PMID: 

Biol Trace Elem Res. 2018 Jun ;183(2):261-269. Epub 2017 Aug 30. PMID: 28856594

Abstract Title: 

Size-Dependent Neurotoxicity of Aluminum Oxide Particles: a Comparison Between Nano- and Micrometer Size on the Basis of Mitochondrial Oxidative Damage.

Abstract: 

Aluminum nanoparticles (AlNPs) are among the most abundantly produced nanosized particles in the market. There is limited information about the potential harmful effects of aluminum oxide due to its particle size on human health. Considering the toxic effects of Al on brain as its target tissue, in this study, the toxicity of nanoparticles, microparticles, and ionic forms of Al on rat brain and isolated mitochondria was evaluated. Sixty male Wistar rats were divided into ten groups (six rats each), in which group I was the control, and the other groups were administered different doses of Al nanoparticles, Al microparticles (AlMP), and Al ionic forms (2, 4, and 8 mg/kg, i.p.) for 28 days. After 24 h, the animals were killed, brain tissue was separated, the mitochondrial fraction was isolated, and oxidative stress markers were measured. Also, mitochondrial function was assayed by MTT test. The results showed that all forms of Al particles induced ROS formation, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, glutathione depletion, mitochondrial dysfunction, and gait abnormalities in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, Al particles decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. These data indicated that oxidative stress might contribute to the toxicity effectsof Al. Comparison of oxidative stress markers between all forms of Al revealed that the toxic effect of AlNP on brain tissue was substantially more than that caused by AlMP and bulk form. This study showed more neurotoxicity of AlNPs compared to other forms on brain oxidative damage that probably is due to more penetration into the brain.

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PMID: 

Environ Pollut. 2018 Nov ;242(Pt A):814-826. Epub 2018 Jul 17. PMID: 30032078

Abstract Title: 

Aluminum: A potentially toxic metal with dose-dependent effects on cardiac bioaccumulation, mineral distribution, DNA oxidation and microstructural remodeling.

Abstract: 

Large amounts of aluminum (Al) are found in wastewater from industrial bauxite mining, which is often responsible for the contamination of drinking water sources in urban and rural communities. Although this metal exhibits broad environmental distribution, its cardiac repercussions are poorly understood, making it difficult to establish diagnostic criteria in cases of Al intoxication. In the absence of clinical data, we used a preclinical model to investigate the impact of Al exposure on heart bioaccumulation, molecular oxidation, micromineral distribution, structural and ultrastructural remodeling of the cardiac tissue. Male Wistar rats were equally randomized into five groups: G1 = distilled water; and G2 to G5 = 0.02, 0.1, 50, and 200 mg/kg aluminum solution, respectively. After 120 days, the hearts were collected and subjected to mineral microanalysis, immunoenzymatic detection of 8-OHdG, as well as bright field, polarizing, scanning and transmission electron microscopy to estimate the extent of the cardiac remodeling and cardiomyocytes ultrastructure. Long-term Al exposure induced dose-dependent bioaccumulation, micromineral imbalance, genomic DNA oxidation, structural and ultrastructural abnormalities of the cardiac tissue, resulting in extensive parenchymal loss, stromal expansion, diffuse inflammatory infiltrate, increased glycoconjugate and collagen deposition, subversion and collapse of the collagen network, reduced myocardial vascularization index, mitochondrial swelling, sarcomere disorganization, myofilament dissociation, and fragmentation in cardiomyocytes. Our findings indicated that the heart was sensitive to Al-mediated toxicity, especially in animals treated with the three highest doses of Al. In response to Al-induced loss of the parenchyma, heart stroma exhibited a reactive and compensatory expansion, which, in combination withthe increased distribution of thick myofibrils and degenerated mitochondria in cardiomyocytes, provides morphological evidence that cardiac tissue adaptations are not enough to adjust the relationships between the parenchyma and stroma until a steady state is reached, resulting in continuous pathological remodeling potentially associated with Al-induced proinflammatory and pro-oxidant events.

