Background & objectives: Cyclophosphamide is one of the common drugs used for cancer treatment. Cyclophosphamide affects the placenta and it is teratogenic in pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of Mesna and Galbanum essential oil concurrent administration against cyclophosphamide toxicity in rat placenta tissue.

Methods: 22 pregnant female rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: (1) control (normal saline, n=7 rats), (2) cyclophosphamide (15mg/kg, n=7 rats), (3) cyclophosphamide (15mg/kg), Mesna (100mg/kg) and Galbanum (200mg/kg, n=8 rats). Medications were administered intraperitoneally on the 13th day of pregnancy. Then, rats were sacrificed on the 20^th day of pregnancy. The placenta was separated and fixed after macroscopic evaluation. 5 µm tissue sections were prepared, stained and studied by light microscopy.

Results: Cyclophosphamide reduced the placental weight, thickness and the length of the small and large diameters. Histologically, it reduced the thickness of the labyrinth and basal layers, caused necrosis and congestion in these layers, reduced giant cells numbers and caused their nuclear shrinkage (p<0.05). Mesna and Galbanum oil had no effect on placental morphometry rather than cyclophosphamide (p>0.05) but histologically it could increase the labyrinth and basal layers thickness and also the giant cells numbers (p<0.05). It could also prevent nuclear shrinkage, giant cells and spongiotrophoblasts necrosis in the basal layer and reduce congestion in the labyrinth layer (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Mesna and Galbanum oil preserved the placenta of pregnant rat against toxic effects of cyclophosphamide probably by its antioxidant features and free radicals deletion.

Background and Objective: Since Abelmoschus esculentus plant has many medical benefits, the present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Okra Powder (Abelmoschus esculentus) against high-fat diet fed-streptozotocin (HFD/STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

Methods: In this experimental study, 25 Wistar Albino female rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: I: control group; II: healthy rats receiving A. esculentus (200 mg/kg); III (HFD/STZ group): Rats fed with high-fat diet (HFD) (60% fat) for 4 weeks and then injected low-dose STZ (35 mg/kg); IV: diabetic rats receiving A. esculentus (200mg/kg) and V: diabetic rats receiving metformin (200 mg/kg). At the end of experiment, biochemical parameters, including Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG), insulin levels, Homa-IR index, ALT, AST and lipid profile were measured. Pancreas and Liver samples were removed, and 5-6 µ sections were prepared and stained by H&E and aldehyde fuchsin staining.

Results: All the biochemical parameters, except HDL-C and insulin, were increased in diabetic rats, while these parameters were decreased in Okra supplementation group compared to diabetic rats (p<0.05). Furthermore, Okra improved the histological impairments of pancreas and liver, including vacuolization, and decrease of β-cells as well as hypertrophy and vacuolization of hepatocytes in diabetic rats.

Conclusion: Okra powder improved biochemical parameters, liver structure and restoration of beta cells of pancreas in diabetic rats. Thus, it can be considered a complementary therapy to improve diabetic patients.