protective effect of garlic against the electrocardiographic changes induced by hyperlipidemia in rats

Hyperlipidemia was induced experimentally in adult male rats by feeding synthetic diet along eight weeks. Parallely, a set of animals receiving hyperlipidemic diet was subjected to oral administration of fresh garlic homogenate [0.5 g/Kg daily]. Animals were then evaluated for the serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-c and LDL-c. In addition, their electrocardiography was conducted and assessed for the different changes. The obtained results showed that hyperlipidemic diet results in increasing serum total cholesterol and LDL-c and, decreasing that of HDL-c. The elecrocardiograhic consequences of hyerlipidemia include the ST segment elevation and lowering of the QTc ratio. Co-administration of fresh garlic homogenate along the first 4 weeks resulted in decreasing serum cholesterol level and improving the levels of LDL-c and HDL-c. These biochemical changes were vanished on the continued administration for the next 4 weeks. On the other hand, co-administration of fresh garlic homogenate resulted in improving the electrocardiograhic performance, as indicated by normalizing the ST segment amplitude and the QTc ratio. In conclusion, fresh garlic homogenate was shown to improve cardiographic performance in experimentally induced hyperlipidemic rats

Effect of largely wide dosage ranges of acetyl salicylic acid, diclofenac and piroxicam on interleukin-3 [IL-3] production

Interleukin-3 [IL-3] is a multi-lineage cytokine affecting myeloid and lymphoid lineage as well as megakeryocytes. It is regarded as beneficial cytokine in various stages of pregnancy. It plays a key role in contact sensitivity and in delayed type hypersensitivity reaction. The effect of acetyl salicylic acid [ASA] on IL-3 production is a subject of controversy. Some studies demonstrated an ASA inhibiting action on IL-3 production, while others point to an enhancement effect. The present study aims at delineating the possible different effects of ASA on IL-3 production through testing wide range of doses, namely 1 to 500 mg/kg., p. o., in adult male Swiss mice. In addition, the study included testing wide range of doses of two other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], which are diclofenac [0.04 to 20 mg/kg., i. m.] and piroxicam [0.006 to 3 mg/kg., i. m.]. Parallely, changes in each of bone marrow lymphocytes count, total white blood cells count, and thymus and spleen relative weights were evaluated. Animals received each of the three NSAIDs daily for 7 days. Twenty four hours after last dosage, animals were proceeded for the above mentioned assessments. The obtained results revealed that all tested NSAIDs have the tendency to increase IL-3 production. They exhibited different dose-response patterns for elevation of serum IL-3 levels. Same phenomenon was evident regarding all other investigated parameters. The study confirms existence of largely dose-dependent variable effects of ASA and other NSAIDs on ILs-3 production as well as on the other evaluated parameters, in mice

Preliminary toxicological evaluation of salicyl hydroxamic acid in rats and dogs

Salicyl hydroxamic acid [SHAM] has been found to prevent and treat urinary stones caused by urea splitting hacteria. The present work aims at delineation of its acute toxicity in rats and dogs and its organotropic toxic potential in rats. The obtained results showed that in rats, the oral LD50 of SHAM was 5.0 [3.74 - 7.20] g/kg, while the i.p. LD50 was 0.60 [0.44 - 0.82] g/kg. Administration of 1800 mg.i.p. in dogs resulted in reversible allergic-like skin reactions. The 90 days oral toxicity study of 200 and 500 mg/kg in rats resulted in increased body weight and fluctuations in blood glucose, in addition to hepatic, renal, splenic, and cardiac toxicological and biochemical reactions. Subacute exposure to SHAM in rats has resulted in significant changes in brain amino acid neurotransmitters and an immunosuppressant effect on serum IgG. The obtained results rate are to be utilized for planning of the full preclinical toxicological evaluations