Background & Aim:Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) is a widely used plant that has high nutritional value .This study evaluated prevention effect of hydro alcoholic extract of Punica granatum flower and leaves ethylene glycol-induced Nephrolithiasis in Wistar rats. Experimental: 20 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 equal groups. Group I served as positive control and received distilled water for 28 days. Group II to IV received 1% (V/V) ethylene glycol (EG) in distilled water for 28 days. Group II served as EG or negative control. Group III and IV (preventive groups) received hydroalceholic extract of Punica granatum flower asand leaves orally for 28 days in dose of 400 mg/kg respectively. 24-hour urine samples were collected on day 0 and 28. Urine volume and urine oxalate levels were measured. On day 28, blood was collected for biochemical parameters (craetinine, urea and uric acid). Animals were sacrificed and kidneys were harvested, histopathologically evaluated for calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals. Results: EG significantly increased urine oxalate and calcium, serum creatinine, urea and uric acid levels. It also significantly decreased urine citrate level in group III and IV resulted in significantly lower levels of urine oxalate and serum creatinine, urea and uric acid as compared to Group II (P < 0.001). Recommended applications/industrie: Hydro alcoholic extracts of Punica granatum flowers and leaves are effective in prevention of EG- induced nephrolithiasis in Wistar rats. تفاصيل المقالة

Background & Aim: Considering that antioxidants are known as effective free radicals scavenger, it may be able to improve the in vitro oocyte maturation and the fetal quality. This study was designed to determine the effect of Gundelia tournefortii leaves (GTE) hydro-alcoholic extract as a source of antioxidant on in vitro oocyte maturation. Experimental: Germinal vasicle (GV) were recovered from 6-8 weeks old NMRI ovaries. GV were cultured for 24 hours in maturation medium in MEMα supplemented with 7.5 IU/ml hCG, 100 mIU/ml rhFSH, 5% FCS (control group) and adding different doses of GTE extract (group I: 10 µg/ml, group II: 20 µg/ml, and group III: 40 µg/ml) and then in vitro maturation stages and resumption of meiotic in all groups was recorded by inverted microscope. Results: In group I, maturation rates were improved compared to the control group. But this difference was not significant. In group II, maturation rates showed a significant increase compared to the control group (p<0.05). In group III, also maturation rates showed a significant increase compared to the control group (p<0.05). Recommended applications/industries: The results of this study showed that the extract from Gundelia tournefortii leaves has a positive effect on oocyte maturation that is doses dependent. With increasing concentration of the extract, the rate of maturation immature oocytes increased. تفاصيل المقالة