Effects of thymoquinone against angiotensin II‑induced cardiac damage in apolipoprotein E‑deficient mice

Herbal medicines have attracted much attention in recent years and are increasingly being used as alternatives to pharmaceutical medicines. Thymoquinone (TQ) is one of the most active ingredients in Nigella sativa seeds, which has several beneficial properties, including anti‑inflammatory, anti‑oxidative stress, anti‑hypertensive, anti‑apoptotic and free radical‑scavenging effects. Angiotensin II (Ang II) is involved in cardiovascular diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of TQ against Ang II‑induced cardiac damage in apolipoprotein E‑deficient (ApoE‑/‑) mice. Briefly, 8‑week‑old male ApoE‑/‑ mice were randomly divided into four groups: Control, TQ, Ang II and Ang II + TQ groups. Osmotic minipumps, filled with either a saline vehicle or an Ang II solution (1,000 ng/kg/min), were implanted in ApoE‑/‑ mice for up to 4 weeks. The serum levels of high‑sensitivity C‑reactive protein (hs‑CRP) and histopathological alterations in heart tissue were assessed. In addition, the mRNA and protein expression levels of molecules associated with fibrosis (collagen I and III), oxidative stress and apoptosis (Nox4 and p53), and inflammation [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α, interleukin (IL)‑1β and IL‑6] were analyzed by reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR (RT‑qPCR) and western blotting. In the in vitro study, H9c2 cells were incubated with different concentrations of Ang II, and the expression levels of pro‑inflammatory cytokines were evaluated using RT‑qPCR, whereas the protein expression levels of phosphorylated‑extracellular signal‑regulated kinase (p‑ERK) were determined using western blotting. Western blotting was also performed to detect the expression levels of collagen I, collagen III, Nox4 and p53 in H9c2 cells. The results revealed that TQ inhibited the Ang II‑induced increases in serum hs‑CRP levels. TQ also significantly inhibited the high levels of TNF‑α, IL‑1β, IL‑6, collagen I, collagen III, Nox4 and p53 in Ang II‑treated mice. Furthermore, TQ protected against Ang II‑induced cardiac damage by inhibiting inflammatory cell infiltration, proinflammatory cytokine expression, fibrosis, oxidative stress and apoptosis by suppressing activation of the p‑ERK signaling pathway. In conclusion, TQ could be considered a potential therapeutic agent for Ang II‑induced cardiac damage.

Morphine dependence and withdrawal-induced changes in mouse Sertoli cell (TM4) line: Evaluation of apoptotic, inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers

Chronic morphine exerts deleterious effects on testicular function through either suppression of germ cells or somatic including Sertoli cells, probably through the activation of inflammatory, oxidative, and apoptosis biomarkers. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate whether the damaging effects of morphine dependence were reversed by the spontaneous morphine withdrawal or incubation with methadone and/or naloxone in Sertoli (TM4) cells using an in- vitro cell model of morphine dependence. Morphine dependence in TM4 cells was induced by increasing daily doses of morphine for 10 days and then maintained for two weeks in 5 μM. The cAMP levels were measured for an evaluation of morphine dependence. The cell viability and inflammatory, oxidative, apoptosis biomarkers, and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) were measured after the end of treatment following the incubation of cells with methadone and naloxone and spontaneous withdrawal from morphine. We found that morphine dependence decreased cell viability, GDNF level and increased the levels of pro-oxidant, pro-inflammatory, and apoptotic biomarkers in TM4 cells, while spontaneous withdrawal from morphine and by naloxone decreased the levels of the biomarkers of pro-inflammatory and apoptotic in TM4 cells. Also, despite the low levels of pro-inflammatory factors following morphine withdrawal by methadone, it increased the cleaved/pro-caspase3 ratio in TM4 cells. This study showed that morphine dependence increased apoptosis probably via oxidative stress and inflammation pathways in TM4 cells. Also, it seems likely that spontaneous and naloxone withdrawal have beneficial consequences in the treatment of morphine dependence than methadone therapy, although they may require longer incubation periods.

