A Novel Diabetes Education Program to Improve Diabetes Knowledge, Awareness and Glycemic Control

Diabetes self-management education (DSME), an integral part of diabetes management is delivered by trained educators in well-developed countries. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of an organized, concise and easy-to-deliver diabetes education module in India. The relationship between diabetes self-care and glycemic control has been studied extensively. The present review discusses an innovative diabetes self-education training module that can be easily reciprocated by others to benefit the larger population.

Protective potential of Moringa oleifera Lam. along with curcumin and piperine against beryllium-induced alterations in hepatorenal biochemistry and ultramorphology in rats

Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) is a medicinally important plant, used as traditional medicine all over the world particularly in South Asia and India. Hydroalcoholic (50% v/v) root extract of M. oleifera (150 mg/kg, p.o.) with piperine (2.5 mg/kg, p.o), or curcumin (5.0 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered daily for 1 week in Female Wistar albino rats against beryllium toxicity (1.0 mg/kg, i.p. daily for 5 weeks). Beryllium altered hepatorenal function and enhanced the leakage of AST, ALT, and LDH, depleted SALP activity, and increased the level of urea, uric acid, creatinine, triglyceride and total cholesterol in the blood. Beryllium altered tissue biochemical parameters by a decrease in SDH, ALPase, ATPase activities, and increased ACPase activity, depleted hemoglobin and ALAD activity with an increase in ALAS activity and serum bilirubin. A significant amount of beryllium deposited in the liver, kidney, spleen, and bones. M. oleifera with curcumin showed better antitoxic potential by reversal of hepatorenal function towards normal and restored the activity of SDH, ALPase, ATPase, ACPase, and hemoglobin level normal. M. oleifera with curcumin effectively mobilized beryllium from the body and restored ultrastructure of liver and kidney. It was concluded that curcumin enhances the antitoxic potential of M. oleifera root extract and reduces beryllium body burden in rats.

Functional Properties of Heavy Metal Tolerant Probiotic Strains Isolated from Curd

The two heavy metal tolerant bacterial isolates L. fermentum SN_4 and L. rhamnosus SN_6 were identified (isolated from curd samples) which were found to be potentially resistant to Cr6+, Pb2+ and Cd2+ under study. Both the isolates were resistant to simulated gastric juices at pH 2.0 and 3.0 at 0 hours and survived well more than 50% in 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.5% and 1.0% bile salt solution but the isolate L. rhamnosus SN_6 showed the best survival at all the concentrations of bile salt. These two isolates showed poor antagonistic agent activity against the four pathogenic bacteria viz. E. coli, B. cereus, S. typhimurium and V. cholera. L. fermentum SN_4 showed resistant to all antibiotic except clindamycin and azithromycin, on the other hand, L. rhamnosus SN_6 was found resistant to clindamycin and tetracycline only. Also, they were found to be haemolytic negative which proved them to be a potential probiotic.

Protective effect of hesperetin against acrylamide induced acute toxicity in rats

Hesperetin (5,7,3'-trihydroxy-4-methoxyl flavanone) is found in citrus fruits and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antihypertensive and antiatherogenic effects. Acrylamide (AA) has shown neurotoxic and carcinogenic effects in humans with occupational exposures and quantified in staple foods such as coffee, bread, cookies, french fries and in tobacco smoke. In this study, we haveevaluated therapeutic efficacy of hesperetin against AA toxicity. AA was given at 1/3rd of LD50 dose for 10 days to albino rats followed by therapy with different doses of hesperetin for 3 consecutive days. Various toxicity symptoms were observed which include significant reduction of body weight, hair loss, hindlimb splaying, dragging of back legs and irritation on skin. Toxicity symptoms also included significant reduction in level of heamoglobin, GSH, SOD, CAT and significant enhance in AST, ALT, albumin,urea, creatinine, triglyceride, cholesterol with LPO as compared to control group. Activity of acetylcholinesterase was also declined significantly after AA administration, which confirms neurotoxicity. Histopathological observations also supported biochemical studies. Administration of hesperetin at different doses brought the studied parameters towards control in a dose dependent manner concluding its therapeutic effects against acrylamide toxicity in rats.

Therapeutic efficacy of Nigella sativa Linn. seed extract against CCl4 induced hepatic injury in wistar rats.

