The Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Senna (Cassia Angustifolia Vahl.) on Lipid Profiles in Hyperlipidemic Rats

Background: Abnormality in metabolism of lipids and hyperlipidemia is a risk factor for atherosclerosis which is the major cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Several herbal drugs are used for the treatment of dyslipidemia. The present study investigates the effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of Senna extract on serum lipid profile among hyperlipidemic rats. Methods: Forty eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of 8 animals, including group 1) normal pellet diet (control), group 2) high fat diet (HFD), group, 3) HFD with 100 mg/kg Senna extract treatment, group 4) HFD with 200 mg/kg Senna extract treatment, group 5) 100 mg/kg pure Senna extract, and group 6) 200 mg/kg pure Senna extract. All the dietary regimens and Senna extract treatments were continued for 30 days. At the end of the experiment, blood samples collected from heart of rats and the lipid profile levels were measured. Results: The results indicated that short-term treatment by hydroalcoholic of Senna extract produced a significant reduction in the level of cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-C (P < 0.05), as well as an increase in HDL-C. The body weight in the HFD group was significantly higher than the other groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Prescription of hydroalcoholic extracts of Senna is effective in the treatment of hyperlipidemia, and can inhibit the weight gain induced by HFD in rats. Some of these effects could be attributed to antioxidants activities, biological and pharmaceutical properties and other protective properties of the Senna extract requiring further investigations.

The effects of green tea on cognitive impairments in the rat model of Alzheimer's disease: protection against inflammatory and oxidative damage

INTRODUCTION

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a decrement in the number of synapses, an increment in the production of oxygen free radicals and inflammatory cytokines. Green tea (GT) plays a defensive performance in different neurodegenerative conditions, such as cognition deficit. This study investigated the neuroprotective effect of green tea (GT) on cognitive disorder, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the streptozotocin (STZ)- induced AD model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The rats were divided into four groups: (1) Control, (2) GT, (3) Alz, and (4) GT + Alz. AD was induced by the injection of STZ (3 mg/kg, bilaterally, ICV). Morris water maze and passive avoidance tests were done to evaluate the memory and learning of rats. Biochemical parameters were measured with specialized ELISA kits.

RESULTS

Briefly, data analysis revealed that GT administration for 21 days improved memory impairment induced by the injection of STZ. Pretreatment with GT enhanced time spent in the goal quarter and reduced latency time and path length. Furthermore, pretreatment with GT prevented the increment of malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in STZ-treated rats. As a pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α) concentration was suppressed with the GT pretreatment. Total antioxidant capacity was increased after GT administration in rats treated compared with AD rats.

CONCLUSIONS

GT pretreatment attenuated STZ-induced learning and memory impairment through the suppression of TNF-α and MDA concentrations. The beneficial effects of GT on memory could be attributed to its protective effects on oxidative defenses.

Effects of quercetin on spatial memory, hippocampal antioxidant defense and BDNF concentration in a rat model of Parkinson's disease: An electrophysiological study

OBJECTIVE

Quercetin is one of the most popular flavonoid with protective effects against neural damages in Parkinson's disease (PD). We assessed the effect of quercetin administration on memory and motor function, hippocampal ‎ oxidative stress and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level in a 6-OHDA-induced Parkinson's rat model.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The animals were divided into the following five groups (n=8): control, sham-surgery (sham), lesion (PD), and lesion animals treated with quercetin at doses of 10 (Q10) and 25 (Q25) mg/kg. For induction of a model of PD, 6-OHDA was injected into the striatum of rats. The effects of quercetin were investigated on spatial memory, hippocampal BDNF and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Spatial memory was assessed by Morris water maze test, and the neuronal firing frequency in hippocampal dentate gyrus (HDG) was evaluated by single-unit recordings.

RESULTS

Mean path length and latency time, rotational behavior and hippocampal MDA concentration were significantly increased, while time spent in the goal quadrant, swimming speed, spike rate, and hippocampal levels of TAC and BDNF were significantly decreased in the PD group compared to the sham group (p<0.01 to p<0.001). Quercetin treatment significantly enhanced time spent in goal quadrant (p<0.05), swimming speed (p<0.001) and spike rate (p<0.01), improved hippocampal TAC (p<0.05 to p<0.001) and BDNF (p<0.01 to p<0.001) level, and decreased mean path length (p<0.001), latency time (p<0.05 to p<0.001), rotational behavior and hippocampal MDA concentration (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The cognitive-enhancing effect of quercetin might be due to its antioxidant effects in the hippocampus.

Effect of synbiotic supplementation on asprosin level in high fat diet-induced metabolic disorder in pregnant rats

Synbiotic supplementation can improve metabolic disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of synbiotic supplementation on the levels of asprosin, lipid profile, glucose, and insulin resistance in pregnant rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Rats were divided into three groups: control group (fed base chow), HFD group, and HFD + synbiotic group. Levels of blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), insulin, and asprosin levels were measured. Birth weight of offspring in the HFD + synbiotic group was significantly lower than in the HFD group. Similarly, serum asprosin, insulin, insulin resistance, TG and total cholesterol levels in the HFD + symbiotic group were significantly lower than in the HFD group. Asprosin levels had a significant and positive correlation between food intake in the first ten days of the experiment and gestation period, fasting blood sugar (FBS), TG, and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index. Moreover, asprosin levels had a significant and negative correlation with HDL and insulin levels. Results showed, synbiotic supplementation has beneficial effects on obese animals and improves weight gain during pregnancy, pup birth weight, FBS, insulin resistance and lipid profile. These advantages of synbiotic supplementation could be mediated by reducing serum asprosin levels.