Falcaria vulgaris extract attenuates diabetes-induced kidney injury in rats

Objective: To assess the effects of Falcaria vulgaris(F. vulgaris) as an antioxidant on damage to kidney of diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetic rats were established via streptozotocin(60 mg/kg). Various doses of F. vulgaris extracts(50, 100 and 150 mg/kg) and streptozotocin + F. vulgaris extracts were administered via intraperitoneal(i.p) injection to 48 rats(n=8 per group) for 28 d. Subsequently, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power(FRAP) of renal tissue, thiobarbituric acid reactive species, blood glucose concentrations, insulin, nitrite oxide, the weight of animals, glomeruli characteristics and kidney function were evaluated. Results: Compared with the control rats, diabetic rats showed significant increase in malondialdehyde, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, blood glucose, nitrite oxide contents in renal tissues, and glomerular diameter. Furthermore, tissue FRAP level, body weight, number of glomeruli and plasma insulin were markedly reduced in diabetic rats when compared with the control group(P < 0.05). However, in all F. vulgaris and F. vulgaris + streptozotocin groups, malondialdehyde level, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, glomerular diameter, nitrite oxide, and glucose levels were decreased significantly; meanwhile, tissue FRAP level, body weight, glomeruli number and insulin serum level were increased, compared to the control diabetic group(P < 0.05). Conclusions: F. vulgaris extract alleviates renal damage in diabetic rats.

Alteration of Apoptotic Gene Expression and Reproductive Parameters through Thymus vulgaris Administration Following Paclitaxel-Induced Testopathy in Mice

Objective:Paclitaxel(PAC)is a chemotherapy drug and has an active role in the treatment of lung,breast,and ovarian cancers;however,its use causes increased levels of free radicals,leading to severe and irreversible organ damage.Thymus vulgaris is a species of flowering plant that contains various antioxidant chemical compounds.This study aimed to investigate the effect of T.vulgaris on PAC-induced oxidative damage in mice testis and sperm parameters.Methods:In this study,40 BALB/c mice were divided into five groups:normal control(NC);positive control(20 mg/kg of PAC);and three treatment groups(4.5,9,and 18 mg/kg doses of T.vulgaris extract+20 mg/kg PAC).Treatments were administered intraperitoneally daily for 50 days.Finally,the levels of serum luteinizing hormone(LH),follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),and testosterone were measured using immunoassay method.Testicular stereological features and sperm parameters were also calculated.Antioxidant parameters were measured using nitrite oxide(NO)and perioxidation levels and ferric-reducing ability of plasma assay.The expressions of p53,caspase-3,Bax,and Bcl-2 were measured through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Results:T.vulgaris+PAC treatments at all doses significantly increased all parameters in NC and three treatment groups compared with the positive control group(20 mg/kg of PAC)(P<0.05),except the LH,FSH,and NO levels,which were decreased.Further,significantly downregulated levels of p53,caspase-3,and Bax genes and upregulated levels of Bcl-2 gene expression were noted in NC and three treatment groups in comparison with the positive control group(P<0.05).Conclusions:T.vulgaris administration attenuates the toxic effects of PAC on male reproductive parameters.