The effects of wild pistachio oil on serum leptin, thyroid hormones, and lipid profile in female rats with experimental hypothyroidism

Effect of Elettaria cardamomum L. on hormonal changes and spermatogenesis in the propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroidism male BALB/c mice

INTRODUCTION

Spermatogenesis is significantly influenced by the thyroid gland. Thyroid disorders can be caused by a variety of factors. Traditionally, Ellettaria cardamomum has been used to treat a variety of ailments. The effects of E. cardamomum extract (ECE) on spermatogenesis in hypothyroid mice were investigated in this study.

METHODS

In this study 42 male mice, weighing (25-35 g) were randomly divided in six groups: control group (taking normal saline, 0.5 mL/day, by oral gavage [P.O.]), hypothyroid group (taking 0.1% propylthiouracil in drinking water for 2 weeks), hypothyroid groups treated by levothyroxine (15 mg/kg/day, P.O.) and hypothyroid groups treated by ECE (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/day, P.O.). After the end of experiments the mice were anaesthetised and blood samples were collected for hormonal analysis.

RESULTS

The sperm count and microscopic studies of testes were done also. Our results showed that the T3 , T4 , testosterone levels and spermatogenesis in hypothyroid animals decreased and thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone increased compared with control group. Treatment by ECE reverse these effects in comparison with hypothyroid group.

CONCLUSIONS

According to our findings, the ECE may stimulates thyroid gland function and increases testosterone and spermatogenesis.

1,2,3,4,6-Pentagalloyl glucose of Pistacia lentiscus can inhibit the replication and transcription processes and viral pathogenesis of SARS-COV-2

SARS-COV-2 stands as the source of the most catastrophic pandemic of this century, known as COVID-19. In this regard, we explored the effects of five Pistacia sp. active ingredients on the most crucial targets of SARS-COV-2, including 3CLpro, PLpro, RdRp, helicase, NSP15, and E protein. The results of molecular docking determined 1,2,3,4,6-pentagalloyl glucose (PG) as the most effective compound of Pistacia sp, which also confirmed its excellent binding affinities and stable interactions with helicase (−10.76 kcal/mol), RdRp (−10.19 kcal/mol), E protein (−9.51 kcal/mol), and 3CLpro (−9.47 kcal/mol). Furthermore, MD simulation was conducted to investigate the stability of all complexes throughout a 100 ns. In contrast to PLpro and NSP15, the analyses of Lennard-Jones potential, RMSDas, PCA, and SASA verified the ability of PG in forming stable and adequate interactions with RdRp, helicase, 3CLpro, and E protein due to standing as an effective inhibitor among the six targets, these data proposed the capability of PG, the most important compound of Pistacia sp., in inducing antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant impacts on RdRp, helicase, 3CLpro, and E protein. Therefore, the possibility of inhibiting the replication and transcription processes and viral pathogenesis of SARS-COV-2 may be facilitated through the application of PG.

The Evolution of Pharmacological Activities Bouea macrophylla Griffith In Vivo and In Vitro Study: A Review

Bouea macrophylla Griffith (B. macrophylla) is one of the many herbal plants found in Asia, and its fruit is plum mango. This plant is rich in secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, tannins, polyphenolic compounds, and many others. Due to its bioactive components, plum mango has powerful antioxidants that have therapeutic benefits for many common ailments, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. This review describes the evolution of plum mango’s phytochemical properties and pharmacological activities including in vitro and in vivo studies. The pharmacological activities of B. macrophylla Griffith reviewed in this article are antioxidant, anticancer, antihyperglycemic, antimicrobial, and antiphotoaging. Each of these pharmacological activities described and studied the possible cellular and molecular mechanisms of action. Interestingly, plum mango seeds show good pharmacological activity where the seed is the part of the plant that is a waste product. This can be an advantage because of its economic value as a herbal medicine. Overall, the findings described in this review aim to allow this plant to be explored and utilized more widely, especially as a new drug discovery.

Effect of myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) essential oil on oxidant-antioxidant balance in rats with propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroidism

Among today's health problems, metabolic diseases are at the forefront. Hypothyroidism (HT) is a disease characterized by increased TSH, decreased T3&T4 concentrations in serum, with overall metabolic slowdown. Although there are many studies in the literature about oxidative status in HT, statements in these studies are contradictory. In our study, the effect of essential oils obtained from the leaves, flowers, and roots of Myrtus communis L. on oxidative metabolism in an HT model induced by propylthiouracil (PTU) in rats was investigated. A total of 36 Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into six groups as follows: (1) Control, (2) PTU, (3) M. communis L. oil 200 (MO 200), (4) M. communis L. oil 400 (MO 400), (5) PTU + MO 200, and (6) PTU + MO 400. In our study, while oxidative status deteriorates in groups given PTU, antioxidant activity increases in groups given M. communis L. oil. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Essential oils are aromatic oily liquids derived from different parts of plants. M. communis L. is one of the best-known herbs in the class of aromatic and medicinal plants. This paper emphasizes the effect of M. communis L. oil on the negative oxidative state that occurs in HT conditions. The present study provides a positive effect of essential oils obtained from the M. communis L. on the oxidative state seen in HT. In light of this information, it may be beneficial to use M. communis L. oil due to its antioxidative effect in HT conditions.

