Hepatoprotective potential of prosopis farcta beans extracts against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in wistar rats

Hepatotoxicity by acetaminophen is the most frequent cause of acute liver failure in many countries. Prosopis farcta beans extract [PFE] has some antioxidant property and may alleviate hepatotoxicity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate effects of PFE against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. Thirty-six male Wistar albino rats weighing 220 +/- 30 g were distributed into six groups. Two groups were pretreated with PFE [50 and 75 mg/kg] for 7 days before administration of acetaminophen [600 mg/kg]. Two were given acetaminophen or PFE [50 and 75 mg/kg] alone, and the control received normal saline. One day after acetaminophen, administration blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture to determine liver function enzymes markers; aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase [AST and ALT], cholesterol, triglyceride [TG], high, low, and very low density lipoproteins [LDL and VLDL]. In acetaminophen-treated rat plasma AST [314 +/- 18.54 vs. 126.37 +/- 4.13], ALT [304 +/- 49.24 vs. 187.33 +/- 3.71], cholesterol, TG, LDL, and VLDL were increased by 149, 160, 37, 92, 60, and 94%, respectively. PFE at both doses significantly [P < 0.05] attenuated the above biochemical indices to near normal. Prosopis farcta beans extract [50 and 75 mg/kg] exhibited hepatoprotective activity against APAP

[Evaluation of Turmeric [Curcuma longa] effects in preventing consequences of lead acetate in male rats]

Background and Aim: Diabetes is one of the mortality factors in the world. Nutritional and environmental pollution with heavy metals, especially lead, exacerbates diabetic condition. The curcumin in Turmeric has antioxidant properties and therapeutic effects on the treatment of some diseases such as diabetes

Materials and Methods: In an interventional experiment designed to investigate the protective effect of turmeric powder on consequences of lead acetate on some blood parameters in the diabetic male rats, 32 male Wistar rats with an average initial weight of 182.6 +/- 1.8 g each were randomly divided into four groups, i.e. the control, diabetic [streptozotocin injection in dose of 55 ppm], diabetic+Pb [100 ppm solute in water], and diabetic+Pb+CL [2% of DMI]. Trial period was 4 weeks. Blood samples from the heart of the rats were taken on the 29[th] day

Results: Turmeric powder improved insulin secretion and reduced blood glucose. Total protein increased in CL treatment group. ALT, AST, triglyceride, and cholesterol significantly increased in diabetes treatment groups compared with the control

Conclusion: Probably the antioxidant compounds found in Turmeric especially curcumin can reduce some complications of lead acetate in diabetic patients