Evaluation of the diuretic effect of natural honey in rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of a diuretic effect of natural honey in rats and the possible mechanism of action. Oral administration of honey to rats at a dose of 1, 2, 4 or 8 gm/kg resulted in a diuretic effect as compared with the control group. In comparison with hydrochlorothiazide, there was no significant difference between honey and hydrochlorothiazide as regards urine volume, but the diuretic effect of honey was accompanied with a more significant increase in sodium and chloride excretion when compared with the effect of hydrochlorothiazide. The results showed that diuretic effect of honey was not attributed to the osmotic effect of its sugar content, since a mixture of glucose-fructose-sucrose and maltose [GFSM] in the same proportions as they were found in natural honey given to rats orally at a dose of 4 gm/kg and 8 gm/kg did not produce any diuretic effect

Prophylactic effect of Nigella sativa on hepatic injury in rats

Thirty albino rats were used for investigation of the effect of Nigella sativa on paracetamol induced hepatic necrosis. The rats were divided into 3 equal groups. Nigella sativa protected rats against paracetamol and carbon tetrachloride hepatic injury evidenced by improvement of the histopathological changes and normalization of the biochemical changes induced by either paracetamol or CCL4

Natural honey as potential diuretic, [experimental study]

In this study the potential diuretic effect of honey was investigated in anaesthatized dogs and compared to hydrochlorothiazide as a standard diuretic drug. Intravenous administration of honey 1 gm/k gm in a 40% dilution in normal saline produced significant augmentation of volume of urine output, urine sodium, chloride and to less extent potassium excretion. The increase in cation excretion is covered with commonsurate increase of chloride ion i.e. chloride ions appears to be the main attending anion. The diuretic effect of honey starts immediately after administration and reaches maximum after 20 to 40 minutes. The pattern of diuretic effect of honey as well as the magnitude of this effect, compare favourably with the response to hydrochlorothiazide [2.5 mg/kgm I.V]. However, honey has the advantage that it produces less kaliuresis. Measurement of serum concentration of sodium, chloride and potassium following administration of honey or hydrochlorothiazide revealed that concentrations of these ions are not altered except the potassium concentration which shows mild hypokalaemia in dogs treated with hydrochlorothiazide. A mixture of glucose-fructose - sucrose - maltose [GFSM] in the same proportions as they are found in honey was tested in a group of dogs in a dose of 1 gm/kgm i.e. equal to the o dose of natural honey, this mixture failed to produce any diuretic effect. Such finding could suggest that the diuretic effect of honey is not attributed to its sugar content. Although the various mechanisms of action or the site of the diuretic effect at the nephron have not been elucidated, this is the first study which provides a controlled scientific evidence for the potential diuretic effect of honey. These preliminary results suggest that honey may be used clinically as a safe diuretic. However, further investigations are required to explore the mechanism [s] of this property and fully to ascertain it's clinical potential

Prophylactic and therapeutic effects of prostaglandin E1 on the disease activity in adjuvant arthritic rats

The effect of oral prostagladin E[1] on the disease activity, histolpathological pattern of gastrointestinal tract and on serum cortisol level were:studied in rats rendered arthritic by intradermal inoculation of Freund's adjuvant In the arthritic rats PGE[1] 100ug/kg/day orally was given first day of adjuvant inoculation till full development of arthritis [28 days] i.e as a prophylactic agent or given after establishment of arthritis for 2 weeks i.e. as a therapeutic agent. It was found that the prophylactic or the therapeutic administration of PGE[1] significantly decreased the arthritic disease activity as evidenced by the reduced development of paw oedema, increased pain threshold and correction of biochemical inflammatory markers namely serum C-reactive protein and serum albumin. The histopathological examination revealed marked gastrointestinal trophic action of PGE[1] which was more pronounced in the stomach. Serum cortisol level was significantly raised in the groups treated with PGE[1] The present findings strongly suggest the prophylactic and therapeutic value, of oral PGE[1] and investigate some of the possible underlying mechanism for their action in rheumatic diseases. However, further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of PGE[1] in management of arthritis

Experimental and clinical evaluation of a mixture of medicinal plants commonly used in folk therapy of diabets mellitus

A mixture of raw dried and grounded medicinal plants [Nigella Sativa, Chamomella, Damsesa, Mahlab and Aloe]and two legumes [Helba and Termis] in a proportion of one volume of each medicinal plant, and five volumes of each legume has been largely used in Folk medicine by many diabetics for better control of blood glucose Ievel. The present study was conducted to examine the effect of this mixture on fasting and 2 hours post prandial serum glucose levels and fasting serum insulin level in alloxan diabetic albino rats and in parents with type II diabetes mellitus. The results revealed that oral administration of the tested mixture to alloxanized rats [0.5 gm/kgm/day] and to diabetic patients [5 gm/day] for two or four weeks produced statistically significant lowering of fasting and 2 hours post prandial serum glucose levels accompained with a significant elevation of serum insulin level. Histopathological examination of pancreas of alloxanized rats demonstrated that this mixture produced a marked increase in the size of islet tissue with significant recovery of the destructed B-cells. This study is a preliminary report of the antidiabetic action of this tested mixture. Further well controlled studies are required to evaluate the efficacy and safety of long term use of this mixture and to investigate the possible underlying mechanism [s] for it's antidiabetic action

