Effects of alpha-lipoic acid on induced gastric ulcer in albino rats

This work was designed to study the protective effect of Alpha lipoic acid [ALA] on stress-induced gastric ulcers and to evaluate its effect on gastric secretions in rats exposed to cold restraint stress [CRS], The rats were divided into 2 main groups; [A] and [B] to study the effect of CRS on gastric secretion and ulceration, respectively, and their modulation by Alpha lipoic acid. Group [A] was subdivided into [4] subgroups each consisted of [10] Rats and received ALA in a dose of [50 and 100 mg/kg/day, respectively] for [14 days]. Group [B] was subdivided into [3] subgroups each consisted of [10] Rats and received ALA in a dose of [50 and 100 mg/kg/day, respectively] for [14 days]. The present study showed that, orally administered A LA, in a dose of [50 and 100 mg/kg/day] produced statistically significant reduction of the mean acid concentration and the mean acid output. The mean pepsin concentration was also significantly increased with [P<0.05]: ALA also, produced statistically insignificant reduction of the volume of gastric contents in comparison to the CRS group. ALA [50 mg/kg/day] also, reduced the incidence of ulceration, where the mean ulcer severity score and the ulcer index were significantly reduced with [P<0.05]. The preventive index was [48.8 4%] while ALA in dose [100 mg/kg/day] reduced the incidence of ulceration. The mean ulcer severity score and the ulcer index were insignificantly reduced with [P> 0.05]. With preventive index [28%]. These significant protective effects of ALA may be due to one or more of the following mechanisms; stimulation of PGs synthesis [one of the main inhibitors of gastric acid secretion], increase of the volume of gastric juice probably by an increase in gastric mucus and water secretion and as an antioxidant [ALA is considered as one of the most potent antioxidant, acts intra-and extra-cellular, recycling other antioxidants and possesses metal chelating activity]. It was concluded that; ALA used in the study showed statistically significant effect on all parameters of gastric secretion in comparison to the control group. They also significantly reduced the incidence of ulceration, the mean ulcer severity score and the ulcer index with a good preventive index. This protective anti-ulcer effect may be mediated through PGs whose synthesis is regulated by ALA

Effect of garlic on endogenous antioxidant enzymes and hyperlipidemia induced by cyclosporin - A in albino rats

In this work thirty adult male albino rats were used to study the effect of garlic on antioxidant enzymes and hyperlipidemia induced by cyclosporin A [CsA]. Rats were divided into three equal groups Rats of the first group [control group] were given 1 ml distilled water orally rats of second group were given [25 mg/kg] cyclosporin A intraperitoneally, rats of third group were given [25 mg/kg/daily] cyclosporin A intrapertioneally+garlic tablets 400 mg/kg/daily. At the end of experimental period [28 days] blood level of glutathion peroxidase [G.Px] superoxide dismutase [SOD] and plasma level of malonaldhyde, cholesterol, high density lipoproteins [HDL], low density lipoproteins [LDL] and triglycerides [TG] were determined. The study showed that cyclosporin A produce significant decrease G.Px, SOD, and malonaldhyde and significant increase plasma cholesterol, triglycerides LDL but insignificant changes in HDL as compared to control group. Also the study showed that garlic administration leads to significant increase G.Px, SOD and significant decrease plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL but insignificant changes in plasma malonaldhyde as compared to group treated by cyclosporin A

effect of an aqueous extract of ambrosia maritima on glycolytic and gluconeogenic enzymes in the liver of normal and alloxan-diabetic rats

Ambrosia maritima [Damsissa] is one of the herbs commonly used in Egyptian folk medicine for treatment of diabetes. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of oral administration of an aqueous extract of damsissa herb on the activities of enzymes involved in hepatic glucose metabolism. One week after the administration of the herbal extract at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/Kg body weight, hepatic glucokinase [GK] and pyruvate kinase [PK] activities were found to be significantly elevated in both normal and alloxan-diabetic rats, whereas hepatic glucose -6-phosphates [Glc-6-Pase] activity was significantly reduced. These alterations in the activities of these enzymes were paralleled with significant decrease in serum glucose in all experimental animals treated with the herbal extract. These observations suggest that the aqueous extract of Ambrosia maritima herb exerts its hypoglycemic effect by increased utilization of glucose as confirmed by the increased activities of hepatic glycolytic enzymes GK and PK, and decrease in its synthesis as confirmed by the decreased activity of Glc-6-Pase