4,502 research outputs found
Neanthes deplanata Mohammad 1971
No full textNeanthes deplanata Mohammad, 1971 Neanthes deplanata Mohammad, 1971: 290, fig. 2. Material examined. Iran, Gulf of Oman, Djod, 1 specimen (ZUTC Ann. 1116). Description. Material examined here is incomplete with 36 chaetigers, 8 mm long, 0.8 mm wide at chaetiger 10. Tentacular cirri are short, longest extending back to chaetiger 3. Paragnaths on maxillary ring arranged as follows: I = 1 conical paragnath, II = 4, III = 15 in three transverse rows, IV = cluster of small paragnaths. Paragnaths on oral ring arranged as follows: V = 2 conical paragnaths, one of them is small, VI = 1 large conical paragnath, VII–VIII = 28 paragnaths in two irregular rows. Anterior notopodia have two equal ligules, dorsal cirrus longer than dorsal ligule. Anterior neuropodia have two equal ligules, ventral cirrus shorter than ventral ligule. Posterior notopodia are similar to anterior notopodia, however dorsal cirrus is relatively longer. Posterior neuropodia are similar in size to anterior neuropodia. Notochaetae all homogomph spinigers. Neurochaetae all homogomph spinigers and heterogomph falcigers. Remarks. Mohammad (1971) described Neanthes deplanata from Kuwait Bay, Persian Gulf. The material examined in the present study fits the type description. Regional distribution and habitat. Rocky shores of Djod (Gulf of Oman). Also Kuwait Bay, Persian Gulf (type locality) (Table 2).Published as part of Yousefi, Shetav, Rahimian, Hasan, Nabavi, Seid Mohammad Bagher & Glasby, Christopher, 2011, Nereididae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from intertidal habitats in the Gulf of Oman, Iran, pp. 48-64 in Zootaxa 3013 on pages 51-52, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20177
Cranberry for urinary tract infection: from bench to bedside
No full textUrinary tract infections are common infectious diseases which can occur in any part of the urinary tract such as bladder, kidney, ureters, and urethra. They are commonly caused by bacteria that enter through the urethra. Urinary tract infections commonly develop in the bladder and spread to renal tissues. Up to now, there are different antimicrobial agents which have beneficial role on the urinary tract infection. However, most of them cause different adverse effects and therefore, much attention has been paid to the search for effective therapeutic agents with negligible adverse effects. Cranberry is known as one of the most important edible plants, which possesses potent antimicrobial effects against the bacteria responsible for urinary tract infections. Growing evidence has shown that cranberry suppresses urinary tract infections and eradicates the bacteria. Therefore, the aim of this study is to critically review the available literature regarding the antimicrobial activities of cranberry against urinary tract infection microorganisms. In addition, we discuss etiology, epidemiology, risk factors, and current drugs of urinary tract infections to provide a more complete picture of this disease
Apigenin and Breast Cancers: from Chemistry to Medicine
No full textBreast cancer is one of the most common causes of the death among women worldwide. Metabolic disorders, alcohol consumption, hormone replacement therapy, genetic susceptibility, not having children are well known breast cancer risk factors. Surgical resection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are limited treatment options for breast cancer. Thus, there is growing need to find new chemopreventive agents that may be effective in prevention or management of breast cancer. Natural products such as flavonoids provide a variety of anticancer compounds which can be useful for prevention or treatment of breast cancer. The usefulness of dietary phytochemicals in prevention of breast cancers is supported by a plethora of experimental and epidemiological studies. Apigenin, a well-known flavone, is found in several dietary plant foods, such as parsley, celery, thyme, celeriac, chamomile, onions, lemon balm, and oranges. Extensive studies have shown that apigenin have potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic properties. The aim of the present work is to review the available data obtained from in vitro and in vivo studies on the promising role of apigenin against breast cancer. We also review molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects, natural sources, bioavailability, as well as the chemistry of apigenin
Natural products, micronutrients, and nutraceuticals for the treatment of depression: A short review
