The aim of this study is to investigate the potential antioxidant and anti-infl ammatory effects of thymoquinone (TQ) on ceruleine-induced acute pancreatitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 14 male Wistar albino rats were divided into 2 groups as follows: (1) normal saline-treated group and (2) thymoquinone-treated groups. For achieving acute pancreatitis, intraperitoneal (IP) cerulein, a stable cholecystokinin (CCK) analogue, was applied in a 50 mcg/kg dose 2 times in onehour interval in total. One hour after last ceruleine injection, IP 2 ml/kg isotonic saline solution was applied to the saline group and IP 5 mg/kg TQ was applied. The rats were sacrifi ced by decapitation 12 h after the last injection of last medication. Blood samples were taken, and serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β), amylase, lipase pancreatic, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), and pancreatic Schoenberg scores were determined. Oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated for each group. Results are given as mean ± SD. A value of p < 0.05 was accepted as statistically signifi cant. SPSS for Windows v15.0 was used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: The increased serum amylase, lipase levels and histopathological scoring of pancreatic tissue showed that acute pancreatitis was present in both groups. Furthermore, serum IL-1β level was signifi cantly reduced in TQ-administered group (p < 0.05). Although serum TAC level was high and TOS level was low, those changes were not statistically signifi cant. Nevertheless, OSI index, which was driven from TOS/TAC, was signifi cantly low in TQ groups (p < 0.05). Although TQ partially ameliorated the acute pancreatitis in terms of histopathological evaluations, the main effect of it was brought about by reducing the hemorrhage in acute pancreatitis (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this study, it was shown that TQ can reduce the infl ammation and has a positive effect on the oxidative status of organism in infl ammatory cases such as acute pancreatitis. This is consistent with partial amelioration of acute pancreatitis in rats given TQ (Tab. 2, Fig. 4, Ref. 31). Text in PDF www.elis.sk.

Objectives:The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities and probable toxic effects of Aloe vera (AV) in a rat peritonitis model.Materials and Methods:Rats were divided into five groups: (1) Control group, (2) AV group, (3) peritonitis group (P), (4) peritonitis + AV group (P + AV), and (5) peritonitis + antibiotherapy group (P + Ab). Ultrafiltration (UF) rates were determined and colony and leukocyte counts were calculated in the dialysate. Glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine levels, and alanine transaminase (ALT) activities were studied in blood. Glucose, interleukins (IL-1β, IL-6), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were studied in dialysate and peritoneal tissue for the assessment of the anti-inflammatory effect. Copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu, Zn-SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO) were also investigated in peritoneal tissue.Results:Aloe vera increased the UF rate and lowered leukocyte numbers in the peritonitis group. There was no significant difference in blood and dialysate glucose, BUN, creatinine levels and ALT activity among control and AV groups. AV decreased IL-1β, IL-6 and PGE2 in peritonitis, showing good anti-inflammatory effect. AV showed antioxidant effect on the chosen antioxidant parameters Cu, Zn-SOD, MDA, and NO.Conclusion:It was concluded that, AV might be used in peritonitis for its probable UF increasing, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects.