Ahmad M. Disi

Simple evaluation of the wound healing activity of a crude extract of Portulaca oleracea L. (growing in Jordan) in Mus musculus JVI-1.

The preliminary wound healing activity of Portulaca oleracea was studied using Mus musculus JVI-1. For this purpose fresh homogenized crude aerial parts of Portulaca oleracea were applied topically on the excision wound surface as single and two doses in different amounts. Wound contraction and tensile strength measurements were used to evaluate the effect of Portulaca oleracea on wound healing. The results obtained indicated that Portulaca oleracea accelerates the wound healing process by decreasing the surface area of the wound and increasing the tensile strength. The greatest contraction was obtained at a single dose of 50mg and the second greatest by two doses of 25mg. Measurements of tensile strength and healed area were in agreement.

Evaluation of the gastroprotective effect of Laurus nobilis seeds on ethanol induced gastric ulcer in rats

The possible antiulcerogenic activity of Laurus nobilis seeds was tested on experimentally (ethanol) induced gastric ulcer in rats. The results indicated antiulcerogenic activity for 20 and 40% aqueous extracts as well as for the oily fraction of these seeds. In acute toxicity studies, the aqueous extract was found safe with LD50 compared to oil LD50 0.33 ml/kg body weight.

Rodents as reservoir hosts of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Jordan

Rodents were collected from endemic foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Jordan, either by flooding their burrows with water or using Sherman traps. Of the 170 jirds (Psammomys obesus) collected, 39 (23%) had Leishmania amastigotes in one or both ears. Although cultures of ear biopsies from the infected animals were all positive, cultures made using biopsies from their noses, livers or spleens were all negative. The infected jirds were encountered in seven of the nine areas studied. Biochemical characterization of six isolates from P. obesus, using cellulose acetate electrophoresis of six enzymes (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconic dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, phosphoglucomutase, phosphoglucoisomerase and fructokinase) showed that the jird isolates were isoenzymatically identical with two Jordanian human Leishmania isolates and reference isolates of L. major but differed from reference strains of L. tropica. None of the other rodents caught (Meriones libycus, M. crassus, M. tristrami, Allactaga euphratica and Gerbillus spp.) yielded Leishmania parasites, confirming that P. obesus is the major reservoir host of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Jordan.

Regression of endometrial implants treated with vitamin D3 in a rat model of endometriosis

Endometriosis is one of the most frequent gynecological diseases. In addition to their side effects, available medical therapies may decrease fertility. Current understanding of endometriosis focuses on the role of the immune system in its pathophysiology. Recent research shed light on the immunomodulatory effect of vitamin D3. Thus, this study was designed to study the effect of vitamin D3 on regression of endometriotic implants in a rat surgical model. Vitamin D3 reduced cyst cross sectional area by 48.8%. Histologically, vitamin D treatment produced fibrosis as well as apoptosis in the stroma. The results of the present study suggest that vitamin D3 administration may have a beneficial effect in treating endometriosis.

Intestinal cestodes of stray dogs in Jordan

Five species of cestodes namelyEchinococcus granulosus, Taenia hydatigena, Taenia pisiformis, Taenia ovis andDipylidium caninum were recovered post mortem from 120 out of 173 stray dogs collected from the 5 governorates of Jordan during the period June 1979 to November 1980. Twenty-five of the examined dogs (14%) were found to be infected withE. granulosus, 79 (46%) withT. hydatigena, 14 (8%) withT. pisiformis and 5 (3%) withT. ovis. Dipylidium caninum was encountered in 33 (19%) of the examined dogs and infection with this parasite was significantly higher in males than in females. The parasites, except forD. caninum which was encountered in the ileum, were almost exclusively recovered from the duodenum and the jejunum. Single, double and triple infections with those cestodes were recorded.

Hypolipidemic Effects of Seed Extract of Celery (Apium graveolens ) in Rats

The hypolipidemic effects of ethanol extract of A. graveolens L. (Apiaceae) were investigated. Forty adult male albino rats weighing about 260 g each, were divided into four groups (n = 10). Experimental animals were gavaged at doses of 213 and 425 mg/kg body wt. for sixty consecutive days. Extract showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and significant increase (p<0.05) in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) in the treated groups. The oral administration of ethanol extract of A. graveolens revealed good hypolipideamic effects in adult male albino rats. The results have given a considerable agreement to the traditional use of A. graveolens in the treatment of hyperlipidemia; it could possibly lead to appropriate changes in blood lipid profiles.

