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Aims: Ovarian cancer is the most common lethal malignancy female reproduction system which is diagnosed in advanced stages in the majority of cases. The main purpose of this study was to compare serum level of β-hCG tumor markers, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity in healthy subjects and patients with ovarian cancer and to investigate the possibility of using these factors as markers of ovarian cancer. Materials & Methods: This case-control study was carried out on people referring to Seyedoshohada Hospital in Isfahan and 44 women with ovarian cancer and 44 healthy women were studied from February 2012 to April 2012. β-hCG tumor marker was measured using ELISA method and serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity was measured by the photometric method. Independent T-test was used to compare studied indices between two groups. Findings: A significant difference was observed only between β-hCG mean of patient group (2.96±1.30 units per liter) and healthy group (2.27±1.17 units per liter) (p=0.014). The mean concentration of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase activity were not significant between patients and healthy groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: β-hCG serum level in ovarian cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy is more than healthy subjects. Also, serum level of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity in ovarian cancer patients under therapy is not associated with the disease status.

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Aims: Karela (Momordica charantia), is extensively used in traditional medicine as an antidiabetic drug. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of aqueous and methanolic extrarct of Momordica charantia on blood glucose and liver enzymes of rats. Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, 36 adult male Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups (6 rats in each group) control (healthy rats), negative control (diabetic rats by Streptozotocine) and 4 experimental groups (diabetic rats which recived aqueous and methanolic extracts of plant in concentrations of 50 and 100mg/kg of body weight daily for 40 days). The amount of the blood glucose was determined by sequential incision of the tip of the tail once a weak. After completing 40 days, blood was collected from heart of rats and the level of the liver enzymes serum was determined. The results were analysed by ANOVA with repeated measure and one way ANOVA tests in SPSS 19 software. Findings: The effect of different concentrations of aqueous and methanolic extracts on the blood glucose level was significant (p<0.001). Also a significant difference was observed between the amount of the aspartate aminotransfrase (p=0.049) and alanin aminotransfrase (p=0.005) enzymes activity at the two groups of negative control and 50mg/kg of body weight of methanolic extract. Using of 50 and 100mg/kg of body weight of aqueous and methanolic extracts reduced the alkalin phosphatase enzyme activity (p=0.002). Conclusion: Aqueous extract of Momordica charantia fruit have better effect on reducing the blood glucose than methanolic extracts. Both aqueous and methanolic extracts reduce the activity of aspartate aminotransfrase, alanin aminotransfrase and alkalin phosphatase.

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Aims: As a metabolic disorder, the diabetes increases the oxidative stress, while it reduces the anti-oxidant defense system. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of the methanol extract of Silybum marianum on the glucose level, the oxidative indices, and the biochemical factors in the diabetic rats. 

Materials & Methods: In the experimental study, 24 male and white Wistar rats were studied. The rats were randomly divided into four 6-rat groups including healthy control (negative control), diabetic control without any extract treatment (positive control), and two diabetic groups treating by 150 and 100mg/kg methanol extract respectively. The diabetes was induced by 60mg/kg one-dose streptozotocin as intra-peritoneal injection. The diabetes symptoms having been observed, 4-week and daily extract treatment was done as intra-peritoneal injection. Data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the repeated measurement tests.  

Findings: The treatment, done by the methanol extract of the seeds of Silybum marianum, reduced weight, the blood glucose level, cholesterol, malondialdehyde, and protein carbonyl, while it increased HDL and the activity level of paraoxonase enzyme, in the treatment groups compared to diabetic control group. In addition, the most effective extract concentration, reducing cholesterol, glucose, protein carbonyl, malondialdehyde and increasing the activity level of paraoxonase enzyme, was 150mg/kg. And the most effective concentration, increasing HDL and weight, was 100mg/kg (p<0.05). 

Conclusion: The injection of methanol extract of the seeds of Silybum marianum positively changes the oxidative indices, as well as the biochemical factors, in the diabetic rats.