ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the role of red palm oil (RPO), rooibos tea extract (RTE) and their combined treatment (RPO + RTE) on antioxidant status in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.@*METHODS@#Diabetes mellitus was induced by a single administration of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) and the rats were treated for 7 weeks. Antioxidant enzymes [catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD)], antioxidant capacity [trolox equivalence antioxidant capacity (TEAC), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC)] as well as total protein, albumin, globulin, total glutathione, conjugated diene and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were investigated.@*RESULTS@#Treatment with RPO, RTE and RPO + RTE significantly (p>0.05) improved liver SOD and plasma ORAC in the diabetic rats. Similarly, diabetic rats treated with RTE and RPO + RTE enhanced liver GPx. A significant (P<0.05) increase in the plasma TBARS in the diabetic control group was observed when compared with the normal control group. Treatment of diabetic rats with RTE and RPO + RTE reduced plasma TBARS to a level not significantly different at P<0.05 from the normal control group.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The results revealed the anti-oxidative potentials of red palm oil, rooibos and their combination in diabetic conditions and hence, they could be useful in the management of diabetes and its complications.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Antioxidants , Chemistry , Pharmacology , Aspalathus , Chemistry , Blood Proteins , Body Weight , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental , Metabolism , Glutathione , Liver , Chemistry , Organ Size , Oxidative Stress , Oxidoreductases , Blood , Palm Oil , Plant Extracts , Chemistry , Pharmacology , Plant Oils , Chemistry , Pharmacology , Polyphenols , Chemistry , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
The need for an effective response to HIV and behavioural patterns in prisons is a significant national and international concern. In different countries of the world, the rate of HIV infection among prison inmates is high. In some countries, reports showed that the rate of HIV infection in prisons is higher than in the general population. The epidemic is related to risk factors such as drug use, unsafe injection practices, and homosexual relationships, tattooing and sharing of needles. The failure to provide access to adequate prevention, protection, information and care is a violation of prisoners' right to health as established by international law. As it is known today, the spread of HIV can only be controlled by effective programs designed to educate people about the causes of the infection, its mode of transmission as well as the attitude and behaviour that puts them at risk of becoming infected with HIV and how to avoid exposure to HIV. In this paper we review prisoner's knowledge about HIV/AIDS, attitudes of the prison inmates and practices that constitute risk of transmitting HIV among prison inmates, the link between the society and prison in the transmission of HIV and offer recommendations to tackle the problems