Context: Nasturtium officinale R. Br. (watercress) has long been used in Iranian folk medicine to treat hypertension, hyperglycemia, and renal colic. Moreover, anticancer, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties of N. officinale have been reported. Objective: In this study, anti-inflammatory activity of the hydro-alcoholic extract from aerial parts of N. officinale was investigated. Materials and methods: Oral administration of the hydro-alcoholic extract of N. officinale (250, 500 and 750 mg kg À1) was investigated on two well-characterized animal models of inflammation, including carrageenan-or formalin-induced paw edema in rats. Then, the topical anti-inflammatory effect of N. officinale (2 and 5 mg/ear) was studied on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear edema. Finally, biopsy of the paw or ear was performed for pathological evaluation. Results: Acute toxicity tests of N. officinale in rats established an oral LD 50 of 45 g kgThe extract of watercress (250, 500 and 750 mg kg À1) significantly inhibited carrageenaninduced paw edema 1, 2, 3 and 4 h after carrageenan challenge (p50.001). The extract (500 mg kg À1) also showed considerable activity against formalin-evoked paw edema over a period of 24 h (p50.001). Furthermore, topical application of N. officinale (5 mg/ear) reduced TPA-induced ear edema (p50.05). Histopathologically, the extract decreased swelling and the tissue damage induced by carrageenan or TPA. Discussion and conclusion: Our findings indicate potent anti-inflammatory activity of N. officinale in systemic and topical application and propose its potential as an anti-inflammatory agent for treatment of inflammatory conditions.

Drug resistance is a major impediment in cancer therapy which strongly reduces the efficiency of anti-cancer drugs. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles with cup or spherical shape with a size range of 40–150 nm released by eukaryotic cells that contain genetic materials, proteins, and lipids which mediate a specific cell-to-cell communication. The potential roles of exosomes in intrinsic and acquired drug resistance have been reported in several studies. Furthermore, a line of evidence suggested that the content of exosomes released from tumor cells in biological samples may be associated with the clinical outcomes of cancer patients. In this review, we highlighted the recent studies regarding the potential roles of exosomes in tumor initiation, progression, and chemoresistance. This study suggests the possible role of exosomes for drug delivery and their contents in prognosis and resistance to chemotherapy in cancer patients.

Background:Stachys piliferaBenth has long been used to treat infectious diseases as well as respiratory and rheumatoid disorders in Iranian folk medicine. Antioxidants, antitumor, and antimicrobial properties of the plant have been reported.Objectives:This experimental study was designed to evaluate systemic and topical anti-inflammatory effects of the hydro-alcoholic extract from aerial parts of Stachys pilifera (HESP).Materials and Methods:Anti-inflammatory effects of HESP was studied in four well-known animal models of inflammation, including carrageenan- or formalin-induced paw edema in rat (thirteen groups, 6 rats per each group), and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)- or xylene-induced ear edema in mouse (ten groups, 6 mice per each group). The rats received HESP (50-400 mg/ kg) orally 45 minutes before the subplantar injection of carrageenan or formalin. In TPA or xylene tests, HESP (1, 2.5, and 5 mg/ear) was applied topically simultaneous with these phlogistic agents on the ear mice. Finally, pathological examination of the inflamed tissues (paw and ear) was carried out.Results:Acute toxicity study of the extract showed that no rats were killed at 5000 mg/kg (LD50 > 5000 mg/kg). The extract (100 and 200 mg/ kg) significantly suppressed carrageenan-induced paw edema 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after carrageenan challenge in comparison with the control group (P < 0.001). The HESP (100 and 200 mg/kg) also produced a considerable antiedematogenic effect in the formalin test over a period of 24 hours (P < 0.01). Furthermore, topical administration of the HESP (1, 2.5, and 5 mg/ear) inhibited TPA- and xylene-induced ear edema in comparison with the control group (P < 0.001). The pathological analysis of the paws and ears revealed that HESP was capable of reducing tissue destruction, cellular infiltration, and subcutaneous edema induced by the indicated phlogistic agents.Conclusions:The present data confirmed systemic and topical anti-inflammatory effects of Stachys pilifera which is comparable to indomethacin.

