ABSTRACT
Background:Diabetes mellitus is the one of the most common endocrine diseases that is characterized by hyperglycemia, altered metabolism with an increased risk of much complications. Besides drugs classicallyused for the treatment of diabetes several species of plants have been described as having a hypoglycemic activity with decreased side effects. Aim of the Work:This work aimed to investigate the possible anti-diabetic effect of oral administration of pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) fruit flesh and seeds powders on Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats via studying blood glucose levels, oxidative biomarkers as well as islets of Langerhans structure changes.Materials and Methods:60 adult albino rats of Sprague-Dawely strains (200±5 gm) were classified into five groups of ten animals each except diabetic control group was composed of twenty rats as follow Group I:healthy control;Group II:diabetic control ,Group III,IVandV: diabetic rats received 2g pumpkin fruit, seeds, fruit and seeds mixture powders respectively /kg body weight daily by oral intubation Results:The results of present study showed that pumpkin powders caused significant improvements (P≤0.05) in blood glucose, insulin levels and glycated hemoglobin percent compared to diabetic control group. Also pumpkin powders improved antioxidants activities andhealed Langerhans islets by increasing their number and size in comparison with diabetic control group. Conclusion:The present study showed that pumpkin powders may normalize the various biochemical and pancreatic tissues abnormalities resulted due to diabetes metabolic disorders and it is a source of potent anti-diabetic agent. The diabetic rats that were administered with the pumpkin fruit powder, exhibited the highest improvements.
ABSTRACT
Food additives while attract consumers, improve quality, control weight and replace sugar, may affect seriously children and adults health. Here, we investigated the adverse effects of saccharin and methylsalicyltaes as sweetener and flavoring agent on lipid profile, blood glucose, renal, hepatic function and oxidative stress/antioxidants (lipid peroxidation, catalase and reduced glutathione in liver tissues). Saccharin and methylsalicylate were administered orally in young male albino rats at low and high dose for 30 days. Rats were divided into 5 groups, 1st control group, 2nd and 3rd (low and high saccharin-treated groups) and 4th and 5th (low and high methylsalicylate-treated group). Serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose levels and body weight gain were found decreased in saccharin high dose group compared to control. Rats consumed high dose of saccharin showed a significant decrease in serum triglycerides, cholesterol and LDL levels. Low and high doses of saccharin exhibited a significant increase in liver function marker of ALT, AST, ALP activity, total proteins and albumin levels and renal function test (urea and creatinine levels) in comparison with control group. Further, saccharin at high dose induced significant decrease in liver GSH levels, catalase and SOD activity and increase in hepatic MDA level. Overall saccharin harmfully altered biochemical markers in liver and kidney at higher as well as lower doses. Whereas, methyl salicylates did not pose a risk for renal function and hepatic oxidative markers.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to determine the effect of the tocotrienol-rich fraction on the lifespan and oxidative status of C. elegans under oxidative stress. METHOD: Lifespan was determined by counting the number of surviving nematodes daily under a dissecting microscope after treatment with hydrogen peroxide and the tocotrienol-rich fraction. The evaluated oxidative markers included lipofuscin, which was measured using a fluorescent microscope, and protein carbonyl and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, which were measured using commercially available kits. RESULTS: Hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress significantly decreased the mean lifespan of C. elegans, which was restored to that of the control by the tocotrienol-rich fraction when administered before or both before and after the hydrogen peroxide. The accumulation of the age marker lipofuscin, which increased with hydrogen peroxide exposure, was decreased with upon treatment with the tocotrienol-rich fraction (p<0.05). The level of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine significantly increased in the hydrogen peroxide-induced group relative to the control. Treatment with the tocotrienol-rich fraction before or after hydrogen peroxide induction also increased the level of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine relative to the control. However, neither hydrogen peroxide nor the tocotrienol-rich fraction treatment affected the protein carbonyl content of the nematodes. CONCLUSION: The tocotrienol-rich fraction restored the lifespan of oxidative stress-induced C. elegans and reduced the accumulation of lipofuscin but did not affect protein damage. In addition, DNA oxidation was increased. .