Background:Nowadays attention to use herbs such as cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) is increasing, which contains high levels of antioxidants and anthocyanins. Cornus mas fruits have been used for gastrointestinal and excretory disorders for many years in traditional medicine, also may improve liver and kidney functions, and have protective effects such as anti-allergic, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antihistamine and antimalarial properties.Objectives:The aim of this study was to investigate protective effects of Cornus mas fruits extract on serum biomarkers in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in male rats.Materials and Methods:Hepatotoxicity was induced by administration of carbon tetrachloride (1 mL/kg i.p.) in 1:1 dilution with olive oil. To evaluate the effect of Cornus mas fruits extract on disease progression, serum marker enzymes, serum total protein and albumin and liver lipid peroxidation were determined in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity.Results:Oral administration of Cornus mas fruits extract to rats for 14 days provided a significant (P < 0.05) hepatoprotection by decreasing elevated serum level of enzymes, total serum protein, albumin and liver lipid peroxidation content.Conclusions:Cornus mas fruit extract effect may be due to including some antioxidant components, which caused membrane stabilizing and normalization of fluctuated biochemical profiles induced by CCl4 exposure. Our results validated the traditional use of Cornus mas in the treatment of liver disorders.

Background: In the recent years, the focus of consumers to less popular fruits such as Cornus mas, with unusual flavor as well as rich antioxidant and anthocyanins content has increased. C. mas fruits have been used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of C. mas fruits extract (CMFE) against carbon tetrachlorideinduced hepatic damage in male albino rats. Materials and Methods: Hepatotoxicity was induced by administration of CCl 4 (1 mL/kg i.p. (Intraperitoneal)) in olive oil with 1:1 dilution ratio. To evaluate the effect of CMFE on the disease progression, serum marker enzymes, serum total protein and albumin, liver lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes activities were determined in CCl 4-induced hepatotoxicity. Results: Oral administration of CMFE to rats for 16 days, afforded significant (P < 0.05) hepatoprotection against CCl 4-induced elevation in serum marker enzymes activities, serum total protein and albumin, and liver lipid peroxidation, as well as significant (P < 0.05) reduction in liver antioxidant enzymes activities, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities. Conclusions: The present study indicated that the beneficial effect of C. mas extract might be due to the presence of some antioxidant components with membrane-stabilizing effects.

Oxidative damage is implicated in the pathogenesis of kidney injury. Cornus mas is used for in renal aliments traditionally in Iran. The present study was aimed to investigate the antioxidant activity of C. mas fruit extract (CMFE) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) treated oxidative stress in Wistar albino rats. Forty two male albino rats were divided into seven groups. Group I served as a sham; Group II served as a normal control; Group III served as a toxic control, with CCl4 (1 ml/kg body weight; 80% in olive oil); Groups IV and V received CMFE at doses of 300 and 700 mg/kg before CCl4 injection; Groups VI and VII received extract at same doses orally at 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after CCl4 intoxication. CCl4 injection produced a significant rise in serum markers of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde along with the reduction of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismuta, catalase and glutathion peroxidase. Serum creatinine, urea and uric acid concentrations were increased whereas level of protein and albumin were reduced. Treatment of rats with different doses of fruit extract (300 and 700 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) ameliorated the alterations induced with CCl4 in lipid peroxidation, antioxidant defenses, biochemical and renal lesions. Based on these results, we conclude that CMFE protects kidney from oxidative stress induced by CCl4.

Background: More than 500 million people worldwide are obese and around 320 million adults have type II diabetes, thus these two diseases are accounted as the fundamental health care problems. There is such a strong association between obesity and diabetes that the term diabesity is proposed for this connection. Since anti-obesity drugs have many side effects, experts have very few tools to fight obesity, while high doses of carnitine has no side effects compared to other drugs. Objectives: The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of L-carnitine supplementation with low-calorie diet on the metabolic status in obese women with type II diabetes. Patients and Methods: In this study, 60 obese premenopausal women with type II diabetes were randomly selected from the patients who referred to the Diabetes Clinic of Tabriz Red Crescent; they were 20 -50 years old with a BMI greater than 30. The subjects were divided into two groups, case and control. Following the measurement of weight, waist circumference and recording personal information, weekly food intake program (based on a low calorie diet) was given to patients. For about 8 weeks, the case group received L-carnitine supplement (2 grams daily) combined with the low calorie diet, and the control group received placebo plus low-calorie diet. In this study, low calorie diet was defined as a regimen of 500 kcal lower than the patients required energy. Blood samples (5 mL of venous blood) were taken from all patients in the sitting position, and in fasting condition (for about 10 -12 hours) between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM. After separation of plasma by centrifugation for ten minutes in 3000 g, samples were analyzed to measure fasting blood glucose, lipid profile and insulin resistance. Results:The results showed that L-carnitine supplement with low calorie diet reduced fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol and LDL-C (Cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol) levels and decreased insulin resistance "HOMA-IR" (P < 0.0001), whereas in the control group, reduction of fasting blood glucose and triglycerides, cholesterol and LDL-C levels and decrease of insulin resistance "HOMA-IR" were lower than those of the case group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Due to the effect of L-carnitine supplementation (a dose of 1000 mg twice daily) with low-calorie diet on reduction of fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol and LDL-C levels and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), prescribing this supplement in obese patients with diabetes is recommended.