Influence of combined administration of turmeric and black seed on selected biochemical parameters of diabetic rats

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of Turmeric [Curcuma Longa] and Black cumin seed [Nigella Sativa] mixture on selected biochemical parameters of streptozotocin [STZ] induced diabetic rats. Therefore, twenty one healthy adult albino rats divided into three groups [7 rats in each]. Rats of first and second groups were non diabetic and diabetic respectively. Rats of the third group were diabetic and received a mixture of Turmeric [0.5 g/kg b .wt.] and Black cumin seed [1 g/kg b.wt.] orally by intragastric intubations once a day for six weeks. The changes in blood glucose level, body weight and water and food intake were measured. In addition, selected biochemical parameters were also determined. The present study revealed that, dietary supplementation of plant mixture of Turmeric and Black cumin seed to diabetic rats significantly [P<0.05] reduced the blood glucose level as well as water and food intake accompanied by an increase in body weight gain when compared with untreated diabetic rats. Proteins were not affected whereas liver and kidney functions were disrupted in STZ-diabetic rats and restored whenever treated by medicinal plants mixture. Hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia observed in STZ-diabetic rats were attenuated by administration of examined medicinal plants combination. Conclusively, dietary supplementation of Turmeric and Black cumin seed mixture reduced blood glucose level and ameliorated the hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia in STZ induced diabetic rats

protective effect of turmeric on iron overload in albino rats

A total of 40 male albino rats were divided into four groups [10 rats each] to study the antioxidant activity and protective effect of Turmeric on iron overload. The first group fed basal diet only and served as a control. Rats of the second group were injected intrapritoneally [I/P] with iron dextran at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight. once weekly. Rats of the third group fed diet containing 1% turmeric powder while rats of fourth group were received both iron and turmeric with same mentioned dose and route of administration. After the end of experiment [4.5 months], serum was used for photometric determination of iron profile. In addition liver and kidney functions were also estimated. The liver, spleen, testes, heart and kidney were used for determination of iron concentration, lipid peroxidation, glutathione peroxidase activity [GPx], glutathione-s-transferase activity [GST] and reduced glutathione level [G-SH]. The present findings indicated that iron overload caused many adverse effects reflected the significant increase of all serum iron profile, tissue iron deposition and tissue lipid peroxidation than the control groups. Moreover its administration caused marked liver and kidney damage. Iron overload also caused a significant decrease of GPx activity while GST activity and G-SH level were significantly increased in all tissues when compared with the control group. In the contrary administration of turmeric alone induced a significant decrease of serum and tissue iron profile. The powerful antioxidant plants effect of turmeric was reflected on the marked increase of GPx activity, GST activity and reduced glutathione level in all examined tissues except in liver where the activity of GPx and reduced glutathione level were significantly decreased. Although administration of turmeric for very long time induced mild liver damage, its administration during iron overload decreased the highly mentioned toxic effect induced by iron overload in rats