Background and aims: Evidence report a bidirectional relationship between sleep deprivation (SD) and anxiety. Although many studies have confirmed the beneficial effects of alpha-lipoic ACID (ALA) on central nervous system diseases, its effect on anxiogenic behaviors in SD condition has not been investigated. This study examines the effect of ALA on anxiety-related behaviors in SD rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were sleep deprived in the water box for 24 h, and then submitted to the elevated plus maze (EPM) for assessing the anxiety-related behaviors. Blood samples were obtained to assess the serum corticosterone level. Results: SD rats decreased the percentage time spent in the open arms (%OAT), showing an anxiogenic-like behavior. Pretreatment administration of ALA (35 mg/kg, three times, once in each day) prevented the anxiogenic-like behavior in the SD rats, suggesting the inhibiting effect of ALA on the anxiogenic response induced by SD. Moreover, ALA alone had no effect on the EPM parameters. Meanwhile, in none of the groups the open arm entry and locomotion altered compared to the control group. In addition, ALA prevented the increased corticosterone level in the blood of SD rats. Conclusion: The results suggest that SD causes an anxiogenic-like behavior and increases corticosterone level. Pretreatment with ALA prevents the anxiogenic-like effects and decreased the corticosterone level in SD rats. Given the beneficial effect of ALA on improving the performance of rats in anxiety-related behavior in SD conditions, this compound might be future chance in order to decrease the disrupting effects of SD.

In the present study electrochemical detection of α-lipoic ACID (α-LA) was carried out with a poly(Vanillin) modified platinum electrode p(VA)/PtE in Brinton Robinson buffer (BR) solution. The platinum electrode surface’ s was modified with cyclic voltammetry method. The prepared Pt electrode was characterized by cyclic voltammetry in ferrocyanide and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The number of cycles and scan rate effects were studied using square wave voltammetry (SWV) in BR buffer containing 1 mM α-LA. The electrochemical oxidation of α-lipoic ACID on the modified Pt electrode is influenced by the pH and it is an irreversible reaction in which one electron and one proton are transferred. Electrolyte type and pH effect were studied. The anodic peak current shows a linear increase with α-LA concentrations ranging from 0. 03 mM to 2. 00 mM at pH 5, the detection limit being of 0. 025 mM. The α-lipoic ACID quantification in synthetic urine samples was made by SWV with the modified Pt electrode.

Objective(s): To investigate the effect of topical administration of alpha-lipoic ACID into chitosan conduit on peripheral nerve regeneration using a rat sciatic nerve transection model.Materials and Methods: Forty five Wistar rats were divided into three experimental groups randomly. A 10-mm gap of sciatic nerve was bridged with a chitosan conduit following surgical preparation and anesthesia. In treatment group, the conduit was filled with 30 ml alpha-lipoic ACID (10 mg/kg/bw).It was filled with 30 ml phosphate buffered saline solution in control group. In Sham group sciatic nerve was just exposed.Results: The recovery of nerve function was faster in treatment group than in control, at 4 and 8 weeks after surgery (P-value<0.05). Conduction velocity was better in treatment group than in control group at 4 and 12 weeks (P-value<0.05). Recovery index was higher in treatment group than the control group, 8 weeks after surgery (P-value <0.05). Greater nerve fiber diameter, axon diameter, and myelin sheath thickness were observed in treatment group compared to control group at 8 and 12 weeks after surgery (P-value<0.05). The immunoreactivity of regenerated axons and myelin sheath in treatment group were far more similar to sham group.Conclusion: Alpha-lipoic ACID when loaded in a chitosan conduit could improve transected sciatic nerve regeneration in rat.

The new coronavirus pneumonia, which first occurred in China in December 2019, has a wide spectrum of symptoms from asymptomatic to very severe involvement and even death. The main reason for the increase in the severity of this disease is the body’, s inflammatory response to the virus, and it is necessary to take therapeutic interventions to reduce the body’, s inflammatory response due to the lack of effective antiviral treatment for this disease. It is noteworthy that diabetic patients are more severely exposed to this disease and this calls for appropriate treatment to control diabetes in patients with COVID-19. In addition to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, alpha-lipoic ACID also has therapeutic effects in controlling diabetes and blood sugar. Therefore, it is suggested that clinical trials should be performed to evaluate the effects of alpha-lipoic ACID on diabetic patients with COVID-19.

