Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine最新文献

{"title":"Silibinin improved the function of T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) co-cultured with U-87 MG cell line.","authors":"Banafshe Abadi, Jahangir Abdesheikhi, Farnaz Sedghy, Merat Mahmoodi, Hossein Fallah","doi":"10.22038/AJP.2023.22935","DOIUrl":"10.22038/AJP.2023.22935","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Silibinin has exhibited antitumor activities. However, there are few reports about the immunomodulatory properties of silibinin on T lymphocyte function in the tumor microenvironment. Here, we determined the effects of silibinin on T cells of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), cultivated alone or with a human cell line of glioblastoma (U-87 MG).</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The proliferation of T lymphocytes was assessed by MTT test in the presence of silibinin (15 and 45 µM). Also, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), the activity of superoxide dismutase-3 (SOD3), and the levels of two cytokines interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor growth beta (TGF-β) were compared between treated and untreated PBMCs alone or co-cultured with U-87 cells.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>According to our results, silibinin raised the TAC levels and SOD3 activity in the PBMCs and in the co-culture condition. Moreover, silibinin-treated PBMCs showed higher IFN-γ levels and lower TGF-β levels. Interestingly, silibinin protected PBMCs against the U-87-induced suppression.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Altogether, these results proposed the immunomodulatory potential of silibinin on T cells of PBMCs, as well as its partially protective effects on PBMCs against the suppression induced by U-87 MG cells.</p>","PeriodicalId":8677,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine","volume":"14 2","pages":"166-176"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11221771/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141533513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of cinnamon on anthropometric indices and headache-related disability of patients with migraine: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.","authors":"Azadeh Zareie, Mohammad Bagherniya, Amirhossein Sahebkar, Manoj Sharma, Fariborz Khorvash, Akbar Hasanzadeh, Gholamreza Askari","doi":"10.22038/AJP.2023.22874","DOIUrl":"10.22038/AJP.2023.22874","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Increased body mass index (BMI) seems to be a risk factor for migraine attacks. Cinnamon has anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anti-obesity effects. This study aimed to assess the effects of cinnamon on anthropometric indices and headache-related disability of patients with migraine.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This study was conducted as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 50 migraine patients. Patients were randomized to receive either 600 mg cinnamon powder or placebo capsules for two months. Height, body weight (BW), waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC) were measured.Furthermore, Minimal or Infrequent Disability (MIDAS) and Headache Daily Result (HDR) Questionnaires were recorded.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At the end of the treatment period, BW and BMI did not change in the intervention group; however, both factors were significantly increased in the placebo group (p=0.001). The change of WC, HDR and MIDAS was significantly different between the intervention and placebo groups (p<0.001). Furthermore, HC and WHR significantly decreased (p=0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Cinnamon seems to have beneficial effects on anthropometric indices and headache disability of migraine patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":8677,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine","volume":"14 1","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11210698/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141465897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Protective effect of ellagic acid against high-glucose-induced injury in human umbilical venous endothelial cells.","authors":"Somayeh Sheikh, Hesam Dehghani, Hamid Reza Kazerani","doi":"10.22038/AJP.2023.22910","DOIUrl":"10.22038/AJP.2023.22910","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>There is escalating evidence suggesting the beneficial effects of ellagic acid (EA) on the cardiovascular system. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of EA in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) against high glucose (HG)- induced endothelial dysfunction and to study the potential roles of adropin and nitric oxide (NO) in this regard.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The experimental groups consisted of normal and HG (30 mM, 48 hr)-treated HUVECs incubated without or with 5 or 10 μM of EA (6 groups of at least 6 replicates, each). The cell count and viability were studied. Moreover, the markers of the redox state, including malondialdehyde (MDA), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase enzymes, and ferric reducing anti-oxidant power (FRAP), were assayed. The levels of adropin and eNOS gene expression were also studied using RT-qPCR.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A high concentration of glucose reduced cell count and caused lipid peroxidation, reduced anti-oxidant capacity of the cells, decreased NO levels, and downregulated the expression of <i>NOS3</i> (encoding eNOS) and <i>ENHO</i> (encoding adropin) genes. Ellagic acid reversed all these effects.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These results suggest a significant protective effect for EA against HG-induced injury in HUVECs. The improved redox state and upregulation of <i>NOS3</i> and <i>ENHO</i> genes seem to play critical roles in this regard.