Experimental study of antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of clove and cardamom in ethanol induced hepatotoxicity

Long-term use of ethanol results in serious liver damage. The contribuling mechanism still remains uncertain. However, there is accumulating evidence that alcohol toxicity may be associated with increased free radical production, increased oxidative stress and increased lipid peroxidation. The present study aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective and anlioxidant effects of clove [Fugenia Caryophyllata-Syzygium aromaticum] and cardamom [Amomum Subulatum.] against ethanol induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Forty white albino rats were classified into four groups: Group 1 served as control. Group II received ethanol [3gm/kg] for three weeks, whereas Group III and IV received extract of cardamom and cloves [500mg/kg] for one week followed by extract of cardamom and cloves one hour before ethanol administration for three weeks. The hepatotoxic of ethanol and the hepato-protecive effect of cardamom and clove were estimated by their effects on the liver function test, serum lipid profile, levels of lipid peroxidation product malonaldehyde [MDA], the acivity of two liver antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase [SOD], and glutathione reductase [GSH-Rd] and liver trace element levels. Our results showed that ethanol feeding caused elevation of serum liver enzymes and serum total lipid, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Also, there was significant increase in lipid peroxidation product, malonaldehyde [MDA], and decrease in anlioxidant enzyme, trace element levels in liver homogenate. On the other hand, the hepatoprotective effect of cardamom and clove was reflected by the significantly lower level of liver enzymes and serum lipid profile in rats pretreated with their extract before ethanol. On the other hand, MDA level was significantly reduced as compared to ethanol fed group, whereas, levels of SOD, and GSH-Rd activity and trace element level were significantly increased by clove and cardamom pretreatment. All these effects were more pronounced with clove compared to cardamom reflecing its potent antioxidant activity compared to cardamom. It can be concluded that ethanol induced hepatotoxic effect can be counteracted by clove and cardamom feeding and the anlioxidant effect of clove is more powerful than cardamom

Paraoxonasel activity and paraoxonase 192 gene polymorphism in non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients among Egyptian population

Paraoxonasel [PON1] is an esterase enzyme that has antioxidant acivity and is lightly associated with high density lipoprotein [HDL] in blood. Decreased activity of PONiwas reported in many diseases and could be partially attributed to PON1 glutamine 192 arginine polymorphism. In the present work we studied the effect of PON1 192 polymorphism on serum PON1 activity and lipid profiles in 30 non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [NIDDM] subjects and 30 healthy controls among the Egyptian populalion. Polymerase chain reaction-based restricion fragment was used to determine PON1 192 gene polymorphism. Fasing blood glucose, serum lipids, lipid peroxidalion [malondialdehyde-MDA] and PON1 acivity were measured by spectrophotometric method. Insulin serum levels were measured by ELISA technique and [HOMA] index was calculated as an index for presence insulin resistance. No significant difference was found in the distribution of PON1 192 genotypes [QQ, RR and QR] between patient and control groups. Also, the R allele was insignificantly predominant among diabetic palients. PON1 enzyme activity was significantly lower in diabetics than in control subjects. PON1 192 RR homozygote had significantly lower PON1 acivity and HDL-C level than QQ and QR genotypes among the NIDDM populations [p<0.001]. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C serum level were significantly higher in patients than controls. Fasting serum insulin level and HOMA index were significantly increased in those patients compared to controls. This indicated the development of insulin resistance which could be attributed to the decrease of paroxonase antioxidant activity. the present results suggest that the paraoxonasel acivities are affected by PON1 genetic variability in NIDDM patients and may precipitate to insulin resistance among those patients