Hypoglycemic and anti apoptotic effect of garlic in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus is caused by many factor include oxidative stress that leads to apoptosis of beta cells of the pancreas and so the antioxidant therapy strongly correlated with decrease risk of diabetes mellitus. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of an aqueous extract of raw garlic in controlling serum glucose, plasma c peptide of insulin, level of reduced glutathione and catalase activity in pancreatic tissue, also to estimate caspase 3 activity expression in pancreatic tissue in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats treated daily with garlic extract intraperitoneally [IP] for 6 weeks. This study was carried on 30 rats: grouped into 3 group. Group 1, the control normal group, was injected IP daily with 0.5 ml saline and group 2; diabetic group was injected with streptozotocin, 60 mg/Kg body weight [BWt] IP in 0.5 ml saline once and group 3; garlic-treated group, was injected IP daily with 500 mg/kg of the garlic extract 2 weeks before streptozotocin and 4 week after streptozotocin injection. There was a significant increase in blood glucose in streptozotocin group II [p = 0.001] as compared with control groups [331.3 +/- 16.15 vs 101.8 +/- 4.02 mg/dl] respectively and significantly decreased after treatment with garlic extract [161.5 +/- 5.28 mg/dl]. C peptide was significantly decreased in streptozotocin group II [p = 0.001] as compared with control groups [0.034 +/- 0.003 vs 0.053 +/- 0.001 ng/ml] respectively and significantly increased after treatment with garlic extract [0.046 +/- 0.003]. Catalase activity of pancreatic tissue was significantly decreased in streptozotocin group [p = 0.001] as compared with control groups [11.10 +/- 0.73 vs 25.7 +/- 0.55 U/gm tissue] respectively and significantly increased after treatment with garlic extract [20.3 +/- 0.66]. Reduced glutathione content of pancreatic tissue was significantly decreased in streptozotocin group [p = 0.001] as compared with control groups [0.67 +/- 0.055 vs 1.23 +/- 0.076 mg/g tissue] respectively and significantly increased after treatment with garlic extract [0.89 +/- 0.080 mg/g tissue]. Also it was observed that the expression of caspase 3 protein in the pancreatic tissue was decreased after garlic treatment using western blot technique. These results revealed that aqueous extract of raw garlic may have antioxidant and antiapoptotic activity that could be used in treatment of diabetes mellitus

Green tea extract administration protects against the nephrotoxicity induced by gentamycin and amikacin in rats

Despite their beneficial effects, aminoglycosides including gentamycin [GEN] and amikacin [AK] have considerable nephrotoxic side effects. This study investigaged the effects of green tea [GT] extract on biochemical and morphological kidney damage induced by GEN and AK in rats. Sixty male albino rats were used in this study and divided into 6 groups each contains ten rats. The first group was the control group injected with 0.4 ml saline. Each rat of the second group was given 12.5 ml of green tea extract [3%] twice daily to drink it orally for 25 days. The 3[rd] group received GEN [80mg/kg] once daily intraperitoneally for 10 days. The 4[th] group was administered AK [180 mg/kg] once daily intraperitoneally for 10 days. The 5[th] group received GT extract for 15 days then concomitant with GEN for 10 days. The 6[th] group received GT extract for 15 days then concomitant with AK for 10 days. GEN and AK groups showed significant increase in serum urea and creatinine [Cr] which was significantly decreased in green tea consuming rats before GEN and AK administration. GEN and AK treated rats showed significant decrease in the activity of calalase enzyme and reduced glutathione level in kidney tissues which were significantly increased in GT consuming rats prior to GEN and AK injection. Light microscopic examination of kidney tissues of GEN and AK groups revealed tabular necrosis and degenerative changes which were modulated by the consumption of green tea prior to GEN and AK administration. In conclusion green tea ameliorates and modulates GEN and AK induced-nephrotoxicity and oxidative damage by enhancing the antioxidant defense system