Evaluation of therapeutic and toxic levels of Conium maculatum L. extract in gestation and foetal development of adult albino rats.

BACKGROUND: Conium maculatum L. (C.M) is a poisonous plant species particularly for animals including mainly cattle. Even though it is known for its toxicity, clinically has significance due to sedative, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties. For the first time present this study designed to investigate the therapeutic and fatal doses of C.M extract in gestated albino Wistar rats. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic and toxic levels of different concentrations of C.M extract in gestation and foetal development of adult albino Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: C.M extract at different doses of 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg was orally administered to rats in the entire gestation period. The changes in morphology of mother and siblings, foetal formation, pups birth rate, pups survival rate and AchE levels, MAO levels, and Dopamine levels were measured to ensure the nonlethal dose of the extract. RESULTS: In the treated mother rat group, 50 mg/kg concentration caused death and 20 mg/kg concentration of extract showed good therapeutic values. Birth rate, survival rate, dopamine, MAO levels, SOD, AchE and protein levels decreased upon increasing concentration, whereas LPO and MAO levels increased in mother and sibling rats. Histopathological studies showed that 20 mg/kg concentration of extract showed no damage in neuron cells with maximum increase in number. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggests that C.M 50 mg/kg dose is a toxic concentration in the mother group whereas 40 mg/kg dose in sibling rats by increasing the levels free radicals, decreasing AchE neurotransmitters level, and increasing MAO levels.

Pathophysiology of high fat diet induced obesity: impact of probiotic banana juice on obesity associated complications and hepatosteatosis.

The high fat diet alters intestinal microbiota due to increased intestinal permeability and susceptibility to microbial antigens leads to metabolic endotoxemia. But probiotic juices reported for various health benefits. In this background we hypothesized that pectinase treated probiotic banana juice has diverse effects on HFD induced obesity and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. 20 weeks fed HFD successfully induced obesity and its associated complications in experimental rats. The supplementation of probiotic banana juice for 5 months at a dose of 5 mL/kg bw/day resulted significant decrease (p < 0.05) in body weight (380 ± 0.34), total fat (72 ± 0.8), fat percentage (17 ± 0.07) and fat free mass (165 ± 0.02). Reduction (p < 0.05) in insulin resistance (5.20 ± 0.03), lipid profile (TC 120 ± 0.05; TG 160 ± 0.24; HDL 38 ± 0.03), liver lipid peroxidation (0.7 ± 0.01), hepatic enzyme markers (AST 82 ± 0.06; ALT 78 ± 0.34; ALP 42 ± 0.22), and hepatic steatosis by increasing liver antioxidant potential (CAT 1.4 ± 0.30; GSH 1.04 ± 0.04; SOD 0.82 ± 0.22) with normal hepatic triglycerides (15 ± 0.02) and glycogen (0.022 ± 0.15) contents and also showed normal liver size, less accumulation of lipid droplets with only a few congestion. It is concluded that the increased intestinal S. cerevisiae yeast can switch anti-obesity, antidiabetic, antioxidative stress, antioxidant and anti-hepatosteatosis effect. This study results will have significant implications for treatment of NAFLD.

In vivo antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidative stress and antioxidant potential activities of Syzygium paniculatum Gaertn. in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Abnormal glucose metabolism causes various complications in many metabolic diseases such as obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and mainly diabetes. But commonly used oral hypoglycemic drugs cause severe side effects. Hence, there is a need to find the medicine without side effects. Compounds of medicinal plants were nontoxic, inexpensive and less or no side effects. Syzygium paniculatum Gaertn. (Magenta Cherry) is one of the important medicinal plants in the genus Syzygium. The fruit of S. paniculatum is sour apple-like flavor which tribes using for diabetes without scientific evidence. The purpose of study was to investigate the phytochemical analysis, antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidative stress and antioxidant activities of the daily oral administration of the fruit aqueous extract of S. paniculatum at a dose of 100 mg/kg bw over a period of 120 days in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The plant material collected, shade dried and the extracts prepared in increasing order of polarity and screened for different phytoconstituents by Harborne method. The extract with significant antihyperglycemic activity evaluated for antihyperlipidemic, antioxidative stress, antioxidant activity and also for insulin resistance by OGTT. The levels of insulin, HbA1c, lipid profile, glycogen, total proteins, liver and kidney functional markers were measured. The changes in antioxidant defense system were evaluated by TBARS assay. Histopathological examination of pancreas sections carried by hematoxylin and eosin stain. The findings confirm that S. paniculatum possesses potential antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidative stress and antioxidant activity. The histological changes also coincide with its potential on insulin secretion, glycemic control, lipid metabolisms, oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activities. This investigation confirms the traditional use of this plant in the folk medicine.