No full textDepression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders, and the fourth leading cause of long-term disability throughout the world. Despite the availability of different classes of antidepressant drugs, most of them are not completely effective and above all are associated with many serious adverse effects. Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that dietary supplements rich in important phytochemicals possess beneficial therapeutic roles in depression. In this review, we will first consider what is known about the pathogenesis of depression and discuss the need for more safe and efficacious treatment. We will then review the potential clinical relevance of natural plant-derived products based on data derived from pre-clinical animal studies, randomized controlled studies and placebo-controlled trials published on this topic within the last decade. Among the natural compounds that show antidepressive-like activity, green tea catechins have been shown to decrease depressive symptoms in experimental animals, possibly in part through the inhibition of monoamine oxidase (MAO). Anthocyanins and their aglycons, responsible for the typical color of berries, inhibit MAO isoforms A or B with IC50 values corresponding to the micromolar range. Other studies suggest that cocoa extracts, whose main components are procyanidins, attenuate depressive symptoms in rats. Resveratrol, one of the most important natural stilbenoid, inhibits noradrenaline and serotonin reuptake in rats, and significantly decreases anxiety/depressive behaviours while increasing hippocampal serotonin and noradrenaline levels. Trans-resveratrol possesses MAO-A inhibitory effects in different brain areas, particularly in the frontal cortex and hippocampus, as already reported for tea catechins. Although these effects have been documented in rodent models, further randomized controlled trials in this area are warranted. However, so far, there is only correlative evidence between certain nutrients, such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and B vitamins, and depression in human population studies. Growing evidence suggests that consumption of these compounds may represent an alternative strategy to delay the onset and progression of depression, and depressive-like symptoms. However, further randomized and placebo-controlled trials are necessary to confirm the potential of these compounds as a possible remedy for this debilitating disorder
Natural products, micronutrients, and nutraceuticals for the treatment of depression: A short review
No full textDepression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders, and the fourth leading cause of long-term disability throughout the world. Despite the availability of different classes of antidepressant drugs, most of them are not completely effective and above all are associated with many serious adverse effects. Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that dietary supplements rich in important phytochemicals possess beneficial therapeutic roles in depression. In this review, we will first consider what is known about the pathogenesis of depression and discuss the need for more safe and efficacious treatment. We will then review the potential clinical relevance of natural plant-derived products based on data derived from pre-clinical animal studies, randomized controlled studies and placebo-controlled trials published on this topic within the last decade. Among the natural compounds that show antidepressive-like activity, green tea catechins have been shown to decrease depressive symptoms in experimental animals, possibly in part through the inhibition of monoamine oxidase (MAO). Anthocyanins and their aglycons, responsible for the typical color of berries, inhibit MAO isoforms A or B with IC50 values corresponding to the micromolar range. Other studies suggest that cocoa extracts, whose main components are procyanidins, attenuate depressive symptoms in rats. Resveratrol, one of the most important natural stilbenoid, inhibits noradrenaline and serotonin reuptake in rats, and significantly decreases anxiety/depressive behaviours while increasing hippocampal serotonin and noradrenaline levels. Trans-resveratrol possesses MAO-A inhibitory effects in different brain areas, particularly in the frontal cortex and hippocampus, as already reported for tea catechins. Although these effects have been documented in rodent models, further randomized controlled trials in this area are warranted. However, so far, there is only correlative evidence between certain nutrients, such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and B vitamins, and depression in human population studies. Growing evidence suggests that consumption of these compounds may represent an alternative strategy to delay the onset and progression of depression, and depressive-like symptoms. However, further randomized and placebo-controlled trials are necessary to confirm the potential of these compounds as a possible remedy for this debilitating disorder
Lutein and Cataract: from bench to bedside
No full textCataract is one of the most important leading causes of blindness in the world. Extensive research showed that oxidative stress may play an important role in the initiation and progression of a cataract and other age-related eye diseases. Extra-generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in the eye tissue has been shown as one of the most important risk factors for cataracts and other age-related eye diseases. With respect to this, it can be hypothesized that dietary antioxidants may be useful in the prevention and/or mitigation of cataract. Lutein is an important xanthophyll which is widely found in different vegetables such as spinach, kale and carrots as well as some other foods such as eggs. Lutein is concentrated in the macula and suppresses the oxidative stress in the eye tissues. A plethora of literature has shown that increased lutein consumption has a close correlation with reduction in the incidence of cataract. Despite this general information, there is a negligible number of review articles considering the beneficial effects of lutein on cataracts and age-related eye diseases. The present review is aimed at discussing the role of oxidative stress in the initiation and progression of a cataract and the possible beneficial effects of lutein in maintaining retinal health and fighting cataract. We also provide a perspective on the chemistry, sources, bioavailability and safety of lutein
