Hypoglycemic and anti apoptotic effect of garlic in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus is caused by many factor include oxidative stress that leads to apoptosis of beta cells of the pancreas and so the antioxidant therapy strongly correlated with decrease risk of diabetes mellitus. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of an aqueous extract of raw garlic in controlling serum glucose, plasma c peptide of insulin, level of reduced glutathione and catalase activity in pancreatic tissue, also to estimate caspase 3 activity expression in pancreatic tissue in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats treated daily with garlic extract intraperitoneally [IP] for 6 weeks. This study was carried on 30 rats: grouped into 3 group. Group 1, the control normal group, was injected IP daily with 0.5 ml saline and group 2; diabetic group was injected with streptozotocin, 60 mg/Kg body weight [BWt] IP in 0.5 ml saline once and group 3; garlic-treated group, was injected IP daily with 500 mg/kg of the garlic extract 2 weeks before streptozotocin and 4 week after streptozotocin injection. There was a significant increase in blood glucose in streptozotocin group II [p = 0.001] as compared with control groups [331.3 +/- 16.15 vs 101.8 +/- 4.02 mg/dl] respectively and significantly decreased after treatment with garlic extract [161.5 +/- 5.28 mg/dl]. C peptide was significantly decreased in streptozotocin group II [p = 0.001] as compared with control groups [0.034 +/- 0.003 vs 0.053 +/- 0.001 ng/ml] respectively and significantly increased after treatment with garlic extract [0.046 +/- 0.003]. Catalase activity of pancreatic tissue was significantly decreased in streptozotocin group [p = 0.001] as compared with control groups [11.10 +/- 0.73 vs 25.7 +/- 0.55 U/gm tissue] respectively and significantly increased after treatment with garlic extract [20.3 +/- 0.66]. Reduced glutathione content of pancreatic tissue was significantly decreased in streptozotocin group [p = 0.001] as compared with control groups [0.67 +/- 0.055 vs 1.23 +/- 0.076 mg/g tissue] respectively and significantly increased after treatment with garlic extract [0.89 +/- 0.080 mg/g tissue]. Also it was observed that the expression of caspase 3 protein in the pancreatic tissue was decreased after garlic treatment using western blot technique. These results revealed that aqueous extract of raw garlic may have antioxidant and antiapoptotic activity that could be used in treatment of diabetes mellitus

Cardiotoxic effects of subacute therapy of nandorlene-decanoate and the protective role of trimetazidine: an experimental study

Anabolic androgenic steroids [AAS] are synthetic analogues of the natural androgenic male hormone called testosterone that is produced primarily in the testes in males and in the ovaries in females. Anabolic steroids are effective in enhancing athletic performance, in an effort to deliver a more optimal protein tissue building [anabolic] effect with less of the potential for musculinizing [androgenic] side-effects that are characteristic of testosterone itself. To shed light on the possible role of anabolic steroids in the induction of cardiac lesions; and experimental study as conducted on 30 male Wister rats divided into three groups, 10 per each group. The group 1 served as a control, group II [Nandorlene decanoate group] received 1 mg. [deca-durabolin[registered sign] 2.5 mg] by IM injection once daily for 14 consecutive days. Lastly, the group III [trimetazidine group] received Deca-durabolin in the same previous described regimen plus [Vastarel [registered sign] intraperitoneally in a dose f 5mg/kg dissolved in saline. All groups were scarified by decapitation on the 15[th] day. The supratherapeutic dose of AAS used in this study was chosen to mimic the self administered heavy abuse of AAS taken by body-builders. To assess cardiotoxicity, blood samples were collected for analysis of serum LDH, CPK-MB, and cardia content of catalase, and reduced glutathione and expression of caspase 3 protein [one of the antiapoptotic markers]. The cardiac muscle was separated and excised for immunohistochemistry and slot blot of caspase 3 and H and E examination. The Nandorlene decanoate group showed a highly significant elevated serum LDH and CPK-MB levels, and a highly significant depletion in cardia catalase, and reduced glutathione. The trimetazidine group showed a highly significant reduced serum LDH and CPK-MB, with a highly significant increased cardia catalase and reduced glutathione. Immunohistochemical cardiac examination of caspase 3 protein of the Nandorlene decanoate group showed increased expression which is reduced after trimetazidine therapy as a protective drug. In addition, H and E study findings of group II [Nandorlene decanoate group] were corrected in group III after Trimetazidine therapy. These results confirm the cardiotoxic effects of anabolic steroid abuse and the alleviating effects after Trimetazidine use