In the present study, DPPH radical scavenging assay and ferric-reducing antioxidant assay were used to evaluate in vitro antioxidant potential of the methanol extract of Ferula duranii (F. duranii). The antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activities of F. duranii extract were evaluated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. F. duranii showed considerable antioxidant potential in the DPPH radical scavenging assay and minimum reducing power in ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay. A meaningful reduction in the concentrations of Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb A1c), triglycerides (TG), Total Cholesterol (TC) and Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL-C) in plasma and an elevation in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) in hepatic and pancreas homogenates were observed in diabetic animals medicated with F. duranii extract in comparison with diabetic control rats. The level of insulin raised significantly in plasma of diabetic groups received F. duranii in respect to diabetic control one. Levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, total protein and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL-C) in plasma and malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver and pancreas homogenates were recovered significantly in F. duranii-medicated diabetic rats in comparison with diabetic controls. The present data suggest that F. duranii has both antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects.

The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Allium paniculatum L. (A. paniculatum) and Capparis spinosa L. (C. spinosa) extracts in rats. Adult rats were divided into seven groups (n=6). The 1st (control) and 2nd (hepatotoxic) groups received the vehicle. The 3rd group received silymarin. The 4th - 7th groups received A. paniculatum and C. spinosa extracts at 2 dose levels (200 and 400mg/kg, respectively). Rats were administered the vehicle, silymarin or extracts orally for 21 days and simultaneously administered thioacetamide (TAA), one h after the respective assigned treatments(except the 1st group), every 72 h. At the end of the experimental period, all animals were sacrificed, blood samples were collected and serum was separated. Livers were dissected out for determination of their antioxidant status and for histopathological examination. Injection of thioacetamide elevated serum activities of liver enzymes; alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and ã-glutamyl transferase (ã-GT) in hepatotoxic group compared to normal controls. In the liver, significantly elevated level of malondialdehyde (MDA), lowered levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were observed in hepatotoxic group. Treatment of rats with both extracts displayed hepatoprotective effect as evident by reduced serum activities of liver enzymes, as well as higher CAT, GPx, SOD activities and GSH concentration. The histopathological analysis suggested that both extracts obviously alleviated the degree of liver damage induced by TAA. In conclusion, A. paniculatum and C. spinosa attenuate hepatotoxicity induced by TAA.

n/a

Present study was aimed to investigate in vitro antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of the ethanolic extracts of Astragalus subrobustus (A. subrobustus) and Astragalus woronowii (A. woronowii) on PCM induced liver damage in rats. The antioxidant activities of both extracts were assayed and their activities were compared to standard antioxidants, ascorbic acid and pyrogallol. Liver injury was induced by PCM administration (2 g/kg, orally) as a single dose. The results revealed that the EC50 values of A. subrobustus and A. woronowii extracts, ascorbic acid and pyrogallol were calculated to be 2535, 0.8408, 75.62 and 0.0000248 μg/mL, respectively. PCM administration showed hepatic damage and oxidative stress in rats as indicated by elevated serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) and serum level of total bilirubin (BRN). At the same time, PCM decreased the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes, content of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver homogenates. A. subrobustus (400 mg/kg) and A. woronowii (200 and 400 mg/kg) extracts or silymarin administration prevented the toxic effect of PCM on the above parameters. Liver histopathology supported the biochemical findings. The data obtained in the present study suggests that A. subrobustus and A. woronowii have potent antioxidant activities and afford significant hepatoprotective activity against PCM induced hepatotoxicity.

The present study was carried to explore the potential antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activity of Ferula assa-foetida L. and Ferula tenuissima Hub-Mor & Pesmen extracts in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Furthermore, phytochemical screening, in vitro antioxidant activity and acute toxicity study of both plants were performed. Both extracts showed considerable antioxidant potential in vitro. In diabetic rats, F. assa-foetida (200 and 400 mg/kg) and F. tenuissima (400 mg/kg) showed significant elevation in plasma insulin level, total hemoglobin (Hb) and decrease in Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Significant elevations in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and level of reduced glutathione (GSH) in liver and pancreas homogenates were observed in diabetic animals following F. assa-foetida (200 and 400 mg kgG1) and F. tenuissima (400 mg kgG1) treatments. The antihyperlipidemic effect of F. assa-foetida extract was demonstrated by a significant reduction in plasma triglycerides (TG), Total Cholesterol (TC), Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) and the increase of High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C). Plasma activities of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and levels of Total Protein (TP) and bilirubin (BIL) in diabetic rats were recovered significantly after F. assa-foetida and F. tenuissima treatment in comparison with diabetic controls. The present data suggest that F. assa-foetida have both antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects with enhancement of insulin-secreting activity.

In the present study, DPPH radical scavenging assay and ferric-reducing antioxidant assay were used to estimate the potential in vitro antioxidant effect of the methanol extracts of Ferula drudeana Korovin (F. drudeana) and Ferula huber-morathii Peşmen (F. huber-morathii). The antidiabetic activity of both extracts was evaluated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Glibenclamide was taken as the standard drug. Both extracts showed considerable antioxidant potential in the DPPH radical scavenging assay and minimum reducing power in ferric-reducing antioxidant assay. Oral administration of F. drudeana (400 mg/kg) and F. huber-morathii (200 and 400 mg/kg) extracts to diabetic rats produced a marked reduction in Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) and elevation in insulin levels after 14 and 28 days of treatment. A meaningful reduction in the concentrations of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), triglycerides (TG), Total Cholesterol (TC), Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) in plasma and elevations in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) in liver and pancreas homogenates were observed in diabetic animals medicated with F. drudeana (200 and 400 mg kgG1) and F. huber-morathii (400 mg kgG1) extracts. Levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, total protein and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) in plasma and malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver and pancreas homogenates were recovered significantly in F. drudeana and F. huber-morathii-medicated diabetic rats. Besides, biochemical results were supported by histopathological findings. These findings showed the significant antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities of F. drudeana and F. huber-morathii extracts in diabetic rats.