Effects of Anchusa strigosa root aqueous extract on gastric ethanol-induced ulcer in laboratory animals.

Anchusa strigosa Banks et Sol (Boraginaceae) root extracts (ASRE) were prepared by soaking the dry material in boiling water. The clear soluble extract was dried and found to be 0.238 g/g dry roots. A gastric ulcer was induced in fastened animals by oral ingestion of ethanol. Administration of 0.080 g of ASRE prior to ethanol ingestion protected the stomach of the rat from ulcer formation. The ulcer index values, expressed as a percentage of total stomach surface area affected by the ulcer, were lowered from 34.0+/-4.0 to 6.0+/-0.7 and 32.5+/-9.4 to 2.2+/-1.4 by the morphometric and the planimetric methods, respectively. Treatment of the induced ulcer in guinea pigs was achieved by oral administration of ASRE at the therapeutic dose of extract of 0.286 g/kg body weight/day for 24 days. The intraperitoneal LD50 of ASRE in mice was 0.080 g extract/kg body weight. Replacing water intake by ASRE at 75 ml of variable extract concentrations of 2.865, 3.57 and 4.284 g/l per animal per day for 90 days showed no histopathological changes in all organs of the rat. However, a clear depression effect on the central nervous system and anemia were observed particularly with extract of 3.57 g/l or more.

Thujone corrects cholesterol and triglyceride profiles in diabetic rat model

Thujone, which is the major constituent in Salvia sp. (Lamiaceae), was found to correct the lipid profile (cholesterol and triglycerides) in diabetic rats. Oral treatment with thujone (5u2009mgu2009kg−1 body weight dose) significantly adjusted cholesterol and triglyceride levels in diabetic rats (pu2009≤u20090.05) to normal levels compared to diabetic untreated rats. This provides a premise in the field of finding new agents to treat diabetic complications.

β-Caryophyllene causes regression of endometrial implants in a rat model of endometriosis without affecting fertility.

Many studies have shown that anti-inflammatory agents are effective in the treatment of endometriosis. β-Caryophyllene exerted a potent anti-inflammatory effect in vivo. However, its effect on endometriosis has not been investigated. This study aims at investigating the effect of β-caryophyllene on endometriosis and on fertility and reproduction in adult female rats. Autologous fragments of the endometrium were implantated in the peritoneal cavity in adult female rats. The growth of the endometriotic implants that developed after four weeks was recorded. Treatment started then with β-caryophyllene (10 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg) or vehicle (control) for 21 days and the growth of the endometriotic implants was measured again. In fertility studies, female rats that received β-caryophyllene or vehicle were mated and reproductive functions were observed including number and viability of implants, number of corpora lutea, length of pregnancy and outcome of litter. β-Caryophyllene (10 mg/kg) suppressed the growth of endometriotic implants by 52.5% compared with controls. Also β-caryophyllene produced apoptosis in luminal epithelim of the cyst as well as in endothelial cells of blood vessels. Ultrstructural studies revealed the presence of active mast cells and eosinophils in both control and β-caryophyllene-treated rat cysts. No statistically significant difference was observed in any studied parameter between control and β-caryophyllene-treated groups in fertility study. Therapy with β-caryophyllene may present a promising novel, non-toxic therapeutic option for patients with endometriosis.

Antifertility Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Juniperus phoenica (L.) in Male Albino Rats

The plant Juniperus phoenica (L.) (Cupressaceae) is widely growing on the rocky soils of the Mediterranean regions. In Jordan, the plant is distributed in different locations and is used as a folk medicine to treat rheumatism, edema, and urinary tract diseases. This study aimed to investigate the antifertility effect of J. phoenica in male albino rats. Animals were administered single daily intraperitoneal injections of 400 or 800 mg/kg of J. phoenica cones ethanol extract or the vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide) for 21 consecutive days. A marked dose-dependent decrease in the counts and motility of the sperms collected from the cauda epididymis of treated rats was observed compared with the control. Furthermore, pregnancy rate in females markedly reduced by 60% and 80% after mating with males treated with 400 or 800 mg/kg, respectively. At the same time, significant decreases were detected in seminal vesicles and testicular weight of rats that received 800 mg/kg as compared with control rats. Testosterone levels were decreased significantly in both treated groups as compared with control. Histologically, seminiferous tubules of treated rats showed marked arrests of spermatogenesis and a marked decrease in the number of mature sperms. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that the ethanolic extract of the cones of J. phoenica possesses potential antifertility effects.