</p>","PeriodicalId":8677,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine","volume":"14 1","pages":"138-141"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11210693/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141465899","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spirulina supplement and exercise training affect lipid droplets-related genes expression in visceral adipose tissue.","authors":"Fariba Shahandeh, Rozita Fathi, Khadijeh Nasiri","doi":"10.22038/AJP.2023.22915","DOIUrl":"10.22038/AJP.2023.22915","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Disruption of lipid droplets (LDs) is associated with many metabolic diseases. Spirulina, as a natural bioactive dietary supplement, along with exercise training, may improve lipid metabolism; however, their effects on LDs-regulated genes in visceral adipose tissue are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of six-week Spirulina supplementation along with exercise training on LDs regulating gene expression.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Fifty-six male Wistar rats were divided into six groups: saline (control), control+Spirulina (Spirulina), aerobic interval training (AIT), AIT+ Spirulina (AIT+Spirulina), resistance training and resistance+ Spirulina. The supplement groups consumed 500 mg/kg Spirulina five days per week. The training groups performed AIT (5 times per week) and resistance training (3 times per week) for 6 weeks. LDs regulating genes expression in visceral adipose tissue (<i>Zw10</i>, <i>Bscl2</i>, <i>DFCP1</i>, <i>Rab18</i>, <i>Syntaxin</i> <i>18</i>, <i>Acsl3</i>, and <i>Plin2</i>) was analyzed by real-time PCR.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Spirulina and exercise training had no significant effects on the gene expression of Syntaxin18 (p=0.69) and <i>DFCP1</i> (p=0. 84), <i>ACSL3</i> (p=0.98), or <i>BSCL2</i> (p=0.58). In addition, Spirulina was found to significantly attenuate the expression of <i>Plin2</i> (p=0.01) and <i>Rab18</i> (p=0.01) genes compared to the control, AIT, and resistance training groups. However, <i>Plin2</i> gene expression was higher in the resistance training than the AIT. Furthermore, Spirulina decreased <i>ZW10</i> (p=0.03) gene expression in visceral adipose tissue compared to the control, AIT, and resistance training groups. Unexpectedly, Spirulina supplementation decreased the expression of these genes even more when taken without exercise training.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Spirulina supplementation and exercise training have significant effects on LDs-regulated genes in visceral adipose tissue.</p>","PeriodicalId":8677,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine","volume":"14 1","pages":"100-111"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11210695/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141465900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>In vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i> effects of crocetin and its amide derivative on acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity.","authors":"Amir Hossein Ajzashokouhi, Bibi Marjan Razavi, Hamid Sadeghian, Hossein Hosseinzadeh","doi":"10.22038/AJP.2023.22316","DOIUrl":"10.22038/AJP.2023.22316","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Acrylamide (ACR) is a neurotoxic agent whose damage could be attenuated by antioxidants administration. Crocetin is a saffron-derived antioxidant that has neuroprotective effects. This study evaluates the protective effects of trans-sodium crocetinate (TSC) and its water-soluble derivative, Bis-N-(N-methylpyprazinyl) crocetinate (BMPC) against ACR neurotoxicity.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>PC12 cells were treated with TSC and BMPC (1.95, 3.9, 7.81, 15.62, 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250, 500, and 1000 μM) for 24 hr. ACR was then added at a concentration of 6.5 mM (IC₅₀), and cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide. In the <i>in vivo</i> study, male Wistar rats were treated with ACR (50 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.)) for 11 days alone or in combination with TSC and BMPC (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) or vitamin E (200 IU/kg, i.p.). Motor impairments were then evaluated. The cerebral cortex of sacrificed rats was taken for the malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels measurement.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong><i>In vitro</i> studies showed that TSC at a concentration of 7.81 μM and BMPC at concentrations of 3.9, 7.81, and 15.62 μM exhibited the lowest toxicity in acrylamide administration. In the <i>in vivo</i> study, pretreatment with 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg of TSC ameliorated behavioral impairments, but BMPC could not attenuate them. GSH and MDA were improved by 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg TSC and 2.5 mg/kg BMPC.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>TSC and BMPC administration improved behavioral index and oxidative stress injuries in Wistar rats exposed to ACR through MDA reduction and GSH content enhancement in the cerebral cortex.</p>","PeriodicalId":8677,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine","volume":"14 1","pages":"78-89"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11210700/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141465881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Therapeutic effects of <i>Medicago sativa</i> against cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity in rats.","authors":"Vajihe Rouki, Mohammad Hossein Boskabady, Narges Marefati, Reyhaneh Sotoudeh, Zahra Gholamnezhad","doi":"10.22038/AJP.2023.22911","DOIUrl":"10.22038/AJP.2023.22911","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong><i>Medicago sativa</i> (<i>M. sativa</i>) has been traditionally used for treating anemia; therefore, <i>M. sativa</i> hydro-ethanolic extract therapeutic effects against cyclophosphamide (CP) -induced hematologic and liver toxicity were examined.