Extract of Echinops persicus is traditionally used for a long time in Iran for treatment of cough and constipation. This extract is produced by activity of bug (Situphilus spp.) on the plant. We documented its ANTI-tussive effect in rats in our previous study.The aim of this study was to assess the ANTI-ULCER effect of Echinops persicus in an animal model. In this study we evaluated ANTI-ULCER effect of Echinops persicus by Shay's method in rats. In 3 groups of rats, pylorus was ligatured under anesthesia. The rats were euthanized after 19 hours later and number and level of ULCER in stomach was measured. In group 2 the extract was orally administered 45 minutes before pyloric ligature, and in group 3, it was administered intraperitoneally 20 minutes before pyloric ligature. The number of ULCERs in stomach was significantly low in group 2 (P=0.01) and 3 (P=0.037) in comparison with group 1. The level of ULCER was significantly decreased in group 2 (P=0.047) with comparison to group 1. We conclude that, Echinops extract can exhibit potentially cytoprotective and ANTI-ULCER activity.

To investigate the ULCER protective and antisecretory properties of the methanolic extract of Butea monosperma (BM) bark with relation to antioxidant studies. The study was done on male albino rats. Gastric ULCERs were induced by Aspirin, Alcohol and Pylorous ligation. Lansoprazole was used as the standard drug for comparison. The free radical scavenging potential of the bark of BM extract was studied by using different In vitro antioxidant models of screening. The methanolic extract at 500µg/ml showed maximum free radical scavenging was estimated by lipid per oxidation, reducing power, superoxid anion and hydroxyl scavenging activity. Treatment with BM extract in different doses, significantly protected the ULCERation induced by aspirin, alcohol along with ULCERation induced by pyloric ligation models. Ant-secretary studies in pyloric ligated rats revealed that BM extract (in two different doses) significantly reduced total acidity, free acidity and gastric output. The pH of gastric secretion significantly increased in treatment of BM extract. The methanolic extract of BM bark possesses significant antiULCER and ANTI-secretory activities. Its antioxidant is also significantly stimulatory in different models.

Introduction: Coconut shell liquid smoke (CS-LS) from Cocos nucifera L. has been traditionally used by Indonesians as a natural preservative. Besides that, liquid smoke is also used as a medicine to treat various types of wounds. During the storage, liquid smoke resulting from pyrolysis is still questionable in relation to the oxidation process and changes in its properties and potentials. We observed the physical characteristics, components, toxicity, ANTI-inflammatory, ANTI-nociceptive properties, and effect in oral ULCER healing of CS-LS. Methods: Acidity was analyzed using a digital pH meter, density test was analyzed using a pycnometer, and the components were determined using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Eight concentrations of CS-LS (1%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, 10%, 12%, and 14%) were tested on baby hamster kidney (BHK21) for the extract toxicity, carrageenan-induced rat paw edema for its ANTI-inflammatory properties, hot-plate test for its ANTI-nociceptive, and traumatized labial fornix incisive inferior for its oral ULCER healing. Results: The acidity of CS-LS was 2. 296 and the density was 1. 0102 g/mL. The major components analyzed were phenol (32. 75%), 2-methoxy-phenol (17. 45%), and furfural (13. 09%). The CS-LS 100% and CS-LS 8% were the optimum concentrations for maintaining the BHK21 and increasing the number of fibroblasts in oral ULCER healing. The CS-LS 100% showed potent ANTI-nociceptive ability compared to other concentrations (P = 0. 001), but not for the ANTI-inflammation properties. Conclusion: CS-LS is a promising natural herb for oral medicine, especially oral ULCER medicine.

The effect of adding surfactants to electrolyte containing rabeprazole sodium (RAB sodium) on its voltammetric response at pencil graphite electrode (PGE) was explored. The current signal due to the oxidation process as a function of the amount of the cited drug, pH of the medium, type of surfactant and accumulation time at the electrode surface was evaluated. The use of sodium dodecyl sulphate in the presence of Britton-Robinson buffer (pH=6. 0) for the electrochemical determination of RAB sodium using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and Square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV) at PGE was studied. The oxidation peak current has varied linearly with the drug concentration over the range of 0. 006-2. 5×10-7 M and 0. 5-250 μ M using SWAdSV and CV, respectively. The limit of detection was found to be 0. 2 nM and 0. 18 μ M using SWAdSV and CV, respectively. The validity of the proposed method for the determination of the studied drug in pure, pharmaceutical formulation in addition to urine was conducted.

Crocin is a plant-derived carotenoid and bears potent antioxidant property. Ranitidine (a histamine H2 receptor blocker) is used for peptic ULCER treatment. The present study was planned to investigate the effects of crocin and ranitidine on indomethacin-induced ULCER in small intestine of rats. Animals were randomized into two major groups including indo-methacin (10. 00 mg kg-1, ULCER group, 48 rats) and normal saline (1. 00 mL kg-1, intact group, 48 rats) groups. Each of these two major groups was subdivided into eight subgroups for intra-peritoneal (IP) injections of normal saline, crocin (2. 50, 10. 00 and 40. 00 mg kg-1), ranitidine (5. 00 and 20. 00 mg kg-1), crocin (2. 50 and 10. 00 mg kg-1) plus ranitidine (5. 00 mg kg-1). Indomethacin induced intestinal ULCER was characterized by bleeding, inflammation, epithelial hyperplasia and crypt loss. This non-steroidal ANTI-inflammatory drug (NSAID), indomethacin decreased goblet cell number and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and increased small intestine weight, organo-somatic index (OSI), malodealdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α ) and caspase-3 contents of intestine. Crocin resolved all the above-mentioned parameter changes induced by indomethacin. These treatments produced no significant effects on the above-mentioned parameters of intact group. The results of the present study showed tissue protective and ANTI-ULCER effects of crocin on small intestine by antioxidant, ANTI-inflammatory and ANTI-apoptotic mechanisms. Ranitidine alone showed no effect; however, in combination with crocin it exerted recovery effects. It is recommended that crocin, be considered as a therapeutic agent for NSAIDs-induced intestinal damage management.

Background and Objectives: A current serological screening test for blood-borne hepatitis viruses has reduced the risk of post-transfusion hepatitis dramatically. Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection might allow the release of viremic units into the blood supply if blood is tested only for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Screening for ANTI-HBc has been shown as an alternative for detection of HBV infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HBV infection markers in HBsAg negative blood donors.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 2000 HBsAg negative samples were collected from blood centers in Tehran. All HBsAg negative samples were tested for ANTI-HBc using ELISA method. Then, all HBsAg negative and ANTI-HBc positive samples were tested for ANTI-HBs by the same method. All data were analyzed statistically using Chi-square test.Results: One hundred ninety nine (9.95%) out of the 2000 HBsAg negative blood donors were ANTI- HBc positive (confidence interval of 7.66%-12.24%). Out of the 199 ANTI-HBc-positive samples tested for ANTI-HBs, 149 (75%) were ANTI-HBs-positive (confidence interval of 65.5%- 85.5%), and 102 (50.3%) had an antibody titer greater than 100 IU/ml. Conclusions: In our study, the prevalence rate of ANTI-HBc in HBsAg negative blood donors was high. While ANTI-HBc-positive blood may be a potential source of HBV transmission, routine application of ANTI-HBc screening is not feasible in our country as it would seriously affect the blood supply adequacy. Therefore, more sensitive techniques such as minipool PCR testing after virus enrichment are essential for detecting HBV DNA in HBsAg-negative chronic HBV carriers.