Antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effect of balanites aegyptiaca seeds [aqueous extract] on diabetic rats

Type II diabetes mellitus is increasing health problems that negatively affect health care systems worldwide. There is a constant urge to develop new therapies with better effects, lower side effects at lower prices to treat this disease. Therefore, the present study carried out to investigate whether Balanites aegyptiaca [seeds] could treat the hyperglycemic, dislipidemic, liver, and kidney toxicity and the pancreatic damage in diabetic rats. Fifteen adult male albino rats were divided into two groups; group 1: control group, group 2: alloxan induced diabetic rats that divided into two subgroups; subgroup1: diabetic untreated rats, subgroup2: diabetic treated with aqueous extract of B. aegyptiaca [seeds]. After thirty days of treatment, all rats were sacrificed. Blood sample were collected to estimate some hematological and biochemical parameters. Liver samples were collected to determine their glycogen content and pancreatic samples were obtained and processed for microscopic and quantitative evaluation of, alpha, beta and delta-cells number. Diabetic group recorded reduction in body weight's gained, hyperglycemia, hypoinsulinemia, significant increase in some parameters of liver and kidney functions, dislipidemia, changes in proteins level and decreased liver glycogen content. While, treatment with B. aegyptiaca [seeds] was ameliorated most of the toxic effects of alloxan and showed partially improvement in histological changes produced by alloxan. The aqueous extract of B. aegyptiaca [seeds] has hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic effects, increasing insulin level, and decreasing insulin resistance. Moreover, ameliorate the most complication associated with diabetes mellitus

Protective effect of balanites aegyptia on antioxidant deffense system againt adriamycin-induced cariac toxicity in experimental mice

Samir A. El Masry, Mohamed M. Ebeed, Ibrahim H. El Sayed, Mohamed Y. Nasr and Khalil A. El Halafawy. Protective effect of Balanites aegyptiaca on antioxidant defense system against Adriamycin-induced cardiac toxicity in experimental mice. Adriamycin is an anthracycline antibiotic that is widely used as a chemotherapeutic agent. However, usefulness of this agent is limited due to its cardiotoxic effects. Increased oxidative stress and antioxidant deficit have been suggested to play a major role in adriamycin induced cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure due to multiple treatments with adriamycin. The rationale of the present study was to evaluate the potential protective effect of Balanites aegyptiaca [B. aegyptiaca] as a source of the natural antioxidants against adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity in experimental mice. In present study, four groups [ten animals in each group] of experimental mice were used as follows: Group 1, mice not received both Adriamycin drug and B. aegyptiaca extract and served as a negative control group; Group 2, mice received Adriamycin intraperitoneally [2.5 mg/kg BW] in six equal injections over a period of two weeks for a cumulative dose of 15 mg/kg BW; Group 3, mice orally administered with B. aegyptiaca extract [400 mg/kg BW], through an intragastric feeding tube over a period of three weeks; Group 4, mice treated orally with B. aegyptiaca extract plus intraperitoneally adriamycin administration [2.5 mg/kg BW]. Serum Lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], Creatine phosphokinase [CPK], Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase [GOT], Glutamate pyruvate transaminase [GPT], Lipid peroxide [LPO], total Nitric oxide [NO]. erythrocyte lysate Superoxide dismutase [SOD], Glutathion peroxidase [GPx] and plasma Catalase [CAT] were measured in all tested groups. The results showed that, Adriamycin elevated the activities of LDH, CPK, GOT, GPT, LPO and total NO content in the mice heart tissue. Also, Adriamycin drug reduced the activities of SOD, GPx and CAT. Pretreatment with B. aegyptiaca extract significantly [p<0.05] prevented these alterations and restored the enzyme activities to near normal levels. Application of B. aegyptiaca extract with Adriamycin drug either reduced or completely prevented its toxic effects. So, these findings demonstrate the cardio protective effect of B. aegyptiaca on antioxidant tissue defense system during Adriamycin induced cardiac damage in mice. Therefore it could be recommended for further investigation in this potentially new indication for clinical application

