Antidotal activity of Averrhoa carambola (Star fruit) on fluoride induced toxicity in rats.

Consumption of fluoride leads to several physiological disturbances in carbohydrate, lipid and antioxidant metabolisms. Averrhoa carambola L. fruit (Star fruit) is a commonly consumed fruit in tropical countries and is an ingredient in folklore medicines. As the fruits have high polyphenolic and antioxidant contents, the present study was undertaken to investigate the potential of star fruit as a dietary supplement in attenuating the fluoride induced hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and oxidative stress in laboratory rats. A four-week exposure to fluoride caused sustained hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress and, when the diet was supplemented with star fruit powder, carbohydrate, lipid and antioxidant profiles were restored significantly. It is surmised that the antihyperglycemic, antihypercholesterolemic and antioxidant activities of star fruit in fluoride exposed rats could be due to the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, saponins, phytosterols, ascorbic acid and fibers in the fruit, which are all well known regulators of carbohydrate, lipid and antioxidant metabolisms. These findings suggest that star fruit can be used as a dietary supplement in fluoride endemic regions to contain fluoride induced hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress.

Physiological Role of a Multigrain Diet in Metabolic Regulations of Lipid and Antioxidant Profiles in Hypercholesteremic Rats: Multigrain diet in hyperlipemia.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present study was to investigate the lipid and the antioxidant regulatory potential of a multigrain diet in laboratory animals with reference to lipid profiles, tissue lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status. METHODS: Two types of diets, with or without addition of cholesterol, were used in the study - a commercial diet and a formulated multigrain diet (with Sorghum vulgare, Avena sativa, Pennisetum typhoideum, Oryza sativa, Eleusine coracana and Zea mays grains). After a 10-week period of feeding the diets to albino rats the plasma, liver and fecal lipid profiles and the hepatic and renal antioxidant status of the animals that were fed the commercial and the formulated diets (with and without cholesterol addition) were assessed. RESULTS: The commercial diet supplemented with cholesterol elevated the levels of plasma total lipids, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), as well as the atherogenic index (AI). The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) content and the antioxidant profiles (total ascorbic acid, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase reduced glutathione) declined along with increases in lipid peroxidation. The formulated diet (with and without addition of cholesterol) was found to be more efficient than the commercial diet in controlling plasma, hepatic and fecal lipid profiles, as well as hepatic and renal lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status, than of the hypercholesteremic animals. CONCLUSION: The multigrain diet used in the present study is effective in countering the hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress caused by high cholesterol intake.

Limonia fruit as a food supplement to regulate fluoride-induced hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidaemia.

BACKGROUND: Limonia fruit pulp is edible and used in a number of food preparations. This fruit is also used as a folk medicine to treat various ailments and reportedly possesses antihyperglycaemic and antihyperlipidaemic activities. The purpose of the present study was to examine the potential of Limonia acidissima L. (LA) fruit pulp in regulating the carbohydrate and lipid profiles in fluoride-exposed rats. RESULTS: Exposure to fluoride (100 mg l⁻¹ NaF) resulted in significant increases in plasma and hepatic carbohydrate and lipid profiles. Administration of LA fruit powder (2.5, 5 and 10 g kg⁻¹) in the diet for 4 weeks resulted in significant decreases in plasma glucose and lipid profiles and hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase activity and significant increases in hepatic glycogen content and hexokinase activity and plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Phytochemical analysis of the LA fruit pulp revealed the presence of fibres, phytosterols, saponins, polyphenols, flavonoids and ascorbic acid. CONCLUSION: Consumption of LA fruit pulp is beneficial in controlling hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidaemia in fluoride-induced toxicity. Since fibres, phytosterols, saponins, polyphenols, flavonoids and total ascorbic acid are known to influence both carbohydrate and lipid metabolisms, the decline in carbohydrate and lipid levels in LA-administered fluoride-exposed rats could be attributed to the phytoconstituents of the fruit.

A multigrain protein enriched diet mitigates fluoride toxicity.

