Regarding the anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour effects of arginine and its derivatives, this study evaluates matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) expression in an animal model of breast cancer following administration of octopine. In this study, 40 animals of Balb/C mice were divided into 5 groups: the healthy control, the cancer control, the cancer group receiving 50 mg of octopine, the cancer group receiving 100 mg of octopine and the cancer group receiving 150 mg of octopine for 3 weeks. 4T1 cell line was used to induce cancer. Biopsy specimens were enrolled from mice and MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-9 gene expression evaluated using real-time PCR, while these protein amounts were measured using immunohistochemistry and ELISA methods. Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests (p < .05). The results showed that 100 mg octopine consumption had significant decreasing effect on MMP-9 expression (p = .02) in the treatment group compared with cancerous non-treated mice. Furthermore, results from immunohistochemistry and ELISA confirmed this effect, the protein amount of MMP-9 was significantly decreased in group treating with 100 mg octopine (.005). The use of octopine has a beneficial effect on reducing MMP-9 in mice breast cancer.

Background & objectives: Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are one of the most important agents in cartilage damage in rheumatoid arthritis. Increase of these enzymes can change sensitivity to insulin. Therefore, in this study, the MMPs level, insulin sensitivity index and effective factor related to rheumatoid arthritis were evaluated in obese female with ...

Background: Diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disorder caused by a defect in the secretion or function of insulin. Arginine is an amino acid that is lower in these patients. Octopine is an arginine derivative. Therefore, the present study evaluated the effect of opine on glucose and stress oxidative indices in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods: In this study, 16 male mice were divided into two groups including diabetic and non-diabetic controls and 16 male mice in two experimental groups. The first experimental group received opine treatment at 50 mg and second experimental group received opine treatment at 100 mg of opine for 3 weeks. Diabetes was induced in diabetic rats through intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg of Streptozotocin. Blood samples were enrolled from mice in fasting status and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured by thiobarbituric acid method, glucose levels using Pars-Azmoon Company Kit, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity using Randox (England) kits. Results: The opine consumption had no significant effect on serum glucose and MDA, while 50 mg opine treatment significantly increased the activity of SOD and GPX enzymes in comparison with diabetic rats. Conclusion: The consumption of octopine had no improving effect on blood glucose levels but it improved antioxidant status in diabetic rats.

Background and aims: Among the factors associated with cancer are the oxidative stress and increased expression of some microRNA (miRs). Silibinin has an anti-tumor effect. Therefore, this study evaluates the effects of silibinin on oxidative stress indices and miR-10b expression in the animal models of breast cancer. Material and methods: In this study, 48 Balb/c mice were divided into six groups (each group contains eight mice): the healthy control, the cancer control, the healthy group receiving 20 mg of silibinin, the cancer group receiving 20 mg of silibinin, the cancer group receiving 40 mg of silibinin and the cancer group receiving 80 mg of silibinin for three weeks. In order to induce cancer, 4T1 cell line was used. After obtaining breast tumor samples, the levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and miR-10b expression in breast tumor biopsy were evaluated. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney and t-test (p<0.05). Results: The use of silibinin at different doses increased the activity of SOD and GPX (significantly) and the level of TAC (significantly) in the treatment group compared to untreated cancerous mice, but mir-10b and MDA were decreased non-significant and significantly respectively. Conclusion: Silibinin led to a non-significant reduction of miR-10b in the treatment group compared to untreated cancerous mice. Silibinin has been shown to improve oxidative stress in breast cancer mice.