Chia seeds ameliorate cardiac disease risk factors via alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation in rats fed high-fat diet.

Obesity upsurges the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, primarily heart failure and coronary heart disease. Chia seeds have a high concentration of dietary fiber and increased concentrations of anti-inflammatoryand antioxidant compounds. They are used for weight loss plus enhancing blood glucose and lipid profile. The current perspective was commenced to examine the protective influence of chia seeds ingestion on cardiovascular disease risk factors in high-fat diet-fed rats. Forty male albino rats (with an initial body weight of 180-200 g) were used in this study. Rats were randomly and equally divided into 4 groups: Group I was the control group and group II was a control group with chia seeds supplementation. Group III was a high-fat diet group (HFD) that received HFD for 10 weeks and group IV was fed on HFD plus chia seeds for 10 weeks. In all groups Echocardiographic measurements were performed, initial and final BMI, serum glucose, AC/TC ratio, lipid profile, insulin (with a computed HOMA-IR), creatinine phosphokinase-muscle/brain (CPK-MB), CRP, and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and MAP were estimated. Whole heart weight (WHW) was calculated, and then WHW/body weight (BW) ratio was estimated. Eventually, a histopathological picture of cardiac tissues was performed to assess the changes in the structure of the heart under Haematoxylin and Eosin and Crossmon's trichrome stain. Ingestion of a high diet for 10 weeks induced a clear elevation in BMI, AC/ TC, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, CRP, CPK-MB, and cTnI in all HFD groups. Moreover, there was a significant increase in MAP, left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), and left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD). Furthermore, histological cardiac examination showed structural alteration of the normal structure of the heart tissue with an increase in collagen deposition. Also, the Bcl-2 expression in the heart muscle was significantly lower, but Bax expression was significantly higher. Chia seeds ingestion combined with HFD noticeably ameliorated the previously-recorded biochemical biomarkers, hemodynamic and echocardiography measures, and histopathological changes. Outcomes of this report reveal that obesity is a hazard factor for cardiovascular disease and chia seeds could be a good candidate for cardiovascular system protection.

The protective effect of allium cepa against ethylene glycol-induced kidney stones in rats.

1Background: Kidney stones is one of the serious medical conditions affecting populations worldwide. So, we aimed in this study to investigate the protective effect of allium cepa administration against KSD. 2Methods: 24 adult male albino rats were assigned into 3 groups; group I: control group; group II: received ethylene glycol (EG) in the drinking water for 4 weeks; and group III received EG in the drinking water plus freshly prepared allium cepa extract (ACE) for 4 weeks. Renal function tests and urine analysis were done. Tissue oxidative stress markers (SOD and MDA) were assessed, and kidney expression of SIRT-1, Beclin, LC3, osteopontin, and Regucalcin were measured by RT-qPCR. Histopathological assessment and immunohistochemistry for Bax, Beclin-1 and TNF-α were performed. 3Results: There was a significant improved kidney function tests in the ACE received group compared to EG group (P < 0.001). The present study showed less stones formation and apoptosis with decreased osteopontin and autophagy genes expression in the ACE received group compared to EG group (P < 0.001). While, regucalcin and SIRT-1 genes showed higher expression in the former group than the later group (P < 0.001). 4 Conclusion: Alium Cepa extract administration has a significant protective effect against kidney stones formation.

Protective effect of Salvia hispanica (chia seeds) against obesity induced ovarian disorders in rat model.

The main goal of the current report is to assess the protective impacts of chia seeds against obesity-induced ovarian dysfunctions with a trial to elucidate the mechanism of action. Forty rats were divided into 4 groups including lean untreated, lean consuming chia seeds, obese untreated, and rats consumed high-fat diet (HFD) mixed with ground chia seeds for 10 weeks. Anthropometric measures including visceral fat, peri-ovarian fat, ovarian weights, and duration of the estrous cycle were computed. Serum luteinizing (LH), follicular stimulating (FSH), progesterone, estradiol hormones, and tumor necrosis-α (TNF-α) were estimated. Ovarian histopathology and immunohistochemistry (CD31) were performed. Results showed that chia seeds clearly reduced obesity and induced alteration in anthropometric measures with a clear increase in LH and progesterone. Such seeds notably reversed histopathological alteration and reduced TNF-α, and CD31 induced by HFD. Conclusively, chia seeds have a potential protective role against obesity-induced ovarian dysfunction owing to their anti-inflammatory properties.