Berberine and neurodegeneration: A review of literature
No full textThe excessive production of reactive oxygen species in nervous tissues is considered one of the major risk factors of neurodegenerative diseases. During the last two decades, much attention has been paid to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of natural products and compounds isolated from natural products which are often characterized by high efficacy and low adverse effects. Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid, widely present in different medicinal herbs, especially in the genus Berberis. It is mainly used as antidiarrhoeal, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiprotozoal agent. However, current research has focused on its beneficial role in neurodegenerative diseases, mainly due to its powerful antioxidant effect. The therapeutic potential of Berberine in different neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer, Parkinson and Huntington disease has been brought to evidence by numerous studies. However, a limited number of reviews focus on the beneficial role of Berberine against neurodegeneration. The main objective of this review is to discuss the role of oxidative stress in neurodegeneration and the potential role of antioxidant compounds, in particular Berberine which is analyzed in its chemical structure, source, bioavailability, therapeutic potential, with special attention to its mechanism of action at a molecular level. © 2015 Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate, a promising molecule for Parkinson's disease?
No full textParkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, and it is characterized by the loss of the neurotransmitter dopamine and neuronal degeneration in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Thus far, current therapeutic strategies have failed to address neuronal degeneration. It has been reported that overproduction of reactive oxygen species, resulting in oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation play an important role in neurodegenerative diseases through the induction of macromolecular oxidative damage and modulation of intracellular signaling pathways concurring to neuronal cell death. Indeed, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory drugs have been the subject of recommendation as a complementary therapy alongside an effective symptomatic treatment to hamper the progression of PD. Today, much attention is paid to polyphenols in light of their potent capacity to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, while having much fewer side effects than most other drugs. Camellia sinensis L. is the most common ancient herbal tea prepared as a beverage worldwide and it possesses numerous beneficial effects on human health. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate is the best-known bioactive component of C. sinensis and is recognized to exert potent neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, protein aggregation, autophagy, and neuronal cell death in vitro as well as in vivo. The present review appraises the available literature on the beneficial role of epigallocatechin-3-gallate pertaining to dopaminergic degeneration characteristic of PD with particular emphasis on its possible mechanisms of action
Nereididae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from intertidal habitats in the Gulf of Oman, Iran
No full textYousefi, Shetav, Rahimian, Hasan, Nabavi, Seid Mohammad Bagher, Glasby, Christopher (2011): Nereididae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from intertidal habitats in the Gulf of Oman, Iran. Zootaxa 3013: 48-64, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20177
Betaine: Chemistry, Analysis, Function and Effects
No full textNowadays, the use of fluorine and fluorinated products in our life style became common and widespread. These products have been utilized by different industries for producing drugs, pesticides, etc. Fluoride is also used to maintain the body's oral health. Although the generalized use of fluorine facilitates our life, the long-term use of fluoride in high concentrations may lead to serious health problems. Among them, fluoride-induced hepatotoxicity is the most common health complication. It is believed that oxidative stress plays a crucial role in fluoride-induced hepatotoxicity. While we cannot remove fluorine and its products from our life, we must prevent or mitigate their adverse effects. In the present review, we discuss fluorine application, its bioavailability, fluoride-induced hepatotoxicity and possible ways to limit the adverse effects
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