Role of allium sativum in the protection against oxidative stress and associated biochemical changes in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats

Oxidative stress is involved in both pathogenesis and complications of diabetes. The need to identify agents with a potential for preventing such damage and complication has assumed great importance. The present study was devoted to the assessment of the effect of chronic oral administration of raw garlic homogenate on oxidative stress and associated biochemical changes in streptozotocin [STZ]-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague- Dawley rats weighing 180-200 g were used. Rats were divided into four groups 6 rats each. Group 1: is a control group in which rats received only 0.5 ml of vehicle [citrate buffer pH 4.5] as a single intraperitoneal [i.p.] dose. Group II: in which rats were treated orally with 20% raw garlic homogenate in distilled water in a dose of 500 mg/kg once a day for 30 days. Group III: rats were treated with 0.5 ml 2.4% solution STZ in citrate buffer in a single i.p. dose of 60 mg/kg. Group IV: rats were treated with 0.5 ml 2.4% solution STZ in citrate buffer in a single i.p. dose of 60 mg/kg, plus orally with 20% raw garlic homogenate in distilled water in a dose of 500 mg/kg once a day for 30 days. Blood aliquots were collected for serum separation. Serum levels of glucose, aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], bilirubin, urea and creatinine as well as total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were evaluated. HDL-cholesterol was also determined. The animals were then sacrificed and specimens were taken from the liver and kidney tissues and tissue homogenates were separated for determination of oxidative stress and antioxidant parameters such as malondialdehyde [MDA], reduced glutathione [GSH] and catalase [CAT] levels. Chronic oral administration of raw garlic homogenate produced a significant reduction in the serum levels of glucose[P<0.01], AST [P<0.05], ALT[P<0.05], ALP [P<0.05], bilirubin [P<0.01], urea [P<0.01] and creatinine [P<0.05] in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Furthermore,there was a significant decrease in total serum cholesterol [P<0.05], LDL-cholesterol [P<0.01], VLDL-cholesterol [P<0.05], and triglycerides [P<0.05] and a significant increase in HDL-cholesterol [P<0.01] as compared to STZ -induced diabetic group. On the other hand, hepatic and renal MDA were significantly reduced, [P<0.01] and [P<0.05], respectively. Also, there was a significant increase in both hepatic [P<0.01] and renal [P<0.05] GSH levels and catalase activity [P<0.001] as compared to STZ-induced diabetic rats. Chronic oral administration of raw garlic homogenate attenuates oxidative stress and associated biochemical changes in STZ-induced diabetic rats

Age related changes and melatonin

Melatonin [N-acetyl-5-methoxy-tryptamine] is a neurohormone that is secreted by a small gland in the center of the brain called the pineal gland. Aging is accompanied by changes in the morphology and physiology of organs and tissues. This process might be due to the accumulation of oxidative damage induced by reactive oxygen [ROS] and reactive nitrogen species [RNS]. To assess age - related changes that occur in the lung, liver and kidney of the rat and to investigate the protective role of exogenous melatonin against these changes. Thirty five male albino rats were classified into 3 groups. Group 1 [non aged] acted as the control group, injected with normal saline intraperitoneal 3 times / week and sacrificed when aged 3 months. Group II remained untreated and sacrificed when aged 18 months. Group III was treated with melatonin [1 mg/kg] intraperitoneal 3 times / week and sacrificed when aged 18 months. The antioxidant effect of melatonin was also detected by measuring the level of nitric oxide in all groups. Group II showed marked age-related changes in the examined organs. The lung showed thickening in the wall of the alveoli with increased phagocytic and lymphocytic infiltration. The liver showed vaculation of the cytoplasm and increased phagocytic infiltration .The kidney showed atrophic glomeruli. Most of these changes were reduced in group III [treated with melatonin] except increasing the number of phagocyte especially in the lung. Melatonin also decreased the level of nitric oxide. Melatonin seems to have beneficial effects against age- related changes in the lung, liver and kidney

Protective effects of oleanolic acid and vitamine E on thyroid dysfunction and lipid peroxidation in cadmium- induced toxicity in rats

The effect of oleanolic acid or vit. E on heavy metal [cadmium] -induced thyroid dysfunction and lipid peroxidation in male rats was studied. The animals divided into 3 groups each of which 6 rats. The first group were injected with 1mg/kg/day cadmium chloride, 1% solution in distilled water subcutaneously daily for 30 days. The second group were injected simultaneously with equivalent dose of cadmium chloride [1mg/kg/day] subcutaneously and oleanolic acid in a dose of 5 mg/kg/day, 2% suspension in 2% tween 80 intramuscularly for 30 days. The third group were injected simultaneously with equivalent dose of cadmium chloride [1mg/kg/day] subcutaneously and vit. E, in a dose of 100mg/kg [5% solution in saline] intramuscularly for 30 days. The control groups were divided into 3 groups. The first group was treated with distilled water, the second one was treated with tween 80 and lastly the third group was trated with saline. Cadmium chloride treatment alone led to decrease in concentrations of serum thyroid hormones, zinc and copper concentration [p<0.01]. In addition, a significant increase in both malondialdyhyde [MDA] levels and thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] has been observed by Cd-treatment alone [p<0.01]. Treatment with either oleanolic acid or vit.E improved the metal-induced decrease in serum thyroid function. Treatment with oleanolic acid lead to decrease in levels of blood and hepatic malondialdyhyde but remain higher than normal rates [47.14 +/- 0.82 micro mol/L and 119 +/- 0.86 micro mol/g wet tissue, respectively]. However, treatment with Cd and vit. E restored blood and hepatic malondialdyhyde levels toward normal values [34.7 +/- 0.65 micro mol/L and 100.4 +/- 1.44 micro mol/g wet tissue, respectively]. The effect of vit. E combined with cadmium is significant compared with the effect of oleanolic acid treatment with cadmium [p<0.01]. The protective effect of each oleanolic acid or vit. E against cadmium-induced thyroid dysfunction is mediated through its antioxidative action

Sexual assaults in Sohag Governorate in two years [2002-2003]

Sexual assaults involve a wide range of behaviors that involve unwanted sexual contact as in rape. Sexual assaults can be classified according to the victim to child sexual abuse, incest, marital rape and male rape. This work aimed at studying the cases of sexual assaults in Sohag governorate through 2 years from January 2002 to December 2003. The present study was conducted on 40 cases of both sexes who were the victims of alleged sexual assaults and were referred to Forensic medicine administration in Sohag governorate. The cases were 40 in number, 25 cases [62.5%] were females while 15cases [37.5%] were males, They were divided according to the age to 7 age groups ranged from 3 years to about 50 years. As regards level of education of the victims, 16 cases [40%] were educated, 9 of them [22.5%] were females and 7 of them [17.5%] were males. As regards the marital status, 23 of the female cases [57.5%] were single while 2 females [5%] were widows; no married or divorced females were reported. The number of single males was 14 cases [35%] while one male [2.5%] was married. According to the type of the crime, 16 females [40%] were raped [sexual intercourse without consent], 5 cases [12.5%] were adultery, 4cases [10%] were friction. As regards males, 5 cases [12.5] were friction and 10 cases [25%] were sodomy. The assailant was a friend in 13 crimes [32.5%], neighbor in 17 cases [42.5%] and cousin in 10 cases [25%]