• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.90-94
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• 2019

Objectives: Paclitaxel (PTX) as an anticancer drug used against solid cancers, possesses adverse reactions such as neuropathic pain which has confined its use. PTX-induced neuropathic pain is mediated via activation of oxidative stress. Berberine (BER), an isoquinoline phytochemical found in several plants, exerts strong antioxidant and painkilling properties. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate pain-relieving effect of BER in a mouse model of PTX-induced neuropathic pain. Methods: This study was done using 42 male albino mice that were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 7) as follow: Sham-operated (not treated with PTX), negative control group (PTX-treated mice receiving normal saline), BER 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg (PTX-treated mice receiving BER) and positive control group (PTX-treated mice receiving imipramine 10 mg/kg). Neuropathic pain was induced by intraperitoneal administration of four doses of PTX (2 mg/kg/day) on days 1, 3, 5 and 7. Then, on day 7, hot plate test was done to assess latency to heat to measure possible anti-neuropathic pain effect of BER. Results: Four doses of PTX 2 mg/kg/day induced neuropathy that was reduced by BER at all time-points (i.e. 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min) after injection (P < 0.001 in comparison to control). The statistical analysis of data showed significant differences between groups (P < 0.001 in comparison to negative control), at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after injection of BER 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg; in other words, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after BER administration, neuropathic pain was significantly reduced as compared to normal saline-treated mice. Conclusion: Altogether, our results showed that PTX could induce neuropathic pain as reflected by hyperalgesia and BER could alleviate PTX-induced thermal hyperalgesia.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.223-230
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• 1998

The effect of an ethanolic extract of the plant Trianthema portulacastrum L. on the $CCI_4$-induced chronic hepatocellular damage of Swiss albino mice has been investigated. The normal mice received olive oil (0.2 ml/mouse) for five weeks. The $CCI_4$ control mice, on the other hand, received $CCI_4$ (0.05 ml/mouse) in olive oil for five weeks. The extract was administered at the dose of 100 mg/kg or 150 mg/kg for five weeks by gastric intubation in addition to $CCI_4$ treatment. The $CCI_4$ administraction alone caused hepatocellular necrosis, severe anemia, leucopaenia, lymphocytopaenia, neutrophilia, eosinophilia and haemoglobinaemia along with the alterations of plasma albumin and globulin. The administration of plant extract (at 100 or 150 mg/kg) restored the $CCI_4$-induced alterations of the haematological parameters to the normal level. The extract of T. portulacastrum elicited a marked protection against $CCI_4$-induced hepatotoxicity as indicated by the several haematological parameters, related indices of formed elements, and different fractions of plasma protein. We also observed the dose-dependent antihepatotoxic effect of the extraction on these mice. The 150 mg/kg of extract was found to be more effective in normalizing the toxic effects of $CCI_4$ on the above parameters of mice. These results suggest that the hepatoprotective effect of T. poltulacastrum could be caused by its critical involvement in modulating several factors associated with erythropoiesis, and the boosting of general immunity of the host.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제53권1호
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• pp.51-58
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• 2015

Toxocariasis is a soil-transmitted helminthozoonosis due to infection of humans by larvae of Toxocara canis. The disease could produce cognitive and behavioral disturbances especially in children. Meanwhile, in our modern era, the incidence of immunosuppression has been progressively increasing due to increased incidence of malignancy as well as increased use of immunosuppressive agents. The present study aimed at comparing some of the pathological and immunological alterations in the brain of normal and immunosuppressed mice experimentally infected with T. canis. Therefore, 180 Swiss albino mice were divided into 4 groups including normal (control) group, immunocompetent T. canis-infected group, immunosuppressed group (control), and immunosuppressed infected group. Infected mice were subjected to larval counts in the brain, and the brains from all mice were assessed for histopathological changes, astrogliosis, and IL-5 mRNA expression levels in brain tissues. The results showed that under immunosuppression, there were significant increase in brain larval counts, significant enhancement of reactive gliosis, and significant reduction in IL-5 mRNA expression. All these changes were maximal in the chronic stage of infection. In conclusion, the immunopathological alterations in the brains of infected animals were progressive over time, and were exaggerated under the effect of immunosuppression as did the intensity of cerebral infection.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제51권3호
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• pp.297-304
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• 2013

