Histological changes in some organs of albino rats Fed on two pomegranate varieties by-products

The Present study was performed to evaluate the dietary effect of two pomegranate varieties by-products [Seeds and peels] on the histological picture of some organs of albino rats, namely: Liver, kidney, heart and spleen. The Wardy and Manfalouty pomegranate varieties were used. Likewise, their dietary effect on the weights of those organs was estimated. Thirty adult male albino rats [Sprague Dawley Strain] weighting between [100 and 120g] provided from the Animal House, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University were housed individually in wire cages under the normal laboratory conditions and fed on the basal diet for a week as adaptation period. The rats were randomly allocated into 5 main groups of 6 rats each. Daily administration were continued for one month. One group was used as control and was fed the basal diet, while the other 4 groups were fed the supplemented pomegranate by-products diets.It is note-worthy that the changes taking place in the studied organs revealed a significant increase in liver weight. However, both kidney, heart and spleen recorded a significant decrease in their weights. The histological characteristics of liver revealed preservation of the normal hepatic architecture which means that the pomegranate by-products exhibited protective effect and not toxic effect on the liver. Meanwhile, the histological examination postulated that the noticed enlargement of the lymphoid follicles and the increase in its number in splenic sections of rats fed by the pomegranate varieties by-products [seeds and peels] might have a role in increasing the immune system activity. On the other hand, a dilatation of the glomerular capillaries of the glomerular tuft in the kidney of rats on the treated group were noticed compared to the control group, which could be attributed to the increase in the blood flow within the glomerular capillaries and so increasing the glomerular filtrates. Furthermore, the histological examination of treated groups revealed vasodilatation of the myocardial blood vessels and the coronary blood vessels compared to the control groups clarifying the anti- atherosclerotic effects of pomegranate by-products [seeds and peels]. In conclusion, pomegranate by-products have beneficial effect on different organs and could be supplemented to foods with promising healthful impact

Nuevas fuentes de lectinas para la diferenciación entre Trypanosoma cruzi y T. rangeli / Further sources of lectins for differentiation between Trypanosoma cruzi y T. rangeli

Os extratos de 176 espécies de sementes de plantas colombianas, correspondentes a 49 famílias e 147 gêneros foram testados para detectar a presença de aglutininas frente a hemácias humanas dos grupos A+, B+, O+ e de cachorro, cavalo e coelho. Os extratos que apresentaram alguma atividade hemaglutinante, foram usados para testar a aglutinaçao de Trypanosoma cruzi e T. rangeli. Além disso, a hemolinfa de 16 espécies nativas de invertebrados foram testadas nas mesmas condiçoes. Diluiçoes seriadas dos extratos foram usadas para as aglutinaçoes. Ambas epimastigotas de T. cruzi e T. rangeli foram aglutinadas com os extratos de sete sementes de plantas diferentes e com dois tipos de hemolinfa de invertebrados. As sementes de cinco plantas aglutinaram exclusivamente as epimastigotas de T. cruzi podendo assim ser usadas para a diferenciaçao entre as formas de cultura desses tripanossomos. A secreçao do pulmao do caramujo (Bulimus sp.) lisou completamente as epimastigotas de T. cruzi mas nao afetou as formas de T. rangeli. Nao foram encontrados extratos que aglutinaram ou lisaram exclusivamente as epimastigotas de T. rangeli.

Allergenicity of orange juice and orange seeds: a clinical study.

Oranges are considered to be common allergenic fruits in China. They may induce severe food allergy in sensitive individuals. Allergic histories were analyzed in 26 orange-sensitive patients. Intradermal tests with extracts of orange juice and seeds were performed in 16 out of the 26 patients. P-K test was performed in one patient. The allergic history analysis suggested that clinical symptoms of some orange-allergic subjects were different from other fruit allergies but similar to nut and other oil plant seed allergies. The skin test and P-K test showed that the major allergenic components of orange reside in orange seeds instead of orange juice. Systemic reactions developed in 5 patients after intradermal tests with 1:20-200 (w/v) orange seed extracts. We considered that orange seed contains high potent allergens which may induce orange sensitivity due to careless chewing of orange seeds.