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Background and Objective: Reduction of serum glucose and lipids in diabetic patients due to medicinal plants is clinically very important. Therefore, the effect of Allium schoenoprasum feeding on blood glucose and lipids was investigated in male streptozotocin-diabetic Rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, male Wistar Rats (n=32) were divided into 4 groups, i.e. control, Allium schoenoprasum -treated control, diabetic, and Allium schoenoprasum -treated diabetic groups. The treatment groups received oral administration of plant-mixed pelleted food at a weight ratio of 6.25% one week after the study for 6 weeks. For induction of diabetes, streptozotocin was administered at a dose of 60 mg/kg (i.p.). Serum glucose and lipids levels were determined before the study and at 3rd and 6th weeks after the study. Results: Serum glucose was significantly lower in Allium schoenoprasum -treated diabetic Rats at 3rd and 6th weeks as compared to untreated diabetics (p<0.05). In addition, serum total cholesterol did not show a significant change at 6th week in Allium schoenoprasum -treated diabetic Rats as compared to untreated diabetics. There was also a significant lower level of triglyceride in Allium schoenoprasum -treated diabetic Rats (p<0.05) and Allium schoenoprasum treatment caused significant improvement in HDL- and LDL- cholesterol levels in treated diabetic group as compared to untreated diabetic group (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that oral administration of Allium schoenoprasum to streptozotocin-diabetic Rats at a food weight ratio of 6.25% has a significant hypoglycemic effect, reduces serum triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol level and increases serum HDL-cholesterol.

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Background and Objective: The pregnancy period is very sensitive and complicative stages of life. It has been shown that addictive drugs such as ecstasy (MDMA: Methylene Dioxy Metha Amphetamine) can interfere in this stage. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Methylene Dioxy Metha Amphetamine administration during pregnancy on reproductive system of BALB/c mice. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 10 and 5 female BALB/c mice were randomly selected as cases and controls, respectively. The pregnancy was induced following ovarian hyperstimulation with PMSG and hCG followed by mating with male animals. MDMA (5 mg/kg) and saline was injected intraperitoneally in day 7 and 14 of pregnancy in experimental and controls, respectively. The ovarian structure, as well as uterine tube, uterine horns and body, and vagina were studied histologically using light microscopy 27 days post delivery date. Data analyzed by using SPSS-17 and Chi-Square and Fisher exact test. Results: The rate of primary follicles was decreased from 18.42% in experimental to 33.33% in controls (P<0.05). The rate of mature follicles was significantly increased in experimental mice as compared to controls (P<0.05). The number of atretic bodies was lower in experimental than controls. The cellular alterations were observed in some portions of uterine tubes and uterine horns after ecstasy administration. However, no alterations observed in other parts of reproductive system. Conclusion: This study showed that MDMA cause some structural alterations in the uterine tubes and uterine horns, increase follicular maturation and reduction of follicular atresia in BALB/c mice.

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Background and Objective: Diabetes mellitus cause learning, memory and cognitive skills disorders in the long term. This study was conducted to determine the protective effect of silymarin on the learning and memory deficiency in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 40 male Wistar rats weighing 240-300 grams. The rats were randomly allocated into 5 groups: control, silymarin -treated control (100 mg/kg), diabetic, and two silymarin -treated diabetic groups (50 and 100 mg/kg). Silymarin was daily administered (i.p. and daily) ten days after streptozotocin injection for 4 weeks. Finally, initial (acquisition index) and step-through latencies (retention and recall index) were measured using passive avoidance test and alternation behavior percentage as an index of spatial memory was determined using Y maze. The level of malondialdehyde in the homogenate hippocampal tissue of the animals brains was measured. Data were analyzed using Sigma Stat-3.5, one-way and two-way ANOVA, Tukey, and Kruskall-Wallis tests. Results: A significant reduction of STL was observed in diabetic (P<0.01) and silymarin-treated (50mg/kg) diabetic (P<0.05) groups and this parameter was significantly higher in diabetic group receiving a high dose of silymarin compared to diabetic group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, alternation percentage in diabetic animals was significantly lower than control group (P<0.05) and this index did not show a significant difference in silymarin-treated diabetic groups in comparison with diabetic group. In diabetic rats, there was a significant increase in the tissue level of malondialdehyde (P<0.05) and silymarin treatment with dosage of (100 mg/kg) significantly reduced the level of MDA (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that although long-term administration of silymarin at a high dose (100 mg/kg) affects the ability to store data in memory and to recall it in diabetic animals in passive avoidance test, it does not improve short-term spatial memory in diabetic animals. The beneficial effects of silymarin may be via attenuation of lipid peroxidation in hippocampus tissue.

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Background and Objective: Anxiety and depression are experienced following addicted patients durg withdrawal. This study was done to determine the effect of methadone and valproate combination on morphine withdrawal-induced anxiety and depression in male mice. Methods: In this experimental study, ninety-eight male mice were allocated into acute and chronic categories. Animals in acute chronic categories allocated into seven groups including: saline, morphine, methadone (10 mg/kg/bw), valproate (150 mg/kg/bw), three groups of valproate+methadone, in of ratio 1:1, 2:1 and 1:2. Animals were received escalating dose of morphine for 8 consecutive days except saline group. In chronic group, drugs were injected for 30 minutes before morphine administration, while in acute group the drugs were used only at day 8. Anxiety and depression due to naloxone injection (5 mg/kg/bw) was investigated by elevated plus-maze, tail-suspension and open field tests. Results: In the chronic group, valproate + methadone (2:1) combination therapy showed a significant increase in the percentage of open arm entries (53.86±1.9) and percentage of time spent in the open arm (58.58±4.15) compared to the morphine group, with a percentage of entering (28.12±2.03) and percentage of time (17.88±1.77) (P<0.05). In open field test, the ratio of the number to the duration of time spent in the central square, in the combination therapy groups of methadone+valproate (27±2), valproate+methadone (1:2) and valproate+methadone (2:1) were significantly increased in compare to the morphine group (P<0.05). In tail-suspension test, duration of immobility as an indicator of depression, in the treatment group of valproate+methadone (2:1) was significantly reduced (P<0.05). Conclusion: Valproate and methadone combination therapy particularly in ratio of 2:1 can reduce morphine withdrawal-induced anxiety and depression in animal model.

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Background and Objective: Dietary intake of β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin may be associated with reduce the risk of insulin resistance, due to their antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between dietary intake of β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin and the risk of insulin resistance in adults.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 938 (421 men and 517 women), aged between 19 to 82 years were selected from among participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study in Iran. Dietary intake of β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin were determined using a valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire. Fasting serum glucose and insulin were measured at base line and again after a 3-year of follow up. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the occurrence of insulin resistance across tetiles of β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin with adjustment for potential confounding variables.

Results: The mean age of participants was 40.7±12.1 years. β-carotene was inversely associated with insulin resistance after adjustment for confounder variables (95% CI= 0.25–0.72, OR= 0.42, P-value for trend=0.01). Also, an inverse association was found between dietary intake of β-cryptoxanthin and insulin resistance risk (95% CI= 0.30-0.84, OR= 0.51, P-value for trend=0.01).

Conclusion: There was inverse association between dietary intake of β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin and risk of insulin resistance in adults.