Reno-protective effect of garlic extract against immobilization stress induced changes in rats

OBJECTIVE: To examine immobilization stress-induced antioxidant defense alterations in rat kidney and the antioxidant effects of aqueous garlic extract in pre and post stress extract treatments. METHODS: Albino rats were treated with aqueous extract of garlic both before and 6 h of immobilization stress. Pro-oxidant eminence of rat kidney was assessed by determining the levels of glutathione, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, glucose, uric acid, alkaline phosphatase and antioxidant enzymes activities. RESULTS: In response to 6 h of immobilization stress, a significant rise in the level of kidney enzymes was recorded. However, antioxidant enzyme activities showed a sharp decline. CONCLUSIONS: The extract treatment before and after the stress reverted the activities of above mentioned enzymes towards their control values. Hence, garlic extract can be given as nutritional supplement for scavenging the free radicals generated in rat kidney.

Antioxidant activity of a standardized sample of the Unani drug, Abresham [Bombyx mori Cocoon] with Vit. E as standard

Many natural drugs of Traditional Medicine have been shown to possess anti-oxidant activity. Unani Medicine, practised from Morocco to India, is likely to possess outstanding antioxidants. So, the Unani drug, Abresham [Silk Bombyx mori] Cocoon]. was studied for its effect on lipid Peroxidatior, [TBARS], SOD [Superoxide dismutase] and Catalase, The drug was also subjected to amino acid analysis, successive extraction etc. for physico-chemical characterization. After 7-day oral treatment with 175 mg/kg of 50% ethanolic extract of Abresham [Silk Cocoon] and Vit.E as the standard antioxidant for comparison, the rats: were subjected to immobilization stress and the post-mitochondrial supernatant of Iiver was used for estimating the team parameters. The MDA concentration was decreased and SOD and Catalase activity were increased not only vis a vis the untreutcd and Vit.E - treated stressed animals but even the unstressed animals [P<0.001]. So, the Unani drug Abresham [Silk Cocoon is shown to possess a striking antioxidant effect. The remarkable increase in both SOD and Catalase, that effectively block the generation of Reactive Oxygen Species [ROS] in two successive steps, indicates that the test drug's antioxidant effect is exerted mainly by ROS generation blockade