Protective effect of grape; seed, skin and leaf extracts on hypercholesterolemic rats

The hypocholesterolemic effect of grape seed, skin and leaf extract has been investigated in six groups of seven rats each weighing 75 +/- 5 g. The first group was a control [-ve] while the others were fed on hypercholesterolemic diet and reclassified into control [+ve], seed, skin, leaf and mixture of extracts rat groups. The extract was administered daily as aqueous solution using intragastric tube in the form of 105 mg extract/kg body weight for 30 days. Compared with the control [-ye] group, the control [-ve] group showed significant decrease in final weight, weight gain, food intake, FER, HDLc, total protein, globulin, GPx and SOD but the levels of TC, TG, LDL-c, VLDL-c, total lipid, phospholipids, atherogenic indices, ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase and also liver TC, total lipids and MDA were significantly increased. On the other side, the levels of LDL-c, LDL-c/HDLc, ALT, AST and alkaline phosphatase were significantly increased in grape seed, skin, leaf and mixture extract groups while grape leaf extract group showed significant decrease in FER and phospholipids. In comparison with control [+ve] group, there were significant increase in final weight, weight gain, food intake, food efficiency ratio, serum HDLc, total protein, globulin, GPx and SOD but significant decrease of serum TC, TG, LDLc, VLDLc, total lipids, phospholipids, atherogenic indices, ALT, AST and alkaline phosphatase and liver TC, total lipids and MDA in grape seed, skin and leaf extract groups. Histopathological examination of rat liver and heart from grape seeds, leaf and mixture rat groups showed no histopathological changes

Effect of feeding by three formulas of herbs and vegetables on the healing of gastric ulcer in male rats

The present article was carried out to investigate the effect of feeding by 3 formulas consisting of three herbs [licorice, thyme and chamomile]; two vegetables [cabbage and artichoke] and a combination of both on the healing of gastric ulcer induced with aspirin in male rats. The obtained results revealed that feeding rats with induced gastric ulcer on herbal or vegetable dried powdered formula or a combination both at 2% for 2 weeks caused significant decreases in the gastric ulcer index, volume and total acidity of gastric juice. The curative ratios from gastric ulcer due to feeding by herbal formula or vegetable formula or both were 43.0 or 22.1 or 57.7%, respectively. The corresponding ratios of the decrease in volume of gastric juice were 27.73 or 39.07 or 39.84%, and in total acidity of gastric juice were 37.07 or 37.09 or 54.83%, respectively. Feeding of these rats on herbal formula or vegetable formula or both of them did not significantly affect the body weight. Histopathological examination of stomachs of rats fed on the above mentioned formulations showed alleviation of gastric mucosal damage and ulceration induced by aspirin. Combination of both herbal formula and vegetable formula showed higher anti-ulcer activity than either of them alone. It can be concluded that feeding diet mixed with a formula consisting of licorice, thyme, chamomile, cabbage and artichoke at 2% to rats with aspirin induced gastric ulcer for 2 weeks produced a marked anti-ulcer effect. This study recommends conducting the experiment on patients suffering from gastric ulcer

Quality evaluation of yoghurt collected from the local market in some governorates of Egypt

The present study was carried out to evaluate quality of yoghurt collected from the local market in Cairo, Giza, Gharbia and Minufiya governorates and to compare it with the manufactured yoghurt using Bifidobacteria bifidum [B. bifidurn] added to normal starter. Physicochemical, microbiological and organoleptic properties of all yoghurt samples were determined during 12 days storage period in a refrigerator. The results showed that yoghurt collected from Cairo and Giza markets contained less content of total solids and fat than that collected from Gharbia and Minufiya markets as compared to the manufactured yoghurt using B. bifidum. Microbiological examination revealed that the total viable bacterial count was less in yoghurt collected from Cairo and Giza markets than that collected from Gharbia and Minufiya markets. The coliform, mold and yeast count was nil or ignorable in all yoghurt samples till 6 days of storage, then these microorganisms were detected on the 9[th] and the 12[th] day of storage period. Organoleptic properties showed that the yoghurt collected from Cairo and Giza markets has higher sensory scores and more acceptable than that collected from Gharbia and Minufiya markets. The manufactured yoghurt using B. bifidum has the best quality and high degree of acceptability by consumers

Effect of feeding some herbs on serum liver enzymes, total cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoproteins in hypercholesterolemic rats

The present work was carried out to study effects of feeding hypercholesterolemic rats with 3 herbs viz.: ginger, psyllium and coriander herbs, alone and in combination, mixed with the basal diet on serum liver enzymes, total cholesterol, triglycerides [TG] and lipoproteins. This study was conducted on 50 adult male rats divided into 10 equal groups. One group was fed on the basal diet only [control -ve]. The other group was fed on the basal diet mixed with 1.5% cholesterol [control +ve]. The remaining groups were fed on the basal +1.5% cholesterol + the studied herbs at 5% and 10%. After 6 weeks feeding on the experimental diets, all rats were weighed for calculation of body weight gain and food efficiency ratio. Blood samples were collected for estimation of liver enzymes, cholesterol, TG and lipoproteins in the serum. Histopathology of liver was also carried out. The obtained results revealed that feeding hypercholesterolemic rats on diets mixed with each of these herbs, alone or in combination at 5% and 10%, improves the liver function as it lowers the elevated serum. AST and ALT enzymes. It induces also hypocholesterolemic and hypolipidmic effects. Moreover, it alleviates the histopathological changes in the liver induced by cholesterol feeding. However, it reduces daily food intake, body weight gain, food efficiency ratio and liver weight in the tested rats. It was concluded that feeding combined formula of ginger, psyllium, coriander each or combined at 5% and 10% for 6 weeks may be useful in the management of cases suffering from hypercholesterolemia associated with elevated liver enzymes