Modulatory effects of garlic oil and silymarin on carbon tetrachioride-induced liver injury in rats

The present study was conducted to investigate the modulatory effects of silymarin and garlic oil on carbon tetrachloride [CCI4]-induced hepatotoxicity in male albino rats. Animals were orally intoxicated with CCI[4], after 72 hours liver toxicity was assessed. Oral administration with silym4rin or garlic was then continued for 60 days. Serum alanine transaminase [ALT], aspartate transaminase [AST], gamma-glutamyl transaminase[GGT], superoxide dismutase SOD], catalase [CAT], advanced oxidation protein product [AOPP], urinary F2 isoprostanes and 8 hydroxy 2-deoxyguanosine [8-OHdG] were measured. Intoxication of rats with CCI4 induced significant elevation in serum liver enzymes. It also increased oxidative stress through the increase in F2 isoprostanes, AOPP and 8-OHdG, but it reduced SOD and CAT as compared to that of the controls. Oral administration of silymarin or garlic oil improved these adverse effects. Silymarin or garlic has the ability to suppress the occurrence of CCl[4] induced hepatotoxicity in rats by alleviating oxidant status

Study of fasting plasma ghrelin hormone in obese non diabetic and obese type 2 diabetic patients

Obesity is a multifactorial syndrome characterized by an excessive adipose tissue accumulation. The aim of our work was to study the possible role of ghrelin hormone in the pathogenesis of obesity in obese non diabetic and obese type 2 diabetic patients. The study was conducted on 45 adult subjects. The studied subjects were subdivided into three groups: Group I includes 15 obese type 2 diabetic patients, Group II includes 15 simple obese non diabetic patients and Group III includes 15 normal subjects with normal BMI as a control group. All subjects were subjected to full history taking, clinical examination, routine investigations, fasting blood glucose, HbA 1c, fasting insulin, insulin resistance estimated by HOMA-IR and fasting plasma ghrelin. There was a significant decrease regarding fasting plasma ghrelin hormone in obese [either type 2 diabetic or non diabetic] than the control group p>0.05. However, ghrelin hormone was more decreased in obese type 2 diabetic than obese non diabetic. There was negative correlation between fasting plasma ghrelin hormone and both of fasting insulin hormone, fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance estimated by HOMA-IR. Also, there was negative correlation between fasting plasma ghrelin hormone and BMI, weight, waist circumference and waist hip ratio. Fasting plasma ghrelin was decreased in obese subjects and seemed to be a down-regulation in human obesity and this may be a consequence of elevated insulin