Dietary coconut kernel protein beneficially modulates NFκB and RAGE expression in streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats.

Previous studies showed that arginine rich coconut kernel protein (CKP) maintains glucose homeostasis in experimental diabetic rats. But the mechanism of this effect was not clear. This study investigated the effect of CKP on the expression of liver receptor for advance glycated end products (RAGE), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and NFkB. Diabetes was induced by injecting a single dose of streptozotocin (75 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally. After inducing diabetes, CKP was administered to rats orally for 45 days. After the experimental period, serum glucose, insulin, liver glycogen, glucose metabolizing enzyme activities and the expression of liver RAGE, iNOS and NFkB was evaluated. The results showed that CKP beneficially modulated the levels of glucose and insulin as well as the metabolizing enzyme activities. Expression of RAGE and NFkB was found to be over expressed in diabetic rats but was found to be down regulated in CKP fed diabetic rats. iNOS expression was down regulated in diabetic rats, which was expressed normally in CKP fed diabetic rats. These results clearly demonstrated that anti diabetic activity of CKP is mediated through NFkB pathway.

Arginine rich coconut kernel protein modulates diabetes in alloxan treated rats.

Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome characterized by the loss of glucose homeostasis due to several reasons. In spite of the presence of known anti-diabetic medicines in the pharmaceutical market, remedies from natural resources are used with success to treat this disease. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of coconut kernel protein (CKP) on alloxan induced diabetes in Sprague-Dawley rats. Diabetes was induced by injecting a single dose of alloxan (150mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally. After inducing diabetes, purified CKP isolated from dried coconut kernel was administered to rats along with a semi synthetic diet for 45 days. After the experimental period, serum glucose, insulin, activities of different key enzymes involved in glucose metabolism, liver glycogen levels and the histopathology of the pancreas were evaluated. The amount of individual amino acids of CKP was also determined using HPLC. Results showed that CKP has significant amount of arginine. CKP feeding attenuated the increase in the glucose and insulin levels in diabetic rats. Glycogen levels in the liver and the activities of carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes in the serum of treated diabetic rats were reverted back to the normal levels compared to that of control. Histopathology revealed that CKP feeding reduced the diabetes related pancreatic damage in treated rats compared to the control. These results clearly demonstrated the potent anti-diabetic activity of CKP which may be probably due to its effect on pancreatic ß cell regeneration through arginine.

Effect of topical application of virgin coconut oil on skin components and antioxidant status during dermal wound healing in young rats.

OBJECTIVES: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of a topical application of virgin coconut oil (VCO) on excision wounds in young rats. METHODS: Three sets of experiments with 3 groups of female Sprague-Dawley rats each consisting of 6 animals were used for studying wound closure time, antioxidant status and biochemical parameters. Group 1 was the control; groups 2 and 3 were treated with 0.5 and 1.0 ml VCO, respectively, 24 h after wound creation for 10 days. After the experimental period, the healing property of VCO was evaluated by monitoring the time taken for complete epithelization as well as levels of various parameters of the wound's granulation tissue. The collagen solubility pattern, glycohydrolase activity, and histopathology of the granulation tissue were also analyzed. The antioxidant status during wound healing was monitored continuously for 14 days. RESULTS: VCO-treated wounds healed much faster, as indicated by a decreased time of complete epithelization and higher levels of various skin components. Pepsin-soluble collagen showed a significant increase in VCO- treated wounds, indicating a higher collagen cross-linking. Glycohydrolase activities were also found to be increased due to a higher turnover of collagen. Antioxidant enzyme activities, and reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde levels were found to be increased on the 10th day after wounding, which were found to have returned to normal levels on day 14 in the treated wounds. The lipid peroxide levels were found to be lower in the treated wounds. A histopathological study showed an increase in fibroblast proliferation and neovascularization in VCO-treated wounds compared to controls. CONCLUSION: The beneficial effect of VCO can be attributed to the cumulative effect of various biologically active minor components present in it.

Effect of Aerva lanata against hepatotoxicity of carbon tetrachloride in rats.

The partially purified petroleum ether extractable fraction of the whole plant Aerva lanata (PF) was evaluated for the protective effect against liver damage induced by carbon tetra chloride (CCl(4)) in Sprague Dawley rats. Rats were orally administered with PF (50 and 100mg/kg body weight) for 14 days before CCl(4) challenge and 100mg of PF alone for toxicity analysis without CCl(4) administration. The results showed that CCl(4) administration significantly damaged the liver as evident from histopathology and very high activity of serum and liver marker enzymes. It also reduced the antioxidant enzyme status of the animals. PF administration significantly reversed the histopathological changes and restored the elevated activities of liver marker enzymes and also enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activities. The extract also reduced hepatic lipid peroxidation and increased the serum total protein and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of PF showed the presence of alkaloids. These observations clearly indicate that PF contains antioxidant alkaloids capable of ameliorating the CCl(4)-induced hepatic injury by virtue of its antioxidant activity.

Beneficial effects of virgin coconut oil on lipid parameters and in vitro LDL oxidation.

OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of consumption of virgin coconut oil (VCO) on various lipid parameters in comparison with copra oil (CO). In addition, the preventive effect of polyphenol fraction (PF) from test oils on copper induced oxidation of LDL and carbonyl formation was also studied. DESIGN AND METHODS: After 45 days of oil feeding to Sprague-Dawley rats, several lipid parameters and lipoprotein levels were determined. PF was isolated from the oils and its effect on in vitro LDL oxidation was assessed. RESULTS: VCO obtained by wet process has a beneficial effect in lowering lipid components compared to CO. It reduced total cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, LDL, and VLDL cholesterol levels and increased HDL cholesterol in serum and tissues. The PF of virgin coconut oil was also found to be capable of preventing in vitro LDL oxidation with reduced carbonyl formation. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated the potential beneficiary effect of virgin coconut oil in lowering lipid levels in serum and tissues and LDL oxidation by physiological oxidants. This property of VCO may be attributed to the biologically active polyphenol components present in the oil.

Effect of Aerva lanata on solid tumor induced by DLA cells in mice.

Aerva lanata whole plant was extracted with petroleum ether, methanol and acetone. The partially TLC-purified fraction (PEF) of petroleum ether extract was proved to be cytotoxic to Dalton's lymphoma ascites (DLA), Ehrlich ascites (EA) and B16F10 cell lines in vitro. Since PEF was found to be more cytotoxic to DLA cell lines, it was used to study the pharmacological effect and its potential to reduce solid tumor induced by DLA cell lines in mice. The result indicated that PEF significantly reduced the development of solid tumor in mice.