Context: Anxiety and depression are common in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Despite some evidence, it is difficult to confirm Lavandula officinalis Chaix ex Vill (Lamiaceae) as an anxiolytic and antidepressant drug. Objective: The effects of L. officinalis extract were studied in scopolamine-induced memory impairment, anxiety and depression-like behaviour. Materials and methods: Male NMRI rats were divided into control, scopolamine alone-treated group received scopolamine (0.1 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p.), daily and 30 min prior to performing behavioural testing on test day, for 12 continuous days and extract pretreated groups received aerial parts hydro alcoholic extract (i.p.) (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg), 30 min before each scopolamine injection. Memory impairment was assessed by Y-maze task, while, elevated plus maze and forced swimming test were used to measure anxiolytic and antidepressive-like activity. Results: Spontaneous alternation percentage in Y maze is reduced by scopolamine (36.42 ± 2.60) (p ≤ 0.001), whereas lavender (200 and 400 mg/kg) enhanced it (83.12 ± 5.20 and 95 ± 11.08, respectively) (p ≤ 0.05). Also, lavender pretreatment in 200 and 400 mg/kg enhanced time spent on the open arms (15.4 ± 3.37 and 32.1 ± 3.46, respectively) (p ≤ 0.001). On the contrary, while immobility time was enhanced by scopolamine (296 ± 4.70), 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg lavender reduced it (193.88 ± 22.42, 73.3 ± 8.25 and 35.2 ± 4.22, respectively) in a dose-dependent manner (p ≤ 0.001). Discussion and conclusion: Lavender extracts improved scopolamine-induced memory impairment and also reduced anxiety and depression-like behaviour in a dose-dependent manner.

Context: Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is an intractable neurological disorder. Curcumin is the bioactive component of turmeric with anti-epileptic and neuroprotective potential. Objective: The beneficial effect of curcumin on the intrahippocampal kainate-induced model of TLE was investigated. Materials and methods: Rats were divided into sham, curcumin-pretreated sham, kainate and curcumin-pretreated kainate groups. The rat model of TLE was induced by unilateral intrahippocampal injection of 4 mg of kainate. Rats received curcumin p.o. at a dose of 100 mg/kg/d starting 1 week before the surgery. Seizure activity (SE) and oxidative stressrelated markers were measured. Furthermore, the Timm index for evaluation of mossy fiber sprouting (MFS) and number of Nissl-stained neurons were quantified. Results: All rats in the kainate group had SE, while 28.5% of rats showed seizures in the curcumin-pretreated kainate group. Malondialdehyde and nitrite and nitrate levels significantly increased in the kainate group (p50.01 and p50.05, respectively), and curcumin significantly lowered these parameters (p50.05). Superoxide dismutase activity significantly decreased in the kainate group (p50.05) and curcumin did not improve it. Rats in the kainate group showed a significant reduction of neurons in Cornu Ammonis 1 (CA1) (p50.05), CA3 (p50.005) and hilar (p50.01) regions, and curcumin significantly prevented these changes (p50.05-0.005). The Timm index significantly increased in the kainate group (p50.005), and curcumin significantly lowered this index (p50.01). Discussion and conclusion: Curcumin pretreatment can attenuate seizures, lower some oxidative stress markers, and prevent hippocampal neuronal loss and MFS in the kainate-induced model of TLE.

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Cancer is one of the major causes of death in the world and despite many years of research, the treatment of cancer is still a problem. Epidemiological observations and laboratory studies have indicated anticarcinogenic potential of garlic, which has been traditionally used for various human diseases around the world. In this study the cytotoxicity of garlic extract against three malignant cancer cell lines including gastric (AGS), breast (MCF-7) and colon (HT-29) and a nonmalignant cell line (L929) were evaluated by the MTT assay. The results of this study reveal MCF-7 and AGS cells were sensitive to garlic extract. Despite a many reports on inhibitory effects of garlic on cancer cell line, our data showed these effects are tumor specific and dose dependent. Further studies on animal models and humans are needed to clarify the important molecules and their mechanisms.

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