[Effects of silymarin on insulin resistance and blood lipid profile in first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients]

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that is characterized by hyperglycemia due to insulin deficiency or cellular resistance. Silymarin is an effective agent that reduces cell resistance to insulin and improves lipid profile. In this study the effects of silymarin on insulin resistance and blood lipid profile in first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients were evaluated. This randomized clinical trial was performed on first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients [n=60] with BMI above 25 kg/m[2]. After completing questionnaire and obtaining written consent, participants were randomly assigned to give placebo or silymarin group. The patients in silymarin group received two 140 mg capsules of silymarin daily and placebo group 140 mg placebo capsules similarly for 12 weeks. Fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL, HDL, insulin and 2hpp blood glucose level were determined before and after the study. In silymarin treated group, insulin resistance and serum insulin level were reduced significantly [p < 0.05] compared with beginning as well as compared with placebo group. The blood glucose level and lipid profile didn't change significantly after silymarin therapy compared with placebo group. According to our results silymarin positively influence insulin resistance and insulin level in first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients but its effect on lipid profile need further studies

[ effect of artemisia sieberi besser on infkammatory and neurogenic pain in mice]

Nowadays herbal therapy for pain relevance is the matter of considerable propensity. Artemisia sieberi Besser is one of the herbal medication which has been consider as a pain reliever in Iranian traditional medicine, which needs further scientific investigations. In this study the antinociceptive effect of hydro alcoholic Artemisia sieberi Besser extract [AE] was assessed by using formalin test in mice. 42 male mice were divided into 7 groups. Interaperitoneal administration of distilled water to control group, vehicle to negative sham group, 1, 2 mg/kg morphine to positive sham groups and 40, 400, and 4000 mg/kg AE to test groups were performed. 25 alpha l of 2% formalin was then injected into the plantar surface of animal's hind limb and the animal's pain behavior for one hour was assessed. Mean pain scores in each five minute time block calculated for each animal were statistically analyzed. In acute phase mean pain score animals receiving 4000 mg/kg AE was significantly less than control groups p<0.05. The antinociceptive effect of AE was more prominent in the chronic phase so the analgesic effect of 4000 mg/kg AE was significantly more than 2 mg/kg. The data collected from this study indicates the analgesic effect of AE which is more significant in chronic phase and this effect may be due to anti-inflammatory ingredients in AE which needs to be more investigated

[Protective effect of vitamin E on diabetes induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in rat heart tissue]

The purpose of this study was to determine and to assess the protective effect of vitamin E on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and oxidative stress status in the heart under hyperglycemic conditions, in vivo. Wistar male rats [n=16] at 6 months of age were made hyperglycemic by STZ. Same age, normal wistar rats [n=8] were used for comparison [controls]. Diabetic rats were divided into two groups, the nontreated and those treated with vitamin E [300mg/kg/daily]. Diabetic rats exhibited severe apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. Also significant increases in lipid peroxidation as measured by 8- isoprostan, protein oxidation as measured by protein carbonyl content and superoxide dismutase were observed after 6 weeks. Catalase activity was shown to increase in controls compared to nontreated rats. A distinct elevation in the HbA1C, QT interval and a decline in the activity of catalase were also observed. Vitamin E treated rats shown significant decline in apoptosis, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl and QT interval compared to nontreated rats. Vitamin E decreased the incidence of apoptosis in cardiomyocytes, lipid peroxidation and improve antioxidant enzyme in the diabetic hearts of rats. Further research to confirm the findings is recommended

chronic effect of Kombucha tea consumption on weight loss in diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus [DM] is a chronic disease with a relatively high prevalence in many populations throughout the world. Despite the availability of many synthetic drugs many diabetic patients are seeking herbal medications to relieve the symptoms of the disease. Kombucha tea is a fermented remedy which is produced by cultivation of Kombucha mushroom in sweet black tea solution and is consumed by many diabetic patients, but its efficacy and safety has not been scientifically evaluated. This study was conducted to assess the chronic effect of Kombucha Tea consumption on weight loss in diabetic Rats. 42 male diabetic Wistar rats were divided into six groups. DM was induced by streptozotocin [60 mg/kg]. Animals in 1st group [control] had free access to tap water; the 2nd group [sham] consumed sweet black tea solution and the remaining 4 groups [test] received different dilutionts of Kombucha tea [25%, 50%, 75% and 100%] for 15 days instead of tap water. Animals in all groups were weighted before DM induction and in days 1, 3, 7 and 15 post DM inductions. The data were analyzed as Mean +/- SEM of weights in different days and in different groups by using T-test and one way ANOVA. Our results showed that all groups had a significant weight loss due to DM induction [p< 0.05] which continued progressively in control group but in the sham and test groups there was a progressive weight gain during the 15 days of remedy consumption, so there was no significant difference between the weight of animals at the end of experiment and their weight before DM induction [p > 0.05]. There was also not significant difference between the animal's weight in sham and test groups at the end of this period [p > 0.05]. In conclusion our findings indicate that both black tea and Kombucha tea prevent weight loss in diabetic rats which may be due to some active agents in black tea itself