Fluorosis is a major health problem in many parts of the world. The present work focuses on investigating the utility of nutrient and antioxidant rich grains- ragi, jowar, bajra, maize in formulation of basal, high carbohydrate low protein and low carbohydrate high protein diets in mitigating fluoride toxicity. Exposure to fluoride through drinking water not only significantly increased plasma glucose and lipid profiles, but also elevated both hepatic and renal lipid peroxidation, hepatic lipid profiles and G-6-Pase activity with a reduction in plasma HDL-C, hepatic glycogen content, hexokinase activity and antioxidant status. Even though basal and high carbohydrate diets did not significantly alter plasma glucose, lipid profiles in fluoride administered animals, protein enriched multigrain diet significantly decreased plasma glucose and lipid levels. However, the multigrain basal and high carbohydrate diets influenced the hepatic glycogen, lipid profiles, hexokinase and G-6-Pase activities, hepatic and renal lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status though not as significantly as that of multigrain diet enriched with protein. Thus the results of the present study indicate that both a multigrain diet rich in nutrients and antioxidants, and fortified with protein is useful in mitigating the fluoride toxicity.

Amla as an antihyperglycemic and hepato-renal protective agent in fluoride induced toxicity.

Purpose of the study was to examine the antihyperglycemic and hepato-renal protective effects of Emblica officinalis (Eo) fruit as a food supplement in fluoride induced toxicity. Eo fruit powder was incorporated into the diet (2.5, 5 and 10 gm %) of fluoride exposed animals for a duration of 30 days. Fluoride exposure caused significant elevation in plasma glucose, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase) and decreased hepatic glycogen content, hexokinase activity and antioxidant profiles (hepatic and renal). An inclusion of Eo fruit powder significantly reduced plasma glucose levels, SGOT, SGPT, ACP and ALP activities, hepatic G-6-Pase activity and increased hepatic glycogen content and hexokinase activity. Hepatic and renal antioxidant status of fluoride exposed animals improved upon feeding Eo fruit powder. We, therefore, conclude that E. officinalis fruit could be useful in regulating hyperglycemia and enhances antioxidant status of fluoride exposed animals.

Ameliorative effect of tamarind leaf on fluoride-induced metabolic alterations.

OBJECTIVES: Fluoride is a serious health hazard across several nations, and chronic intake of fluoride deranges the carbohydrate, lipid and antioxidant metabolism in general. As there are limited remedial measures to prevent fluorosis, we investigated the role of tamarind leaf as a food supplement in restoration of carbohydrate, lipid and antioxidant metabolism in fluoride-exposed albino rats. METHODS: Albino rats were exposed to fluoride (100 ppm sodium fluoride) through drinking water and fed diet supplemented with tamarind leaf powder (2.5, 5 and 10 g %) for 4 weeks. Carbohydrate, lipid and antioxidant profiles were investigated in both controls and fluoride-exposed animals. RESULTS: While 4-week exposure to fluoride elevated plasma glucose and lipid profiles, simulating diabetic and hyperlipidaemic conditions, the antioxidant defence mechanisms of fluoride-exposed rats were compromised, with elevation and decline in lipid peroxidation and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, respectively. When the diet was supplemented with tender tamarind leaves (used in southern India as a replacement for tamarind or other sour food ingredients), significant improvements in carbohydrate and lipid profiles occurred as evidenced by decreased plasma glucose and lipid levels, lipid peroxidation, increased hepatic glycogen content, hexokinase activity and cholesterol excretion, with simultaneous improvement in antioxidant profiles of both hepatic and renal tissues. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are significant in view of the need for cost-effective approaches to tackle fluorosis as an environmental hazard and use of food supplements as ameliorative measures.

Antioxidant and ACE enhancing potential of Pankajakasthuri in fluoride toxicity: an in vitro study on mammalian lungs.

Fluoride toxicity occurs due to high concentrations of fluoride in water sources or anthropogenic causes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of an Ayurvedic drug--Pankajakasthuri (PK)--in relation to fluoride-induced toxicity in mammalian lungs. The results indicated that sodium fluoride increased lipid peroxidation and decreased enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in a concentration-dependent manner in lungs. The antioxidant potential of the lungs was suppressed maximally at 10 ppm fluoride concentration and PK at all three dose levels (i.e., 100, 200 and 300 µl) decreased fluoride induced lipid peroxidation (p < 0.05) and increased the levels of total ascorbic acid, superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and FRAP values significantly (p < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. When PK was examined for its effects on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, in fluoride-induced toxicity, the ACE activity was found to increase (p < 0.0001) in lung homogenates with all three doses. This study indicates that PK, an Ayurvedic drug, improves mammalian lung function by increasing antioxidant potential and ACE activity under the conditions of fluoride toxicity.