role of garlic powder and gemfibrozil in lowering lipid levels in patients of diabetes mellitus

To study the effects of powdered garlic [Allium sativum] on the lipid profile of patients of diabetes mellitus with hyperlipedemia. DESIGN: Controlled trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten patients fasting serum cholesterol levels of 280 mg/ 100 ml or more and /or triglyceride 180 mg / 100 ml or more were treated with powdered garlic at a dose of 6 grams/ day for four weeks. Gemfibrozil 1200 mg/day was used on seven patients for 4 weeks as standard drug for comparison. The data obtained showed a marked reduction in total serum lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL- Cholesterol levels while mean serum HDL - Cholesterol levels were significantly raised which was more marked with garlic as compared to gemfibrozil, CONCLUSIONS: Garlic power has got significant effect on lowering most of the serum lipids. HDL- C levels were raised with its use. In diabetic patients the beneficial effects of garlic powder are significant and economical

Effect of garlic [Allium Sativum] powder on lipid profile in patients of ischemic heart disease [IHD]

The effects of garlic [Allium Sativum] powder were studied on the lipid profile in patients of ischemic heart disease [I.H.D] and compared with gemfibrozil [Lopid], a standard lipid lowering agent. Twenty one patients of I.H.D. with raised lipid levels were administered 6 grams of garlic powder, in three divided doses, orally for four weeks. Seven patients of I.H.D. with raised lipid levels were given 1200 mg gemfibrozil orally per day in two doses for four weeks. Garlic powder reduced serum total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-C more than gemfibrozil but the differences were non-significant [P>0.05]. Garlic powder increased the level of HDL-C more than gemfibrozil and the difference was significant [p<0.01]. No side effect specifically comparing with gemfibrozil was detected in the patients treated with garlic

Effect of l-tyrosine on fertility of native bulls and buffalo-bulls

Four native bulls and 4 buffalo-bulls [7-8 years of age] were used for investigating the effect of L-Tyrosine on libido [libido index and reaction time], semen quality and sperm fertilizing capacity. Serum and semen samples were collected for 3 weeks [twice per week] before treatment to serve as controls. A single oral dose of L-Tyrosine [100 mg/ kg. body weight] was given to each animal, and serum and semen samples were collected twice per week form all animals for 3 weeks post treatment. On collection, libido index and reaction time [in seconds] were measured and the collected semen samples were evaluated for: ejaculate volume, pH, individual sperm motility, percentage of live sperm, sperm cell concentration [in millions/ ml], total sperm number per ejaculate and sperm abnormalities [primary and secondary]. Testosterone concentration was assessed in serum samples using RIA technique. The fertility of each bull was assessed before and after treatment. The results revealed that, a single oral dose of L-Tyrosine leads to improvement in testosterone level, libido, semen quality and sperm fertilizing capacity in both bulls and buffalo-bulls

Changes in blood lipids after administration of female sex hormones in normotensive and hypertensive female rats

A comparative study between estrogen [E] progesterone [P] and combined EP effects on serum lipids and lipoprotein was accomplished. The results obtained revealed that estrogen behaves as antiatherogenic hormone. Estrogen decreased plasma-total cholesterol and LDL- cholesterol, meanwhile, an increase in HDL-cholesterol was measured in both normotensive and hypertensive rats due to estrogen treatment. On the other hand, progesterone as well as combined estrogen and progesterone treatment led to rise in plasma total cholesterol triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol with concomitant decrease in HDL- cholesterol in both groups. The presented data indicated that hypertension did not produce appreciable alteration to estrogen and progesterone responses. Besides, some of the observed side effects frequently observed in contraceptive pill users could be explained on the light of the obtained results

Effects of caffeine and whole body irradiation on lipid metabolism in rats

Some lipid parameters were studied in serum of rats under the effect of caffeine and /or gamma irradiation after one, two and three hours of treatment. The results showed a significant increase in the concentration of triglycerides, total lipids, cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, while high density lipoprotein cholesterol showed a significant decrease. This indicated the positive effects of caffeine, irradiation or both on lipid pattern increasing the risk factors and decreasing the beneficial parameters

Effect of pectin on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in hyperlipidemic rabbits

Results revealed that citrus pectin reduces both total cholesterol and triglycerides. As concern its effect on lipoprotein pattern on hypercholesterolemic rabbits, it highly increases the percent of HDL level after 1 and 2 months but slightly decreases the percent of both LDL and chylomicron. The VLDL was not detected in the electrophoretic pattern

Some metabolic effects of cyproheptadine in rats

The effects of the antihistaminic and antiserotonin agent [cyproheptadine] [CPH] in doses of 1, 2 and 4 mg/Kg twice daily orally for 10 days on the blood glucose and plasma lipids levels in male albino rats have been studied. CPH in a dose of 1 mg/Kg produced no significant changes neither in the fasting [FBG] nor in the postprandial [PBG] blood glucose levels. Doses of 2 mg and 4 mg/Kg [CPH] produced on day 5 of treatment a significant increase [P < 0.05] in the FBG which progressed to reach a high level of significance [P < 0.001] on day 7 and 10 of treatment. The PBG measured on day 8 of treatment showed also a highly significant increase [P < 0.001] Histo-logical examination of pancreas from animals killed on day 10 of treatment revealed marked disappearance of the secretory granules in beta cells. The increase in the FBG and PBG and the morphological changes in the pancreas proved to be reversible since they disappeared 8 days after discontinuation of treatment. CPH produced no significant change in the plasma lipids measured on day 10 of treatment. Twice daily treatment for 10 days with an antihistamine [pheneramine maleate, 25 mg/Kg] plus an antiserotonin [Pizotifen, 2.5 mg/Kg], a combination with actions simulating those of CPH, proved to have no effect on the FBG, PBG and the plasma lipids