farzaneh sohrabi

Aim of the study was to evaluate the protective effects of trans-anethole, against polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) induced histopathological and biochemical changes in female Wister rats. In this experimental study, forty-eight animals were randomly assigned into 6 groups: control;PCOS; PCOS+trans-anethole (20, 40, 80 mg/kg); and PCOS+metformin (300 mg/kg). Testosterone (1 mg/kg/day) was injected intraperitoneally for 35 days to induce PCOS. After PCOS induction, animals were treated by transanetholeand metformin (30 days oral gavage). Finally, serum oxidative stress and insulin levels as well as histologicalchanges in ovaries, kidneys and liver were evaluated. In PCOS group, the serum level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was 1.391 ± 0.18 mmol/L and significantlyincreased (P=0.000) compared to the control group with the MDA level of 0.35 ± 0.08. Meanwhile the activity ofsuperoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and total thiol levels were significantly decreased (P=0.000 for allgroups), compared to the control group. In the trans-anethole (80 mg/kg) treated group, insulin (P=0.000) and MDA(P=0.000) levels were significantly decreased while total thiol (P=0.001) and activity of SOD (P=0.000) and CAT(P=0.007) were significantly increased compared to the PCOS group. In the metformin treated group the insulin level(P=0.03) decreased compared to the PCOS group. Histological evaluation showed multiple cysts in the ovarian tissue,an increase in inflammatory cells in the liver, and a loss of order in the structure of the tubules and glomeruli of thekidney in the PCOS group. Tissue damage was reduced in the trans-anethole treated group. Tarns-anethole at a dose of 80 mg/kg improved metabolic status, oxidative stress, liver and kidney damageas well as the cystic mass of ovarian tissue. To understand the exact protective effects of trans-anethole in PCOS,more experimental or clinical studies are suggested.

Apium graveolens L. (celery) seed has been used for hypertension treatment. To provide a pharmacological basis, the vasorelaxant effect of celery seed extract was investigated in isolated rat aorta.

Wistar male rats (200-250 g) were divided into 15 groups (n=7 for each group). The vasorelaxant response of different concentrations of celery seed extract (0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/ml) on isolated aorta precontracted with phenylephrine (PE) or KCl was evaluated by organ bath technique. The role of endothelium, extracellular calcium influx, intracellular sources of calcium, and potassium channels in vasorelaxant effect of celery seed extract was investigated. 

The extract showed a concentration-dependent relaxation in the isolated aorta contracted with PE and KCl that was endothelium-dependent at lower concentrations. Pretreatment of aortic rings with indomethacin or L-NAME, did not affect the vasorelaxation induced by celery seed extract. The extract inhibited KCl and PE-induced contractions in cumulative calcium concentrations as well as after incubation with diltiazem in denuded aortic rings of endothelium. The relaxation induced by celery seed extract was inhibited by 4-aminopyridine.

This relaxation was mediated by inhibiting calcium influx into vascular smooth muscle cells. Also, voltage-dependent potassium channels were involved in inducing the vasorelaxant effect of celery seed extract.

Cardiovascular disease has an important role in mortality caused by lung injury. Emphysema is associated with impaired pulmonary gas exchange efficiency and airflow limitation associated with small airway inflammation. The aim was to evaluate the interactions between lung injury, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease. Since gallic acid has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, we hypothesized that gallic acid protects the lung and the related heart dysfunction in elastase-induced lung injury. Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into six groups: Control, Porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) , PPE+GA, and 3 groups for different doses of gallic acid (GA 7.5, GA 15, GA 30 mg/kg). PPE was injected intra-tracheally on days 1 and 10 of the test. In each group, electrocardiography, hemodynamic parameters, oxidative stress, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were examined. PPE administration showed a decrease in HR and QRS voltage of electrocardiogram parameters, as well as in hemodynamic parameters (P<0.05, P<0.01, and P<0.001) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)  (P<0.05). Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF-α) (P<0.001), interleukin 6 (IL-6) (P<0.001), interleukin 6 (MDA) (P<0.001), and the total number of white blood cells (P<0.001) showed an increase in PPE groups. Gallic acid preserved the values of hemodynamic properties, oxidative stress, inflammation, and electrocardiogram parameters in comparison to the PPE group. Briefly, this study showed the valuable effect of gallic acid in cardiac dysfunction related to elastase-induced lung injury. These findings suggested that gallic acid, as a natural antioxidant, has a potential therapeutic effect on preventing oxidative stress, inflammation, and subsequent cardiovascular disease.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a prime risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The convincing experimental and clinical evidence indicated that the onset of DM is closely associated with oxidative stress and that the generation of reactive oxygen species increases in both the types of diabetes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Teucrium polium (TP) hydroalcoholic extract on the blood glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, and oxidative stress markers of the heart and aorta in streptozotocin (STZ)‑induced diabetic rats. The male Wistar rats assigned into six groups (n = 8 in each group): Control, diabetic, and diabetic rats treated with TP extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) or met and metformin (300 mg/kg) formin (300 mg/kg) group, by daily gavage for 6 weeks. Diabetes was induced by injection of STZ (60 mg/kg, i.p). Serum lipids and glucose, malondialdehyde (MDA) level, total thiol level, and also the activities of Cu, Zn‑superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the cardiac and aortic tissues were assessed. TP extract reduced serum glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol. The MDA levels were reduced signifcantly in all TP‑treated groups and metformin. Total thiol levels were improved in the heart and aorta of TP extract‑treated groups and metformin compared to the diabetic rats. The activity of SOD in the cardiac and aortic tissues of TP extract‑ and metformin‑treated groups was higher than diabetic group. The results showed that chronic administration of TP in STZ‑induced diabetic rats could decrease blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride and also attenuate the oxidative stress in the aortic and cardiac tissues.