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intake damages liver. We evaluated therapeutic potential of aqueous extract of Nigella sativa seeds against CCl4 induced liver damage in rats. The hepatic damage induced by CCl4 @ 1.5 mL/kg, ip was evidenced by a significant increase in the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin, protein and urea lipid peroxidation (LPO) as well as reduction in hepatic antioxidant system e.g. reduced glutathione. Hepatic total protein and glucose-6-phosphatase activity were found decreased. Histological studies substantiated the above biochemical findings. However, after 48 h of administration of aqueous extract of N. sativa seeds (250, 500 and 750 mg/kg, po) it not only detoxified the toxicity but also reversed LPO, GSH, AST, ALT and serum protein changes at all the three doses. Both higher doses of extract were found effective in monitoring urea, albumin, total protein and G-6-Pase activity. However, on the basis of percent protection highest dose i.e., 750 mg/kg proved better. The result suggests that the aqueous extract of N. sativa seeds can be used as a hepatoprotective agent.

Protective effects of propolis on inorganic mercury induced oxidative stress in mice.

Protective potential of propolis was evaluated against mercury induced oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymatic alterations in mice liver. Exposure to mercuric chloride (HgCl2; 5 mg/kg; ip) induced oxidative stress by increasing lipid peroxidation and oxidized glutathione level along with concomitant decrease in glutathione and various antioxidant enzymes. Mercury intoxication deviated the activity of liver marker enzymes in serum. Conjoint treatment of propolis (200 mg/kg; po) inhibited lipid peroxidation and oxidized glutathione level, whereas increased glutathione level. Activities of antioxidants enzymes, i.e., superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were also restored concomitantly towards control after propolis administration. Release of serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and y-glutamyl transpeptidase were significantly restored towards control after propolis treatment. Results suggest that propolis augments the antioxidants defense against mercury induced toxicity and provides evidence that it has therapeutic potential as hepatoprotective agent.

Effect of monothiol along with antioxidant against mercury-induced oxidative stress in rat.

Efficacy of thiol chelators viz. N-acetyl cysteine and D-penicillamine (NAC and DPA) along with nutritional supplements viz. zinc acetate, sodium selenite and magnesium sulphate (Zn, Se and Mg) in the treatment of mercury intoxication was investigated in rats. This is of particular interest since high bonding affinity between mercuric ion and the thiol group exits. The mutual antagonism of mercury and selenium is one of the strongest examples of the interaction in the trace element field. Adult rats of Sprague-Dawley strain were administered a bolus dose of dimethyl mercury (10 mg/kg) orally. A significant rise in the aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, serum alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, gamma glutamyltranspeptidase, bilirubin and creatinine were observed. Single mercury exposure also resulted in a significant increase in lipid peroxides with a concomitant decrease in reduced glutathione level in liver, kidney and brain. A decrease in the enzymatic activities of acetyl cholinesterase in different regions of the brain was observed. These parameters were restored considerably with chelating agents along with nutritional supplementation, but NAC+Se and DPA+Mg offered significant protection in comparison with other combinations.

Chelation therapy and vanadium: effect on reproductive organs in rats.

Present investigation was planned to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of chelating agents against vanadium intoxication on blood and reproductive organs of rats. Male and female albino rats were injected vanadyl sulphate (7.5 mg/kg, po, for 21 days, 5 days in a week). Chelating agents tiron (T) alone and in combination with lipoic acid (LA), vitamin E (vit E) and selenium (Se) were given for 2 days/week. With the administration of vanadyl sulphate to rats fructose level in seminal vesicles was significantly (P< or =0.05) declined. The activities of alkaline phosphatase and adenosine triphosphatase were also decreased, whereas glycogen content and acid phosphatase activity increased in testis, seminal vesicles, ovaries and uterus after toxicant exposure. Significant changes in serum transaminases, serum alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase were recouped by chelation therapy. Lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione level and triglycerides levels altered significantly after exposure to vanadium in rats. The ultrastructural damage in spermatogenic stages in treated animals showed recovery pattern after therapy. Co-treatment with antioxidants restored these activities. The most effective combination was tiron + selenium followed by tiron + vitamin E, and tiron + lipoic acid.

Effect of propolis extract on acute carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity.

