Silymarin Supplementation Attenuation of the Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Metabolic Changes in Protein Malnourished Rats

Introduction: Protein malnutrition increases the sensitivity to septic shock by impairing antioxidation and immune response. Based on the potent antioxidant effects of silymarin, the putative protective role of silymarin against sepsis-induced oxidative damage in protein malnourished rats was investigated. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were subjected to protein malnutrition via a low-protein diet (8% protein), with and without silymarin supplementation (30 mg/kg/day) for four weeks, and compared to a control group on a 18% protein diet At end of the experiment, the animals received intraperitoneal injections (i.p.) of 0.1 mg/ kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from Esdieridtia coil, and decapitation 24 h later. Albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), total protein (TP), alkaline phosphates (A/CP ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), interleultine-lp (IL-1p) and interleukine-6 (IL-6) levels were measured in serum. In the lungs and liver, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and glutathione (GSH) concentrations, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione-s-transferase (GST) activities were measured. Results: oxidative and inflammatory processes were significantly increased by the LPS injection and these changes were to a greater extent in the low-protein dietary group compared to control group. Silymarin supplementation in both dietary groups showed marked inhibition in these activities, although the affect was more prominent in the control group compared to the rats fed a low-protein diet. Conclusions: The study showed that silymarin protected against the impairment of antioxidation and immune response in protein malnourished rats, particularly in septic shock conditions.

Silymarin Supplementation Attenuation of the Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Metabolic Changes in Protein Malnourished Rats

Protein malnutrition increases the sensitivity to septic shock by impairing antioxidation and immune response. Based on the potent antioxidant effects of silymarin, the putative protective role of silymarin against sepsis-induced oxidative damage in protein malnourished rats was investigated. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were subjected to protein malnutrition via a low-protein diet (8% protein), with and without silymarin supplementation (30 mg/kg/day) for four weeks, and compared to a control group on a 18% protein diet At end of the experiment, the animals received intraperitoneal injections (i.p.) of 0.1 mg/ kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from Esdieridtia coil, and decapitation 24 h later. Albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), total protein (TP), alkaline phosphates (A/CP ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), interleultine-lp (IL-1p) and interleukine-6 (IL-6) levels were measured in serum. In the lungs and liver, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and glutathione (GSH) concentrations, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione-s-transferase (GST) activities were measured. Results: oxidative and inflammatory processes were significantly increased by the LPS injection and these changes were to a greater extent in the low-protein dietary group compared to control group. Silymarin supplementation in both dietary groups showed marked inhibition in these activities, although the affect was more prominent in the control group compared to the rats fed a low-protein diet. Conclusions: The study showed that silymarin protected against the impairment of antioxidation and immune response in protein malnourished rats, particularly in septic shock conditions.

nutritional, glutathione and oxidant status of elderly subjects admitted to a university hospital

Malnutrition in elderly patients is common in hospitals, and many of the age associated chronic diseases have a common factor, which is oxidative stress. The aim of the study was to evaluate the nutritional status, glutathione, and oxidant status of elderly patients. The mini-nutritional assessment [MNA] was used to determine the nutritional status of elderly patients. Glutathione concentration in the whole blood, plasma albumin, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances [TEARS] levels was measured spectrophotometrically by the enzymatic recycling method. In addition, length of hospital stay was estimated. All measurements were taken within 48 h after admission. The results showed that more than two-thirds of the elderly were classified as at risk of malnutrition and malnourished. About 45% and 53% elevation in the TEARS was found in at risk of being malnourished and in the malnourished groups, respectively, compared to the well-nourished group, but the elevation did not reach the significant level. No significant differences in the glutathione concentration and in the length of hospital stay were found among the three mini-nutritional assessment categories. The study indicated the necessity of performing the MNA test for elderly upon admission to hospitals, and more attention needs to be paid to this vulnerable group of people

effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine supplementation on weight, hepatic and lung glutathione community health sciences concentration, oxidant status and albumin Level in rats fed a low-protean diet and exposed to incense

To investigate the effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine supplementation on weight, glutathione concentration, oxidant status and albumin levels in rats fed a low-protein diet and exposed to the smoke of Arabian incense [Bokhour]. Body weight, hepatic and lung glutathione concentration, plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and albumin levels were measured in rats exposed to incense smoke [2g/hour/day] for a period of 4 weeks, and were fed either a normal-protein diet, a low-protein diet, or a low-protein diet supplemented with N-acetyl-L-cysteine and were compared with a control group. The study was conducted in the College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the year 2006. In rats exposed to incense smoke, the addition of N-acetyl-L-cysteine to the low-protein diet significantly increased the body weight gain compared to animals fed the same level of protein, but without N-acetylL-cysteine supplementation. Hepatic and lung glutathione concentration decreased in incense-smoke exposed rats fed the low-protein diet. The addition of N-acetyl-L-cysteine to the low-protein diet significantly increased hepatic glutathione concentration and prevented the fall in lung glutathione concentration. Plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances concentration increased in all dietary groups exposed to incense smoke compared to the control group, the increase was greatest in the low-protein group. No significant difference was found in the albumin concentration among the groups. The results may indicate the efficiency of N-acetyl-L-cysteine in improving the oxidantiantioxidant status and indicate the efficiency of this compound in improving the growth in rats exposed to incense smoke