -3.8; L: 1.8 ± 2.2; V: 3). They experienced a three-phase novelty seeking task in the unbiased conditioning apparatus after one week: in day 1, the animals moved freely (10 min) in the box to familiarize with the device; over the next consecutive three days, they were confined in one part of the apparatus (40 min, twice daily); finally (Day 5), the animals were injected colchicine (25 µg/rat hippocampus, n = 8) prior to testing (lasted 10 min/similarly to the familiarization situation). The galantamine groups received the drug (1-25 µg/rat hippocampus; n = 8) solely or prior to the colchicine. The negative control only received saline (1 µL/rat hippocampus). As the data show, the injection of colchicine significantly caused an increase in the locomotor activity of the treated animals. The lonely galantamine groups though showed no significant difference versus the control group, but in pre-galantamine groups, the enhanced activity was reversed. The side effects of colchicine on the brain of the laboratory animals have been shown; the most important of them is the destruction of granular neurons of the hippocampal formation. The effect of this material on the cortical pyramidal neurons is still unknown. The present study shows the increased locomotor activity of the animals due to the injection of colchicine into the hippocampus. This effect was reversed by pre-injection of galantamine and it is probable that the effect was modulated by the neuronal mediators.

Repeated application of Ustukhuddoos has been recommended for a long time in Iranian traditional medicine for some of nervous disorders like epilepsy. In Iran, both imported Lavandula officinalis and endemic Nepeta menthoides are commonly known as Ustukhuddoos. Despite of some reports about antiepileptic and antioxidant effects of Lavandula officinalis, there is no available report for this effect of Nepeta menthoides. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the anti-epileptic and antioxidant activity of Nepeta menthoides extract on timed intravenous pentylenetetrazol infusion seizure in mice model. A convulsive model that utilizes timed intravenous infusions of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) was developed to study anticonvulsant and antioxidant effect of ten days Nepeta menthoides pretreatment in mice. PTZ was infused through an indwelling tail vein catheter, and the threshold dose of PTZ was determined from the time needed to produce clonic convulsions, the body weight of the animal, and the rate of infusion of PTZ. Diazepam (Diaz), a major antiepileptic drug, was also tested for comparison. Versus diazepam, Nepeta menthoides did not show antiepileptic properties because of not only it did not increase threshold dose of PTZ but also significantly decreased it at some doses (p<0.05). It means Nepeta menthoides significantly increased susceptibility to seizures. Nepeta menthoides also significantly increased brain nitric oxide (NO) level in comparison with control group (p<0.05) and it was ineffective on MDA level. This study reported that Nepeta menthoides not only did not prevent seizures, but also increased susceptibility to seizures. Also, due to an increase in NO by Nepeta, nitric oxide may be a progenitor agent for epilepsy.

Memory naturally degrades with the passing of time. Dementia or deficit of memory caused by Alzheimer’s disease, aging and other risk factors, greatly affects one’s day-to-day life. Lavandula officinalis is an effective medicinal plant in treating inflammation, epilepsy, depression and anxiety. Also, recently have been submitted reports about the effects of lavender on memory improvement. However, the effect of aerial part hydro-alcoholic extract of Lavandula officinalis has not been studied on passive avoidance and spatial memory in rats with healthy memory. In this study, 40 male NMRI rats weighing 200-250 g were used. Animals were divided into four groups (n=10 each). Control group (group 1) received normal saline, daily, for 9-11 continuous days; groups 2, 3 and 4 received Lavandula officinalis aerial part hydroalcoholic extract at doses of 100,200 and 400 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p), daily, for 9-11 continuous days 60 min before the behavioral testing. Passive avoidance and spatial memory was tested by shuttle box and Y maze, respectively. Chronic administration of the extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg significantly enhanced spatial memory in Y maze and also passive avoidance memory in shuttle box. Repeated consumption of Lavandula officinalis (400 mg/kg) in rats with healthy memory may cause memory potentiation.

Parkinson''s disease (PD) is a movement disorder with debilitating symptoms. Available treatments for PD mainly include its symptomatic relief with no prevention of its progression. Due to the iron-chelating and antioxidant effect of phytic acid (PA), this study was conducted to assess its protective effect in 6-hydroxydopamine-induced model of PD in rat. Unilateral intrastriatal 6-OHDA-lesioned rats were daily pretreated with PA p.o. at a dose of 100 mg/kg for three days till 1 h pre-surgery. Apomorphine-induced rotations were counted at 1st week post-surgery. A significant contralateral rotational behavior was observed in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats (p) These findings imply that pre-lesion PA treatment could attenuate motor asymmetry in experimental model of PD and this may be of benefit in lessening motor derangements in afflicted patients.

