Bauhinia variegata L. leaf extract ameliorates oxidative stress, renal apoptotic damage and dietary-induced obesity in Wistar albino male rats

Association between obesity and chronic kidney disease has received great attention in the recent years. This study aimed to characterize the efficiency of the Camel's foot tree, Bauhinia variegata L. ethanolic leaves extract (BEX) against kidney damage in high fat diet (HFD) fed male rats, as a model of obesity. Rats were randomly divided into five groups, the first three served as control, vehicle and BEX (40 mg/100 g body wt.), while the other two groups were fed HFD with and without BEX at the same mentioned dose, daily for 12 weeks. Results showed significantly increased weight gain, absolute and relative kidney weights, serum and kidney lipids, accompanied by elevated levels of urea and creatinine in serum of HFD-fed rats. Results also revealed marked reduction of kidney nitric oxide, alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyl transferase, with elevation in their activities in serum of the obese rats. An increase in the oxidative stress markers; malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide, paralleled by reduction of total antioxidant capacity, glutathione, glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase and the antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were also detected. This goes with decline of the anti-apoptotic Bcl2 and elevation in the pro-apoptotic Bax and caspase-3, followed by increased apoptosis% and cell cycle arrest with decline in cells at S and G2/GM phases. Meanwhile, a significant reduction in RBCs count, Hb content and related indices was demonstrated. In contrast, administration of BEX to HFD-fed rats significantly ameliorated increased weight gain, oxidative stress, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and hematological changes, thereby restored kidney functional parameters near the normal values, suggesting BEX as a promising natural therapy for managing obesity and associated kidney disease.

Association of polymorphisms G(–174)C in IL-6 gene and G(–1082)A in IL-10 gene with traditional cardiovascular risk factors in patients with coronary artery disease.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) polymorphism has been associated with the genetic susceptibility to coronary artery disease (CAD) and also with the lipid profile in different populations. The present work aimed at studying the association, if any between the IL-6 (174) G/C and IL-10 (1082) G/A genes with hypertension or hyperlipidimia in Egyptian patients with CAD and the association of the IL-6 -174 G/C polymorphism with serum IL-6 levels. 108 Egyptian patients with CAD and 143 unrelated healthy subjects were included in the study. The different genotypes of IL-6 and IL-10 were detected by polymerase chain reaction. Serum levels of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and IL-6 were estimated in the patients, as well as in the healthy subjects. Increased frequency of G allele, GG and GC genotypes in IL-6, as well as decreased frequency of C allele and CC genotype were found in CAD patients, compared to healthy subjects [P = < 0.0001, OR = 3.95, 95% CI (2.16–7.22) for GG and GC vs CC genotype], [P = < 0.0001, OR = 3.44, 95% CI (2.26–5.23) for G allele]. There was an increased frequency of G allele vs A allele in IL-10 genotype in CAD patients, compared to healthy subjects [P = 0.005, OR = 1.866, 95% CI (1.2–2.9]. Higher levels of both Lp(a) and IL-6 were observed in CAD patients, compared to control subjects (P = 0.0012, P = 0.0346, respectively). Increased frequency of IL-6 -174 G-allele was implicated in a greater cardiovascular risk and the presence of G allele or homozygosity for G allele of IL-10 G/A (1082) was associated with an increased prevalence of CAD. The GC genotype and G allele in IL-6 had significant correlation with hyperlipidimic CAD patients; however, G allele in IL-6 and IL-10 showed significant association with hypertension. Thus, G allele in IL-6 and IL-10 was considered as an independent risk factor in hypertensive CAD patients.

Angiotensin-I-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism in Egyptian Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

Angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism has been associated with the genetic susceptibility to coronary artery disease (CAD) and also with the lipid profile in different populations. One hundred and eight Egyptian patients with CAD and one hundred forty three unrelated healthy subjects were included in the study. ACE I/D polymorphism was detected by polymerase chain reaction. We investigated the association between I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene and the presence of CAD as well as its association with hypertension in the patients. Serum levels of lipoprotein (a), Lp (a), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were estimated in the patients as well as in the healthy subjects. Increased frequency of D allele and DD genotype as well as decreased frequency of I allele and ID genotype were found in CAD patients compared to healthy subjects (P = .004, OR= 0.419, 95% CI (.2 - .8), for DD genotype), (P = .008, OR= 0.475, 95% CI (0.27- 0.84), for D allele). Higher levels of both Lp (a) and IL-6 were observed in CAD patients compared to control subjects (P = .0012, P = .0346, respectively). No association was observed in ACE gene polymorphism with diabetes mellitus or hyperlipidemia. However, there is a trend for DD genotype to develop more hypertension than ID genotype (P=0.08, OR=2.88). In conclusion, theI/D polymorphism of the ACE gene (carrying the D allele) is an independent risk factor for CAD in the studied Egyptian population.