Objective(s): Chemerin is associated with insulin resistance, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. α-lipoic ACID (α-LA) is a potent antioxidant involved in the reduction of diabetic symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between chemerin and P38 MAPK in the progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and examine the effects of α-LA on chemerin-treated human mesangial cells (HMCs). Materials and Methods: HMCs were transfected with a chemerin-overexpressing plasmid. HMCs were also treated with high-glucose, chemerin, α-LA, PDTC (pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate ammonium, NF-κ B p65 inhibitor), and/or SB203580 (P38 MAPK inhibitor). Cell proliferation was tested using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Collagen type IV and laminin were tested by ELISA. Chemerin expression was detected by qRT-PCR. The chemerin receptor was detected by immunohistochemistry. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α ), nuclear factor-κ Bp-p65 (NF-κ B p-p65), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β ), and p-P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-P38 MAPK) were evaluated by western blot. Results: High-glucose culture increased the expression of the chemerin receptor. α-LA inhibited HMC proliferation. Chemerin overexpression increased collagen type IV and laminin expression. P38 MAPK signaling was activated by chemerin, resulting in up-regulation of IL-6, TNF-α , NF-κ B p-p65, and TGF-β . SB203580, PDTC, and α-LA reversed the effects of chemerin, reducing IL-6, TNF-α , NF-κ B p-p65, and TGF-β expression. Conclusion: Chemerin might be involved in the occurrence and development of DN. α-LA might prevent the effects of chemerin on the progression of DN, possibly via the P38 MAPK pathway.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) contribute to tissue repair in vivo and form an attractive cell source for tissue engineering. The regenerative potential of MSCs is impaired by oxidative stress-induced cellular senescence. Alpha-lipoic ACID (ALA) is wellknown for its antioxidant properties. The Ki-67 antigen is expressed during all phases of cell cycle (G1, S, G2 and M phase) except for G0 phase and is commonly used as a proliferation marker. Herein, the aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of ALA on rat MSCs survival and proliferative potential in vitro.Materials and Methods: Isolated rat bone marrow and derived mesenchymal stem cells were synchronized byserum starvation for 24h and the addition of hydroxyurea (2mM). Afterwards, the cells were cultured in the presence of ALA (1mM) for 48h. An MTT assay was used to investigate cell survival and proliferation. The expression of Ki-67, a proliferation marker, was also evaluated.Results: The MMT assay showed a statistically significant increase in proliferation of MSCs inALA-treated groups for 48 hours. Immunoctytochemistry of Ki-67 revealed significant differences between ALA- treated and Control groups.Conclusion: In conclusion, ALA is effective in increasing the survival and cell proliferation of isolated rat bone marrow and derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Background and Objective: Snake venom is a complex of several toxic elements and enzymes. It has the agents with the ability to destroy cellular and subcellular membrane and to bring about hemolysis of red blood cells (RBC). Two types of direct and indirect hemolytic activity are known in snake venom in that phospholipase A2 is responsible for the indirect lysis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a-lipoic ACID on hemolytic activity of Iranian Vipera Lebetina venom.Material and Methods: Protein concentration of the crude venom of Vipera Lebetina was determined using bovine serum albumin as a standard. Direct hemolytic activity of venom was determined by using the Human RBC and Indirect hemolytic activity was assayed on RBC in the presence of egg yolk. Then, a-lipoic ACID with different concentrations in 100 mM Tris-HCL buffer was applied and its effect on hemolysis of RBC was studied.Results: direct hemolytic activity on RBC was not observed while its indirect activity was detected to be increased proportional to different concentration of a-lipoic ACID. The range of indirect hemolysis was increased up to 60% by 60µm a-lipoic ACID.Conclusion: Not only has a-lipoic ACID no inhibitory effects on the hemolytic activity of Iranian Vipera Lebetina venom but also has the positive effects on it.

Introduction: Majority of diabetic patients eventually develop hypertension. Becase of its antioxidative properties, alpha-lipoic ACID plays an effective role in decreasing oxidative stress and preventing endothelium dysfunction. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of alpha-lipoic ACID on blood pressure in type 2 diabetic patients. Materials & Methods: Fifty-seven type 2 diabetic patients (14 male and 43 female), mean age 53.5 years, were enrolled in this study. Upon arrival subjects were randomly divided into either the experimental (n=29) or control (n=28) groups. The experimental group received 300 mg alpha-lipoic ACID daily for eight weeks, while the control group received a placebo for eight weeks. Blood pressure and 24 hours diet recall were measured at the beginning of the study and every two weeks after that. Results: The results of the study showed a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures at the end of study in the alpha lipoic ACID group compared to their initial values (p<0/0001), and to the control group (p=0/001). Conclusion: This study suggests that alpha-lipoic ACID supplements can be recommended for type 2 diabetic patients to prevent high blood pressure.