ABSTRACT
Background: Royal jelly [RJ] is a complementary diet widely prescribed by traditional medicine specialists for treatment of in- fertility. The aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of RJ on a set of reproductive parameters in immature female rats
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, thirty two immature female rats [30-35 g] were divided into four groups [n=8/group]: three experimental groups and one control. The experimental groups received 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/body weight doses of RJ daily for 14 days, and the control group received 0.5 ml distilled water interaperitonealy [i.p]. The treated rats were sacrificed and their ovaries were dissected for histological examination. The serum levels of ovarian hormones, nitric oxide [NO] and ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP] were evaluated, and the ratios of the ovarian and uterine weight to body weight were calculated. One-way ANOVA was used for data analysis
Results: The body weights were significantly different [P=0.002] among the rat groups, with an increase in all RJ treated animals. Uterine and ovarian weights and the serum levels of progesterone [P=0.013] and estradiol [P=0.004] were significantly increased in experimental groups compared to the control group. In addition, a significant increase in the number of mature follicles and corpora lutea [P=0.007] was seen in RJ recipients compared to the controls. A significant increase in the serum levels of FRAP [P=0.009] and a significant decrease in NO level [P=0.013] were also observed
Conclusion: RJ promotes folliculogensis and increases ovarian hormones. This product can be considered as a natural growth stimulator for immature female animals
ABSTRACT
Objective: this study aimed to evaluate the effects of royal jelly [RJ] on serum biochemical alterations and oxidative stress status in liver and pancreas of streptozotocin [STZ]-induced diabetic rats
Materials and Methods: in this experimental study, thirty two male Wistar rats were divided into the following four groups [n=8/group]: i. Control [C], ii. Diabetic [D], iii. Royal jelly [R], and iv. Royal jelly-treated diabetic [D/R] groups. Diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal [IP] injection of STZ [60 mg/kg]. The RJ [100 mg/kg body weight [BW]] was administered orally for 42 days. Blood samples were used to determine serum levels of insulin, high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-c], total protein [TP], albumin, alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], and fasting blood glucose [FBG]. Also, the antioxidant status was evaluated by determining the levels of malondialdehyde [MDA], catalase [CAT] and ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP] in liver and pancreas. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance [ANOVA] with P<0.05 as the significant level
Results: STZ-induced diabetic rats showed a significant elevation in the serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP and FBG, whereas there was a significant decrease in serum levels of insulin, albumin, HDL-c and TP [P<0.05]. Treatment of the diabetic rats with RJ restored the changes of the above parameters to their normal levels [P<0.05]. In addition, RJ significantly improved reduced levels of FRAP and CAT as well as high MDA level in liver and pancreas [P<0.05]
Conclusion: RJ improves oxidative damage induced by STZ in the liver and pancreas of rats; therefore, it can be considered as an effective and alternative treatment for diabetes
ABSTRACT
Background: diabetes is the most common endocrine disease. It has adverse effects on male reproductive function. Royal Jelly [RJ] has antioxidant and anti-diabetic effects and show protective effects against diabetes
Objective: this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of RJ on histopathological alterations of the testicular tissue in streptozotocin [STZ]-induced diabetic rats
Materials and Methods: in this experimental study, 28 adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into control [C], royal jelly [R], diabetic [D] and RJ-treated diabetic [D+R] groups. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ at 50 mg/kg body weight [BW]. The rats from the R and D+R groups received daily RJ [100 mg/kg BW] for 6 wks orally. Hematoxylin-Eosin staining was used to analyze histopathological changes including: tunica albuginea thickness [TAT], seminiferous tubules diameter [STsD], Johnsen's score, tubular differentiation index [TDI], spermiogenesis index [SPI], Sertoli cell index [SCI], meiotic index [MI], and mononuclear immune cells [MICs] in testes. The antioxidant status was examined by evaluating testicular levels of ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP] and catalase [CAT] activity
Results: histological results of the testis from diabetic rats showed significant decrease in STsD, Johnsen's score, TDI, SPI, SCI and MI, and significant increase in TAT and MICs, while administration of RJ significantly reverted these changes [p<0.05]. RJ treatment markedly increased activity of CAT and FRAP. There were significant differences in FRAP levels among C [13.0+/-0.5], RJ [13.4+/-0.3], D [7.8+/-0.6] and D+R [12.4+/-0.7] groups [p<0.05]
Conclusion: RJ improved diabetes-induced impairment in testis, probably through its antioxidant property
ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus has a variety of structural and functional effects on the male reproductive system. Diabetes results in reduced sperm parameters and libido. The present study aims to investigate the effects of royal jelly [RJ] on reproductive parameters of testosterone and malondialdehyde [MDA] production in diabetic rats. This experimental study was conducted on adult male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into four groups [n=8 per group]: control, RJ, diabetic and diabetic treated with RJ. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg body weight [BW] of streptozotocin [STZ]. RJ, at a dose of 100 mg/kg BW was given by gavage. The duration of treatment was six weeks. After the treatment period the rats were sacrificed. The testes were weighed and changes in sperm count, motility, viability, deformity, DNA integrity and chromatin quality were analyzed. Serum testosterone and MDA concentrations of testicular tissue were determined. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA with p<0.05 as the significant level. STZ-induced diabetes decreased numerous reproductive parameters in rats. Testicular weight, sperm count, motility, viability and serum testosterone levels increased in the diabetic group treated with RJ. There was a significant decrease observed in sperm deformity, DNA integrity, chromatin quality, and tissue MDA levels in diabetic rats treated with RJ compared to the diabetic group [p<0.05]. RJ improved reproductive parameters such as testicular weight, sperm count, viability, motility, deformity, DNA integrity, chromatin quality, serum testosterone and testicular tissue MDA levels in diabetic rats
Subject(s)
Reproduction , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental , Streptozocin , Rats, Wistar , Spermatozoa , Testosterone , MalondialdehydeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Hypercholesterolemia has been established as a major independent risk factor for coronary artery disease, but the role of hypertriglyceridemia, is still controversial in this regard. Postprandial hypertriglyceridemia has been reported to be a predisposing factor for coronary events. Present study was undertaken to assess postprandial hypertriglyceridemia in non-diabetic patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: 60 subjects aged over 35 years, who had undergone coronary angiography, were included in this case-control study. Subjects having secondary hyperlipidemia were excluded. The case group had significant stenosis in at least one coronary artery while the control group had normal coronary arteries on angiography. Triglyceride level was evaluated in fasting non-stressful situation as well as three hours after a heavy breakfast (bread, butter and jam, approximately 460 kcal). It was defined as normal (<150 mg/dl), borderline (150-200 mg/dl) and high (>200 mg/dl) according to NCEP guidelines, 2001. The mean fasting triglyceride level in control and case group was 141+/-54 v. 162+/-60 mg/dl respectively (statistically not significant). The mean postprandial triglyceride level, in control and case group was 163+/-60 v. 265+/-98 mg/dl, respectively (p<0.05). In the case group, 63.3%, 3.3%, and 33.3%, and in the control group 70%, 16.7% and 13.3% had normal, borderline and high fasting triglyceride levels, respectively (p<0.05). 3.3%, 23.3%, 73.3% of the cases and 50%, 36.7%, 13.3% of the controls had normal, borderline and high postprandial triglyceride levels, respectively (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Considering that the triglyceride levels were higher in postprandial state, fat tolerance test can be used as a complementary test in evaluation of lipid profile in patients with coronary artery disease with normal fasting triglyceride levels.