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided to control (saline); CP (100 mg/kg, day 1-3, subcutaneously); CP+ <i>M. sativa</i> 200 mg/kg (MS 200); CP+ <i>M. sativa</i> 400 mg/kg (MS 400); CP+ dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg), (all groups n=6). Treated animals received <i>M. sativa</i> or dexamethasone by gavage from days 7-14. On days 0, 7, and 14, hematologic parameters, and on the 14th day, serum and liver tissue oxidative stress markers including nitric oxide, malondialdehyde (MDA) and total thiol levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, serum lipids, and liver enzymes were measured.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Animal weight, platelet, white blood cells, and red blood cells counts, hemoglobin and hematocrit as well as thiol, SOD, and CAT activities in serum and liver tissue were significantly reduced, but serum nitric oxide, MDA, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins levels, and liver enzymes were increased in the CP group compared to the control group (p<0.05 to p<0.001). Administering <i>M. sativa</i> extract (400 mg/kg) significantly enhanced platelet count, and SOD and CAT activities and inhibited all of the CP toxic effects, while dexamethasone improved platelet count and oxidative stress markers compared to the CP group (p<0.05 to p<0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The extract of <i>M. sativa</i> (400 mg/kg) showed therapeutic effects against the CP-induced myelosuppression and thrombocytopenia and improved oxidative stress markers which were comparable to the effect of dexamethasone.</p>","PeriodicalId":8677,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine","volume":"14 1","pages":"112-125"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11210696/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141465882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effects of swimming training at different temperatures along with cinnamon supplementation on liver enzymes and thyroid hormones in diabetic rats.","authors":"Sepehr Arammi, Massoud Sahragard, Asiye Seyed, Omidreza Salehi, Seyed Ali Hosseini, Zahra Mosallanezhad","doi":"10.22038/AJP.2023.23248","DOIUrl":"10.22038/AJP.2023.23248","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of swimming (S) training in water at 5°C (S5C) and 35°C (S35C) along with cinnamon (Cin) supplementationon liver enzymes and thyroid hormones in streptozotocin (STZ(-induced diabetic rats.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>In this experimental trial, 48 diabetic rats (55 mg/kg STZ) were divided into (1) diabetic control (CD), (2) S5C, (3) S5C+Cin, (4) S35C, (5) S35C+Cin and (6) Cin groups.Eight rats were placed in the healthy control (HC) group to evaluate the effects of diabetes induction on the research variables. Swimming training was performed at 5±2°C and 35±2°C for eight weeks, 3 days a week.For Cin supplementation, 200 mg/kg/day of the aqueous extract of cinnamon was dissolved in the animals drinking water. One-way analysis of variance with Tukey's <i>post- hoc</i> test in Graphpad Prism software was used to analyze the findings.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>S5C and S35C significantly increased thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and decreased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine aminotransferase <b>(</b>ALT)(p≤0.05). TSH levels in the S35C group were higher than the S5C group (p≥0.05); ALT levels in the S5C group were lower than the S35C group (p≥0.05). Also, Cin decreased AST and ALT levels (p≥0.05), while S35C+Cin decreased T3, ALP and ALT and S5C+Cin decreased ALP (p≥0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>It seems that training at different temperatures and consumption of cinnamon synergistically lead to improvement of liver enzymes and modulation of thyroid hormones. However, the effect of training in cold water and its impact on thyroid hormones is still unknown and needs further research.</p>","PeriodicalId":8677,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine","volume":"14 1","pages":"126-137"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11210701/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141465901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The modulating effects of astaxanthin on apoptosis in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: A randomized clinical trial.","authors":"Masoome Jabarpour, Ashraf Aleyasin, Maryam Shabani Nashtaei, Mahshad Khodarahmian, Sara Lotfi, Fardin Amidi","doi":"10.22038/AJP.2023.23111","DOIUrl":"10.22038/AJP.2023.23111","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Astaxanthin (ASX) is a lipid-soluble keto-carotenoid with several biological effects. These effects may benefit polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients. Imbalanced apoptosis/anti-apoptosis signaling has been considered the major pathogenesis of PCOS. In a randomized clinical trial, we tested the impact of ASX on the apoptotic pathway in PCOS granulosa cells (GCs). The present study hypothesizes that ASX may improve apoptosis in PCOS patients.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This trial recruited patients with confirmed PCOS. A total of 58 patients were randomly assigned to take ASX (12 mg) or placebo for 8 weeks. Aspirated follicular fluid (FF) and blood samples were taken from both groups to measure <i>BAX</i> and <i>BCL2</i> protein expression. Following FF aspiration, GCs from both groups were obtained; Real-Time PCR and Western blotting were used to evaluate the apoptotic pathway's gene and protein expression levels in GCs.<i>BAXBCL2</i>.