Protective effects of milk thistle [silybum marianum] seeds and sodium bentonite in ameliorating the toxic effects of aflatoxin b1 in broiler chicks

Background: Aflatoxin-contaminated feed cause mortality, suppression of the immune system, reduced growth rates and losses in feed efficiency. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the ability of different levels of sodium bentonite [SB], Silybummarianum seeds [SMS] and their combination for reducing the adverse effects of Aflatoxin B1 [AFB1] in broiler chicks

Materials and Methods: 224 male Ross 308 broiler chicks in a completely randomized design based on factorial experiment [2 × 2 × 2] with 2 levels AFB [0and 500ppb], 2 levels SMS [0 and 0.5%] and 2 levels SB [0 and 0.5%] with 8 treatments, 4 replicates and 7 chickens per each were used from one to 24 days age

Results: the results showed that compared with the control group, diets contaminated with AFB[1] increased the aminotransferase [AST] and gammaglutamyl transferase [GGT] but decreased serum total protein [TP] and Albumin significantly [P

Conclusion: the results showed that the combination of SB and the SMS were more beneficial as separate application of them for decreased toxic effect of Aflatoxin B1 in diets

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

[ role of aerobic training and Pistacia atlantica extract on the levels of protein carbonyl, heat shock protein 70, and glycogen in the liver tissue of diabetic rats]

Background and Aim: The use of medicinal herbs is taken as a healthy and effective alternative treatment for hyperglycemia and liver toxicity. Therefore, due to the positive effects of exercise training on diabetic patients, the objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of a 6 week period of aerobic training together with Pistacia atlantica extract taking on protein carbonyl [PC], heat shock protein 70 [HSP70], and glycogen levels in the liver tissues of diabetic rats

Materials and Methods: In this experimental research, 40 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: 1] healthy control, 2] diabetic control, 3] diabetic under aerobic training, 4] diabetics receiving Pistacia atlantica extract and 5] diabetics under aerobic training and receiving the extract. The six week period exercise program included aerobic training on a treadmill [5 sessions per week, 40 minutes per each session, with a speed of 20m/min and 5% incline]. Pistacia atlantica extract was fed 5 days per week [25mg/kg]. The rats were anesthetized.48 hours after the last training session, and their livers were isolated. Then, the level of their PC, HSP70, and hepatic glycogen were assessed by means of ELISA and chemical colorometry

Results: Mean level of PC in the diabetic group under aerobic training, diabetic group receiving pistacia extract, and the group under aerobic training together with receiving pistacia extract was significantly lower than that of the control diabetic group [P was 0.002, 0.006 and 0.002, respectively] but, mean level of PC was not significantly different in the three case groups. Mean level of HSP70 and glycogen in the three groups was not significantly different either [P was 0.21 and 0.59, respectively]

Conclusion: It was found that aerobic training and Pistacia atlantica extract consumption, either alone or together, led to a significant reduction in PC levels in the liver tissues of diabetic rats. Thus, Pistacia atlantica extract and aerobic training can be good remedies in reducing liver complications resulting from diabetes