Objective. We investigated the eff ects of hydroalcoholic extract of Nigella sativa (NS) on renal tissue oxidative damage associated with propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced hypothyroidism during neonatal and juvenile growth in rats.Methods. Pregnant rats were divided into fi ve groups designated as: 1) control; 2) propylthiouracil (PTU); 3) PTU-NS100; 4) PTU-NS200, and 5) PTU-NS400. All mothers except the control group received 0.005% PTU in their drinking water during lactation. Besides PTU, mothers in groups 3-5 received 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of NS extract. Aft er lactation period, the off spring continued to receive the same experimental treatment for the fi rst 8 weeks of their life. Ten male off springs of each group were randomly selected, blood samples collected, and the kidney tissues removed.Results. Th e serum thyroxin concentration in PTU group was lower than control group and improved by extract. PTU increased the renal malondialdehyde (MDA), while reduced the total thiols concentrations and catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity compared to control group. Administration of 200 and 400 mg/kg of NS extract decreased MDA level, while it increased the total thiols and 400 mg/kg increased CAT and SOD activity in renal tissues compared to PTU group. Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in PTU group was higher than in comparison with the control group. 400 mg/kg decreased creatinine, but both 200 and 400 mg/kg improved BUN concentration compared to PTU group.Conclusion. Th e results of this study demonstrate that the hydroalcoholic extract of NS has a protective eff ect on the renal tissue oxidative damage associated with PTU-induced hypothyroidism during neonatal and juvenile growth in rats.

Aims: Adriamycin is one of the anti-cancer medications. Nevertheless, the medication causes renal damage. Curcuma longa has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Curcuma longa on renal damage due to Adriamycin in the rat. Materials & Methods: In the experimental study, 32 male Wistar rats were studied. Via simple random method, the rats were divided into four groups including control, Adriamycin (5mg/Kg), Curcuma longa extract (1000mg/Kg), and Curcuma longa extract with Adriamycin groups. The groups underwent 5-week treatment. 24-hour urine samples were collected at days 0, 6, 10, 14, 21, 28, and 35, to measure glomerular filtration rate. The left kidney of the animal was used to determine the renal damage percentage. Data was analyzed by SPSS 16 software using one-way ANOVA, Tukey's post-hoc, and paired T tests. Findings: Mean of glomerular filtration rate in Adriamycin group significantly decreased at days 21 and 35 compared to days 0 and 6. In addition, it significantly increased in Curcuma longa extract group at days 10, 14, 21, and 28 (p<0.05). The renal damage percentage significantly increased in Adriamycin (p<0.001) and Curcuma longa extract with Adriamycin (p<0.01) groups than control group. In addition, it significantly decreased in Curcuma longa extract group, as well as Curcuma longa extract with Adriamycin group, compared to Adriamycin group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Hydroalcoholic extract of Curcuma longa reduces the renal damage percentage caused by Adriamycin in the rat, while improves glomerular filtration rate.

Background:The deleterious effect of oxidative stress on myocardial ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) has already been shown in previous studies. Since Teucrium polium has anti-oxidative and cardio-protective properties, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of this plant on I/R injuries in the isolated rat heart.Materials and Methods:The myocardial I/R injury of rat was created by Langendorff retrograde perfusion technology. The heart was preperfused with Krebs–Henseleit (K-H) solution containing T. polium extract for 20 min before 20 min global ischemia, and then the reperfusion with K-H bicarbonate buffer was conducted for 40 min. The left ventricular developed pressure and the maximum up/down rate of the left ventricular pressure (±dp/dtmax) were recorded by physiological recorder as the myocardial function. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) activities in the effluent were measured to determine the myocardial injury degree. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total thiol groups (−SH), superoxide anion dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in myocardial tissue were detected to determine the oxidative stress degree.Results:The results showed that the pretreatment with T. polium significantly enhanced cardiac parameters and the coronary artery flow, decreased the LDH, CK activities, and TBARS level, whereas it increased − SH groups, SOD and CAT activities.Conclusions:Our findings indicated that T. polium could provide protection for heart against the I/R injury which may be related to the improvement of myocardial oxidative stress states.

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