Therapeutic perspective of thymoquinone: A mechanistic treatise

The higher utilization of fruits and vegetables is well known to cure human maladies due to the presence of bioactive components. Among these compounds, thymoquinone, a monoterpene and significant constituent in the essential oil of Nigella sativa L., has attained attention by the researchers due to their pharmacologies perspectives such as prevention from cancer, antidiabetic and antiobesity, prevention from oxidative stress and cardioprotective disorder. Thymoquinone has been found to work as anticancer agent against different human and animal cancer stages including propagation, migration, and invasion. Thymoquinone as phytochemical also downregulated the Rac1 expression, mediated the miR-34a upregulation, and increased the levels of miR-34a through p53, as well as also regulated the pro- and antiapoptotic genes and decreased the phosphorylation of NF-κB and IKKα/β. In addition, thymoquinone also lowered the metastasis and ERK1/2 and PI3K activities. The present review article has been piled by adapting narrative review method and highlights the diverse aspects of thymoquinone such as hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antiaging through various pathways, and further utilization of this compound in diet has been proven effective against different types of cancers.

Endogenous Opiates and Behavior: 2018

This paper is the forty-first consecutive installment of the annual anthological review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system, summarizing articles published during 2018 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides and receptors as well as effects of opioid/opiate agonists and antagonists. The review is subdivided into the following specific topics: molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors (2), the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia in animals (3) and humans (4), opioid-sensitive and opioid-insensitive effects of nonopioid analgesics (5), opioid peptide and receptor involvement in tolerance and dependence (6), stress and social status (7), learning and memory (8), eating and drinking (9), drug abuse and alcohol (10), sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (11), mental illness and mood (12), seizures and neurologic disorders (13), electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (14), general activity and locomotion (15), gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (16), cardiovascular responses (17), respiration and thermoregulation (18), and immunological responses (19).

The neuroprotective effect of NeuroAid on morphine-induced amnesia with respect to the expression of TFAM, PGC-1α, ΔfosB and CART genes in the hippocampus of male Wistar rats

Morphine is a natural alkaloid which derived from the opium poppy Papaver somniferum. Many studies have reported the effect of morphine on learning, memory and gene expression. CART (cocaine-amphetamine regulated transcript)is an important neuropeptide which has a critical role in physiological processes including drug dependence and antioxidant activity. ΔfosB is a transcription factor which modulates synaptic plasticity and affects learning and memory. TFAM (the mitochondrial transcription factor A) and PGC-1α (Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α) are critically involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant pathways. NeuroAid is a Chinese medicine that induces neuroprotective and anti-apoptotic effects. In this research, we aimed to investigate the effect of NeuroAid on morphine-induced amnesia with respect to the expression of TFAM, PGC-1α, ΔfosB and CART in the rat's hippocampus. In this study, Morphine sulfate (at increasing doses), Naloxone hydrochloride (2.5 mg/kg) and NeuroAid (2.5 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneal and real-time PCR reactions were done to assess gene expression. The results showed, morphine impaired memory of step-through passive avoidance, while NeuroAid had no effect. NeuroAid attenuated (but not reversed) morphine-induced memory impairment in morphine-addicted rats. Morphine increased the expression of PGC-1α and decreased the expression of CART. However, NeuroAid increased the expression of TFAM, PGC-1α, ΔfosB and CART. NeuroAid restored the effect of morphine on the expression of CART and PGC-1α. In conclusion, morphine impaired memory of step-through passive avoidance and NeuroAid attenuated this effect. The effect of NeuroAid on morphine-induced memory impairment/gene expression may be related to its anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective effects.

Effects of gallic acid on rat testopathy following morphine administration: an experimental study

Introduction: Morphine (MOR) as a psychoactive agent in the opium family causes free radicals accumulation which leads to failure in spermatogenesis. Gallic acid (GA), a polyphenolic acid, is found in various plants with antioxidant, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-allergic activities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of GA against MOR-induced damage to the reproductive parameter of rats. Methods: Sixty-four male Wistar rats (8 weeks, 220-250 g) were categorized into 8 groups by random (n=8/each); normal control and MOR control groups; GA groups (5, 10, 20 mg/kg) and MOR + GA groups (5, 10, 20 mg/kg). Treatments were administered intraperitoneally (i.p), daily for 4 weeks. The sperm parameters, spermatogenesis index (SI), total antioxidant capacity, testosterone level, and seminiferous tube diameter (STD) were assessed. Results: All sperm parameters reduced significantly in the MOR control group than to the normal control group (P < 0.01). All parameters were significantly improved in GA and GA + MOR treatment groups compared to the MOR control group (P < 0.01). Conclusion: MOR caused a detrimental effect on male reproductive parameters. Also, no significant modifications were observed in all doses of GA treatments in comparison with the normal control group. GA compensates the toxic effect of MOR on reproductive parameters. Hence, GA administration is beneficial in MOR users.