Akçahan Gepdiremen

Antiinflammatory effect of the aqueous extract from Rumex patientia L. roots

Pharmacological studies were conducted with the aqueous extract of roots of Rumex patientia L. (Polygonaceae) on experimental animals. For evaluating the antiinflammatory activity, carrageenan, histamine, dextrane, serotonine formaldehyde-induced oedema tests, cotton-pellet granuloma, and Kabak tests in rats were used. The extract was found to possess antiinflammatory activity. Acute toxicity studies revealed that the extract up to a dose of 3 mg/kg orally was nontoxic.

Protective role of intramuscularly administered vitamin E on the levels of lipid peroxidation and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the lens of rats made cataractous with gamma-irradiation.

Purpose To determine the antioxidant role of vitamin E (VE) (10 mg/kg/day) against radiation-induced cataract in lens after total-cranium irradiation of rats with a single dose of 5 Gy. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. Group 1 did not receive VE or irradiation but received both 0.1 ml physiologic saline intraperitoneally and sham irradiation (control group). Group 2 received to total cranium 5 Gy of gamma irradiation as a single dose (RT group) plus 0.1 ml physiologic saline intraperitoneally. Group 3 received irradiation to total cranium plus 10 mg/kg/day VE (RT+VE group). The rats were irradiated using a cobalt-60 teletherapy unit. Chylacks cataract classification (1) was used in this study. At the end of 10 days, the rats were killed and their eyes were enucleated to measure the antioxidant enzymes (the activity of superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px]) and lipid peroxidation level (malondialdehyde [MDA]). Results While grade 1 cataract development was detectable in seven rats in the RT group, it was detectable only in two rats in the RT+VE group, whereas none of the rats in the control group exhibited any biomicroscopic change in their lenses. MDA level and GSH-Px activity in the rat lens in the RT group was significantly higher than in the control group. SOD activity in the RT group was lower than in the control group. The activity of SOD and GSH-Px enzymes was higher in the RT+VE group, but MDA level was lower in the RT+VE group when compared with the RT group. Conclusions Vitamin E has a protective effect on radiation-induced cataract by decreasing oxidative stress.

Effects of Oral Ginkgo biloba Supplementation on Cataract Formation and Oxidative Stress Occurring in Lenses of Rats Exposed to Total Cranium Radiotherapy

PurposeTo determine the antioxidant role of Ginkgo biloba (GB) in preventing radiation-induced cataracts in the lens after total-cranium irradiation of rats with a single radiation dose of 5 Gy.MethodsSprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 received neither GB nor irradiation (control group). Group 2 was exposed to total-cranium irradiation of 5 Gy in a single dose [radiation therapy (RT) Group], and group 3 received total cranium irradiation from a cobalt-60 teletherapy unit, plus 40 mg/kg per day GB (RT+GB group). At the end of the tenth day, the rats were killed and their eyes were enucleated to measure the antioxidant enzymes, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the lipid peroxidation level [malondialdehyde (MDA)].ResultsIrradiation significantly increased both the MDA level and the activity of GSH-Px, and significantly decreased the activity of SOD in the rat lenses. GB supplementation significantly increased the activities of SOD and GSH-Px enzymes and significantly decreased the MDA level. Total cranium irradiation of 5 Gy in a single dose promoted cataract formation, and GB supplementation protected the lenses from radiation-induced cataracts.ConclusionsWe suggest that Ginkgo biloba is an antioxidant that protects the rat lens from radiation-induced cataracts.

The effects of aqueous extract of Lavandula angustifolia flowers in glutamate-induced neurotoxicity of cerebellar granular cell culture of rat pups.

In the present study, neuroprotective effect of Lavandula angustifolia flower aqueous extract in glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in rat pups cerebellar granular cell culture was investigated. The extract at doses of 10 microg ml(-1), 100 microg ml(-1), 1 mg ml(-1) and 10 mg ml(-1) was applied to culture flasks. The extract at doses of 100 microg ml(-1) and 1 mg ml(-1) significantly blocked glutamate-induced neurotoxicity, with the most effective dose being 1 mg ml(-1). On the other hand, 10 mg ml(-1) dose of extract increased the dead cell with respect to glutamate group, despite being found insignificant statistically. As a result, L. angustifolia protected the neurons against glutamate toxicity.

Acute and chronic antiinflammatory profile of the ivy plant, Hedera helix, in rats

Hedera helix is a plant well-known as ivy or English ivy, and a member of the Araliaceae family. In the present study, we tested the possible antiinflammatory effects of a crude saponin extract (CSE) and a saponins purified extracts (SPE) of Hedera helix in carrageenan- and cotton-pellet-induced acute and chronic inflammation models in rats. Both the CSE and SPE of Hedera helix were found to have antiinflammatory effects. The most potent drug screened was indomethacin (89.2% acute antiinflammatory effect), while the most potent extract screened was the CSE of Hedera helix at 100 and 200 mg/kg body wt. doses with 77% acute antiinflammatory effects. For testing chronic antiinflammatory (antiproliferative) effects, the cotton-pellet-granuloma test was conducted. Indomethacin was found to be the most potent drug in the chronic phase of inflammation, with 66% effect. The SPE of Hedera helix was more potent than the CSE in its chronic antiinflammatory effect (60% and 49%, respectively).

