Pharmacological and antioxidant actions of garlic and/or onion in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] in rats

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] includes a broad spectrum of fat-induced liver injury, ranging from mild steatosis to cirrhosis and liver failure. This study investigates the hepatoprotective properties of garlic and onion in NAFLD rat model. Ninety male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 9 groups; normal [I], NAFLD induced with high fat diet [HFD; II], NAFLD switched to regular diet [RD; III], NAFLD-HFD or NAFLD-RD treated with garlic [IV, V] onion [VI, VII] or the combined garlic+onion [VIII, IX] respectively. A NAFLD rat model was established by feeding the animals with a high-fat diet for 12 wk. These animals were then treated with garlic or/and onion or vehicle for 8 wk [weeks 13-20] and then killed to obtain serum samples and liver tissues. Liver histology, lipids, parameters of oxidative stress, TNF-alpha and TGF-p were measured. The liver in NAFLD-HFD showed typical steatosis, accompanied with mild to moderate lobular inflammatory cell infiltration. Serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, leptin, cholesterol, triglycerides, TNF-alpha, TGF-P and hepatic MDA were significantly increased [P<0.05] compared with normal group. This was accompanied with reduction of hepatic GSH, GR, GPx, GST, SOD and serum adiponectin. These changes were to a less degree in NAFLD-RD group. Combined administration of garlic+onion produced a better and significant decrease in liver steatosis, serum liver enzymes, oxidative markers and lipid peroxidation versus each one alone. In the same time, NAFLD-induced inflammation was also mitigated via reduction of TNF-alpha and TGF-P. In addition, these results were better in the group IX versus group VIII

Effect of beta-carotene on murine schistosoma mansoni infection

The major gap of our knowledge of human resistance to schistosomiasis, the identity of effector mechanisms and target stages of parasite life cycle are questions that can be effectively addressed in animal model [Chen and Mott, 1989]. Beta-carotene, is an important micronutrient with anti-oxidant capacity widely distributed in leafy vegetables, carrots, red and yellow fruits [Bendich, 1993]. Flighty mice were included in this study to show the protective effect of beta-carotene on S. mansoni infected mice through parsitological, serological and histopathological parameters. Sacrification of mice was done 9 weeks post infection. Although beta-carotene did not protect any mice from getting S. mansoin infection, yet it reduced worm burden to about 20% and significantly reduced hepatic and intestinal tissue egg load and exert immunomodulatory effect on bilharzial granuloma which was manifest in reduction of mean granuloma diameter, more circumscription, less inflammatory cellular contents. So we recommended, the administration of beta-carotene as an adjuvant with antibilharzial therapy

Effect of praziquantel treatment on serum protein pattern serum ceruloplasmin and blood glutathione in healthy and schistosoma mansoni-infected mice

The effect of praziquantel treatment on serum protein pattern, serum ceruloplasmin and blood reduced glutathione [GSH] content was investigated in healthy and schistosome-infected mice. Schistosoma mansoni infection in mice resulted in a moderate decrease in serum total protein accompanied by a significant decrease in albumin fraction and alpha 1 globulins with insignificant increase in B and Y globulins. Moreover, the results indicated that infection caused a marked decrease in both serum ceruloplasmin level and blood GSH content. Treatment of the infected mice with praziquantel [2 x 500 mg/Kg] improved the deranged serum protein pattern and restored the blood GSH content to normal level. However, such a treatment slightly improved the lowered level of serum ceruloplasmin in infected animals. Praziquantel given to normal mice did not affect any of these findings are discussed

Effect of schistosoma mansoni infection, starvation and molluscacides on acid phosphate, transminases and total protein in tissues and hemolymph of biomphalaria Alexandrina

The activities of GOT and GPT in the hemolymph of B. alexandrina were significantly decreased by S. mansoni infection. However, the total protein concentration and AcP activity were increased. Although the snail starvation decreased AcP activity in the ovotestis, it increased GOT activity in the other organs of the snails. On the other hand, the snail feeding after starvation increased significantly AcP activity in ovotestis. Natural and synthetic molluscicides inhibited the activities of GOT and GPT, however, they increased the total protein concentrations and AcP activities in the examined organs

Effect of specific chemotherapy on serum enzymes in patients with schistosomiasis

The morbidity of sehistosomia sis reflected on the electrophoretic and enzymatic liver functions was studied in patients with either S. mansoni or mixed infection. The reflection of specific chemotherapy [praziquantel] on the morbidity of the disease was studied 48 hours, one, two, and four weeks after treatment. S. mansoni infection produced a significant decrease in the albumin level with corresponding increase in the gamma-globulin fraction, alkaline phosphatase and transaminases. In mixed infection the pattern of changes was nearly that of single S. mansoni infection apart from a significant increase in the bilirubin level. Praziquantel normalized albumin globulin changes in patients with mixed infection, no statistically significant changes were recorded throughout the period of observation