Ethanolic extract of propolis was administered to rats intoxicated by carbon tetrachloride. Administration of bolus dose of CCl4 (1.5 ml/kg, ip) resulted in elevation of serum transaminases and serum alkaline phosphatase activities. Levels of hepatic lipid peroxidation were significantly increased. On the contrary, there was significant decrease in hepatic reduced glutathione level. The propolis extract (100 and 200 mg/kg, po) exhibited recoupment in both pre- and post-treatment (prophylactic and curative studies) of biochemical changes induced by CCl4. The post treatment of 200 mg/kg, po extract showed most significant hepatoprotective effect. Histopathological studies showed damage in hepatocytes and disturbed chord arrangement after toxicant administration. Propolis extract (200 mg/kg, po) was found to be more effective in restoring CCl4 induced histopathological alterations.

Analysis of time-dependent recovery from beryllium toxicity following chelation therapy and antioxidant supplementation.

Efforts have been made to minimize the toxic effect caused by beryllium. Adult cyclic rats of Sprague Dawley strain were administered a bolus dose of 50mg/kg beryllium nitrate intramuscularly. The chelation therapy with glutathione (GSH), dimercapto propane sulfonic acid (DMPS)+ selenium (Se) and D-Penicillamine (DPA) + Se was given for 3 days followed by a rest of 1,3 and 7 days respectively. The results revealed a significant fall in the blood sugar level, serum alkaline phosphatase activity, serum proteins. A significant rise in the transaminases i.e. aspartate aminotranferase and alanine aminotranferase pattern is indicative of leakage of enzymes from liver resulting in alterations in the cell permeability. A rise in the hepatic lipid peroxidation activity is a direct indication of oxidative damage resulting in free radical generation. Results of the distribution studies by atomic absorption spectrophotometry reveal an increased concentration of beryllium in liver and kidney followed by lung and uterus. The relative ability of 3 chelating agents to act as antagonists for acute beryllium poisoning have been examined in liver, kidney, lungs and uterus. The appreciable change in the beryllium concentration in various organs is duration-dependent during the entire period being highly significant after 7 days rest. From the biochemical assays, and distribution studies it can be assumed that DPA+Se was the most effective therapeutic agent followed by DMPS+Se and GSH. Thus it can be concluded that DPA+Se is a better therapeutic agent as compared to DMPS+Se and GSH.

Effect of propriety herbal formulation against chronic carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity.

Efficacy of propriety herbal formulation (PHF) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver damage was investigated in adult rats. Administration of CCl4 (0.2 ml/kg; i.p.) twice a week for 12 weeks resulted in significant elevation in serum transaminases activity. Level of reduced glutathione was significantly decreased. On the contrary, significant elevation was found in the hepatic lipid peroxidation level. Proliferation of fibroblast replaced the hepatic parenchyma cells in focal areas. Cell organelles like mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and nucleus showed severe degeneration after CCl4 exposure. PHF was effective in restoring the CCl4 induced biochemical and histological ultrastructural changes.

Role of chelating agents and antioxidants in beryllium induced toxicity.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of chelating agents [glutathione, 2,3 dimercapto propane sulfonic acid (DMPS) and D-penicillamine (DPA)] in combination with antioxidant (sodium selenite) in beryllium induced toxicity in female rats. A bolus dose of 50mg/kg-beryllium nitrate was administered singly followed by chelation therapy with GSH, DMPS + Se and DPA + Se at various durations of 1,3 and 7 days respectively. Results revealed a significant fall in the glycogen content, whereas, a marginal fall in the protein was also observed. The enzymatic activity of alkaline phosphatase and adenosine triphosphatase was depleted; on the contrary, there was a significant rise in the acid phosphatase and glucose-6-phosphatase pattern. A rise in the hepatic lipid peroxidation activity is a direct indication of oxidative damage resulting in free radical generation. The distribution of the metal by atomic absorption spectrophotometry revealed an increased concentration of beryllium in liver and kidney, followed by lung and uterus. The relative ability of three chelating agents to act as antagonists, for acute beryllium poisoning, have been examined in liver, kidney, lungs and uterus. The appreciable change in the beryllium concentration in various organs is duration dependent during the entire period being highly significant at 7 days regimen. Biochemical and distribution studies reveal that DPA + Se was the most effective therapeutic agent followed by DMPS + Se and GSH.