The Effect of a Local Mineral Kadosero Towards the Antimicrobial Activity of Medicinal Plant's Extract : Case of Lake Victoria Basin; Tarime; Tanzania

The effect of kadosero; a crude mineral used by traditional healers as a supplement to plant extracts against microbial infections was evaluated. A sample of kadosero from a local market was both analyzed for its basic composition and its role on bioactivity of plant extract. Titrimetric; Gravimetric and Atomic Absorption Spectrometric analyses were used to determine contents of the mineral kadosero. Disc Diffusion Assay was used for bioactivity screening in-vitro. Chemical analysis of kadosero revealed the presence of (0.0038mg/g); Fe2 (0.0027mg/g); Cl- (232.683mg/g) and Na+ (151.25mg/g). In-vitro tests revealed that supplementing extract of Balanites aegyptiaca with a mineral kadosero by using untreated well water reduced number of bacterial from 100 colony forming units to nil at a mass of a mineral between 60-100 mg. On the other hand; a mineral kadosero did not increase bioactivity of the extract of B. aegyptiaca against the test microbes in agar disc diffusion assay. This was attributed by interaction between the mineral kadosero and nutrient agar medium. The crude mineral kadosero can be supplemented to other plant extracts used locally for treatment of general bacterial infections for increased bioactivity. Further study is recommended to determine mechanisms for bacterial vulnerability to this mineral supplement

Factors affecting variations in exposure to infections by Leishmania donovani in eastern Sudan

A cross-sectional survey was carried out in Gedaref state, eastern Sudan to investigate the prevalence of positive leishmanin skin tests and environmental factors related to Leishmania donovani infection. A total of 3835 people living in 11 villages in 3 regions were screened. Soil types and tree densities were determined in 33 villages inhabited by 44 different tribes. The highest rates of positive skin tests were in Rahad region [33.9%], Atbara [21.6%] and Gedaref [10.6%], with an average of 21.1% for the state. Risk of infection by L. donovani varied significantly between different tribes. Higher densities of Acacia and Balanites spp. trees were in Masaleet villages, suggesting that the relatively high risk of L. donovani exposure in this tribe is due to environmental factors

Protective role of balanites aegyptiaca fruit extract against aflatoxin-induced inhibition of some hormones in adult rats

The protective action of Balanites aegyptiaca fruit extract against the inhibitory effect of aflatoxin, especially that produced by Aspergillus parasiticus, on the serum levels of progesterone and prolactin in female lactating rats and testosterone in adult male rats was assessed. Two groups of female lactating rats [120-160 g B.W.] and adult male rats [120-150 g B.W.] were intraperitoneally injected with a single dose of 3 mg/kg B.W. of aflatoxin. Similarly other two groups of rats were intraperitoneally injected with a single dose of 3 mg/kg B.W. of aflatoxin followed by treatment, on the next day, with oral administration of 3 mg/kg B.W. Balanites aegyptiaca fruit monocarp extract daily for a period of 30 days [post-treatment]. Serum progesterone and prolactin levels in female lactating rats and testosterone in adult male rats measured on the 16th and 31st day after injection of aflatoxin showed significant decrease [p<0.001] as compared to the normal control group. Insignificant increase [p>0.05] in serum progesterone, prolactin and testosterone levels was detected in post-treated group after 15 or 30 days of treatment with Balanites aegyptiaca fruit mesocarp extract as compared to aflatoxin-treated group. Other two groups of rats were pretreated with oral administration of Balanites aegyptiaca fruit mesocarp extract with a dose of 3 mg/kg B.W, daily for a period of 15 days followed by a single dose of 3 mg/kg B.W. of aflatoxin while continuing treatment with oral administration of Balanites aegyptiaca fruit mesocarp extract daily for other 15 days [prophylactic-treatment]. The serum progesterone and prolactin levels in female lactating rats and testosterone in adult male rats, measured at the 16th day and at 31st day showed significant increase at p<0.01 and p<0.001 respectively as compared to aflatoxin-treated group