Protective role of dietary fibre on N-nitrosopyrrolidine-induced toxicity in hypercholesterolemic rats.

N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR) is an important carcinogen, frequently present in the environment and food chain. Oral administration of NPYR to experimental rats evoked severe biochemical and pathological changes. In the present investigation, the protective role of dietary fibre on NPYR-induced toxicity in hypercholesterolemic rats was studied. Supplementation of chickpea seed coat fibre in the diet reduced the hepato-toxic effects of NPYR, as evident from the decreased hepatic degeneration and improved liver weight index compared to control. Administration of NPYR resulted in an increase in the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes in the experimental animals. The antioxidant potential of experimental animals decreased in the NPYR-fed group, which was evident from the increased in vitro lipid peroxidation (LPO) of erythrocytes. However, chickpea seed coat fibre considerably reduced the peroxidative damage done by NPYR. Administration of NPYR resulted in a substantial and significant increase in LPO in all tissues, to a varying degree, though the effect was maximum in the case of the liver. Inclusion of chickpea seed coat fibre considerably reduced the peroxidative damage caused by NPYR in all tissues. The effect of NPYR administration on antioxidant potential was variable in different tissues, but the effect was reduced considerably on inclusion of chickpea seed coat fibre in the diet, providing reasonable protection against NPYR-induced oxidative stress, and, hence, its toxicity. Histopathological analysis of different tissues (heart, liver, lungs, spleen and kidneys) showed mild to severe pathological changes among the control and experimental groups. However, the pathological effects of NPYR administration were markedly reduced with the addition of chickpea seed coat fibre in the diet.

In vivo antioxidant potential of rice bran oil (RBO) in albino rats.

Rice Bran Oil (RBO) has got many health benefits. RBO has been analyzed for physico-chemical characteristics and compared with those of groundnut oil (GNO). The two oils were similar in various physicochemical characteristics. The major difference in the two oils lay in the amount of unsaponifiable matter, which was higher in the case of RBO. To find the in vivo antioxygenic potential of RBO, particularly its ability to protect against oxidative stress, rats were divided into two groups of 10 animals, each and were maintained on diets containing RBO or GNO for a period of 4 weeks. After which stress was induced to half the animals of each group by administering intraperitoneally N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) (100 mg/kg) body weight and remaining half served as respective controls. Animals were sacrified 1 week after stress induction. Intraperitoneal administration of NDEA resulted in a significant reduction in body weight and feed intake, the effect being appreciably less in RBO fed group. NDEA toxicity was mainly reflected in liver as supported by increased activities of enzymes of liver function test (AST, ALT, ALP) on stress induction but the effect was appreciably of lesser degree in the group fed on RBO. The urea levels were also less in the group fed on RBO, The lipid peroxidation (LPO) increased on stress induction in erythrocytes and in all the tissues, the increase being less in RBO fed group except in kidneys. Stress induction resulted in decreased catalase (CAT) activity, the decrease being less in RBO fed group. The increase in peroxidase (Px) activity on stress induction was more in RBO fed group. Stress induction had no significant effect on superoxide-dismutase (SOD) activity except in liver and heart where it increased on stress induction. Thus, it appears that inclusion of RBO in the diet improves the antioxygenic potential and protect against oxidative stress.

Role of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus florida) as hypocholesterolemic/antiatherogenic agent.

Feeding of Pleurotus to hypercholesterolemic rabbits resulted in lowering of total lipids, total cholesterol and glyceride levels of plasma and liver whereas heart lipids were not affected. HDL cholesterol/total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol/LDL cholesterol ratios increased in experimental animals proving antiatherogenic potential of this mushroom. The effect was further supported by the severity of tissue damage as evidenced by histopathological studies. An increase in bile acid excretion could be taken as one of the possible attributes to hypocholesterolemic action of P. florida.

In vitro absorption of nutrients from small intestine of rats fed peroxidized oil.

Feeding of diet containing peroxidized oil (peroxide value approximately 90 mEq/kg) at 10% level for 4 weeks altered the absorptive function of intestine. Rate of in vitro absorption of nutrients especially sucrose and protein hydrolysate (amino acids) was considerably reduced. Absorption of glucose, fructose and Ca2+ was only marginally affected.

Effects of peroxidized oil on the development of experimental atherosclerosis in rabbits.

Ingestion of peroxidized oil under hypercholesterolemic dietary conditions resulted in a number of biochemical and pathological changes in rabbits. Total lipids, cholesterol and glyceride levels of plasma, liver and aorta were significantly higher in peroxidized oil fed rabbits, compared to the ones receiving normal oil. The degree of atherosclerosis and the severity of histopathological changes were significantly higher in rabbits fed with peroxidized oil.

Role of Bengal gram (Cicer arietinum) seed coat as an antiatherogenic agent in rabbits.

Bengal gram seed coat appeared to be a potent hypocholesterolemic/hypolipidemic agent in rabbits. When fed to hypercholesterolemic rabbits, it lowered hepatic cholesterol/lipid much more than in the control group. Aortic lipid levels were rather marginally increased but the increase was less in Bengal gram seed coat fed rabbits. Though seed coat of Bengal gram failed to prevent the development of atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits, but certainly it slowed down the process of its development. The hypocholesterolemic action of Bengal gram seed coat appeared to be due to the increased catabolism and excretion of cholesterol.

Intraperitoneal toxicity of pea and lentil lectins in albino rats--effect on growth and osmotic fragility of erythrocytes.

Lectins from peas and lentils when injected to rats apparently appeared to be non toxic but they caused growth depression. The organ weights were not affected except spleen enlargement. The lectins also caused increased osmotic fragility of erythrocytes without affecting other hematological parameters such as haemoglobin, packed cell volume, and RBC count.