Effect of fresh garlic homogenate [FGH] on rat heart after exposure to hot water immersion stress

The present study aims to investigate the possible cardioprotective role of garlic on adult male Sprague-Dawely albino rats after stress exposure. Animals were exposed to stress by immersion in hot water for one day, one week and three weeks of stress. The myocardial activity was evaluated by estimating ECG, heart to body weight ratio, serum creatine phosphokinase [CPK-MB] activity, antioxidant enzymes activities, as well as histopathological alterations in cardiac muscle. Garlic was administered to the animals at a dosage of 250 mg/kg b.w.. Exposure for one day stress was of weak effect, while one week and three weeks of stress exposure were nearly of the same effect, causing significant changes in ECG, cardiac hypertrophy, elevation in serum CPK [MB] activity, significant decrease in the antioxidant enzyme activities and increase in MDA content, and significant alterations in histopathological analysis when compared with control. Supplementation of garlic [250 mg/kg b.w.] orally for one day stress exposed and one week stress exposed animals could not produce any significant change when compared to untreated stress exposed animals. However, after 28 days aqueous garlic homogenate supplementation has significantly improved ECG, decreased cardiac hypertrophy, decreased serum CPK [MB] activity, increased all the antioxidant enzyme activities and decreased MDA content as well as improved the myocardial histopathology compared the three weeks stress exposed group. The results indicated that stress exposure affects the myocardial function through direct effect: on the heart muscle, leading to arrhythmia and hypertrophy, and indirect effect: by generating free radicals and oxidative stress

protective effect of vitamin C and olive oil against the cardiotoxicity induced by cyclophosphamide in rats

This study was carried out to evaluate the protective role of Vit. C and olive oil against cyclophosphamide [CPA]-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 220=30 g were divided into 6 groups, the 1[st] gp, served as control, the 2[nd] and 3[rd] grps., were treated orally, with 120mg/kg Vit.C or 1 ml/rat olive oil, respectively, the 4[th] gp. was injected with 150 mg/kg CPA, respectively. All treatments were done daily for 4 weeks. 24 hours after treatment, the animals were weighed, the blood was collected for biochemical analysis, then the animals were sacrificed and the heart was removed for reactive oxygen species [ROS], antioxidant detection, and histopathological examination. The obtained result showed that the treatment with CPA significantly increased [P<0.05] cholesterol, triglyceride [TG], LDH levels as well as relative weight ratio of heart and body weight when compared to control group. Administration of Vit. C or olive oil, significantly decreased [P<0.05] the levels of cholesterol, TG and LDH as well as heart body weight ration. ROS parameters showed a significant increase [P<0.05] in malondealhyde [MDA], and significant decrease [P<0.05] in glutathione [GSH] and superoxide dismutase [SOD] following CPA administration when compared with control. Administration of Vit.C or olive oil after CPA injection significantly decreased [P<0.05] the level of MDA and significantly increased [P<0.05] the levels of both GSH and SOD when compared with CPA group. The present data revealed that Vit. C and olive oil administration improved the heart histopathological changes in rats injected with CPA. These findings demonstrated that Vit.C and olive oil can be used as a potent free radical scavenger in animals to minimize the toxic effects of treatment with anticancer drugs

study on the possible protective effect of garlic powder and Ginkgo-biloba extract against the hepatotoxicity of cisplatin on rats

Cisplatin is one of the most active cytotoxic agents in the treatment of cancer. Garlic and Ginko biloba are natural plants used as protective agents against different types of the toxicity. This study was carried out to determine the possible protective role of garlic powder or ginko biloba extract against cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 270 +/- 30gm were divided into six groups, the 1[st] gp. used as control received orally 1 ml/kg/day of 0.9 saline by an oral carrier vehicle on days 1 to 4, the 2[nd] and 3[rd] gps., were treated orally, either with 500mg/kg garlic powder [GP] or 100mg/kg ginko-bilobaextract [GBE], the 4[th] gp. was injected with 10 mg/kg cisplatin intrapritoneally [i.p.] on the fifth day, once only. The 5th and 6th groups, 500 mg/kg/ day. p.o. [GP] and 100 mg/kg/day, p.o. [GBE] were administered for 4 days followed by single dose of cisplatin 10mg/kg, i.p. on the fifth day. Seventy two hours after treatment, the animals were sacrificed, the blood was collected for biochemical analysis. ROS and antioxidant detection as well as biopsies were taken for histopathological examination. It is clear from the present study that cisplatin significantly increased blood aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and serum alanine aminotransferase [ALT] levels, as well as liver body weight ratio by 43%, 38% and 20%, respectively, and significantly decreased protein and albumin levels by 18% and 19%, respectively when compared to control. Administration of GP and GBE, significantly decreased the levels of AST and ALT as well as liver body weight ratio by 25%, 24% and 15%, respectively, in case of GP and by 21%, 20% and 13%, respectively, in case of GBE and significantly increase the levels of protein and albumin by 14% and 13%, respectively, in case of GP and by 9% and 11%, respectively, in case of GBE when compared to cisplatin group. The reactive oxygen species [ROS] parameters showed a significant increase in malondehyde [MDA] by 378% and significant decrease in glutathione [GSH] and superoxide dismutase [SOD] by 56% and 31%, respectively, when compared with control. Administration of GP and GBE before cisplatin injection increased the activities of both GSH and SOD by 48% and 27% [with GP] respectively, and by 48% and 27% [with GBE] respectively, whereas, significantly decreased the level of MDA by 31% and 19%, respectively. The present data revealed that GP and GBE administration improved the liver histopathological lesions in rats injected with cisplatin. This study concluded that GP and GBE have a partial protective effect against the hepatotoxic effect of cisplatin

study on the possible doxycycline-ginkgo biloba extract phototoxic interaction in mice

Doxycycline is considered as the most phototoxic drug in tetracycline group. Its phototoxic potential has been demonstrated in human being as well as in laboratory animals. The aim of the resent work was to evaluate the possible protective effect of Ginkgo biloba extract, against doxycycline-induced phototoxicity. The study was performed on Swiss albino mice. Doxycycline [400 mg/kg] was administered orally. Two dose levels of Ginkgo biloba extract were utilized [100 and 200 mg/kg p.o.]. Mice were exposed to UV-A radiation one hour after administration of doxycycline. UV-A radiation was directed to the animal's ears for 210 min. at a dose of 25 Jol/cm[2]. Immediately after irradiation, animals were given a single dose of Ginkgo biloba extract. Twenty four hours later, the erythmatous photoreaction was examined by the naked eye according to a score index. Edema was evaluated by measuring ear pinna thickness using digital micrometer. Ears were then excised and subjected to histopathological evaluation. The obtained results showed significant protection by Kingo biloba extract against doxycycline-induced phototoxicity. The protection was dose dependent, where each of erytherma and ear pinna thickness were reduced by 33% and 44%, and 28% and 39% following the low and high used doses of Ginkgo biloba extract, respectively