Parkinson's disease is a rather common movement disorder in aged individuals due to degeneration of dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra pars compacta. Due to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and protective effects of the flavanone hesperetin, the present study assessed dose-dependent effect of hesperetin on motor asymmetry induced by intrastriatal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine in the rat. In this experimental study, male rats (n=35) were divided into sham, lesion, and hesperetin-treated lesion groups. Model of Parkinson's disease was induced by injecting 12.5 microgram of 6-hydroxydopamine-ascorbate dissolved in saline-ascorbate solution into the left striatum. Treated lesion groups received hesperetin at doses of 5, 15, and 50 mg/kg/day p.o. one hour after surgery for 1 week. After 1 week, leftward and rightward rotational behavior induced by apomorphine was assessed. In the lesion group, apomorphine caused contralateral rotational behavior (P<0.001). Administration of hesperetin only at a dose of 50 mg/kg significantly reduced the number of contralateral rotations (P<0.05) and it had not such an effect at other doses. Oral hesperetin treatment at a dose of 50 mg/kg reduces motor asymmetry (attenuation of rotational behavior) in an experimental model of Parkinson's disease.

Regarding the prevalence of epilepsy in human society and with respect to insufficiency of usual treatments, new strategies and methods for medical treatment of epileptic patients are necessary. As NMDA receptor antagonists are the most prominent anti-epileptic drugs, in the present study, we synthesized and investigated anti-epileptic effect of a new piperidine derivates 1-[1-(4-Methylphenyl) (Cyclohexyl)] 4- piperidinol as a new NMDA receptor antagonist in chemical kindling model. Sixty male mice (NMRI), weighing 25-30 g, were selected and randomly divided into 5 groups (n=12 in each group). 1: PTZ 2: 1-[1-(Phencyclohexyl) piperidine, PCP)] 3: 1-[(1-3-Methoxy phenyl tetralyl) piperidine)] 4: 1-[1-(4-Methylphenyl) (Cyclohexyl)] 4- piperidinol and 5: valproic acid (positive control). Chemical kindling was induced by PTZ (35 mg/kg, i.p) injection, 11 times on alternate days (22 days). In final injection (challenge dose) at 24th day, PTZ were applied with 75 mg/kg to the animals. Thirty minutes after PTZ injection, the animals were followed for convulsion scores (0-5). Data analysis showed that administration of 1-[1-(4-Methylphenyl) (Cyclohexyl)] 4- piperidinol has a prominent anti-convulsion effect versus PCP, especially in reduction of phase 2 duration. Meanwhile, this compound had a marked anti-epileptic effect in challenge dose. The results suggest that administration of the new piperidine derivate, 1-[1-(4-Methylphenyl) (Cyclohexyl)] 4- piperidinol could yield a prominent anti-convulsion effect in grand mal epilepsy. Regarding changes of its conformation as a non-competitive antagonist, it may block the NMDA receptors more powerfully than other piperidine derivates.

Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) causes cognitive impairment in rats. The beneficial effect of saffron main component, safranal was investigated on ICV STZ-induced learning, memory, and cognitive impairment in male rats. For this purpose, rats were injected with ICV STZ bilaterally, on days 1 and 3 (3 mg/kg). The STZ-injected rats received safranal (60 mg/kg; i.p.) one other day starting one day pre-surgery for three weeks. The learning and memory performance was assessed using passive avoidance paradigm, and for spatial cognition evaluation, Y maze task was used. It was found out that safranal-treated STZ-injected rats show higher correct choices and lower errors in Y maze than vehicle-treated STZ-injected rats. In addition, safranal administration significantly attenuated learning and memory impairment in treated STZ-injected group in passive avoidance test. Therefore, these results demonstrate the effectiveness of safranal in preventing the cognitive deficits caused by ICV STZ in rats and its potential in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer''s disease (AD).

Cardiovascular disorders continue to constitute major causes of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. In this study, the effect of chronic administration of Tribulus terrestris (TT) feeding was studied on aortic reactivity of streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats and some underlying mechanisms were investigated. Male diabetic rats received TT-mixed food at a weight ratio of 6% for 7 weeks 1 week after diabetes induction. Contractile responses to KCl and phenylephrine (PE) and relaxation response to acetylcholine (ACh) were obtained from aortic rings in the presence and absence of endothelium. In addition, nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) was used to determine the role of NO. Maximum contractile response of endothelium-intact rings to PE was significantly lower in TT-treated diabetic rats relative to untreated diabetics and endothelium removal abolished this difference. Endothelium-dependent relaxation to ACh was also significantly higher in TT-treated diabetic rats as compared to diabetic ones and pretreatment of rings with L-NAME significantly attenuated the observed response. Chronic treatment of diabetic rats with TT could prevent some abnormal changes in vascular reactivity in diabetic rats through nitric oxide in aortic tissue and endothelium integrity is necessary for this beneficial effect.

The effect of ketamine (1-100 µM), which has NMDA receptor antagonist properties, on synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation (LTP) in CAl area of rat hippocampus was examined in vitro. Field potentials were recorded in pyramidal cell layer following Schaffer collateral stimulation. Primed-burst stimulation (PEs) was used for induction of LTP. The amplitude of population spiks (PS) was used as a measure of LTP induction. The results showed that ketamine (1-100 µM) affected baseline synaptic transmission in a concentration-dependent pattern. Furthennore, ketamine application at a high concentration (50-100 µM) for a period of 20-30 min markedly blocked the induction of LTP, whereas lower concentrations of ketamine (1-10 µM) failed to block LTP. However, ketamine at a concentration of 20 µM affected NMDA-mediated LTP induction in a different pattern. It is concluded that the effect of ketamine on baseline synaptic transmission and LTP induced by a l00 Hz PBs depends on ketamine concentration.