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Background: Vancomycin (VCM) is an important antibiotic that is active against gram-positive cocci, and its nephrotoxicity remain as a major problem in clinical use. Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effect of Nasturtium officinale hydro-alcoholic extract (NOE) and vitamin E aganist VCM-induced nephrotoxicity in adult male wistar rats. Methods: A total of 36 animals were randomly divided into 6 equal groups (n = 6) including 1, control group; 2, VCM group; 3, VCM + NOE (250 mg/kg) group; 4, VCM + NOE (500 mg/kg) group; 5, VCM + vitamin E (250 mg/kg) group; and 6, VCM + vitamin E (500 mg/kg) group. VCM (200 mg kg -1 i.p.) was given every 12 hours for 7 consecutive days. NOE and vitamin E were orally given to rats 30

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has a collection of some abnormal and pathological conditions that cause many critical diseases. Resistin is one of the possible candidates for these pathologies but there are not enough data to prove if resistin has positive, neutral, or negative effects on one or some components of MetS. This review summarizes data about comparing the effects and contribution of resistin in initiation and progression of MetS components and also its different actions between human and other mammalians. This summarized data about the relationship of resistin and MetS components have been obtained from clinical researches and in some cases even animal studies. To find the relevant studies, the search in PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus were performed. Human and animal studies on relationships between resistin and MetS (initiation and progression of components) were included in our search. In experiments reported among different human genetic groups as well as the patients with various disease such as diabetes, no significant correlation is shown between FBG and resistin level. Furthermore, this review shows that the results of correlation between resistin and TG, HDL, and central or abdominal obesity were inconsistent. These inconsistencies can arise from different sample size or genetic groups, gender, and also from experimental studies. Therefore, to obtain precise results systematic review and meta-analyses are required.

Objective Oxidants include important active molecules which are created in the body and attack biological molecules especially lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids and proteins, and cause oxidation and various diseases in the body. Antioxidants existing in the body help to avoid the incidence of these injuries. Pregnant women are among those where oxidation of biological molecules may do irreparable damage to them and their embryos. So, the purpose of this study was to review the effect of folic acid with both high (5 mg/day) and low (0.5 mg/day) doses on the changes of oxidative protein in reducing plasma homocystein concentration during pregnancy. Materials and methods Forty-five pregnant women participated in this study. They were divided into two groups: group 1 included 23 women who received 5 mg/day folic acid and group 2 included 23 women who took 0.5 mg/day folic acid before pregnancy till the 36th week pregnancy. We measured the biochemical variables in the serum of pregnant women at the beginning and at the end of the study. Results Folic acid reduced plasma homocytein in both low and high dose groups (p = 0.035, p = 0.012, respectively). Also, the results showed that folic acid prescription led to reduce plasma level of carbonyl groups in both low and high dose groups (p = 0.01, p = 0.03, respectively). Furthermore, the results showed that there is no significant difference between two groups and folic acid affects both groups equally. Conclusion It is possible that folic acid administration can reduce plasma homocysteine and carbonyl levels during pregnancy in dose independent manner.

Background Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is characterized by the formation of tubular structure inside the tumor stroma. It has been shown that a small fraction of cancer cells, namely cancer stem cells (CSCs), could stimulate the development of vascular units in the tumor niche, leading to enhanced metastasis to the remote sites. This study aimed to study the inhibitory effect of phytocompound, Thymoquinone (TQ), on human breast MDA-MB-231 cell line via monitoring Wnt/PI3K signaling pathway. Methods MDA-MB-231 CSCs were incubated with different concentrations of TQ for 48 h. The viability of CSCs was determined using the MTT assay. The combination of TQ and PI3K and Wnt3a inhibitors was examined in CSCs. By using the Matrigel assay, we measured the tubulogenesis capacity. The percent of CD24− CSCs and Rhodamine 123 efflux capacity was studied using flow cytometry analysis. Protein levels of Akt, p-Akt, Wnt3a, vascular endothelial-cadherin (VE-cadherin), and matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 (MMP-2 and -9) were detected by western blotting. Results TQ decreased the viability of CSCs in a dose-dependent manner. The combination of TQ with PI3K and Wnt3a inhibitors reduced significantly the survival rate compared to the control group (p < 0.05). TQ could blunt the stimulatory effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) on CSCs (p < 0.05). The vasculogenic capacity of CSCs was reduced after being-exposed to TQ (p < 0.05). Western blotting revealed the decrease of CSCs metastasis by suppressing MMP-2 and -9. The protein level of VE-cadherin was also diminished in TQ-treated CSCs as compared to the control cell (p < 0.05), indicating inhibition of mesenchymal-endothelial transition (MendT). TQ could suppress Wnt3a and PI3K, which coincided with the reduction of the p-Akt/Akt ratio. TQ had the potential to decrease the number of CD24− CSCs and Rhodamine 123 efflux capacity after 48 h. Conclusion TQ could alter the vasculogenic capacity and mesenchymal-epithelial transition of human breast CSCs in vitro. Thus TQ together with anti-angiogenic therapies may be a novel therapeutic agent in the suppression of VM in breast cancer.