title: Calendula officinalis ameliorates l-arginine-induced acute necrotizing pancreatitis in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Calendula officinalis L. (Asteraceae) has been traditionally used in treating inflammation of internal organs, gastrointestinal tract ulcers and wound healing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study investigates the effect of ethanol extract (95%) of Calendula officinalis flowers in l-arginine induced acute necrotizing pancreatitis in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were divided into four groups: normal control, l-arginine control, Calendula officinalis extract (COE) treated and melatonin treated (positive control), which were further divided into subgroups (24 h, day 3 and 14) according to time points. Two injections of l-arginine 2 g/kg i.p. at 1 h intervals were administered in l-arginine control, COE and melatonin-treated groups to produce acute necrotizing pancreatitis. Biochemical parameters [serum amylase, lipase, pancreatic amylase, nucleic acid content, total proteins, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), collagen content, lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione and nitrite/nitrate] and histopathological studies were carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  COE treatment (400 mg/kg p.o.) was found to be beneficial. This was evidenced by significantly lowered histopathological scores (2 at day 14). Nucleic acid content (DNA 21.1 and RNA 5.44 mg/g pancreas), total proteins (0.66 mg/mL pancreas) and pancreatic amylase (1031.3 100 SU/g pancreas) were significantly improved. Marked reduction in pancreatic oxidative and nitrosative stress; collagen (122 μmoles/100 mg pancreas) and TGF-β1 (118.56 pg/mL) levels were noted. Results obtained were comparable to those of positive control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The beneficial effect of COE may be attributed to its antioxidant, antinitrosative and antifibrotic actions. Hence, the study concludes that COE promotes spontaneous repair and regeneration of the pancreas.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Research Innovations and Consultancy , IKG Punjab Technical University , Kapurthala , Punjab , India.|b Sri Sai College of Pharmacy, Badhani , Pathankot , Punjab , India.
authors.forename: Jagdeep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: c Department of Life Sciences and Technology , Punjab Institute of Technology, IKG Punjab Technical University , Kapurthala , Punjab , India.
authors.forename: Shabir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sidhu
authors.affiliation: d Pharmacology Research Laboratory , University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UGC Centre of Advanced Study, Panjab University , Chandigarh , India.
authors.forename: Kanwaljit
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chopra
authors.affiliation: b Sri Sai College of Pharmacy, Badhani , Pathankot , Punjab , India.
authors.forename: M U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000633:toxicity*; D020838:Calendula; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D001120:Arginine
keywords: Melatonin; TGF-β1; oxidative and nitrosative stress; regeneration