ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of aqueous ethanolic extract of Caesalpinia ferrea (C. ferrea) leaf in normal and streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into 6 groups of 6 rats each were assigned into diabetic and non-diabetic groups. Diabetes was induced in rats by single intraperitoneal administration of STZ (65 mg/kg body weight). C. ferrea extract at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight was orally administered to both diabetic and nondiabetic animals for a period of 30 days. After completion of experimental duration serum, liver and pancreas were used for evaluating biochemical and histopathological changes. Results: Oral administration of C. ferrea leaf extract significantly reduced elevated serum glucose, α-amylase, liver function levels and significantly increased serum insulin, total protein and body weight as well as improved lipid profile due to diabetes. Furthermore, the treatment resulted in a marked increase in glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and reduced glutathione, and diminished levels of lipid peroxidation in liver and pancreas of diabetic rats. Histopathological studies demonstrated the reduction in the pancreas and liver damage and confirmed the biochemical findings. Conclusions: From the present study, it can be concluded that the C. ferrea leaf extract effectively improved hyperglycaemia while inhibiting the progression of oxidative stress in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Hence, it can be used in the management of diabetes mellitus.
ABSTRACT
The development of antiviral-resistant mutations with long-term treatment remains a major concern in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection. The study aimed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of entecavir 1 mg versus combined lamivudine/adefovir dipivoxil [Lam/Adv] in chronic HBV patients resistant to lamivudine monotherapy. This study included two groups of lamivudine-resistant patients who received lamivudine 100 mg for 1-3 years. Group 1 was composed of 25 cases [52% HBeAg+ve] who received combined Lam/Adv, and group 2 was composed of 13 patients [30.8% HBeAg+ve] who received entecavir 1 mg. Pre-enrolment assessment included biochemical, serological and quantitative HBV-DNA testing as well as HBeAg and hepatitis B envelope antibody [HBeAb] assessment. Evaluation was done at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months of treatment by the same parameters. Hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody [HbsAg and HBsAb] were assessed after each year of treatment. At the end of 36 months of treatment, 16 cases [69%] in group 1 completed the study period, versus 13 [100%] in group 2. Two cases in group 1 underwent HBeAg seroconversion, accompanied by HBV-DNA undetectability, at 6 and 12 months, respectively; no cases were seroconverted in group 2. Both treatments achieved improvement in alanine aminotransferase [ALT], bilirubin and alpha-foetoprotein equally at the end of the study. HBV-DNA undetectability was better achieved in group 2 when compared to group 1. HBeAg seroconversion was only achieved in two cases in group 1, whereas no cases lost HBeAg in group 2. None of our cases achieved HbsAg seroconversion or loss at the end of the study period. The entecavir I-mg monotherapy group achieved better HBV-DNA undetectability starting at 3 months of treatment when compared to the Lam/Adv group; however, both lines of treatment showed almost similar results over the rest of the study period. HBeAg seroconversion was only achieved in two cases in the combined Lam/Adv group, whereas no cases lost HBeAg in the other group