Trichinosis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by the nematode Trichinella spiralis. Anthelmintics are used to eliminate intestinal adults as well as tissue-migrating and encysted larvae. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ivermectin and myrrh obtained from the aloe-gum resin of Commiphora molmol on experimental trichinosis. Ninety albino mice were orally infected with 300 T. spiralis larvae. Drugs were tested against adult worms at day 0 and day 5 and against encysted larvae on day 15 and day 35 post-infection (PI). Mature worms and encysted larvae were counted in addition to histopathological examination of muscle specimens. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total protein, albumin, globulin, urea, and creatinine values were estimated. Significant reductions in mean worm numbers were detected in ivermectin treated mice at day 0 and day 5 PI achieving efficacies of 98.5% and 80.0%, while efficacies of myrrh in treated mice were 80.7% and 51.5%, respectively. At days 15 and 35 post-infection, ivermectin induced significant reduction in encysted larval counts achieving efficacies of 76.5% and 54.0%, respectively, while myrrh efficacies were 76.6% and 35.0%, respectively. AST, ALT, urea, and creatinine levels were reduced, while total proteins were increased in response to both treatments compared to their values in the infected non-treated mice. Ivermectin use for controlling T. spiralis could be continued. Myrrh was effective and could be a promising drug against the Egyptian strains of T. spiralis with results nearly comparable to ivermectin.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.1499-1506
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• 2016

Background: Crocus sativus and its major constituent crocin are well established to have anti-cancer properties in breast cancer cells (MCF-7). However the role of C. sativus extract (CSE) and crocin on caspase signaling mediated MCF-7 cell death at molecular level is remains unclear. In this study, we tried to unravel role of CSE and crocin on caspase mediated MCF-7 cells death and their in vivo preclinical toxicity profiling and immune stimulatory effect. Materials and Methods: CSE extract was fractionated by HPLC and crocin was isolated and characterized by NMR, IR, and MS. MCF-7 cells were treated with both CSE and crocin and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was assessed after 24 and 36 hours. Furthermore, caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9 expression was determined by Western blotting after 24 hours of treatment. DNA fragmentation analysis was performed for genotoxicity of CSE and crocin in MCF-7 cells. The in vivo toxicity profile of CSE (300 mg/kg of b.wt) was investigated in normal Swiss albino mice. In addition, peritoneal macrophages were collected from crocin (1, 1.5 and 2 mg/kg body weight) treated mice and analyzed for ex vivo yeast phagocytosis. Results: Immunoblot analysis revealed that there was time dependent decline in anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 with simultaneous upregulation of Bax in CSE and crocin treated MCF-7 cells. Further CSE and crocin treatment downregulated caspase 8 and 9 and cleaved the caspase 3 after 24 hours. Both CSE and crocin elicited considerable DNA damage in MCF-7 cells at each concentration tested. In vivo toxicity profile by histological studies revealed no observable histopathologic differences in the liver, kidney, spleen, lungs and heart in CSE treated and untreated groups. Crocin treatment elicited significant dose and time dependent ex vivo yeast phagocytosis by peritoneal macrophages. Conclusions: Our study delineated involvement of pro-apoptotic and caspase mediated MCF-7 cell death by CSE and crocin at the molecular level accompanied with extensive DNA damage. Further we found that normal swiss albino mice can tolerate the maximum dose of CSE. Crocin enhanced ex vivo macrophage yeast phagocytic ability.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.322-330
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• 2005

The plant Bryonia laciniosa (Family: Cucurbitaceae) has been indicated for the treatment of various diseases one among which is cancer. The purpose of this study was investigating experimentally the possible anti-tumor effect and antioxidant role of Bryonia laciniosa leaves in animal model. The methanol extract of Bryonia laciniosa (MEBL) administered at the doses of 62.5, 125 and 250 mg/kg in mice for 14 days after 24 h of tumor inoculation. The effect of MEBL on the growth of transplantable murine tumor, life span of EAC bearing mice, hematological profile and liver biochemical parameters (lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes) were estimated. Treatment with MEBL decreased the tumor volume and viable cell count thereby increasing the life span of EAC bearing mice and brought back the hematological parameter more or less normal level. The effect of MEBL also decreases the levels of lipid peroxidation and increased the levels of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). The present work indicates that the methanol extract of Bryonia laciniosa exhibited significant antitumor and antioxidant activity in vivo.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.99-118
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• 1989

