The effects of celery leave extract on male hormones in rats

Introduction: Celery (Apium graveolens) belongs to the Umbelliferae family, and has a plenty of nutritional and pharmaceutical applications. The presence of phytoestrogenic compounds has been reported in this plant. These compounds may affect the pituitary-gonad axis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of hydro-alcoholic extracts of celery leaves on serum levels of testosterone, LH and FSH in male rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 32 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups, eight rats included in each. The control group did not receive any treatment. The placebo group received distilled water and the case groups received 200 and 300 mg/kg/B.W of hydro-alcoholic celery leaf extract for 20 consecutive days by oral administration. After completion of the treatment, the rats were anesthetized and blood sampling from their heart was carried out. Then, serum levels of testosterone, LH and FSH were measured using immunoassay methods. The obtained data were analyzed by the SPSS using the statistical ANOVA test. Results: The level of LH in the case group receiving 200 mg/kg B.W of celery extract showed a significant decrease compared with the control and placebo groups (P&lt;0.05). The level of FSH and testosterone in case groups did not show any significant difference in comparison with the control group (P&gt;0.05). Conclusion: The result of the present study shows that in the administered dose, celery extract does not have any considerable side effect on the secretion of hormones in male rats.</p

The effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of celery on lipid profile of rats fed a high fat diet

Background and Objectives: Decrease in serum lipids by dietary or pharmacological intervention prevents progression of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of celery (Apium graveolens) on lipid profile of rats fed a high fat diet. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 24 Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four groups. The control group received saline with high-fat diet and treatment groups did hydroalcoholic extract at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg/BW with high fat diet by gavage over a 30-day period. Afterwards, the serum levels of lipids (triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and VLDL) were determined. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA test using SPSS15 software. Results: Hydro-alcoholic extract of celery significantly decreased cholesterol and LDL in treatment groups compared with control group (P≤0.05); but had no significant effects in serum levels of triglyceride, HDL, and VLDL (P>0.05). Conclusions: Probably celery consumption due to the antioxidant properties leads to appropriate changes in serum lipid profiles and reduces them. Therefore it could be useful in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. © 2014 AENSI Publisher All rights reserved

Anti-fertility effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) seed in male Wistar rats

The study aimed to investigate the anti-fertility effect of fennel (Foeniculim vulgare Mill) seed extract in male rats. Material and Methods: Forty Wistar rats were divided into five equal groups. The control group received distilled water and the experimental groups were orally administered 1 ml of hydro-alcoholic extract of fennel seed in four doses of 35, 70, 140, and 280 mg/kg/b.w. daily for 60 days. After the last gavage, the rats were anaesthetised and the caudal part of the right epididymis was used for sperm counting. After fixation of the testes, microscopic sections were prepared and histological changes were evaluated. Results: The number of spermatogonia after doses of 140 and 280 mg/kg and Sertoli cells after a dose of 140 mg/kg decreased significantly as compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The number of primary spermatocytes and sperm count decreased significantly in the experimental groups (70, 140, and 280 mg/kg) when compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, thickening of the basement membrane, cell apoptosis, and irregular arrangement of the germinal epithelium were observed in the experimental groups. Conclusion: Hydro-alcoholic fennel seed extract at these doses could reduce reproductivity and has anti-fertility activity in male rat

The correlation of SKA2 with cortisol, IL-1β and anxiety in pregnant women with the risk of preterm delivery

Objective The association between preterm birth (PTB), Spindle and Kinetochore Associated Complex Subunit 2 gene (SKA2), cortisol and anxiety have been shown, but in this study, we aimed to clarify whether the expression of the SKA2 gene plays a role in interleukin-1β (IL-1β) level since increasing level of IL-1β is linked with PTB. Methods The case-control study was conducted on 49 and 51 women with preterm and term delivery, respectively. The score of anxiety was ranked according to the Spielberger state trait Anxiety Inventory. The concentration of cortisol and IL-1β was determined by the ELISA method. The expression of SKA2 gene was assessed by the quantitative real time real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The western blot analysis was also performed to confirm the expression of SKA2 at the levels of protein. Results The results showed that the gene/protein expression of SKA2, the concentrations of cortisol and IL-1β were significantly high-er in the preterm than the term group. In the preterm group, the expression of SKA2 was positively correlated to the other factors including cortisol, IL-1β, and the degree of anxiety. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the expression of SKA2 was correlated positively to the levels of cortisol, IL-1β and the rate of anxiety in women with PTB. © 2020 Korean Neuropsychiatric Association

Close Relationship between Diabetes and Cancer

The article's abstract is no available.</jats:p

Effect of circulating exosomes derived from normal-weight and obese women on gluconeogenesis, glycogenesis, lipogenesis and secretion of FGF21 and fetuin A in HepG2 cells

Abstract Background It is generally accepted that obesity can lead to metabolic disorders such as NAFLD and insulin resistance. However, the underlying mechanism has been poorly understood. Moreover, there is evidence to support the possible role of exosomes in the metabolic homeostasis regulation. Accordingly, we aimed to determine the effect of plasma circulating exosomes derived from obese and normal-weight women on insulin signaling and the secretion of hepatokines in human liver cells. Methods Plasma exosomes isolated from four obese (O-Exo) women and four normal-weight (N-Exo) female candidates were characterized for size, zeta potential, and CD63 protein expression and were used for stimulation of HepG2 cells. Then, cell viability, as well as levels of glycogen and triglyceride (TG), were evaluated. Levels of fetuin-A and FGF21 were measured using the ELISA kit. Expression of glucose 6-phosphatase (G6pase) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) genes were determined using qRT-PCR. Western blot analysis was carried out to evaluating the phosphorylation of GSK3β. Results The TG levels increased significantly in the cells treated with O-Exo than the control (vehicle) group (P = 0.005) and normal-weight group (P = 0.018). Levels of p-GSK3β and glycogen were significantly reduced by O-Exo in comparison with control (P = 0.002, P = 0.018, respectively). The mRNA expression of G6pase and PEPCK enzymes increased in the cells treated with O-Exo in comparison with the vehicle group (P = 0.017, P = 0.010, respectively). The levels of FGF21 in the supernatant of cells treated with O-Exo and N-Exo were significantly lower than the control group (P = 0.007). Conclusion It appears that obesity-related circulating exosomes can impair insulin signaling pathways and associated components, increase intracellular TG content, and decrease FGF21 secretion in the hepatocytes. </jats:sec