Cardioprotective effects of Pinus eldarica bark extract on adrenaline-induced myocardial infarction in rats

Objective:To investigate the effect of Pinus eldarica bark extract on adrenaline-induced myocardial infarction.Methods:Hydroalcoholic extract was prepared using maceration method and its total phenolic content was determined using the Folin-ciocalteu method.Pretreatment was done by oral administration of 100,200,and 400 mg/kg Pinus eldarica bark extract for 16 days in male Wistar rats.Injection of adrenaline(2 mg/kg,s.c.)was performed on the 15th and 16th days for induction of myocardial infarction.LeadⅡEEG was recorded.Serum cardiac marker enzymes and antioxidative parameters were evaluated and a histopathological examination of heart tissues was performed.Results:Pretreatment with Pinus eldarica bark extract especially at its high doses significantly lowered the ST-segment elevation,improved heart rate,and decreased RR interval in ECG pattern of rats with adrenaline-induced myocardial infarction.It declined serum markers of heart damage including aspartate aminotransferase,lactate dehydrogenase,and creatine phosphokinase-MB,and also decreased lipid peroxidation marker,and heart weight while raising total antioxidant capacity and considerably improved histopathological alterations of the heart induced by adrenaline.Conclusions:Pinus eldarica bark extract shows beneficial cardioprotective and antioxidant effects against adrenaline-induced myocardial infarction.It can be further explored as a potential treatment for myocardial infarction.

Acute and sub-acute toxicities of hydroalcoholic extract of Allium affine aerial parts in rats

Objective:To assess the potential toxicity of hydroalcoholic extract of Allium affine(A.affine)aerial parts after acute and sub-acute administration in female and male Wistar rats.Methods:For acute toxicity assay,animals orally received the limit test dose of 2000 mg/kg of A.affine extract and were observed for 2 weeks.For sub-acute toxicity study,rats were orally treated with 125,250,and 500 mg/kg/day of the extract over 28 days,and hematological,biochemical,and histological evaluations were then conducted.Results:All rats were alive with normal body weight gain over 14 days,with LD50˃2000 mg/kg.No abnormality in body weight changes but significant increases in the relative weight of spleen and lung were detected after administration of the highest dose of extract for 28 days in sub-acute assay.Hematological analysis showed prominent elevations in total white blood cells in male rats and neutrophils count in female rats after exposure to 500 mg/kg of A.affine extract.In biochemical evaluations,significant increases in serum creatinine level(female rats,250 and 500 mg/kg)and in aspartate aminotransferase(male and female rate,500 mg/kg)and alanine aminotransferase(male,250 and 500 mg/kg and female,500 mg/kg)activities,however,notable decreases in serum blood glucose(male rats,125 and 500 mg/kg),triglycerides(male rats,500 mg/kg and female rates,250 mg/kg),and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels(male,250 mg/kg)were found.Histological examinations presented slight portal inflammation in liver tissue,moderate pneumocyte hyperplasia,congestion and peri-bronchial inflammation in lung tissue,and mild histiocytosis and lymphoid follicular activation in spleen tissue after exposure to 500 mg/kg of A.affine extract in male and female animals.Conclusions:The present investigation reveals the safety of A.affine extract at doses of lower than 250 mg/kg in rats and monitoring of lung,spleen,and liver functions is suggested during excessive and prolonged uses.

Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis Assay of Novel Cyclomyrsinol Diterpenes Against Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Background:Cyclomyrsinane diterpenes especially those extracted from various Euphorbia species have shown interesting biological properties in recent years.Because of the high prevalence of breast cancer and the challenges ahead in its treatment,the use of these compounds as potential anti cancer agents seem reasonable.Objectives:The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of some myrsinane type diterpenoids extracted from Euphorbia sogdiana Popov and determine their induced cell death mechanism.Methods:MTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxicity of six various myrsinane compounds on MCF 7 and 4 T1 breast cancer cell lines.Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were used as the normal cell line too.The apoptotic effects of the structure with the most cytotoxic effects were determined using flow cytometry assay in IC50 concentration for 24 h of incubation.Results:Compound(6)showed the most cytotoxic effects with IC50 of about 8±4 and 24±4μg/mL for MCF 7 and 4 T1 cell lines,respectively.Furthermore,the cells treated with 5 and 10μg/mL of compound(6)for 24 h,showed 37 and 55%of apoptotic cells.Conclusions:These surveyed compounds have the potential to be considered as useful anti-breast cancer agents due to the great cytotoxicity and apoptotic effects against these cancer cells and the fact that there was no significant cytotoxicity on normal cells.