2016

Introduction : Tuberculosis has become a serious health  problem in the world. Increased mortality in patients with tuberculosis infection is associated with MDR and hepatotoxic side effects of antituberculosis drugs. Therefore, it is necessary to find an alternative drug that can reduce the hepatotoxic side effects . Objective : This study aims to investigate the benefits of Aloe vera in preventing liver damage as a side effect of antituberculosis drug administration. Method: Twenty-five rats will be divided into five groups, namely the control group (without any treatment), the group of rats treated by anti-tuberculosis drugs, and a group of mice were given antituberculosis drugs and got Aloe vera extract at a dose of 40; 80; and 120 mg/kg body weight. Results: Antituberculosis drugs are isoniazid and rifampicyn a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight. Levels of TNF-a were significantly higher in the antituberculosis group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). All doses of Alovevera reduce levels of TNF-a compared with the antituberculosis group (P < 0.05), although it has not yet reached levels comparable to the control group (P > 0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that administration of Aloe vera can suppress the production of TNF-a as a result of antituberculosis drug administration. Thus, Aloe vera can be a useful alternative to natural materials in the successful treatment of tuberculosis through the inhibition of hepatotoxid side effect.   Keywords: Aloe vera; TNF-a; antituberculosis drugs.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Aloe vera against side effect of antituberculosis drug.Twenty-five rats will be divided into five groups, namely the control group (without any treatment), the group of rats ...

This article reports the results of a within-subject design. Fifty subjects with a physician diagnosis of fibromyalgia (FM) and/or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) were interviewed using a structured interview from. Each subject was interviewed initially, and again nine months later (follow-up). Subje …

BACKGROUND: The use of herbal and synthetic compounds can be effective in improving the areas and repair of tissues that have been affected during the processes like what happens in ulcerative colitis (UC) as a common inflammatory disorder. According to the beneficial effects of aloe vera, in this study, we aimed to assess the therapeutic effects of oral aloe vera gel on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats by histopathological and molecular analysis of Bax, and BCL-2 genes expression (using RT-PCR technique) in colon tissue samples. METHODS: This experimental study comprised 32 adult male Sprague Dawley rats weighting  220±20 g that were randomly divided into four groups as follows. The control group (healthy rats), colitis group in which UC was induced by transrectal administration of 3% acetic acid with no treatment, oral form of sulfasalazine group in which UC was induced by transrectal administration of 3% acetic acid, then was treated by oral administration of sulfasalazine 500 mg/kg body weight, and the fourth group which received oral form of aloe vera gel (200 mg/kg) for 21 days, respectively after induction of UC. Then, the therapeutic effects of treatment groups were compared with the control group and the colitis group with no treatment, by the assessment of histopathological and molecular changes in the colon tissues of rats on the 7 th , 14 th , and 21 st days. Finally, the collected data were analyzed using statistical tests. RESULTS: Histologically, aloe vera gel treatment could reduce and heal colon tissue damages in induced colitis. Also, this gel reduced apoptosis in rat’s colon with acetic acid-induced colitis, which showed in significantly decreased in Bax mRNA expression and significantly increased BCL-2 mRNA expression compared with the colitis group with no treatment. CONCLUSION:  Aloe vera gel has a significant effect on the treatment of UC in rat because of the beneficial effect that was found from aloe vera such as decreasing the severity of colitis as evidenced by histopathological findings, and with respect to apoptosis and gene expression that were related to wound healing process, and suppression of the elevation of Bax mRNA with the upregulation of Bcl-2, which can be considered effective in the treatment of UC.

BACKGROUND Previous studies indicated that both Plantago major and Aloe vera have anti-inflammatory, tissue regeneration, antioxidant, and immune-stimulatory effects. It is assumed that a mixture of these two herbal medicines may provide a potent material in treatment of skin wound injuries. Therefore, in this study we investigated the effects of Plantago major ...

Obesity is associated with metabolic disorders. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has been recognized as important in metabolism. Glucosamine (GLN) …

Background: Glucosamine hydrochloride (GlcN·HCl) has been shown to inhibit cell growth and matrix synthesis, but not with N-acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc) supplementation. This effect might be related to an inhibition of critical growth factors (GF), or to a different metabolization of the two glucosamine derivatives. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the synergy between GlcN·HCl, GlcNAc, and GF on proliferation and cartilage matrix synthesis. Method: Bovine chondrocytes were cultivated in monolayers for 48 h and in three-dimensional (3D) chitosan scaffolds for 30 days in perfusion bioreactors. Serum-free (SF) medium was supplemented with either growth factors (GF) TGF-β (5 ng mL−1) and IGF-I (10 ng mL−1), GlcN·HCl or GlcNAc at 1mM each or both. Six groups were compared according to medium supplementation: (a) SF control; (b) SF + GlcN·HCl; (c) SF + GlcNAc; (d) SF + GF; (e) SF + GF + GlcN·HCl; and (f) SF + GF + GlcNAc. Cell proliferation, proteoglycan, collagen I (COL1), and collagen II (COL2) synthesis were evaluated. Results: The two glucosamines showed opposite effects in monolayer culture: GlcN·HCl significantly reduced proliferation and GlcNAc significantly augmented cellular metabolism. In the 30 days 3D culture, the GlcN·HCl added to GF stimulated cell proliferation more than when compared to GF only, but the proteoglycan synthesis was smaller than GF. However, GlcNAc added to GF improved the cell proliferation and proteoglycan synthesis more than when compared to GF and GF/GlcN·HCl. The synthesis of COL1 and COL2 was observed in all groups containing GF. Conclusion: GlcN·HCl and GlcNAc increased cell growth and stimulated COL2 synthesis in long-time 3D culture. However, only GlcNAc added to GF improved proteoglycan synthesis.

