ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Ligusticum porteri is a traditional Native American herb. The roots of L. porteri are traditionally used in the treatment of many diseases, however, its cytotoxicity, antioxidative and immune-modulatory effects need to be investigated. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the root extract at different doses on human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The lymphocytes were incubated with different concentrations of the root extracts (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 μg/mL) and harvested every 6 h for 2 d (P<0.05). The protective effect of the herb against oxidative damage was determined by inducing oxidative stress with the administration of 50 μmol/L of hydrogen peroxide (HO).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Treatments with L. porteri at 200 and 400 μg/mL increased the viability of PBLs. The deleterious effect of HOwas ameliorated by 400 μg/mL L. porteri treatment. Addition of 400 μg/mL L. porteri reduced lipid peroxidation in stressed PBLs by 94% (P<0.05). Treatment with 400 μg/mL of L. porteri resulted in a 26.4% increase of reduced glutathione levels. Activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase increased by 17.5% and 55.2% respectively, when stressed PBLs were treated with 400 μg/mL L. porteri for 2 d (P<0.05). Treatment with 400 μg/mL L. porteri increased interferon-γ and interleukin-2 expressions in HO-challenged PBLs (P<0.05), however, the root extract did not cause a significant difference in interleukin-10 levels compared to the control (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The findings suggest that L. porteri might be a potential immune-modulating agent involving protective effects against oxidative damage.</p>
ABSTRACT
Yam is the leading form of staple for millions of people in the tropical and subtropical countries. They are good sources of carbohydrate. However, the protein content of yam is low. The effect of bitter yam sapogenin extract or commercial diosgenin on faecal minerals and intestinal lipids in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was studied. Sapogenin extract or commercial diosgenin [1%] supplemented diets were fed to diabetic male Wistar rats for three weeks. Bitter yam sapogenin extract or commercial diosgenin did not significantly alter faecal magnesium, calcium, and zinc excretion but significantly decreased faecal sodium and potassium excretion. The absorption of iron was impaired by bitter yam sapogenin extract or commercial diosgenin during the first week of feeding. Bitter yam sapogenin extract or commercial diosgenin supplements significantly decreased intestinal lipids towards normal. Faecal lipids excreted was significantly higher in diabetic rats fed bitter yam sapogenin extract or commercial diosgenin for the three weeks period compared to the diabetic control group. These results show that bitter yam sapogenin extract or commercial diosgenin does not have the same effects on mineral excretion in diabetes. There was no direct correlation between the decrease in excretion of mono-valent cations and the activity of intestinal Na+/K+ ATPase