No abstract

Background: Hyperthyroidism is a disorder that occurs when the thyroid gland secretes more thyroid hormone than the body needs. Thyroid hormone is essential for the normal growth and development of normal organs. Polyherb (POH) formulation has proven to be useful in number of diseases and has been used in folk medicine as an anti-hyperthyroidism, anti-oxidant, and appetitestimulating agent. The aim of the study was to evaluate the curative effect of POH against L-thyroxin (LT4)-induced hyperthyroidism in male rats. Methods: Seven groups (10 rats each) were used for this purpose. Determination of phytochemical analysis, oxidative stress markers, brain appetite marker and cell energy marker were determined via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques. Thyroid hormones were detected via ELISA, and liver functions were determined by colorimetric method. Results: The data showed that LT4 altered thyroid function via decreasing serum Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), serum total protein, albumin and globulin, while increasing Triiodothyronine (T3), Thyroxine (T4), and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Moreover, oxidative stress markers in liver tissues were increased, via up-regulation of nitric oxide (NO), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG). Meanwhile, glutathione (GSH) and ATP were alleviated; in contrast, metabolites of ADP and AMP were elevated. Neuronal appetite marker in brain tissue was decreased via low serotonin levels. On the other hand, rat groups treated with POH and Carbimazole (CBZ) showed markedly amelioration of hyperthyroidism in rats at low dose only but did not show complete amelioration at high dose of POH. The data were confirmed through histopathological examination of the thyroid. Conclusion: The data obtained demonstrated that POH, at low dose, can be very effective for completely treating hyperthyroidism in rats, and was safer than Carbimazole (CBZ) and ameliorated most signaling pathways and in different tissues.

Introduction: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a disease that results in inflammation of the pancreatic tissue. The most characteristic features of this disease are activation of digestive enzymes such as amylase and lipase with subsequent release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. It may be complicated with multiorgan failure. Pulmonary complications are considered the most frequent and most serious complications. Apitherapy is a type of natural medicine that uses honey bee products like bee venom and bee propolis for treating various diseases. The aim of the study: To elucidate the apitherapeutic value of bee venom and bee propolis on L-arginine-induced acute pancreatitis and its associated lung injury complication in adult male albino rats via biological study. Materials and methods: This study was performed on 70 adult male albino rats. Rats were randomly divided into seven groups: Group I :Control group (CG), Group II :Acute pancreatitis group (AP) in which pancreatitis was induced by two intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of 2g/kg L-arginine, 1 h apart, Group III :Bee venom (250µg/kg subcutaneous (s.c.) injection) + L-arginine treated group (BVL), Group IV: Bee propolis (300mg/kg intramuscular (i.m.) injection) + L-arginine treated group (BPL), Group V: Combined therapy group (CT), Group VI: Bee venom only treated group(BV) and Group VII: Bee propolis only treated group (BP). The diagnostic markers, including serum lipase and amylase, GGT, glucose, CRP, tissue total antioxidants and RT-PCR analysis of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), were measured. Histological (using hematoxylin & eosin stain) and Immunohistochemical (using NF-κB immunostain) techniques were done. The morphometric study was performed for area % and optical density of immunoexpression of NF-κB in pancreatic and lung tissues. All performed measurements were followed by statistical analysis. Results: Acute pancreatitis group revealed a significant increase in amylase and lipase serum levels, increase in MMP-9 expression and a decrease in the total antioxidants tissue content. Histopathological results demonstrated widening of the connective tissue septa of the pancreas with degeneration of pancreatic acini in AP group while, the lungs showed thickened interalveolar septa with inflammatory cellular infiltration. A significant increase in immunoreactivity of NF-κB in pancreatic and lung tissues was also observed. The pretreated groups showed a significant improvement of these biochemical and histological changes. Conclusions: There was a significant role of pretreatment with bee venom and bee propolis in ameliorating biochemical and histopathological changes in AP group.

Diabetic neuropathy is one of the complications of diabetes. This study investigated the possibility of reducing neuropathy of STZ-induced diabetic rats by Terminalia muelleri extract (TE) and comparing the effect of the extract with the therapeutic effect of pioglitazone (PG) drug. The experimental animals were divided into non-diabetic (normal control), STZ-induced diabetic (diabetic control), TE-treated non-diabetic (200 mg/kg b.wt) (TE-group) TE-treated diabetic (200 mg/kg b.wt) (TE-STZ-group), and pioglitazone-treated diabetic (1.58 mg /kg b.wt) (PG-STZ-group). All treatments were administered orally by oral gavage once daily throughout the 4 weeks of the treatment period. In this study: malonaldehyde, nitric oxide, reduced glutathione and glutathione disulfide were examined as oxidative stress marker in the brain tissue of the experimental rats. The results indicated high oxidative stress in STZ-diabetic groups and reduced oxidative stress of groups treated with TE. The results of norepinephrine, dopamine, gammaamino- butyric acid, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and Casps-3 also demonstrated the possibility of using TE to attenuate the effects of neuropathy in experimental rats comparable to PG use. This indicated that the TE is promising alternative to chemical treatment with PG drug. This indicated that TE is promising alternative to chemical treatment with PG drug.

No abstract