OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of turmeric (20mg/kg) on learning and memory and cholinergic system in a mouse model of stress along with cholinergic blockade.

METHODS: Restrained stress was induced and cholinergic receptors were blocked using scopolamine in mice. Animals were treated with turmeric (turmeric rhizome powder which was also subjected to NMR analyses) and learning and social behavior was examined. Effect of turmeric on cholinergic muscarinic receptors (mAChR; M1, M3 and M5) gene expression was assessed by RT-PCR in both pre-frontal cortex and hippocampus.

RESULTS: Ar-turmerone, curcuminoids and α-linolenic acid were the lead compounds present in turmeric extract. Increased serum corticosterone levels were observed in stressed mice when compared to the control group, while turmeric treatment significantly reduced serum corticosterone level. Turmeric treatment caused an improved learning and memory in Morris water maze test in stressed animals. Social novelty preference was also restored in turmeric treated animals. Following turmeric treatment, M5 expression was improved in the cortex and M3 expression was improved in the hippocampus of stress + scopolamine + turmeric treated group.

METHODS: A group of mice (n = 5) treated orally with a single dose (5000 mg/kg) of MEDL was first subjected to the acute toxicity study using the OECD 420 model. In the hepatoprotective study, six groups of rats (n = 6) were used and each received as follows: Group 1 (normal control; pretreated with 10% DMSO (extract's vehicle) followed by treatment with 10% DMSO (hepatotoxin's vehicle) (10% DMSO +10% DMSO)), Group 2 (hepatotoxic control; 10% DMSO +3 g/kg APAP (hepatotoxin)), Group 3 (positive control; 200 mg/kg silymarin +3 g/kg APAP), Group 4 (50 mg/kg MEDL +3 g/kg APAP), Group 5 (250 mg/kg MEDL +3 g/kg APAP) or Group 6 (500 mg/kg MEDL +3 g/kg APAP). The test solutions pre-treatment were made orally once daily for 7 consecutive days, and 1 h after the last test solutions administration (on Day 7th), the rats were treated with vehicle or APAP. Blood were collected from those treated rats for biochemical analyses, which were then euthanized to collect their liver for endogenous antioxidant enzymes determination and histopathological examination. The extract was also subjected to in vitro anti-inflammatory investigation and, HPLC and GCMS analyses.

METHODS: Four different solvent extracts of OS, namely aqueous, ethanolic, 50% aqueous ethanolic and methanolic, at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight (bw) were orally administered for 14 days to diabetic rats induced via intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg bw STZ. NMR metabolomics approach using pattern recognition combined with multivariate statistical analysis was applied in the rat urine to study the resulted metabolic perturbations.

RESULTS: OS aqueous extract (OSAE) caused a reversal of DM comparable to that of 10 mg/kg bw glibenclamide. A total of 15 urinary metabolites, which levels changed significantly upon treatment were identified as the biomarkers of OSAE in diabetes. A systematic metabolic pathways analysis identified that OSAE contributed to the antidiabetic activity mainly through regulating the tricarboxylic acid cycle, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, lipid and amino acid metabolism.

METHODS: Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into five groups with 12 rats in the control (normal saline) and six rats each for the lead-treated group (LTG) (50 mg/kg lead acetate [Pb acetate] for 4 weeks), recovery group (50 mg/kg Pb acetate for 4 weeks and left with no treatment for another 4 weeks), treatment group 1 (Cur100) (50 mg/kg Pb acetate for 4 weeks, followed by 100 mg/kg curcumin for 4 weeks), and treatment group 2 (Cur200) (50 mg/kg Pb acetate for 4 weeks, followed by 200 mg/kg curcumin for 4 weeks). All the experimental groups received oral treatments via orogastric-tube on alternate days. Pb concentration in the liver and kidney of the rats were evaluated using inductive-coupled plasma mass spectrometry techniques.

RESULTS: Pb-administered rats revealed significant alteration in oxidative status and increased Pb concentration in their liver and kidney with obvious reduction of hemogram and increased in leukogram as well as aberration in histological architecture of the liver and kidney. However, treatment with curcumin reduces the tissue Pb concentrations and ameliorates the above mention alterations.

AIMS: To investigate the ability of intravaginal MP gel treatment to ameliorate VA in sex-steroid deficient condition, mimicking post-menopause.

METHODS: Ovariectomized female Sprague-Dawley rats received MP (100 μg/ml, 250 μg/ml and 500 μg/ml) and estriol (E) gels intravaginally for seven consecutive days. Rats were then euthanized and vagina was harvested and subjected for histological and protein expression and distribution analyses. Vaginal ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

RESULTS: Thickness of vaginal epithelium increased with increasing intravaginal MP doses. Additionally, increased in expression and distribution of proliferative protein i.e. PCNA, tight junction protein i.e. occludin, water channel proteins i.e. AQP-1 and AQP-2 and proton extruder protein i.e. V-ATPase A1 were observed in the vagina following intravaginal MP and E gels treatment. Intravaginal MP and E gels also induced desmosome formation and approximation of the intercellular spaces between the vaginal epithelium.

METHODS: Twenty four Sprague Dawleyrats were divided into four groups: (A) Normal control, (B) TAA (0.03% w/v in drinking water), (C) VN100 (VN 100 mg/kg + TAA) and (D) VN300 (VN 300 mg/kg + TAA). Blood urea and serum creatinine levels were measured,supraoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of renal tissue were assayed. Histopathological analysis together with the oxidative stress nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase p22phox in kidney sections were examined in all experimental groups.