Background: Exercise and nutrition are two basic foundations in the control of increased levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in diabetes disease. The aim of the present study was to review the interactional effects of endurance training and aloe vera gel on ALT and AST levels in ...

Introduction: Since aloe vera plant has many medical benefits, the present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Aloe vera gel on the pancreatic islets and beta cells. Methods: This experimental study consisted of 50 mature male rats aged 2-3 months and weighed 200-250 g, who were randomly divided ...

Aloe vera, a succulent perennial and drought resisting plant, is well known for its therapeutic potential. A number of beneficial effects of Aloe vera…

The medicinal plants are widely recommended worldwide by the traditional and modern medical practitioners for curing various diseases of patients. Aloe vera is well known for its considerable medicinal properties. Aloe is widely used in wound healing, treating burns, minimizing frost bite damage, protection against skin damage from X-rays, lung cancer, intestinal problems, increasing High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), reducing Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), reducing blood sugar in Diabetics, fighting against Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), allergies and improving immune system. Aloe is used in traditional Indian medicine for constipation, colic, skin diseases, worm infestation, and infections. It is found in variety of commercial products such as, pills, sprays, ointments, lotions, liquids, drinks, jellies and creams. All these uses associated with Aloe vera have been attributed to the polysaccharides contained in the gel of the leaves. The chemistry of the plant has revealed that there are more than 200 different biologically active substances.

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Aloe vera (AV) is popular and has been commercialized as a beauty product, laxative, herbal medicine, the antimicrobial activity of AV is proven. The antiviral activity of AV however, has not been well documented except for a handful reports. Till date extraction of AV compounds is popularized using …

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Reproductive problems such as impaired folliculogenesis and anovulation are observed in diabetic women. ...

In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers are considered key mediators of synaptic dysfunction and cognitive impairment. These unstable intermediate Aβ species can interfere with different cellular organelles, leading to neuronal cell death, through the formation of Ca2+-permeable membrane pores, impairment in the levels of acetylcholine neurotransmitters, increased insulin resistance, promotion of pro-inflammatory cascades, among others. Based on a series of evidences that indicate the key role of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in amyloid plaque formation, we evaluated the capacity of four monosaccharides, i.e., glucosamine (GlcN), N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc), glucosamine-6-sulfate (GlcN6S), and glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN6P), to reduce the Aβ-mediated pathological hallmarks. The tested monosaccharides, in particular, GlcN6S and GlcN6P, were able to interact with Aβ aggregates, reducing neuronal cell death, Aβ-mediated damage to the cellular membrane, acetylcholinesterase activity, insulin resistance, and pro-inflammation levels.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the protective effect of aqueous leaf extract of Aloe vera (ALEAV) in animal model (wistar albino rats) through macroscopic and histopathological study of the colon after inducing ulcerative colitis by usage of acetic acid. 30 healthy albino rats of either sex 150-200g body wt. and 2-4 months age groups were divided into five groups (six in each). Group 1 was normal control group receiving vehicle 1ml of normal saline transrectally (negative control). Group 2 was ulcerative colitis control which was treated with normal saline. Group 3 & 4 were administered aqueous leaf extract of Aloe vera suspension(test drug) 150,300mg/kg bodyweight dose orally for 10 days respectively. Ulcerative colitis was induced on 10 th day. Group 5 was administered prednisolone(1mg/kg) orally for 3 days. On the 3 rd day ulcerative colitis was induced by transrectal administration of 1 ml of 4% acetic acid solution. In all the groups, animals were observed for decrease in bodyweight, stool consistency and rectal bleeding i.e Disease Activity Index for 48 hours after inducing ulcerative colitis. After 48 hours the rats were sacrificed by high dose of ether anaesthesia and a piece of colonic segment(10cm in length) were resected out and subjected to macroscopical study(colon mucosal index) and microscopic evaluation. ALEAV at 150 mg/kg produced significant improvement in macroscopic score in comparison to disease control (group 2) which is comparable to that of normal control (group 1) in ulcerative colitis model. Histopathological studies showed significant dose dependent decrease in lymphoid hyperplasia, neutrophilic infiltration, crypt damage and submucosal inflammation in ALEAV treated group (150 and 300 mg/kg b.w) in comparison to disease control.

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The present single-dose study was performed to assess the effect of whole coffee fruit concentrate powder (WCFC), green coffee caffeine powder (N677), grape seed extract powder (N31) and green coffee bean extract powder (N625) on blood levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Randomly ass …