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In GCs analysis, ASX reduced <i>DR5</i> gene and protein expression after 8 weeks compared to placebo(p<0.05). Also, <i>Caspase8</i> (p>0.05) and <i>BAX</i> (p<0.05) gene expression declined, although the difference was not statistically significant for <i>Caspase8</i>. Besides,ASX treatment contributed to an elevated <i>BCL2</i> gene expression in GCs(p<0.05). In FF and serum analysis, a statistically significant increase was found in <i>BCL2</i> concentration in the ASX group (p<0.05). Moreover, a reduction in <i>BAX</i> level was confirmed in both FF and serum of the ASX group; however, this change was not significant in the serum (p>0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>It seems that ASX consumption among women with PCOS improved serum and FF levels of apoptotic factors and modulated genes and protein expression of the apoptosis pathway in GCs. Nevertheless, further investigations are needed to reveal the potential role of this compound in PCOS treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":8677,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine","volume":"14 1","pages":"64-77"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11210694/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141465902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Britannin suppresses MCF-7 breast cancer cell growth by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting autophagy.","authors":"Sadegh Rajabi, Mahboubeh Irani, Marzieh Moeinifard, Maryam Hamzeloo-Moghadam","doi":"10.22038/AJP.2023.22995","DOIUrl":"10.22038/AJP.2023.22995","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Breast cancer is the main reason for cancer-related death in women. Britannin is a sesquiterpene lactone compound derived from <i>Inula aucheriana</i> with anti-tumor properties. We aimed to explore the impacts of britannin on apoptosis and autophagy in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The cytotoxic influences of britannin on MCF-7 cells were estimated by the MTT method. The expression levels of apoptosis-associated genes such as <i>CASP3</i>, <i>BCL2</i>, <i>BCL2L1</i>, <i>STAT3</i>, and <i>JAK2</i> and transcripts of autophagy markers including <i>ATG1</i>, <i>ATG4</i>, <i>ATG5</i>, <i>ATG7</i>, <i>ATG12</i>, <i>BECN1</i>, and <i>MAP1LC3A</i> were quantified using quantitative real time-PCR (qRT-PCR). Western blotting method was used to evaluate the amount of caspase 3, phosphorylated JAK2, phosphorylated STAT3, ATG1, ATG4, ATG5, Beclin1, and LC-III.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Treatment of MCF-7 cells with various concentrations of britannin remarkably hindered the viability of these cells compared to the controls. This compound significantly elevated the expression of pro-apoptotic caspase-3 but did not influence the levels of anti-apoptotic <i>BCL2</i> and <i>BCL2L1</i>. Britannin decreased the levels of phosphorylated forms of JAK2 and STAT3 proteins causing the blockage of the JAK/STAT pathway. Four autophagy factors expressions, including ATG4, ATG5, Beclin1, and LCIII, were reduced due to the effect of britannin on MCF-7 cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Britannin triggered apoptosis in MCF-7 cells by a mechanism that led to the blockade of the JAK/STAT pathway. Moreover, britannin prohibited autophagy in these cancer cells. This may suggest britannin as an agent for the suppression of breast tumors or as an adjutant for the enhancement of anti-breast cancer drugs effect.</p>","PeriodicalId":8677,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine","volume":"14 1","pages":"90-99"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11210692/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141465895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of <i>Nigella sativa</i> on cisplatin-induced memory impairment and brain oxidative stress status in male rats.","authors":"Yasin Mahmoud Janloo, Fatemeh Sadat Attari, Sahar Roshan, Hadi Lotfi, Amir Hossein Pezeshki, Masoud Hosseinzadeh, Batool Shakiba-Jam, Marzieh Kafami","doi":"10.22038/AJP.2023.22789","DOIUrl":"10.22038/AJP.2023.22789","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Studies have shown the complications of chemotherapy on learning and memory. Empirical evidence suggests that <i>Nigella sativa</i> (NS) has neuroprotective activities. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the effects of NS on cisplatin-induced memory impairment.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This study was conducted on 40 male rats grouped as: control (saline: 2 ml/kg, intraperitoneally (IP), once weekly/2 weeks), cisplatin (Cis, 2 mg/kg, IP, once weekly/2 weeks), NS (200 mg/kg, IP, once weekly/2 weeks), Cis +NS 200 (2 mg/kg Cis + 200 mg/kg NS, IP, once weekly/2 weeks), and Cis +NS 400 (2 mg/kg Cis + 400 mg/kg NS, IP, once weekly/2 weeks). Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to assess spatial learning and memory. In addition, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and thiol and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were evaluated in the brain.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Cis significantly enhanced the traveled distance and time spent in the target quadrant in the MWM test. Additionally, MDA levels increased in the Cis group, while thiol and SOD decreased in this group. As a result of treatment with NS, behavioral results were reversed in the groups receiving NS compared to the Cis group. Also, NS reduced MDA level but improved SOD and thiol levels in brain tissue samples.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>NS could improve memory impairment and oxidative stress in animals receiving Cis. Therefore, NS could be used as a potential food supplement to prevent neurotoxicity in patients undergoing chemotherapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":8677,"journal":{"name":"Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine","volume":"14 1","pages":"13-22"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11210697/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141465896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}