Comparative study of the effects of natural honey and antacid [aluminium phosphate] on the anti-inflammatory and ulcerogenic activity of indomethacin

The effects of concurrent administration of either honey of aluminium phosphate with indomethacin on the anti-inflammatory activity, ulcerogenic activity and plasma level of indomethacin in rats were investigated in this study. Natural honey [3 mg/kg orally] caused a significant decrease of ulcerogenic activity of indomethacin [30 mg/kg orally] as indicated by the gross lesion score and hitopathological examination This effect induced by honey is comparable to that produced by colloidal aluminium phosphate [3 gm/kg orally] also honey caused a marked decrease of indomethacin-induced gastric acid secretion that was not significantly different from that produced by aluminium phosphate Both indomethacin-honey and indomethacin-aluminium phosphate combinations caused a decrease of anti-inflammatory activity and plasma level of indomethacin but the reduction produced by the first combination was found to be significantly less than that produced by the second combination. These data may justify the use of honey concurrently with indomethacin to suppress its deleterious effect on the gastric mucosa with less disturbance of its plasma level and anti-inflammatory activity than its concomitant use with antacid

Role of dietary calcium supplements or calcium channel blockers in protection against gentamcin nephrotoxixity in rats

A great deal of controversies is present about the effects of dietary calcium supplements or calcium channel blockers on gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity.The present study was designed to evaluated the protective effect of either of them against gentamicin nephrotoxicity in rats using the same experimental model Daily I.P. injection of gentamicin 40 mg/kgm/day for 2 weeks in albino rats produced the characteristic pattern of aminoglycosides nephrotoxicity in rats as judged by the significant increase in urine alkaline phosphatase excretion accompanied with a significant decrease in renal tissue alkaline phosphatase and succinic dehydrogenese activities meanwhile cortical renal tissue acid phosphatase activity was increased.Also there was significant glucosuria, albuminuria and increased urine sodium and potassium execretion. Histopathological examination revealed that gentamycin produced extensive tubular degenerative and necrotic changes which were almost restricted to the proximal convoluted tubules. In addition, gentamicin produced a significant elevation of serum creatinine with reduction of creatinine clearance meanwhile volume of urine output was maintained unchanged. Feeding rats a diet with high calcium content [4% calcium carbonate by weight] for 2 weeks before gentamicin and for another 2 weeks concurrently with gentamicin produced a significant protection against gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity as evidenced by the significant correction of all the laboratory measures estimated and almost complete normalization of the histopathological and histochemical alteration produced by gentamicin Oral administration of nifedipine 2 mg/ kgm/day for 2 weeks before gentamicin and for another 2 weeks concurrently with gentamicin injection produced similar protection to that produced by dietary calcium supplements. The possible clinical relevance of this observation is unclear. Patients prone to gentamicin nephrotoxicity may have deficiencies of dietary calcium, hypocalcaemia or hypocalciuria Conceivably, correction of these calcium abnormalities could decrease the likelihood or severity of the toxic injury. It is tempting to further speculate on a possible role of calcium or calcium channel blockers as a therapeutic modality. In this common nephrotoxic insult. However, any conclusion must await further informations concerning the specificity of the protective effect of calcium or calcium channel blockers

Evaluation of the prophylactic and the possible therapeutic effects of silymarin in experimental liver cirrhosis

The present work was conducted to evaluate the prophylactic and possible therapeutic effects of silymarin in experimental liver cirrhosis 60 albino rats were included in this study, they were divided into four equal groups The first group was non cirrhotic and served as control, the other three groups were rendered cirrhotic by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride every other day for 10 weeks.The second group was chosen as a cirrhotic control and received saline, the third group was given silymarin orally [80 mg/kg/day]throughout the induction of cirrhotic and the fourth group was given silymarin orally [80 mg/kg/day] for 10 weeks after induction cirrhotic. For laboratory evaluation of functional state of liver, serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase [SGOT], glutamic pyruvic transaminase [SGPT], Alkaline phosphate, bilirubin, free fatty acids, triglycerides and total cholesterol were estimated. In addition, histopathological study of liver was performed Simultaneous administration of silymarin with CCL[4] throughout the induction of cirrhosis [Group III] i.e.as prophylactic agent produced marked improvement in the histopathological changes of liver and completely normalized the biochemical abnormalities of CCL[4] induced liver cirrhosis. On the other hand, administration of silymarin for the same period after cirrhosis [Group IV] i.e. as a therapeutic agent produced partial improvement of the histopathological changes and significant but not complete correction of the biochemical abnormalities.The result of the present study indicate that silymarin has both prophylactic and therapeutic effects However it`s prophylactic use exerts a more hepatoprotective effects than its therapeutic use.This point is worthy to be considered in the clinical use of silymarin as early as possible in the management of any hepatic disease or on exposure of the liver to any injurious agent