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PMID: 

Nutr Rev. 2019 May 28. Epub 2019 May 28. PMID: 31135916

Abstract Title: 

Effect of saffron supplementation on symptoms of depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract: 

CONTEXT: Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) has gained interest as a potential treatment in psychiatry.OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to investigate the effect of saffron supplementation, as both an adjunctive therapy and monotherapy, on symptoms of depression and anxiety in clinical and general populations compared with pharmacotherapy or placebo.DATA SOURCES: Using the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature review of randomized controlled trials was conducted.DATA EXTRACTION: A meta-analysis was conducted to determine treatment effect. Risk of bias was assessed using the Jadad scale.RESULTS: Twenty-three studies were included. Saffron had a large positive effect size when compared with placebo for depressive symptoms (g = 0.99, P

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PMID: 

Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2019 ;12:297-305. Epub 2019 Apr 23. PMID: 31118846

Abstract Title: 

The efficacy of(Saffron) versus placebo and Fluoxetine in treating depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract: 

Depression represents a serious public health concern, imposing a high burden, both in epidemiological and clinical terms.(Saffron) is a herbal remedy that has anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet properties. However, the exact mechanisms of Saffron in treating depression are not yet clear. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Saffron versus placebo and Fluoxetine in the treatment of depressed patients.Different bibliographic thesauri, namely the Cochrane Library, Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD), EMBASE, and ISI/Web of Science (WoS) were searched up to May 2018. Effect sizes were computed as Standardized Mean Differences (SMD) with their 95% confidence interval (CI). To evaluate the heterogeneity among the studies, Itest was carried out.Eight studies were included. The SMD was -0.86 (95% CI: -1.73 to 0.00) concerning the comparison of Saffron with placebo. The SMD was found to be 0.11 (95% CI: -0.20 to 0.43) concerning the comparison of Saffron with Fluoxetine. In both sensitivity analyses, the results did not statistically change, confirming the stability of the findings.The findings of this study showed that Saffron administration was well comparable with Fluoxetine and placebo.

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PMID: 

J Child Neurol. 2010 Apr ;25(4):429-34. Epub 2009 Sep 22. PMID: 19773461

Abstract Title: 

Fever plus mitochondrial disease could be risk factors for autistic regression.

Abstract: 

Autistic spectrum disorders encompass etiologically heterogeneous persons, with many genetic causes. A subgroup of these individuals has mitochondrial disease. Because a variety of metabolic disorders, including mitochondrial disease show regression with fever, a retrospective chart review was performed and identified 28 patients who met diagnostic criteria for autistic spectrum disorders and mitochondrial disease. Autistic regression occurred in 60.7% (17 of 28), a statistically significant increase over the general autistic spectrum disorder population (P

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PMID: 

Food Funct. 2019 Feb 20 ;10(2):849-858. PMID: 30681096

Abstract Title: 

The protective role of hawthorn fruit extract against high salt-induced hypertension in Dahl salt-sensitive rats: impact on oxidative stress and metabolic patterns.

Abstract: 

In the present study, the renal-protective effect of hawthorn fruit extract (HW) on high-salt hypertension and its effect on metabolic patterns are determined. High salt causes hypertension in Dahl salt sensitive (SS) rats, while HW can effectively attenuate high-salt induced hypertension, and, various antihypertensive ingredients of HW have also been successfully identified using GC/MS. Of note, the biochemical assay indicates that HW significantly increases the concentration of nitric oxide (NO) and decreases the concentration of H2O2 and malonaldehyde. Especially, HW increases the activities of NO synthase and catalase in the renal medulla. Simultaneously, the renal cortex and medulla, harvested from SS rats, are used to perform the metabolomics analysis, and then, 11 and 8 differential metabolites are identified in the renal medulla and cortex with the HW gavage, respectively. All differential metabolites are then used to perform the pathway enrichment analysis. The results show that many metabolic pathways are enriched in both the renal medulla and cortex, especially those in the medulla including 23 enriched pathways. Therefore, it provides evidence that HW confers an antioxidant effect on high-salt induced hypertension and dramatically alters the metabolic patterns of SS rats, and the antihypertensive ingredients of HW also further indicate that it may be used as a nutritional supplemental therapeutic drug to protect against high-salt induced hypertension in the renal medulla.

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PMID: 

J Pharmacopuncture. 2019 Jun ;22(2):95-101. Epub 2019 Jun 30. PMID: 31338249

Abstract Title: 

Beneficial Cardiovascular Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extract from Crocus Sativus in Hypertension Induced by Angiotensin II.