The cardiotoxic effects of acute and chronic administration of adriamycin (ADR) were evaluated in A/J Swiss albino mice. In acute studies, male mice received intravenous ADR, 5mg or 15mg/kg per day for 3 or 1day and were sacrifice 12 hours later. Because the glutathione-glutathione peroxidase system is major pathway for free radical detoxication, glutathione levels and glutathione peroxidase activity was measured. In acute studies, ADR-treated mice exhibited significantly decreased levels(p<0.05) of total glutathione and unchanged levels of oxidized glutathione and percentage of oxidized glutathione. The earliest myocardial fine structural alterations included swelling and degeneration of mitochondria and dilatation of sarcoplasmic reticulum at all dosage of acute models. In chronic studies, mice received 5mg/kg ADR once a week for up to 16 weeks. Levels of total and reduced glutathione were decreased significantly(p<0.01) and oxidized glutathione and percentage of oxidized glutathione were increased significantly (p<0.05). Chronic myocardial lesions included perinuclear vacuolization, seperation of myofibrils and the fasciae adherens of intercalated disc and hypercontraction band within myocyte. Glutathione peroxidase activity reduced significantly (p<0.01) in any group of acute and chronic ADR-treated animals. Test for lipid peroxidation(malondialdehyde) was increased significantly(P<0.01). Thus, we conclude 1) ADR significantly lowers glutathione levels in heart tissue, and 2) cellular damage progress produced by alteration of this system in mouse models of ADR cardiotoxicity. These results suggest that the glutathione-glutathione peroxidase system may be involved in the modulation of ADR-induced cardiotoxicity.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제6권3호
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• pp.174-178
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• 2006

The ethanolic extract of Leucas aspera root was studied for its effect on the central nervous system (CNS) using pentobarbitone induced sleeping time test, the open field test and the hole cross test in Swiss albino mice. The present investigation revealed that the extract at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, significantly prolonged the pentobarbitone induced sleeping time in mice though the onset of sleep was delayed as compared to control. In open field test the depressing effect was prominent from the second observation period (30 min) and persisted throughout the entire experimental period (240 min). In the hole cross test, the depressing effect was observed significant from the third observation period (60 min) and persisted up to the seventh observation period (240 min) except at fourth observation (90 min) for 250 mg dose group and depressing effect was significant from second observation (30 min) up to seventh observation period (240 min) for 500 mg dose group. These results support the finding that Leucas aspera root may contain biologically active constituent(s) having CNS activity.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제4권4호
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• pp.249-252
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• 2004

The methanol extract of Diospyros peregrina bark was studied for its effect on the central nervous system (CNS) using the pentobarbitone induced sleeping time test, the open field test and the hole cross test in Swiss albino mice. The present investigation revealed that the extract, at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, significantly prolonged the pentobarbitone induced sleeping time in mice though the onset of sleep was delayed as compared to the control. In open field test, the depressing effect was prominent from the second observation period (30 min) and persisted throughout the entire experimental period (240 min). In the hole cross test, the depressing effect was observed from the second observation period (30 min) and persisted up to fifth observation period (120 min) for 250 mg dose group and up to sixth observation period (180 min) for 500 mg dose group. These results support the finding that D. peregrina bark extract at the above doses has CNS depressing effects and indicate that D. peregrina bark may contain biologically active constituent(s) having CNS depressant activity.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 고려인삼학회 1998년도 Advances in Ginseng Research - Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Ginseng -
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• pp.263-269
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• 1998

It is an established fact that most of the carcinogens implicate bay-region diol epoxides as the ultimate carcinogenic metabolites. These electrophiles react with nucleophilic sites in the cells to form abducts. It is the formation of carcinogenic-DNA adducts that is thought to initiate carcinogenesis. In our previous study we have reported chemopreventive property of Ginseng on 7,12-dimethylbenz (a)anthracene (DMBA) induced skin papillomagenesis in male Swiss albino mice. In this study we have examined the effect on formation of DMBA-DNA adducts in rat hepatocytes pretreated with ginseng. Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were used. The cells wets treated with ginseng for 24 hrs and then with DMBA (iOn) for 18 hrs. Cells were then harvested, their DNA was isolated and analyzed by P)2 labelling. A significant reduction in the levels of DMBA-DNA adduces (adducts/108 nucleotides) was observed in all cultures pretreated with ginseng. The viability of cells was not affected by pre-treatment with ginseng. Our finding suggests that ginseng block or suppresses the events associated with chemical carcinogenesis by inhibiting metabolic activation of the carcinogens.