The color of turmeric ( jiāng huáng) is because of a substance called curcumin. It has different pharmacological effects, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Nicotine is a major pharmacologically active substance in cigarette smoke. It is mainly metabolized in the liver and causes devastating effects. This study was designed to evaluate the protective role of curcumin against nicotine on the liver in mice. Forty-eight mice were equally divided into eight groups; control (normal saline), nicotine (2.5 mg/kg), curcumin (10, 30, and 60 mg/kg) and curcumin plus nicotine-treated groups. Curcumin, nicotine, and curcumin plus nicotine (once a day) were intraperitoneally injected for 4 weeks. The liver weight and histology, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and serum nitric oxide levels have been studied. The results indicated that nicotine administration significantly decreased liver weight and increased the mean diameter of hepatocyte, central hepatic vein, liver enzymes level, and blood serum nitric oxide level compared with the saline group (p < 0.05). However, curcumin and curcumin plus nicotine administration substantially increased liver weight and decreased the mean diameter of hepatocyte, central hepatic vein, liver enzymes, and nitric oxide levels in all groups compared with the nicotine group (p < 0.05). Curcumin demonstrated its protective effect against nicotine-induced liver toxicity.

Background: Nicotine is a major pharmacologically active substance in cigarette smoke. It is mainly metabolized in liver and causes devastating effects. Crocin is the chemical ingredient primarily responsible for the color of saffron. It has different pharmacological effects such as antioxidant and anticancer. This study was designed to evaluate the protective role of crocin against nicotine on the liver of mice. Methods: Forty-eight mice were equally divided into 8 groups; control (normal saline), nicotine (2.5 mg/kg), crocin (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg) and crocin plus nicotine treated groups. Saline, crocin, nicotine and crocin/nicotine (once a day) were intraperitoneally injected for 4 weeks. The liver weight and histology, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and serum nitric oxide levels have been studied. Results: The results indicated that nicotine administration significantly decreased liver weight (48.37%) and increased the mean diameter of hepatocyte (239%), central hepatic vein (28.45%), liver enzymes level (ALP 29.43%, AST 21.81%, ALT 21.55%), and blood serum nitric oxide level (57.18%) compared to saline group (P < 0.05). However, crocin and crocin plus nicotine administration significantly boosted liver weight (49.54%) and decreased the mean diameter of hepatocyte (40.48%), central hepatic vein (15.44%), liver enzymes (ALP 22.02%, AST 19.05%, ALT 23.11%), and nitric oxide levels (35.80%) in all groups compared to nicotine group (percentages represent the maximum dose) (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Crocin showed its partly protective effect against nicotine-induced liver toxicity.