Pistacia Atlantica Desf., a Source of Healthy Vegetable Oil

Pistacia atlantica, which belongs to the Anacardiaceae family, is an important species for rural people in arid and semi-arid areas. The fruit, rich in oil, is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. The oil extracted from this species growing in a northern area of Algeria and its fatty acid composition were previously studied. However, the largest areas where this species is present (traditional cultivation) is located in southern Algeria. Moreover, studies on oil fatty acid composition and essential oil were always conducted separately. This study was performed in order to assess the fatty acid and volatile organic compound composition of P. atlantica vegetable oil. The seeds were collected randomly from Djelfa (300 km South of Algiers, Algeria). Oil content and fatty acid composition were determined by Soxhlet extraction. The seeds contained high concentrations of oil (32–67%). The major fatty acids were oleic (39–49%), linoleic (23.6–31%), and palmitic (21.3–26.6%) acids. The ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to saturated fatty acids (SFA) indicated that the content of unsaturated fatty acids was approximately three times higher than that of SFA. This ratio is widely used in epidemiological studies and research on cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. The ratios of -acids, i.e., -9/-6 and -6/-3, were 1.3–2 and 18.5–38.3, respectively. Crushed seeds were analyzed by headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. More than 40 compounds were identified, mainly monoterpenes (C10H16), such as α-terpinene and terpinolene, but also sesquiterpenes (C15H24) at lower levels. The value of this species as a source of healthy oil rich in -3 acid and its effects on cardiovascular disease risk are discussed.

The correlation between oxidative stress level and intra-abdominal fat in obese males

This study aims to investigate the correlation between oxidative stress and intra-abdominal fat (IAF) in obese young and middle-aged males.The present study included 136 male examinees in the Examination Center of the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao from October 10, 2015 to December 10, 2015. Then, clinical data, oxidative stress indices (8-iso-prostaglandin F2α [8-iso-PGF2α], malondialdehyde [MDA], and superoxide dismutase [SOD]), and IAF area were recorded. All subjects were assigned into 3 groups according to body mass index (BMI): obese group (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m, 43 subjects), overweight group (24 ≤ BMI < 28 kg/m, 46 subjects), and control group (BMI < 24 kg/m, 47 subjects). Then, statistical analysis was performed.There were significant differences in IAF area, leptin, adiponectin, 8-iso-PGF2α, MDA, SOD, fasting insulin (FINS), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) among these 3 groups (P < .05). Male subjects in the obese group had higher leptin, 8-iso-PGF2α, MDA, FINS, and HOMA-IR levels, compared to subjects in the overweight and control groups. Furthermore, subjects in the overweight group had a larger IAF area and higher 8-iso-PGF2α, MDA, and FBG levels, when compared to controls. In addition, SOD was significantly lower in the obese and overweight groups than in the control group. However, there were no statistical differences in age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lipids, and islet β-cell secretion function (homeostasis model assessment-β) among these 3 groups (P ≥ .05). Moreover, the IAF area was positively correlated to 8-iso-PGF2α and MDA, and negatively correlated to SOD.Oxidative stress is significantly associated with the IAF area in obese males, and abdominal obesity could increase oxidative stress level and insulin resistance.

Pistacia atlantica Desf. A review of its traditional uses, phytochemicals and pharmacology

Pistacia atlantica is the main herbal medicine that has been widely used in the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean areas since ancient time. Pistacia atlantica has been used for multiple purposes like stomach diseases, renal disorders, wounds and coughs. The aim of this study is to review its botanical characterization, traditional applications, photochemistry effects and pharmacological activities. Data in this review article was gathered from credible pharmacopeias, electronic databases such as Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, EBSCO, Google Scholar, SID and Iran Medex and textbooks of Persian medicine such as Canon of medicine (Ibn-e Sina, 980-1037 AD) and Makhzan-al-Advia (Aghili, 18th century). The keywords were searched in Persian and English books on medicinal plants and traditional medicine. The results showed that P. atlantica has many medicinal properties such as antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, along with others. It can also be effective in gastrointestinal diseases. Thus, different new drugs can be formulated based on P. atlantica for the management of various diseases.