hypoglycaemic effect of different extracts of ambrosia maritima, L- compositae

The effect of the different successive extracts of the herb of Ambrosia maritima, L. family compositae widely grown in Egypt on postprandial and fasting blood glucose were tested in rats. The results showed that 1.5-hour postprandial blood glucose was reduced significantly after administration of the total water, 50% alcoholic or petroleum ether extracts. The 2-hour postprandial blood glucose was reduced significantly after the administration of either the petroleum ether or the extract. The fasting blood glucose was reduced only on giving either the total water or the alcoholic extract. Methylene chloride extract produced no significant change on postprandial blood glucose. The effect of petroleum ether extract and 50% alcoholic extract on plasma insulin levels 2 hours and 1.5 hours, respectively, after glucose ingestion was determined. The results showed no significant change of insulin level in both cases. Phytochemical and chromatographic study of the extracts revealed the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids and coumarins

Effect of some sources of dietary fibbers on rat plasma lipids

The effect of three types of dietary fibers sources on plasma lipids and nutritional parameters were studied in male hyperlipidemic rats. The fibers were used as 10% of the diet supplemented from dietary sources; white beans, peas and carrots. The results showed that plasma total lipids decreased significantly when feeding any of the dietary fibers sources. Total cholesterol and phospholipids decreased significantly when feeding white beans or peas. Triglycerides decreased significantly on feeding carrots only. High density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly increased on feeding 10% fiber supplemented from peas or carrots. Body weight gain, total food intake and food efficiency ratio significantly decreased only on feeding white beans fibers. Weight of feces increased significantly on feeding either peas or carrots

Anorectic drugs, diet and serum proteins interrelationship in rats

The effect of two anorectic drugs [phentermine and diethylpropion] on serum total proteins and protein fractions were tested in rats. Two doses [10 and 30 mg/kg body weight] of each drug were tried and their effects were compared with pair fed control groups. The effects of the two drugs were studied when two different diets [high sucrose and high butter fat diet] were fed for 10 days. The picture of serum total proteins and protein fractions was completely different when changing the type of diet. On feeding high butter fat diet, phentermine produced significant increase of serum total proteins, albumin and alpha2 globulin. However, when high sucrose diet was fed, phentermine produced significant increase of gamma globulin and decrease of alpha-1 globulin. Diethylpropion produced a significant increase of gamma globulin and a significant decrease of albumin/globulin [A/G] ratio, when feeding high butter fat diet. On feeding high sucrose diet, diethylpropion produced significant decrease of albumin and A/G ratio