Background and purpose: Cytokines regulate a broad range of biological and pathologicalprocesses. They play an important role in liver damage. Inflammatory and antioxidant factors areimportant causes of liver damage. Shilajit is known as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to determine the effect of Shilajit on levels of proinflammatoryand anti-inflammatory cytokines in liver injury. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 80 male Wistar rats were randomly dividedinto two main groups: A and B. Each group was organized into five subgroups: control, acetaminophen(A) or bile duct obstruction (BDL) (B), low dose, high dose, and vehicle. All subgroups except thecontrols in group A received 500 mg/ kg acetaminophen via IP injection, while BDL was performed in allsubgroups in group B. Then in group A, two hours and in group B seven days after injury, the treatmentsubgroups with drug and vehicle received 150 mg/kg (low dose) and 250 mg/kg (high dose)shilajit anddistilled water as vehicle, for one and six days, respectively. After completing treatment, liver sampleswere taken for laboratory analysis. Results: Low-dose Shilajit treatment reduced IL-10, IL-6, IL-1β , and TNF-α levels, which hadbeen increased by a single dose of 500 mg/kg acetaminophen (p<0. 05). Conclusion: Shilajit is effective in reducing inflammation and liver damage caused by high-doseconsumption of acetaminophen.

Introduction: One of the post-surgicalcomplications is contact dermatitis caused by several factors such as scrub solution, suture materials, bandages and even surgical gloves. Conventional treatment forthis problem is the use of corticosteroidsthat may cause undesirable side-effects. Curcumin is the active component of turmeric that have known antiinflammatory effects. Therefore, its effectson experimentally induced contactdermatitis were investigated in this study.Materials & Methods: Twenty maleBALB/c mice were used in this study. Themice were equally divided into four groups. The negative control (NC), positive control (PC), and treatment (T) groups were sensitized by dinitrochlorobenzene paintingon dorsum of the mice, followed by contactdermatitis induction on their ear. Curcuminand Betamethasone topical ointments were applied to the ear of the T and PC groups for a week, respectively. Contact dermatitisleft untreated in the NC and sham (S)groups. Ear thickness was measured duringthe study. After completing the course oftreatment, the mice were euthanized and earspecimens were fixed, sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin.Findings: Macroscopic evaluations revealedthat contact dermatitis was induced in all of the NC, PC, and T groups successfully. Earthickness differences in day 22 and 30 were significant (p<0.05). Histopathologic data analysis showed edema, inflammation, and epidermal thickness were significantly different in S group compared with NC. Inflammation was significantly different between S and PC groups, but edema and epidermal thickness have not such difference. Comparison of the T group withthe S group showed that difference between edema is not significant, but in flammationand epidermal thickness are significantly different. Differences between T and NC groups showed the same results.Discussion & Conclusion: Based on the results, we can conclude that to picalapplication of curcumin ointment to the mice suffering from contact dermatitis mayreduce inflammation, edema, and epidermal thickening, which is comparable to the effects of corticosteroid medications.

Background: Vitamin D plays crucial roles in immune cell function, including macrophage activation, immune response modulation, and antimicrobial peptide production. Low vitamin D levels can result in reduced immune response, heightened inflammation, and impaired organ function, thereby exacerbating sepsis severity and impacting patient prognosis. This study investigates the influence of vitamin D binding protein expression and vitamin D levels on the mortality of septic patients. Methods: This analytical observational study employs a case-control approach and involves patients at the Critical Care Unit of Dr. M. Djamil General Hospital in Padang, Indonesia. The study comprises 40 patients in the case group and 40 patients in the control group. Vitamin D and vitamin D binding protein levels are assessed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Results: Vitamin D and vitamin D binding protein levels were observed to be lower in the case group compared to the control group. In the case group, the majority of patients had vitamin D binding protein levels below 200 µg/mL. A significant association was found between vitamin D levels and mortality in sepsis patients (P< 0.05). Patients with vitamin D levels below 20 µg/mL faced a 2.54 times higher risk of mortality than those with levels exceeding 20 µg/mL. Conclusions: Diminished levels of vitamin D binding protein and vitamin D contribute to an increased risk of mortality in septic patients.

Dear editor, A recent study entitled “, Ginger (Zingiber officinale roscoe) extract could upregulate the renal expression of Nrf2 and TNFα,and prevents ethanol-induced toxicity in rat kidney”,that was published in this journal by Fathi et al., 2021) states that ethanol can activate Nrf2 expression. Nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf2) regulates the expression of a variety of genes responsible for intracellular detoxification, and antioxidant, antiinflammation, anti-stress activities, etc (Ezhilarasan et al., 2016). . .

Background and Objective: The degeneration of motor neuron in anterior horn of spinal cord can be caused by compression. Hyssopus officinalis of Laminacea family demonstrate antioxidant and antiinflammation effects. This study was done to evaluate the effect of alcoholic extract of Hyssopus officinalisleaves, on motor neuron in spinal cord after sciatic nerve compression in male rats.Methods: In this experimental research, 60 male wistar rats were randomly allocated into six groups including; control, compression, and compression+treatment (25, 50, 75, 100 mg/kg/bw). In order to induce compression, sciatic nerve of right leg was exposed to compression for 60 second using locker pincers. Extract injected intraperitoneally in the first and second week after compression.28 days after compression under profusion method, the lumber spinal cord was sampled. The density of motor neurons (9-20 micron) was measured using dissector and stereological method.Results: Density of neurons in compression group (611±34) significantly reduced compared to the control group (1658±30) (P<0.05). Moreover, neuronal density was significantly increased in 25 (1179±22), 50 (1260±20), 75 (1350±15) and 100 (1120±10) mg/kg/bw doses in treatment groups in compared to the compression group (P<0.05).Conclusion: Alcoholic extract of Hyssopus officinalis leaves exhibite neuroprotective effect on neurons in anterior horn of the spinal cord after injury. This effect probably is related to the antioxidant and anti inflammation properties in alcoholic extract of Hyssopus officinalis, dose dependly.

Background and Objective: Due to the low side effects of active ingredients of medicinal plants, they are considered appropriate alternatives to synthetic drugs.Malva periflora has antiinflammation effects in folk and herbal medicine. In this study the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Malva parviflora were investigated.Subjects and Methods: In this study seventy two Wister male rats were used: negative control group that received no treatment, sham group received normal saline (1ml), Test groups received respectively 100, 200, 400, 600 or 800 mg/Kg extract for 10 days by gavages. Positive control group received 600 mg/Kg extract with 300 mg/Kg Aspirin intraperitoneally; Group received 600 mg/Kg extract and naloxone (10 mg/Kg) intraperitoneally. Pain was tested by formalin test by subcutaneous administration of 50 ml formalin 2.5% in hindpow plantar.Results: Malva extract had a dose-dependent anti-nociceptive effect on both acute and chronic pains induced by the formalin injection (P<0.05). In the acute phase Malva lost its analogesic effect due to the inhibitation of opioid receptor by naloxone. But in the inflammatory phase, this effect was weaker in comparison with aspirin. On the other hand, effective dose (600 mg/Kg) of extract with naloxone decreased significantly as compared to effective dose of extract alone.Conclusion: Malva parviflora extract has flavonoid and antiinflammatory compounds. Yet prostaglandins release could probably be decreased by inhibiting cyclooxygenase activity.So it reduces pain in chronic phase thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.