Mina Salimi

Background: Arctium lappa L. is a well-known medicinal herb recognized for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which have been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of various diseases. Objectives: The present study aimed to explore the protective effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of A. lappa root in complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis in rats. Methods: Arthritis was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats through a single subcutaneous CFA injection into the right hind paws. After induction, the animals were orally administered A. lappa at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, or prednisolone (as a reference drug), for a duration of 30 days. Blood and ankle joint samples were collected for analysis. The anti-arthritic effects were assessed through nociceptive behavioral tests, paw edema, body weight measurements, serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and histopathological evaluations. Results: The A. lappa root extract significantly improved body weight and reduced thermal hyperalgesia, as well as decreased paw edema in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.001). Furthermore, A. lappa reduced inflammatory cytokines and increased antioxidant defenses in the serum of all treated rats (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). Histologically, A. lappa notably restored the ankle joint architecture compared to untreated arthritic rats (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). Conclusions: The results suggest that A. lappa has significant anti-arthritic potential by reducing inflammatory cytokines and enhancing serum antioxidant levels, which supports its traditional use in the management of joint diseases.

Background: Royal jelly (RJ), secreted by nurse honeybees, possesses antioxidant properties. Studies have demonstrated that chronic stress can impair glucose metabolism, a process intricately linked to oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induction. Consequently, this study investigated the effects of RJ on oxidative stress, apoptosis and ER stress markers, and insulin secretion from isolated pancreatic islets in rats subjected to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS). Method: Four groups were established, comprising adult male rats: None‐STR‐Water, STR‐Water, None‐STR‐RJ, and STR‐RJ. Over 4 weeks, CUS was applied, and RJ was administered via oral gavage. A glucose tolerance test was conducted, and fasting blood samples were collected to analyze corticosterone, leptin, antioxidants, and malondialdehyde (MDA) plasma levels. Additionally, pancreatic oxidative stress and ER stress markers, apoptosis indicators, and insulin secretion from isolated pancreatic islets were evaluated. Results: Exposure to CUS increased plasma corticosterone and leptin levels, catalase activity and glutathione (GSH) levels in both plasma and pancreatic tissue and reduced plasma MDA levels. RJ administration in the STR‐RJ group restored the mentioned parameters. Furthermore, CUS elevated pancreatic BIP, CHOP, and cleaved CASPASE‐3 protein levels; however, these levels were diminished following RJ treatment. The CALNEXIN protein level remained unchanged between the study groups. In the STR‐Water group, glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion was diminished, whereas in the RJ‐treated groups, insulin secretion from islets in response to the high glucose concentration was significantly enhanced. Conclusion: The administration of RJ, in conjunction with CUS exposure, may protect the normal insulin response to glucose by mitigating oxidative stress, as evidenced by the restoration of catalase activity and GSH levels, and ER stress, as supported by the decrease in BIP and CHOP protein levels.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common gynecological endocrine disorder. Objectives: This study evaluated the therapeutic effects of Pimpinella anisum L. (P. anisum) fruit on pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress markers, and ovarian tissue structure in a rat model of PCOS. Methods: After inducing PCOS, female Wistar rats were randomly divided into control and PCOS groups. They orally received daily doses of normal saline or hydro-alcoholic extract of P. anisum at two doses (200 and 400 mg/kg) for 21 days. At the end of the treatment period, ovarian and liver tissues were collected to measure lipid peroxidation, antioxidant status, TNF-α, IL-6 mRNA expression, and its content. Additionally, histopathological examinations of the ovarian tissue were conducted. Results: Our findings revealed a dose-dependent change in the biochemical and histopathological parameters. Treatment with P. anisum resulted in a significant decrease in TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA expression levels and their content in the ovarian and liver tissues. It also reduced MDA levels while increasing SOD and GPx activity in both ovarian and liver tissues of PCOS rats. Furthermore, the number of follicular cysts in the PCOS rat model was significantly reduced. Conclusions: The beneficial effects of P. anisum in PCOS rats are partly attributed to the inhibition of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in ovarian tissue. These findings suggest that P. anisum could be a potential candidate for the treatment of PCOS disorders