BackgroundDracocephalum kotschyi, as a wild-growing flowering plant (from Lamiaceae family), is locally prescribed for its various health-promoting properties including hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects. To evaluate the scientific basis of the traditional use of Dracocephalum kotschyi extract (DKE), we aimed to disclose its mode of action with main focus on white adipose tissue of diabetic rats.MethodsStreptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were exposed to different doses of DKE for 28 days followed by the determination of the sera biochemical factors. The oxidative stress status of the diabetic versus nondiabetic rats’ adipose tissue under the influence of DKE were also evaluated in terms of malondialdehyde (MDA) and some of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD, and catalase). Furthermore, we exposed 3T3-L1 cells to DKE and then evaluated both the extent of cells differentiation to adipocytes and measured the expression levels of some of the key signaling elements involved in adipogenesis and lipogenesis with main focus on PPARγ.ResultsOur results indicated that DKE administration attenuated the levels of TG (triglycerides), TC (total cholesterol), LDL and blood glucose by 54, 40, 54 and 25%, respectively and enhanced the levels of HDL, catalase and SOD by 45, 74 and 56%, respectively. In addition to profound adipogenic and lipogenic effects on 3T3-L1 cells, DKE significantly enhanced p-AKT, p-FOXO1, PPARγ and SREBP-1 expressions while that of p-JNK was quenched parallel to effect of pioglitazone, an antidiabetic agent, used in our investigation as the positive control drug.ConclusionsBesides of confirming the hypolipidemic action of the plant, our results provided documents on at least one mode of action of DKE with profound effect on lipid metabolism in adipose tissue. Regarding our results, further investigation on DKE, as a new potential hypolipidemic alternative drug is warranted.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12944-018-0893-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Nicarbazin is an effective and wide spread recognized substance for controlling the protozoal diseases with low number of short term adverse reactions. There are some molecular mechanisms proposed for its adverse effect but no one has conducted a research in vivo. Also there is no evidence found which can illustrate the long term adverse effects of the drug. It may hypothesized that Nicarbazin can affect the oxidative situation of cells by lipoprotein lipase activation. This study investigated the relationship between using Nicarbazin or its ingredients and oxidative stress situation by monitoring changes in the oxidative enzymes activity:Catalase, Glutathione peroxidase, Superoxide dismutase and specific biomarkers of oxidation: Dityrosine and Malondialdehyde. The study also investigates Nicarbazin's effects on colony stimulating factors in lung cells. In conclusion it found that Nicarbazin can worsen oxidative stress and increase colony stimulating factors which may have affect on long term adverse reactions of drug.
Aloe vera is widely used for medicine, dietary supplements, and cosmetic purposes. In recent years, the consumption of this plant ¼ s juice and gel has promoted and with entering them to the body different systems are encountering their effects. Liver as an important organ may response to the main active components of this plant, Aloe-emodin and Barbaloin. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant and antiglycation properties of these compounds on mice liver tissue at concentrations ranging from 0 to 12 mM. In this study various concentrations (0-12 mM) of Aloe-emodin and Barbaloin were added to liver tissue cultures and after 24h incubation the tests were performed. Enzymatic activities, Malondialdehyde level and DPPH radicals scavenging activity were evaluated by spectrophotometric method. Dityrosine level was measured by HPLC method. Antiglycation properties were evaluated by pentosidine and glyoxal tests. in vitro studies indicated that Aloe-emodin and Barbaloin scavenged free radicals in a dose dependent manner. Also, the results revealed that Aloe-emodin and Barbaloin could increase liver antioxidant enzymes activity including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase at low (0.75-1.5 mM) and high (3-12 mM) concentrations respectively. In other words, the levels of malondialdehyde and dityrosine, as oxidative damage biomarkers, significantly decreased at these concentrations, compared with the control value. Moreover at these doses, these two compounds had significant antiglycation property on the liver tissue as they evaluated by pentosidine and glyoxal tests. Therefore, as these compounds had significant antioxidant and antiglycation properties on the liver tissue, it can be expected that usage of them can be protected the liver tissue against chronic liver disease that is resulting from diabetes, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
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