Background: Morphine is commonly used to treat severe pain. This substance is significantly metabolized in the liver and causes disturbing effects. Genistein is an isoflavone and has antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of genistein against morphine damages on mouse liver. Methods: Between May 2017 and March 2018, 48 male mice were divided into six groups (n = 8 in each group). Various doses of genistein (25 and 50 mg/kg) and morphine plus genistein (25 and 50 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally to 48 male mice for 20 consequent days. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum nitric oxide (NO) levels, liver weight, and the diameter of hepatocytes and central hepatic vein were studied and compared using one-way analysis of variance. Results: Morphine administration significantly increased the mean diameter of the central hepatic vein (22.76 +/- 1.9 mu m vs. 15.04 +/- 0.60 mu m, chi(2) = 21.814, P = 0.001) and hepatocytes (3.03 +/- 0.10 mu m vs. 1.10 +/- 0.05 mu m, chi(2) = 9.873, P = 0.001) respectively, blood serum NO level (38.00% +/- 2.09% vs. 18.72% +/- 4.40%, chi(2) = 20.404, P < 0.001), liver enzyme level (AST: 111.80 +/- 5.10 ng/ml vs. 81.93 +/- 2.20 ng/ml, P = 32.201, P < 0.0001; ALT: 45.14 +/- 4.10 ng/ml vs. 35.49 +/- 2.50 ng/ml, chi(2) = 18.203, P < 0.0001; and ALP: 3.28 +/- 0.20 ng/ml vs. 2.14 +/- 0.10, chi(2) = 5.04, P < 0.0001, respectively), and decreased liver weight (18.50 +/- 0.90 g vs. 27.15 +/- 0.50 g, chi(2) = 22.415, P = 0.001) compared to saline group (0.535-0.750, P < 0.0001). However, administration of genistein plus morphine significantly enhanced liver weight (25 mg/kg: 21.15 +/- 2.13 g vs. 18.50 +/- 0.90 g, chi(2) = 19.251, P < 0.0001; 50 mg/kg: 21.20 +/- 1.00 g vs. 18.5 +/- 0.9 g, chi(2) = 19.502, P < 0.0001, respectively) and reduced the mean diameter of hepatocyte (25 mg/kg: 2.17 +/- 0.30 mu m vs. 3.03 +/- 0.10 mu m, P = 22.780, P = 0.001; 50 mg/kg: 2.01 +/- 0.20 mu m vs. 3.03 +/- 0.10 g, chi(2) = 7.120, P = 0.001, respectively), central hepatic vein (25 mg/kg: 19.53 +/- 1.00 mu m vs. 22.76 +/- 1.90 mu m, chi(2) 20.681, P = 0.001; 50 mg/kg: 19.44 +/- 1.20 mu m vs. 22.76 +/- 1.90 mu m, chi(2) = 18.451, P = 0.001, respectively), AST (25 mg/kg: 95.40 +/- 5.20 ng/ml vs. 111.80 +/- 5.010 ng/ml, P < 0.0001; 50 mg/kg: 90.78 +/- 6.00 ng/ml vs. 111.80 +/- 5.10 ng/ml, P = 17.112, P < 0.0001, respectively), ALT (25 mg/kg: 35.78 +/- 5.01 ng/ml vs. 45.14 +/- 4.10 ng/ml, chi(2) = 15.320, P < 0.0001; 50 mg/kg: 33.78 +/- 2.60 ng/ml vs. 45.14 +/- 4.10 ng/ml, chi(2) = 14.023, P < 0.0001, respectively), ALP (25 mg/kg: 2.35 +/- 0.30 ng/ml vs. 3.28 +/- 0.20 ng/ml, P = 4.101, P < 0.0001; 50 mg/kg: 2.34 +/- 0.10 ng/ml vs. 3.28 +/- 0.20 ng/ml, P = 2.033, P < 0.0001, respectively), and NO levels (25 mg/ kg: 25.92% +/- 2.30% vs. 38% +/- 2.09%, chi(2) = 17.103, P < 0.0001; 50 mg/kg: 24.74% +/- 4. 10% vs. 38% +/- 2.09%, chi(2) = 2 25.050, P = 0.001, respectively) compared to morphine group. Conclusion: It seems that genistein administration might improve liver damages induced by morphine in mice.

Background: Thymoquinone as the main active component of Nigella sativa might have a various pharmacological effects such as antiapoptotic and antioxidant. Morphine is commonly used for the treatment of severe pain that can increase the generation of free radicals and affects the spermatogenesis. This study was designed to evaluate protective effects of thymoquinone against morphine-induced damages, sperm viability, count, motility, morphology and testis histology, and nitric oxide and testosterone hormone of the mice. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, we divided 48 mice into eight groups (n = 6); various doses of thymoquinone (2, 10, and 20 mg/kg) and morphine (20 mg/kg) plus thymoquinone (2, 10, and 20 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally to 48 male mice for 30 consequent days. Male reproductive parameters including testis weight, testosterone hormone, serum nitric oxide, germinal thickness, sperm morphology, count, viability, and motility were analyzed and compared. Results: The results indicated that morphine administration significantly decreased germinal thickness, testis weight, testosterone level, viability, morphology, count, and motility of sperm and increased nitric oxide as compared to saline group (P < 0.05). However, increasing the dose of thymoquinone in the thymoquinone and thymoquinone plus morphine groups significantly decreases nitric oxide level (P < 0.05) while significantly boosted motility, morphology, count, viability of sperm cells, germinal thickness, and testosterone hormone in all groups as compared to morphine group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: It seems that thymoquinone administration could increase the quality some of spermatozoa and improves morphine-induced adverse effects on reproductive parameters in male mice