1.Effects of valerian consumption during pregnancy on cortical volume and the levels of zinc and copper in the brain tissue of mouse fetus.
Alireza MAHMOUDIAN ; Ziba RAJAEI ; Hossein HAGHIR ; Shahaboldin BANIHASHEMIAN ; Javad HAMI
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2012;10(4):424-9
The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of valerian (Valeriana officinalis) consumption in pregnancy on cortical volume and the levels of zinc and copper, two essential elements that affect brain development and function, in the brain tissues of mouse fetuses.
2.The Effects of Crocin on 6-OHDA-Induced Oxidative/Nitrosative Damage and Motor Behaviour in Hemiparkinsonian Rats
Maryam Hosseini ; Ziba Rajaei ; Hojjatallah Alaei ; Mohamadhasan Tajadini
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2016;23(6):35-43
Background: Crocin is considered to prevent oxidative stress-related diseases, such
as ischemia and Alzheimer's. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effects of
crocin on motor behaviour and 6-OHDA-induced oxidative/nitrosative damage to the striatum in
an experimental model of Parkinson's disease.
Methods: Left medial forebrain bundle was lesioned by microinjection of 6-OHDA (16μg
in 0.2% ascorbate-saline). Crocin (30 and 60 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally three days
before surgery until six weeks. Rotational behaviour and biochemical analysis were used to
evaluate the effect of crocin in a unilateral 6-OHDA-induced model of Parkinson's disease.
Results: The contralateral rotations induced by apomorphine in 6-OHDA lesioned
group were highly significant (P < 0.001) as compared to the sham group. Moreover, chronic
administration of crocin at doses of 30 and 60 mg/kg over six weeks did not change the rotations.
The TBARS and nitrite levels in the striatum were also significantly (P < 0.05) increased in
lesioned group. Treatment with crocin at a dose of 60 mg/kg significantly decreased the nitrite
levels (P < 0.05) in the striatum.
Conclusion: Crocin at a dose of 60 mg/kg could be effective in preventing the nitrosative
damage in the striatum. Further investigations using higher doses of crocin is suggested to get the
full neuroprotective effects of crocin in Parkinson's disease.
3.Effects of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa on scopolamine-induced spatial memory impairment in rats and its possible mechanism.
Mahmoud HOSSEINI ; Toktam MOHAMMADPOUR ; Reza KARAMI ; Ziba RAJAEI ; Hamid Reza SADEGHNIA ; Mohammad SOUKHTANLOO
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2015;21(6):438-444
OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Nigella sativa (NS) extract on memory performance and its possible mechanisms in scopolamine (Sco)-induced spatial memory impairment model using Morris water maze test.
METHODSThirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups. The control group received saline instead of both NS extract and Sco. The Sco group was treated by saline for two weeks, and was injected by Sco (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) 30 min before each trail in Morris water maze test. Sco+NS 200 and Sco+NS 400 groups were daily treated by 200 or 400 mg/kg of NS (intraperitoneally) for two weeks, respectively, and were finally injected by Sco 30 min before Morris water maze test. The brains of animals were removed to determine the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and oxidative stress criteria in cortical tissues.
RESULTSTime latency and path length in the Sco group were significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.01), while the Sco+NS 400 group showed a significantly shorter traveled path length and time latency compared with the Sco group (P<0.01). AChE activity in the cortical tissues of the Sco group was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.01), while AChE activity in the Sco+NS 200 and Sco+NS 400 groups was lower than the Sco group (P<0.01). Following Sco administration, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were increased (P<0.01) in comparison with the control group, while cortical total thiol content decreased (P<0.01). Pretreatment with extracts caused a significant elevation in cortical total thiol content (P<0.01) and reduction in cortical MDA concentration (P<0.01) compared with the Sco group.
CONCLUSIONSHydro-alcoholic extract of NS prevents Sco-induced spatial memory deficits and decreases the AChE activity as well as oxidative stress of brain tissues in rats. Our results support the traditional belief about the beneficial effects of NS in nervous system. Moreover, further investigations are needed for better understanding of this protective effect.
Acetylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory Disorders ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Nigella sativa ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats, Wistar ; Reaction Time ; drug effects ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; Spatial Memory ; drug effects ; Sulfhydryl Compounds ; metabolism ; Water ; chemistry