Acute atorvastatin treatment in an experimental model of colitis was studied using the acetic acid induction modality for colitis in rats. This study was aimed to evaluate possible therapeutic effects of atorvastatin against acetic acid-induced colitis in a rat model and to find out the correlation between severity index with oxidative stress parameters and inflammatory markers. Experimental colitis was induced in rats by rectal administration of 4% acetic acid (vol/vol). Rats with colitis were received either atorvastatin 10mg/kg or sulfasalazine 100mg/kg orally for 7 days. Macroscopical and microscopical assessment and the measurement of the colonic cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α), oxidative stress markers; myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and adhesion molecules (E-Selectin and ICAM-1). Both the macroscopical lesion area and histological colonic injury induced by acetic acid were reduced significantly by both atorvastatin and sulfasalazine. These were associated by attenuation of the increased colonic MPO activity, MDA and proinflammatory cytokines. In addition, there is the downregulation of the adhesion molecules. In the present study, Atorvastatin had shown therapeutic effects in experimental colitis. The anti-inflammatory actions involve antioxidant effect related to phenolic moiety along with inhibition of adhesion molecule synthesis in the colonic tissues.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties of Iraqi Echinops heterophyllus aqueous crude extract and its flavonoid fraction against methotrexate (MTX)-induced hepatotoxicity in rabbits.Methods: MTX-induced hepatotoxicity by administration of 20 mg/kg MTX intraperitoneally for 3 successive days was used as animal model, and animals were arrayed in four groups with eight animals in each group: Group 1 was the healthy control, Group 2 - the negative control receiving MTX only, Group 3 received MTX+crude extract of E. heterophyllus, and Group 4 administered MTX+flavonoid fraction of E. heterophyllus. The study duration was 10 days; at day 11, animals were sacrificed, and the blood samples were obtained for the measurement of serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, total protein, and albumin as well as ELISA assay of the oxidative stress markers such as glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The liver was dissected and processed for histopathological investigation and scoring. Statistical analysis was performed to investigate the significance of each result.Results: The study results revealed severe liver damage due to MTX administration in the negative control (induced-non treated) group in comparison with healthy group, also there was significant hepatoprotective effect after administration of the crude extract of E. heterophyllus, and flavonoid fraction from E. heterophyllus shown after biochemical liver function tests and anti-oxidant properties demonstrated by the measurement of oxidative stress markers MDA and GSH. The crude extract of E. heterophyllus shown superior hepatoprotective and antioxidant effect. Histopathological scoring showed a remarkable decrease in the scores of the treatment groups in comparison with the high score in the MTX only treated group.Conclusions: MTX administered in a dose of 20 mg/kg for 3 successive days causes marked liver injury, while treatment with the crude extract and flavonoid fraction of E. heterophyllus significantly ameliorates MTX-induced liver damage, although the crude extract of E. heterophyllus seems to have the most hepatoprotective properties.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties of Iraqi Echinops heterophyllus aqueous crude extract and its flavonoid fraction against methotrexate (MTX)-induced hepatotoxicity in rabbits.Methods: MTX-induced hepatotoxicity by administration of 20 mg/kg MTX intraperitoneally for 3 successive days was used as animal model, and animals were arrayed in four groups with eight animals in each group: Group 1 was the healthy control, Group 2 - the negative control receiving MTX only, Group 3 received MTX+crude extract of E. heterophyllus, and Group 4 administered MTX+flavonoid fraction of E. heterophyllus. The study duration was 10 days; at day 11, animals were sacrificed, and the blood samples were obtained for the measurement of serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, total protein, and albumin as well as ELISA assay of the oxidative stress markers such as glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The liver was dissected and processed for histopathological investigation and scoring. Statistical analysis was performed to investigate the significance of each result.Results: The study results revealed severe liver damage due to MTX administration in the negative control (induced-non treated) group in comparison with healthy group, also there was significant hepatoprotective effect after administration of the crude extract of E. heterophyllus, and flavonoid fraction from E. heterophyllus shown after biochemical liver function tests and anti-oxidant properties demonstrated by the measurement of oxidative stress markers MDA and GSH. The crude extract of E. heterophyllus shown superior hepatoprotective and antioxidant effect. Histopathological scoring showed a remarkable decrease in the scores of the treatment groups in comparison with the high score in the MTX only treated group.Conclusions: MTX administered in a dose of 20 mg/kg for 3 successive days causes marked liver injury, while treatment with the crude extract and flavonoid fraction of E. heterophyllus significantly ameliorates MTX-induced liver damage, although the crude extract of E. heterophyllus seems to have the most hepatoprotective properties.

Objectives: to study the oculo- hypotensive effect of non-selective phosphodiestrase inhibitor aminophylline. Methods: The study was conducted on fifteen albino rabbits (2.5–2.8 Kg) and model of acute ocular hypertension was obtained by 5% glucose water administration at 15ml/kg through the marginal vein of the rabbit’s ear. Aminophylline was dissolved in vehicle of phosphate buffer saline and diluted to desired concentration as 0.5%. Phosphate buffer saline solution also served as control. The left eye of rabbit was received one drop of aminophylline (0.5%) on the other hand the right eye treated by the vehicle and considered as control parameter. The pressure measurement was recorded at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 135, 150 and 165 min after drug instillation. Results: After 30 minutes of topical 0.5% aminophylline administration the normal tension of the eye remain unchanged. However topical 0.5% aminophylline eye drop significantly (p < 0.05) successes in the decrease of the acute elevation of ocular pressure due to 5% glucose infusion. Moreover, in this study aminophylline pretreatment has the ability to facilitating the returns of the IOP to normal levels Conclusions: Topical administration of aminophylline (0.5%) significantly prevent acute rise in the ocular pressure induced by 5% glucose administration. The IOP lowering effect of aminophylline can be considered as potential antiglaucoma drug.

Hypertrophic scars are pathological scars which result from exaggerated skin proliferation following a wound and injury. Although many theories have been implicated for keloidogenesis, the precise pathophysiological cause is still masked. Different treatment strategies have been tried in their management, but there is no satisfactory option for treating hypertrophic scar currently; moreover the standard steroid therapy is associated with numerous local side effects, and there is a need for researches in new treatment options. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of topical isoxsuprine in experimentally induced hypertrophic scar in rabbits. In the current experimental study, 40 healthy male albino rabbits between 12 and 14 months of age were studied. These rabbits were categorized into five groups: healthy animal group (n = 8), hypertrophic scar without treatment (n = 8), hypertrophic scar treated with triamcinolone acetonide gel (n = 8), and hypertrophic scar treated with isoxsuprine gel (n = 8). Histological assessment of skin biopsy, including the conventional hematoxylin and eosin stain, and immunohistochemistry for transforming the growth factor beta 1 level (TGF-β1) and collagen 3 alpha1 (COLIIIαI) in skin tissue was done. The immunohistochemical score of TGF-β and collagen III was highest in group 2 (hypertrophic scar without treatment), followed by group 3 (hypertrophic scar treated with triamcinolone acetonide gel) and group 4 (hypertrophic scar treated with isoxsuprine gel) -no significant difference between them since p > 0.05, and then by group 1 (healthy control group). Regarding histopathological scores of inflammation, the scar height, and scar index, the scores were highest in was highest in group 2 (hypertrophic scar without treatment), followed by group 3 (hypertrophic scar treated with triamcinolone acetonide gel) and group 4 (hypertrophic scar treated with isoxsuprine gel) -no significant difference between them since p > 0.05,