APOLIPOPROTEIN E POLYMORPHISM AND STROKE IN A POPULATION FROM EASTERN TURKEY

Human apolipoprotein E (apo E) alleles are polymorphic with significantly different frequencies among different ethnic groups and have been associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease, and postulated as a major genetic susceptibility locus for Alzheimers disease. Studies undertaken in different populations have shown different association patterns between apo E genotype and stroke. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of apo E genotype in stroke patients living in the eastern part of Turkey. The apo E genotypes and allele frequencies of 229 individuals from the same geographic area were determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism, of which 103 were patients with a documented history of stroke without other apparent dementia and 126 age-matched healthy subjects as a control group. A reduced E3/4 genotype frequency was found in subjects with stroke and the E2/3 genotype frequency was elevated in patients with previous stroke. There was no association between apo E ε4 allele and stroke. The APOE alleles had divergent effects in this population. Association between APOE (the gene) alleles and stroke in this population may be altered due to interaction with other genetic effects. The effects of APOE alleles and genotypes require further study in different populations.

Sister chromatid exchange analysis in patients exposed to low dose of iodine-131 for thyroid scintigraphy

To determine the genotoxic risk associated with diagnostic exposure to low doses of iodine 131 (131I), sister chromatid exchange (SCE) analysis was performed in lymphocytes of 18 non-smoking women who received 370 kBq (10 microCi) intravenous 131I sodium iodide as an adjuvant for scintigraphy for diagnosing thyroid nodularity. SCE frequencies were measured before and after 131I administration. SCE results in the pre-treated phase were regarded as control. Although SCE values 24 h after 131I administration did not show a significant increment (p > 0.05), there was a significant increase 72 h after treatment (p < 0.05). These results indicate that genetic damage might be induced by low dose of 131I.

The role of Ruthenium red as a partial agonist in caffeine-induced neurotoxicity in cerebellar granular cell culture of rats.

Caffeine is widely spread and well known as a mild stimulant of the central nervous system. The present study tested the role of caffeine and Ruthenium red on the intact neuronal cells alone and Ruthenium red in caffeine-induced neurotoxicity. One-day-old newborn rats were used to obtain cerebellar cell cultures. Caffeine at a concentration of 1 mM was found to be most toxic. Dead cell scores were 5.9 ± 0.8 for control, and 56.2 ± 3.4 for caffeine (p < .00l). Ruthenium red alone has also caused the reduction in neuronal cell number 36.1 ± 4.5 for 10−5 and 47 ± 2.7 for 10−6 M concentrations (p < .001 for both). Interestingly Ruthenium red used in caffeine-induced neurotoxicity has partly diminished the number of dead cells 28.7 ± 3.2 for 10−5 and 23.8 ± 2.27 for 10−6 M concentrations (p < .001 for both). The results suggest that both Ruthenium red and caffeine are neurotoxic alone but, in combination, the neurotoxicity may be reduced through partial agonistic action.

Zinc sulfate in the prevention of total-body irradiation-induced early hematopoietic toxicity: a controlled study in a rat model.

Exposure to ionizing total-body radiation suppresses hematopoiesis, resulting in decreased production of blood cells. Many researchers have demonstrated the critical role of zinc (Zn) in diverse physiological processes, such as growth and development, maintenance and priming of the immune system, and tissue repair. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of zinc sulfate (40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg) on early hematopoietic toxicity, caused by total-body irradiation (TBI) of rats with a single dose of 8 Gy. Both in the Zn 40 and in the Zn 80 groups, there were significantly increased white blood cell (WBC) count, when compared with control group. The WBC count was higher in the control group than in the TBI group. This result was statistically significant (p<0.05). Both the TBI+Zn 40 and the TBI+Zn 80 groups had a significantly protected WBC count against TBI. No difference was detected in any final measurement of thrombocyte count and hemoglobin level with direct comparison among all groups, with the exception that the hemoglobin level in the Zn 80 group compared to the control group. Whereas hemoglobin level in the control group was at a median figure of 13.98 g/dL (13.30–14.80), it was at a median figure of 14.25 g/dL (14.10–15.50) in the Zn 80 group. It would be worth while studying the effect of oral zinc sulfate supplements in radiation-treated cancer patients, in the hope of reducing radiation-induced toxicity.

Nimodipine improves kainic acid induced neurotoxicity in cerebellar granular cell culture: a double-blind dose-response study

Summary— The neuroprotective role of nimodipine was tested in kainic acid (50 and 100 μM) induced neurotoxicity in cerebellar granular cell cultures of 4 to 7 day‐old rat pups. Nimodipine was applied in 50, 100 and 200 μM concentrations. Kainate, in either dose, induced cerebellar granular cell death in respect to controls and the results were statistically significant (P = 0.000 for both doses). However, kainic acid in 100 μM concentration led to higher rates of cell death than 50 μM (P = 0.017). The neuroprotective role of nimodipine in kainate induced neurotoxicity was dose dependent. Kainate toxicity in 50 μM concentration was blocked by 50 and 100 μM nimodipine concentrations (P = 0.006 and P = 0.002, respectively) while 200 μM nimodipine was found ineffective. The most effective nimodipine dose for 100 μM kainic acid neurotoxicity was 200 μM (P = 0.000) while 50 and 100 μM concentrations of nimodipine were found ineffective. In this study, we have proven the dose‐dependent neuroprotective role of nimodipine in kainate induced neurotoxicity in cerebellar granular cell cultures of rat pups.