Abstract: 

Objectives: Angiotensin II (AngII), a major product of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has important role in induction of hypertension and antihypertensive effect of several medicinal plant was mediated by effect on this agent. Therefore, this study examined the possible effect of hydroalcoholic extract ofon hypertension induced by AngII.Methods: Six groups (n = 6) of rats were used as follow: 1) Control, 2) AngII (300 ng/kg), 3) Losartan (Los, 10 mg/kg) + AngII and 4-6)extract (10, 20&40 mg/kg,) + AngII. The femoral artery and vein were cannulated for recording cardiovascular parameters and drugs administration, respectively. All drugs were injected intravenously (i.v). Los and all doses ofinjected 10 min before AngII. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded throughout the experiment and those peak changes (Δ) were calculated and compared to control and AngII.Results: AngII significantly increasedΔMAP, ΔSBP and ΔHR than control (P

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PMID: 

Avicenna J Phytomed. 2019 Jul-Aug;9(4):322-333. PMID: 31309071

Abstract Title: 

The effect of saffron (L.) supplementation on blood pressure, and renal and liver function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A double-blinded, randomized clinical trial.

Abstract: 

Objective: Microalbuminuria and hypertension are the risk factors for diabetic nephropathy, and increased levels of liver enzymes are prevalent among diabetic patients. The aim of this research was to examine the effects ofsupplementation on nephropathy indices, liver enzymes, and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).Materials and Methods: This placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial was performed among 80 T2D patients. Subjects were randomly assigned to either(n = 40) or placebo (n = 40) groups and treated withand or placebo for 12 weeks, respectively. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum urea, creatinine, 24-hr urine albumin, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), physical activity, and dietary intakes were measured and blood samples were taken at baseline and after the 12‑week intervention to assess the differences between the two groups.Results: supplementation compared with the placebo resulted in a significant reduction of SBP (P0.05). Also, no significant changes in dietary intakes and physical activity were seen between the two groups.Conclusion: This report shows that daily supplementation with 100 mgpowder improved SBP. However, it did not considerably improve DBP, nephropathy indices and liver functions in T2D patients after 12 weeks of administration.

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PMID: 

J Food Biochem. 2019 Aug ;43(8):e12946. Epub 2019 Jun 20. PMID: 31368566

Abstract Title: 

Effect of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and endurance training on mitochondrial biogenesis, endurance capacity, inflammation, antioxidant, and metabolic biomarkers in Wistar rats.

Abstract: 

We aimed to evaluate the effect of saffron (Crocus Sativus L.) treatment on endurance capacity, mitochondrial biogenesis, inflammation, antioxidant, and metabolic biomarkers in Wistar rats. Forty male rats were allocated equally into four groups: Saffron, Exercise and Saffron, Exercise and Placebo, and Placebo. Endurance training was accomplished on a specified rodent motor-driven treadmill. Running to fatigue test and also metabolic and molecular indices were measured after eight weeks of intervention. mtDNA copy number and NRF-1 gene expression increased significantly in the Ex + S group compared to the exercised and control group (p 

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PMID: 

J Cell Biochem. 2019 Feb 18. Epub 2019 Feb 18. PMID: 30775806

Abstract Title: 

Curcumin ameliorated myocardial infarction by inhibition of cardiotoxicity in the rat model.

Abstract: 

Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death globally. Many attempts have been done to ameliorate the pathological changes after the occurrence of myocardial infarction. Curcumin is touted as a polyphenol phytocompound with appropriate cardioprotective properties. In this study, the therapeutic effect of curcumin was investigated on acute myocardial infarction in the model of rats. Rats were classified into four groups; control, isoproterenol hydrochloride (ISO) (100 mg/kbw), curcumin (50 mg/kbw), and curcumin plus ISO treatment groups. After 9-day administration of curcumin, levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were determined. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were measuredto investigate the oxidative status in infarct rats received curcumin. By using H&E staining, tissue inflammation was performed. Masson's trichrome staining was conducted to show cardiac remodeling and collagen deposition. The number of apoptotic cells was determined by using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Data showed the serum decrease of LDH, CK, and cTnI in infarct rats after curcumin intake compared to the rats given (ISO) ( P 

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