The present study investigates the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Capparis spinosa L. and Quercetin in tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) induced acute liver damage. Different fractions of C. spinosa were examined for total phenolic content and antioxidant property. Among these fractions, hydroalcoholic extract was used to assess the hepatoprotective effect in tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) induced hepatotoxicity model by determining serum biochemical markers, sleeping time and antioxidant assay such as reduced glutathione (GSH) as well as histopathological examination of liver tissues. The total phenolic and Quercetin contents of hydroalcoholic fraction were significantly higher than other fractions. It also showed high antioxidant activity. Pretreatment with hydroalcoholic fraction at the dose of 400 mg/kg and Quercetin at the dose of 20 mg/kg showed liver protection against t-BHP induced hepatic injury, as it was evident by a significant decrease in serum enzymes marker, sleeping time and MDA and an increase in the GSH, SOD and CAT activities confirmed by pathology tests. The final results ascertained the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of C. spinosa and Quercetin in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, this study suggests that possible mechanism of this protection may be associated with its property of scavenging free radicals which may be due to the presence of phenolic compounds.

The under-representation of women in blood donation can lead to blood shortages. We aimed to determine the factors, which encourage or impede blood donations in women. The findings can help us in designing effective recruitment strategies that could encourage women to donate blood to cover the patients' needs. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Shiraz, Iran, from the 1st of January 2017 to the 1st of August 2017 on women aged 18-60 years old. The demographic characteristics of the participants, the reasons that motivate blood donors and the factors that discourage non-donors were surveyed. Reasons for lapses in donors were also mentioned. The most frequent reasons for blood donation were altruistic causes (94.4%), moral and personal obligations (89.1%), the feeling of responsibility (82.7%), and awareness of the positive effects on their health (77.4%). The most common deterrents in non-donors were fear of developing anemia (68.4%) or weakness and dizziness (66%), unsuitability due to certain medical conditions (62.4%), and lack of a situation in which they were asked to donate blood (61.8%). Although altruistic reasons are the chief motivating factors for women to donate blood, the overall female contribution in blood donation remains low. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures aiming at informing women about the importance of blood donation and to reduce fears based on misinformation. Confidence in the blood donation organization must be a major consideration in future recruitment strategies to reassure women about the safety of blood donation.

The etiology of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is not well known, however it is a final response of frequent injuries to endothelial and epithelial cells that cause influx of the inflammatory cells. Bleomycin (BLM), a chemotherapeutic agent that causes lung fibrosis in human patients has been applied extensively in rodent models to inducing IPF. Moreover, oxidative stress and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been involved in the pathogenesis. We aimed to investigate the effect of main olive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory polyphenol constituent, oleuropein (OLE), on BLM-induced fibrosis model. Female Wistar rats were divided into six groups (n = 8). In this study, whereas negative group only received vehicle and treatment groups received OLE (20, 40, and 80 mg kg⁻¹) orally. Also, positive control group received intratracheally (IT), single dose BLM (7.5 U kg⁻¹), prednisolone (10 mg/kg) as standard cure a week before and 3 weeks after IT-BLM. At 21th day of experiment, IL-13, TNF, TGF-β, and PDGF in the bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF), lung content hydroxyproline (HP), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were quantified. Histopathological changes in lungs were investigated too. IL-13, TNF, TGF-β₁, PDGF in BALF, lung HP (collagen index), and MDA content in BLM-injected group was significantly higher than the control group (p < .05). In contrast, rats treated with OLE showed obviously lesser contents. Also, the histopathological observation confirms these findings. The results indicate that treatment by OLE may inhibit production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and ROS, and thus could be a useful medicine for managing fingagin disorders.

Background: Skin burn is one of the most common complications throughout the world. Olive derivatives have been used for the treatment of skin lesions in Iran. Oleuropein is one of the main constituents of olive leaves. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the healing effects of oleuropein cream on second-degree burns wounds in a rat model. Methods: This experimental study was performed on 72 male Wistar rats. Superficial second-degree burns were induced in the hairless back of the animals. Then, they were randomly divided into six equal groups. The burnt area in the first group was covered twice a day with normal saline, in the second group with eucerin, in the third group with 1% silver sulfadiazine and in the fourth-sixth groups, oleuropein cream was applied topically. To evaluate the efficacy of treatment, four rats in each group were euthanized on days 4, 9, and 14, and their skin was processed for wound contraction, glutathione (GSH) level, malondialdehyde (MDA) level, hydroxyproline (HP) content, inflammatory factors (transforming growth factor beta [TGF-β] and interleukin 6 [IL-6]), and histological examination. Results: In comparison with untreated control rats, the daily application of 5% oleuropein cream significantly increased wound contraction, HP content, and GSH level over time. Moreover, it caused a significant reduction in inflammatory factors and MDA level. Histological examination confirmed the results. Conclusions: This study indicated that oleuropein has therapeutic value in treating burn wounds and thus supports its traditional use.

Background: Skin burn is one of the most common complications and remains a major public health issue worldwide. Objectives: This experiment was conducted to study the effects of traditional medicine (Visceral Fat and Barely Seed Ash) compared with silversulfadiazine (SSD) cream on healing burn wounds in rats. Materials and Methods: Sixty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of equal numbers; each group consisted of 15 animals. After sedation, type II of skin burn with 1.5 cm diameter circle was created on the back of rats with a heated metal in boiling water. Group one was not treated and considered as control. The burned areas in the second, third and fourth groups were applied twice a day with normal saline, SSD cream and traditional preparation, respectively. Percentage of the burn wound concentration and histopathological examinations were used as parameters of our study on days 4, 9and 14. Obtained data were compared between the groups and days. Results: SSD cream and traditional preparation had better effects on burnt wound healing compared with control group. Furthermore, on the final day of study, the average percentage of wound concentration in traditional medicine group was significantly greater than other groups (P < 0.05). This finding was supported and confirmed by histological examination as well. Conclusions: Traditional preparation significantly decreased inflammation and accelerated wound healing in treated rats. Furthermore, the findings of this study can be applied clinically in the future. Keywords: Burn; Wounds and Injuries; Hordeum Vulgare L; Traditional Medicine

Background: T-2 toxin is a mycotoxin, exposure to which causes dermal and systemic toxicity. Crataegus pontica (a member of the Rosaceous family) is a small tree with caduceus foliage that is widely distributed throughout the western and central areas of Iran. Objectives: This study was performed to examine the healing effects of creams prepared using Crataegus pontica leaf extract on dermal toxicity induced by T-2 toxin. Methods: Iranian rabbits were used for this study. The back left flanks of the animals were shaved and to induce toxicity, a solution of 100 µg/12 µl of T-2 toxin in ethanol was applied to the skin for 2 successive days. Creams were prepared using Crataegus pontica leaf extract in a eucerin base at concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 15% (w/w). Beginning on the third day, the creams were applied to the skin lesions twice per day until complete healing occurred. The positive control group received the toxin only without treatment and the negative control group received solvent (ethanol) only. Healing was defined as a decreased wound margin, as well as treatment of the erythema and blisters. Results: Our findings indicated that wound healing occurred 15, 15, 12, 10, and 10 days after initial wounding in the negative control, eucerin, 5%, 10%, and 15% C. pontica extract groups, respectively. The most effective treatments were obtained with the creams containing 10% and 15% C. pontica extract. Histological findings confirmed wound reduction in the affected areas. Conclusions: The results obtained in this study indicate that C. pontica extract has a healing effect on dermal toxicity caused by T-2 toxin and is effective for its treatment. Keywords: Crataegus Pontica; Dermal Toxicity; T-2 Toxin; Rabbit