Browsing by Author "Ergul Erkec, O."

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Effect of Heliotropium Hirsutissimum, Heliotropium Dolosum and Heliotropium Lasiocarpum Methanolic Extracts in Pentylentetrazol Induced Convulsions on Mice
(University of Ankara, 2018) Arihan, O.; Karakaya, S.; Kilic, C.S.; Ergul Erkec, O.; Kara, M.; Duman, H.
Objective: Epilepsy is a common neurological problem known since ancient times. Modern treatment of epilepsy includes treatment with drugs to avoid seizures. Search for new antiepileptic drugs continues due to the presence of resistant patients to drug treatment. Plants are important sources of new drug discovery for epilepsy. We aimed to evaluate anticonvulsive activity of methanolic extracts of Heliotropium (Scorpion herb, Herb for warts in Turkish) species namely Heliotropium hirsutissimum Grauer, H. dolosum De Not and H. lasiocarpum Fisch. et Mey. on mice. Material and Method: PTZ (pentylentetrazol) is used for the induction of convulsions. Experimental groups are PTZ and 3 groups of extracts of aforementioned Heliotropium species+PTZ. Result and Discussion: In H. hirsutissimum and H. lasiocarpum groups, number of animals having tonic-clonic convulsions was decreased compared to PTZ and H. dolosum groups however difference was found insignificant. Latency time for first myoclonic convulsion and latency time for first tonic-clonic convulsion were prolonged in all Heliotropium groups compared to PTZ group (p>0.05). Number of ex animals following tonic-clonic convolsions decreased in Heliotropium groups (p>0.05). Tonic-clonic convulsion period decreased in H. hirsutissimum and H. lasiocarpum (p>0.05). When results are evaluated together Heliotropium species may have an ethnopharmacological relevance for its anticonvulsive usage. © 2018 University of Ankara. All rights reserved.
Neuroprotective Effects of Ghrelin in Cuprizone-Induced Rat Model of Multiple Sclerosis
(Springer, 2025) Oruk, S.; Ergul Erkec, O.; Huyut, Z.; Acikgoz, E.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory central nervous system disease characterized by demyelination and axonal loss and is the main cause of non-traumatic neurological disability in young adults. Although there are several treatment approaches to manage the disease, there is no definitive cure for multiple sclerosis. Inflammation and oxidative stress are known to play important roles in the pathophysiology of MS. Ghrelin, a peptide secreted by the stomach, is reported to have neuroprotective properties through several pathways, including attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation. In the present study cuprizone (CPZ)-induced model of MS was used in Wistar albino rats to study the possible anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of ghrelin. Rats were randomly divided into six groups: Control groups (Control35 and Control-S42), demyelination group, remyelination group, remyelination + ghrelin (20 µg/kg) group and remyelination + ghrelin (40 µg/kg) group. Y maze test was performed on the rats on their last day of the experiment. Oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters were investigated in brain using commercial kits by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Luxol fast blue (LFB) and hematoxylen&eosin (H&E) staining were performed in brain tissues. CPZ leads to a significant decrease in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels and myelin content and a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-ɑ), interleukin- 6 (IL- 6) levels, the number of lymphatic cells and inflammatory cells. A significant increase in the antioxidant parameter levels and a significant decrease in MDA levels were found in the ghrelin treated groups (p < 0.05). CPZ leads to irregular, fragmented, demyelinating nerve fibers. A more significant remyelination was observed in the ghrelin treated groups compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, ghrelin treatment showed neuroprotective and antioxidant properties and reduced demyelination in the CPZ-induced rat model of multiple sclerosis. © The Author(s) 2025.