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential hepatoprotective effect of the ethanol extracts of Astragalus kurdicus Boiss. var. kurdicus (A. kurdicus) and Astragalus cinereus Willd. (A. cinereus) in a rat model of paracetamol (PCM) induced liver damage. Paracetamol administration caused severe hepatic damage in rats as evidenced by elevated serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) and serum level of total bilirubin (BRN) while decreased serum levels of total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB). In liver homogenates, PCM elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) but decreased glutathione (GSH) levels as well as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. Administration of A. kurdicus and A. cinereus extracts (200 and 400 mg kgG1) for 7 days before PCM inhibited the elevation of the serum activities of ALT, AST, ALP and γ-GT enzymes and serum level of BRN. Moreover, they elevated the serum level of TP. Paracetamol-induced lipid peroxidation was also reduced by both extracts. Likewise, both extracts increased the activities of the antioxidant enzymes (GPx, SOD, CAT) in the liver homogenates and reduced GSH concentration. The results of the in vitro antioxidant effect revealed marked antioxidant activity for both extracts. The histopathological analysis suggested that both extracts obviously alleviated the degree of liver damage due to PCM administration. The present study suggests that A. kurdicus and A. cinereus possess hepatoprotective activities that could be partly attributed to their antioxidant effects.

AIM: The present study aimed to systematically assess current evidence on effects of locally delivered antibiotics during periodontal surgery compared to periodontal surgery alone on clinical attachment level (CAL) gain, probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction, recession depth (RD) changes, gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and plaque index (PI).

METHODOLOGY: MEDLINE-PubMed, Cochrane-CENTRAL and Scopus databases were searched up to April 2021 for randomized clinical trials (RCT), evaluating effects of locally delivered antibiotics during periodontal surgery. CAL gain served as primary, while PPD reduction, RD changes, GI and PI as secondary outcomes. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was used to assess possible bias. Data were extracted, and meta-analysis was performed where appropriate.

RESULT: Screening of 2314 papers resulted in nine eligible studies. No adverse events were reported. Data on outcome variables were pooled and analyzed using generic inverse variance model and presented as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Statistically significant improvements in favor of antibiotics' delivery were observed in studies with follow-up of ≤6 months for CAL gain (WMD = 0.61 mm (95% CI [0.07, 1.14]; p = 0.03), PPD reduction (WMD = 0.41 mm (95% CI [0.02, 0.80]; p = 0.04)) and BOP (WMD = -28.47% (95% CI [-33.00, -23.94]); p < 0.001), while for GI improvements were notable for >6 to 12 months (WMD = -0.27 (95% CI [-0.49, -0.06]; p = 0.01)).

CONCLUSION: Within the current review's limitations, locally delivered antibiotics during surgical periodontal therapy results in post-surgical improvements for CAL, PPD, and BOP (≤6 months) with a longer-lasting GI improvement. Further randomized controlled trials are needed with true periodontal end-points to assess the ideal antibiotic agent, dosage, and delivery methods.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Local delivery of antibiotics during periodontal surgery improved clinical parameters for up to 6-month follow-up, with beneficial longer effects on gingival inflammation. Within the current study's limitation, the presented evidence could support the elective usage of locally delivered antibiotics during surgical periodontal therapy.

Requirements are usually understood as stating what a system is supposed to do, as opposed to how it should do it. However, understanding the organizational context and rationales (the "Whys'') that lead up to systems requirements can be just as important for the ongoing success of the system. Requirements modeling techniques can be used to help deal with the knowledge and reasoning needed in this earlier phase of requirements engineering. However, most existing requirements techniques are intended more for the later phase of requirements engineering, which focuses on completeness, consistency, and automated verification of requirements. In contrast, the early phase aims to model and analyze stakeholder interests and how they might be addressed, or compromised, by various system-and-environment alternatives. This paper argues, therefore, that a different kind of modeling and reasoning support is needed for the early phase. An outline of the i* framework is given as an example of a step in this direction. Meeting scheduling is used as a domain example.

Sanazole has been tested clinically as a hypoxic cell radiosensitizer. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether sanazole enhances apoptosis induced by hyperthermia at 44 degrees C for 20 min in human lymphoma U937 cells. Sanazole alone induced continuous increase in the intracellular superoxide generation in a time-dependent manner and transient increase in the peroxide formation, which further were enhanced at 1 hour after HT treatment. Moreover, when the cells were treated first with 10 mM sanazole for 40 min, exposed to HT at 44 degrees C for 20 min and the cells were further treated with the drug at 37 degrees C for 6 h, a significant enhancement of HT-induced apoptosis was evidenced by DNA fragmentation, morphological changes and phosphatidylserine externalization. Studying the apoptotic pathways involved in this enhancement, we found that loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol, and activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8 was enhanced significantly in the U937 cells after the combined treatment. Moreover, this combination enhanced activation of Bid, and down regulation of Hsp70. In addition, an increase in the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)), and externalization of Fas were observed immediately after sanazole and HT treatment. Our data indicate that sanazole can enhance the hyperthermia induced-apoptosis through the Fas-caspase-8- and [Ca(2+)](i)-dependent apoptotic pathways. In addition, the down regulation of Hsp70 contributed to this enhancement.

n/a